Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters – they belong to Square and Disney.
Stare Into The Abyss – Chapter Ten
Axel sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his head. Wherever he was, it was dark. As his eyes adjusted he realized he was in a small alley, two large buildings towering on each side. At first, he assumed he was back in Twilight Town, but there was something different. It felt wrong.
Why was he… wherever this was? Why hadn't they just killed him?
"Did you know?"
Looking up, he could just make out a figure leaning against the wall opposite. Sora. He wasn't sure if he should be glad he was here or not. Could be worse, it could be Riku…
"Know what?" He asked, as he stood up and started walking. No point sitting around here… He wanted to know where they were. There was something, unsettling, about this place.
"That he was Ansem."
"Yes, we already knew about that."
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Sora demanded as he climbed to his own feet and started to follow him.
"You never asked."
Sora let out a long sigh. "Do you know where we are?"
"No. But I don't like it, so the…" He stopped. As they stepped out from the alley, they emerged into a street. A street lined with tall buildings, some like skyscrapers, their eerie glowing neon lights the only source of light in the city.
"I recognize this…" Sora wandered out, glancing around. "But I've never been here before."
That caught Axel's attention. Was it possible he knew this the same way he'd known Twilight Town back at Castle Oblivion? "Maybe you have, in a way."
Sora turned to face him. "You know something, don't you? I think now is a good time for you to answer some questions."
Axel didn't agree. Now wasn't a good time. But he'd answer some for now… Depending on the questions. "Where do you want to start?"
"…Kaze. He said that I shared a connection to him, and he seemed to think you knew exactly what he meant. Who is he?"
"He's your NEO. Or something similar to one."
Sora stared at him and shook his head. "I never cast off my body, so how can that be possible?"
"Didn't you? Don't you remember what you did to cause you to become a Heartless in the first place?"
Sora replied instantly. Axel imagined that was something he wasn't going to just forget about. "I used that keyblade to free Kairi's heart… and mine with it."
"And didn't you do that willingly?"
"It's not the same thing. Is it?" Sora frowned. "Even if you're right and he is my NEO, how can he use a keyblade? From what Ansem, or whoever he is now said, a NEO is a body and soul. If he has no heart…"
"Who's saying he doesn't have one? He's a special case. You shouldn't still be here, existing while he is. Maybe he can use them through his connection to you?" Axel hesitated a moment. Just how much should he tell him? "I think, you can remember this place because of him. I don't know if he's ever been here before, but if he has, that's probably why. Next question?"
Sora remained silent for a while, studying the buildings around them. "What about you? What is it you need me for?"
"I want my memories back. I want to be complete again. You're going to help me."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"I'm not sure yet. There's something special about you." Axel shrugged. "I figured I'd work the details out as I went along. It was hard enough getting a chance to find you again."
"You're not going to tell me about what happened back at that Castle Oblivion, are you?"
"I told you before, you can ask Namine about that."
"Alright." Sora nodded. "I still don't think I get some stuff, but that'll do for now. We should probably look for a way to leave here."
"I don't think they're going to just let us walk away."
Sora shot him a puzzled look. "They?"
"You don't remember that? Back there, the Superior and Number Two were saying something about taking us somewhere. If they brought us here, I don't think they're going to just let us leave."
Sora tilted his and raised an eyebrow curiously. "Number Two? Nevermind… You could have mentioned all that before."
"I thought you knew!"
Ignoring him, the boy started walking further down the street. Axel followed him, lingering back a little, but keeping him in sight. Now he had a chance to think back on what happened, he realized he'd created one nice mess this time… It was his fault they were here, wasn't it? And now things were out of his control again.
He felt slightly disappointed to see that Number Two had sided with the Superior. He'd seemed to have being helping him, when really, it appeared that he'd just being helping set him up. But then why had he said something about getting the Superior to agree not to harm him? The entire situation was… confusing. And that was without even starting to think about the other stuff. He didn't want to think about any of that. Not yet.
Glancing up, he noticed Sora had stopped in front of a building that was considerably taller than the rest. The boy was craning his neck back, gazing at a screen fuzzing with static, at the top.
Sora walked up some steps at the front to try the doors. Axel joined him. "Locked?" He asked.
Sora flashed him a grin and took out his keyblade to try on them. Nothing happened. Pouting, he crouched down on the floor.
"Why do you want to get in there anyway?" Axel wondered.
"That feeling, like I know this place… It's stronger here." Yawning, the boy lay down, rolling over onto his side. "Oh well, it was worth a try."
"What are you doing?"
"Going sleep for a bit. I don't know about you, but I'm tired. Do you know how long it's been since I last got a chance to sleep?"
"Here?"
"Why not? If something happens, you can just wake me up."
Axel scowled. "And what if I decide to walk off and leave you here?"
"You won't." Sora sat back up and smiled. "You still need me."
Axel hated that he was right. Sighing, he took a seat on one of the steps. "I take it back," he muttered, "you are as bad as Riku."
Overhearing, Sora chuckled. "Goodnight Axel."
"Shut up and go to sleep."
Axel didn't think that things could possibly get much worse. If things weren't already bad enough, now it was raining on him, and Sora had picked the only spot under cover. "This is wonderful…" He complained to himself.
"Isn't it?"
He wasn't expecting a reply. His head snapped up as he recognized the voice. Only he was more surprised at actually hearing it. Usually, that voice was one spoken inside his head, not aloud.
Number Two stood at the bottom of the steps. The rain was falling around him, not a single drop touching his cloaked body.
"Sora!" Axel called as he shot to his feet.
"Yes, let him join us. He should hear this too."
He attempted to summon his weapons, but the comforting feeling of them appearing in his hands wasn't there. Trying again, Axel was given the same result.
"That won't work here." Number Two's normally emotionless and flat voice sounded amused.
Axel felt a slight flood of panic starting to rise. How was he supposed to fight back without any weapons? He was grateful to see Sora stepping up alongside him, armed with his keyblade. Whatever was stopping him from using his own weapons here wasn't affecting Sora. Still, he didn't feel totally comfortable putting his life in the boy's hands…
"You've grown much stronger since we last fought Sora. I'd love for the chance to personally see just how much better you've became."
Yes, that was right. Sora had fought him before, hadn't he? If he was still alive after that, Axel thought they might stand something of a chance… Assuming Number Two hadn't just been holding back the last time.
"Is that a challenge?" Sora asked calmly.
"I'm afraid not. I don't have the time right now. Perhaps later."
Axel relaxed a little. That didn't sound like he'd come here to kill them…. "Why are you here?"
"There's much to discuss."
"Where are we?" Sora asked. "What is this place?"
"This is Twilight Town."
"Twilight Town?" Confusion filled Sora's expression. "What happened to it?"
"This is not the Twilight Town that you know… This is the world in its true form."
Sora's head shook slightly. "Why… do I remember it?"
"Axel was correct about that. The other side of your heart knows this place." He turned his head towards Axel, his features still hidden beneath the folds of his hood. "It's a place you should recognize too. Don't you remember your own home, Axel?"
Axel blinked, taken back. "My home?" Was this the world he had come from? "Why is it like this?"
"A forgotten world. A world completely swallowed by the darkness. It was once like the Twilight Town you've been to. This is how it evolved over time. As you can see, it is far more advanced. Or was. There is nothing and no one here anymore."
"Why?"
"Enough. You'll learn soon, but there are more important matters." He turned back to Sora. "Don't you have a Keyhole to seal still?"
Sora's eyes narrowed as he regarded him suspiciously. "What do you gain from me sealing it?"
"Very clever. Yes, I want for you to seal it. It's the first step towards preventing anymore people from suffering the fate of a Non-Existent One. As I'm sure Axel can tell you, it's a painful thing to be a Nobody."
"You're just as bad as he is!" Axel yelled. "You helped him! Why would you want to put a stop to it now?"
"I had no choice."
"That's not a good enough reason." Axel sneered.
"What's the next step then?" Sora interrupted.
"Kill the Superior. I can't stand by and let him continue any longer."
"I don't think I can..." Sora closed his eyes. "He's much too powerful."
"You're even considering agreeing?" Axel demanded. "He's playing the same game as the Superior is! Kill this person, kill that person. He wants him out the way so he can do whatever it is he's planning!"
"I can see why you aren't willing to trust me Axel. Such a shame, with who you once were, you were a perfect choice to help me. But if you won't help, he certainly will." He nodded towards Sora.
"What makes you say that?" Sora said.
"Why do you think he let Riku join up with the Organization? Why do you think he was so interested in him? He fought Ansem back at Castle Oblivion, but he's still there, inside of him, waiting. Now what will happen when the time is right and both those halves are reunited?"
Author's Note: Yep, that IS the world from Deep Dive in case anyone wasn't sure! This is starting to... grow. I've had all these little plot ideas born this week. I think this is going to end up longer than I had originally intended. :0
AloneInDespair: I bet while we're all expecting for him to have some meaningful and interesting name, they'll just give him a plain one! Or leave him as BHK all game. XD This chapter should give an idea of Number Two's plans - unless he has something else in mind? Or not. runs
critical-blow: Thank you! I hope you like this one too!
Saddened Soul: I sure hope I'm on the right track with the idea of the Nobodies. It's kinda hard working off a few sentences in Ansem's reports. >
ellenh92: I have cookies in exchange for a place!
Ginger Ninja: Thank you! I'm glad that people like his name, it was so hard trying to think of something to fit him. I try and update at the start and then again at the end of the week, I have lots of time to write in the mornings! And in reply to your LJ - I'm SO sorry I made you an addict XD
Crisis Haylo: Hehe, poor Axel indeed! And poor Riku! He's going to be getting his own problems soon enough! Oh no!