Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the characters – they belong to Square and Disney.

Stare Into The Abyss – Chapter Thirteen

Sora followed Kaze silently as he led them back through the streets of Twilight Town. They'd agreed it'd be better to find somewhere quiet to sit and plan their next move. He'd suggested taking them back to the Clock Tower for now, assuring them it'd be safe there.

Sora was glad to see that the town was quiet again, free of those white creatures from earlier. No one had tried to stop them since they'd left Castle Oblivion.

Arriving outside the Clock Tower, Kaze opened a door and let them inside. He took a seat on a small wooden crate in one of the corners of the room. "So, any idea where we're going to find Riku?"

Riku…He'd found his friend, only to lose him again. And now he had no idea where to even begin looking for him.

"If he was taken…" Namine started.

"No." Sora shook his head. "I don't think Ansem took him. I think Riku followed him."

Kaze frowned. "How'd you figure that?"

Sora smiled. "Donald and Goofy are still with him. I don't think Ansem would of taken them too. They went with him, I'm sure they did." Or at least that's what you're hoping. He kept telling himself they'd stick together and they'd be alright.

"But followed him to where?"

"I don't know." Sora sighed. "They could be anywhere."

"Maybe we should head back to the Organization's residence here." Kaze grinned. "It should be pretty empty at the moment."

Sora nodded. "And I still need to go there for the Keyhole anyway. I guess it's a good place to start." He hesitated a moment. Now there was no Axel to show him around the place… "Do you think Axel will be alright? Maybe I shouldn't of just left him…"

Kaze's grin disappeared. "Who cares? He's probably dead. One less problem for us to worry about."

"I still feel kind of bad for leaving him. I don't trust him, but he hasn't done anything…"

"… Like trying to kill you?" Kaze interrupted. "Not yet, but he will."

Sora agreed with that. Yes, he was probably right. After helping him, what was stopping Axel from turning around and killing him? But he still almost felt sorry for him. Almost. While Namine had tried to fill him in slowly on what happened back at Castle Oblivion on their way here, he found himself frustrated at not remembering any of it himself. How would it feel to have no memory at all of who you once were? For everything to be missing?

"I don't think he will try anything." Namine said. "I… can sort of understand how it would feel. It was always painful enough for me knowing what I was doing to people when I used to… tamper with their memories." Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke. She turned towards Sora. "I think you should try and help him."

He was surprised to hear her suggest that. She'd told him the Organization had kept her there. Shouldn't she of hated them for that?

"He's a psychopath!" Kaze cried. "If he isn't dead already, I'll gladly help him next time he shows up."

Sora said nothing in reply. He didn't blame Kaze for not trusting him and for wanting to get rid of him, but he didn't feel the same way. Axel hadn't really given him a reason to. Not yet anyway.

"Either way, I don't even know how to help him."

"Maybe you two are the key." Namine suggested. "You're different to the rest of them."

"Apart from Ansem…" Only, was that entirely true? Ansem, the other Ansem, wasn't exactly walking around like Kaze was. Sora sank down to the ground with a groan. "This is so confusing."

"Maybe…" Kaze looked away. "Maybe I'm really not supposed to be here. Maybe you and me should be one, instead of two halves, Sora."

"Don't say stuff like…" Sora trailed off. Something was sticking out in his mind. Something that Number Two had said to him, back when he'd first met him at Hollow Bastion.

Incomplete one…

Sora felt a wave of sickness. No. He looked up at Kaze. "You mean, you and me, should be…"

"… Merged. One. Something like that anyway."

"No! I'll never agree to let you do that."

Kaze shrugged, seemingly indifferent, but Sora could tell it was bothering him too. "Let's not worry about that it for now. Shall we leave?"

Nodding, Sora got to his feet. If what Kaze said was true, how could he use that to help Axel? He didn't exactly have another half left to join with. Forget it. Don't think about that now. Focus on what's important… Finding your friends.

"Wait." Kaze turned to face Namine. "You should stay here."

Namine bit her lip. "I want to help too."

"He's right, it could still be dangerous there." Sora smiled gently. "We won't be long."

She reluctantly nodded. "I guess it's better than been stuck in that Castle. I really didn't think I'd ever be able to leave."

"Why didn't you leave once I'd woke up and gone?"

Namine laughed. "I was scared to leave on my own. Stupid isn't it?"

"Not at all." Kaze assured her. "Don't worry, we'll come back soon, I promise!"

Leaving the sanctuary of the Clock Tower, they headed back through the streets towards the station. Sora found himself re-calling the other world, the dark city and what he'd been told there, with each step. Was that world really another version of Twilight Town?

The other side of your heart knows this place.

"Kaze?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever…" He paused. "Do you remember a world, like this? Only it was more of a city, and it had tall buildings, but it was…"

"Completely covered by the darkness? Yes." He stopped and lowered his head, taking a great interest in the ground under his feet. "It was where I first found myself. I was just… standing there, with no idea of how I got there, no memory of anything before that. Not at first anyway. It was only when I came here, when all these images, memories, came to me. Of you and your friends, and your home…"

"I'm sorry." Sora walked over to his side. "Have you ever gone back to that world?"

Kaze's head snapped back up. He met Sora's gaze, before quickly turning away. "Hey look, the trains here." He started to run towards it, leaving a confused Sora to hurry after him and join him on the vehicle.

As it started to pull away, Sora wandered over to one of the windows. "Why can you remember my memories, but I can't see any of yours?"

"I'm not sure." Kaze began pacing restlessly, a distracted look in his eyes.

Sora didn't push the issue any further, realizing he must of said something wrong. Maybe he'd ask again later. But then, there was really only one person who could possibly know all the answers and it wasn't Kaze.

Ansem…

He settled on one of the seats, thinking, until the train pulled up outside the large manor. As they stepped off it, both summoned their keyblades and approached the building. Oathkeeper in hand, Sora pulled open the large doors and entered. "Let's hope this goes better than last time," He muttered.

He had a vague memory of the direction Axel had taken him earlier and set off back towards the office room they'd ended up at, deciding it'd be better to pick a location he'd already visited to start with.

"Empty," Kaze commented as they passed through a corridor.

"Seems you were right. They must all be out."

"You'd think they'd at least of left someone behind to guard the place."

Sora felt a mix of relief and disappointment at finding it deserted. At least it meant the chances of getting disturbed or attacked by another of those cloaked people weren't so high, but still… He'd almost expected to find the others outside right where he'd left them, but there was no Riku, no Donald and Goofy. No-one.

Arriving outside the door to the office, Sora nodded at Kaze and gestured for him to enter. He stepped inside first, Sora right behind him.

There was no one inside.

"Empty too. Is that good or bad?" Kaze wondered.

"Good, I think." Sora moved over towards a solid oak desk in the centre of the room, as Kaze wandered over towards a window behind it. There was a single, small piece of paper, laying carelessly on it that had caught his eye. As he picked it up to read, his mouth went dry.

"What've you found Sora?"

He read the first line aloud. "Ansem's other report…"

By the time Axel arrived back outside, Sora and the others had already left. And that meant he had a small problem… he didn't know where they'd gone. Though he had a good idea where they'd probably head for, this meant he'd now have to waste more time finding Sora again. And he didn't think he had much time to waste.

"Could have at least waited for me."

Now what?

As he debated on what direction he should to start walk in, he heard a familiar voice calling out from behind him. One he'd of preferred not to hear.

"Leaving already Axel? I was hoping we could have a nice talk."

The Superior… Ansem.

He turned around slowly to see him standing outside the entrance to Castle Oblivion. Axel immediately called upon his weapons, although he knew perfectly well they'd be no good.

"So violent. I said I was here to talk, Axel."

He didn't give a response, instead waiting for him to continue or make a move. Arms folded behind his back, the Superior moved towards him slowly and calmly. Axel instinctively took a step back.

"Did you enjoy your visit to the otherside?"

Otherside? Does he mean that other world?

"Not really."

"A shame. It's a fascinating place. Perhaps when you better understand it, you'll appreciate it more."

Axel ignored him. "Where's Riku?"

"Are you looking to kill him too?"

He flinched slightly. "How…"

"Do I know that? You're so easy to read. You want to kill me too right now, don't you? You'd enjoy it. Just like you'd have enjoyed killing both my other NEOs back there."

What could he say to that? He couldn't exactly deny it.

"As for Riku, I can't tell you. I don't want you spoiling my... fun. But he's safe. He's not of any use to me for the moment."

"You said you came here to talk? Then what do you want?"

"I've come to share a little secret. About the Keyhole that Sora's looking to seal. I'm sure he'll appreciate the information if you pass it on to him."

Hadn't he wanted for Sora to not seal it? So why now is he offering information to help him do just that? Maybe him and Number Two are in this together after all…

But Axel didn't particularly care anymore. He was tired of people appearing when they felt like it and confusing him, he was tired of them all knowing more than him, and he was tired of them playing their own games.

Not anymore. He was going to take control.

He'd play his own game.

"What's it say?" Kaze leaned over his shoulder as he tried to see the writing.

Sora shrugged him off pocketing the piece of paper. "Doesn't make a lot of sense, but we can take a better look at it later. Do you really think we should be wasting time here?"

"Guess not. And we promised Namine we'd be quick."

Sora nodded and started to continue his search of the room. What he'd said was true, but there was something bothering him. One word that he'd read which was repeating in his head.

Metamorphosis.

Why did that bother him so much? He couldn't place it, but it made him feel… unsettled.

"Hey, Sora! I found something."

Sora glanced over to find Kaze standing over a rug he'd kicked back with his foot, revealing several floorboards under it that were different in appearance to the rest. There was a small keyhole and handle on one section of it. Kaze tugged on it, but it didn't budge.

Locked.

Sora aimed Oathkeeper at it and there was an audible click. As Kaze yanked on it this time, it opened, revealing a set of stairs leading down into a darkened room.

Kaze grinned at him. "After you."

Swallowing, Sora headed down the steps. He didn't like this. Who knew what was kept down there?

There was a heavy scent of damp mildew and the air was heavy with thick dust. From what he could make out, the room was mostly empty. But he soon found a smile spreading across his face. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he spotted a faint glow, coming from a large shape in the back wall.

A shape like a keyhole.

"Is that what you were looking for?" Kaze asked.

Sora stepped forward holding out his keyblade to seal it… but nothing happened. Scowling, he tried again. "It's not working. You try."

"Like this?" Kaze held up one keyblade, pointing it at the Keyhole. "I've not done this before…"

Sora frowned, frustrated. "It's still not working."

Kaze tilted his head and shrugged. "I think it's broke."

"And I know how to fix it."

They both whirled around at the sound, startled. Axel was leaning against the back wall, a smirk on his face.

Sora blinked. "Axel?"

"Miss me?"

Kaze glowered. "No. And don't do that!"

Sighing, Sora looked back over towards the Keyhole. "So, you know what's wrong with it?"

The smirk widened. "You're going to love this."

Author's Note: A little more focus on Sora here, I had to switch over and do things from his side for a little while to get this chapter to work. But everyone likes Sora anyway right? ;) Axel-ness shall resume next chapter.

Gah, summary of that 8 minute KH2 trailer… wow. Seifer, Fujin and Raijin! And sounds like DiZ doesn't even know EM's name! XD I want to see it!

Saddened Soul: Ooh, that short little clip was so good! And the Org member was a similar size to Sora… Judging from Riku's line in that new trailer, I think it might be him.

Ginger Ninja: I wish they'd include a bonus disc with outtakes or something. Kingdom Hearts: The Musical? Every cut scene in the game, only sang! Or maybe FFX-2's opening, starring Sora and Demix! ... Ick.

AloneInDespair: Thank you! I'm glad you liked how it turned out!

Crisis Haylo: I don't like writing battle scenes either, they're too hard to match to what I have in my head! And Axel is quite a challenge to write, but fun.