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Chapter Twelve: New Brother, New Secrets
Kairi rubbed her head as she stood up. She looked around. The normally animated piazza was empty and grey. Not one soul was outside.
For some reason, it was nighttime. There were no clouds in the sky, yet a grey fog hung in Port Royal. They all unleashed their weapons. Kairi walked, leading them to the castle, Sora right next to her.
"How strange. No clouds, but a lot of fog."
Wait. Kairi stopped all of a sudden, her frightened eyes plastered on a figure clad in white. A ghost, perhaps…
"Kai, what's wrong?"
"Shh. I need to hear." Sora nodded and motioned for them all to be quiet.
The figure was running. Light brown wavy hair could be seen under her pallid skin.
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth clutched her shoulders in desperation, hugging her.
"Kairi! There are Heartless! They want my heart, they do!"
"Is there a red haired man in there?" asked Sora.
Kairi sighed. "Silly, he said we'll see him at the end."
"Oh," he said, scratching the back of his head.
"They're stronger than the charms Sora gave us. It looks like they were training all these years after Sora got them."
"No wonder we didn't see any more! I was getting suspicious."
"And Jack and Will are overseas, so there's no way we can get out."
"But where's everybody?"
"They're in their houses."
A deep menacing voice said, "Kairi!"
Kairi turned and growled.
"You liar! You said you wouldn't come back!"
Axel raised a hand, telling her to stop. "I didn't come here to fight you. I have to tell you something."
Not letting her guard down, Kairi let him say what he had to say.
"You know why I followed you?"
"Yeah- to kill me."
"No. I wanted to see how you fought. And I see you are very well prepared.
"Okay, getting to the point. I'm your brother."
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The hooded figure smiled as Axel told the truth to Kairi. She will be his, he vowed. But little did he know that Axel was on their side…
Kairi dropped her keyblade, aghast. Everybody did the same, gaping.
"WHAT!"
Axel sighed. "I know, I slashed you, I betrayed you, I killed our parents…"
Kairi's face fell. "Why? Why did you…"
"It wasn't me. It was Ansem. Besides, I was only six at the time. What do you expect? I was possessed."
"So Ansem killed my parents… But why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want to help you."
Kairi raised her eyebrows at her newfound brother. "But you're risking your life for this, Axel. Why? Why now?"
"Because you're the only family I have. You're my sister. Besides, you're supposed to close the evil with the keyblade. Mother and Father would have said the same."
He outstretched his hand to Kairi. "This isn't a trick. It's genuine.
"Do you trust me?"
Kairi looked at the hand, and then shook it.
"I trust you."
They let go and Kairi gasped as Axel hugged her.
"I'll explain everything later." He let go, noticing from the corner of his eye how Sora was slightly angry.
"Wait- later?"
He smiled. "We have some Heartless to destroy."
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"No!" The man stood up, yelling at the mirror.
"GOOD FOR NOTHING TRAITOR! YOU WILL PAY, AXEL! YOU WILL PAY! AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER!"
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They sat down, out of breath. Elizabeth had gone back to her mansion to rest. Ever since they had come tension had kept her awake.
Axel sighed.
I guess you want to hear the entire story, before they kill me."
Kairi looked at him. "They'll kill you?"
"My master is looking at us right now."
Kairi looked down sad.
"Just when I found someone, I have to lose them…"
Axel patted her shoulder.
"Well, the whole story," said Sora, leaning on the wall.
"The whole thing."
Axel sighed.
"Alright. What happened…
"I was six, Kairi was two. We were playing together. I was taking care of her.
"Suddenly this figure in black comes and suddenly my mind's filled with thoughts. Evil thoughts. However, a flash of light, and I woke up in a black castle.
"Ansem told me what I had to do. He told me about the prophecy, how I had to kill my whole family. Of course I said no. Ansem then took drastic measures, controlling my mind.
"He killed my parents, and I was about to kill Kairi, but something stopped me. I couldn't go on. I couldn't do it. I heard Ansem screaming for me to do it, but my body didn't react.
"That's when Mickey comes in. He tells me to tell you the truth when you were ready and he teleported you to Disney castle.
"You know the eyes that seemed to watch you when you were learning how to fight? The ones that were hiding in the forest? That was I, watching you."
Kairi took a deep breath. That was something to take in. Axel chuckled.
"A lot for you?"
"Yeah.
"Well, get used to it, and we'll go to the next world."
Sora jerked. "Wait, we? You're coming with us?"
Axel looked at him. "Of course. She's my sister. I need to take care of her."
"Excuse me, that's my job!" yelled Sora. They faced each other.
"Kairi needs a true guardian, not some boy that closed a keyhole he opened and almost ruined the whole world! And in addition almost killed her!"
"I did not! Well, Kai needs a real man, not a traitor!"
The two yelled on and brandished heir keyblades.
Kairi got in the middle, yelling.
"Stop it! That's enough, for the BOTH of you!" Kairi held her hands on their chests, separating them.
"Stop it! Can't you see what the man's doing? This is a journey of teamwork, not of fights and disagreements! You're like little kids- so sure of yourself without really knowing why."
Axel laughed, giving her a noogie. "You're right."
"Ah! Axel! You're messing up my hair!"
"I know. That's why I'm doing it."
Kairi broke free of the friendly embrace, straightening her hair.
"Sora, can I talk to you privately? No, Kai, it's not a fight- Sora and I just need to have a little chat."
Axel grabbed Sora by the elbow and led him out of earshot.
"Ok, just getting to the point, do you like my sister?"
Sora sighed. "Everyone's been asking me that. Yeah, I do."
"Yeah- I was in Atlantis, watching you two."
Sora blushed. This is so embarrassing.
Axel laughed.
"Just take care of her."
"I will. I'd give my life for her. She did the same for me. I owe her big time."
Axel laughed. "Well, just take good care of her. But hinting to you, she might like you."
"Really?"
"Really. The way she looks at you, her eyes just… I can't explain it. You have to see for yourself."
Sora smiled to himself. "I will."