Stinking FF was being ridiculous. I couldn't log in, review, do anything on this damn thing. It said something about maintenance on the 29th but ever since the 27th all I got was BS on this thing. I practically wrote the whole story waiting for this thing to fix up and I just thought of the boiling anger of the reviewers that thought I was doing it on purpose to them. I just finished writing chapter 7 but I'm still editing it. I left my PS2 memory card in my bf's so without videogames and work I had plenty time to write Lol. Enough talk, back to Axel!

-----------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4

Axel lay back against the cold brick on the Bailey. He rested his head against his palms as he closed his eyes. The sun was tucking itself beneath the horizon so that the darkness could cloak the sky. It was a calm day.

He could almost remember what it felt like for her lips to be against his, although it happened so quickly. He had already missed it, wished to feel it again. She was just like Roxas and Sora. They made him want to strive for a better purpose and to live fully. They made him feel like he was someone. Except the effect Tifa had on him was different. After watching over her for so long and after that accidental kiss, his body yearned to be close to hers. He enjoyed her scent, her smile, the way it felt to be sitting next to her. He enjoyed their conversations and it was as if fate was nice enough to let him cross paths with this unique woman. He knew that if he had a heart, he'd hate Cloud for always taking her for granted. If he had a heart, then maybe, he'd have more to offer her than he did now as a nobody.

Saix had been so involved with Sora, Kairi and helping Xemnas restore Kingdom Hearts, he hadn't found the time to chase after him lately. He was grateful for it. It was nice to have time to kick back and relax. It was early and he had done nothing all day except for the usual wandering through the worlds. Finally he decided to give in to slumber. For nobodies, sleep was not a necessity just as hunger but since there was nothing else to do, he gave into it.

The sky had already grown dark when his eyes shot open. His body flung up from his resting place as his brows furrowed. He felt it and he felt it strong. He hadn't been able to track it in the last two weeks because it had grown weak but it seemed it had regained strength at that very moment. It was the darkness within Tifa's heart. It was throbbing, resurfacing from the depths of her heart where light had been shielding it.

Axel stood up and looked around. It was later than usual and she still hadn't shown. Axel jumped down from the ledge. He knew he had to find her, find her before she allowed herself to give into the darkness. He wouldn't allow that, not after all the progress they had made together, after all she had learned from him, after spending time with her. He didn't want to lose the Tifa she was now. It was the only thing keeping him in his own existence.

Axel entered the realm to re-appear in the marketplace. He closed his eyes in deep concentration. She was close. He could sense it. He lifted his head towards the wizard's home. He ran through the narrow streets and past the wizard's house. The darkness was stronger and closer. He closed his eyes once again, trying to pin point it's exact location.

Finally his eyes shot open and he ran down another narrow street, looking up onto the second story of a building. No light shone from the windows but he knew she was there. She had to be. This darkness could only belong to her, the same darkness he once suffered from…loss.

He entered the realm again to re-appear in a dark, small bedroom. As he quietly emerged from the closing hole, it seemed she hadn't noticed him just yet. She sat on a chair, gazing by the window in silence. The moonlight made her skin pale. Her long hair was frizzy and draped over her shoulder. Her hands clasped on her lap as she slumped back against the chair. Her head hung and darkness concealed her eyes. Once again she was drowning and for some reason, she didn't come to him that night.

Axel slowly made his way toward the chair. He didn't want to startle her. He also wasn't sure if she even wanted him there. After all she had chose not to meet him. He was prepared for her to lash out at him like when they first met. Yet now that he understood her better, now that he knew her better, he wouldn't just lash out and disappear, unless she wanted him to.

He stood still next to her chair. He wasn't sure if she realized he was there yet or if she was just sulking in her misery. He cautiously reached out his hand to place on her shoulder. Her body did not stir at his touch.

"Tifa-" he whispered to her. Before he could say anything else she suddenly lunged off from the chair, throwing her weight onto him. Tifa buried her head into his chest and he felt the throbbing of the inner struggle within her heart. He wrapped his arms around her back and stroked her soft strands of hair away from her face. No sound came from her and no movement. He knew that she was holding it in, just like when no one was around. Yet now he was here, he was a nobody but he was something and he wasn't going to allow her to hold it in as if they had never met. He knew for some reason her darkness changed once she met him and he wanted to do it again, do it tonight more than ever.

"Release your sorrow. Holding it in will only let the darkness consume your heart faster"

It seemed those whispering words were powerful enough to break her from her still life motions. Her body suddenly shivered and sobs were muffled within the black material on his chest. He clenched her trembling body closer as she cried. She clawed her fingers around to his back.

Axel was caught speechless once again. He couldn't understand why she'd be this way after she had gone so far from her darkness lately. How did she come back to where she began? Who caused her to feel this sudden grief and sorrow? One name came into his mind and he clenched his fist at the thought of it…Cloud.

He returned his attention to the weeping woman in his arms. He rested his chin on the tip of her head, inhaling the sweet aromas in her hair. Tifa's body relaxed and her sobbing eventually grew quiet. Still she kept herself in Axel's warm embrace, with her cheek nuzzled into his chest. She couldn't hear a heartbeat in his chest but she heard him breathing steadily to her own. She sighed a bit as she just closed her eyes, leaning on him and not offering a word of explanation.

Axel led her to the bed. He sat on the side with his back leaning on the wooden headboard. He opened his arms and offered them to her once again. She did not make eye contact but instead crawled beside him, allowing herself to be taken into his embrace. Her hair tickled his collarbone as he leaned his cheek on her.

Once again his body reacted to her. Her warmness spread onto him, making him feel as if he belonged in their embrace. The bumps growing along his skin had vanished after some time and now he was just comfortable. He was taking in her warmth, her smells, and the feel of her curves within his firm arms. As always he was protecting her. Except unlike the times when he just followed her, now she was giving herself to him to protect her, to protect her from her own darkness.

Time wore on but Axel had barely noticed. He was too hypnotized by her presence. Her head grew heavy and he looked down at her face. Her eyelids seemed to have fallen some time ago and she was now fast asleep. Her darkness had fallen asleep with her.

He carefully leaned her head back on the pillow before standing up beside her bed. He grabbed the blue covers and draped them over her gentle curves. He didn't intend to but his palm suddenly went to her cheek to cup her face. Some of these things his body did when she was around, it was doing on its own, not that he minded. He stared at her close eyelids where her large brown eyes were concealed. He looked upon the curves of her face and the way her hair draped over her neck. Finally he looked upon her lips, pink, soft and sweet.

He wanted to kiss her but he knew a time like this was inappropriate. First he had some urgent matters to attend to. He whispered to her, still cupping her face, "Tomorrow, I'm going to find the cause of your darkness…and burn him to ashes"

He released her face and disappeared into the realm. This Cloud guy was irritating him. He had seen him before but never had any interest in him or knew his name until he met Tifa. Still there were so many mysteries of these beings with hearts that he could not understand.

What did Cloud do to her? What did she ever do to him to deserve everything she had received? Did he have any love for the woman and if he did, why was he not beside her?

"Ungrateful humans" Axel spat underneath his breath as he wandered through the dark realm. He wasn't sure where Cloud's world was or where to find him but he'd gladly take the time to find out. He needed to have a word with this Cloud.

A sly smirk marked his lips as he thought about what fun it would be if he could slowly fry him with his flames.

"One side order of toast coming right up"

Those were Axel's last remarks before he exited out of the realm to somewhere unknown.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Wow so Cloud seemed to have pissed Axel off. Well not that Axel can feel anger but he really wants to "have a word" with him. So Cloud and Axel will meet, now that won't be such a pretty sight will it? Don't you love when hot men fight? Muahahaha!