Yep. It be time that I hauled my lazy ass up and started to finish this story. It's been awhile since I've actually had a chance to sit and think about it. I'm a bit disappointed too; I figured that many of my favorers would review, but -sigh- what can ya do?

Disclaimer: My broke ass owns nothing, son. XD

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'Left, Right, Duck...Again' Roxas repeatedly recited in his head as the ruthless thugs aimed to take a chunk of flesh from him. Their merciless onslaught was starting to wear our hero's energy thin.

He prayed that the police would arrived shortly, for he had no idea how much longer he could defend his loved ones.

Out of the corner of his eye, the blond noticed several Dusks getting crushed over-sized box of junk.

"Oi, Roxas!"

Parrying off some advances, Roxas back flipped onto a small tower of crates and looked upwards; his mouth stretching wider and wider as his gaze went up every inch. His fiery friend stood atop a tall mountain of packages.

"A-Axel? You're alright!"

The older man heaved another heavy case over his head and successfully nailed about three people before facing his friend.

"Well, yeah. I ain't gonna let a teeny flesh wound stop me from helping out!"

The skater felt his eyes well up with tears. He had to be the luckiest guy in the world to have a friend like Axel.

"Axel."

"Roxas."

"Axel."

"Rox-"

"Enough of this lovey-dovey friendship shit! Seize 'em!"

An angry Cleo growled out as the Dusks obeyed and started to scale the steep stack of parcels. With her little tirade over for the moment, the red-head lazily gathered the blade tightly in her grasp.

Namine whimpered and tried to struggle out of her binds, but Lexaeus saw to her squirming with a rough squeeze.

Cleo merely laughed at Namine's feeble attempt at escaping and the pain written on her captives' face.

"Poor, weak Namine. Don't worry, little one. I won't kill you until Roxas is finished off. I want to watch his face as I slowly put you out of your misery." The golden-eyed brat pulled away from her shivering prey.

"But for now, let us watch."

Namine gazed helplessly as her love battled for his and her own life. Even Axel, a man she never had the chance of meeting, was trying to save her. If they didn't get out of this alive, she would be truly grateful for what sacrifices were being made for her.

Unnoticed by everyone else, the second in command, Riku just stood their with a stoic expression. Though his facade remained apathetic, a war of mixed emotions raged on the inside.

'Was this really right? To hurt my friends for power and wealth?'

He brought his large hands closer to his face in contemplation.

'These hands...have I really brought this much harm?'

The sound of sniffling nearby alerted him that the golden-haired artist a few feet from him was crying. Just the sight of her depressed broke his heart.

'No...' The silver-haired man clenched his fists closed as he shut his eyes. 'T-This is gotta stop.'

"Oh shit, man! Axel! Axel, wake up!"

Breaking from his mental conflict, Riku watched as the red-head man, who had accompanied Roxas, collapsed to the floor. From this distance away, he couldn't decipher what had occurred and faded back into the shadows.

"Heh. Looks like the scrawny, rich boy is all alone now."

"This should be fun. Eh, boss?"

Roxas ignored the chatter around him as he cradled Axel in his lap. He had been conked pretty hard in the head with someone's sword. (The blunt end, of course.)

Now, the jaded-eyed stud muffin lay unconscious and bleeding lightly, incapable of fighting. Roxas edged backwards as the Dusks moved in for the kill.

Looking through the legs of the approaching group, the spiky, blond caught s glimpse of Namine. He shot her a meager smile and mouthed:

"I'm sorry."

Namine just returned his apology with her own grin; tears threatening the to pour over her cheeks.

"Well, Roxas...are you ready to admit your lover for me and truly see that I care for you?"

"If you truly loved me, you would let Namine go and let us be together. But from what I witnessed tonight, I can see that you don't."

The grip of the knife increased. Though on the outside the girl smiled, she was in total fury.

"Please, Roxie? Don't say such hurtful things. I know you love me too."

Roxas scoffed.

"Yeah. Right...Me love you? Don't make me laugh. You're the last person I'd ever want to love let alone be in the same room with."

"So that's how it's going to be, huh?"

Cleo slashed the pale, defenseless woman across the face, causing her to cry out as trails of blood started to drip off her face.

"I'm sick and tired of this argument, so if I can't have you, nobody ever can!"

With another snap of her fingers, a lean figure hopped forward, but this time with the intention to kill. Roxas manged to ward off the first strike, but with one hand cradling Axel's head, the keyblade was ripped from his hands.

"It's over, little dude."

The sword was raised above his attackers' head. Roxas took a deep breath and waited for the blow. He had failed. Now he, Namine, and Axel were doomed.

"I'm sorry, everyone."

Clank

The sound of metal slamming against metal woke Roxas back to his senses. Peeking upward, the blond allowed his mouth to fall open in shock. Riku stood defensively in front of him; his sword fending off the other.

"Riku, you idiot! What are you doing? I thought we had a deal!"

"It took some time, but I've finally seen the error of my ways and I'm ready to amend them."

Cleo's face went from surprise to instant anger.

"So you want to die as well I see. Fine. Kill them all!"

Roxas removed Axel from his lap and his him safely behind some boxes. As he returned, Riku kicked Roxas' fallen weapon towards him.

With grace and ease, Roxas went back to back with his ex-enemy, readying to kick some serious ass.

"Heh. I think I liked it better when they were on my side." (1)

"Why? Feeling a little regret?"

Glancing over his shoulder, Riku smirked as he saw Roxas flash him a toothy grin.

"Nah."

Splitting up, the two warriors jumped into different directions, taking down as many Dusks as possible which weren't as many, but still a threat.

The duo was fairly well when the crashing of door echoed in their ears.

"Freeze! Cleo Leona and Riku Hitaki, you are both under arrest for attempted manslaughter and the Dusks you are doing tried for both murder and illegal drug distribution."

Twenty men dressed in black uniforms with shields and bullet proof vests came scrambling, frightening the enemy.

"It's the coppers! Run, run away!"

The silver-clad gang of misfits threw their weapons to the group and made a beeline for the exit in the back of the facility. The SWAT member chased after them; their nightsticks raised above their head, ready to pummel anyone reachable.

Though in the haste, Roxas couldn't find Namine only her her audible screams for release.

"Lexaeus, grab her and let's get outta here!"

That's when Roxas saw her.

Tears were leaking uncontrollably from her scared, blue eyes. Her hands were untied now and she was reaching out to him pathetically.

"Roxas!"

"Namine!" He ran after them, but was halted by the SWAT team. As they held him back, he let his own pent up emotions escape as he watched Namine, Lexaeus and Cleo disappeared into the shadows of the night.

"Namine. NAMINE!"

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"Look! He's over there!"

Selphie cried as the group arrived on the crime scene. She pointed happily at the sullen Roxas, who was perched on top of a police car with his legs pulled up to his chest. Glancing around a bit more, the gang couldn't locate Namine anywhere.

Hayner, Pence, and Sora drove under the yellow caution tape, wanting to comfort their friend and get more information, only to be thrown back out by the police chief.

"Hey! What's the big idea?"

Hayner shook his fist at the man in front of him.

"No trespassing on a crime scene."

"But what happened here? Where's Namine?"

By now, the girls reunited themselves with their boyfriends. (Not Pence and Selphie though.)

"Ah, you must mean the girl who was kidnapped. I'm very sorry to inform you, but she was once again kidnapped by Cleo Leona, but most of the gang members she enlisted were captured as was her accomplice, Riku Hitaki."

Kairi gasped and sunk to her knees. Sora was instantly at her side, patting her affectionately on her back.

"B-but Riku, why? N-Namine...she and h-him"

"He claims that he was offered a mass amount of money to help in this little scheme. He said the money was going to be used to finally put his family above the Nasumis. That's all the information I can disclose at this time."

"Was anyone hurt?" Olette asked worriedly as her eyes quickly scanned over Roxas' body. He didn't appear hurt only miserable.

"In fact, there was." As that sentence was muttered, paramedics wheeled out what the crew could was a fiery tuff of hair. As the stretcher went by, the tuff of hair turned out to be Axel.

"Oh damn." Hayner said quietly.

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'It's all my fault. I should have told her sooner...Now, she's gone.'

Roxas put his head between his legs and let out a sob.

"Roxas..."

His head immediately shot up and stared before him. There stood Namine's dad and little brother. The blond hopped off the car and walked to the broken family.

"I-I'm sor-"

He was embraced both both males as they all now mourned together.

"No, Roxas. I wanted to thank you. You were always there for my daughter and I could tell that you really cared for her. I really appreciate you helping her when we couldn't."

"Yugowa-san, I need you over here to help us file out a missing person's report for your daughter."

A young lieutenant dragged the two Yugowas away, leaving Roxas to wallow once more in self pity.

"Hey, Roxas." The blue-eyed hero orbs burned with hatred at the man before him who just wore a simple, apologetic smile. The anger in Roxas though soon fleeted as he realized how Riku tried to at least help Namine and him.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for being an ass to you and starting his whole mess. I know it doesn't mean anything now, but I truly am sorry."

"Y-You were the one who wrote that note, weren't you?"

Riku's turquoise eyes softened and held up his cuffed hands playfully.

"You got me."

"But why?"

"They say people do crazy things when they're in love."

With that, Riku was hauled away to await his trial. As Roxas was settling back into in state of sadness, a local authority came running out into the scene, jumping around with joy.

"We got them! They were on Exit 45 when we stopped them. It's been confirmed that the hostage has been safely secured and is coming onto the scene right now."

The still shaken artist was escorted onto the site and wrapped up in a over-sized navy blanket. Her father and brother were there in a split-second hugging and kissing her.

Cheering from their friends made Roxas smile and waited his try.

The males back away from their family member only to have her sprint forward and launch herself into Roxas' arms, weeping softly. The blond took no chances and embraced her tightly in his arms.

"Shh. It's alright now, Namine. You're safe."

The girls' cerulean orbs shone brightly as she tilted her head up and brushed her lips lightly against her love's. She pulled away, blushing like mad as was Roxas.

"I love you too, Roxas and thanks."

Roxas placed his forehead against her own.

"Anytime, Namine, anytime."

He leaned down and captured her lips in deep, passionate kiss, seeing the fireworks go off in his head as he held the one he cared the most for in his lovingly arms.

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– I know that's Axel's line, but what the hell?

Well, that's that for now. Hope to get lots of reviews! You don't think I moved too fast, did you?

R&R