With empty eyes did Axel look at his reflection, seeing his green eyes reflect back at him, the black coat he now wore seemed to make his eyes look even more green and his hair even more red. Him and Saix had gotten strict instructions, to never ever take off that coat.

The coat was special, it shielded them from the darkness, now that they didn't have hearts they would be extra vulnerable. And if they were swallowed now, they would turn into dusks and loose all sense of self.

Dusks… nobodies? He was a nobody now, a being without a heart. Something that logically should not be able to exist.

After he he and Saix had come to be, as the new nobodies, they truly had escaped radiant garden, and seen their old world being swallowed by the darkness from afar.

They were free to go back now at any time, but there wasn't much to go back to. All the people were gone, it was empty now.

The flowers had died, the sky was permanently dark, covered in thick clouds made of darkness and the water… The water acted strangely.

Axel had spend a long time just emptily starring at the waterfall now going upwards defying gravity…

Radiant garden no longer belonged to the light, so it didn't work normally anymore… Also there were no plants, so it couldn't be a garden anymore. The name change seemed fitting like that.. Hollow bastion.

The same way Axel had been looking at that water with empty eyes, he was now looking at his own reflection in a mirror firmly placed above the sink in a bathroom connected to his own private room granted to him by Xemnas.

His new home… At this place located between the realms of darkness and light. The world there never was.

Under Axels eyes were those markings that Isa had drawn on his face with a sharpie… It seemed so long ago now.
While they had still been people, doing Xemnas's bidding, he had had to redraw them every morning. How-ever… He had not re-drawn them for a while.

Wondering Axel touched the marking under his left eye, then poured water into his hands and washed his face. He glanced up… Then realized, the marks had not been washed away.

Axel frowned, then found soap and rubbed at the marks, he rubbed until the skin around them had turned bright red, but the marks remained.

With docile eyes did Axel looked at them… So they had become permanent.

Made sense, he couldn't cry even if he wanted to. Not one single time since Axel had become Axel had he shed as much as a single tear. He just… Didn't feel it anymore. Not even when he was thinking about her.

It used to hurt, the thought of her being all alone somewhere out there. Now though… He felt nothing. Still, he had to continue, what else was he here for? It just… made sense.

"Lea.."

Axel didn't even react to being called his old name, there was only one person whom would ever caill him that. "Isa.." he replied without even turning around.

Slowly Saix walked inside until he stood behind Axel.

Finally did Axel turn around to look at his friend, also standing in a black coat, his gray eyes now truly looking like ice as he merely looked at Axel.

"Looks like the upside down tears helped after all." Axel commented jokingly pointing at his markings… It was a joke, it was the way he used to joke. But… He didn't feel amused, he just did what he normally would have done.

"You have not had nightmares." Saix observed. "That is a positive development I believe."

Axel shrugged. "You know, I just thought of something funny." he stated.

Saix didn't reply but just looked at him.

"When we lived in radiant garden." Axel continued. "I made sure that everyone would know my name! I had figured, that if everyone knew my name then I would become immortal! Because even though I died, I would still be remembered." he accounted. "I spend such a long time, making sure that people would remember. And now… Everyone I talked to back then, at radiant garden. They are gone." he stated as he glanced up. "There is no one left who would even remember my name. That's funny, isn't it?" he asked in a slight smile.

Saix frowned thoughtfully. "I suppose it is rather ironic." he nodded.

"I think I am supposed to feel sad." Axel frowned. "I just… Don't feel it you know. I guess my heart isn't in it." he stated in a slight smirk.

"We should focus on our mission." Saix stated. "We are both here, for one single reason."

Axel nodded as he leaned back his head. "Yeah, I remember." he stated. "All that talk of power Xemnas like to spew out, I'm actually not that interested." he admitted. "Looking for Janan is at least something to do with our time." he shrugged. "Something that isn't just following Xemnas's orders blindly."

"It's good to see that rebellious fire is still in you." Saix nodded.

"Well, it is my element." Axel commented as he snapped a finger letting a flame appear, then simply distinguished it with a swift of his hand.

"You used to be fearful of that fire." Saix pointed out.

Axel shrugged. "Just don't feel it." he stated.

What people quickly noticed about the two new young members was that they were not to be taken lightly.

Especially Saix, how-ever… The first one whom tried to target him ended up paying dearly.

The body was never found, how could it be, when only ashes were left behind.

Xemnas didn't even seem like he cared, people who were so weak to be taken out that easily were not worthy to serve him anyway. They were better of dead.

Axel and Saix would not be seen hanging out or even spend time together, from any outsiders perspective they only looked like they happened to be in the same organization, not like two who worked together or even liked each other.

Only rarely would Axel and Saix meet in secret to exchange information, such was this one of those times.

"Don't worry about it." Axel stated in a smirk. "You are the one Xemnas trusts, we need to let it stay that way! When-ever something needs to be done you can't be attached to. Then it's my job!"

Saix didn't reply, just looked at his old friend.

"Sure, it is the icky jobs." Axel stated in a shrug as he grinned. "It makes sense though. I'll do the icky things in the shadows, you concentrate on rising to the top!" he spoke with that infamous grin on his face. "I'll have you back, just like I promised. Still have it memorized?" he asked.

And Saix, offered one of his extremely rare smirks, for a minor second looking actually amused.

They were indeed a dangerous team, the fact that they always had each others backs gave them the edge.

Especially when others didn't even see it coming.

Xemnas, seemed pleased, he was in fact smiling as he called Axel to the meeting room to talk with him alone.

"You taken out yet another weakling." Xemnas pointed out.

Axel smirked. "You didn't stop me." he pointed out. "So… When you don't tell me not to. How am I supposed to know what to do or not do?" he asked.

Xemnas chuckled amused. "You are indeed very good for weeding out the weaklings." he commented. "It is a shame though, it is not for me you are doing such favors."

Axel quieted.

"What I am asking you is simple." Xemnas stated. "Do for me what you're doing for Saix, show me the same loyalty."

"Ah! You got a bunch of icky jobs no one else wants to do!" Axel exclaimed. "Got cha! Why didn't you just say so from the start?" he asked.

"So you agree?" Xemnas asked.

"You are my master." Axel replied as he made a big bow and stood up again. "What kind of subordinate would I be to refuse orders?" he asked. Axel indeed wasn't stupid, this had merely been another test. Xemnas was always testing them, all of them.

There was though no reason to not just do as he was told. Axel didn't really feel anything, he just did… Thankfully, he always had his purpose to guide him.

His only true purpose… To help Isa reach his goals! That was his true reason for existing.

As long as Axel had that goal to fight for, Isa's position, he had purpose! Purpose he could always hold unto, even though his body felt so empty. And he would continue. Mission after mission, year after year.

It was okay he felt nothing, as long as he had a purpose... a direction to go. A friend to look out for.

It was just yet another day when all the organization members had been gathered, to greet a new member… Number thirteen.

Axel couldn't really say he cared, he was mostly just bored as he glanced at the new hooded person standing down there on the floor below them. The guy wasn't very tall… Probably still young. Like Axel himself had been when he first joined.

Then… His hood was removed and Axel blinked.

That face! It looked so familiar! But… How?

"Number thirteen." Xemnas presented. "Roxas."