"The keyblade wielders are approaching." Xehanort observed… It was the old guy Xehanort. He as the original acted as the leader in this whole operation.

Saix remained cold as he stood alongside the other vessels of darkness.

"We must be ready." Xehanort continued then nodded as Xemnas.

A smirk graced Xemnas's face and he turned around suddenly grabbing Saix's face.

Saix's eyes widened in shock as his face was being tightly held by Xemnas's hand.

"What kind of fool do you take me for Saix?" Xemnas asked in that smooth voice of his. "You don't think I know of your little stunt?" he asked. "Bringing Xion here… planting an empty replica at the battle ground for Roxas to inhabit.."

Xion gasped. "What?" she asked.

"I should thank you though." Xemnas stated as he lifted his arm and suddenly Saix's fet was lifted from the ground. "Gathering all the traitors at one place so they can be punished together."

Saix hissed as he grabbed Xemnas arm, struggling as he tried to get loose.

"STOP IT!" Xion shouted as she took a step only to be grabbed by Xigbar.

"Hey there, easy poppy." Xigbar grinned. "You still have a role to fulfill."

"What were you even trying to accomplish?" Xemnas asked in almost bored tone while Saix was struggling. "Reuniting this little gang of traitor friends?" he asked. "Why?"

Saix hissed as he struggled. "I… I blamed Roxas and Xion, for taking everything away from me. Everything that mattered." he stated. "But it was you!" he hissed. "XEHANORT!" he shouted only for a wave of energy to come from Xehanorts hand still holding Saix's face.

"ARGH!" Saix shouted in pain.

Then Saix's eyes opened, and they had started to glow.

"Ah, there we go." Xemnas grinned. "Such hatred, such anger, such sadness… Such darkness." he stated. "Your darkness was always so great, but you never learned how to control it. Only to let go in unparalleled rage. Show that to me now." he demanded.

Saix hissed as he squinted his eyes. "No.." he tried, but the darkness around him was so vast it had become visible.

"You think Axel will thank you for this?" Xemnas asked. "You will have brought him to his former friends, only for him to suffer! The traitors in our midst, today I shall punish them. And he will suffer… Suffer as he curses your name." he stated. Then he reached up another hand grabbing Saix's throat. "You are not needed… Saix. Axel has moved on. Your actions will have been fruitless and I will ensure that you suffer while wallow in your loneliness. I will let you witness his suffering and demise. I will even let it be by your hands!" he stated. "You belong to the darkness... You always did. Isa."

"Don't... Don't use that name." Isa hissed as he clearly tried to struggle against all the dark forming around him in arms. "You have no right, to use my name."

"You're right, you're not Isa." Xemnas agreed. "You're Saix... the hated Saix. Alone... Pathetic... weak."

"No.." Saix hissed. "I... am not... Weak!"

"Then stop struggling." Xemnas asked. "If you're so strong. Show it to me!"

At that Saix let go of a roar as energy itself came from him in a shock wave, tearing up robes yet all the figure stood still and Xemnas grinned as finally he let go and Xion saw.

Saix… Except now his eyes were not even yellow, they were shining in white. Pure rage.

"What…." Xion gasped. "What have you done to him?" she asked.

Xemnas smirked. "I only called upon his true nature. Took to the surface what was already in there." he stated. "This thoughtless uncontrollable anger. That is the true Saix." he stated. "All we have to do now, is to point him in the right direction. Angers has not thoughts on its own."

"How-ever listen Poppy." Xigbar whispered in an almost sweet voice as he leaned down whispering into her ear. "You can still help you know..." he stated. "All you need to do is fight Axel…. Fight with all you got and don't stop. Don't stop for a single moment. If you stop fighting him… I'll make sure he'll suffer for a looong time!" he stated. "Now… What kind of friend would let her only friend suffer?" he asked. "Of course… He doesn't even remember you! So who cares if he kills you accidentally or you hurt him! He wont even know you're anything else than a faceless enemy!"

Xion squinted her eyes as the tears were stinging.

"Ah, such pain from her as well." Xemnas nodded. "Good."

Xehanort grinned. "Finally… our thirteen vessels are ready!"

Lea cursed his weakness! He had to protect Kairi! He had to do his best and yet… Something was wrong!

Saix was not being himself! He had seen Saix's berserk move before, that wasn't it… This though was different. And it was stinking far away!

And then there was the girl! The girl still with her hood up! He saw her and… Why was he fighting her?! Why was she here?! Who was she?

Lea ended up blocking far more than attacking… It just felt wrong! It felt way to wrong!

"AXEL!" Kairi shouted. "Keep alive!"

Lea hissed, he didn't want to fight anymore… He had to though… He had to fight. He blocked the keyblade that girl was holding and for a moment they were locked. "I… I don't want to fight you." he hissed. "There's something wrong about this! Something really wrong! Just tell me, why is this so wrong?" he asked. "Who are you?"

And a sob sounded from beneath the hood as she lifted her keyblade again and slammed it over Lea.

"XION!" the moment the word was called… It was like the world itself stopped… Xion could hardly believe it. Axel had called out for her! Called her name.

He was struggling so much! Beaten and battered, and yet he was crawling… Crawling on hands and knees, grabbing Xemnas's legs just to make him stop.

Then Xion lifted her head to see Saix floating… robbed of his own thoughts. Why… Why would they have to fight? Friends fighting friends? It wasn't right… IT WASN'T RIGHT! Stop it! Stop it! Help us! Roxas! ROXAAAAAAS!

Huh… how funny. It was the second time Saix found himself in this situation… feeling his body dispersing all over again.

He did remember the last time, how terrified he had felt. How painful it was. It was weird… This time it wasn't painful at all.

He was being propped up.. by Lea. Ever the cry baby, just like back in the day… So long ago. It still stood so clear to him though, like it was just yesterday.

Roxas and Xion was standing right behind them… That was good. Lea was all beaten up, the kids could look after him. He actually felt relief.

Hopelessly did Lea see Saix just vanishing in his hands… turning into dark particles and he looked up to where they had flown away…. If you think you are getting away that easily Isa… Then think again. Slowly he stood up only to hear sobs behind him.

Xion… She was crying.

Astounded he looked at her. "I… I guess I should have brought some ice-creams." he awkwardly tried.

Then though Roxas broke together to and embraced Xion… It became all to much and Lea ran to them, hugging both of them close as he cried.

"Axel…." Xion sobbed. "ROXASSSSS!"

"You're here! You're actually here!" Roxas cried as well. "Axel!… Xion! You… You..."

"I'm so sorry I left!" Xion sobbed. "I didn't want to leave! I didn't!"

"Just shut up." Axel sobbed. "We know!"

"And I didn't want to fiiight yoooou." Xion babbled.

"It's not your fault." Roxas assured. "You had no choice!"

"Not like it's the first time we had to fight." Lea sniffed. "I guess I owed you a few hits on me."

"But I don't want to.." Xion swallowed. "I don't want to fight you anymore Axel. I don't want to hurt you anymore!"

"You don't have to." Lea assured. "Not anymore… Xion… You don't have to fight." he reached out gently wiping tears away from her face. "It's over… no more fighting."

Xion shook her head. "It's not over yet. Xehanort is still there!"

Roxas nodded. "how-ever this time! We'll do it together!" he stated.

Lea smiled as he finally stood up but stumbled.

"Axel! Are you okay?" Xion asked. "You… You don't have to fight if you're not."

Lea hissed as he grabbed his side. "I had worse in the past." he stated. "I am still good to go."

"Are you sure?" Roxas asked.

Lea nodded. "I just got you two back! I wont just let you run off on your own! Are you crazy?" he asked.

Then Xion moved next to Axel and took his arm, Roxas moved to the other side taking his other arm.

"Together then." Xion stated.

Roxas nodded as well. "Together."

Lea smiled lightly. "Dammit guys. Have you any idea how much I missed you?" he asked.

"I do have a pretty good idea." Xion smiled lightly, tears still rolling down her face. "I'm sorry we left you all alone. We didn't mean to."

Roxas nodded. "Yeah…. Sorry."

"Don't think about it." Lea assured. "You made it back, that's what matters."

Xion silenced.

"Xion?" Roxas asked.

"I..." Xion halted. "It was Saix… It was Saix who sat everything up so we could meet here."

At that Roxas's eyes widened. "What? Saix did?" he asked. "Why?"

"I don't know." Xion admitted. "He… He had Vexen bring me back. He planted a replica for you to inhabit at the field. He made absolutely sure I would be the one to face Axel and at that exact place where your replica was."

Lea grew silent as he looked forward.

"Axel?" Xion asked.

Lea let go of a breath, then he swallowed as his eyes grew misty yet again. "Isa..." he breathed.

"Isa..." Roxas blinked confused. "Wait, is that his original name?"

Lea nodded. "I… I never told you anything about the time before I was turned into a nobody did I?" he asked.

Both shook their heads.

"I'm afraid it's not time for that right now, we need to make it to Xehanort." Lea stated. "How-ever… When this is done. I'll tell you." he assured. "I want you to know… About this friend I had. A pretty damn long time ago."

"Your… Friend?" Xion asked.

"No, not my friend." Lea shook his head as he swallowed. "My best friend. Like you two are my best friends." he smiled as they walked together and he sniffed. "I... I was wrong about him." he smiled as his eyes squinted. "He... I can't believe it." he gasped.

"I can't wait till I hear about him." Xion smiled sweetly. "So let's make it through this together."

"Yeah." Lea nodded.