"We find Sora first, then the girls. I have a bad feeling about this..." Riku told them. They nodded.
Silently, the three crept to the gate and opened it as quietly as possible.
"Axel, where would they be keeping Sora?" Riku asked. Axel shrugged.
"Xemnas' study, maybe? It's not very close, but I remember where it is."
"Lead the way." The redhead took the front, checking down each corridor before walking across it. Things were going fine, until...
Roxas hissed, flat on his face. He had just tripped.
Riku looked at him for a second, then glanced around.
"Doesn't look like anyone heard-"
"So, here you three are. I was getting tired of waiting." Axel spun around, hearing the voice behind him. He glared at the black-haired man.
"Xaldin." he hissed. Xaldin stared coldly at them.
"My orders are to kill you criminals for numerous crimes- may I skip the listing?"
"Feel free." Axel said, eyes narrowed in a glare as he called forth his weapons. Behind him, he could hear Riku summon Way to the Dawn. Roxas, he knew, would summon one of the few Keyblades he could use- Roxas had explained to him when they were in the Secret Place as Axel had expressed concern for the 'unarmed' Roxas.
Xaldin's weapons- multiple spears he was able to control with his mind- formed around him.
"Let's go." he said. Before the words were out of his mouth, Riku was on top of him, bringing Way to the Dawn down with the intent of beheading him. Xaldin blocked quickly, though he was a bare inch from losing his head.
Riku kept pressing down.
"Where's Sora?" he demanded. With effort and a glare, Xaldin shoved Riku away into the air. Riku did a somersault and landed in a defensive stance.
"I believe we asked you a question!" Axel said, throwing his now flaming weapons. Xaldin nimbly dodged, sending three spears straight at the momentarily weaponless Axel. Axel cursed and rolled, hissing when one grazed his back.
"Take this!" Roxas leapt into the air, trying to hit Xaldin's arm. He was repelled by a block from one of the spears.
Suddenly, Xaldin jerked to the side, but not fast enough. Riku's sword had bit deep into his side.
"Cheap trick." Xaldin bit out.
"And taking Sora and the others is not?" Riku demanded. He brought his sword up, but Xaldin thrust one of his spears forward before Riku could dodge. Luckily Xaldin's aim had been hurried and instead of hitting Riku's heart he grazed Riku's side. Riku hissed and dodged Xaldin's followup, a strike that would have cut him in two.
"Fools..." Xaldin seethed, an eerie green glow starting around him. He flew directly at Axel, being the first target he saw. Axel swore loudly and leapt up, wincing when Xaldin followed him and a spear hit and drew a long gash down his leg. Roxas reacted quickly, leaping towards Xaldin at the same moment Riku did. Unfortunately, Xaldin saw them coming and disappeared, reappearing behind Roxas and shooting a spear at the blonde's unprotected head. Hearing the displaced air, Roxas jerked his head to the side, feeling the wind rush past his ear and a faint burning where the spear's blade had grazed him.
Riku landed in front of Xaldin, using the other's surprise to catch him in a slash. It was shallow, Riku not being close enough to slice Xaldin in two, but it did damage. Xaldin was bleeding heavily and the crimson liquid gushed down the front of the angels robe.
"You're finished- I'm done playing." Xaldin snarled as two glossy black, blue highlighted wings erupted from his back. He rose into the air, sending his spears down in a deadly rain.
Riku hissed as one hit his leg and another hit his bicep. Axel deflected one heading for him, but another just barely brushed by his neck, causing a small trickle of blood to ooze down it.
Roxas avoided them all, leaping high up in the air towards Xaldin's unprotected back.
"Yah!" he yelled, slashing deeply into the angel's back and partially into a wing. Xaldin roared, spinning and sending a one spear midway through falling at the blonde. Instinctively, Roxas brought his hands up to block. The spear glanced off the Keyblade, falling harmlessly to the ground. It hit loudly, giving Riku the one second distraction he needed to leap at Xaldin in a tackle, pinning the angel to the ground with his blade at the black-haired man's throat.
"Now tell me- where are they?"
"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you." Xaldin spat, lifting a hand up and beckoning a spear, intending to take Riku down with him. Axel blocked the weapon with one of his own.
"Kill him." Axel said. Needing no more urging, Riku leaned on his sword, decapitating the angel. As soon as the head and body separated, Riku lifted his blade and stabbed Xaldin through the heart. Underneath him, the body turned to dust.
Riku stood, dusting off his hands and pants.
"Let's keep going. Sora is somewhere near." Riku said, motioning for Axel to take the lead. Roxas nodded, giving one last glance at the dust pile before they left.
Scene Change
Demyx looked down both sides of the hallway before he left his room.
Walking slowly and quietly, he reached the edge of the hallway. Hearing hushed voices, he flattened himself against the wall, not wanting to be discovered.
"Sora could be almost anywhere. He wasn't in the study..."
"Axel!" Demyx said, stepping out of the shadows. Instantly, the three in front of him were on their guard.
"Demyx?" Axel questioned, but he didn't lower his weapons. "What are you doing awake?"
"Leaving." Demyx replied seriously. "I have something I have to do."
"And what's that?" Riku asked.
"Dethroning the madman." Demyx said. "He's not the real leader. He's abusing his power. That, and I don't like him."
"You're getting rid of Xemnas? How?" Axel asked. Roxas looked confused.
"Xemnas?"
"Organization XIII's leader." Riku told him quietly.
"I found the real leader. I'm leaving to bring him back. Sorry I can't stay." Demyx said, moving to walk past them. Riku grabbed his arm.
"Wait- do you know where they have Sora?"
"Sora? The kid that was with you last I saw you?" Demyx asked. Riku nodded, looking almost desperate. Demyx shook his head apologetically.
"I haven't heard anything about him, but... Dr. Hojo was working up on Altar of Naught earlier. You might find him there."
"Thank you." Riku said. He let Demyx go and turned to Axel. "Do you know where that is?"
"Yeah- we're not too far, actually."
"Go then- I wouldn't hang around." Demyx said over his shoulder as he resumed walking.
"Let's get moving." Roxas said. Axel started leading them to the Altar of Naught, walking quickly.
Scene Change
Saix stood in the Hall of Empty Melodies, weapon and wings out and waiting. As expected, Riku and his friends showed up beaten and bloody.
"This is your final battle. Are you ready?" Saix asked as he lifted his heavy weapon.
"It's your final battle. Sora's close by, isn't he?" Riku demanded, leveling his weapon at Saix.
"You'll have to go through me to find out." Saix rushed forward, bringing his heavy axe-like weapon forward in a horizontal strike. Riku and Axel dodged, Axel grabbing Roxas before jumping away. While Saix was overextended, Riku spun and slashed shallowly into his back.
Saix tried striking again, but it was slow- Axel had no problem hitting him twice with his weapons, though neither cut really did damage. As he caught his blades, he saw Roxas leap in and land yet another shallow cut on their opponent.
'What's going on? It's almost like he's letting us hit him...' Axel's eyes went wide in understanding as he saw Saix grin.
"Don't hit him!" Axel shouted. Too late- Riku had too much momentum and Way to the Dawn cut into Saix's arm.
"Showtime." Saix said mockingly, a blue glow around him. Even his eyes were glowing. With a battle cry, he leapt at Riku and caught the surprised teen off-guard, hitting solidly across his midsection. Riku hissed, leaping away. Roxas tried to rush in on Saix, but was forced to roll away as Saix spun, axe nearly cleaving Roxas in two.
"Bastard!" Axel yelled, throwing both his weapons directly at Saix- one hit, slicing into the angel's right wing. Saix roared, rushing at Axel but the redhead managed to dodge the main force of the blow, his only damage a small slice on his shoulder.
Axel jumped into the air, grabbing his returning weapons and almost immediately turing and falling directly at Saix. Axel brought the blades down, aiming for Saix's skull, but the blue-haired man quickly brought his axe up and threw Axel back.
Axel hit the wall with a 'thud', hissing as he felt something in his torso crack.
Roxas rushed in, Keyblade held so that he could either block or attack. Saix almost didn't notice him, and didn't have enough time to do more than dodge when he did notice. Roxas missed with his downward slash, but caught Saix on his second move- a spin slash he had seen Sora do. Saix grunted as the blade sunk into his chest and pulled through, a five inch long cut in a perfect parallel to his collarbone only an inch away. Saix shoved his axe forward in a thrust, catching Roxas' unprotected middle and throwing the blonde human back into a pillar. Roxas slumped to the floor, wind knocked out of him.
Saix walked slowly to Roxas, having apparently forgotten there were others in the room. He brought his axe up, ready to bring it crashing down onto Roxas' head.
Roxas cringed, waiting, when suddenly the clang on metal meeting metal made him open his eyes.
Axel stood in front of him, circular weapons held to block the heavy axe.
"Move!" Axel shouted. The blonde scrambled to his feet, picking up his dropped weapon and getting out from behind Axel. The redhead shoved Saix back with all his might, then grabbed Roxas by the arm and dragged him away before Saix could do more damage.
"Don't rush in like that- you'll get yourself killed." Axel told him harshly. Roxas glared back.
"It was an opening- you do more reckless things."
"So- you're human. I'm not. Just... be careful, okay?" That said, Axel turned away from a stunned Roxas and leapt back in to join Riku who had been holding Saix off.
"Hold him there!" he yelled, shooting his weapons at Saix. Saix tried to move his axe, but Riku kept Way to the Dawn in the way.
Just before the blades hit, Saix shoved Riku off and hit the two blades. They clattered to the floor and Saix rushed towards the unprotected Axel.
The angel roared again, bringing his axe up to slash horizontally. Axel tried to back up, but fear froze his legs.
'Move, damnit!' he shouted at the useless limbs.
Suddenly, Roxas was in front of him, taking the hit. The axe-wielder, surprised by the appearence of the blonde, struck too early and didn't strike very deep, but...
'Shit!' The wound was deep enough to be potentially fatal if not treated soon, Axel saw. It wouldn't have done much to Axel with his advanced healing, but...
"Roxas you idiot!"
"Look out!" Riku shouted as Saix brought his axe up to finish the job. Axel growled and grabbed Roxas, leaping backwards before jumping straight up to land next to Riku and his weapons.
"Watch him for me." Axel said, handing Roxas gently over to Riku. He grabbed his blades, standing and facing Saix.
"I never paid this bastard back for ripping out my wings." Axel seemed like he was on fire, his eyes glowing and the air around him crackled with the heat. Riku moved back away from Axel, quickly laying Roxas down and ripping up the teen's shirt to use as a bandage.
"Don't die, Roxas..." he said, whispering 'Cure' to the blonde. Roxas moaned in pain, screwing his eyes shut.
A/N: I know- lots of random fighting going on! But... suspenseful music Will Roxas survive? What will happen to Sora? What is Axel planning to do to save the day? And... (most importantly)
When will Sora and Riku get together? When will Roxas and Axel admit they love each other?
(As we only have 3 more chapters, the answers to these questions may be closer than you think...)
Teaser:
"How long have you been awake?" Roxas shrugged.
"Long enough I guess. How much of that... did you mean?" Roxas asked, carefully sitting up.
"How much of what?" Axel responded, playing dumb. Roxas shot him a look, clearly telling Axel that he had heard.
"What's it to you?" the redhead questioned, not looking at the blonde.
"I just... I want to know."
"All of it. Happy?" Axel said sarcastically.