"Feel something for that human? He's as good as dead." Saix said. Axel growled.
"You're dead." Axel alloed his power to flow outwards, then suddenly concentrated it into his hands and leapt at the berserker. Saix's eyes went wide, barely able to block Axel's rapid attacks.
"You'll pay for what you did." Axel said, breathing hard as he knocked the axe out of Saix's hands. Saix watched with wide eyes as the axe flew across the room, opening him up to attacks from Axel. Axel slashed once, twice, three times more before Saix fell, coughing as blood ran into his lungs from a particularly deep slash.
"Where's Sora and the others?" Axel demanded. Saix growled, about to summon another axe when a familiar blade was suddenly hooked under his chin.
"Tell me now." Riku cooly. "Axel, you watch over Roxas." The redhead abruptly turned and ran to the apparently unconscious blonde.
Saix chuckled, the berserker haze clearing.
"I guess I've distracted you long enough. Xemnas should be done by now." The blade dug deeper into his neck, but Saix wasn't bothered.
"Done with what?"
"Opening the door to Kingdom Hearts and taking that power for his own. All he needs is a strong heart to be sacrificed." The angel felt Riku tense in shock as the pieces fell into place.
"Yes. Most likely, the Keyblade Master's heart is already-" He never got a chance to finish as Riku cut through his neck and stabbed through his heart. His body faded into dust, a triumphant smile still in place.
"Axel! I'm going!" Riku as he ran as fast as his feet could carry him. He didn't even spare a glance backwards as he raced through the passageways Axel had told him about to reach the Altar of Naught.
'Sora... please, be alive.'
Scene Change
Kairi and Namine huddled together, scared. They had been hiding in what seemed like a computer room. Somehow, they had escaped their captors. This was the first room they had found, and they had hidden underneath one of the desk's together.
"Do you think Sora's alright?" Kairi asked her sister quietly. Namine shook her head sadly.
"I don't know, Kairi. I really don't know."
Scene Change
Axel slumped down against the wall next to Roxas.
"That was stupid. Why the hell did you do that?" he demanded of the unconscious blonde. He hated to admit it, but he had been scared when he saw Roxas jump in front of him. "I could have taken that hit." Axel continued.
He sighed, looking straight down at the ground. He had not liked being afraid at all, but it had answered quite a few questions he hadn't been aware he had.
It seemed odd to be so attached to the blonde after only knowing him for- what was it? A few days?- but Axel felt a deep connection to him. It went deeper than simple attraction, and when Roxas had jumped in front of him to take that hit it had made him realize just how much he had to lose.
"I mean, your brother's cool and all, and I guess Kairi and Namine are okay. Riku's even a decent guy, but you..." Axel shook his head, realizing that this would probably be the only time he got enough courage to say this to Roxas- when the teen was unconscious.
"Yeah, they're great and all, but you're the only one I really like. You remind me... that I have a heart. Don't know quite what it means yet, but... if you die from this, I will never forgive you." Axel chuckled at his thoughts.
"For all I know I might actually love you."
Roxas slowly came back to the waking world.
'Huh?' he thought, feeling slightly chilly. Something warm was around his middle, but he could feel the cold tile of the floor beneath his upper back.
'That's right... I got hurt...' Roxas was surprised he didn't hut more than he did. 'Did they use a spell on me?' he wondered, when a voice he knew well caught his attention.
"Yeah, they're great and all, but you're the only one I really like. You remind me... that I have a heart. Don't know quite what it means yet, but... if you die from this, I will never forgive you." A low laugh Roxas knew to be Axel's. "For all I know I might actually love you."
"Axel?" he asked out loud before he realized he spoke. He opened his eyes, blinking once or twice as his gaze focused on the redhead next to him. Axel seemed stiff, expression unreadable.
"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. He got up, brushing invisible dust off his clothes. "Now, if you'll excuse me-"
"Can you stay?" Roxas asked hopefully. "Or take me with you?" The redhead looked at him suspiciously.
"You don't care?"
"No- I mean, Sora's always liked Riku... and well..." Roxas felt heat rise in his cheeks, cursing his blush reflex. Axel seemed stunned as he knelt next to the blonde, gently tilting Roxas' face to look at him. Roxas kept his eyes averted, face still bright red.
"Don't tell me... You really don't mind?" Axel asked, running a thumb over Roxas' lower lip. Roxas shook his head gently, trying not to dislodge the callused hand there, but anticipation rendering him unable to speak.
"Even if I do... this?" Axel asked with a devilish smile, leaning in and pressing his lips to the blonde's. Roxas gasped in surprise, unintentionally allowing Axel's tongue entrance into his mouth. Of their own accord, Roxas' eyes closed so he could fully concentrate on what Axel was doing. Just as Axel began to pull away, Roxas brought his arms up to pull Axel back in. The redhead allowed himself to be pulled, nearly smirking into the kiss.
For a moment while they were kissing Axel felt a small burning sensation in his back, but dismissed it as pain from the wounds he carried.
When they finally broke apart, it was only for air. Not wanting to let go of the ex-angel, Roxas kept holding him, burying his face into Axel's muscular chest.
Axel wrapped his arms around Roxas as well, practically crushing the teen to him.
"Don't go." Roxas told him. Axel smirked.
"I'm a hard one to get rid of." Roxas smiled and fell back asleep, exhausted. Carefully, Axel rotated so that he could lean against the wall and enjoy Roxas' slim weight against him.
'Riku, I hope you find Sora okay. Roxas is in no shape to fight and I don't have any energy left after that stunt I pulled with Saix.' Axel thought, yawning. He settled in for sleep, unable to fight it off and hoping that no angel would happen upon then while they slept.
Scene Change
Sora looked up at the sky, swallowing. A while ago he had been brought here, though he wasn't exactly sure where 'here' was.
The silver-haired man- whose name he learned was Xemnas- had been looking closely at some measurements, and had suddenly smiled.
"It's time." Xemnas said, turning to Sora with a malicious glint to his eyes. Sora's eyes widened when he saw the wicked-looking daggar Xemnas held in his hand. Slowly, the angel walked to stand over Sora, daggar pointed at the Keyblade Master's heart. "Farewell-"
"Xemnas!" a shout Sora recognized sounded from the edge of the large circle that made up the area Sora was in.
"Riku!" he replied, relief coloring his features as the other teen leapt at Xemnas, forcing the angel to spring back and leave Sora alone, conviently dropping the knife next to the brunette.
"Get yourself out of here Sora. Use the knife to cut through the ropes."
"But... what about...?"
"I'll be fine. You're safe now." Riku said, flashing a quick, confident smile at Sora.
"Touching. I'm so sorry to break this lovely reunion, but the Keyblade Master and I have business, Riku." Xemnas said. Riku turned a fierce glare on Xemnas.
"To get to him, you go through me." Way to the Dawn pointed straight at Xemnas as Riku prepared to fight. Sora quickly got to work on his bonds, but had no intention of running. He would get free and help Riku- he couldn't let the other handle this by himself.
"Ah- the guardian angel is trying to fulfill his duty, where he has failed before? Are we looking for... forgiveness, Riku?" Xemnas questioned silkily, a blade of red energy materializing in each hand.
"Sora is not just an assignment. I may no longer have my wings, but I promised to protect him. I will not let him down now, not when he needs me the most." Riku's eyes narrowed warily at Xemnas' approach.
Sora cut through the last of the ropes holding him down and stood, calling the Ultima Keyblade.
"I won't let you fight alone." he told Riku stubbornly.
"Fool- he doesn't want you to see him die." Xemnas said. "He knows I am impossible to defeat and wants to, at least, save you. Isn't that true, Riku?"
Riku set his mouth in a thin line.
"Riku? You... you wouldn't..." Sora said in shock. Neither Keyblade Master nor ex-angel noticed Xemnas' slow approach.
"I can't beat him as I am. I don't want you to die. Go now Sora." Riku commanded.
"No! You're not going to die! We can take him if we both fight, right?"
"That, I'm afraid, is impossible." Xemnas said, sprouting two beautiful silvery wings.
"Nothing is impossible!" Sora shot back as Xemnas rushed them, bringing both blades to the side and slicing down at both of them. Riku grabbed Sora and leapt away from the slashing weapons, having no time to counter as Xemnas got his balance right away.
"Go Sora."
"No. We stand a better chance against him if it's both of us!"
"I don't care! It's fine so long as you get out of here-" Riku was cut off as Xemnas attacked, forcing him to block and then dodge as Xemnas brought the other blade towards him. Sora reacted as soon as Xemnas attacked, attempting to slice through one of the silver-haired man's arms. It was shallow though, and barely cut into the angels bicep.
Xemnas smirked and turned his attention to Sora, rushing in with rapidfire attacks. Sora blocked as best he could, but a few got under or over his guard, shallow cuts multiplying on his chest and arms. Sora bit his lip to keep from crying out, when suddenly he heard Riku shout his name as the warmth of a Cure spell hit him. Xemnas didn't seem at all surprised by Riku's sudden appearence and attack from behind, disappearing and then reappaering behind Riku and shoving the teen straight into Sora.
Instinctively, Riku wrapped his arms around the brunette and turned them around so it was Riku who landed headfirst against the small concrete walls of the battlefield.
"Riku!" Sora demanded, shaking his friend. He had heard the sickening 'thunk' as they had hit, and as he wasn't hurt...
A dark stain spread in Riku's beautiful hair, some running down his face. Riku groaned and sat up, blinking to clear out the blood that had made its way into his eyes.
Suddenly Sora was shoved aside and Riku blocked an attack that would have taken the brunette's head. Riku leapt at Xemnas again, scoring a deep gash across Xemnas' torso. Xemnas hissed, beating his wings once to propell himself away from Riku. Riku barely noticed, leaping up in the air and putting one hand out as a blind as he brought Way to the Dawn down.
Xemnas dodged to the side, Riku's attack missing by about half a foot. Xemnas spun, catching Riku off guard and he sliced deep across Riku's midsection, right on the wound that had just begun to heal. Riku yelped, crashing back against the ground. He struggled to his feet, the blood loss starting to make him dizzy...
"A strong will to live, perhaps? Or is it just a desire to protect?" Xemnas asked, leveling a single blade at Riku's neck. "You meet the same end. Do you see your foolishness to challenge me?" Riku glared hatefully with his single eyes not blinded by his own blood. Suddenly, Xemnas' blade went flying from his grip, a very angry Keyblade Master having interfered.
"Riku, get up. We can do this together." Sora told his friend as he attacked Xemnas. The silver-haired angel was forced to defend himself as Sora mindlessly attacked, needing to buy Riku time...
Sora gasped, having let his speed slip for one second. Xemnas had taken full advantage of that second, thrusting through the flesh on Sora's side. Sora dropped, rolling away. He held a hand to the wound, trying to recall if Xemnas had hit anything vital...
He couldn't think of anything, and so he quickly called his Keyblade back to his hand, looking for an opportune moment to jump back in as Riku leapt at Xemnas again. Xemnas flew up high into the air, raising his hands as he glared down at them.
"I will have supreme power. Fade into darkness." Sora stood and walked over to Riku, glaring up at the angel as Xemnas released the ball of dark energy he had formed in his hands. It grew and grew, until suddenly neither Sora nor Riku could see anything.
"There's no such thing as light." Xemnas said, the trigger command for one of his most powerful attacks. Riku and Sora took firmer grips on their blades and infinate numbers of small lights appeared around them in the darkness.
"Sora, hit them away with the Keyblade." Riku told the bunette quietly. Sora nodded.
That's when it began to rain lasers.
Sora couldn't keep track of his own movements, let alone Riku's. He was reacting on instinct, plain and simple. Despite his best efforts, a few still hit him- hard. He winced every time, but didn't dare slow down or stop. From the pained yelps he could hear Riku making, he knew that the silver-haired teen was getting hit too.
As suddenly as it had come, it was gone. Sora blinked, dazed from the sudden change. He didn't even see Xemnas swoop down towards him until the angel was upon him.
"Sora!" he heard Riku say, and then a splash of warm liquid hit him as he fell backwards, propelled by the weight of a heavy body.
AN: Gee... three guesses what happened, and the first two don't count.
But, three guesses what will happen! No, really. Guess. If you guess right, I'll give you an invisible cookie! Holds up invisible cookie
Sora: Is she crazy? (whispering)
Riku: Just back away slowly Sora, and I'll deal with her...
Bookkbaby (BB): No you won't! (singsongs)
Riku: And why not?
BB: Because... then I won't write this in the next chapter!
Next chapter Preview:
The vibrant green he loved was fading as Riku bled to death. It was inescapable- Riku was already resigned to dying. Sora let two more tears slip down his face as he bowed his head in defeat.
'If Riku can't be here... what's the point?'
"Sora... wha...?" Riku asked weakly. Sora glanced up one last time as Xemnas brought the blade up.
"I'm following you."
"Why?" Riku asked, desperation clear in his pained voice. Sora smiled simply, even as tears poured down his cheeks.
"Because (last half of sentence removed)" Riku's eyes went wide at Sora's confession, just as Xemnas brought the blade down.
End Preview
BB: And I'll let you figure out what comes after 'Because'
Riku:... Nevermind Sora- she's not that crazy.