Okay, I'm going to try and update this as soon as possible, because last time it took me a month to do this. So here it goes.

By the way, thanks to everybody who reviews this. This was actually my first successful story, believe it or not. This chapter will probably be mostly in Roxas's POV.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, and ummmm…..oh yeah! I also don't own Dr. Pepper and Twister. Evil Twister……

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Chapter Nine: Redemption

Roxas was on the brink of despair. His whole life was a lie. It was merely a simulation set up be DiZ, a man who wanted to hunt down and kill every one of his old comrades- a man who he hated with every fiber of his body. Ansem the Wise didn't understand what it was like to be a nobody. He didn't know what it was like not to have a heart or feelings. Heck, only thirteen people really did. But still, you should never judge a person's life by who they are. It's just wrong to do that. And already, DiZ had succeeded in taking the lives of five of those thirteen people, who were working so hard just to feel emotion and love once again. He could even remember all of their names now. He wondered if they would ever accept him again…

Roxas fell over and panted after attempting to kill a hologram of DiZ. Rage and hate flowed through his body like a burning fire. How dare this man tell him that he wasn't meant to live! But now the hologram was gone, and the only person left in the room with him was the sleeping figure of Sora suspended in a crystalline flower. Roxas had been having weird dreams about his counterpart lately, maybe telling him that he should go meet him. And now here he was, standing right in front of the very person he wanted to meet. Of course, he was sleeping and there really was no chance of a good conversation to start. Sighing, The Discovered Key got up from the ground and looked at his counterpart with the way too poofy pants. He had to make a decision now.

'Fuse with him or return to Axel and the Organization?'

Even though he had already thought about this, he still was unsure about what he was going to do. Should he really join the good side and help make Sora stronger or go back to where he was- and what he was- with Axel and the others like him? This was going to take a long time to decide….

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(Axel's POV)

It had been a week since Axel had moved back to Deep Dive, and so far, it had been hell. Saïx was possibly the worst person ever to room with, so much that Axel would rather sleep with half rotting corpse naked than the moon-gazing man. Demyx constantly begged him to go play when he really had better things to do. And of course there was Xemnas, who gave him every single task known to mankind. All he wanted to do was escape and go find Roxas or Sora. Then it would be like he would be free, not including a heart. He would have to wait for that.

Axel sunk his head into his black silk pillow as he dreamed of Roxas. This was the first time in a long time that he actually had a good dream, and he was thankful for that. He believed that Zexion's mind warp had worn off now, which was also an added plus. But sadly, he missed the blue-haired, emo man. He was like a friend to him, except not as immature as Roxas. He was so alone now, and it made him very sad. His greatest wish was that Roxas would walk into the castle one day and announce that he was staying there forever. But Axel knew that would never happen. But he still hoped for it.

Axel awoke to somebody poking him, finding out that it was Saïx. He groggily opened his eyes and looked into Saïx's yellow ones. He was so angry at this man it wasn't even funny.

"You rang?" he asked sleepily.

"Yes," said Saïx. "I just awoke you to tell you that Xemnas wants you in his room, stat."

'What did he want now?'

"Fine, I'll get up out of this warm, comfy bed and go to the Superior's cold, dark room so I will fall asleep as he rants on about what a disgrace I am. Lovely."

"Good boy," said Saïx, patting him on the head.

Axel couldn't take it anymore. He jumped forward and bit Saïx on the same hand that he patted him with, making it gush out warm blood. Why he decided to bite him, he didn't know. As he pulled away, he looked up at Saïx's face, eyes almost bulging out of his head by what he saw. Saïx's orange eyes started to cloud up with a crimson red, his teeth grew long and pointed, and his normally long, delicate fingers grew the nails out so long that the gloves themselves ripped open. It was then that Axel realized that Saïx was going into Berserk Mode. And he ran for it. Like a sissy little girl.

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(Roxas's POV)

He had made up his mind. After sitting for about half an hour and thinking about this, he decided not to fuse with Sora. After all, he was the Dark Keyblade Master. If he were to fuse with him, there would no longer be a Dark Keyblade Master. He would no longer exist. So, instead, he would return to the World That Never Was and surprise Axel. It was what he wanted to do in the first place. But instead he was abducted by DiZ and wiped clean of all of his memories of his best friend. Now all he had to do was remember how to summon up a dark portal.

All of a sudden he heard footsteps coming his way. He quickly ran behind the giant flower that his counterpart was sleeping in. He heard a familiar voice, that of a young girl. Just to make sure he knew who it was, he slowly peered around the corner of the chrysalis. Sure enough, Namine walked into the room, obviously searching around for him.

"Roxas!" she yelled out, still looking around. "Roxas, where are you?"

"I'm right here!" he answered, stepping out from behind the pod.

"Thank goodness I found you!" she said, running over to him. "Roxas, you can't go back to the World that Never Was."

"Why not?"

"Because the whole Organization is out to exterminate you. They want to kill you because they believe it will weaken Sora. You need to stay away from them."

"But what about Axel? I know he wants me back."

"You're right. He does. But the rest of them will pin you down and kill you. If you want to live, then run and escape before they find you."

Roxas hung his head down and thought for a moment. Finally, he thought of something to say back to the shy, blonde haired girl.

"Then let them kill me!" he yelled angrily. "Life isn't worth living if I can't be with Axel!"

"Roxas…."

"No! Be quiet! I'm going to find him and I don't care if they kill me! I know Axel needs me!"

He summoned up a portal leading to the World That Never Was and smiled as he felt the reassuring cold of the darkness seep into his body as he tapped into it. He didn't care about Naminé anymore. He needed Axel now. Stepping through, he relaxed his muscles knowing that he would soon be back to his real home……

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(Axel's POV)

That was the last straw. He was getting out of here. He didn't like fighting against the people he was trying to save. All he would need were the clothes on his back. His first destination would be to go to Twilight Town, where he could finally be with Roxas without any rules. He stamped out of Saïx's room with a triumphant smile on his face, ready to see his best friend once more. If only he could forget everything about this place except for his memories of Roxas……but oh well. He had wanted to do this for a long time.

As he was walking down the hall, Demyx ran out of his room with his trademark stupid grin on his face. Immediately he hugged Axel, making number eight shiver as he did so.

"Hey Axy!" yelled mullet man. "Where are ya goin'?"

"To see Roxas," answered Axel, shoving him away.

"Alright. When you get back, would you like to play DDR with me? Xemnas got me a PS2 today and…….."

"I'm not coming back," interrupted Axel. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be going now."

He swerved around the now still Demyx, who was obviously hurt by this remark. He turned around and looked at Axel, who was now summoning a portal.

"Wait!" he yelled, nearly choking on his tears. "You're my only friend! If you left, I would be so sad! Don't go!"

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I wouldn't miss you at all," said Axel, putting a foot inside the portal. "Got it memorized?"

Demyx's chin quivered as warm tears flowed down his cheeks.

"But Axel…."

"Goodbye, retard."

Axel shot him one last evil look and stepped all the way into the portal, not feeling any sympathy for the Melodious Nocturne, who was now huddled up on the floor crying in a fetal position.

"He was my only friend……," cried out Demyx.

He was left alone in the cold, empty hall of his living quarters for about three hours until Luxord came along and put him to bed. He had nightmares all night.

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(Roxas's POV)

He smelled the sweet air and soaked it in, loving how much familiarity it had in it. He was finally home. He had found his nobody cloak and was wearing it now, not ashamed at all of his new, yet old appearance. He looked up at the only thing that was lighting this place, Kingdom Hearts. He loved the radiant glow of the heart-shaped moon as its light shone down on the dark, desolate place below. Smiling at the happiness of being at his real home, he teleported into the main part of the Organization's base, right into the hall where Axel's and his old room used to be.

He walked over to Axel's door and knocked on it, almost sure that his friend was there. At first, he didn't hear a response, so he knocked again. No response. Growing suspicious, he tried the handle, which was surprisingly unlocked.

'Usually Axel enjoys his privacy…'

Scanning the room with deep aqua eyes, he proved that Axel wasn't in there. He walked over to the bathroom and looked in there also, but there was no sign of his friend in there either. Straying over to the closet, he searched there too, although it would be weird if he found Axel in his closet. He wasn't there either. He wasn't anywhere in his room.

'Maybe Xemnas sent him on a mission…'

He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Maybe Demyx would know where he went. Striding across the hall, he stopped at Demyx's door and lightly tapped on it, hoping the teenager wasn't asleep. Thankfully, he heard a muffled "What?" and heard mullet man walk over to the door. Demyx's eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"Dude……ROXAS!" he yelled.

Immediately he pounced on Roxas and nearly suffocated him with a hug.

"Man, I am so glad to see you!" he yelled after letting go of his deadly embrace.

"Uh…yeah…me too," said Roxas. "Hey, have you seen Axel or maybe perhaps know where he's going?"

The smile immediately wiped off of Demyx's face.

"Yeah, you just missed him. Said he was going away forever and was never coming back."

"What? But…I came back just for him! Why would he do that to me?"

Demyx suddenly realized that he was helping the person that broke his friendship with his only friend. He wanted revenge. But luckily, he could use Roxas's question to his advantage. Quickly thinking of an excuse, he blurted it out for Roxas.

"He said something about killing that stupid kid Sora," he answered. "I wouldn't blame him."

"But….why would he do that if he knew that would destroy me?" asked Roxas. Demyx could tell he was breaking down.

Demyx never knew being evil could be so much fun.

"You know what?" he said. "Now that I really think about it, I think he said something about how he outgrew you and could care less about you still being alive. After all, we are nobodies and we aren't supposed to really care about anything."

Demyx smiled as he saw a silver tear flow down Roxas's cheek. Suddenly the Discovered Key whipped out his Keyblade and whacked at the cold, black wall with it in anger.

"Fine!" yelled Roxas. "If he doesn't need me, I don't need him! I knew I should've fused with Sora when I had the chance. I should've listened to what Naminé was trying to tell me. Thank you, Demyx. You're always such a nice person."

Roxas leaned forward and hugged him.

"Anytime, my friend, anytime," Demyx whispered into his ear.

Roxas pulled away from Demyx and walked down the hall.

"I guess this is goodbye, Demyx," he said, waving. "Thanks once again, buddy!"

"No problem!" Demyx said with an almost too apparent cheesy smile.

Roxas summoned a warp hole and stepped through it, leaving the smiling Demyx the only one left in the hallway.

"Sucker," muttered Demyx to himself as he walked into his room and closed the door.

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Saïx was walking alone in the narrow, dark hallways of the Organization's base. He had been called to Xemnas's room for something and he was heading there now. Quietly he knocked on the huge doors of his Superior's room, and heard a muffled "Come in." He opened the black marble doors and immediately his eyes adjusted to the pitch black darkness.

"Sit down, Saïx," ordered Xemnas, who was sitting behind his mahogany desk, tapping his fingers. Saïx pulled up a chair and sat down quietly.

"Did I do anything wrong, sir?" he asked, wondering if he was in any kind of trouble.

"No," answered Xemnas, standing up and walking over to his trusted blue-haired elf. "I need you to do something for me."

Saïx blushed, thinking of what that could possibly mean, but luckily it was too dark to see that his face was a deep shade of red. Sitting up straight, he made eye contact with Xemnas and waited for his instructions.

"I've heard rumors that Axel has gone missing," continued Xemnas, causing Saïx to furrow his eyebrows in confusion. "Demyx said that he ran away, never to return."

"That's strange," said Saïx. "He was here this morning. He must've left about three hours ago, because that was when I was on duty at Hollow Bastion. What do you want me to do about it?"

"I was just getting to that part. You see, I play favorites. And you are on the top of that list. I can trust you to go find him."

Saïx turned his gaze from Xemnas for a moment.

"Find him? Did he betray us?" he asked.

"Yes," answered Xemnas. "Once you find him, kill him. I know you're capable of that."

"Yes sir. I'll get right on it."

Saïx stood up and bowed to his master, then going to head for the door. But he felt Xemnas grab his arm before he could move. Turning around to face him, Xemnas wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace.

"We'll be free soon, Saïx," said Xemnas lovingly, brushing a strand of sky blue hair out of Saïx's face. "We will be able to feel again. And it'll be just you and me."

Saïx smiled at the thought, after getting a firm kiss from Xemnas. His Superior let go of him and motioned for him to go.

"Thank you, Xemnas," he said, stepping into an already opened portal. He wasn't quite sure of what he was thanking Xemnas for, really.

Xemnas smiled back. "You're welcome."

Saïx nodded and stepped all the way into the portal, heading to Destiny Islands.

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(Before – Axel's POV)

A place never felt so warm to Axel as Destiny Islands. He walked along the beach, admiring the footprints his shoes had made in the sand. The waved washed them away, one by one behind him. Nothing had ever felt so good. He looked up at the sun, enjoying the heat that was beating down on him.

'If only Deep Dive was like this.'

His plan was very simple. He would kidnap Kairi, using her to lure Sora into a trap. And because he didn't exactly know where Roxas was (because he had already searched all over the fake and real Twilight Towns), he thought that either Sora might know where he is, or maybe Roxas would come to him because he was with his other half. It was pure genius.

Suddenly he saw Kairi walking along the beach in front of him, looking out across the ocean. Knowing Axel, he wanted to make this a huge moment, so instead of walking over to her, he teleported. At first, the yellow dog named Pluto jumped out, because Axel had almost forgotten that the dog had followed him here. As soon as he jumped out of the portal, he saw Kairi jump up in fear.

"Who are you!" she yelled, frightened.

"The name's Axel. Got it memorized?"

Taking a moment to look at her appearance, he suddenly realized that she looked like a total slut.

"Why are you here?" she asked him.

"Well, we have something in common. We both miss someone we love."

"You know where Sora is?"

Axel smirked.

"Maaaaaaybe…."

"This is not funny! I want Sora!"

'What a brat.'

Axel tapped into the darkness and summoned up four Dusks. Pluto's ears perked up. He also opened up a portal behind Kairi. Immediately Pluto ran into it.

"You should follow the doggy," said Axel. "It may lead you to someone…."

Kairi ran as fast as she could (which wasn't very fast at all) towards the portal.

"Thank you!" she yelled back.

She ran into the portal. Although, Axel sensed something went wrong….

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(Saïx's POV ((continued))

It was way too warm here. He liked cold, dark places-like his home. He knew Axel was here. Wading in the water, he looked around everywhere with his sharp orange eyes. The water felt good as it rushed in between his legs. It was now that he realized he hadn't gone swimming in a long time. In fact, he didn't even know where or how he had learned to swim. Axel was nowhere to be seen.

"Damn him!" he yelled aloud. Deep down he really hated the man. He was thankful that Xemnas had authorized him to terminate him.

'Maybe some civilians would know where he is.'

He looked around again in search of some people he could ask. Wading a little further, he saw a kid with orange boomerang hair throwing a ball on a small island. Not even thinking about it, he teleported to the island and stood behind the boy as he was bouncing the ball back and forth on an oddly bent palm tree.

"Excuse me."

The kid turned around and nearly fell over with shock.

"What the hell, ya?" he said. He sounded like he was from Jamaica. "Where did you come from, ya?"

Saïx made a mental note to come back later and brutally slaughter this guy.

"Um, that doesn't really matter, kid."

"The name's Wakka."

Like he actually cared.

"Uh, yeah. Wakka? Have you seen a guy that's about as tall as me, is as skinny as a rail, and has candy apple red hair like a moomba?"

"What's a moomba?"

The angry beast inside Saïx was longing to tear him limb from limb.

"Um, it's a cat-like thing with really spiky hair," he answered. "Have you seen him?"

"Hmmmmm…..I think I saw him talking to Kairi on the beach. But he's long gone now. He disappeared out of thin air. So did Kairi."

So that's what Axel's plan was! He was going to kidnap Kairi to lure Sora into a trap! He had to tell Xemnas. But first…..

"Um, would you have any idea where he would be going?" asked Saïx.

"No, ya?" replied Wakka.

"So would that be a no or a yes?" Saïx was getting really angry now.

"That would be a no, ya?"

'Calm down Saïx. Calm dooooownnnn…'

"Why are you hyperventilating, ya?"

Saïx felt his fangs growing and his hair bristling up.

'Crap.'

"Why are you turning into a wolfman, ya?"

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Saïx leaped forward and chopped the kid's head off with his claymore. End of story. Bye bye. See 'ya' later.

Once Saïx got back to his normal form, he looked down at the kid he just decapitated.

"Shit. Xemnas won't be happy."

Before anyone could see him, he summoned a portal, having an idea that Axel had gone to Roxas's old home, Twilight Town.

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OoOoOoOoOoOoOhHhHhHhHh! Suspense! Oh, how I hate Wakka. Sorry if there are any Wakka fans out there, but you know it just gets annoying after about the millionth time he says "YA." Anyway, I am still sorry for taking such a long time to update on everything. It's summer and I'm having way too much fun doing nothing. You know how it is.

I want at least 13 reviews for this chapter please. Then I'll update again.

But if not, that's okay.

-WODF