Chapter Twenty-Two--- Martyr's and Gansters

Hello, I'm your martyr...

But just remember that when I touch you,

The more you shake, the more you give away...

The waiting room was empty. Riku, Sora and the others were in court, testifying against Trista and Tiffa. The attorney (the best money could buy) promised that with all the evidence stacked against the two women, life without parole was guarenteed. However, Cloud little comfort in that. Not if they lost. Not if Axel lost.

It wasn't that Cloud couldn't go on or that he couldn't live without the redhead. It was the fact that Cloud needed Axel. And it was the simple realization that he needed someone, needed Axel that made the last 24 hours so heartbreaking.

The doctor's gave Axel a very low survival rate. As if he were no more then some experiment in a test-tube. But Cloud couldn't ignore the fact that Axel had enough arsenic in his system to kill a horse. Or that the doctors knew more about survivability rates then he did.

But Axel had to make it. It was a proven, ableit self-proclaimed, fact that Axel was indestructable. So he couldn't die. And though Cloud's heart sank as the teary eyed nurse approached with a wavering smile, Cloud prayed.

He needed Axel.

Fall into my eyes,
Fall into my lies,
But don't you forget, the more
You turn away,

The more I want you to stay...

There comes a time in all persons life where an epiphany occurs and everything is clear. It was in the middle of a crowded courtroom, just before Riku was to tesitfy against his mother that he found himself just such an epiphany :

Everyone loses

It was a simple enough concept to comprehend and yet at the same time completely unfathomable. No matter how you lied, cheated or killed, you would lose one day. No matter how honest, goodhearted or iron-willed you were, you. would. lose.

And it was when Riku realized this, looking into the eyes of his mother, that his heart sank into his chest, colder then ice. Today, he had won. Trista had finally lost. But the sad truth was that she had also won---

Axel was lost.

Wait, another minute here...
Time accounts after all, can you feel
It's second hand wrapped around your neck?

"Sir, he's awake at the moment. It might soothe him if you went and saw him. I don't think he'll be around much longer." Cloud's legs felt like steel beams as he followed the nurse into the suffocatingly sterile room.

Axel's green orbs were dull and sunken and that sparkle that Cloud held so dear was gone. A fraile smile wavered on pale lips before the strain erased it completely.

"Axel..." The voice that eminated itself from Cloud's throat was not his own. It was soft. Weak. And he hated himself for it.

"You came...you didn't have too." Cloud reached for a thin hand and squeezed gently.

"I know this...amazing, gorgeous red-head that likes to steal my tires and owes me a date..." Axel's laugh was a pitiful mockery of the vivacious, contagious one Cloud was so used too. The one he loved.

"He wouldn't be planning on standing me up would he?" Axel smiled weakly once more, squeezing the broader hand gently.

"Never." Cloud dared look into jade depths before he spoke once more.

"Promise?" Axel nodded, smile fading.

"Promise." And while tears finally slipped free from behind blue eyes, green ones slipped closed.

Promises were made to be broken.

You're so endearing, you're so beautiful...
Well I don't look like they do and
I don't love like they do but I don't
Hate like they do...

I loved you from the very first night,

You broke me till the day that I die

I'm still here...

You broke me from the very first night,

I'll love you till the day that you die...

A.n muwahahaha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Review!! Lyrics by Evan's Blue Cold

Shenron and Dagger: I fear no head glomp!!!!!! And as for being whiney... I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!! -cackles evilly-- Thanks for the awesome reviews!!!!!!!!!!

Kai Sakamoto: I'm glad you like the story!

Elichi: I updated as fast as i could considering I really want to torture everyone with the ending and this is only the BEGINING of the end!!!!!!!

Bliss-- Yay I made you cry!!!!!!!! -dances- enjoy the update!!!!!!

Ri---I'm glad you like the way I torturemy characters. and my readers, muwahaha, enjoy the plot twists ahead!

Ulti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!