Chakram

Chapter II: The Quest Begins

By: Axel

XxX

This part of the story takes place AFTER Chain of Memories. This is how Axel passes his time in the year Sora is asleep.

XxX

Axel sighed. So many of them had died fighting while attempting to betray the organization. He counted them on his fingers. Four, Five, Six, Eleven, and Twelve had all been eliminated. So much for his partner…

Its not like Xemnas had given any of them a mission since they had caught Sora. They had nothing to do but wait before they could proceed with their plans.

"What'cha doin?" Demyx asked, not for the first time that day.

Axel was sitting on the Altar of Naught, staring up at the tiny Kingdom Hearts. It was so far from being finished, and they'd already lost six members. "Brooding" Axel snapped, glaring at the sitar player.

" Well you seemed kinda bummed out. I just thought you could use some company. Your ex-partner did get killed…"

"She tried to betray us all Demyx" Axel growled, waving a hand dismissively. If he had a heart he might have been sad, or at least upset Larxene was dead. But he didn't, and he wasn't.

"You guys were okay friends though, right?"

Axel snorted and erupted into laughter. " Her!? Are you insane?"

"Oh… okay. I just knew you two hung out a lot…"

"She was my partner for a little less than a week, that's all."

Demyx shrugged. " Did you know her before you guys were nobodies?"

Axel nodded. " We were partners in High school too," he said, snickering a bit at the memories. In high school you needed a combat partner more than in the Organization." that was centuries ago though."

"So you weren't close at all?"

" For the last time no" Axel snarled, shooting the Melodious Nocturne an annoyed glare.

"Okay, okay! Sorry I asked. I was just trying to get you to talk some. I mean your partner and crime took off too. I figured you needed someone to talk to." He was referring to Roxas. After about a week the others had caught onto the Key of Destiny's absence. They had all quizzed Axel on what he knew and Axel honestly answered he had no idea where Roxas was, as much as he wished he did.

"I'm fine without your insistent pestering, thanks though," Axel muttered. He stood up and kicked the wall angrily. " I'm just bored to tears with the keybarer all locked up and no missions," he said. He'd never confess to anyone he missed Roxas, not even the sappy kid Demyx.

"Why don't you check this out?" Demyx said, retrieving a flyer from his pocket and holding it out to Axel. Axel snapped up the page and read it. There was going to be a huge tournament at the Olympus Coliseum. It was being held by Zeus himself, meaning there'd be heroes from every world out there and then some. "In fact that was the reason I came up here. I got sent an invitation, but I don't want to go. You know me, not much of a fighter." Demyx grinned and handed Axel another piece of paper. This one was a ticket, the name DEMYX stamped on it in big red letters.

"It has your name's on it already" Axel said, wondering why out of all people Demyx would get an invitation. He did know that Demyx had been on several missions there in the past. Maybe he made some sort of friends there? Or some enemies looking to crush him.

"Well you can just say you're me. Its not like there gonna check. Those tournaments are mainly filled up with heartless anyways."

Axel took the tickets and shoved them in his pocket. It would be a good way to show off the Oathkeeper. He had yet got an opportunity to see what it was capable of in a serious battle. Not to mention it would occupy his time and take his mind off Roxas.

"Thanks Demyx" Axel said, starting down the stairs, back into the castle.

Demyx grinned at the prospect of being thanked. It didn't happen in the Organization… ever. " It's no problem at all Axel. We're buddies right."

Axel turned around for a moment and number nine had thrown an arm over number eight's shoulder. "Sure…" Axel said, not sure if it was a good thing or not.

"So you don't mind if I come do ya?"

"I though you didn't like fighting?"

"I don't like to fight, no. But I don't mind watching others. Besides, you could use some encouragement."

Axel sighed. There was no harm in letting the musician come along he supposed. He'd just go, fight, win, then leave slightly richer than he was till he lost his next bet with Luxord. Then an idea hit him. A grin crept across his face and he said "Sure. In fact why don't we go get Luxord too? You know how he loves competition and all."

"Good idea" Demyx said and smiled. " I'll go get him!"

Demyx started to skip down the stairs when Axel called out " Demyx!" Oh god he's skipping. That kid's a real fruit Axel though holding put the flyer to Demyx. " We have two days before it starts. We don't have to go get Luxord all riled up till the day of the competition."

"Oh…okay" Demyx said, the goofy smile still on his face. Axel wanted to smack it right off, but he held in his wrath. Let the idiots in the tournament feel it later. Once he had a good fury going Axel was most dangerous.

Axel just grinned back at his co-worker and smacked him on the back, disguising it as a friendly pat on the back. It knocked Demyx off balance and he fell forward on his face. " Oh, sorry Demyx" Axel said, though he didn't seem it.

"Owww… that hurt. You're pretty strong Axel. You'll have no problem with that tournament." Demyx got back to his feet and gave Axel a thumbs-up.

Axel chuckled and crossed his arms, " you know it. You better go check the couch cushions for spare Munny. Cause I grantee you'll double it betting on me."

"No doubt in my mind" Demyx said, seeming to always have something positive to say. Normally Axel would have found it annoying, but he didn't much mind now. A compliment was still a compliment, even if it came from Demyx.

Axel couldn't wait till the competition. He'd get to blow off some steam, make some Munny, and blow the other nobodies away with the Oathkeeper.

XxX

End Chapter II

Well this is the real start of the actual story. The first chapter was actually more of a prologue. This chapter has the plot and the party set up. I picked Demyx and Luxord as the two I'd take with Axel on this adventure. Demyx works well with the first level though (Olympus Coliseum) and Luxord likes to gamble, so they seemed to be the best to take anyway. How many fics do you see Luxord traveling around in anyway? Demyx is in a lot but everyone luffs him so he's coming too.

I decided I'd update this fic either every 5 reviews or 100 hits. So get to reviewing. Next chapter will be longer, and you'll get to see the next Chakram-chain. Till then, toodles!

Axel