Chakram

Chapter III: Gamble

By: Axel

XxX

Axel grinned, thumping his colleague on the back. " Luxord, my buddy! How much cash you got."

"I'm not loaning you any money Axel" Luxord said sternly, eyeing the redhead suspiciously.

Axel threw his hands up defensively and said, " Hey, I'm not asking for anything. I just figured you might like to double that sum."

Luxord cocked and eyebrow, intrigued. "How so number eight?"

"There's a big tournament coming up at the Olympus Coliseum tomorrow. Hero's from all across the universe are gonna be there." Axel smiled as the gamblers smile widened.

"Big bets?"

"Big bets" Axel said, chuckling. " And I already know who's gonna win it."

"Who would that be?"

"Me."

Luxord laughed "seriously? You think you're going to win an Olympic tournament?"

"Wanna make a bet?" Axel asked, leaning against the wall. He had figured from the beginning that Luxord would be skeptical. Luxord didn't know about Axel's secret weapon though.

"What did you have in mind?" Luxord asked, honestly interested. He knew Axel was much more clever than he let on. He was plotting something, which had Luxord's sense of excitement. A good gamble was always worth pursuing.

Axel reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small bag. " I have 20,000 Munny. Been saving it for a little over a year. I bet it's more than anyone else has."

Luxord erupted into laughter. " 20,000!? What makes you so confident in your abilities Axel? That's far from chump change to be throwing away on suck a great risk."

"I have my reasons" Axel said, waving a hand nonchalantly, though a smirk spread across his lips.

"Those stakes are pretty high" Luxord said, and equally confident smirk on his face. He produced a bag from his pocket and held it out. "20,000 Munny it is. You bet you'll win and I bet you don't."

"That's an awful extensive list for you," Axel said, though still grinning.

"Then you retract your wager?"

"No, I was just pointing out you have the obvious advantage."

Luxord crossed his arms and shrugged. "Well if you're as good as you think it shouldn't be a problem."

"Don't worry, it won't be. I just think its funny you'll lose with those odds on your side" Axel said, laughing sinisterly. He pulled himself off the wall and began to walk away. He looked back at Luxord for a moment before saying " Demyx is coming to. He'll probably want in on the bet so don't tell him about our wager."

Luxord chuckled and gave Axel the thumbs up. " I doubt Demyx has that sort of money to be throwing around. I take it he's betting for you."

Axel nodded, " he's annoyingly positive for a nobody."

"I tend to think that's more of a positive," Luxord said with a slight chuckle. Axel tossed him a confused glance and he explained " better to be annoyingly positive about everything than to be apathetic I think…which is what most of us tend to be. Demyx is an interesting specimen."

"You sound like Vexen" Axel said, turning to leave the room.

" Someone has to fill in the void he left us all with" Luxord said jokingly, placing a hand on his chest.

Axel snorted and shrugged, departing from Luxord's room. The Gambler of Fate, like Demyx, was one of the more eccentric members. Axel never had much to do with either of them, but when sport or money arose Luxord was always the one to go to. His wily personality, as if he still had a heart, was what made him an interesting opponent.

Axel wondered for a moment if the emotions that Demyx and Luxord put up were fake or actually real. He remembered what it was like when Roxas was around. He had felt genuinely real happiness when Roxas was around.

Maybe he had more in common with numbers nine and ten than he first thought.

XxX End Chapter III XxX

There's our introduction to Luxord. The next chapter they will finally depart the World that Never Was for Olympus Coliseum. What awaits them there? Who will they be fighting? What Chakram/key chain lies in wait for them?

Stay tuned to find out.

P.S.

I am truly blown away at the quick and positive response I've already got for this fic. 4 reviews and almost 200 hits already! Thank you so much for all your feedback. It's what makes me write.