Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts II or anything affiliated with it.

Chapter 3 Emerald Fire and Rainbows

A few hours later, Axel and Roxas found themselves amongst heaps of fast fading Heartless. Roxas kicked a Shadow that was still wriggling in an attempt to keep its heart before plunging the Oathkeeper into its small chest. It writhed, obviously in pain, and twitched its antenna as it released it heart.

"Nice," Axel said from behind the blonde. He watched the Shadow dissolve into dust and its small heart float up into an equally miniscule vortex back to Castle Oblivion.

"…" Roxas stared at the dust of the Shadow, simmering as if it was hot, "Is it 'nice'?"

Axel looked up from stabbing at a fading Large Body, "Huh?"

"Is it 'nice'," Roxas asked, turning to his friend who was mindlessly setting bodies on fire, "What we're doing?"

Axel tried to pry his eyes from the large burning carcasses, but failed, too enthralled with the flames, "I guess so…"

"But does it benefit us?" Roxas inquired, watching the amber and crimson flames, so similar to the Chakram wielder's hair, turn cold and emerald in Axel's glassy and strikingly green eyes. He was the perfect picture of a Nobody, staring into the heat of completion only to discover that he is just a cheap recreation.

"It's supposed to, right?" Axel said, finally looking up at Roxas. His voice was low and hollow, as if he was accepting what he was again.

"But do you believe in that?" Roxas asked, still gazing into Axel's suddenly calm face, "Do you really think that Xemnas is willing to help us? He seems too selfish…"

"Even if…" Axel started, his eyes darting Roxas' face as if to avoid the blonde's timorous stare, "Even if he won't help all of us…He…He'd help you."

"No, he-" Roxas began to speak, trying to voice what he thought of as his opinion, but came to a halt when he realized the truth in Axel's words. He was the "key" to the Nobodys' future. Without him, Xemnas and the others would have no chance of becoming whole again. He didn't want to think about it.

"I'm bein' honest, here, Rox," Axel said, brushing past the boy as he spoke, "We can help him find the rainbow, but yer the only one who can get him to let us in on that tub o' gold."

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AN: Yeah, short again. So stone me. Review please...