Chapter 3: Emotions

The next day, Axel made his way down the hall thinking about Shelby and what she was doing. He already missed her even though he saw her just twelve hours prior. The thought of her smile and soft eyes sent a jolt of painful need in his chest. How was it possible for a Nobody to feel something like that? Is what Xemnas said about fake emotions true? Axel knew for certain that this girl unlocked his emotions. Her heart being in close contact with his made him have that bizarre feeling of humanity. He couldn't, however, bring her into his world because of how innocent and light she was.

Axel sat down on the couch in the gray room and began thinking about her with a smile on his face. Why did he feel like this? Was it normal to want to be near someone you loved just to breathe? He loved and needed her. Back when he was a boy, he heard the story of Adam and Eve and wondered if Adam needed Eve the way he needed Shelby. He felt like he needed her to breathe and rest easy.

Before Axel could ponder more, he spotted Saix giving him a disapproving look and then he looked back to his clipboard. A trill of irritation went through Axel when he saw Saix look at him like that. Saix always acted more of a prick than he ever did before. Was it because Axel was in love, or something else?

"Saix," said Axel, standing up, "don't hold it in. Spit it out. If you've got something to say, say it." He didn't mean to sound sharp; it just came out that way.

"Fine then," was Saix's cold reply, "I'll spit it out. You will stop seeing this insignificant human or else I'll do all I can to make her into a Heartless." His words sent a blade further and further into Axel's gut and it got his insides on fire with anger.

"If you lay one hand on her," said Axel in a loud tone, enunciating every word carefully, "I'll kill you."

All of the members in the room looked from Axel to Saix anxiously like they were expecting a fight. There were a few silent, tense moments and Axel and Saix stood ground, glaring at each other heatedly. How did their old friendship as somebodies turn out to be like this? Axel didn't know what he did to make Saix hate him so much.

"Pity," spat Saix. "You're willing to kill another member just to be with a stupid girl. She's a stupid human who is nothing but trouble—" Saix was cut off by Axel punching him hard in the face, knocking him against a wall. Saix didn't even retaliate because how surprised he was.

"Don't," growled Axel angrily, feeling the fire blaze in his chest again, "ever call her stupid or insignificant." With a huff, Axel turned away and disappeared into a dark corridor. He decided to have a holiday without the Organization's permission. He needed to cool off (literally) and think.

Before wondering where to go, Axel appeared in Twilight Town by the clock tower. A cool midday breeze rustled through his hair and caused his coat edges to flap in the breeze. He looked at the sunset, feeling his anger draining away. Twilight Town always made him feel at peace and human. There were no Organization duties to worry about when he was there. Before he could think about the sunset however, he saw a familiar brown-haired girl moving through the district.

Axel started and broke into a run to catch up to her. She didn't stop because she didn't have a clue of Axel's presence. He could tell something was wrong with her because of how her form was shaking like she was crying. She finally stopped running when Axel called her name out. When she turned, Axel saw that she had tears on her cheeks.

"Shelby," he said again, approaching her. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, Axel," she said in a tearfully thick tone, "it's you." She sounded more relieved than disappointed. "It's just…" She couldn't finish because she began crying again. Before Axel could think, he ran up to her and swept her up in his arms. He could feel her body shake with sobs but he held her tight in an embrace.

"Don't cry," he told her tenderly, smoothing her hair. "It hurts to see you sad. Tell me what's wrong."

She lifted her head out of his chest and gave him a tearful smile. "W-well, my heart feels like it's breaking because of my loneliness. I feel alone even with my friends and family like something is missing."

"I'll fix that," said Axel, pressing a hand to her cheek and swooping down to capture her lips in a kiss.

It started out soft but grew harsher as her lips began pressing and moving with his fiery hot ones. He could feel a tingling in his body and like someone let a hot air balloon deflate in his core. Her soft cool lips felt like a remedy for heartburn and it strengthened his feelings for her. It felt as though the world stopped and aligned with the other ones. There was moment to breathe and then he gave her a soft kiss again before breaking it off to look in her eyes.

"Do you feel better?" he asked after a moment.

"Yes," she whispered, smiling with joy. "Axel, I love you." Those were the words he wanted her to say since he met her and it sounded so much better coming from her real lips.

"I love you too," he said intensely, "got it memorized?" His hand caressed her face and he bent down to kiss her again.

In the kiss he gave her he felt whole again like he had a heart and soul. No one could take this feeling away not even the Organization. To feel her gentle softness against his body made him almost lose control. It felt so nice to feel her heartbeat on his chest and to feel her steady breathing on his neck. It felt like someone tossed a lit match into his soul and was consuming him with fire.

"I have to go," he said softly, but she clung to him.

"Don't go," she whispered pitifully. "Take me with you, Axel." Her eyes were full of begging that he couldn't object.

"All right," he said after thinking it through. "I'd like to introduce you to everyone anyway. Take my hand." He held his hand out invitingly and she took it tightly. Within a minute, they stood outside the castle.

…..

Axel led Shelby through the halls and took her to the gray room. He saw Xigbar reading a porn magazine and Demyx strumming away at his sitar. The two men looked up from their activities when they saw Shelby and Axel. Xigbar eyed her with a gaze that stopped shortly at her breasts and then went to her face. Axel would have pounded him to a bloody pulp but there was a lady present.

"Hey, guys," he said, "this is Shelby, my girlfriend." He gave her a tender smile and said, "Oh, and guys, don't hit on her. I'll burn you to a crisp if you do."

"Don't kill me for saying this but you know how to pick them, Axel," said Xigbar, mostly staring at her breasts. "She's smoking hot."

"Xigbar," said Axel, "back off, would you?" He took Shelby by the arm and led her out of the room.

"Sorry," he apologized, "Xigbar is kinda horny no matter his age."

"It's okay," said Shelby lightly. "I got those kinds of compliments in high school."

"I can see why," said Axel lustfully. "You're drop-dead sexy." He brushed his lips against her ear and felt her shudder with delight.

…..

When they got to his room, they lay down on the bed and cuddled with each other. Right now, this was a perfect moment Axel wanted to fix in his memory. He felt like she was the most important thing in his life next to Roxas and Xion. He lovingly caressed her cheek as she began to fall asleep on his chest. He wasn't tired earlier but now he felt wiped out. His eyes slowly closed and he felt himself drift to heaven with his love.

A/N: Read and Review! I love hearing comments!