Chapter 10

~Unexpected Lessons~

"Nah, that's for after sunset, got it memorized?" I replied with a chuckle then winked at him, but he backed up from me. I took him outside and led him down town. I got up on the clock tower after he did and smiled as I sat beside him.

I then pulled out the treat I had bought. Ice cream! I passed it to him and he raised an eyebrow. I began to eat mine and smiled wider.

"What is this?"

"You're telling me your parents never got you ice cream?" I asked with a smirk but he seemed to flinch.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"N-Na-Nah, it's fine. Thanks by the way." He smiled over at me before biting into the blue bar. I chuckled as his eyes went wide and he then took several more bites.

"I'm guessing you like it." I laughed but he then nodded happily before going right back to eating.

"Whoa there, slow down! You'll get brain freeze that way." He brought the almost gone treat from his lips and smiled.

"I couldn't help it. I've never tasted anything like this. It's just so good." He looked out into the light and I smiled. He never looked so beautiful.

"We can come back and have some more then, partner." I smiled as I too looked over at the town.

"Yeah I'd like that." I turned to him and he just had a smile on his face. It looks like I got a partner. We wanted to stay a little longer but Superior and his curfew, you know how it is.

Roxas walked right beside me still smiling and was acting really carefree, I would have been happy about this but I. I was on full alert. This side of town was not safe, really not safe and the time was scaring me.

There was a clatter in the alleyway before us and I froze, stopping Rox as well.

"Axe-"

"Don't move." I ordered harshly as my eyes stayed on the alleyway. I then heard it. Footsteps. From behind.

"Roxas hold onto my side."

"Wha-"

"Just do it!" I glared at him and he flinched back before wrapping his arms around my waist, he gazed at me, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Come out! Show yourselves!" I yelled over to the alleyway as I moved to the side so I could see both the alley and the sidewalk behind us.

"Axel, Axel, Axel, what is an Org. Member such as yourself doing on this side of town." A cold laugh broke through the air as a lone figure emerged from the alley and smirked at us. I growled loudly and Roxas squeezed himself closer to me.

"Especially when it's so close to the night." Another figure added as they came from the left of us on the sidewalk, just like I had figured.

"It's not night yet. We are just passing through. This is not your area in the light, the two of you know that just as much as I, Riku Sora." I said slowly, I could tell, no I knew there were more. These two never traveled alone. I was never that lucky.

Riku was the first one to move closer, showing himself completely from the darkness of the hidden way.

"You speak the truth, yes, but…"

"It's truly to close to the dark for us to just ignore your presence." See what did I tell ya. Sephiroth smiled as he jumped down from the fire escape over head, landing right next to Riku.

Shit! This is not good. I could take them, that's not the problem, what is the problem is Roxas. I guess this is the downside of an untrained partner. I would to defend not only myself but Rox as well, but also make sure he stayed away so he wouldn't get in my way. Then again I couldn't have him to out of the way cause he could be grabbed and used against me.

I can't run for it, too many paths blocked. I could, possibly, dive into the alleyway, get on the roof, and set off a flare. Then I run the risk of someone being up there waiting for me.

Well….I'll just have to take that risk.

I summoned one of my chakrams and looked around me as the others brought out their weapons as well, the weapons of heart. I placed my hand upon Rox's head and smiled as he looked up at me. I had to make sure that he stayed sane and not go crazy on me.

"Get on my back." He at first hesitated but nodded before climbing on and wrapping his arms around my neck.

"Are we going to die?" He small weak voice stuttered into my ear and I chuckled as I looked at him over my shoulder.

"Not a chance."

Summoning my second weapon, I slowly turned toward the alley, smirking darkly. I took in a deep breath then lunged. This surprised them, yet Seph quickly regained and lunged toward me. I dodged, blocking his long sword by catching it in a loop of my chakram.

Roxas yelped and clutched tighter. I only growled as Riku's bat winged blade came to my head, me thankfully blocking it at the last second. Sora, though, Sora's coming. Roxas screamed as he took notice of what I was thinking.

I pushed back the silverettes and dove into the alley, jumping onto the nearest ladder. I climbed all the wasy to the top, then pulling out the flare. I set it off, the red light blaring across the sky.

"Pray."

"Axel!" I spun around and jumped back just as a huge blade sliced at the place I had been only seconds before. I snarled as I looked up at the new enemy.

"Shut up." Zack hissed back as he held up his sword again. I crouched low and then jumped off to the side as a longer sword tried to go straight through me.

"Accept your fate." Sephiroth said calmly as he moved his sword back towards his body. Damn this was troublesome! It was bad enough with the famous Sephiroth but now Zack.

Man, today is just not my day.

Roxas buried his face within my shoulder as he began to cry. His body was shaking and small whimpers escaped his throat. Well, this would be the show/training session of his life. I clutched my chakrams tighter and sighed as Sora and Riku were just getting on the roof.

"Rox, get down." He let out a sob before letting go, sitting on the graveled roof. I ruffled his hair with a smile then turned my back on him. I got into position, then again, lunged.

It went on, for a long time it felt. Guarding, blocking, missing, hitting, scoring, screaming, panting. I was thrown back in front of Rox and coughed. I was bruised, scared, and cut but well enough alive. I had done a good amount of damage on them too, yet it wasn't enough.

I fell to one knee and dropped a chakram before clutching at my chest. I couldn't do this much longer, my body screamed for my heart. As the seconds passed I was slowly fading. I coughed once more, crimson covering the ground below me.

Zack just laughed and came closer to me.

"Die already." He brought back his sword aiming it right for me. There was nothing I could do. He brought it down but a flash of light shined in my eyes.

I shook my head and looked down for a moment before looking back up.

"R-Roxas…" He was standing in front of me, between me and Zack. In his hands was a strange sword that was wrapped in bandages, yet it did look like a keyblade, like Sora used.

Zack was glaring at Rox since he had stopped him from getting to me. Now the next thing that happened after that blew my mind into complete confusion. Sephiroth stepped closer, placing his hand upon Zack's shoulder. The black haired Solider glared but was surprised as well as the rest of us, that Seph was just staring at Rox.

"Roxas? Your name is Roxas?" Seph asked slowly and Zack snapped his head back to Rox, dropping his sword.

"Ugh…Yeah…" My blonde replied slowly as he kept his sword up but with confusion written in his eyes. Zack took a step closer, his breath caught in his throat slightly as he stuttered out

"R-Roxas? As in Roxas Ma-" Everything went into mass confusion, though, as a smoke bomb blew up right between Zack and Rox. Seph grabbed Zack and pulled him back as Sora screamed.

Bullets flew over our heads but I couldn't see them, I could barely see anything. My vision went hazy, the smoke was clouding my senses.

"Rox-Rox…" I tried to say yet it only barely came out as a forced cough. I then felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped, clutching my still held weapon.

"Axel! Chill, it's me." Thank god, our prayer was answered.

"X-Xal-Xaldin…get-get Roxas…" I fell against him as I was losing my senses to stay with everything.

"Xigbar, Roxas!"

"I got him." I smiled smally as I heard that, but sadly that was the last thing I heard.

To Be Continued...

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