A/N: Hi! Here's chapter six. That's really all I have to say, so read on!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, nor do I own the word cheese.

Chapter 6: Not Just One on One

"Kairi!" Sora yelled, running toward her. Behind him, Roxas turned, looking at Xigbar in horrified shock. Kairi lay on the ground, clutching her bleeding leg. Just as Sora had almost reached her, a force field lept up between them, cutting Sora off from the others. With a yell of frustration, Sora turned around.

"Xemnas, where are you?" he yelled, "Show yourself!"

All around, laughter echoed as, one by one, the members of Organization XIII appeared. The last one was Axel, who appeared next to Roxas, placing a protective and restraining hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

"Let them go!" Sora yelled.

"All in good time, Keyblade Master." Xemnas replied, waving a dismissive hand, "Truthfully, their fate lays in your hands."

"What do you want?"

"Nothing more than another chance to prove our worth." the Organization's Superior sighed. "Another chance to obtain our goal. All we require from you is one last battle. You, one on one with an Organization member. No outside interference of any kind. Interference will result in an evening of the scores. However, win or lose, in the end, we will release your friends." "You swear?" Sora asked.

"I swear on Kingdom Hearts that if you fight, your friends will go free."

Sora closed his eyes, nodding.

"Wonderful." Xemnas smiled, "Six minutes?"

"Bring it on."

~*~

"Are you okay, Kai?" Sora asked, putting his hand on the invisible barrier that stood between him and his girlfriend.

Kairi smiled bravely, trying not to look at her cut open leg.

"I'm fine, Sora." she said, "Don't worry about me, you have bigger problems."

"Riku, can I talk to you?" Sora asked, motioning his friend to the farthest corner of the force field.

"What is it?" Riku asked noticing, with concern, the sad gleam in his best friend's eyes.

"Riku," Sora said after a moment, "If something happens to me…take care of her."

"Don't say that!"

"Will you look after her?"

"If it comes to that, of course I will, but it's not going to!"

Sora sighed in relief.

"Good," he said, and the shadow seemed to lift from his face. He smiled. "Now that that's taken care of, I'll just have to make sure nothing happens to me." With one last smile, Sora went off to talk to the King, Donald and Goofy, leaving Riku standing, slightly surprised…and yet, not.

"At least he's not angsting." a quiet voice said. Riku turned to face Naminè. "After all," she continued, smiling, "We get enough of that from you."

"You're hilarious." Riku scoffed, then he smiled, "He's an interesting kid. As long as the Organization plays fair, this should be a breeze."

~*~

"Let go of me." Roxas muttered, shrugging off Axel's hand.

"I would have told you, but-"

"You knew?!?"

Axel looked down.

"They told us after you left to go get Sora." "So, they didn't trust me?"

"Would you trust you, after all the crap you've pulled?" Xaldin asked.

"Excuse us." Axel sneered, "Private conversation." But, Roxas just shrugged. Xaldin had a good point. If Axel hadn't been holding him back, Roxas probably would have attacked Xigbar. If something went wrong, and Sora got hurt, there would need to be someone in the Organization to keep an eye on things. With a sinking feeling, Roxas realized that he wouldn't be leaving the Organization any time soon. Even if Sora won, someone would still have to keep an eye on things.

"So," Larxene asked, suddenly, "Who's going to fight?"

"Any volunteers?" Xemnas asked.

Silence.

"I nominate Axel." Saïx said suddenly.

Axel's jaw dropped.

"Wha-what?"

"I second." Marluxia smiled.

"Third." Larxene called.

"Fourth." Vexen added, raising his hand.

And last.

"Fifth." Zexion smirked.

"I guess you're it then, Axel." Xemnas shrugged, "There's no reason to vote. At the most, you'd only get three votes in your favor anyway."

"But Superior," Roxas rushed, "He-"

"But of course," Larxene smiled, "How could we be so cruel? Poor Roxas, forced to watch his Somebody and best friend battle, possibly to the death." she laughed, "How can we live with ourselves?"

Roxas scowled.

"Shut up, Larxene!"

"Actually," Xemnas said, "This might work out to our advantage. What better way to test Number XII's loyalties? Roxas, you will watch the battle, and won't step in to aid either one." the Superior chuckled cruelly, "How would you know who to cheer for anyway?"

"Hey, Xemnas!" Sora called, "You guys ready yet?"

Xemnas turned, throwing his cold gaze on the young Keyblade Master.

"Oh yes, Sora." he smiled, "Most ready.

~*~

Sora stared, slightly surprised as Axel walked up, muttering furiously to himself.

"Geez," he was saying, "Kill a few team members, and suddenly, it's your head on the chopping block. Really, I only killed Vexen, and that was on Marluxia's orders. But, of course they're going to blame their deaths on me because they don't want to admit that it was a bad idea the whole plan was in the first place. Stupid Zexion and his stupid plans. I'll show him smart." Axel continued in this fashion, cursing every member from Castle Oblivion, and eventually ending up on how Vexen couldn't cook.

"Um, Axel?" Sora asked. No response. Sora cleared his throat. "Axel?"

"Can't even make a grilled cheese sandwich without experimenting. 'Let's use pepper jack cheese!'"

"Axel!"

The Nobody jumped, staring at Sora in surprise. Oh yeah, he thought, battle.

"Are you the one I'm supposed to fight?

Axel nodded.

"Yeah, listen. I'm sorry about anything that happens, but," In a burst of flames, Axel summoned his chakrams, "I can't die just yet."

"Yeah," Sora nodded, Kingdom Key appearing in his hand. Memories skimmed vaguely over his consciousness as pictures of everyone he know flashed through Sora's mind, eventually stopping at Kairi. Playing with her and Riku as children, her body slipping through his arms the night the Heartless attacked the Islands, the way she had flipped her hair when they had been reunited in the World That Never Was, her kiss that night after the Destiny Festival, the paopu fruit he had planned to share with her, just the day before, although it could have been years, "I can't die yet either."

With a nod, Axel pulled his arm back, striking the first blow.

~*~

Roxas watched in horrified silence as Axel and Sora fought. He winced with each blow, unable to tear his eyes away. Neither Sora or Axel seemed to be able to gain the upper hand, and the battle dragged on, exhausting both of them.

~*~

"Blizzard!" Sora yelled, aiming the tip of his Keyblade at Axel. "I never did thank you for saving my life, did I?" he asked, panting.

"No," Axel grunted, staggering backwards as the spell connected. "I don't believe you did." He threw both chakrams, one glancing off Sora's leg, the other hitting him in the stomach.

"Ah!" Sora gasped before taking a shaky breath and, leaping forward, slashing down with the Keyblade, momentarily knocking Axel to the ground. "Well, thanks."

"Hardly the time, don't you think?" Axel asked, sending a ball of fire flying toward the young Keyblade Master.

"Reflect!" Sora shook his head, lowering his Keyblade slightly. "It's never a bad time to say thank you."

Axel chuckled, lowering his chakrams to his sides.

"Well then, thank you."

"For what" Sora asked, surprised.

"For teaching me that. Burn baby!" The ground around Sora's feet turned to cooling lava, and the fight continued.

~*~

With a frustrated squawk, Donald turned his back on the battle, unable to watch. He had thought it was ending for a moment back there. He walked to where Kairi sat, clutching her injured leg, listening to the sounds of the battle.

"Are you okay, Kairi?" Donald quacked, concerned.

"I'm fine." she replied, tears welling up in her eye. "I just hope Sora will be."

Donald opened his mouth, hoping to say something that would alleviate the girl's fears, but nothing came. Instead, he turned his attention to Kairi's leg.

"Here," the Magician said, pulling out his staff. "Let me heal that."

"Wait, Donald," King Mickey said, holding up his hand, "We need to save your magic. Who knows what could happen after this."

Donald nodded and began rummaging though his pockets, looking for a potion.

"You've got to be kidding me!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "Not one! I don't have one potion!"

"Here," Riku said, throwing the duck a couple of bottles before turning his attention back to the battle.

"Thanks." Donald replied, unstopping one of the bottles, handing it to Kairi.

Riku didn't think anything of it until he felt the warm feeling associated with a potion coursing through his body. Oh crud! Out in the battle, Sora paused as if surprised, and Riku knew he had felt the warmness too.

"Donald, that was a mega-potion, wasn't it?"

Donald nodded, realizing his blunder.

"Riku," Kairi asked, "What's wrong?"

"Mega-potions heal the whole party," Riku sighed, shaking his head. King Mickey was the one who finished.

"We just interfered."

~*~

"Well," Xemnas smiled, turning to the watching members of the Organization, "It appears that they have interfered." the Nobodies laughed, anticipating their leader's next move. "Marluxia, would you like to go out and even the score a bit?"

"My pleasure," the Graceful Assassin replied, darkness opening up before him.

"Wait!" Roxas cried, pushing his way past Larxene and Xaldin, "That's cheating!"

"No boy," Vexen sighed, "They are the ones who cheated. We are evening the score."

"But, that was only a potion!" Roxas insisted, "Making it fair again would be healing Axel, but sending Marluxia out…that's cheating!"

A high mirthful laugh cut through the air as Larxene stepped forward.

"It's so cute how you've adopted Sora's ideals," she cackled, "But frankly, Roxas, ideals are for light-bound losers who like formalities. We never said anything about being fair.

~*~

If it hadn't been for the whooshing sound, Sora never would have turned fast enough to see Marluxia's scythe coming. Luckily though, he did hear it, and was able to stop the deadly blade before it reached his throat. Sora turned, throwing an accusing glare at Axel.

"This is what you people call 'evening things up'?"

Axel just shrugged.

"I already apologized for anything that happens, remember?" he replied, throwing a burning chakram at Sora's right hand.

"You apologized?" Marluxia scoffed.

"You shut up!" Axel snapped, "After this is done, and I've knocked Zexion on his scholarly seat, you're next."

"I look forward to it."

~*~

"I'll show them even!" Riku muttered roughly, Way to Dawn appearing in his hand. He never lifted it though, his hand hanging uselessly at his side, "We can't help him, can we?"

Sadly, King Mickey shook his head.

Riku sighed.

"When this is done, I'm going to kill Zexion, for good this time.

~*~

It quickly became apparent that whatever advantage Sora might have had while fighting just Axel was gone now that Marluxia was in the mix. Even the extra strength supplied by the potion was running low, and to Sora's alarm, he could feel fatigue creeping in.

"Your fighting has improved since we last met, Keyblade Master," Marluxia smirked, swinging his scythe in a full arc around his head, "But, so has mine."

"Last met?" Sora panted, dodging a chakram and casting Cure simultaneously. His magic was running low, "What are you talking about?"

"Stop playing with him, Marluxia." Axel sneered, "It's really sickening."

"What are you talking about?" Sora yelled, jumping at Marluxia.

"You could ask Naminè but I don't think you will get the chance." Marluxia smiled as he knocked Sora to the side. In a scramble to find his footing, Sora landed wrong, his right ankle giving way, twisting in a way that ankles weren't meant to twist. Sora cried out in pain as he fell forward.

Axel stepped forward, hefting both chakrams above his head. One blow to the neck and this fight would finally be over.

"No!" a voice cried, and to Axel's surprise, his weapons stopped, halfway down with a metallic clink.

"Roxas?"

With a grim look on his face, Roxas shook the chakrams off his Keyblades.

"Roxas, what are you doing?" Axel asked incredulously.

"Making things even." Roxas replied, helping Sora to his feet. "I'm sorry, Axel."

"Hm. I'm sure you are."

It was then that Luxord, on Xemnas's orders, appeared behind Roxas, grabbing the boys arms, and pinning them behind his back.

"Let me go!" Roxas screamed, struggling against Luxord's grip until the point of Marluxia's blade grazed his neck.

"Stop struggling." Marluxia said, smiling at Roxas's glare, "Axel, finish it."

But, Sora was ready. There were now more lives at stake than his own, and ankle or no ankle, Sora couldn't afford to lose.

As he fell back in to the rhythm of the battle, Sora realized that if he stepped a certain way, it minimized the shots of pain running up his leg.

Axel's mind was numb. It had been since Roxas had appeared. Even the sight of Marluxia pressing his scythe against Roxas's neck failed to stir the echoes of emotion that Axel was so used to feeling, and he had no urge to help his best friend. He would deal with feeling later, but right now, he had a battle to win, and sometimes emotion only got in the way.

Tiring of the battle, Axel threw one chakram, hitting Sora's injured ankle. Sora fell forward, and Axel, in cold indifference, threw the other, hitting the Keyblade Master in the head. Everything went limp, and Sora fell to the ground, unmoving.

Axel moved, standing over the boy who, he could see from this angle, was still breathing but out cold. Deftly, Axel lifted his chakram, prepared to strike the final blow, when…

Yeah, I can't die yet either. I never did thank you for saving my life, did I? Well, thanks. This is what you people call "evening things up?"

Axel lowered his weapon, massaging his temples as Sora's voice echoed through his head.

C'mon, Axel, he scolded himself, Just one more blow. He looked out, finding faces and wondering what they were thinking about his hesitation.

Xemnas didn't look pleased. None of the Organization did…well, except Demyx, but Axel wasn't sure what he was thinking because the Melodious Nocturne had purposely avoided looking at the battle. Roxas wouldn't meet his eyes, and the people behind the force field looked horrified, except for Kairi. She stood there, looking straight into Axel's eyes. She looked almost hopeful, like maybe his hesitation would spare Sora's life. Didn't she realize that he couldn't do that? If he stopped now, they would turn him into a Dusk for sure…unless…

"Superior," Axel called, "Don't you think that Sora would be more useful to us as a hostage then dead, considering our goal?"

"What are you talking about?" Zexion snapped, but his skepticism was not met by everyone.

"You know, he has a point." Xigbar said, "Who knows how useful he could be. Especially since we have Roxas too." The others nodded in agreement.

"And since you have so much experience with making plans, Xigbar." Zexion shot at him. "You're just the muscle. Don't try acting like you can think."

"That cuts deep, considering how long I've known you, Ienzo."

"Shut up!"

"Silence!" Xemnas yelled, "Axel does have a point. Bring the boy with us." He said as he opened a Corridor of Darkness to leave.

"Wait!" Roxas called, his voice cutting through the air, "You said you'd let them go if Sora fought."

"I suppose I did," Xemnas replied, waving his hand lazily at the force field. As it disappeared, Riku summoned his Keyblade, ready to fight, only to be pulled away by the King. The others followed, Naminè the last to go, looking back momentarily before disappearing over the hill.

"So, Superior, what do you want us to do with this traitor?" Marluxia asked, pressing his scythe closer to Roxas's neck.

"Just knock him out." Xemnas replied, looking, uninterested, over Roxas's defiant gaze, "We'll deal with him later." And then he was gone. One by one, the others followed suit. Shaking his head, Axel hefted Sora over his shoulder, disappearing without a word.

"So," Luxord smirked, still holding Roxas's arms as Marluxia searched for a rock big enough to knock Roxas out without causing damage. "You gave up everything to help Sora fight, and then lost. I bet you feel pretty stupid right now."

"No," Roxas replied coldly as Marluxia lifted his chosen rock above the boy's head, "I'm fine."

Blackness.

A/N: Hi! Ok, so to tell you the truth, I actually disliked the way this chapter came out, but oh well. I hope you didn't hate it as much as I did. It's actually kind of ironic because this battle was what I built the story around, so the fact that I don't like it is actually slightly funny in an annoying way. Oh well. Please review! I love people who review. See ya next chapter!