Chap VII

Upon further studying the Nobodies, these questions are finally beginning to clear. Still, the fact that this is happening is dangerous. A Nobody isn't created to feel. A Nobody is created to search for heart. Nothing should come between that main purpose. Maybe questions are better left unanswered. Perhaps actions are better than words.

"Hello again, Sora."

"Huh? You...it's you."

"Yeah, 'you' as you say. Seems like the only name important to you is Axel's."

"W-what are you talking about?"

"I wish you'd remember, Sora. Best friends aren't supposed to forget each other, despite their differences and distance."

"Best friends? Just tell me who you are."

"As if you would be interested. Besides, I already told you. I'm not supposed to tell you."

"Why? Why can't you?"

"That's for me to know. Besides, you seem pretty content as it is. My name isn't going to change you."

"How would you know?"

"No, Sora, how would you know?"

"Well...hey, I thought I told you that my name is Roxas."

"Roxas, Sora, what's the difference?"

"The names. That's the difference."

"Last night, you shared a bed with him, didn't you?"

"Uh, well...I mean..."

"Are you ashamed?"

"No...I couldn't be. He...he's my..."

"Heart. Your heart...your flaw...isn't that what he is?"

"Y-yes."

"Sora, you've changed...all I need from you is to remember your name."

"Name? But Roxas is my name!"

"Sora..."

"Stop it!"

"I understand. Hmm, Roxas. I'll remember."

It felt strangely cool when Roxas awoke, his head feeling light and his body feeling drained of energy. Eventually, he opened his eyes to half way and found himself staring at a white ceiling. He shifted and buried his head deeper into his pillow, attempting to bring his mind back to the way it normally was. Maybe it was the way the room made him feel: dazed and light headed. Or maybe it was just the way he had been the other day. He could recall sitting in the rain, thinking about nothing but wanting to be alone. He could picture the face of Xigbar as he offered him advice of how to maneuver in the Organization and the enraged face of Axel when the two of them fumed at each other after his blank moment of falling. He wished he hadn't tried to remember any of it. All he wanted to remember was to forget.

He groaned and tucked his arm under his head, staring up at the ceiling again. The sudden sound a zipper being pulled caught his attention and he turned his head on the pillow, facing an unoccupied side of the bed. Seated at the edge was that manipulative Nobody. The very Nobody that had showed him heart and that Nobody that had taken him. He blinked and slowly sat up, pulling the sheets over the lower half of his body.

Hearing the shifting of the white bedding, Axel straightened and glanced half way over his shoulder, continuing to gaze at the dark floor. "Oh, you're awake, huh?" He asked casually, almost as if nothing had happened, and continued to pull on his left boot.

Roxas opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words. He had wanted to ask about that voice again but remembered that only he must have heard it since he had been asleep. A conversation...that couldn't have been a dream. Then again, many things felt as if they were. "Are you...leaving for somewhere?" He asked instead, reaching for his boxers that lay messily in the center of the bed.

"I've got things to take care of," He replied, refusing to turn and speak to Roxas directly.

"Oh. Well, I guess I'll just keep training then, huh?" Roxas said, standing from the bed to zip up his pants.

Axel laughed lightly and rested his hands on the mattress. "So that run down we did wasn't enough for you then?"

Roxas felt his face heat up and immediately knew he was blushing. "Erm...well, t-that's different. That wasn't even training!"

"Yeah, sure," Axel scoffed.

"Sometimes I wish you'd just lay off being crazy for one day." Roxas mumbled, zipping up his black cloak to complete his outfit.

"Sure you do," Axel taunted in an almost perverted tone of voice.

"I mean it!" The blonde retorted, turning around with his hands curled into fists.

Axel turned his head and shot his eyes into Roxas' flaming ones. "You know, you're cute when you're ticked off like that."

"Wh-what?" Roxas blinked and felt another rush of heat on his face. "Did he just call me 'cute'?" He gaped at him, his mind racing again.

"I knew it," Axel sighed and rested his arms over his parted legs, turning away again from the dumbstruck boy. "You're ashamed," he said in a stubborn voice at an attempt to hide his dissatisfaction.

There was a sudden movement in the bed when Axel had finished. Still, he kept his eyes directly forward. "Don't say anything...don't-say-anything!" He yelled in his head. He felt a light warmth at his back when Roxas' chest pressed against his back. He felt those two slim arms wrap loosely around his neck and narrowed his eyes, Roxas' innocence taking him by force. He could feel the suppleness of Roxas' light hair against his cheek and carefully turned his head, able to see part of that angelic face at the corner of his eye.

"I have no reason to be ashamed," Roxas whispered softly into his ear, nudging his cheek with his lips. "As you said, I belong to you. I couldn't be embarrassed by that."

Axel scoffed lightly, a thin smile forming on his face. "You love me. Don't you, kid?"

Out of all the questions Roxas had been asked, he felt this was the easiest to answer and a rush of relief flew past him. "Yeah, pretty much. And stop calling me kid," He teased and tightened his embrace around Axel's neck, so tightly that it made Axel gag.

"Roxas!" He yelped, gasping for air.

Roxas simply laughed playfully and pulled away, rolling off the bed as a fast getaway. "I bet you hate me now!" He teased as Axel stood chased him around the room. He couldn't remember a time when he could force himself to laugh like this, smile like this, play like this. What was happening to him? Was he going ballistic? No, that couldn't have been it. He felt too comfortable to be crazy in that way. He was crazy but not in an irrational way. As Xemnas had mentioned before, Nobodies are rational unlike the Heartless. His mind felt so clear now. His chest no longer felt empty and his body no longer felt so frail and afraid. He liked this. No, loved it. He wished it would always be that way...but he still wondered how long a Nobody was supposed to last...

Nearly out of breath, Roxas froze in place, bending over slightly to catch his breath again.

"Gotcha!"

Instantly, Roxas knew stopping was a good thing and simply smiled lightly, shutting his eyes when he felt a strong push at his back. He loved hugging, really. Something about it made him want to relax and fall upon his bed again. Feeling Axel's slim arms tighten comfortably around his neck, Roxas' smiled widened as he straightened, feeling Axel breathe down his neck as he had last night. Roxas belonged to him...he lied yesterday. He was someone's property and, to his surprise, he didn't mind it.

"Love you; hate you, hell, anything as long as you're ok with it," Axel whispered serenely, lightly pressing his lips against the back of Roxas' neck.

Roxas chuckled and grabbed Axel's hand, absently brushing the back of his gloved hand with his thumb. After some time had passed, Roxas felt Axel slip away from him and suddenly became anxious. Frowning, he held on tightly to Axel's hand and turned to face him.

"Where're you going?" Roxas asked, taking a single step toward him.

"You heard what Xigbar said, right? Xemnas always gives me the hard jobs to take care of so I've got to complete them," Axel muttered.

"But your job's to stay with me, isn't it?" Roxas asked, lowering his head disappointedly.

"I've got more than one sometimes. That's just how it works when you're with Organization thirteen."

"But..." Roxas paused, trying to steer away from sounding desperate, and started again, "if that's the case, then what happens to me? Where do I go?"

He heard the same laugh that he had heard ever since the two of them had met and blinked once, still keeping his eyes glued to the white floor. He liked hearing him laugh like that. If the Organization was truly made up of Nobodies, then how was it that they were able to laugh? It didn't make sense...his mind was clouding again. He shook his head, attempting to rid of his confusion. When the room fell into silence, Roxas released Axel's hand, letting his own fall weakly back to his side.

"You go where ever you feel you need to be...besides, it's not like I'll be gone for an eternity, right?" Axel said calmly, taking a few steps forward until he stood directly in front of his companion.

"I..." Roxas began but swallowed his words, refusing to continue.

"Oh, I get it," Axel began again and carefully placed his finger under Roxas' chin, tilting Roxas' head upward until they met eye to eye. He wondered why Roxas always seemed stunned when they made contact that way. Staring into those deep eyes now made him wonder even more. Pure blankness and innocence resided in those pools of blue each time it happened. Shutting his eyes, he lowered his head and lips met lips again.

Roxas' eyes widened and remained so until Axel pulled away, bringing his hand back. Hugging was nice but kissing...that was a different narrative. He stood as frozen as ice as he watched Axel back away and pull his hood over his face as he had last night. With his face hidden from Roxas' curious eyes, Roxas knew he was leaving...no matter what he might have tried to say or do, he was going to leave him.

"You'd better look out for yourself, got it?" Axel taunted; the dark void already hugging his body.

"You should worry more about yourself!" Roxas called back.

"Me? Maybe you're the crazy one! I can take care of myself!" As Axel's laugh died away, Roxas thought of what he had last said while staring into the disappearing black void.

"Right..." He mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. How could he trust those words? Everyone in the Organization seemed to be out to destroy both of them. When they were apart, it just seemed to be the best time for the members to make a move. Organization XIII...

"Roxas."

Roxas blinked and shot his head upward, staring in every direction for the familiar voice. "X-Xemnas?" He asked into the empty space.

"We have to speak with each other again."

"We...do?"

"I trust you to know where."

"What's this about?" He asked slowly.

"...Have you heard of a boy named Sora?"