Chap IX

There is something in the human body that allows them to live. No, it isn't the heart yet it is created from within it. Although every living being with a heart does well to keep it within them, they fear it just the same. Blood. That's right. That's what it was called. A thick, dark red liquid that flows through the human body. Aat the very sight of it, people become panic stricken, yet, when the Heartless and the Nobodies see it, they praise its presence. Is this because it reminds them of hearts? Do they wish to be able to bleed as well? Without a beating heart, both Nobodies and Heartless cannot bleed. However, to kill either one, loss of blood is not necessary...

"You should have listened...you should have..." Roxas became lost now. He entirely rid of his thoughts of Xemnas...of Sora...of himself. The floor beneath him felt cool to the touch as his tears began to seep through his gloves and meet with his weak hands. He didn't mind it and continued to stare forward, unblinking. This wasn't real...he was dreaming again. Yes, he had to be.

Slowly raising one hand after kneeling on the ground, Roxas covered his eyes and shut them. "Wake up...please..." When he failed to, he knew this wasn't a dream no matter how much he wished it was for the first time in his life.

"The...Superior...was he here?" He heard the hooded person before him ask in a dull, yet relaxed voice that revealed his young age hidden behind his outfit. Roxas said nothing, keeping his eyes to a separate being in the unknown member's arms with one hand closed over his lips.

He heard the person scoff once and watched as they held on tightly to their unconscious, captive victim in bridal fashion. Roxas stared into the face of that victim, feeling his very existence slip away. His stomach gave a sudden turn and he coughed, shaking his head vigorously in disbelief. He knew he shouldn't have left...why did he have to be so stubborn? Now the truth was clear: neither he nor Axel could watch out for themselves.

"Was he here?" The figure asked again, staring down at Roxas' shaking body.

Roxas looked up from the ground and could barely take the sight of Axel's seemingly deceased body being held in the arms of a stranger. "He...was..." He responded weakly, trying not to anger the member by asking about Axel.

"Where is he now?"

"I...I don't know."

"Fool..." Swiftly, they shook the black hood away from their face to reveal their face to Roxas. Roxas stared up at the strange man, observing the same snake-like shape to his eyes as Saix's. His hair fell just below his shoulders in a fairly light shade of pink. A slim smile was currently upon his lips giving Roxas the impression that he wasn't there to play nice. Then again, who in the Organization ever did? He may not have crossed paths with all of them, but he knew...he knew no one was to be trusted here...not even himself.

"You share this trait with him..." He ridiculed, staring down at Axel's face immorally. Roxas responded in an instant, forcing myself to stand from the ground to face him. Roxas' once crying eyes suddenly flared and his face felt strangely warm.

"Get your hands off of him..." Roxas hissed.

He looked up, remaining quite still where he had been, and his sharp smile widened. Roxas already hated the fact that this man reminded him of Saix and wished he had those two blades back. If they turned Saix away, they would surely work on him.

"He came to challenge me. And...as you can see, he failed miserably."

"I don't care!" I fumed, "Put him down!"

"He's no use to you, is he?" He paused and suddenly cocked his head to the side. "Oh, I see. He's your teacher, isn't he?"

"I'm not gonna tolerate you damn members anymore...!"

"Hmm, I see. You see what Xemnas had done to this Organization? Such a pretender...nothing but a ridiculous fool..." Roxas grinded his teeth and tried to picture what those blades were like. How was it he made them appear? He had enough of the talking...he had enough with the depressing thoughts...

"This Organization needs better leadership...a stronger Superior...honestly, Axel, look where Xemnas has placed you now..." Carefully, he knelt down, laying Axel's unmoving body on the floor before straightening again and casually stepping over him as if he no longer existed.

"Good, now get out of here," Roxas demanded, threatening with his fist.

"Roxas...am I saying it correctly?"

"I don't care. Just get out of my sight already..."

The man shook his head and his smile was suddenly gone. "Anyone who stands up to me doesn't deserve to reside in Organization XIII."

"You're not Xemnas...you don't decide who goes and who stays." Roxas' eyes slowly drifted behind the man to Axel and immediately he became desperate. Why weren't those blades with him now? He feared for the worst if this man wasn't about to leave...

"Come on, think...think hard...now!" Roxas stared into his empty hand and waited. Still, no weapon.

"Xemnas is of no importance to me. The only thing I have to thank him for is introducing me to this Organization of Nobodies. Now that I know such a group exists, I can claim it as my own..." The man kept his voice low and raised his arm with his open palm directed to the ceiling. Roxas clenched his teeth and took a step backward, watching as a sudden flash struck the man's hand before revealing to him a weapon. Swiftly, he tightly grasped the weapon's handle and propped it atop his shoulders, the dark pink blade of the scythe reflecting Roxas' face on its glossy surface.

"Xemnas has clearly failed to pick trustworthy members...just look at you and Axel," He muttered, his serpent eyes staring down upon the apprehensive blonde who was refusing to keep his eyes straight on one target.

"Look who's talking." Roxas felt a drip of sweat slip down his chin and knew no matter what he did or thought, his weapons would not show. He became hesitant, nervously shooting his eyes at both Axel and his, no, their new threat. He had to do something...anything. He didn't even know if Axel was...no! He shook his head in frustration and rid of that thought. He wasn't gone. He wasn't...

BANG!

"What?" He heard the man whisper, noticing that his attention now darted to something at Roxas' back that had created that noise.

"Now!" With the man distracted, Roxas shot forward passed him, feeling his mind race while the tips of his fingers tingled eagerly. He needed to be with him...he needed to feel him again...especially now. Especially now...

"Axel!" He yelled, immediately flinging his body atop his companion's, only hoping his movement had awoken him. He looked up and stared at his soft face, still unable to see his euphoric eyes open. "It's ok...we're ok..." Roxas whispered, suddenly finding himself caressing his best friend's cheek. He had to say everything was alright...no matter what was occurring, he had to say it. He didn't want a negative attitude anymore.

"You!"

"You..." He heard the man hiss behind him.

Roxas kept his eyes upon Axel but couldn't help but wonder who had suddenly called out behind him. He didn't want to look, fearing it was another Nobody willing to fight. No more fighting...no more confusion...he didn't want this anymore. Neglecting the man's presence and the presence of who ever had confronted him, Roxas concentrated on nothing but somewhere to escape to although he found it slightly difficult considering that he also thought of Axel's condition. The shadows of his void now contained both him and Axel, causing him to commit to memory of when they first were together in these unpredictable black flames.

"Sora...!" Was the last he heard from the strange man as the two of them began to fade. The clashing of blades ended everything for him. Yes, everything had to end at least for now. He kept his hand around Axel's wrist and gently shut his eyes. As he said before: he was afraid.

Author's note: Thank you for reading this far ppl:D Well, I'll just say I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter very much. :D Also, I hope you are all enjoying this story so far and that I haven't added too much angsting or yaoi loving...meep. O...O ehehe, well, chapter X is expected to be posted soon! Again, thank you!

kokoro77