Chapter 2: It's You... (double-u x3 . youtube . com/watch?v=OppGONq_dw4)

Memo: I love this part. I had fun writing it. I was doodling one day in English and I drew Nexus and made her blushing and all wide-eyed and I labeled it "It's You...", so it's kind of the title's inspiration.

Nexus' PoV

The town I stepped into was beautiful. The sky was lit with the colors of the sunset. Sure, I could see this from the mansion, but in person, it was aweinspiring. The streets were lined with colorful shops with random items. Anything you could think of, really. There were a few posters advertising something called the "Struggle Tournament." It sounded like fun. Anyway, there were people running around and on skateboards and... Well, to tell you the truth, I felt out of place, what with my black and hot pink hair and my black robe and my side bangs.

Suddenly the town was way quiet. Did they all see me and run away? I wondered. No noises came from around me. I inhaled slowly. It was as if everyone had just disappeared. Exhaling sharply, I started to walk around. Not to any particular place yet. Just anywhere. After all, I didn't have a lead. Yet.

"Roxas!"

I stopped dead in my tracks. I recognized that voice!!

"Axel?" I whispered, running toward the voice. My heart was pounding in my ears.

"Roxas!"

My heart pounded harder, but this time in fear. I knew that voice, too.

"Ansem the Wise...DiZ..."

*~*~*

Nexus sprinted into an open area. It appeared to be an arena. Maybe it was where the Struggle Tournament was being held, she thought. Three men stood there, and although she only recognized two of them, the third she could easily guess the identity of. After all, he looked a lot like his other.

"Axel!" she shouted, running toward him, out of breath.

"Nexus?!" he said, eyes wide with shock.

"Roxas...?" she said. Roxas held his head in his hands and dropped to his knees.

"Hayner, Pence, Olette...HAYNER! PENCE! OLETTE!" he shouted, collapsing. Time seemed to freeze as DiZ, Nexus, and Axel looked at each other in disbelief.

"Nexus," DiZ said sternly. Nexus shuddered but stood her ground.

"D-DiZ," she sputtered, clenching her fists. Axel looked back and forth between them. He knew her; she knew him. He remembered her. Didn't he hate her? He knew she hated him. (...too many pronouns...)

"Nex, what's going on here?" Axel asked quietly.

"Axel, I-"

"Nexus, where exactly do your loyalties lie?" DiZ added.

"WHAT?!" Axel screeched. Nexus gasped a little.

"Please, Axel, let me-"

"You were working for HIM!?" Axel shook his head quickly, as if trying to erase the possibility from his mind. "You-of all people!"

"Wait, Axel-"

"Liar! That's what you are, Nexus! A double-crossing, using, heartless LIAR!!"

Nexus gasped, trying to hold back tears. Not him, too, she thought. He was all she had.

"Axel, you can't-"

"JUST SHUT UP! I can't believe I actually thought you were my friend! I hope I never see you again! I hope you--!"

Growling, Axel disappeared into a portal. Nexus stood in silence for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at DiZ.

"Why didn't you help me?!" she screamed.

"This is your mission, Nexus, not mine," DiZ replied rather calmly.

"Oh, cut the crap! Don't you see he's...."

"He's what, Nexus? Your 'partner'?"

"SHUT UP!" Nexus wailed. "You never liked me! Never! Always Sune, right? Well, I finally got a friend who likes me, and now he's gone, too! The only one who knows and likes me! NOT Sune!" Nexus swallowed hard. "He is my partner. I told him I'd help with Roxas if he helped me. And I'm not breaking my promise. No, I'm not like YOU!"

Nexus let out a sob and ran off before DiZ could respond. She didn't really know where she was going. Where was she supposed to go, though? Axel was her only way home.

*This can't be happening,* she thought, growing light-headed. *This is a dream. Yeah, it has to be. This can't be happening. He couldn't have meant those things...*

Nexus continued to repeat those words in her mind as she ran into an isolated alleyway of the town. Exhausted, she collapsed against the wall. Although she willed the tears not to come, they came anyway. In mass numbers they poured from her eyes.

Nexus' PoV

I sobbed into my hands, resting my forehead against my knees. I could barely breathe, but that was okay. There was nothing left if I died. Axel was gone. I had never ever felt such pain before. Even when Ienzo and the other betrayed DiZ...that was nothing in comparison.

The worst part about all of this was that Axel had basically given up on me. I wanted to explain. That was part of the reason I wanted to see him again. Sure, I may have started out working for DiZ and for my freedom, but my priorities changed when I met Axel. But it was too late. He was gone, and I didn't know where he'd gone off to. Wait, I take that back. I knew where he'd gone; I just didn't have a way of getting there.

"Isn't there anyone who can help me?" I sobbed, hugging my knees.

"Yes," came a very nearby voice.

"Who's there?"

"Oh, Nexus, you don't even recognize the other side of you anymore?"

I lifted my head to see two translucent amber eyes staring at me. Her... My eyes narrowed.

"I hate you," I hissed.

"I know."

"...But you've gotta help me."

"I will, but only because we share a love for Axel."

She vanished, and I felt light-headed again.

"Axel...forgive me..."

*~*~*

Sune found herself outside of Nexus' body for the first time in a long time. She twisted a strand of her white hair around her finger and sighed. She felt quite sorry for Nexus, who was lying there, unconcious. The least she could do was to find Axel and set things straight. But she wasn't so stupid to do things that she knew would do HER no good, for this also benefited her. If Axel met her, maybe he'd like her better.