Chapter 3: They Didn't Change (double-u X3 . youtube . com/watch?v=kOoVLp7CR98)

Memo: So I wish I was an experienced animator who could whip up a cutscene of this chapter. If I could create Nexus and Axel in this scene, it would be BEAUTIFUL. *sigh* One day...

*~*~*

Axel sat in his room in the Castle That Never Was. Nexus had gone and betrayed him...a double agent. Then again, that was quite hypocritical of him to say. He was just like her in that way. But at least it wasn't between friends. Saix was hardly a friend.

"Axel?" said a voice, knocking on the door. He recognized the voice. He thought he did, at least.

"Look, I don't know how you got here, Nexus, but you're wasting your time," Axel declared. "Get out."

"It isn't Nexus. It's Sune."

Axel laughed. "I suppose you think you're clever, using your other name. But I could've sworn you said to NEVER call you that."

"Sune is more than just her other name."

"Is that so? Then prove it."

"Let me in and I will."

Axel thought about it, then sighed. "Fine, Nexus. I'll play along. Although I don't know why I should." He opened the door, then laughed. "You thought changing your outside would..."

At a first look, it simply appeared as though Nexus had gone and bleached her hair and clothes. But then Axel saw her eyes. Instead of that ocean-color he was used to, the girl's eyes were a golden, amber color. She looked almost evil. Not calm at all, but very intense.

"Alright, you win," Axel murmured. "Come in before someone sees you."

Sune stepped inside quickly.

"I am here on Nexus' behalf," she said as Axel closed the door. He started to open it again, but Sune pushed it shut. "No, Axel. You have to listen." He sighed and sat down, obviously defeated.

"Start talking, then," he snapped. "I don't have all day to waste my time."

"Axel, Nexus was originally working for DiZ when you first met her," Sune explained, lacing her fingers as she sat down. "But, as she got to know you, her priorities changed."

"Why me?" Axel asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because you were the only friend she had ever had. Nexus...didn't ever have her own true friends when she was growing up. She never had the chance to, because of me and DiZ." Sune stood up and walked over to the lone window in Axel's room. "You must understand, Axel. You're all she's ever had. Without you, she's lost."

"But what am I supposed to do?" Axel murmured, lowering his head in shame. Why did he always find out things too late? "I really made it seem like I hated her."

"Go find her, Axel."

"Will she even forgive me?"

"She already has." Sune bowed slightly. "I ask to take my leave. It was nice meeting you, Axel. Oh, and I would prefer if you not mention our meeting to Nexus." She smiled sweetly, but to Axel, it seemed insincere. And just like that, she vanished. Axel let out a sigh. He now knew what he had to do.

.........

Nexus groaned and opened her eyes. What had happened? Then she remembered. A sob escaped her throat. She lifted her head and looked around. No one was there. She was alone...all over again.

Nexus pulled her knees to her chest and began to cry again. She cried for DiZ, for Sune, for herself...but mostly for Axel. She loved him so, so much--whether she wanted to admit it or not--and he...would never love her back. That made her feel so sick.

A few minutes later, Axel heard Nexus sobbing. He knew it was her. He remembered it from a year ago. He walked around the corner to see her hugging her knees, her face buried in her arms. It tore him up to see her like that. Though he couldn't feel it, he knew it was sadness. And he didn't like it.

"Nexus," he murmured. But she couldn't hear him through her sobs. "Nexus."

She finally lifted her head, then looked away quickly. Axel frowned and gently reached out and turned her face towards his. Tears streamed down her cheeks silently.

They looked at each other for a while. Nexus seemed to have forgotten his hand was there, and Axel made no effort to move it either. Her lip trembled, and suddenly, she jumped up and threw her arms around him. At that same time, Axel pulled Nexus into his arms. Either way, they embraced each other tightly.

"Nex..." Axel whispered, holding Nexus tightly. She seemed frail to him now, weaker. What had happened...?

"Axel...I'm...so sorry!" Nexus wailed, sobbing into Axel. He sighed through his nose and rested his cheek on top of her head. She gripped his robe tightly, trembling.

Nexus' PoV

I really thought I wouldn't be able to stop crying. We could've been there for hours, for all I knew. Either way, I was so, so happy. It was then I realized how badly I had suffered that past year. When he had said my name..."Nex"...it had felt so...so amazing.

"Nex, if you don't stop crying, you're gonna flood the poor town," Axel said, laughing. I giggled and wiped my eyes as Axel pushed me back.

"I missed you," I murmured.

"I know...I...missed you, too." He gently brushed a tear from my eye. I felt like screaming with joy, but instead I merely smiled. "I'm sorry for misjudging you."

"It's okay; I understand." I sighed shakily. "It's been...so long..."

"A year."

"A year," I echoed, then laughed. "You should see Sora now."

"I'd love to, but..."

My heart sank. He wasn't coming back with me. I pouted a little, then asked, "How's that whole thing working out?"

"...Not well. It's a mess, what with Naminé and DiZ." He sighed.

"...I know me showing up didn't exactly help things, either. But...it'll be alright, Axel. I'm still your partner. I'm gonna help out any way I can!" I smiled brightly.

"Your optimism never fails me," Axel said sarcastically, laughing.

"Optimist? Nah, not really."

"Pessimist?"

"Not really that, either. I guess that means I'm taking the middle ground." In my mind I found myself thinking of Riku and how much I had just sounded like him. Axel must've noticed it, too, because he ruffled my hair.

"Mini-Riku," he teased, smirking.

"Sorry, that answer cannot be accepted into the database. Please try again later." I stepped away, fixing my mussed hair. "First, I am not mini. Second, I am not Riku. I'm Nexus."

"Duh, I knew that." Axel took a step back. "You are taller, aren't you?" I nodded. "But I'm still taller."

"Duh, I knew that," I said, imitating him. He chuckled and shook his head.

"...Still wanting revenge, right?" he asked quietly.

"You betcha!"

"Then come with me." Axel held out his gloved hand, and I took it. He opened a portal and dragged me through it. We appeared in a dimly lit room. It didn't need lights, though. The entire room was white. Everything from the doorknob to the bed.

"Where are we?" I asked, although I had a hunch as to where we might be. I released Axel's hand-*sigh*-to look around.

"Welcome to the World That Never Was," he replied. "Don't you want to meet your co-workers?" He crossed his arms. "You are still 'working' for the Organization, right?"

I nodded. "I just had an important task, so I had to take absence for a while. It took longer than expected, but now I'm back, and I'm glad to be."

"Ooh wow, I like that. Sounds very..."

"Business-like, right?"

"Exactly."

We both laughed, and I felt tingles up my spine. Why did he have to leave for so long...?

"Come on," he said, "let's go."

*~*~*

Nexus and Axel walked through the World That Never Was. It felt odd, Nexus thought, because it was just like Castle Oblivion in some ways.

The first person they came upon was a man with short blonde hair, earrings, and a goatee. Nexus thought he looked like a biker. She didn't know this, but Axel thought the same exact thing.

"Axel," he said in a slight accent, nodding a hello. He then noticed Nexus. "And who is this?"

"Nexus," she said, bowing a little.

"Oh, right. The temp. So you're back?"

"The Organization needs all the help it can get," Axel said in a fake sad tone.

"Especially after last year. An unfortunate event indeed."

"Oh, I concur," Nexus said, nodding in false remorse. "I'm sorry, but you haven't given your name yet. It is?"

"Luxord," the man said, smirking, impressed by Nexus' adult mannerisms. She was totally faking it, let me say.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, Nexus. I must be on my way now. Goodbye."

"Good day."

As soon as Luxord vanished, Axel started laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" Nexus asked, cocking her head in confusion as to what she had missed.

"You," Axel replied. Nexus smiled a little. "You are way too good at this."

Nexus snorted a little. "He seemed..."

"Stiff? Nah, not really. He gambles a lot, so he tries to make a really good impression on everyone. You and Sora'll take him out no problem."

"Huh?"

"That's half the reason I kept you with Sora, Nex. You can get your revenge without having to be around these kooks all the time."

"I-I see," Nexus murmured. *Not like it makes it any more okay to do.* She glanced over her shoulder to see a man with silvery-blue hair. "Speaking of see..." For a moment, she thought it might be Xemnas, but then he turned his head a little, and she saw a huge X-shaped scar on his face. His hair was too blue, too.

"Oh, that's Saïx," Axel whispered, pulling Nexus away into the closest room. Unfortunately, the room was a sort of supply closet of some type, because there were shelves on the wall, and it was extremely crowded in there. Axel and Nexus were crammed in together; Nexus could feel something sticking into her back. It was pretty uncomfortable.

"If there's one person you wanna stay away from, it's Saïx," he continued, still whispering. Nexus was thankful it was dark so he couldn't see her blushing. "He's only seventh in rank, but he's a favorite. And guess what else? He wants to annihilate me now. Isn't that nice? Though I guess I deserve it."

"Okay, so I'll add him to my hit list, then?" Nexus squeaked, still backed up against the wall.

"Sure, go right ahead. I'll owe you one for that. Hey, I think the coast is clear."

Axel quietly opened the door, then stepped out into the hallway again. Nexus followed, her heart pounding.

"Anyway..." Axel said, walking away. He seemed unfazed by the turn of events. "Shall we continue? It seems like I'm always giving you tours."

Nexus laughed, her hands trembling. She could remember that day still. Suddenly a hand grabbed her around the waist, and another one covered her eyes. She let out a shriek.

"Xaldin, leave Nexus alone," Axel said monotonously. Xaldin, Nexus thought, must be Dilan's Nobody. Great.

"Heh, sorry," Xaldin said, releasing Nexus. She shuddered and retreated over to Axel. "But you know how I love picking on new kids."

"Kid?!" Nexus shrieked, stomping her foot. "I am TWENTY!"

"Yeah right!"

"I am!"

Xaldin turned to Axel. "Is she really?" When Axel thought for a moment, then nodded, he laughed. "I figured you were only sixteen or so."

"No, I was nineteen when I died, and I'm still counting my years, buddy. So thaaaaanks," Nexus said, crossing her arms.

"Uh, sorry. Didn't mean to piss you off or anything. Nexus, right? I'm Xaldin. I'll see you around?"

Before either Axel or Nexus could respond with a sarcastic remark, he disappeared. Nexus contorted her face in disgust.

"Ugh. He didn't change," she muttered. "Not one bit."

"Well, suck it up, because here comes the vice," Axel whispered.

Nexus turned to see an older man with an eyepatch. All the air in her lungs escaped in a gasp. She recognized him as Braig...but what his Nobody name was, she didn't know. Braig had been the closest thing to a friend to her. Ienzo she thought of as her best friend overall, but Braig was sort of true blue. He taught her how to shoot like a pro. Heck, he even had the gun handmade for her. He was sure to recognize her.

"Axel, get me out of here," she said, pulling Axel into the nearest room, which, unfortunately, was an even smaller room than the closet from before. It was a storage room, and there was no stuff in it, simply because it was tiny. Axel and Nexus were barely fitting into the room as it was. Even though they were backed up to opposite walls, their bodies were still touching. Oh geez, Nexus thought, this is fun.

"You know Xigbar?" Axel whispered. Nexus nodded, afraid to say a word. He smelled like campfires, she thought.

"I knew his other," she finally muttered. Her nose was less than a foot away from his. And not intentionally, either. Why the h3ll were there rooms like this, anyway? Nexus could hardly breathe because she was a.) about to wig out and just forget all she was hiding and b.) she was claustrophobic.

It felt as if the room was getting smaller to Axel and Nexus. But what they didn't realize was that they were beginning to relax away from the wall and towards each other. Both of them were about to lose what they had worked for. Axel didn't know what was going on. He felt weird. It wasn't an emotion; it was something else. Or...maybe it was, and he didn't realize it.

It was.

And he didn't realize it, either.

Nexus' PoV

I leaned my head against the wall, my forehead beaded with sweat. I couldn't take much more of all of it. I was a claustrophobe, so it wasn't any fun, but I could still hear muffled footsteps just outside the door. Axel's eyes shifted slowly from left to right, as if trying to listen in.

"Axel, I--!!" Axel quickly clamped a hand over my mouth. My breathing became a little erratic, since it was hard to breathe in there anyway. Giving me a stern look, Axel leaned his ear into the door as much as he could.

My head buzzed with exhaustion. It's not that I was out of shape-although that may have been a little true--it's just that...well...why don't YOU try being in a confined place right up next to the guy you're in love with.

My eyes fluttered and I could feel myself beginning to lose conciousness.

"Axel," I whispered, pushing his hand away. "I-I don't..."

I felt myself fall into silence...into darkness.