Author's Comment: Hello! It's been so long since I updated any of my stories, but thank you for your patience. Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. I own Imani.
"Imani?"
He froze mid-swing, his wide eyes seeing past Xemnas' haughty smirk. The heat pooling in his hands vanished. His borderline rage went cold.
"Imani? Is that you?"
Curiosity seized his common sense, forcing him to tear his eyes from Xemnas and to whip his head towards the creaky gate just as the short king pushed it open. Xemnas was probably going to get away…but he didn't care much about that at the moment. He watched with bated breath as the tiny king poked his head through the gap…
Was it really her?
"Imani!"
They all beat him to her, rushing through the gate into the grassy courtyard with relieved laughter and joyful cries. His feet felt like lead as he dragged himself after them. The realization drifted in his head aimlessly, clouding over his senses. It was her…it was really h—
"Who are you people?"
For the second time he froze. The sharp edges in those words sliced his gut and rang in his ears strangely. It was definitely her voice…but she sounded so different.
"You…You don't remember us?"
He forced his feet to keep walking, to take him through the gate and into the courtyard where the group stood and sat around a frowning girl. Whatever she or anyone else was saying went completely over his head. All he could do was stare at her.
Why the hell was she dressed like that?
Finally, her voice registered in his brain: "Where are we?"
No one responded. The thick air weighed heavily on his shoulders.
"Well?"
He couldn't believe this.
"We're in Twilight Town," he heard his own voice answer hollowly. Before he knew it he was kneeling by her side. "You've been living here with me and Zexion. You always grab breakfast at the diner I work in and you always order mini waffles with whipped cream and strawberries."
She blinked owlishly—obliviously. "Really?"
He searched and searched, narrowing his eyes slightly and peering as hard as he could…but he couldn't find it. It was gone from her eyes—recognition. Remembrance.
She didn't remember him.
A pang in his chest seemed to dislodge his heart and it sank to his stomach. "What happened to you? You're supposed to know all this."
"The only thing I know—"
He hardly waited for her to finish her explanation before demanding, "What do you mean 'the only thing you know'?"
She elaborated, but he could feel his mind zooming out…away from where he knelt. Her words echoed, overlapping each other. None of it made sense.
Unless…
"Maxiin."
She was looking at Sora. Moments passed before she uncertainly returned her gaze to him. "Were you talking to me?" she asked.
He didn't think. His hand shot out to press against her chest…right where…
Shit.
"What are you doing?"
He wasn't surprised. Still, something cracked and split inside him: his heart.
"Does she—?"
"No," he cut off the mouse, his voice barely above a whisper. "She doesn't have a heartbeat."
Author's Afterthought: I don't know where I'm going with this little story series, but I hope you're enjoying the glimpses of Axel's POV. Please leave a review! Thank you for reading!