A/N: New chapter. Review replies. Don't really feel like typing out full sentences.
Larxene12: sigh I knew someone would say something about how short that chapter was. Hey, I had finals! mutters about teachers I'm glad Catássa comes off as crazy. That is intended, and will make much sense later. And thanks. My good friend (and beta reader) Dustie-chan said the same about Aerith's little monologue thing.
Okiegirlforever: Thanks! And you hit the bull's-eye on the Axel thing. Extra kudos for the reader who figured out part of my plot.
Next to Nothing:
Chapter Five:
"Reunion"
"Axel!" I cried, my voice a mixture of so many emotions. Joy, relief, love, passion, and maybe a little bit of residual hatred. After all, he had been the one who killed me. Twice. But I was willing to put that aside, at least for now. I took his hand, and I could feel some of my life force draining from my body. He was taking the very strength out of me! But as some color began to fill his skin and he began to breathe again, I realized how much he needed me to help him.
I knelt beside him, his hand in both of mine, as I struggled to stay awake. I breathed steadily, deeply, as my life began to heal his wounds. I could feel him getting stronger, his mind beginning to awaken, stirring with thoughts and memories. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply again, as I used my own strength to bring Axel back to life.
After a moment, his solidity completely returned, and his form sank from a couple inches in the air to rest neatly on the ground. His expression began to change, his eyes flicker behind his eyelids, his face even contort itself in pain. The pain of death. Somehow different than any pain ever felt before, in all my life, or afterlife.
All of a sudden, I remembered that the last time I had brought someone back to life, namely myself, I had nearly died, and probably would have, if not for Leon's timely rescue. Why did I never think things through? Maybe if I had listened to Aerith, I wouldn't be here, dying. Well, as my vision faded before my eyes, I decided it was a little too late.
Grasping onto my last shred of consciousness, I closed my eyes, and laid my head on Axel's chest as I finally gave up.
I began thinking before I was really awake.
Am I dead? I asked myself. I must be. I was healing Axel, and then I just passed out. Or died, I guess. Seems like Axel, or Avery, really, killed me again. Well, good riddance, I'm tired of being dead. But if I was dead already, what am I now? My goodness, will I ever get any peace of mind? And if you die in Between, where do you go?
"And you are…?"
"Axel."
Well, for being in Between, or wherever I am, it's awful loud.
"What's wrong with Larissa?"
"Ooh, I told that stupid girl…"
"It's kind of a long story."
Stupid voices. I'm dead now, I should be allowed some peace, shouldn't I?
"What happened?"
"Well, she came to Between, apparently, which is a bad idea to begin with, and then, well, long story short, she brought me back to life using her own life force."
"I can't believe her! I told her she shouldn't have gone!"
"You were here when she left, Aerith?"
"Well, yes, but, you know how she gets…she so stubborn…"
"Believe me, I've seen that side of her. Stubborn as a jackass and twice as mouthy."
Hey! Those stupid voices are talking about ME!
My eyes shot open, and the first thing I saw was Aerith's furious-looking face. I closed my eyes again, then opened one tentatively. My stupid body was apparently in the arms of Axel, who was also standing near Leon, Yuffie, and Cloud as well as Aerith.
"Well, I guess I'm not dead, then…." I announced, my voice cracking weakly. "And I didn't break my promise, Aerith, so there's no need to be looking at me that way."
"You certainly cut it close, young lady."
Great, all of a sudden, I was a young lady. I craned my neck upward to address Axel. "Now, you who just called me a jackass, please put me down."
And smirking that stupid smirk I knew too well, he looked into my eyes and said, "Not on your life. Now, let's take you home."
Despite what Aerith had said, I felt I had done the right thing. There was something comforting about being taken across town in the arms of the person I loved the most. But even though I knew that what Larxene had felt for Axel had been fabricated by her own mind, what Larissa (I, myself, really) had felt for Avery was real.
I opened my eyes as we approached my house. "We have to find Avery, don't we?"
Axel looked down at me. "I'm afraid so." He swung open the door to reveal my cluttered little apartment, with papers spread across my floor, papers piled on my shelves, my desk. "What's all this?"
"Memories." I said as he placed me neatly on the ground. I wavered a bit on the spot, and clutched his arm for support, but I regained balance after a moment.
"And I suppose I'm not allowed to read them?" Axel asked, smiling at me.
"Bingo." I replied, as I stumbled over to sit on the edge of my bed. "You always were more clever than I realized."
He came and sat beside me, and after a long moment of silence, slowly asked, "Have—have you—do you—do you know where Catássa is?"
"I'm—I'm afraid I don't." My eyes spoke of so much more, but I didn't feel like telling him. Not now.
"And anything of Normin?"
"Ack!" I let out a small cry at the mention of my younger brother, a short syllable that spoke everything. Of course I missed little Normi, but I had heard nothing of him. Not even vague, mysterious messages like Catássa had left me. I felt like an irresponsible older sister.
"It's alright, Rissa." He placed a hand around my waist. "We'll find them, I promise."
When Yuffie had unknowingly spoken my nickname, it had brought pain and grief to my mind, but coming from Axel, or Avery, rather, it brought back comfort and warmth long forgotten.
"Sora's missing." I said abruptly, and the words were out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying. But at least, I decided, he was hearing it from me, one of the few people who knew how close Axel and Roxas were.
Axel looked away. I understood how he felt. Sometimes losing a friend could be the worst thing in the world. Only, Roxas wasn't dead, was he? Only…misplaced. When Axel turned back, but when he did, he was smiling. "At least I still have you, Rissa."
I closed my eyes, and chose to enjoy this moment, my special moment of peace, of warmth, of light. Oh, how I wanted to make it last forever…
"Rissa?" Axel asked, slightly hesitantly, and I opened my eyes again. "Happy birthday."
A/N: There. This chapter was longer, wasn't it:P