Hey everyone! Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry it took me so long to finish this chapter...I can only imagine I've lost some readers which sucks but I hope everyone still enjoys it. Anyways, I hope I did good with this chapter and lol that it's not to cheeseball...especially towards the end. But, not that this is the last chapter or anything, just hope the ending of this one isn't corny or something...okay that's all I have to say for now. Oh, umm I hope there aren't alot of mistakes, I try but some always slip through, you know?
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts and/or any of the chareacters, they belong to Square Enix and Disney.
Okay so the thoughts in this one are Axel's so you know the drill, they ar in italics.
Alrighty, hope you enjoy and remember to read and review!
.::Picture To Burn::.
Chapter 8: Flare...
Sharp green eyes narrowed as features twisted in an irritated wince, branch crunching loudly underneath his boots. As quick as he dared, the fiery male darted behind a nearby tree. His breath lay stuck in his throat; back up against the coarse bark, waiting for any sign that the two girls were still unaware of his presence. He cursed his eagerness to see Naminé's somebody…it wasn't everyday that a nobody actually still had one, but he had almost let that fact ruin everything.
"Kairi, come on! It was probably just some dumb squirrel or something"
Axel's viridian eyes fell on a nicely sized stone at his feet, and he'd be lying if he tried to convince himself that the idea of chucking that rock at the squeaky voiced girl's head wasn't tempting. Not to mention, horribly irresistible with a manipulative temper like the very one he owned. But he opted for a smaller pebble instead, wouldn't want to rattle that pea sized brain too much now would we.
He leaned out from his position behind the tree and took quick aim, putting a decent amount of thrust into the throw.
"Ouchie!"
Ten points…
"Kairi! That thing totally threw something at me," the girl's high voice whined; triggering a regret in the inferno's head, he should have chose the bigger rock…maybe it would've knocked her out.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't insult the squirrels Selphie." a hauntingly familiar voice said gently, causing a painful aching in Axel's chest.
That voice…her voice; it was like dangling her right in front of him but then pulling her away, would she ever be close enough to hold again? But, hell, this whole stake-out would probably generate that feeling, and so yet again he found himself stuck with a cruel pang of conscience…he just had to volunteer himself, didn't he?
"Come on, let's just get to the beach…" the soft voiced girl suggested, Axel struggling to catch her words as she obviously moved further down the path.
"Well okay…" the girl muttered begrudgingly, voice fading accordingly as she also continued down the path.
Axel risked looking out from behind the tree, curious as to the face that belonged to Naminé's somebody, but all his deep emerald eyes laid on was their receding figures as they disappeared behind a dip in the road.
Damn.
He became nothing but a fleeting shadow against the sun's dying rays, keeping his considerable distance while blending with the darkness that the forest offered. He followed the faint sound of their voices; cursing under his breath as the trees thinned, no longer presenting their generous gift of disguise.
It was at that point, he switched courses and headed up, quietly making his way up the steep path to a secluded precipice.
Hmm…not a bad view.
He knelt down, taking a seat near the edge with one of his legs hanging over the lip of the cliff. He felt pretty satisfied; the girls were just below him and he was in clear earshot, not to mention he was pretty damn comfortable.
Under different circumstances, he probably would have admired the sunset; the light bent on the waves, sending iridescent rays shining brilliantly on the dusky water. He felt guilty deep down, it was far to beautiful for his eyes…it wasn't fair that he got to see it when she might never be able too.
"She would have loved this…"he said quietly; words caught up in the gentle breeze, stealing them away until it was as if he had never said anything.
He smiled faintly at just the thought of her; he could see every contour of her delicate features, imagine with clarity the smile that would grace her lips at such a sight.
However, his head was jerked from those comforting memories by a shrill shriek from below. His ease was ultimately drained as his muscles tensed once again with the resurfacing weight of the situation. He probably should've been watching them…
"Selphie! Don't do that, you'd think you were being murdered or something…geez it's just cold water."
"No, not cold Kairi, totally freezing!"
He couldn't help but allow his mouth to bend into a frown as he leaned back once again, having sat forwards with an apparently misplaced concern. But he couldn't keep his curiosity from emerging, now that his mind was no longer ensnared by her haunting memory. He wondered if she looked anything like Naminé…
He leant forwards again, this time for a completely different reason, and focused his intense viridian gaze to scan the beach below. He quickly spotted the brown haired, annoying as hell, girl close to the water's edge and passed over her figure to hone in on the other girl.
Emerald eyes fell upon her face and he felt that familiar ache in his chest except it was so much stronger this time. Strong to the degree that he could've doubled over in pain…his chest felt torn and raw; breath came out in shallow waves, cutting down his defenses like they were mere paper.
It was like being given a small glimpse of everything he didn't have, it hurt so much more than anything he had ever felt…sort of like watching yourself die inside, which is the worst kind of wound.
But it was also the sort of pain that came and left in the blink of an eye…severe agony that if even for only a second could seem like forever. And it always left a parting gift for your hospitality, scars that served as a constant reminder.
He was almost scared to take a second look at her but, upon that second glance he realized that the first cut was truly the deepest. As his gaze skimmed her features, he understood why it had been so hard, why it had cost him so much. Apart from the difference in their hair, they could have been the same person.
Kind blue eyes that sparkled just like hers had, the same illuminating smile. They were one in the same, it was bluntly obvious that she was Naminé's somebody. But yet, they were different…at least to him.
It didn't matter that they shared the same eyes, the same smile, the same heart. There was one thing that Kairi didn't have that Naminé did, the one thing that made them different.
She didn't have him.
Maybe it didn't seem like much, but he would dwell on it. Naminé was not what her namesake made her out to be…she wasn't just half of someone, not to him. She was the only whole person he knew, it's the only way he had ever seen her…would ever see her.
He just hoped he didn't have to lose her…he'd be damned if she didn't make him who he was. And if he lost her, he'd lose a piece of himself as well.
He let his gaze linger on the girl, at least as far as their looks went he could still feel like he had her close to him right? Even if that comfort wasn't what it would be with Naminé, it was definitely still something and he'd silence the voice that screamed that it was pretend.
He knew it inside, but he wouldn't react to it. For the moment it felt fine; and anyways, once he did find that comfort again, it would taste so much more sweet.
Tangled in the moment, he let his guard down…as well as his danger signals. So naturally, he didn't pick up the sound of nearby footsteps or catch the glimpse of someone out of the corner of, his usually, sharpened peripheral vision.
It wasn't until a hand squeezed his shoulder that he leapt up from his spot on the ground, muscles exceedingly tensed and emerald eyes narrowed fiercely. He was not at all fond of being caught off guard.
"Axel, calm down…it's just me sweetie."
The inferno relaxed, at least a bit, and ran a gloved hand through his shock of crimson hair, continuing to glare at the dark-cloaked woman nearby.
"For fuck's sake Larxene, don't sneak up on me…and do yourself a favor and never call me that again, you're way beyond pushing it…" the fiery man sighed with irritation, he'd admit he was relieved it was just her…but then again, he was still pretty much just pissed that it was her.
"I see you found that little wench's somebody…" the Savage Nymph muttered, peering over the cliff's edge and casually nudging a small rock over the brink with the toe of her boot.
"You know her name Larxene, why don't you start using it," the man said heatedly; pulling the woman away from the edge roughly, evidently annoyed at her loose tongue, "And I don't think 'observe' entails hitting her with rocks…" he muttered hypocritically, but, hey, it's not like she knew.
"Maybe it does to me," she began with a grin that faded as her eyes met his hard stare, "Fine…but what are we supposed to do anyways, I don't want to watch that stupid girl all day!"
"Then why don't you leave? I don't need you here," he grumbled, feeling the onslaught of a headache from her overpowering presence.
"Leave again? Yeah right…anyways, I know you need me here. You're just too shy to say it." she purred softly, stepping in front of him and toying with the zipper of his cloak.
"I just fucking said that I don't," his voice sharpened to a fine point, ripping her hand from his chest and stepping away, "As long as you don't try anything stupid, like that, and you stay away from me, you can stay…I guess."
"Whatever you say, but, where are we going to stay overnight?" she questioned with interest; and by the look of her expectant eyes, she was making assumptions.
"Umm, here…what did you expect, a hotel? We're not on a freaking vacation Larxene…" he groaned in disbelief; taking a seat on a nearby rock, suddenly feeling incredibly weary.
These are going to be the longest fucking days of my life…
.::.x.::.
Darkness.
That's all she could feel now…all she could see. She couldn't even remember what it was like to be near light, she missed it more than she thought she ever could.
It was getting so hard to breathe…should it be that way?
It was practically impossible to move; dark tendrils bound her legs, it felt like trying to move through molasses…black and thick. She couldn't even tell if she had made any progress, time seemed to move so slow. But then again, she wouldn't know either way, nothing ever changed. Just that constant suffocating darkness.
She wanted to break free, but the more she struggled…the more she drowned. She felt stupid for thinking she had been close: she had never felt more lost than she did now.
The memory of how light her movements had been was almost painful, now her limbs felt horribly leaden. She remembered looking at them earlier on: she had sworn she wouldn't do that again. She had tried to scream but she had choked on the dense air, the darkness could've been cut with a knife.
Thread like shadows traveled just below her skin, branching thickly and causing livid bruises to rise out of nowhere. They had started out small, but she knew they were spreading. Cruelly making their slow way through her body…she felt like she was dying.
She had lost count of the times she had just wanted to give up. Just lie down and let the darkness take her light, it seemed like a mere dwindling candle anyways. Would it really matter if it was snuffed out? She was running out of reasons as to why it would.
She could taste blood…should it be that way?
It had started out small…as most things do. Simply believing she had bitten her lip, the metallic taste being fleeting. But of course, poison takes it's time. She couldn't accept that her lip was the source…I mean who could when the you taste the blood long before it hits your tongue.
How could it hit your tongue when it comes from your throat…when it starts to fill your lungs. She knew that was why it was hard to breathe…she was choking on her own life.
She'd never be able to make it…to wherever she was supposed to be going. She wasn't even sure of that…she was supposed to follow her heart, listen to it.
Like it was the simplest thing…
She didn't suppose that advice applied when your heart started to fail…along with everything else in your body. When it's beats became indistinct against all the sounds that filled her head, it was like trying to hear the fluttering of a butterflies wings.
It shouldn't be that way.
The only strength she had been able to hold within her chest came from the memory of him. Just like the burning core within his chest, it had consumed her fear. Given her sight when the shadows left her blind, breath when the darkness had stolen it away…hope, when she thought she had none left.
But, it didn't surprise her when she felt that begin to die too. It was the last thing she had, and she needed it. The fact that she had been willing to let that show, made it vulnerable…
Made her vulnerable.
She felt her knees give way, muscles surrendering to the weight of the darkness. Her breath came out shallow, body shuddering from the effort: an effort that had never had to be so hard.
Her slender arms trembled as she tried, and failed, to support her body. Back bending under the pressure of the shadows, she would have held out until her back had broken, but her arm's did not have the same idea. Her cheek hit the ground.
Hard.
In one last attempt, she gathered just enough strength. Just enough to utter one word, one name. Even if he never heard it, she wanted his name to be the last word to fall from her dying breath.
It was less than a whisper, less than she could ever hope he would hear.
"Axel…"
Less than he would ever know.
.::.x.::.
The sky was held in midnight's grasp, the sun having been stolen underneath the horizon. Maybe it was the night's air that stirred him from his slumber, having turned cold without the warmth of the golden rays. His viridian eyes cut through the night as an ominous feeling swept him from his dreams.
He felt a heavy weight against his shoulder and saw that Larxene had, obviously, waited for him to fall asleep before taking her place beside him, leaning against his body. He pushed her away, adjusting her so she curled up against a rock instead of him, trying not to disturb her. The last thing he wanted was Larxene to be awake, at least when she was asleep she was quiet.
A thunderous sound made him jump, but he calmed as he realized it was the Savage Nymph snoring…okay so he had been a little off, she was definitely not quiet in either state. Damn, that woman could snore…
He lifted himself from the ground, giving his legs a quick stretch before moving a little further away from the sleeping woman. Unfortunately, his night vision was considerably impaired by the lingering slumber that tainted his bright eyes. The fiery man felt his boot snag on a rock that he hadn't caught in his line of sight and he found himself stumbling precariously, before coming to a stop as he smacked loudly into a tree.
Ego bruised more than anything, he whirled around to check if the sound had brought the woman from her slumber. He watched with bated breath as she shifted slightly, before grunting and moving closer to the rock.
He felt a small smirk cross his features, only to disappear as that same oppression returned. The same feeling that he was now sure had woken him up. It sent him instantly on edge even though he couldn't figure out why it unsettled him.
But that's when he heard it…
It didn't come to his ears exactly, more like from his mind. Resonating against his skull, leaving a lasting impression among his thoughts. He could feel his body lock up, his insides sent rigid from a sweeping chill that definitely did not come from the wind. It was like a ghost, passing without leaving anything to show for it's presence. But he knew it had been there, he was left with that feeling…that pain. The ache he had become quite accustomed to, it wasn't at it's worst but it was there. Only it was faint this time, scarily distant.
It felt like it was…dying.
But, something was wrong…it didn't feel right.
Once the pieces fell into place, it hit him with a crushing impact. Those feelings, those moments of penetrable pain, they always traced back to her. Like a thin thread, there had always been a link between him and her whenever he had felt that raw aching.
It had always been relatively strong, constant. Now, it wasn't even there sometimes; only re-emerging weaker than before. The lapses in between growing disturbingly longer…something was wrong with her.
She couldn't be…fading, could she? No, she was too strong. But, he couldn't shake that feeling, he couldn't tell himself things were alright. He just couldn't this time, she meant too much to leave her fate up to chance.
He wouldn't let that happen. Not if she needed help.
Not if she needed him.
Not that he really knew how to help her…but, if all he could do was be by her side, that's what he'd do. He never should have left her side in the first place…
He looked in Larxene's direction, summoning up a portal would definitely wake her up…maybe he should just make something up.
Fuck that, I don't have that kind of time…and neither does Naminé.
His hand pulsated with pure darkness as he conjured an opening of shadows, cutting a black hole in the air. He heard the woman stir from her position on the ground as he stepped into the swirling abyss. He saw her eyes focus on him and she opened her mouth, about to speak words of which he wouldn't catch.
He broke into a sprint as he felt the familiarity of the stale air of their castle, emerging from the portal near the lab's doors. He burst through the doors and almost ran smack into Lexaeus's brawny frame.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be in the field?" the assistant's deep voice questioned.
"Umm…yeah, but, I just had to check up on something…Larxene's holding down the fort," the fiery man lied, throwing in a casual smirk, "You wouldn't happen to know where Vexen is, would you? He monitors Naminé right, I need a report on her progress…" the inferno said smoothly, pleased at how easily the lie was coming together.
"Oh, he's probably having his coffee or something…I'm pretty much always usually in charge of monitoring her, but to tell you the truth I just sleep most of the time. It's not like she's going anywhere…" the burly man admitted.
"You don't check on her?" the fire tamer said in a deadly quiet tone, silent rage boiling his blood.
"Nope, I just tell Vexen that there's been no change…hell, I can't remember the last time I actually went in there." the broad-shouldered man said with a stupid chuckle, unaware of the furious pyro's clenched fist.
Axel couldn't help himself; he couldn't believe anyone would put a lazy piece of shit like Lexaeus in charge of something so…important. His compressed fist wasted no time in meeting with the man's thick chin, catching the Silent Hero off guard and sending him to the floor with ease.
Inspecting the no good lump on the floor, that was Lexaeus, Axel was satisfied to see that he had knocked him out…anger had it's subtle upsides.
"Stupid fuck…" the fire dancer seethed lividly as he quickly stepped over the unconscious man's body.
His footsteps reverberated off the cold steel walls of the lab, following him like a shadow as he made his way towards the pod room. The heaviness in his chest increasing with every step, he hoped she was alright. If anything happened to her…he wasn't sure what he would do.
He burst through the door, emerald eyes shaded by flecks of concern. His gaze fell upon the pod, petal-like covers folded around her, sealing her in.
Keeping him out.
He jogged up to the pod, trying to see inside but failing as the misty material eluded his desperate gaze. He felt so useless; she shouldn't have to fight alone, she needed help and no one could come to her rescue.
He placed his hand on the pod's deathly cool surface; it shouldn't be that way, it shouldn't be so cold. He couldn't feel her like he should; only able to grasp at evanescent tendrils of her light, she was losing…she was weak.
She was slipping away.
He felt a small surge, so little that he barely caught it. Maybe she didn't know it herself, but a part of her could feel his presence…that part of her was reaching out.
He closed his eyes, hand still resting on the cool surface, he wasn't sure what he was doing but it was a feeling he had…a strong one. He delved deep inside his body, passing the crawling emptiness in his chest and pulled at something much purer. Forcing the warm strength of his smoldering core through his arm, bleeding it slowly into the pod.
He felt his body growing weaker; but he continued to drain his power, hoping that he was passing it onto her. He'd be able to get back his strength, she needed this more than he did. His legs almost gave way; body stumbling back, hand losing contact with the pod.
He was just lucky there was a couch in this room like most of the white rooms; he collapsed into the cushions, watching as his vision turned black. He was too weak to do anything, his mind could only grasp pathetically at dwindling thoughts.
He hoped she would be okay…
That he wasn't too late.
Well that was that, hope you readers liked it and it was worth the wait...which I am really sorry about and I hope it wasn't too short. There is a next chapter too so I hope you'll bear with me for that too. Anyways, that's all for now...just remember to read and review, I'd like to know what you thought. :)
Until then, cheers!
- Michelle