Disclaimer: (on previous chapters)

Author's note: Well I've changed the genre…obviously more drama, hope that doesn't bother fans...Also someone earlier pointed out that I misspelled "Hollow Bastion" I shall have it fixed at some point so before yelling at me, please read this note thanks.

---------------------------------------Axel's P.O.V-------------------------------------------------

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The flames tossed about over his head as he juggled them around. He watched the fire as they bounced about not touching his flesh. One fireball went astray and hit the nearest desk, but diminished before it caught fire.

Damn it, Demyx, he thought.

Axel didn't know why he was feeling a deep sense of loneliness as his flames disappeared. His memories of Roxas were fading from him and he knew it was himself that was causing it. The flame master sat back against his armchair in hopes of reclaiming some of his fond memories, but to no avail. He could not dream anymore.

Axel sighed and ran one hand through his hair and one hand grabbed the front of his robes. There was an ache where his heart should have been. He had been having this ache since that night Demyx first hinted interest in him. He remembered getting into a heated argument over something and it seemed to always lead to Demyx finishing it off with a guilt builder.

"What?" demanded Demyx. "What's so damn funny!"

"You are," grinned Axel. "I never thought you could care."

That had been a lie, of course Axel knew Demyx cared. They were comrades, they were—friends. Yes, Demyx had been there for him when Roxas had gone. Though he had proved to be an obnoxious brat and a fearful rodent, sometimes Axel could never stand the child…child?

Axel shook his head. Demyx had reminded him of an innocent child every once in a while, almost—almost like Roxas. Yet there was a difference, Roxas was not afraid of anything. He remembered as he fought along side of him, as his ally. And he remembered coming close to revealing his emotions for the boy…yet he couldn't. And now…Roxas didn't even remember him.

"Oh, Roxas," he whispered in his hands. "What have they done to you?"

An immense emotion filled him and he felt a lone tear crawl along his jaw line before he wiped at it. He brought a finger to taste the tear.

"Sea water," he said softly. "I can weep."

Axel stared up at the seemingly colorless ceiling as he tried to feel his heartbeat. There was nothing, not even a slight made up sound the mind may create. No allusions of a heart, no nothing…just an empty shell. At some point of his nonexistent life, he had stopped feeling his heartbeat, because it was a trick of the mind as Xemnas noted.

Nobodies didn't have hearts…no matter what Xemnas did they would remain nonexistent.

The sound of a loud thud woke Axel from his rain of thoughts. Several more thuds sounded and Axel arose from his chair. They resonated through the other room. He was curious the next room was occupied by Demyx.

Axel marched out into the hall and knocked on the door that was only four feet away from his own door.

"Just a minute," his cheery voice sounded then after a minute he opened the door.

"Demyx?" Axel questioned.

The blond was a sight to see. He had thrown his hood to shadow his face, but Axel could tell from the bits of his hair that was sticking out that they had been messed about to a point where no water trick could hold it up, his face was flushed enough to match a tomato, and his clothes appeared to have had a battle with a bear and lost.

"I—I ran into some—trouble when, uh, I—" He turned away but the redhead could tell something had happened.

"Xemnas or Saix?" Axel said pushing himself into the room and turning to glance at the dishevelment of his room.

Demyx cringed. Axel stared. Both of them faced the white walls of his room. Demyx sighed. Axel kept on staring. There was a wedge between the two people if anyone had walked in they would have felt out of place for they were both in some type of trance.

Axel noticed the drops of blood on the floor, noticed the pillows cast about the bed, noticed the way Demyx turned to face him with the same expression as he had first encountered him. Free, slightly immature, energetic, and completely goofy…that had been Demyx, now he was a ghost of his former self. Closed, introverted, cautious, and stumbling to find words, that was Demyx now.

"Demyx?" Axel asked after what seemed an hour of hearing no response.

"Yes, Axel?" the man replied still facing away from him.

"You're shaking," he said noticing the sways of the man. He knew it wasn't what the blond wanted to hear. He knew it wasn't what he needed to hear. But how could Axel comfort him with false hopes?

"It's cold," Demyx stated.

"I heard some disturbance so I came in," began Axel.

"That was nice of you, Axel."

"I don't suppose you would want to talk about what happened?"

Demyx turned with a faint appearance of what appeared to be shock on his face. It made Axel take a few steps closer to the blond and reach out to him. Demyx stared at the offered hand.

"Wha—" the blond started and took the hand only to be cut off by a breathtaking hug. Axel held him close afraid he'd vanish too.

"You injured yourself," Axel said. "Hey—Demyx? Demyx! Oh great…"

Demyx had passed out in the redhead's arms. A look of content was washing over the younger man. The flame master gently supported the man. He placed him down onto the black satin bed that was when Axel felt it. Warm and slightly wet, it seeped out from under his comrade's robes.

Once again curiosity got the best of him and Axel reached to open the robe and pull it off. He managed to pry one button off noticing how soundly the blond slept. Axel smiled at the serenity of the scene as he continued to tug his robe off; he turned back toDemyx's shirt and gasped at what was laid out for him to see.