A/n: Don't kill me, it's been forever since an update on this one!! BUT I assure you this chapter is nice and long to keep you occupied XD. We'll see a little more interaction with Axel and Namine! Nams is a bit OOC in this, but it's funny!

Disclaimer: you know this, so whatever.

Chapter 3: Plans and Peppermint

If looks could kill, Namine was 100% positive that she would have been brutally murdered beyond recognition by the way the Organization members were glaring down at her. She always hated those chairs. They made whoever was at the platform feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. Tugging on her awkward clothing attire, Namine sheepishly waved at the Organization members.

"Hiya guys, long time no see! Marluxia, great hair, and are you wearing make-up Larxene? Because the last time we talked you looked ug-"

"Namine. So glad to have you join us." A deep voice echoed in to the meeting room, cutting her off. Which was probably a smart thing.

"Can you just get to the point here? I think this whole idea is stupid and redundant." Namine replied receiving a back handed slap from Axel. She winced and looked up to see him staring daggers into her.

"Ah, yes, well considering you're a pawn…again…to us, your opinion doesn't matter now does it?" Xemnas quipped as he crossed his arms. Damn, he had a point there. Why, oh why did she get herself stuck in these situations? She should have just run away from her own apartment, but no, she had to walk in and bump into Axel!

She remained silent as Xemnas looked at the other members before continuing. They all nodded then returned their hateful gaze to her. Which, she couldn't blame them. It was her (and Axel's fault in her opinion) fault that they were having to do this a second time.

"Now, since you asked so kindly for me to get to the point, I'll tell you. Axel has already told you the basics, have you not Axel?" the superior asked, receiving a curt nod from the redhead towering behind her.

"Good, now for the details. You are to be used as bait, to lure Sora to Castle Oblivion. There he will be weakened by the Heartless and turned into one and finished off, thus becoming Roxas once more."

"Bait? Are you serious? How is that going to work? I haven't talked to him since the whole ordeal. And even then I tricked him. What makes you think he'd believe me?" she yelled, confused about the whole situation. Why not use Kairi!?

"Well that's why you better figure out how to be a good actress in a few days. Your life depends on it." How utterly unfair! Why did these people find it necessary to gamble with her life, without her own consent? She was completely sick of it. It reminded her of Castle Oblivion. At this point, Namine's jaw was set in anger and she tightly crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"You are all mad! There's no way this will work! And bait? With who? And what!? I will not be held at Castle Oblivion again!" Namine growled through clenched teeth.

"What makes you think you have a choice, witch?" a voice she remembered all too well. Marluxia. Memories of being thrown against a wall while his spidery fingers found themselves in places she never wanted them to, flew through her mind. She tightly shut her eyes as she shook her head roughly, almost as if to throw the memories violently out of her mind. She clenched her still tiny hands into fists and squeezed them tight.

"Don't. Call. Me. That." She spoke in a low voice, emphasizing each word that escaped from her thin pink lips.

"Aside from that, Namine the bait will simply involve you and Axel, since you both seem to well enough together already." Xemnas interrupted, rolling his eyes at a now angry Marluxia. He must've put watching over her again on his new wish list.

"I beg to differ." She mumbled, feeling the hand that was on her bony shoulder tighten painfully.

"What was that, Namine?" Axel asked, knowing she'd get into trouble for her comment.

"Oh nothing, Axel just that…You people are positively crazy. This will not work. I don't care how much you think it will. Sora loves Kairi, not a little old blonde me. Game Over. And personally, I don't appreciate being ripped from my nice and peaceful lifestyle to have to deal with this SHIT! Who said I wanted to lead someone to their death anyway!" She yelled, releasing herself from Axel and barging out of the room and into the hallway, leaving a very confused and shocked Organization.

"Well she took that well." Xigbar replied, laughing at his own joke; however no one else found it funny as they glared at Number II.

"Axel go find and confine her. We start the plan when I say so."

Namine really wished she could still create portals right then. She slammed her back against the hallway as she slumped to the ground in a heap of tears. She used to pride herself on the ability to not cry at every little problem, but this occasion called for it and frankly, she didn't care.

She was grateful the plan didn't involve Marluxia, but she hated that the plan was even a plan at all. Or that she was involved at all. She just wanted to cuddle up in her warm blankets, drink her coffee and go to bed, waking up in her apartment the next day. But things wouldn't work that way, not this time. And what about Sora? She didn't want to hurt him again. She had to find a way out of this! She just had to.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she saw Axel coming down the hallway with her bag in his hand. She curled up in a ball and buried her face in her knees as he approached her. She didn't want to give him the gratitude of seeing her cry.

"Hey, so I see you've learned a more colorful vocabulary while being away at College. Great use of words, Namine. Too bad it won't help the fact that you're still going to help us." His smooth voice invaded her ears as she could feel him coming closer by his heat.

"Leave me alone."

"No. Get up. You room is down the hall. You can cry there." Namine lifted her head slowly to see a very tall Axel looking down at her with cold emerald eyes. Setting her jaw again she stood up.

Reluctantly, Namine got up and followed the redhead down the hall, taking her bag from his arm. Even after everything she still didn't trust him. No one should, in her opinion. Double agent was that man's middle name…if he were to have one.

Silence fell upon the pair when Namine heard a yawn coming from the other. He looked tired, and oblivious. She smiled to herself as an impromptu plan formed into her head. Taking a few more steps, she decided it was time to put her plan into action. Namine took off running down the hall, alerting a very tired and now irritated pyro.

She could hear him cursing behind her as her bare feet smacked against the marble floors of the Castle and she found an open room, praying she was far enough that he wouldn't notice which one she dashed into. She shut the door quietly and locked the door before turning around. That's when she noticed her luck had just gotten worse. Judging by the Chakrams laying on the bed, the red comforter and black curtains…she was in Axel's room. Cursing to herself, Namine place her ear against the door to see if he had passed her yet so she could dart into another room.

"You know, Namine, for some reason, I'm just not in the mood to play games with you right now." A snarky voice echoed into the once empty room as Namine slowly turned, knowing that voice. Dammit, she forgot about portals!

"Um…well…you know, I just figured you needed as training exercise or something…" she stammered as she clutched her bag tighter. Axel advanced on her and blocked her to where each of his hands pressed against the door, with her head between his arms as his face drew inches from hers.

"Well at least you picked the right room…well, almost." He retorted as his green eyes narrowed. She looked at him with confused eyes.

Before she could get a single word in, he grabbed her arm and dragged her through his room and into another room connected to his. Once they stopped, she gripped her now bruised arm and took a look at her surroundings. A satin golden comforter adorned a large bed that Namine guessed she could get lost in if she tried hard enough, a dresser, walk-in closet and bathroom. She half expected to see a sketchpad, but there was none to be found to her relief. However the only door she could see was the one that led to Axel's room.

"Okay, listen. The only way you can leave, is through my room, which means, any escape plan you make, I'm gonna know about it. Got it Memorized? And don't even think about trying the window, because the minute you do, a Dusk will be waiting to catch you. So basically, give up!" Axel stated, pulling the blonde from her thoughts as he spoke. She turned and looked at him with a dreaded look.

"What? I don't make the rules, Darling." He added, seeing the look on her face.

"Whatever, just get out." She replied as she turned and pointed to his room. She just wanted to be alone at this point.

"Excuse me? This is technically my room too. If I want to come in here at 3 AM and play Scrabble, then you'll just have to deal."

Namine didn't even reply as she took her bag over to her bed and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She'd stay in there all night if she had to. She heard Axel mumble something about 'on her period' as he left, shutting the door behind him. She laughed a bit at this, wondering why the hell Axel would know such a thing as she looked at the shower with a sudden urge to use it.

Turning on the water, she locked the bathroom door to make sure her room would be free of unwanted visitors and she stripped off her pajama pants and tank top as she hopped into the steaming water. Namine took deep breaths as the warm water spilled down her body and warmed her skin as she lathered soap that she had found in her hands and scrubbed her body. It smelled of peppermint, her favorite. Okay, so Axel did know more about her than she thought, then again…he had been watching her beforehand in her apartment. What a creepy thought.

Minutes later, Namine finished scrubbing her hair and rinsed it as she turned the shower water off and then reality smack her in the face. She forgot towels. Shit. Scurrying out of the shower, the blonde looked through all the cabinets and found nothing. Empty. 'If this is Axel's idea of a perverted joke, I swear I will kick his ass the minute I get dressed' she reminded herself as she tiptoed over to the door that kept her from Axel's room.

"Axel?" a muffled sound traveled to his door.

"What? Done being bitch now?" She could kill him for that comment, she really could. But she wanted her towels first.

"Umm…could I have two towels? I looked everywhere and couldn't find them." Namine replied as she could just see the smirk forming on Axel's lips at her comment. Oh the thoughts that were probably running through the pyro's head right now. It was enough to redden her cheeks the color of his hair.

"Well…looks like someone is in a predicament….I kept all the towels in my room. I figured you'd ask before taking a shower, but I guess you're not a very good guest, now are you, Namine?" he mused. Great, he was going to make a game out of this too!

"Axel, I'm a prisoner, not a guest. Now, give me a towel!" she complained.

"Why don't you come in here and get it?"

"You sick bastard…I don't have time for this, now please, a towel!"

"Well since you said please…" was all she heard until the door opened suddenly. Namine jumped behind the door to cover herself and held out a wet arm.

"Heard of knocking?" she snapped as she wrapped the large red towel around her body and shook her wet hair.

"Nope, heard of asking before doing?"

"Sorry, it was an impulse decision…now can you um…leave so I can change?" she asked as he rolled his eyes and shut the door. Sighing in relief, Namine returned to the bed and her bag as she pulled out a pair of red and white stripped pajama shorts that stopped mid-thigh and a long red sleeved cotton shirt. She ran a comb through her hair as she threw her bag on the marble floor.

The bed really was comfortable, she couldn't lie. It almost made her want to disappear in its silk blankets and goose feather pillows. For a split second, she wondered if Axel's bed was as soft as her own, but she decided to push that thought far from her mind as worries of Stockholm syndrome lingered on her brain.

Axel smirked as he walked back into his room from giving the blonde her blessed towels. He couldn't help but laugh at her misfortune. She had always been a little ditzy, even in Castle Oblivion. But that didn't change the fact that she had in fact grown since the whole debacle. For one, looks. He knew she didn't notice, but he had stolen a look at her in her towel before closing the door. She wasn't the little bony thing that she was years ago. Sure she was still thin, but it was more tanned and toned than emaciated. Her hair was longer and seemed to have more life to it, rather than flat on her head.

Axel ran through these thoughts and shook his head roughly as he decided that would be a dumb thing to think about. She was just Namine. The little pest from Castle Oblivion. So what if she gained more wit and attitude? So what if it intrigued him? He still had a job to do, with her involved. The job was number one. He told himself this multiple times while walking to his own closet and pulling off the obnoxious Organization uniform that he wore practically every day, replacing it with just a pair of red pajama pants.

Walking back to his bed, he plopped down on the soft comforter and closed his eyes in relaxation, but he was far from being relaxed. His mind raced with some many things. With Namine, the mission and Roxas. His best friend. With hope, the plan would indeed work and Roxas would be back into the Organization. Axel worried though, would the blonde stay this time? Or betray like last time? He didn't want it all to be for nothing. And he couldn't help but wonder what would come of Namine after everything.

He remembered Roxas fancying the other blonde after Castle Oblivion and if he was correct, in Twilight Town. Would she forget Sora's fate and stay with Roxas? And why was he feeling a twinge of jealousy of Roxas's possible future with Namine? Why did it matter? Why was he getting mad?

Axel shook his head once more and stood up as he walked over to the door that held Namine in her room. Twisting the door knob ever so softly he opened the door to see her standing in front of it and once again, the pyro couldn't help but look at her grown form.

"Wow, perfect timing, I was about to ask if I could have something to eat? I thought I'de ask this time, since someone got their boxers in a twist last time." Namine quipped as he stood there, blushing slightly from his bare chest and pajama attire. She would be lying if she said he didn't look good without shirt. But again, he didn't need to know that. Yet, there he stood with a weird smile on his face; almost…sincere?

"And just what would you know about my boxers?" Nope, and the sincerity went right out the window. He was the same old arrogant Axel.

"Wouldn't you like to know…now can I please have food?" she replied as she pushed her way into his room and towards the door, only to have her wrist grabbed by the other.

"Uh, where do you think you're going?"

"Getting food, because someone is too busy gawking at God knows what."

"With that comment you don't deserve food."

"AXEL! PLEASE. I'M TIRED, I HAVE A HEADACHE AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE HERE! Please? Food?" her voice had the talent of getting extremely loud to the same peaceful innocent voice of her past within seconds. Axel stood in silence before growling and walking towards the door to the hallway, slamming it shut behind him. Namine listened for the lock to turn and sadly it did.

Waiting on his return, Namine grew curious of her earlier theory about Axel's bed and she walked over to it and sat down. She bounced on it for a few seconds, deciding it was about the same as she laid back and looked at the ceiling. The lightning outside flashed shadows onto the ceiling as the rain played a peaceful melody for the blonde. Reluctantly, she drifted asleep, curling up into a ball with Axel's scent fresh on her nose. Peppermint.

a/n: A long awaited update! Thanks for waiting! I really like this story. I know Namine is OOC a bit, but remember she's grown into a stronger woman since the whole Castle Oblivion thing. And we got to see more Axel/Namine interaction, though they still "hate" each other. Too afraid to admit what's going on. Next chapter will be soon XD Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!!