Axel waited patiently in the darkness until it was time to make his appearance. He mouthed his lines to himself, apparently if he got so much as one word wrong the whole plan could fail, though to be honest he was sure Xemnas was going a little over the top with some of these missions. Maybe he'd fit in something of his own just to piss him off. Light appeared and Axel sighed quietly as he leaned his back against a cliff wall. He watched the rehearsed scene play out before him…

'As for Riku, perhaps you should ask your king.'

'Stop!'

The king, or at least who Axel had to assume was the king, leapt into the dark portal as he saw Xemnas vanish. He had to admit, Xemnas seemed to know what he was doing and was good at guessing exactly what was going to happen, who was going to react and how.

'He's gone…'

Ah, there Sora was. Axel had been paying too much attention watching Xemnas's display. Sora sat promptly on the ground and pounded his fist into the dust. He seemed quite frustrated at something. Right, this was almost his cue.

'Sora, Goofy.'

The trio looked out upon where an army once massed. Axel grinned to himself. This must all be very confusing for them.

'What's going on?'

Axel smirked, his lines reading themselves in his head. His first line came out almost robot-like and he realised he'd have to sound a little less fake.

'Way to fall right into their trap.'

Sora and his friends ran towards Axel and held their weapons, ready to fight. No. Axel knew it wasn't his job. He kept a smile from creeping across his face. This kid was so much like Roxas… for those who knew what to look for. Axel stepped forwards, leaving his comfortable leaning spot.

'C'mon, it's a set-up by organization XIII'

Axel walked towards Sora and his friends.

'Xemnas is using you to destroy the heartless- that's his big master plan.'

Actually that was a total lie, he wouldn't even tell any of the other members what the big picture was. Just tiny pieces and only when he needed them to do something.

'Xemnas?'

Obviously these buffoons hadn't been paying attention.

'The guy you just saw. He's their leader.'

Their being him too. Time for some improvisation, this script was boring. Oh how he was going to get a tongue lashing from Saix when he got back but it's not like he was going to leave out any of the words… just add a few.

'Got it memorized? X-E-M, N-A-S'

Well it was fun treating them like idiots.

'Organization XIII wants to get rid of the heartless?'

Apparently, Axel had no clue really. He never liked those little black sludge balls anyway.

'Man, you're slow.'

Axel pointed teasingly at the keyblade.

'Every Heartless slain with that keyblade releases a captive heart. That is what the organization is after.'

'So what are those guys gonna do with the hearts?'

'I'm not telling.'

Boy these guys were fun to wind up. Why hadn't he asked for a mission like this earlier.

'Tell us!'

'You… you're the one who kidnapped Kairi!'

Axel's memory jogged. Right, a few missions back. Xemnas never did say what he wanted her for…

'Bingo. The name's Axel. Got it memorised?'

Yeah, whoops, that wasn't in the script either. Oh well, if he already knew, might as well.

'Where is Kairi?'

Axel's… heart? His heart almost felt for Sora. What could it be like to have someone so close to you snatched away. Well he would see her again. Even if he wasn't allowed to know it yet. Axel scratched his head. He was tempted to tell him, but he shouldn't.

'Please. Just tell me!'

Axel looked to the sky, so close to cracking. He couldn't keep to his script much longer.

'Look, about Kairi…'

Come on, drag it out. Saix should be here any moment.

'I'm sorry.'

A sudden voice made Axel jump.

'Axel.'

Saix materialised between Axel and the trio. Right on time as always. Axel breathed an inward sigh of relief. But of course outside he still had to act like he was shocked to see Saix.

'Uh-oh!'

Axel summoned a dark portal and dropped through. That was harder than he thought. He could have stuck to the script exactly but wouldn't it seem suspicious if he answered questions not asked or worse didn't give the answer to some at all. That would have made it look totally fake.

Ground touched his feet and Axel laughed to himself at how silly he must have looked back there. He opened his eyes and saw he was at the rendezvous coordinates. A large cliff top looked out over a deep ravine where telltale signs of a great battle showed everywhere. But now of course, it was empty. Axel sat, his legs dangling off the Cliffside, to await Demyx and Saix, then return. The sun began to set. It wasn't as beautiful as in Twilight Town, but then again, not many other worlds got a sunset like that.

*

Axel opened his eyes slowly to see Saix standing above him.

'Axel, get up. We're going back.'

Axel yawned and sat up. It was dark but just barely. He looked around. They couldn't leave yet, Demyx still hadn't arrived.

'Wait, Saix. Demyx isn't here yet. We can't leave without him.'

Saix turned away from Axel and with a very stern voice, one Axel had never heard before, issued the command again.

'Axel. We're leaving.'

Axel got up and his face fell straight. He followed Saix into the dark portal. They materialised in the middle of the empty meetings room and Saix instantly turned to leave. Axel knew something was wrong. He spoke with a low, serious voice, one a little unfamiliar to himself.

'Saix.'

Saix stopped in his tracks but did not turn round.

'Saix. Where is Demyx.'

Saix let out a deep sigh.

'Axel. He's not coming.'

Axel started forward with a shock.

'W-what do you mean, not coming?'

Saix turned to Axel slowly and even in the dim light of the room, Axel could see the dark guise on his face, the bloodshot look in his eyes. Saix, the berserker of the organisation looked like he was about to cry. A lump caught in Axel's throat.

'Axel. Demyx… he never made it back from his mission.'

Axel's chest went tight. He couldn't breath. Saix turned to the door again, opening it for a moment before almost whispering back.

'He's dead. I'm sorry.'

With that Saix left and Axel stood in the middle of the empty, silent, darkened room alone. A groan escaped his lips. Slowly it turned into a loud, retched wail that echoed off the walls. Tears streamed down his face and fell to the floor. Axel did likewise and fell to his knees. He wrapped his arms round his middle and chest and curled towards his knees. There, on the floor, he wept until sunrise, then exhausted, slept.

*

Axel woke the next morning, in his… Demyx's bed. Memories of the previous night flashed through his head. He sat bolt upright and sprinted out the door. It had to be a bad dream, yes that was it, a nightmare. Axel tore down the hall way and burst into the kitchen, expecting Demyx to be there, a silly smile across his face, cooking breakfast. No. Nobody was there. There wasn't even any food. He took off again and ran through the entire castle. He checked almost every room.

Finally he stood outside the meeting room, panting, his chest shuddered with every breath. He had no tears left to cry, but it didn't stop his eyes from trying. His hand reached for the door handle but it twisted before he could open it. The door creaked open and Xemnas stood there.

'Come in Axel, we've been waiting to start the meeting.'

Axel dragged his heavy feet into the room and sat in his chair. He looked round to the other chairs and felt his stomach drop when he saw only Xigbar, Luxord, Saix and Xemnas sat in their chairs. Axel looked round and choked out a few words in a cracked voice.

'W-where are…'

'They didn't come back. None of them did.'

Axel swallowed hard, almost glad he was interrupted by Xemnas but… Axel had never thought of it before but the organization was, well almost like a family to him. The pain of losing Demyx had cut him open at the seams, where his life was spilling out and now, losing so many of his 'family'…it was like someone was tugging on the last threads. Axel leaned forwards and sobbed dry tears into his lap. The others didn't look as bad as he did but after closer inspection Axel could tell that Saix had been crying too, Xigbar had hardly tried to put his hair up in it's usual ponytail and Luxord had dark bags under his eyes bigger than any he'd kept his gambling winnings in.

The only one who didn't seem phased by this was Xemnas. He sat in his chair, not caring that those there were hardly in the state to listen. His stern face fell to a softer one as he looked upon his broken organization.

'Friends. I understand our loses. I promise you my plan is almost complete.'

Axel snarled under his breath. Who cared anymore. If there was no one to share it with, he didn't want a heart. Xemnas continued however.

'I'll set you each one last mission… and then you are free of these wretched lives.'

Axel sat up straight, hardly believing his ears. The others looked just as shocked. Xemnas had an almost kindly smile on his face, but a saddened, worried look too. He looked almost like a child setting free a beloved pet. Was he… giving them permission to die? Axel never thought he'd want, or need that permission. Xemnas carried on.

'Saix, Xigbar, Luxord. You three shall stay here until Sora comes for me. Axel.'

The leader turned his gaze to the tormented pyromaniac.

'Axel. You must lead Sora here. Once that is done, you are freed from the organization. Forever.'

Axel nodded solemnly. But one could wonder. Can a nobody truly have death? Without a heart, is there a soul to go on? Demyx had a heart, even if nobody else wanted to believe it. Demyx had to have gone on… he had to. Axel closed his eyes with a short forced smile. He wished he could go on too… maybe. All he'd have to do is complete this one, last, mission.

….. Don't kill me, don't kill me, don't kill me…. D:

Look this isn't the end… one chapter (maybe two if it's too long) left to go.

I promise everything will be wrapped up… just… pray keep in mind… er… without authors there are no stories… you cant just kill off ones you don't like… :S

I will try and have the next (possibly last) chapter up soon.

In the meantime… the three 'R's

Read, Review, Relive.

-Secret 3