Chapter 4: Lets Swim

Saix fidgeted underneath the umbrella as he poked at the sand at his feet. How could he let the twerp get the best of him, ultimately ending up going to the beach. He didn't really like beaches or extremely sunny areas to be honest. If he was going to go on a date with a girl a romantic night in a lovely town or fair would be his first choice. But no, Roxas, the twerp had to get on his nerves with his cockiness and now he was here. At the beach. Miserable. Okay, not completely miserable, Namine was here and that was good.

"The hell is wrong with me..." he mused.

"Well everything pretty much..." a low teasing chuckle came from next to Saix and he frowned seeing Axel. Great, Mr. I-Know-the-ladies.

"Not funny.." he lightly pouted and returned torturing the sand with his finger.

"Saix," Axel began and when they were looking at each other he continued,

"Look, all joking aside. You like her, can see it all over your face. And frankly, you can see her feelings too. But as always you're the dense one."

Saix remained silent trying to think of what to so say he then frowned, "Axel, I don't. It's not possible. Us nobodies pretend to have hearts thus we don't have emotions only fake ones..."

Axel chuckled, "Whatever."

It was then the awkward silence began and Saix pondered their conversation. The silence made him feel, uncomfortable? It didn't make sense though, nobodies don't have hearts so emotions were gone also. But here he was feeling awkward, confused, and a lightness was in his chest. Nervous? He finally decided to break the silence, "We don't have hearts right?"

Axel grinned at him, "And there is the lightbulb! Honestly Saix I think it's instinct, its in our code. I mean we feel pain and bleed so why not have emotions."

"But we don't have hearts..."

"Look..." Axel's voice turned serious, "There was a world that I visited and everything was different. A heart is an organ see, and without it we wouldn't be alive. So saying we don't have hearts is wrong. Plus they refer to something as a soul, what makes you YOU, that separates you from someone else.." he sighed, "Screw Xemnas, I think he meant souls and even then, we may just be sort of detached."

"Hmm..." Saix rubbed his chin slightly. It wasn't very often but Axel can be logical and what he said was true. He sighed, "That seems more believable."

"See!" Axel slapped Saix's back, "Don't worry about it. I do have a question though..."

Saix rose a brow and Axel decided to continue, "Have you and Namine met before this vacationing started?"

Saix's eyes widen, "How did you-"

"I just figured, now spill!" Saix frowned, Axel had a nasty habit of being right and perceptive. He was about to answer but a circular object had smacked him in the face. It was like his life flashed before his eyes, like meeting her was yesterday.

*a short time ago in a world far away*

Xemnas had ordered to clean up after Ansems demise. It was humiliating, his own home when he was young was a mess, even the castle where the Organization was birthed. Saix sighed as he straightened his cloak and looked up. There it was, the castle. It used to be so beautiful but now it looked like a monster since the heartless took over. He made his way through, cutting through pathetic heartless one by one. He had no idea exactly what the nobody he was looking for looked like. He scowled as he roamed the halls and he finally came to a door and he opened it, revealing a large library. It seemed completely untouched by everything that was going on and this was most likely place that the said nobody would stay.

Faint crying could be heard near the farther bookshelves and Saix made his way towards it. He twisted and turned around one bookcase, two, and then three. And there in the corner of the fourth that stood in front on him on the ground was a small mound of fair skin and fine blonde hair. Saix stared until the crying stopped and a tiny petite face stared back at him face red and trying to cover herself.

"Don't look!" she yelled but he continued to stare. The girl began to feel uncomfortable, "Please.." her eyes welled and tears slowly slid down her face.

In that moment Saix's eyes widened and he blushed, the next thing he knew was that he had pulled off his cloak and put it on her. He let out a small whisper, "..Sorry."

The girl relaxed and smiled at him, "Who are you?"

"Saix..a nobody. Just like you."

"Like me?" her eyes then widened, "Who am I?!"

Saix frowned, "I..." he sighed as he sat next to her, "don't know..."

"Then..." she looked up at him and took his hand into her own, "Please name me."

"How about..."

*Scene Change*

"Namine..." Saix slightly moaned her name, he began seeing some light and his vision was clearing, someone was yelling.

….ix

Was it his name? The voice sounded so familiar.

"Saix!"

His eyes shot wide open and there was her face looking down at him with worried eyes, "Saix are you alright?"

Saix groaned, "Yeah...I am." he sat up and his head throbbed painfully, "The hell happened?"

"I hit you with the volleyball, it's not my fault you were zoned out like an idiot." and there was the voice that pissed Saix off more than Larxene. And he had the balls to put his arm around Namine's waist as if she was his possession. But Namine smacked him off her to his delight.

"Is that really so Number XIII?" He sneered, he was not going to take this child's attitude today. And it served the brat right that Namine rejected his little act of affection.

Roxas frowned at Namine and then scowled at Saix but that soon faded as their eyes met, if he wasn't careful he would tear him apart and the blood-lust in his eyes. "Uhm, I'm sorry Saix it won't happen again, promise!" he let his voice turn sweet, no way was he going to win against Saix in a fight.

A genuine smile played across Saix's face and Roxas got shivers, "I see, no problem then. Be sure to be careful, kiddo." that last word held a deadly feel in the air.

"That's great Roxas!" Namine cheered, "I told you Saix wasn''t mean." she looked at Saix and smiled. He really wasn't bad at all, just misunderstood.

"Hey Roxas, let swim already!" Axel whined and Roxas could only comply, leaving Namine and Saix alone. Again awkward silence surrounded them and Namine couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry about this morning..."

Saix sighed, "For what exactly?"

"Well..." she paused and twiddled her thumbs, "When we woke up this morning, and for Roxas..." her voice soften as she trailed off, "But I'm glad you're here."

"This morning was a bunch of mishaps, okay? We were asleep and I'm guessing you were cold so you cuddled with me. It's not like a disliked it..." his voice trail off, he purposely avoided the topic of Roxas and Namine seemed confused.

"I meant when I walked in on you taking a shower..."

Saix bit his lip, "Oh, that. Again don't worry about it. You didn't know."

Namine blushed, "But I saw..." her eyes slowly shifted to his lap and she quickly looked away even more embarrassed.

"Saw what?" Saix felt his chest tighten up, 'Oh crap. Did she see the lower half of my body?! Oh damn...'

"N-nothing! Nevermind!" she fidgeted while muttering to herself, probably finding a change of subject. Then she found it. Saix was wearing a thin jacket and his swim trunks. It seemed odd, in this heat and wearing that and not swimming. Something wasnt right. "Why are you dressed like that and not swimming?"

This threw Saix off a bit and he tried to collect his thoughts, it was kind of embarrassing. He didn't really tell people, other than Axel. "I'm...not quite comfortable with showing my body to others and I just don't swim."

Namine blinked, "Not comfortable with your body?" she was astonished, out of all people, he shouldn't be embarrassed by his body. She had seen it, ' And by god was it amazing. Like one of the fantasy men had jumped right out of one of my novels. Wait...I enjoyed looking at him? I'm reading too many books.'

"Yeah..." Saix frowned, this morning must have traumatized her. "So will we all be staying at the little house here tonight?"

"Oh! Yeah! Axel said it had two rooms, so we can sleep there tonight and leave the next day."

Saix scrunched up his nose, no doubt Roxas would try to room with Namine. Then thoughts of what he would do came in his mind, 'Oh hell no!', "You want to share a room with me? Since we already do."

Namine nodded, "I agree, it'd be weird to share it with Axel or Roxas. Besides..." she frowned as she stared at her feet, "Roxas has been really, touchy? When it comes to me. It's really awkward, he is my friend and like a brother to me. But I can't help thinking that he wants more than that."

Saix hid the evil grin he had played in his mind replacing it with shock; he could get used to these 'emotions'. "Oh? What makes you say that?"

"I don't know...a feeling I guess."

Saix sighed as he stared at the ocean, Roxas and Axel seemed to be having a swimming race or something, "I have been seeing that too, it's not just you." He reached out his hand and held hers in his, continuing to watch the two dorks. "If he bothers you let me know, okay?"

Namine smiled as she scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, "Thank you Saix."

Roxas looked over at the beach and scowled, "What the hell?"

"Hey throw the ball back Roxas!" Axel yelled out but noticed his stare and expression, he sighed as he sprinted to Roxas, "What's wrong"

"Saix is whats wrong. Namine just lets him get that close and doesn't do anything but when its me its not."

Axel groaned, "Roxas... She can choose to do whatever she likes, okay? It's not like Saix is doing it on purpose, he's not like that."

Roxa s whipped his head to Axel and frowned, " And since when did you know so much about him!?"

"Woah, Roxas, heel." he chuckled, "He was my best friend in childhood, that's how. I grew up with him."

"Best friend? What is he now?"

Axel sighed, 'he's acting like a over jealous woman...' "Looks he is an old friend and you Roxas..." he smiled to himself as he placed a hand on Roxas' shoulder, "You're the most important person to me, that's not changing."

Roxas sighed, "Sorry..I didn't mean to be so.."

"C'mon it's fine! Just don't get so possessive over Namine and pay no mind to Saix."

"Fine..." Roxas kicked the ball passed Axel and he went after it, leaving himself to talk too, " As if...he doesn't even...guh!" he kicked sand and decided to continue on with Axel.

A few more hours passed and the four found themselves eating in the living room of the beach house. It wasn't huge or too small, it was just the right size. Saix kept wandering if maybe in some future he'd have a house like this. Then the thought turned to something that completely shocked him. What if he had a family in a house like this? He was still trying to figure out the whole "not having hearts" thing still. But none the less that thought came to him as he watched Namine and Roxas making jokes with Axel. And here he was moping on the couch.

"So Namine, wanna share a room? Sharing with Axel would be weird. Plus we are pretty close anyway, it wouldn't be too awkward." he was setting his plan in motion. Roxas wasn't going to let Saix and Namine get any closer, not when he needed his feelings to be known.

Namine frowned, "I'm sorry Roxas, I already agreed with Saix i'd share with him since we already do back home."

Roxas tried to remain calm, "Oh I see, haha. Nevermind then. Hey Axel, I'm beat so i'm heading to bed." he headed down the hall and entered the door on the left, loudly shutting the door. Namine and Saix stared at the door then looked at Axel.

"What's wrong with him?" they said in unison.

Axel sighed, this could be a problem, "No idea...I'm beat too...Goodnight." with that Axel disappeared to the room his friend retired in.

Then the awkward silence began between the last two, why was it always awkward. It wasn't as if they weren't used to each other by now. Namine shifted under her robe. "Well, I guess I'd head to bed..." she turned on her heel and quickly entered their room.

Saix tried to say something, he really did, he wanted ask her about her thoughts on them not having hearts. He sighed a slightly slammed his drink on the counter as he held his head in his palm. He was getting confused, from what Xemnas had said and now with what Axel had told him not long ago. Then a familiar feeling hit, something he didn't quite liked since it was forced upon him every so often if he wasn't careful.

He grunted as he slumped over holding his head, "Guh...got to be kidding me..." he steadied himself using the the couches arm to stand, he could feel the hunger and it was starting to drive him mad. He stumbled to the fridge, opening it quickly, looking for anything. His eyes fell on some homemade jerky and grabbed it. He devoured it and he sighed as the feeling quieted down a bit. He growled still under the influence, how careless did he get! He didn't even ask Axel about the moon cycle at this place. To confirm his suspicitions he, not so quietly, exited the beach house.

"Damn..." there he was near the coast line, staring up at a full moon. Now some of the members who knew made fun of him, saying that he was like some creature called a werewolf. He wasn't. It was just that when a full moon was present the other him tried to break free, his berserker. He become extremely hungry and if he was pissed off, well if there was a bystander, they'd be dinner. Saix honestly hated it, that's why back home the heart shaped moon wasn't exactly real. But in other places like here, it was different.

Saix closed his eyes and deeply inhaled and exhaled for several minutes, he was glad everyone had gone to bed. He could now concentrate on control. His ear twitched as a noise came from behind him, his eyes flying open, the pupils of his golden eyes going to slits. He turned to see a familiar punk stare at him.

Poor Roxas didn't even know what he got himself into. He had heard loud noises coming from the kitchen and then a slam of the door. When he got up to check it out, there were a few claw marks on the couch and counter. The fridge was left wide open and pieces of jerky were laid out on the floor. So he left the house, and there was Saix on the beach, his suspitions were true, it was Saix who made the mess. He was going to demand an explaination and along the way he'll tell him off about Namine. Or so he had planned.

So there was Roxas glaring at Saix his hands balled into a fist, "What the hell Saix?!" he strode up to him and glared even more, he stared at Saix's eyes and he backed away but he wasn't going to back down, "Listen Saix, I don't care if you scare everyone, you're not scaring me! So just head this, Namine is mine! She doesn't even like you and you're obviously playing her!" that is when Roxas made the biggest mistake so far, he grabbed Saix by the collarbone, trying to intimidate him.

Roxas could almost hear a snapping sound within Saix and growling erupted from his throat.

Saix was glowering down at him, eyes sparkling with hunger, he licked his lips, "Seems I have a volunteer." he howled out at Roxas, whom stumbled and fell on his back. Saix was a completely different person, he wanted to eat him. Roxas scooted away as Saix calmly walked towards him his golden eyes now glowing and that's when Roxas realized he was prey.

Saix quickly with almost godlike speed grabbed Roxas by the throat, squeezing it tighter and enjoy his little rabbit sqiurm in pain.

"Gaaaah!" Roxas attempted to yell, 'He's really going to kill me' his eys looked into Saix's and pure fear escalated, 'No...he's going to eat me.'

Saix licked his mouth once more and was about to dig into the skin of Roxas when a flaming chakram flew at his arm. Saix released his arm, letting go of Roxas who began coughing and gasping for air and finally fell unconscious.

"Axel..." a low and loud growl came from Saix and Axel raced toward him.

*Scene Change*

Namine awoke to another slamming of a door and many grunts after. She sat up and saw Saix wasn't in bed and the pit of her stomach tightened. She lept out of bed and rushed to the living room, stumbling along the way. She gasped as she saw Axel carrying and unconscious Roxas and dragging a slightly burnt Saix.

"Axel! What happened?" she grabbed a hold of Roxas knowing he'd be easier to carry than Saix.

"We need to go home and get Vexen..." he opened a portal as him and Namine slowly disaopearing into it with their friends.

Whew! This got pretty long, the first half of the story is supposed to be lighthearted but by nature I crave drama, I blame K-Dramas that I watch. They aren't great without plot twists, surprises and drama. Not exciteing and compelling to me. So that's probably why I left this story along but no longer!

And you can probably tell, Roxas is kinda I dunno a whiny teen? Reason being is I personally didn't like Roxas until he lost his memories and then he went back to Sora and disappeared, my favorite part (not only because he was gone but he matured in such a short time, even after finding out he was a part of Sora) But Roxas was the reason why I couldn't play his DS game, he just seemed so whiny and just hitting puberty. So that's the way I made him, for now! Roxas fans, you will hate me for a while longer till like chapter 9-10ish but Roxas will redeem himself.

Also poor Axel, I kinda threw him into the middle. And yes there will be bromance scenes of Axel and Roxas. I decided I wanted to put as much in this story as I can. So sorry if none of you like drama, it won't all be drama I promise! I have written most of the chapters (random mind you, most are the drama parts)

And I feel horrid, I really do feel bad for making Roxas my personal meat bag. As I have been writing I've litterally cried once for putting Roxas in turmoil and everything with the characters. While Namine and Saix are being treated well. That changes, PROMISE! There is such think as Karma.

As for the moon thing, he went "berserk" mode. I realized I was making Saix soft and dreamlike I guess? So I added a really BAD quirk. Next chapter will have a lot less drama and not much of Roxas complaining, more of Axel trying to be there for him -wink wink-

So I hope you guys enjoy! I'm at really good pace so maybe by october this whole thing will be done! So REad and REVIEW plz!