Part Two

The Phoenix Emergence

Destiny Island

Roxas smiled as Sora ran up to Riku and pulled him into a bone crushing hug as he thanked Riku rather vocally for his birthday present. It was the brunet's birthday and all the gang was there on the beach to celebrate. Even Leon, Cloud, Yuffie, Cid and Aeris had turned up from Radiant Garden to wish Sora a happy birthday.

Kairi had sent them a message last week telling them to come and see Sora on his birthday. The Keyblade Master had wanted to celebrate Roxas' birthday as well but the blond refused. It was Sora's day and Roxas would choose a day for his birthday.

He wished that Riku would stop beating about the bush and come clean to Sora about his feelings. The guy gave up his body and soul to bring Sora back and that look in his aquamarine eyes was all too familiar to Roxas.

He quickly turned away when tears burned his eyes and he wiped them away angrily. Crying wouldn't help him...crying wouldn't bring Axel back. He noticed Zexion staring at him from nearby but Roxas flashed a smile. Zexion, now going by his true name Ienzo, cocked his head before turning his gaze away.

"Are you ok Roxas?" Baralai had approached the blond and the two sat on the warm sand by the water.

"I'm fine Lai." Roxas answered. The white haired mage didn't buy it though.

"Still thinking about Axel?" he asked softly.

"When am I not?" a bitter smile touched his lips. His blue eyes took in Baralai's haggard appearance and he frowned. "Are you ok?"

"I just had a nightmare." His amber eyes flickered between Roxas and the ocean. "I still feel him inside me...Sokar."

"You're getting better though Lai. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for." Roxas was pretty sure than anyone else would've gone insane from the images Sokar left within Baralai's mind.

"Thanks Roxas." Silver hair fell into his amber eyes. He had left his blue bandana off today.

"You'll find a way home one day you know." The blond pointed out.

"I never thought I'd miss Spira or my otherwise boring lifestyle." Baralai smiled wistfully. "But I miss Gippal so much."

"You must really love that guy." Roxas grinned as Baralai blushed.

"Hey guys, it's time for cake!" Selphie called excitedly.

Identical grins touched their lips then Baralai and Roxas made their way back to the party where Riku was making Sora dance with him. Kairi kept giving the silver haired teen the thumbs up and mouthing good luck. Tifa, Tidus and Wakka were grinning as they slipped something into the punch bowl. Aeris was cutting the cake for everyone while Yuffie and Selphie were whispering and giggling, no doubt another plot of theirs.

Vincent, Seifer and Reno couldn't make it but they sent gifts to Sora and wished him all the best on his birthday. Roxas wondered if the red head was doing fine now that he was talking again. Roxas knew how Reno was feeling though. Watching as the one person you ever loved died and there was nothing you could do about it. That kind of pain would forever be a part of them. The blond boy looked up to see Leon and Cloud sitting nearby.

Leon was sitting on the sand with Cloud in his lap, his arms wrapped around the blond's waist. A few weeks after the Gateway incident Cloud and Sephiroth and confronted one another in a final showdown that resulted in Cloud's victory over his personal darkness. After that horrific fight Tifa had forced her best friend to tell Leon how he felt now that his darkness was gone. In the end Tifa had to blackmail Cloud into telling Leon. She had threatened to show the stoic brunet pictures of Cloud in a purple dress. He blond swordsman still had the emotional scars from that little escapade.

"Zell, stop drooling over Tidus and eat some cake!" Selphie yelled. The little martial artist blushed as red as a tomato while Tidus flashed him a sexy grin.

"Is it my fault my boyfriend is hot?" Zell muttered.

"Did Zell ever fess up on how he and Tidus got together?" Roxas asked Sora.

"I tried everything to get Zell to confess. He and Tidus just grin." Sora replied.

"I never would've thought those two would hook up." Roxas smiled. "And what about you? Got anyone special?"

"Maybe..." Sora said with a coy look in his eye as he glanced at Riku.

Roxas shook his head as he muttered something about idiotic brunets. Baralai was laughing at something Aeris told him. The quiet man had become part of their family after the Gateway incident. Sokar was dead now but the damage he had left was enough to give him a sense of victory.

Balamb Garden

Aside from his new scarring and picking on the Chicken-Wuss Seifer's day was relatively slow and uneventful. Leonhart had gone with Quistis Trepe to the Fire Cavern to retrieve another Guardian Force for the upcoming SeeD examination tomorrow morning.

This would be his third attempt to make it to SeeD status and he vowed that he wasn't going to fail this time. When Leonhart returned from the Fire Cavern he scowled openly at Seifer then proceeded towards the Training Centre. For once the tall blond didn't follow.

Seifer had to admit though, that scar looked good on the Ice Princess but he guessed that Leonhart would kill him for even suggesting it. Zell Dincht was following Squall around like a love sick puppy and it made Seifer sick to his stomach.

Squall ignored the blond boy of course but Zell was so damn persistent. This would just give Seifer fuel to torment the tattooed blond with. Even if he ended up in front of Headmaster Cid again it would be so worth it just to anger the little blond.

Seifer tossed his cigarette out the window then reached over to close it. His skin tingled when the warm air washed over him again now that the cool night air was blocked off. He was still exhausted from recent events with Squall and that strange ball of fire from the sky.

He just wanted a decent night's sleep before the field exam tomorrow morning, the exam that would determine his future once and for all. Flopping down onto the bed Seifer flung his arm behind his head and stared at the ceiling of his room.

Images of fire and that voice filled his mind causing Seifer to growl and press his face into the pillow. That strange warmth was spreading through his stomach and travelling up into his chest and into his throat.

It wasn't unwelcome and Seifer actually relished the feeling of such heat. While in the Training Centre one of the instructors used a Fire spell to demonstrate to the students. Seifer had been fighting some Grats in the area when he noticed the fire. He remembered feeling something akin to pleasure at the sight of the flame.

Man oh man...this sucks.

"What the fuck?" Seifer jumped off the bed when that voice broke into his thoughts. "Who's in here?"

That would be me pal and I live in your head. I tell ya it's really cramped in here.

"What the hell is going on? Who are you?" Seifer backed towards the door.

Talk about blank with a capital B...I really picked a winner here.

"Show yourself before I find you and tear you to pieces." Seifer snarled. He balled his fists as the warmth seared through him.

What was I turned into again? Oh yeah...I'm a Guardian Force.

"You can't be...I wasn't Junctioned." The blond growled as his hand reached his Gunblade.

I made that choice for you. Mind you I prefer short hot tempered blue eyed blonds. You're not my type.

"You can't be a Guardian Force. The GF's take the memories of the host." Seifer swept his blade across the room.

I'm a special case.

"Ok...how come it took you this long to talk to me?" Seifer demanded but he didn't relax his grip on the Gunblade.

Oh I dunno...maybe because I've never had to live inside someone's head before? The longer I spent in this tiny space the more strength I got.

"If you really are my GF then I'll summon you." Seifer said as he closed his eyes and called forth the creature within his mind.

You don't have to be so damn pushy about it. I'll come out and play nice, got it memorized?

Seifer swallowed when he heard that line then he felt a tugging sensation across his body. His vision turned red and green for the briefest of moments the once it returned to normal he saw fire dancing around his room.

The flames came together to form the outline of a human body then the flames vanished leaving behind the GF. Seifer really couldn't think up a proper way to describe this...person. The GF was tall and lanky; he looked on the verge of anorexia. His hair seemed to be made from fire and the spikes were a bright crimson colour.

His eyes were the most unusual shade of green Seifer had ever seen. Granted his own eyes were a light jade but this GF's...they glowed with an inner fire. A smirk formed on the guy's face and he landed back against the wall. It was then Seifer saw the wings.

The GF had large wings with golden feathers. The edges of the wings and the tips were a deep crimson. Both wings were as big as his body...his very naked body. Seifer felt his mouth go dry as he took in his GF's apparent lack of clothing. Instead of an outfit flames covered parts of his body.

Fire acted as a tank top for his torso, exposing his flat and terribly thin body. He was wearing black boots that stopped just below his knees. The boots had silver buckles along the sides and silver toe caps. He was wearing black jean shorts with silver zippers along the sides and fire fell around his legs in tendrils. Silver gauntlets were on his wrists and he was staring at Seifer expectantly. As far as nosebleed material went this guy beat Shiva hands down.

"So you're my GF?" Seifer muttered.

"Give the boy a prize." The red head grinned. "I was given the name Phoenix but you can call me Axel, got it memorized?"

"This is unbelievable..." Seifer held his Gunblade up. "How did you become Junctioned with me?"

"When you were fighting that cute brunet." Axel smirked widely. "Nice fight by the way."

"That ball of fire..." Seifer glanced into those green eyes. "That was you?"

"It's not like I had a choice." Axel shrugged as his wings rippled. "I needed a host and you were the best I could find."

"Fuck..." Seifer swore angrily.

"I don't see what you're pissed about. I could be of great benefit." Axel cocked his head in thought.

"That's without question." Seifer placed his Gunblade against the wall. "But I still possess my memories. GF's take memories when they become Junctioned."

"I can't help you there Scar." The red head glanced around the room. "Nice place by the way."

"I'm going to have to tell Kadowaki about you. Nosy woman that she is she'll want to know everything." Seifer groaned.

"Whatever man." Axel flopped down onto the bed, his wings folding behind his back. "Now that I'm a resident in your head I've gotta do something to alleviate the boredom."

"The SeeD exam is tomorrow. Show me what you've got." Seifer challenged. The smirk that spread across Axel's face rivalled Seifer's any day.

"Oh I plan on showing you how good I can be." His green eyes flashed.

"This is seriously sucked up." Seifer rubbed his face. "I'm actually having a conversation with a GF."

"How do you think I feel?" Axel jumped off the bed. "I used to be my own person before I...died and got turned into a GF."

"Excuse for not caring." Seifer snarled.

"You're a piece of work pal." Axel approached the blond and stared at him. "Burt if you play with me..." he clicked his fingers and a ball of fire appeared in his hand. You're gonna get burned." His body dissolved into mist and Seifer felt that familiar warmth spreading across his body as Axel went back into his mind. When the GF vanished Seifer had only thing one to say about the situation he was now in.

"Oh fuck..."

Note-so what do you guys think so far? And what do you think of Axel's new outfit? The whole Zell/Tidus thing just popped into my head and I thought why not, make a totally crack pairing. The next chapter will just be focused on Seifer and Axel when they go to the SeeD exam. Just for reference what was the name of that place Squall, Zell and Seifer got sent to for the exam? I forgot the damn name. And I'd also like to state here and now that when it comes to FF8 my most loved pairings are Seifer/Squall, Zell/Squall and Zell/Seifer. So my lovely viewers which one shall I write into the story? If some of you guys don't like these pairings I'm really sorry but I wanna write one of them. Catch you on the flipside guys.