Author's note:I have a next door neighbour who looks like an older version of Luxord...yey. Oh an I don't own Kingdom hearts.
Namine felt herself awaken from her deep sleep through hearing her name whispered lightly. She flinched as warm air touched her ear, brushing it softly and making the area tingle slightly. Her eyes forced themselves open, and at first she was greeted by darkness, then came a blinding light...
"Axel, did you have to do that!"
Namine's eyes focused and she saw Roxas slightly leaning over her, his gaze was towards the other side of the room though. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes Namine spotted Axel across the room stood by the door, his finger on the light switch and a satisfied grin on his face. Roxas turned back to face Namine, a smile lighting up his boyish features.
"Wake up call," he said gentley.
No kidding...Namine stifled a yawn, then began to consider asking why these two had come and woke her up at this time.
"What are you two doing here?" she asked sleepily
Axel strode over and flopped down on the end of Namine's bed "We got a job to do."
One of Namine's eyebrows arched "Job?"
The red head nodded and Roxas clasped his hands together. Namine only continued to stare at the crumpled bed sheets over her lap. This would be to do with what Xemnas was talking about yesterday, her journey.
"What do we have to do?" she enquired looking from both Axel to Roxas.
"Go get some kids," spoke Axel without much care. He must be used to jobs like this.
"They should be in a place called the eclipse lands, that's all we were told," Roxas cut-in.
Namine nodded and wondered what Xemnas would want with these kids. Oh well, best not to ponder what other people's plans were.
"Anyway," spoke Axel suddenly "We'll leave you to get dressed, meet us in the entrance hall of the castle when you're ready, preferably soon as. Don't forget your sketch pad either."
Roxas looked disgruntled as he was hauled to his feet and herded out of the room by Axel.
Outside in the hall the red head scowled at his younger friend.
"What?" asked Roxas innocently
"Don't," said Axel, as if that one word was suposed to make Roxas understand what he was talking about.
"Don't what?" cried Roxas as they began walking along.
For some reason he was finding it hard to keep up with the pyro's lenghty strides today.
"Don't interfere," Axel replied "Namine needs to let the darkness overtake her so Xemnas can use her power, don't go getting mushy on her and bringing her light back."
"I'm not gettin mushy on her, I like her as a friend, like I like you," Roxas defended
Axel stopped walking "You fancy me?"
Roxas looked slightly disgusted "No way."
"But you fancy Namine," explained Axel while waving a finger in his face.
Roxas stepped away from him "I don't."
The blush on Roxas' face was enough to show he was lying. The boy never was good at lying.
"You can't lie to save your skin Roxas. Just don't fall in love with her," Axel said more softly "That's the last thing anyone wants."
"Riku!"
Sora was layn face down in the grass, half way up the hill they were climbing. Riku looked back over his shoulder with a sigh before going to help up his friend. They'd arrived in the eclipse lands about an hour ago, and had barely probably even travelled a mile yet...
"You're so slow Sora," he said as he hauled him up.
"Not my fault I'm carrying half the stuff!" Sora yelped in defense.
Kairi was stood behind the two boys, waiting impatiently for them to carry on. The grey clouds in the sky were showing promise of rain, and getting drenched was not on Kairi's wish list.
"Sora you numb bum will you just hurry up!" she cried
Sora threw back an evil glance before starting to climb again. Riku walked close behind him, giving Sora's leg the occasional prod with a stick if the brown haired boy wasn't walking quick enough.
Meanwhile, across the other side of the eclipse lands.
"Axel...how are we exactly suposed to find them here?"
Axel stalked up a small hill and looked around from the top. Namine and Roxas stood watching him.
"Good question," answered the red head before walking back down to them "But they gotta be here somewhere so we just gotta look."
"Is that suposed to be a joke? Axel we have no idea how big these 'eclipse lands' are, they could be anywhere," exclaimed Roxas with a frown.
Namine rubbed her hand on her arm "Maybe we should split up," she suggested
Roxas and Axel turned to her.
"Good idea," grinned the pyro
But Roxas didn't look so sure.
"What if we can't find each other again? And I dunno if Namine should go on her own, I mean-"
"Roxas..." Axel growled sensing the fondness from the blonde haired boy towards Namine.
"I'll be fine," she said turning to face Roxas, trying to convince him even more by also smiling sweetly.
Roxas slowly nodded, and Axel clapped his hands together.
"You know how to use your portals?" he asked to Namine
"Portals?"
What was the red head talking about now?
"Use them to travel around to where you want. Flick your hand, and vamoosh."
Axel flicked his wrist. A black portal appeared not far behind him, Namine recognised it as one similar to what Xemnas had dragged her through. She clutched the sketch pad to her chest and nodded.
"Well, catch up with you two later."
With that Axel turned and vanished through the darkness. Roxas walked over to the spot where the portal had been.
"And where, how and when are we suposed to meet then?" he asked as if to himself
Namine walked over next to Roxas and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder. He flinched and instantly turned to face her giving her his full attention.
"You'll...be safe, won't you Roxas?" she asked quietly
Roxas was a little confused at what she meant by this "Of course," he answered "You'd better be careful too, ok."
Namine nodded, a few strands of blonde hair falling across her opal blue eyes. Roxas instantly reached up and pushed the strands from her face, smiling as he did so. Where were these feelings coming from? He was a nobody, he didn't have a heart...How can you fall in love with someone if you don't have a heart?
'Nah, I just like her as a friend...Don't I?'
Roxas pulled away his hand and shifted his eyes to stare at the floor. He could feel the heat pricking his cheeks.
"Roxas..."
He had to look back up, straight into Namine's eyes...Transfixed...
"Are you ok?" she asked
"Fine," Roxas squeaked while trying to force a playful grin
Namine smiled then giggled a little. Roxas always seemed to make her happy. Axel made her happy too, not that she had known him very long, but still...Even though the guy really knew how to break up the moment...
"Well, guess we better get going," suggested Roxas while scratching the back of his head
"Yeah," agreed Namine
She turned round and reached out a small hand. Flicking her wrist in one smooth motion, a portal of darkness fused in front of her. She slowly turned back to Roxas.
"I'll, see you in a while then," she said
"Umm, yep," he replied
Namine began to walk over to the portal.
"Namine..."
She turned round again.
"Remember what I said ok...Take care of yourself, I'd...miss you, if you were gone."
'Did I really just say that? Oh man, how lame...'
Namine couldn't help but smile "You aswell Roxas..."
"I swear if this rain doesn't slow up I'll sue..."
Kairi, Sora and Riku were sat under a large tree. Rain was falling heavily in sheets, coating the grass in soggy puddles.
"Who will you sue?" teased Riku "The clouds?"
Kairi slapped the boy's arm making him wince. Damn the girl could hit. Suddenly a black portal formed in front of them causing all three of the teens to clamber to their feet.
"Oh man this rain is so not good..." spoke a male voice
The three of them stared at the red haired man who had just appeared out of the black mist. He looked at them with his two bright green eyes upon realising they were staring. A smirk formed on his lips.
"Well look what I've found," he said running a hand back over his spiky red hair
"Who are you?" asked Kairi, who had no hesitation on questioning the man's role here.
"We don't have time for questions, you're coming with me, like it or not."
"Why?" challenged Riku
The man sighed "Man you sure do ask alot of questions. Look, I just do my job, I don't ask, you should try it..."
He flung out his arms to each side, fire spinning round his hands in a flurry before a chakram appeared in each grasp. The weapon spun on his fingers, sending out sparks of fire and burning angrily.
"Oh man," muttered Sora as he numbly summoned his keyblade to his hands "We gotta fight?"
Riku and Kairi held their keyblades also. Three-against-one? Axel was outnumbered, but that hadn't bothered him one bit. He grinned slyly.
"This is gunna make my day..."