Author's note:This is the chapter I have been dreading!Alot of the stuff that has happened to Namine gets explained,took me ages to think of it!I won't give anything away though, you'll have to read to find out hehe.Another big thanks to the reviewers!I love you guys!Lol
Roxas was pretty much still layn in the same position he had been for the last hour or so. Every muscle in his body seemed to ache with a burning intensity, it felt like he was weighted into the ground he lay on. Roxas opened his eyes lazily, confronted with a darker sky than what it had been when he'd fallen asleep. His dreams had been scattered, thoughts of Namine when she was back in her home town, when she was happy. Only scowling to himself upon the image of her kissing that boy resurfacing. Pushing that part of the dream away, Roxas got to his feet a little to quickly. He whimpered quietly and tried to shake some life back into his dead leg, wavering unsteadily on his feet. There was a heavy woosh sound in front of him, looking up just to see a black portal merge up. Roxas watched the black dissapear to leave Axel. The boy didn't know if he should be happy or annoyed to see the pyro. If Axel had turned up earlier Namine wouldn't have fallen...Axel's sharp green eyes fell upon Roxas.
"Oh," he started with a suprisingly mellow tone considering the 'squabble' they had had earlier. "It's you..."
It's you? What was that suposed to mean? Roxas frowned.
"Where's your precious Namine then?" added Axel
"Don't start that again..." grumbled Roxas
He then realised Axel didn't know about what had happened to Namine
"Well, still where is she? I thought you two would have been happily sucking each others faces off, while I was out busy trying to find three little runts that all THREE of us are suposed to be finding..."
Roxas looked at Axel with a dampened expression, causing the red head to question what was wrong. For the first time this day Axel actually looked worried about his friend.
"Namine's gone," spoke Roxas while trying to fight off an upcoming surge of tears
"What d'you mean gone?"
"As in she's gone, gone," Describing someone as 'gone gone' probably wasn't the best way to explain to Axel what had actually happened to Namine "There was this cliff, and she fell,"
Axel walked forward and stopped just behind Roxas "What cliff?"
Roxas turned round, ready to growl at Axel for being so blind and forcing Roxas to state out everything as a story. Turning round however he wasn't greeted by a luring cliff edge...It was just the vast exspansion of grass...
"But...It was here," stumbled Roxas
Axel walked forward again, quite clearly showing the ground he walked on was solid and there was no edge to plummet over. Roxas frowned, sighing to the realisation he might have to explain everything over again to Axel, trying his hardest to persuade the pyro what had happened was true. He had held Namine's hand, the guilt through letting her go was eating away at him. How could something that hadn't happened, have that effect? There was blatantly a cliff edge here not long ago, so where was it?Axel sighed and looked at Roxas in the fading light.
"There's something you need to know," he began while rubbing a hand through his messy red hair
Roxas thought he was the one who would have to be explaining things, not Axel.
"Xemnas told me this before we came on this mission, I'm not suposed to tell you or he'll have my dusk, but it looks like I'm going to spill," said Axel
Roxas stared waitingly at him, wanting to know what on earth he had to say.
"This whole mission was practically a set up. Yeah the whole bit about getting those keybladers is true, but the object of this job was so Namine would fall into the darkness."
"Why does Xemnas want that?" fired Roxas
Axel sighed, considering if he should carry on, knowing full well he was going to be in serious trouble for blurting out Xemnas' master plan.
"When you say she fell off that cliff, she didn't really fall and dissapear," He couldn't say 'die', they were nobodies so they didn't actually die, they just kind of faded away "She's probably in this other world now where her mind is submerged in darkness. Namine will probably think she's back home, but it's all just one big fake. She's not home, and she doesn't have her sketch pad does she."
Roxas shook his head.
"Well Xemnas has it, you see if Namine doesn't have her sketch pad, she can't remember. Xemnas had the plan that when he's captured the three keybladers, he'll bring Namine back from the darkness, and of course she'll be all dark, not one bit of light in her. And of course...she won't remember who anyone is."
Roxas couldn't believe what he had just heard. Namine was still alive, but just forgetting who they were.
"Why doesn't Xemnas want her to remember?"
"I don't know, maybe so she doesn't let herself realise who one of the keybladers is..."
Both of Roxas' eyebrows furrowed downwards "Huh?"
"The girl keyblader, she's Namine's 'other'. You really think Namine would break up her other's memories willingly?"
Axel turned away from him, glancing back slightly over his shoulder "And one of them is your other...Namine wouldn't want to hurt someone that's connected to you..."
Xemnas clenched his hand into a balled fist. In his other hand was Namine's sketch pad.
"Bring me number X and XII," he snarled to Vexen "It would seem number VIII cannot keep his mouth shut..."
Larxene and Luxord were brought up to the Altar of Naught. The pair were firing their superior with questioning looks.
"Remember I told you about that mission you were to go on..."
"The one where we were to retrieve the keybladers?" spoke Luxord as he flicked a card out from between his fingers, turning it round to reveal now three cards with the pictures of each one of the keybladers on.
"The one you so cruelly cancelled," added Larxene with a mocking pout "I wanted some fun."
Xemnas smirked harshly "Well it is time for you to go on that mission...but there are other things I need you to do..."
Demyx was just about to enter his room when he spotted Luxord and Larxene just up the hall, talking about leaving. He wandered up to them, letting his happy nature not let the pair's cruel stares faze him.
"Are you two off on that mission now?" he asked with a little smile
Larxene stabbed his chest with her finger "What's it to do with you waterboy?"
"Well I was just wondering if I could come along too. You know, see if Axel's ok."
"Why do you want to see if he's ok?" questioned Luxord
"Well he's my friend and all," spoke Demyx
"He's not your friend," snarled Larxene "Why would he be friends with a wimp like you? You're a pathetic excuse for a nobody."
Demyx looked slightly disgruntled by what she had said. Just because she had a soft spot for the pyro, not that she would ever admit it, but it was obvious to Demyx...And they all thought he was stupid...
"We don't need you getting in the way. Axel is in alot of trouble, we don't need you trying to stop us."
Luxord's words sent a shiver down Demyx's spine "Stop what?"
But without answering the two organization members turned and walked away, leaving Demyx clearly puzzled.
"...So what is this world Namine's in?"
Roxas was jogging after Axel, firing him with questions on where Namine was. The red head was refusing to say though, letting Roxas trail after him.
"Why won't you tell me?" cried Roxas as he stumbled along at Axel's side
"There's no point in you knowing," was all Axel said
"Why? If I know where Namine is then I can go help her!"
"No you can't."
"Why?"
"You just can't."
Roxas was infuriated at the pyro's refusal to help. He reached up and grabbed the collar of Axel's cloak, dragging the taller guy down to his eye level. Axel looked slightly shocked
"Tell me!" yelled Roxas
Axel groaned as he roughly pushed the boy off him, only to be grabbed again and pulled down with more force.
"Geez Roxas! I'm not telling you coz there's no point in you going!" he cried angrily
"Yeah there is!" Roxas struggled wildly to keep his grip on Axel's cloak as the red head tried to get him off.
"No.There.Is.Not!" Axel managed to get the boy off from clinging to him, watching the blonde stumble and plop onto the floor. He began to walk away, trying to compose his black cloak which Roxas had almost ripped.
"There's a chance you'll fade away if you go there, that's why I won't tell you," exclaimed Axel back to Roxas who was still sat on the floor.
"...So..."
Axel stopped upon hearing Roxas' voice. He turned back to the boy, Roxas' expression hardly visable in the growing darkness.
"What?"
"I said 'so'."
Axel walked back over to him, towering over the boy sat down. Roxas looked up, his eyes glistened slightly.
"Roxas...you'd fade away. Did you even hear me right?"
"Yes," came a mumbled response
Axel rested his hands on his hips. "You really care for her don't you..."
He watched Roxas' head bob up and down as he nodded "I know I don't exactly have a life to give...but I'd give it up for her..."
"Oh now that is just such a touching moment..."
Axel turned round to watch three portals of darkness appear, leaving behind Luxord, Larxene and Sai'x. It was Larxene who had spoke first, her voice cruel and unforgiving.
"You can't see anything though," said Luxord
Axel watched obviously the form of Sai'x move about abit, before there was a blast of white light and the sky seemed to merge from night to day. Grey clouds hung overhead loomingly.
"Well now that's better, we can see what we're doing," cried Luxord
Axel saw Larxene giving him a spiteful look, despite a flirty smile across her mouth. Sai'x dissapered through another portal, coming and going just like that.
"Now Axel, we heard you haven't been playing your role in this. Telling Roxas Xemnas' plan, that's just not good is it now..." mocked Luxord
Larxene grinned evily "You two are in a lot of trouble. We can't have you going round and messing up Xemnas' plans"
Axel paused as if considering something. Roxas climbed to his feet, watching as Axel turned back slightly and flicked his wrist to form a portal. This one was different to the other portals of darkness though, it took the form of more like a door.
"Use that to find Namine," spoke Axel "I'll keep these two busy."
"But Axel-" Roxas stepped up behind his friend. He knew Axel was a good fighter, but he surely he couldn't take on two organization members. Axel turned back to them, his chakrams swinging on his fingers.
"Look I owe you Roxas, I never should have put you down for been friends with Namine. I was an idiot, an I'm sorry..." he said
Roxas felt the tears pricking his eyes making everything appear blurry. Axel glanced back to Roxas with a smile on his face, the tears also watering the red head's eyes.
"Good luck. Bring Namine back, don't lose her and don't let yourself fade away..."
Roxas nodded slowly then turned to the portal.
"Don't even think of going through there Roxas!" cried Luxord pointing his finger at the boy "You'll painfully regret it otherwise."
Axel moved so he was stood straight in the way between Roxas and the other two.
"You'd have to go through me first," he snarled
Roxas looked back once more at his friend.
"I'll see you again Axel."
Then he stepped into the portal and dissapered from sight...
Roxas plummeted through what seemed like endless darkness. The air swooshed round his body as he fell. He couldn't see anything, only black. Falling and falling...Roxas felt his body slowing before finally his feet landed softly on a hard surface. The darkness still engulfed him. Namine was here somewhere...
Namine sat bolt upright in her bed, the sweat beads lining her forehead. She looked round, half expecting to see that boy from her dreams layn in her room. Reaching up a shaking hand she wiped it across her damp face. It had felt so real...
Axel glared at Luxord with a piercing stare.
"Seems like someone has strayed from the path," spoke the blonde man with a smirk
"Xemnas' plan isn't going to work," cried Axel "Namine isn't going to fade into the darkness like he wants her to."
"Stupid fool!" cried Larxene who had been surprisingly quiet up until now "You're just going to pay now for your own mistakes and Roxas'."
"Long as Xemnas can't complete his plan it doesn't matter," Axel answered
Larxene then tried to change the way she spoke to Axel.
"Axel..." she started more softly which was completly out of character for her "...Why can't you just be a good boy?"
The red head watched her walk over to him, she cupped her hand under his chin.
"This isn't going to do you any good," Larxene's voice was now just mocking
There was a woosh sound to the side, Axel groaned inside to realise it might be Sai'x returning. Instead...
"Axel watch out!"
Axel leapt back just as Larxene tried to attack him with her weapon. He caught a glimpse of Demyx stood not far away with his sitar ready.
"Idiot!" yelled Larxene at Demyx who came to Axel's side
Axel grinned at the blonde haired water lover. He'd never been happier to see him.
"This is just going to be even more fun now," spoke Luxord as a dozen huge playing cards revolved round him before lining up behind the man.
"You shouldn't be getting involved Demyx," threatened Larxene
"I told you Axel was my friend!" cried the boy as he strummed a string on his sitar, swinging his arm round as lots of water forms merged up from the ground. "And I'm gunna stick by him!"
Larxene laughed menacingly "Oh I think I'm gunna be sick, how soppy."
Larxene let out a small shriek as she was kncoked backwards by a flying chakram. She looked up from been sat on the ground at Axel who stood in front of her.
"I never liked you Larxene," he said "That's why I have no objection to fighting you."
Larxene clambered to her feet "Shame, we could have made a great pair."
She jumped at the pyro, swinging her weapon at his face but missing each time. Landing on one knee Axel slammed his chakram against the ground, sending out a shockwave of fire that knocked Larxene off her feet. Rebounding in the air though she only giggled as if pain was pleasure, summoning a lighting strike to hit the pyro and landing gracefully to her feet.
"Come on Axel, you're going soft on me. Fight like you normally do!" teased Larxene
Axel whipped round, his chakrams spun faster and faster on his fingers sending out sparks of flames before both wheels flew at Larxene and hit her hard. She was knocked back and Axel thought he might have made her realise not to fight him.
He caught his chakrams back into his hands, but suddenly looked down to see Larxene stood right in front of him. He'd forgot she was fast...
Axel gasped suddenly when something sharp pierced into his chest in two places. The savage nymph let out a sly giggle.
"So sorry Axel..."
She stood up onto her tip toes and placed an un-loving kiss on the pyro's trembling lips, before retracting her weapon and letting him collapse to the floor.
Demyx looked over from fighting with Luxord and his giant cards. Seeing his friend layn on the floor obviously injured, the boy gasped and went to help. He stopped though when a huge flying dice hit him round the back of the head, knocking him out cold.
Axel lay there, feeling himself growing colder and colder. His eyelids flickered, everything in his vison seemed to be going into one big blur. He had said he would give himself up, as long as Roxas made sure Xemnas couldn't complete his goal. But the idea now of fading away sounded suddenly strange, not that Axel could do anything to stop it. His body trembled as he let out a shaky sigh, just as his eyes clamped shut.
Author's note:Ok so maybe it was suposed to be a dramatic moment then Demyx gets hit over the head with a large dice...-crys-This might be my last chapter for abit been as I'm going away. I'll try to get another chapter up today but if not then leave lots of reviews and I will update as soon as I get back!-waves-