Author's note: Yey!I'm so happy!Finally, after weeks of levelling up I finally defeated Sephiroth in KH.Seriously though that dude is hard,Xemnas is easier than him an he's like the final boss.Anyway,in this chapter the whole 'what has really happened to Axel, was that him at the end of the last chapter?' will be revealed.I actually enjoyed writing this chapter (for once) so I hope you like it!
A small opening of darkness formed in the air, dropping Namine and Roxas onto the hard sandy ground below it. Roxas groaned into the wet sand against his face, hearing the lapping of waves against the shore. He sat up and brushed the gritty sand from his face and cloak. Fully getting up he went and pulled Namine to her feet, helping her to also dust off her black cloak.
"At least we're out of that place now," sighed Namine looking up at Roxas with a sweet smile
The boy nodded and pulled off a piece of seaweed from his arm "Yeah but now our big problem is Xemnas. He tried to kill me, and I doubt he's gunna be very cheerful when he finds out you're not where you should be and fading into the dark."
Namine held her finger to her lips "So what do we do?"
Roxas looked dissapointed "I was hoping you knew..."
Both of them stood there for a minute, the only noise heard was the sea against the beach. Eventually Roxas broke the silence.
"Wait, when Xemnas showed me Axel...I saw Demyx there aswell. Maybe he's still around here somewhere..." he suggested
"It's worth a try," shrugged Namine
Roxas nodded and carefully slipped his warm hand into hers. Namine gave it a reassuring squeeze as he began to lead her off.
"I still can't believe Axel's gone," she said finally to break the silence forming between them after they had walked a little way.
Roxas felt a tightening in his chest. He didn't want to talk or think about that at the moment. He was trying to hold it at the back of his mind until everything else was sorted out. The thought of what Xemnas would do when he found out Roxas had pretty much ruined his plans to get Namine to fade into the darkness were looming.
"Is it ok if we don't talk about it," Roxas swallowed as his stomach knotted "I'm kindda sick of crying right now."
"Oh," Namine looked up at him "Sorry..."
Roxas forced a smile "It's ok. Let's just find Demyx and get an idea on what's going on."
He felt the girl's grip tighten on his hand.
"What's going to happen to us?" she asked nervously
Roxas blew out a sigh through a slight gap in his lips, his gaze staring straight ahead as they walked across the common ground.
"You'll be fine, Xemnas needs you to carry out his plans," he said while avoiding saying what might happen to him in case Namine got worried.
However what was going to happen to Roxas was the first thing she added.
"And you?"
The boy glanced down at her from the corner of his opal coloured eye, watching her curious but fearful expression.
"I dunno Namine. Xemnas might try to get rid of me again, or he might decide to give me a second chance..."
He spoke bluntly but only the truth to her. Roxas didn't know what was going to happen to him when they got back, however the option of Xemnas disposing of him seemed slightly more likely, considering if his whole plan worked he'd gain three more keybladers into the organization. There wouldn't be a need to keep Roxas there considering his treachery.
Namine suddenly flung her arms round his skinny waist and pressed her face against his cloak.
"You can't let him get rid of you!" she cried with a muffled voice "I'll refuse to do anything if he does!"
Roxas found himself smiling at Namine's devotion. He ruffled the top of her suprisingly soft hair.
"Don't worry Namine, I won't go down that easily if Xemnas wants rid."
Namine looked up at him with her eyebrows furrowed "You won't be going down at all," she said slightly aggresively catching Roxas by suprise. Then her voice softened up.
"You came and found me in the darkness, you could have left me but you didn't. When I thought I'd lost you again after we got back I couldn't bare it. If I have to spend the rest of my nobody life without you then there's going to be no point in me staying here. From now on Roxas if you go, I go. If you fade away, I fade away."
Roxas was slightly lost for words. He couldn't really reply to what Namine had just said. No one had ever said anything as caring as that to him.
"Namine I..."
Namine smiled and let her eyes shine up at him, making him believe that every word she'd said was true.
"I, don't know what to say," he stammered
"You don't have to say anything Roxas," said Namine as she laced her fingers together "Just knowing you'll be there is enough."
Roxas leant down and let their lips graze together, he was still astounded at what she'd said.
"Well you can count on that," he answered quietly
Namine scooped her hand under his chin and pulled his face down so she could kiss him again. She held their mouths together longer than Roxas had done, feeling the closeness of him and backing up her self-assurance. Eventually she nipped his bottom lip and pulled away, giggling in a playful but bashful way. Roxas smirked at her and looped their hands together again, tugging her in the direction they were heading in.
Absentmindly Roxas was leading them back to the spot where he had last been with Axel. It seemed the most likely place for Demyx to be if he was still here. The water boy probably wouldn't have moved through been taken down with grief, if of course he was feeling anything and not being all 'heartless'. Roxas laughed inside at his comment. Of course Demyx was heartless, he was a nobody, but that didn't seem to stop the boy from 'feeling' emotions. Roxas had often heard Xemnas asking himself why he had let Demyx into the organization. Countless times Axel and Roxas had been sent to complete number nine's missions, the guy always wimped out. He couldn't stand the dark, and even Axel threatning to burn to his sitar almost brought Demyx to tears. Other than that though Demyx was also the happiest nobody around. That goofy 'Demyx' grin...
Roxas suddenly stopped Namine and himself in their tracks. Up ahead was the nobody they had been looking for.
The water lover seemed to be looking for something himself. However he was also clearly alone, blasting out any hope of Axel been alive from Roxas and the sullen look befell the boy's face once more. Walking over, Demyx instantly noticed the pair and looked up with a goofy grin.
"Hi guys," said Demyx before beginning to search for whatever he was looking for again.
"Uh, hi Demyx..." Roxas started "...How are you?"
Demyx looked up "I'm fine...great actually, you?"
Roxas was astounded at Demyx's nonchalant mood considering he had witnessed Axel's demise.
"...You know it's ok to be upset," added Roxas
Demyx blinked. Staring at Roxas as if he'd just grown up out the ground.
"Why do I need to be upset?" he asked, glancing to Namine aswell for some sort of answer.
Roxas was starting to feel frustrated that Demyx wasn't showing any grief over Axel's death. So what he didn't have a heart, he should at least feel something! After staring at the ground for a little while longer Demyx declared his discovery for what he'd been looking for with an 'Aha'. Bending down he picked something up, which Roxas saw was a pair of keys hanging from Demyx's finger.
"Stupid moose," he said tossing the keys into the air and catching them in his hand "I'll show him for hitting me with that giant dice..."
Roxas looked at Namine with a confused stare before noticing Demyx had started to walk off.
"Are you really sure you're ok?" questioned Namine as they followed the boy.
"Just great, but you really don't have to keep asking."
"But Demyx I thought-"
Roxas stopped as him and Namine bumped into the back of Demyx who had come to an abrupt hault. Roxas peered over the guy's shoulder, a gasp catching in his throat. Pushing Demyx out of the way he took a step forward...
A glistening, viridian eye opened and stared up at him.
"But..." Roxas stammered "But you- Wh...How?"
There was a slight chuckle "Never ask too many questions in one go, got it memorized?"
Roxas' mouth gaped as he stared a very much alive Axel in the face. The boy's face then creased into a grin.
"I thought you were gone," he managed "Larxene she-"
"What you think I'm gunna let that creepy woman dispose of me? You gotta be kidding..." scoffed Axel in his usual manner
Roxas watched the red head as he was slumped against the tree, a long arm clutched his chest though signalling Larxene had done some damage. Other than that he looked as normal as ever, despite the hair been even wilder and spikier.
"I seriously thought I wasn't ever going to see you again," explained the madly grinning Roxas despite tears filling up his eyes
"Rockhead just whatever you do don't cry," said Axel upon noticing those tears "I had enough of that with Demyx, thought I was gunna drown, and I hate 'wet' at the best of times."
There was a sly snigger from Demyx, who had managed to pick himself up off the ground from Roxas' push. Finding himself suddenly unable to keep his happiness in Roxas practically flew down onto Axel and tightly wrapped his arms round the pyro's neck. Axel let out a strangled yelp.
"Yeah Roxas I know I'm alive but I do have INJURIES and you are currently not making them better!" he cried
Roxas ignored him though and continued smothering his friend. Namine giggled as she watched the pair. Relief had also filled her to see Axel alive and well. However if Roxas carried on the way he was going that would soon change. Axel was suddenly looking blasted of breath from the boy's strangling but caring grip.
Eventually after hearing Axel's choking noises and a little persuasion from Demyx, Roxas let go, but still remained sat on Axel's lap. The red head scowled at him, rubbing his now soar neck and finding his original wounds now hurting even more.
"Geez I know you missed me Roxas but that was just abit extreme," he spoke
Roxas began to scowl himself and crossed his arms over his chest. Axel looked fearful that he was about to get another bear hug.
"You're an idiot," snapped Roxas before suddenly punching the pyro's shoulder.
Axel looked shocked, his lip curling up and eyebrows furrowed "Wha' was that for?"
"For thinking you could take on those two by yourself!" cried the boy as he issued another punch. "If only you'd let me stay then we would have thrashed them, but no mr smartass had to be all self centered and heroic!"
"I saved your tiny hide so you could go find Namine!" growled Axel "Don't go getting all ungrateful on me now or I'll go get Larxene and Luxord to come finish you off."
Roxas couldn't help but then grin, making Axel look even more confused.
"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have found Namine," he said before glancing back over his shoulder at the smiling girl.
"I only opened the portal, you found her," said Axel as he stabbed the boy's nose with his finger
"But you told me 'bout the drawing. If you hadn't said that I would never have found her," explained Roxas
Axel looked even more bewildered "Huh?"
"You know..." Roxas pushed "..."When you told me to look at the drawing when I woke up, you said I was forgetting..."
The red head shook his head "I have no idea what you're on about. Last time I spoke to you was before you went into the portal."
Namine walked over and stood by Axel's legs.
"You were in that world I was in too," she said "I thought I recognised the guy, and now I know why, it was you."
Axel was starting to look freaked out.
"Axel has been here all along," spoke up Demyx from behind the three "He's been unconsious most of the time, so how could he have moved?"
Roxas and Namine exchanged glances.
"But you..." began the blonde boy
Axel poked his forehead "You hit your head or summit?"
Roxas struggled to stand up "Uh, forget it."
Now it was Demyx's turn to push Roxas out the way.
"I found 'em," grinned the water lover as he dangled the key's in Axel's face.
The red head grinned and clasped the keys into his own hand "Excellent."
Demyx held out a hand and helped to haul Axel to his feet. The pyro was now down to Demyx's height through been leant over from clutching his soar chest. Roxas stared at the pairs suspicios faces.
"What are you two up to?" he asked
Namine came and slid her arm round his before linking their hands together.
Demyx grinned cheekily "Just gunna do a little payback..."
Roxas looked worried and quickly questioned in his mind what they might be up to.
"Payback on who?" enquired Namine
"Xemnas," spoke Axel with a cool tone as if it was nothing. "He sent Larxene and Luxord to get rid of me, and resultingly also dispose of Demyx."
Roxas and Namine were astounded. Demyx and Axel were going to go up against Xemnas. Xemnas! Of all nobodies to chose they were going against the toughest.
"What do you plan on doing?" Roxas asked a little worried
Axel wiggled the keys in his hand "Let your 'others' go, give 'em a helping hand to dispose of Xemnas and any of the organization who gets in their way."
"You're crazy!" cried Roxas "You can't go up against the organization! They'll destroy you."
"I prefer to be called unorthodox," replied Axel still as cool and calm as ever "It's not like we've got anything to lose and Xemnas has already proved he doesn't need us in the organization. If we're not a part of it we gotta cause a bit of fuss before we go."
"He tried to kill Roxas too," added Namine quietly causing Axel to look at her
"Even more of a reason to get rid of him. I know his whole plan was to only get us our hearts, but I get the feeling not everything is all that simple."
Roxas shrugged his shoulder's in a questioning manner "What's up?"
Axel tilted his head back, emerald eyes gleaming "All of this is to get our hearts, but since when has Xemnas cared about anyone? He's not gunna get our hearts, we're all just part of his game."
"We do the dirty work, he gets the prize," input Demyx
"And if Xemnas gets his heart, and has a million other hearts behind him, he's practically invincible. The world would be over like that."
Roxas let all the information sink in slowly. Axel and Demyx had a plan, it sounded as if it could work as long as they were careful. He looked down at Namine as she tugged on his sleeve.
"We should help," she said quietly
Roxas looked back at the other two "Well you're gunna need help. I have a grudge against Xemnas for what he tried to do to Namine an me, so we'll help."
Demyx grinned but Axel didn't look so convinced.
"Roxas you do realise if all this goes wrong, the so called life you live will be over. We go up against Xemnas and he survives, he isn't gunna be so forgiving."
Roxas merely nodded, convinced on now the fate held for him.
"There's a better chance of it working if there's more of us. Plus they're our 'others', who says they'd listen to you?" spoke Roxas lightly
A slight smirk crept onto Axel's thin lips, Demyx was still grinning goofily. Namine grabbed Roxas' attention.
"Others?" she asked
"A nobody is only half of someone. That someone is a nobodies 'other'. Two of the three teens Xemnas is holding captive are your others..." explained Axel "Roxas' 'other' looks alot like him, but yours Namine, yeah the eyes are there but thats it."
"How do you know?" scoffed Roxas
"I fought with them idiot, while you were out doing nothing," the pyro snapped
Namine unlinked hands with Roxas and took a step up to Axel.
"Are you going to be alright, with your injuries?" she asked gentley, unknowing to how much Axel had hated her at one point.
"I'll be fine," he said with a suprising smile before looking up at Roxas "...I was wrong," he winked
Roxas only scowled and crossed his arms tightly.
"Ok, well are we gunna go now, or are you three just gunna keep yapping?" said Demyx roughly
"Calm down demmy," teased Axel knowing Demyx hated that nickname. "Sure you ain't gunna chicken out?"
"No," said Demyx a little reluctantly "Anyway Luxord hit me with his dice, see how he likes to be hit with a sitar."
Roxas and Axel laughed, Namine had a slight grin.
"So then we're the four who are going to go take down what has been keeping us stable for the entirity of our nobodies life," said Axel
"We're idiots," mumbled Demyx wishing he now hadn't agreed to this.
"Don't worry Demyx. We have a pyro and a memory manipulator on our side. One of them been extremely mad and jumps into situations he can't control, the other is able to get anything she wants," grinned Roxas
"Hey!" cried Axel "I'm not mad."
Demyx bore his teeth in a smile "Just slightly deluded-"
The water boy shut up when a chakram was held to his throat.
"You'd better keep that mouth closed..." Axel snarled with an evil smirk.
"Can you two just keep your elemental differences apart for once. We need to go now before Xemnas realises Namine has gone from the darkness and he comes to us," yelped Roxas eagerly
"Sure," mocked Axel with a goofier grin than Demyx "Sooner we get this over with the better! Just think, at the end of this we could have hearts!"