DAY 378 ~ Axel

Over the next week I had recurring dreams…all of the memories. So I remembered a bit more. I knew that the girl had joined the organization soon after I did. I knew that

I had gone on missions with her. We even did both of our separate missions together, once. I had remembered that the first thing I heard her say was my name. I remembered that she'd kept her hood up in her first few days at the organization.

I knew that she had a keyblade.

Why couldn't I remember her name?

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When I woke up I went straight down to get my mission--my plan was to start earlier so I could finish earlier. It would leave me with more time to try and find more answers, to remember the girl.

That day I had to investigate Halloween Town--apparently there was another giant heartless.

When I got there, I started looking in the grave yard at first…then in the outer parts of town.

Finally, I found it. It was an Orcus. But one that was especially powerful.

While fighting it, some more memories came…of me fighting something. Or someone?

"Time to finish you off!" It sounded like…her. But why would a monster looking thing sound like that? "How's this?" The Orcus knocked me backwards at the same time that I was attacked in the memory. Then more memories came…a different battle with an Orcus.

"STOP, both of you!" That was…Axel! But what…? "This mission was a setup…rigged so you two would battle each other."

"Me and…? But…" That was my voice…who? Me and who?

"They would do that…?" It was her! The girl. So Axel…Axel did know her.

The Orcus in my present time attacked, yanking me out of the memory. I swung my keyblade with as much force as possible, to take it out. Finally, the Orcus was defeated.

Another flashback played in my mind. It was shorter…the three of us on the clock tower.

"Even if things change, we'll never be apart--" Axel.

"As long as we remember each other…right?" The girl again. Remember each other…why couldn't I?? "I'll have these moments memorized for a long time. Forever, I hope."

"Me too," That was me. Why couldn't I have known that I'd forget?? "Forever.."

"Ugh!!" I threw my keyblade down in frustration. Everything was so wrong. Just so…

"What's the matter?" a voice asked. "Why are you crying?"

I hadn't realized that the water was coming from my eyes, again…This was called crying? I stood up--I had been kneeling down--and looked at who had spoken. It was a tall, skeletal figure…one I had seen in Halloween Town, before.

I wiped the water from my face. "I'm fine." I replied. It was far from the truth, but I couldn't tell this stranger the whole thing. "And you are…?"

"Jack Skellington," he replied. "Are you sure you're okay?" The same question she had asked.

"I'll be fine." That was mostly true, at least. "I have to get going now, though…"

"Okay then," Jack said. "If you need anything around here, let me know. Oh, and if you get any good scary ideas…"

"Right," I replied. "I'll do that."

I left for the Dark Corridor as quickly as I could.

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"Axel," I said, seeing him up on the clock tower. He got there first, again.

"Hey," Axel gave his usual smile.

"I…need to ask you something."

"Again?" he asked. "You must think I know a lot.." I knew it was supposed to be a joke, but I couldn't laugh.

"Do you really not remember the girl?" I questioned.

His smile faltered. "I've told you already, I don't kn--"

"I saw more…" I cut him off. "More memories. I know that you know her. Or at least…you knew her. You said the three of us would never be apart as long as…as long as we…"

"Remembered each other." Axel sighed. Then he murmured something that I couldn't hear.

"Why did you lie?" I demanded. "You said you didn't know anything about it. And if you lied then, why not now?"

"Who says I'm not lying, now?" Axel shook his head. "I'm not, but…anyway, Roxas. I don't remember completely. There are times when…I don't remember everything about her, either. Sometimes I forget her face. Sometimes her voice. I hardly remember her name, either."

I sighed. "So what did Saïx really say? Does he remember her?"

"He…he does," Axel hesitated. "He says that it's best if you forget. But…I felt like that wouldn't be fair to you. You should remember. We both should. But…Saïx is…you know…"

"So, what should we do?" I wondered out loud.

"Getting our memories back seems to me like a good step to start out with," Axel said. "After that…I don't think we can say for sure, yet."

"Yeah.." I sighed. Right then, I didn't even know if the first step could be completed.