More of the Kingdom hearts goodness!

chapter 4

"Look as hard as you are able; you'll not find even the smallest glimmer of light. From those dark depths are all hearts born...even yours"

Xion...the name left a bitter taste in her mouth as Alexi whispered it to herself. She didn't like the girl, but she still managed to force up a smile during the following days when she saw her. Xion, they had learned, had short black hair and deep blue eyes. She was pretty quiet, but she somehow found a way to fit into Xenon, Alexi, Roxas and Axel's little group; she hung out with them whenever she could.

It irked Alexi, made her feel uneasy, but she brushed it off, trying to tell herself that it was probably normal to be suspicious of new additions. Currently, Alexi was in the library, seated by the window with a book craddled in her lap. she had been there for sometime, unaware that Roxas had been waching her for ten minutes...at least. The blonde boy cleared his throat. "Hey."

Alexi jumped a bit, looking up. "Oh, hey, Roxas."

Roxas smiled, walking over and sitting next to her. "Sorry to interupt your reading time, but you have a mission."

Alexi huffed, closing the book. "With who?"

"Me," Roxas offered up a shrug, still smiling. "Since Xenon is with Zexion on another mission."

Alexi hummed a bit before sighing. "Where are we going?"

"It's a new world," Roxas replied, grabbing the girls wrist and towing her towards the door. "Let's go, slow poke."

Alexi stumbbled and huffed but followed along, the two of them finding themselves in the gray room not too long after. Saix was waiting for them, as usual. "Are you two prepared to leave?"

Alexi glanced at Roxas before nodding. "Yeah, I guess so."

Roxas nodded in agreement. Saix waved them off, a Dark corridor opening. "Do be careful; it's a new world."

Both blondes nodded before walking through the corridor. They stepped out and Alexi winced at the sudden bright sunlight. "Ew..."

Roxas looked around before blinking and looking down at their feet. "Sand..."

There was sand everywhere! And, Alexi noticed with annoyance, it was hot. "Ugh...Where are we...?"

"Agrabah," Roxas replied. "At least, that's what I think it's called."

Alexi yawned and looked around again. "What exactly do we have to do here, Roxas?"

"I guess just look around, get intel," Roxas shrugged. "...Fight off Heartless if we find any."

Alexi nodded, mostly to herself. "...alright."

The two started walking, Alexi complaning every now and again about the sand that was seeping into her shoe. This town they were walking through, it was quiet and calm...almost unnatural. Alexi liked a good silence every now and again, but not like this; this was just...creepy. "Hey, Roxas? Have you goten to know Xion?"

Roxas paused, but only for a split second. "Sort of; she's a bit quiet, you know? She barely said a word to me during my mission with her, but I didn't really mind; the silence is good, especially since im usually with that loud mouth Axel."

At the mention of her favorite red head, Alexi smiled. "We're meeting said loud mouth at the clock tower with Xenon, right?"

"Yeah," Roxas ame to a stop, looking around.

It appeared that they were in what would normally be a trading center. Tents and stands lined with foods and goods lined the walls on each side, but there were no people in sight. Alexi tilted her head. "...This place is...like a ghost town..."

"There's gotta be a reason," Roxas murmured, crossing his arms over his chest. "I mean...there's always life in these worlds."

Alexi hesitated. "Well...maybe no one lives on this-"

"Jasmine!"

Roxas and Alexi flinched, Roxas quickly grabbing the girl's wrist and yanking her into a small alley. They both pressed against the wall, peeking out to see a tan, black haired boy run out. He was dressed in dirty, slightly ragged clothes, and a beautiful girl with long, flowing black hair ran to him. "Aladdin! Is that everybody?"

"Yeah," Aladdin, the boy, nodded, panting just slightly. "Are all the villagers safe in the palace?"

The Jasmine girl nodded. "Yes, now let's go before the sandstorm starts."

They watched the two run off, Alexi nodded slowly. "That's it, then. The people are taking shelter from a storm."

"Fun," Roxas grunted, sighing. They stepped out of the alley, Roxas running a hand through his hair. "Well, let's take one more look around, then we'll go. There doesn't seem to be anything-"

"Roxas!" Alexi yanked the boy back, a Shadow lunging and landing where the boy had previously been. Roxas whipped out his Keyblade, frowning. "Thanks...that thing would have gotten me."

"And if that one didnt," Alexi murmured, her Katana appearing in her hand as Shadows popped out of the sand in all directions. "Those would have."

Both of the blondes frowned, pressing back to back. Alexi muttered lightly, "We should have known it wasn't this easy..."

"Wishful thinking," Roxas chuckled, eyes narrowing at the steadily approaching Shadows.

The little creatures scurried and hissed, almost lunging but then retreating back a few feet. Alexi bit her lip. "Roxas, there's alot..."

"I know," Roxas murmured. "...Go!"

Both blondes flew, Roxas slashing his Keyblade down and Alexi stabbing into every Shadow that came close. Black blood flew in all directions, splattering on the sand and on their hands and blades. Alexi shook slightly, trying down to fight down the thought that always seemed to float through her mind at times like these; This is so wrong...

Roxas brought his Keyblade down, black blood splattered all around him. The Shadows were ready, tettering back and forth, claws and teeth ready to rip and tear at flesh. Roxas looked around, eyes widening when he saw even more of the creatures appear. "Holy shit...Alexi! There's more!"

Alexi whirled around, gasping. "Damn, where the hell...?!"

"There must be a portal or something they're comming from," Roxas gasped, barely dodging a clawed hand of a creature. He grunted, turning and driving the Keyblade into the creature's chest. "Alexi, go find it! I'll deal with these guys. It's somewhere near here, so go!"

Alexi sprinted off, slashing the heads off of Shadows as she went. She looked everywhere, blue eyes seeking out the dark, almost black blob that she knew was summoning the shadows. She had to find it, unless Roxas planned on fighting Shadows all day long. It was no where on the ground, she realized that. Her katana faded and she jumped up, grabbing onto the ledge of a building and hoisting herself up. She stood and looked around at the building tops she could see; wasn't there either. "It's on a higher roof, then..."

Alexi looked in the direction of Roxas, seeing the boy still slashing at the creatures. Black blood stained the sand around him and the walls of the buildings behind him, the blade of the Keyblade stained black. Alexi flinched, watching with slightly wide eyes as a Shadow's head went flying. She quickly shook her head, taking a shaky breath and jumping onto a higher roof. She swayed slightly, looking around. "Where the hell is it...?"

And then...she found it. It was across the street, on the highest point of the building across from her. Alexi watched as the blob churned and jiggled, Shadows appears out of the sand near Roxas yet again. "Damn it..."

Her katana appearing yet again, she bit her lip in thought. I can't waste time and climb down and then climb back up over there...Roxas is out numbered...I need to get rid of that thing so we can kill those Shadows...

That thought made her frown; kill Shadows? The very idea made her sick to her stomach; the Shadows had done nothing to them. Yes, the had attacked first, but that was on instinct. The Shadows knew nothing other than how to follow their instincts...it wasn't fair to kill them.

"Alexi," Roxas snarled, driving his Keyblade into th head of a very close, very wild Shadow. "Stop standing there! I can't keep this up forever, damn it!"

Alexi blinked back to reality, grasping her katana tighter. She grit her teeth, driving the katana into the building below her. Lightning flared up around her, zapping and hissing, and then slew down the length of the building and hit the sand, but then stopped. Alexi blinked. "Damn, sand doesn't carry electrical currents...!"

"Alexi!" Roxas yelled out, pressed against the wall as he slashed for dear life.

Alexi yanked her katana out, pointing the blade in the direction of the shadow blob. Her hands shook as she looked down at Roxas, still cornerd by the ever growing group of creatures. Was this fear, she was feeling? Impossible...We don't feel anything...damn it, but I feel this..! Roxas, I'm scared...!

"Damn it all!" Alexi screamed, lightning flying off the blade and directly at the blob. The blob exploded, black blood oozing down the side of a wall and, eventually, stainging the sand. Alexi grit her teeth and jumped down, running and driving her blade into the back of the closest Shadow. It screeched and writhed and Alexi kicked it aside, slashing down other shadows. Roxas, greateful the girl was back, smirked shakily and slashed down again.

When it was finally done, both blondes stared at the blood soaked ground, panting. Alexi's katana dissapeared and she leaned back against the wall, her shaking hand comming up to run through her hair. "That was..."

"Terrible," Roxas muttered back, Keyblade fading as he too fell against the wall. He stared uop at the sky, blinking. "...Ah shit."

Knowing that could mean nothing good, Alexi looke dup as well. Clouds were pulling in and just at that moment, the wind began to blow, sand flying madly through the air. Alexi groaned. "Sand storm..."

"Come on," Roxas grabbed her wrist, yanking her foreward as they ran. "We need to get back to the castle...or better yet, the clock tower."

They ran through the now heavily blowing sand, wincing when the sand decided to fly into their eyes. They opened their dark corridor quickly, running in and escaping from the deadly sand, and the blood stained corner they had been in.

Xenon yanked her hook blades out of a Heartless, watching as a heart floated up and flied into the sky. She frowned a bit, looking around. Heartless blood stained the ground of Twilight town and she met the eyes of Zexion. The boy walked up to her, hands in his cloak pockets. "That's done, then."

Xenon's weapons dissapeared and she nodded. "Yeah...Hey, I need to go. I have to meet the others somewhere."

The girl turned and Zexion stared. "You're meeting up with the others...will Xion be there?"

Xenon hesitated, a small frown on her lips. "Probably...she had a mission with Axel, so he'll probably bring her along."

"...Watch Alexi around her," Zexion's voice was cold in warning. "Watch Xion around Axel...nothing good will come of that girl's presence."

Xenon whirled around, eyes slightly wide. "what are you talking about?"

Zexion opene dhis mouth but then stopped himself, looking away. "...You wouldn't understand...but let's just say...someone very close to you...is starting to becomg consumed in darkness."

Xenon stood still, staring at him. She knew he wouldn't say anything more, and that just by saying what he did, he was possibly endangering himself. She looked away. "Darkness can be turned to light...can it not?"

"...Not this time," Zexion opened a dark corridor, eyes blank. "You better get going."

Xenon watched as the boy left and then she frowned, turning and walking towards the clock tower. Her mind, now, was racing. Darkness? What had he meant?...And who was he referring too?...

"Watch Alexi around her...Watch Xion around Axel...nothing good will come of this girls presence."

Xenon frowned in confusion before shaking it off; she'd worry about it later. Righ now, she had to get to the clock tower. She opened her own dark corridor and walke din, suddenly stepping onto the clock tower. Roxas and Alexi were already there, smiling at her. Roxas crossed his arms. "Well, you beat Axel."

Xenon smiled, walking over to them. "He's late again?"

"Yeah," Roxas nodded. "But he's with Xion, so that's probably why; she still has alot to learn."

Alexi frowned just slightly. "He should be here soon, though."

The three sat at the edge of the clock tower, Alexi staring blankly at the horizon. "We went to a new world today."

Xenon raised an eyebrow. "How was it?"

"Hot," Roxas grunted, yawning. "It was like a desert."

"There were tons of Shadows, too," Alexi muttered, frowning. "They kept comming...we kept killing them..."

Xenon and Roxas fell silent, Alexi's sudden distant mood draining any life within them as well. It was hard to talk to Alexi, they had learned, because almost anything could change her mood in the blink of an eye. Fighting Heartless, however, seemed to do it quicker. Alexi sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Sorry..."

"Fighting Heartless sure does upset you," Roxas muttered, smiling softly.

Alexi shrugged lightly. "Well...it's not like they attack on purpose...they do it out of survival instinct, so it's not fair that we just...kill them."

"It's our job," Xenon murmured back, looking at her friend. "...You shouldn't think so far into it."

"I know," Alexi sighed. "...It's just...annoying..."

Before the other two could responde, they heard the soft sound of a corridor opening, and then Axel's booming laugh. "That was great, Xion!"

"Thanks," Xion stepped out of the portal with Axel, smiling.

Axel smiled at the black haired girl before looking at the other three. "Yo, you guys are early!"

"No," Roxas smirked, shaking his head. "You're just late."

"Pfft," Axel crossed his arms, looking at Xion. "They say we're late!"

Xion smiled, nudging Axel playfully. Alexi frowned a bit at the action, eyes narrowed; why were Xion and Axel so close all of a sudden...? Axel grinned, ruffling Xion's hair and then walking over to stand behind Alexi. He leaned over her, making Alexi tilt her head back to stare at him. Axel grinned. "Hey there."

"Hi," alexi muttered, looking away and back at the horizon.

Axel pouted, nudging Roxas over with his foot and sitting between him and Alexi. "You're angry with me."

"Am not," Alexi muttered."right," Axel smirked. "We don't feel anger..."

Alexi rolled her eyes, looking at the man with a small frown. "You sound like Xemnas."

Axel frowned, looking up and watching as Xion sat by Xenon. The black haired girl met Axel's eye and grinned at him, Axel grinning back. Alexi felt her chest tighten and she clenched her fists, looking away from Axel. "How did your mission go?"

"It was great," Axel smiled, nodding. "You should have seen Xion and her Keyblade, almost as amazing as Roxas!"

Roxas chcukled. "Nice."

"Yeah," Axel agreed, nodding. "She was amazing."

Alexi frowned, though she didn't know why. Her chest was tight, almost to the point where she felt suffocated. She looked at her lip, biting her lip and closing her eyes. Xenon looked at her, head tilted. Alexi...what's wrong...?

Alexi stood up, catching Axel's attention. "Alexi?"

"I forgot," Alexi forced a smile, opening a corridor. "I was supposed to talk to Demyx about something. Sorry, but I need to go."

Xenon and Roxas shared a quick glance and Axel frowned, standing. "Oh come on, I'm sure Demyx can wait."

"Let her go," Xion cut in, smiling. "She want's to go, let her, Axel. You still have me to talk to."

Alexi's eyes narrowed for a split second before she smiled at Axel. "Yeah, you and I can hang out later, ok?"

Axel stepped back, nodding. "Yeah...ok."

Alexi turned and walked through her corridor, appearing in the gray room. It was empty, to her releife, and she plopped on the couch, he rface in her hands. She didn't know why her chest felt so tight, or why Xion's presence with Axel had put her into such a frayed state. She rubbed her temples, closing her eyes. "What am I feeling...?"

"Jealousy perhaps," A voice snickered, startling her. She looked up, meeting the smirking gaze of Marluxia. He strode towards her, sitting next to her. "Well, I would assume it was jealousy, at least."

Alexi sighed, looking away from the pink haired man. "Hey, Marluxia...what are you muttering about?"

Marluxia smirked. "You're jealous...of Xion."

Alexi frowned, looking at the floor. "That's impossible...we don't feel emotions, remember?"

"You believe such rubbish," Marluxia chuckled, leaning back into the couch. "You're jealous because Axel has taken such a quick liking to Xion..."

Alexi frowned, slowly looking up at the smirking man. "...You know something you aren't telling me."

"I know alot of things," Marluxia muttered idly, toying with a strand of his pink hair. "We all know alot of things."

Alexi looked away from him and frowned at the floor. "...Marly...do you think it's possible that I...like...Axel?"

"Well of course you do," Marluxia grinned. "You're his friend; you can't be friends with someone you don't like."

"I meant..." Alexi bit her lip in thought. "...More than...a friend..."

Marluxia looked at the blonde, a small smirk on his lips. "Well...it's possible. But then again, we cannot feel such things...remember? Or so Xemnas says."

Alexi sighed and shook her head. "...I don't understand this..."

Truley, she didn't. Xemnas said they had no hearts, could not feel real emotions, so did that mean the friendship she held with Roxas and Axel and, dare she say it, Xenon, were not real either? And what about her "feelings" towards Axel alone...?

All of it was confusing, made her head hurt just to consider it. She stood, looking at Marluxia. "Thanks for talking, I guess."

She walked towards the hall and Marluxia smirked. "Just...do be careful, Alexi...don't think too much on this; you'll upset the superior."

Alexi left and walked down the hall with a heavy frown. It's the superior who's made me like this...

Axel frowned as he stared out Demyx's window. "...I don't get her."

"She's a girl, Ax," Demyx reminded, strumming his sitar. "A man will never understand a girl, you know that."

Axel sighed and turned to stare at his friend. He frowned, arms crossed. "...I don't know what to do about her...or Xion..."

"Xion," Demyx seemed to frown and he set his sitar aside. "...Alexi and her...well, Zexion already warned Xenon..."

"He isn't supposed to," Axel hissed lowly, fists clenching. "He'll get in trouble and-"

"He refuses to let Xemnas play those two girls like pawns," Demyx snapped, blue eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'd like to think you would be the same way...but maybe i'm wrong."

Axel huffed and looked away, kicking himself away from the wall and headed for the door. "You never bite the hand that feeds you."

Demyx scoffed. "It's those hands that are doing the biting, dumbass."

Meow dem...jeeze...ook for our few readers out there, reviews!