"Do we really have to camp out here in the dark?" Demyx asked, looking around the creepy forest as the sun went down, making him wonder just what kind of creatures resided in this forest.

"We've already come too far, Demyx, you know this," Zexion said with a groan and roll of his eye as he helped make camp in the small space they found suitable for them to set up camp. "Now, come on, help me put up this tent."

"Alright, but what if I step on something poisonous?" The dirty blonde asked with a child-like whimper.

"That's why we're wearing boots," Zexion said with a hard sigh.

"But—what about the Merman then?" Demyx asked, turning his eyes towards where the redhead lay, wrapped up in the dark cloak he was given, though his pale feet were bare to the night's air.

"Why worry about him?" Zexion asked, taking up the tents cover and throwing it over the rope lining. "He's lived here all his life, he didn't need anything."

"But only in the bay," Demyx answered. "I doubt they go on land any much."

"They can grow legs, Demyx. I'm sure they're not too unfamiliar with the land," Zexion said, wanting to get the topic away from the ungodly Merman.

"What's wrong?" Demyx asked. "Don't like talking about him?"

"It's not that," Zexion nearly whispered, halting in his preparation on the tents for a short moment. "It's . . . it's not natural, what he does."

"Of course, he's a Merman," Demyx chided.

"He's—he's like a demon, I don't like him or his kind," Zexion said, trying hard not to be heard by the creature who was only a few feet away.

"Since when are you afraid of anything, Zexion?" Demyx asked.

"I just—when he dies so will his sisters," Zexion nodded. "They can't survive without a Merman and I'm glad."

"That's cruel, Zexion," Demyx said with a small whine. "It was their home after all. You'd protect your home from intruders too, wouldn't you?"

"I don't have a home anymore."

"Hhh, none of us do anymore, alright." Demyx let out a sigh before looking at the unfinished tent. "Are you going to let me help or what?"

"Yeah, come on," Zexion said, tilting his head to the right before they both worked on getting the tent erect.

Off in the distance, the Merman, Axel, had heard every word. He wasn't surprised that there were those that wanted his very existence and race dead. Humans didn't know them so well for a reason. They never traveled into the ocean's depths and the Merpeople never walked amongst their land. It was mutual between the races that they stay out of their territory, but it wasn't long before all that land wasn't enough for the humans and so they built ships and then the Merpeople grew legs.

This had been going on since the beginning of time when their races became independent from the other. Back and forth they'd evolve in one way or the other, but still they were so distant. The only contact they'd ever come to were the drowned bodies the Merpeople would find after one of their ships sunk, well, if the sharks hadn't gotten to them first.

Still, being called unnatural was no right for a human to say when they haven't made contact in so long and knew nothing of the other. Merpeople could say the same to the humans, but they didn't. If they left them alone then they did as well—still, that didn't stop the humans from hunting his sisters for their scales or beauty, hoping to keep them in a glass ocean for all to see.

They had no right to say anything about them, anything.

Axel closed his eyes but for a second before someone kicked him in the ribs with a pointed boot. He let out a groan and turned his head towards one of the pirates, the one called Xigbar.

"You don't think you're going to get some sleep before us, did you pretty boy?" the one eyed man smirked and shook his head. "I don't think so. You went against us too many times for us to let you have that pleasure. Now stay awake or you're going to be missing a few fingers and toes in the morning."

Axel of course said nothing. His green eyes only glaring at the man, almost seeming to glow unnaturally. Xigbar was a little taken aback by the Merman's glare that he didn't want to look him in the eyes anymore, but he only scoffed and turned to leave, telling everyone else that they better not let the Merman fall asleep.

"Well, might as well keep Roxas awake with him since he's supposed to be watching him," Xaldin spoke up.

"I agree," Xemnas' voice echoed. "Roxas, you make sure he doesn't fall asleep, and to do so, you can't fall asleep either."

Roxas only looked on helplessly at the first mate and then towards the Captain who only looked on passively and just turned and entered his tent for the night. After a few poor chuckles from his crewmates Roxas looked at Xion who only mouthed a 'sorry' before she headed off with Larxene to get some shuteye.

So, with a sigh Roxas headed over to where Axel lay against a tree wrapped up in his cloak. He watched as Axel's eyes followed him and as he came to sit next to the Merman, the redhead sat up, trying to move away a bit, but the cuff on his right arm that was attached to a nearby branch prevented him from moving anywhere far.

"Easy, I'm not here to hurt you—only watch," Roxas said with a sigh, a small glare off in the direction of his crewmates who were getting as much sleep as they wanted.

Then, with another sigh, Roxas leaned back, his head falling back towards the moon above.

"Ah, what'd I do to deserve this? !" He groaned, almost a little too loud, but he didn't care, he hoped they all had horrible dreams—well, except for Xion.

When his gaze turned back towards the redheaded Merman he saw that his green gaze was still on him. With a sigh, Roxas closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"Sorry for the outburst. I just feel like I've been being used lately."

Axel said nothing yet again, his gaze falling to the ground where his legs touched and had began to itch. Roxas didn't take notice though because his hand that rubbed his dry skin was unseen and barely detectible from under the ebony cloak.

"So, why don't you talk?" Roxas suddenly asked, making sure his voice was just low enough for everyone to get a comfortable sleep. "I know you can—I think. I saw you trying to 'sh' me when you grew your legs."

Axel's eyes turned to Roxas again, but he didn't speak. He opened his mouth as if he was going to, but he closed it again. Not one sound coming out, not even a small gasp.

"See, you were trying to, weren't you?" Roxas asked. "Were you?"

Now, his eyes were on Roxas again, staring right into his own and it was once again Roxas caught that small strange voice echoing in the back of his mind like the time when he caught the Merman's name.

'Why do I need to use my lips when it's inferior to how we Merpeople usually speak?'

"Are you . . . can you speak through the mind?" Roxas asked, gulping in sheer awe.

'Not exactly, it's how we Merpeople, and most creatures of the sea, communicate. Since we are related in ways long passed, I guess you humans can still hear us—if only a little.'

"I see, I suppose," Roxas murmured. "But can you speak through the lips?"

"Yes," Axel finally spoke, though it was sort of a small whisper.

"You spoke!" Roxas gasped a little too loud before covering his mouth and looking around to see if his sudden excitement had woken anyone up. No, it hadn't. "So you know our language then!"

'Only the one's who've traveled to my bay before. Unlike humans, we Merpeople can pick up on any kind of speech.'

"Can't you speak more with your mouth though?" Roxas asked. "I've never heard your voice."

'You can hear it here,' Axel replied by pointing to his skull, the part closer to the ears.

"But it's a still small voice," Roxas said. "I'd like to hear your voice full and loud—i-if you don't mind.

Roxas caught a small smirk on the Merman's lips before he watched him lean towards him. For a moment Roxas was afraid and went to lean back, but found a firm hand on his back, a hand that belonged to the Merman. He had gotten too close and if he was hurt because of his distance then it was his fault alone.

"Better, Roxas?"

Roxas gasped, his blue eyes brightening with excitement and a small blush flushed his cheeks at the way Axel said his name. His voice sounded human enough, but it was so exotic and the accent was something Roxas has never heard before, and he's heard a lot of them in his lifetime. There was tickle of breath that came from Axel's lips as he spoke as well, tickling the sensitive skin of the shell of Roxas' ear that made him give off a quick shiver before he watched Axel lean back against the palm tree he rested against.

"I-I-I—" Roxas was at a loss for words, his body flustered for some odd reason, his face burning.

"This sound appeal to you I take it?" Axel asked, raising a thin eyebrow at the boy before Roxas looked at him and with no willpower to speak, simply nodded. "What's wrong? Suddenly, you can't use your lips?"

"I-It's just, you sound—different," Roxas said, his gaze falling, finding it hard to meet that emerald stare for a strange reason.

"Is that to your disliking?" Axel asked.

"N-No, I like the way you sound, it's just . . . I don't know how to explain it," Roxas blushed furiously and suddenly turned from Axel to sit and catch his breath in the cool night air.

What's wrong with me? Roxas questioned himself as he rubbed his arms and took in good deep breaths of air. He's just talking. It's not like I'm suddenly attracted to his voice. That's never happened before!

Roxas turned his head to look back at Axel who was watching him closely with his gorgeous eyes and a small upturn in his lips was present and the moonlight that shown down on him was just—just so damn—

It must be because he's a Merman! Roxas concluded as he quickly turned away from the tempting scene and hid his face in his hands. They are sirens of the deep. If the females were bad, how about the lesser males? They're probably worse!

Again, Roxas turned to look back at Axel who kept his gaze on him, that green gaze that seemed to glow just as bright as the moon itself, right above them. Roxas was quick to turn away, once again, and his face's heat wouldn't recede.

Damn it, that's it! It has to be! Roxas gulped quickly before trying to cool his face. As long as he wasn't looking at the Merman then he was fine.

There was a shifting behind Roxas that made the blonde jump before turning to see an uncomfortable expression on Axel's face. Roxas looked down to see that he was rubbing his legs, as if they hurt.

"Axel, what's wrong?" Roxas asked, looking on with concern.

"I'm too dry," Axel complained, rubbing his legs almost raw.

"So am I, nothing's wrong, right? That's how you grew legs in the first place, right?" Roxas asked, wondering if that was how it happened.

"Yes," Axel answered. "But this is only supposed to be temperate."

"Will you shrivel up?" Roxas asked.

"Not unless I'm left in the sun for a long, long time, but I don't like skin," Axel replied, looking down at his legs and how easily things like grass and twigs could rub harshly against them. "It's too soft, for me."

"What should I do?" Roxas asked.

"Water," Axel said.

Roxas looked at Axel in confusion before he realized what the Merman wanted.

"But, won't you change back?"

"Yes," Axel answered.

"We don't have the glass tank anymore," Roxas said. "They want you to walk."

"I will, come morning," Axel said.

"Well . . . if it makes you feel better," Roxas said, biting his bottom lip and standing up.

"It will," Axel assured, a small smile on his lips as he watched the young blonde pirate turn and leave towards where they kept the barrels of water with them—the ones that were for the tank they no longer carried.

Roxas took one and rolled it over to where he and Axel sat before he set it straight up and opened it, taking up the spoon that hung against it. He looked down and watched the Merman smile in gratitude before throwing off the dark cloak of his, waiting to be showered by the liquid.

Roxas averted his eyes with a red face. The Merman was bare to the world and didn't care if anyone else saw. Maybe he didn't care because in his scaled form he felt the same way; bare. But maybe he didn't care because he knew his body was beautiful, so very beautiful.

Roxas gulped quietly again and took the spoon and spooned water down and over the Merman's waiting body. Just as soon as the water dripped down, Axel was quick to smear it all over his abdomen and torso and more.

A content sigh left the Merman's lips as he felt the hard scales returning to harden his body against anything of the earth. Roxas watched in fascination as Axel shifted before his very eyes to the way he looked when he had first seen him; adorned in a full vibrant array of ruby scales, and of course the violet ones right under his eyes returned as well making Roxas enjoy the color of his eyes even more.

Even his soft red hair returned to scales, nothing about him was soft any longer and Roxas now thought twice about touching him—not that he had in the first place. Once Roxas got the 'halt' sign from Axel's hand was when he placed the water back and sat next to him, watching as he stretched out his tail in full length, much longer than his legs by far.

"Better?" Roxas asked.

"It is," Axel sighed in content as if he finally got the chance to stand and stretch after a night of being cramped in a small quarter.

"Well, you just better change back come morning or else they'll know it was me and I'll get punished more," Roxas said.

"Not with that Captain of yours," Axel murmured.

"What do you mean?" Roxas asked, curious as to why the Merman thought this.

"I see him staring at me—and you," Axel said, his eyes turning towards Roxas' curious ones. "I don't like him."

"Well, he does keep to himself most of the time," Roxas stated. "But that's Captain for you."

"He's the one that seeks the Fountain, doesn't he?"

"Yes."

"I figured as much." Axel let out a sigh. "Just, be careful of him. He means us harm."

"'Us'?" Roxas questioned with a confused blink. "But why? I am loyal to him."

"How loyal?" Axel asked, raising a brow towards the boy. "Loyal enough to die for him if it meant you get sent straight to Hell while he escapes the flames by drinking from the Fountain and becoming immortal?"

"I—I don't know what you're talking about," Roxas said, casting his gaze away and turning from the Merman.

"I believe you do, Roxas," Axel said, sitting up and glaring at the boy. "Can't you see they're using you to get close to me for a chance to slaughter you and for me to weep over your dead corpse."

"They would never turn on me like that!" Roxas gasped, outraged that the Merman would say such a thing about his crew—he knew nothing of them!

"So you think," Axel said. "Did your Captain promise all of you a drink? Did he?"

"He did," Roxas said, glaring at the Merman who now didn't know when to be quiet about matters not his own.

"Well, I'm sure you don't know that only a certain amount can drink from the Fountain, did you?" Axel questioned, his eyes glowing with intensity that nearly frightened Roxas.

"I—I don't know too much about it, alright? All I know is that Captain isn't well and that this will help him," Roxas said.

"You're all the same," Axel sneered. "You have no idea."

It was then Axel backed away from Roxas and laid back down with a sigh. Roxas could tell he was upset, but he just didn't understand the things he knew. He knew that Merpeople were said to live a long time so who knows what he's seen in his long lifetime. A lot more than Roxas, for that he was sure, but Roxas was just so unsure of things and because of that he was scared.

"He's going to kill me—are-are you sure?" Roxas finally spoke up after a long moment of silence, leaning in closer to the Merman.

Roxas gave out a small yelp as the Merman quickly turned to him and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him closer to where he could feel the scaly touch of his nose on his.

"Do you honestly trust your mysterious Captain, Roxas?" Axel asked, his deep emerald gaze boring down into Roxas' sapphires, scaring the boy even more. "I've seen the way greed can affect a human. It's ugly and even more ugly for those standing in their way and that just so happens to be me—and you."

"But why me?" Roxas asked. "Why just me?"

"It's probably this whole crew for all I know, but you're going first. Why? Because you care for me," Axel answered.

"W-What?" Roxas stuttered that same flush spreading across his cheeks even down his throat and towards his ears. "T-That's not—I just don't like treating you—"

"Inhumane?" Axel answered it for him.

"Y-Yeah!" Roxas bit back. "It's not like I've got a crush on you!"

"No, I'm sure," Axel replied, loosening his grip on the boy and giving him breathing room. "Still, I think we should run while we still can—before the slaughter comes."

"Who's this 'we'?" Roxas growled. "I'm not going with you and you're not escaping!"

"Then we die?" Axel asked, turning towards Roxas once more.

"I have no where else to go, don't you understand?" Roxas said, rubbing his face in frustration. "This crew is all I have left. Granted I might not like them too well and they me, but they're all I have in this world, alright?"

"You can come with me and my sisters," Axel offered.

"You're crazy, you know that?" Roxas scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Clearly you're the one forgetting the differences of humans and Merpeople."

"I don't forget that easy," Axel said, shaking his head.

"I'll drown!" Roxas growled, his face growing red from frustration. "And I know you don't care for my kind you heartless bastard!"

Axel said nothing to this, only a small squint was seen, but nothing more. Roxas took in a deep breath of air before shaking his head and looking away from the Merman.

"You're all sirens, luring everyone to their watery deaths. I'm not stupid," Roxas muttered as he slumped his shoulders in defeat. "You're just trying to use me so you can escape. Well guess what? I don't even have the ke—AH!"

The breath was knocked right out of Roxas as his back and head hit the ground rather hard, not to mention the Merman on top of him made his dizzy state even more unbearable. Before he could even regain his thoughts his eyes were caught into that alluring green stare—so supernatural in so many ways.

A small gasp left Roxas' lips and as he inhaled a deep breath of air to either call out for help or breathe, he was so unsure at the moment, he was right side up again. Now the Merman was under him, his webbed hands on his smaller hips, slowly traveling upward. Now, a small squeak left Roxas' lips and a blush was quick to overcome him and shake him out of his dizzy state, but just as soon as he put up a struggle, the Merman took a good hold of his hair and forced his face to look down at him and keep his gaze as if he needed him in a hypnotized state.

"I don't care do I?" Axel finally spoke, but his words fell on nearly deaf ears for the power of his gaze enticed Roxas into such a state that he didn't care what he did.

The hand on Roxas' side crept up to rub his arm before moving back down, under his shirt and up towards his chest to rest over his heart that began to beat so fast.

"You're the only human I've ever seen treat something not human—so human. Though, I often wonder if it's just me or if you'd even do this for one of my sisters," Axel replied, his tone soft as his hand trailed back down and around towards Roxas' back ribs.

Roxas' lips opened to let out small pants, suddenly this cool night became too hot for him to breathe normally and ever he stared into those bewitching green eyes. He wanted to move, he did, but all he could manage was letting his right hand come up. To do what? He didn't know, so it remained there, in mid air.

Axel glanced over towards Roxas' raised hand and smiled. He laid his head back against hardening sand beneath him and captured Roxas' gaze again.

"Go ahead," he whispered. "Touch me. I know you want to."

Roxas swallowed hard before a slow nod shook his head and he leaned down a little closer as if to see just what he was touching. His right hand came to touch the narrow cheekbone of the Merman and then upwards towards those violet scales right under his eyes. His left hand went towards that scaly hair of his before it later touched those upturned lips so curiously testing them to see just how soft they were compared to his own.

Through all this Axel didn't once close his eyes. No, he kept his gaze on the blonde and just that made Roxas shiver, even as Axel's curious hand went up his back so much that Roxas' shirt had began to follow.

"Let me go . . . Roxas," Axel whispered in such a seductive tone Roxas would have a little chance at breaking its hold on him. "Let us go."

"I-I can't," Roxas stuttered.

"Why?" came the reply from the Merman whose tail began to slowly, sensually, move against the blonde who inhaled a sharp breath of air.

"Please stop," Roxas whispered, nearly crying for reasons unknown at the moment.

"But you like it—don't you?"

Axel then let go of Roxas' head and let his other hand come to grasp Roxas' shirt before pulling it up. Axel could see the boy weakly protesting, but that didn't seem to be enough to stop him to losing his shirt and shivering violently in the cold night's air. As if in apology for Roxas' shivering, Axel began to rub his arms and shoulders, and then his back.

"I know what you're trying to do, so stop," Roxas begged, wrapping his arms around himself and closing his eyes to stop from staring at the Merman. "Stop using me!"

"But can't you see?" Axel leaned up and pulled Roxas close. "I'm the only one who's not."

Roxas continued to shake his head though, causing Axel to frown. Taking the boy's smaller chin in his hand Axel forced Roxas to look at him.

"Look at me, Roxas," Axel demanded.

"No, no," Roxas continued to shake.

"Look at me!" Axel demanded, though his tone was deeper.

Roxas opened his eyes and looked once again into Axel's green pools. For a silent moment Axel said nothing. He just tilted his head at strange angles as if examining Roxas before he leaned closer to where his breath could be felt right against Roxas' very own lips.

"You need to trust me," Axel breathed against Roxas, making the boy's eyes flutter closed and his lips automatically purse outwards as if in wait of something.

"Demon! Get away from Roxas!"

That was something that quickly snapped Roxas out of his gaze and in an instant his head shot in the direction Zexion was standing, looking horrified at the sight before him.

"Z-Zexion?" Roxas slowly questioned before he watched his crewmate turn quickly and take up a pistol lying on a crate of dried meat.

He took aim and shot.

A horrible screeching hiss awoke the entire camp and it wasn't long before everyone was awake and on guard, pistols and cutlasses in hand as they exited their tents to see just what had caused all of this chaos.

"Zexion, halt!" Xemnas shouted as he watched the silvery blue-haired boy take up another pistol and aim it at the Merman on the ground who, apparently, had already been shot judging by the red liquid falling down from his left shoulder.

"H-He's a demon! He needs to die!" Zexion shouted, flailing his pistol anywhere and everywhere, scaring quite a few of his crewmates.

"Easy with that thing, will you!" Xigbar growled before coming up and snatching it out of the youth's hand.

"Xemnas," The voice of the Captain was quick to reach the first mate's ears. "That Merman better not be dying from that gunshot."

"He-He's not sir," Xemnas said with a bow before getting their doctor towards him.

"How is he Vexen?" Xion came up and asked.

"It's only in the shoulder, could have been worse," Vexen replied as he looked down at the squirming Merman who had mysteriously shifted back into his scaled form sometime during their slumber. "I'd be able to get a better look if he'd just let me near him."

"I hate that tail," Xaldin groaned as he turned to Saïx and Lexaeus, signaling them to help hold down the Merman, again.

"Hold on!" Vexen halted them, his olive green eyes catching sight of something under the Merman. "Now, let's see what you're hiding there, Axel."

Axel turned his head to the doctor, pain written all over his features, but as he turned Vexen caught sight of Roxas scared half to death under the Merman. With a gasp Vexen ordered the others to pry the Merman off of the boy. It wasn't easy, but with Axel in his Merman form, it never was.

They eventually got the Merman off by applying pressure to his shoulder wound, causing him to let go of the boy. Once that was over with, Vexen came and lifted Roxas to his shaking feet.

"Are you alright?" the doctor asked.

"Y-Yeah, but, but Axel turned just in time to get hit," Roxas defended. "He got shot instead of me."

"Is that so?" Xehanort came up, looking at Zexion and then at Roxas. "I know your aim hasn't been the best. So be careful the next time you're shooting at my Merman."

"Yes sir," Zexion nodded. "But he was bewitching Roxas and might have taken his soul!"

"For someone who doesn't believe in many things, you suddenly believe in demons and angels?" Xigbar asked, raising his brow.

Zexion said nothing else though; he just cast his gaze down and remained silent. Xemnas, on the other hand, took in Roxas' appearance and sneered.

"I don't believe in demons and all that crap, but I don't necessarily disagree with Zexion, Roxas," Xemnas said, looking rather unpleased at him. "Get some rest tonight. Xaldin with keep watch."

Roxas bowed his head in defeat, but the accusing glare was enough for him to understand. He had been caught up in a siren's gaze and he should have watched out for it. How stupid could he have been?

Someone caring for him? That was nothing but a fairytale, but . . . Axel did shield him from the shot when he didn't have to. That part is what got Roxas confused about all of this.

"Roxas?" Xion came up and patted him on the shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"No," Roxas admitted, covering his face with his hands.

"Come on, you can sleep with me, I'm sure Larxene won't mind too much," she said with a soft sweet smile.

"Thanks," Roxas said. "I could use a good night's sleep."

The last thing Roxas said before he headed off to the tents was Vexen commanding the brutes in their crew to hold back Axel's arm, in a painful way to where he could see it on the Merman's face. It was then he noticed the look Axel was giving towards his Captain who stood nearby watching with interest as his Merman was harshly treated for the wound. Roxas stopped for a moment before he watched Axel turn his eyes on him before closing them and gritting his teeth as Vexen poured a good dose of alcohol on his wound.

His Captain then turned and smiled at him. Giving Roxas a wave and wishing him a good night's sleep. Roxas wanted to incline his head like he usually does in his presence, but he didn't like the way his Captain was looking at him and the way he smiled. He couldn't sleep well with that look, not at all.

"Roxas, you coming?" Xion asked.

"Yeah," Roxas replied, turning and following her off.

Daughter Of The Revolution: so if you guys wanna know-yes, Axel was using his 'siren-tactic' to possibly get Roxas to release him. It's what Merpeople do when they can't beat their way out of imprisonment, and this tactic usually works . . . as long as no one interrupts, lol. But as you can see Axel was not just trying to use Roxas as his escape, but possibly theirs.

Not quite into the AkuRoku yet, but we're getting close peeps. I hope you'll continue to follow this story once it gets there and just for the heck of it I'm changing the story's rating because it's eventually going to get to 'M' (ooh la la ;3) and I might as well change it now :) Review and tell me what you thought. I'll see you next chp ;D