It felt like an eternity as they dragged Roxas toward the Fountain of Youth, with Axel being held close by Lexaeus and Marluxia. The young blond kept stumbling from the pace Xemnas had dragged him and as his knees hit the ground for the 10th time Roxas looked down and noticed the blood mixed into the dirt that now soiled his pants. It was Axel's blood, and Roxas was already in tears.

Yet Roxas didn't say a word, because he had already said them all and no one had listened to him. They couldn't really. Roxas could see Xion glancing back from her pace up ahead next to Larxene and every now and then he'd see Demyx do just the same, but Xion, the girl looked so confused that she was ready to cry. No matter the glances, that didn't stop Roxas from focusing his attention on the Merman who remained quite limp and still bleeding.

Roxas felt he might die before they reach the Fountain and if so, then what? His great Captain would no long have his tear and Roxas would no longer have his heart. What would he do if he lost Axel? What would become of himself? Roxas didn't like to dwell on such thoughts, but those were all that plagued his mind as of late.

A sinking dread enveloped him, but only the pain of reality brought him back to the world around him. With a hiss, Roxas' knees buckled and he crashed to the floor.

"Get back up!" Xemnas spat as his fingers dug into Roxas' arm in a bruising manner. "If you can let a creature fuck you then you can find the strength to remain on your feet."

Roxas gasped as his knees buckled again, but he held in his show of pain. Xemnas smirked down at him and Roxas knew he enjoyed seeing him in pain. He had never liked him and he hated the Merman even more so Roxas knew the first mate was in sheer bliss from their predicament and their future. What Roxas wouldn't give for perfect balance so he could cut him down with his cutlass—Roxas was always the better swordsman out of all but the Captain anyways.

Roxas knew he had enemies on the crew, but he truly believed that most had died along the way to the Fountain of Youth, now he wondered if he had been mistaken. Would everyone really forsake him now simply because he had fallen in love with a creature of the deep, a creature they needed to produce tears for their final goal? They were the last of Xehanort's infamous pirate crew. Would they really forsake Roxas?

Roxas had never been so scared in his life, at least not for another. They were pirates, enough said. The only time they let a hostage live was if they were ransomed. If they proved useless then it was feed them to the sharks or use them for target practice. Certainly Mercreatures had nothing of value except their tears. Roxas knew Axel's fate and it scared him.

But he couldn't escape.

His balance was off; he was tired from his and Axel's previous union, he was wrought with a great and horrible dread, and his crew was on high alert. There was no possible way for him to escape, much less Axel.

Axel, Roxas cried out inwardly as his fearful blue eyes fixated on Axel's motionless form. Please, oh God please be alright.

As if the Merman had possibly heard him, Roxas' eyes widened at the sight of a small movement from the wide fin of Axel's tail. It made Roxas' heart jump into his throat and now it was hard to breathe. Was Axel alright? Had he really heard his heart's cry-out to him?

"Axel," Roxas whimpered out loud and this time, Xemnas caught it. He scowled and pulled Roxas in front of him before shoving him to the ground. "Silence!" The first mate spat before walking around him, but standing near.

Roxas was just about eating the dirt below him as he inhaled the sand and then coughed from the heavy air around him. His body was soaked with sweat and his lungs constricted as if suffocating on its very source for life. He was so tired, both spiritually and physically and it was hard for him to even lift his head, but his hearing heightened and he could hear his mates around him. They had indeed stopped, but they were uneasy.

"Right there," he heard the voice of their Captain. "Xaldin and Luxord, take the Merman there and nail him to the rock."

Roxas' eyes shot up and just as he managed to lift his head he saw the mentioned two nailing a spike into a pillar resting next to a small well of some sort. They then looped a chain through it and pulled it tight against it, securely. Just as they tested it, Roxas watched Saïx finishing cuffing Axel's wrists and right when he locked them, Xaldin yanked on the chain and dragged the Merman across the ground and into the well were he continued to pull the chain until Axel's arms were pulled vertical with his wrists touching the spike they had nailed into the pillar and his torso stuck out of the water, exposed to the heat of the sun.

"Axel!" Roxas gasped, pressing himself up and trying his best to crawl towards him even though he was so far away and Roxas so weak in joint.

His cry gained the attention of everyone's eyes. Roxas didn't care though, because he knew he had already been cast aside by his crew. Once again Roxas cried out and this time, Axel opened his eyes and looked at him. So much pain was in those emerald gems and Roxas felt as if he would die if he couldn't help him soon.

So Roxas continued to try his best to crawl towards the creature, but he was just so slow and so far away that his body slowed down and Roxas was all but worn. He could hear the snickering from his fellow crewmates and he also heard the worried whispers from a few—no doubt Demyx and Xion. Was that Zexion he caught tone of as well?

"Is this where the Fountain resides, Cap'n?" Luxord asked as he turned his eyes towards the deepening cave.

"It is indeed," Xehanort said with a wide satisfied grin as he looked at the map in his hand reveling in the feel to be at that marked 'X' on the parchment. "But before we can continue . . ."

Xehanort and everyone else turned their eyes on the Merman who had been chained to a well that barely provided him enough water. They all knew what he was suggesting and what they needed.

"We'll be needing you to cry right now, Axel," Captain Xehanort replied, calling the Merman by name.

Axel looked toward the Captain and glared at him, not making one sound from his lips. They seemed to stare for a while and it unnerved the crew. Most had actually jumped when Xehanort made the first movement as he handed the map in his hands to Saïx who had taken a position next to him. He then took out his flintlock pistol and fired.

BAM!

Roxas didn't even have time to scream as the round lead ball ripped through Axel's scales and let more blood escape out of his body. After the gunshot finished its echo in the air, Roxas sat up on his knees and cried out.

"AXEL! !"

The redhead's head hung low and did not move for a few seconds and in those seconds, Roxas felt his very being die. Still, when Axel moved again and looked back up toward the Captain with sheer hate in his eyes and a determination, Roxas couldn't help but cry.

"Stop it!" Roxas cried out, tears rolling down his cheeks in warm streams. "Stop hurting him! If you kill him you'll never get anything! ANYTHING!"

Roxas' head was heavy as his chin hit his chest in heavy sobs. His dirty hands raised up and covered his face against the glares from his mates. A heavy sorrow washed over his body and he couldn't stop from shaking.

"Whoever said we'd tolerate your talking?" Xemnas was behind Roxas, pushing him back down as if forcing him to eat the sand underneath him. As a few snickers arose and more mutters of concern another spoke up.

"Do you really think you deserve immortality? !"

Everything was silent, all at once. All heads turned, all eyes fixated on the creature bound to die by dehydration as the sun rose high in the sky. The Merman's features were sharper, fierce looking even. His fangs bare and his eyes glowing a bright unearthly green as he confronted every last human.

"Why do you think humans are born mortal? Because God didn't see it fit to grant you heathens eternity! Vile creatures, every one of you! Every day slaughtering your own kind like they were nothing but animals in a game of hunt! Such a disgraceful race should never be granted everlasting life!"

"Shut up!" Xemnas growled, taking out his sabers and marching up to the Merman only to cross his blades about that scaled neck. "You are not God so silence your lips, devil!"

"Xemnas, wait," Xehanort spoke, raising his hand as he came closer to the Merman. "So, tell me, Merman, who is deserving of immortality then? You speak so against us that I'd like to know whom you believe is worthy. Is it your new lover, Roxas? Oh, it must be; seeing how much you seem to fancy him."

Axel said nothing. He only growled at the sight of Xehanort's face so close to his and the feel of blade against his neck by the first mate's swords. Captain Xehanort just chuckled and shook his head. He stood up and outstretched his arms to his crew, smiling wide.

"Only the strongest survive, isn't that right, men? Our race has been like this since the dawn of time when God first breathed breath into the nostrils of man! You cannot expect us to change, but we cannot expect you to play God when you are far from Him." At that, Xehanort turned towards Axel with dark eyes, his grin falling into an inpatient frown. "Cry for us or you will regret it."

Again, Axel was silent and refusing. Xemnas growled and dug his blades deeper into Axel's neck, digging under downward scales to slice through and cut into blood. The Captain wasn't even telling Xemnas to stop as he continued to press his blade into Axel's neck. Maybe Xehanort had finally given up on Axel.

Xemnas blinked in surprise as his balance was thrown from his blades being pushed back and a body getting in his way of slicing into the Merman. Amber eyes had narrowed as tanned lips curled back into a snarl.

"Roxas!" Xemnas growled. "You are too much of a nuisance!"

Roxas had managed to finally make it to his lover. Now he laid next to him, his arms wrapped around the redhead's shoulders and neck and his face pressed close against Axel's sharp jaw.

"You wish to die first? Fine, so be it," Xemnas spat as he raised his saber to strike Roxas down.

"Wait!" Xion cried out, jumping out of line. Wide-eyed and trembling she clasped her hands together as if praying, praying to her Captain. "Why strike Roxas down? What has he done? Please, we are the last of your crew, Captain. Don't we deserve to be with you for an eternity?"

"True," Xehanort replied with a nod. "And I would have had that if you would have stayed true . . . Roxas." Xehanort's eyes turned back to Roxas who glanced at the old man with red swollen eyes. "I know of your plans to escape with the Merman and I just can't have that."

With a small sarcastic apologetic shrug, Captain Xehanort took out his second pistol and aimed. Roxas' eyes widened. He couldn't let Axel be shot again. It would kill him! Is this what Xehanort wanted? ! So, with the last of his strength, Roxas pushed his body in front of the Merman not even seeing his Captain's pleased smile as he did so.

The sound echoed throughout the world around Roxas first before the pain even set in. Just as the pain struck something vital inside him, Roxas' body stiffened, his arms suddenly falling numb into the water. The sound of his body making a loud splash washed around Roxas' senses even before he recognized Axel's horrific face staring down at him.

"ROXAS!" Xion cried out as she darted over toward the well were Roxas had fallen back in, but Larxene was quick to pull her back. "No! Please, stop this!" Heavy tears fell out of the girl's eyes as confusion and sadness washed over her like a tsunami. "Why? ! What had Roxas done? ! WHAT HAD HE DONE? !"

Xehanort said nothing as he brought out his gunpowder pouch and casually began reloading his emptied pistols as if it was a normal day, without a care in the world as a few of his men cried out in outrage and confusion.

"R-Roxas," Demyx muttered out in disbelief. He looked over toward where Roxas had been shot and watched as the waters around his body swished back and forth; creating a white foam that seemed to engulf him as he sank. Without thinking, the dirty blond mate rushed toward the edge of the well, his gloved hands gripped the stone sides so tightly he could feel the frail stone crumbling underneath his palm, but that didn't matter as he searched for his friend who had sunk.

Turning his eyes, Demyx looked at the Merman who he had come very close to suddenly and noticed the panic in his features as his eyes too wandered in the depths of the murky well. Demyx could tell by his expressions that he cared for Roxas and in a strange saddened awe Demyx watched the Merman grab a hold onto the chains that bound him by wrist and used them for support while he pulled his abdomen upward with Roxas' body wrapped in his tail.

"So, you managed to catch him before he hit the bottom. Good job." Demyx looked up at his Captain who was close as well to the Merman. His Captain was smiling in glee, holding the two chalices before the Merman suggestively. Axel looked very hurt and even more so as he looked at Roxas' body against his chest, motionless and bleeding.

It seemed forever that the Merman would remain silent. The redhead's eyes were on Roxas only, not even once had he glanced at Xehanort after Roxas had been shot. Maybe this had perturbed the Captain, seeing how he grabbed the creature's chin and forced him to look at him.

"Cry!" Xehanort commanded.

"D-Don't . . ."

Pulling his chin out of Xehanort's grasp, Axel turned back down toward Roxas whom he had sworn he heard speak—as did everyone else. The blond was still unmoving, but those lips, they moved ever so slightly.

"Don't . . . cry," Roxas wheezed out, blood running down just as much as his words from his mouth.

Axel opened his mouth as if to say something, but he closed his lips once more. Closing his eyes in grief Axel laid his forehead against Roxas' blond locks. Xehanort watched closely and his eyes widened before he quickly shot out his arm and grabbed a handful of red hair-like scales and pulled Axel's head to the side.

Xemnas and the others were already close to their Captain and too gasped, leaning in as they watched their Captain take hold of the Merman and force his head to the side where he brought the two silver chalices and rested them against his cheek where one almost unnoticeable tear fell down. Xehanort scooped up the long sought after tear and once he had it he let go of the Merman and held the chalice containing the tear up high. He smiled and then turned back down to the Merman who was still pulling Roxas close as much as he could with his tail.

"Much obliged, Merman," Xehanort said with a nod to the creature who would no longer look at him. "Don't worry; your tear won't go to waste."

With a "Come on, men!" Captain Xehanort led his men into the cave, making sure every soul came. Xion wept bitterly as she was taken with them and the last thing she saw was Roxas being cradled by the Merman he had so loved.

Once all had quieted down and only the sound of Roxas' labored breathing could be heard, Axel rubbed his lips against the boy's scalp and muttered, "I'm sorry, Roxas." It was then Axel began to shake. Closing his eyes tightly Axel let out a sob, one so loud that it scared the parakeet in a nearby tree away into the air. "I'm so sorry. We can't return back to my sisters anymore."

The tear that Xehanort took was the first of many, the rest that followed fell all over Roxas in sadness and bitterness. It was very hard to get a Merman to cry, much harder than Mermaids, but if a close connection was made of any sort then maybe . . . you'd get at least one.

Those humans that took his tear were so undeserving of immortality, but in time they will pay for what they have done. This is always the case. Still, as Axel held Roxas close in his final moments he had never felt so many emotions upon him at once.

"I'm sorry," Axel whispered again for the third time. "I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you, but I will . . . the next time."

Roxas was barely breathing and as Axel felt the boy shake against his chest, he knew that he was in pain. Roxas had been shot through the back and the bullet had hit the side of his heart. He was in pain and he was soon to die. Axel could feel his unspoken fear emitting off of him and if he could hold him he would and comfort him, but his hands were bound and the only thing holding Roxas up from drowning was Axel's powerful scarlet tail, but even that was getting difficult.

"Humans are . . . so frail, you know," Axel spoke, swallowing hard as he felt his lover's life force slipping from him. "One minute they are here, the next, they are not any longer. I am not sure about you but I have heard you humans don't believe in another life. It's a shame, because there is one . . . most definitely, and I want us to find each other again. I don't care how or why, I just want to see you again. Do you hear me Roxas?" Axel looked down at the blond whose eyes were diming to a gray instead of that vibrant blue and just as Axel watched all life fade away the Merman closed his eyes and swallowed hard once more.

"Let's meet again, in the next life."

Say you'll be waiting.

Nothing. Axel knew when someone was dead. He knew the exact moment Roxas' spirit left his body to the afterlife. He was gone and now the body that Axel clung to was empty and void of life.

No more tears were shed. The ones he cried were enough. It was over anyways. Those devils have already done it.

Slowly and gently Axel laid Roxas' body down. He didn't want to see him sink under the waters again, but he had to let him go. This time.

Merfolk were never much for words in the first place so, to another of his kind it made sense for Axel to speak no words as he laid his lover down and let him sink. No, their thoughts spoke more than any human word could and right now . . . his thoughts left him open, so very open. And it was there he stayed with his thoughts, as the sun rose high and dried his scales to skin and then his skin to—

There was a small tug felt near the fin of Axel's tail, but it was so light and barely felt that Axel wondered if it was just a simple change in water temperature. But there it was again!

Axel opened his pale green eyes and down into the waters below. The first thing he noticed was his reflection; dark circles, cracking skin, and fading irises. He was dying, that much he knew, but just who was tugging his tail?

Suddenly, a dark head popped out of the water and Axel's eyes widened to as much as they could.

"Axel!" The Mermaid gasped out, her arms quickly finding their way around his neck and hugging him close. "I thought I would never find you! Sisters are out in every stream and river, but I found this passage way and here you are. Look are you, you're dying!" In that, the pink-scaled Mermaid tried her best to tug on her brother's chains, but nothing would work.

"Syrena, stop," Axel muttered out through dry and numb lips. "It's of no use anymore . . . I'm of no use anymore.

"Don't say that, brother!" Syrena cried out, her eyes watery with tears. Axel caught sight of them and narrowed his eyes commandingly as he gazed at his sister about to shed tears for him.

"Don't!" Axel's louder word startled his sister and she looked at him with wide eyes. "Don't you cry—especially for me!"

Syrena was silent for a long while before she understood her brother. Rolling her tail around her brother's she laid her head against his chest and listened to the slowing rhythm of his heartbeat.

"What are we going to do without our brother? Our bay will die."

"You girls are strong. While you still live, protect the Fountain from undeserving humans. Just don't cry for me. Your tears are much too precious to waste on me," Axel replied, his gaze now off in a distance instead of directing toward his sister.

"I . . . heard a few sisters say they saw the humans at the Fountain, and—" Syrena stopped, biting her bottom lip.

"So, does that human know now that a Merman's tear is different from a maid's?" Axel let out a small weak chuckle before looking down at his youngest sister who cast her eyes down in knowing of what was to become of the humans and especially their Captain.

"Why?" Syrena asked, looking up at her brother with wide eyes. "Why did you give them your tear?"

Axel stared at his sister for a moment before smiling. His head hung lower now as he sighed out.

"I can't tell you, Syrena . . . when you cry, you will know. I'm sorry I can't say goodbye properly. Tell the others that."

"I will," Syrena said with a nod as she pulled herself close to her brother again. "I love you, Axel."

"I loved you all too . . . all 186 of you." Axel smiled and nudged his sister to leave. She was reluctant at first but when she finally left Axel let his head hang and as he closed he eyes he pictured his second life . . . this time, he was a human.

This time, he was not that much older than Roxas.

This time, they weren't so different.

This time, they were exactly alike.

This time, they got to spend more time together.

This time, they would get to say goodbye to each other when the time would come.

Next time, Roxas. I'll be there.

Kingdom Hearts

Xehanort had counted how many lives it had been since that fateful day he had become immortal, or at least his soul. From the tales he had heard he hadn't known that a Merman's and a Mermaid's tears were quite different. Now that he's done his research he knows now. This time, he'll make sure nothing goes wrong.

These are the exact thoughts of Xehanort as he settles into his new young body and looks at the ones he's come to surround himself with. After the extractions of their hearts they had become his clueless servants, unaware of their purpose he had for them.

His crew was back again.

There were 13 members and he had finally found them again and assembled them all, ready to fix his problem from his spirit not being able to attach to a body permanently—much less his own. He has 14 right now and for a good reason.

A strange a peculiar thing it is that the Merman was born a human this time. Though, on his mission to a world named Atlantica his body was formed to the likeness of his previous life that he was still so unaware of. It was amazing, but nonetheless he'll need him to cry once more. Just one tear is all he needed. But without a heart to produce the tears, Xehanort wondered if it was a good plan to turn to the redhead into such an emotionless shell.

Still, Roxas is near him, and he is near Roxas. They have been getting close, very close. So Xehanort would watch the two just as he had before and when the time comes then he will get what he needs and finally be able to attach his soul to a body completely.

Xehanort needed this only to finally be free of his under-researched mistake. The only problem was keeping them in the dark about everything and it seemed to work, but . . . one by one his Organization began falling apart due to outside sources and now he's lost them all—Roxas, Xemnas, even his Merman.

No matter, he's had numerous lifetimes sorting out thoughts and plans, and the possibilities of him getting an eternal body. So if that meant starting a War to do so, then so be it.

Daughter of The Revolution: Yay! Finally done with this :) Hope you guys enjoyed my short story. I decided to end it like this 'cause I'm a big sucker for tie-in stories, even though this is, meh :/ But yeah I know a lot of people usually have Roxas as said Merman instead of Axel, but the main reasons why I chose Axel as the Merman was (1 he'd be freakin' hot as a Merman! XD (2 There is not enough Merman!Axel as I want, and (3 Because I based this after Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides and that a Mermaid's tear is special; as far as I know the most significant tear in Kingdom Hearts was Axel's because he cried without a heart. So, yep, there you have it. Well thanks again for reading! \(^3~)/