I don't own anything associated with Kingdom Hearts. It belongs to Square Enix/Disney.

Number Thirteen

Sighing, Axel rubbed the back of his neck. This new guy . . . wow, he really was a zombie. They'd gone through an entire freaking mission and he had yet to say anything. Hell, if Xemnas hadn't introduced him, Axel wouldn't even know Roxas's name. It was pathetic. Sad, actually. Of course, that was metaphorically speaking because of the whole 'don't have hearts' thing.

"Hey!" He snapped his fingers in front of Roxas's nose. "Earth to Roxas. I asked if you had a good time."

Roxas stared at him blankly.

"You got to be kidding me . . ." There had to be something he could do to make Roxas speak. Ice cream, maybe? Everybody loved ice cream.

"Okay, look," he said. "You seem like a nice kid, so tell you what, we're going to go hang out at the clock tower."

Roxas was silent, but this time, Axel knew it was because he was confused.

"You'll see." He clapped Roxas on the back. "It'll be fun, don't you worry."

He opened a portal, led Roxas towards it, and was about to enter when someone stepped out. Saïx, with his usual bored expression, looked over Roxas critically, nose scrunching up as if he had smelt something vile.

"Hey, Saïx." Axel smirked. Alone, Saïx usually didn't care whether Axel used his numeric title or his actual name. In front of others though, even a zombie? Sacrilege.

"That is Seven to you," Saïx grated out. "Both of you."

"Yeah, yeah." Axel said, "Me and Roxas were just heading out to Twilight Town. Thought I'd give the kid a treat and all, seeing he's still new to the game."

"I'm afraid that will have to be postponed," Saïx said. "Eight, the Superior and I have need of your talents."

"Now? Fine." He groaned. "Sorry, Roxas. Raincheck?"

As usual, Roxas said nothing.

Axel went on the mission Saïx and Xemnas gave him. A long mission, one spanning over several days. When he returned, he promptly locked himself in his room for a nap, and then spent the time afterwards relaxing.

Within a couple of days, he was sent to the new stronghold of Castle Oblivion.

Between his return and his venture to Castle Oblivion, he only saw Roxas twice.

Oh well. It wasn't like they were friends or anything.

(He never even saw the new girl)

"The Puppet has passed," Saïx randomly said.

Sprawled over the couch, arms behind his head, Axel pondered that. "Puppet, Puppet . . ." He snapped his fingers. "Xion!"

"It appears Roxas has proven himself to be the superior one," Saïx said.

"Great. That's great, right?"

"Perhaps not," Saïx said, lip curling. "Roxas is rebelling against our rule. Was he anyone else, I would simply order him slain on sight, but he is our keyblade wielder . . ."

Axel sat up. "In other words, you want me to bring him back."

"Is that within your abilities?"

He grinned viciously.

Don't get him wrong, it was within his abilities. He just didn't know the Imposter was after Roxas, too. So it was that Axel dragged himself back into The Castle that Never Was, empty-handed, soaked to the bone, cringing as he imagined just how furious Saïx would be.

He wasn't. Not that much, anyways.

"If Sora awakens," Saïx said, "he will continue to use his keyblade to free hearts. Our plans are unharmed."

"So, all we have to do is sit back, and let the heroes do everything." Axel chuckled. "I could get used to this."

Time passed. Despite their efforts, Sora found out about them. One by one, the remaining members of the Organization fell, until only him, Luxord, Saïx, Xigbar and Xemnas remained. To make matters worse, Sora was knocking at their door and they'd lost their insurance against him.

"She was in a frigging cell!" Axel cried. "How did you lose her?"

"Don't ask me!" Xigbar said. "I wasn't the one in charge of the bird."

As one, they both looked at Saïx who was sulking by the window. He wasn't the only one there. Next to his subordinate was Xemnas, eyes closed as if in a trance. The bright form of Kingdom Hearts lurked in the sky before him, mocking them. Xemnas held his hand up to the moon, as if expecting his heart to be plopped right into it.

"Kairi may have been lost," Xemnas said, "but the Organization is not finished."

Xigbar laughed. His guns clicked. "Don't worry your little minds. I'll give them a greeting they won't soon forget."

He portalled away, leaving the three of them in silence. Saïx continued to stare out the window, head bowed in resignation. As much as Axel didn't want to admit it, they were probably doomed. Sora had torn through the other members like paper. Maybe Xemnas would survive, but the guy clearly had no plans to endanger himself for them.

Bastard.

Axel tapped his chin. What to do, what to do . . . ? They no longer had Kairi, and it wasn't like that Riku guy would easy to grab. Hell, they right as well try to go after the King. There were no more dirty tactics to be played, no more deals . . .

Wait.

Bingo. He had it.

He portalled away, found what he was looking for, and then dragged his prize back to the room Xigbar had changed into his arena. The Freeshooter was fighting hard, but Axel could pick out traces of weakness. He would have just gone ahead and let Xigbar die, but Saïx was oddly insistent that Axel let him live. So, instead of leaving the man to his fate, Axel put his fingers in his mouth and whistled.

"Yo, Sora!"

Sora glanced at him. Then he did a double take, eyes widening in horror.

"Mom?" he said.

Ignoring her whimpers, Axel placed the blade of his chakram against the throat of Sora's mother. "Why don't you put away that toy before someone gets hurt?"

Sora swallowed, breathing quickly. But as Axel knew he would, he dismissed his keyblade.

Even though they had all been expecting it, Sora's mother still screamed when Xigbar shot him.

"Enter."

Axel pushed open the door to the Superior's office, whistling. Normally, he wouldn't dare in Xemnas' presence, but hey, he was single-handedly responsible for defeating the keyblade master. Sora's friends had retreated not long after that, too horrified and shocked to fight effectively. They would be back, but now the Organization had time to prepare. And by that Axel meant do a little kidnapping.

"That was excellent work, Eight," Xemnas said. "Ingenious, if I may say so."

"Thanks, boss!"

But Xemnas was not done. "So impressive, in fact, that I am going to grant you a very exclusive offer."

Oh? He leaned forwards, interested. "And just what is this offer?"

"To join my council of thirteen," Xemnas said. "I have twelve members, but am in need of one more. Your friend, Saïx, is already a part of it."

What the . . . ? Saïx had never mentioned anything about that, but maybe he had been under an oath of secrecy or something. Whatever. He'd ask afterwards.

"What do you say, Eight?"

What did he say? Xemnas was offering him power, pretty good power if his words were anything to go by. And with both he and Saïx in the council, they would be that much closer to taking over the Organization.

"Where do I sign up?" he asked.

And that is how Axel became the thirteenth vessel. Hooray!

Hey, if the guy thought of kidnapping Kairi to use against Sora, I wouldn't put it past him to think of kidnapping Sora's mother.