Chapter 8!

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I do not own any thing but Raene, my OC

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"What do you mean you've been kicked out!" I screamed. Axel lowered his face and closed his beautiful eyes in sorrow. "Why? What happened?"

Axel slowly raised his head and sighed before answering. "Everything was going fine. Xemnas was just getting on me for failing my mission; the one to bring Roxas back. Then Saïx had to say something." I waited for him to continue. "He had to bring up the whole double agent act I pulled last year."

"You explained to him didn't you? I mean you told me that Xemnas accepted what you did. You told him that you only were doing what you did to help the Organization right?" I asked eyes wide.

"I did. I only went with the traitors to rid the true Organization of them because they were trying to over through Xemnas, despite how much I hate him. I told him everything that happened and he understood."

"So then why did this happen?" I asked raising my arms in confusion.

"Saïx had to mention that one thing I did to gain Larxene and Marluxia's trust," he said turning his face. You pulled his chin back in your direction urging for him to continue. "I only did what I did to Vexen because he was going against their plans and I had to do it. What Vexen was planning on doing wasn't any better than what Larxene and Marluxia were doing."

"So Xemnas changed his mind?" I asked. He nodded sadly. "What about Demyx? Didn't he back you up in the meeting? You guys got along enough for him to back you up, right?"

Axel shook his head. "We did but he just sat there and didn't say a word," he answered.

"Demyx just is trying to prove himself. His whole life he has been trying to show Xemnas and the other members that he isn't just a complete goof and that he isn't worthless. If Xemnas and the other members were gaining up on you, he wasn't going to argue," I spoke understanding.

Axel nodded understanding too. "So what happens now that you have the maximum punishment?" I asked meeting Axel green gaze.

"I didn't receive the maximum punishment!" He protested.

"You didn't? Then what is it then?" I asked totally confused.

"They said they were going to turn me into a dusk if I failed my last mission but that is just a threat they use. Half the other members have failed more missions than me and they aren't dusks. The maximum punishment is what happens after you are kicked out; if you do anything else that is bad."

"You were just kicked out, right?" I asked.

"Yeah. Well, technically I am still a member but I can consider myself as low as a traitor in their eyes," Axel once again lowered his head so that his chin was touching the top of his chest.

"That still doesn't answer my question. What's the maximum punishment?" I asked again.

"Isn't it obvious? What worse than be considered a traitor?" He said looking up at me. I could feel my eyes get larger with fear. His stare dug into my blue orbs as I realized what it was.

"Death…" I whispered.

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Axel and I had left the tower and gone to his empty room. He sat on the large window seal from which he could see across the vast world. The whole west side of the castle was Xemnas' private quarters. We could go to the dungeons, which were in the lowest levels of the west side. The tower and some rooms on the west side were not part of his quarters, such as Naminé's room.

Axel's eyes were narrowed so only a small bit of color could be seen. I was sitting cross-legged on his large white bed. He never used the bed, nor did the other members since they rarely needed to sleep. I was the only one that needed to actually.

I was sitting there thinking about what Axel had told me about the mission he was sent on. That was the mission that cost the life of five members and the temporary separation from Naminé, not to mention the start of Roxas' departure.

"So Axel, do you understand what you are getting yourself into?" the blonde girl asked. She was standing with her arms folded across her chest. A taller man was standing next to her. His brownish pink shade of hair was blowing in the open window's breeze. The serious redheaded boy sat on a large white trunk receiving specific orders for his newest mission.

"Yes, Larxene. So what exactly are you trying to do again?" He asked looking up. Larxene looked at him sternly. She wasn't really sure if she should trust him. But her best friend, who she always followed, was trusting him so she didn't protest against Marluxia and his plan of bringing Axel along.

"How many times must I explain? We're gonna take Sora and use him to take over the Organization. We need to be respected like the other members!" She spoke rolling her eyes for having to explain Marluxia's genius plan for the umpteenth time.

"What about the other three? Vexen, Luxaeus, and Zexion? They are respected enough aren't they? I mean with them being three of the founding members and all," Axel said trying to process the information once again.

"They never liked us newcomers and all. But because Superior has grown fond of newcomers like Luxord and Saïx, they have become slightly…outraged since Superior treats those newcomers better than them," Marluxia said interrupting the soon to occur outburst of Larxene's anger.

"So they are coming along to see whether they want to go along with us?" Axel said.

"Yes," Marluxia nodded. He was very fond of Axel and knew he would be a great help in their plan. Too bad they had no idea that Axel had his own plan too.

"Argh! I can't take it!" Larxene burst out. "How can we trust him, Marluxia? Why must he come along? This was supposed to be you and me, nobody else." Axel looked up in hidden horror that his plan and been discovered.

"Calm down, Larx. We need Axel. After all he knows the Keybearer better than we do," Marluxia said placing a hand on the outraged blonde's shoulder. "Superior informed us that the Keybearer and Xarene's sister are connected. And as we all know, Xarene lives within her sister. Surely, she has told everything she knows about this Sora boy to Axel," he finished smiling and looking down at the relived redhead.

Axel nodded. Larxene sighed in defeat to her brotherly figure's point and sank down onto her bed. Axel turned so that he could see her and Marluxia walked to the side of the bed so he could continue talking.

"Well, now all we need is Xarene. I'll be back. You two play nice, ok?" Marluxia said about to walk out of the door.

Axel jumped up in protest. "What!"

"What? You didn't think that we weren't going to bring her along too?" Larxene asked.

"You can't!" Axel said shifting his stare between the two.

"And why not?" Marluxia asked his hand poised on the doorknob.

"One: She isn't going to fight him. She won't because she knows him too well. Ever since she was little she has seen him as a best friend through her sister's eyes. She even felt that way so much that she considered the fact that she loved him," Axel spoke.

"Love? As in she 'love' loved him?" Larxene said raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. I thought it was crazy too, but I figured that because she spends time knowing everything her sister does, she could possibly love him," Axel said.

"Is there any other reason why she can't come with us?" Marluxia asked annoyed and fighting himself desperately to not continue out the door.

"Yes. Two: …I won't let her." Larxene and Marluxia exchanged glances.

"Why won't you let her?" Larxene asked.

"Because…it's dangerous," Axel said searching for the right words.

"How many times does she tell you HERSELF that she's a big girl and can take care of herself?" Larxene questioned standing up and placing her hands on her well-curved hips.

"I know that she can…but…but…Marluxia!" Axel said spinning around.

Marluxia's eyes opened wide. "What?"

"How much do you care for Larxene?" he asked walking up to him and bending down on his knees.

Marluxia let go of the doorknob and raised an eyebrow in Larxene's direction. She just shrugged. He looked back down at Axel and came up with a true answer…well…almost true. "She is the closest thing to me. She's like my sister," Marluxia said. The truth was that he had some stronger feelings for Larxene despite their four-year age difference, but he wasn't about to admit them while she was in the room.

"Well, that's how I feel for Raene. Please. I know how he fights. If he's anything how Raene describes him from her visions, he's good. I know she could take him, but please…if anything happened to her, I would jump off the tower and fall forever into the dark abyss below us. She is my best friend!" Axel said grabbing 'hold of Marluxia's gloved hand and begging with his head lowered.

"Fine." Marluxia spoke understanding how he felt.

"What!" Larxene said jumping over to them not believing her friend's words.

Axel jumped to his feet in happiness. He thanked Marluxia several times. "I guess we don't need her. We already have another person who will be more than enough help anyway," Marluxia said.

"Who?" Axel asked.

"Your other friend."

"Roxas?"

"Nope."

"Naminé?"

"Bingo!"

"What?"

"Naminé's powers, silly. We need them to manipulate Sora into falling into our plot."

"Naminé wouldn't do that."

"With her under my control she would."

Axel's beautiful eyes narrowed with anger.

"Calm down, Pyro Boy. She's fine, she'll be free to go once our plan goes through," Larxene said speaking instead of Marluxia. "Why don't you go and make an excuse for Xarene. She doesn't need to know about this, according to you. But you'll have to tell her something. It will be a while before you see her again."

"How will I know what not to tell her and what to tell her?" Axel said as Marluxia and Larxene started to disappear in a black mist.

"You'll know when you have to," Marluxia said as they completely left the room through the portal.

Axel left the room and slowly walked down the halls towards Raene's room. On the way he desperately tried to think of a way to break and excuse to her. He eventually made it to his destination. He knocked and waited for an answer.

"Come in!" came her voice. He slowly opened the door and closed it behind him.

"What are you doing?" he asked laughing at Raene. She was wearing her blue shirt and white shorts, but she didn't have her arms through the sleeves.

"I'm trying to add some uniqueness to this outfit. I was thinking of wrapping black and white ribbon around the sleeves to match the ribbons around my legs," she spoke with difficulty. She had a red pincushion in her mouth and several feet of ribbons hanging off of her.

Axel walked over to her and took the pincushion out of her mouth. He took the access ribbon off of her. She slid her arms in the sleeves and spun around. "What do you think?" she asked. She now had several ribbons wrapped tightly around her arms causing the breeziness of her sleeves to decrease and make it look as if she had ballerina shoes wrapped around her arms.

"Beautiful," he said. "So, umm…Raene, I need to talk to you."

"What about?" she said still spinning.

Axel reached out and grabbed 'hold of her shoulders to stop the spinning. She changed to her black cloak and sat down in a large white chair. He ushered her to scoot over so he could sit with her. She did and he took a seat.

"Well. I got a mission."

"You came here to tell me that you got a mission? Axel, it's nothing new."

"Well this one is. You see, I'll be gone for a long time," he said.

"You used to go on long missions with Roxas all the time and leave me here. Like I said, it's nothing new," she said smiling.

"Roxas isn't going with me. But I do have some partners," he said picking his words carefully.

"Who?" she asked curiously.

"Larxene and Marluxia," he answered as if it was no big deal.

"Are you serious. What kind of mission is this? They never go on any missions unless it was their own. I mean the only mission they would go on would be some plan to take over the Organization," she said laughing not knowing how right she was.

Axel forced a terribly fake smile.

"Oh my god! They are! And…and you're with them!" Raene said summoning her Keyblades. She hated traitors even if they were her best friends. Her eyes narrowed till they were just small blue slits.

Axel stood up. "Let me explain!" he begged. He knew the damage she could do with her anger and fighting abilities.

"No! You're a traitor!" she yelled charging at him with her Keyblades at hand.

Axel reacted quickly and grabbed hold of both of her wrist before she could swing. He backed her into the wall still holding her wrists. He pinned her above the ground a few inches so that the top of her head was NOW only a few inches below the top of his.

She struggled to get away but Axel's strength was too great. He pressed his abdomen against her to steady her struggling body even more. Her Keyblades fell with a clank at the ground below her.

Axel didn't release his pressure on her body until she calmed down. She concentrated hard on trying to get her weapons to reappear in her hands but Axel's strength had caused that ability to stop.

She realized she was powerless and gave up. She leaned her head down do that her chin was touching the top of her chest. Axel leaned his forehead against hers. Her arms went limp along with the rest of her body. Axel took the pressure from his chest from her and caught her as she fell defeated in his arms. He carried her to the bed and sat her down.

She looked up at him. Tears swelling up in her big blue eyes. He sat down next to her and started to explain. Raene held her hands out towards her Keyblades, which were still on the ground. They appeared in her hands. She folded her arms behind her back and the Keyblades disappeared.

"Raene…I'm a double agent. I'm just doing this to rid the Organization of traitors."

"Why didn't you say so?"

"You didn't give me a chance."

She smiled shyly. "I'm sorry."

"No problem. But, I just wanted to come and tell you that I would be gone for a while."

"You won't be gone, silly. I'm going with you."

"No! It's too dangerous!"

"Don't treat me like a baby, Axel. I'm perfectly capable of defending myself."

"I know. But…it's so dangerous, that well…I may not come back."

"What!" She protested jumping up from the bed.

"I don't want you to get hurt. Besides, I need you here to take care of Roxas."

"So what? I'm a babysitter now?"

"No. But we'll be working with Sora. I don't want anything to happen that would cause Roxas to find out about him." Raene frowned. "Just until I get back."

"What if you don't come back?"

Axel stood up and walked around the bed to look in her eyes. "I'll come back. But, please, do this one favor for me; protect Roxas." Raene looked away but Axel just watered up his eyes to make a nonresistant puppy-dog face. She laughed when she saw it.

"Ok. I promise. Nothing will happen to him."

"Thank you. I'll see you later ok?"

She waited, and then out of nowhere, jumped into his arms squeezing him with all of her strength. He wrapped his thin arms around her skinny waist and squeezed back. "I'll miss you, Axel."

He smiled looking down at her with her still hugging him. "I'll miss you too."

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"Axel. Did I keep my promise?" I asked.

"What?" Axel said popping out of his trance by the window.

"The promise I made when you went away to work with Larxene and Marluxia. Did I keep it?"

Axel stood up and walked over to me. He plopped down on the feathery bed next to me. "Yes. If there was someone who didn't keep a promise then, it would be me."

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"You kept him safe and didn't let anything happen to him. But I told you that you only had to do it until I got back then I would to the rest. Right after I got back, he found out about Sora…" Axel looked down closing his eyes.

"You didn't mean for it to happen. Don't beat yourself up so much. You weren't the one who told him," I said leaning my head on his shoulder.

"I still wish I could have saved him," he said resting his head on top of mine.

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Thanks everybody for reading! I didn't have to baby-sit today so I got to update early. Yay! Any who…feel free to right what you think will happen in future chapters. I want to see if you guys have good or correct suspicions. I may tell you if you are correct, I may not. D Anyway, thanks for reading. I have to come up with what to put in the next update. I usually come up with it while I am trying to fall asleep at night. Ok, so it might be a while for the next one. Thanks to everybody for the reviews.