Okay guys, sorry for being MIA for a few days. My computer's security went a bit crazy, and being the paranoid one that I am, I took it to get fixed. Now I'm back, so you can dry your tears my lost little lambs!

...I know. I quoted Ayame from "Fruits Basket". I'm so uncreative.

Kyrie (c) Me

Kingdom Hearts characters/some of the story (c) Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts

Bonded Soul

Chapter 24

It had been an hour since they left Port Royal, and Kyrie was wishing that she hadn't come along on this venture. When she wasn't trying her hardest not to stare at the water as they sailed, she was trying her hardest not to punch Jack in the face.

"Why does this stuff always happen to me?" she thought in exasperation. The entire time that she was on the ship, Jack had been constantly flirting with her. Thankfully, now he was at the wheel, and was as far away from her as he could be.

"Why are you so fixated on that compass?" Will asked him when he noticed at Jack was staring at a compass.

"It'll be she that leads us to Isla de Muerta…where Barbossa's headed. Savvy?" he answered. Sora stared at him curiously.

"How do you know?" he asked. Jack flipped the compass shut and tucked it away, before answering him.

"Ah, lad… He and I once had our eyes on a treasure…Aztec gold. 'Twas hidden on the Isla de Muerta. But he turned traitor and stole my ship." He explained.

"So he's after the treasure, then." Sora decided. But Jack quickly shook his head in disagreement.

"Treasure's already his. So's the curse upon it. I've no desire for such treacherous spoils. But I will have back what's mine… the Black Pearl." He stated. Everyone nodded as they went back to whatever it was that they were doing, all except for Goofy, who was staring at Kyrie worriedly. The girl had hardly moved from her spot by the mast since they boarded the ship, and when she did move, she stayed as far away from the sides and bow as possible.

"Gawrsh Kyrie, are ya sure you're alright? You can stay below if you want." he asked as he knelt beside her. She looked up at him for a few long moments before nodding, she could use some peace and quiet. Standing up, she headed below deck, where there was a room that she could stay in. Closing the door, she quickly locked it and sat on a hammock, listening to the soft creaks the ship rocked back and forth.

"I don't like this…being afraid of the water. I don't even know why I'm afraid, I just am. Was I always like this, even when I was younger? I wish I knew…" she thought as she curled up on the hammock. But out of nowhere, a dark corridor appeared in the center of the room, making her jump as she summoned a keyblade.

"Is it Demyx? Axel? Maybe it's Xigbar." she thought immediately. But when a familiar red spike appeared, she relaxed and dispelled her keyblade.

"It's just Axel." she thought with a sigh as he walked out, giving her a smile.

"Man, and here I thought I'd never find you. Do you know how many places I've been to just because I was looking for you?" he joked. She smiled and giggled silently as he walked over, taking a seat next to her on the small hammock.

"So, how's your little adventure coming along? Having fun?" he asked, giving her one of his famous smirks. She grinned at him and nodded a little, truth be told, she was having fun going on this adventure with Sora, Donald, and Goofy. All was quiet for a few moments before Kyrie pulled out her notebook and began to write.

Axel, why are you here?

"What, can't I visit every now and again? Or do you like hanging around with your new buds now instead of me?" he asked harshly, his eyes narrowing slightly. She felt a sharp pang inside her chest and her eyes heat up, but she quickly wrote more.

Axel, why would you say something like that? You're my best friend, and you'll always be my best friend! You and Roxas, we're friends forever. No matter what.

He winced when he saw the pained look in her eyes, and immediately regretted his harsh words. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close, and rested his head on top of hers.

"Kyrie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean the words I said, I was just…in a touchy mood. Life in the organization sucks now, and lately, they've all been getting on my nerves. Got it memorized?" he explained. She nodded, her cheeks tinted pink as she felt the little butterflies in her stomach again. The two were silent again for a few minutes, just listening to the creaking of the ship, before he spoke again.

"So… why aren't you up on the deck with the others? Get seasick?" he asked. Sure, he didn't know exactly where he was, but he could tell just from his surroundings that he was inside a ship. She quickly shook her head, pulling back only to write as he watched her closely.

No, I'm down here because…well…because I'm too scared to be up there. The ocean…it frightens me.

At this, he chuckled a little.

"Seriously? You're scared of the water?" he joked. But the second he looked in her eyes, he stopped. She looked serious, and he knew right away that he was in the wrong.

"Oh. …So why are you scared, of the water I mean." he asked. She was still for a few moments, before she began writing again.

Well…you know that time you came and visited me in the Land of Dragons? The dream I had? I think it's because of the dream that I'm so scared. The dream was about my past, and I had somehow fallen into the water and just kept sinking. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't swim, all I could do was watch the surface of the water as I sank deeper and deeper…it was terrifying.

He was silent as he read her words, taking note of how her hand shook as she wrote certain parts. He glared at the notebook in front of him, he hated it when she was afraid. He couldn't feel what she felt, so he couldn't exactly see things the way she saw them. But he did have a heart once, so he could remember what it was like to be afraid.

Holding her close, he slowly began stroking her hair from the top of her head to where it ended at her lower back.

"It's okay, Kyrie. There's nothing to be afraid of. As long as I'm around, you've got nothing to be afraid of. Got it memorized?" he whispered soothingly. She smiled at this and closed her eyes, finding solace in his embrace.

"Thank you, Axel." she thought as she buried her face into his chest. The two stayed like that for some time, until Axel spoke up.

"So what exactly were you guys up to since I saw you last?" he asked, making her giggle silently before she began to write, recounting all of the events that had occurred up until Port Royal, making Axel laugh at certain parts.

"So Demyx actually stole something? Man, that's hilarious! And here I thought he was lazy." he commented, making Kyrie roll her eyes before she continued.

Actually, I kind of thought the same thing. I hate being mean to Demyx, but sometimes I don't think he should be in the organization. Then again, I shouldn't be in the organization either, so I sympathize with him.

Axel nodded as he read her words.

"You're right, in both ways. The organization is too dangerous, people can get hurt. You can get hurt." he spoke, wincing when he mentioned her safety. She stared at him curiously, why did he wince when he said that? She looked down at her notebook and began to write again.

Axel…are you worried? About me?

He was silent, before looking away, his cheeks heating up.

"…Y-yeah. I am worried. If something were to happen to you…I don't know what I'd do. Probably go on a rampage and wind up getting myself turned into a dusk, or get destroyed. Whichever came first." she stared at him with wide eyes as he said this, her cheeks heating up.

"Axel…" she thought as she reached up, placing her hand against his cheek and making him turn to look at her. She had no idea what possessed her to do this, but she found herself lost in his deep emerald irises. He stared back, confused but at the same time, relaxing to her touch as he leaned in to her hand. They stared at each other for an immeasurable amount of time, leaning steadily closer, before a loud ruckus overhead caused them to jump back.

"Donald, watch it!" they heard someone shout. Kyrie silently laughed, leave it to them to make a mess. Axel rolled his eyes before he looked at her.

"Are they always this loud?" he asked, annoyed. She nodded and he sighed.

"How you can stand them, I'll never know. I'd better go before someone comes down here and finds me." standing up, he opened a portal and looked back at her.

"You go above deck, and I'll see if I can come back while they're sleeping. Okay?" he instructed. She nodded before walking over to the door, stopping to watch as he retreated into the corridor before heading to the deck. Once she got there, she could see Donald, Goofy, Sora, and Will moving around.

"Land ho!" Sora shouted as he ran over to the side of the ship, pointing. She stayed as far away from the side of the ship as possible, but could see the island he was pointing to. It looked like it was mostly rock, with hardly any plant life. It looked…dead.

"This must be Isla de Muerta. …Definitely lives up to its name." she thought as she stared at the lone island. Jack nodded from his spot behind the wheel.

"That's her all right. Now, time to go and save the young damsel in distress." Jack spoke as he turned the wheel, steering the ship towards Isla de Muerta. Kyrie watched from where she stood as the island got closer and closer, before the ship finally stopped and the gangplank was dropped. Jack and Will walked over to the gangplank with Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Kyrie following close behind, before the two men stopped and looked at them.

"You lads and lass wait here. Young Turner and I will rescue the lady." Jack spoke as he looked them over, making the four look at each other in confusion.

"Hey! What about us?" Sora asked, angry at the thought of being left behind. The pirate smirked, making Kyrie raise her eyebrow at him in confusion. What exactly was he planning?

"You're to guard the ship, o' course. It's a task given only to the bravest of pirates." He explained, making Kyrie scowl.

"Now that's the biggest lie that I have ever heard! Why in the world would he make us stay behind?" she thought sourly as she placed her hands on her hips, tapping her left foot as she stared at the two men. Sora sighed as he shrugged his shoulders.

"All right…" he said reluctantly. Donald and Goofy looked at him in confusion, while Kyrie looked away. Sora was gullible, but obviously Jack had lied to the three for some odd reason. Maybe Jack was protecting them, keeping them from the dangers that lay within.

"Guard her well!" he called as he and Will rushed away, probably to get to Elizabeth as soon as possible to save her from the pirates. The four stood there in silence for about ten minutes before Sora groaned.

"I think he was trying to fast-talk us…" he groaned. Kyrie rolled her eyes at this.

"Oh Sora, you sweet, naïve thing. You'd fall for just about anything." she thought, trying to hide her smile with her hand. Donald nodded as he crossed his arms, stomping his foot in frustration.

"And you fell for it." He griped as he stomped his foot. Sora looked over to where Jack and Will had gone, a worried look on his face as he crossed his arms.

"What's keeping those two?" he asked, his voice a little shaky. Kyrie nodded as she looked too, now she was starting to get worried.

"They sure are taking their time…" Goofy added as he started to pace. The group nodded before Sora gasped.

"If Pete's hanging around; there must be Heartless here, too. And Jack and Will aren't used to fighting Heartless…Let's go see." He explained. At this, Kyrie nodded. Against the pirates, they would be okay. But against the heartless…she shuddered at the thought.

"Against the heartless, those two would be toast. But then again, being outnumbered by pirates isn't exactly pleasant either." she thought as the group walked down the gangplank, weapons drawn in case heartless or pirates came their way. Just as they reached the cave entrance, however, they spotted Will and an unknown woman with him as the two ran, him gripping her arm and holding her close as they did so. They stopped in front of the four, panting and out of breath as they did so.

"Quick, they're after us!" Will exclaimed. Behind them they could hear the sounds of the approaching pirates, making Sora and the others jump in front of them.

"But where's Jack?" Kyrie thought as she looked around, there was no sign of the man in sight.

"We'll hold them off! Give us a sign when the ship's ready to sail!" Sora ordered as he brandished his keyblade. The man nodded as he held the woman, who she assumed was Elizabeth, protectively.

"Right! We'll light a signal flare!" he answered. With that the two ran off, leaving the four of them to defend the path against a band of bloodthirsty bilge rats. Kyrie smirked lightly, twirling the keyblades in her hands as she prepared to fight.

"This is gonna be a tough one." she thought grimly. Within seconds, the band was in sight as they raised their swords, axes, and other weapons high in the air.

"Hey, it's those cullies from Port Royal!"

"A bunch of kids and a girl, pathetic!"

"They're no match for us!"

"Why those-" Sora growled as he rushed in, knocking one pirate off his feet just as the man raised his sword to cut him down. Kyrie nodded as she ran in, using her keyblades to either sweep them off their feet, destroy them, or send them flying into the air.

"Now who's the girl, you scum!" she thought as she sent a man flying, hearing him scream as she did so. But a sound behind her made her pause, and within a second, her shield was up just as a pair of axes came down, stopping them in their tracks. The man wielding them looked at her in confusion.

"What in the seven hells is this magic?" he exclaimed, clearly caught off guard by the bubble-like shield. Kyrie simply gave him a sweet smile, before using a keyblade to take him down. She smirked as she continued to fight them off, before she could hear Sora call out.

"The signal!" he shouted, making Donald and Goofy run to his side while Kyrie hung back, making sure the pirates were as far away from them as possible. But Sora ran in, not wanting to leave the girl to fend for herself.

"Kyrie, c'mon!" he cried as he grabbed her arm, dragging her with him as they retreated back to the ship. Looking behind her, she could see the pirates coming and as soon as they crossed the gangplank, they pulled it back and were off.

"Nyah nyah!" Sora called as he made a face, a string of curses and profanities following that from the pirates on the rocky shore. Kyrie giggled silently at this, but deep down, was terrified for Jack.

"Where is he? Why did we leave him behind?" she thought as she turned and marched over to Will, stopping in front of him and his companion with her arms crossed. Sora walked over at well, with Donald and Goofy right behind him.

"Where's Jack?" he asked, looking at Will. The man scratched the back of his head, silent for a moment, before speaking.

"Well…" he started as he told his tale. The four listened intently as he recounted what had happened inside Isla de Muerta, and by the end of the story, they were staring at him in shock.

"I had to. Jack's no fairy-tale pirate. The real ones aren't to be trusted." He explained. Sora looked away sadly and nodded, walking over to the bow of the ship to keep watch. Goofy followed right after him, and Donald took his turn at the wheel. Will and Elizabeth disappeared below deck, leaving Kyrie alone where she stood.

"I don't care about his title, how could you do that to Jack, Will? He risked himself to save Elizabeth, and you turn traitor on him?" she thought angrily as she clenched her fists. Looking one last time at the disappearing island behind them, she headed below deck.

Okay, so I definitely know some writers who HAVE written KH stories have had Axel appear in Port Royal. Originally, I didn't want to go this route but I couldn't fit him anywhere else between Agrabah, Halloween Town, and the Pride Lands. So, I just stuck with Port Royal, because it's more...Organization XIII related than those three worlds. (because out of the group, Port Royal has a member appear instead of being mentioned)

So enjoy this chapter, and again, I apologize for the short HIATUS.

Read and Review!