Okay, this chapter is gonna be REALLY dramatic, so...half of you guys are gonna probably kill me at the end of this one.

Kyrie (c) Me

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

Kingdom Hearts

Bonded Soul

Chapter 41

"K…Kyrie?"

Gasping, she whirled around and faced a familiar red-headed individual as he staggered towards her, blood trailing from his temples as he clutched his left side. Her eyes widened.

"Axel!" She thought in alarm, her eyes widening further when she spotted the numerous wounds that covered his body. He gave her a small smirk, before a grimace took its place. Staggering, he lost his footing and fell forward, causing her to gasp as she rushed forward. Holding out her arms, she caught him before he could hit the ground, and cradled his head in her arms as she stared at him in fear.

"Axel, wake up! Axel!" her thoughts scream as she shook him, trying to keep him conscious. But the pyro was already out, his wounds finally taking their toll on him. Realizing that he was unconscious, she quickly slid off her backpack and began to riffle through it, trying to find either a potion, elixir, or a Hi-potion. Sadly, she had none of the items in question. But the sound of a dark corridor forming behind them stopped her, causing her to slowly turn her head as a familiar figure stepped out of the corridor.

"Ah, so this is where you had fled to, Axel." Saix spoke as he stepped out, looking at the two with an emotionless frown. She glared at him as she held the man close, remembering his words when they encountered him in Twilight town. But he didn't seem to care, as he turned his attention to her.

"Girl, step aside. The organization still needs both you and the keyblade bearer to complete Kingdom Hearts." he ordered as he took a step forward. But she was on her feet in seconds, standing in front of her fallen friend with her keyblades drawn. She heard Axel groan softly from behind her, meaning that he had regained consciousness.

"Back off, Saix!" her thoughts snarled. The man stared at her for a few moments, before summoning his claymore.

"You are willing to sacrifice your life for him? Foolish." he spoke as he prepared to lunge. Kyrie crouched, ready to counter, before a voice called out.

"Kyrie, no! Don't fight him!" the two glanced at Axel as he lifted himself so that he was kneeling, staring at the girl in front of him with wide eyes. She stared back at him, her eyes filled with determination before she gave him a small smile. He stopped moving at her smile, a warmth starting to fill inside his chest the second he saw her smile. With that, she turned and faced Saix once more as he sneered at the two.

"Hmph, pathetic. You both waste your lives for one another, for friends." he hissed before lunging, his target for the moment Axel since the man could hardly move. But Kyrie was in front of the man in seconds, her eyes alight with a strange energy as a bubble-like shield surrounded both her and Axel, stopping Saix's attack instantly. His eyes widened and he jumped back, just missing a swipe from the girl.

"Impossible!" he whispered as he stared at her. Axel smirked, none of the other members knew of Kyrie's new ability, except for him.

"Like her new ability, Saix? She's not helpless anymore like she was back then! Got it memorized?" he coughed. But the man seemed to regain his cool composure in seconds, as he stared at the girl.

"Why protect him, girl? This man kidnapped Kairi, the keyblade bearer's friend." he spoke suddenly, startling the two. Kyrie stiffened, glancing back at Axel before glancing at Saix once more.

"That's right…he did kidnap Kairi. But…" she quickly shook her head as she got into an attack position once more. She was still shaken over that, but that wasn't something she was going to allow him to get killed over. Saix simply rolled his eyes at her stubbornness.

"You don't care if he was the one who kidnapped the girl? What if I were to tell you that he was also the one who eliminated all of the members that were sent to Castle Oblivion, hmm?" he asked. She gasped loudly, looking back at him with wide eyes.

"He…what?" she thought, unable to comprehend the Lunar Diviner's words. Axel stared back, a look of guilt crossing his features.

"He's been lying to you this entire time. Everything he has ever told you, it's all a lie. He's not your friend, he has never been your friend. All he's ever done is used you for his own purposes."

"That's a lie!" Axel exclaimed from where he lay. A sudden whoosh of air caught her attention and she summoned her shield in time, just as Saix brought his claymore down on it. He swore, jumping back before opening a dark corridor. At this moment, he knew she wasn't going to let him deal with Axel. He'll just have to try again later.

"Hmph. We'll see each other again, soon. But for now, I'll leave you two to discuss what happened at Castle Oblivion." and with that, he was gone. The two were silent as they stared at each other, Kyrie with confusion, and Axel with guilt. After a few moments, he was the first to speak.

"Kyrie…I-" Axel started, but stopped as he coughed violently, covering his mouth with one hand while the other wrapped around his abdomen. She dropped her keyblades immediately and ran to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder as she tried to calm his spasms down. But his coughing only got worse, as he coughed out a bit of blood and doubled over in pain.

"Oh no…if he isn't healed now…he'll-" Kyrie thought in dismay as the man collapsed into her arms, his breathing weak as his spasms finally subsided. She looked around, trying to find any means to save him. But there was nothing she could, she had no potions and she didn't know any magic. So what could she do?

"Kyrie? Axel?" gasping, she turned and spotted Demyx as he approached. She held the man closer, was he on their side, or the organization's? The man held his arms up in surrender.

"Hey, it's okay! I'm not here to hurt Axel, I'm here to help." he explained. Kyrie stared at him, before nodding and scooting so he could help. Demyx knelt beside the wounded man, and looked him over.

"I'm no medical expert…but his wounds are bad. Here, leave this to me." and with that, he held out his palm over Axel's chest as a green light began to glow.

"Curaga!" he spoke as a flurry of golden flower petals and leaves left his hand and landed on Axel's chest, healing his wounds as they dissolved into his body. Kyrie watched as he healed him, her mind in a whirl.

"What Saix had said…is it true? Did Axel…eliminate all of the members who were sent to C.O.? Did he…kill Zexion and Lexaeus?" she thought, heat burning from behind her eyes as she closed them tightly. After about twenty minutes, they heard the man groan as he slowly regained consciousness and opened his eyes, to see them staring at him.

"…Kyrie? Demyx? What are you-" he started, but stopped when Demyx placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I was sent here to see what's going on here, especially with the heartless. I saw Saix and decided to follow him, and I found you and Kyrie instead." he explained. Axel nodded before turning to Kyrie, who had her head turned, avoiding his eyes. Demyx looked back and forth between the two, not sure exactly what was going on.

"Kyrie…" but before Axel could continue, a notebook was shoved into his face, with writing on it.

Axel, was what Saix said true? Did you really…eliminate everyone who went with you to C.O.?

The pyro was silent before sitting up, keeping his gaze on his hands as they rested on his lap.

"…Yeah, it's true." he answered. Out of nowhere, Kyrie whipped her hand across Axel's cheek, snapping his head to the right. Looking back, he saw that there were tears in her eyes as they overflowed, the water trailing down her cheeks as she glared at him angrily. Slowly, he lifted his hand and touched where she had slapped him, wincing when he felt the forming bruise. Without another word, Kyrie had her notebook in his face again, with more writing on it.

Axel…how could you? They…didn't deserve that! Especially Zexion and Lexaeus, they were our friends, our comrades! But you…you killed them!

"Kyrie, I had no choice! I was ordered to, by Xemnas himself. And Nobodies don't die, we can't die if we never existed in the first place!" he shouted back. The two glared at each other as Demyx looked back and forth between them, he had no idea what to do in situations like this. But Kyrie quickly pulled her notebook back and wrote more before shoving it in his direction once more.

Axel…I can't believe that I ever trusted you! All this time…you've been lying to my face and using me! Just like Saix said… I never want to see you again!

And with that, she took off running. Axel was on his feet in moments, and following right after her. He didn't know why, but her words and the expression of pure hurt on her face stung him on the inside. But right now, he had to stop her and explain everything.

"Kyrie, wait! Stop!" he pleaded, but she didn't stop, she just kept running.

"I can't believe that I ever trusted him!" she thought as she ran. "All this time, he's been lying to me…and probably using me, too! Everything…it was all a lie!" she continued. She spotted a curve in the path and ran faster, getting past the turn and spotted a crevice just big enough for her to fit in. Without further ado, she ran into the crevice and squeezed inside, curling into a ball as she did so. She was quiet as Axel came around the corner, looking for her.

"Kyrie…! Kyrie, come back, please!" he pleaded. But she stayed where she was, her head tucked into her knees as her arms wrapped around her legs, pulling them to her chest.

"Kyrie, I never meant to-" she heard him shout. All was silent before she heard him sigh softly.

"I'm sorry, Kyrie. I'm so sorry." she heard him say softly.

"I may have eliminated the others back at C.O., but I never used you. Not ever. You're my best friend, and you'll always be my best friend. Got it…memorized?" he continued. She pulled her head up from where she had it buried and watched as he walked away, opening a corridor and stepping into it as he did so. She sat there silently for a few moments, crying softly, before finally getting to her feet and wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Oh Axel…what have I done?"

-Later-

Kyrie was silent as she walked into the Castle Postern, her gaze on the ground as she walked. After Axel had left, she had squirmed out of the crevice and backtracked, finally finding the path that led to the castle postern. But at the moment, she could care less about finding Sora and the others. Her mind was set on Axel as she walked, what should she do now? Should she forgive Axel, after all he's done, or should she turn against him?

"But…he…" she thought, stopping for a moment. Despite what he's done, Axel has always been there for her. Heck, he even saved her life a couple of times, something he didn't have to do. But is that enough to redeem him of his crimes, of his lies? Shaking her head, she continued on. Right now, she had to find Sora and the others. They were probably worried sick about her. She began walking down the path that led away from the Castle Postern, and suddenly felt nostalgia as she walked.

"Wait…I've been here before…" she thought as she walked. As she got further down, the more she recognized her surroundings. But when had she been here? Continuing on, she walked through a doorway and felt deja vu smack her in the face.

She was in the same hallway from her dreams, where her younger self had traveled back and forth constantly with Ienzo, her grandfather, Braig, Even, and Kairi. Breaking out into a sprint, she ran down the hallways and soon found herself in front of a familiar door, another factor that appeared in her dreams. Reaching out her hand, she grasped the handle and slowly opened it, before peering inside.

The place was a mess! Books, papers, and glass were scattered all over the floor, glass cases smashed open and chairs toppled over. The desk was scratched up, and the large chair behind was toppled over as well. It was completely different than the study from her dream, but time does change things. Walking in, she bumped into a girl as she walked out.

"Oops, sorry." she spoke before continuing on, Kyrie staring back at her in confusion.

"Who was that?" she thought as she stared. Suddenly, she heard a gasp from behind her and turned, to see Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they stared at her.

"Kyrie! Where in the- where did you go?" Sora gasped. She gave a sheepish smile and scratched the back of her head, praying that her eyes weren't red and puffy. It was going to be hard enough to lie about her encounter with Axel, Demyx, and Saix. She didn't need them asking about her eyes, too.

But he looked at her closely, and noticed that her eyes were red and a little puffy.

"Why're your eyes red? Did something happen?" he asked. She stiffened and looked down, before Donald summoned his staff and whacked Sora in the shin with it.

"Ow!"

"Sora, don't be rude!" he berated. Sora chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head, realizing how insensitive he was being. But something on the wall caught his eye, and he walked over.

"What's this doodle?" he asked as he looked at the wall. Donald, Goofy, and Kyrie walked over to see what he was talking about, and found a strange type of diagram written on the wall with purple ink.

"Hollow…Main…Security…Tron…Door to…" Donald spoke as he read the faded words aloud. Goofy turned to Sora and Kyrie.

"Looks like a diagram or somethin'." he spoke. The two shrugged, they had no idea what it was, or what purpose it was for.

"Door…to…darkness?" Donald continued. Suddenly, Sora gasped as he pointed at the words.

"Oh! D-T-D!" he exclaimed as he pointed to the bold letters in "Door to Darkness".

"DTD!" Donald and Goofy cried out in unison. At that moment, Leon came walking in, having heard Donald and Goofy from wherever he materialized from.

"What's up?" he asked. Sora turned to him and pointed, smiling as he did so.

"Look at this! This must be the dataspace! The DTD. See? The Door To Darkness!" he explained. Kyrie nodded, for once, Sora had actually said something that was…smart.

"Not that he isn't smart, but he does lack in maturity, making people believe that he's dumb and innocent." she thought, giggling silently. Leon walked over and looked at the wall, placing a hand on his chin.

"What do you know. But…that still leaves the password." He explained, making the group sigh. But a sudden voice spoke out, snapping them back into attention as they turned.

"Say, fellas, did somebody mention the Door to Darkness?" turning, they spotted a mouse in an organization cloak as he stood at the open door, staring at them.

"Your Majesty!"

*ducks under a table and covers head with hands* I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

...well, maybe not. Anyways, I do have a question for some of you guys out there who enjoy this story. Should Demyx live, or fade away?

Yes, I did just ask this question. I already know what I'm going to do at this part, but I just want to see if any of you guys want to say something about this. I'm just curious.

Anyways, thanks for reading and please review!