Enjoy and happy reading my loves!

I don't like that the traitor has returned. How could trust possibly be placed in him? I don't like it, but I have no say. I do not have to trust him.

Using a dark portal was like riding a bike. You could never forget how it was done. With ease, I had opened my own portal, just as Axel opened his own. I was told to go to the Round Room where we were the day before and that I was to sit in my own chair. I had visualized the empty chair that I took notice to yesterday. It was like a rush, the memories that came to me. The knowledge and consciousness of what I was doing returned in a breathtaking instant.

My head tingled in an unpleasant, though bearable way, and one of my ears twitched. I had stepped into the dark portal and walked through the freakish abyss. The pinprick of light that was my destination awaited me just a small distance away. I was all alone this time. Axel wasn't with me like he had been each other time. It was quite a distinctive fact when it finally sank in and a sense of dread sat in my stomach. I felt so much safer, so much better…I felt whole when in his presence.

A desperate force built within me and I found myself rushing towards the light that would lead me to my seat in the room where we were to meet Xemnas. My feet seemed to glide, carrying me quickly. As I approached the light, I reached my hand out, one finger extended. The second I touched the light, it was like being sucked through a vacuum (though I luckily have not had that experience) and brightness surrounded me and I found myself sitting in my chair in that large white room.

Unnervingly, the first thing I saw was Xemnas sitting in the chair directly before me, his jaw resting delicately on his closed fist as his elbow supported him on the armrest. He was smirking, an arrogant look that made my stomach turn over uneasily. The Superior seemed to have the most overwhelming and intimidating presence, the ability to command any room he entered. It was impossible to miss the obvious power he radiated, and though I didn't have any idea what his own specific powers were, something in me just screamed that it wasn't anything good.

To my right I felt Axel's warm presence and glanced over, glad to be able to snap out of my trance of staring at Xemnas. Axel was staring at me when I looked over, and unlike Xemnas' intimidation, I found comfort and security and a sense of protection. I felt more at ease, but wished that Axel was sitting closer to me and not four chairs down.

"How good of you to join us once again, Roxas." Xemnas' voice was quite deep and somewhat attractive. I figured he'd have no worries trying to persuade anyone with a voice like that. "I do believe you enjoy being in VIII's presence once more."

Axel's hands were gripping his armrests hard and his eyes never once left me. I would have stared right back but when Xemnas spoke, his voice demanded attention from me and I couldn't fight giving it to him. I wondered if I had been able to resist him before when I was here.

It felt like I had swallowed my tongue, my throat was so thick. I felt my hands shaking and tremors wracked my body. I couldn't answer. I didn't think he was looking for an answer in the first place.

"Please, you both should be quite appreciative that I am allowing you to be partners again. It is understandable, however, since you two are quite the pairing. I haven't seen such formidable fighting of a Unit before." He looked pleased with himself, I decided. A regular old narcissist. Hayner and I always called Seifer that since it was clear that he loved to hear himself talk. We used to make jokes about Seifer enjoying standing in front the mirror for hours, admiring his abs. That was, until Hayner started admiring his abs too.

But that's all besides the point. What was he talking about, 'Units,' or whatever? He'd been talking about it yesterday too, pairing everyone together. It didn't make sense in my head. It didn't make sense period and my already jumbled and confused brain was about to keel over.

I had a headache. Why had I agreed to come here?

Axel's eyes were still on me. He was glaring with such a force, I started to wonder if I had done something wrong. I could feel his frustration, his annoyance. It wasn't towards me, it was towards Xemnas. There was obviously a grudge between the two, and I had a flash of the dream concerning the three of us and Saïx. Something was going on here.

When I came to from blanking out momentarily, I realized that Xemnas was speaking and this time, it was towards to Axel. "You will stay here for today and see if you can reintroduce him to his weapon. Take your time in the training area. And that is not all I want you to teach him. Do see if you can find any triggers to return all his memories to him. Start by informing him on the concept of Units and just what Organization XIII is. You understand the details that are to be left out, but otherwise, he needs to know everything. Including the relationship between the two of you." He stopped and glanced between me and Axel before continuing on, "And do make sure he continues to write in his journal. You still have it, don't you?"

I shrunk under Axel's hard stare. He nodded his head so slightly, I wondered if Xemnas caught it.

"Alright then. Roxas, Axel will inform you on everything, and I'm very sure that he'll help you right along. I'm sure you two have gotten reacquainted quite swiftly, so your ability to rebuild a strong bond fast will be promising. The stronger, the better. Especially for you two." His eyes seemed to glint with knowledge I didn't possess. I tried to swallow despite my dry throat and hardly succeeded.

"Tomorrow you both will enter the field and begin easy training to help Roxas reenter the game of combat. You are dismissed."

He was gone before either of us could open a portal and leave. Axel nodded to me, saying, "Go back to our room. I'll meet you there." A like that, he disappeared behind a veil of black and blue.

I felt paralyzed for a few moments. I felt like an uncomprehending child, someone who is being talked to in a foreign language. I was as mixed up as ever. But from Xemnas' instructions, it sounded like I was going to start getting some answers.

Not wanting to waste time, I opened my own portal and was sucked into the darkness.

When I arrived back at our room (it felt very strange saying 'our room') I found Axel sitting in the chair that went with the desk that held all the different knick-knacks. His annoyance had yet to dissipate, and I wasn't sure if I should approach him or leave him be. My gut told me to sit on the bed and wait for him to speak first.

So I sat on the bed, bowed my head, and waiting for his voice to instruct me with what to do. Luckily he didn't keep me in suspense and spoke right away. "I really don't like that guy," he informed me, though I was aware of this information already. I didn't say anything. Instead I waited for what he would say to me next. What I got from him, was blunt, and nothing of what I expected to hear.

"We're Soulmates, Roxas."

That was a little hard to swallow. Something inside of me told me to accept it because it was the truth, however shocking it was to hear. I knew this information before, Axel saying it was only a reminder. It felt as though that old me flared to life and I was looking at Axel with more admiration if that was even possible. I didn't smile or show any true emotion on my face, but on the inside I was glowing.

"We are Soulmates. Me and you," I said. I felt like I had to say it, confirm it, and make sense of it. He was right, it was what we were. "Everyone has a Soulmate, right?"

I felt a sense of relief from Axel. He was relieved that I had accepted his words so easily. He had been expecting me to put up a fight, argue that such a thing could never exist, only in fairytales. He was right though, thinking that. Had I not had such a conscious or intuition that made me so believing and trusting in Axel, I'd most likely have argued against him.

I knew about the concept of having a Soulmate. Two souls that were fated to meet together, journeying their entire life in search for their other half. It was all fairytale talk. Olette had read a book that dealt with that kind of stuff, and for as long as I'd been in Twilight Town, it was all make believe. I think I was more shocked about being so easily welcoming to the idea than actually finding out that I have a Soulmate and that, essentially, finding your Soulmate is a part of life.

"Yes Roxas, everyone has a Soulmate. It seems the Organization is a group of some lucky bastards who have found their Fated Ones here. I suspect Xemnas had something to do with it." He scowled when mentioning the name. "I think almost every person here has a Soulmate within this castle, just not everyone knows it. The discovery of your Soulmate isn't something that happens at a specific time. It's different for every person. It's a strong Fate that pulled us together, and influence by our wonderful Superior as well."

I ignored his venomous hinting towards Xemnas and did the math in my head. I was surprised that I was able to remain so calm at the moment. "There are thirteen of us, right? That's uneven. How can everyone have a Soulmate here?"

Axel shook his head and picked up the small wooden dragon from the desk, not looking at it, instead it looked as though he needed a distraction for his hands. "There is one among us. Quite an oddity, she is. The only female, the only one without a Soulmate here. But her Mate's close, I just have that feeling. And besides, I wouldn't worry much for Larxene. She's got anger issues." He smiled in a devilish fashion. "I'm supposed to be getting your memory back. So ask me questions. What do you want to know, Roxie?"

I didn't ask anything right away. Instead, I thought about what was going on at this very moment.

I was part of Organization XIII. I had no idea what they did, or even if they were the good or bad guys. In charge was Xemnas who, personally, scared the bejeezus out of me. I could wield a Keyblade, though I was still trying to understand that, but I was sure that it had to do with my being Sora? I'm a Nobody, which is still hard to comprehend, and I have half of another person inside of me. I was told to give that part of me back, but if I did, I would basically be committing suicide. I have belonged to this Organization before in my (life?) and I had just been reminded that I do in fact have a Soulmate, which would explain (finally!) my extreme infatuation with Axel.

All in one day? I felt like a superhero from a fictional story.

And after realizing all of that, I blurted out the first question that came to my mind.

"When can I go back to Twilight Town and see my friends?"

Despite my ridiculous question, Axel simply laughed. It was a wonderful sound and I refused to fight the smile it brought to my face. His presence was just so warm and nice, I couldn't have been happier that I was with him. Was this really what it was like to be with your Soulmate? Just pure, heavenly bliss? It felt like anyone's dream come true, and with such craziness that I'd been thrown into as of late, I ended up having to pinch the back of my hand to ensure that I wasn't curled up in my bed back in Twilight Town sleeping.

"You'll get to see everyone, don't worry Rox. We have other pressing memories that need to be restored. Aren't you wondering what the pairing that Xemnas went through with everyone meant? Or would you rather remain a naïve dork?" Axel got out of the chair and joined me on the bed. He sat right beside me and his arm brushed mine. The cloak dimmed the effect, but I felt the burn of his touch, of his unnatural body temperature. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, his gloved hand resting on the back of my neck. The hairs there and on my arms stood on end and I felt weak electric jolts run through me. If the glove wasn't covering his hand, those jolts would have been much stronger. I shivered.

"Tell me everything," I whispered. I felt as though my breath had been stolen from me. Axel chuckled, the sound close to my ear. The bed moved as he lay back on it, hands supporting his head. He stared up at me, watching me. I couldn't help but stare back. 'This is my Soulmate,' I thought. I felt my half heart leap into my throat, rendering me speechless.

"A Unit is made up of a Sacrifice-" he pointed to me, "-and a Fighter." He pointed to himself. "Any two people can become a Unit, so long as there is a Fighter to serve the Sacrifice."

"Serve?" I asked.

He nodded. "Sacrifices are like the Masters of a Unit. Master and Slave, if you will. The Fighter lives to serve their Sacrifice."

"So you live…to serve me?" It sounded barbaric in a way, cruel. I didn't like the concept but there was no way I'd ever mistreat Axel and use him as a real slave.

"Your will is my command. Whatever it is you want, I will be completely devoted to giving it to you, no matter the price." He spoke softly. I could tell that this all held a lot of meaning for him. I got a feel of his devotion through the developing connection we had.

"Okay, so you are to serve me." I didn't like saying it like that, but it was the truth.

"Yes. Now, like I said, any one Sacrifice and Fighter can make a Unit. But, True Units, ones with real power, are made up by a pair of Soulmates."

I fell onto my back beside Axel. "Us. We are a True Unit."

"Exactly." Axel turned onto his side, facing me. I stared at the ceiling and gulped nervously. I didn't want to see the desire that I felt reflected in his eyes. "And only a True Unit shares a Name."

A Name. The Names that Xemnas was giving out yesterday. That was starting to make sense. Axel continued on, "A True Unit's Name is the birth right of every Sacrifice. It's the name they are born with. And when the time comes, their Fighter and Soulmate will hear their Sacrifice's name calling to them. That is how the Sacrifice and Fighter find each other."

I couldn't help the comment that slipped from my mouth. "Sounds romantic." I blushed instantly and turned my head away so he couldn't see. I started to gnaw on my lip in embarrassment. "S-so uh, every Sacrifice is born with a Name, and when the time comes, their Fighter and Soulmate hears the name and they end up finding each other." I felt like an uncomprehending fool. It did, though, dazzle me with how these mystical concepts were coming to life and I was really starting to realize that this was how my world worked. I felt like an awestruck kid and I was wondering why I had ever decided to leave this place.

"That's right," Axel said. His hand cupped the side of my face and forced me to look at him. I inhaled sharply. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to be swept up by him and never let go. My other half, right next to me, holding me.

It was all so overwhelming.

"And, um, what is our Name?" I asked this tentatively. The moment it was out of my mouth, annoyance flooded my body.

Axel's mouth twisted and he sighed deeply before speaking, "Your Name is Breathless."

I couldn't even believe that I could possibly have a real Name. I mean, I know myself as Roxas. But when Axel spoke our name, I could feel the breath rush from my lungs and it left me unable to say anything. Breathless. My Name is Breathless.

"How about, for now, we give your brain a rest and I'll take you around the Castle. Maybe seeing some familiar places will spark that memory and kick the block that's been placed in there out of the way."

He stood up, pulling me along with him. To my disappointment, he didn't kiss me. He did, however, sweep me off my feet and carried me to a dark portal he opened. I couldn't find it within myself to protest.

Naminé hovered in the doorway of the White Room. She watched the pair that had their chairs facing each other. She couldn't see Riku's expression; he refused to put his hood down. Sora was staring at Riku as though he were attempting to push the hood back with his mind. She could hear their words.

"Riku," Sora said cautiously. He'd been awake for no more than a day. The first thing he'd done as he stepped out of his pod was look for Riku. He ended up standing in front of the pod he had occupied, looking left and right. Naminé could feel his heart, she knew what he was looking for. She also could feel the pull on his heart towards Riku who was standing beside DiZ. But he was confused, she had confirmed. Because what he saw wasn't the Riku he had been expecting to see. Instead he saw some stranger in…in a familiar cloak. She couldn't help but frown. His memories were right back in place, but they weren't all coming to him at once. He would have a period of time before he'd be able to reach every memory she had corrected.

Perhaps it had been a good thing he couldn't recognize the cloak. If he had seen the clothing of his enemies…

Sora had ended up coming to terms and realizing that the man in the cloak was, in fact, Riku. His heart wouldn't lie to him. His memories of Riku were very good, he remembered the bond they shared, remembered that Riku was his Fighter and that they belonged together. He remembered that things were rocky between them seeing as how Riku was fighting the darkness. His hopes had been that perhaps Riku would have been past that and maybe things would be better. It seems his hope were squashed, especially by Riku's put-off attitude towards him.

"Please, Riku. Can't you put your hood down? I want to see you." With no response, the brunette said, "Don't your ears hurt under that hood?" His own ears hadn't been perked up in their usual way since only a few minutes after his reuniting with Donald and Goofy. Since then, they've been outwards in a sad gesture.

Naminé continued to hover, the talk of ears making her own platinum cat ears to twitch in response. Her tail as well, a very elegant tail of the same platinum hugged around her middle.

She could feel Sora's desperation. It was such a complicated situation she saw right before her eyes. Riku accepting the darkness, just as he had accepted the light. He had only taken the darkness in so that he could protect Sora and help him wake up. She could have helped him. How different would things be at this very second had Riku allowed her to seal away his darkness?

She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side, unable to watch the pair for a moment.

And then there was Sora, the poor boy who had only half a heart, as well as half of his memories. He only had half of the memories from his childhood up to where he was today. Such important things could be lost, being carried around by Roxas who was just as uninformed about everything as Sora was. The tugging of confusion from both sides made Naminé's head spin and she wished that her connection to both was much weaker than its current strength.

"I can't Sora, not yet," Riku said. She cringed when she heard the voice of Ansem. She felt the tug on Sora's heartstrings in a rather upsetting way. It wasn't the voice he wanted to hear, and he averted his eyes, looking down at the laces of his shoes instead. She knew he was confused, and quite frankly, scared.

She heard Sora sigh and felt him do his best to keep himself in check, calm and focused. "I don't know what's going on. Y-you're different. And not just with the way you appear," he said, though he had yet to set his eyes on what lay behind the hood. "The bond is still between us, but I can't feel you as well as I could before. I feel like…like something's missing. And when I try to think back to how things were before I went to sleep, it's like there are huge blank spots where I can't remember anything. But it also feels like there's a block, like a road block or something that's keeping me from completely connecting with you."

She was worried for him. He looked so feeble, so desperate for answers and for things to return how they had been before. "Can you feel me as strongly as you once had?" Sora asked.

Riku didn't answer. He stood up from his chair. Naminé couldn't connect quite as well with Riku as she could with Sora, but because of the connection between the two, she was able to get a very vague feel to what was brewing inside Riku. She felt pain. Frustration. And anger as well, but she wasn't able to sense who these emotions were directed to. Had she had a heart, she was sure her chest would be constricting with the pain Riku was feeling right now.

Riku bent over, never having answered Sora's question, and kissed the brunette on the crown of his head. He rested his forehead on the same spot while cradling Sora's face with his gloved hands. Naminé saw the movement of his jaw but couldn't hear the words he was speaking. She felt Sora swell with relief and reassurance and understood that Riku had given Sora some declaration of admiration and love. Riku then turned, leaving Sora behind and brushing past her out the room.

She felt frozen to her spot. The swell from Sora died like a flower in an ice storm and she felt cold and alone. The emotion he emanated proved to be too much and she turned to leave, suddenly finding herself facing DiZ.

"Naminé, I would like you to come with me. I have an extremely important assignment for you."

She didn't like the sound of that. But what else was she to do? She nodded silently and followed him down the hall.

The room Axel took me to was large and empty. I didn't like calling it a room, since the floor I was standing on wasn't directly surrounded by walls. It was a large open space with a platform that connected two doorways. There wasn't a name for it, so I had to settle with calling it a room.

"This is where we come to train," Axel informed me. He walked to the middle of the platform, throwing his arms out as though trying to show the room off. He turned back, facing me and grinned cheekily. With a burst, flames licked up his outstretched arms to his hands where his two chakrams appeared. With wide eyes, I gulped. "Ready for some training, love?"

I was not ready to fight him. One on one with Axel just wasn't possible. There was no possible way I could spar with him and not get hurt. Why did we have to spar anyway? We were obviously fighters…my weapon…the Keyblade. Well hell, I hadn't been expecting this when I came here. But what choice did I have? Xemnas wanted me to train, and it's not like I could ignore his orders. I felt a heap of worry shroud around me at the thought of defying his orders. It was kind of scary.

"Show me that shiny Keyblade, baby. And that's not dirty talk," Axel teased. I scowled in his direction and he only laughed at my expression. Soulmates or not, I had this knowing feeling that I had often grown annoyed by him. He was so damn cocky, I thought. And he hardly ever seemed serious. But when he was completely serious…oh man was he sexy.

I shook my head. Crazy, crazy thoughts. Had I had these thoughts before? And would they continue on, or was it something that would, over time, simmer into less often thoughts? I could only hope. At the moment, I was freaking out internally (not sure if it showed on the outside) about Axel standing before with his chakrams swinging in his hands.

I needed the Keyblade. I thought about it, imaged the object in my hand, remembered it shining in the afternoon sunlight back in Twilight Town just the day before. The weight and power was so familiar, I felt it in my hand. And with a white burst, the Keyblade was there. I felt the surge of power and energy crawling outwards from my heart. It was an enthralling feeling, but no matter how good I felt, I knew I would never be comfortable enough to take Axel on.

"You aren't feeling nervous, are you? Ya know, whenever we used to spar like this, you'd always glare at me with those bright eyes, and you'd frown at me adorably. I could always feel your annoyance, since I'd be an asshole and tease you." His smirk was teasing and I'd be lying if I didn't have the biggest urge to wipe it off his face. "Come on," he spoke and started pacing in a circle around me, his eyes never leaving me. His excitement influenced my own feelings and I was growing giddy. His own feelings were overpowering my own nervousness.

I didn't say anything. I gripped my Keyblade, the weapon tightening in my hands, and I frowned. He laughed, having predicted that reaction. "Come and get me, Roxie."

I was trying to consider what in the world this training was for. There had to be things out there that this was needed for. Enemies to fight. But what was the reason to fight? Just who opposed the Organization that we needed weapons to defend ourselves? There was so much that I didn't know. Mainly about the Organization. I was sure though, that my answers would come later. At the moment I needed to focus on this training and not getting my ass kicked by a certain redhead who continued to circle me like a predator.

For what seemed like minutes neither of us moved in for an attack. I had the distinct impression that fighting each other would be difficult with our bond. I wasn't expert on everything to do with this bond, and I wasn't feeling Axel as strongly as I felt I could. But I figured that if he were to suddenly make a move to attack me, I would know it and be able to dodge it. At least I could only hope I could dodge it. I didn't really know how Axel fought, so this was more difficult than having a struggle with, say, Hayner, who I was familiar with as far as his fighting strategies. I didn't know how Axel moved or how he attacked or anything useful. He, on the other hand, had memory of fighting me and would be able to predict how I fought. If I even fought the same way. I most definitely wasn't prepared for this.

Well staring at each other wasn't going to get us anywhere, and I didn't think I'd be able to walk away from this room without having swung my Keyblade at someone or something. Besides, I wasn't being graded (at least I didn't think I was) so my hesitancy wasn't necessary. I'm sure Axel wouldn't be that much of a jerk as to laugh the entire time. He had to have some sense and enough understanding of my situation to offer a nice helping hand. I'm sure he would.

So having made up my mind, my grip was as tight as ever and just as Axel had come to step into my view, I ran towards him, my weapon held up, ready to strike. He had stopped, noticed my charging and didn't move. He's going to go easy on me, I thought and that only annoyed me further. I didn't want him to hold back, I would never be able to regain the memory of fighting if he didn't act that way he had before.

Just as I was in striking distance, I moved to attack and at the exact second my Keyblade would have hit Axel over the shoulder, he was gone in a black and red blur, sliding from my view and leaving me to whirl around in confusion. Thinking he'd be moving to get me from behind, I turned quickly and found nothing standing behind me. Where did he go? I had never imagined anyone being able to move so fast! He had completely disappeared from my sight, I had no idea where he went. I looked around, feeling dazed in the overly large room and unable to locate my Soulmate.

He was still in the room. I felt him here, felt his energy. But I felt surrounded by it, however faint it was, and I wasn't being pulled towards where he was. It was like he was everywhere, which was how he felt to me since we had first reconnected. He was here…he was just hiding. And he knew I wouldn't be able to find out where.

Axel stood up in the balcony that overlooked the training area where Roxas stood, looking around in a daze, trying to locate just where the redhead went. Feeling like a bit of a cheat, he snapped his fingers, summoning one of his Assassin Nobodies to take his place in fighting Roxas. He was afraid, really, that he'd end up getting too hyped up, believing that he was fighting the old Roxas, the capable one. He could potentially hurt Roxas had he done so. Instead he took the safer route which included observing his love to see where his skills stood. He hoped that his fighting abilities had been one thing that the blonde hadn't forgotten.

From where he stood, he could watch Roxas with the perfect view, but it would be more difficult for Roxas to see him. This made the balcony a perfect place for watching other Nobody's practice sessions in secret, or at least it would. The feel of each other's energies always gave each other away.

Watching Roxas, Axel felt the near constant sizzle inside him from the boy's energy flare and he knew now that he must have sensed the presence of his Assassin. Interested, he leaned on the edge of the balcony and watched intently, thinking to himself that the fight shouldn't last long if Roxas still possessed his impressive fighting skills. He prayed that the all too familiar moves and agility was shown, needing to know that there was still some part of his other half remaining that could be used to regain what was being blocked away.

"Now now, throwing him into the pit with no knowledge as to what beasties might be coming at him? You're quite cruel, my friend." Suddenly standing next to Axel was Xigbar who had just portaled in. He was grinning widely, obviously excited at the prospect of watching Roxas wield the Keyblade once more. Leaning forward with his hands gripping the edge of the balcony, similar to Axel. He let out a low whistle as the spiky arms of the Assassin appeared, swimming behind Roxas.

"You got done with your mission pretty fast," Axel commented without facing his new company. He was unable to take his green eyes off Roxas. He watched the blonde turn sharply, his tail trailing like a whip behind him. Taking notice to the spiny arms of the Nobody, he jumped back, obviously started. Axel felt a quick jolt of panic in his own chest that didn't belong to him. That panic never went away, but it faded and a sort of resolve or understanding overshadowed it. He himself relaxed at realizing that Roxas hadn't softened in the short time he'd been gone from the Organization and that his hopes of a strong partner on the battle field were likely to come true.

"You should know," Xigbar spoke. "Missions are easier when your one and only partner is with you. I've never felt so strong in my life." He laughed openly and his single golden eye watched as Roxas carefully followed the swift movements of the Nobody he was facing. "And I see you're still up to your old tricks. Think this might get a gear working up in his noggin?"

"It's better than beating him into remembering everything," Axel mumbled as though he'd contemplated the idea. He scowled against Xigbar's returning laughter and rolled his eyes.

"Dude, you're too much. Sunshine down there will remember soon enough. We're not exactly a group of Nobodies that anyone could ever forget."

Finally emerging from its hiding grounds below the surface of the floor, the lesser ranked Nobody floated for a moment just behind Roxas. Axel was almost afraid that the less intelligent being would get a good swipe at the other, but to his somewhat skeptical expectations, Roxas turned just before an arm could lash out at him and struck the Nobody, sending it flying to the opposite end of the platform. Feeling the rush of adrenaline, Axel watched with hopeful eyes, witnessing successful combos being delivered to his servant Nobody. His mouth stretched into a grin and he felt like hopping up and down in place with appropriate enthusiasm. He felt like cheering but kept his mouth shut. Instead he watched, eyes glued.

"Man, he fights just like both of them," Xigbar commented. The older Nobody stroked his chin and let out a little, "hmph." He nodded his head, impressed, as he watched Roxas swing the Keyblade as though the object were an extension of his arm. "I never really noticed that before."

Axel understood what he was talking about and decided not to comment on it. He prepared himself instead, waiting for the right time. It didn't take long, and with one last good solid strike from the silver key-shaped blade, the Assassin was gone in a burst of light. Axel took this as his cue, opening a portal and stepping through, coming out back down on the platform right in front of Roxas who hadn't even broken a sweat, not to his surprise. His little fighter always did have good stamina.

Before Roxas could even react to his presence though, the Fighter of the pair sunk low to the ground and pushed his legs, moving swiftly in his low position. He was practically invisible to the eye and swiveled along the platform so expertly, it was impossible to follow his movements. Roxas stood still in place, completely lost as to where Axel could be or what kind of game he was playing at.

This was a common game that Axel would play. Roxas didn't have the speed capabilities that he did, so it was hard for the boy to keep up with him. He knew his speedy running did nothing but piss the blonde off and it was amusing to him. He had never felt so rewarded doing this than he did on one occasion when Roxas had actually whined at him and told him to, "cut the stupid crap out."

This time, he didn't carry on as long as he normally would have and snuck right up behind his Mate, hitting him none too gently on the back, sending the Nobody forward and sprawled onto his stomach. And the instant Roxas turned over onto his back, Axel was already on top of him with a winning smirk. "I win," he declared.

I fought that stupid Nobody. It was a relief from fighting Axel, in all honesty. I had been so panicked over having to face my Mate, a much more experienced fighter who might not have held back. It was exhilarating though, exciting that I was completely capable of taking out the enemy. I felt like an entirely different person when I was swinging that beauty of a blade around. I'd been so caught up from the moment I sensed the non-being and when I made the first strike with the Keyblade, the rest just came so naturally to me.

Then when Axel reappeared before me, I was left stunned. Seeing him move so suddenly, naught but a blur, had made my head spin. It was impossible to keep up with him but I was so concerned with what he was planning to do. I felt as though he'd done this before. This wasn't the first time he'd pissed me off with his own fun and games. And I also knew that there was nothing that I could do to stop him. He was too skilled, too fast, there was no chance of me being able to catch him or land a hit.

And when I felt the blow from behind, I had no way of reacting, instead being forced to go along with the attack, falling hard on my stomach. It hurt, but it was a tolerable pain that easily faded. The Keyblade flew from my hand, the metal scrapping across the floor as it went skidding away from me. Lifting myself on my elbows, I turned over and immediately flattened onto my back as I looked up to see Axel smirking victoriously.

"I win," he said as though applauding himself. Stealing himself a victory prize, he swooped down and kissed me hard. I met him eagerly, flooding with burning heat that wasn't just from his close proximity. As a natural movement, my arms interlocked around his neck, urging him to sink closer to me, to lay his body against mine. As though he wasn't able to control himself, he bit my lip, nibbling it gently before slipping his tongue past my slightly parted lips.

I couldn't help but moan into his mouth. His body heat was so comforting and I relaxed instantly when he touched me. I felt it inside; it was as though something inside of me was stretching for Axel, begging for him to take it and cradle it. At the same time, I felt the push coming from Axel, felt it surrounding me and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. I tensed, confused, feeling the urging push of whatever this was.

Axel broke the kiss, mouthing against my lips, "Relax and accept it. Welcome it in, take it as your own. Feel," he said, closing his eyes and leaning his forehead against mine. The stretching feeling lessened suddenly, my entire body shivering with an orgasmic pleasure. "Imagine what you feel to be like a light, a golden light surrounding you wherever you feel it. Then see yourself taking it in, embrace it."

I did as he told me to. I closed my eyes, picturing the pressure surrounding me as a golden light, flowing like a sea. Then I relaxed further, mentally telling myself to open up, to let it in. In my head, I saw the light being absorbed right into the direct center of my body as though it were being forced in by some invisible black hole. It's hard to describe the feeling of someone else's energy invading your own body. The easiest way would be to have you imagine the feel of a warm silk blanket spreading over you from your middle outwards, expect it wasn't as awkward to feel as it is to picture. I gasped out loud, heard Axel do the same and he shuttered against my body. My throat had gone dry and I felt paralyzed. Never in my working memory could I remember ever feeling this good. My body continued to shake as Axel's energy worked through my body. I heard his breathing hitch several times. I thought that if I could experience this all from a kiss, what would it be like to actually have sex with him?

I would have sat bolt upright at that instant if Axel hadn't been lying heavily on top of me. I blinked a few times, looking down to see my Mate resting his head against my chest. I felt so hypersensitive now and knew that it was from this sudden exchange between us. I had never in my life been so aware of anyone, of what they were feeling. I felt like I could understand the thoughts going on in his head, but at the same time, I wasn't sure if it really was his thoughts or my own playing tricks. And if this hadn't just happened right now, I know my entire body would have gone cold with the curiosity that just sprung in my head.

My eyes had to have been reflecting some form of sadness as I pushed my fingers through his hair. My skinny blonde tail was uncontrollably beating the floor beside my body. And with my own yellow ears sinking against my spiky hair, I said, "Where did your ears go, Axel?"

I felt his entire body go cold.

To be continued…

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