Were we.... Lovers?

Meilin: BACK AGAIN!

Axel: No way you got more reviews on this. I haven’t had any sex yet.

Meilin: TWENTY-FIVE REVIEWERS!

Sora: No. Just no!

Roxas: Dear God, there’ll be no stopping her now!

Meilin: -cries- I never get this many reviews! I’m so happy!

I’m honored to announce the following. This was originally to be a mini-story, maybe 5 chapters, but with the resounding feedback I have received, I have changed my plan to make this a full-length story of about 10-15 chapters or more! It’s all for you wonderful reviewers!

Axel: That’s a lie. You extended it because you’re pissed that SquareEnix isn’t bringing Final Mix+ stateside.

Meilin: Shut up, Axel.

Disclaimer: Meilin doesn’t own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters. She DOES own 12 KH manga, 2 KH novels, 3 KH games and action figures of all the characters.

Warnings: Shonen-Ai, Yaoi to come, Semi-Fluff, Mild spoilers, references to Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix+ (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, go to KHInsider.com and read the basic info summaries there)

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I brought my hand up to stroke Axel’s cheek. “It’s good to be home.” I mumbled as I moved towards him.

Axel looked a bit dumbfounded as I moved closer to him....

But not the least bit surprised when a knocking at the door caused me to jump back in alarm. Axel stood up –looking very disgruntled- to call in whoever was outside. Axel suddenly stood at his full height as a broad-shouldered, silver-haired man with orange eyes stepped in, looking like he owned the place and obviously not caring that he had just interrupted a very private moment. He wore the same black coat as all the rest. I remember wondering if ANYONE in this castle ever wore a less dreary color, like maybe gray.

The man walked right up to me and stated his business in a succinct manner, as though he barely had the time to bother with me. “My name is Xemnas.” He said in his deep bass voice. “I am the leader of the Organization.”

I bowed my head respectively. Axel looked concerned for me, but I was calm. Dealing with leaders high on their own hot air is easy: either stroke their ego or just nod and agree.

Xemnas continued. “I understand your memories are slowly returning.”

I nodded.

“Good.” He turned on his heel and left without a further word to either Axel or myself.

Axel sighed and ran a hand through his bangs. “Typical...” I heard him mumble as the man shot him a look and closed the portal-door behind him.

I smiled at the dual expression of disappointment and exasperation on his face. The red-head walked back towards me and coerced me off the bed. “C’mon. We need to get ready.” He stated, taking my hand and pulling me towards what I’d thought was a closet.

Boy, was I mistaken.

The door actually led to a small hallway, with a closet on each side and a bathroom at the end. “Go take a shower. I already did.” He said as he opened the closet door on the left. “Your closet’s that other one there.”

I nodded at him. As he disappeared into his closet, I entered the white marble bathroom and shut the door behind me. It occurred to me that while the people dressed almost exclusively in black, the castle they inhabited was for the most part decorated in white. Go figure. The room I had entered was lavishly decorated with dual sinks and a wide bathtub; -built for two no doubt- said the perverted and blushing part of my brain. As I pulled my mind out of the gutter, I noted the standing shower in the corner beside a basket of towels. The floor was entirely white, smooth stone and the wall behind the sinks was one huge mirror. I glanced around. Another door separated the W.C. from the main bath. The room was massive!

I suddenly realized how long I’d been wearing my outfit. Had it really been almost two days since the struggle battle? Wrinkling my nose at the thought I quickly unzipped the many more or less useless zippers on my outfit and undressed. After I threw my clothes in the hamper, I stepped into the shower and turned on the warm spray.

I felt unbelievably better after a warm shower. Once I dried my hair, -it never needed much brushing- I wrapped a towel around my waist and stepped into the closet on the right.

And bumped right into Axel.

Quickly realizing my mistake, I squeaked a ‘Sorry!’ to my taller roommate and dashed into the other closet, shutting the door behind me with a SLAM.

I brought a hand up over my face. ‘Embarrassing much...’ I thought as I leaned against the door.

I suddenly heard Axel laughing hysterically. “Same old Roxas....” he chuckled in a rich voice. “Hurry up and get dressed you spaz, we’re gonna be late!”

I let my hand drop and glanced around the room. For all the clothes, there seemed to be a very limited selection of outfits. The same black outfit I’d seen the others wear lined the wall to my left, along with clones of the outfit I’d worn an hour before. Necessities like boxers and pajamas were on the back wall and various other garments hung in no particular order on the right.

I quickly dressed in one of the black outfits. Axel had been wearing one when I’d bumped into him, so I figured it was just what this ‘Organization’ wore. I stepped out of the closet and saw Axel smile. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” He remarked, head tilted to one side. “Follow me.”

We walked out of the room and further up the castle than I remember seeing. We took an invisible path up to another room with 13 doors, the same foreign shape as the door to our room. Axel put a hand on my shoulder and guided me to the first door on my right. He smiled. “When you step through here you’ll find yourself on a chair very high above the floor. Don’t be concerned. If someone speaks to you, try to speak as little as possible. Don’t worry, Demyx and I will be around to help you.” When I nodded, he walked several doors over and stepped through. After a deep breath, I moved through as well.

As Axel said, I was in a tall throne. He hadn’t told me that everyone else would be in even higher ones! Some were only slightly higher, while others towered above me; just barely within my field of vision. There was a girl with deep blue hair sitting to my right, just below me. Axel was beyond her, next to Demyx. Both were significantly higher.

In the very tallest seat, directly across from me, Xemnas stood and gestured for our attention; looking like some great and deadly falcon about to dive upon it’s prey.

“Brothers and sister!” he bellowed from atop his perch, “We are fortunate to have our youngest brother home again to once more aid us in our goals! His mere presence here, even devoid of memory, is a testament to our bond and to the futility of Diz’s efforts to delay us! With Roxas and his gifts to once again free the captive hearts that lay perpetually caged within the city below, Kingdom Hearts will soon be complete!”

There was a cheer among the listeners, especially Demyx and a small group of hooded listeners to my left. Xemnas sat, gesturing at Demyx to speak his piece.

The blond stood and waved jovially at the group. “Everyone, tonight we celebrate Roxas’s return, but be vigilant! DiZ will yet try to foil our plan, be it by taking one of our own or attempting to sabotage the Heart we have spent so much time constructing, we must be ready to prevent such trickery!”

As he sat down to mutterings, Xemnas stepped off his large throne, floated gently downwards and disappeared. Axel and the others followed, and after a moment I nervously did the same.

I found myself back in the room of 13 doors. I didn’t have time to do anything before I was violently hugged by Demyx again. “Axel tells me your memories are coming back!” the larger man squealed. “I’m so glad!”

I smiled slightly at him. “T-Thanks...” I noticed the blue-haired girl glaring at me from among the group of hooded figures. As our eyes met, I had the distinct feeling she wanted to kill me and devour my corpse. I looked away as Axel took my hand. “C’mon.” he said reassuringly, “There’s a big meal waiting.”

I nodded. As he led me away, I turned to him slightly. “Axel? Who’s that girl?”

Axel glanced behind us. “Who, her? That’s Xarnia. She’s been recruited to replace Marluxia, Number 12.”

“She doesn’t seem to like me very much...” I said as we exited the room.

“Who knows? Only those other newbies have any clue what that chick is thinking. Don’t lose sleep over it.” The red-headed number 8 said as we moved back down the invisible paths to the mess hall.

I followed the firestarter down the paths to a room where the dusks were setting food on a long banquet table. Axel guided me to a seat at one end and sat down beside me. Demyx sat across from us and the others filled in the remaining seats as they wished. Food was passed in eerie silence and heaped upon white and silver plates.

I found that the silence made me nervous; even a little paranoid. The dusks lingering behind all of our chairs weren’t helping, either. I took small portions of the turkey and other dishes being passed; I wasn’t sure I could stomach large portions in that atmosphere. When Xemnas set down the last bowl and turned to speak to Saix, the table began to explode in chatter. I focused on my small plate while Axel and Demyx had a spirited discussion on whether or not a formal introduction to the new members was a good idea for me.

The first to shove their plates into the waiting arms of Dusks and leave were Xarnia and one of the hooded members. I stood up afterwards and handed my plate and goblet to the Dusk before turning to the door.

“You going back?” Axel asked, moving to swing his leg out from under the table.

“I can make it myself. Stay.” I insisted.

“You sure you can find your way back?” he questioned.

I nodded. “I’ll be fine.” I said, waving as I passed the threshold of the dining room and into the room of invisible paths. Axel had taught me the trick to navigating them easily; and I quickly made my way down to the exit of the room. I walked down to the room that held the doors to each members private quarters. I heard voices from around the corner and peeked over to see Xarnia stomping around, waving her arms and ranting to an older man with long dark hair and a red headband.

“...And he’s always HANGING on him! I mean, it’s bad enough he FAWNS over him like that, but does he have to be ALL OVER HIM?! What’s the stupid kid got that I don’t, huh? Why pay so much attention to a useless kid and ignore ME?” The girl ranted, punching a dent into one wall.

“Perhaps because he is the Keyblade Wielder; and perhaps because he is an old friend.” said the other calmly. “That is simply the way he reacts to people, Xarnia, you know that.”

I blinked. They were talking about me?

“But XEV!” she whined, “He never hugs me like that! He doesn’t smile when I’m around, and he certainly doesn’t pay attention to anyone ELSE like that!”

“That is simply the way it is. Demyx is like that.”

So THAT was it. Xarnia was jealous of the attention Demyx had shown me. I mulled over her actions towards me in the past hour. Jealousy WOULD explain why she seemed to be angry with me....

After both had entered separate doors, I entered the second door Axel had said led to our room. I glanced down at the inscription next to Axel’s weapons. “The Flurry of Dancing Flames....” I mumbled, “It fits him....”

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Meilin: Well, that’s it. That’s all I have written so far.

Axel: Which means you’ll have to wait until she gets inspired to see more.

Meilin: Hopefully between reviewers and my new cosplay boyfriend Kevin I’ll feel inspired plenty. This still could take a wee bit to update though. I’ll e-mail updates if you ask me to.