Axel dipped his gloved hand into the pond, looking down at the fishes that swam lazily by. He felt himself sigh slightly, but making no actual movement. Fish didn’t live long, and he knew that he wouldn’t, either. He felt nothing. Maybe just a glimmer of crushed sadness, but that was soon wiped out of existence. Bringing his hand gently out of the pool and shaking it slightly, he heard a twig snap behind him. Twisting his upper body to find out who the individual was, he felt all hope crumble before his eyes.

Damn.

A medium, cloaked figure stood at the rim of some flowers, shuddering every so often from the sobs that engulfed him. Looking at his smudged face, tears welled up and flooded his eyes, distorting the bold blue that portrayed him. The figure ruffled his hair slightly, deforming the fan-effect that it permanently held.

“Ax-Axel..”

His own name made him shudder. Not the words, but the captor of the voice.

“…Yes?”

The figure made no reply, but ambled over to Axel, and sat himself down beside him, just staring at the ground, the tears falling off his chin. Finding this a bit odd, Axel stared down at him for a few moments, before shifting away slightly, his conscious kicking in. If he didn’t trust him now, he wouldn’t trust him again. Ever. He continued to look down at the boy. He didn’t show any signs whatsoever of insanity. Mind you, he could turn at any moment. Feeling his nerves rack inside of him, Axel kept on edging himself away from him, glancing fearfully at the other one. The boy just continued to stare down at the grass, fighting away the tears.

Goddamnit, Roxas..

Suddenly, Axel jumped in alarm as Roxas reached out and clung to his arm, nuzzling into his sleeve and sniffing. Axel couldn’t help but release a shaky breath, obviously coated in dread. Roxas lifted his head slightly, gripping his arm even harder, his mouth wobbling violently.

“Ax-Axel-I’m re-really-sorry- an I-don-wan-you-to die!” Roxas sniffed loudly before resuming to nestle in his arm, occasionally letting out a few grievous moans. Axel, continuing to stare down at Roxas, stayed silent, his trust for him ripped to shreds. It was obviously clear that Roxas was sorry, but he knew that that wouldn’t matter once It gained control over him. Lost momentarily in his thoughts, Axel only directed his attention once Roxas had dug into his arm quite forcefully, making him wince. He knew that that would be the most minor of pain that he would indulge in from Roxas. Roxas’s strung voice pressed into his ears, similar to what a string would do.

“Axel…please say something…” Roxas’s voice broke up, interrupted by another sob. Axel wanted to join Roxas more than anything in the tears department, but just didn’t have the heart, or the reputation, to do it. Instead, Axel brought out a single sentence in reply.

“..When..When will it end?

He knew that Roxas understood its significance, however, never replied. Axel didn’t dare look down at him, for the terror that even looking down at him would turn him to his worst nightmare. He realized how stupid it was to be afraid of a boy half his age. For one, he had more experience in fighting, and he was stronger.

That didn’t stop him being scared, though.

Once you experience being in combat against Roxas, you’ll never want to fight again. And not this Roxas, hell no. The other one. Or, as Axel had named him, It. The pure attitude and skill that Itdevelops is brute and cruel enough to make even the most fearless people go running. In other words, It gives the impression that it’s going to send you to hell and back.

Or kill puppies. Without mercy.

Either way, having to fight It is another form of torture. That he’s had to endure in. Twice.

“I…don’t know..”

Having finally received a answer, Axel continued to wearily gaze down at the pond, the intensity killing him. He knew there was no point in hoping It wouldn’t appear, so all Axel could do was hope the fight would be over with as soon as possible.

And never be repeated.

But who knew, Axel might actually kill It for once. It wasn’t impossible, as he’d done it before. But at the time, he wasn’t still recovering from injuries. Coming back to his senses, he felt a disturbance at Roxas’s position. Glancing, terrified, down at Roxas, He could see him start to grin maniacally. Axel’s body froze with horror.

“Axel…I’m sorry..” Roxas slowly stood up, giving him one look of guilt, his tears dried, before bursting out in wild laughter, dripped with evil.

Shit.

Snapping free of the trance, Axel abruptly jumped up, summoning his chakrams and preparing himself, the comfort of fire starting to surround him, feeling slight content of a feel of something familiar. Instinct was taking over him, and all he could concentrate on was Roxas, or now the nightmare that would remain in Axel’s memories forever.

It.

“-FIGHT FOR IT!”

Suddenly hearing those words throw themselves against the air, Axel suddenly realized that they weren’t alone. He knew who they were, but couldn’t help question the statement itself.

What was there to fight for?

Turning his concentration back to Roxas, his malicious laughter rung around his hears, as if mocking his whole existence. Facing him boldly, Roxas summoned the two key blades, readying himself.

“I love you Axel, I really do.”

Roxas lunged forward, hardly giving time for Axel to react. He jumped forward also, but didn’t have the time to defend himself from the kick Roxas delivered, making him flip off balance.

It starts.

Recovering desperately in the air, Axel responded by throwing both chakrams back at him, frantically flinging fireballs in its wake. He watched Roxas hinder the chakrams, yet get hit by the fireballs. Having no time to glower over this, Axel re-obtained his weapons, and continued to pitch fireballs at Roxas, hoping to gain another hit. Noticing Roxas managing to dodge some, he realized his advance toward him, not giving him a chance to defend himself. Roxas slashed at him with both keyblades, making Axel cry out in pain.
   Not allowing this to fault him, Axel quickly responded by slashing out repeatedly with both Chakrams. He wouldn’t allow himself to give Roxas the option to hit back. Although Roxas managed to block some of the attacks, he kept on letting damage to himself, though never slowing down once. It was obvious they were both fighting for their lives.

Axel’s power constantly improved, him taking every advantage he could pick out. Hurling out another hit, he finally managed to throw Roxas off balance, sending him crashing to the ground. Axel took a millisecond to take a breath, before jumping down on Roxas, continuously slashing away at him.
As quickly as he jumped for him, he went flying away in the opposite direction, Roxas perusing him. Still grinning insanely, Roxas used both of his key blades to severely hack into his side.
Still soaring through the air, Axel couldn’t manage to shriek, being winded by the previous attack. He knew the sight of it made up for it, though, and wanted to look over at the others, and assure them that he was okay, even though he clearly wasn’t.
Dismissing the hopeless idea, Axel swung around and reached for Roxas, aiming to get another blow on him. Roxas comprehended on what he was trying to do, and arranged an X shape with his key blades, pushing Axel off.
Annoyed by the defendant, Axel shrouded himself in darkness, then reappeared behind Roxas, slicing into his back. He felt momentary accomplishment as he watched him stumble violently forward, both out of the attack and of shock.

He wasn’t expecting the reaction.

Roxas instantly swung around, raising both of the key blades and hacking into Axel’s neck.

Axel was driven backwards, landing on the ground. His head reeling, he felt himself overwhelm with the feeling of intense sickness. Vision unfocused momentarily, he realized the blood loss was starting to take effect, and knew it would only get worse. Failing to recover quickly, Axel had no choice but to engulf himself in flames, aware that Roxas had leapt in the flames, starting to burn himself badly. Roxas started axeing away blindly through the flames, gaining closer to Axel himself. Recognising how little time he had made for himself, Axel whipped out a bottle, green liquid contained, and tilted his head back, downing it in one. A bright glow emitted from him, relief and strength bursting through his veins. Feeling slightly accomplished that he held a promise, he released a large outburst of heat, it becoming too unbearable for Roxas and resulting in him reeling back. Taking the opportunity, Axel leapt for Roxas, starting slash again, reducing Roxas’s power. Roxas, resisting the wounds stubbornly, stretched out and hit Axel with Oblivion, blocking him off and blowing another hit to him.

Gasping in annoyance, Axel held back the energy to groan as he saw the last of his healing stock leak out, and some of the glass impale into his hip. By this, he cursed, then without warning, hurling his Chakrams in Roxas’s direction, throwing him off guard. Axel grinned as he watched Roxas unable to deflect one of them and stagger backwards, sprawling on the ground.

Retrieving the Chakrams, Axel allowed himself to take a breath. He was so close to gaining dominance in this fight, and if he held it out, he might just win it. This time, if he did lose, he would pay the full consequences. Both of them would.

Finding new strength, Axel lunged for Roxas, attempting to impale his Chakrams into Roxas’s back. Barely dodging this, Roxas managed to only gain a large gash, twisting around and throwing one of the key blades in Axel’s direction. Hardly avoiding this, Axel cursed to himself again as he realized how stubborn Roxas would be. He knew he should have known better by now, but he didn’t have time to dwell over it. Casting a quick glance over at the other figures, his memory snapped back to a conversation in his Apartment.

Just grab him by the arms-

Body lurching in apprehension, Axel took off, reaching for Roxas’s arms, and thinking of nothing but the technique and precise movement he would have to use. Roxas jumped as he realized what he was aiming to do and swore out loud. He brought out oblivion and leapt for him, whacking it against Axel’s head, while doing the same with oath keeper to Axel’s leg, resulting in him spinning around, making him lose accuracy. Only when Axel landed roughly on the ground did he realize how severe the head injury was, completely ignoring the leg injury. Axel collapsed, gasping for breath.

His motivation was flailing, draining out of him. There was no way he could beat him now. With all the injuries he had gained,  it had just shred Axel’s possibility of even living through them to a single thread. Groaning loudly, Axel wrenched his eyes open. He couldn’t give up now. Not until the end. There was the people he cared for watching, supporting him, and he didn’t want to fail them and go down a coward. Who would protect them all once he’s gone? What’s more, what would happen?

Turning back to reality, Axel felt someone lifting him up quite easily and crushing his head against a tree, grazing it critically. All that was left of Axel now was instinct and soul. Even his soul wanted out now.

Landing harshly on the ground, he looked up at the looming figure towering over him, it’s chest heaving up and down.

“GET UP AND FIGHT!” The figure threw out it’s fist, threatening him to make a reaction or he would make him react. Feeling as if he wanted to throw up, Axel gathered up every last strength he had, and threw his chakram at Roxas, a weak flame surrounding it. Much to Axel’s expectations, Roxas flung it away easily, glaring down at him menacingly.

“Pa~thetic..”

Everything went silent. Frowning worriedly, he suddenly realized that he’d gone deaf, losing all his hearing abilities. Axel’s gut wrenched itself into a knot of hopelessness. He knew he couldn’t go any farther. His head started to reel again, before feeling a weight shift on his lap. It was obvious who it was. Roxas leant his forehead against Axel’s momentarily, before leaning back. Axel felt tears start to stream down his own face, dreading for the moment.

“I love you Axel…”

Standing up quickly, Roxas raised oblivion high above his head, before smashing it brutefully into Axel’s head, causing his skull to crack immediately. Axel jerked violently several times, before dropping down on the ground, dead.

As his emerald eyes faded to a dull emerald green, his and Roxas’s final tears met each other on the ground for the last time, mixing within each other, a last significance of their battle, won by nobody.

“…To Death.”