Author's Note: I am newbie writer! Yay! Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my story. If you can, please give any tips and feedback. It would be most appreciated.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respected owners.

Counting the Days

Walking through the halls of Castle that Never Was, Axel was dreading to know what the Superior could possibly want with him. He just returned from a grueling mission in Halloween Town and all he wanted was some rest. When was the last time he was given a break? They've been throwing orders at him left and right for past couple of weeks and really Axel was getting sick of it.

This had better be good. Black boots clunked against the white floors of the Castle as he walked towards his room. It was eerily quiet in the Castle. But that was nothing unusual. Most members of the Organization kept to themselves. No one was loud and rowdy, just plain and simple as a Nobody should be. Nobodies do not have a heart to feel, but that doesn't mean they can't remember and act on those feelings. The redhead insisted on acting, it was the only way to keep him sane in this Organization. Axel particularly didn't care for the quiet and boring nature of the castle, but it couldn't be helped, this is where he lived.

Once he arrived at his living quarters, he opened the door and walked inside. The rooms that was provided to him wasn't much, just a simple desk and chair, dresser, and a bed with a headboard with the Nobody emblem engraved. Of course the room was stark white right down to the sheets, as was the rest of the castle. Axel once wondered if the reason the Castle was so bright was because they lived and breathed darkness.

Axel walked to his dresser to pull out a pair of new gloves. His current pair was worn and ratty, and one had big rip from one of his chakrams on the last mission.

Heh. I'm so taking my sweet time. Boss might not like it if I keep him waiting. Eh. I guess I better hurry.

He quickly took off his ripped gloves, and put on a new pair, wiggling his fingers a bit to loosen the leathery gloves. The redhead raised his arm out in front and called forth a dark portal.

Axel stood staring at the swirl of darkness for a bit before taking a step forward. He really wanted to know what the Superior wanted and why it couldn't wait until he was fully rested. Sighing, Axel stepped fully into the portal, it suddenly closing in after he was through.

Xemnas sat in The Round Room, staring down at the small boy standing in the center platform. He was waiting patiently for his subordinate to arrive, but he couldn't keep his eyes off the boy below. His hair was a beautiful golden yellow, just like how his used to be. This boy reminded him so much of him, that it was terrifying. It was as though he was an exact replica of him. Xemnas was actually ecstatic to have the boy joining his Organization. Yes, the main reason was because of the Keyblade, but also because the boy reminded him of old times. Of times when was a somebody. Of times when was in lo-

No... I must focus on the goal. Kingdom Hearts. Also, finding the Chamber of Waking.

A black cloud of darkness suddenly appeared on one of the twelve unoccupied seats surrounding the room, announcing Axel's arrival. Xemnas quickly put those thoughts in the back of his mind and turned to look at the redhead.

"You called for me Boss?" Axel said.

Xemnas turned to look back down at the boy below. He was staring down at his feet, his bright blue eyes hidden from view. Oh how Xemnas just wanted the boy to look at up, let Xemnas see those bright blue eye once more. How he loved those eyes. The silver haired man closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then continued to stare at the boy below.

"This is your new mission. This boy is now a part of Organization XIII and I want you to be his guide. Teach him the rules, show him his quarters, and then bring him back here tomorrow for his inductee ceremony."

Axel turned emerald eyes down at the figure below. He didn't realize he was there when he first arrived. The young boy suddenly looked up at Xemnas then slowly turned his head towards Axel. Wide eyes, blue as the ocean stared up at Axel, giving the look of innocence.

Heh. He's just a kid. "So you want me to babysit huh?" Axel smirked as the boy's eyes suddenly gave him a look of annoyance.

"Roxas." The boy 'Roxas' turned blue eyes to look at the superior.

"I have high expectations of you. Axel," Xemnas turned steely gold eyes to his subordinate, "Those are your orders. You two are dismissed."

"Yes sir." Axel then suddenly disappeared in a cloud of darkness, and then reappeared on the platform below beside the kid. Axel looked down at the boy. Getting a closer look of the boy, Axel could say the boy was kind of cute. Roxas was almost a foot shorter than Axel, but looked much older than what he appeared to be. Axel assumed that kid had to be around 16 or 17, just a couple years younger than him. Axel was lost studying the cuteness of the new kid until he finally spoke.

"Umm... Can we leave?" The boy spoke so softly Axel barely heard him. Axel shook head to clear his thoughts, coming out of his daze. Looking down, Axel reached a hand at the back of his head and scratched at his scalp. A habit that he's always had, and then looked a back at the boy. "Yeah. Might as well get started huh? Follow me."

Opening a path to darkness behind them, Axel proceeds to turn walk through the portal. Roxas looked at strange portal of blacks and blues skeptically. He didn't particularly like this way of travel so far, but this was the only way to enter and exit this room. So he had no choice but to step forward and follow behind Axel.

Upon arriving in the Grey room, Axel stood to wait until Roxas was fully out of the portal to close it. Axel had to hold back a snicker; the boy looked absolutely freaked out. Axel mildly wondered if it was because of portal of darkness or being around the superior. Xemnas definitely freaked him out when Axel first met him, but then again, some of characters here in the Organization freaked him out. So that is to be expected.

The blond took a look around the room with curious eyes. It appeared to a large lounge area, half of the room with large ceiling windows overlooking the city below. A pair of loveseats, the only furniture, placed on each end of the room. Wide open space in the middle. There was no one but the two of them in the room, and Roxas wondered if anyone really lounges around in here.

Axel startled the boy out of his thoughts, "So, we here are. Let's get started shall we?" Standing with arms crossed, Axel seemed bored.

"Oh. By the way," uncrossing his arms to put one hand on his hips, Axel remembered he never properly introduced himself.

"The name's Axel. A-X-E-L. Got it memorized?"

"…" The boy stared at him as though he grew another head.

"Boy, you don't talk much do you?"

"…"

"Sheesh it's as though I'm talking to a brick wall," Axel muttered under his breath. He just wanted to get this over with so he can go back to his room and take a good night's sleep.

"Alright. Well, this room is the Grey room. Here is where you will be assigned your missions. Every morning, report here to a guy named Saix, to get your mission. Got it?"

"…"

Sighing, Axel thought that it was going to be a long night. The boy wouldn't respond to him at all. Axel wondered why the boy spoke up while in the Round room but not here with him, while they were alone. Maybe Xemnas really did freak the poor boy out. Suddenly, Axel got an idea. He looked at the boy with mischievous and tired eyes.

"Heh. How about we go to some place nice after this, you'd liked to get out of the stale, boring castle for a while wouldn't you?"

The blond just stared at him with blank, emotionless eyes. It seemed as if he was listening but totally out of it. "Well, I'm going to assume that you don't mind. So let's hurry and get to your room and we can leave from there." Axel stared at the boy for minute to see if he would respond. When Roxas made no move, Axel turned to walk out of the room. He would glance over his shoulder every once in a while to make sure that kid was following him.

Axel didn't know what to think of Roxas. He was clearly out of it, as though he was a zombie or something. But besides all that, Axel couldn't help but find the boy attractive. He was so young and innocent; Axel couldn't help but be attracted to him. These thoughts of this boy couldn't be anything but just that. He was already somewhat committed to someone else and if his lover found out, all hell would break loose. But still, just a look couldn't hurt. Axel casually glanced over his shoulder at the boy, who was following aimlessly, holding his head down. Axel turned back and thought that Roxas was probably just was nervous or something. He was in a new environment, surrounded by new people. It must be really weird for him. At least he and Saix enrolled at the same time, so he had some comfort. Well, maybe our trip outside the castle will make him feel better.

Arriving at the dorms, they walked down the long hall; each door had a roman numeral engraved on the door, starting from II to XIII. As they pasted each door, Roxas wondered where No. I lived. He didn't have to think too long though. Axel explained it to him.

"This is the dormitory for all the Organization members but the Superior. He has his own wing on the other side of the castle. The numbers on the doors represents the Organization member that lives there. By the way, I'm No. VIII."

Roxas looked at Axel, then to the doors they've just pasted, VI and VII.

"So what number am I?" Roxas whispered so softly he was sure Axel didn't here.

"Ah. So you do speak. Heh... The superior didn't tell you?

You're No. XIII!"

Gasping softly, Roxas looked at Axel with wide eyes. He didn't know he was that far down. So that meant that there were thirteen members in the organization. Each member had a number, so far he knew he was No. XIII, Axel was… Axel was No. VIII, and that meant that the superior (Whatever his name was, Roxas couldn't remember.) had to be No. I since that was the only number not on this hall. Roxas mildly wondered if they always had thirteen Organization members or if his room was recently made. Roxas was unsure.

Finally reaching door No. XIII, Axel stopped to look at Roxas "Aahh. No. XIII. Welcome to your new abode." Axel opened the door, holding the door open to let Roxas walk in. Roxas took a look at his new home, noting the large window by the bed. Walking around to look at his small room, he came to stand by the bed, noting the strange symbol atop the headboard. Sitting down on the bed, Roxas was surprised to notice that the bed was actually soft and not hard as it looked.

Axel stood by the door, with a smirk on his face, letting Roxas explore his new room. It was nothing new. Axel failed to mention that the size of the rooms were smaller for newer members compared to older members. Axel's room wasn't really all that spacious but at least it was way bigger than Roxas'. The kids' room seemed to be a box, just big enough for the small bed and desk.

After a few minutes Axel was getting bored and he really wanted to skip and go to his special place, show the kid a good time, come back home, cuddle with his lover, then fall into a dreamless sleep. Nobodies didn't dream. In order to dream, that required feelings. Axel remembers long ago, when he once dreamed, some good, some bad, and what he wouldn't give to have a sleep full of dreams. Well, the upside of dreamless sleep was that he never had nightmares that gave him sleepless nights. Aahh yes. Peaceful nights.

"Nice huh? It isn't much but at least they provide you with everything you need. There is a communal bath at the end of the hall, and your clothes and whatever else you may need is given to you. Just ask if you need something, ok?" Roxas gave a weak nod while still glancing around the room, getting used to the idea that this is his room.

"Alright, let's get going to that special place. I wanna get outta here for a while." The blond slowly looked back at Axel with curious eyes. What special place were they going to?

"Heh." Axel smirked as he held out his hand to make a portal in the hallway, looking back at Roxas as it appeared. "Alright, let's go." Axel waited until Roxas stood to turn and walk into the portal, Roxas following close behind.

They arrived in a town Axel had called Twilight town. Roxas thought the small quaint town was weird. Totally unlike the place they just left. When they arrived at large building that seemed to be a clock tower slash train station, Roxas thought that was weird too. But the part that was really out of the norm for Roxas was sitting on the top of said Clock tower slash train station eating something Axel called 'Sea Salt ice cream'. Weird.

Taking a bite out of his own treat, Axel stared off into the sunset, admiring the view. He came to this spot as often as he could. It was the perfect place to unwind after an exhausting mission or just to get away from the scripted life of the organization. Closing his eyes as a soft breeze blew, ruffling his spikes, cool air hitting pale skin, Axel let out a soft sigh of content. He loved being up here. Nothing else made him feel more human than being here, high on the clock tower, eating his favorite ice cream. The redhead turned to look at Roxas to see if the blond was at least enjoying his self.

Apparently not. Roxas was looking his ice cream, studying it as if he didn't know what it was, and the kid was fidgety! Every few seconds he would check to make sure that he wasn't too far off on the ledge of the clock tower then scoot back more on the ledge. It wasn't as if the kid would magically move forward without force. Maybe if he would just be still, he wouldn't have to worry about falling off. Axel was really bout to call it day and head back because it's obvious that the kid was freaking out yet again. Sheesh, what's with this kid? Sighing, Axel finished off his ice cream looking at his stick to see if he was a WINNER! (Unfortunately, he wasn't), then stood up on the ledge of the tower, "Hey Roxas".

Roxas turned to look at Axel; it was even more so obvious that the blond was uncomfortable. His face was scrunched, lips in a pout. Axel couldn't help but think yet again that the kid was cute.

"Hey, let's head back."

To Be Continued...