Hanging Around Town [Open!]

Stepping foot out into the dimly lit grounds of her front yard the Eternal Flame of Darkness looked out towards the setting sun which even with it's bright light radiated with a slight gloom as it rose into the sky signaling a new had arrived in the land of hallows eve'. As her arms raised over her head Axis began to stretch out her body as she let out a yawn. Needless to say her first night in Halloween Town had been pleasent. Set up with the works of not only a house and a knew citizenship she had also got a good night's sleep and was set for the day ahead. Flipping her black and red highlighted hair from her right eye Axis emerald eyes fell on the silent and steady town while glistening in the light that did manage to break through the town's clouds above. Her face wore a smile as she slung her jacket over her right shoulder hanging by her index finger on her right hand and slipping her left hand deep within the pocket of her pants she set down the winding path closing and locking the door to her house behind her. Heading down the path into town she brought her jacket around and with quick movements put it on as she just stopped at the entrance way to town square. Her eyes did continue to wander examining the various town folk and their many races. Vampires, ghosts, evil scientists, skeletons. All monster but ones she could easily grow used to. Taking in a deep whif of freash air Axis exhailed and her smile grew.

"Awesome already..." She laughed only slightly to her own comment. Already she was grown used to the atmosphere of Halloween Town. That's how she knew this was a home worth keeping. The inhabitants, the terrain, the culture. It all fascinated Axis even though at some points it was quite dull. As it was morning the young nobody did soon take into account that the square was somewhat abandoned except for the few townsfolk here and there as well as the street band which played the same familiar tune all hours of the day. Shrugging Axis continued on pacing towards the fountain in the middle of it all and rushing only slightly as she did give a small leap and landed on the ledge between the ground and the neon green water. Once she landed keeping her balance still she pulled a small silver covered bookout from her left back pocket. On the front the title could be read in small greyish brush script writing "Loveless". The book in question had been given to her as a gift by one of the members of Organization XIII back before she had made it out in an escape attempt. As she opened it with little hesitation she came to the page where a small bracelet with a key hanging from it acted as a bookmark. Pulling it from the book Axis placed it around her right wrist over her checkered wristband, letting it hang as she began to walk around the ledge of the fountain in it's circular formation. Her mind became interested again as she began where she had left off so long ago. Her eyes read the words with much attentiveness as her lips moved mouthing the verses that drifted deep inside her head and the story unfolded. The world around her was being tuned out one step at a time but her overdeveloped senses would tell her if someone approached. Till then she continued with the book and the concentrated pace.

Tombstones lay scattered about as the moon loomed overhead with a feel of fear lurking about. Halloween Town had always been known as a world that was somewhat different, somewhat darker and somewhat mysterious...In this world, the sun never showed its enlightened face, nor share its warm embrace. No, it was quite the opposite here, the moon could always be seen, traveling about the night sky as a cold sense fell down upon the earth below.

Roxas had never been to this world. It had never really peeked his interest, therefore causing him to merely look over the world and pay it no mind, yet upon this eve, something was different. It were as if something had called him forth, requesting his presence in the once forsaken world.

He appeared first in the graveyard. He walked around the markings, gazing upon the many forgotten names that were so carefully engraved in each of them. His black cloak helped protect him from the bitterness of the cold front, his hood remained erect. He hugged tightly to his cloak with gloved hands. Roxas exhaled softly as he began to leave the yard of the dead. Death always seemed to scare him...yet at times he wished he could feel its cold grip come upon him. However, Roxas was a nobody, literally, without a heart...therefore immortalizing him for all of eternity.

It was not long before his feet had carried him to an opening. He was now present in the courtyard. The fountain leaked green liquids from its spout which caused Roxas to cock his head in curiosity. He had never seen some of these stranges occurances before. Walking around the fountain was a young lady. He had not met her previously, yet was cautious about approaching a stranger, not because he was frightened by her, he was merely a shy person by nature.

Roxas remained in the shadows, however, he was not attempting to conceal himself. If he was seen by the citizens of the town, so be it. He had nothing to hide. He merely felt led to come to such a world as this. The silent Nobody walked over to a stone bench and ever so quietly took a seat. It was cold to the touch, but he didn't mind. For the time being he remained still, gazing up at the moon from time to time.

Axis was drifting between the reality of the world around her and the fantasy of the storyline as she continued. That was till... She stopped mid-step. Off far in the distance beyond the town square and straight into the graveyard Axis could begin to feel the faint traces of an aura. This particular aura was formed of the very darkness that her own was but at the same time it held the slight twist of light. As it seem to approach closer to her general area she could begin to recognize it. It was all too familiar but she couldn't quite put her finger on it just yet. The name and face was eluding her as it would almost appear and then vanish. She was forced to look up from her book and scan her immediate surroundings as the aura kept coming in stronger and stronger as it was growing closer to the courtyard. Finally after a few moments the aura was stronger then ever. Whoever it belonged to was right there and in plain view no doubt. Sniffing the air and following her abnormal senses her emerald eyes soon fell on the appearing figure and instantly she knew who it was. Her eyes widen a fair bit as she recognized the old organization member from the past. As he seemed to notice her briefly she gave a quick turn away from his direction. Something was odd though, he hadn't noiced her. He had sat himself on one of the stone benches without so much as a word. Raising an eyebrow she thought for a moment keeping him in view in the corner of her eye.

Then it came to her. "It's been so long he probably doesn't remember me. I don't blame him, I mean I definitely have changed since then." The truth it was. Since her successful escape from the clutches of Organization XIII Axis had changed not only in personality but drastically in appearance as well. Calming and reposing herself she settled and continued around the foutain this time making it seem like she was reading but not really. As she did a full circle then was almost directly in front of Roxas she stopped and looked up from her book again. Closing the book this time she jumped from the ledge and approached him with an appearing smirk crossing her lips. As she stopped about an arms length away Axis crossed her arms and gave a small salute. "Hey there number thirteen. What brings you to Halloween Town this fine day hm?" Roxas has once been her friend but so many years ago it didn't surprise her that he didn't know who she was. Hopefully though with a little help she'd get him remembering.

The presence of the young lady was rather peculiar. Oddly enough he felt as though he recognized her, yet where would he know her from? Was it just another dream that the Organization had planted inside of him? Or, was this all real? Did he really know her?...So many questions waged a war on his mind. He lowered his head, looking down at the pale stone walkway as he gripped his head, wishing for the bombarding thoughts to cease their onslaught.

A moment later he heard footsteps. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the girl walking around the fountain and reading a book. There was just something about her, yet he could not quite embrace the answer. She somewhat reminded him of Xion. Could she possibly be of the Organization?

The shocking part was when she called him "number thirteen". Suddenly he was ambushed by a cold, dead emotion...fear. He feared for what he could have done in his past for this girl to remember his ties with the Organization. He slowly lifted his head, lowering his hood and looking upon her questioningly.

"No doubt you recognize me from the Organization?...I suppose this cloak doesn't help hide the fact that I was once apart of them..."

He looked down at his cloak. It was a symbol of his past treacheries...the evil that once consumed him completely could still be felt in his inner core...all by looking at the cloak.

"To answer your question...I'm not quite sure why I'm here...what are you doing here?"

It seemed rather odd to this Nobody that a girl would be in a darkened world like Halloween Town...reading a book none the less. It seemed quite dangerous, yet he wouldn't comment or speculate on that matter.

Axis gave a gleam of a brilliant smile as Roxas gave a reply. Although the look that had appeared on his face had re-assured her about the not-to-long-ago confusion. It was somewhat displeasing to know that Roxas couldn't remember her fully from the old days after having spent many of them hanging with both him and her brother Axel as well as their good friend Xion. As the reminders of the past sunk and appeared in her head she raised an eyebrow as the experession on his face continued to change. It had went from the confusion to absolute fear at the mention of his old position. xis felt as if she had brought out a most crushing reminder of the previous day in Organization XIII. Rubbing the back of her neck she gave a look down to the ground thinking to herself; "Smooth moves flame head, you've already managed to scare him within the first few seconds of a friendly reunion." But her look returned to Roxas as he finally did reply in an questioning manor. He had lowered his hood finally to reveal his face as he spoke.

Good so he atleats knew where she remembered him from but he wasn't too thrilled about it obviously. But she couldn't really blame him. After all the trouble he had been forced through at the hands of the chaotic and, pretty much in simple terms, backstabbing Organization. She could feel the same to a point. She could sympathize for him after being used herself by the same people. Surprisngly enough Roxas and Xion had been some of her closest friends, the few nobodies that actually showed some kind of hope in the looming word of darkness they had called home. That one though blew the bad times to hell for her atleast. The nobody watched as her fellow member began to looked down at the cloak he wore. By the seeming tension in the short distance somehow she could tell that it was serving him as a bad reminder. Been there, felt that, never wanna go back. That was the words she was sticking with when it came to the matters of remember those previous events. As she gave a short and brief nod Axis stepped up on the free end of the bench and sat herself on the top edge of the back. Placing the book in her hand in her right front pocket of her jeans she looked down at Roxas. "Of course I remember you Roxas. It's been too long my friend. Glad to see you made it atleast. I was worried bout you and the others for the longest time." She paused for a moment and looked out around the town courtyard before answering again. "I live here now amoung these citizens. I've managed to find peace and tranquility here. I was able to start anew here in this land. Away from the problems of the past."

As she spoke he couldn't help but feel as though he should remember her. A war was being waged in his mind, a constant conflict between his real memories, and those that Diz placed inside of his head...Roxas didn't know which memories were real and which were made up, thus starting the conflict.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he began to stare up at the moon with a rather blank expression on his face. The breeze picked up the slightest bit as his mouth opened to release captive words.

"I want to remember you...I want to remember everyone from my past...but I can't. Xion and Axel are the only ones I've seen since I woke up in the Realm of Darkness..."

The blank expression on his face soon changed to another curious look. His eyes drifted downwards as he watched a nearby cat walk along the top of the fence with grace. His lips formed a petite smile as the cat stumbled.

The nobody then tried to recapture his attention and focus on the matter at hand.

"Perhaps in time I will find a way to get back all of my memories...until then, I'll just keep searching."

At this time Roxas picked up his right leg and crossed it over his left, he then leaned back and popped his back.

"You live here? This place gives me the creeps, no offense."

As Roxas spoke again his eyes locked, trapped in a gaze towards the brilliant moon shinning above them all. The breeze picked up again rustling the remaining leaves that had drifted in from the forest and now danced across the courtyard ground. As the wind swept across her and Roxas both Axis flipped her black hair from her right eye and gave a shake of her head as it also sank. "I'm not surprised you don't remember but thats alright. I'm just glad to see your still walking. Atleast you remember Axel. Man! I miss my brother. Havnt seen him in ages. I think since I left the World That Never Was." She placed a finger to her chin as she crossed her arms and began to think of her brother at his mention. It was true she hadn't heared from Axel since god knows when but if Roxas said he had seen him then he must be good, right? She shook her head again this time to pull herself from thought and turn her attention back to Roxas. She watched closely as a black cat seemed to appear from no-where right infront of them. It had caught her eyes as soon as Roxas turned to watch it himself. As it seem to stumble slightly along the ledge of nearby fencing he had shown a brief smile which quickly disappeared as soon as his focus went back to Axis. He spoke again. This time Axis let her arms drop into her lap and gave a nod. "I have faith you will. I know you can find them Roxas."

As Roxas seemed to reposition himself Axis began to push inward on her knuckles till light cracks could be heared. Looking around the next question caught her ears. She gave her smile again. "Theres just something about this place I love. The people, the theme. Hell I love everything about it. It may not seem like it at first glance but its actually a nice place to live in. Lots of excitment but at the same time lots of peace and calmness."