Title: Something Unrequited

Okay, this was originally going to be a one-shot akuroku fic, but then I had ideas for another…and then another. So, like others, this will be the container for any random KH oneshots I come up with, though I have the feeling most will be akuroku. Most will have no relation whatsoever to one another, and relationships between characters in them will probably vary from one story to another.

Pairing: Akuroku

Summary: Axel sees Sora, but not Roxas. Obligatory random akuroku one-shot. Emphasis on the random.

Spoilers for the endingish.

Disclaimer: Reinna doesn't own, doesn't pretend she owns, or anysuch thing. She just likes to borrow them for a bit for her own sick, twisted amusement.

Words: 488

---

Axel could barely stand to look at Sora. But he did anyways, because it was the closest he could ever get to Roxas now.

And he needed that sometimes, when none of the other members of the Organization would mention their Number Thirteen by name anymore, or would even start calling him Sora, as if Roxas had never existed.

When it started to seem like the presence of Sora threatened to engulf Roxas's very existence and wipe it out entirely, replacing the memories of a certain grumpy, surly blond with a cheerful, naïve, spike-haired brunette. When they weren't the same person. Not at all.

Until there would only be one person who had ever known or cared that Roxas had once stood here, scowling his customary scowl at every person who walked past, pointedly ignoring the chatter of his best friend.

Axel.

And he couldn't stand that.

And so, sometimes he watched Sora. Hoping, looking, watching. Seeing if there was anything left of that goddamn blonde that had driven him up one wall and down the other first in irritation, then desire. If he was close enough, and closed his eyes, he could almost –soclosebutnotquite- sense Roxas there. And then he'd keep his eyes closed, because opening them would rip apart the fragile illusion.

And there wasn't. Because no matter how hard he looked, or how much he tried, he couldn't find Roxas in Sora, couldn't find his surly, antipathetic friend in this naïve, open, compassionate boy. Because had he not known of their connection, Axel was sure that he would never have guessed they were in any way related to each other. Except that one time, when Sora had seen Axel for the first time after he had awakened. And glared.

And Axel was glad in that moment that he didn't have a heart, because he would have needed to restart it after being hit in the face by that expression that looked so very much like…

Roxas.

Goddamnit.

And it made him ache in the place where his heart really wasn't. What was the point of becoming a Nobody if you could still feel pain?

None whatsoever.

---

A/N: Haha, what's one more akuroku one-shot in the majillion that must already be there? Axel is fun to write.

And er, the title is only because I thought that sounded pretty. :D