Chapter One: Chronic Dreaming

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Axel and Roxas belong solely to Disney, Square Enix and all associated affiliates.

Summary: "Let's meet again… in the next life." Axel was serious about his pro, and his soul remembers the promise and plagues the sleeping dreams of his reincarnation. When these dreams lead Brannan, self-called Axel, to taking on his dreaming persona, what happens when a boy named Ryan, who's shared the same sleeping life comes to his school. A boy who looks shockingly like the Roxas who Axel has fallen in love with.

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Axel's POV

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Intense pain coursed through my body. I looked toward my stomach, the cause of the pain and found myself wearing the black leather cloak that covered my body in only one realm. I glanced toward either hand, not at all surprised to see the circular disk's held loosely in my grasp. I was there again, in my dream.

"Axel…."

The voice made me look up, as it always did. There stood the stranger, the familiar stranger who I knew only here, the stranger who's plagued my life since childhood. This same dream, rarely does it change. I knew exactly what I'd say. The precise tone in which I'd respond. And I'd not have control over it. Nothing I tried to do could change the moment

"Let's meet again. In the next life."

"Yeah. I'll be waiting."

"Silly… just because you have a next life."

I sat bolt upright, eyes wide open. I stared sightlessly ahead of me, my chest heaving from my rapid breathing. A hand reached up, griping the material there, teeth finding my bottom lip in worry. Loneliness coursing through my body.

I remembered the first time I had that dream. I had run crying to my parents room, crying my eyes out and said that my best, best friend was gone. That even though we promised to meet each other again, I didn't believe him. It was when the dream became chronic and when I kept referring to this 'Roxas' as my only friend, the only one I liked, that my parents got concerned. They took my to doctors and psychiatrists, I was put on all types of drugs that were supposed to suppress dreams and give me a dreamless sleep. Though it only made my 'condition' worse, as the dreams became more vivid. I started telling them how I looked, what I dressed like, that I could control fire.

I think it was when I was 15 and began to seriously pursue taking on my dream persona that my parents just gave up on me. They let me dye my black hair fire red and signed the permission slip for me to get a tear-drop tattoo put on each cheek. They refuse though to call me Axel, as I now, sometimes violently, insisted upon. Though they do slip, forgetting to call me Brannan when everyone around them refers to me by another name.

Slowly I threw back the covers on my bed, my gaze changing toward the window. I'm now 18, a senior in my high school. I'm an honor's student, a pick for valedictorian for my graduating year. I'm also start of the debate team, I know nothing to be proud of but it helps me release my natural, sometimes I seems instinctual ability to twist peoples words around. My parents figured debate was a better outlet then my friends. After seeing me make a bully cry by manipulating their actions against them and made everyone laugh at them.

Standing I glanced toward the clock… a full hour until my first class started. This always happened when the dreams came. I ended up in school early, trying to ease the loneliness they caused. It didn't help that that face always is there when I close my eyes.

Dressing myself in my usual t-shirt and worn out jeans, I threw on a cotton button up shirt over it, leaving it loose and unbuttoned before throwing all my needed school books into my school bag and heading downstairs. Closing my door quietly, I paused in front of my sisters room, still talking on the phone in hushed tones with a friend or boyfriend. Once again her over-active social life kept her up all night. I always acted oblivious to her actions, though sometimes sneering at the fact that she cared so much about her social standing. Though half the time I simply envy her.

I've never been antisocial, or mean to others. I don't discourage social interaction… I just have high standards for friendship. No one ever seems able to hold a candle to the boy who's been the friend of my dreams, the one who made a promise to me… even though I've never actually met him. The boy who has always had an aura of innocence and kindness, the one who makes me feel happy.

That's probably why, even though they make me feel lonely, I actually like and long for these dreams. On some level, I've probably fallen in love with this dream friend, this Roxas. That's probably why the girls at my school never have luck, why I've remained happily single.

A sign slipped past my lips as I walked downstairs, grabbing an apple and leaving the house. Deciding to visit with my thoughts longer, I sat on the stairs of the front porch, watching the coming dawn. I'll never call myself depressed, because I'm not. Simply grasping, and hoping that someone is waiting for me, somewhere, even though I know it's wistful thinking. It's a loneliness I willingly inflict on myself, a self-inflicted pain. Call my a masochist if you so will it. Though at times I wonder if people like me have support groups, how'd I introduce myself?

'Hello, my name is Brannan McNeal, but I call myself Axel after a person I take on in my dreams. I'm in love with a boy named Roxas who I meet there.'

I said it out loud, testing the words on the air and couldn't help but laugh at myself as I took a bite of my apple. I certainly did qualify as insane.

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Authors Corner

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Greetings all, Calli here. Starting another fiction, but one I'm wholly dedicated too I swear it! I've actually got the second chapter hand-written and another chapter thought out in my head. I think this should take to about five chapters, possibly longer depending on readers. If you review then I might be tempted to write more and also you guys give me great ideas! Now I would have merged Roxas', and Axel's chapters together if I hadn't wanted reviews on this so far, since I'm wondering what you all think of the idea. And just to make sure you understand what this is -takes in a deep breath-

This is set in Roxas, and Axel's lives after their deaths in Kingdom Hearts. As in after Sora died, so pretty much Roxas was set free, blah, blah. I'm quite aware that Sora is Roxas, and Roxas is Sora, so don't play the "But Roxas needs to act like Sora!! Since Roxas is Sora!!" Trust me, Roxas will be like Sora in the way he's oblivious to everything. Also, seeing that, this isn't really and AU. Call it that if you must be Axel and Roxas will be the only Kingdom Hearts characters making appearances in here. I might spawn some idea's from the Organization's members personality's and the other characters personalities but that's about it.

Also, just so you all know, if you haven't gathered it from the summary and story. This is a AkuRoku fan fiction. It does have suggestions in it that Axel and Roxas were more then best friends, though it's not to the rabid extent. I make my dribble make some sense. But please if your against this pairing, don't flame my story. Just calmly close the window;

Now enough with my senseless ramble. Please review this and tell me what you think. I appreciate it and if you write fiction too, you'll know where I'm coming from! Thanks in advance.