"Up! Up some more… Hold it!"

The beam slid into place, and the two Tora workmen eased it to the correct angle. Reno took a step back. Three men on either side of the castle's Left Wing tugged on ropes, waiting for his command to release. Bringing his hands up to his eyes to frame the build, Reno nodded.

"Okay, let it go!"

BUMPH!

The whacking of nails into the wood proceeded around the castle courtyard. The Tora soldiers grunted heavily, arching their backs and rubbing the back of their necks. Reno sympathised with them; after two long weeks of hard work the castle was beginning to return to normality, although it was a long way off. The scorched bricks had been replaced, walls had been knocked down and rebuilt, and the entire Left Wing still needed refurbishing after the attacks, but it was a start at least.

He yelped when a green wyvern bolted by, jumping back and scowling at the two guards that chased the half-saddled beast.

"Hey! Get a hold of that thing! For Goddess' sake it almost took me out!"

"Sorry, Prince Reno!" they shouted back, grabbing hold of the wyvern before it tossed them up in the air and flung them over the pile of wood.

Reno rolled his eyes, wrinkling his nose and folding his arms. "Where the hell's Xain, anyway? He's supposed-"

"Should my ears be burning?" Xain laughed. Dressed in light clothes that were once white but were now stained with patches of brown, he strode to his brother with his hands buried deep in his pockets.

"Yeah, they should. What the hell?! You're supposed to be training the wyverns, not letting them run rampant around the castle!"

"Run rampant?" Xain glanced behind Reno to where the green wyvern was snapping viciously at an approaching soldier. "They're not running rampant. They're still babies, so they're going to act up. Hell, you acted up enough when you were little."

"I wasn't a giant lizard that could trample someone with my feet."

"Could have fooled me."

"Whatever, Xain. Just grab that thing and get it away from my side of the castle before I tell Dad. You know you're not allowed over here when I'm working."

Xain sighed, pushing past Reno and striding between the flinching soldiers for the wyvern. He pulled the reins to him, yanking them down and whacking the beast down hard across its snout when it tried to bite him. When it whimpered and folded its wings in submission he nodded, guiding it back to his brother.

"Reno, you really have to lighten up."

"I have a lot of work to do, and so do you. Did you even get around to fixing the stables?"

"I'm working on it," Xain said, stroking the wyvern's scaly snout. "I have to train these babies too, yanno? It isn't exactly easy."

"You got off lightly. I wish I'd got to train the wyverns. Instead I got stuck with this," he pointed up to the beams of the castle. His men had begun fastening another beam with rope, tying it tight and yelling to each other to get in position.

"Trust me, you got the easier job."

"You mean the boring job. Hell, even Axel got to work down in the city."

"That's because Axel didn't go nuts with power," Xain muttered. "Look Reno, you should be grateful. You didn't get banished like the others, and dad's even letting you stay here in the Tora Kingdom. The way I see it you have a lot of making up to do, so maybe you should just do as you're told for a while. See how that works out for you."

"Are you always going to throw that back in my face?" Reno sulked, tensing his shoulders and huffing.

"I'm not throwing it back in your face, you're just being defensive. Look, I have to-OOMPH!"

He lurched forwards, staggering hard and grunting when he hit the ground. The wyvern reared back, startled by the sudden movement, and it charged off again, flapping its wings and taking to the sky. With a growl Xain rolled over, shoving Axel from his back and sitting up. The wyvern flew away on his line of vision and he sighed heavily, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Axel, do you have any idea how long it took me to find that thing?"

Axel's grin was lopsided and sheepish. He rubbed his arm from where he had knocked it, standing and helping Xain up. "Sorry, I didn't see you."

"How could you not see me? I had a giant green wyvern and I have bright red hair."

"I wasn't looking," he laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "I was searching for Dad. You seen him?"

"Dad? Why?" Reno asked, giving his men the signal to take a break.

"Yeah, shouldn't you be working? So far you've only restored fifteen houses, Axel. You've got a hell of a lot of work left to go."

"Yeah, but my two weeks are up. See, sunset." He pointed up to the sky where the sun dwindled down the horizon and glowed a fantastic orange. "I get to go see Roxas now."

"Urgh, you and that fucking Neko. Seriously, why don't you just move-ouch! You can't hit me, Xain!"

"Then keep your comments to yourself, Reno." Xain scowled. "Don't you think you should go get cleaned up first, Axel? You look a mess."

Axel looked down at himself. His pants were ripped and torn down the left leg, his boots were caked in mud so the sole couldn't be seen, and his shirt was untucked and splattered with grease and dirt. His neck was black with grime, and his left cheek had a deep bruise where a beam had fallen and hit his face. The frizzy hair was in need of a good comb, and the bandage on his hand needed changing.

Instead Axel shrugged. "I'll be fine."

"Axel, go shower."

"What? No, I'll be f-"

"Axel," Xain repeated sternly, "go shower. I'll let Dad know you're ready to go and Reno'll get your wyvern ready-"

"Say what? Hey, I've still got chores to do, Xain!"

"Five minutes away won't kill you, and besides, it'll do your men some good to have a longer break."

"But I-"

"Now!" Xain barked. "Axel, shower. Reno, saddle the wyvern. I'll go see Dad. We'll meet back here in half an hour. Got it?"

They both muttered under their breath and Xain smirked, leading the way into the castle. Axel followed close behind, and Reno headed to the far side of the courtyard, his fists clenched tightly as he set off to fetch Axel's wyvern.

The pass was quiet. Axel had left the Tora Kingdom two hours ago, and it had taken him all of his time to fly over the thickly built forest. The further he flew, the denser the canopy of the trees grew until finally he had found what he was looking for.

The forest broke before it could touch five acres of simple meadow. Cracked picket-fences lay scattered around specific fields, weeds and plants grew to thigh length, and a dusty path dared to snake through the grove. On all sides the seclusion inspired a nightingale's call, and the sad sound chirped out under the dwindling ebbs of dusk that dragged the stars over the clouds.

On the far side of his vision, Axel saw a smooth lake on the right. It pooled and shivered with ripples, guiding droplets down from the waterfall that crashed over the edge of a large rock-face, and up on the cliff the white stones gathered and huddled together from the spring breeze. Beside the pool was a trail of smooth stones which led to the open porch of a rundown cottage in desperate need of fixing. Quiet trees that stretched upwards into the clouds for what seemed like forever were scattered about the house, providing shade and a sweet rustling sensation to the ear.

Axel set his wyvern down by the pool, letting it wander away from him. It guzzled the fresh water deeply, snapping its jaws at some of the fish within and finally catching one. With a growl it curled up on the harsh dirt patch beside the waterfall, ripping into the scales of the fish and devouring the meat.

With a shake of his head, dressed in clean black and red silk, Axel left his wyvern to its dinner. As he approached the house he stopped, twitching his ears atop his head and glancing about. A small shriek carried itself on the wind, and on his right Roric rolled over from between a thick nest of grass. Only its neck was visible, and as it spotted Axel it snorted heavily, rolling back over onto its back and rubbing its coat along the weeds.

"Heh, if you're here Roxas definitely is." He glanced back about the fields. The growing darkness had the forest looming in on them, and from the grass fireflies floated upwards like tiny lanterns. Inside the cottage was dark and foreboding, and not a single candle was lit.

"He can't see in the dark, so he can't be in there. So where-"

"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, you know," a voice laughed.

Axel's ears flicked outwards, and he looked up to the roof of the building, a grin spreading thickly over his face.

Up on the roof, sat up with one hand sprawled over his knee and the other stretched out behind him, Roxas smiled lazily. His hair was fluffed up and unkempt, as if he had just woken, and his blue eyes sparkled charmingly, transforming the smile into a smirk of satisfaction. Unlike Axel he wore a cheap white shirt and ragged black pants that he'd tucked into scruffy boots. The top three buttons of his shirt were undone, and when the wind captured the fabric it pushed it over to reveal the sparkling blue gem beneath.

"Hey!" Axel called up, striding through the weeds with his hands on his hips. "What are you doing up there?"

"Waiting for you," Roxas said, scratching just behind his ears. "You're late."

"Sorry, Dad kept me back. You been waiting long?"

"Long enough."

"Well why don't you come down? You're not supposed to be climbing anyway."

With a raised eyebrow Roxas slid from the roof, catching the edge of the building and dropping down. He landed hard on his feet, his knees bent before he stood and stretched his arms upwards, listening to his bones crack and sighing. He rubbed at his eyes, jumping when Axel's arms snaked around his waist and pulled him back into the Tora's chest.

Roxas held the hands to his stomach, fiddling with the tied knot of the bandage and enjoying the cuddle. Axel nuzzled his shoulder, his heart pounding insanely.

"You smell amazing."

"Yeah?"

"Mmm…"

"I don't see why. Cloud's had me working my arse off in the Neko Kingdom. I stink of sweat."

"Hang on, he's had you working? After everything you did? Why?"

Roxas shrugged, turning around and playing with the soft silk of Axel's shirt instead. "A lot of people are still hurting in the Neko Kingdom. Since Cloud's busy with the royal affairs, Zack got the job of working with The Network to replace The Faults and The Fades, Sora has the job of managing trade and communications, and I got the rebuilding projects."

"Why'd you get that?"

"It's my city. I know every stick and stone of that kingdom, so it's only right I should fix it. What about you?" He pushed on Axel's chest lightly, his ears drooped over softly. "Your Dad been tough on you?"

"Xain's training the new wyverns and helping with the stables, Reno's helping Dad rebuild the castle, and I'm helping the people in the streets." He pushed his forehead to Roxas', stroking his thumb along the blonde's jaw. "I can't believe you just left. You didn't even wait to say goodbye."

"I couldn't. I'm sorry, but Cloud really wanted to get going."

"It's okay, but I really wish you would have waited. I've missed you, Kitten."

"I've missed you too."

"So," Axel lifted his head, looking over the land and the neglected house. "This is what Pete gave you?"

"It's great, isn't it?"

Axel wrinkled his nose. "Not exactly my first choice of words to describe it, but sure. Maybe in time it could become liveable."

"You always look at the negative," Roxas laughed.

"I do not, it's just… that's a lot of work."

"So?"

"So I was hoping I could have you all to myself," Axel purred, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Roxas laughed, pulling away from him. "Nu-uh. Taking it slow, remember?"

"Aw, but Kitten it's been two weeks. Two whole weeks. I've been dying to see you again. I don't think I've missed anyone near so much as I've missed you."

"Tch. Silver tongue much?" Roxas teased. "But I still wanna take it slow. And seeing as we've gotta fix this place up, I think it's a good way to start, right?"

"I guess…"

"Great. We'd better get started then. You any good at fixing things?"

Axel scoffed, slipping a hand around Roxas' waist and pulling him to him. "You have no idea, Kitten. No idea."

One Week Later

Axel knelt by the pool in the evening shadows. It was eight o'clock, and he was exhausted. Most of the structure of the house had been fixed, Roxas had tended the leaky roof, and they were halfway through redoing the pipelines, but they still had a lot left to do.

Dipping his hands into the water, he collected it in his palms and splashed it over his face, rubbing it over the back of his neck and letting it drip down his shirt. With a soft groan he rolled back his sore muscles, wincing at the stiffness from the heavy lifting and constant shifting of materials. He pushed his hair back, dampening it some and sighing.

"You okay?"

Axel twitched his ears and looked over his shoulders. Roxas stood with an ear flopped over and an eyebrow raised, stained from head to foot with patches of sweat.

"'M fine, Kitten. Just tired."

"Tired?" A small smile slipped onto Roxas' face and he crouched by Axel, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I thought you were full of energy?"

"At the start of the week, maybe. But between you and Dad I feel half-asleep."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Guess I'd better wake you up then."

"Huh-WAH!"

SPLASH!

Axel broke the water's surface and took a deep breath, shaking his hair back and kicking his legs out beneath him. Over on the bank Roxas was beside himself with laughter, clutching hard to his chest and struggling to breathe .

With a sultry smirk, Axel swam to the water's edge, pretending to reach out before he latched onto Roxas' arm. The laughter died and Roxas looked over to him, hiccupping small giggles and frowning thoughtfully.

"Sorry, Axel. I couldn't resist."

"Neither can I."

"Wha-Ah!"

SPLASH!

Roxas spluttered as he broke the water's surface, shaking his head roughly and splashing Axel in the face. He grinned from ear to ear, kicking away from Axel and shivering at the cool temperature. "What was that for?"

About them the fireflies danced and sparkled, rising from their homes in the field and sprouting up around them like wandering lights. The glow set itself over the pool, and Axel waded towards Roxas, wrapping his arms around the blonde's waist and smirking.

"You started it."

"Very mature."

"Mmm…"

Roxas wrapped his arms around Axel's neck, playing with the red hair. The wind kissed their skin, stealing fleeting gasps of warmth whilst the waterfall showered foam and soft sprays over them, casting up a fitful mist as it broke on the sharp rocks on the opposite end of the pool. With the moon bright and hanging over them, the silence spread itself out in a haze. Crickets dared to chirp through the glaze of their world, and in the distance Roric shrieked and ruffled his wings.

Axel stared at Roxas in the water, unable to blink or shift his gaze form the half-smirk and the wide blue eyes that seemed to capture the light and twinkle it back. His thumb stroked over Roxas' cheek, and the soft dip of the water dripping from him held them softly in a bubble of their own thoughts. Roxas leaned into the wet hand on his cheek, his ears folded back as he closed his eyes gently, bringing his own hand up to hold Axel's to him.

"I love you, Kitten."

"I love you too… Hey, Axel?"

"Yeah?"

"Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Please," Roxas whispered, wrapping his hand back around Axel's neck. "Close your eyes."

Unsure of what to expect, Axel held Roxas tighter and closed his eyes. His other senses became sharper; he heard the crickets chirp sweetly and the foam of the water lapping over the pool, could smell the strong country air and the fresh scent of trees, he could feel the water churning goose-bumps along his skin. But none of those were anything compared to the soft, gentle pressure slipping tenderly upon his lips.

The kiss was of miniature birth, given with simplicity and honesty and hiding tingles along his lips. With a hunger and small shockwaves trembling through his heart, Axel returned it, running his hands up Roxas' side and kicking out to stay afloat. Butterflies bloomed in his gut to feel Roxas' lips opening, and when their tongue's met he melted.

The innocence broke when Roxas moaned and Axel pulled him closer, pushing eagerly for more. But Roxas broke the kiss, granting Axel gentler pecks and smiling, dipping down in the water some until his chin brushed the surface.

"How was that?"

"Perfect," Axel purred, drawing Roxas back to him and nuzzling against him. "What about you?"

"Huh?"

"Your first kiss remade. How was it? Axel asked, kissing Roxas' cheek.

"Perfect," Roxas said, turning to take Axel's lips.

The kisses were short and soft, caringly placed with innocence. Axel was the one to end them, rubbing his nose against Roxas'.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Can we get out now? I'm cold."

Axel chuckled, swimming to the water's edge. He heaved himself out, shaking himself lightly before he turned back and pulled Roxas to him. The water drenched them, soaking the ground around them, and Roxas fell into his arms, his heart hammering from the cold and forcing shivering breaths from him.

"You alright?"

"H-huh?"

Axel placed his wounded hand by Roxas' heart, feeling it throb through the damp shirt. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. 'M fine."

"You sure?"

Roxas rolled his eyes, standing and yanking Axel up with him. "I'm fine, Axel. Stop worrying."

"You make me worry."

"I'm not delicate, Axel. I won't break. C'mon, I wanna get changed before the wind dries my shirt to me."

"Hold on!"

"Huh?" Roxas glanced back.

He had half a second to think before Axel kissed him. He was hugged tight to the Tora's chest, the blush searing over his cheeks as the tongue trailed along his bottom lip. He gasped and Axel seized his chance, running his fingers through Roxas' hair and tackling his tongue into submission, savouring the sweet taste and shivering impatiently when the blonde's moans tempted his ears.

"Kitten, I don't think I can wait" he husked.

"It's only been three weeks."

"I don't care." He slipped his hands up Roxas' shirt, scratching the damp flesh. "Sleep with me tonight."

"Axel-"

"We don't have to do anything, I swear, but I don't wanna let you go."

"I'll only be in the other room. Y-you can wait, righ-Ahhhh! Mnnngh, A-Axel…"

Axel released the delicate spot he had nipped at, licking along Roxas throat instead and kissing the sensitive flesh. Breathing heavy by Roxas' neck, he swept a kiss under his jaw and grinned. "Yeah, Kitten?"

"Stop teasing!" Roxas pulled away, blushing deeply. "We take it slow, remember?"

Axel rolled his eyes before a wicked thought came to him. Smirking deviously, he twitched his ears and put his hands on his hips. "Alright, I'll make a deal with you. Let's have a race."

"A race?" Roxas scoffed. "What the hell for?"

"We'll race to the top of the cliff. If I get there first you're mine for the whole night."

Roxas raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And if I win?"

Axel shrugged. "What would you want?"

Humming, Roxas tapped his chin thoughtfully before his grin turned as cunning as Axel's. "If I win you can't touch yourself for six months."

"W-what? What kind of a deal's that?"

"I think that's fair."

"I don't!"

"Well you're asking me to put a lot on the line. It's only fair you should put something up to. And I'll know if you've done it cuz I'll be able to smell it, so you won't be able to get away with it neither."

Axel was in shock. "Kitten, you're being unreasonable."

"No, I don't think so. You ready?"

"Kitten-"

"Get set-"

"Roxas!"

"GO!"

"Hey! Roxas, wait!" Axel staggered after him, running for the beginning of the cliff. He tripped momentarily and Roxas laughed back at him, jumping through the long weeds.

"Roxas! Roxas, I didn't agree to this!"

"You're falling behind!"

Axel half-laughed, sprinting through the weeds after him, desperate to get there first so he could pin the blonde to his bed and make him pay for the high stakes. With that thought in his mind he sprinted harder, catching up to Roxas and taking his legs out from under him.

With a yelp Roxas fell face-first into the mud, his chest heaving and staggering under the pressure of running. Axel spared him an apology before he jumped back up.

"See you in my bed, Kitten!"

"That's cheating!"

"You never said there were any rules!" Axel yelled back, grinning smugly.

With a heavy breath Roxas swayed momentarily, catching his breath and smirking. Attaching the mental connection with Roric, it was seconds before the beast was beside him and they were soaring over the grass. The black leather wings passed Axel easily, and the Tora frowned, his mouth hanging open. Roxas winked at him, sticking his tongue out triumphantly.

"See you at the top, Axel."

"That's cheating, Kitten!"

"Ha! You never said there were any rules!"

"Oh yeah?" Axel dived on Roric, tackling Roxas from the beast.

They tussled in the grass on the cliff, both of them laughing fitfully before they rolled to a stop with Axel on top. Roxas panted urgently beneath him, his chest rising and falling so fast the wheezes from the gasps could be heard. Axel placed his hand on Roxas' half-heart, rubbing it gently and stealing a swift kiss.

"You okay?"

"Y-yeah. Just gotta catch my… my breath."

Axel's ears flopped and he nuzzled their noses together. "You sure?"

"Y-yeah."

"Good. Then I'm gonna win."

"What? H-hey! Axel-"

"See you at the top, Kitten!" Axel smirked, kissing him deeply before he pushed up and sprinted away.

Roxas laughed aloud, still flat on his back in the grass with his chest heaving. He grabbed fistfuls of the cool weeds, using them to keep himself firmly planted to earth as he closed his eyes and controlled his breaths. By the time his breathing had steadied to an even beat it was too late; he sat up carefully, wincing at the pull in his chest and looking to the top of the cliff.

Axel stood atop it boldly, his chest puffed out in pride and his emerald eyes alight. Whistling through the air, he waved down on Roxas. The Neko laughed healthily, waving back before he let his arm flop.

He had been defeated, but then again, looking at Axel grinning with the moonlight snatching the water droplets on his skin… did he ever want to win? He thought about it for a moment, half-hidden in the grass, and the more he thought the more he became sure.

If he had wanted to win, knowing he had half a heart, would he have agreed to the challenge of a race? He smiled and leaned back, holding the Neko amulet about his chest.

Sometimes losing had its benefits.

In the maximum security prison on the Forgotten Isles there was no hope. The steel bars were reinforced, the cells buried deep underground with bloodthirsty hounds patrolling the corridors and guards standing watch outside. All meals were fed through a tube-pipe, and the dripping of neglect and rotting flesh was like a fever through the brickwork.

The Neko King sat a man bedraggled and hooded in his cell. Vanitas, Marluxia, Saix, and Fuu shared it with him, and Sephiroth held the maximum security pad opposite them. All of them were chained and locked up with cuffs heavy about their ankles, neck, and throat, and their withered faces were distraught.

The Neko King brooded deeply, thinking on all he had lost because of one set of white ears and his incompetence to deal with the brat quickly. It was his one mistake, and he was eager to fix it.

The doors creaked open, and the hounds snarled, saliva dripping from their jaws. They had chance to yap once before a set of knives stuck fast in their throats, slicing them open and cutting them apart. They whimpered, bleeding crimson as they crumpled to the floor.

The prisoners' attention snapped up at the sound of footsteps, and a figure in a white cloak stepped forward. The material was frayed, and the eyes beneath burned a deep forest green. Hidden in shadows, he snatched the knives from the hounds' throats, cleaning it on the fur and hiding them back beneath the cloak, looking left to right between the prisoners.

"Who are you?" Marluxia asked, the sound thick in his mouth from the loss of teeth.

The figure smiled, and the canines gleamed. Sharp brown hair fell in front of the eyes, and there it was left without care. Turning to the bars, the man slipped a knife free, scratching it down the metal to grate on their ears, drawing their attention to him.

"I never thought I'd see the fat Neko King so far east of his own territories," the man laughed, his voice rough. A bite was held to it, and a grudge locked itself down deep within his throat.

"You know me, rogue?" The Neko King asked, trying to move before the chains yanked him back.

"Know you?" The stranger laughed, the sound painful and rustic. "I used to steal from you. Can't you remember? There were two of us. Twins from a source other than birth."

"Twins from a source other than birth?" The Neko King muttered. "Speak plainly! I do not care for riddles!"

The man pulled his white hood back. Brunette Neko ears with the ends tipped in ebony sprouted forward, the hair jumped out in all directions, and along the cheeks were two deep scars in the shape of scratches.

"You don't even recognise me, do you?"

"I only recognise people who are important to m-"

"Oh, I'm important to you alright. I've heard about you guys, all of you. You've all been duped, haven't you? And now you're going to sit here and stew on your revenge until you die. Heh, sucks to be you."

"What is it you want, exactly?" Fuu asked, her cheeks scarred by dirt and filth.

The man's eyes turned to her, and they shimmered darkly. "I'm looking for someone. A very close friend of mine who's come into a bit of money. Thing is, there are a few… problems. I need them taking care of."

"Then do it yourself," Vanitas snapped. "Leave us the fuck out of it!"

"My name is the White Shadow," the man whispered.

The Neko King's ears picked up, and his mouth fell open. "You…? You are the White Shadow? No! No, my guards dismissed of you! They tore you down, and-"

"Lied to you," the White Shadow finished, smirking smugly. "I left of my own free will after a very persuasive bargain two men offered me. But now I'm back, and I want something more than money. You can help me get it."

"What exactly would you be asking? Why should I work with my enemy?!"

"Because I believe we all have something we could gain. I'm looking for my twin."

"What twin is this?" Marluxia asked. "A brother, perhaps?"

"Of a sort."

"Oh for fucks sake, stop speaking in riddles!" Vanitas growled.

"I know who you are after…" the Neko King whispered. "I know. The White Shadow was only ever known to have one accomplice in the Neko Kingdom. Could it be that this ghost is seeking out Night Crawler?"

"So you've heard of my friend," the White Shadow laughed again, flipping his knife up into the air and catching it easily. "I'm just dying to meet him again. You're all welcome to come with me, as long as you do what I say and behave yourselves."

"You used to work with Night Crawler?" Fuu asked. "We should cut you down right here just for that!"

"You don't seem to be in much of a position to be making threats, sweetheart," the White Shadow growled, the sound menacing on the ear. "Now I'm going back to the Neko Kingdom, and I plan to make a few changes and pay a few debts. I could use some assistance, unless you'd rather stay here and rot."

They looked to each other, and then their eyes caught the gloom of their cell. Tightening their lips, they each slowly nodded in turn, their eyes as hard as stone.

"How do you plan on freeing us from these bindings?" the Neko King asked.

"Please, I'm the White Shadow. Whatever Night Crawler can do, I can do better."

He slipped his knife into the lock, and with a few quick twists the door swung open. He set to work on the first locks, untying them easily.

"I refuse to work with my enemy," the Neko King growled. "If, however, I were to be given a name, I would gladly assist you."

The White Shadow chuckled, his green eyes flashing.

"My name's Kahn."

To be continued...

And that's it, the end of My Neko :) It's taken almost two years, but this story has helped me develop so much I cannot place it into words. Looking back on grammar, sentence structure, dialogue, spelling etc. this story has been a lifesaver for me. It is completely and utterly flawed in terms of language, and I'm afraid I don't know when I'll have the time to fix it, or if I ever will, but know that this story will always be here for you guys :)

I just want to say an absolutely tremendous thank you to any and all of my faithful readers who have made it this far! I hope to see you in My Neko 2, but after the length and complexity of this story I understand if it's too much, so I'll say my thanks again. And to my reviewers, to all of you tremendous people who left a comment (anonymous or not), I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This monstrous story would never have been completed if not for your encouragement! All of your reviews have been read, re-read, and then read again, and I will treasure each and every one of them!

So I leave you with this cliff-hanger. Kahn, Roxas' dead best friend, is back, and he's not happy! And it looks like he's teaming up with the Neko King and accomplices, which is never a good thing :/ It seems like Axel and Roxas will never have any peace, does it? I hope to see you in My Neko 2 guys, where things get heated!

Thank you to everyone who read/reviewed My Neko!

Miitu - I'm so glad you're happy :) I normally hate rebirth stories, but I think it worked well with this story, and I hope I explained it okay. Yeah, I thought that, considering just how many people were lost in this war, Roxas should give a little more than just a soul for it. I mean, it can't be easy bringing thousands of people back to life lol I'm so glad you've stayed until the end! And I hope you enjoy this final chapter! Haha, the second part to My Neko 2 will be up around February time, and it opens with a bang I think :) I hope you'll be there to read it when it comes out!

akuroku lover - Thank you! I'm glad you liked the idea :) it took me a while to decide whether or not to include it, but I think I did the right choice! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

mitzi-hindle - Haha, hopefully you won't be waiting long until part two :) Thank you! I'm glad you liked the ending. I promised you all a happy ending in the earlier chapters, people just didn't believe me lol Not that I can blame them after this journey! I think Roxas is becoming somewhat a favourite of the Goddess' after he saved half of her world from her evil twin brother :3 I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you in My Neko 2!

Stalker - No problem on the short review! I'm glad the last chapter was well paced. There was a lot to include, so getting the balance with time right was difficult. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and I hope you like this one! This is the end now! I hope to see you in My Neko 2!