Sorrow's Promise

Chapter 37

It didn't turn out to be too long before we had another run-in with the blue-haired Organization member. We had received a message from the gang in Hollow Bastion that they had found Ansem's computer, which ended up leading to a whole new adventure after we accidentally got transported into the computer and had to help overthrow an evil program that was trying to take over the world. While we were in town, King Mickey arrived, and we finally got the chance to actually talk to him. He was able to shed some light on some of the details about Ansem, who was apparently actually named Xehanort, including the fact that it was his Nobody who was currently running the Organization. The King was hoping to go and find the original Ansem, known as Ansem the Wise, to get some help with this whole mess, but agreed to help us find Kairi first.

Before we could take off again, however, the Heartless and Nobodies that had been gathering in the valley outside of town suddenly began to march, and we had to go into battle. There were times during that fight that I wasn't sure whether we were going to be able to keep going, especially since we had already had to stop and defeat the mullet Organization guy first, but somehow we made it through all in one piece. It certainly helped to have King Mickey, Leon, and a couple of their other friends fighting alongside us.

Then the leader of Organization XIII himself showed up, and the King chased after him right into the dark corridor that he created, leaving the four of us alone again. Sora was understandably dejected, getting so close to the enemy but not being able to do anything to stop him or find out where his friends were.

As we stood there looking over the now-empty valley, someone spoke up behind us. "Way to fall right into their trap."

That voice I definitely recognized, and it was still one that made my stomach turn flips. We turned to see Axel leaning against the rock wall, staring us down with his arms crossed over his chest. Sora, Donald, and Goofy ran in closer and prepared their weapons for battle, and I followed reluctantly behind.

"Come on, it's a set-up by Organization XIII," Axel remarked, pushing himself off the wall and walking nonchalantly to meet us. "Xemnas is using you to destroy the Heartless – that's his big master plan."

"Xemnas?" Donald echoed.

"The guy you just saw," Axel clarified, pointing to where the leader had been. "He's their leader. Got it memorized?" He tapped a finger on his temple. "X-E-M, N-A-S."

"Organization XIII wants to get rid of the Heartless?" Goofy asked, confused.

Axel sighed. "Man, you're slow. Every Heartless slain with those Keyblades releases a captive heart. That is what the Organization is after."

"So what are those guys gonna do with the hearts?" Donald questioned.

"I'm not telling," Axel replied. Great, that was the one part of this conversation that I actually wanted to hear.

"So what are you here for, then, Axel?" I spat, my frustration finally growing enough to give me the courage to speak. "Get to the point!"

"Axel?" Sora threw me a bewildered look before turning back to scowl at the Organization member. "You...you're the one who kidnapped Kairi!"

"Bingo. As the lady said, the name's Axel. Got it memorized?" He pointed to his head again.

"Where is Kairi?" Sora demanded. Axel scratched his head, looking down at the ground uncertainly. "Please, just tell me!" Sora begged.

Sighing again, Axel leaned his head back. "Look, about Kairi...I'm sorry."

"Axel!" A new voice echoed from out of nowhere, followed by a sudden burst of darkness as a corridor opened between Axel and us. When it cleared, the guy with blue hair was standing there with his back to us.