The Sound Of Approaching Feet--
And then, suddenly--
The elevator was open, lights in the Station Master's house warm and inviting. Suddenly there he was, grinning once more, offering rides once again. He says nothing of the situation, nothing except, with a grin-- "The rain is gone."
That means it's safe to go up.
The ride up is silent, swift, but once up--
SilenceIt is ( Read more... )
The elevator was open, lights in the Station Master's house warm and inviting. Suddenly there he was, grinning once more, offering rides once again. He says nothing of the situation, nothing except, with a grin-- "The rain is gone."
That means it's safe to go up.
The ride up is silent, swift, but once up--
SilenceIt is ( Read more... )
It was too fitting for a world that was just. too. similar.
No amusement at the poetic irony touches his face, nor anything else for that matter as the sea breeze and mist cling to him in the darkness of night. Even the sneer crossing his lips seem out of place for him.]
Even this world... is far too small.
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When the doors finally slid open, it was the fog that caused the hairs on her back of her neck and along her arms to stand on end. It was so think and heavy, it almost made it hard to breath.
Everything about this trip back to the surface felt wrong and it put her on edge, heart racing with worry. In her hand, she gripped her wayfinder tightly as if to draw strength from it. And then she was off, running into the heavy cloud without a second thought.]
Riku! Riku, can you hear me? Where are you?!
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His eyes narrowed before tilting his head toward the sound. The light was growing closer, more discernible...]
Aqua...
[A blank smile, and should she follow his heart... Well, it was no longer hidden by the veil of the Coat. That in itself was a beacon-the overwhelming darkness swelling within him.
A darkness that seemed to be neither coming closer nor farther away.]
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Blue eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice, confirming his location. She took off, running full speed. Blindly towards the dark force that grew close with each passing second.]
Riku...!
[She slid to a halt when his figure seemingly materialized from the fog, his back turned towards her and the darkness surrounding his heart seemed to loom over them. Suddenly, for a split second, Terra stood in place of Riku. Hands clenched, hair suddenly an ashen white and the darkness flowing in and around him.
'Please. Not Riku. Not again!']
.... Riku?
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Riku...
Was that his name? All he could recall was the numbers on the medical band around his wrist.
That name again... Yes, that had to be it. Why else would she be calling him that? And yet there was something else... so many other names in his head...
As he faced her, images placed themselves over the teen in all white. The first ma not be very familiar, but the second should be, what with the spiky brown hair, as his eyes remained just out of focus, but as his eyes came into view the images shift again to that of an older man... There was nothing left to seal the power away, and he was rather tired of hiding what was his...]
Riku, you say?
[...and he was back to normal save one crucial detail. His eyes...]
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When Riku finally spoke, Aqua couldn't find the words to reach him. The darkness emanating from him was stifling, black tendrils writhing and reaching towards her light. Trying to snuff it out. This darkness was so familiar... she felt it before. But where-
'Such a terrible... darkness... Fight it. Terra... please!'
'Terra... you say?'
That awful memory came rushing back. The anger and fear she felt when the darkness consumed Terra resurfaced. His eyes. Riku had the same striking, amber gaze that glowed with such malice. Why didn't she catch it before?! This was the darkness Riku was trying so hard to hold back!]
No... it can't be...
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The darkness pools at his feet as he takes a few more steps closer to her, holding out a hand and tilting his head to the side. Curious, that fear... He expected better of a Master, after all.]
"Can't be" what, Aqua?
[It's honest, and yet there was a bitterness in his voice--blank amber eyes watching her closely as he waves it off.]
"This can't be happening." "No way...! His heart's too strong!" ... Am I close? [There's a certain amusement crossing his lips, one that doesn't reach his eyes as he speaks.] Tell me, what's more important to you: old friends? Or a fake one made to deceive?
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His inquiry catches her off guard and she stood silent for a moment. The seconds that passed seemed to last far longer than they should. Taking in a deep breath, she raised her gaze to his and did not waver. Surely he could see the anger in them but there was also a sadness.]
[Ventus. Terra. Master Eraqus.] ... those close to me are important. [Her grip tightens around the wayfinder.] But, so are all the people I've met in my travels. The bonds I've made with them... They're important to me as well.
[Her gaze sudden hardens, the harshness directed at the dark force taking hold of her friend. It's as if she was trying to look past it... looking desperately for the light within. Looking for Riku.]Riku. You've held fast to your bonds with old friends... ( ... )
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He'd been much more lost before she saw him here in the city, and that response was something rather odd. Anger he expected, but sadness... She had no right to be sad. There was still so much light within her, so much keeping her afloat when he-
What was that small, blue object in her hand?]
Bonds can be easily broken, friendships forgotten. [...Was that pain?] What good are connections when you no longer exist as yourself.
[The darkness is closing in on him, tighter... numbing him even more. Darkness was always good at that, and he kept himself reeled in. That little outburst would cost him greatly if he were to succeed.
Because he would forget. He'll forget her, and forget everyone from here again. Aqua, Ventus, the face of the teacher fate had stolen from him... Terra? That he had made a bond of friendship with the enemy... Demyx, Axel... hell, even Xion was an enemy to his goals in awakening Sora. It was all he had left, and it hurt. It ( ... )
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If you let them be broken. [A second step.] If you choose to forget them. That is why we hold on to even the tiniest detail. The smallest memory! With hope, we hold on to the people that have touched our lives.
[There she stood, at the edge of that all consuming darkness. The fear was being pushed down by her desire to call out to him through her light. Standing next to darkness... she shouldn't fear it. Not after living in it for who knows how long. It wasn't the dark she feared... it was fear for Riku. That the light of his heart could not be reached.
She couldn't - wouldn't give up...]
You would let yourself go so easily? No! Fight it! Please!
[Aqua would call out to him until her voice was raw and nothing more than a rasping whisper. She would plunge into the dark if it meant giving him a fighting chance.]Have you forgotten? The sacrifice she made? I don't know all the details... but... I believe she ( ... )
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'Do you want to see them?'
'Of course I do!'
'But you cast them aside.'
Damn it... Not now-! The headache was growing, golden eyes squeezing shut as a hand reached up to grasp it tightly. The light... the light was...
But I cast it aside...
'You dreamt of the outside world, and you passed through the darkness. Behind you, you left family, friends, home-everything-all in pursuit of darkness.'
'But I cast that aside, too!'
And what did he have to show for it, other than now being a complete wreck ruled by fear? He knew something was wrong, something he couldn't pinpoint quite well... it was confusing and he couldn't- he couldn't... Riku doesn't even realize that he somehow managed to end up with his head in both hands, swaying where he stood. Breath caught in his throat, hazy memories surfacing at the words. Choosing to forget... he couldn't, no matter how much he tried. The pain was too sharp for him to ever forget-no amount of darkness would ever numb the pain it caused.
( ... )
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[She leaned in as far as she would dare while keeping a measured distance between them. Her voice was much softer than before, as if she were trying to sooth him. The darkness curled around her and started darkening the field of vision around her. But it would not break her focus, gaze locked on him.]
Do you really think your heart would forget... what Xion did for you?
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['X-Xion...'] Her existence is dependent on memories within her. Should she give them up...
[His heart will, and he could see her face in his field of vision right now, resting in a not very peaceful manner. She'd gone through so much, both because of Xemnas and for her friends... but was he included in that? He didn't know, and that's when he looked up, tears in his tainted eyes.]
...Come with me. We'll find a way to save her and your friends together-! [He sounds desperate, but how...? Inductive reasoning.]
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Riku... You've been gone for several days now. I didn't know where you were! Kairi and your friends, they've worried for you. Wherever you want to go... it can wait. Right now, I need to tend to you first. Please. Come back with me to Vatheon.
[In this state, she didn't know what condition his mind, body or heart was in. Not with all this darkness wrapping around his entire being. With a hand stretched out towards him, she silently waited for him to take hold of it.]
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To hell with that pathetic city. [All of that malice, the hatred his heart carried for who knew how long coming back to the surface as the darkness around him condensed, solidifying into a sort of armor...] I have spent enough time trapped in a literal prison, surrounded by water-!
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[He takes a step back, holding a hand to his head again and squeezing his eyes shut even harder. Kairi, his friends... him... He has to swallow the bile in the back of his throat, remembering the fragments he could see in his body... in a much worse prison than many could imagine. The laughter, the familiar darkness surrounding him... and the beautiful light just out of reach.
'Giving up already? Come on, Riku...'
He grimaces, hiding his face in his hands as his shoulders shake violently.]
...Terra.
[It hurt... it hurt so much that he fell to his knees, clutching his long hair.
'You're stronger than this.'
He knew this, but it was just so much easier to just give-- And then he saw them: that peaceful face asleep in limbo, Kairi's radiant smile, the beautiful islands he calls home...]
...Aqua, I- [He swallows his pride, anger growing for a different reason.] S-something's messed with my head.
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