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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 15:50:59 GMT -5
(Post by lexxeii)
“…Naminé?” Piercing blue eyes connected with his, lulling him into a false sense of calmness, quite contrary to the flustered state he suffered standing on the street of the only town he had ever known. The equivocal illumination existing behind those icy irises did not change, making it impossible to search for meaning behind the occurrences in the gentle, delicate features of her face. She would not unwillingly reveal her true intentions through subtle actions that he could read with a simple glance.
This setting was significantly less dramatic, with a handful of rough doodles adorning otherwise smooth, ordinary walls. Some depicted likenesses he recognized such as the unmistakable wild red-locks of Axel and the uniform black cloak that had so snuggly fit his angular physique. Other scenes weren’t familiar in the least, he couldn‘t even begin to interpret what they meant… if anything at all. There was one illustration in particular that required a second glance. A pictorial representation of him standing alongside the brunette boy whom had somehow integrated himself into every single dream he had had for weeks now. How did she--- how COULD she know such personal details about his life?
Roxas obeyed her instruction with no verbalized objection, sliding down to sit at the other end of the long table. He laced his fingers together, diverting his attention away from the cold intensity of her eyes. Or maybe he refused to look for fear he would discover a truth he couldn’t handle. This was all a bit… MUCH.
‘Roxas, do you remember your true name?’
“…?” True name? When he began to contemplate the motive behind such a strange inquiry, soft wrinkles stretched across the bridge of his nose making it appear scrunched up. Not a trick question, but the response teetered at the very edge of his tongue. Why… why did she act as though she was privy to information about him that HE didn’t even know about?
“Roxas.” The boy straightened his spine, finally lifting his head to meet with her unwavering gaze, “My name is Roxas, I’m sixteen years old and I grew up in Twilight Town with my three best friends. That’s… I mean, I thought---” The confident tone gave way to something more… uncertain and wary. He began to consider everything that had happened these past few days, leading up to this more direct confrontation. Maybe--- no, no that was impossible. No one knew him better than he knew himself. It just wasn’t possible.
Still….
“Naminé, who are you? Who are you… REALLY? Why do I feel like… we’re connected? I guess…” He shrugged his shoulders, turning to look at the large picture window, “…I guess I do want to hear what you have to say.”
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 15:53:18 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
Naminé hesitated. "Well, you know my name. I'm what some people might call a witch. I have this ability, to take people's memories and take them apart. I can also put them back together. In fact, I'm supposed to be putting together the memories of a young boy named Sora."
She paused.
"Roxas, the thing you should know..." Naminé wasn't really sure how to explain things, even if she was in the same boat. "Well, to start off, you're not supposed to be here. This place, the town, the mansion, this room, none of it is real."
She looked at him. "None of this is supposed to exist. You were never supposed to exist."
If she could, she would regret those words. They were a bit harsh and probably something that she shouldn't have said.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 15:54:26 GMT -5
(Post by lexxeii)
A young witch who possessed such immense knowledge of the minds physiology that she could breach the complex barriers of the psyche to delve into the pool of memories in its depths. How far did the manipulations go? Every time their eyes locked, was she somehow influencing the precious recollections of the past he recalled, replacing them with something different… something foreign and strange? If she was indeed the individual who wiped his previous experiences clean, bestowing upon him a new identity and a new life, why then would she place him in a location where he was truly happy? To protect him? From what..? What was he missing…
Sora!
‘None of this is supposed to exist. You were never supposed to exist.’
He visibly winced at that. How… COLD and BLUNT. The girl did not seem to be taken with the idea of soothing his concerns with words to soften the blow. She got straight to the point, revealing the confusing truth behind the reality of his entire existence: he was never supposed to BE at all. Perhaps there was no better way to say it. Either way, he could not accept something like that.
“That’s a horrible thing to say. What does that even mean?” Roxas shook his head, now fully attentive to the girl sitting directly across from him, “Even if it WERE true, it doesn’t matter. I DO exist just like anyone else. And so I have the right to be here. Right?”
He… didn’t know himself at all, did he? Who was he-- no, WHAT was he if not of skin, bone and blood? Materialized data that had grown a will of its own? Identity diffusion, for him, it was a dilemma that went far beyond anything a normal teenager might experience.
“Naminé.. Things… are going to change, aren’t they?”
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 15:57:00 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
“Even if it WERE true, it doesn’t matter. I DO exist just like anyone else. And so I have the right to be here. Right?”
"I...I'm sorry," Naminé said, flinching away from the anger she felt coming from the other blond. "I guess some things are best left unsaid."
She looked over at the wall to her left. There was one of her drawings, depicting Sora and Roxas together. She knew it was what DiZ wanted, but what did Roxas want? Did he want to lose the life he had to join his other self? Did he want to escape from this digitized Twilight Town and go back to the Organization?
What about her? What did she want for Roxas?
Naminé looked back at Roxas. "Things have already started changing, Roxas. It's up to you as to how much they change. Earlier, when Axel was here, you could have left. You could have gone back to the real world." She paused. "I would have gone, if you had."
She didn't belong here any more than Roxas did.
"You don't have to stay here, Roxas. DiZ may want you trapped here, but I don't."
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:01:44 GMT -5
(Post by Akuseru)The lighting of the various monitors washed the entire Data-Screening room into a blue hue. Machine heaped upon machine all placed for some intentional purpose; all working for some greater need by the man who placed and created them. Even machines had their place in life; they could not talk or think on their own, nor could they escape whatever life they had been placed into. But as the inventor had given them life, he had proven they had a right to be. So why was it so difficult to accept an empty shell of a being into existence? DiZ wasn’t there… Preoccupied by some other activity in the depths of the small but protected mansion. Regardless that the man would find him by his presence rather than by noise, there was something about being near those lost in slumber that begged the surroundings to keep silent… Even if they were in plastic tubes, incapable of reaching the outside until the right buttons be pushed… Like a blot of ink on fresh parchment, the hooded crusader stained the room of light with his entrance. He’d found it… the last piece of the puzzle. Sora…the true Keyblade master. Although he looked childish now, despite his having grown a few inches from their last visit, the child if awakened could lead to the downfall of everything the Organization had worked towards. Like the Keyblade itself, the weapon oughtn’t be destroyed, but for it to be wielded in the wrong direction was a risk indeed. ‘Now that I know why Roxas is here... I must eliminate the reason for his purpose.’ Axel wouldn’t break the tool- he’d just stop the project to prevent its use! The shell seemed nigh impenetrable; even reducing the building to pixelated ashes would probably leave the shield unscathed. Temporarily stuck on its orders, the hooded figure paced around incessantly. The blinking of a small appliance broke its way into his gaze. He took a look at the machine that assumably took care of the unconscious vessel. Despite being such advanced technology, a single plug was all that held it in… “It’s nothing personal Sora…” He held no grudge against the boy. It was almost “fun” to have been able to toy with him in Castle Oblivion- but when it came to choosing; Roxas was definitely the side of the key he preferred more. “AXEL?!!!” The booming voice shot like a migraine right on cue, the cold yellow eyes of DiZ already materializing with contempt “What do you think you’re doing?!” “Aww, you used my name- How touching.” The red-head smirked, a barrier preventing his gripped hand from moving “I have tried my patience with you thus far- but you would dare lay a hand on the chosen one!” DiZ found his hand shaking in a clenched fist, his old fingers threatening to break the fabric of his gloves, but he quickly regained his composure. Revenge was too close to fruition; he could not afford to get carried away. Only 20% of the boy’s memory remained to be restored, everything had been running smoothly. Yet now, just dire moments before the promising event, problems had to arise! Namine’s disobeying (of which he had a sneaking suspicion Roxas, the now corrupted piece of Sora’s heart was accompanying), world’s frozen and lagging terribly, and now threat he had almost let slip through his fingers. “You have no part in this world, you may not understand; but a being such as yourself can only cause chaos” There would be no banishing for this one- the only penalty would be deletion. It took a large amount of effort, and once started could not be stopped, but such an abomination needed to be removed! “I just DARE you to try it” Despite the bold words- he could already feel his body tensing up... and then... So easily it all ends; complete and utter eradication. When you never “were” in the first place… then what is left behind when “nothing” is destroyed?... He shuddered, it was good… To not be able to feel. The cloak melted away, visibly warping from the vast damage. Black robes twisted to equal waving white, the entire image inwardly shrinking to form awkward limbs. The hood drifting down over the whole of the face revealed the upside down emblem of a heartless. Zipper-lining to etch whatever could be called a Dusk’s mouth. ________________________________________________ "You don't have to stay here, Roxas. DiZ may want you trapped here, but I don't." “Well said.” With the flourished hand gesture, Axel stepped out of the back-wall into the white room, his black boot stepping on a discarded, colored sketch on the tiling. With ole DiZzy safely in check, things finally seemed to be turning around.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:02:31 GMT -5
(Post by lexxeii)
"...”
Roxas pushed himself away from the table, drawn toward the light shining through the soft fibers of the curtains. A gentle breeze ruffled the sheer cloth even though the window itself was bolted shut. No amount of strength exerted against the brass knob would release the lock, it wouldn’t budge a single inch. Probably too rusted to be moved now.
From this perspective, he almost didn’t recognize the familiar twilit skyline. He was standing inside the old, haunted mansion, wasn’t he? There had been rumors about a young girl living behind the dilapidated walls, but few could brave the creepy atmosphere to investigate the claim any further than that. All this time, the ghostly apparition peering from the upper floor window had been Naminé waiting for the rare chance to escape the confines and… meet with him.
How could she say this wasn’t real? Brilliant, rich hues of crimson, orange and yellow made the horizon explode with intensity that could not POSSIBLY be created by the brittle hands of a mortal man. People born of Gaia did not possess the kind of power needed to reproduce the incredible phenomena nature displayed.
Ignorance is bliss, a luxury that now eluded his grasp. The very foundation of his life depended on the next decision he made, a decision that would either unfurl the already fringed stability, or begin to repair the damage caused when he was thrust into the unknown with no memories of the past.
‘What if I… what if I said I wanted to sta--’
“Well said.” And Axel made his second grand entrance of the day, stepping forth from a summoned portal to join the teens in their chat, whether they welcomed him with open arms or not. These abrupt interruptions seemed to come with the territory, Roxas didn’t even flinch this time. In fact, he didn’t acknowledge the new company at all until he heard that soft crunch as a heavy boot came down to stand on a curled sheet of sketchbook paper. With a heavy frown, he turned away from the window, kneeling down to pull it out from under his foot. Deep crevices and rips in the paper distorted the rough image, but not enough to ruin the picture entirely.
…Axel… Axel moving along by HIS side to face the void of blackness scribbled across the backdrop. A buzzing sounded near his eardrum, gradually becoming so high-pitched he had to tightly close his eyes to seek relief. A vice-like pressure locked itself around his temples and he squeaked in pain, his small frame trembling like a leaf in the wind. A momentary lapse in the data painstakingly fashioned gave way to a brief look at TRUE memories, a scene similar to the depiction in the sketch… that same look on Axel’s face… everything matched.
A rush of air escaped his parted lips when the pain subsided, the silence settling over him short lived. Rhythmic breathing became low throated, frustrated growls, his fingers tearing the picture into tiny shreds. A jagged edge must have sliced through the skin of his finger during the onslaught, there was a small cut deep enough to bleed yet… nothing seeped to the surface. He stared down at the broken flesh with wide eyes. Why… why didn’t he see it before?
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:03:00 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
Naminé hadn’t moved from her chair as Roxas went to the window, nor when Axel had come in. She had jumped slightly when the red-head had intruded in her room, his appearance unexpected. She ignored him for the most part, choosing instead to pay attention to the blond boy to whom she was connected.
“Roxas, you don’t belong here,” she said. “Not in this Twilight Town. This is just simulated data; nothing is real here, like I said.”
She stood up and approached Roxas, taking his hand in hers. She looked at the broken data that made up the small cut. “You see? It’s the same with all of us here. Your friends, the family you know here, the people in the town…all of them are just data. You are just data here.”
Naminé paused. Her gaze shifted so that her eyes met Roxas’. She looked into those cerulean orbs that so matched her own. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. Well, of course they would match; the two of them were created by the same person.
“Roxas, do you really want to stay here?” Naminé asked. “Do you really want to live in a world where nothing is real, including yourself?”
She looked at Axel for a short moment, then turned back to Roxas. “Or do you want to go back to where you’re real? Axel and I can get you out of here, Roxas.”
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:03:35 GMT -5
(post by korky)
A tender, loving warmth enclosed around his hand, saving him from falling into the trap uncertainly laid before him. Naminé would not allow him to miss out on a chance to live freely, without the chains and restraints of an invisible cage bounding him to a fake world. Even with the knowledge that he was being… manipulated and controlled to the point that none of his actions were spontaneous, it was hard to let go of the only life he could remember. If he agreed to leave everything behind, he would be forced to face the unknown with no chance of ever coming back. Yet… he wasn’t afraid any more. All apprehension melted away the moment their eyes locked.
“All right.” Roxas pushed himself back up to his feet, giving Naminé’s hand a soft squeeze. He was at a crossroads where he had nothing to lose by taking this leap of faith. “…I’ll go, as long as you come with me.”
“DAWW, isn’t that SWEET?!” A muffled voice mumbled from behind the pane of glass in the picture window, a figure hanging upside down to observe the cute little interaction between brother and sister, their bond already apparent. Whew, he was lucky Axel left behind a trail of destruction, like he always did, or he might have missed the party. “See? It’s stuff like that that keeps Kodak in business!” Xiggy made a more abrasive entrance, joining the company in a flurry of shattered, broken glass raining down on all four of them long after his boots pressed flat against the white floor.
“Man, took me FOREVER to get back here. Yeah, thanks for leaving me hangin, dude, I‘ll remember that.” Having his molecules scrambled to enter the program again was totally worth the information he got by observing from the sidelines. Roxas was not just a stubborn renegade bent on eluding those who pursued him, he was a different person ENTIRELY!
“DiZ really did a number on you, didn’t he? Well DiZ and---” His golden eye fell upon the witch. Oooh, how he wanted to break her scrawny little neck. It was because of HER that their plans had to be postponed indefinitely. NOT COOL. But with Sora in his current condition, she was more useful to them alive, hence why he did not act on his personal desires.
“Roooxas, why would you want to hang out here any way? Humans are pathetic.” Those beings whose vital organs were protected by a paper thin layer of flesh were too delicate to last until the end of time. No, they were simply a prototype until something better came along, something better like the NOBODIES.
If LOOKS could kill, hehe, he would have died three times already. Xiggy snorted when he met with the glare of a thousand daggers cast by the youngster, who refused to utter a single word since his rude intrusion. Some things NEVER changed. He was always on the other end of that grumpy look. “Hey, Rox---” Xigbar lowered himself to the boys level, his lips hovering near his ear. In a voice barely above a whisper, he spoke, “---why don’t you take a little nap?” And with that, he shoved his fist hard into their little Key of Destinies gut, watching as his eyes widened in surprise then fluttered completely shut. He crumbled forward with a weakened groan, right into the open arms of his attacker.
“Goooood boy.” Number Two’s tongue lashed out to wet his dry lips, “And don’t give me that look, dude.” He didn’t have to see Axel to know how he would react to something he would no doubt deem unnecessary. Surely he knew what would happen if---
“I did YOU a favor. You can thank me later.”
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:04:03 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
Naminé gaped at Xigbar. "Was that really necessary? He said he'd go."
Sure, he'd said he'd go...if Naminé went with. Wide cerulean eyes shifted from Roxas' unconscious form to the work that Naminé had left on the long, white table and then to Axel and Xigbar. Nervously shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Naminé stood there, biting at her thumbnail. She wanted Roxas out of this place, and she'd gladly go with, but...
...she still had work to do.
"Please, take him away from here," she said, slowly. "If you could distract DiZ's guard, I'll come in a while. There are things I still must do."
There were just a few more memories she needed to give to Sora.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:05:52 GMT -5
(Post by Akuseru)
So much to say… Whether Roxas wanted to leave or not, unbeknownst to the key, being able to “stay” was not an option. If Roxas remained here, he wouldn’t be able to return to his friends- but instead be used for more of DiZ’s twisted antics.
The only question he was really being asked, was “Die now or die later?” Depending on how he answered, there was the possibility of having to destroy the boy himself.
But before he could burst into such a declaration time finally allowed- who should show up but the presumably dead archer!
Xigbar?!
Yet again… so close to having his way; and someone stepped in blowing the plan to pieces
“Bout time” he tried to grin back his malice, “Took you for de-“
He couldn’t restrain himself from a glare of fury as his eye-patch-wearing colleague pummeled the ex-member in his gut. Sure... In just a few moment he’d have done the same thing; but Roxas had agreed, he finally had consent. He could have brought back No.13 willing, and with the witch of who so violently opposed them previously.
Yet, No.2 never beat around the bush; even for the sake of a comrade
An air of foreboding struck the redhead now, as he watched that crumpled form rest in the higher-ups arms. What was going to happen now?
Roxas… he had been labeled a traitor; what if charges against him still stood? Axel had considered this option many times, in the end deciding it wasn’t worth it. His obsession with the missing teammate should have subsided at finally being able to reunite- hadn’t it only been “absence that made the heart grow fonder?”
Or was something more still tinkering with the fire wielder’s soul. Seeing as he had no heart for such fondness to fester in to begin with, this was likely the case. Yet now as his fist shook from having to bite back his tongue, it was only a matter of time before he’d have to break the rules of his own accord. The feeling of "want" hadn't dwindled... it only grew stronger
"Please, take him away from here. If you could distract DiZ's guard, I'll come in a while. There are things I still must do."
Naminé. He’d almost forgotten the frightful girl’s presence Axel shrunk back; it wasn’t his place to answer. Following the hierarchy of respect was one of the many reasons he was still alive to the Organization.
‘Pfft. “Things” huh… things involving Sora I’ll bet.’
Even without Roxas; would it still be possible for the heart that eluded the darkness to wake? In Castle Oblivion, despite his being manipulated, Sora still held on to the essence of his heart; even with replaced memories.
If what Vexen had proved was true; that Sora’s memories could channel into his Nobodie’s own. It may be possible that the memories lost by Roxas could be retrieved when drawn out of the real key of destiny. Roxas’s memories were then not “lost” perhaps; but instead lay buried into the other half of his soul. An interesting concept to look into.
The boy then, would be better left alive than killed in his present state. But Xigbar didn’t have to know Naminé would be aiding Sora. Axel did better with his mouth shut than voicing his own schemes.
"Who's to say you're even welcome in the Organization?" Better to keep her alive before Xigbar set out to fulfill that vicious gaze of his on her OR Sora.
Then there was predicament of bringing someone who dabbled with other's minds to the main hideout. Would she unpiece the staff without anyone even noticing and lead a rebllion of her own? Or would her powers be temporarly bound to reduce her to a lowly underling?
Doing his best to withdraw his gaze from the small form of the unconcious child, Axel was unsure of which he wanted more.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:06:38 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
"Regardless, I'm still a Nobody," Naminé said. "I belong in the World that Never Was, with others like me."
She glanced again at Roxas. "And I want to be with Roxas. He and I have a connection. I'm sure you've realised that, Axel."
She went over to the white table and collected her sketchbook and a few loose drawings. She paused, looking at one in particular; one depicting Roxas and Axel together, fighting the Heartless, weapons in hand and back-to-back. She looked at Axel, then went over to him.
"Take this with you," Naminé told the red-head. "It will unlock some of Roxas' memories, from when he was part of the Organization. Just in case."
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:07:42 GMT -5
(Post by korky)
“Heh, listen witch, I don’t recall asking for your opinion, so do yourself a favor and zip it, will ya? I’m ALREADY tired of hearing your voice. Cuts RIGHT THROUGH MY SKULL. This don’t have anything to do with whether or not he willingly decided to come back with us. It’s a move to cover from the wrath of the Superior.”
A momentary pause ensued.
Who the hell CARED what Roxas wanted any way? It came down to TWO simple options: either he returned to his position as the Organizations precious keyblade wielder or he would lose the privilege to live entirely. That’s all there was to it. There was absolutely NO room for debate. The kids fate now rested on how good a day the Superior was having. There was the distinct possibility that he would be disposed of before he awoke, never again granted permission to see the light of day. Oh well. A day in the life of a Nobody.
“Why don’t you just scurry right along and continue screwing with peoples lives. Isn’t that what you do best? Honestly, I don’t know where you get off askin’ for our help in doing ANYTHING. Should kill you right now, but I'm feeling kinda merciful today. Don’t let me catch you near him again.” He reached out, tapping the end of her nose, "Cause I'll do more than just scar that pretty little face of yers." That’s all that would be said regarding THAT subject.
Xigbar redirected his attention to his conscious comrade, delicately cradling Roxas’ lifeless body in his arms. How he TRIED to appear impartial, showing great restraint in holding back whatever urge he may have felt when his best friend was temporarily silenced. Number Two smirked at his quiet struggles, mocking him with a cold, uncaring glare.
“I think it’s time to fill in our big, bad ass boss, don’t you? Here. Make yourself useful and carry the kid. Oh, and let ME do the talking when we get there, will ya? LEAD THE WAY, partner.”
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:08:23 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
Naminé glared up at Xigbar. How dare he forbid her to be around Roxas. Continue messing with people's lives, indeed. She ought to mess with his life a bit. A grin crossed the witch's face.
"Very well, Number II," she said. "I'll just have to be careful, then, won't I?" She put her hands behind her back and began toying with Xigbar's memories. "Wouldn't want you to scar my 'pretty little face' now, would I?"
He had pushed her to this. If she had to manipulate her way out of her prison in the mansion, she'd do it. If Xigbar thought he was going to keep her from being with the Nobody she considered her brother, he'd better think again. She may be small and most wouldn't consider her a threat, but when she wanted to, her ability to erase memories, twist minds, and alter lives came in handy.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:08:56 GMT -5
(Post by korky)
Nobodies were just that… absolutely nothing. Rejected by the elements of light AND darkness, they belonged to neither good nor evil, forced to linger in a dimension caught in between. They were the empty shells left behind when a heart broke free of the writhing bodies of people, beings cursed with free will and remembrances of how it felt to be completely whole.
Without the wielders of the keyblade, the seal of Kingdom Hearts stayed locked tight and those deemed nonexistent would forever be forced to remain as they were - a toxin bringing decay to the world. And when they died, they would return NOT to dust, but to a cold oblivion where they would vanish from the minds of those who suffered their presence, never to return. A sad fate indeed.
Tch, AS IF. Such a thing as ‘Destiny’ did not exist in the real world. No way in hell. Those rules were created by some old COOT with a petty grudge. This case no different. The Organization had a plan of their own, and with Roxas back in their grasp, it was only a matter of time before they finally acquired the object of their exhausting pursuit. He would be damnED if he allowed anyone to get in the way of that, including one of their very own: that dumb witch who still didn’t know her place.
Xigbar underestimated many of the challenges he faced, Naminé not included in that long list. He was no fool. The girl had been in their captivity long enough for them to study the range and limits of her powers. And she had some pretty obvious weaknesses, namely the unconscious blond she had sought out on her own. He would exploit that soft spot if need be, depended on how hard she pushed him.
“Man, what was I doin just now?” Xiggy scratched the back of his head, taking a short moment to recall the past events, “OH YEAH! We’re outta here. Gotta pay Xemmy a little visit before the kiddo wakes up and causes a scene.” He summoned a portal behind Axel, but did not step into the void himself. Instead, he tilted his head slightly to the side, tapping on his chin with his index finger, “Hmm, you know, I may just have a proposition for you, half pint. Hell, might make me change my mind about not trusting you. Come see me later at the castle.”
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:09:37 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
Naminé frowned slightly. Her on-a-whim plan hadn't worked exactly how she had wanted it, but at least, Xigbar had invited her to drop by at the Castle, instead of flat-out using her as a new target for his guns.
“I’ll come to the castle,” she said. In her mind, she added, But not to see you.
Her cerulean eyes looked at Roxas’ unconscious form once more before she looked at Xigbar again.
“Don’t let anything happen to him.”
Naminé took her sketchbook in hand and turned away from the other three Nobodies. She went over to her seat at the long, white table and sat down, flipping her sketchbook open. She picked up one of the small coloured pencils she worked with and began to sketch out a scene. She’d leave it behind, to let Sora have his memories back. There were several that he was still missing, but those memories were unimportant in the grand scheme of things. This one was the final important memory.
It took Naminé a while to finish it and as soon as she was done, she had one last thing she needed to do before she left for the castle in the World that Never Was. She had to manipulate the mind of the man who had brought her and Roxas to this digital Twilight Town. It would be a bit more difficult than other minds she had twisted, but she had to do it, to throw DiZ off-track.
Carefully, she began to spin a new memory to replace the ones in DiZ’s mind. She only had one chance to do this; DiZ would not allow her to try for a second time.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:10:39 GMT -5
(Post by korky)
‘Don’t let anything happen to him.’
“YES, YOUR HIGHNESS! Will do!” The thick sarcastic undertone was more than apparent in the words he spoke. He added a sloppy salute for emphasis, rolling his good eye in annoyance when she skipped off to draw more questionable illustrations of his comrades. He was half curious to flip through that little book of hers, confident that he would find some pictures of people in compromising positions…. among other things he could use for blackmail purposes. BUT as he stated seconds earlier, the three of them needed to meet with the all-knowing, all-POWERFUL Xemnas before Roxas regained consciousness and ruined everything he was trying to do. Yes indeedy, as hard as it was to believe, there was a method to his supposed madness.
‘Ugh, I hate that stupid witch.’ He couldn’t WAIT to get as far away from her and her crazy mind games as possible. The day when her usefulness to their Organization ran thin was a day celebrations would ring loud in the distance, echoing far past the horizon in their home void of all things light. The hard part was remaining patient until the order to kill finally came. Oh well, there were more important issues to deal with right now, like… making damn sure things got back on track. That task would keep him preoccupied for a while.
“Let’s go string bean.” Xigbar took the initiative to create a portal back to their gravity defying home, seemingly hanging upside down in mid-air. The laws of physics did not apply in a nonexistent world housing nonexistent beings. In the confines of the World That Never Was, anything was possible.
It was virtually impossible to locate a single entity in a structure of that size without some sort of formulated plan. Fortunately for the two Nobodies strolling down the hallway of their abode, Xiggy had an idea of the Superiors location. Really, when he wasn’t out destroying people or spying on the Keyblade wielder, he was shut up in his personal quarters doing GOD knows what. Over the years, he learned to not ask questions.
If luck decided to SMITE them, Xemnas would be on the roof brooding. There were days when he would stand for hours on end, his head tilted up toward the magnificence eliminating an otherwise dark, blank void of a world, gaining strength from the light of their Kingdom. Interrupting that process was not pleasant, by any stretch of the word.
Xiggy cleared his throat, shaking out his hands in preparation for the performance of a lifetime. “Here we go.” He whispered, casting a quick glance toward Axel and Roxas before knocking three times on the doorway, “Superior. I humbly request an audience with you. We have successfully retrieved Number 13 as you ordered.”
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The heartless unleashed by one of his foolish apprentices puppets had no intention of stealing his heart or harming the boy behind the glass enclosure. It merely served as a distraction while the REAL Axel confronted the boy who managed to breach the chains bounding him to the Organization. The plans he had worked so hard to put into motion CRUMBLED at his feet, having no chance against a man determined to reunite with his best friend - even if that friend was no longer and would never again be the person he remembered.
Where had he gone wrong and how was he to achieve the revenge he so desperately sought without Roxas in his possession? Sora could not remain comatose forever. His mind soon became clouded, making it difficult to gather his thoughts. Naminé. Once again, meddling where she didn’t belong.
‘You are doing nothing but making me forget my deep regret in all of this.‘ Regret he would be reminded of when his eyes scanned the detailed accounts he scribbled out in reports along the way. Every event was noted. He even summoned the strength to inscribe the terrible experience of being lost in a dimension between reality and nonexistence on a tattered sheet of a paper found in the pocket of his laboratory coat.
‘How foolish I am.’ But he would not rest until the toxin he unwittingly cast out into the worlds had been eliminated from the minds of people entirely. He was willing to do whatever it took, even if it cost him his life in the end.
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Post by Naminé on Nov 3, 2006 16:13:52 GMT -5
(Post by Naminé)
Naminé quickly finished her work and sent the recorded memories to Sora's body, locked in suspended animation. As for DiZ, she needed to do only one thing; make him forget where Roxas would now be taking up residence. She knew that DiZ had found him and taken him away once, and he'd likely attempt it again. So, she tweaked his mind and forced the memories out of his mind.
Once that was done, she gathered her things, her sketchbook and pencils, into her arms and haphazardly opened a shadow portal. She hoped that DiZ's guard would be distracted and unable to stop her, as she stepped past the threshold and into the world of Betwixt and Between, heading for the door that led to the World that Never Was...
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