Sunset of Darkness

[Akuseru]

“well, well, here we are; the world Betwixt and Between” Axel smirked slightly at the rush of colors that instantly engulfed the pair.
One might first observe such a spectacle as a mere sky, yet even the ground lay smeared with the ever-flowing light. It was like standing within an endless ocean, a gust that constantly flowwed through the air, yet never even altered the red head's extravangant locks. Marks of the Organization stamped periodically through its endless miles spoke of its true nature. Even the weather in the world of Nobodies was composed of nothingness.
Small globs of other portals swirled in distances impossible to calculate from the naked eye, while hues of every color engaged in a constant battle throughout the region to claim dominance
Who would have thought the space between utter nothingness and reality... could be so beautiful?

“The only sunset darkness can ever portray” Axel mused, pacing forward as if looking for something

“I wonder where they are?…” he muttered to himself “I told the dusk to let off them…”
he paused for a moment, listening intently- suddenly- a rush of black oozed from the surface. Two glowing spectacles one could only assume were eyes wriggled out of the non-existant ground, as easily as a bug squeezing between a crack in the door

It was quick- much quicker than Axel had been prepared for
He widened his eyes in alarm, as the rushing mass of darkness flew not towards him, but his blonde cohort- who was already not very esteemed to be in the vicinity.
“Look out!” he whipped around to start to make his way back
‘they’re usually not this fast! o.O’

OOC: choooooose your poison > ) the mass is a heartless actually- I figured it I’m informing lil Roxy about the organizations goal, you may at least meet these little critters; I didn’t specify purposely, so it can be whatever you want it to be. I’ll step in and save you if need be of course ^.~

[lexxeii]

Two types of Homo sapiens existed in a world where physics didn’t apply. A world where the scrupulous codes of genetic development were being cracked with sophisticated technology run by scientists with a profound lust for knowledge. They studied topics once deemed impossible to decrypt and eventually produced a metaphorical offspring of humanity: those born without hearts. Was it an unfair categorization of the race when one eliminated irrelevant factors and complexities, saying instead that lives could be organized into two simple groups - in this case, those who possessed a heart and those few who didn’t. Black and white with no in betweens. When broken down to the bare essentials, all human beings possessed the same interior makeup.

...right?

Whatever the case, Roxas could not accept that he simply "didn't exist." His skin flushed against the cold of the strange corridor, the same mild discomfort any conventional human might experience. He was nervous, afraid, wary and cautious all rolled into one overwhelming sensation he could barely push past to keep moving without hitch. A feeling of oldness and strangeness hung in the air; undoubtedly, this place alone conjured such unpleasant sensations in his gut.

The world of ‘Betwixt and Between,’ Axel had called this place. It was a destination of neither light nor darkness, a spot where only beings of their kind could venture into. Or so, he assumed. How was dragging him to a desolate world like this enough to answer the questions he posed earlier? Roxas visibly tilted his head to the side, soaking in the surroundings by scanning what he deemed to be the horizon. Absolute nothingness, as far as the eye could see.

In his attempt to bring order to troubled thoughts, he missed Axel’s warning shout. His attention was jarred back to reality only when a pool of shadow took physical shape, latching onto his leg.

He released an alarmed cry, shaking the creature away with a blunt kick. “What IS this?!” Simply yelling wasn’t going to make it go away. On the contrary, raising his voice seemed to have a very... adverse effect. His breath stopped short in his throat when a field of yellow orbs surfaced, gradually shaping into the spitting image of the original creature he booted.

Long, angular extensions poked his side while other creatures yanked hard on his arms, each trying to get a specific reaction they desired. Every shriek and gasp out of his mouth gave them great pleasure, as was apparent when more dived in to join the fray. Were they playing with him?

They instinctively jumped away when faced against an unnatural white light as the boys keyblade materialized in his hand - much to his relief. It was a small inconvenience, soon the monsters jumped to claim their prey without even considering the weapon he waved.

Roxas focused on keeping them from loading on his back, making wide, dangerous swings that knocked his assailants clean out of their trajectory. As soon as their little bodies met with the jagged edge of his blade, they evaporated into tiny orbs of black. Several times, he had to change his footing, staggering back and lowering his center of gravity in an attempt to accommodate the twisting, turning, hacking and slashing he was forced to unleash.

In the end, he could do little to prevent being tackled by the mass, pulled down against the swirling floor. He grunted, trying to wiggle away, but to no avail.

Finally, although he did not like having to use this as a last resort, he relented and called for the aid of his companion. “A-Axel!”

[Akuseru]

Axel heard the shouts- struggling to get back to the spot upon where he'd left his companion

That was the only problem with the world between concrete space and nothingness- the gap and time and distance. Even though he broke into a faster stride, it was impossible to determine just how far he needed to walk to get back. In a place that's techinically always "flowing" one's body ends up moving even without taking a single step

"Roxas!" He paused for a moment to see what the keybader would do. Some twisted part of him wanted to test the boy- to see just how far he could be pushed until he regained his old abilities. Afterall... hadn't he started to recall something in the middle of their battle? perhaps violence was the only way to get through

When no.13 began to dissapear underneath the mass of black- Axel's curiosity turned to panic
'shoot!'
with a jittery summon of his chakrum, he grabbed the flaming weapon by it's blade.
"another reason I like being a projectile weapon user-"
With a daft swing involving his whole body for momentum- he practically shoved the blades straight into the darkened horde. The first chakrum cut the entire left side of the group- sending a gust of turbulence before the unsuspecting victims burst into dissintigrating flames the second met the heartless directly in front of the nervous Roxas- remaining in the monster's back until it dissipated into the inky airborn blackness. Both weapons vanished along with them; the fire master snapping for them to be gone

Axel couldn't help but feel the true difference of the Roxas from before, comapared to the one then; that helpless look that plagued his face, backwards , hands supposrting himself not to fall on his back
He took a step forward to help him up

"They call those creatures Heartless." Axel gestured, obvious distain on his face, to what little remaining darkness slinked away. A few gathered around a butterfly that had somehow wandered by- sometimes the rifts between worlds could be opened accidentally

"No one's quite sure where they come from; apparently they come from the darkness of people's hearts... And all they do is seek to destroy; all they exist for is to steal and devour a person's heart. They are the reason... abominations like us exist"

A bigger heartless, swept past a lesser knocking the insect down; the others swarmed over it.

"We were human once; or at least, we existed. When the heartless steal a creatures heart- they become like them; another being of the darkness. But for those are fortunate, or perhaps unfortunate enough to survive- the heart stays stolen but the body remains.

from the tattered remains of its once colorful wings, the butterfly began to convulse and retain a form somewhat of liquid; black shadows and more inky projections encircling it- the color yellow was all that remained against the darkness. Another lesser heartless emerged.

"Some higher power seems to give them orders- that marking there- but I think they really just do what they want and listen to orders because they have nothing better to do"

With the enemies further back, and more or less intimidated by the red shadow's presecence, Axel's curiosity began to well back up inside him.

"Your keyblade Roxas- experience should make better sense than explanation for this; defeat one"


OOC: ^^; hope that's not too confusing

[lexxeii]

Beneath that blanket of black was the most expansive sea of darkness imaginable. Never had he felt so cold and numb then he did when forcedly plunged underneath a crowd of twitching monsters. He couldn't move! Could barely breath...

All that changed when a rush of air and light washed against his back. He gratefully inhaled, filling his lungs with sweet oxygen. The wall of writhing bodies in front of him evaporated when the spinning edge of a chakram sliced through the mass. Those that managed to escape the initial onslaught were destroyed by the lingering flame still fresh in the air. Roxas reached up, pinching his arms and cheeks to check if he was still whole. AS far as he could tell, he was.

He lifted his head just in time to see the hand offered to him, assisting in pulling him back up to his feet. Axel gave a name to these faceless monstrosities, bluntly referring to them as “heartless.” Those left untouched smartly kept their distance from the fire-wielding Nobody. They did not favor being eliminated as violently as their kin. Roxas mentally took note, putting forth an extra effort to stay as close to Axel’s side as he was able.

The story he unveiled was disturbing. These things had been human once, their hearts wrongfully stolen right from their chest. If their spirit was not strong enough to keep their bodies intact, they took the appearance of their attackers and proceeded to hunt for the next victim. It all came full circle. Heartless were recycled as quickly as they could die, and new Nobodies were created.

He was consumed with his thoughts, only pulled from the confines of his mind when Axel suggested he use his keyblade to defeat one. Roxas’ eyes flicked down to the weapon in his hands. “...all right.” He broke ranks and approached the small, yellowed-eyed creature closest to where he’d been standing. It turned to him and prepared to leap in attack, but before it even left the ground, the boy sliced through its midsection. It’s body bubbled, busting into small dark orbs that fluttered up over their heads. Mixed in with the shards was a bright pink light, certainly an element that was out of place in a location like this.

He watched it with a furrowed brow until it reached a point where it could no longer be seen without squinting.

“Was that... its heart?”

[Akuseru]

A lone shred of magenta; how long had it been since Axel had seen that hue? With the keyblader's potential to not just destroy the darkness but actually free its victim, the boy had slaughtered countless day in and out, to gain the energy to open their Kingdom of Light. That same grace and brutality was present even now, despite Roxas' current fear at nearly being devoured by the darkness, his skill with his blade was apt as ever.

The two both watched the pinkish glow rise until it had all but vanished

No.8's expressions were quite concealed, no mask for the jester to wear at that particular moment

"Yes Roxas... that was its heart"

He waited for a moment, suddenly unsure of his own plan. It was dangerous to go any further, explanations of Kingdom Hearts and the use of beings like the Dusk were too costly of information; he just may end up a dusk himself if he unveiled it!

But he was confident the Superior had nothing against him for this; he merely reminded the kid of his duty; it would still be possible to argue he was completely within his job's boundries

he found he had begun to walk again without even an intention of where he was headed- a treacherous move in the world betwixt between. He went back to their first location, tracing his finger through the air until it just bearly pulsed with a small black mist
"well, that's enough, for today"
he smirked and looked back towards his companion, not even tearing open the portal just yet
"Ready to go back, Roxas?"

[lexxeii]

Axel confirmed his suspicions when the sphere of pinkish light vanished, blending into the wall already alive with wispy color. The fact that it was no longer visible did not deter him from staring at the spot he’d last seen it. He waited and watched as though it might materialize at any given moment and flutter down to rest in his open palm where it could be examined more thoroughly.

The name the bug-eyed THINGS been given did not suit them if there was indeed a heart beating somewhere in those twisted bodies. Why did Axel’s flaming chakram not dislodge the essence from its owner as his keyblade had done? The wielder of fire had attacked viciously, mowing through crowds of the creatures of darkness to release him from becoming too overwhelmed by the sensations it stirred in his gut. Perhaps in his shock, he’d missed the orbs fluttering in the direction he assumed northbound. He wasn’t really naive enough to believe that. He was, however, more confused then ever. This time, Axel was not in a big hurry to relieve him of the burden.

How and why did the hearts bury themselves in creatures who were supposed to be void of them? Why was the keyblade able to free them from their prison? More importantly, where did they go once released? His role in the play blurred ever more.

Axel proclaimed the end of their short tour, fingers tracing intricate patterns in the space before him. The only way to obtain answers to his many questions was through experience--- and a great deal of patience. This would be his first night in the castle of Nobodies. He could not expect everything to be solved in a single sitting.

He’d found he had unintentionally strayed away from his companion; he hurried to remedy the problem. This was all so... exhausting. He barely noticed his shoulders sagging, his head lowered in defeat - or rather, acceptance that he wasn’t going to be able to get out of this one with his usual tricks. He wanted to retreat into his own mind and spend time gathering his thoughts. On the other hand, he didn’t want to be left to fend for himself in a place this unpredictable. Who KNEW what he would run into.

“I’m ready.” He said on the tail end of a breathless whisper.

[Akuseru]

Axel nodded solemly, allowing himself to rip away at the fabrication of nothingness once more- after a single stroke he paused for a moment, his face alight with a mischievious grin

"Lets take a DIFFERENT way back" he smiled
Not that he expected people would eagerly wait for his return in the kitchens, as the bullied water sprite was currently being well... bullied into showing; but Axel knew his members far too well- and frankly didn't feel like visiting his engimatic familiar no.2 anytime soon, in case the cyclops decided to cut their time short

The portal flickered, and then dissapeered, while the fire mage hurried along to another fabrication of empty

"right this way" he gestured with his arms, another waiting to take the hand if the Nobody was hesitant about entering

"We'll just reenter by the rooms; no harm in taking a shortcut"

OOC: I'll let you start the thread this time (or just return to the old one. But I've been doing most of the descriptions lately, would you like a try? We can wind up anywhere you like >) You know Axel can be a liar sometimes ^.~
Or, if you don't want to, just post a reply and I'll start one for you; hehe lets give the other Nobodies somewhat of a chase shall we, Rox? >)