vatheon | From the past until completion / They will turn away no more [Closed]

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From the past until completion / They will turn away no more [Closed]

Who: Caden (Riku Replica), Izanami, and Zexion; then Zexion and Demyx; then Demyx, Caden, and Faris -- at least as I understand how this will work out
Where: Outside the library first -> Demyx's place -> in front of the Church
What: Goddess shenanigans, death and string-ups
When: Wedns. May 30th

---
Too many things had been piling up in his mind lately. It didn't take much, as he set out to walk with Kouki at his side. They passed by the library and that was all it took to unchain those thoughts from his subconscious and send them hurtling onto the center stage of his consciousness. That was where everything had began - for him, anyway. That was where "Caden" took root, in that time with Kairi while talking about photography.

But now Kairi was gone, Riku was suffering from Katsu's death, Ventus claimed that things would be okay, but so far Caden hadn't had the gumption to talk to anyone he'd thought he'd offended. Then there was Ventus himself... Caden couldn't put his finger on what emotion Ven created in him, but the more he tried to pin it down, the more he kept going back to Mami and Naminé - how they'd made him feel the same. The comfort he felt being in their presence, yet the inadequacy that bubbled to the surface immediately afterwards.

All of these contradictory sensations wracked him and he pressed both hands to his temple at the pain. Not a one of these memories belonged to anyone but him - it was all unique, personal, and completely new... that was what made it hurt so much worse, in reality.

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It had been an innocent little stroll, to be sure. There was little need to stir up the very same scenario that she had provided mankind within the confines of their worlds; their realities. True, there certainly was enough suffering and a wish to expose the undisclosed that ran deep in this underwater realm, but she knew better. Better than to test them right away.

That was when the god in human guise began to pass the library on her way to the usual places she frequented, when she felt that 'desire' coming from such a lonely and confused child. He reminded her of a few other children of man she had met over the years, and a shadow that developed an ego of their own yet knew not how to control it - resulting in a contradiction in and of itself.

A smirk crossed her lips at the similarities. Yes, it was all there... in his mind; in his soul. The desires of man, yet awkwardness and inadequacies that belonged to something else entirely. While her power functioned differently in this space, perhaps she could... alleviate the self-induced suffering?

A thin fog began to form around the two, disguising her true presence in the shroud as a voice that may or may not be familiar speaks from within it. "Do you wish to know the truth of who you really are?"

Caden and Kouki together looked around for the source of the voice, which was muffled a little at first, but sounded familiar. Why a fog was starting to roll in when it wasn't even overcast... well, if he knew more about weather he might have been worried.

A little angry at someone for hiding from him, he drew his Keyblade forth and held it into the air, readied. "I know what I am! I know every. day. what I am!"

He tried to sense and scent out the other person, but found all of it clouded. Even as he blinked a little, things started to get fuzzier - and it wasn't due to tears, as he was used to noticing.

"Come out and I'll show you that truth!"

"Do you?" the voice questioned as the figure began floating around him silently, studying the thoughts going through his mind and heart. Such rash behavior, yet the bluff was so transparent to eyes that see and understand even in the murkiest fog.

"First another's form, and now you have the gall to call the appearance you have now your own?" The smirk is evident in the voice's tone. It ghosts closer, then farther away as though in waves. "You know very little of how to even manage simple things, and you understand even less."

Now the voice was becoming clearer - he was so very sure it was Zexion. That had to mean this was an illusion, right? That meant he could try channelling those powers on his own to counter it-

Which failed. All he did was strain himself more, resulting in more pain.

"I thought we'd talked about this already - I know I was part of your schemes. I know that when I hurt Sora, and Riku, and..." Well, Zexion himself - more than hurt. "Everyone. I know that was what you all wanted!" He was spinning in place now, shouting at the mist while Kouki bayed.

"It's not my fault I looked the way I did then, or why I look the way I do now! How could I possibly do more than understand that I can't just... manage something like that, the way you would food stores?"

He threw his Keyblade into the ground in anger, making poor Kouki jump. "Do you have... any idea how long it took me to accept that? Why do you have to keep tormenting me?"

Aha. So that is how it was, hm? How quaint, and yet... petty as things began to reveal themselves. The names were noted, the hesitation before 'everyone' taken to an advantage. The stolen power of illusion, hm?

She almost chuckles.

"You torment yourself," the voice retorted. Really, there was little she even had to do at this point. His own mind was coming up with the words as she watched, tapping the blade lightly with her foot before soundlessly shifting away from it and back into the illusions created by the child's seemingly out-of-control ego.

"After all, no one can wash the blood from murder off your hands." Suddenly, the voice changes- a hint of gold eyes showing in the mist. "Isn't that right, me?"

"I thought you were Zexion! So how can you... how can you know about that? Axel must have told you! It was his idea, after all..." He stepped towards the eyes, curiosity nearly killing him. "But, there's no way that you're me... another replica, I'd believe, even another one made to look like Riku..."

He clutched his own shirt against his chest. "But my heart is mine now, like my memories. I don't need forgiveness from you so long as I have that."

And that was an outright lie, but it made him feel better - something to stave off everything else. So long as he had his identity, his name, "Caden," he could deal with everything else.

Zexion had been reading on his balcony when he'd noticed the localized fog near the library, a curious enough event in itself which got him to put his book down and watch it quietly for a minute from above. When it didn't appear to be moving anywhere, he began to consider going down for a closer look at it.

When the voice..or voices, even if strange as it seemed, it sounded like the boy within the fog was arguing with himself. When he heard his name spoken, he created a portal from his balcony to place him at the edge of the fog.

Being up close didn't seem to help discern it's cause or why it was stationary though. Perhaps the answer might lie with the boy currently arguing within the fog, only one way really to find out. Thus he entered into the fog himself to seek out the person he'd heard within it.

Yet he isn't dealing with it at all. In fact, this is only possible to happen because he isn't handling his emotions and thoughts well. Humans see what they want to see, believe only what they wish to believe. Maybe it is the same with those of other species as well.

Izanami almost retorts, but the presence of another causes her to cease the illusion of her own 'voice' that began to toy around with this psyche. She wanders deeper into the fog, disappearing even further as the other presence grows stronger. It was interesting, at least.

Unfortunately, with Izanami retreating from the fog, that meant that only one figure remained for Caden to fixate on. He picked up his keyblade from the ground, then stalked quietly - summoning all of the powers he'd gained from Zexion, starting with a Magnet Snatch while he baited the other person - who he still wasn't sure wasn't Zexion.

"Didn't you ever wonder why my scent was different from when I was first created?" He Flourished his blade once, then lunged quickly forward with a Three Pronged Assult. "It's because-" His opponent danced backwards and managed to avoid most of the damage. "I absorbed-" The quick dodging kept up, but still connected enough, just enough. "These new powers...!"

That was when Caden jumped into the air and lunged down with one of his most powerful strikes, a Helm Split - sending out powerful energy waves that he hoped would knock his opponent back, out of the fog, and into clear view. The fog didn't end up clearing, but he was positive his attack connected with something - seven columns of darkness and magic had that effect.

"When I killed Zexion!"

[[OOC: Attack List is here~]]

Edited 2012-05-29 06:11 (UTC)

When he entered the fog, the one thing he hadn't in the least really expected was to be attacked. Still he thankfully managed to avoid the surprise assault upon him, while he managed to mostly avoid the other attacks, the part that did hit hurt. Not to mention, there was the added effect of confusion as he finally got a good look at his attacker during that last attack which effectively drove him down to his knees.

The last yelled statement got him to snap his head up, blue eyes wide with shock. The statement made several things click into place and considering the words which came before that confession, he ignored the feeling of rapidly fading strength to open a portal around himself and flung the exit of that portal to open in the safest location that came to mind that wasn't his apartment.

As his opponent disappeared, the fog cleared up a little and he could finally see who it was - yes, it looked like Zexion, but his nose had cleared up finally as well. It really was Zexion.

"No... No, Zexion, WAIT - I DIDN'T MEAN TO-" He ran forward as the portal vanished. "I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE!" And who knew if Zexion even heard that? But he meant what he'd said.

He dropped down, keyblade in the ground and leaning on the hilt. "I thought..."

Do you wish to know the truth of who you really are?

"... I see. So that's what you meant." He told Ven he hadn't changed - now here was the proof.

The portal dumped him into Demyx's living room, where Zexion managed to stagger up to his feet and get a couple steps toward the blond before abruptly collapsing back down to his knees again.

"Demyx.."

When Zexion collapsed in his living room, all Demyx could do is stare from the couch with his sitar in his lap.

And then he practically shoved the instrument away to dart forward to carefully grab the other Nobody and support him with a panicked look on his face. What--Why was he fading? What the--!

"Z-Zexion! You're hurt--! What the hell happened to you!? Oh, man... Don't you dare disappear on me! C'mon, Zex!"

There was a note of fear and pain in his voice as he answered. "....the replica. Caden.. he attacked... and confessed to killing me after he'd already done so."

There was a pause then and the fear faded, followed by something perhaps bemused in his blue eyes as he began to realize with some irony that the replica had managed to repeat that little task here as well. He didn't want to die, but at least here it wasn't forever, right?

"So this is what like to--"

Caden.

The replica--Riku's replica? That one that had Zexion's image before?

As Zexion continued to fade, Demyx gripped the man's coat in a desperate attempt to keep him there. As if it would prevent him from disappearing. It wasn't working, why wasn't it working?! Nononononono!

He was gone. He was gone, and Demyx was grabbing at air, shaking, and struggling for words. This couldn't happen. It wasn't supposed to happen. Zexion wasn't supposed to die like this, was he? Is this what really happened in Castle Oblivion? It actually takes Demyx a few minutes to fully comprehend everything that just happened.

Something in him broke as he summoned a dark portal to take him away from the apartment.

It had taken a few minutes worth of searching, but soon enough the portal opened into the forest and out stepped Demyx. It was rare for the Nobody to actually become angry, but it was clear as day in his voice when he spoke.

"Caden! Caden, where are you!?"

_{[ooc; I've got some errands to run so I'm tossing this up now so I can try tagging from the phone or when I get home later!]}

Caden's head jerked up. He knew Demyx due to his association with Lea and the other Organization members, but the way he sounded now... that was very different.

"Stay away from me!" He pleaded, absolutely incensed and guilty. He didn't want to hurt anyone else.

For a moment, Demyx actually does listen. He doesn't move any closer, instead opting to pace back and forth. He was pent up and he wanted to lash out, but he had to know something else first.

"Why the hell did you do that?!" There was venom in his voice and it was taking every ounce of his will to keep his anger at bay to think rationally. Somehow he knew he wouldn't be able to keep it back for very long.

"You mean Zexion, right?" He scoffed in self-deprication. "Even if I tried to explain it, that doesn't change what happened the first time though, does it? No... once a killer, always a killer, that's all I am. Just a tool for..."

He pulled his blade up and took a defensive stance now, thinking that surely Demyx would still come for him. "I'm tired of being taunted and tricked for what I am! If you come after me now, I swear I'll use all of his powers to survive, because this heart is all I have left, okay! Even though I killed him to get them back at the Castle, even though I thought it was a good idea at the time because Axel suggested it... giving them up now wouldn't bring Zexion back!"

"I really doubt he would've att--" The sight of the replica's blade makes him stiffen up, still recalling the last time he had fought against someone who had one didn't end well. ...Even Zexion didn't stand up against it.

That didn't stop him from calling his sitar to his hand with a cold stare. Under normal circumstances he wouldn't even think about fighting like this, but Vatheon had changed him. There were people he wanted to protect--had to protect. If this happened before and now, who says this wouldn't happen a third time? What if someone suggested he kill someone else? There would be words with Axel later for sure, but he wasn't here. Only Caden was.

"I'm a Nobody, Caden. I don't care what you're tired of, or what you think you are! Zexion's part of my family and I swore to myself that I'd protect it!" Hefting the sitar up, he strikes out a chord to conjure a copy of himself and charges at Caden with a snarl. Even if he ended up dead himself... He'd just be back, right? Just like Zexion. Just like the others.

"At least we agree on something!" Caden shouted back, holding out a small purple vortex in his hand, which conjured a duplicate of his own. The trouble was that no sooner did Caden surge forward to attack than Demyx came rushing ahead too - making him dodge roll forward to avoid it, when he popped himself back up with jump-up, he landed wrong somehow...

He pressed his hand to the ground and looked back at Demyx, blade up.

"You want the truth, do you?" He demanded to the fog-voice, which echoed around him as his face flickered between Riku first, then Zexion as Caden stood up, settling on Zexion for the moment even as he raised Soul Eater up again.

"I know all I am is what someone else made me-" His voice was similarly distorted, sounding like Zexion's overlapped with Riku's. "Not even my name is my own! Not Riku, not Cadence, nothing! That's why I fight for them!"

The swirling mass in his other hand separated into three, then hurled itself at Demyx as it shifted to red, a Dark Firaga.

That flicker of his face is just enough for the Nobody to freeze in his tracks. Why did he have his face? ...He didn't have the right to wear his face!

But Light, if that spell didn't hurt he'd be lying. Though his coat protects him from its full power, it's still not enough to protect him completely. It's hot, almost painfully so with his element to the point where Demyx is sure he'll have red marks on his skin later.

"What--What gives you the right," he grits his teeth as he calls his copy back to splash over himself to put out the bits of the leather that had started to smoulder from the impact of the Firaga, "to wear his face?! You're not Zexion, either! Quit wearing his face before I rip it off myself!"

Angry? Nah.

Try pissed.

"I'm not TRYING TO!" Caden shouted as his form continued to flicker, settling on Riku's this time. "Don't you get it?" His energy flared around him as he curled in on himself, the Dark Mode outfit taking shape when it disappeared.

"It's instinct to fight, isn't it? It's instinct to tap into your powers and use them the best you know how, or die trying-" He raised his blade to Focus for a moment, then hurled his Soul Eater at Demyx from a distance and followed it up with a rushing strike forward to complete the Slashing Rush maneuver. "That's all I'm capable of."

"Maybe for some people, but I usually go with the flight response!" He winces as he brings the sitar up to protect himself, the strings snapping easily under the keyblade. With the strings broken, he can't use his abilities at their full extent.

No matter. He didn't need Arpeggio to beat someone up, right? Retreating a few feet away, Demyx cuts the other end of the strings from the instrument to wrap them around his gloved hand, then charges back into close range with a sound akin to a snarl and he swings at the replica with a fist. "And they say us Nobodies aren't capable of feeling emotion but I'm pretty sure I hate you right now! Just give up, Caden!"

"That's your style, apparently!" He shouted back.

Caden managed to dodge a number of attacks from Demyx, or only suffered grazes. Unfortunately, all it takes in any fight is one miscalculation, one instant when your opponent is quicker than you are, or ducks right instead of left. It was as Caden's body was shifting back into his own that his eyes went wide, his hair blowing in his face and his face readjusting itself - all of that distracted him just enough for Demyx to catch him off guard.

That was when the final blow came.

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From the past until completion / They will turn away no more [Closed]

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