TRACES OF SOLITUDE [a kingdom hearts roleplay]

[kingdomkeylight]

"Isolation is only for those who are ready to die Kuxei thats not the case for you" A figure said a few steps away the one behind Kuxei was a known figure throught history one of the strongest and ancient nobodies Castex.

"I came to get you or at least give you your heart" Castex said as a few nobodies appeared. "Find them and relay the message that all org 13 members are to meet back at the castle for a meeting" The ancient nobody watched as they disappeared.

"So Kuxei what do you plan to do."
.........................................................................................

Syntrax Lord Castex has called a meeting in the chair room" A berserker said mentally disappearing after the message.
........................................................................................................

As Angelox was waking in the snow a sniper appeared in front of him. "The master as called for a meeting in the chair room" Like the Berserker the sniper simple disappeared after the message.

[Takushi Rena]

Of course! I'm always going off from world to world.

To Rena, after the girl had said those words, the red head's mouth seemed to be moving with no sound emitting from her. Those deep blue orbs grew wider, eclipsed by white, and a smile came creeping onto the tomboy's features.

The girl shook her head, long bangs flopping side to side as her hood fell sideways onto her shoulders.

Just tell me where you wanna go and we'll go! Wooooosh, Traverse Town, Radiant Garden, Pride Lands, ecetera, ecetrera.

Yet, that smile started to fall sideways, curling upside down and looking rather blank. Rena's head had begun to tilt once more, turning to the opposite side this time, and a brown-tinted brow started to arch and quirk. The girl looked like she had no clue what Junko was talking about!

Shaking her head again. Rena's gaze snapped down, seeming to find the concrete or her shoes more interesting to look at.

"...Pride Lands?" Gaze shifted up meekly, though Rena didn't dare look into this purple orbs, "Radiant Garden... what's zat?"

Where to umm... ahh, what's your name anyway?

"Uhh..." Her curled index finger used its nail to scratch her temple, "Rena..."

A moment of staring off to the side; she knew you were supposed to look people in the eye, but she was just too nervous to do that! Rena's gaze turned back onto the red head.

"I gotta go to... wherever my friends are," the pale tomboy gave a meek nod with a small, nervous grin, "But I dunno where that is..."

[Endless Warrior Sora]

"Isolation is only for those who are ready to die Kuxei thats not the case for you"

"Heeeeya Castex." Kuxei said, reacting to his 'master's' statement.

"I came to get you or at least give you your heart"

Kuxei has heard this promise before. The only time he actually was close was when they were inside Kingdom Hearts, and yet still, Kuxei was still a nobody, branded by that 'x' in his name. But he guessed he practically had no other choice. Anyway it sounded better than lounging around on this boring lonely ship anyway.

"So Kuxei what do you plan to do."


"Eh, I'll drop by, shake things up. I might take a while though. I got practically no energy. Used it all up inside Kingdom Hearts, I'm afraid."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Kaijen shuffled his way out of the corner of the town he was in, seeing the town finally, watchign the dim twilight in the distance. He couldn't find a reason to move, or continue, but he knew he had to find his friends. The worlds still might be in trouble. But he had to worry about himself too, drained of any possible energy to continue. He forced himself to keep moving, to keep walking.

"I...have to....keep...going.," He began. "I..don't need darkness...to survive...Didn't need it before....don't need it now." He said, as he forced his lijmbs to move, forced his legs to bend and stretch. He rested against a wall, then saw it. The huge clocktower. Perhaps if he stood up there, he could see the whole town from that elevation. If any of his friends were here, he might be able to spot them, granted they weren't little specks.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lillia stood. She had almost forgot that she still had other friends. Chris, Derrick, Rena, Kaijen. They were all there for her when she needed them. She couldn't just cast them away. She stood, coming out of her feeble position. She reminisced, thinking on how just months ago, she barely would have felt anything. She would have been a hardened girl, who wouldn't speak audibly, in a whisper-talk sense, and who only said a couple words if she ever spoke. The only time she would show emotion would be after a Holy, a Manifest, or a Dawn. But her spirit was all but hardened now. Her heart had actually shattered inside Kingdom Hearts. She pondered how she didnt turn into a Heartless, or sink into darkness like she should have. She felt the cold waves hit her feet, and slowly began turning back to that cold, whisper speaking girl. Why not? She was all alone and hated feeling vulnerable. Perhaps closing her feelings off would just make her more useful to her friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blue eyes finally opened. Unfamiliar white fingerless gloves, covered by different colors wrapped around a familiar hand. Enclosed in his hand was the weapon of his undoing. Sora saw the Kingdom Key in his grasp. The blade that had once brought him friends, and hope, and gave him a sense of becoming a hero, has now turned it's back on him, branding him with it's false promise of a better tommorow. Gripping it tightly, Sora felt his arm begin to tremble in frustration and confusion.

"Why..." He began. "What's going on?!" He said, standing, then throwing the Keyblade as hard as he could toward the ground, which then triggered a memory of some sort of Roxas, feeling the same confusion if not more, than he did. He then looked at himself, the new garb that placed itself on him. He didn't know what it was, and he didn't remember having any long sleeved shirts on, nonetheless, here it was. His keyblade hit the ground and skidded to a stop a couple feet away from him. Sora also found out something new. He hadn't aged a bit. He wondered how this would affect his relationship with his friends.

"What if they look at me as some kid now? I wonder how long it's been since...that happened." He felt a hot resonance on his left cheek. He couldn't see it for now, but he knew that whatever it was, wouldn't bring him anything good. He tried to find some kind of creed. Something to make him feel better.

"No frowning. No sad faces."

The words echoed to him. He gave a bittersweet smirk. No matter what he's been through, maybe things would turn out for the better. His keyblade did not stay there long. It soon disappeared and reappeared in his hand. He looked at it with a scowl. Then summoned it away.

"I gotta find Riku and Kairi. And Donald and Goofy. And the King. I need to see what they think of all this. Maybe I can still save those worlds." He said. Now he just needed to figure out where he was. He looked around. Beast's Castle.

[thechasersblade]

yawn that was the perfect time for a nap angelox said a loud voice as he was stretching then a snipe poped out of nowhere"The master has called for a meeting in the chair room"then the sniper vanished
"ah c'mon i hate meetings i swear castex does these meeting for his personel enjoyment to piss me off" he muttered in fury as he stepped though the portal of darkness

{THE WORLD THAT NEVER WAS}

angelox was thundering though the corridors and rushed into the room "sorry im late i appeared on the wrong side of the castle" said angelox in a rare respctful tone he then teleported to his chair

[Raynie]

"...Pride Lands?"

Her mouth opened.

"Radiant Garden... what's zat?"

Disbelieving what the girl had just said.

"What's 'zat'? Ya don't know?" She asked back, comically shutting her mouth closed with her hand, her feet taking her backwards a couple of inches.

This girl had to be kidding!

Junko's jaw dropped again, staring at the girl as if she had just appeared before her very eyes.

Who wouldn't know about animal-land and and and... baaah--
Her bottom lip met her upper, jaw closing, her body standing straight up in realization. With eyes displaying no emotion, her face did it all. She struck a cord, one of those minimal ones that always stay hidden in your head until you happen to touch it by accident. An idea.

waaait. That'll work! It's even better than I thought!

A sudden look of excitement masked her face now, her gaze steering toward Rena again. Now her feet snapped together and she performed a mock-salute at the younger girl, bearing the grin she had shown many times since meeting her.

"The name's Junko. At your service, Rena!" She then dropped down, close enough to Rena before whispering in a secret manner, "I'll be your tour guide or somethin', I dunno. I can help find your friends."

Why was she whispering? There wasn't anyone around... at all.

Standing up straight again, the red-head pointed a finger at her chin, clasping her other hand around her hip. "Friends, friends, friends... lost friends. Hnn, lost, not found... wandering--aimlessly probably, lost, lost." The words were mumbled out, twisting together and blurring incoherently.

Her head slowly moved up, the sleeve gradually rolled downward to her upper arm. Vision to the grey clouds above, Junko's smile disappeared into a firm thin line.

"Lost friends..."

Maybe they got lost too.

Hand lifted off from her hip, hand struck out high as her index finger pointed at a random squiggly cloud.

"Traverse Town! Where everything lost is once again found. Your friends are sure to be there!"

The upbeat girl stared back down at Rena, her hand lowered at the same time. "One second, watch." Now her smile returned to her face, making her her feel "normal" again before she went off to one of the small house nearby.

Junko stopped in front of the closed entrance, disregarding the withered tape that clung onto it haphazardly. Without any apprehension, her fingers drew up it, pressing onto the dark wood for a moment. Like a pencil, her index and middle started scribbling a shape. As her finger gilded along the material, bright red lines trailed behind it in a smooth flow.

It didn't seem long before she was done and when she was up on the door was a simple yet intricate design.

A heart adorned with two equal spikes on either side at the top. The bottom of it swirled down, ending into two opposite half-axe shapes. The crimson glow of it brightened as Junko took a couple of steps away from it, grinning at her masterpiece.

Just when the glow started to fade away, two slashes were drawn into the middle of the heart, separating it into a diamond. It glowed the same, and while it did a soft tune could be heard from behind the door.

She looked at Rena and motioned her over with her hand, a slow breeze coming in from the side as particles of snow drifted along.

Without a touch to the door, it opened itself with a creak, the music coming in louder. Within the door was a strange scene. Really strange...

How in the worlds did an entire town fit into a small house?

It was exactly what it looked like and from afar you could see a moogle floating by in the first district, the door having appeared on one of the nearby walls. "Let's start here, kay? You might just find one or... even all of them here!" Junko proclaimed with a smile, her hand now pointed into the doorway.

[Rhapsody]

"And I'm done!" announced a cheery, lighthearted voice. A metallic arm holding a pink spray can fell limply to the side of a small female. A wide grin was etched on the girl's features, obviously proud of her latest piece of work, one of many that were sprayed on a wall in the Castle Gate area of Radiant Garden. She was a young girl, appearing a little older than 10 or 11. For such a young age, one might have wondered why a girl her age was here by herself, possibly violating personal property by spray painting on a wall. Really, Thistle couldn't care less what someone thought of her. All she wanted to do was paint something.

Chocolate-brown eyes peered over the many pictures that were sprayed on the wall, examining some of them with great longing. At least a hundred of them, if not more, littered the once bland wall, blanketing most of the surface. In fact, the only part of the wall that appeared vacant of any illustrations was towards end of the upright surface. All of the illustrations were small, most not even one foot high in length, but the young child liked it that way; it gave her more room to do other illustrations. While some pictures overlapped with others, the few important drawings were held separated from the rest, having a noticeably large, empty space that surrounded the illustrations. The important ones? Well, those were of Thistle's friends, of course.

The newest completed piece was that of her old companions, Sparky and Guardian. Granted they were Heartless, ones responsible for sinking the worlds into darkness a year ago, the small girl would have never made it without them. Although both of the creatures had some characteristics that made them look like a cross between Heartless and rabbits (both Guardian and Sparky had long, floppy ears drawn on top of their heads), the small female appeared proud with the result. She made sure to seclude the art piece from the other spray paintings; she figured this was one of those special, imporant pieces. Thistle smiled and ran her left hand over the pink coloring. If only they were here to see it today…

Her bright orbs turned bleak at the thought.

In all honesty, the only reason why she was even tagging these walls with obscure drawings of her companions was because of loneliness. She was isolated from the rest of her friends, Derrick, Rena, Kaijen, Sparky, Guardian, and the others. Alone, with no idea if her friends were okay. She missed them all. Especially Sleif. She missed him the most.

Her face never left the wall as she tossed the spray can to the side, showing no effort in trying to get it into her purple bag that lay limply next to her. She missed her target; a dull 'clang' resounded around the still area followed by the sound of the can rolling off to who-knew-where. Letting her figure fall back on her bottom, she brought her legs against her chest and hugged them with long, lanky arms. She rested her chin on two knees and mumbled gloomily, "Sure do miss them...." Closing her eyes, the small girl emitted a low groan and let her head slouch to the side. "Jeez. Why's it hafta to be so boring 'round here, huh?"

Thistle's features formed a small pout as the girl shifted her head to the side as if not wanting to face the tagged wall any longer. Her eyelids slowly opened, revealing thoughtful, chocolate-brown orbs that lingered over to her right shoulder. Metal. Her entire right arm was covered in plates of metal. Petite fingers gently brushed across the smooth, shiny surface, all the while still keeping a thoughtful expression on her face. Suddenly, her lips parted as if ready to speak. "Gravios," she muttered to her right shoulder, "do you think we'll ever find them?"

[Aphex]

Derrick staggered around a bit, trying to get the feel of walking on all fours. After all, this was the first time he's been an animal for crying out loud!

"Okay. . . I think I got this." he muttered to himself again, as he glanced around. Apparently he was alone which wasn't a surprise at all. Just bones and nothing else. What kind of a place was this anyway? This looked more like a graveyard than anything, after all, who would live in a barren wasteland?

The best thing to do at the moment would be searching for his friends which for some reason, he found somewhat amusing. Image, what kind of animals they would end up being if they were in the same world as him. That is, if they were even here in the first place.

Within minutes of being in this place, Derrick was already starting to get a bad vibe. No one around, just death itself. It was best for him to just get out of there and find at least one living person; or animal. At least he didn't have to worry about running into an enemy of his considering he thought they would never set foot in a world like this.

Now walking, the cub began to walk down a path he happened to spot, hoping it would lead to some other place. Who knows? Maybe it would also lead him to his friends.

[KurtZisa]

The gril ventured out in the beautiful paradise that is the Radiant Garden. She skipped merrily as she drag the robot mask along with her. He has to admit that this girl has a very extra-ordinary gift Gravios can't distinguish, though misguided by Sleif himself, Gravios knew that there's still a chance for Thistle to turn to her destined path.

Finally they settled down, as her fingers lingered through his engravings. Gravios is not used being touched by mere individuals but he has no choice.

"Gravios"

The girl started. Gravios' eyes then glew with a faint green light, like eyes being opened after a long night sleep. A brief moment of silence.

"do you think we'll ever find them?"

"I can't tell. But there is a possibility." for the moment he can't answer the corresponding question. But really he can't really tell even if he is a superior entity of light himself. Gravios implied that he is relying to the infinite possibilities.

[Takushi Rena]

Paws clicking against the harsh, sandy earth beneath his claws. Back arched, the lion moved slow and steady as he was low to the ground. Emerald orbs trailing side to side in search of this whomever or whatever.

Noises. Talking... to no one? Boy, someone was a bit mad, weren't they? Those emerald orbs narrowed as the teen came around a rock wall...

A... kid? A lion cub! A freakin' cub in the middle of a creepy place like this. For Aoi, that was absolutely perfect. Screw with this kid, even scare 'em! Why not?

He saw the cub walking off down a path. That was his cue. Suddenly sneaking slowly, Aoi followed behind. Staying ever so quiet, making him seem like air following behind a small lion. Closer and closer... Then...

"RHAAAAR!"

Sudden and fierce! The teen jolted in front of the boy, snarling with those yellow-tinted fans bared. Those green orbs looked malicious, his brow digging into them.

"What the heck're you doing?!" Aoi, no longer pressed to the ground, stood over the cub. His tone echoed through the rocks, blaring and viscous.

---------------------

What's 'zat'? Ya don't know?

Another shake of her head, bangs flopping as if they were puppy dog ears. Those bright blue orbs looked straight at the girl, Rena's arms pressed behind her back.

"Uh-uh."

Nothing... for a moment. Rena only watched the red head, once showing no emotion and then looking quite... well... excited! She didn't get it, quirking a brow and wondering.

The name's Junko. At your service, Rena!

Junko... okay! Her mouth became agog, words tempting to spill out... but, when the red head leaned forwards and her tone lowered, no words came. Rena just stared at the girl, leaning backwards. She looked so perplexed!

I'll be your tour guide or somethin', I dunno. I can help find your friends.

"Ah... kay..."

As the girl stood up straight, the tomboy watched as she mumbled to herself. A grin formed on the pale girl's features, and, meekly, quiet words presented themselves.

"Uhh... thank you..."

However, there wasn't a way to tell that Junko had heard her; she seemed too busy drawing things in the air with her finger.

Traverse Town! Where everything lost is once again found. Your friends are sure to be there!

Traverse Town! That was Derrick's home world... so he must've been there! The brunette watched as the girl darted off, specifically to a house. What was she doing...?

click... click...

More drawing over the air with her fingers. Yet... this was on a door, not in the air. Quirking a brow, her head turned sideways again, ear nearly pressing against her shoulder. Staring at the bright red lines making themselves visible on the door. Out of nowhere! What was Junko doing?

Let's start here, kay? You might just find one or... even all of them here!

Blink. Blink. Rena stared at the door, now ajar... with something inside of the house. Cautious and curious, the girl took a step forwards.

Within the walls of that quant little house was... another world! Literally, there was another world behind that door, and, realizing what it was, those blue pupils started to brighten. A grin spread and widened from the edges of her lips.

Traverse Town!

clickclickclick!

No hesitation there. Rena bolted forwards and through the doorway. No more snow and cold and wind or any of that! Now, her shoes were planted into cobblestone, staring around at the bricks and street lamps. No cold; just warmth.

That grin widened. Wider and wider. As she turned around, stepping and spinning with each step, Rena found the First District.

Yet... this place was vacant and empty, just like the Land of Dragons.

But, all of a sudden, Rena didn't remember the Land of Dragons. She didn't remember Junko, suddenly forgetting what she had left behind upon running through that doorway. They were still lingering in her mind, yes, but neither of them mattered then and there.

It was Derrick, Kaijen, and Thistle that she wondered about.

clickclickclick!

It was being in the First District that she thought about... Maybe it was like before: she was in the First District, running through a big, big door into the Third. Then Derrick showed up... and then Kaijen, too! Maybe, if she ran in the Third District... it would happen again: Derrick would be there. Kaijen and Thistle could've been there, too.

clickclickclick!

Palms slammed against the wood. Those huge doors swung open as if they were light as air, swinging violently back.

"Derrick!!"

clickclickclick!

Empty district? No... that couldn't happen. The district wasn't supposed to be empty; there were supposed to be people there!

Her gaze darted onto the staircase, to find 'someone'. But no one was there...

"Kaijen!"

clickclickclick!

Running forwards, whirling around with each step. Spinning wildly, searching up above the district for any sign of anyone.

"Thistle!"

No answers except those from the wind. Her hands were clammy, heart slamming into her chest.

They were supposed to be there... If not there, then somewhere else in the town.

But, what if they weren't in this town? Then where were they...?

Voice low, as her gaze traced the outline of a piece of cobblestone.

"Where... are you...?"

[Watson]

Ilxudiq, Second District, Traverse Town
------------------------------------------------

Ilxudiq slowly walked out of the shoe store, blood on his lips. "Lucky me! Oh yes, lucky me! Who knew they'd taste so good here! Man... I wonder if Lillia's here... Meal, or business... Meal, or business... Gah! Damn, so hard to decide... Hey! Another one!" He stared at the only other person in the second district at the time. A young man. "Hello goodbye." He said as he walked up to the man. He tried to run but Ilxudiq quickly overtook him and grabbed the man's neck. The water condensed into a sphere floating behind his back. "Nowhere to run. Just think happy thoughts as I rip you apart." The water jutted out in spikes, impaling the man. They all converged in the man's chest, and carefully carried out his heart, which quickly turned into a shadow and scurried away. Ilxudiq took out a small Martini glass he had stolen and began to fill it with blood. "Bloody Mary... heh heh." He chuckled to himself, sitting on a bench and taking a few sips before getting bored. "Too salty." He said as he smashed the glass on the ground, and stood up. "Oh well, better try the hotel." He muttered as he shuffled off.


Nelox, Where Nothing Gathers, The Castle that Never Was
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Darkness appearing in the erfectly white room, a flutter of a black cloak, and Nelox now sat in his chair Where Nothing Gathers.

"sorry im late i appeared on the wrong side of the castle"

Nelox stared at the man who had said that, Angelox. "Please, Angelox. For your sake, pause when you speak. I don't think Castex would be happy with one of his members dying from lack of breath... or something of the sort. Nelox closed his eyes and thought to himself how Angelox would likely die soon...

If everything went right, everyone in the Embodiment would die soon.

If Castex agreed to enforce stricter rules, Nelox would be virtually the only one left alive... Which really did say something concerning the competance of his fellow members... And so, Nelox sat and waited, waiting for Castex to appear. He could get a word in when he did...

[thechasersblade]

"Please, Angelox. For your sake, pause when you speak. I don't think Castex would be happy with one of his members dying from lack of breath... or something of the sort" replied nelox hey nelox i need your support for a mission i wish for the organization to complete but ill need about four members but seeing that i am a rookie member if you take charge of the operation then he might allowit but we wil need 4 members at the moment if you agree theyd be 3 so we just need 1 more that is if you accept my proposal asked/pleaded angelox

[Aphex]

"RHAAAAR!"

"Gah!"

Startled, Derrick couldn't help but come to a stop. He jumped back a few inches as his initial reaction, seeing another lion in front of him.

"What the heck're you doing?!"

"What am I doing?! More like what are you doing!" the cub retorted, readying himself in a pouncing position. Yet, he refrained from doing anything. He stood up straight, cocking an eyebrow after examining the lion that stood over him. A grin was the only thing that formed on the cub's features, almost as if he were going to laugh.

"Well what do you know? I'm not surprised - "

Derrick simply walked past the lion, continuing with what he was doing. "I don't have time for you,"

[Skitty Cat]

Flip, flip, flip.

The room was dark, all but a tiny light flickering near the bed. Curled up on her side, the owner listened to her music, reading the book she had opened. Her eyes drifting over the page, she took in the words, understanding them clearly even with the dim light. She closed the book and blew out the light. After her room fell into complete darkness, keeping a tight grip on her book, the girl stood up and moved away from her bed.

She reached the door and lightly pulled it open, her blue-black hair falling in front of her eyes. Reaching up a gloved hand, she brushed it away, revealing her wolf gold eyes. She silently slipped into the bright hallway, looking around to see that it was empty, Tora smiled softly. She was about to summon a portal, but stopped as a samurai materialized, bowing it said mentally, Master Castex would like all members to report to the meeting room.

Tora barely nodded before it disappeared, instantly she headed toward the required room, keeping her head down, she had just reached the door before she saw another member hurrying toward it. Yanking it open in her haste, she stepped in side and warped to her seat. She sat down and eyed her fellow member, she didn't look around to see how many of the others were here, and instead she returned on her MP3 player before pulling out her book. Hoping that he would just ignore her, that he wouldn't come near her.

"Please, Angelox. For your sake, pause when you speak. I don't think Castex would be happy with one of his members dying from lack of breath... or something of the sort."

She nodded in agreement, knowing that Nelox was correct on that sort of thing. She kept her eyes on the book, listening to her fellow members' conversation. Tora sighed mentally before glancing up briefly, looking at Angelox with a raised brow. "Hey Nelox I need your support for a mission I wish for the organization to complete but ill need about five members but seeing that I am a rookie member if you take charge of the operation then he might allow it but we will need 4 members at the moment if you agree they'd be 3 so we just need 1 more that is if you accept my proposal."

Is that even possible? Would Castex really allow five members to go on one mission? she asked herself mentally, hoping not to draw any attention to herself.

~- Else where -~

He kept his head down, staring into the soda he'd ordered half an hour ago. He hadn’t touched it; instead he was focused on the things around him, the shadows in the corner twitching. He eyed the Neo Shadows, they had appeared around the same time as his drink, his aquamarine eyes quickly darted back to the dark hued drink. A smirk coming to his lips, the young man stood up, living it at the level it was.

Moving toward the exit, the money for the bill next to the glass. He pushed open the door, his former smile fleeing to be replaced by a fine line. He sighed, exhausted from the constant hiding and searching; he shook his head. Keeping his gaze on the ground, he muttered under his breath, "Stupid Heartless, I wanted to enjoy that coke."

He knew that it was stupid to get riled up over that, but he was hoping to relax for a moment. The silver-headed teen kept to himself, walking toward somewhere; he stopped in his tracks when his feet hit carpet. His eyes snapped from side-to-side, the stone heads and pots rested peacefully on their bases. Shivering, the sixteen-year-old rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them up. Failing miserably, he gave up and headed toward the stairs.

Taking the set on the right, Riku glanced at the fountain; the dragon's head kept the water pouring into the small basin. Biting the inside of his cheek, he hastily moved up the steps, turning toward the library he pushed open the door. The carpet gave way to green tiles, his eyes drifted over the bookshelves and the books lined up on them.

"How long has it been since I was in this library? A year, or has it been more?" He asked himself. Riku knew one thing for sure, the last time he’d set foot here was when he was helping Maleficent, and that while he was in hiding, he’d lost track of the time. Another thought crossed his mind, grasping it he muttered, "What would Sora think if he were to see me back here? Wearing this cloak again? Has he even aged or has the same thing happened to him?"

[Raynie]

Her shoulder leaned to the right, pressing itself onto the frame of the door after Rena had run through it. Really, she didn't think the girl would've walked through it so easily. But there she went, Junko's eyes trailing behind her up until the moment the blurry blue spot became invisible to her.

'Poor kiiid.'

Clasping her hands in front of her, she mocked a sweet pose, resting her cheek onto the knuckle of her right hand. It really was a pity, the kid seeming innocent enough, but she just had no idea what to do with her...

Staying in that same spot, crimson fumes twirled next to her on the snowy ground, twisting upward. In the very center of it formed a solid shape, black and elongated, distorted from the red curtain around it. Junko didn't bother turning her head and instead only shifted her swirly violet eyes in its direction, seeing only half.

"Hnn, kitty kiiitty."

The same form sprouted two cat ears, the tops ending in zig-zags like the rabbit from before. It also had the same crazed eyes, bloody red and menacing. A longer than normal tail grew out, blade-like almost.

As the fumes dissipated, the Unversed stretched out, front paws clawing at the ground as it unleashed a strange warble of meows. They were scratchy, horrendous for the ears while its jaw opened unnaturally, showing its teeth as they moved chainsaw-like.

Junko turned her eyes back to the first district, now pushing herself off from the frame as her mouth gave a scoff.

"Well, I just don't know yet, now do I? I can be the baddie or the goodie, but... but... I just can't choose!" She threw her arms up in the air, a deep puff of air escaping her mouth as she sighed. The cold making it visible with fading white smoke.

"Both have their pros and cons, yeah? Gaaaah, so confusing." Immediately, she facepalmed, mumbling into her hand while her foot tapped impatiently at herself.

'Eenie, meenie, miney, mo...'

The cat hissed out, closing its jaw before it laid its body out, stubby legs wiggling with sharp and jagged claws. Around it, the ground glowed a rotting red, seeping into the cracks like veins.

Junko suddenly sprung up, hand flying off her face with a mad grin covering it instead. That's it! Another perfect idea, by yours truly.

She looked back over at the district, mouth widening as both of her index fingers tapped rhythmically at her chin.

taptaptap.

A pause.

"No idea at all!" She exclaimed, highly proud of this. "Let's just see where things go. I declare this a surprise party cause we got no idea what's gonna happen! Perfect!" Without a second to lose, she sped off into Traverse Town, her armor clanging softly. But she quickly stopped. Halting in her steps.

With a swift turn, the red-head looked back at the laying Unversed cat, one hand on the doorknob from the other side of it.

"Don't wait up for meeee!"

Junko then crashed the door closed, a faint locking sound emitting from it before the same heart shape appeared on it again. It glowed brightly and then faded just as quickly, taking the door with it.

"Ahh..." She breathed in, taking in the view of the cozy-looking town with its never ending nights. This was a good change, she had to admit. The cold from the Land of Dragons was beginning to get to her...

'Pffft, right.'

She smiled now, the crazed grin being replaced as she started walking off, albeit randomly and nowhere, passing the moogle by. There was so much on her hands now, so many decisions to take and just so little... time...

Gasp!

That's what was missing from here all along. How could she have been so blind? A little red, here and there that's all. And right now, in Traverse Town, along one side of a building, started to grow cracks. Secluded and not so visible to the eye, they began to emit a pulsing red glow, dark and fierce, waiting for the command.

"I thiiink that's enough for now... maybe, sorta kinda anyway. Suspenseful preeview~" She mumbled, flashing a grin now, hopping up onto the steps in front of Cid's shop.

[sephiroth2]

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As the infinite darkness of this location or realm continued to be illuminated by the many numerous yellow eyes, a large portion of the eyes seemed to strangely act as a sort of transmitter, showing a much larger and clearer broadcast of various worlds through their sights. The worlds seemed to be quiet on the surface, as each one appearing after the other seemed to have nothing of interest to occur, at least for the moment. Suddenly, the picture changed showing the building of a large town still being slightly built after so long, with a large castle in the distance above it, from which they appeared to get the parts for the town. An instant smile spread across the silver haired man’s face, as the names Hollow Bastion and Radiant Garden escaped from his lips, each name referring to a previous history of the world.

At the moment, a small pack of Neo Shadows, sped along the top of the towns walls, randomly jumping to rooftops before just as quickly leaping back onto the wall as they made their way towards the still impressive castle. As they travelled, one seemed to catch the eye of something below, stopping and allowing the rest of its group to continue on ahead. Intrigued by this, the large picture for the mysterious man, suddenly split in two, one still constantly showing the group of heartless making their way to the castle, while the one single Neo Shadow that stopped, showed new images of a large wall with many drawings of different beings on it.

Leaping from the tall wall it was on, the heartless suddenly landed on the flat surface of the wall Thistle was drawing her pictures on, the creature slicing its claws into the top blank parts of the wall, careful to not ruin her work. Slowly moving down it, the Neo Shadow stared at the girl with the mechanical arm, while the mysterious man seemed to sit down on some large object, like a hair or a throne, before leaning forward quite interested in seeing Thistle again, here of all worlds.

Moving its head back and forth as it moved along the outside of the picture, the heartless continued to stare both at Thistle, before looking back at the drawings she had done. Finally reaching the ground, the dark creature slowly approached the young girl, staring at her with its large bright yellow eyes, before turning its head once again towards the large picture, especially of that of a large man wearing a coat. Staring at it for a short time, the heartless swiftly turned its head back to Thistle, before leaping away from the girl, and just as quickly ran back up the wall, disappearing as it reached the shadows.

As the picture of Thistle and her drawings suddenly disappeared from the heartless' sight, the remaining group of Neo Shadows showed through their eyes, that they had finally reached the castle, already bounding within the higher floors of the main entrance, as the sound of doors creaking open could be heard, coming from the area of the entrance hall. During this intrusion, a lone figure walked softly along the raised level within the Library of Hollow Bastion, picking random books before quickly dropping them onto the cold ground with a thud.

Suddenly hearing someone enter the library itself from below, caused the figure to stop immediately what it was doing, just as it reached and moved one of the books in the many shelves around it. Slowly peering its head from around one of the bookshelves, the lone figure’s eyes glowed bright yellow, showing the silver haired man what it could see itself. “Well, this is a turn of events.” The man’s deep voice said to himself as he saw the appearance of a young boy, maybe late teens, with short silver hair, aquamarine eyes and a black cloak covering his entire body, hiding any more appearance from view, though it was already quite clear who the boy was immediately.

Placing its hand on the large bookcase it was hiding behind, the figure seemed to smile as it forcibly pushed against the wood, causing the large bookshelf to move closer to the edge of the balcony, before falling completely off, and resulting in a large crash in an attempt to crush Riku under its weight. During this commotion, the figure picked up some books it had gathered, before quickly darting out of the balcony doors out of the library, leaving the large mess of shattered wood and books the only sign something was there.

If this wouldn’t be enough for Riku, with the obvious attempt on his life with the bookcase, the suddenly group of Neo Shadow’s the rose from the ground behind the boy, would have made it quite clear that he shouldn’t have come to the ancient castle again. Quickly changing the images appearing, as the group of Neo Shadows leapt towards Riku with their claws raised, the new pictures that broadcasted to the silver haired man, was that of a town, similar to that bathed in twilight from the sun, though this seemed to be constantly in darkness by that of night. A world where all who have lost their own, can find refuge, Traverse Town.

Moving up the steps that were in the first District of the town, a lone Shadow made its way through the darkness cast by one of the buildings, stopping as it came upon large markings of red, which seemed to pulse and glow with every second it was there. Showing the man this through its eyes, caused him to raise his hand up to his chin as he continued to watch the pulsing of the markings. “Now, why are you here?” was the man’s only response to these strange red markings, smiling as the lone Shadow turned around the corner of the building, seeing the strange looking girl as she made her way up towards one of the districts shops.

As Rena entered the third district of Traverse Town, wishing to find everyone that disappeared, the sudden emptiness of the area seemed to place both a heavy feeling of sadness, but also of danger in the air. Appearing with a loud bubbling of noise above her, the sudden emergence of a Large Body, would have confirmed this feeling as it slammed into the main square, just a few feet infront of Rena, releasing a shockwave as its huge form collided with the ground. Turning its head from left to right as it got its bearings, the huge heartless locked its sights directly on Rena, smacking its large hands onto its round belly, signalling its immediately charge towards the girl like a bull.

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After what seemed like an eternity, light filled the eyes of the young man as his sight slowly returned to him. His first image was that of a blank clean ceiling, before his eyes slowly moved around giving him a look around the room he could see. It was quite a nice room, well kept, a large wardrobe, a desk and chair, a small bathroom joining to the room itself, it was quite a room. Slowly turning his head to the side, the man looked rather strangely at a middle aged man sitting on one of the chairs beside the bed, reading a book as he passed the time.

“W-where am I?”Said the young man, his voice sounding rather painfully as he tried to speak too soon. This sudden question made the inn keeper jump slightly, before realising that the man had finally woken up. “Thank goodness, we thought you were never going to wake up.” The large man said with a smile as he placed his book onto the bed side table, while the young man tossed a little in the bed trying to sit himself up, finally doing so as well, but feeling quite weak after it. “Where....a-am....I?” the man said, each word clear and precise but not too much to strain his voice, as his blue eyes stared back to the man, who stood up and pulled back a curtain to show the young man the fascinating view of the town.

“This...is Twilight Town my lad! And at the moment, you are staying in the Twilight Inn, my business and home.” The large man said with a large smile on his face, to which the young man tried to return only to wince in pain as he moved slightly. “Oh hey now, you should really get some rest, when we found you, you were hurt pretty bad, if you don’t rest you’re not going to get better.” The Inn Keeper said as he took his seat again close to the man, leaning in a little to speak with him, without having to raise his voice.

“Do you remember anything about what happened to you? Anything at all about where you came from?” asked the Inn Keeper, to which the young man shook his head slowly and gently, before looking down at the bed sheets, his long black hair falling over his hand, as he gently raised it, causing the strands to fall through his fingers softly. “It’ll be ok my lad. Just get some rest and you’ll be just fine. I’ll go and have something to eat brought up to you.” Said the large man as he stood up and began to walk towards the door, before the young man’s voice suddenly could be heard again. “Abeo.....” Turning around from the door a little confused, the Inn Keeper watched as the young man raised his hand to his chest and nodded, looking back towards him. “My name...is Abeo!”