K.h.a

[Silent Avera]

Yay Lectori! But college is about to start up again for me, so yay XD.....and crap......>_<

I can see where's you're coming from Coldman, I don't think Riku'd like it too much either, but Dendjue's the type to tease, he'll always be one step ahead of Riku's well being and won't push him any further than he needs to, especially in the possession department.

[Coldman9]

Oh, okay. And I just had another thought. Lorenia left memories of her's in Sora because of the possession but does it work the other way around? Since Ragiel's a protective big brother he'd probably freak out if he ever found out Kairi lost her heart and got kidnapped. That would be so funny.

[Silent Avera]

It only works on a one way street, sowy >w<

Which reminds me, next Kairi chap I think it's memory explosion time *evil laughter*

[Coldman9]

That sounds good. I can't wait.

[Silent Avera]

A spit of ch38 in progress~ ^_~*




Nikkue passed them the most recent set of Birth Records and she and Layleri left.

Without wasting time except for inching themselves into comfortable reading positions, Edward, Alphonse, and Merlin began their search.

Alphonse found Riku’s name and picture and gazed down to the manifesting words on the magical page; looking through, he flipped to the last page of his abridged recorded history and the words appeared to show his current location upon the world called Zi. “Brother look! Check this out, it updates practically everything about them! We can find out where they are!”

“Awesome,” Edward commented looking at his own section of manifesting words –

“Yes, these magicked pages are some of Yen Sid’s finest work I must say, it sure as heck beats writing everything down,” said Merlin.

“Is he a Sovereign level magician?”

“Yes,” said Merlin shortly and both brothers hid their smiles.

Edward found Sora’s name and picture, he looked over his age, “He’s younger than our Masters by at least five years, wow.” He looked at his current height. “Hmp.”

Merlin was trying to adjust his aging eyes to the straining type and scripture font the records were in, holding the paper away from his face in varying lengths, the small words going in and out of focus as he looked for that perfect middle ground, with little luck.

Edward and Alphonse scanned over the brief family tree for Sora and Riku.

At first their eyes didn’t catch it, but once memory caught up to the familiarity of those names, that split second of oblivious bliss caved into a surmounting realization – Edward’s body was filled with an electric tingle spreading from his finger tips inward, awakening every nerve on pitch –

“Dear boy what’s got the best of you?” asked Merlin catching onto Edward’s surprise.

Merlin walked over to Edward who pointed to a name that existence failed to erase.



Da-dum!

Shonen Bat: Oh! Oh! I know who it is! It's [BLEEP] isn't it?

SA: Yes it's [BLEEP].

Shonen Bat: But why would that even matter? A Keyblade chooses by the heart doesn't it?

SA: Yeah.

Shonen Bat: So what's with Birth Records? Why are they so important, I don't get it - you people and your Order crap give me a headache, pffft.

[Cef]

SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol, I think I know who it is! It's-

*random flying brick hits head*

[Lectori Salutem]

Flying bricks for whoever tries to say it, eh?

Nice little spoiler, SA, makes me look forward to the real chapter even more!

[Silent Avera]

It's okay if you want to say it, I mean, I can say it, it's - *random flying brick hits head*.........Ow......

I mean if we can tell who Kairi was oh so early on, thank you sentence slip up >_< This should be a piece of cake. XD

I hope it's worth the wait Lectori, I got a notebook to help me write it out when I'm not my laptop (and because, *drama music* Graphics is back! AAAAHHHHHH!)


I'd give another progess report, but this one part is really kickin' my butt since I'm stringing sooooooooooo much together....

Yikes, I will be so happy when Naruto is done because everyone will be on common ground with one another, decent common ground not like, 'O hey thar, I guesses 'deh iz nowhere eshes for mez to go but wit' you with a bunch of other igits I dun' know.' Considering with how slow this story moves, yes there are still akward vibes between people.

And those that are missing are missing for a reason. Character axe is coming, and it's hittin' hard.

Shonen Bat: OOOOOOOOHHH~! You and your demon little details! No wonder you're a woman -* BAM.*

[Silent Avera]

^ *Get's struck by lightning* Mirror, mirror on the wall - why do you burn meeeeeeee~! DX

Patooty, this chappie’s kickin’ my butt, but here’s the first part at least XD We’ll get to the ninja’s in the second part, I want this chappie to be really special because it’s gonna set up a l o t for what’s gonna go down in Konoha and in the future >:3 ......Me like setting upz......

I love how I keep making changes in the story XD They’re all for the better I hope :p I mean I wrote the first draft…..when I was in high school X3

And now I feel old again XP

Anywho, if you’re not familiar with Fullmetal Alchemist (you’re missing out) you’d only know what Edward and Alphonse look like (I hope, if I described them well, about, two years ago x.x) and virtually nothing of their back story, so parts of the chappie might feel a little empty to that unaware reader, but I’ll try to make up for it >_<

Not to mention though, if you thought last chappie was full of “spouting emotions” then this one is a frikin’ geyser! XD I’ll get to everyone’s psyche eventually in future chapters, although now it’s time to string some together.

In the first part, there is dialogue from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the little montage before the opening song.


Disclaimer: Pg-13, for......talking.

Doggone it now I remember where my influence for Severs come from, darn you His Dark Materials! :p


Ch 38 Kodomo’s Provoke: Part 1
Car-runitwau Star: Konohagakure Village
With my lighnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.

With my lighnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lighnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am go-goin'

You better look out below! – Wake Up, Arcade Fire



All is one, one is all.

You are the “one”, the world is the “all.”

We revolve around a grand transition of life through birth and decomposition, consumption and recycling of the elements; everything is interconnected through this great unseen flow.

Where I come from, understanding that can enable you to perform alchemy, the science of understanding, decomposing, and reconstructing matter. Note that alchemy is not an all powerful art, it is impossible to make something out of nothing, matter and energy do not work that way; the basis of alchemy is equivalent exchange, something of equal value must be given up.

My name is Edward Elric, my [right] arm and [left] leg are automail, rather advanced prosthetics made from machinery that attaches onto me like parts of a toy, and move like regular limbs.

I have a brother, Alphonse Elric, who’s a bit taller than me – and a majority of people. Many have just accepted him as he is, a walking suit of armor, but he’s someone whose soul is bound to a suit of armor; it bothers me they don’t care to separate the two perceptions.

But I don’t really have any ground to snap at them, we are a bit odd, and it’s my fault for how we got this way.

I pushed the notion to bring our mother back from the dead with alchemy, and we failed; the transmutation took Al’s body, and two of my limbs, and left us with a lump of flesh that wouldn’t pass as meat in a butcher’s shop.

I suppose it’s very hard to translate the worth and means of a soul. My brother and I are all we’ve got now, and that’s okay, because we’re going to fix ourselves, albeit some things have come up. We were stripped from our world one night during a storm that swallowed the sky, and everything under it, and when we finally woke up, we were in Tokieo Town. We were offered to be returned to our world by our Masters, nothing too harmful happened to it to our relief, but to our realization, Alphonse and I learned that our entire world was just another part of a “whole”, a “flow” much bigger than I had ever dreamed, and we had been thrust into something way beyond our own concerns and needs because the flow that sustained us all, was threatened.

Macevoy who became a good friend to us always spoke that the protection of the systems wasn’t a Master’s job alone; everyone has their place, their part to do, and praised us for choosing to help. “Choosing?” I said, “As alchemists, as parts within the flow and labyrinth of life – there’s no way we’re gonna stay idle in our world!”

With the overwhelming notion of what makes up existence, perhaps that is how Seritouge justifies his consumption of “spare parts”, but as alchemists, we know there is no such thing.

For as alchemists, we know everyone is a fraction of the whole, and regardless of people being fractions, great changes can result from a common denominator.


Anime Royalty’s Castle: Library

“It is done,” said Nikkue to Merlin, “They’ve all made it Tokieo Town safely and are under the protection of Divine Cover* and Divine Cloak*; don’t worry about them. Deity South says they’ve found their friends, and the other Deities will arrive here soon to start your training towards Sovereign Standards. Now, Layleri and I have to go with Ovohna to attend a small meeting of Royalties from some neighboring systems.”

“Later!” piped Layleri.

“All that mess you guys had with Seritouge is cleared up?”

“Yeah, all he wanted was those Key Brawl reports. While were gone, we want the three of you to start looking over the records. Look for the family seal of Sora and Riku, Kairi’s should be interesting, and start tracing their ancestry. Look at the history of their bloodline; note that Master’s bloodlines are special because they’re not so much as related by blood specifically, more or less, its similar beings.”

Nikkue passed them the most recent set of Birth Records and she and Layleri left.

Without wasting time except for inching themselves into comfortable reading positions, Edward, Alphonse, and Merlin began their search.

Alphonse found Riku’s name and picture and gazed down to the manifesting words on the magical page; looking through, he flipped to the last page of his abridged recorded history and the words appeared to show his current location upon the world called Zi. “Brother look! Check this out, it updates like everything about them! We can find out where they are!”

“Awesome,” Edward commented looking at his own section of manifesting words –

“Yes, these magicked pages are some of Yen Sid’s finest work I must say, it sure as heck beats writing everything down,” said Merlin.

“Is he a Sovereign level magician?”

“Yes,” said Merlin shortly and both brothers hid their smiles.

Edward found Sora’s name and picture, he looked over his age, “He’s younger than our Masters by at least five years, wow.” He looked at his current height. “Hmp.”

Merlin was trying to adjust his aged eyes to the straining type and scripture font the records were in, holding the paper away from his face in varying lengths, the small words going in and out of focus as he looked for that perfect middle ground, with little luck.

Edward and Alphonse scanned over the brief family tree for Sora and Riku. At first their eyes didn’t catch it, but once memory caught up to the familiarity of those names, that split second of oblivious bliss caved into a surmounting realization – Edward’s body was filled with an electric tingle spreading from his finger tips inward, awakening every nerve on pitch –

“Dear boy what’s got the best of you?” asked Merlin catching onto Edward’s surprise.

Merlin walked over to Edward who pointed to a name, Ventus, and no doubt Ven being – being the nickname –

Merlin took a closer look, bending his body back and forth until the name finally came into focus, “Ah yes, Ventus, extraordinary young man,” commented Merlin, “Fell into a bad bit with some most repulsive people. Never did hear from him, or any of the other Masters once they took that path” –

“We did,” Edward whispered, but Merlin didn’t hear him –

“It was their choice, all the same. Not long after that, I was told King Mickey confirmed that their fates had been sealed unto some forlorn outcome….I never could find out much more than that, so tight lipped that information was, I could never understand why.”

Edward then made the simple motion of moving his finger from Ven’s name, to Sora’s, both sprouting from the same branch, from the same union, from the same mother and father.

“Oh, Oh, OH – OHHHHH!” exclaimed Merlin – “My goodness, they’re brothers!”

“Brother….” Alphonse set on the table another family tree placing his finger by the name Terra, and dragged it down to his only son, Riku – Merlin did the same focusing act in fast forward – his hands then suddenly become as grasping squids for Kairi’s family tree – he found it – and almost tore it out of its book *glance* –

“SHE IS THE FINAL SOVEREIGN!” –

“We know,” said Edward and Alphonse together plainly, both were still fixated of the names of Ven and Terra –

“Ah b-b-b-b-b-b-b-bbut, oooh focus brain!” Merlin smacked his head, “How would the two of you know of Terra and Ven?” Merlin asked precariously catching his glasses before they trembled off his nose – “They couldn’t have possibly” –

“They did, somehow,” said Edward, “Ven, Terra, and Aqua – is she related to Kairi?”

“No dear boy, she was the world princess of Radiant Garden, there’s no way they could hold blood rela….ti~on…..”………They all began scrambling for the birth records of Aqua – and Ven – and Terra – Merlin refocused himself on Kairi’s family tree and zipped through pages of her relatives, “Her grandmother, her grandmother – lived in Radiant Garden!”

“A Sovereign already living in the Disney System?! Why?!” asked Edward over the fluttering of paper –

“Her grandmother was NOT a Sovereign Royalty!” discovered Merlin, “On her father’s side – so maybe, maybe – no wait – Cross Bloods! Royalty Cross Bloods! Can the world royalty of Radiant Garden possibly, possibly have been a Hidden Strain?!” squeaked Merlin –

“Here’s Aqua’s!” piped Alphonse holding it up –

“Here’s Ven’s – and Terra’s!” piped Edward – FLOOM – all three records burst into flames!

“OH ****– !”

“NO – NO –!”

“MOVE AWAY!” – Merlin with a flick of his wand caused the surrounding records to jump up and run for their lives from the deathly embers Edward and Alphonse caused trying to put out the papers, but the only thing saved under the patting of their hands were black burnt bits……

“DAMN IT!” Edward slammed the table with his fists, his metal one causing a wooden fracture, while his normal hand might’ve had a slight fracture….Merlin rubbed his mouth with his free hand, and the anthropomorphic records all bent themselves in sadness.

“Protective magic, only certain people would be able to handle those records I bet,” said Merlin, “We were closing in on something……” Merlin stood back and stroked his beard, “Well, this secrecy business is starting to make some sense, those poor boys, poor Kairi, and none of them have been granted closure of themselves I bet. Not that any closure would be enough.”

“Enough with these secrets,” Edward hissed gripping the table, “WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE?!”

“Brother…”

“Settle down lad,” said Merlin calmly, “Deep breaths, let the tension go.”

Edward slumped down in his seat, the records Sora, Riku, and Kairi all leapt back up to him, their pictures happily and blankly looking back at him with the burnt embers of Ven, and Terra’s records before them….

Edward gritted, “The same **** that took them away, now….”

“(*sigh*),” Merlin cleaned his glasses, “All that Royalty confoodlement is like a poison the moment you’re born into it, though they call themselves under the title of blue-bloods and all, and with the high rate of Masters stemming from Royalty, ‘dah….Ooh, I digress…..Try not to get so bent out of shape now, what’s done is done, I suspect the Stewards maybe able to do something, we have the Deities on our side for heaven’s sake! I can only imagine what methods of retrieving magic they posses. A minor setback, that’s all, chin up now, though we, we must make note of this,” a feather pen and paper hopped up to Merlin, “Ah yes, you write down everything that happened just now,” and the feather pen took to its job. Merlin walked over to Edward as did Alphonse, and took up Sora’s and Riku’s family trees….*glance*…..he set them down. “Remarkable, quite remarkable, it is, a great honor for the cycle of Masters to be chosen within the same family; these are very special people indeed,” he adjusted his glasses back on with a sniff.

“I don’t see it so great an honor to have your family torn apart,” said Edward looking at the summary of Sora’s family, a father and two brothers, all taken leaving the mother, then at Riku’s family, a father and one son, both taken leaving the mother. Alphonse noticed his brother gripping his pants tightly. Edward huffed a sigh through his nose looking at the lonely mother’s names. “Merlin,” said Edward unstuffing his head, “Do you know what significance it would have with Masters crossing over into another system? Is there something there that can influence the Keyblade’s choice to stay in a family?”

“I don’t think it would influence its choice, though, Sora and Riku were born on a Linking World, and as such their family is rooted there…..Quite interesting, and Kairi, well, I can understand why her family tree only shows herself and her grandmother noted coming from her father’s side. They’d want to keep her roots distorted, oh dash-it-all I never did like how Royalty are so bamboozled, ah I digress again. Masters crossing over into systems, some say is supposed to be a great taboo because in times before the order we have now, legend has it that when the first Royalty gained their Masters, they sent them to duel the Masters of other systems with the hope to gain more land and territory, and thus the Sovereigns were born to govern the greedy Royalty, and set the barriers in place for the culture of the system to grow and prosper on their own. With as many worlds as a system can have, it deeply concerned the Spirits that greed could emerge in such a form, in human form, bloody goodness I digress – focus brain –!”

“Ah, so that’s where the barriers come from?” asked Alphonse.

“That’s one way of explaining it, but it’s the legend most widely believed,” said Merlin [screw train of thought], “I myself thought the Sovereigns were the first Royalty to be born. Another legend says that the Sovereigns placed the borders to protect the Royalty from some great crisis. I suspect only the Spirits would truly know.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right about that, especially if they’re blaming human form”, said Edward releasing the rest of the tension from earlier, “What about those, supposedly in the form of a god?” He sat back in his chair, reminiscent of Macevoy’s words from the letter, of his teachings. “If there are humans, upon a majority of the stars then we all must’ve come from some common home that was then broken up into system, into worlds. The previous Disney Masters crossed over into our system, and now it’s happened again, but being justified under Seritouge’s notions, however before, it was a true and innocent stumble. The sky didn’t fall or anything, they walked here like, normal – if there were supposed to be any punishments for committing a taboo, nothing happened, but we are Sister Systems, and from what Cloud, Leon, Cid and Tifa are, Double Citizens, I suppose some leeway is given – I bet the Stewards don’t even fully understand it since Nikkue was a little interested in why Sister System even ‘are’ if everything is to be separate, yet even as we speak, the Stewards are talking with Royalty from our neighboring systems.”

“Point, grant it Royalty are allowed to communicate with one another,” said Merlin –

“That is the point,” said Edward glancing over the embers and the Disney Masters, “Perhaps these are surviving clues to what times were like way back in a plain we probably can’t even imagine, what with the tradition of separation carrying into worlds with the divisions of countries, states, cities, even homes, yet underneath that separation, there’s still that base connection of existing everyone shares, regardless of this bloodline mess and forbidden family history crap, does all that really matter so much when it’s all said and done? A Keyblade chooses by the heart doesn’t it? Personally I think all this complexity is bull****.”

“Hm,” commented Merlin crossing his arm, the little feather pen was still writing –“Not all kinds of separations are a bad thing though Edward.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. There are rich cultures of every system, every world, and people within the worlds, but there’s a big difference made when a border doesn’t only label a land or a state, it means fences and gates and barbed wire as well.”

“True, very true,” said Merlin, “You are a sharp young man Edward.”

“Naw, I’m just pushing of the teachings of a guy my brother and I used to know, Macevoy” –

“Estrude? Macevoy Estrude?” said Merlin quickly – the brothers perked up –

“Yes! You know him?!”

“Knew him? Of course! Learned so much about Astral Order from him I did, how vast the universe really was, he had taken a rather brief tour of the Disney System, stopped on my world, and I bumped into him during a festival, funny story actually, he called himself a Sovereign Geologist, though he didn’t talk about the unity you speak of Edward, I suppose those were his more practiced days of learning the processes of Astral Governing, yes?”

“Maybe” –

“Macevoy, yeah, he was able to go to all kinds of systems,” said Alphonse in a tone of recovering a memory, “But that was because he was Sovereign Geologist, to study the cultures of the systems and how they’ve progressed, well, that was his job before he became involved with our Masters, after I guess he began learning…..the truths?”

“I say, how is that young man doing anyway?” said Merlin twisting his finger in his beard.

“He’s…..” the brothers looked down, and Edward finished, “He’s, no longer alive.”

Merlin kept twisting his beard….. “What a shame that is….Shame, shame….Gone far too soon.”

Edward’s eyes drifted back to the family trees of Sora and Riku and the familiar names….Hmmm, upon closer inspection, it looked like the connections of Ven and Terra, even how their names were writ, were made in erasable pencil, while everything else looked to be in permanent ink……*Blink*….“Yeah. We’re lucky to have met these people.”

“From the unity taught to you young boys I’m very much starting to doubt its luck anymore,” said Merlin and fixed his glasses; Alphonse sat down next to his brother. A faded smile came to Edward, the large windows of the library showing the nighttime atmosphere outside.

“It’s a small world after all.”


………………………......
Konohagakure Village


“Hmp.” Mewtwo noticed a flock of crows that were quite intent on landing near one building despite a Haunter and Ghastly messing with them, spooking them once they landed, or running through them and pretending to grab their feathers.

He growled and stood up sending an irritated message via Memory Link* to both Ghost pokemon – they immediately stopped harassing the crows and faced his direction – he sent them a second message, and they scattered back to guard duty around the borders, but the crows had given up and were already flying off somewhere else in the village.

Mewtwo exhaled through his nose and sat back down, keeping his sense* in tune with the area around him, his new position at the border of the village giving a nice view of everything within, and everything beyond; no unfamiliar Astral Traces were anywhere to be sensed* although he dared another to show. Given his agitation from that one lone Outsider which interrupted “me time with company”, all the other pokemon shied away from him – no sense* was needed to pick up those vibes.

A crow landed next to him and picked at the building top nonchalantly; he glanced at it, “Mh, were those ghosts picking on you?”

The crow looked up at him twitching its head this way and that, “CAW!”

“What?” Although he didn’t speak crow –

“CAW!” The crow walked subtly to him and then pecked his foot –

“Hey! Shoo, go on!”

“CAW! CAW!” the crow flew up and pecked at his hand –

“Shoo!” Mewtwo knocked it away with his psychic powers and the crow finally took off. “Stupid bird.” Mewtwo looked at his hand with a tiny nick and a bead of blood coming out. He flicked his hand healing it with Recover*.

The crow flew up and over the barriers of the village landing a good distance away at the base of the tree.

It moved to clean itself, its beak just a millimeter away from its body – CHOMP – from above, the Cursed Vulpix pounced upon it, biting its beak clean off and licking the tips of it hungrily leaving the bird to die stupefied from its sudden mutilation.

The creature trembled, the trees around trembling with it – bending almost to their breaking points as sudden psychic waves radiated from the little creature, it shook its head violently to settle itself (the trees snapped back upright), and to leave nothing to waste, ate up the crow.

“Goodness, what a little demon you’re turning into.”



Sora sat hunched over touching the ends of his shoes together from his building top position, petting the Pidgey that accompanied Spike (much to his annoyance); Shonen Bat was resting silently in the shadows sowing the cloak together next to Sora with Spike moving a bit higher up as to not let his smoking bother them.

Sora was supposed to have gone to bed when Spike arrived, but what was he, 6? And Spike was to take over their position with the Pidgey.

“Well doesn’t this seem familiar?” said Spike laying back.

“Not exactly, the stars seem brighter here,” Sora smiled turning back to him – and just when Sora was about to enjoy Spike’s composed company like that ambivalent night back on Tumble-Stop, there came Shonen Bat’s prying mouth like the intrusion of a record player skipping –

“Dead Weight, the last thing Sora needs is lung cancer,” to which Spike replied by dripping some of the ashes on top of him, not the nicest exchange of “hullo’s to you thar”, and Sora reprimanded him before he could whip out his bat.


When the Hokage split them up into turns and positions, Spike mentioned that he didn’t think he had any Astral Abilities and asked for a patrol route instead.

“Astral Abilities aren’t only magic based, there are skills too,” said Raye, “Yours probably haven’t surfaced yet, it happens sometimes; I bet Genkai can help you when she gets back.”

Spike mouthed “dammit”.


And anyways, they weren’t so much as on scouting duty as pretty much just enjoying the nighttime breeze. It was more for show than anything, as of now the mere sight of a Star Shinobi made anyone think twice for their mystery and “unusual powers” and the pokemon more than made up a trustworthy protection.


“When the world leaders arrive,” said the Third, “Then we’ll be on full alert as the risk” –

“Hold up – the world leaders aren’t even here?” Shonen Bat groaned, “Then what the hell?! You mean they’ve been griping from their own countries?! They don’t have the right to say crap!”

“Konoha’s under a harsh spotlight, this is more or less a test of what our village can do and if we provide anything less than satisfaction it will pull away resources from us,” said the Third, “You heard my speech to the genins did you not?”

“Pffft, it still sucks.”

“Don’t worry Mr. Hokage, we’re all willing to pitch in and help,” said Sora, he put his hands behind his head and his smile broadened, “With all of us together, that outta send a message to everyone we’re for real.”

That brought a titillated smile to everyone in their own subtle degrees.


Sora balanced the fire pendant in-between his fingers, glistening as much as his bracelet in the moonlight; the little Pidgey looked at it curiously, closely following it. Her memories kept silent within him…..*Lorenia…..* The rock dropped on them so suddenly earlier was caught – gripped by everyone, in their different temperaments and means.


Should the truth have made a greater impact on them? Or has time progressed themselves so much that the truth of their deaths was but a stone cast into an ocean deep and wide, left to settle upon the base far below?

Of course it mattered.

A deeper stone to travel along their intertwining paths in a steady and constant pace, a coal in the embers that fuels them to shape and provoke their choices and steps. No doubt how far that rock sinks into their subconscious is different for everyone, even if it just rolls off to the side as an unfortunate event.

Bottom line, Pharaoh did not regret what he said, and if it hurt someone that was something they would have to deal with. Ash had already accepted it and his mentality was not a basis for anyone else, just an example…..

Abigale looked up at Goku with a worried look and he replied back with a determined one, patting her head and squeezing her little hand; her puppy licked her face; and the Primape flexed its muscles.

The Sailor Scouts gave somber looks of acceptance finding an arm clasp just the right amount of support, as were nudges from each of the eveelutions next to them.

Spike absorbed the matter, duly noting it.

The Hokage and Kakashi showed little reaction other than their own internal acceptance, and the solemn silence of the hall spoke volumes, eventually breaking into the gratitude of knowing the truth, and not a tear was dropped.

(Mind you Shonen Bat was tempted to question the authenticity of what Pharaoh said, but felt the risk of getting pummeled into a pile of chum was a bit too great, and when Sora asked for more details, yep, after learning more he kept his mouth shut, though it was tempting to smite them all over how many times Seritouge has screwed them over; at least Genkai wasn’t present).

Still not a tear was dropped.

(Although everyone suddenly turned to Sora for fear those gruesome memories left within him would suddenly surface and cripple him like before – but no, he was fine and blinked innocently at the attention; he felt tingly, if that was anything.)


*Your pendant?*

*I won’t be needing it anytime soon, can you look after it for a bit?.......It’ll get picked up soon enough by my friends who’ll need it more, don’t worry. If I’m not back, someone else will be.*


Sora tucked the pendant back in his clothes, the Pidgey responding with the saddest eyes to have its sparkly object gone, but Sora rubbed the little Pidgey under its little beak and it cooed and cooed and cooed, the Pidgey moving its head to gently clean Sora’s finger, the quick baby bites from the beak light and ticklelish; Sora giggled.

Shonen Bat fully materialized checking his work. “You should go on and get to bed now Sora,” he said, “Tomorrow we’re gonna be busy working on your skills and whatnot; trust me, going into a match against Vincent or Genkai with a cloudy head is going to end in a broken one.”

“You’ve fought them before?”

“Vincent once during my renegade days, and Genkai showed some nasty colors when we fought Haku, hello~, we need to find a way to get Lorenia’s memories out of you, they’re taking up too much disk space” –

“Renegade days you say?” said Spike pit-picking.

“Doesn’t concern you.”

“Spill it,” said Sora, and Shonen Bat huffed keeping his eyes hidden with the shadow of his cap.

“When my world was destroyed, I was Severed* during the destruction from my….From the person who gave me life, and I became a being of my own.”

“You were Severed*?” said Sora, the Pidgey stopped cooing, “Who severed you? Seritouge?”

Spike finished up his cigarette and sat upright.

“Don’t know, and I don’t care, I don’t even think you can tell, but it wasn’t the most pleasant feeling,” said Shonen Bat, “It literally felt like someone slicing something deep inside, and I was cut away from her. I have no idea what she looks like and of course all memories of her are gone, and how I’m even able to speak of her is because Sephiroth was able to find little traces of my past with her left and he fixed some things; it wasn’t a clean Sever* but it did the job.”

“Can you remember anything about your past?” asked Sora genuinely sympathetic.

“Of course, I was severed from her and nothing else, but then again, nah, I don’t really remember much,” he paused for a moment letting a wave of nostalgia rise up in him looking back on the broken chains, his body became loose and his mouth opened up into a smirk, “Heh, if I recall right, my renegade days started early…..when I roamed the streets at her disposal, I was a little out of hand. (He started to sway lightly as if he was skating) I had so much stimulation around me, so many people letting their troubles get the better of them, it was hard to stay contained, it was hard to stay restrained….(Little Slugger’s iris turned their glowing, glaring yellow) – in fact it was impossible, they needed to get shown better, to be released – they were cut off from reality and yet getting swallowed by it at the same time (he gripped his bat turning his knuckles white, gnarling the cloak between his fingers) – I went to the call of anyone who was driven into a corner and had nowhere to go!” –

“Um Little Slugger?”

“Hm?” He looked around and found Sora up by Spike along with the Pidgey.

“What are you, a demon?” said Spike.

Shonen Bat broken from his tension but still having his eyes glowing under the shadow of his cap, looked up at them and cut his grin across his face, “Y’know I’m not entirely sure myself. But anywho (his eyes stopped glowing and he turned back to the scenery), okay, running the streets of my hometown, boom – world crumbles into darkness, snip, and there I was almost perfectly mindless floating in a realm of darkness. I mean you could’ve declared me brain dead from shock. Slowly I began to define myself, and wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t have the slightest frinkin’ clue at what to do. I stayed in that realm of darkness for a long time – cut off from my purpose, I was beginning to grow mad, boiling with insanity, and then, I heard them. I heard the cries of others – in pain, in need – backed into corners! I ran towards them in the darkness, but then they’d get cut off. I heard the voices again, and again, all around – I’d run to them each time, but they kept disappearing! I screamed my frustration as my last wailing stimulation began to die out – and then a portal opened! I leaped through and ah then my memories get majorly blurred out like someone went over them with bleach, mostly like what I remember about my past now, splotches with bleach.”

Sora and Spike traded glances and the Pidgey stepped in place.

“According to Sephiroth, I was like a wandering demon, a ghost, monster. I was drawn to people who were desperate, driven to their breaking points, backed into a corner, running from world to world through my dark portals getting driven more and more insane with each passing through the darkness, I finally ran across a strain of the Chrost-Weik and that’s when Sephiroth found me and knocked me upside my head and set me straight. The rest is pretty much history, I became his *****, and now I’m yours, ever read White Fang by Jack London?”

“No,” Sora and Spike replied; the Pidgey cooed.

“It’s boring anyway,” said Shonen Bat, “Here Sora,” and he handed him the Light Cloak all fixed and Sora slinked down to get it. “Now as I was saying earlier, you should go on and get to bed.

“I don’t want to just yet,” said Sora, “It feels good out here.”

Shonen Bat’s stance tightened up, an odd feeling of agitation was rising quickly, and his cap kept his eyes hidden again, “Come on, do you want to look bad? Do it for their sake Sora, a lot of people are counting on you.”

The little Pidgey cocked its head,

*Where’s that come from?* “Are you counting on me Little Slugger?”

“Don’t get cute.”

“What about what he wants?” said Spike baiting the hook, “Doesn’t that matter?”

“You don’t have his responsibility,” said Shonen Bat.

“Neither do you,” said Spike, “That weight is all his own. It’s his journey, and everyone else has theirs.”

“You may have a choice, but I don’t,” spat Shonen Bat, “I’m bound to him, his well being and safety is my responsibility, and I’m going to protect him, no matter what.”

“Is that right?” said Spike, “So am I if I get the opportunity.”

Shonen Bat moved closer to Sora, “You can’t do anything to his benefit! You don’t even have Astral Abilities!”

Spike seated himself better from his perch with a placid composure and grin, “I don’t need that to see someone who suffocating Sora’s choices for the benefit of himself, isn’t that what Seritouge does?”

Spike 1: Shonen Bat: 0

Are you protecting Sora, or yourself?

“[Cheese and Rice] I just want him to have some strength for tomorrow! I’m looking out for him you big idiot! If you really cared about him, you’d know that!” and when Shonen Bat realized what he said – he turned to Sora – “Because you’re so pitiful! I can’t believe anyone like you had the guts to become a Master!”

*Blink, blink*. Hmmmm…it wasn’t hard to notice the tones Shonen Bat was putting out... *Evil inner glance!*

“What?”

“Oh na ‘ting,” Sora played putting his hands behind his back innocently, “……I didn’t think we had that in common” –

“Had what in common?”

“Oh na ‘ting……*nonchalant glance*……..you’d just go, and deny it anyway.”

Shonen Bat tensed up and grabbed his bat, “I’m not blind, you” –

Spike suddenly looked up to the sky, “I never would have thought. You know Sora?”

“Yeah, really” –

“Amazing actually” –

“Weird, totally” –

“WHAT?!”

“Oh na ‘ting,” they both said, and Shonen Bat’s temper was starting to boil –

“I never would have thought you to be so n” –

“FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND DIE!” Shonen Bat yelled, “I’mnotlikeyouwhogetstwistedupincirclesovereverythingabouthisfriends!”

“I admit that,” said Sora, “And I can’t help it, I need people like Spike and you to help set me straight,” Sora was evoking every strand of adored cuteness he had, “I can be a little thick headed, and sometimes my heart overtakes my head” –

“Damn straight!” said Shonen Bat, “You let yourself get too easily carried away, no wonder I was left in your care, I have to watch over your stupid *** to make sure you don’t run off a cliff for the sake of something that you can’t possibly do!”

“But that’s the best way for a child to learn,” said Spike.

“I might have to bust my head wide open,” Sora squeaked clasping his hands together, “Maybe die a few more times” –

A target couldn’t have fallen into position better, “As if I’d ever let that happen, if you die, I die! I’m not ever leaving your side ever again – that Death General fight was a hair away from ending with Haku’s needle through your heart!” –

“But I’m still he~re,” Sora singed, “And so are yo~u” –

“Idiot! Luck can only take you so far – and you’ll find out very fast that it’s a short road!”

“We’ve survived this long,” said Spike.

“That’s not luck, there are people behind the scenes working their ***** off,” Shonen Bat suddenly grabbed the scruff of Sora’s clothes, “If Avera was here you’d listen to him!”

Sora’s eyes widened, and Spike’s narrowed…..

“At least you can appreciate everyone’s generosity that’s sticking beside you!”

“That maybe true,” said Spike, “But when it’s all said and done the fact remains that Sora and the other Masters will be facing this evil that threatens us all. Perhaps you could have more faith in him, as these people who are working so hard surely must have. You don’t think he realizes any of that? That people have given up their safety and well being for him? You tell me the conditions of his Protection*, then maybe you’ll understand just what kind of person Sora is who’s generous enough to stick by you.”

Spike 2: Shonen Bat: 0

How long ago that night on Tumble-Stop feels….Mistakes were made, but we can only learn for ourselves.

Shonen Bat growled, “Fine! Get beat up tomorrow, but don’t come cryin’ to me!”

“Why not?” said Sora, “Spike’s going to get knocked around tomorrow too.”

“Excuse me if your big brother won’t be there for you,” spat Shonen Bat, “But your other bro – GAAAAH!” Shonen Bat grabbed his throat and fell down; Sora giggled, and Spike sat back triumphant.

To solidify his hold, Sora then glomped him – paralyzing Shonen Bat – “With our connection we should be like twins!” – and Shonen Bat screamed like a girl, “We’ll go through this pain together!”

“Like hell we will! Vincent’s gonna destroy you!”

“But we’re” –

A moan of an undead suddenly sounded out – both looked up and a zombified Ed with a wicked looking Vincent was standing behind her!

“AAHHHHH! Point in case!”

“Ed?!”

Ed moaned again and fell onto Sora, into better light, showing that she was just really, really tired – he caught her, “Eh – Ed?! Seriously, don’t scare us like that!” But Shonen Bat, and Spike, were eyeing Vincent more, he stepped into better light too…didn’t help too much – nighttime was his atmosphere and his eyes had an uncanny glint to them that cut like glass.

“Protect me Sora,” she faintly said; Spike slid down (the Pidgey taking its perch on his shoulder); Genkai also appeared next to Vincent in a twirl of smoke.

“Nice night tonight,” said Genkai, “Remember we meet in front of the Hokage’s quarters at 8 a.m.,” and she disappeared again.

Vincent walked up to Sora, “The Keyhole Location program might take a little while longer than we first thought, but rest assured our time here won’t be wasted.”

“Got it,” said Sora.

“Why don’t you just keep Ed and her mutt up there to work on it?” asked Shonen Bat, “Didn’t they spark it?”

“Amy, Bulma, and Jet are more than capable of developing it, besides she’s needed elsewhere,” said Vincent, and then he too disappeared into his cloak.

“Sora…” came Ed’s weak voice, muffled with his face on his chest, “Carry me.”

Sora sighed, and he (carrying Ed) and Shonen Bat headed on inside leaving Spike and the Pidgey under the stars, “Later Spike.”

“See ya in the mornin’.”

“Oh sure, now you…….”……..and Shonen Bat kept his mouth shut the rest of the way as Sora carried Ed off.
He retreated to the shadows and stayed by Sora as such as he walked, carrying Ed piggy-back style to the bunk room she was to split with Yugi and Ash.

“You know, I was a little worried Vincent and Genkai were gonna leave you up on Bebop,” said Sora.

“Na-ah,” said Ed sleepily, “Ed’s got someone to protect now.”

“Do you?” Sora smiled, “Well I’ll be supervising you.”

Ed gave a salute, “Yes Captain.”

A turn down a hallway, and, “I believe this is the room.” Sora lightly pushed the door open to the dark room with his forehead –

“Hello?”

The crack of light entering the room opened up to Pharaoh who sat up from his bed parallel with the wall.

“Ah, Big Yugi!” piped Ed – Pharaoh lightly shushed her for Ash was asleep on the bed parallel to the window, but Pikachu woke up, its ears perked up.

“Hey Pharaoh, how are ya?” said Sora.

“I’m doing just fine.”

“And Yugi?”

Pharaoh put his hand over his heart, “I hope he wakes up soon…”

“Huh?”

Pharaoh explained the situation and Sora fully understood the triangle of Ed’s desire to help: Lorenia’s presence, the Reaper’s threat, and the Dark Atone Disease….“I can feel him still slumbering, but, I’m trying not to worry about it, it’s good he’s getting rest.”

“That Reaper, I’d like to have a talk with him (Shonen Bat snorted loudly). When Yugi wakes up, he’s going to wake up in such warm-hearted company that disease will get stomped out for sure,” said Sora and he set Ed down – she went over to Pharaoh and collapsed on his bed –

“Oof” –

“Tomorrow we’re all gonna be training near one another, maybe all that stimulation will wake him up then,” said Sora.

“That might end in disaster,” said Shonen Bat from the shadows, “How would this be for a wakeup call, an eyeful of Vincent’s Chaos Form running at you?”

Although none had ever seen it, just the title was enough to put all kinds of fearsome images in Sora, Ed, and Pharaoh heads; they all gloomed.

“Good point,” said Sora.

“Wha ‘oesn’ bill ‘ou onny mbakes you st’onger,” came Ash’s sleepy voice.

“But, what if it does?” said Ed faintly, her metal images like a child’s coloring book with Yugi getting his Ghost scared to death right out of Pharaoh from a terrifying Vincent.

“Let’s try to wake him up now then,” said Sora.

“I’m not sure if it works that way, he might have to wake up on his own,” said Pharaoh, “We had a good deal of ‘stimulation’ when that snake monster attacked us.”

“But that was negative stimulation,” said Ed, “Let’s try positive!”

Ash pushed himself up from his sleep, his hair almost smashed flat on one side, “Wha’ we doin’ again?”

“Wakin’ Yugi up,” piped Ed; Ash yawned and wiped some sleep from his eyes; he managed to swing his legs over the side of his bed putting himself in a sitting position. Ed turned to Pharaoh and placed her hand over his heart, “Yu~ugi,” she cooed, “Can you wake up now?”

Pharaoh blinked twice unsurely at her with an awkward smile.

“Any response?”

“I don’t feel any changes” –

Sora put his hand on Ed’s – making Pharaoh feel very weird, “Come on Yugi rise and shine,” said Sora, “It’s time to start something new.”

“We here for ya,” said Ash in an exhaling breath from his sleepiness, teetering this way and that.

Heck with it, even if it was awkward, but before could Pharaoh placed his hand over Sora’s, Ed had already retreated them both, “Let’s just go full force with the strongest approach” – and she hugged him –

“Youuuu – can stop right there Sora,” Pharaoh halted him single handedly, “I have something in mind we can try,” he gently set Ed back and picked up the Millenium Puzzle, “Place your hands on this.” They did, with Ash joining them by stumbling over (Pikachu did too). “Close your eyes and open your minds, I think I can try this through Memory Link*.” They did…….something trickled into their consciousness and a strange sensation of floating down came over them in the darkness of their closed eyes, enough so to throw them off balance a little –

*Whoa* –

*Sorry about that, there now, we should be able to talk directly to Yugi.*

*Really?*

*Really, I think, do you –*

*I can feel him,* said Ed warmly, and the presence was shared, *He’s sleeping…..’Ney, Yugi?*

*Yugi?*

*Wake up sleepy head.*

*Pika-pika!*

*Aibou, can you wake up?*

They felt a stir –

*Yugi?*

*Aibou?*

A feeling blossomed like that sensation of passing through a new doorway – *Yeh-yes?* came his sleepy voice –

“Yugi!” –

Everyone opened their eyes, and Yugi shifted out in his ghostly form looking very much sleepy-sleepy, *Wow…I, I feel like I’ve been asleep for ages….* Pharaoh couldn’t help but smile at that. Yugi blinked his eyes and focused, taking full notice of the company he was in: a very relieved Pharaoh, a beaming Ed and Sora, and a somewhat perplexed Ash with a perky Pikachu.

“How are you feeling?” asked Pharaoh.

Company duly noted, still in his light headed sleepiness, Yugi closed his eyes and lightly swayed, *Warm, very warm – ah,* Yugi opened his eyes and looked at a still perplexed Ash.

*Oh….he can’t see me,* said Yugi.

“But I can hear you,” said Ash; Pikachu piped up too and Ash gave a big smile, “Hey there, we never properly met before, my name’s Ash, and this is my best bud, Pikachu.”

“Pika-chu!”

Yugi slowly blinked, and………Pharaoh, Ed, and Sora’s heart leapt when Yugi smiled back, *Hi Ash, my name’s Yugi, and this my best bud, Pharaoh.*

“Yay Yugi! We’re so happy you’re awake!” piped Ed, “We were getting worried about you.”

*I know,* said Yugi bending with sleep, *I don’t, really know how to describe it but, I know…*

“You know?”

*....I think I was kept in contact, by dreaming….about everything, it’s strange, but it feels very warm and kind and strong.* Yugi woke up a bit further, gathering that fluttering feeling within into what he wanted to say to the circle of people happily around him, *Thank-you, everyone…..Thank-you so, so much, from the bottom of my heart.*

“Moment clencher!” and Ed bear hugged all the guys together – the strength from those little arms bumping Pharaoh’s and Ash’s foreheads together –

“OW!”

“Moment clenched – Ed – release!” gasped Sora, and everyone sucked air back into their lungs.

Something caught Yugi’s attention past Sora, *Um, who are you?* he asked to the shadows, to Shonen Bat –

“You can see me in this form?” Everyone else looked seeing only shadows.

*Yeah.*

“I’m, Little Slugger, and, I’m with Sora, not exactly his best bud, but, ah…..ah…….I’m, kinda like a guardian – or, something….yeah….”

“Little Slugger please, you’re my friend,” said Sora finally.

“Yeah…..”

*Nice to meet you,* said Yugi.

“Ditto” –

“Likewise” –

“Howdy!” –

“Pika” –

“Yeah, um….s-same here,” *UGTH! CURSE THIS MUSHY CRAP!*

“Oh yeah, Ed,” Ash perked up, “Mind telling us what that lesson was you learned from Vincent earlier?”

Everyone looked at her with curiosity and she suddenly went back into zombie mode and moaned, throwing herself over Pharaoh….Quite encouraging for what was in store for them tomorrow…..


……………………………………………………………………………………………………

END PART


I know, more mushy stuff, but more about Shonen Bat was learned and yay Coldman’s bit finally came into play ^0^


Naruto: I make my finalized entrance next part! Belie – *BAM*.

SA: We get there when we get there.

Shonen Bat: Sersly. *Changes into a bishe* Okay, being a daemon sucks.

Faye: I’d like some attention, plox.

Team Rocket: Us too!

SA: *Revs up character chainsaw*

All: You wouldn’t!

SA: By the end of chapter 38, my chainsaw will be well warmed >:) And by the way I love White Fang by Jack London >X3

[Cef]

HAHAHAHA I CALLED IT WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, after reading Coldy's chappys I'm not surprised you put that there. Also, I think I know that 'secret' they're all talkin' 'bout >X3

I'm afraid to say it because I might end up with another brick in the face. Or worse >.<

One last thing, I'm scared of that Vulpiix now. I mean, Vulpix are sooooo cute *sniff*

[Silent Avera]

XD I thought so >X3 - Secret secrets are secret, especially when guarded by random bricks O_O........

Also Cef, I added one last part to the chappie, so check that out =^.^= Drat, I was hoping to get that update out before ya read it, sowy.

And that Vulpix is only going to get scarier. Alot scarier. Like Halloween chappie scary.

*Evil grin*

Forgive me Vulpix fans! ;0;

[Coldman9]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!! That part when they discover Riku and Sora's relations to Ven and Terra was soooooo much better than I imagined it to be. So much emotion and Ed and Al expressed soooo much. Thanks SA for that and I can't wait for more. But what was hidden in Ven, Aqua, and Terra's birth records that had to be protected?

*Proceeds to glomp everybody in arms reach.*

[Silent Avera]

*Glomps* >X3 You are sooooo very welcome Coldman! =^.^= And that secret is something *random brick thrown*

SA: Who is throwing those bricks?! >:(

Shonen Bat: *sneaks away*

SA: Anywho, it's kinda open ended at the moment, I mean I know what it is, but *random bri* - AHA! I SEE YOU D:<

Shonen Bat: *dissapears*

SA: Anywho it surprise, surprise deals with some stuff about the Natures :)

[Lectori Salutem]

Awesome chapter!!! Long and very good! And I KNEW it was Ven. It's not a secret anymore, so no more bricks^^ There are enough mysteries left, though, so we're not rid of those bricks yet^^ And cursed Vulpix is not very cute anymore...

[Silent Avera]

.....Shonen Bat is throwing the bricks........Chump.

And yeah, the little Vulpix......;-;

Anywho, *dives into Naruto* let's see how far I get this week XD