Respite, [ NC-17 | No Restrictions ]

[KatanokiChaos]

Grey raised an eyebrow as Amy ran off, but she shrugged, before walking out onto the lawn. She moved to a chair, sitting down and leaning back, soaking in the calm Autumnesquity of the day.
She heard Barty approaching, talking loudly and laughing to someone; most likely a new recruit. Since what Yuuki had told her, she'd been waiting for Barty to get back.
Now that he was here, though, what would she say?
She looked out at the beautiful day, listening as the two figures approached. She heard the other approach her, and she tensed uncomfortably as he stopped behind her chair.
His hands suddenly slipped around her, and she was taken by his undeniable demeanor. There was a gentility in his touch that reminded her of times long before, and a nostalgia in his scent which pervaded her mind, leaving her almost... home. It overwhelmed her.
"Aoshi..." she whispered without thinking, eyes closing as she leaned into the embrace, the god-given embrace from this beautiful ideal, this heavenly embodiment of all she'd thought he'd been.
"Hello, Grey," he whispered, embrace pulling a little closer.
She suddenly realized that it was no ideal; he was no ideal, but a fallen angel, attempting to pull her under once more.
Grey stumbled out of the chair, turning to face him, gods he's beautiful stepping back quickly as he stood again, taking a step towards her. "Come on, Grey, stay. You liked that, and I know you did."
"You shot me!" It was the first thing she could think of. "You fucking shot me, what the hell do you expect!"
"What was I supposed to do, Grey? You attacked me. I defended myself. That's it." He stood there, hand reaching in his pocket as he said this, calm as she stood there fuming. She watched as he pulled out and lit a cigarette, letting its calming effects take him. It was too surreal; almost as if she were back on Earth. Back home.
"Grey." She turned, Yuuki standing in the doorway, katana visible at his side as he stepped forward. She quickly moved to him, Yuuki pushing her behind him gently with his hand. "Why did you bring him here, Barty?" asked Yuuki, but his eyes never left Aoshi.
"He's new... You lot know each other, then?" responded Barty, scratching his head.
"Yeah," Aoshi answered for Yuuki. "Grey's my liege. Used to be my right-hand man, but that's come under reconsideration."
"Liege?" Barty asked, thinking back. "Wait, but... she said-"
"Whatever she said is irrelevant now. She's my liege and she'll do as she's told."
"She doesn't belong to you," Yuuki shot back, thumb flirting with the tsuba, itching to release the katana.
"I beg to differ," Aoshi responded, stepping forward. "She swore loyalty to me, and only me. Will she... heir of the Mibu no Ookami, so easily go back on her word?"
Moments without movement, and Aoshi, slowly, began to tire. "Don't make me force the issue..." he sighed, taking another puff of his cigarette. He stepped forward, and Grey, hesitantly, moved past Yuuki.
Yuuki grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly towards him. "You've got to be kidding!" he shouted in a whisper, but she kept her eyes away, pulling from Yuuki.
"This is the only way," she whispered to him, turning back to Aoshi. Aoshi quickly moved to her, taking her hand quickly. "Wait," she quickly said, and Aoshi paused.
"My..." she cleared her throat, before saying, "My brother stays safe or I won't cooperate. You'll have to put me down before I-"
"Already saw the repercussions of that, Grey. It won't happen again."
Grey looked back at Yuuki, a lengthy stare that never seemed to end, before she turned back, Aoshi taking her hand and leading her away.

[Devking]

It was not yet his time to face the child who had just appeared. But instead, to check up on what had happened to Grey, Barty, and the other person he had seen earlier. At this point, he did not know of Yuuki's situation, nor of Aoshi's presence, but all that led him to believe of mishap was his instinct. Upon leaving of the floors above, the presence of those four grew increasingly apparent. Something was going on, he knew, and this time, it was not an effect of his doing. Arriving at the scene a mere moments after the new one's arrival, Drake watched the play of happiness and anger result out before him. They did not notice his own presence, and being there did not in any way disturb what was happening. But something was odd about what was happening here. In fact, he had only the information Barty could have known about it --- less even! Instinct was the only thing that had made him feel the urge to interrupt yet again, now doing things of the sort (interrupting stories of others) both in life and death! This time, though, Drake would play a role from the shadows...

"Ah. Mistress Amy. What brings you to this place of damnation and hatred?"

Silva could already tell that Amy had ran in his direction, ready to ask the exact question to him, but he felt that this type of thing should be questioned by himself instead of her. Below, the presence of Drake and some four others --- one particularly concerning --- could be felt. This might of been an interesting choice to follow, thought he, as Silva stood and drew his sword. Smiling, he immediately interjected, "Don't answer - this will be quick and painless."

----------

No way! It could not have been the boy! Sure a presence like his might have been possible - slim, but possible - but something just led to her belief that indeed Silva was the one above. Upon entering the room, she was greeted by the same question in her mind for the child, and thus marked her acknowledgment of the pain that would follow. "So-" she sputtered words, but it was too late; he had already turned and begun his advance on her, able to strike at any moment. What to do? Her sense was not as great as his, and he obviously could end her as quick as a blink of an eye! Drake was somewhere else - she could not tell - and as for anyone who could help her? None.

[KatanokiChaos]

Aoshi and Grey walked down the spiral stairway, moving into the fifth level. Aoshi quickly glanced at one of the new brochures, making sure he was in the right place. The main arena was a ways off, but there were also many smaller arenas, cage fighting areas, martial art sparring areas... even a huge study and training building had been set up. Aoshi led her towards a sparring area, quickly walking in.
"Sparring?" Grey asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, sparring," reaffirmed Aoshi. "What about it?" He looked at her, now raising his eyebrow.
"Seems a bit juvenile, to me," she responded, looking away from him.
"Then it should be no problem for a warrior of your obvious capabilities." He precariously smirked at her, Grey glaring back at him and picking up a bokuto from the wrack. He did the same with two shorter length bokuto; wooden, non-lethal representations of his kodachi. Well, mostly non-lethal.

Barty and Yuuki sat in Yuuki's home, Barty leaning back in his chair. "Look, Yuuki," he said, chewing a pen as he did. "I'm sorry. I know I led him straight to her, and this is my fault-"
"Don't, Barty. I don't blame you, and it's more important that we find her and kill him, somehow."
"Ehh..." Barty said, before sighing. "You can't kill people here. They just come back."
"There's got to be a way. Or we could bind him or something. Something not murderous, but permanent."
"Something," Barty repeated.
"Yes.
They looked at each other, and sighed. How would they ever find her, much less help her become free again? They pondered this until Yuuki felt a fluctuation from up north, within the entry level or close to it. Something was going on at the entry level, and he was missing it.
He stood, glancing at Barty before motioning for him to follow and going into the teleport back to the first floor front desk. "Come on, let's see what's going on." They quickly moved to the spiral staircase, going up to the entry level.

[Devking]

"Foolish girl."

Silva held his sword to the ground. Amy had returned to the living world, her time in Hell already totaled up. It seemed that she barely escaped death, barely... Now, what was left for him to do? The guide was not here yet, Drake was somewhere below, and there were only a few strong presences available to feed on. He was relieved, though, that blood did not have to be shed in such a place, and that he could now simply "blend" in with the rest of the crowd living here. No questions would be asked. Except for one problem: Drake was here too. "Ah. Here he comes. Vanish, Junshin." As these words were spoken, his sword simply vanished into the air, and not a moment too late, for the guide and another person had just arrived on the level he was on. This time, he would make sure to disguise his personae, hoping for his identity to be lost forever...

----------

Drake stopped, right around a corner near where Aoshi and Grey had begun to spar. He was confused of why he had taken her here, but it didn't matter. He would interrupt in time, and in time, his presence in this story would be known of. Barty and Yuuki probably wanted Grey back... But remember, Drake was only doing this from his purest of instincts. Or was it? Maybe he had wanted to escape a greater task at hand. Maybe her really wanted to help a girl and two others out. No one - not even himself - knew what was the answer, but the evident things were still evident, and the tasks he had taken up were still tasks which he just had to complete. And as for what was evident -- both Silva and Aoshi were figures of great strength.

[KatanokiChaos]

Grey quickly ducked, stepping away until her back hit the wall. She raised her bokuto to block, but he effortlessly knocked it away, ramming the kodachi against the wall next to her.
"Dare I ask... why you're doing this?" he spoke, cold eyes looking into hers, making Grey shrink against the wall, trying to, somehow, make herself smaller.
"Doing what?" she asked, voice shaking as she kept her eyes away. She knew very well what.
"Holding back."
She slowly looked up at him, before quickly looking away. She wouldn't do this to herself again. "I'm doing my best," she whispered. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Bullshit," he whispered, leaning in a little closer. "I'm far superior to you, there's no reason-"
"I'm not!" she yelled at him, cutting him off. "I'm not a fucking machine, I can't do everything right!" Aoshi glared down at her, those eyes cold and demeaning as ever.
It took him a moment, before he whispered, "Then you'd better learn. I don't need a failure."
She looked up at him, glaring as fiercely as she could. It was the only thing she could do to keep from crying, but even then, she could feel the tears stinging her eyes.
Why the hell did she care? Why did she care what he thought? Him, that worthless, utter, absolute, loathsome, bastard piece of shit excuse for a human being, why the hell did she care what he thought?
And all he could do was just keep glaring. She was sitting there, sobbing over his stupid insults, and all he could do was just glare back, as if this was somehow, yet again, her fault.
He removed his hand from the wall beside her, easing back. With the newfound freedom to move, she slowly slunk down the wall, dissolving into a sobbing mess even as he walked away.

Barty and Yuuki walked out, looking at the latest newcomer as they moved quickly towards him. "Hey!" Barty said, smiling at Silva. "Welcome to Hell."
He grinned, Yuuki rolling his eyes. "Childish..." Yuuki muttered under his breath, though, for a moment, smiling.

[Devking]

"This person is crazy. Why shouldn't I just barge in and kill him?"

As Drake thought up of such things, he pressed against the wall behind, almost giving out his position before. But he held his sword close at hand. Ready. Just in case.

Silva faked a childly smile, in hope to give out a false sense of innocence. But inside, he just wanted to kill these two, but not yet. Not until they brought him to Drake. He began to walk forward, ready to be led back down to the lower levels of hell, trying his best to suppress the obvious energy that surrounded him.

"Note to self... Kill off that one on the side." he thought, while looking at Yuuki.

[KatanokiChaos]

Grey slowly walked into the small house, tears wiped but eyes still red from crying.
It made sense, she mused. He'd always wanted a small house. Cozy, personal, and it made it easier for him to keep a watchful eye on her. He sat in the living room, front door clear in view.
"I've been waiting for you," and so he had. He beckoned her over, and she walked to him, sitting down next to him. He put an arm around her, and her body shivered uncontrollably. She quickly stammered an apology, but he shook his head. "No. I shouldn't have said that. Even if," he said, before his voice lowered almost inaudibly. "Even if you aren't as strong as necessary, there are always other... other uses for you."
She felt him, nuzzling her gently, lips trailing along the side of her face, and she was caught between the desire to both smile and scream.
She wasn't worthless. He had a use for her. She was a human being. She had rights. Not with him.
It was too overwhelming, and she was left by her logic, leaving her only with one path to choose from--his.

"If you just follow us, we'll take you into Hell and show you around..." Barty said to the boy, starting to move back to the spiral staircase that led them downward. "There's a bunch of levels..." He went on to explain each level, showing the newcomer and then going on to the next.

[KatanokiChaos]

((Uh, well, bump. Anyone?))

[Devking]

"This place is just as I've expected... just too peaceful." he muttered to himself.

Silva continued to travel down the staircase, following Barty and Yuuki. The underworld did not fit its title. That had to be changed. As he listened in on what each level had in store for him, he decided that the first four floors were fitting enough to be lived in. "So, where do you suggest I go first?"

----------

Drake stood at the threshold which led into the living space. It somehow disguisted him--gave him a sense of nausea or something of that sort. Not the place itself, no, but what held place within it. Looking inside, he noticed the event pass on between Grey and Aoshi, growing furious by the seconds that passed. "Such usless acts..." he thought, only to be unaware of his surroundings, bumping into a small pot on the floor. It shattered, but it was not the pieces he was worried about, but the sound of them hitting the ground. "Crap."

[KatanokiChaos]

"Well," Barty said, thinking. "If you're hungry, you could come with us to breakfast; That's on the first floor. Otherwise, you could just roam around. Here," Barty started looking in his bag, before pulling out a pamphlet. "This will tell you about all the levels."

---

Aoshi looked over, though still not moving as he hovered over Grey. "Whoever you are... Come out."

[Devking]

Dropping his swords to his hands, Drake carefully approached the doorway once again. He had been caught and there was no point in staying hidden anymore. Besides, it finally came time for something to happen. Once in Aoshi's sight, he stopped. And stood there, waiting for something else to happen. "Welcome?"

[KatanokiChaos]

Aoshi paid no mind to the swords in his hands or the welcoming word. "What, are you one of Grey's friends?" Aoshi asked, making no move to leave Grey. "You can stop right there, if you are. She's staying with me."

[Devking]

"Oh really?"

Drake grinned and began moving towards the two, still keeping his guard high. "Why don't we just ask her, then?" he started, pausing for a while, "'Cause it seems to me that she's feeling uncomfortable around you..." Stopping directly in front of Aoshi--leaving a small amount of space between them in case anything were to happen--he began to lift his left sword to Aoshi's face.

"If I'm correct, weren't you the one who killed her in the first place?"

[KatanokiChaos]

"Ask her?" Aoshi said, a smirk playing on his face. "Alright." He turned to Grey, responding, "Kill him."
"What?" said Grey, stopping dead. "No! You're out of your fucking mind!"
"Oh, come on, I make a simple order, and I'm the insane one? You're the one who-"
He was cut off, Grey's hand gripping his collar roughly. "... Sorry. Crossing the line," Aoshi whispered, looking away. He slowly sat up, sitting on the opposite side of the couch.
"Drake... leave," Grey said, though catching his eyes. "Leave. I don't think I'll be needing help again."
She glanced back at Aoshi, sighing. "God damnit... if only Yuuki would come..."

[Devking]

Watching the short presentation unfold before him, Drake sheathed his swords, in a conclusion that he would not be needing them just yet. "If that's what you wish," he muttered, turning away from the two in front of him, "but I won't be coming back..."

Simply put, Drake then left.

[KatanokiChaos]

---

Barty stuffed a piece of another pancake into his mouth, smiling a little. "Don't worry, mate, we're both stronger than him. He's only a swordie, no way he could stop both of us."
"He's not just a 'swordie'," Yuuki said. "He's... he has the ability to be a heartless bastard and an apparently caring lover, simultaneously. All he has to do is try... And if he turns Grey again..."
"She won't turn. She's been... regretful."
"Regretful."
"Couldn't think of anything else, but yeah. She felt horrible for following that guy, and whatever she did because of him."
Yuuki looked back at Barty, eyes quiet, narrowly focused for a moment as he considered. "Nonetheless..." Yuuki responded, still unmoving, save his eyes, slowly veering away. "We can't let this go on. He can break through to her if we leave her for too long. We have to design a plan, an assault or-"
"Barty!" Yuuki was interrupted, Barty turning to look at his addresser. It was one of his fellow volunteer greeters, walking over. "A few newbies. Wizards like you."
"Wizards?" Barty said, standing. "I'll get them," he quickly said, before turning back to Yuuki. "Come with me?"
"Sure," he said, standing and following. They moved to the stairs, Barty bounding up the steps. "Slow down, Barty!" Yuuki yelled behind him, trying to keep up. "Come on!"
"Oh, hurry up!" Barty called back, grinning a little as he raced up the steps.

((You can meet them on the steps, but don't see the person, I'll deal with it next post. Also, Disclaimer: I do NOT know who dies in Harry Potter 7, I am merely making assumptions.))

[Devking]

Silva stared at the two "privately" speaking in front of him. He could perfectly hear what they were saying, and they seemed to have forgotten that he was right there. "So, a 'swordie'..." he quietly whispered, hoping not to drag the attention of Yuuki and Barty over to him. If it was a 'swordie', he could take them out easily. If it were Drake they were talking about, for they did not mention a name at all, it would be even easier. Maybe the lust floor could wait just a while longer.

As he drifted off into thought, Silva noticed that the other two had taken off upstairs. A new dead, maybe? Finishing the food in front of him, he headed up, only to find the aura released from whomever they were meeting to be weak. Amusingly weak.

[KatanokiChaos]

Barty quickly ran out to the entrance level's landing, looking for the new arrivals. He could see them off in the distance as Yuuki trailed behind, calling after him. "Barty! Barty, slow down!" he yelled, thinking, "How the hell is he so damned fast?"
Barty skidded to a stop, and Yuuki put on the brakes, nearly running into him. "Jesus, Barty, what the hell-"
Barty didn't move, Yuuki looking to the newcomers, covered in dark cloaks and faces masked save one; he had a cloak but was maskless, his dark hair and eyes doing no less to set off Yuuki's every sense of danger. He raised a hand, precariously stepping forward. "Hello, you're probably wondering where you are. If Barty would start explaining..." He turned to Barty, but the man was frozen to his spot, unmoving.
"Barty... You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Master... You're dead..." Yuuki's ears immediately perked up, as he looked from Barty to the man, confused. "And physically whole..."
"Yes. Now... Barty, come. Show me around this place."
Barty stood there, hesitant for only a moment, before grinning. "Yes, sir!"

((I am not saying that Voldemort died in the last book. He could have, he could not have. I am simply having him dead for the sake of the RP.))

[Devking]

((The final book is out, so you can check. He does die, I believe. And sorry if I just ruined HP7 for you... >.> And Hueco Mundo is where the Hollows go.))

Silva treaded for a stop, a bit ahead of Yuuki but still behind Barty, only to witness the string of men standing there. "Hello, indeed," he whispered, reaching for the hidden sword by his belt. It would be satisfactory to take each and every one of them out, but as seeing that this was Hell, what really would happen? "Not like they would be sent to Hueco Mundo," he imagined. Letting go of the attack stance that he was in, Silva stood as the others did and waited.

----------


"Hence, where am I?"
"A place called nowhere? Or a place now home?"
"Is this really home?"
"Can I really stay here any longer?"

Drake thought and thought, hoping to find an answer to why he was here.

"There is always an answer and a reason..."
"So why am I here?"

The shadow--one of the one shadows to be found in Hell--covered over where he sat; he sat underneath the shadows--some of the exclusive few to really be able to find. Where was he know? What was his predicament? No one else knew or really cared. So, why was he here? Why would Drake Misamura be cursed to eternal living in luxury, yet still yearn for more?

"Can I really stay here any longer?"
"Is this really home?"
"Home... This is only nowhere."

No one he knew would come for any time. No one he knew would really go to find him, in fact. Only people cursed against him would really care. But only to care for him to be cursed. This was Hell. Not home. Not nowhere. It was a place where no one needed help. It was a place where everyone had what they needed. But why? Why come here instead of anywhere else? Why be given what they could not get? Was eternal happiness a gift for the cursed? Was it a gift? Did those who have roles in society have no role anymore? Is the gift for the gifted a gift for the cursed?

Drake didn't know. He was lost in a random blur of his own thoughts. Not because of sadness, no. Just that nothing he could do could do anything here. So he began to think of things that he could do that could do something here. It was nothing. Nothing at all. What now? Where to go? The shadows of little shadows could no longer hold home for him. This wasn't nowhere, but a place full of "everywhere". He could go on, but that wouldn't be him. He could change himself, but that wouldn't be him. So where did Drake lie on this desolate place? Was he the first and last to feel this way? Did eternal happiness not be granted for those already with it? Where was this place, to be cursed for him and not cursed for the cursed?

"Hence, where am I?"

This post has been edited by Devking on Jul 23 2007, 09:43 PM

[KatanokiChaos]

((Barty's leading Voldemort; your character can follow if you want. First off, I'm going to go back to Grey and Aoshi, though.))

Grey sat in the kitchen, eating a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. It was a rare moment of normalcy in the midst of the chaotic changes which had occured in the last few days. Aoshi was over in the living room, apparently working to get WiFi up. Before, WiFi hadn't been a possibility, but now that Earth was overrun, there was no one to protest a connection between the living and the dead, no matter how small.
Aoshi suddenly moved in, darting through to the hallway. Grey eyed him, confused. "What-?" she questioned, but he quickly came back out, throwing her katana into her hands.
"Follow. Now." There was something in his voice, a semblance of fear that told her this wasn't about training, this wasn't about them. This was something else entirely. She quickly stood, following his lead as he quietly snuck to the living room window, looking out. As quickly as she could, she followed suit, peering out at the lawn. Outside, a group of people in dark cloaks and skull masks--the ones Barty had been acquainted with--were marching through the streets, led by Barty. Grey looked over, confused.
"Who are-"
"Quiet!" Aoshi whispered, putting his hand over her mouth. "They could hear you."
"Who are they?!"
"They're Death Eaters! Haters of anyone not like them!"
"Like what?"
"Like," Aoshi paused, taking in a breath. "Like your wizard friend who's leading them now. Pure of magic blood. Or something along those lines. They're a bunch of sick freaks."
"But..." she could only look at Barty, eyes wide. "But he's... he's one of them? How... I don't fucking believe that! He's a good person! Yeah, he's a bit strange, but he's not that fucking stupid! He's... he's good. He's not with them, give him the benefit of the doubt."
"It seems like he's with them, Grey," Aoshi stated, watching as the Death Eaters moved away. "And I won't stand for them taking over this world, too."
Grey examined Aoshi for a moment, the sudden shift in him catching her by surprise. It, too, reminded her of times long past, when Aoshi hadn't been the man next to her, eying the Death Eaters with those cold blue eyes.
"I..." she whispered, trying to raise her voice, trying to be final. "I won't stand for it, either. No matter where Barty's allegiance stands."
Grey and Aoshi's eyes met for a singular moment, but it was too short, cut off by a sound. The Death Eaters were returning, moving towards the house. "What-" Grey started, but she was cut off, being pulled by the arm. Aoshi was leading her, back towards the back room, further, and out the back door. "Wait- What-"
"I think they're looking for us-" He stopped when he heard the front door slam against the wall, and he turned, pulling Grey through the alleyways and towards the spiral staircase. They broke into a run, speeding down as fast as they could. "Fourth! Fourth level has supplies, right?" He shook her, and she yelled, "Yes, yes! Stop!" but he only began running again, faster than before, emerging into the fourth level. There, they ran into the thick of the crowd, slowing to a jog as they darted through the crowd.
"I don't think they'll find us here," he responded, though still moving at a high pace.
"Aoshi-" Grey started, but he put his hand back. He wanted silence; he needed to think, probably, but nonetheless- "Aoshi!"
"Grey, just wait for-"
"Aoshi!" she yelled, halting herself and him along with her. "God damnit, why did we run? What the fuck was that back there?"
"That... Look, we had to go, you heard them break the door down."
"They could've just wanted to talk."
"I... I highly doubt that." He adverted his gaze, looking at the stores of things to be found. Grey glared at him, wondering... No... Wait, no...
"That pale guy... Whatever the fuck... Was he an enemy of yours?"
"Voldemort, and yes."
"A magician?! A wizard, and you had the idiocy-?! You know wizards are beyond swordsmen!"
"Not all the time!" he yelled, trying to shout her down. "There's... There's ways..."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was too... too dangerous." He refused to look at her, starting to walk towards a weapon storage. She tried to touch his shoulder, but he shied away, looking at each weapon closely. He'd said too much; Now, he would retreat from her for hours, perhaps days.
"Aoshi-"
"Look, see if you can find a katana with an orange tinge."
"You mean rusted?"
"No, I mean orange. Light orange, faded onto the metal, but definitely there, definitely intentional. When you do, bring it back to me. If nightfall comes, we'll meet in the second level. You know where."
"Alright," she said, head bowing. He returned it, but he didn't meet her eyes as she walked away.

[KatanokiChaos]

((Buuuuuuuuuuump...))

[Devking]

[You do know there's an option for bumping threads, right? And... I'm REALLY gonna post here, when I have the time... REALLY.]

[Devking]

((>> I'm just going to short post this.))

Drake looked up at the mass of oddly dressed people marching along through the streets. They came as a bother to him and his time for thought, but by now, he had lost any care for the words, bothersome and irritating. Suddenly, two of the people branched off into the alley that he was sitting in and raised a piece of paper in front of his face. "Hey, have you seen these two?"

Barely glancing upwards to check the parchment, the blue haired man immediately realized that those were none other than Grey and the man who took her away earlier. "Yes, I have," Drake responded in a low tone, "and what of it?"

"Tell us, where did you last see them?" the Death Eater snapped.
"I forget... Somewhere far away, I'll bet--"his voice trailed off near the end.
"Well, tell us now, or prepare to face the consequences, fool."

At this point, Drake had chuckled quietly and reached beneath where he was sitting, just in case. The irritated wizard snapped, "Well?"

"Why don't you all just leave me alone?" Drake muttered, leaping off the ground and striking the Death Eater right through the neck.

As he uttered a few last words and fell to the ground, his comrade yelled out: "What the fuck!?", as if it was a calling-out for the lot of his allies. But it was too late; Drake had lost any restraint and any patience for such people, and in a moment, both of them were dead. With the drop of the second one's body, though, a single rod-looking object innocently rolled to his feet.

"Hah. So it was one of magic, after all."

[KatanokiChaos]

((Cameos ftw!))

Grey walked past the bins of weapons near her--most of these were polearms, spears, or odachi, none of which matching the description Aoshi had given her. Off in the distance, there were rows of katana, on display. A woman sat in a desk next to them, reading a book as she awaited supply seekers.

"Ma'am?" Grey asked, and the woman looked up. She wore glasses, and the book on her desk, "Demian," could be identified as one from Grey's own time, or as close as it got in this home for eternity.

"Yes?" the woman asked in a quiet tone, looking back down at the book. She folded the page corner, closing it.

"This might be a strange question, but do you have any swords which have an orange coloring on the blade?"

The woman immediately looked up, silent for moments. Slowly, she asked, "Did he send you? The man with the cold blue eyes?"

"Er... Yes," Grey responded, not knowing a course other than honesty. The woman eyed her, looking her up and down, glance tracing the scars along the visible parts of her body. Grey knew she could see it, the mark he'd left on her. She was changed. Different. Feared.

The woman realized this, and grinned. "It's nigh time he trained another." She turned, moving to the swords, and picked one up, handing it to Grey. It was light in her hands, even within the saya, and as she drew it, the telltale color was there. Grey looked up, exclaiming, "Thank you! Thank you so much! How much-"

"Free, free. Consider it an inheritance." Grey looked at the woman, confused, but she shook her head. "Nothing, nothing. Good luck."

"Thank you," Grey repeated again. She bowed her head, before turning, running off.

The woman looked off, watching the girl carry away the katana. The differences she could see, the way she'd been raised by him compared to the others. She was his coming of age. His magnum opus. Even a fool could see.

She flicked her black hair out of her eyes, opening the desk drawer. Inside, the kunai she'd wielded long ago still remained. She could still remember those days, those days before his ruin, when she, too, had fought in his name. Days when he'd been a boy, unaware of the wrongness of the world.

Perhaps those days could come again.

She could only hope.

-----

Not so far away, he leaned, damaged against a wall. Blood fell from a wound on his head, and his skull was clearly visible, divided by the blade of a sword.

He was silent. He was dead.

Not far off, a short, thin boy with hair spiked in every which direction held a katana, looking over at Aoshi. He was tapping his foot, and as moments passed, he quickly yelled, "Get up! This isn't above you!"

Silence was interchanged, and slowly, the wounds started closing, Aoshi writhing and gasping for breath in a sudden recurrence of life. He looked around, startled, only to see him, standing off not far away.

He was quiet for moments more, before stating, "There's no time for this, Chaos." He struggled to stand, body threatening to give.

"I must disagree. I quite enjoy this, and I can revive you as many times as I want!"

Chaos darted forward, and Aoshi dived out of the way, but as he tried to roll behind Chaos, he was struck in the abdomen, Chaos driving the kodachi into the ground. He raised the second, and as Aoshi looked upon the blue-tinged blade, he raised his own, trying to block, hearing the sound of blade cutting blade, watching as the majority of his first kodachi fell beside him, the hilt still in his hand.

"You are not ready. And you will never be ready, as you are," Chaos whispered. The blade was less than an inch from Aoshi's face, Chaos desiring nothing more than to let the two meet.

"You must be destroyed, and made again."