First Meetings: A False Beginnings Spin-Off (1X1)

[X Accelerando X]

"Cecil, can you keep them safe? I have to find Locke!" Reno's focus was distracted, way too distracted for something like this. He knew what he'd seen, and now that even the suggestion in his mind that Vincent was lurking around here kept his mind to preoccupied to be able to help protect the rest of the so-called Hosts. The room had been cleared of Heartless, but even so, there was no gurantee it would stay that way, and Reno realized that. Sure he'd only officially fought the Heartless once, but even he could figure that the little buggers could pop up at any time, right? So Cecil would just have to keep an eye on the people who actually had hearts at this point. Nothing would get done with both of the people capable of fighting the Heartless staying in one room...that and Reno really wanted to make sure that Locke was alright. There was that Tamaki guy to worry about too.

"Uh uh, no way, Bosa-Nova!" the twins declared very assuredly, rushing up behind Reno. "Mi'Lord ran off after Haruhi. There's no way we're waiting here!"

"He is our President, after all, and frankly, with the mental capacity he holds, I think it best if we keep an eye on him," Kyouya agreed, fixing his glasses. "My men have arrived and will clean things up here. We can focus on helping your friend and Tamaki without needing to fret about anything else."

Damn, was this guy cool in any situation? Reno had to wonder. He imagined him as some kind of super-villain from a spy movie...But that image only lasted a minute or two, as he quickly shook it from his head, Cecil adding in his two cents. "You are a capable fighter, Reno, but I doubt that you could handle them all by yourself. We should all stick together." His tone was very serious, even if Reno couldn't see his face behind the helmet, and he knew that there really was no point in disagreeing.

"Yeah yeah, come on, all of you..." he sighed, motioning with his hand as he turned to head the way that Locke had gone. The group departed, making their way through the hall, which was surprisingly quiet. Not a Heartless in sight. That was great and all, but way too weird. Before they were all over the place, and now they simply up and vanished? Maybe they had killed them all? Reno turned to Cecil to get his opinion on the matter, but Cecil shook his head.

"This isn't good. If they've all disappeared like this, that can only mean they've been called together." Cecil remembered that from his orientation course to using the Heartless. He himself could not, or rather, hadn't been given that ability yet, but it wasn't hard to put two and two together. Someone had called the Heartless together to create something much bigger, and that was never a good thing. Especially when four of their group were running around on their own. Their chances didn't seem good. "We must press on before any more trouble befalls them!" To this, Reno didn't need to be told twice. Trying the door at the end of the hall, he found it locked.

"Dammit! What's the point of a door if it's going to be locked?!"

"You hold a Keyblade, Reno. That lock should not prove difficult for you," Cecil pointed out calmly, and Reno had to admit, he was thankful the guy was around. He was staying calm, even as Reno was panicking, and that made a world of difference. Still, when he started talking crazy talk like that--really, the Keyblade was like, ten times the size of that lock, there was no way-!

As if reacting to prove itself, the Keyblade began to tug in a sort of stilted manner, pulling towards the door insistently, and it was all Reno could do to hold on as he tried to figure out what the hell the thing was doing. "He-hey! Hold your horses!" he snapped at the weapon, getting both hands around the grip as he balanced himself. "You're too big! Too. Big! See? You can keep trying, but nothing's going to get you in there!" On this, the Keyblade disagreed, as it suddenly went very still. Did weapons pout? "Well, at least you understand English," Reno sighed, turning to look over his shoulder to the group. However, the Keyblade wasn't quite finished yet, as it suddenly shot forth a beam of light from its tip, focusing the ray on the lock. After a moment, there was a soft 'click' and the door swung open on its own, revealing the way into the room. Reno was about to rush in when a metal hand went down on his shoulder, stopping him. He looked back as he saw Cecil holding him back, his masked face watching what was going on in the room. Vincent was there, just as Reno had guessed, babbling on about something, being all dark and tragic and-- wait!? Cecil worked with Vincent!? Reno turned, eyes ablaze. "You b*****d! You mean all this time you-!?"

But he wasn't able to finish his inquiry, as whatever the hell Vincent was conjuring suddenly appeared, and as it did, Tamaki and its creator vanished. This, naturally, did not go well with the Host Club. The twins rush forward with a cry of '"Mi'lord!", only to be shot back the moment they tried to cross the doorway.

"That's a dark barrier. There's no getting through that way," Cecil murmured softly, head bowed.

"Well then how do we get in?" Reno demanded, then he stopped, remembering that Cecil was one of the bad guys. A crash from within the room stopped short any answer, as the chandelier within, along with a good portion of the ceiling, came down. That Heartless was tearing the place apart to get at Locke, and though the little guy was quick, there was no way he could keep it up for much longer.

"There. The ceiling that fell is a portion of the third floor. You could drop in from there." Kyouya's eyes were hard, cold, and dangerous. He was angry, very angry, and even Reno could see that. Still, he didn't have time to actually ask any important questions like how the heck he was supposed to survive a three-story fall. That was the furthest thing from his mind. His only thought at the moment was where the damn stairs were. Sprinting up the closest set, he ran as fast as he could, eyes shut tightly. "Locke, please be okay. Just hang in there, please!" Every step took him closer to the room that would get him in to save Locke, but what if something happened before then. This was a really long way to go and Locke wasn't--no, Locke could handle himself. That knife that Yuuko'd given him would keep him safe until Reno could reach him.

The stairs ended, and Reno threw open the door, searching for the hole that the Heartless had made. Bingo! Moving carefully towards the edge, hoping to keep from causing anymore of the floor to fall in on itself, he peered down, hating what he saw. That thing had Locke by the throat! Oh, that was it! No more waiting, he couldn't! Jumping from the edge of the hole, he landed on the creature's head, trying to get his balance on the orb-shaped cranium, jabbing the Keyblade down as hard as he could into its eye. That got the damn thing's attention, as he reeled, dropping Locke and pulling away, slamming backwards, Reno falling off. His hand grabbed at anything to stop his fall, and thankfully, he caught hold of the banister from the second floor. Yeah, it wasn't solid and gave way about a moment later, but it still saved him from a broken leg. He fell, nearly loosing his footing as he hit the ground. The monstrosity was storming around blindly now, swiping angrily at anything and everything as Reno rushed past to Locke's side, grabbing up the knife and skidding to a halt beside his friend. "Locke, you okay? Come on, we gotta get this guy and save Tamaki!"

Twisting around, Keyblade at the ready, he heard Cecil shout from the sidelines, "They Keyblade is the only thing that can completely destroy it, Reno! That emblem is the weakness!"

"Locke, you think you can get that guy to hold still for a minute while I drive this sucker home?" he asked, face intense as he looked down at the blade in his hand.

[Mssr Miles]

Suddenly, Locke felt the pressure around his neck and his arm lessen, the tendrils snapping away, leaving Locke slumped against the pillar he had been crushed against, vision swimming. A breath gasped through his abused throat, his lungs shuddering violently as the oxygen hit his deprived lungs, ragged coughs escaping through his lips, dragging in much needed air. Locke doubled over himself, calming his coughs, when Reno appeared at his side, snapping the world into focus. The Fancy Cage was flailing about, trying its best to hit enemies that it could not see, the air around them thick with dust and the monster’s frighteningly angry shrieks, the true damage that had befallen the entranceway evident in the dimness of the room. Had this all just happened within the last five minutes? Good lord, it was terrifying how much damage there was... Locke hoped that no one was going to make them clean it up. Or pay for it, for that matter...

“Yeah, just dandy,” Locke croaked at Reno through his swollen and quickly bruising throat, grasping the handle of the offered dagger, rising unsteadily to his feet, making sure the world stopped spinning around him. The second half of Reno’s sentence put a frown on Locke’s face... Tamaki. That poor guy, he was dragged into a darkened portal – by Vincent, no less. Whatever that black haired man had gotten himself into, it was no good. “Y-yeah.” They had to get Tamaki back... the only question was, where exactly had Vincent taken the blond King?

...and how exactly were they going to get to where Vincent was? Ah, but all things in their own time. First things first? Getting the giant Heartless to stay still. Jeeze, how did Reno expect him to do that..?

Locke ducked the opposite way that Reno had gone, keeping out of the long reach of the flailing Heartless, looking left and right to see exactly about what he had to work with. Broken chandelier, rubble, half-collapsed stairs, fallen pillars... Stairs. He followed the stairs up to the second story banister – at least what was left of it – and then looked over at the Heartless. Yes... Yes, this could work!

Throwing a look back at the red haired individual that held the gigantic key in his hand, Locke called towards him, “Just leave it to me!” Raising his voice as loud as he could, drawing the Heartless’s attention away from Reno and the Keyblade, Locke croaked, “Hey! Heyhey! Big cage thing! Over here octopus arms!” The insult was rather lame and Locke would probably hear about this later, but it did the trick. The Heartless stopped its frantic flailing, turning its gargantuan head towards the blond, listening for a moment before lumbering foreward towards where Locke had been. Locke ducked behind a rather thick pillar, hoping beyond hope that this would work... Calling out to the creature again, the thing swirled towards the pillar, running at full tilt. Locke booked it, running as quickly and as quietly as he could towards the stairs, jumping from a ruined pillar still stuck in the ground, to part of the remains of the banister, to the stairs that were missing quite a few lower steps without skipping a beat.

“Oi oi oi!” the boy yelled, as he ran up the stairs to the second floor, pausing at the part of the second floor where the hand railing had been destroyed, waiting. The boy didn’t have to wait long, his chest heaving, knife raised to the ready. The Heartless followed the sound of Locke’s voice, rushing towards the young man, a floor below him, arms reached foreward sightlessly. Steeling himself, Locke waited until the thing was almost directly underneath him, plunging down onto the Cage’s head, knife thrust into the bulbous head with a sickening thunk.

The Heartless skidded to a stop, its tentacle-like arms snapping towards its head as a scream rippled through the air, trying to grab at the thing on its head that was causing the Heartless pain, its cage-like chest opening to brandish its Heartless mark.

“Any time now, Reno!” Locke cried, dodging to the side as he narrowly missed the arm snapping towards him... letting one of his legs fall into the monster’s other hand, wrapping around his own limb, preparing to fling the young man across the room.

[X Accelerando X]

It was kinda funny how a person’s mind worked when they were in this kind of situation. Reno found himself calculating things, catching little details about his surroundings even as he planned on how to drive this Keyblade home. Locke was doing a damn good job too from what he could see. The little guy was like a wasp! That dagger really was something, because Locke had always been quick, but never that quick. That jab to the eye was pretty impressive too, and in no time at all, that chest-plate had opened to reveal the target. This was gonna be a piece of cake now! Now he just needed to get close enough without being swatted away, and-

Suddenly, Locke called out to him, his tone panicked and agitated. Dammit, that thing had caught him again! Green eyes flashed as Reno rushed forward. First things first, Locke was going to be splattered on a wall if he didn’t stop that Heartless. Running as fast as his legs could take him, Reno jumped onto a piece of fallen ceiling, crouching into a spring, and then launched himself towards the thing’s arm. With a quick slash, he smacked it hard, causing another shriek as it shifted its throwing arc, sending Locke towards a closer wall, the force decreased significantly. Reno just barely caught the sight of Locke being flung free as he skidded to a halt below the Heartless’ chest. Pushing himself up as hard as he could, he shot into the air, jabbing the Keyblade into the heart mark within the ribcage, deep enough to actually plant the weapon it. This was something that the creature did not like, and it was by a hair that Reno bounced away, the ribs closing shut with a snap, nearly impaling him on the hilt of the Keyblade. His gaze turned towards Locke, who was pushing himself off the wall back towards him.

Reno didn’t know who his brother was, and knew that Locke wasn’t him, but damned if he didn’t think that they were in that moment. It was amazing, like they mentally clicked. Maybe it was the link between their hearts that made it possible, but in that single moment, the same plan passed through their minds, and it was almost as if he heard Locke’s voice as the young man nodded to him. Everything slowed down, for just a moment, as Reno grabbed Locke’s forearm, shifting his weight to swing himself and Locke around. They made one half-circle, before Reno let go, sending his friend careening towards the impaled Heartless. Locke’s foot shot forward, planting on the hilt of the once-more revealed Keyblade expertly, the full force of his flight pushing into it, sending it clear through the Heartless. Reno landed, skidded up against the wall, bracing himself as Locke landed just in front of him, his hands steadying him by the shoulders as the ‘fireworks’ began.

The Heartless writhed, clawing at the hole in its chest furiously a moment, before it convulsed, body arching upwards as a massive heart burst from the hole, the creature vanishing as the heart floated up into the ceiling and vanished as well.

“And that’s how you do it,” Reno grinned, flipping the Keyblade in his hand, clapping a hand on Locke’s shoulder.

---

“Cecil has failed, as you predicted, my lady,” Vincent said quietly, his tone one of obvious disgust as he reported all that had occurred during his first real mission. Explaining everything in excruciating detail, he made certain to point out ever fault of Cecil’s without remorse or mercy. There would be none. He had been a disappointment to Maleficent, as seen by Vincent, and thus, there would be no redemption in his mind, for Cecil.

“I left him there. I assumed that would be alright, since the Heartless I placed there would be far too powerful for someone so lacking in the ability to carry out a simple task, let alone actually fight. The same applies to Reno and Locke. I doubt they will be able to overcome the foe I created. They may run away like the cowards they are, but if they try to stand and fight, I am certain they will fall. Reno’s never done well with weapons, let alone something as large as-“

He stopped, his eyes widening slightly as he caught himself. Quickly shifting the sentence, he tacked on smoothly, “A sword of that size. It is a wonder he has not removed his own head already.”

[Mssr Miles]

Maleficent listened to Vincent's report with rapt attention, memorizing each new fact that fell out of the young man’s mouth with interest, wishing that each of her warriors could be as matriculate as this new one was in the report department... it was a hassle to get all the details from some of her warriors, and it irked her to no end when she did not know the whole story. Perhaps she should start allowing Vincent to handle more difficult worlds – no, not as of yet. She still wished for the boy to become stronger, to be pressed just a little tighter beneath her thumb before she would ever allow the man to take on a world by himself. Though, Maleficent rarely sent just one of her warriors to any single world. Call it... insurance, if you will. Besides, back up never hurt anyone...

The woman’s fingers tented as Vincent spoke of the man Cecil in disgust – not that Maleficent blamed him. She had a suspicion that this Cecil would not do well when tested in the field, even though he showed promise in the dark arts that might one day rival her new prodigy... but it was not to be, it seemed. There were still ways to use the white haired man... and if that failed, Cecil Harvey could always make a lovely Heartless. Gazing at Vincent through long lashes, she stated, “I suppose it is fine that you left him there for now... though, I would like to have him back. He has a great potential, Vincent, one that is quite easily exploited with the correct... persuasion.” As she spoke, she exerted a tiny amount of dark energy to her fingers and extinguishing it a moment later. She gave the young man before her a meaningful look, knowing that the young man would probably furiously try to figure out exactly how to do as she had lead on to. It was how these book-types seemed to work best... give them a problem, a tiny taste of the answer, and they could figure out the most complex dilemma’s. “Just keep that in mind if you ever do meet the man again. I do hate losing my things...”

As the Sorceress watched the man finish up his report, speaking of the Keybearer and his brother, the young man’s eyes widening slightly as his smooth speech hiccoughed... Not like the young man at all. Now, wasn’t this interesting. Maleficent said nothing of the misstep, instead storing the information in the back of her mind to stew over when the young man was away on the next mission that she would be sending him on.

“Hm,” she toned, fingers interlocking and setting themselves upon her desk as she studied Vincent for a time. Her prodigy’s first Heartless beast destroying a Keybearer? It was very unlikely, no matter if the Keybearer was still a fledgling, still struggling to fly so soon out of the nest... No, she was sure that the boy – this Locke – still lived. But it mattered not. The important thing was that they had stolen the Prince of the World, and his Heart was within Maleficent’s clutches, just waiting to be harvested. A small smile splayed across her face as she thought of what was to come, excitement that her goal was ever coming closer. “You have done well this day, Vincent. I will allow you a time to rest if you need it, but then I would like to send you upon your way once more.”

She stood from her seat, slowly striding the length of her study as she spoke to the man. “There is a group of individuals that have been a thorn in my side for a time... They all originated upon Balance, a world that has been subdued quite successfully, though the Prince has escaped my clutches, I am loathe to announce.” She shook her head, her face dark at the memory – the very first world that she had taken, was a triumph and a failure all the same... “One of my agents has chased the scattered group to the world called Radiant Garden, a world I know you are familiar with – and this is where I would like you to turn to next. You will seek out Kefka, an... odd man, who has been on the trail of Balance’s Prince since the world was Ruined. He believes that the Prince is a man named Edgar, he has told me recently... but the man also has a twin brother. Because of the nature of Twins, I do not want to take a chance, thus I would like you to inform Kefka that I will require the presence of both siblings.”

That being said, the woman returned to her desk, lifting a written report from the wooden surface, frowning down upon the information placed there. “There is also a matter of Destiny’s Prince...” Maleficent said, looking towards Vincent. “Before Destiny Islands was covered in my power, three beings escaped the Heartless’s grasp, I am afraid. Two have been confirmed as both your brother and this Keybearer named Locke, and the last is what I believe to be Destiny’s Prince... and I trust that you are the best one to handle this capture, Vincent, for the Heartless only were able to catch a glimpse of the man before he escaped. You might know the man, at least by description,” Going over the image in her mind that the Heartless had provided, she could say only, “The man you will be searching for is fair tall, well built, with short blond hair... and a diagonal scar that reaches from his brow towards his right eye...

“Consider your duty to help Kefka to be your main mission, but if you do see the man described, return here with him immediately.” Maleficent graced the man before her with a glint in her eye. “You will be greatly rewarded if you do, my warrior.”

--

That was bloody brilliant, if Locke said so himself. It was as if the two of them could read each other’s minds, knowing exactly what the other was going to do, and setting up an amazing set of events that ended in the Heartless’s rather theatrical death. Well, as close to death as Locke knew one of those things could be.

Wait. Did those things even live? So could they really die...? Bah. Stop thinking, Locke.

The boy felt the clap on his shoulder, grinning up at the red head that had steadied him after being thrown backwards the last time. “Hell yes,” the blond called back, feeling quite loftily about himself at the moment. They had taken out that big giant thing, with a giant key and a little pig-sticker between the two of them – them! Two students from Destiny Island’s school! Man, they were just awesome... Though, Locke’s elation at the end of the battle quickly evaporated, squashed as he looked towards the gathering group at the end of the hall, Tamaki’s bright hair and even brighter personality nowhere in sight.

His gaze swept over the faces, noticing that both Haruhi and Mori were still missing as well, and he knew that they would have to find them next. It wouldn’t do to have those two lost in a Heartless infested zone... His fears were laid to rest as the two he had just been thinking of wandered into the ruined hall, the black haired individual looking a little winded and nothing more as he carried the brown haired Haruhi in his arms. The dark barriers now gone, the residents and the foreigners met up in the middle of the destroyed foyer. Locke’s eyes settled upon the only other foreigner in the room, his gaze becoming hard as he looked at the man that had come to this world with Vincent... Cecil had some explaining to do.

Haruhi was the first to speak up, as Mori set her down on the floor between them. “..where’s Tamaki-senpai?”

Locke turned from Haruhi, fully confronting Cecil. “Yeah, a good question,” Locke stated, his knife still grasped firmly in his hand. “Where did Vincent take him, Cecil?”

Though, his anger at the man before him had to wait, as he spied something over the man’s shoulder that made his eyes widen considerably. A grand, ornate gold keyhole was materializing into existence upon the wall opposite Locke and Reno, and Locke sent the Keyblade grasped in the red head’s hand a accusing look, before looking back at it. "Well, that's just wacky.." Locke grumbled through his abused and darkly bruising throat, shaking his head at the oddity appearing out of thin air before them. Really, when would this mad nightmare end?

[X Accelerando X]

The more he held onto the key, the more convinced Reno was that thing really did have a mind of its own, like Sabin had said. It reacted to that weird Keyhole violently, shuddering and pulling towards it, to the point where Reno had to fight to keep a firm grip. No point in it impaling someone that they liked (or in Cecil’s case, needed). Would things ever settle down for them? And was this how it was going to be the entire time? If so, Reno wasn’t too sure he’d ever get used to it, though he certainly wasn’t ready to call it quits. He was going to take this head on, even with a Keyblade that seemed to really enjoy its work of unlocking doors. So, keeping in mind that the weapon probably knew more about what it needed to do then he did, he let it do its thing. The weapon shifted, pulling him closer to the keyhole that had appeared right in between the group. The closer he got, the hotter the thing felt, until he was only a few feet away, where it almost felt like it was buzzing with energy. A light formed at the tip, collecting and building as more particles gathered, before it shattered, a tiny beam launching from the end of the weapon, going straight into the dark keyhole. It stayed that way a moment, until a resounding ‘thunk’ filled the hall, as if something were locking. The hole vanished with the sound, and the Keyblade settled down again, before disappearing as well.

“Yeah…okay…” Reno murmured, looking at his hand, his green eyes filled with confusion. “Yeah, I’ll be asking Yuuko about that.” He turned and looked back to the others, Kyouya’s gave focused on Cecil, to which Reno was very glad; the look on his face would have frozen over Destiny Isle--a lot like Vincent’s. Damn that guy was scary. He couldn’t blame him, or the twins either, who seemed ready to pound Cecil’s head in with some loose boards from the Heartless’ rampage.

Cecil was not idiot, and he sensed the anger directed his way even before all eyes were on him. But how was he to know this would happen? He tried to back away, but found himself cornered by the twins. “Good question, Locke. Tell us, Otaku. Where’s Tamaki-senpai? Or do we need to bash the answer out of you?”

“Please, you mustn’t!” Cecil begged, raising his hands defensively to the group, his blue eyes wide with fear and guilt. “Truly, I did not know this was to happen! If I had, I swear, I would not have allowed it too! I was not informed of what Maleficent desired with Tamaki, only that she wished to see him!” Reno watched him carefully, and the guy was either a really good actor, or was telling the truth. He really did look like this whole thing was a surprise to him, and even more so, he looked really sorry.

“Well then, you won’t mind telling us where he went then, huh?” Reno asked, folding his arms skeptically. “Where’s this Maleficent chick hiding him?”

“I know not,” Cecil replied quietly, to which everyone tensed, as if ready to pounce. “No, please understand!” he replied quickly, “I know not because I have never been outside of the palace before. I was brought there, I think, and then--everything from before the moment I awoke within its walls is a blank. I could not tell you even the name of the stronghold, let alone where it is. I apologize, but know that if I could, I would tell you.”

“A likely story,” Hikaru pointed out, not at all believing a word the knight was saying. “You expect us to believe that with no problem? How does a guy work someplace but not remember where it is?”

“How does a young man use a giant key to seal a Keyhole that appears and disappears without reason?” Kyouya pointed out, his voice level, as always. Adjusting his glasses, he turned his cold eyes to Cecil, the man stiffening under his gaze. “But if what he says is true, he will have no qualms with helping those who can go there find it, no?” Reno frowned. Wait, what?

“I knew from the moment I saw you three that you are not from around here, and I do not mean simply this place, or Japan. You’re not even from this world, are you?”

“Kyouya-senpai?” Kaoru inquired, looking confused. “You mean these guys are aliens or something?”

“In a manner,” came the reply, the young man not seeming to be bothered by what he was saying as he stared at Locke and Reno pointedly. “I don’t know if this is truth or not, but I know stories about something called a Keyblade. It was unimportant at the time, so I didn’t bother to read any further, but I can say with certainty that these people are from a different world.”

[Mssr Miles]

Locke scratched the back of his head, just as confused as Reno was about the whole Key and Giant Keyhole thing. The hell was all that about..? Locke did hope that, when questioned, that Yuuko would know what all this Keyblade stuff was all about... actually, he knew almost for certain that Yuuko would know what was going on, but if she would be forthcoming with the information, well, that was another matter. Maybe if they just skipped asking the self-proclaimed witch to explain things, and see if Sabin knew what was going on. That might make for an enlightening session without all extra jobs that might have to come out of it...

Listening to the proceeding talk with an attentive ear, his eyes gazed over the rest of the group, leaving the weird Knight guy to Reno... Honey was speaking softly to Haruhi, filling her in on what had happened in her and Mori’s absence, as the black haired man lowered the girl to the floor. Even though there was no more danger for the time being, Takashi kept a watchful eye out about the room, looking down at the blond Locke when he saw him looking in his direction. Locke quickly looked away, not really able to face the people in this room with a confident eye... he had told everyone that he would protect Tamaki, but he had let the man get caught by Vincent... His foot caught a bit of rubble, and he kicked it slightly, noting that it had once been a part of the roof. Even with Yuuko’s stupid little knife, he hadn’t been able to react fast enough to push Tamaki out of the way or anything. He felt a little useless, really...

A hand on his head made him look up, a questioning expression on his face as he gazed at the black haired Mori. “You did your best?” Mori asked, a eyebrow raising slightly in question. Nodding, Locke’s bandana and blond curls got ruffled under Takashi’s large hand, Locke’s eyes closing so as not to allow the hair into his gaze. Cracking one eye open, he looked up at the dark haired man with a confused look on his face. Takashi smiled softly, before returning back to Haruhi and Honey.

Sighing, Locke turned back towards the others as Kyouya made his point about giant Keys, lumping him and Reno together with that Cecil guy. Locke didn’t know whether or not to believe this Knight, but he did know that if Cecil went back to the castle without backup, the first thing that Vincent would do was be to turn the guy into a Heartless... and that wasn’t cool. But, really.. right now, Cecil was their only link back to the place where Tamaki had been taken.

“I don’t know much about the Keyblade,” Locke stated, looking to Reno, then focusing on Kyouya as the boy rubbed the back of his neck, “But we’ll take the Knight with us, and we’ll find a way to get Tamaki back.” Speaking of Yuuko, Locke’s hand paused as he rubbed his neck. The headphones... where were the headphones...? They had been around his neck, but then with the fight... His gaze whipped around the room, settling on the pair of headphones near some rubble, almost as crushed as the debris itself. Jogging to the broken white shards, he groaned and poked at the pieces. He wouldn’t even be able to try and glue it back together... “Aw man, Yuuko’s gonna kill me!” He gathered together as much of the item as he could find, and pocketed it...

Another thought struck him – how were they going to tell Yuuko they were, well.. That they needed to get going? Wait. Nekozawa must have had a way to contact Yuuko, otherwise they wouldn’t be here delivering the thing that they needed to for the guy, right? Turning around, intending on asking where the dark robed man had gone, he opened his mouth and paused when he heard a voice in his ear. “Ohh... Miss Yuuko is going to be quite displeased with having those destroyed... I do think those are her favourite communication devices...” Nekozawa was right behind him.

Locke nearly jumped right out of his skin. How did that guy do that? He must be a ninja or something... Getting a hold of himself in a few calming breaths, he looked at the hooded man, and asked, “I..don’t suppose you have another way to contact Yuuko, do you?”

“Oh... No, actually. Usually if I need something, Yuuko just shows up in a mirror around the house...” Nekozawa looked rather apologetic, and Locke smiled at the odd man. Wasn't his fault that Yuuko was hard to get a hold of.

Locke drew his lower lip into his mouth, chewing it absently as he moved towards Reno. Just how were they going to get back...?

[X Accelerando X]

The doors at the end of the hall, which had been shut after the group had passed through them initially just before Reno had joined in the fight against the massive sin-against-nature, slammed open, one of them falling off the hinges in the process. "I'm here! Hold on kids, I'm here!" The voice, so familiar, and yet, somehow, so terrifying in that moment, or at least the image associated with it. As the massive wall of lumbering muscle that was Sabin came hurtling down the hall, Reno only had enough time to look up from the disaster that was the ruined headphones. In another moment, a terrific roar and a shout of "Begon Heartless scum!" echoed boldly through the room, followed by a terrific thwack and a thump. The 'Thwack' was the sound of a large hand being brought down judo-style onto the back of Cecil's armored head. The 'thump' was the sound of said knight toppling to the floor, quite unconscious.

"H-huh?!" the martial artist stammered, looking confused at the crompled form of Cecil. "Usually only takes one hit--must be tougher then I thought." The guy was about to stomp the stunned knight, and normally, Reno would have let him after all the trouble he'd caused, but then, when it came right down to it, Cecil was their only link to finding this Vincent guy and saving Tamaki. They'd need him in one piece if they were going to get any clues and a guy suffering from a concussion and amnesia was generally not a lot of help in the memory department. Thus, Reno decided to stop Sabin before he did any more, possibly permanant damage.

"Yo! Sabin, hold up, he's human!" the red head called, moving from Locke and the ever-creepy Nekozawa towards their friend. "He's a bad guy, but he's human." This didn't seem to stop Sabin, who frowned and looked like he was going to smash the poor guy twice as hard at that, before Reno added, "Vincent took Tamaki and Cecil's the only one who knows where they went."

"Oh, heh, sorry," Sabin grinned sheepishly, suddenly changing gears like it was nothing at all. "Got worried about you guys and came rushing. Guess I kinda lost it!" He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around, suddenly realizing the large group he had just bounded into, and that several of them--well, all of them actually, were pretty hot. "Wow, you guys like, opera singers or something? I mean, Setzer's a hotty, but all those scars--oh, you must be the Host Club! Yeah, Yuuko mentioned you all. Ain't you kinda young to be doin' stuff like that though? And it's for school? Wow, I mean, I guess rich people really do lead different--"

"We're not that sort of club," Kyouya pointed out simply, adjusting his glasses. He was concerned for Tamaki, naturally, but, very much like Yuuko, he was a businessman first and foremost. "Perhaps I could introduce you to our members when we are all present and accounted for, and you can select your choice host then. At the moment however, we're short-handed, and you've knocked out our only means of getting a full deck." This last part seemed to spark a very subdued portion of irritation on Kyouya's part, however, he didn't show it for but a split second before taking command. "Hikaru, Kaoru, you two should check and make certain that the staff here are all fine and accounted for. My bodyguards will escort you." The twins soluted, but looked completely pissed at having to leave. Still, they went without complaint.

"Heh, I could never pick just one," Sabin mumbled to himself, his face red as he looked at the floor, apparently missing the chagnge of direction the conversation had gone. The statement, however, surprised Reno. The guy was--like that? Really? They way he carried on around Yuuko, well Reno had guessed that he was--whatever, it wasn't important right now.

"Uh, so, yeah, I'm here to bring you guys back." Sabin bent down, picking up Cecil and hefting him easily onto his shoulder as he talked. Reno gave him a quizzical look, and was about to ask how he knew they needed a ride with the headset broken and all, but Sabin barked out a laugh. "Yuuko figured you'd need some help when the connection went bad. Can't say she's happy about the headset, yeah, she already knows, but thing is, I think she may have been a little worried--just a little, but she told me to get over here on the double and sent me on my way. Guess we'll bring back an extra passenger, but once he's at Yuuko's, there's not chance he'll be runnin' off. She's got ways to get a guy to sit still!" He blinked, realizing how that soundded, then added quickly, "Oh uh, not like that of course! I mean like, magic and stuff!" He cleared his throat, feet shifting awkwardly as he looked back at the rest of the Host Club. "A real lady, she is. She'd love you guys! But we really gotta get going. She's gonna want to give you an earful, Locke." He paused, suddenly remembering something. "You uh, didn't break that knife didja? I don't know if she could handle that, and the last time she blew her lid at me, well--I'm still trying to clean that mess up. So yeah, you got it, right?"

[Mssr Miles]

Yuuko admitted to herself that she had been a little concerned. Not worried, of course - a Witch of her caliber rarely had anything to worry over. But concern had entered into her system as she had heard a crash, a far away cry of pain, and then nothing but static from her newest employee. That couldn't be healthy... She had called for Sabin right away - she couldn't leave the shop herself unless she wanted her little section of her world to snap back into oblivion, so sending another of her operatives was the only thing she could do at the time. She trusted that Sabin would help the Keyblade Bearer and his little side-kick to finish off the Heartless in the world, before he returned with the two with the small return amulet she'd given him. All he had to do was make sure the boys were in a five foot radius of him, and crush the amulet, and they'd be snapped back to the front gate. It was a handy item, one of Yuuko's specialties these days.

Interworld travel had sure become a lot more popular then it had a hundred years ago..

Her gaze softened as she sipped her specialty coffee - a delish blend of irish cream blended dark roast, with just the tiniest hint of a chocolaty liqueur. Just perfect for this morning - hm, afternoon, she supposed now, as she gazed out the window at the peaking sun. Another day was upon them, and she smiled softly as she sent her awareness to check up on the worlds she could touch, finding the lock... sealed. She chuckled to herself, whispering, "...they actually did it." Something still felt off about the world, but the important thing was that it was sealed up properly, and would stay that way for a time, at least. Heh, and by now, Sabin was probably falling over himself standing around so many young, strapping young men..

Leaning back in her chair, she awaited the group's return, pondering various ways to punish the little Locke boy for destroying her headphones... though, perhaps just telling him the real reason that she would be sending himself and the Keybearer to the next few worlds would be punishment enough. That brought a smirk to her face, and she continued to sip her beverage, doing the only thing she could do right then.

Watch. Watch, and wait.

--

Locke jumped as the big beasty of a man barreled into the room from the priory sealed doors, said wooden structures slamming into the opposite walls with a near-deafening crash in the quiet of the large room. The sudden attack on the Knight wasn't entirely unwelcome, but still.. the guy had gone down pretty quickly.. but Sabin's arms were nearly elephant sized, and completely dwarfed his own father skinny ones, he was a little embarrassed to say. As Reno reasoned with Sabin, convincing the big guy to, well, NOT kill the dark knight, Locke heard a rather chilling chuckle from within Nekozawa's robes. "Cavalry has seemed to arrive - a mite too late, wouldn't you say, Locke?"

"Y-yeah, I guess so," Locke said, sighing softly, shaking his head with a short smile. That Sabin... he sure had a lot of spunk, he'd give him that.

He had to agree with Sabin on one point, though. Yuuko would probably get a kick out of hanging out with the Host Club, with all members present... Actually, she'd probably get a kick out of hanging out with Nekozawa as well - the two probably had a whole lot in common... being creepy as all hell as the two of them were. Different variations of creepy, but Locke could already see the two chuckling darkly as they huddled over a pot of tea and an old, cryptic book of dark spells... and that sent a nervous shiver down his spine. He hoped the two never met. And if they did, he really, really hoped that he was off world when that happened.

Locke's eyes widened a little at Sabin's various rambling comments, finding the blush now strapped to the man's face rather hilarious, he kind of looked like he had just been caught with his hands in the proverbial cookie jar. But instead of cookies, there were pretty good looking guys.. especially the Twins, Locke had to admit to himself. The orangey-red hair was kind of... well...

"Thinking improper thoughts?" Nekozawa asked from beside his ear, and Locke jumped a final time, his gaze moving from the red heads in the room, back towards the man in robes, the boy moving to put a bit of distance between himself and the looming figure, his cheeks hot. Jeeze, how did he get so close while being so quiet? Was he secretly a ninja or something..? Wouldn't surprise Locke in the slightest, but still.. Locke shook his head, stammering a negative as Nekozawa, thankful that the man's voice had been low enough that no one in the direct vicinity had heard. Or, at the very least, they pretended not to hear... and Reno was far enough to be out of ear-shot, and he was busy with Sabin and trying to get him not to kill that crazy Cecil guy. Even if he said he didn't know anything, he was their only lead to Vincent and to where Tamaki had been taken.

...Locke hoped they were both still alright... even if Vincent had attacked him with that Heartless contraction.

When Sabin said he was there to bring them back as he hefted Cecil up over his shoulder, Locke let out a sigh. Oh good, they were going back... to Yuuko. Ah, the headset! What was he going to tell her? Sabin put his worries into overdrive when he said the woman already knew.. and that she was a little upset.. Oh god, he was going to get yelled at when he got back, wasn't he? He didn't like getting yelled at.. He'd always been a bit of a wimp when it came to confrontations where he knew he had done something wrong.. Well, maybe Yuuko'd be easy on him - Sabin had said that she had been a little worried, right?

Pff, yeah right... and he was the Queen of Balance.

"Nah, it's.." Locke paused, removing the blade from where he'd placed it in its little wooden holder. It was a little dirty, and he wiped it cleanly off on a pant leg, looking a little guiltily down at the nice clothes that he had dirtied during the fight with the Cage. He double checked the blade, just to be sure that there wasn't anything wrong.. and he was very pleased to say that he couldn't see anything that a good polish probably would take care of properly. "Yeah, it's fine," he told Sabin with a quirked smile, slamming the blade home.

The goodbyes were rather rushed with body guards and those of the household appearing. Locke did manage to say goodbye to everyone, Haruhi promising to try and get their clothes to them somehow, the twins telling both Locke and Reno to keep the clothes on their backs right now. Something about spreading their mother's clothes line throughout the universe.. with Locke trying to explain that he and Reno weren't intergalactic aliens.. which didn't work out all that well. Honey and Mori both offered Locke and Reno smiles, telling them to keep safe and do their best. On their way out, Sabin leading followed by Reno, Locke trailed behind a little as they past Kyouya, letting the other two (well, three counting the rather unconscious Cecil). "We'll get 'im back," Locke stated, a determined look to his face. He meant it, he really did.. he'd get Tamaki back if it was the last thing he did, because it was his fault that the man had been taken in the first place. Without letting the man respond at all, Locke hurried up after Reno and Sabin, listening into what Sabin was telling Reno.

"-just need to get to an open area, and break this, and poof! We're back!" Sabin was holding a strange looking charm to resembled a black crystal butterfly, looking a little mournfully at it. The item was rather delicate looking, so much so that Locke figured he'd probably be able to snap it in half with one hand... The group let themselves out the front door and onto the sand in front of the villa. It wasn't really raining anymore, just mostly a drizzle, if anything, and the clouds still covered the sky, though they could see a few twinkling stars appear above them. The air seemed fresh, as it did after most rainstorms, though not at all muggy like Destiny Islands had been. Locke kind of missed the mugginess.. sure, it made his hair curl like no one's business under his bandana, but it was a sign that he felt at home. Except that Destiny wasn't his home really, either.. Heh, kind of like he didn't really belong anywhere, no matter what was going on. Always just a visitor.. Right. Locke. Stop thinking.

He shook his head as they stopped on the sand, the grains sucking in the soles of his sandals slightly, but not enough to be an annoyance. As Sabin fiddled with the delicate thing that would somehow return them to Kanto, Locke looked out over the calming ocean with a soft sigh, playing with the chain that held the jewel with the visable crimson centre. The stone was an ever-present warmth against his skin, and he just had to wonder... Who was Rachel? He'd have to think on it later, though, because Reno had taken the item from Sabin's hands, and broken it, shooting the small group rather roughly towards the sky and back to their temporary home.

--

Yuuko felt the group return to the shop, and she smiled softly. All her employees were home and accounted for... a few with minor injuries. Just minor, of course, so nothing to be concerned after. They had a fourth Heart with them, she felt... a kind one, though bound to darkness rather tightly, she was interested to see. Just who had they brought back with them? She'd meet him soon enough, of course.. She stayed where she was, finishing up her coffee, putting the mug down soundlessly as Sabin stuck his head into the room, a body in black armour slung over his shoulder. "Brought the kiddies home, Yuuko!" he called, then motioned to the guy on his shoulder. "Ah, and we brought home a... guest, I guess. Where should I put him?"

Thinking for a moment, the woman nodded towards the back of the house. "The meditation room would do well enough," she said evenly, waving the blond man away. "And be a dear and take Reno with you, would you? I would like to have a word with Locke.." She turned a catlike smile upon the young man, and she chuckled when he stiffened, looking up at Sabin with pleading eyes.

"Good luck, Locke! Don't worry, she really isn’t that bad.." Sabin called, thumping him on the back in a friendly manner, pulling Reno with him as he left the room, one Cecil still slung over his shoulder. The door closed with a resounding sound, and Yuuko beckoned the young man to come closer with a long, delicate finger. The boy complied with a thick swallow, quite nervous about the upcoming interrogation.. or yelling at... or whatever was going to happen.

"Now," the woman stated, a twinkle in her eye as she read Locke's body language. "Tell me everything that has happened, and then let us go meet this new... friend you three brought home, hm?"

--

Yuuko had been fair lenient with the boy, even if he had broken her favourite pair of communication devices.. though, he had brought most of the destroyed bits back with him, so she could probably get it fixed up rather easily. All she had done was give him a bit of guard duty, since this 'Cecil' character would be in their care for a time. The man was one of Maleficent lackeys! Oh, Yuuko got a kick out of that.. The woman had known, the moment that the man had appeared at her door, that she would have to confine him until he figured out what to do with himself. That armour of his was a poison to a Heart, and if worn for too long... well, the consequences could be rather nasty, and Yuuko didn't want something as such walking around her house that could potentially destroy it. Too much of a mess... So keeping him in the meditation room unless he wished to leave was the best things she could do. The room was surrounded by charms and a very powerful sigil that Yuuko had placed down herself that would trap and hold dark creatures - just incase a Heartless or two entered her home. The same principals applied to dark artifacts, so while this Cecil was wearing that armour, he would not be able to leave.

Gliding towards the Meditation room, Locke following close behind, looking just a little pale, she entered to see Sabin and Reno talking quietly with a still unconscious Dark Knight upon the wooden floor. The Witch crossed the floor silently, leaving the men at the side of the room, ready to jump in if she needed it.. though she doubt that would be the case. Coming to her knees beside the Knight, she raised the faceplate, showing the pale, beautiful face beneath. Her fingers ghosted over the man's forehead, and she whispered loud enough for the man to hear, "Wake up, Cecil.."

[X Accelerando X]

“You think he’s really, you know, like, a bad guy?”

“I don’t know,” Reno sighed in response to Sabin’s question. They’d returned here, and Yuuko’d sent them right off to this room, telling Locke to stay behind with her. Reno wasn’t too worried about the kid’s safety, since, knowing Yuuko it would probably result in some kind of double-duty on some chore--nothing too serious or world-threatening. So he and Sabin were left to their own devices here in this meditation room or whatever. And Sabin was such a riveting conversationalist that Reno totally lost track of the time. Yeah, right. The conversation had gotten around to their prisoner, if you could call Cecil that, maybe more like a captured spy? Was that the same thing? They hadn’t tied him down or anything, yet at least, so, did it constitute a prisoner or captive if they treated him nicely? And then that question from Sabin that got Reno to thinking. Was this Cecil guy really bad? Sure a person could act really, really well, and seem really sincere, but this Cecil guy seemed the real deal, like a real knight in Not-So-Shiny armor. Yuuko’d get the truth out of him for sure, but somehow, Reno felt that there wouldn’t be much more to learn, at least from asking questions. The guy really did seem to not know where Vincent had taken Tamaki, or, to phrase it better, how to get there.

“It almost sounds like he was taken there against his will. I mean, who goes anywhere but doesn’t know how to get back themselves. That’s like, you kidnapping me, then blindfolding me, making me wear earmuffs and then putting me in a sack, and taking me there. Then, taking me back out the same way, and leaving me for the cops to find, and then having the cops demand for me to tell them how to find you.” When he squared his reasoning out like that, maybe they’d been a bit hard on the guy. It wasn’t his fault that Vincent had ditched him either. It was then an idea struck him. What if Cecil wasn’t to blame at all? What if he had been picked up by Maleficent or Vincent or whoever for just that mission, as a decoy? He’d have to tell Yuuko and Locke his idea--and he didn’t have to wait long, as they came in just a few moments later, Yuuko going straight to Cecil’s side. Sabin watched her go, shifting into a sort of comfortable crouch, as if he were about to spring, which was probably a good idea. All these good thoughts in his head were dandy, but, point was, Cecil still officially worked for the bad-guys, and they had no idea if he was really evil or not like Vincent. They couldn’t risk him trying to bring the place down, and so, he summoned the Keyblade--just to be safe.

At the touch to his forehead, and the sound of his name, Cecil blinked his eyes open and shot into an upright position, stars still fading from his eyes as he tried to focus. What had happened? And, where was he? This was not the mansion he had been in before…

“Ah,” he grimaced, hand going to the back of his head, holding the throbbing area where he’d been struck. That had been a heavy blow from something. Had one of those Hosts knocked him unconscious? Those twins were the likely culprits, considering they had wanted to beat him senseless not a few moments before. As his eyes refocused, he found that he was in some strange room. Seated in the corner, or rather crouching and preparing to attack, was that red-headed child, Reno, and--some very large man that Cecil didn’t recognize. Considering his size, it was very possible that he had been the one to incapacitate him, and Cecil was very grateful to remember his name if that was the case; the man probably could have done a great deal more damage if he had wanted to do so. Blue eyes moved to the woman beside him, and he paused. She seemed vaguely familiar, somehow, but sense of deja-vu left him as his mind registered a sort of weight on his body and, indeed, something within him. He felt heavier, very heavy, nearly to the point where even holding his hand to the back of his head was tiring. The weight was coming from his armor. It had never been this heavy before--quite the contrary; he had selected it for its light weight. Now it was as if he were wearing lead.

“What is this place?” he asked softly, trying to get his bearings, catching movement from Reno as he rose into a stand.

“You’re in Yuuko’s shop,” he said a bit coldly, "And you got a hell of a lot of explaining to do."

[Mssr Miles]

Yuuko gracefully pulled her hand back as she gave Cecil a few moments to orient himself. The man had a bit of a nasty bump to the head, but it hadn't done too much harm. He would probably be rather sore for a time, but it could have been worse if his armour hadn't taken the brunt of the attack. A bit of rest and trying to keep his head from being beaten by big beefy brawlers, and this Cecil would most likely be right as rain. Raising herself to her feet in this room was no issue for Yuuko, and she saw with a twinkle that this Cecil's movements were a little mechanical. She could see the threads attaching themselves to the man's heart, his armour, pulling it towards the floor. The closer he came to the door or the walls, the more intense the sensation would feel, until he was gasping for breath upon the floor. Yuuko could lift the seals to allow him to slip out, of course, and she most likely would... it wasn't her wish to keep people against their will in her house.

"Thank you, Reno," Yuuko smiled cattily back at the spunky red head, holding up her hand to quiet the boy. "We are within a room of my shop and my home, primarily used for meditations.. and keeping things more inclined to the dark," she emphasized this by running a finger over the armour at the man's shoulder, a trail of dark flames springing up after her fingertip, extinguishing almost instantly, her hand falling to her side, "From the rest of the household." Sliding her hands into her sleeves in a relaxed manner, she continued. "Before 'explanations' are expected from my employees, I do believe that full introductions are in order. I believe that you have already met Locke Cole and Reno Valentine?" the woman motioned to each boy in turn. "The large man in the corner over there is Sabin.. and I am Yuuko, esteemed owner of this shop, specializing in wish granting." Not skipping a beat, she continued on before her explanation could be fully thought through properly. It sometimes left people feeling a little unguarded, and it was something that Yuuko always found a little fun to do - not many had heard of her special field.

"I have heard the basics of what has transpired over the last few hours from Locke, and I have heard that a young man, Tamaki, was taken by one of your associates. I have been told that you do not know where he was taken, or where Maleficent's base of operations is situated. I simply ask this - do you know why your Mistress asked you to bring Tamaki to you?" She waited for his reply patiently. She would let the man go after his answer was heard, and he would be free to leave the shop - even if her employees were against such an idea. This was her shop, after all.

--

Maleficent ghosted through the halls, her face holding a slight smirk on her finely crafted face, a slight spring to her heeled step. Things were going rather well for her, she had to admit - even with the loss of Ouran's Keyhole. It was not a large world, and she had claimed the world's Prince, so it was not a complete waste. It was the Hearts that were needed in the long run after all - the worlds just helped to boost her army's numbers... and she was well past the millions, rising daily. She had all the poor souls she could ever need... a perfectly replenishing legion.

Yes, things were running along almost completely on schedule.

Reaching the hallway she needed, she began the long trek into the bowels of the castle, wrinkling her nose slightly as the air became musty as she traveled, picking up an earthy scent the further into the basement levels she traveled. Her breathe clouded in the air before her as she got to the level where the holding facilities were. Rows upon rows of private cells of all shapes and sizes lay unused in her castle, though she knew that a certain row of them will slowly start filling up. It was where the Prince’s and Princess’s would be spending the time until she was ready to harvest their Hearts...

Stopping in front of the cell that was occupied by her newest ‘guest’, she tapped at the bars covering the viewport into the dark hole of a cell. His attention grabbed, the occupant scrambled foreword, somehow still radiant against the bleakness of his situation. Intriguing.. was this due to his pure Heart? Or was it something altogether different? She supposed she would see when more ‘Guests’ came to join this one.

“Lady!” Tamaki cried, looking as if he had suddenly been saved from an awful fate. “Dear, sweet Miss, you have come at the perfe—“ The man paused, his eyes adjusting to the pale green glow of the hallway, noting the way the woman was dressed. “...otaku..?” he asked, and Maleficent raised a slim eyebrow at this. Whatever was the boy talking about..? Did the interplanetary travel jostle his brain a little? “Ah, no, I don’t mean it that way, of course Miss! It’s just fine if you like to dress up and play pretend.” His voice and mannerisms became a little more suggestive. “If I have a little help, I’m sure I can become the master of Otaku-ism..” Seeing the woman not raising a finger to help him, he urged, “Ah, beautiful Miss.. do you think you might open this door between us, so I might gaze up on your beauty in its full, majestic—“

“Silence,” Maleficent commanded with a slight hint of energy to her voice, slamming and locking the young man’s jaw closed quite effectively. The boy looked surprised, and she took advantage of his surprise to say what she wanted to say. “I am Maleficent, Sorceress of this castle. I have asked that you be brought here for a purpose that you will not be informed of. But I can assure you that there is no escaping my Dungeon, and your Heart shall become the tool that will allow me to cover all the worlds in darkness. Feel privileged that you are a part of something so.. noble, Tamaki. This is the last thing you will ever do.” Smiling toothily, she whispered, “I am glad we had this talk.”

Standing up straight, she sauntered from the room, not bothering to take the silencing charm off dear blond Tamaki... It would wear off eventually.

Besides, who was he going to talk to?

[X Accelerando X]

“As I have already told them, miss,” Cecil replied, sounding more or less forlorn about what he was saying, “I cannot say for certain. Before I left, I was nothing but a simple guard. I was brought there--I don’t even remember if it was something I wanted or not, and set to work on patrol. That went on for a few months, and then my lady Maleficent called me in and told me to fetch that young man, Tamaki, and that she required him for something. That is all she would say on the matter.” He brought his knees to his chest slowly, in an attempt to stand, finding it difficult, but not as impossible as it had seemed before. Still, standing eluded him, though that was more from the blow then the magics of the room, so he decided it was better to simply stay seated at this point. Turning his blue eyes up to her, he shook his head apologetically. “I beg your forgiveness in this. I can remember no more, else I would tell you. I can barely recall what my room there looked like anymore.”

He had been told about this--the man in the library, Zexion, had explained during his orientation that each and every member of Maleficent’s band that was not a Heartless had this spell placed on them, for security purposes. That if they were captured it would cloud their minds, blocking information and memories of the place, its location or otherwise, to keep it out of enemy hands. Cecil was certainly in enemy hands at this point, and certainly would have been glad of it, had he not truly wished to help them. His heart was heavy, and not just from the enchantment of the room. He’d brought ruin to that world, and now a young man was lined up for some horrible fate. He wanted to help, however he could, but what was left to him? He had nothing but his memories, and those were quickly fading.

“Look, you have to know something,” Sabin smiled, hoping to make the guy feel a little more comfortable. “Oh and, uh, sorry for, you know, slamming you on the back of the head like that,” he added with a blush. “Just kinda got excited and thought you were a Heartless.” He blinked, “Oh, wait, right!” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small, ovoid mirror. “You dropped this when I hit you, I guess. It doesn’t look like it’s been broken or anything, so I think it’s--”

“That mirror!” Cecil exclaimed, half-crawling to the object held out to him, taking it from Sabin. “Maleficent gave this to me before she had me leave. I could contact her using this.” He turned around again, managing with some slight help from Sabin to get to his feet. It was the perfect thing. Yuuko had said that this room bound those things that are associated with the dark. If that was the case, then he would need to remove this armor--but he could not. She said she granted wishes. Perhaps she could…? He frowned inwardly, shaking his head. No, no he could not ask that of her. Even if she could, this armor, this darkness, had brought him to sin, and he needed to atone for that. “I have heard you made deals,” Cecil said quietly, looking at the mirror in his hand. “Zexion, a man that was the librarian within Maleficent’s keep, said that you and my lad- Maleficent do not like each other with any sort of fondness, and that you can indeed grant wishes for the right price.” He swallowed hard, then held the mirror up. This felt slightly wrong, since he did indeed wish to help, but--if he could learn even a little about this armor, how to get rid of it, then--

“I have a wish then. I wish to know what I must do to remove this armor. Please, tell me all that this mirror will afford, and it is yours to do with as you please.”

[Mssr Miles]

Yuuko’s features kept neutral as she listened to this Cecil’s story, though her thoughts were flitting this way and that, making connections that she had previously only had suspicions and good guesses. It had been a good long time since she had a pawn of the Sorceress Maleficent in her hands... and the last had been on the verge of death. It was interesting to see that Maleficent was... kinder, on those who escaped her grasp these days... Perhaps she had too many deserters? Or perhaps she had wised up, and realized that killing the ones who she deemed too weak would end with her having no little pawns to push around? Hmm... perhaps the woman had taken more of Yuuko’s words to heart then she had in their last visit... Now wasn’t that just something.

This man before her – this Cecil.. he was not an unkind man. In fact, she could feel that he would be very kind, and an extremely protective companion if the man could only put the darkness that swam in his heart at bay... A smile splayed across her face as she watched the man’s face. It seemed as if Cecil had come to a decision...

The mirror was held out to her as payment to the wish she just heard, and she eyed it for a moment with a raised brow. Ahh, a simple communication device! A fine addition to her collection of strange and random things from across all the worlds... and in exchange, he wished information as to how to remove the dark armour. A fair trade, Yuuko mused – a mere trinket that would be useful to her, for a mere sentence that would be useful to him.

“Your wish has been heard, and the offering is adequate,” she announced, taking the mirror from the man’s hands, passing it off to Sabin, asking him to take the item to the storage room – she would play with the item later, of course. Her dark gaze swam back towards Cecil’s own crystalline eyes, her face serious, and the line of her shoulders profound. She was pausing for effect, of course – what was her job without a little bit of theatrics? Put people on edge around her, and she found them much more fun to deal with, if that was the case...

Her body language became, quite suddenly, friendly, and she threw a look over to where Reno and Locke were still standing. “Follow the Keybearer – you’ll figure it out,” she said, nodding the two boys towards the center of the room. “That being said, it is time for another job, boys...” She waited for a moment as Reno and Locke positioned themselves near Cecil – but not too near. The Dark Knight would have his work set out before him if he wished to gain the two’s trust... “A group calling themselves ‘The Returners’ are calling for aid in protecting the town they are currently based within – and their leader has already given me his payment. Don’t mess this up, alright kids?” She smiled, drawing together the necessary energy to throw these three to the correct world.

“But, how—“

“I will know when you are finished your task, Locke,” she stated, the magic circle appearing on the floor around them, wind whipping this way and that. She would have preferred to do this outside, but with Cecil trapped in this room because of his armour, all she could do was throw them to another world. “Ah, yes... and don’t trust the clowns,” she said in way of a goodbye, confusing the holy hell out of all of them, most likely... and then the room was empty.

Sabin returned from his task of dropping the mirror off, and he offered to clean up the room, which she smiled and nodded, watching the man thoughtfully as he went to work. Sabin Rene Figaro, crown Prince of an arid kingdom... Yuuko wondered what he would do if he knew that he had paid off his debt long before... and the only thing that had kept him in her service for so long were his brothers bargaining’s with her – the remaining Returner’s cooperation with keeping the Heartless at bay on several worlds in exchange for her protection of Sabin. Their deal was coming to an end soon, though... and soon she would have to send Sabin to where his brother was, as per the blond monk’s request. She knew she would be setting the worlds down a dark path once it was done, and she also knew that as she was, bound by her own laws – there was nothing that she could do to stop it.

She sent a small, sad smile at the man’s strong back, as he put the alter in the room back to the way it should be before she strode out of the room, her face schooled to look as neutral as it ever was. “Ah, Sabin... I do believe I would like to have my tea in the yard – could you prepare such a thing?”

--

Locke blinked, looking around the alleyway they were in... Yuuko hadn’t given them much information about this place – just a name of the people who needed their help, and the fact that they would be fighting the Heartless... and what was that last part? Something about clowns? Yeah, he was a little confused.

His gaze slid towards Cecil, the man that Yuuko had told him to keep an eye on, then towards Reno. They’d need to find the people they were suppose to work for, and knowing Yuuko’s teleportation skills or whatever they were, they would probably have to walk a little bit and do a little searching to find out where they were suppose to be... “Well, this’ll be fun..” he mumbled, scratching at his bruised neck, before asking Reno, “Which way should we go?”

[X Accelerando X]

Something was bothering Miss Yuuko, that was obvious. It wasn’t her face, or maybe it was--maybe it was just Sabin being paranoid, or whatever, but she was bothered by something, and it made him feel a bit of angst. The woman was his employer, sure, but he considered her a friend, despite all of her ‘abuse’, and it made him sad to see her bothered. She had enough on her plate without having something really troublesome to fret over, but how could he say so to her? She would just laugh and dismiss it, and probably give him some silly chore to do to try and make him forget about it. He wanted to help though in a real way, not just doing odd jobs. She’d saved his life, gave him a home and a job to do instead of lying around doing nothing. He owed her a lot, and sure he could work off that debt for things like room and board, but--he wanted to make up for the other things that were a little less material. Giving him hope that his brother was alive, and teaching him a lot about himself, about how the heart works, and teaching him what he could do to make things better for everyone, not just himself and his brother. He would ask her about it, and he wasn’t going to give up until she told him, even if she gave him the worst chore she could conjure. He was going to learn what was bothering her, or die trying--hopefully it wouldn’t take that much.

Plodding after her as she requested tea, he went to the kitchen to prepare the tea and set it to boil, before moving outside to set up the table and chair for his ‘Boss’. He did this all silently, smiling his best smile, hoping to cheer her up, whistling a jaunty tune and then returning inside to fetch the tea and cup for her. Coming back outside quickly, the large monk set the things on the table and looked to her as he pulled out her chair for her to sit. “Miss Yuuko, you, uh, feelin’ alright?” he asked, giving her an uncertain glance. “You seem a bit--not yourself. Everything okay?”

=======================

“This is a brilliant idea, sir!” the diminutive jester snickered, laughing into its over-sized blue sleeve, beady eyes and pointed nose turned upward at his much-taller leader. "You put the mumbler to good use!"

“Sir, a brilliant idea this is!” remarked his red companion, mimicking the first of the pair, reflecting his pose perfectly. "Put the mumbler to good use, you did!" Their voices even sounded the same, and for some reason that only served to annoy their tempramental leader. Never a good idea, especially when he was already in a foul mood. Still, at least he could take consolation in knowing that he was making someone suffer, namely Maleficent's little 'play-boy' Bencent or Lestat or whatever his name was. He hated him just from that first moment, and he was completely content with making the stupid mumbling 'emo' as miserable as he could. He'd give him a real reason to sulk! And he hadn't said a word since this whole thing started! How wonderful his idea was, and so funny too! Despite the scowl in his eyes, his painted lips were still turned ever-upward into a cruel grin, which parted every now and then in a snide chuckle.

"You'll really get the girls now, Pretty-Boy!" Kefka cackled into the back of his hand, nearly twirling around the thoroughly humiliated Vincent Valentine. "Too bad they can't see your face! Oh well, no use having you trying to suck up all the attention when my beautiful visage is so much more amazing! KWAHOHOHO!"

That laugh. That damnable laugh. Were it not for Maleficent's explicit orders to aid this clown, Vincent would have liked nothing better then to strangle the insane, cackling would-be mage and his tiny imp cohorts where they stood. As it was, however, it was hard to grab anything dressed as he was--the pawed gloves saw to that. And it was hot as hell in the costume too, something that Vincent did not appreciate. He would kill the clown, one way or another--He was stuck with him until they found Seifer...And then he would leave. Kefka was enough of an a** on his own, he didn't need to humiliate Vincent any further. But then there was the matter of those princes that he was supposed to track down. Dammit! How the hell was he supposed to do that when he looked like a--

"Hey, look, some kind of circus!"

"Reno, I realize that I am not your guardian, but I think we should try to remain on task."

Vincent's eyes widened as he heard voices--two he recognized without a second thought. What were they doing here!? Reno and Cecil? Vincent wheeled around as best he could without toppling over from the weight of the costume he was in to see his brother rushing forward, Locke in tow by the elbow. Reno had always had a thing for circuses. Their father had taken them once, when there was one in town for Reno's fifth birthday. Seifer had been there too and--well, it seemed that Reno simply never grew out of it. There was a certain sense of bitterness as Vincent recalled that, and then considered very coldly that Reno wouldn't remember that moment they had spent as a family. Damn him...and Locke too. They would both pay. And then there was Cecil, looking a complete idiot and utterly out of place. The traitor would have to be recovered, as Maleficent had suggested, and Vincent knew how to do it. Now was not the time. His plate was full enough, between babysitting Kefka, and looking for three different Princes of Heart. For the moment, he could only stand by as his brother ran up with a stupid look on his face.

"Heh, sorry for you luck, pal," Reno snickered at the giant Cait Sith mascot, the large head wobbling slightly as he threw his arm around the mascot. "Gotta be sweltering in there, huh? Get ya a drink later, 'kay?" he laughed. Man he loved the circus. He had always dreamed of being a lion tamer when he was a kid, or maybe an acrobat. That would have been the best damn job ever! He looked to the rest of the 'troup' noting how small it was. Three clowns and a mascot? That it?

"This is not like any circus I have ever seen," Cecil pointed out quietly, his voice hesitant. He felt awkward, being thrust so suddenly onto these two, and he really, deep down, did not want to stay near them. It was not that he did not like them, he barely knew them--but how could he stay around them without things being difficult? They could not trust him, but he needed them all the same. He felt as if he were almost using them to solve his own problems, something he did not want. He had kept his wish simple for just such a reason, and now he was a burden on someone else. He bowed his head, wishing he were anywhere else at the moment.

"We are simply passing out fliers!" the blue jester, Zorn, tittered, hopping forward, belled-hat jingling with every frolicking step, shoving a piece of paper into the red-head's hand.

"Passing out flier, we simply are!" Thorn echoed, forcing a similar sheet into Locke's.

"The greatest show on this or any world..." Vincent's muffled voice sighed from behind the head, Kefka's pointed elbow shoving into his sighed when he tried to ignore his cue. Thankfully, the mask disguised his tone enough to keep him from being recognizable, even to Cecil, and, hopefully, Locke. His flat tone continued, as he passed a balloon to Cecil with utter disdain. "Be sure you do not miss it."

"Or you'll be sorry~!" Kefka cackled, letting loose another high-pitched laugh. "It starts soon! Be sure to come early to get your tickets, boys! Bring your friends! Anyone and everyone! Any siblings or Princes or poor people! Anyone!" The manic man danced around a moment, then, in a brief lapse of his demeanor, his eyes fell on Locke, and recognition became all too obvious.

Locke Cole. The little mental case he'd shipped off to some Odin-forsaken world right before his hostile take-over! What the devil was he doing here? It barely mattered, he would destroy him soon anyway, but still, the little brat was here, of all places! Then he remembered--that little brat was the Key-Bearer! of all things, the one that actually was a threat to Maleficent! if only he'd known, he would have brainwashed the little bugger and sicked him on the old witch first thing! Oh, he was so being brainwashed now!

"You should definitely come," he grinned, leaning down imperiously over Locke, eyes centered with diabolic intentions on the boy. "You'd especially enjoy the show, I can tell! Be sure to come! Don't miss it! Not for ANYTHING!" Another cackle and Kefka turned, trotting off with his 'entourage' following behind, the Cait Sith plodding along, giving the air that he would have rather been doing anything else. Reno shrugged, looking to Locke with a weird-ed out glance,

"Yeah, uh, Locke? What the hell was that about?"

[Mssr Miles]

The woman took a small walk around the yard as Sabin was preparing the water for the beverage. The flowers were budding in the trees, and she reached a delicate finger up to brush against one of the buds. It reminded her of Reno - so much potential built into such a small package, but a single spring frost could prevent him from ever reaching where he was meant to reach... He needed to find his mild summer days before it was too late, or he would fall. She could see the tiny spark, the string that tied the two together... and it was strengthening each hour they spent with each other. If they could realize it for themselves before it was too late... well, it would help Reno not to fall before the darkness that would be sweeping the lands before long. A darkness more powerful and terrifying then Maleficent could ever manage... A Prince among the Darkness – it was a terrifying thought.

How long would the worlds survive once Chaos rose?

Seeing that Sabin was finished the preparations, she walked to the seat he was offering, sitting herself, leaning back with a sigh. She smiled gently as she went about her usual routine, fixing herself a cup of tea from the things the blond monk had set out, thinking upon his inquiry. Raising the cup to her lips, she inhaled deeply, the aroma of the calming camomile tea filled her senses, before she took a tiny sip. The warmth of the tea filled her, though it could not chase away the chill of the darkness of her thoughts just moments before. Keeping the cup in her hands, her gaze slipped to Sabin, asking simply, “Why would you think that I was not alright, Sabin?”

--

Locke spotted the group of performers when Reno pointed them out, and his eyes swept around the strange assembled group. He was just going to walk on by the strange group of people, they were obviously not the people they were suppose to help, so they had to keep going and get the job done quickly for Miss Yuuko, right? Cecil thought so too, it seemed... But as soon as Reno had seen them, the guy’s face had lit up like a kid’s on Christmas morning – how could the blond kid say no to a face like that? He hadn’t looked that happy since the Island, really... And c’mon, it wasn’t like Reno would have listened to Locke if he said they should get going. The guy was kind of stronger then he was, and he was dragging him towards the group, so... not like he could have done anything to get him to go anyway. So might as well go with the flow, right?

He sent the mascot an apologetic look as Reno slung his arm around the person in the suit. Poor guy, getting manhandled by a random passerby... Though, that was probably part of the job normally, so as long as he got paid well...?

As Cecil spoke, Locke looked towards him and had to agree – it was a very small group of people. He didn’t miss the awkwardness that filled the man’s voice, either. Yeah, Cecil was probably feeling pretty weird right now.. He had been on the baddies side less than an hour and a bit ago, and now he was traveling around with Reno and Locke like nothing had happened... Locke was more than a little weary, but he figured that Miss Yuuko wouldn’t send a guy along that was dangerous, right? Speaking of Miss Yuuko, she had said to beware the clowns...

He was shocked out of his thoughts as the flyer was pushed into his grasp, and he looked over the piece of colourful paper, a rather bright smile on his face. The little jesters were kind of cute... The way they moved together, spoke together – it was pretty impressive, really, and he wondered just how long it had taken them to become so coordinated, or if it came naturally. The mascot was funny looking, and then the last guy... Well, he was familiar in his creepiness, and that was terrifying.

Though, the way the guy was suddenly looking at him now, like he knew him or something crazy like that, was even scarier... Worse than that Nekozawa, because Locke knew that guy meant no harm... But this guy just gave off something of a dangerous vibe. And what was worse? Locke felt like he had heard that voice before... Especially that laugh. Good gods, that laugh was so familiar...

When the man leaned down over him, being seriously creepy-like and getting waaaay too close, Locke edged back half a step, trying not to show how uncomfortable he was feeling. The boy didn’t even have a chance to answer the weird clown’s before he cackled and turned away, striding along with his little group of mascots and jesters down the street and away from their little group.

The moment Reno asked his question, something clicked in the boy’s mind and Locke remembered where he had heard that laugh. The face, covered in clown makeup but still the right shape, the strange way of speaking, the weird fixation on him...

“No fukkin way...” he murmured, looking down at the pamphlet, back towards the end of the road and then back to look at Reno. “I.. I think that was my school councillor... I mean, Mister Palazzo must’ve gone crazy, but...” Locke’s face turned from recognition to a frown. “He’s the a** that convinced my parents to ship me off to Destiny...” The boy shook his head, pulling his lower lip into his mouth, chewing on it as he thought. If Mister Palazzo was here – even if he had gone bat-s**t crazy – it meant that what Sabin had said was correct, right? Balance was... gone. His parents were gone, and – no. No thinking, Locke. Maybe if he went and talked to Mister Palazzo... asked him if he got off of Balance with anyone else... Maybe his parents had ended up here, like the councillor had! It was worth a shot. “This thing doesn’t start ‘til later, and I kind of want to go and ask him a few things... Can we go after we find these Returners?” His eyes were a little wide, almost pleading, and they swam from Reno, to Cecil and back again. If they said no, he’d go anyway by himself later... no need for everyone to go if they didn’t all want to go, but he really needed to ask the guy if he knew anything... Balance was his home, and if there was a chance that his mum and dad were still alive... Well, he couldn’t pass that up.

[X Accelerando X]

Sabin blushed when he was actually asked about his reasoning, and suddenly his actualy thoughts sort of disappearer--or at least they suddenly seemed a little silly. It was Yuuko they were talking about here, and did anything ever really bother the woman? But no, something was bothering her, he could see it even now in her posture. She just seemed bothered, and it really only was a hunch, but how could he say that without being laughed off by the lady? He sighed, shaking his head as he took a spot next to her, kneeling down to get on a more even view with her, before finally speaking his mind. "Well--you see, the thing is, you just--well, you seem like something's bothering you. It's just a hunch, but--well, ever since the kids left with Cecil, you seemed sorta down, you know? Like, something's on your mind. I--I know it's not really any of my business, but I meant, well, that I just worry about you, miss Yuuko," he offered, turning his bright eyes up to her, hesitatn about exactly what he should do in this sort of situation. He wanted to put a hand on her shoulder, but that was rude, right? He was a 'touchy-feely' sort of person, as his brother had called him once, but he knew not everyone else was, especially ladies, as he had learned with Celes. But he wanted to show that he was there to support her all the same...This was why he hated manners sometimes.

"It's just, well, the thing is--People are always comin' to you and asking you to grant their wishes and everything, and you charge them whatever you think is a fair price, but, I mean, that's your job, right? But, does anyone ever--I mean, has anyone ever, you know, asked you what you wanted? Like a wish, I mean? I know that I'm only mortal an' all, and not some powerful witch, er, mage, but--well, if there was some kind of wish, you know--I would like to help, you know? 'Cause, you've done a lot for me, and I just want to--well, I want to really help you out too."

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

Reno blinked, not quite sure he understood what he was hearing. That clown-guy was Locke's ex-counselor? Like, seriously? And his parents actually listened to what he told them? How the hell did that work, exactly? I mean, the guy was obviously off his rocker, unless maybe he hadn't always acted like that, but--well, come on, anyone who laughed like that was obviously crazy. And Locke wanted to see this guy again!? It didn't matter what he wanted to ask him, there was no way in hell that Reno'd want to get near a guy like that if he were in Locke's place. Still, he wanted to talk to him, and Reno did want to see the whole circus, so he didn't see why not. Even so, he wasn't about to let Locke see the guy on his own, regardless of how well he may have known him--and judging by the tone of voice and word choice, Locke knew the guy well enough to be pretty pissed with him. "Sure, I guess we could," the red-head shrugged, green eyes watching the garish clown vanish in the crowd. "Though, dunno why you would want to, the guy's pretty creepy. But hey, whatever, I don't really care."

"Perhaps we should focus, as Locke said, our attentions on finding the Returners. They may know more about this 'Mr. Palazzo'," Cecil offered. The name was familiar, though Cecil could not decide why. Had he worked for Maleficent? Maybe--but he didn't want to get the boys all upset over nothing. They may not even see him ever again anyway, so unless it came up, there was truly no need to fret over it too greatly. They did have other things to focus upon that were of a graver importance then learning whatever Locke hoped to ask of this clown (though Cecil felt bad about that thought afterwards). It was obviously very important to Locke if he was willing to face down the strange man, and since they were being merciful enough to take him along in the first place, then he needed to be a bit more understanding of their needs--he was following them after all. But what was he supposed to be looking for, and for how long was he to be following these boys? He could obviously be of some help, but his powers were derived of Darkness, just as the Heartless were; how much damage could he truly hope to offer them as he was now? Bowing his head, for a moment, he did his best to focus his thoughts. Such negative things would not help them. He needed to remain on task, if only to help--he was older then them both, and it was his responsibility to see them safe as best he could manage.

"If these Returners are well-known, then it should not take us too long to locate them. Might I suggest that we ask around town for--"

"Shadow back!"

The cry was loud and coming over just about every person in the crowd, as Cecil was suddenly thrown to the ground by a blur of hair and clothes rushed into the group, crashing into Cecil and sending him sprawling on the ground. "Shadow back! Shadow back!"

"What the hell!?" Reno gawked as the boy (Reno could only assume it was a human kid), jumped up and and down on Cecil's back with glee. Reno hadn't quite seen anyone like this guy, but then, Reno wasn't used to traversing the worlds either. The kid was on all fours, like an animal. His hair was a dirty blond and a tangled mess, pulled into a make-shift ponytail. Dressed in a scarf and a some weird, flower-print puffy shorts, he just looked like a kid with bad fashion sense and a worse back. But the pointed ears and sharp teeth made Reno think otherwise on that notion.

"Gau find Shadow! Shadow-friend! FRIEND!"

"Hey, get off of Cecil!" Reno barked, pulling the youth off the dark knight, who had apparently given up on even trying to stand, since the world had decided to simply keep knocking him down. The man got to his feet as the boy-thing looked up at him, confused.

"Cecil-Shadow? Not Shadow," he decided, nodding. "Not-Shadow. Not-Shadow go away!" He stomped his hand (Reno didn't know you COULD stomp your hand), and then looked at Locke and Reno. "Smell funny. Not friends! Go away from here! AWAY!"

"Jeeze, okay, okay!" Reno snapped back, grabbing Locke's elbow and turning to leave. "What the hell's your problem? This ain't your city! Let's get out of there, Locke." The kid creeped him out, like, a lot. He wasn't normal, almost like some wild-kid or, what were they called?

"He appears to be some manner of feral child," Cecil pointed out quietly, dusting himself off, "I do not blame him for his behavior. I would imagine I look like this 'Shadow' person, so--"

"Food?" the boy asked again, biting his lip, looking at Cecil very pointedly. "Not-Shadow have food?"

"And apparently he has mood swings too," Reno sighed, shaking his head. Damn this place was weird--freaky-a** clowns, wild kids...what next? Girl pirates and an undercover king? "Look, don't feed the animals, right? Let's just get out of here."

"But he is hungry," Cecil answered, his tone sounding very sympathetic. "And it would only be right to give him something if he needed it. We cannot overlook a need." Kneeling before the boy, Cecil reached into the rations pouch on his waist and withdrew a bit of dried meat, offering it out to the other. "This is all I have, I am afraid." The boy didn't seem to mind since he snatched it easily, just about taking Cecil's fingers with it as he did, gobbling it down quickly.

"Friend share food! Not-Shadow is Gau's friend! Friend!"

"Ah, yes, I suppose--"

"FRIEND!"