|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 10:23 pm
'Dancer in the Dark'
She stayed standing out of the light, finding more comfort in the shadows. Even as Rage circled her, she shivered-- it felt like being stalked by a predator almost. But she calmly told herself Rage meant her no harm-- that Sakura, wouldn't hurt her. Not like this, not outside of a fight. Even through the ordeals of the past month, she held out some optimism in the name of friendship.
'Dancer in the Dark'
Things I shouldn't remember--
He circled and she could tell he was anxious. Hungry for something-- was he looking for answers from her as much as she was from him? She didn't know. She knew that Rage wasn't a person from Sierra's past---
'Dancer in the Dark'
--- by my hands, but not and yet, it won't stop ---
But what if they really were the same? She didn't know if he was created like she was, but his missing past, the turmoil within himself echoed her own.
--- Trapped... Powerless.... Stuck in a past that doesn't belong to me!
'Dancer in the Dark'
The last words died away, and instinctively her hand hit the << button. And the song started over.
Rage stepped forward into the light even as she took a step back, retreating into the shadow as the sunlight advanced, sweeping across the floor as the sun rose.
No... No... there has to be something... a way to break free!
"What are you saying Ra-- Alexander?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:15 am
You're going against everything your team told you.
They lied to me.
You can't keep this up, you'll be the one to break her!
No worse than them doing it.
You'll be JUST LIKE THEM!!
But I'm giving her...
"... a choice."
Legend of the Dragon King
The Heaven or Hell Tournament
Bonus OVA - Revolutions and Revelations He hadn't meant to scare her. But he had to use the shadows to his advantage, to put the thoughts into her head. No matter who he asked or how, the questions were dodged, the answers fabricated, the web of lies growing larger and thicker with each passing day. And at the center of it all was Teira. He got the feeling he was treading on ground he shouldn't be. Or rather... ... that someone didn't want him to. "I'm saying that I want the answers to these questions just as much as you do." He pulled out a chair at a nearby table, standing behind it with his hands on the sides - an invitation for her to sit down. Maybe it was because he felt bad about the way he had acted before? "I think we've both had the truth hidden from us, and frankly, I just want to get to the bottom of things. Maybe I can help you. But only if you want me to." He knew the pain that Teira was going through. The suffering of being cut off from something so essential. What he had done to others, to himself... he locked it away. Had Teira done the same? Or did someone else do it for her...? He simply couldn't get that name out of his head, the one she kept using.... Nii-chan....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:26 pm
'The Light has been gone
Far to long from your eyes'
"A choice?"
She repeated the word softly and looked at him skeptically, trying to see ahead of where they were to where he was headed with this. She trusted Rage to some degree. But she'd been given so many choices this week that weren't really choices at all-- she could only hope this wasn't another of the same.
Sunstrike.
GUARDIAN.
Vahn.
'But you never changed
Never played your part'
They didn't care about her... they didn't want her. They wanted someone else. Someone she couldn't be.
Someone she WOULDN'T be.
'Nii-chan... why can't they just accept me for what I am and not who they want me to be?'
She looked at the chair he pulled out, and gathered her courage. Crossing over to accept the seat and seating herself gracefully. She cast him a smile of thanks for pulling the chair out for her and offering the seat to begin with. Living with Walter and Maximos taught her appreciation for such gentlemanly acts.
She listened to what he said.
She listened hard and then licked her lips as she put bits and pieces together.
"Alexander--?
Is that what you want me to call you? Or would you rather Rage? Anyway... please don't take this the wrong way... but why are you here? At Heaven or Hell? And WHY--
Why are you with HIM? Did Vahn ask you to talk to me?"
Vahn. She'd gone the whole tournament without seeing him. That is until he broke into her room and confronted her. Making demands that she was unwilling to comply with.
Her hand reflexively lifted to her cheek, touching where Vahn had struck her. The flesh was smooth and perfect. But the memory of the blood in her mouth, the swollen and bruised cheek-- that was fresh.
She'd learned before that, that her teammates were working with GUARDIAN-- were Vahn's teammates working with him for the same end?
She didn't know Athan...
But the thought of Sakura and Kael making friends with her just because it was their job, left a bitter taste in her mouth and a tightness in her chest.
Was the man before her now, with her? On her side? Or was he just pretending like all the others? She wasn't sure... but she'd find out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:46 pm
When Teira finished talking, Rage let out a snort that he tried to control; but instead, he burst out into a full-blown laugh. "Vahn didn't even tell me why I was even in this damned tournament, let alone ask me to talk to you!" He sat down in a chair at the same table, close to Teira but not enough to be uncomfortable.
He had that sort of residual smile on his face that lingers even when you're trying to be serious once again. "I'm sorry... no, no. I came here of my own free will, which is something that I hope to always have. To be honest, I came to this tournament for my own reasons. I didn't know what the rest of them were planning, and I considered leaving the team altogether when I heard what they were trying to do."
He let out a sigh, still seeming to avoid Teira's eyes. "As twisted as it is, I needed them to fulfill my own goals. I don't think that makes me any better... but if you want to hate me for that, so be it. I'm a pretty simple man. I don't have any grand plots or great ideas, and I try not to use people. I just want to help. But even I need to be able to help myself sometimes, right?"
Finally, his brown eyes locked on hers, a hand pushing away several green strands of hair. "Axel... Alexander... Rage... they're synonymous now. Who I was doesn't matter anymore. It's who I am now that's important."
Have you no sense of the greater good?
I do what I think is right.
You are the lassssst ssstep in their p-p-p-planssss. Would you dare go againssst your t-t-t-teamatessss?
And nothing's going to stop me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:41 pm
She smiled and waved her hand in a flippant gesture.
"That's okay-- he didn't come see me until he decided to declare he was going to erase me. Because he loves me."
She laughed and it was as if she were choking on the bitter irony.
"That's not love... love... you're supposed to accept people for who they are... not try and force them to change right? I mean-- I might not know a lot about it but-- He-- NO. He doesn't love me. No, no. He loves HER. He wants me to be something I cannot be for him... Even still... You think he could have spent some time with me-- something more than, I will destroy you because I love you. I mean-- what kind of line is that, REALLY."
She joked, and jested-- But it hurt.
And that hurt turned to anger.
Anger was good, anger gave her drive. It made her strong and it kept her warm. She wrapped that anger around herself like a security blanket as she she smiled at Rage, steeling herself.
'Rage it is then.'
It seemed appropriate. That she would use her anger, her RAGE to see her through. His very name sake would be her strength.
It would cost her a lot to ask this question, let alone bear the weight of the answer,
'And you have erased
All the fear from your heart'
"I don't hate you Rage. I... I appreciate, that you're the first to have been honest with me. I must ask though-- that you lend me your honesty in telling me...
....What is it they plan? And how bad is it going to be-- when I don't cooperate?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:17 am
"What kind of line is that, REALLY."A little smirk appeared on Rage's face even as he leaned back in his chair, his arms coming up over his head and forming something of a cross. "When I first met Elvidnir, it was in one of the darkest periods of my life. I was possessed... corrupted by my own past, too stubborn to do anything about it. To stubborn to fight it. I had friends I could have talked to, who might have known a way to help me... instead, I betrayed them." He shifted forward, his chair clanking against the stone floor beneath and his elbows shifting to a resting position on the table. "Called them all out to some God-forsaken hill to see which one of them would falter. I thought maybe I could beat it, though I could break the very thing that had broken me. "Turns out I was wrong." He began to lean back again, this time pressing his feet up against the large central foot of the table for balance, rocking back and forth. "But things have a habit of changing. See, the corruption tried to get me to harm the one person I loved more than anyone else." The way he moved his hand suggested that it might have been subconscious, but his left fist moved to his chest, near his heart. "It tried to make me harm Elvidnir." SLAM.He came down hard on the chair, his fists slamming into the table almost simultaneously.
"That's NOT what love is."
Almost as quickly, he went back to rocking back and forth. "... I stabbed myself. Nearly died. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I've come to embrace it. The thing is, if it weren't for her...." He finally stopped rocking, gently letting his chair back down so he could sit normally for once. His thoughts overwhelmed him, but he couldn't bring himself to say it - not now.
... I'd still just be Rage.
"But... you had other questions. Sorry if I got a little off-topic there." Back came the warm, inviting smile, as if his diatribe had never happened. Were his eyes shimmering....? "I don't quite know what it is that they're planning. From what I can tell they want to... well, they want Sierra. I have to admit, I saw it, too, when I fought you at the Ironworks. I underestimated you, but that hardly matters now. There are larger forces at work besides this damned tournament, and I think both of us have been played for chumps. I just don't know what it means yet - why they want Sierra, or to what lengths they're willing to go through to get to her." His left arm seemed to be spasming involuntarily even as he stood. A nervous twitch, perhaps? Regardless, there was a certain flair to his eyes that wasn't there before. "What happens...." "... when you don't cooperate, huh?"
Vahn.
That little grin grew into a devilish smile.
"... let me tell you something."
Vincent.
She was no Elvidnir, but she gave him a reason to fight again. A reason for Alexander to live up to his name. And he made a promise that he'd keep going until he could look into those green eyes one last time. Not gods nor demons nor even death would stop him.
"It's gonna be a blast."
... nii-chan...
He held out his right hand, seemingly asking for her to take it. Warm as it was from his own heat, he knew a thing or two about Teira. What she could do. What she was capable of.
"Think you can handle it, partner?"
You want her? You gotta get through me first.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 11:25 pm
'And tried to forget--'
As Rage recounted his past, Teira had glimpses of Sierra's past and worse yet of Ra'kar's. While Teira was born of Sierra and not the demoness-- The two were symbiotic. Two sides of the same coin. One couldn't exist without the other and so-- where she had memories of one. She had memories of the other for their memories were something that had always been shared between them.
She'd been doing her best to push the bloodier memories from her mind. The horrors were-- Well after her nightmare last night, they felt realer than ever.
She shuddered, even as she kept her ears open.
"You don't have to apologize, I understand."
If she noticed the unshed tears, she was too polite to make any outward notice of it. Just as he'd been kind enough not to make mention of her own burning eyes.
"The light in your eyes is fading out
Nights falling deeper in the heart
Hiding the truth and crashing down
My baby's a dancer in the dark"
"When I first awoke-- the first thing I learned, or rather knew, like it was just a natural part of me.... was the art of combat. My Nii-chan saw it too. That it's who and what I am, a warrior. It is my purpose. He fought with me many nights, drilling me, driving me harder and harder to sharpen those skills before I came here. I would be a disappointment to him had I not surprised you... but even so, I am pleased, that you found me a challenge."
She smiled that smile you give a friend. But it wasn't just a friendly smile, it held the edge of challenge. It had an air of competitiveness and rivalry, yet it was still on the friendly side of the fence.
They were two very passionate people. Both of them existing of fire.
To have them teamed up, and that passion driving them, backed by a rahing inferno-- they would be a powerful force to be reckoned with. They were strong. Together they were stronger.
She held out her hand to him to shake as she returned that devilish grin, her eyes flashing with something more than her earlier sorrow. But almost an eagerness for the fight they were going to face, driven by her anger.
"Oh I can handle it? Can you keep up?"
She said with that competitive tone. They would keep each other going, pushing harder because neither of them would allow the other to get ahead, or be left behind.
'You've seen it all
You don't mind going blind'
"But in regards to Sierra-- I'm told it has to do with her demon counterpart. Ra'kar-- and if Vahn's little visit was any indication, he'll stop at nothing. Tch..."
Her free hand went to her cheek and her grin turned into something that promised pain--
"But we're not nothing-- and I owe him a busted face."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 12:08 am
Teira's story spoke volumes to Rage as to just what was going on and why; although she may not have known it, she had explained quite a bit with just a few words. Even though he couldn't put the puzzle together, he felt like more and more of the pieces were starting to come into play. He didn't need the entire thing to see what the picture was... he just had to figure things out.... He stretched out his arms above his head, letting out a small yawn. "A challenge, yes... but we'll just see what happens next year. Sakura's good at what she does, but Rage is the better trained of the two." As if to emphasize this fact, he flexed his left arm. Although not a musclebound person, he had at least some definition when he bothered to show it. "Really, though, this might need to be something that's kept between us." Both of them had been lied to during the course of this tournament. They had been deceived for some grand game of cat and mouse... what difference did it make if they dreamed a little scheme of their own? Rage was never much of a planner, but sometimes the best way to hide things was in plain site. And if that didn't work, cut out their eyes so they can't see it. He had discovered a certain level of friendship with people that he had met or re-met during the course of Heaven or Hell. Enemies had become friends, but when all this was over, would old rivalries be rekindled by the fire burning in Rage's heart? Together, Teira and Rage made a unique team. One trying to burn away the remnants of the past, the other trying to light his way to just what his history meant. "It's funny... here I was entering this tournament almost concerned about how well I'd do. I wanted to win more than anything, not only to push myself to as far as I could go, but to break through that. To see what I could do beyond that. I wanted to get my name out there, in case the one I was looking for was still looking for me after all this time." His eyes met with Teira's again. "... I never thought I'd find an ally." And a rival."But I can't stop now. To someone out there, I'm a hero, and a true hero never dies." Green Eyes, wait for me a little longer."For now, though, I guess it's just the two of us against the world."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:31 pm
((From the Dead Forest, with whoever decided to come in tow.))
From the thick trees of the forest to the sandy beaches of Gambino, it was safe to say that it was a refreshing difference for most, if not all of the passengers on the back of the red dragon that had brought the lot of them here. The smell of burning foliage and the decay of the forest was behind them, replaced with a pleasant (if not salty) sea breeze that had a way of hitting you so hard that you'd swear that your nose was bleeding.
And it was to the stone building just a few yards away that was the high point of the beach it sat on. Whoever said that the foolish man built his house on the sand may have been right; there were still dwarfs here and there patching up the outside and inside, although those who had followed the recent Heaven or Hell tournament from the beginning would take note that this was the place that had been destroyed in the first round, much to it's owner's chagrin.
As soon as the great beast landed, Rage hopped off onto the sand, his legs nearly buckling underneath him. Still, he managed to stay standing, sweeping a hand towards the building behind him. "Welcome to the first and only stop on our trip, the Firebrand Tavern. Please make sure you take all your carry-on luggage with you. We hope you've enjoyed your flight."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:09 am
"Ahhhh...salvation..."
A Kon clung to the soaring dragon, he could feel the change of scenery as they left the dank forest and made their way to the tranquil Gambino Island. It was unlike anything the modsoul had experienced before in his life.
"This is almost like the ending of that Lord of the Rings movie..." he said dreamily as his eyeballs curved upwards in delight.
Soon the dragon landed, and Rage made his call for people to get off. It took a while for this to register with Kon, who was still in his euphoria over the feeling of flying through the sky. Of course, he knew he couldn't stay there forever. The dragon probably wouldn't feel very good about that, and Kon wasn't about to stick around and find out just how it felt.
"Time to get off already, huh?" he said as he stood up. "Well then, guess I'll---GAAHHHH!"
It was uncanny how easily one could lose their footing on the back of a living creature.
Kon stumbled off of the dragon's back and onto the sandy beach below next to Rage, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. Perfect...that was just what he needed. Another bruise to Ichigo's body. Once Ichigo got back in it, he wasn't gonna be feeling very good.
That is, unless Ichigo was getting beat up a lot worse outside of his body...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:25 am
During the ride Lucind remained silent, obviously brooding over things while the harsh wind didn't bother her too much.
Sliding off the dragon's back and landing in a half kneeling position, the Siren thanked the beast in her mother tongue, than turned towards Rage to offer a simple, Thanks.
She straightened her clothes and ran a hand over the bag that still dangled from her hip. Her eyes wandered over the freshly rebuilt building and automatically, she had to think of the first version of her own store that had been buried under the remnants of the old stadium.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:57 pm
A shadow cast itself over Lucind for a second as Sun got off the dragon, saluting it for the ride, and both he and the girl stood back to back for a moment, before he tilted his head to the side, speaking over his shoulder.
"Hullo siren," And with that simply said, he'd reach over to help the enthusiastic, if a bit klutzy carrot head to his feet. Errand seemingly over he turned to Rage.
"I need...an oven, I think. You gonna be able to get fixed up in time for story hour?"
The grin was genuine, though he'd been kicked in the face by this man. Rage was Rage, after all, there was no real denying that if it hadn't been Sun there, someone else would have gotten the kick, despite everything.
"You can bring show and tell if you want, but I can't promise everyone will get a turn in the circle."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:50 pm
After his opening speech, Rage found himself very busy with a very irate dragon. Even though he only seemed to be snapping at the man in front of him (who was patting him on the nose every now and then) and letting out a series of deep, almost annoyed-sounding growls, it was apparent that Ryuji wasn't simply a beast with the gift of flight... he was a friend, a brother, and had quite the same personality as Rage did....
"You are absolutely unbelievable, Alexander. You just leap into the sky with the sort of reckless abandon that I've sadly come to expect from you, you look like you might have died when I come down there, and then that so-called friend of yours starts... ugh, he smelled like... what the hell is going on here?! Listen, when this is all over, I'm going to kick your --"
"Rrragr, roog. Rygura'darr, drosh...."
In short order, Rage was speaking back in the same sort of Drakonic tongue, rendering what either of them was saying completely undecipherable by most, if not all, of those listening. Still, he took a moment to look over his shoulder even as heavy snorts from Ryuji blew his hair around his shoulders and face. How, over the course of a day, he could go from being friends with to the enemy of to friends with one person was all but anyone's guess, and what would probably be classified as some sort of brain disorder by Gaian Historians.
Rage was an odd one, all right.
"Hell, we'll build a damn bonfire. I'll bring the guitar and we'll sit around the pyre singing songs."
He had the chance to grin back before returning to the difficult task of arguing with the snarling dragon. "RAAGH! Ryu, darr'osh RUGGA. Rarash...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:20 pm
"Hello, fire boy." Lucind gave back, the faintest smile somewhere hidden beneath the words.
She turned around and waited for Rage to come over and answer Sun before she asked:
"It's okay to listen then?"
Massaging her neck, the Siren tried to stifle a yawn.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:51 pm
Kon took Sun's hand greatfully, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. "Thanks!"
Wait a sec...
Suddenly Kon went into a flurry of hands, feeling all around his body as if he was searching for something.
"Ohhh, crap, whereisitwhereisitwhereisit!!!!!"
And suddenly his hands would stop...
"Ahh--!"
...and he pulled a stuffed lion out of his jacket.
"Yes! It's still okay! A little singed from earlier on with that battle, but at least those weird shadow things didn't ruin it!"
"Thanks for bailing me out of there! You really saved my a**!" said Kon as he fiddled through his pockets, "Now at least I can keep this body safe. Wonder if Ichigo has any cash here, I'm could use a--"
Kon stopped, having instead palmed something he really didn't want to be touching.
Ichigo's Substitute Shinigami Badge.
He didn't take this with him? That--!!
Before Kon could think anything further, a flash of light shone from his pocket. His head jerked back, and a small green jawbreaker-like candy flew out of his mouth. His body went limp, dropping the stuffed animal on the floor as his body fell to the ground, lifeless as a corpse.
Now there was just the stuffed animal and the small green sphere.
...
But what was inside of it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
