Reborn….
It was strange; many look at the opportunity of another chance as a way of living out one's life the same exact way, with the exception of rectifying one or two of their more prevailing mistakes.
However, this did nothing to please or placate any of them; rather, it unnerved each to his very core-how could they possibly rectify their prevailing mistakes? They looked out the window, the palace towering over anything else within the city. They gazed up into the clouds, searching for answers…..
Yet none were offered.
Only four thoughts went through their heads, consistently, without remorse.
Guilt; I am guilty, there is no denial…so why?
Weak; I was too weak to do anything. Why am I so weak?
Who am I? What am I?
Traitor………
Tokyo Tower.
It was a monument, a transcending tribute to the past. If the figure cared about such trivialities, he would have found the situation humorous; it was certainly, at least, ironic. One of the very proofs of Crystal Tokyo's existence would be the base of its doom. Perched on the very tip of the tower, safe from the view of almost all, he glanced at the palace in the distance. Cold, lifeless eyes observed the castle, and only one thought penetrated his mind.
Soon.
As the sun began to sink, his shadow began to stretch out; twisting, curving, searching, summoning.
Where are they?
The figure sighed; a useless, forced gesture, given his situation, and he knew it. However, he was going to have to give appearances, and it was better to get in the habit now then later.
Telepathically, he sent his response.
Patience, master; they will be here. I have instructed them to come by…conventional means. They will require a great deal of energy to participate in the Barrier, so we can't risk wasting their reserves with teleportation.
Silence met his response, but he waited anyway. He knew from experience that the presence would not let him get the last word in any conversation unless it was humble.
Sure enough, the grating, twisted voice exploded in his mind again.
Do not forget who you owe your very life too, Zetsubou. If not for me, you would be dead. And do not dare patronize me with words like 'patience' and 'understanding'. I have been waiting for over one hundred years for my vengeance, and I am too close now to fail due to your over-caution!
Zetsubou, the name the entity gave him; the only name he knew. A stupid name, yet at the same time, fitting.
He sighed again; good, he was starting to pick up the habit. The more human he seemed the better he would throw off his opponents. Given the track record of all of their foes, he would need every advantage he could get.
Not even bothering with a reply, he looked over the city, where his shadow had come to envelop all but the palace. The corners of his mouth twitched into something that resembled a smile, a smile that never touched his red eyes.
So it begins.
Zetsubou- despair.
Well, let's try for round 2. Yes, this is the original Gambit01, for those of you who remember/care; my e-mail account got scratched from under me, and my profile was lost. Rather then try and get in touch with the Powers that Be to resurrect it, I just decided to up and create a new one; not like I had anything there anyway. So I'm sure you all know the old saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again.'