Chapter X: What Doesn't Kill You…
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Thanks to all those who review! All info is being taken into consideration. This Chapter is sure to be interesting.
Xathe: The guy doesn't own anything…
Me: I own you, Xathe.
Xathe: Or do you? :3
Me:…
[Song Inspiration: Lying from You by Linkin Park]
-The Key To Darkness
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Day 300
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Xathe sits on his bed, his knees tucked up to his chest and his arms wrapped around his knees.
How he was able to go this long without a single emotion being shown, he did not know. In order for Xathe to gain full control over his body again, he needed to shun the raven-haired boy so that he couldn't possess Xathe again.
The only problem was that, now, Xathe didn't see any visions of broken memories or hear from the boy again. It bothered him. He was so use to the mysterious teen providing insight on what others would say he should do. The raven-haired teen became Xathe's very conscious. Now that he was gone… Xathe became nervous and unsure of anything.
He didn't know how long this would work out… but if it meant getting full self-control then Xathe was willing to try. He would shun emotion as long as possible. The thing is… now he seems like Saix a lot of the time… and that's not a good thing.
Lately, Saix and Xemnas has only paired Xathe and Xetah together for their missions and it was making Xathe suspicious. Not just because of the fact that this was becoming a repetitive thing, but because of Xetah.
Xetah was starting to talk more… but it was as if he was copying Xathe's own personality. Xathe was being dull and didn't talk at all in order to conceal his new emotions while Xetah was becoming over-excited about fights and his confidence level was a little bit above the limit.
This was annoying Xathe and threatened to make his anger come out again. Twenty-five days of dull thoughts and actions really was taking its toll on Xathe… or at least that's what seemed to be what was drying him out.
Ever since last week, Xathe was becoming very tired and weak. He couldn't kill the Heartless as quickly so Xetah always gets the kills by using his very unusual powers to destroy them.
What was Xetah's special power anyways? It was obvious that Axel was Fire, Saix was Moon, Xemnas was Nothing, and so on. Xathe had power over Darkness… which was ironic, considering Roxas was the opposite, being able to control Light. Xetah never showed anything that really showed a special power or ability.
Saix and Xathe could both use a berserk rage to double their power, though under different circumstances and effects, Xemnas had some super-power that Xathe had no idea about… Axel could use fire to take advantage of a fight, Demyx could summon water clones.
Again, Xetah showed nothing but the unknown. Was that his power? Control over the Unknown?
'Meh, no use in stressing about it. I've got bigger things to worry about.' Xathe thought, getting up from the bed.
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Xathe opens a dark corridor in the grey room. He prepares to walk into it but then a voice stops him, "Where you going?"
It was Xetah, of course…
He always had to stuff his nose in all the members' business as if he was the Superior himself. He was becoming too cocky… and a busybody.
"No place of your concern…" Xathe deadpans.
"No need to be a jerk about it, I was only asking," Xetah scoffs.
"Fine… I'm going to Hollow Bastion. There's some stuff I need to take care of," Xathe trails off towards the end.
"Okay. Stay safe out there, man. You never know what's going to happen…" Xetah warns.
"Since when did you start caring?" Xathe asks in monotone.
"Since now. So stop being such a smart-ass and go," Xetah spits, walking away. Now Xathe knew how Xion felt when Xathe wore his hood on all the time… Xetah would simply not take it off!
Jeez, it seemed as if Xetah was becoming the spitting image of Xathe…
It wasn't cool.
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Xathe walks out of the dark corridor into the gates of Hollow Bastion. The mechanical city was strangely familiar to Xathe now. After all, the broken memories did base a lot around this place.
He pulls his hood over his head and makes sure the collar covers the lower half of his face. Darkness now concealed his identity.
…
Xathe runs across the high walls around the city, searching for one place in particular. He sighs in defeat and decides to do it the hard way… stroll through the town.
He jumps from one of the high walls onto an open platform opening out to show the vast divide that separated Hollow Bastion from the mysterious castle far off in the distance. A small fence blocked the opening in order to keep viewers from falling off the cliff-side.
Xathe takes only half a step towards the bailey when he hears a deep and ominous voice behind him, "Hello, Tahe`…"
Xathe jumps, being startled. He spins around to face off with the trespasser. Suddenly, his eyes widen with shock at who it is. He couldn't put his finger on it… but those venomous blue eyes could not be destroyed from his memory.
"Sephiroth…" Xathe gasps.
(Flashback)
Tahe` gives a peace sign and walks out of Merlin's House. He really did hope that he would see Aerith and Cloud again. He was used to lying to people, but this time it wasn't one.
"Excuse me… have you seen a man by the name of Cloud?" a voice interrupts his thoughts. The voice is ominous and carries a mysterious tone to it.
Tahe` looks up to see a man with a long black coat, black boots, and one black angel-like wing on his right shoulder. He holds two other black angel-wings beneath his coat as well. Yet his clothing, voice, or wings weren't the only things that seemed dangerous. It was his dangerous blue, cat-like eyes and the way his long, silver hair floated in the light breeze.
There was no way he could be trusted.
"What if I had?" Tahe` asks suspiciously.
"Then I would ask where you saw him," the ominous man answer smoothly. He was calm, cool, and collected. It bothered Tahe`…
"I'm not playing this game… why do you need to see Cloud?"
"All I want is to talk to him," the man sighs.
"What's your name?"
"My name is Sephiroth. What might I call you?"
"Tahe`. And I have seen Cloud, but I don't know where he is now. He left a while ago and I haven't seen him since. But I'll pass on that you're looking for him, next time I see him," Tahe` lies.
"Shame. Very well. Do tell him for me, though. I would be very pleased to see him again…" Sephiroth trails off before walking away.
Tahe` hoped that was the last he saw Sephiroth… something about the guy didn't agree with Tahe` one bit…
(End of Flashback)
"Ah, so you remember me? Very good. I am impressed with your memory capacity," Sephiroth chuckles.
'You wouldn't be if you knew my life story…' Xathe thinks. "So what do you want, Sephiroth?"
"I actually wasn't planning on seeing you."
"Well… here I am. And I've changed now, so don't bother conversing with me. Especially about Cloud, since I remember nothing about him," Xathe states with a monotone, preparing to walk away.
"How much… stronger have you gotten since our last encounter?" Sephiroth asks, intrigued.
The word "encounter" forces another memory to show in Xathe's mind.
(Flashback)
"Back away from her…" Tahe` demands, walking towards Sephiroth with a deadly glare. Sephiroth looks up from Aerith's face to his left and is surprised to see Tahe`, now 14.
"Ah, Tahe`. It seems you've grown," Sephiroth chuckles, letting Aerith run away from his grasp. "What makes you stop me from finding Cloud?"
"I have nothing against your little goose chase… but when you harm my friends in the process… you drag me into the deal. It seems, I'll have to teach you not to hit a girl," Tahe` spits. His Keyblade flashes from his right palm.
"Oh? And what is the young boy going to do to the superior master?" Sephiroth laughs.
"I'm not a kid anymore. And I'll have to show you just what I mean," Tahe` shouts, getting into fighting position.
"Very well then… let's begin."
Sephiroth summons his giant 7-foot long katana-like sword and points it in the direction of Tahe`. "Are you ready, Keyblade-wielder?"
"Ladies first, Sephiroth…" Tahe` snickers.
"Very funny. But your laughing will be put to an end," Sephiroth deadpans, slashing his sword swiftly at Tahe`. Tahe` is forced back from the attack before firing dozens of magic bullets in Sephiroth's direction.
Sephiroth teleports away and appears high in the air. "See if you can catch me."
"With your level of speed? Please!"
Tahe` glides smoothly through the air, jabbing at Sephiroth and their blades connect in a counter. Their swords slash into one another in an amazing display of sparks and magic recoil.
Tahe` does a super-fast spin with his Keyblade coming down at a diagonal angle. He spins 360 degrees around before connecting with Sephiroth's block. The power and speed of the strike forces Sephiroth to the ground again. This gives Tahe` the advantage of the higher ground.
Tahe` uses his Keyblade's magic to launch a dark pulse straight into Sephiroth's shield, making it disappear and push Sephiroth back a couple feet.
Sephiroth looks to the ground silently for a moment…
Suddenly he looks up to Tahe` and laughs lightly and amusedly.
"What? What's so funny?" Tahe` spits, returning to the ground. He can only stay in the air for so long.
"You're not too bad. But let me show you how much improvement you need…"
"Huh-?" before Tahe` can get a word out, Sephiroth transports away and flashes of light block Tahe`'s vision before pain covers his whole body. Tahe` opens his eyes after a few moments of blindness and grabs his stomach.
He feels blood from slash wounds but nothing lethal. "Sephiroth, you little-…" Tahe` murmurs, getting to his feet again.
"Next time you should expect that. Always expect the unexpected," Sephiroth sighs, his blade disappearing as he walks away from the fight.
"Hey wait! I'm not finished with you!" Tahe` yells furiously.
"Maybe so, but you have succeeded in boring me. Perhaps next time it will be a little more interesting…" Sephiroth chuckles, disappearing around a corner and leaving Tahe` with a scowl on his face.
(End of Flashback)
"You tricked me, in order to defeat me? That doesn't seem fair…" Xathe grumbles.
"It's not about fairness. It's about who the smartest player of the game is. You can't cheat on life. You have to… expect the unexpected…" Sephiroth explains, slowly. A sly smirk slips across his lips as if hinting Xathe of the oncoming attack.
A burst of light blinds Xathe and by complete reaction, Xathe summons his Keyblade and slashes the air. But surprisingly… the air is not what he feels his blade connect with.
He feels steel against it.
Xathe opens his eyes, his vision clear again. "Nice try, Sephiroth…" Xathe chuckles.
"That was a given, though. Let's see how you react in a real fight."
The fight erupts in a flurry of slashes driven against steel by steel. Their attacks are brutal and much thought is put into each one. Speed overtakes them as their forms become blurry.
Sephiroth's sword flies back from a counter and Xathe throws forth a swift jab that forces him to disappear. Xathe smiles at this.
He looks up to see Sephiroth in the air again. Xathe expected this…
"Think you can meet me up here? Or have you slacked off in your training?" Sephiroth shouts.
"No. I'm the very face of training. But I don't think I'm stupid enough to come into your territory of fighting…" Xathe chuckles.
Sephiroth frowns, surrounding himself in a ball of darkness before rushing down like a human-cannon-ball.
The ball of darkness, with Sephiroth inside, comes crashing down where Xathe stands. Before Sephiroth crash-lands, Xathe back-flips into the air, away from Sephiroth.
The crash shatters the ball of darkness but doesn't waver Sephiroth at all. Xathe drops slowly down to the blue ground. It gets dead silent as Xathe's feet approach the ground… very slowly.
Xathe's feet touch the ground and Sephiroth charges in again in a flurry of slashes. To Sephiroth's surprise, Xathe separates into two beings, making Sephiroth slide right in between them. The two beings merge again and Xathe turns around to Sephiroth, rushing at him once again.
Sephiroth shows much surprise towards Xathe's new feats but most certainly does not show any signs of fear or wavering.
Xathe presents his newest attack, learned from one of his memories of Tahe`: Omni-slash.
All of Xathe's amazingly fast attacks push Sephiroth into the air again before the burst of speedy attacks comes to an end.
Sephiroth growls in agitation. "Enough of this little game. Now I'm serious…" Sephiroth spits, before gaining back his composure. Xathe snickers, knowing he got under Sephiroth's skin… even if it was only for a second.
Xathe watches as Sephiroth throws his hands up into the air and then brings them down to his chest. This makes Xathe raise an eyebrow but his question is quickly answered by four magic meteors coming from the sky and surrounding Sephiroth.
They spiral ominously around him before he thrusts his sword out in Xathe's direction. Instantly the meteors react by shooting down after Xathe. This was Sephiroth's special move: Supernova.
"Damn…" Xathe gasps.
He knew he'd have to pull out all the stops… well all except for one.
And that one, was going into berserk form. That may be an easy way of winning and a powerful Form…
Xathe throws out his Keyblade, aiming the tip towards the approaching meteors.
… but he had to get over it. He had to find a new way of fighting that didn't involve relying on somebody else's help…
A gleam sparks off of the blade's tip and a huge shield of light spreads over Xathe like a dome, with hexagon panels of magic making up the surface of it. This was Xathe's special power: Shattering Dreams.
… because Xathe was an independent person. He knew only to rely on himself in dire situations… in situations where he could only count on his instincts to survive…
The meteors slam into the dome and each one erupts in a violent explosion. Every time one of them hits, a sound wave reflects from the dome and the waves make Sephiroth's ears ring in pain.
… this was Xathe. A liar… a sinner… a fool… a rebel…
The explosions make the reflective dome crack from the immense damage. Xathe knew this would hurt him too… but he could take the risk if it meant the end to this ridiculousness.
… a dare-devil… a maniac… a smooth-talker…
Xathe pulls his Keyblade over his head in both hands, aiming downwards at the ground.
… but at the same time? He was caring, responsible, honorable, loving towards the ones who love him back, and especially…
He shoves the blade into the ground, causing a blast of darkness to explode around him, destroying the dome. The giant barrier shatters into thousands of pieces of magic glass that spread into the sound waves. The attack heads straight for Sephiroth…
… courageous.
Xathe is thrown back from the impact and crashes hard into the wall behind him. The wave of magic plows into Sephiroth like a ton of bricks and spins him into the air before pummeling him to the ground below him.
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Xathe slowly opens his eyelids, groaning from the pain in the back of his head. Before he could even remember what just transpired moments ago… a voice interrupts his thoughts, "You idiotic puppet…"
Xathe grunts as he slowly gets to his feet from his sitting position. He looks up to see Sephiroth pushing his bangs out of his eyes and scowling evilly into Xathe's eyes. "You've gone too far now…" but Xathe was sick of hearing Sephiroth's boasts… it was time to end this.
He charges at Sephiroth with his Keyblade drawn to kill.
But suddenly Sephiroth does the complete unexpected yet again, transporting into the air and completing a combination of movements. When he finishes, a blast strikes Xathe hard and shoves him back into the wall that he just picked himself up from.
"Damn…it…" Xathe gasps, dropping on one knee in agony. What the hell just happened to him?!
"That… was a little surprise I intended to save until the end… but you've forced my hand. I'm surprised… almost stunned of your development. Almost," Sephiroth smirks.
That was a secret move that Sephiroth had been hiding that he liked to call, Heartless Angel.
On Sephiroth's end of the deal, it instantly gave him the upper hand. On Xathe's end… it sucked so horribly. Talk about some pain…
"But I'm afraid… it's time to say farewell…" Sephiroth aims his sword down, in between Xathe's eyes. The massive katana glows, ready to kill Xathe. There was no way…
Xathe would never have allowed himself to be cornered like this. Something was off about him and it disturbed him deeply. What could possibly have thrown him off this much from his original power?!
As if an answer to his prayer had come, a loud slashing sound interrupted the silence between them. Sephiroth's sword drops from his hand and disappears into a cloud of darkness. "What?" Xathe asks the air.
"Curses…" Sephiroth whispers, before dropping to the ground behind him. He was out-cold... or at least he looked like he was.
"Yeah… you're welcome, by the way…" a teenage voice chuckles.
"You followed me here?!" Xathe shouts furiously.
Xetah turns around, his giant sword disappearing, "But of course. And it saved your ass, didn't it?"
"Whatever. I was handling it perfectly fine without your help…" Xathe growls, standing up slowly and walking away from the scene.
"Yeah… I could really tell…" Xetah states sarcastically. He crosses his arms and follows Xathe. Before Xathe walked away he turned around to look at Sephiroth. "Hmm…" Xathe mumbles as he sees Sephiroth has disappeared… and only one blue feather lays where he was.
"I get the feeling we will meet again someday, Sephiroth. I'll be waiting for that rematch…" Xathe smirks and walks away.
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Xathe walks around the corner of one of the houses and finally finds it… he finds Merlin's House from his visions.
Luckily… it still looked pretty lively.
All that Xathe hoped for was that, whoever these people were, they could give him the answers of which he did seek.
Was this the time? Was this the moment where Xathe would finally find out who he truly was? Who Tahe` was?
He knew from the beginning that he had some connection to Tahe`… but what? Was… was Tahe` Xathe's Somebody?
"Enough asking! Today, I'm getting my answers, no matter what!" Xathe spits.
And with that… he approached the door and drew his hand up to knock. He knocked three times and waited.
Surprisingly… he heard footsteps coming to the door faster than he expected.
'Here goes nothing…'
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Cliffhanger! Sorry!
Next Chapter is going to be very important to the story. Anyways! I hope the action wasn't too dragged out or boring! This was also some-what filler… but I made it for three reasons. One: Future of the story. Two: It was requested to happen. Three: Can't tell for spoiler reasons :P
Xathe: You have to admit that I owned Sephiroth! :3
Me: No you didn't, Xathe… he had you cornered…
Xathe: Well I would have gotten out of it… if it wasn't for damn Xetah!
Xetah: Heh Heh Heh. :P
Me: You got trolled by Xetah… that's sad.
Sephiroth: I'm still here, you imbeciles...
Seeya! -The Key To Darkness