sorry i havent updated in a while. but, here's the next chapter!
as always, read, review, enjoy. :D

When you see my evil smile
It's the one that you'll remember
When I am not so kind
Can't you see that this is death?
And death is saving me
I say burn all of your bridges
While you still have control of the flame
-Over by Evans Blue

Chapter 14
Rebellion Against Yourself

"Deym… Will you do something for me?"

"Sure."

"Kill them?"

"Sure."

Time started to all blend together. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to weeks, weeks to months, months to years… I had no idea how to tell how much time had passed, but I had a feeling that in reality, it was a much shorter time than what I thought. But there was one thing I knew…

Marik wasn't coming back.

I was slowly becoming numb to his disappearances. No matter how hard I had worked in the past to keep what was left of our family together, nothing was changing. I was still losing everything. And I was tired of losing.

Francis became the only family I knew. I couldn't force myself to ever be angry with him, no matter if I wanted to or not. I couldn't be mad at the only person who didn't leave. I couldn't be mad at the only person who hadn't left my side.

And living life with a person like Francis went hand-in-hand with walking a path of destruction. I didn't realize it, but Francis controlled me now more than he ever had before. He only needed to say the word and it would be done. No matter his motive, I would do anything. Even kill.

Over the endless time, I lost more and more of myself and found more and more of the dark person I was becoming. It wasn't a pretty picture, but it was who I was now. I had made myself up to be this shadow of who I used to be and it labeled who I had become. And that was who I intended to be. I was going to be someone I never thought possible. I was going to do things I never thought I would ever do.

And in doing these things, I was going to rebel against myself.

I slowly drew my Tonfas and let the blades slide into their offensive position. Smirking, I watched from the canopies as the hikers settled below. The victim was being watched from a bird's eye view and they sat out in the open, totally unaware.

I climbed down without making a sound and hunched down on the lowest tree branch. The hikers let their bags drop to the ground. One began making a fire while the others chatted about what tomorrow had in store for them.

I pulled my cloak hood up so it shrouded my face and I dropped from the trees, landing in a crouch only a few feet from the hikers. The three men looked up, surprised, and one stumbled backwards. I slowly came up from my crouch and let my hands fall so the Tonfas were in plain sight.

"You know," I grinned wickedly, "It's dangerous to be out in the woods at night."

"Look, Kid," the biggest one huffed, "We're not gonna go running home to mommy because a little punk has a few knives, got it? Now scram before I beat your head in."

I let out a low chuckle, "Oh, sir, I'd love to see you try."

"Is that a challenge?" He snapped back. This man was obviously short tempered.

I shrugged, "Maybe."

The scruffy man grunted and pulled out a dagger from his boot. He held it up near his face—a fighting stance. I shifted my weight and held a hand out to him.

With a flick of my wrist, I urged him on, "Make my day."

He lunged at me and I spun out of the way. His speed couldn't match mine and he stumbled forward when his full-out swing missed completely. As he was regaining balance, I lightly kicked his foot so it collided with the other and tangled under his body. He fell to the ground and grunted in frustration. He looked up at me with wild eyes and I threw my hands up in innocence.

"I barely touched you," I admitted, "You need some work if I can K.O. you because you tripped."

"K.O?" He sneered, "I don't think so!"

He jumped to his feet and charged for me. As he approached, I jumped up onto the lowest tree branch and watched as he fell forward, once again taken off guard from missing his target.

I swung on the branch, "Come on. You're not even making it fun."

He jumped under me and swiped his knife in the air, trying to reach me as I sat safely above his head.

"Aw," I pouted, "Now it's like you're not even trying."

As he landed, I slid off the branch. I used his head as a stepping stone and landed on a boulder behind him.

"Ok," I wiped my hands on my pants, getting all the tree sap off, "I'm done playing now."

With one swift motion I shoved my Tonfas into the man's chest and let him fall to the ground. As I let him fall, his two friends pulled out knives and were charging me. Sighing, I hurled my Tonfas and took them both out as a blade went through each of their hearts.

I walked over and yanked my Tonfas from the lifeless bodies.

"Well, it's been a pleasure, but I'm afraid I can't play anymore. I'm just a kid, you know. Gotta get home before curfew. You understand, don't you?"

I picked the lock and was inside the house before I had time to have second thoughts. Tonfas drawn, I walked into the little office room to see a man frantically writing something on a paper.

He looked up when he heard my footsteps. His eyes focused on my weapons and then widened as if he recognized me.

"No," he whispered, "Not yet. They sent you, didn't they? They sent you! Don't kill me! I swear I didn't mean any harm when I told them how to find where the families were hiding!"

I frowned, "My fine fellow, I was not sent by anyone. I work for no man."

"Then… then why are you here?" he demanded, standing up in panic.

"Well, to be honest with you, I'm here to kill you," I examined my fingernails as an empty habit and then began chewing on my pinky nail.

"W-why?" he stuttered.

I shrugged and leaned on the door frame, "Does the reason matter? No matter the reason, you're still going to die."

"But I've done nothing wrong," he challenged as if he could barter for his life.

I frowned, "But when I first came in here, you thought I was an assassin, no? And if someone would hire to kill you, wouldn't that mean you have done something wrong?"

"I've done no wrong to you," the man corrected himself and swallowed nervously, "Look, I ratted out a guy for money. You see, my family is starving and I'm barely hanging onto my job. I'm just trying to make ends meet, you know? I've got a little girl and I just want the best for her. I can't give her that if we continue living like we are now. Cant you understand that?"

"That's a cute story," I nodded and walked over to the man, "But, unfortunately, I have no sympathy left to waste on you."

And with that, I plunged the blade through his chest.

"Ha," the woman faked a laugh, "I knew he'd never face me like a man."

I pretended like she hadn't spoken and drew my Tonfas.

"Frannie sent you, right? Don't lie, I know he did. And it's okay. I knew he'd eventually send someone to do his dirty work. That's just like Frannie—keeping his hands clean," she seemed amused.

I interrupted before she could continue rambling, "You talk too much."

"Yeah," she shrugged, surprisingly calm, "But before you kill me, I have a message for you."

"I'm no messenger boy," I countered, just as calm.

"Yeah, but it's an easy message," she tossed a hand in the hair, "Just tell Frannie that Liza said hey."

"Ok," I rolled my eyes, "I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

"Oh, he will," she corrected, "Out of all of us he's sent you to kill, I'd bet my life that I was his favorite. Well," she stood up and walked over to me, "Let's get this over with."

I took out my blade and thrust it toward her.

Before my blade reached her, she caught my wrist.

"You didn't really think I'd just let you kill me, did you?" she seemed to giggle as she yanked out a long, thin blade.

She jabbed her elbow into mine and I felt it pop out of place. Grunting, I popped it back into place and flipped my Tonfas into a defensive position. Every swing she made clashed against the blades of my Tonfas. I watched her as she thrust her blade toward me and, thinking on my feet, I angled my Tonfas so her blade stabbed between the double blades. Before she could pull her sword free, I jerked my arm to the side and her sword bent around my blade. She yanked against it, but couldn't pull free.

I pulled my arm up and she stumbled after her sword. I pulled out my armed hand.

She didn't even have time to scream before the blade sliced through her neck.

I pressed myself against the wall and watched silently as my target walked. I slid out my Tonfas and let their weight pull my hands down. A comfortable weight. As soon as he passed, I quickly pulled him back and forced my blade to his neck.

"Shut up," I told him, "Don't make a sound."

He grunted and quickly slammed his foot into my knee. My knee bent backwards and I collapsed. He turned on me, a sudden set of Tonfas in his hands, and slammed his arms down into me.

I yanked my hands over my head in time for our Tonfas to clash. He pulled back and slammed his blades harder over my own. I clenched my teeth together as I heard metal crack.

My Tonfas fell in shards from my hands and I was left defenseless on the ground. I scooted back, dragging my hurt leg on the ground. I scrambled back but it was a lousy attempt at an escape.

He caught me in one stride and, smirking, he pulled out a knife and shoved it through my knee. I gasped in pain, but didn't cry out. I pulled the knife out of my knee and chucked it at his leg. It cut through his jeans and made a streak against his leg, but not enough to phase him.

He let out a laugh and closed the distance between us. He held the blade over my chest and let it hang there. He expected me to beg for my life. Too bad for him, I wasn't going to.

He threw down the blades at me with a tremendous force and all I could do was throw my hand up in a weak attempt to protect myself.

Don't die!

…that voice…

The sound of metal clashing almost sent me into shock. I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting death. I opened my eyes and was a sword extending from my hand. It was a black blade with a dark blue blade spiraling around it. The handle was curved and what looked like waves came out as a hand guard. I knew what it was. A Keyblade. I had used one once before…

"Reckless Nocturne". The words hit me softly and I knew that was the name made for the blade.

The man was in just as much shock as I was. He stood there, almost lifeless, and watched as the clash broke his Tonfas into pieces. He began to backpedal, but I gathered my thoughts faster than he did.

I quickly thrust the sword through him before he had time to get away.

Axel, Roxas, Bruixe, and Demyx all sat together around a table eating their choice of chips. They had all thrown a few at each other but then savored most as if they hadn't eaten in weeks.

"I'm going to—"Axel began, but was awkwardly cut off.

By a knife.

Demyx yanked a knife from his boot and hurled it at Axel who was making his way to the door. Axel grunted as the knife cut into his shoulder blade. Axel yelled a curse and tore the knife out of his skin.

"Demyx?" Bruixe gasped, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

She and Roxas both went to Axel's side to see how deep the cut was.

"What was THAT?" Axel roared at Demyx and then spit out a few curses.

"Demyx, why would you—" Roxas began but stopped when he looked back at his friend.

Demyx was standing with a wide, dark smirk on his face. He lifted his foot up and took out a knife from his boot. Still smirking, he hurled it in Roxas' direction. Roxas ducked at the last second and the knife stuck into the wall where Roxas' head had been seconds before.

"DEMYX!" Bruixe screamed—a command for him to stop.

"Look at his eyes," Axel noticed.

Demyx stood tall, reaching for another knife. The wicked smirk still spread wide over his usually gentle face. His eyes were drowned in black. They were like pits of swirling darkness and had lost their color and emotion. The darkness that radiated from him was unnatural.

Demyx flipped his knife and began charging for Axel. He threw his arm forward and the knife just began breaking skin when Bruixe stepped between the two the shoved Demyx back. Demyx fell on the ground and began reaching for another weapon.

"Not today, Waterboy," Bruixe growled and tackled him to the ground.

Demyx struggled under her grip but she threw a knee to his groin and stopped his struggling. He seemed to roar in pain and then continued to thrash against her.

"Demyx!" she screamed at him, "Knock it off!"

His eyes flickered to blue for a second, but then they were once again lost in the black.

"Demyx!" she screamed again, "You want to hurt Axel? Go ahead!"

He thrashed and she let him up.

"Kill him!" She sneered, "If you can!"

"Bruixe!" Roxas snapped, "what are you doing?"

Bruixe ignored him.

Demyx wont hurt Axel, she promised herself, it's not in him. He won't—he can't—do it…

The monster roared and growled. He focused on Axel and began charging again. Roxas took a nervous step closer and readied himself for the possibility that he may have to fight his friend. Why would Bruixe just let him loose like that?

He pulled out another knife and held it up in an attack position. The dark eyes looked at Axel with distain, and then Demyx's eyes flickered from the knife back to Axel.

His feet shuffled to a sudden stop. Demyx's eyes returned to normal at the iris and he dropped his arm to his side.

Like his own body was rebelling, his arm rose with the knife drawn. It began a throwing motion, the knife aimed at Axel. Demyx's other hand grabbed the reckless one. He held his own hand and beat it back.

The last bit of darkness faded from his eyes and his hand dropped the knife as if it were a poison. He collapsed on the ground, his eyes watering and his expression in shock.

Had he really just tried to kill his best friend?

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