Ugh this chapter is so looooong. My fingers are sore from simply typing this.
f.y.i. The song Megumi sings is Arriety's Song from The Secret World of Arrietty
Revealing the Past Part IV
"My brothers and sister, today marks a tremendous occasion." Xemnas said, addressing them all in the thrones room. Like their first day together they all sat on their thrones as they looked down at Megumi. However, this time she wasn't nervous... just rather shy. "Our little sister turns seven today. Such an event cannot go unnoticed. Tell us, Megumi, what is it that you desire as a gift? Ask for whatever you please and we will see if we can get it done."
"... Might I have a bit of earth... to grow things in."
"... You wish for land to burst?"
"No, I... I want to help things grow with my own hands." She looked down, kicking her foot about with her hands behind her back. "I'd like to grow some flowers, if I can."
"Hm..." Her eyes brightened with hope. "Very well, you can have your garden. The area in the back of the castle shall be our new court yard."
"If you wish to start afresh, here is my gift to you." Marluxia said, tossing her a tiny bag.
"What is it?"
"They're seeds from my home country, nothing more. But once they grow they will become beautiful flowers thought to be long gone from this world... Roses."
"Thank you, Marluxia!" She then looked at all of them. "Thank you everyone! I can't wait to get started!"
Turning off then back on the camera showed Demyx practicing his guitar in the living room while Megumi watch.
"Hey Megumi, do you play an instrument?"
"Nooo..." She said hesitantly.
"No! Well that won't do at all! C'mon I'll teach you. Once I'm done you'll be a master of music! From bass to flute!"
The camera turned off then back on a later time. Megumi was eight years old now and was working in the castle's courtyard.
She had done a remarkable job changing up the place based off of the area around it. Rumble was cleared up, a stone walkway paved the ground, and flowers bloomed all over. Morning Glories vine themselves on the cliff wall around the castle. In front of them grew white lilies with the occasion yellow lily in the bunch. In the center of the courtyard grew a cherry blossom tree that had a long stone block in front of it that acted as a bench- at the moment was occupied by Larxene. But most of the garden was ruled by Rose bushes. Vibrant red roses bloomed all over the courtyard as Megumi trended to their soil and leaves.
"Ah, what lovely work you've done here, princess." Marluxia said, walking up to her. "It gives this dreary castle a new light."
"It's all thanks to you, big brother." She said, looking up to him with a smile.
"Still, to think you made all this from a couple of seeds." Then he turned his head to address Larxene who was laying down on the stone block, reading a magazine. "But none of them compare to your beauty, Larxene."
"Oh dream on Pip squeak. It's not going to happen." Larxene shot him down without even looking away from her magazine.
"Wuh-oh, still trying to win over Larxene, Marluxia?" Xigbar cackled out the window. "When are you ever going to give up?"
"Say what you want, but persistence shall prevail. I shall win over the fair Duchess's heart in the end."
"Savage Nymph is more like it?" Xigbar mumbled, earning a magazine smacked to the face, thrown by a vexed Larxene.
The video stopped then started again. Megumi was nine now, and fighting Aragami along side Zexion, Marluxia as an Aether, and Lexaeus as a Kongou.
They torn through there enemies like butter. Roses petals formed from each of Marluxia's attacks, even his poisonous gas gave off the scent of roses that the the First Unit could tell by the pink gas cloud he created. Lexaeus was crushing the enemies with his fists like nothing. Zexion was in Vajratail mode while Megumi stayed mostly in human form.
With the targets finally terminated all was well. They let Lexaeus eat all the cores for reasons unknown to the First unit. But Lexaeus wasn't satisfied he began to destroy the area around them, even started swinging at them.
"Lexaeus. What's wrong with you?! Lexaeus!" Megumi called out to him.
"The Darkness is consuming him!" Zexion explained to her. "He must be falling into Madness!"
"A fate we all will face in time." Marluxia morbidly said.
"I knew he waited too long to go on a hunt. Darn his stubborn nature." Zexion said, hissing at the end of his sentence.
Megumi ran up to Lexaeus, changing back fully to human, she opened her arms wide open and stopped.
"No, Megumi! Stay back!" Marluxia warned her.
"Lexaeus, stop! It's over now, we won!" She tried reaching out to him with her plea.
Lexaeus shakenly grabbed Megumi's left arm. Thinking that he was using her as an anchor, she allowed it. But she didn't realize her mistake until he bit into her fingers.
"Ahhh!" Her cry out brought him back to reality. His eyes shot wide open as he let go of her arm and jumped back. Gripping her hand close to her chest, she watched it heal. Lexaeus let of a sad burst as he changed back into a human. Guilt was written all over his face.
"I'm sorry... Megumi." Half of his face was covered by his hand. He couldn't even look at her. "As a former soldier I should've had more control."
"Brother..." She reached out for his arm but he shied away from her.
"Best not come near me. I might turn on you." He said bitterly before walking away.
"Brother, wait!" But her plea rang on deaf ears, he continued to head back without them. "Lexaeus..."
The video turned off and back on again three days later. Lexaeus was leaving, a bag of his belongings carried on his shoulder and all. Sadness and regret was written on his face as he was walking out the door.
Megumi dashed from the corner of the hallway. Tears rolling down her eyes as her hand rested on the wall.
"Brother," Lexaeus flinched to a stop at the sound of her voice. "Lexaeus, don't go, please!"
She ran to him, hugging him from behind. She was getting bigger, but she still was half his height.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, I promise! I know you didn't mean it. Don't let what happened drive you away! I'm sorry, if you wanted me to say 'I'm sorry' I'll say it! But please don't go, please don't go!" She cried into his back.
Looking up to the ceiling he dropped his bag to the floor. He said nothing, turning around in her small arms he picked her up and hugged her back.
The video ended and started again. Megumi was ten years old now and started to go through a growth-spurge.
Megumi was floating in the air with her fire wings, partially in human form. Various flying Aragami were coming right at her. She began to count them off.
"3... 25... 30... 33... 35." She waved her hand horizontally, releasing a way of fire that incinerated most of them. "1."
The video stopped and started again. The First Unit began to assume that the disk was going to start playing mostly short skits from now on.
The video started maybe a weak later. Megumi, Zexion, and Demyx were hanging out in the living room. They watched as Demyx played a role-playing video game on the big screen.
"Well done Demyx, you've won the attention of a cybernetic female. What are you going to do next?" Zexion said sarcastically as if the whole situation was completely idiotic and a waste of time.
"Uhhh... Oh, I know! Girls like it when you're mean to them." With that conclusion Demyx hit the ignore button.
"Ha! Pwned!" Megumi jeered out at the girl on the screen.
"Ha! Sorry! I don't know you even exist and treat you like dirt, therefore you want me." Demyx joke around, playfully puffing out his chests in false pride. Not leaving her brother hanging Megumi played along. Putting on dreamy eyes she looked up to him, hands together in fake awe.
"Demyx-sama, how can you be so cool and yet so desirable?"
"Idiots..." Was all Zexion was going to comment.
Again the video ended then started up again. This time it started with everyone gathered in the living room, sitting around the couch area. Aside from the occasional meals, this was one of the few times that they were all gathered together.
"Hey, Lexaeus..." Megumi called out to him to start a conversation. "You were a soldier, yes? Where were you from?"
"Heh, I was from the Europe Branch." Lexaeus spoke with pride, his arms were crossed. "I was part of the Special Forces that secured the nobility and political figures."
"Wow, you were like a knight!"
"Of sorts," he then pointed his thumb at Xaldin. "Believe it or not that's how Xal and I met each other. We served in the same unit for years."
"You acted more knightly than I ever did." Xaldin shot back with a grin. Then he turned to continue their story to Megumi. "On one operation we were ambushed by Aragami. Our objectives managed to safely escape while we held the Aragami off. However, we weren't so lucky. Once Father found us we were a bloody mess on the floor."
"Heh, your story is trivial compared to mine." Vexen boasted before turning to Megumi. "I was working in one of the finest Labs in Germany. I was researching the biology of Aragami. At the time Zexion was my lab assistant and my ward."
"I wish you wouldn't go into that story." Zexion said in a cool laze as he read through his book. "It's just too tiring and repetitive."
"Oh, hush." Vexen said, waving Zexion off. "Father didn't like scientist, for reasons of his own. He attacked my lab and slaughtered everyone there in lab coats. When he finally came to us I tried to protect Zexion. Impressed by our selflessness and humanity, he saw potential in us. From then on we walked among the Aragami."
"Jeez, your story was so boring, at least mine ended with a bang." Xigbar said.
"How did you get turned Xiggy?"
"... Let's just say... I got on the bad side of the wrong people. Cost me an eye at the end and a lot of bullets. Admiring the flash I created, Father gave me a new life. It wasn't so bad at first, I got to kill as much as I wanted without being the bad guy."
"Ooh ooh," Demyx said, lifting up his hand as if to get the teachers attention. "You should ask about Luxord's story, it's pretty good."
"Really? What's your story, Luxord?"
"Oh nothing much, it was just another day at work when Father came in to my casino. He had an air about him the said dangerous. I knew this man coming in was death in physical form, that this could be the day I die and this man would be the dealer. Others moved away from him out of fear, but I didn't. The danger excited me, danger was always where Lady luck would grace her appearance. He sat at my dealers table, as confident as a Royal Flush. I knew he was dangerous, but I though he was just a normal customer. Ignorantly I dealed him in a game of Blackjacks. After a while he requested I play as well, he offered to make it fun with a challenge I couldn't possibly reject. If I'd win he would change my life into something more exciting, if I'd lose he'd kill me. I never could resist a game of chance, the mere rush of it is when I felt the most alive. Lady luck was on my side that day, victory was mine and thus the day of my rebirth."
Megumi was sitting at the edge of her seat, hanging on to every word of his tale. "Wow, that's amazing Luxord!"
"But hardly romantic. Come little bud, I will tell you a much better story." Marluxia said, drawing Megumi's attention and the sweat drop from everyone else. "I was from a noble family in Spain. My family lineage came from a long line of knights who defended the King and were owners of the finest wine vintage in Spain. On one sunny day my home was attacked by the Sirens of the Aragami world, Sariels. Valiantly I fought against the beauties who threaten my family's land with nothing but a scythe until the last of my kin safely escaped. Although the temptresses tried to seduce me into submission I would not be wooed."
"Here we go again," Larxene sighed while rolling her eyes.
"Charmed by my loyalty to family. Father gave me the gift of rebirth and thus a new family for the family I could never return to. Now I have a new kin for my loyalty to burn passionately for." Then his eyes landed on Larxene. "And my own personal temptress."
"Keep dreaming, Mar."
"What about you Larxie? What's your story?"
"Mine... isn't so glamorous."
"How come?"
"Her story is similar to ours." Axel explained while pointing to Saix. "We were orphans from America. We traveled around and scavenged what we could to get by."
"Back then stealing was a necessity in order to survive." Saix said nonchalantly. "Only the strong could make it to see the next day."
"At that time it was just me and Saix. Two best pals, traveling the world together." Axel jumped back in while placing an arm around Saix's shoulder pulling him into a bro hug that he eventually pulled out of. "But Larxene... was all alone."
"Hmph, it was better that way." Larxene said wickedly, defending her excuse for past solitude. "As a woman it was better to be alone. Less likely for the person beside you to stab you in the back and sell you to the human trafficking."
"Larxene," Xemnas said warningly. She was going into a topic far too dark for Megumi to know about.
"Tst, you can't baby her from everything, Xemnas. It'll only cripple her in the long run." Larxene then turned back to Megumi. "As girls we have to be tougher or else this world would eat us up alive. That was my life and I jumped on the opportunity to change that once it arrived. Father had eventually found me fending off fiends with nothing more than a couple of throwing knives and took care of the rest for me. He found us all eventually, and not a moment too soon."
"That was sad..." Megumi somberly turned to Demyx. "What about you? Did the Aragami take your family away too?"
"Nay, my mom left when I was a baby and my pop died of a stroke." Demyx answered nonchalantly, waving her off.
"What?" She was taken aback by the suddenly normal scenario in this day and age that was indeed plausible. Grinning at her stomped face, Demyx jumped onto the coffee table and gestured like a flashy sign.
"There I was wondering the roads of California, alone with nothing to my name except the clothes on my back and my old man's guitar and a dream. One day I would play my tunes all over the globe and would be known as a legendary rock star!"
"..." You could hear a crow cawing in the background.
"There I was, set and on my way, when suddenly..."
"You got attacked by an Aragami." Megumi sadly concluded.
"No, I tripped and feel down a steep hill." He corrected her with a blush.
"..." The crow was back, suddenly Larxene burst out laughing.
"Hey, those rocks on that hill were sharp! I was in pain all over once I reached the bottom!"
"God, Demyx, you're such a klutz! Hahaha!"
"Shut up, Larxene!" He then turned back to Megumi, jumping off the coffee table. "Anyway, Father found me at the bottom of the hill. I came to a stop right next to his feet. Grinning at me he said 'I like your spirit' and turned me into part of the family."
"He probably found you humorous."
"Shove it, Zexion!"
"What's wrong with that? It's good to be able to make people laugh every once in a while. Lord knows this world could use more laughter." Megumi said, coming to Demyx's defense. "Hey, Xemnas, what about you?"
"I'm what's left... or, maybe I'm all there ever was."
"I meant your story." If Megumi were to guess she would say he was originally from Egypt.
"My story is of no importance, my world was too small so I left it for something more." Then he turned to look at her. "What about you? What about your story?"
"You know my story." She looked down, hiding her face with her hair.
"Yes, however, are you happy with the ending?"
"... Yes," she then looked up at him, smiling. "Yes, I am. Because, in the end, I met you guys."
"Hm, bonding by misfortune." Closing his eyes he grinned. "What a strange family we are."
The video ended and started again months later. Megumi was riding on Xemnas's Fallen Ouroboros head in the Sunken Grid. Looking in the distance she saw the ruins of an old building who's beckon still glowed. The place looked like an ordinary Laboratory, but for some reason it sent a chill down her spine.
"Brother, what is that place?" She asked, pointing toward the building.
"That is the bad place. You must never go there, Megumi."
"But why does the mere sight of it fill me with fright?"
"Oh that is simply a fear passed on from Father."
"Why would he be afraid?"
"(Sigh) I guess it's time that you know the truth. Tell me, what do you know about the Aragami?"
"Vexen said that they're... beings with no brains, no heart, spinal fluid, or vital organs. They're a cluster of Oracle Cells each of which is a single-cell organism that thinks and preys upon others."
"That's correct, however, where do you think they came from?"
"I don't know. They suddenly appeared on the world out of no where."
"Everything comes from somewhere, they just came from another world."
"What?"
"The story is thus. Long ago, light-years away, there was a planet thrice the size of Earth orbiting a Main-sequence star. The beings on this planet were comprised of Oracle Cells that could withstand the planet's gravity."
"You mean..."
"That's right, the Aragami came from another planet. Knowing of no other way of life they lived in a cycle of carnage where the planet would continue to be destroyed then reborn. But, space is a violent place... one massive asteroid could destroy a planet in no time at all."
"!"
"Yes, the planet was destroyed, ripped apart and scattered in chunks, eliminating all life on it during the collision. All except for one piece of rock, carrying the remaining lives of Oracle Cells on its cold journey through space, where they survived through hibernating. In time, it had made it to Earth. Breaching our atmosphere, it made impact in the Wailing Plains, the aftershock killed thousands and created the twister you see today."
"So that's where they came from. They must've woken up from their hibernation, regenerated into a form, and started devouring the area to transform into a more native shape and continued their basic nature of carnage."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple, Megumi. The story doesn't end there. Soon after the impact scientist gathered around the crash site to examine the situation. Using equipment able to withstand the wind pressure they gathered the rock carrying the Oracle Cells. It should've ended that day. Their memories of their past and their ways of carnage were erased. They had a clean slate and a chance to start anew, without the gluttonous need to devour the world..."
"But..."
"That's what would've happened if it wasn't for the hands of Dr. Xehanort."
"Xehanort?" Xemnas began to hiss as he spoke of the man with venom.
"He's was a monster, a dangerous one at that. Once the Genesis Aragami fell into his hands they entered a world of hell. He tortured them; picked them apart; trapped them in cages; and pinned them against each other all in the name of science. Their living conditions were deplorable, trapped in cages that barely gave them leg room and rarely fed. Through time the Aragami with high intelligence began to rise up."
"Was Father among them?" Xemnas voice began to lose its sting.
"One of the first. Countless experiments that felt like they lasted for years went by, the Aragami began to grow merciless. They detested the humans that caused them suffering. Having enough, the intelligent ones revolted, slaughtering everyone in the lab. Not even Xehanort could escape, Father made certain of that. Now freed from their prisons they took their learned cruelty and grudge out on the humans. Anarchy took over the world, which leads us to this day."
"You said Aragami of high intelligence began to rise, does that mean there are more Aragami like Father out there?"
"I only know of one other..." But then he got serious again. "You must never go to that Laboratory, Megumi."
The video ended and started again inside the castle's living room. Axel and Saix were sitting on the couches, more like lying down in Axel's case, each reading their respective book.
The clomping of feet could be heard getting louder as Megumi stormed into the room. She leaned on the door frame as she caught her breath. She was now eleven years old and her baby fat on her face was slowly disappearing.
"Guys, help..." She said winded. Startled by her state of being Axel and Saix got up-right.
"Princess what's wrong?" "Are you injured?" Axel and Saix both spoke in concern, Axel expressing it more. She nodded in compliance.
"I'm bleeding and it's not healing."
"!" Saix's eyes widened along with Axel's.
"Where?!" Axel checked her over in concern. How could this be? They all had regenerative abilities, her's better than most. Why was she not healing? Could there possibly be a new poison that prevents the regenerative process?
"Here!" She pointed toward the area of the wound in fear. Saix's and Axel's eyes widened in fear and embarrassment as she pointed toward her crotch area.
"..."
"'Scuse me." Axel said in disbelief. They knew this day would come they just hoped it wouldn't come too soon. Her eyes began to water with confusion and fear.
"It just started bleeding and I can't make it stop. (Sniffle) What'll I do? Am I dying?"
"(Sigh) No, Megumi, you're not dying." Saix said, closing his eyes as he pinched his nose.
"Then... what's happening to me?" The boys got uncomfortable and began to fidget in their seats.
"Uh... well... you see, princess, it's... ah..." Axel struggled to explain as he scratched the back of his skull for the right answer. Seeing his struggle, Saix came to his rescue.
"Don't worry, Megumi. This is a natural process, your body will simple bleed for a couple of days."
"A Couple of days?! I'll bleed out by then! So I am dying!" She began crying some more.
The other guys in the castle could sense her distress, along with Axel's and Saix's. But once they figured out what was troubling her they turned back around, leaving Axel and Saix in their predicament before they were even noticed. Then it came to Axel like a light bulb, causing him to jump up.
"Oh, I got it! Larxene will know what to do! I-I'll just... stay here for a second, I'll go get her!"
The video ended with Axel desperately dashing out of the room, nearly running into the camera; leaving an uncomfortable Saix alone with a crying Megumi, hoping that Axel would soon return. Then the video came back a month later. Judging by all the decoration around the castle it was Christmas time.
Megumi was out in front of the castle wearing a Santa Claus outfit, with a skirt instead of pants and a red Santa Claus hat cutely rested on her head. She was building what appeared to be a sled which she would eventually paint red, judging by all the paint cans. What surprised the First Unit was Zexion walking over to her with five Ogretails harnessed by reins with silver bells.
"You do realize that this is not a good idea?" Zexion said to her in a lazy voice. Finishing up with what she needed on the sled Megumi began to paint.
"Hmph, says you. The Aragami have taken the spirit out of the holidays. The people need this to help bring back their hopes and a little joy."
"Hn, and this reason is what gave you the sudden idea to prance around the area's Branch as Santa Claus to deliver presents to all the good little girls and boys."
"Actually, I've always wanted to do this for years. I've just never had the means to do this until today. And I'm not delivering just to the kids deemed 'good' by society, I'm delivering to all of them." Finishing the paint job she got up to gather a red large bag of gifts, and home-made presents. The bag was three times the size of Megumi as she carried it above her head. Throwing it in the sled's backseats, it took up the whole back row.
"..."
"Tst, don't give me that look." She said looking at her brothers face. "Come on Zexion, it'll be fun!"
"(Sigh)"
"In the end you're still a good Santa's little helper."
"Just don't let this blow up in your face." He said, handing her the reins of the Ogretails.
"Your present is in your room." She pulled out her Santa beard from her bag. Putting it on she gave him three final words. "Ho ho ho!"
The video ended and began a chaotic early morning Christmas Day later. The Den sirens rang loudly throughout the Branch as search lights shot out all around. The camera faced her, wind blew her hair and the fluffy tail of her hat back as she smack the reins of the Ogretails to make them go faster.
One Ogretail lead two rows of Ogretail as the fastest of the team, their reins jingled in the night- most likely giving away their position. The bag was long empty and the sled looked like it had been shot at. As Megumi pushed the sled to go faster she kept berating herself.
"This is bad! This is bad! They're going to kill me!" A bomb was shot near her sled, she barely dodged it. "These people want to kill me! This 'was' a stupid idea! They're going to get me! Xemnas is going to KILL ME!"
A bomb went off and landed behind her sled causing it to flip. The last thing the First Unit heard is her shouted 'Whoa!' as she was being launched toward the camera, beard falling off, before the video just fuzzed off. Kota began to burst out laughing.
"Haha, oh my God, haha! She was the mysterious Santa Claus of the Branch?! We talked about that Christmas in the Outer Ghetto for years! It really did bring out a good laugh." Calming down Kota wiped away a tear.
"That was her..." Soma couldn't believe it. He had met her once, oh so long ago.
It was his first few weeks as a Gods Eater, he was twelve and lying in his official Fenrir assigned room. Due to his skill he was automatically place on the Veteran's Floor.
He laid on his bed, trying his best attempts to go to sleep. But the Sandman always seemed to just evade him. He was always restless during the holidays. Everyone always pranced around with smiles, celebrating Christmas with their family and friends while he was always... alone.
His father always sent him a gift, but he never made an actual appearance. Soma began to detest Christmas because it always brought out the special things everyone else had but took for granted that he could never have but secretly wanted.
Just as his mind began to wonder his eyes snapped open. He felt a presence in his room, someone that had the scent of peppermint and candy cane. Soma remained still, his back turned toward the vigilante as he waited to see what they would do next. When he heard that rampaging through things he turned around and sat up, thinking they were going through his things.
What greet him was a young girl in a Santa Claus outfit, he could tell by her petite body. Regardless of the ridiculous fake beard and skirt that gave her away. She was kneeling down on one knee, placing a bracelet made of Ogretail claws and Sariel headdress gems with a bow and card wrapped around it on his coffee table. The girl must have pulled it out of the big red, now emptied, sack she was dragging along.
She turned to look at him, freezing in place like a deer in headlights, the moment she heard movement and turned to see him looking back at her. Soma couldn't really get a good look at her face with that big Santa Claus beard blocking half of it. But he got a good look at her vibrant blue sky eyes and long flowing brown hair coming from her Santa hat.
"Ho ho ho, go back to sleep little boy." She said nervously in a jolly old St. Nick voice.
"Who the heck are you?" He said with a raised eyebrow.
"Why I'm Santa Claus." She kept playing along, she pointed her fingers and crossed her arms like a gangster. "Check it."
"Bull, if you're Santa Claus then I'm Jack Frost."
"With an icy attitude like that you might as well be." She said, cutting the act and speaking normally.
"What do you expect to happen when you break into someone's room." He retorted, crossing his arms along the way. "How did you get in here anyway?"
"I came through the chimney, ho ho ho."
"Get real."
"Fine, through the magic of Christmas."
"Pfft, please. There's no such thing as magic in this world, only darkness." Her eyes saddened at his words.
"Do you really believe that?"
"I do, and you'd best grow up and face the reality of it too." He was caught off guard when she somehow shortened the distance between them in a second to pop a candy cane into his mouth.
"I feel sorry for you..."
"!"
"Has life run you down so much you've lost the wonder the world has to offer before you even lost all your baby teeth?"
"..."
"You must not lose the ability to dream, or you'll lose all your hopes and prayers. Your world will be much brighter if you don't lose that sense of wonder. A powerful dream will always be enough to light the darkness."
"..."
"Now I've got a present for you to give you a start." She said leaning back up straight and handed his present directly to him. "Hope you like it, most of the gifts are hand-made."
Studying the gift for a second he looked back up at her and move the candy cane to the side of his mouth.
"Hmph, don't expect any milk and cookies."
"That's okay, I've got a loose tooth anyway." She gave him a big smile he could see through her beard lifting slightly and held the bracelet out to him. "Merry Christmas!"
He slowly reached for the bracelet in her hands, afraid to touch it only to realize that this was all a dream. The bracelet was cool to the touch on his finger tips. She smiled wider at him as he held it in his hands and examined it. Her giggles brought his eyes back to her. Something about her voice was exciting the Aragami inside him.
"What's you're name?"
"Santa Claus."
"I meant you're real name."
"St. Nicholas."
"You're really going to play this out all the way, aren't you?"
"Yup!" She happily grinned at him, causing him to grin as well.
"Hmph, I'm surprised you didn't come here in a sled."
"I did! It's parked out front of this..." Her eyes lost their twinkled as a realization kicked in. She had left her sled run by Ogretails in front of the Den of the God Eaters. "Uh oh."
"What's up?" Suddenly the alarms started going off.
"Whoops."
He remembered her rushing off as she fled the premises, never getting the chance to get her name. That was the best Christmas he ever had, he even still kept the bracelet in his top drawer, and it was all thanks to that mysterious cute girl who broke into his room that early Christmas morning. Now that mystery was finally solved. He could imagine her running around the Ghettos in her sled, breaking through windows to deliver presents to the kids. How the kids must have reacted to the extra gift on the kitchen table must have been a sight to see.
The video started again. Megumi had her head hanging low, burns and all, as her family chastised her for her actions.
"It would seem that the actions of our king has brought too much attention to us. We will have to leave this area for a while, things will settle down eventually." Xemnas sentenced.
"I-I'm sorry... everyone..."
"Do not stress yourself child. We were planning to leave soon anyway. It's best for us not to focus on one area for too long." Xemnas went on. "It's time that you got to see the world, Megumi."
The video ended and started again. They were all gathered in a new base out in the lands of England. Megumi was twelve years old, her body was starting to develop.
"My brothers and sisters, a joyest day this is," Xemnas said. "Today the final sibling has been born, for Father has stated he shall make no more. A new member of the family now wears the coat."
A young Roxas came to the center of the room as they all got a look at him from their thrones. He was a boy of only ten, but his eyes lost their innocence and wonder. They were so empty it frightened Megumi.
"No. 14, Roxas." Xemnas introduced him to the others. "He has no last name nor a family. He's survived so far on his own until Father adopted him. Now, as a barer of the coat we welcome you into our little band of misfits. Welcome to the family, Roxas."
The video stopped there and started with Axel and Megumi training Roxas in a secluded forest in Ireland.
"Man, why am I always stuck with the babysitting duty?" Axel complained.
"Because you're good with kids."
"Oh ha ha." Axel said sarcastically, giving Megumi a shove.
"Well, let's get started with your abilities." Megumi got back on topic, addressing Roxas. "Like we explained before, we need to see what kind of Aragami you are. Can you transform for us?"
"..." Emotionlessly, Roxas transformed into a Fallen Chi-You, his eyes were still empty.
"Good! A familiar Aragami, we can work with this." Megumi cheered, getting no reaction from Roxas. "You're a closed off one, aren't you?"
"..."
"Talk about a total Zombie."
"Axel!" Megumi berated then turned back to Roxas. "(Sigh) It's okay... you can talk whenever you're ready. For now let's get you use to your abilities."
The video ended with her getting into a fighting stance and started again with the three of them fighting two Gboros in a rundown Power-plant in Russia.
Roxas was in human form and had somehow formed a strange weapon. It was a blade that had Fallen Chi-You wings at its tip making it look like a giant key. Most likely the others probably joked about it being a 'Key blade.'
The boy was as emotionless and hollow as ever. He slightly showed a hint of sparkle when dealing with Megumi and Axel, but he was still closed off. He fought and there was nothing more to it.
"Remember to go for the lower canons and teeth, Roxas!" Axel reminded. Roxas replied with a nod and went at it.
As Axel took on one, Megumi and Roxas worked together on the other. Puddles were found all over due to the previous rain from the day before.
Roxas was standing in one of these puddles when he knocked the Gboros back into a Power-pole. The impact was strong enough for it to knock down the poll, breaking off the wires. The Power-plant was rundown, but still active. As the wires shot back, one of them was going to land in Roxas's puddle.
"Roxas!" Megumi cried out, pushing him out of the puddle. She fried up like a criminal in an electric chair. The electrocuting stopped once all the water had dissolved. Megumi laid on the ground, smoke coming off her body. Roxas got up to look at what just happened, gasping with wide eyes at the state of Megumi.
Running up to her, he held her upper body in his arms. "...Megumi?" She gave him no response. Fear came over him and his eyes began to water, this was the most any of them had seen Roxas expressing himself.
The Gboro got back up and angrily roared at Roxas. With watery furious eyes, Roxas met its gaze.
"Darn you! Ahrrr!" Changing fully into a Fallen Chi-You, Roxas twirled punched it and shot a divine ball directly into its mouth. The Aragami was destroyed from the inside.
Axel saw what happened and ran over to Megumi, along with a transforming back Roxas.
"Megumi! Is she going to be alright?" Roxas asked in concern.
"She'll be fine, just give her a second." Axel assured him. "You know, this is the first time you've actually said a full sentence to us."
"Well..." But Megumi started to cough back to life, drawing their eyes back down to her as she tiredly opened her eyes.
"Ugh... I feel like fried chicken." She said, slowly sitting up.
"Glad to see you up, princess." Axel said, patting her shoulder.
"Can't keep me down that easily."
"Megumi... thank you." Megumi smiled at Roxas and began playfully rubbing his head.
"Of course, that's what you do in a family, you look out for each other."
"Well, I think we've all earned an ice-cream bar for this." Axel said, while he and Roxas helped Megumi get back on her feet. "C'mon, I'll treat my cute little siblings."
For the first time... Roxas smiled.
The video ended and started again a month later. They all were in South America, fighting an army of Sariel, Fallen Sariel,and Tezcatlipocas, an advanced species of Quadriga. Missiles and poisonous gas stormed the area from both sides as they mercilessly fought their way through... as a family.
The video fuzzed off and began again months later. They were back in London. Megumi was spying on Xemnas from the bushes along with Roxas as Xemnas conversed with a beautiful young woman with short blue hair, blue eyes, and a designer blue dress that only the Higher crust could have the customization money to afford.
She had an air of grace and kindness that Megumi had noticed was drawing in her brother. Xemnas never showed signs of attraction toward other beings. He even ignored the on going affection of the beautiful women they kept meeting during their travels. But here he was... flirting with a young woman with lovely aqua blue eyes.
Megumi could practically see the chemistry between the two, but Xemnas never seemed to act on it. He made the group stay in this area longer than usual, they all knew he did it for her but he failed to make a move. All he needed was a little push out of the door.
That's why Megumi decided to intervene for her brother's sake. So there she was, hiding in the bush in a Purely Cupid outfit with a bow and rubber arrows while Roxas held a basket of cherry blossom petals. She checked the area thoroughly for Aragami before commencing her plan, so she wouldn't have any hidden surprises.
Jumping out and surprising them, she shot them both with rubber arrows while Roxas threw the petals up in the air toward them. Megumi gave the woman the cutest puppy dog eyes, wiggling around in her spot.
"Please go out with my brother. He's really nice but very shy... and has a hard time expressing himself. But... he really likes you, pretty lady."
The woman giggled and smiled warmly at the kids before turning it toward Xemnas. "She's adorable, what a cute little sister you have Xemnas."
"Yes, she is." Xemnas agreed slightly embarrassed about what just happened. The woman came over to the kids and knelt down to their level.
"What's you're names?" She asked in a gentle voice like a calm stream.
"I'm Megumi."
"And I'm Roxas."
"Hm, such lovely names. I'm Aqua." Her smile was so warm and full of heart. "You both must really love your brother a lot to go through all this trouble."
"We do! We'd gladly help in any way we can to make him happy, just like he would for us." Megumi said with pride. Aqua's smile grew bigger.
"That's so sweet. What a loving family you guys have." She then stood up and twirled to face Xemnas. "I think I will take you up on that offer."
"Wha-" Xemnas blushed pronouncedly as she gently placed two fingers on his lips, causing her to giggle.
"I'll see you at seven in the Town Square. Don't be late, okay?" All Xemnas could to was nod in response. She smiled and placed an innocent kiss on his cheek before she began to walk away. "It's a date then. See you later, Xemnas."
Xemnas gently caressed the cheek she kissed, watching her walk away.
"..."
"You're welcome, Xemnas. Tell us how it went afterwards." Was all Megumi needed to say. They both knew what he was thinking.
The video ended and started again. They had returned to the castle after such a long time. At this point Megumi was thirteen, her body was showing signs of pre-maturity. All of them where hanging out in the living room, with the exception of Marluxia.
All was calm until Marluxia stormed in bringing with him a gust of wind full of rose petals and a bouquet of roses.
"W-what's all this?" Larxene said in disbelief. She was taken aback by how serious Marluxia looked. "W-what are you doing, Mar?"
"Many a times I've tried to win your heart to no avail. My attempts were half hearted and juvenile, it's no wonder you kept rejecting me. If you were ever to take me seriously I must court you with all my heart on the line." She blushed as he approached her. Marluxia handed her the bouquet without a care of the others in the room. All eyes were on them, but his never left hers. "Larxene, I ask you again, will you give me the honor of accompany me on a date?"
"... (Sigh) I guess... I could give you a try. What harm could it do?"
"Thank you," taking her hand Marluxia gave it a kiss.
"Ha! It's about time!" Xigbar jeered at them.
"Congratulations, you two make a lovely couple." Zexion lazily added in.
"Nice show Marluxia," Axel laughed out.
"Indeed, the flowers were so pretty." Roxas nicely added in. "But, where'd you get all the flowers?"
"A small sacrifice on the courtyard that was worth the prize." A jolt went down Megumi's spine at Marluxia's answer.
"But the amount of roses needed to create that storm would be..." She stood up from her seat. "Oh no."
Sprinting from the room, Xigbar, Demyx, and Axel laughed at Megumi's antics.
"Haha, into the castle with one girl and out in the doghouse with another. You just can't win, huh Marluxia." Xigbar teased.
"Man, you're in trouble with Megumi now." Axel shook his head in partial pity for Marluxia.
"I'm sure she'll forgive and forget about this by tomorrow."
"I don't know about that," Roxas added in. "Megumi really loves her flowers."
"Not to mention the labor it'll take her to grow them back by hand again." Vexen added in.
As if proving the point a tiny cry rang through the castle.
"Nooooooooooooooooooo."
The video came to an end and started again. Megumi and Roxas were sneaking into the lab that was forbidden to go to. At this point Megumi was fourteen years old while Roxas was twelve.
"Megumi, I'm starting to think that this wasn't such a good idea." Roxas said, staying close to Megumi. "This place creeps me out."
"There's no way we can turn back now, we've come too far. Aren't you curious of the place Father came from?"
As they walked around they all began to see the horrors that took place in this Laboratory. Bloody examining tables, destroyed rooms, and cages were stacked on top of one another like some kind of storage facility. A chill went down their spines as they saw some of the bones of the scientist still remained.
Her senses heightened as she spotted one cage, that could barely fit two grown adults, separated from the others. It called out to her with a familiarity. It stood in the center of the room, trails of blood dragged from it- or was it being dragged into it? Megumi gently touched its bars as the realization sank into her.
"This is Father's cage..." Roxas became anxious, he could have sworn he saw the shadows move.
"I've seen enough, Megumi. Let's go."
"Yes, I guess we're done here."
A growl startled the two as they entered back into the hallway. They turned toward the direction from wince it came. Out of the shadows came the ugliest Aragami they had ever seen, it was as if all the evils of this building deformed it into its image. It looked like a mutated crocodile with extra legs and purple scales. It drooled at them in hunger.
"I thought you said that all the Aragami escaped from here?" Roxas asked with disbelief. The fear that was already taking over them was preventing them from transforming. They were sitting ducks right now and they knew it.
"They were suppose to be." Her voice attracted the Aragami, causing it to charge at them. "Run!"
They ran for their lives, jumping pass tossed around lab supplies and equipment as the Aragami simply charged through relentlessly. Their distress should've already alerted the others. They were most likely in big trouble, but if they didn't get out of this place soon they'll be dead.
In their flight out the Laboratory they almost failed to notice that this lab was on a tiny island and almost ran off the steep cliff. Ground to a halt they turned to watch the Aragami close in on them. Being the older sibling and the immortal one Megumi got in front of Roxas and prepared for the worse.
Just as it almost reached them, Azriel came down upon it. Crashing its skull into the ground he ripped out its core from its center with his bare hand. Feeling the Aragami was unworthy for devouring he crushed its core in his hand. Megumi and Roxas could've sworn they heard a shrieking scream come from it.
"Those who let the darkness consume them fail to see how it traps them in its clutches. They continue to serve it and its false power, blinded of how it keeps them from ever leaving as they suffer." He said not looking at the two.
"Father..." Megumi was shocked and somewhat happy to see him again.
"You came..." Roxas couldn't believe he would be the one to come to their aid. From what he heard Father was terrified of this place.
Azriel finally turned to them. Anger coated his face, but his eyes shown of relief and fear. "Never come to this place again. The darkness has driven ones on this hell-hole-of-a-rock mad."
Grabbing the two like footballs he flew off again from the island. Landing in an area close to the Sunken Grid, Xemnas was there to greet them. He was vexed, arms crossed and body tensed.
"Thank you for retrieving them, Father."
"Hm..." Putting them down Azriel flew up straight into the air. He disappeared in the clouds.
With Azriel no longer there the two were left alone to deal with Xemnas's anger. Taking responsibility as the olderest of the young sibings, Megumi spoke up.
"Xemnas I-"
"You deliberately defied me." They could hear the disappointment in his voice and that hurt worse than any punishment.
"Xemnas, please don't be mad at Roxas, it was my I idea. I-I'm sorry..."
"Enough, we're going home." He walked ahead of them, they followed behind with their heads hanging low. "I'm just glad you're both alright."
The video ended and began again on a beach off the coast of England. Roxas was walking along side a now sixteen year old Megumi, she had developed nicely and still had more to go.
"C'mom sis, you gotta meet her. She's really nice, and pretty too." Roxas's face was practically blushing all over.
"(Giggle) I suppose I must. I'm looking forward to meeting the girl who won my little brother's heart. Tell me, does the fair young lady have a name?"
"Her name's Namine, she's thirteen, she lives in a house close to the shore. She's an artist." He continued to blush like a goofball as he described her.
"Ooh an artist, you picked a really good one. Means that she's creative."
"Haha, she is. Her art's really good." Roxas grinned at his sister before turning his attention back up front. He smiled brightly as he spotted a figure in the distance. "Ah, there she is!"
Megumi shook her head in loving affection when Roxas ran off ahead to meet the girl.
"Namine!" His boots crunched in the sand. He walked up to a girl sitting on a stool as she painted the ocean on a canvas. Her golden hair was loosely tied in a braid and hung over one shoulder. Her bangs were long, but they did nothing to hide her beautiful blue eyes. Being from England the sun never damaged her porcelain skin, even with living so close to the beach. She was lovely as she wore a simple yet modest short white summer dress. At the sound of his voice she turned to him and smiled.
"Roxas... it's good to see you again."
"Y-yeah, you too." He rubbed the back of his head only realizing a second later that Megumi was there. "Oh, this is my older sister, Megumi."
"It's nice to finally meet you, Namine. Roxas has been talking a lot about you." She smiled down at Namine, tilting to the side to get a good look at her painting. "Roxas was right, you are a really good artist."
"(Gasp) Thank you, I've been practicing really hard."
"It shows, your work shows your heart."
"Yes, but I still have a long ways to go." She smiled then looked off into the distance. "I hope that one day my art can bring joy to people just as they do to me. Even a little, I want to make others smile."
"Hm, I like her Roxas. She has my stamp of approval."
"?" Namine tilted her head in confusion.
"Heh heh," Roxas happily grinned at his sister's consent.
"I best leave you two love birds alone now." Megumi said walking passed them, holding her hands in front of her. "I've always wanted to visit a beach, but never got a chance to."
"Your sister's nice." Namine said once Megumi was further up shore. "Just like your brother, Axel."
"Heh ha, yeah. My family's big but those two are the siblings I'm the closest with. Both your and their approval means a lot to me."
"You're a sweet boy, Roxas." Namine smiled into her hand. "I hope it never fades away."
"!" Off in the distance, just as Megumi was walking along the shore a Gboro jumped out of the sea at her.
"?" Just as Namine was about to turn around to see what had startled Roxas, he began to distract attention to himself as Megumi punched the Gboro into the sand and ripped off its jaw.
"Ah, it's nothing Namine. I was just taken aback by the detail of your painting." Roxas chimed in. "The clouds look so real."
"Hm mph, that's what I love about clouds. One is never the same as another. They all come in different colors and hues, it's like a fluffy rainbow. And they don't stay the same making them a spur of the moment art of nature. You draw one at one time it'll change into something else later." While Namine spoke, behind her Megumi had ripped out the Gboro's core. Devouring the core and kicking the body far off into the ocean, Megumi ran off into the trees to burst.
"!" A light from the trees behind them drew Namine's attention. "What was that?"
Nervously following her, Roxas and Namine ran off toward the source. What greeted them was a relaxed Megumi, leaning on a tree, chewing on some fruit, surrounded by flowers.
"Megumi, did you see a light just now?" Namine asked. Megumi's only reply was pulling out a picture camera from behind her back.
The video stopped and started again with Megumi weeks later. She had returned to Japan and now stood on the edge of a rocky cliff on the ocean side. The ocean breeze blew her hair back as she looked out at its great blue, the camera was facing her side. She began to sing, her voice had become more angelic as the time passed.
"Sometimes I feel happy
Sometimes I feel blue
In my dreams oh I wish I could
Feel my hair blowing in the wind
See the sky in the summer rain
Pick a flower from the garden
For you
Beyond the land's there's another world
Butterflies floating in the air
Is there someone out there
For me?
And so life goes on
day to day
With knick-knacks on the floor
nooks and crannies.
I live in a tiny world.
Out there
Someone waits for me.
I wish I had someone
to watch over
Me.
In my dreams oh I wish I could
Feel my hair blowing in the wind
See the sky in the summer rain
Pick a flower from the garden
For you.
Now I know there's another world
Butterflies floating in the air
Is someone out there
For Me?"
She sang out to the ocean, but Soma felt like she was calling out to him.
"Feel my hair blowing in the wind
See the sky in the summer rain
Pick a flower from the garden
For you.
Now I know there's another world
Butterflies floating in the air
Is someone out there
For me?"
She turned wistfully away from the ocean and began to leave. The camera turned off after that. It turned on again with Megumi inside her room in the castle. She sat by her bed beside her packed luggage.
"Xemnas says that we're ready to go off on our own... that we each have a responsibility to protect a continent." She smiled sadly, looking up into the camera. "Xemnas and Roxas are going to England to protect Europe, most likely to stay close to their girlfriends. Marluxia and Larxene went to North America.
"Oh, I almost forgot, they're married now. Yeah, tied the knot when I was fifteen. I would have recorded it but I got a copy of the ceremony on another disk. It was a lovely reception and only a few of my flowers had to die for it. Vexen and Zexion look after South America, while Luxord looks after them. Lexaeus and Xaldin have Africa, and Demyx and Xigbar look after Australia.
"Asia has been split up between Saix, Axel, and me since it's so big. Axel looks after Russia; Saix looks after China and the other countries around it; while I look after the coast islands."
Her smile turned grim. "It looks like I got the lucky pick out of the bunch. I get to stay close to home and I have the lease amount of area to protect. And yet... I feel so lonely. Everyone's no longer a room apart, I feel like I'm losing my family again."
Suddenly she began to perk up. "What am I saying? We're a family. We'll always be one, no matter how far apart we are. Whenever one of us is in trouble we'll be there for them."
A genuine smile returned to her face, grabbing her bag she got up from her bed. "I'm going to return to my old home. It's been a while since I visited my mother, I think I'll stay there from now on." She titled her head and smiled warmly. "See you soon."
The video turned off and started again with Megumi walking up the family hill where her mother was buried. The climb would have led to a happy ending, that is until she looked upon her mother's dug up grave. In a shock she sprinted to the grave and looked around for her mother's remains, it was gone.
Enraged she sniffed the area to pick up where her mother's scent was being taken. Apparently the scent was still fresh, who ever had done this had done it recently, it lead her pass the family's forest. She would find who was responsible for this, human or not she would destroy them.
What she came upon disgusted her. The grave robber wasn't a human but an Aragami. It was an advanced female version of an Ouroboros, it went by the name of the Roman goddess, Venus, for its pursuit for beauty. However, the human body of a beautiful woman had for a face was different than normal... It was her mother, stitches and all, just like the day she had buried her.
"You monsters! Not only did you mutilate her body, you defiled her grave! You will die for this!"
She was angry, far more angry than she had ever been before. Her Aragami transformation was almost instant, more powerful... different. The temperature dropped 40 degrees around her. She didn't turn into a fiery Hannibal... she became an icy Bahamut.
Her scales turned blue; the large pack on her back turned into two wing bones; blades rested on her lower arm. But what was the most frightening about her was that her horns curved back into a halo crown and her eyes were a neon icy blue. Her breath was like winter and it frosted everything it touched. The Terminal had whispered horrible legends about this frostbitten killer, those who encountered it began to fear the cold. They called it a Caligula.
Megumi didn't know what happened, she didn't care. She just pounced at the Venus's face and ripped/pulled her mother out of its body. It cried out when she succeeded and began to wildly fling about. Megumi fought back, but its skin began to harden around each opened weak spot.
Angered by this her eyes turned into a neon crimson, icy cold breath spewed from her mouth. Going to the floor she summoned a blizzard from her body, freezing the Venus in place. Pulling out the frost wings from her back wing bones she took off into the air. Flying at the Venus she took out her arm blades and slices the Venus into pieces. By the time she was done the terrain was frozen over, a fresh coat of snow covered the forest. Now she understood the anger Father must have felt when he was driven to crush that Aragami's core those many years ago. She wanted to crush the retched thing, she wanted to pulverize it into little specks of dust. But the risk of her mother being trapped in there stopped her, she devoured the core and released a burst.
The Venus was gone, but her over burst of Oracle Cells attracted more Aragami. Prithvi Matas, the female advance species of Vajra's, circled the area. They eyed Megumi and her mother's body like their first meal in days. But Megumi was too emotional at the moment, there was no way she'd be able to keep all those Aragamis away from her mother.
She tried piercing them with frost spears and summoned giant ice stalagmites. However, these Aragami were immune to such elements, the damage had little effect. They were pushing her back to the point all she could do was shield her mother with her body.
The Prithvi Matas had just closed in and were ready to pounce. Before they could complete their first move a dark Hannibal pounced on the one that pounced first, in mid air. Tackling the Prithvi Mata to the ground the dark Hannibal bit into its jugular and ripped off its head.
Blood dripped out its jaw as it looked upon the remaining Prithvi Matas. It summoned blades of onyx flame from its arms as it sliced through them all. The Hannibal was literally melting them by the touch, it almost looked corrosive.
However, through it all, the mysterious Hannibal showed no signs of hostility toward Megumi. Once the deed was done it turned back around to look at her. Megumi changed back into human form, holding her mother close as she looked it in the eyes. There was something familiar about them, she wasn't afraid of this Aragami, almost as if she knew this Aragami all her life.
A strange urge came over her, as if something inside her had possessed her body to make her do what she did next... She called out to the beast.
"I-... is that you, dad?" The beast's eyes widened at her addressing of it. Almost like the beast was recalling a fading memory. Shaking off the fuzzy thoughts it ran away. "Ah, wait!"
But it was gone. Leaving her and her mother alone in the tainted crimson snow. Carrying her mother on her back she walked toward home. Taking her mother back to her hill, Megumi repaired her mothers coffin and placed her back in her grave.
"Mom... I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you a second time. But..." She smiled down warmly at her mother as she started to close the casket. "I promise to look after your sleep from now on."
Jumping out of the hole she filled it in. With a burst from the remaining cores that other Hannibal didn't devour she restored the land to the condition it was before that fateful day of the Aragami attack.
"Dad... that was you wasn't it?" She said looking off into the distance from whence she came from. "Dad, tell me where you are?" A wind blew through her, coming from the east. Taking a whiff of it Megumi picked up the familiar scent. Without a moment to lose she headed back into the forest, toward the scent of the Corrosive Hannibal.
The video turned off then turned back on again. By this time the sun was long gone and the moon was high. Megumi had walked all the way off her farm and out of the surrounding forest. She was now in a dry area filled with nothing more than dirt and stones. Boulders towered along each other and the full moon lit her way. She continued along until she finally found the Hannibal, leaning on its knees on top of a big boulder as its tail fell limply to the floor.
Picking up her presence it let out a low rumble and watched her from the corner of its eyes.
"Hey... are you there papa?" Its head turned fully toward her. Its rumble grew louder and almost resembled a purr. "Wake up."
It jumped off its boulder and slowly approached her. Looking down at Megumi it hesitantly reached out to touch her. She smiled up at the Hannibal's possible recognition of her; but, then her eyes saddened at the state her father was in.
"I'm sorry, dad..." Her eyes watered as it tilted its head questionably at her. "I'm sorry for not... for not being able to save you or mom."
A twitch came over the Hannibal, backing away it clinched its head. Recovering from its inner pain it growled at Megumi and charged at her. Sadden by this Megumi transformed into a Hannibal to defend herself. Hands clenched together they wrestled each other for dominance. Light verses darkness, in the battle of the beasts. Taking a cheap shot, the Corrosive Hannibal bit into her shoulder. Roaring out in surprised pain she kicked into its gut, knocking the Corrosive Hannibal off her.
She was about to jump on it again when it used its tale to knock her down. Once down it pounced on her, causing them both to rumble and tumble on the ground. With a punch to the face, Megumi was able to get on top.
"I love you, dad. But this is for your own good." The glowing lines came over her body while she was in Aragami form. With a battle cry she slammed her hand onto the center of the Corrosive Hannibal's chest. "Wake up!"
A bright light shined from her hand, blinding the area in a white light. Once it faded, Megumi was back to being human holding up the upper body of her half transformed father.
"Come on dad, are you alive, don't you feel?... Show me you're here, show me your tears, tell me something, anything... Please, just show me you're human, can't you feel?" Megumi pleaded to him with a gentle shake. His eyes slowly opened, he was weary and so very tired. With a struggle he lifted his human size Corrosive Hannibal arm to cup her cheek in his hand.
"Hey, sweetie. You've gotten so big... glad to see you again."
"Dad!" She smiled, glumping him for a hug. "I thought you were dead... all this time."
"In a way I was..." Doragon answered. "Where have you been? What happened to you?"
"It's a long story, I'll tell you later." Then she sighed. "I'm sorry, dad. You're not a Child of Misfortune. You'll be able to transform into an Aragami when ever you please, but you'll never be able to change back fully into human."
"After so many years of wondering I barely recall I ever was human."
"Don't worry, we'll work on that together." Megumi said, helping her father back on his feet. He used his tail to cover his privates. "Let's go home."
"Thanks, baby girl." Leaning on Megumi's shoulder, Doragon and Megumi headed home. "You've been going to school, right?"
The video ended and started again with Megumi in her Shijo Gakuen High School uniform surrounded by fellow female school mates. Like teenagers, they giggled and goofed around with the camera.
"(Giggle) C'mon Megumi, smile! Since you can't talk you can at least grace the future generations with your smile." Asked a girl with hair of fire and eyes of water.
"Leave her alone Kairi, can't you see the class protege is shy. She's been home-schooled for so long this all must still be new to her."
"You can't pamper her too much or she'll close herself off. Now come on Megumi, let's see that big smile." With a silent giggle, Megumi gave her a big angelic smile. Kairi rewarded Megumi with a hug. "Atta-girl! But don't turn into a lazy bum like Sora (Giggle)."
The camera ended and started again on a night out in the Forgotten Carrier. At this point Megumi was seventeen years old and recently joined Fenrir. She was sitting down on the uplift on the bridge, leaning on her knees as a strange human and wolf like Aramgami laid beneath her.
"Fenrir came to collect me two days ago... I'm officially a Gods Eater now." She put her God Arc in front of her and held it by the pommel. "This is my God Arc, its beautiful isn't it?"
"(Sigh) I... I left my father again. How sad... but... it's not as sad as other things. Like... facing the consequences of my choice. I'll never be able to talk around these people that I'll be working with... I can never truly trust them.
"And they most likely know this and don't trust me either, I know Soma does. I most likely will be living in a cage every time I enter the Den. But I... I didn't come here for friends."
She then looked up at the camera with a serious look in her eyes.
"There's something going on in the Branch. The Aragami have been acting up recently, something has been drawing them and me to this Branch. As guardian of these islands I'm bound to investigate this possible threat. And also..." Her eyes started to sadden.
"And also Fenrir can give me something that my family most likely never could, or anyone else for that matter. My siblings must never know of the reason why I joined Fenrir. I'd tell them but I'm kinda scared of what their reactions would be. That's it for now, I have to get back before someone notices that I'm gone. Until next time."
She got up and turned off the camera, the camera turned on again a few nights later. It was the time when Lindow and Soma followed Megumi out into the ruin city. She had jumped into that crack in the ground, which lead deep under the city.
The area was surrounded by rumble and remains of buildings hung on the walls. Fresh water gently flooded into the stone and brick floor, the water reflected a blue glow that lit up the area. An Oracle Cell enhanced Japanese Oak Tree glowed white in its bark, while its leaves glowed a light green. A few fireflies flew around the place, this place was beautiful yet so stranage.
She sat on a stack of rumble with her feet soaking in the water. Her boots laid beside her as she addressed the camera.
"The others are starting to catch on to me, especially Soma. I can't believe they actually followed me here, I though I would've lost them once I got pass the Wall. Man, they're persistent.
"I can't let anybody find out what I am or else it's not just me who'll be in danger but my family as well. They actually came back to the area today, they're most likely not happy with me joining Fenrir. They all say it's too dangerous, too close to second-party enemies and mad scientists who can't tell the line between knowledge and humanity. But something strange has been going on in these parts. Apparently the Aragami have been acting up in their areas as well. Something big is going down, I can feel it.
"But its much harder to find out what that is with Soma always on my back. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was coming on to me. And to be honest I wouldn't mind that at all... What?! Don't judge me, it's not like I'll be alive for whenever somebody finds this disk, I'll be honest. I can feel a hidden attraction and tension around him, it's starting to get smothering." And then a blush came on her face and sly smile." And you know... actually I don't mind... Yeah, I'd hit that... (Bits lower lip with an inhale) so hard."
All heads slowly turned to Soma who's skin had turned a cherry red and steam came from his head. Blushes graced the girls while the guys gave him a sly smile. Kota and Lindow even gave him a thumbs up.
A roar from the video brought their attention back to the video. Megumi looked at the crack above where the noise came from.
"(Sigh) I better go now, looks like the boys are in trouble." She slowly turns into a Hannibal. "Ugh, I've been getting more hungry recently. Seriously, what's going on? But 'that' is a question I'll have to find the answer to another day."
The video ended as she floated up the crack with her fire wings as she slowly started to change fully into a Hannibal. Starting again the next day, the video started after that terrible first mission with Soma. Megumi sat on the ground, with knees bent, next to the Ogretail that had devoured Eric. Her eyes were so lifeless as she looked up at the sky.
"... I killed him... I killed Eric. I may not have been the one to devour him but I was the one who had the chance to stop it and did nothing. But it's not just my lack of action that disgust me... The thing is... the whole thing actually excited me. I enjoyed watching that Oregtail eat Eric... it made me hungry." She grabbed her head and began to shake the thoughts from her mind.
"But that isn't me... I didn't like it... That thing! That nightmare! She's always watching from the darkness, always waiting. But... no, I can never let her out! If I did that, God, what would I be?! No! No, I let my inner madness control me. How could I have been so weak to allow that, I ate last night. I can't sleep anymore, I can't truly live! It's trapping me in a corner. It..." Slowly she began to calm down and lowered her hands from her head. "Perhaps, I will have to use my plans for Fenrir sooner than I thought."
"But for now... no more. I've had enough of the madness inside me ruling my body. No more feeding; no more bursting; and no more Aragami night runs. I'm tired of being different, I want to be... normal. Maybe this is all a mind thing, perhaps if I fight against the hunger hard enough the cravings will fade away. But before that..."
She looked back down at the Ogretail and got closer. "I'm going to correct what I've wronged. There's still time, if I act now I can fix this. This'll be the last time... I'll use my powers."
Taking a deep breath she-
"Ahhh Ahhh Ah Ha Haaa Ahh!" As she screamed out the Ogretail began to transform into... Eric! A heavy breath of life came out of Eric as he continued to remain unconscious. Megumi looked into the camera with sad eyes.
"I used my abilities as king to make the Oracle Cells from Eric's body to reform back his body. If he wasn't a Gods Eater I could never have been able to do this. I've done all I can for him, the rest is up to him and God. If whoever sees this ever sees the family of Eric or meets him yourself... Tell him I'm sorry. I... I hope you've enjoyed my final words."
With that the video turned off... for good this time. Looks like the show... is over.