Sora spent much of the evening planning, while Roxas again tackled the issues of his magical differences. Sora kept an eye on things, and knew he could always raid his host's memories if he needed, so didn't worry too much – just planned.
Roxas's fears, while diminished, were nevertheless still present. He knew what he hosted and what it meant, he knew what Sora intended and what he could do, and he was undoubtedly afraid. The strains of having been visible to him for much of the day, doing magic with him and making him his host had depleted much of his strength, but the boosts it gave, and the lasting effects of Zack's own death more than made up for it.
Sora's plan was simple. Roxas objected to killing – as any sensible person might – but he felt there was another option. Only with Zack had he overruled him completely, and then only twice. Similarly, he had only taken partial control with Roxas, borrowing his hand, his arm to use his magic. And Roxas had magic that would conceal the signs of his presence, even the magic that did so.
His only question was, was he strong enough to carry out his plan just yet? To the end of answering that question, Sora left Roxas working in his room, heading through floors and walls to run soundlessly across the gardens to the nearest neighbour. Rather than simply run through the large hedgerow that marked the end of one property and the start of the next, he slowed and headed along its length.
The boughs and branches were thick and heavily intertwined, obscuring the views already concealed further by the leaves. Sora wasn't interested in what he could see though – he wanted a roughly Roxas-sized gap.
Heading toward the road found him nothing, but heading back he found exactly what he was after, just a few paces up from where he'd started. Sora absently cursed himself – if he'd gone this way before, it would have saved him time and energy. The longer he spent away from Roxas like this, the less strength he'd have for later.
Sora let the plants and undergrowth react to his presence, though they were unable to harm him – he was after all, already dead. Though far smaller than Roxas, he judged the differences carefully and was certain he'd make it through.
Now here on the other side of the hedge he continued on, running once again toward the next property. A stately mansion sheathed in white that gleamed beneath the setting sun. The gardens were purely ornamental here, a sign of the excessive wealth that liked to show it off and rub it in the noses of those who could only dream. A perfect target, Sora thought. Roxas might object, but he'd at least consider some among them to be better targets than most.
Remaining unseen, unheard, and untouched, he prowled through the quiet halls, listening for living voices, reaching out to find the sense of their general, every-day fears. Where possible, he kept to the established routes, memorising the place carefully for the planned second visit.
Up two flights of broad, richly carpeted staircases he finally located the suites, one with the master bedroom and two occupants – the master and mistress of the house, clearly – three unoccupied, two with young children in, and all of them human.
Sora thought back along his way in, carefully planning an entry route that would lead him directly here. Several times he headed off to look at alternative routes, aiming to keep the planned time here to an absolute minimum. Once he was satisfied, he simply returned to Roxas.
In the time Sora had spent away, he'd tidied up his work, not having achieved much yet, gone on his computer and was completely unaware of Sora's presence or return, content to listen to music on a set of headphones. Sora even reappeared nearby and tried to get his attention out loud, and as expected Roxas remained oblivious. At least he had his own little escape from things. Given what Sora had in mind, he didn't begrudge him that, and so disappeared and settled in to wait.
He did, however, keep an eye on him. At one point Roxas had paused, thinking, quickly looking about to see if Sora was present, then pulled up a search engine and entered 'Dark Children'. It returned all manner of results, none of which from official sources, once again suggesting that someone – First perhaps – was attempting to conceal their presence.
The results Roxas found were all from people who appeared to be like Riku – never having hosted one themselves, but knowing someone who had. There were of course some few who claimed they were, but Sora found this claim somewhat spurious. Admitting one had a Dark Child... well, Zack had shown the results of that, and Sora himself was dead proof of what could happen if it got out of hand.
"Don't think it helps you," Sora thought to him, making him jump.
"I didn't think you were watching," Roxas thought back lamely. "I thought-"
"Because I wasn't visible, I didn't know? I can see and hear everything you can, Roxas. Your music doesn't drown me out. I don't mind you looking up others like this, but the moment you start searching for me..." he left it hanging.
"I know, I know. I just..." he thought for a time. "I just kinda wish I could talk to someone about it – besides you, I mean. These sites... I don't reckon I'd dare tell them I'm a host. The Nighthunters are almost guaranteed to be watching them, right?"
"I wouldn't put it past them. They may be a bit stupid, but they're not completely out of brains."
"Right. And I reckon you know what'll happen if they show."
"I have enough ideas to know it's not the right course of action. Not if you want to live, anyway."
Roxas mentally shuddered back from the thought, but continued, "So I can't exactly tell them. I could lie and say I'm the friend of a host, but I don't think I'd be able to keep it up."
"You just want someone to be that 'friend of a host', right? I know someone who's had experience in that department. I'll look him up at the University tomorrow and have him meet up with us. I gather he was a friend before I was killed, so if anything else, he'll be able to tell you when I'm trying to conceal the truth."
"That's a bit of a risk for you though, isn't it? He knew you before, if he starts talking about you, that'll make you remember? And you said-"
"Well, you'd better go start making a decent person of me, hadn't you?" Sora replied. "It's not as if you've got anything better to do this evening, not unless you want to work on magic more."
"Nah – rule I set myself. Only a couple hours after dinner, then I always put it down and do other stuff for a bit. I know it looks like I'm set on doing it all the time, but I know when to take a break and just have some fun – though with you around..." he trailed off. "Anyway, not gonna start trying to turn you good tonight. I'll figure something out. Maybe in the morning break do some magic, wear you down so you're not strong enough to overrule me and kill someone, then in the lunchtime break I'll make you good."
Sora started to wonder if he hadn't told Roxas too much. He had an altogether too clear understanding of what Sora needed, and clearly knew how to interfere without pushing his luck.
Late at night, when Roxas's alarm clock told the world it was almost two in the morning, Sora started to act. Roxas was long asleep now, peacefully dreaming. He didn't pay much attention to the dreams. Instead he set about putting his plan in place.
Taking care not to disturb Roxas, Sora moved slowly, almost slipping into control rather than forcing himself on his host. It took time, but it was also far easier on him. Not something he could do when Roxas was awake; he'd notice that for certain and almost certainly do something to stop him. In a matter of minutes, Sora had control, feeling alive again – the first time with Roxas as his host.
For a moment he savoured the experience, the many slight differences and feelings that marked his body as that of a living being rather than the last remains of who he'd been. Then he pushed it aside and focused. Roxas still slept, and likely would continue to as long as Sora took care.
Sora redressed his borrowed body, ensuring that what he picked out was darker in colour. Given the music Roxas listened to, many of the shirts and sweaters displaying the bands were perfect for this.
It took him a while to get used to everything again, everything reacting to his presence whether he wanted it to or not. Every creak, every footstep seemed louder than it actually was. Roxas's body responded as he expected it would have, a rush of adrenalin produced from the certain knowledge that if he was caught, there'd be trouble – more so if anyone realised it was him and not Roxas.
There were no reactions to his movements though, and Sora made some attempt to calm himself – largely ineffective due to the adrenalin. Being fully alive, even in this form, had it's share of challenges.
He followed the route he had before though, making use of his own memory and making use of Roxas's eyes, better in the dark as well he discovered, to find his way back to the hole in the hedge. Now he knew his body could be harmed by them he took more care than he had before. His prior judgement had been slightly out, but not by much, and before long he had squeezed through with only a few twigs and leaves stuck to him.
Here he made use of Roxas's spell before, concealing his scent and the sign of the magic itself. He knew from Roxas's own memories that it would backtrack to the house and stop there, and would continue to erase these signs until he returned here to the point he'd cast it, or for four hours – whichever came first. Then he recalled, he'd cast it through Roxas – six hours, not four. The Elven touch again.
Now he made use of what he'd learned on his earlier trip here, quickly locating a door that, as he hoped, had been left unlocked and let him into the large kitchen. It was deserted and silent, and it was also a place he wasn't supposed to be – the damn adrenalin again! Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea, but Sora felt he was committed now, he might as well go through with it.
He paused at the door to ensure he wasn't going to track dirt or anything else through the mansion, as the spell didn't cover that, then moved quickly and as silently as he could. Twice he paused to avoid someone who appeared to be some kind of servant or butler, possibly even the same person each time. The mansion appeared not to have been made with security in mind however, replete with columns and supports that offered no shortage of cover.
The stairs were well made too, he noted – not even a single creak to them. Good for him, but perhaps by morning others would have other opinions. Along the way he thought – who to kill, exactly? If he went for the master suite, he'd have to kill both. No doubt one would wake up at the sound of the other. But the remaining two had only children in. Maybe there was someone in one of the other three? At least one of them had looked lived-in. After struggling with the idea for a time, Sora finally decided not to target the children – this time.
At each of the suites he listened at the doors. No sounds came from them, but these were whole suites by themselves, with everything on hand short of a meal – and with servant around, that was available on demand.
He headed first into the master suite, taking care to listen ahead. Sounds of someone snoring came from the bedroom itself. Cautiously, he nudged open the door and risked a look in. If the bed was anything to go by, there was only one occupant. Where then was his wife? Or her husband, as the case may be. The covers made it difficult to tell.
Sora quickly checked on Roxas – still peacefully dreaming, unaware of Sora's actions. Sora knew however that his time was limited, and the longer he delayed, the more risks there'd be. Whoever he targeted in this household, it'd affect the entire family. Neither he or Roxas knew them as such so he wasn't going to shed too many tears over it, if any at all. Sora shrugged, reaching out to the sleeping form in the bed, pulling on fears. Fears that soon amplified, perhaps because of an influence on their dreams? Sora let them grow for a time, then pointed. In the dark he saw no sign of the blood that must have erupted from the sudden explosions he seemed to cause, but he definitely saw the covers shift and deflate, and there was no missing the feeling of the massive boon the murder gave him.
Now it was just a matter of time – time before someone found out, time before someone found him – he couldn't stay to savour this any longer, nor could he remain in control for too much longer, despite the almost addictive feeling of life once again – little wonder many Dark Children took hosts!
Again Sora utilized his own perfect memory to retrace his steps back out, trying to stay silent, always watching out for the servants again. No further ones appeared however, allowing him to make it to the kitchen, then the hedge without incident.
Once safely back on Roxas's own side of the hedge he brushed off the last twigs and leaves that had attached to him, recasting the concealment spell. Only once back outside Roxas's room did he dispel it early, removing any sign he'd ever been out of the house that night. It took only a few moments to undress and leave Roxas's body the way he'd found it, only with considerable reluctance slinking back out again and leaving that living feeling behind.
Perhaps in time, he'd become more adept at this, Sora thought to himself. Perhaps he'd even range further and further out. Roxas would have no idea, no idea at all, and he'd have free reign to kill whenever he wanted. Roxas could hardly object to something he knew nothing about...