A/N: Yo! I'm back.... Wee! This is Shinjite|Believe, sequel to Desu no
Yami|Death of the Darkness! I highly recommend reading it; otherwise this
fic won't make any sense at first... None. Zip. Nada. This takes place
about 6 months after the end of DnY|DotD
Also ~~ WORDS ~~ is song lyrics!
----------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is property of Square and Disney. Lilith, Chemuk, the doctor dude (Lilith's dad), the Nekohoshi sisters, and this plot are mine. The song is none other than Crawling in the Dark, by Hoobastank. ^_^
----------------------------------------------------
First God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.
----------------------------------------------------
Shinjite|Believe
**
Chapter 01: Tooi Tasogare~Distant Twilight
--------------------
Rain beat down, threatening to flood the lowlands, turning lakes and rivers into weapons. Neon signs cracked and flickered, casting eerie dancing shadows on the poorly made stone road. Lightning danced across the black satin sky that never seemed to lighten up much, whether it is the ominous storm clouds during the day, or the inky blackness of the dark night.
~~ I will dedicate ~~
Subconsciously, Riku pulled his black hood down over his ice blue eyes and startling silver hair, before walking into a nearby café. Several men were out cold, leaning back in their chairs, or drooling on the table, half- finished glasses of beer near their heads.
~~ And sacrifice my everything ~~
He took a seat at the far back, and looked around. This place was like a hellhole. The people living here knew that they were doomed, so they went on living as best they could. "Riku?" A voice asked, and he looked up. King Mickey stood next to the table, wondering why he disappeared without telling where he was going.
~~ For just a second's worth ~~
"Nothing, just sit down." He resumed staring out the window, watching the rain create trails on the glass. The rain made him thoughtful, made him realize what a difference the people around him made. People who meant so much to him ~ Sora, Kairi, Tidus, Wakka, Selphie, Chemuk, and Lilith...
~~ Of how my story's ending ~~
Lilith. He had never really settled terms with his "partner", Maleficent's niece, and the empress of some planet called Meirei. Ansem had controlled him through the darkness, but Lilith still stood by him, defending him. She had been concerned for him, and wouldn't leave Hollow Bastion unless he came too... That selflessness got her kidnapped by Ansem.
~~ And I wish I could know ~~
The bruises on his leg and face had faded, but there was a small scar on his cheek from her ring. It had become a habit to run his ringers over the small indent while he thought. Of course, he never really thanked Chemuk either. That was one faithful pet two-tailed black wolf. She tore the Keyblade right from Sora's hand and almost killed Sora. Just because Sora had beaten him.
~~ If the directions that I take ~~
"'Scuse me, y'all, could I have your order?" A giddy young waitress with a deep southern accent asked, giggling. Southern Accent. The opposite of Lilith, who had a strong Brooklyn accent.
~~ And all the choices that I make ~~
"I'll take some hot tea... Riku?" The over-sized mouse asked, looking at him. "Oh, uh... just water please." He replied, returning from his zoned out state.
~~ Won't end up all for nothing ~~
"A'ight, your drinks'll be here in a minute." The waitress smiled at Riku and left, leaving Riku rolling his eyes. "All the girls seem to like the whole tall, dark, and silent routine you're pulling." Mickey stated, folding his hands on the table.
~~ Show me what it's for ~~
"Keh. Like I care." Riku growled, turning away. "Oh yeah," Mickey started, sighing, "You're still obsessed with Kairi. Sorry, I forgot." The mouse finished sarcastically.
"Shut up rat." Riku snarled.
~~ Make me understand it ~~
~§~
"There's NOTHING here!" Yuffie whined, tossing a book across the room for the heck of it. Chemuk yelped and ducked under it, before growling in aggravation. Aerith sighed, closing another book she paged through. "There's nothing on the Door to the Light either..." Leon said, throwing another book on top of Aerith's in defeat.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"Well, if we can find Lilith, she could find the Door to the Light, but we have no idea where Ansem could've taken her..." Chemuk stated, her large ears drooping. Everyone in the room sighed, before Chemuk spoke up again. "I don't know what's up, since until now, I could sense Lilith's whereabouts, being that I'm her spirit guide, but..." Chemuk's two tails waved slightly, more out of habit than anything else.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
"We should leave. We've searched this place top to bottom a hundred times. Nothing's going to change." Cloud spoke up, leaning against the wall by the door. Chemuk nodded sullenly, before trotting up to her Mistress's oldest friend.
~~ Is there something more than ~~
"Plus we're out of supplies. It would be best to go back to Traverse Town, rest for a few days, then go on." Sephiroth replied, sitting atop a large bookcase. Chemuk looked up at him, and grinned a wolfish grin.
~~ What I've been handed? ~~
"Thank god for this tin can." Leon remarked, climbing aboard Lilith's monstrous black and silver gummi ship, known as The Hellbringer. "If we didn't have it, we couldn't pass through the walls surround the separate worlds." The former Squall said, sitting in one of the many pivoting chairs in the cockpit.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"How come everyone calls this a tin can?! It's not even metal!!!" Chemuk freaked out, causing several of the members on board to scoot backwards. No matter how much you trusted her, there was still something scary about the thought of being attack by a 25-foot long, two-ton wolf. Chemuk pressed the coordinate buttons with her nose, before flopping to the floor. The engines started with a familiar hum, before rocketing forward at the same velocity that sent Riku flying 30 feet backwards the first time he was onboard.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
~§~
"So that fool Ansem lost to the Keyblade master. Hm. Figures." The man known as Yu Hikage smirked, his midnight blue eyes cold. "Don't you agree dear?" He turned behind him, to the large metal cage. The figure within was shackled and chained, but her face split into a wicked grin, inhuman fangs glittering.
~~ Help me carry on ~~
"Good to see you agree. Don't worry dearest; I'll let you out of that cage soon, I just need sometime to finish this device that will destroy those wretched walls around the worlds, since the only ship capable of passing through them is not in our hands..." The chained woman growled as response, and Yu smirked again.
~~ Assure me it's OK ~~
~§~
"We'll need a hotel, you know." Mickey stated to Riku as they drudged down the waterlogged street. Riku looked thoughtful for a minute, before nodding. "Any preferences?" The mouse asked curiously.
~~ To use my heart ~~
"As long as it's peaceful and quiet, and I can have my own room, I don't care." Riku replied, pulled his cloak around his shoulders tighter. 'It's freezing... "kinda cold" as Lilith would say.' Riku could help but smirk, remembering Lilith's only reaction to Hollow Bastion.
~~ And not my eyes ~~
"Well, there's that place..." Mickey pointed to a 3-story house, decorated with a simple charm that made the place inviting in this World of Darkness. "It's actually a Bed and Breakfast like place, which I think is better than any old hotel." Mickey nodded to himself, and Riku rolled his eyes, before walking ahead, leaving the king on his own.
~~ To navigate the darkness ~~
"Hey! Rikuuuuu!" Mickey dashed after the 15-year-old, following him into the welcoming house. The first room had pictures of waterfalls and tropical forests, and one painting of a beach that Riku had to take a second glance at to make sure it wasn't the Destiny Islands.
~~ Will the ending be ever coming suddenly? ~~
"Do you all want a room?" A voice with an accent like Lilith's asked. Riku nearly jumped, but spun to face the source of the voice. It wasn't Lilith, but the woman was still short. She looked to be around 25-26, with long black hair pulled in a braid that trailed down her back. She had intense violet eyes, and was a very, very dark tan.
~~ Will I ever get to see the Ending to my story? ~~
"Yes, we do. Could we speak to the owner?" Mickey asked, as Riku's eyes narrowed. An accent like Lilith's was hard to come by, so how'd this woman in the middle of nowhere have one?
~~ Show me what it's for ~~
"You're looking at her! The name's Mikaa, Mikaa Nekohoshi, and I own this little place. If you two want a room-"
"Separate rooms." Riku interrupted.
"Alright, separate rooms then. Izumi!" A younger girl, presumably Mikaa's little sister, rushed in, and looked at the visitors. She too had black hair, but was cut off at her chin. Her eyes were a lighter shade, more lavender than violet, but were just as intense. "Show these guests to two separate rooms, please."
~~ Make me understand it ~~
"A'ight." The girl said, with a toned-down accent. "This way." She led them up a set of stairs, to two doors side by side. "You can choose which room you want, we really don't care." She waved and ran back down the stairs, leaving Riku and Mickey, who just headed for whichever door was closest.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
Riku smiled at the room he got. Everything was done in tones of black and silver. It was beyond ironic. He pulled off his black cloak, and dropped it over the back of the chair, before running a hand through his messy silver hair, freeing even more pieces from the small ponytail he wore it in. He dropped down onto the bed, and fished in the pocket of his baggy dark blue jeans, before pulling out a thin, perfectly round disk of silver, with the symbol for fire elaborately etched in it. It was none other than Lilith's pendant, which she had leant to him for luck before he fought Sora for the first time.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
He was glad he hadn't returned it, because it did make him feel relaxed when he held it. It was so burning hot it was cold, but still comfortable by some odd magic. He smiled, before laying it down on the desk and walking out of the room.
~~ Is there something more than ~~
"Hmm." Riku pondered, walking down the stairs, before bumping into none other than Izumi. "Oh, sorry." Riku said in a detached tone. Izumi glared at him for a minute, before shoving him out of her way and continuing up the stairs. "That whole obedient little sister is a big act." Riku declared to no one particular, before shrugging and continuing down the stairway.
~~ What I've been handed? ~~
"Oh! Nekohoshi-san! Just the person I needed to see!" Riku stated, catching a glimpse of the long black braid belonging to the older Nekohoshi sister.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"Yes Riku-san?" Mikaa asked, turning back to him, "You have a question, ne?" She smiled and gestured to the deep maroon couch against the far wall of the living room. He nodded, and the two sat down.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
"I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but I noticed your sister and yours accent is quite unusual... I've only heard one like it once before." Riku questioned sincerely, folding his arms, and looking at her with honest curiosity.
~~ So when and how will I know? ~~
"Of course..." Mikaa smiled sadly. "Many ask about my strange accent. It IS rare, even on my home world. I can only name a few who have it: Kass Mauli; Izumi; Me; Ikka; Shiori; and of course, my lady Hime-sama..." She finished with a tinge of regret. Riku's eyes widened, and Mikaa noticed.
~~ How much further do I have to go? ~~
"Your lady Hime-sama..." Riku tried to calm himself down, "What was her name? Her actual name?" Riku grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "What did she look like?"
~~ How much longer until I finally know? ~~
"Lady Hime-sama... her name was Lilith. Lilith Isis Hikage. Bright red hair like her mother, very pale, short, teal-color eyes..."
~~ Because I'm looking and I just can't see ~~
"Lilith..." Riku murmured, before it dawned on him "Hey, then..." He dashed up the stairs, only to return with the simple medallion in his hand. "You recognize this?" He held it out, and Mikaa gasped.
~~ What's in front of me ~~
"That's my lady's pendant... What have you done with my lady?!" Mikaa rose to her feet.
~~ In front of me ~~
"Nothing!" Riku cried defensively. "She leant it to me for luck... I just haven't returned it."
~~ Show me what it's for ~~
"You must be someone very special for my lady to even let you see that pendant, much less carry it with you... it belonged to Lady Hime-sama's mother, the late Empress Inukii. She treasures that beyond words."
~~ Make me understand it ~~
Then why would she...?" Riku held it by the fine silver chain, watching the disk twirl lightly in the rain-chilled air. It had belonged to her mother... why would she have risked the chance of something happening to it by giving it to me?
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
~§~
"Any luck?" Cid asked, handing a glass of water to Yuffie, who downed it in one gulp. The entire group sighed, and flopped back in the couch or chair, or in Chemuk's case, the floor. "I'll take that as a NO." Cid said sarcastically.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
"DUH!" Yuffie chucked the empty glass at the person sitting across from her, who was none other than Leon. "Oops! Sorry Squa- err, Leon." She laughed and scratched the back of her head. Several people stared at her... I mean, yeah, she did act younger than the others because she WAS younger, but this was just plain weird.
~~ Is there something more than ~~
"Yuffie... are you feeling alright?" Aerith asked in concern, the kind- hearted woman looking at her friend intensely. Yuffie squeezed her hands into tight fists on her lap, before letting them relax. With her eyes hidden beneath a sheet of black hair, she smirked - not a normal smirk, but like one a person who had gone through intense irony would smirk. "...Yuffie?" Aerith asked again.
~~ What I've been handed? ~~
"You know what?" Yuffie asked, without looking up. The group flinched. Yuffie raised her eyes to meet Leon's, and they knew instantly she wasn't all right. Her deep blue eyes were clouded over with pain, and seemed detached from reality, like she was daydreaming. "I don't think so." The 16- year-old ninja girl collapsed, and Aerith caught her right before she hit the hard wood floor.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"Oh Yuffie!" Aerith steadied the unconscious girl, and gave Leon a deep look. "She needs to lie down, NOW." Leon nodded, before lifting the ill girl from the couch with little effort and turning to leave, Aerith and Cloud close behind. Which left Chemuk, Sephiroth, and Cid staring, totally confused as to what just happened. Cid finally spoke up.
"Um?"
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
A/N: Wee! Completed this in a little less than 3 days! I'm so proud! ::grins:: I'll update quick, I promise! Also, to explain a few things...
The OOC-ness of Yuffie, Squall/Leon, Aerith, Cloud, Cid, and Sephiroth: I've yet to play FFVII or VIII, as I only played FFX right now, so I'm basing this SOLELY on their personalities in Kingdom Hearts... Sephiroth being the hardest, 'cause he doesn't even really talk in the game... I know he's very enigmatic, but that's about it.
The screwed up history of Maleficent: I KNOW Maleficent's history with Aurora, but I decided I'd like it better if she worked for Inukii, mind you, she wasn't BORN on Meirei...
Japanese: I have a bad habit of putting in Japanese phrases and such, simply because I do it so much in the real world... I am not from Japan, but my mother is. It am not a native Japanese speaker, but am learning... so yeah.
Let's see here, what terms did I use...?:
Shinjite ~ BELIEVE! It's already translated!
Tooi Tasogare ~ "Tooi" means Distant and "Tasogare" means twilight, so I guess it would mean distant twilight, but I don't know the rules of Japanese Grammar yet...
Hime ~ Princess
-sama ~ A suffix for someone of high royalty or respect, such as Kami-SAMA is god... So thus, Hime-sama, rather than being Princess, would be a high- ranking princess, such as saying "Imperial Princess"
-san ~ A suffix representing respect, roughly translated as Mr. or Mrs.
Ne ~ Not really a word, just something put at the end of Japanese questions
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
::blinks:: Is that really it? Wow, you're lucky, I didn't use that many...
Also ~~ WORDS ~~ is song lyrics!
----------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is property of Square and Disney. Lilith, Chemuk, the doctor dude (Lilith's dad), the Nekohoshi sisters, and this plot are mine. The song is none other than Crawling in the Dark, by Hoobastank. ^_^
----------------------------------------------------
First God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.
----------------------------------------------------
Shinjite|Believe
**
Chapter 01: Tooi Tasogare~Distant Twilight
--------------------
Rain beat down, threatening to flood the lowlands, turning lakes and rivers into weapons. Neon signs cracked and flickered, casting eerie dancing shadows on the poorly made stone road. Lightning danced across the black satin sky that never seemed to lighten up much, whether it is the ominous storm clouds during the day, or the inky blackness of the dark night.
~~ I will dedicate ~~
Subconsciously, Riku pulled his black hood down over his ice blue eyes and startling silver hair, before walking into a nearby café. Several men were out cold, leaning back in their chairs, or drooling on the table, half- finished glasses of beer near their heads.
~~ And sacrifice my everything ~~
He took a seat at the far back, and looked around. This place was like a hellhole. The people living here knew that they were doomed, so they went on living as best they could. "Riku?" A voice asked, and he looked up. King Mickey stood next to the table, wondering why he disappeared without telling where he was going.
~~ For just a second's worth ~~
"Nothing, just sit down." He resumed staring out the window, watching the rain create trails on the glass. The rain made him thoughtful, made him realize what a difference the people around him made. People who meant so much to him ~ Sora, Kairi, Tidus, Wakka, Selphie, Chemuk, and Lilith...
~~ Of how my story's ending ~~
Lilith. He had never really settled terms with his "partner", Maleficent's niece, and the empress of some planet called Meirei. Ansem had controlled him through the darkness, but Lilith still stood by him, defending him. She had been concerned for him, and wouldn't leave Hollow Bastion unless he came too... That selflessness got her kidnapped by Ansem.
~~ And I wish I could know ~~
The bruises on his leg and face had faded, but there was a small scar on his cheek from her ring. It had become a habit to run his ringers over the small indent while he thought. Of course, he never really thanked Chemuk either. That was one faithful pet two-tailed black wolf. She tore the Keyblade right from Sora's hand and almost killed Sora. Just because Sora had beaten him.
~~ If the directions that I take ~~
"'Scuse me, y'all, could I have your order?" A giddy young waitress with a deep southern accent asked, giggling. Southern Accent. The opposite of Lilith, who had a strong Brooklyn accent.
~~ And all the choices that I make ~~
"I'll take some hot tea... Riku?" The over-sized mouse asked, looking at him. "Oh, uh... just water please." He replied, returning from his zoned out state.
~~ Won't end up all for nothing ~~
"A'ight, your drinks'll be here in a minute." The waitress smiled at Riku and left, leaving Riku rolling his eyes. "All the girls seem to like the whole tall, dark, and silent routine you're pulling." Mickey stated, folding his hands on the table.
~~ Show me what it's for ~~
"Keh. Like I care." Riku growled, turning away. "Oh yeah," Mickey started, sighing, "You're still obsessed with Kairi. Sorry, I forgot." The mouse finished sarcastically.
"Shut up rat." Riku snarled.
~~ Make me understand it ~~
~§~
"There's NOTHING here!" Yuffie whined, tossing a book across the room for the heck of it. Chemuk yelped and ducked under it, before growling in aggravation. Aerith sighed, closing another book she paged through. "There's nothing on the Door to the Light either..." Leon said, throwing another book on top of Aerith's in defeat.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"Well, if we can find Lilith, she could find the Door to the Light, but we have no idea where Ansem could've taken her..." Chemuk stated, her large ears drooping. Everyone in the room sighed, before Chemuk spoke up again. "I don't know what's up, since until now, I could sense Lilith's whereabouts, being that I'm her spirit guide, but..." Chemuk's two tails waved slightly, more out of habit than anything else.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
"We should leave. We've searched this place top to bottom a hundred times. Nothing's going to change." Cloud spoke up, leaning against the wall by the door. Chemuk nodded sullenly, before trotting up to her Mistress's oldest friend.
~~ Is there something more than ~~
"Plus we're out of supplies. It would be best to go back to Traverse Town, rest for a few days, then go on." Sephiroth replied, sitting atop a large bookcase. Chemuk looked up at him, and grinned a wolfish grin.
~~ What I've been handed? ~~
"Thank god for this tin can." Leon remarked, climbing aboard Lilith's monstrous black and silver gummi ship, known as The Hellbringer. "If we didn't have it, we couldn't pass through the walls surround the separate worlds." The former Squall said, sitting in one of the many pivoting chairs in the cockpit.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"How come everyone calls this a tin can?! It's not even metal!!!" Chemuk freaked out, causing several of the members on board to scoot backwards. No matter how much you trusted her, there was still something scary about the thought of being attack by a 25-foot long, two-ton wolf. Chemuk pressed the coordinate buttons with her nose, before flopping to the floor. The engines started with a familiar hum, before rocketing forward at the same velocity that sent Riku flying 30 feet backwards the first time he was onboard.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
~§~
"So that fool Ansem lost to the Keyblade master. Hm. Figures." The man known as Yu Hikage smirked, his midnight blue eyes cold. "Don't you agree dear?" He turned behind him, to the large metal cage. The figure within was shackled and chained, but her face split into a wicked grin, inhuman fangs glittering.
~~ Help me carry on ~~
"Good to see you agree. Don't worry dearest; I'll let you out of that cage soon, I just need sometime to finish this device that will destroy those wretched walls around the worlds, since the only ship capable of passing through them is not in our hands..." The chained woman growled as response, and Yu smirked again.
~~ Assure me it's OK ~~
~§~
"We'll need a hotel, you know." Mickey stated to Riku as they drudged down the waterlogged street. Riku looked thoughtful for a minute, before nodding. "Any preferences?" The mouse asked curiously.
~~ To use my heart ~~
"As long as it's peaceful and quiet, and I can have my own room, I don't care." Riku replied, pulled his cloak around his shoulders tighter. 'It's freezing... "kinda cold" as Lilith would say.' Riku could help but smirk, remembering Lilith's only reaction to Hollow Bastion.
~~ And not my eyes ~~
"Well, there's that place..." Mickey pointed to a 3-story house, decorated with a simple charm that made the place inviting in this World of Darkness. "It's actually a Bed and Breakfast like place, which I think is better than any old hotel." Mickey nodded to himself, and Riku rolled his eyes, before walking ahead, leaving the king on his own.
~~ To navigate the darkness ~~
"Hey! Rikuuuuu!" Mickey dashed after the 15-year-old, following him into the welcoming house. The first room had pictures of waterfalls and tropical forests, and one painting of a beach that Riku had to take a second glance at to make sure it wasn't the Destiny Islands.
~~ Will the ending be ever coming suddenly? ~~
"Do you all want a room?" A voice with an accent like Lilith's asked. Riku nearly jumped, but spun to face the source of the voice. It wasn't Lilith, but the woman was still short. She looked to be around 25-26, with long black hair pulled in a braid that trailed down her back. She had intense violet eyes, and was a very, very dark tan.
~~ Will I ever get to see the Ending to my story? ~~
"Yes, we do. Could we speak to the owner?" Mickey asked, as Riku's eyes narrowed. An accent like Lilith's was hard to come by, so how'd this woman in the middle of nowhere have one?
~~ Show me what it's for ~~
"You're looking at her! The name's Mikaa, Mikaa Nekohoshi, and I own this little place. If you two want a room-"
"Separate rooms." Riku interrupted.
"Alright, separate rooms then. Izumi!" A younger girl, presumably Mikaa's little sister, rushed in, and looked at the visitors. She too had black hair, but was cut off at her chin. Her eyes were a lighter shade, more lavender than violet, but were just as intense. "Show these guests to two separate rooms, please."
~~ Make me understand it ~~
"A'ight." The girl said, with a toned-down accent. "This way." She led them up a set of stairs, to two doors side by side. "You can choose which room you want, we really don't care." She waved and ran back down the stairs, leaving Riku and Mickey, who just headed for whichever door was closest.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
Riku smiled at the room he got. Everything was done in tones of black and silver. It was beyond ironic. He pulled off his black cloak, and dropped it over the back of the chair, before running a hand through his messy silver hair, freeing even more pieces from the small ponytail he wore it in. He dropped down onto the bed, and fished in the pocket of his baggy dark blue jeans, before pulling out a thin, perfectly round disk of silver, with the symbol for fire elaborately etched in it. It was none other than Lilith's pendant, which she had leant to him for luck before he fought Sora for the first time.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
He was glad he hadn't returned it, because it did make him feel relaxed when he held it. It was so burning hot it was cold, but still comfortable by some odd magic. He smiled, before laying it down on the desk and walking out of the room.
~~ Is there something more than ~~
"Hmm." Riku pondered, walking down the stairs, before bumping into none other than Izumi. "Oh, sorry." Riku said in a detached tone. Izumi glared at him for a minute, before shoving him out of her way and continuing up the stairs. "That whole obedient little sister is a big act." Riku declared to no one particular, before shrugging and continuing down the stairway.
~~ What I've been handed? ~~
"Oh! Nekohoshi-san! Just the person I needed to see!" Riku stated, catching a glimpse of the long black braid belonging to the older Nekohoshi sister.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"Yes Riku-san?" Mikaa asked, turning back to him, "You have a question, ne?" She smiled and gestured to the deep maroon couch against the far wall of the living room. He nodded, and the two sat down.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
"I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but I noticed your sister and yours accent is quite unusual... I've only heard one like it once before." Riku questioned sincerely, folding his arms, and looking at her with honest curiosity.
~~ So when and how will I know? ~~
"Of course..." Mikaa smiled sadly. "Many ask about my strange accent. It IS rare, even on my home world. I can only name a few who have it: Kass Mauli; Izumi; Me; Ikka; Shiori; and of course, my lady Hime-sama..." She finished with a tinge of regret. Riku's eyes widened, and Mikaa noticed.
~~ How much further do I have to go? ~~
"Your lady Hime-sama..." Riku tried to calm himself down, "What was her name? Her actual name?" Riku grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "What did she look like?"
~~ How much longer until I finally know? ~~
"Lady Hime-sama... her name was Lilith. Lilith Isis Hikage. Bright red hair like her mother, very pale, short, teal-color eyes..."
~~ Because I'm looking and I just can't see ~~
"Lilith..." Riku murmured, before it dawned on him "Hey, then..." He dashed up the stairs, only to return with the simple medallion in his hand. "You recognize this?" He held it out, and Mikaa gasped.
~~ What's in front of me ~~
"That's my lady's pendant... What have you done with my lady?!" Mikaa rose to her feet.
~~ In front of me ~~
"Nothing!" Riku cried defensively. "She leant it to me for luck... I just haven't returned it."
~~ Show me what it's for ~~
"You must be someone very special for my lady to even let you see that pendant, much less carry it with you... it belonged to Lady Hime-sama's mother, the late Empress Inukii. She treasures that beyond words."
~~ Make me understand it ~~
Then why would she...?" Riku held it by the fine silver chain, watching the disk twirl lightly in the rain-chilled air. It had belonged to her mother... why would she have risked the chance of something happening to it by giving it to me?
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
~§~
"Any luck?" Cid asked, handing a glass of water to Yuffie, who downed it in one gulp. The entire group sighed, and flopped back in the couch or chair, or in Chemuk's case, the floor. "I'll take that as a NO." Cid said sarcastically.
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
"DUH!" Yuffie chucked the empty glass at the person sitting across from her, who was none other than Leon. "Oops! Sorry Squa- err, Leon." She laughed and scratched the back of her head. Several people stared at her... I mean, yeah, she did act younger than the others because she WAS younger, but this was just plain weird.
~~ Is there something more than ~~
"Yuffie... are you feeling alright?" Aerith asked in concern, the kind- hearted woman looking at her friend intensely. Yuffie squeezed her hands into tight fists on her lap, before letting them relax. With her eyes hidden beneath a sheet of black hair, she smirked - not a normal smirk, but like one a person who had gone through intense irony would smirk. "...Yuffie?" Aerith asked again.
~~ What I've been handed? ~~
"You know what?" Yuffie asked, without looking up. The group flinched. Yuffie raised her eyes to meet Leon's, and they knew instantly she wasn't all right. Her deep blue eyes were clouded over with pain, and seemed detached from reality, like she was daydreaming. "I don't think so." The 16- year-old ninja girl collapsed, and Aerith caught her right before she hit the hard wood floor.
~~ I've been crawling in the dark ~~
"Oh Yuffie!" Aerith steadied the unconscious girl, and gave Leon a deep look. "She needs to lie down, NOW." Leon nodded, before lifting the ill girl from the couch with little effort and turning to leave, Aerith and Cloud close behind. Which left Chemuk, Sephiroth, and Cid staring, totally confused as to what just happened. Cid finally spoke up.
"Um?"
~~ Looking for the answer ~~
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
A/N: Wee! Completed this in a little less than 3 days! I'm so proud! ::grins:: I'll update quick, I promise! Also, to explain a few things...
The OOC-ness of Yuffie, Squall/Leon, Aerith, Cloud, Cid, and Sephiroth: I've yet to play FFVII or VIII, as I only played FFX right now, so I'm basing this SOLELY on their personalities in Kingdom Hearts... Sephiroth being the hardest, 'cause he doesn't even really talk in the game... I know he's very enigmatic, but that's about it.
The screwed up history of Maleficent: I KNOW Maleficent's history with Aurora, but I decided I'd like it better if she worked for Inukii, mind you, she wasn't BORN on Meirei...
Japanese: I have a bad habit of putting in Japanese phrases and such, simply because I do it so much in the real world... I am not from Japan, but my mother is. It am not a native Japanese speaker, but am learning... so yeah.
Let's see here, what terms did I use...?:
Shinjite ~ BELIEVE! It's already translated!
Tooi Tasogare ~ "Tooi" means Distant and "Tasogare" means twilight, so I guess it would mean distant twilight, but I don't know the rules of Japanese Grammar yet...
Hime ~ Princess
-sama ~ A suffix for someone of high royalty or respect, such as Kami-SAMA is god... So thus, Hime-sama, rather than being Princess, would be a high- ranking princess, such as saying "Imperial Princess"
-san ~ A suffix representing respect, roughly translated as Mr. or Mrs.
Ne ~ Not really a word, just something put at the end of Japanese questions
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
::blinks:: Is that really it? Wow, you're lucky, I didn't use that many...