Also, if (for SOME reason) you've read the original version-- as far as it goes-- the Guides are gonna be back, but all but Miru-san have had their names changed-- 'Specially Zeff, Shiru, Anima, and Marjani-- and their personalities tweaked. Aside from Niji/Akarui-- he's still gonna be a hyperactive little twerp. -
Disclaimer: Neko-tachi, the children, and the plot belong to me. Anything from Square-Enix games is not mine, anything that came from David Eddings' skillful mind is not mine, and needless to say, if I were a good enough artist/writer/programmer to come up with any of the other copyrighted stuff, I wouldn't be wasting my time with a soon-to-be-actually-already-is out-of-date fanfic.
Experimental
Darkness: Part Two
Kirei no Sekai
-- Mal Zeth (Mallorea)
Neko stares through the heavy bars of the gates, eyes wide as she surveys the opulent Imperial Palace. She barely registers the way the guards are stuttering at Eriond, or how they scramble to be absolutely perfect. And her enchanted gaze remains on the huge, ornate building when the gates swing open
"This," she states, "is nothing like home." With a sniff at the air, she continues dreamily, "Smells beautiful. Warm. I like it here."
Eriond merely smiles. "Neko, the guards are getting nervous. We should probably move on." She sighs happily and walks onto the grounds, tilting her head back as she moves out of the shadow-strew road and the sunlight hits her again.
"You can get sunburn that way."
"Sunburn?" Her eyes slide open and she glances at Eriond. They continue to walk. "What's sunburn?"
For the first time, he looks surprised. "You don't know?"
"Iie. Would I ask if I did?"
"True." He looks at her again. "What is your home like?"
"Hmm..." She smiles, lavender eyes slipping closed again. "Colder than here. I didn't mind, but the warmth is niiiice... There was lots of water. Some of it, you could walk on-- most of it, really-- or you could walk underneath it in these bubbles of air. The entire Bastion used to be sheathed in marble, but the Heartless striped half of it away, and we've barely begun restoring it-- not much spare time. Anyway, the pipes are kinda prettying, all coppery and shiny... It rains a lot, and there's always a haze everywhere." She pauses to rake her bangs back into the rest of her hair. "It smells cold. Crystals and metal and hard-edged water." Her smile fades, and she opens her eyes again. "I hope Takeo's all right..."
"Takeo?" The reach the Palace itself, and Neko droops as shadows drop over her. Eriond continues to watch her, clearly curious.
"Takeo. My brother. Half-brother. He's fourteen-- a year older than me, exactly." She laughs darkly. "Ansem liked that. Popping us out of our test-tubes exactly a year after the last one. Meant he could pop one out, give my brothers each a bit of candy and then ignore them for the next year, besides tests." She pauses for a moment. "But yes, Takeo. He's a wonderful brother-- a bit of a worrywart, but he does his best to keep me from doing something stupid like... like..." Neko fades into a sigh. "Nevermind."
They walk in silence for a long, long time.
"Takeo smells like grapes. Lightning and grapes. And niichan." Eriond glances at her, but her eyes are closed again. "Oni sometimes smelled like powdered sugar over fresh plants, and sometimes like the smell you can find in books that haven't been opened in years. Anzu smelled like burning logs and spice, and feathers, and warmth. He smells like vanilla and rain. I don't think he knows, though..."
Miru didn't.
-- ?
Sora.
The man shifts in his sleep, mouth drawing down into a worried frown.
Sora, wake up.
"Don't... G' away..." Sora stirs restlessly, hand beginning to clench into a fist. "Away..."
Sora! This is no time to sleep! Get up right now, or I won't be responsible for what I might do!
Sora jerks awake, blue eyes blinking into the darkness. "Mom?" he whispers, then shudders. :: No... it was just a dream... :: He sits up, shaking his head. "Just a dream," he repeats. "A dream."
"Sora?"
With a start, he turns towards the unfamiliar voice. "Wh-wha?! Who're you?!" he yelps, summoning his keyblade.
The stranger nods solemnly-- in respect-- and odd gold-and-copper hair falls around his angular, alien face. "My name is Zuhitsu." His voice is strange, faint and scratchy, like a pencil on paper. "I've been sent to get you."
"Get... me?" Zuhitsu nods and fixes his slanted eyes on Sora. They're possibly the most disturbing eyes Sora has ever seen; the entire eye seems to be flooded a dull red-brown, like half-dried blood, darkening into mahogany snake-slits instead of pupils. "Who sent you?"
"Someone you know." Zuhitsu takes a step towards Sora, one hand rising. Sora scrambles to his feet and holds Ultima higher. Zuhitsu pauses, delicate eyebrows drawing down for a moment. Then his face lowers again, and a faint scratching giggle echoes over Sora's brain. "You think I'm going to attack you?" Zuhitsu looks up again, beaming at Sora. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but I would never do anything of the sort. Not to anyone on the side of the Universe."
"Oh." Sora blinks at Zuhitsu's genuine amusement, then smiles tentatively back. "Well... where am I supposed to go?"
The amusement blinks out as suddenly as it appeared. "To the Center. The Hub. Someone waits there."
"The same someone I know?"
"No. But someone important; she needs your help." And Zuhitsu reaches out, fingertips brushing Sora's chest.
The world seems to jerk around the two, and the endless viridian plains blur and fade. As do Donald and Goofy, as they lie asleep, unaware and peaceful. As do Sora's thoughts, until only impressions of vastness whirl through his head.
Reality blinks back, noise and light and the heavy smell of a large city assaulting Sora's senses so suddenly that he pitches forward into a faint.
Zuhitsu quickly catches Sora, a lost look flitting over his angular face.
-- Destiny Island
"Kaaaairi..." Pleading twelve-year-old eyes stare up at Kairi. Kairi tries her best to ignore them, she really does-- but the hint of pathetic tears in their vibrant blue depths, the puppy-like hope and wistful longing, worms its way straight to Kairi's heart.
The worst thing is, Anzu isn't feigning one drop of it.
"Kairi-kaachan, please? I promised Selphie you'd come to her party. I really think she'd love for you to be there..." This happens all the time. Anzu would promise to bring her adopted mother to something or other, then would turn around and plead with aforementioned adopted mother. "Onegai... For Selphie..."
Kairi finds herself nodding to Anzu and smiling. And it occurs to her that Anzu hasn't yet broken a promise.
Anzu dances lightly ahead of Kairi, bright wings fluffing and sparking gold in the warm sun. "Selphie-san will be so happy that you're coming, Kairi-kaachan! And you'll love the party, everyone's gonna be there, your old friends, everyone-- Selphie-san told me even Tidus-san is coming, I missed him-- and there'll be cake 'n cookies 'n all SORTSA good stuff!"
Kairi smiles wistfully at Anzu, knowing that the girl is being happy for her sake. But even so, the breathy flute of Anzu's voice and the brilliant light in her eyes is cheering, and seeing Tidus would be nice...
-- Mal Zeth
"Zakath?" Eriond knocks politely on the doorframe of a handsomely furnished study. "May I speak to you?"
The dark-haired man sitting behind the desk smiles and stands, then bows slightly. His face is faintly lined, crow's feet creeping from the corners of his angular black eyes. "All things considered, I don't think anyone could stop you speaking to me." Eriond smiles faintly at the wry statement. "Please, come in-- it's not every day someone gets a visit from you."
Neko blinks, and once again she gets the impression Eriond isn't as young as he seems.
Zakath continues, "Anything I can do for you?"
"It's a small thing." Eriond makes a small motion towards Neko, and Zakath starts ever-so-slightly. "She needs a place to stay for a bit, and UL was asked to ask me to ask you to give her quarters for... maybe a week or so."
Neko blinks. "That's the first I've heard of it," she says, "and why here, just wondering?"
Eriond smiles that slight smile, and disappears without so much as a pop of air.
Neko jumps, a mewl of surprise slipping past her lips before she controls herself. "Um... Zakath, was it?... How'd he do that?" One knuckle rubs at her eyes, and she continues, "Even Sephi makes a bit of noise... not to mention sheds feathers like crazy..."
Zakath looks almost amused, although no bit confused himself.
:: So. Here I am. ::
Neko stares at the silk canopy of her bed, a deep rich violet that reminds her uncannily of Takeo's favorite shirt. This is her third night under that purple haze of cloth, staring blankly up with half-closed eyes.
After Eriond left, she found out who he was.
"Eriond is the New God of Angarak, as of nine years ago..." Zakath had smiled-- a small, wryly amused smile-- and continued, "...and I am the Emperor of Boundless Mallorea."
She had stared at him as blankly as she stares at her canopy, then realized some sort of respect was probably in order. But she nearly tripped over her own feet trying to curtsey in pants, and ended up bowing awkwardly.
:: So. Here I am. Why? ::
The Voice had been silent, for the past three days, and Neko's dreams are hazy and strange-- normal dreams. It disturbs her; the only rain-scent that crossed her nose was of a real spring rain, and vanilla-jasmine can only be found in the kitchens and one patch of creamy flowers nestled halfway across the grounds. The overwhelming smell of humanity faded to a tingle in the back of her throat, and the sun soon stopped being rarely beautiful when she discovered sunburn.
:: Why? Why, why, why, why, WHY? ::
After a moment, Neko gives up and goes to sleep.
-- Bastion
"Aka! Be quiet!"
"But, Fuu-kun-- This is so exciting!"
Takeo blinks his bleary eyes open at the unfamiliar voices and scratching just outside his door.
"Quiet!" The voice chimes, like distant bells. "You shouldn't be so careless!"
The distinct sound of a raspberry follows
"Shh... I think I hear something..."
"Well, we'd be outta here if you didn't take so long to pick that damn lock!"
"S'not MY fault, you idiot!"
"Moron!"
"Nutcase!"
"You're so ugly, you make Okasu look good!"
"Why you little--!"
Takeo realizes he's giggling at the exchange, despite the fact that the quarreling strangers with strange voices are tring to pick the lock on his door.
"Hey! That's dirty!"
"You deserve more for that Okasu thing. You know I hate the sonuva--"
"Launguage! She's really quite nice, anyway. You know Her better than I do, you should know that--"
"Fine, Akarui, just shut up. I KNOW I heard something that time." Takeo stifles his giggles as the scratching starts again, and he recognizes it for a lock-pick scritching at his door. A moment of almost-silence passes, and Takeo gingerly reaches under his bed for a dagger. "Ha! Got it. See, Aka? Betcha my ribbon you couldn't pop a lock that smoothly."
"You're on, Fuu!"
"Wha-Hey!"
Takeo's door pops open when a blur of black hair and blue cloth get tackled against it by a person that seems to be nothing but oversized red clothes, wild blond hair, and laughing blue eyes. They sail through the doorway with the geatest of ease, landing with a thwack and a moan of pain from the darker boy. The whirlwind of warm color giggles and holds up a long, elaborately embroidered ribbon.
"AKA!" The dark-haired boy thrashes, long locks falling from what looks like it might have been a ponytail. His voice is definately bell-toned, and very annoyed. "Givit BACK!"
"Hee-hee!" Akarui holds the ribbon above his head, a cheerful smirk playing across his face. "Naaaah, I think I'll hold onto this for the moment. Ne, Fuurin?"
Fuurin growls.
"Um... May I help you?"
The two strangers look up from their private tussle, looking a bit surprized at the sight of an early-morning Takeo sitting on the bed, glinting dagger held easily in one hand. Then Akarui smiles.
"Eh, nah, I can finish beating up Fuu-kun on my own."
"HELP!"
And Takeo's gaze meets that of solid storm-grey-- solid over every bit of Fuurin's eyes, as the bright sky blue is solid over the eyes of Akarui.
Ansem?
Ansem.
Wake.
Live.
Ansem?
Live.
Wake.
Accept?
Ansem.
Come back.
Need.
Ansem?
Let life sing in your veins, let the choir of warmth fill you, for She has orderd it; Ansem, you are to LIVE, to ready yourself for the Universal Anthem; Wake and accept what She has ordered.
Come back.
Ansem?
You are needed.
-- ?
:: Stop it... ::
Tears flood into Heartless eyes, but no one sees; the only outward sign is a darkening of a faded black blindfold, and a faint frown stealing over the teenage boy's face.
SHUSH, BOY.
:: Stop! Stop stop stop it NOW! ::
The boy growls; behind the blindfold, yellow eyes narrow in anger. "Be quiet. You can not change things, Oni." The murmur is soft and pleasant, not enough to draw a glance from the people he walks between. "Or would you prefer to forget me?"
The aungushed thoughts trail into frightened silence. GOOD CHILD. NOW, FOR THIS WORLD'S KEYHOLE...
A thought of a whimper, and Okasu loses what patience he has. He sinks past Oni's councious mind, pushing so that the boy is hyper-aware, and-- lashes.
Heartless rise suddenly from the ground; screams rise in a morbid choir as the dark shades set themselves on the people of the town. One Heartless, painstakingly crafted, slides up to Okasu-Oni, her long cinnamon braids whipping over her half-formed face.
- You called, Master? - She tilts her head, one hand rising to sensuously push her hair back. Okasu-Oni smiles coldly down at her.
"Find the Keyhole, Asagao, if you would."
She nods and melts away into the air, whisps of darkness, gold, and cinnamon floating away from where she stood.
-- Mal Zeth
"Kitten?"
:: Vanilla rain! :: Neko suddenly feels light and happy as the scent washes over her. Then she realizes--
"What?!" She swivels, and there-- standing, physically there, with flesh and blood swirled into the smell that's so familiar-- is a boy. He smiles uncertainly at her, tilted eyes flooded with blue-violet and worry behind straw-blond hair.
"Hello, Kitten."
She stares blankly. "You're here."
His smile fades a bit. "Yes. I am here."
"...Oh. So... You're really here? Not a dream, not a hallucination, here?"
"Uh-huh."
The atipically informal answer makes Neko smile; he smiles back, looking a little hopeful.
"Kitten, I realize that I've never introduced myself; I am called Miru." He bows, darting anxious glances up through his bangs. "I'm going to help you out here. If that's all right?"
"Of course, Mi-san!" She grins. "I've missed you the last few days, you know."
He beams. "Really?"
Neko nods. :: Huh, he really doesn't look much older than me... and he's only a couple inches taller. :: She scrutinizes Miru. :: And he's acting very uncertain, and nervous. I wonder why? ::
"Ahh, Kitten? How soon could you be ready to go to another world?" Miru absently fiddles with one of the beads scattered through his hair. "It's rather urgent."
"I could leave right now." Neko continues to examine him closely. "Are you all right? You're not... acting like yourself." :: You're actually talking, for one thing. ::
"Oh. Um. I'm sort've not supposed t' be here, y'see, and I'm sort've waitin' for somebody t' come 'n catch me." A definate dialectical accent has slipped into Miru's whispery voice. "So could we go?
She almost giggles. "Broke a rule, and trying to avoid lawkeepers?" She turns away and summons her keyblades, just in time to miss his wince. "So where are we going?"
Miru comes to her side and wraps his hand around hers over the hilt of the Flying Hope. "I'll Guide."
The crisp, short statement is so familiar in tone that Neko doesn't wonder at the change, letting her mind focus on nothing but MOVEMENT, on going someplace else and being there instead of here--
They shimmer pale blue-violet, the light barely this side of visible, and vanish.
Niichan: Older brother, semi-informal
Zuhitsu: (Zoo-hee-tsoo, not Zoo-hit--soo) Notes, writing (Formally known as Zeff, which means Wolf according to some baby-naming site)
Kaachan: Mother, but would translate more as "mom" or "mommy". Yes, Anzu calls Kairi 'mommy'. Yes, Kairi adopted Anzu. No, Anzu is not a Mary Sue... I don't think. She has faults! Somewhere! Ahh... She's a crybaby wimp who gets separation anxiety and needs someone to hang on to lest she go unbalanced? ... Ha! Told you she has faults. XP
Onegai: Please
Akarui: Bright; Light (Formerly known as Niji, Japanese "rainbow".)
Fuurin: Wind bell (Formerly known as Oka, Japanese "hill")
Okasu: To violate; to rape; to desecrate (Also to defy; to risk; to damage: Take your pick of meanings.) (FKA Aku, Japanese "evil")
Asagao: Morning glory (FKA Alryune, pronounced "Al-roon")
Miru: To see, to look; according to one source, also a poetic word for "eye"