Chapter done, go me!

Narrator: "Have you gone insane by any chance?"

Haven't I already told you people that I'm partly crazy to begin with?

Riku: "Right, 'cos you hit at least 93 pages, Times New Roman, 12 font, single spacing."

Sora: "I dun think it's just the spaces between paragraphs either."

Yep, longest chapter yet.  I wouldn't be surprised if this fic has gone from fanfiction level to the level of novel.  I'm probably up there with Harry Potter in length.  Kickass!

Acronos: "(Shakes head) Don't you think you need a limit to chapter length?  I mean seriously!"

I know, but I've seperated too many chapters up until now.  So I hit this chapter with everything I had.  Heh, I think the next few ones are gonna be very interesting.

Maioko: "What d'ya mean?"

You'll see.  Oh and Acronos?  Feel free to locate painkillers, you're gonna need em."

Acronos: "Gulp."

Sora, feel free to locate ethers, you might need them too.

Sora: "Huh?"

Riku… just get therapy.

Riku: "(Glare)"

Kenshin: "How do you spit out these lengths of writing, de gozaru ka?"

… Actually I don't know, I just write like crazy.  Having my pocket PC and at least an hour of expendable time a day helps too.  Heh, I love this stuff!

Sienna: "… What a loon.  I feel pity for Acronos and his original characters. "

Actually Sienna, you're one of my OC's too.

Sienna: "Crap!"

(Maniacal laugh)

Disclaimer: "Beep!  Author owns no video game, TV show, anime, or anything legally licensed.  All concepts of the plot belong to the author and require permission to use."

Oh yeah, I think someone did actually ask for most of my concepts or something.  To that person, feel free to write what you wish, just tell me what it is so I can read it.

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  The red blur was coming at him, faster and faster.  As Acronos put up his blade, he Triggered.  Devil moved quicker than he did, had more strength, and put more energy into the blade. 

  The blades connected, one with much more momentum than the other.  Locking blades, Devil was forced backwards even though balanced.  The claws on his feet dug into the ground, slowing them down until Devil bumped against a tree, ending all backward motion on his behalf. 

  Though the attack was finished, the two continued trying to outdo the other in strength.  Devil looked to see who was giving off enough strength to match him, and found red hair in a long ponytail reaching far down the back, a pink gi, turned that color from age and constant wear, and a white hakama.

  (A gi is like a button-up shirt, except that it wraps around and is held together by an extremely loose pair of pants designed for movement, try and think of any movie about ancient Japan, just about everyone wore such garments)  The person looked up at him and he saw amber eyes and an emotionless face.  Acronos recognized him as Kenshin in Battousai mode and relayed this to Devil.

Battousai: "(Seems to notice Devil for the first time) You are not my target.  Move out of the way and I won't be forced to kill you."

Devil: "I'd love to, however your attack has my back to this tree and I have no way of backing out.  As an assassin, you should have noticed that earlier."

Battousai: "(Looks mildly amused despite not smiling) Indeed, I must be getting dull.  My apologies for the folly." He two disengaged.  Acronos remained in Devil's form though, just so he could survive an attack.  Devil studied Battousai closely.

Battousai: "Do you want a real fight?"

Devil: "Not really... Ah!  I knew your aura felt vaguely familiar!  You were once a Devil, but died and were reduced to an evil spirit.  You searched for a strong enough body and found a person with a really powerful sword style but was impossible to posses, so you waited for his apprentice.  You took his place when he became an assassin, but now merely work as a dark conscience."

Battousai: "... Strangely enough that sounds about right.  It doesn't matter to me though."

  He looked around and noticed someone looking at the two of them.  He appeared to be a teen of a constantly smiling countenance, with brown hair, a blue gi and a white hakama rolled up to make certain it came nowhere near the feet.  Battousai zoomed off, again becoming only visible as a blur and charged his opponent.  His opponent wasn't even visible, only appearing as footsteps.  Devil relaxed into Acronos with a sigh of relief.

Acronos: "That was close." He noticed his friends getting up off the ground.

Acane: "What... Just happened there?  I think someone just moved faster than me, but I'm not really sure, wasn't that impossible?"

Maioko: "Sorry Acane, but it did happen.  Are you okay Acronos?"

Acronos: "Yeah, I'm fine.  Got on the wrong end of Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki, but with Devil's strength I lived."

Auron: "Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki?  Wasn't that one of those invincible attacks you mentioned?"

Acronos: "No attack is invincible if you know what to do.  Unfortunately the only way I could think of was with Devil's titanic strength."

Maioko: "You need to be more careful, you could have gotten hurt!"

Acronos: "Sorry."

Acane: "Hey, he was careful, the guy charged him!"

Maioko: "Yeah, but still, it's better to remember to be careful anyway!" Getting the feeling this could escalate, Acronos tried to calm them down.

Acronos: "Look, it's okay, I'm fine, (to Maioko) and I'll try and be more careful, but (to Acane) it really wasn't my fault. I hope that works. D: "Probably not, but maybe." Arch: "Let us hope so, the wrath of two women is not something to be underestimated.""

  Both glared at him mildly, glared at the other even more fiercely, and turned away.  Acronos then went to attempt to have them make up, but with little success.  He then heard a bit of shuffling and turned to see a bunch of people staring at him. 

  A girl in a fighting gi with a high ponytail reaching far down her back, a boy with defiant eyes and messy hair, a tall guy wearing white, a red headband and tall spiky hair, (he gave the impression of a rooster), a man wearing a black shirt, pants, a white trench coat, and another girl wearing a blue ninja outfit with a long, black braid all were looking curiously him.  Giving up on placating Maioko and Acane for the time being, he turned to them.  With a bow he waved cheerily.  He knew all these people from the Rurouni Kenshin anime, so he knew their names.

Rooster-head: "Oi!  Did you just, Uhh, change and block Kenshin's attack?" Acronos nods happily.

Guy in trench: "Very odd.  You shouldn't have been able to block that.  Up until now nobody has blocked that attack when it came head-on.  Your blade should have broken at least."

Acronos: "My keyblade is unbreakable.  Oh well, I'm Acronos, and these are my friends.  Nice to meet you!" Introductions followed, since you all know Acronos' group, I won't introduce them.

Rooster-head: "The name's Sagara Sanosuke, but call me Sano."

Trench: "I am Shinomori Aoshi."

Kid: "Myoujin Yahiko is my name, Tokyo samurai."

Girl with ponytail: "I'm Kamiya Kaoru.  Instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryuu."

Girl with braid: "(Somewhat hyper sounding) I'm Makimachi Misao!  Nice to meet you guys!"

Auron: "There was a person that Himura -San was chasing, who was he?"

Aoshi: "Seta Soujiro was facing Himura in a sparring match.  He requested to face Battousai, but may be in over his head."

Tidus: "Huh?"

Yahiko: "What do you mean?"

Tidus: "Who is this Battousai person?" The other entire group gasps.

Acronos: "Uhh, we're from a different country, so only I've heard of Battousai from my, Uhh, cousin who lives in Japan."

Aoshi: "You aren't very good at lying."

Acronos: "Sigh, it's quite a long story."

Misao: "You're from one of those other worlds, right?" Several people blink in confusion.

Aoshi: "Recently there have been several people coming to this world, along with the heartless."

Acronos: "Oh, well do you know where the keyhole is?"

Misao: "No, but everyone is looking for it for one reason or another."

Sano: "Word on the street is that there are some people who joined with the heartless and gained immense skill and strength and are searching for the keyhole, destroying anything in their path.  The police force and government wants to get to it and use the heart as a source of power over the people.  Damned hypocrites."

Misao: "We're trying to protect it until we can find a way of permanently dealing with the heartless."

Acronos: "The heartless realized their situation and are getting desperate. D: "This is a good chance to strike a blow to the core of their forces." Arch: "This could work to our advantage indeed." Hey, it's my job to seal worlds from the heartless, so if I find the keyhole I can permanently stop the heartless."

Aoshi: "It couldn't be that simple."

Acronos: "Well, actually this is the last unsealed world.  All the other ones took a long while to seal, but it's done." Aoshi nodded and they decided to wait for Battousai and Soujiro to come around.  In the meantime Acronos explained the whole thing about names.

Acronos: "Okay guys, there's a few things you should know about Japanese culture and stuff.  Here, you say the surname first, and then the regular one.  Also, you add titles like -San, -dono, -sama, -Chan, -kun, and -despite the fact that you probably won't use it- -koishii all the time.

  -San is basically like saying Mr. or Ms., but it's used almost always except when told to drop formality.

  -Dono you will only hear from Kenshin, and it is like Milady or Milord.

  -Sama is like saying Lord.

  -Chan is an endearment, like saying 'little' before the name.

  -Kun is your basic masculine title, and koishii is a term for somebody you really care for. 

Oh yeah, adding -sensei to the end is a term for a teacher.  I'll also give you a few Japanese terms I know. 

  Tori-atama is what people occasionally call Sano, meaning Rooster-head.  Kitsune-onna means fox-lady, a woman named Megumi is called that, and you'll know exactly why if she does her laugh.  Busu means ugly; a name Yahiko frequently calls Kaoru.  Baka is idiot, fool, or stupid, tanuki is raccoon, both used for Kaoru by Yahiko.  Misao is called a weasel for some reason, Saitoh Hajime is known as Mibu no ookami, the wolf of Mibu, Aoshi is frequently called an icicle for obvious reasons, and Soujiro is called the Tenken since his sword abilities are supposed to be a gift from heaven... Is there anything else I forgot to mention?"

  At that moment Battousai and Soujiro came flying in their direction, smashing bokken together with immense force.  A wooden plank fell off the roof and smacked Acronos on the head.

Acronos: "Oww!  (Looks at source of offending piece of wood) Huh?  Umm, Kamiya -San, why is your dojo in, umm..."

Yahiko: "Why her dojo looks like it's so beaten up?  It's because the Busu is poor too, (is violently hit on head by a bokken) Oww!  Why'd you do that, Baka tanuki!"

Acronos: "(To his friends) See, Yahiko uses those a lot."

Kaoru: "(Laughing it off) Don't mind Yahiko -Chan, he's just being a brat."

Yahiko: "I am not a -Chan!"

Acronos: "Hmm… (Takes out a pot) is this worth anything to you?  It's from the age of Oda Nobunaga."

Kaoru: "(Her eyes get huge) Y-yes..."

Acronos: "Would you like me to sell it for you?  I have no need of it."

Kaoru: "(Drooling slightly, nods)"

Yahiko: "(Waves hand in front of her face) Ugh, women and cash." Every girl aside from Yuna and Kairi whacks him upside the head.  However all of them yell.

Girls: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Yahiko: "... Kenshin has a word for this... Oro..."

Battousai/Kenshin: "Stop talking about the baka Rurouni.  (Talking to self)

This one is not a baka Rurouni de gozaru!  Baka Hitokiri... 

What?!  How dare you, I am the strongest one here, you have no right to call me a baka! 

Well you're only out here because Soujiro convinced this one to let you out, so now who's stronger? 

... Shut up baka Rurouni, you know I'm better than you. 

You only wish that, baka Hitokiri; this one knew the ultimate attack first.  

Oh shut up Rurouni, you know I'm far superior since I don't hesitate. 

This one is far superior to you since he created you out of weakness that he did." They, err, he, umm, whatever, continued this conversation for quite a while.  A young guy seemed to appear out of thin air and stare at them, umm, him, Uhh...

Irvine: "... (Blinks a few times) He's like you Acronos, multiple personalities and all of them crazy."

Acronos: "I resent that!  Neither of us is mad.  Archangel, stop talking through me."

Irvine: "I stand by my statement."

  While they were busy, Kaoru had grabbed Acronos' pot and was nuzzling it happily.  Aoshi raised his eyebrow slightly, but Misao is more emotional and her jaw had long since hit the ground and one eye was twitching.  Aoshi calmly closed her mouth.  The scene then simply lost all sense as Acronos joined the Kenshin/Battousai argument, but with different sides taking sides.  Suffice to say that it was one of weirdest arguments seen. 

Acane challenged Soujiro to a race but he smiled widely and said he really didn't want to, and she began attempting to insult him into going while Auron had to restrain her from attacking.  Irvine and Tidus were attempting to pry the pot out of Kaoru's death-grip, while Maioko, Sano, Tifa and Kairi were dueling.  Wakka was attempting to teach Yahiko the benefits of some of the sports he knew while Selphie was drawing information from him and plotting.  Yuna was chatting pleasantly with Misao, her occasionally tossing a kunai randomly.  Lulu and Aoshi were standing to the side, shaking their heads. 

After everything finally calmed down, explanations were in order.

Yahiko: "So, who are you guys?"

Acronos: "Well- (several people's stomachs growl) Uhh, it appears that we're hungry.  ... How long has it been since breakfast?"

Auron: "Hmm, only a few hours of walking.  I think it was mostly uphill though." More people's stomachs grumble, including Sano and Yahiko.

Kenshin: "Okay, no more sparring for a time.  This one will make something, that he will."

Kaoru: "Kenshin, you just fought, I'll make the food.  (Sano and Yahiko's eyes widen in terror and she gives them a look that says to shut up) Is there anything you'd like?"

Acronos: "A salad for me, perhaps a little meat on it?"

Maioko: "Rice and fish!" Most order in that area.

Kaoru: "Okay, just a second." They all wait at the table for a while.  After a bit, simple conversation begins.

Kenshin: "So why are you all here?  Oh!  This one attacked you, he is so sorry!"

Acronos: "It's alright, no big thing.  We're here to find the keyhole."

Sano: "How are you going to do that?"

Acane: "So far things have just led to the place, so that's probably what will happen."

Maioko: "Actually Acane, there's no plot here, so we're going to have to search." The two gave each other evil looks.

Acronos: "Uh-oh Umm, let's not fight about what might happen, we'll find the keyhole, don't worry."

Sano: "... You act like Kenshin does around Jou-chan and the Kitsune!"

Acronos: "...?"

Yahiko: "Kenshin does basically that around the busu and Megumi -san."

Acronos: "Well... (Sniff, sniff) Is something burning?"

Ifrit: "(Appears) Burning?  Where?!"

Misao: "AHH!  Who the hell are you?"

Ifrit: "I am Ifrit, the Devil Lord of Fire."

Kenshin team: "...?"

Acane: "He's a pyromaniac with control over flames."

Misao: "Oh."

Ifrit: "Hmm… Why is there the scent of crispy food drifting in?"

Sano: "That's probably Jou -chan's cooking." Smoke started drifting out from under the door and Kaoru strolled out with a few dishes, one being Acronos' salad.  She places it in front of him.  Despite his usual politeness, he couldn't stop his comments and eye twitch.

Acronos: "... You burntthe salad?!  You burnt the sauce?!  ... You would have burnt the water if it didn't evaporate!  ... (Notices that Kaoru is next to him, smiles widely) Good thing I'm almost as big a fan of burnt stuff as Ifrit is!"

Maioko: "(Whispers to Acronos) But you don't ever eat burnt stuff as far as I remember."

Acronos: "(Whispering back) Yeah, but I don't want to hurt Kaoru -san's feelings.  Besides, Ifrit is nearby."

  Kaoru gives him a piercing stare, which he smiles through, and turns to give Maioko her charred rice.  Acronos immediately gives his salad to Ifrit who eats it in a second.  Acronos takes the plate and stands up.

Acronos: "Umm, Kamiya -san, I am finished.  May I clean my plate off and perhaps aid you?"

Kaoru: "You don't have to be so formal, go ahead."

  Acronos proceeds to all but runs into the kitchen.  While Kaoru finishes handing out food and bashing anyone who dared insult her cooking, Acronos takes the crispy remains of what food she'd prepared, dumps it in the trash, casts haste, and starts cooking extremely fast.  When Kaoru comes back in she finds no more smoke, a bunch of properly cooked foods, and Acronos lounging on the floor, eating a rice-ball.

Acronos: "(Goes into a more polite position) I hope you do not mind the foods that I chose?"

Kaoru: "How did he manage to cook all this so fast?  Why is it that every other guy can cook while I can't?! Oh no, it's fine, but how did you manage it?"

Acronos: "Secret.  I can teach you to cook this stuff though."

Kaoru: "Would you?"

Acronos: "Sure!  Cooking isn't that hard to do, nobody can be so bad as to be unable to learn!  D: "She burnt a salad!" Uhh, yeah... You might have a point there... "

Kaoru: "All right!  Now I won't have to force Kenshin to do everything around here! " With that the two of them took the foods to everyone.  Sano and Yahiko stared.

Sano: "Uhh, how did... Acronos, you make this stuff?"

Acronos: "Yes, Sanosuke -san.  It wasn't that difficult."

Sano: "Whoa, just Sano, no formality!  I'm surprised though, usually it's Kenshin who cooks."

Acane: "Acronos is our resident chef!"

Maioko: "Hey, I can cook too!"

Acane: "Not as well."

Maioko: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Acronos: "Umm, most of us have some culinary skill, I just do the cooking more often than everyone else.  Due to that I have a little more practice and people are more used to my style."

Yahiko: "No, more like you're better than the busu in every way when it comes to cooking.  Kenshin, you've got competition!"

Kaoru: "It's not like my cooking is that horrible, is it? "

Acronos: "Not good. Well, even if Kaoru -san cannot cook right now, which isn't true, I will be teaching her my methods from now on."

Sano: "You've got your work cut out for you."

Kaoru: "(Smashes Sano and Yahiko with a bokken) Baka!"

Acronos: "(Nervous) Uhh, where'd she get the bokken from? Arch: "She is a woman scorned, have I not told you such a thing should not be underestimated?""

Acronos & Kenshin: "Kaoru -san/dono, it isn't polite to hit Sano and Yahiko."

Acane: "(Blinks a few times) Exact clones!!"

Selphie: "Hey, she has a bit of a point.  Both of them have long hair, that super-polite personality, can cook, probably clean too, and both are still incredible swordsmen!"

Acronos & Kenshin: "Ehehe, you're too kind."

Maioko: "Oh good lord!  One is enough for me!  Hey wait, where'd that come from? "

Kaoru: "More Kenshin?  Too many! "

Acronos: "Hey Kenshin -san, I've got a few questions for you all."

Kenshin: "(Smiles) Go ahead."

Acronos: "Yeah, that's one, you and Seta -san both smile all the time, but, pardon my saying so, neither of you seems really happy."

Kenshin: "... (Smiles) It is a way of keeping emotion in check that it is."

Soujiro: "Yes, if you smile all the time, nobody expects you to be a warrior."

Kenshin: "Also, people are less concerned about you when you smile."

Acronos: "Hmm… (Smiles)"

Kenshin: "(Smiles)"

Soujiro: "(Smiles)"

Acronos: "... I hereby dub this the Rurouni smile!  A technique only usable to the full extent by those who wander and have much on their mind."

Soujiro: "Yes, we are the three Rurouni.  Rurouni Kenshin, Rurouni Soujiro, and Rurouni Acronos."

Kenshin: "Destined to wander about until we find our answers, even if only through our mind."

Acronos: "The three Rurouni! (Raises keyblade)"

Kenshin: "Hai, de gozaru!  (Raises sakabatou)"

Soujiro: "Smiling all the way!  (Raises Kikuichimonji Norimune, his katana)" With their three blades connected in the air they looked like the three Musketeers, and they all smiled widely.

Kaoru: "Kenshin still considers himself a wanderer?  No, I couldn't stand him leaving again! "

Maioko: "Rurouni Acronos, an interesting ring to it.  I don't want to be alone though... What am I saying?!  I've been alone since this quest began, I don't care about that!  You wish!  Don't you ever leave? "

Kenshin: "Well then wanderers, let us wander to the chores, shall we?"

Acronos: "I call basic repairs!"

Kenshin: "Laundry is mine as always."

Soujiro: "I suppose that leaves me with the floor."

Acronos: "Oh yeah, one more question.  What's it like being Battousai?"

Kenshin: "... The baka hitokiri is telling sessha to give you this key chain.  He calls it Battousai blade  ... According to the baka hitokiri this will give you the Battousai personality to use.  Do you want it?"

Acronos: "Sure, the more keyblades, the better, I suppose.  Besides, I already have experience handling personalities, as you know."

Kenshin: "Hai.  Be careful with it." He hands Acronos a tiny sakabatou on a chain, and he connects it.  The keyblade turns into a reverse-blade sword with a spike coming out of the back and a knob going forward.  The hand guard was only in the front, and made to allow movement of the wrist.

Acronos: "Wow, I like this weapon!  It's very good, especially since I don't want to kill anyway.  Huh?" Acronos looked forward, zoning out totally.

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Acronos' subconscious

Acronos: "Huh, what happened?"

Archangel: "You awakened a new personality, so you were drawn into the subconscious."

Devil: "Oh great, more people in here.  Hey wait, aren't three extra personalities too many for your sanity to handle?"

??? : "They'll come at you from nowhere and everywhere at once."

Acronos: "Huh?  Who and where are you?"

??? : "And they will keep coming at you, so long as you live and can fight.  However, you don't have the blade skill to survive for too much longer."

Devil: "He has us to cover for him when things get tough."

??? : "That isn't sufficient.  You are very strong, but none of you has enough skill with the blade."

Acronos: "So what are you here for?  To annoy me?"

??? : "No, I am here to help you.  I am Battousai, an awakening of you if you had chosen the dark path.  I have skills with the blade that are far superior to any of yours.  I also have no mercy and none of the foolish illusions about not killing."

Devil: "You won't mind if I test you then!" Devil used vortex, but Battousai was already behind him and landed a light hit with his bare hands.

Battousai: "I also have warrior skills, the ability to manipulate things into weapons, and the ability to use techniques I see." He then created a giant sword from the floor and used Devil's vortex on him.  Devil blocked it with one hand though.

Devil: "I'm faster and stronger than you."

Battousai: "(Behind Devil) Yes, but I'm better." A slash sent Devil a few feet back.  Acronos ran in between them.

Acronos: "Stop!  We're all one person, it's not good to fight among one another!"

Devil: "Yeah, you're right.  Besides, I'm basically immortal so this battle will take a long time."

Battousai: "Admirable leading skills, I shall abstain from attacking any of you.  However, I shall take my turn as the conscious!" He flings them aside and takes control.

.

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Reality

Maioko: "Hey, Acronos!  Stop zoning out already, you're freaking us out!" She swings to smack his head, but he grabs her hand, crushing it painfully.

Maioko: "Oww-oww-oww-oww-oww!  Stop it, that hurts!"

Battousai: "Never hit me again then." He flings her hand away with disdain.  She looks at him seemingly enraged, but it was easily visible that she felt hurt, emotionally I mean.

Kenshin: "Another baka hitokiri?"

Battousai: "You are the fool.  I challenge you."

Kenshin: "I do not accept."

Battousai: "You don't really have a choice."

  He flings a dart at Kaoru, and it stops right in front of her forehead.  Battousai turns to Kenshin with a smirk.  He then blinks harshly.  He blinks again and everyone notices that he has amber eyes.  His eyes switch to brown momentarily and the dart is immediately dropped to the ground.  His mouth opens to apologize but the eyes switch back to amber.  Amber, brown, amber, brown...

Acronos: "Ugh... So many personalities, can't control... Ahh!" Acronos was hidden in a veil of smoke.  Everyone got ready, expecting another deadly personality.  As the smoke began to clear the suspense heightened....

Chibi Acronos: "Hi everyone, I'm Chibi -chan!" Several people did the anime falls.

Maioko: "Acronos... You're little?"

Chibi Acronos: "I'm not that little, I'm 10 and a half!  Hmm…?  Oni-chan wants me to say sorry for what Battousai -nii did.  He's just cranky and needs a nap.  Batt: "What!  I don't take naps!""

Kaoru: "Did you say 'uncle Battousai'? (Chibi nods fast) That's what I thought.  Mind telling him unless he wants to feel the wrath of my bokken, he should never do that again?"

Chibi: "He says little girls shouldn't make big threats.  Now that isn't nice, you're not little."

Kaoru: "Grr!  Get him out here so I can pound some sense into him!"

Chibi: "Oni-chan says Battousai -nii won't get any time out unless he gets nice.  I agree, he hurt Maioko -dono!  You okay?"

Maioko: "-Dono?  Yeah, I'm fine Acronos."

Chibi: "Oni-chan is happy, but I'm not Oni-chan.  I'm Chibi -chan.  Hmm, you look familiar."

Maioko: "Yeah, we, uhh, your Oni-chan and I are good friends."

Chibi: "Yay!  Piggy-back ride!" He jumps on her shoulders.

Maioko: "Argh!  Not babysitting again!  I thought I left that back at home! " Despite mental grumbling, she walked around a bit, giving Chibi his desired ride and making him very happy.  Acane sniggered a bit and while they passed, Chibi whacked her with a wooden keyblade.

Chibi: "Maioko -dono is being very nice, no being mean!"

Acane: "Oww!  Was that keyblade made of wood?  Oww!"

Chibi: "Hai, I'm not old enough to use metal weapons yet." Everyone smiled a bit.

Kenshin: "Oh well, sessha will do the laundry."

Soujiro: "I'll clean the floors."

Chibi: "Oni-chan wants to repair, but his brain is too tired to turn back, so I'll do it." The three Rurouni go off to their duties.

Misao: "... Now what?"

Kaoru: "I guess I'll get you all some rooms."

Maioko: "Aoshi -san, mind teaching me something about those kodachi?  I think they're my preferred weapons."

Aoshi: "(Nods)"

Acane: "Guess you can teach me some ninja tricks Misao -san."

Misao: "Drop the formality, okay?"

Sano: "Just ate, so I'll go out."

Irvine: "They have any gambling around here?"

Sano: "Now you're talking!"

Selphie: "I'm going with you two, to make sure you don't loose too badly."

Wakka: "Want to play soccer, Yahiko?"

Yahiko: "Why not?"

Lulu: "I'll referee."

Auron: "I need to train."

Tidus: "I'll go with you.  You may be old, but you're good."

Auron: "(Raised eyebrow) Old?  Yuna, we might need your healing... For Tidus." Tifa shrugged and decided to help Kaoru with the rooms.  Kairi went to aid Kenshin with laundry.  Now, I have placed everyone in situations that allow indefinite amounts of time to be expended.  Let's do some cameos!

.

.

With Riku and Sienna

During their walk towards Tokyo, Riku looked up and noticed storm clouds, heard some rumbling, and smelled humidity.

Riku: "It will rain soon.  We should find shelter."

Sienna: "Oh be quiet you lazy idiot."

Riku: "I know you're still sore from the duels, but I'm serious."

Sienna: "(Turns to him) As am I."

Riku: "Whatever..." He cast Aeroga as an umbrella.  Within ten minutes it began pouring.

Sienna: "(Being soaked) Don't say a word.  Not one word!"

Riku: "I'm probably unworthy of being kind, but whatever. " He came near Sienna, allowing his spell to cover them both like a large umbrella.

Sienna: "... Umm, thanks I guess."

Riku: "... (Nods)"

Sienna: "You're feeling unworthy again.  Sigh.  There's gotta be a way for you to recognize that you aren't unworthy." They continued on their way strolling along until Riku's spell suddenly gave way, dumping a ton of water on them both.

Riku: "... Are we walking or are we swimming?"

Sienna: "Swimming.  Something needs to die for this..."

Riku: "No killing of weather gods, you know how much trouble that usually gets you in."

Sienna: "I don't care!  This rain is evil!  Evil I say!  Something must pay!" (Narrator: "Oh great, another psychotic character out for our blood.")

Riku: "(Very serious) Sienna, I have a question that is very important that you must answer.  ... Sienna... Has your medication worn off?"

Sienna: "(Surprised and confused) Huh?"

Riku: "(Laughing his head off)"

Sienna: "Grr, my medication hasn't worn off!  Wait a second, that wasn't..."

Riku: "(Laughing even more, starting to drown)"

Sienna: "(Building rage) Die!!"

  She lunges at him, tackling him to the ground and putting him in a headlock.  Riku notices the mud now getting on his clothes.  Now ticked he slips out of the lock and starts grinding his knuckles into her head, not enough to be really painful but enough to elicit several 'oww!'s.  After quite a bit of wrestling, they stop and realize they're covered in mud.

Riku: "Great.... Let's find shelter, or do you enjoy being soaked this thoroughly?"

Sienna: "Shut up Riku." They found a nearby inn and got a room.

Riku: "This sucks, only one room?  What kind of inn only has one room left?"

Sienna: "One that's crowded by travelers like us." They looked apprehensively at the room before them.  Two sleeping bag like futons lay on the floor near one another and all the room looked like a standard Japanese room.  One bathroom was next to them.  Both stood still for a while.  Finally Riku moved first to the bathroom and opened the door.

Riku: "Ladies first."

Sienna: "... You're just trying to do something freaky!  You go first."

Riku: "I'm not, you should go first."

Sienna: "Nope, you."

Riku: "... (Shrugs) Your loss." He goes in and the door locks.  A few minutes later he comes out and sees Sienna pulling her shirt off.  His eyes widen and he zips back into the bathroom.  Not hearing any yelling or banging on the door, he relaxes a bit and allows a wolf-whistle to escape his lips.

Riku: "Damn!  I almost forgot I'm traveling with a hot female partner!  Blasted unworthiness, if I was worthy I could care.  Oh well, no sense mulling over anything that I can't do. "

  However he decides to mentally list the traits of his partner, his way of getting rid of any hormonal impulses.  Shoulder-length black hair in a ponytail, small and slightly sad-seeming hazel eyes, (but definitely a temper to make up for it), sufficient curvatures to a lithe body, a slightly faded and torn pair of jeans, a green tank-top that was almost tunic-length with dress cuffs at her wrists but not connected to the shirt, a strange amulet dangling from her neck, a length of white cloth used as a headband, and usually a metal guard on her entire right arm, (she's a lefty).  This time he opens the door loudly and slowly.  Sienna is sitting on the floor in her usual sleeping outfit, (white T-shirt and pajama pants, I suppose that's everyone's style of sleepwear in this story).

Sienna: "You done yet?"

Riku: "Yeah, go ahead. Focus on face, don't think, focus on face... "

Sienna: "(Raised eyebrow) Are you okay?  You've got an even more stupid expression than usual."

Riku: "(Rolls eyes) Now I remember why I forgot she looked good, I argue with her too much. Go take your bath Sienna.  Oh yeah, it's only a bath, no shower." She shrugs and goes in.

Riku: "Hmm, Now what did I want, oh yeah, I've got to change and… "

  Riku busied himself with some things for a while.  While swinging his keyblade around he accidentally hit the doorknob, instantly unlocking it and opening it.  Though Riku turned away the moment his blade connected, he didn't escape Sienna's wrath in the form of a brick to the head.  A few moments later he regained consciousness and found his face in one of his clean shirts.  He shrugged and pulled off his shirt just as Sienna opened her door again.  He saw her standing there with her eyes wide.  He shrugged and some of his hair got in his eyes.  Noticing it was wet he walked past Sienna to grab a towel.  She couldn't move.

Sienna: "Dammit!  Why does he have to be shirtless now!  Damn him for having such a perfectly sculpted body!  Must get grip... "

Riku: "(smirks) Please try not to drool.  I never pegged you as a fangirl though." That woke her up and she lunged at him.  This time her wrath took the form of a punch to the head.

Sienna: "No way am I a fangirl!"

Riku: "Glad that woke you up." She glared at him a bit while he put his shirt back on.  He shrugged and moved his futon a bit away.

Sienna: "Let's get something to eat, I'm starved."

Riku: "I hope it's not pizza, you eat through the stuff like crazy.  It's a wonder you stay as thin as you are when you eat like a pig." Wrath descends in the form of a spinning kick and a few punches.

Sienna: "Watch it idiot, my figure is absolutely perfect, thank you very much."

Riku: "Yeah.  That kick was in perfect form to cause me pain." Wrath descends as a few kicks to his stomach.  Once finished they go to eat.  No pizza though, but plenty of fresh sushi.  They ate and went to bed.  Nearly everyone asked if they were lovers, since a man and woman traveling together tends to raise that idea.  They then went to bed and got some sleep despite the rain.

.

.

With Cloud's group

Yuffie: "Now tell me again why we haven't gone home yet?"

Cloud: "Umm..."

Sephiroth: "Strife, you're lost, aren't you?"

Squall: "How do you get lost when your method of movement is teleportation?"

Cloud: "Well, teleporting isn't that easy!  I have to find some place with all the proper magical alignments."

All: "...?"

Cloud: "Before we were teleporting randomly, no particular destination in mind.  Now it's a specific world we're aiming for.  A random teleport is easier than a concise one.  Hmm…"

Cid: "This is why I liked gummi ships more."

Squall: "What are you looking for anyway?"

Cloud: "Well, it needs to be in the direction of where we need to go, and it needs to have some type of magic in the area."

Aries: "Unusual... Hmm, what's that?"

Cloud: "It's a portal.  If my senses are still working, it sorta leads to Hollow Bastion."

Yuffie: "What do you mean, 'sort of'?"

Sephiroth: "It doesn't matter really.  We're all strong enough to survive anything that could be in there."

Cloud: "All right... It seems weird in there though..."

  They stepped through the portal and blinked several times in confusion. 

The sky was hot pink, clouds of fluffy black marshmallows soaked the flying dinosaurs before being sucked into a small vortex that seemed like a sun, and shrubbery kept dying and burning and being reborn every few seconds. 

Random scenes from Monty Python and Dogma and other random and crazy movies appeared on computers with little blue wings that were belched out of a tree in the shape of a dwarf. 

A dust devil started up, turned into Maioko's summon, dueled with a Chihuahua, and dissolved, all within a few seconds. 

A set of giant teeth strolled along happily, bumped into a toothless shark on wheels, which ate them instantly and gave a huge toothy grin. 

A pit opened up in a point that had no correlation to the laws of space and time and began eating itself while people in the nude practiced politics. 

Math began floating out of a seemingly normal point, equations of physics and other equations. 

A bunch of monkeys popped up and began writing a script for a play. 

Shakespeare stood next to them, cracking a whip and screaming out his own quotes in pain. 

A little card had a picture of Sephiroth on it a floated on a wind of water. 

A strip of horrible yellow wallpaper sung on through nothingness. 

A few kids -(authors)- appeared in different places doing strange things and messing with people that seemed vaguely familiar.

Yuffie: "... And I thought I was nuts."

Cid: "Uhh... (Sees a cigarette being formed by thousands of chemicals being compressed into one thing, it is offered to him) No thanks...?"

Cloud: "Umm, that way, methinks." His words echoed hundreds of times.  Sephiroth was surrounded by many of his swords that danced the cha-cha.  He looked really sad.

Sephiroth: "Sniff, my poor sword, copied and misused like this... IT BURNS I TELL YOU!!"

Aries: "Sephy -chan?" That stops him in his tracks.  He looks around again.

Sephy: "Hey, this place seems sort of familiar."

Cloud: "Now that you mention it..." An airline attendant-type person appears in a splat.  Problem is that she's wearing, oh, next to nothing?

Squall: "(Raised eyebrow)"

Cloud: "(Turns)"

Sephiroth: "(Shrugs)"

Cid: "(Cursing his older age)"

Yuffie: "(Muttering about why can't women like these ever stay dead)"

Aries: "Excuse me, can you tell us where we are?" She looks at Cloud, Sephiroth, Squall and Cid mechanically with a toothpaste smile and her, Ahem, chest area became, well, let's just say she was not lacking anything.  Cloud remained turned around, while everyone else's eyes bulged.

Airline lady: "YoU aRe In ThE zOnE oF aUtHoR pOwErS, pLeAsE rEmAiN cAlM aNd TrY nOt To Go NeAr AnY aUtHoRs As ThEy TeNd To CaUsE hIgH lEvElS oF iNsAnItY." (Narrator: "Huh?" It's simple; the author powers must have a place for any randomness and insanity to run off to.  This place is dangerous to stay in for too long though, your sanity is in danger while using powers too much)

Sephiroth: "(Begins laughing madly) Can't, Hah, stop, hah, laughing!"

Cloud: "(Is suddenly gripping sword, hefts over Aerith) No, this is not going to happen twice!"

  He works to sheathe his blade.  Yuffie is suddenly gripped by an immense desire to steal.  Cid grabs a cigarette and is finding it really difficult not to swear like crazy and smoke.  Squall becomes mute and starts thinking of ways to kill everything for money.

Cloud: "We need to get out of here before we start going on a killing spree!" A portal opens up nearby.  Through much difficulty, and Aries pushing them most of the way, they make it through to Hollow Bastion, collapsing on the sane ground.

.

.

Somewhere else

  Hundreds of light-years away, beyond most nearby worlds, outside the rule of confusion and stupidity, right near a chaos black hole, someone got up off the ground.  An immortal, this one was, and could take any form he desired.  Since he had originally been born male, this was his preferred form.  Frequently he took to looking like an old man dressed in white and brown robes.  However his truly preferred form was of a youth in the prime of life, fastest, most agile, and definitely strongest. 

  He had snow-white hair cut short, a white goatee with a few blonde hairs in it, steel-gray eyes, loose pants in the style of a hakama of a gray that was mainly black, a shirt that tightened in places to allow movement and of a white-gray color.  He used a staff as a balancing tool, gnarled and looking like a tree made into a vine, with a green jewel at the top.  The thing was that the jewel wasn't cut in any way, but still seemed somewhat angular. 

  Also, despite the fact that the jewel seemed green, if you looked closely at it for a moment, it shifted colors, turn a little and it switched again, ever changing, but only if you looked closely.  The immortal dusted his pants off, unnecessary since the grass-seeming stuff didn't die and nothing had left the ground.  He looked up at a relatively blue sky and a nice amount of sun, but not exactly enough to warm you despite the wind.

Immortal: "A perfect day, yet again."

  To us, we would not find it as perfect as he, but this immortal was infinitely wise, being totally happy even when things were bad.  This wasn't a sense of optimism; this was pure and all-encompassing joy that existed because it could, even while sad.  Anyway, he was a storyteller, the immortal that Tidus, Acane, and Acronos had all met.  Since he was immortal and totally happy, what he did was to tell others what stories they needed to hear.  He felt that it was time now for him to be involved in yet one more story himself. 

  He pointed his staff in a direction and drew a circle.  A portal opened for him.  He stepped through it, trusting it to guide him where he needed to go.  In mid-route he felt a new objective calling him, a story that needed to be finished.  He appeared in a dark alleyway. 

  The surroundings were close, brick, the exits were a good distance away, and optimally it was the best possible place for an ambush.  There were several men threatening a woman with weapons and the like.  He walked over to them.  He sensed that the men's stories had been ceased for the time being, but the female's was the one he needed to work on.

Immortal: "I would suggest ceasing any further violent action towards the woman in front of you."

Leader: "Oh yeah?  Why should we?"

Immortal: "(Almost before he finished) You have much more important things to attend to.  Your stories have halted, thusly your top priority should be to begin making them anew, gentlemen." They all look very confused, but you can tell that something's telling them to agree.

Immortal: "I shall make it so you comprehend my meaning.  Ahem, fight me and if you loose you must go home and rethink your life.  You must then do something about it." They all seem pleased with that and crack their knuckles.

Immortal: "There are no restrictions, come at me full-force." They charge at him, knives raised, but are sent flying back several feet from where they were, before they even came close.  One pulls out a gun and fires, only to see the bullets knocked away with ease.  A bigger one charges in this time, swinging at the immortal's head.  He is stopped by one finger and sent flying by a flick.

Immortal: "I do believe I have beaten you completely.  Please return to your residence and rethink the situation you are in." They help each other up and go to do that.  (One will eventually become a great writer and philosopher after going through college)

Immortal: "Madam, your story cannot be completed on this world.  Would you permit me to escort you the world you should be at?"

Woman: "Who are you?  How do you know this stuff?"

Immortal: "I am a storyteller.  I have learnt to tell where stories lead.  I apologize for my rudeness, but yours is on Hollow Bastion, not this Twilight Town."

Woman: "Why should I trust you?"

Immortal: "You shouldn't.  Therefore you do not.  I do not mind that fact, I am asking you to trust in fate.  You could perhaps call me its indirect messenger."

Woman: "I... Don't believe in fate anymore."

Immortal: "To be precise, the only absolute fate is for people to die at one point or another.  I speak of probability, circumstance, and what would be best to occur.  Perhaps I should explain my position?  Have you not ever read a book, and in the middle of it were extremely frustrated by the characters' lack of knowledge or some other circumstance?  Have you not wished to change it from within, but with your knowledge?"

Woman: "Yes, that happens..."

Immortal: "I do that.  I aid characters, but frequently I merely watch, record, and tell of it to those who need to hear."

Woman: "We're a story?"

Immortal: "Yes, it is known as life." (Narrator: "Hey, this guy sounds like us!")

Woman: "... What am I supposed to do at this 'Hollow Bastion' place?"

Immortal: "Only what you want.  See the area I recommend and then you are free to do as you please."

Woman: "... All right, I have nothing to loose, I suppose.  My name is Shera, by the way."

Immortal: "A good name.  Follow me."

Shera: "Don't I get a name?"

Immortal: "I... Cannot remember my name, I may not even have had one." He opens up a portal and gestures to it.  Shera shrugs and goes into it.  A few seconds later they arrive on top of Hollow Bastion.

Immortal: "Oh dear, it appears my portal miscalculated the exact point to appear, but what an excellent view!"

Shera: "(Gripping a tower) I'm a bit busy being terrified of falling to my death to look!"

Immortal: "Oh don't worry, the fall isn't that much, and the water will cushion instead of causing pain."

Shera: "Not helping!"

Immortal: "Sigh, one moment." Using a simple teleport spell, he gets them down.  He then leads Shera.  The immortal searches around Hollow Bastion.

Shera: "Didn't you say I only had to go to one place?"

Immortal: "Yes, but I have yet to find that place." On the route they bump into Vincent Valentine.

Shera: "Ah!  Mr. Valentine!"

Vincent: "... You are Shera, the woman who stayed with Cid for a time.  Why are you here in Hollow Bastion?"

Shera: "This guy brought me, had to finish my story or something." The immortal had taken up his elderly form.

Immortal: "Good day sir."

Vincent: "Have we met before, you seem familiar."

Immortal: "I don't believe so, however I have a very familiar aura to most people."

Shera: "Weren't you just?  How did you?  What happened to?  Huh?"

Vincent: "By any chance, are you here to find Cid, Shera?"

Shera: "(Blush) Well... Yes."

Vincent: "Then count yourself as not the only one waiting.  A woman named Rinoa and myself; we are both waiting for our friends.  Cid is supposed to come here soon."

Shera: "Ah?"

Immortal: "I am done here, do as you wish."

Shera: "I can't thank you enough."

Immortal: "Just make a good story." He disappears into one of his portals.  The two of them stood there for a moment, staring at where he had disappeared.  A person yelled out that Cloud's group had returned.  Both Vincent and Shera were immensely surprised, and began walking.  Walking to meet their friends and continue their stories as they were meant to.

.

.

Sora's first experience with higher magic

  One day, like every other day, Sora was searching the castle he was 'imprisoned' in.  He was constantly wandering around, looking for an easy way out, locations to hide, etc.  From all this, Sora knew more about the castle than anyone but Zidane.  He walked into a training room and found Malfoy doing practice with his stronger magic.

Sora: "What 'ya doing?"

Malfoy: "I am practicing the increased magical attacks.  You probably wouldn't understand."

Sora: "Really?  C'mon, teach me!"

Malfoy: "(Already annoyed) Fine, but don't whine when you can't do it."

Sora: "Yeah!  What first?"

Malfoy: "Well, instead of manipulating the element to do your bidding like in normal magic and custom magic, you have to become the element and call forth its power like you would call your own energy."

Sora: "So to use the enhanced fire, I'd need to be part of fire and… Hmm… Think I've got something..."

  He points his hand forward, it glows gold, red lines streak towards it and from it, the glow becomes a red fire, Sora glows entirely for a moment, and everything halts into utter silence.  As Malfoy was about to say that that was good for a start, an immense pillar of fire erupts from Sora's glowing hand, engulfing the wall and burning straight through the stone and steel for several meters.  Malfoy's eyes widen. 

  Sora raises his hand and looks at it with a mix of love and interest.  Flames twirl around him, completely under his command because he wasn't controlling or manipulating them, but had become a part of them and sent them where they collectively decided.  The secret wasn't to control the magic, but to be one with it and use part of you to guide it.  The glow died down, along with the flames.  Malfoy gaped; unable to process the power Sora had command over.

Sora: "(In the happy manner only he has) How was that?"

Malfoy: "(Eye twitch) V-very good keyblade wielder.  Now try ice."

  Sora's frost attack used the basis of cold, the draining of kinetic energy.  He put everything he'd just melted to 1 degree Kelvin.  This created some extra energy just floating around, which he absorbed.  Lightning was next.  Thousands of super-thick lightning bolts rained down and left a net of shocks through the ground, finally going to one central point and exploding upward to nearly blind anyone nearby. 

  Gravity took the form of a black hole, ripping the fabric of space and time, but only for a second since Sora ended it quickly.  Wind took the form of gigantic gusts of wind that cut and ripped everything they touched, and finished as a tornado encircling Sora.  Water simply used its pressure to crush anything and everything in its path.  Enhanced Cure created a green whirlwind around Sora, fully healing all wounds of every kind, including mp and energy loss, and even making you a bit stronger based on how much damage you healed from.  Enhanced Quake caused ground to take on liquid properties, smash anything with boulders and spikes, and finally crush them. 

  Enhanced Time literally froze everything around Sora for as long as he wanted.  Enhanced Flare incinerated just about everything in the area while making a very bright and visible light.  Sora decided to try Ultima.

Malfoy: "No!  Umm, that one might be a bit too powerful to do inside.  Besides, now you have to fix all this mess." He indicated the fact that everything near them had been decimated and looked like a war zone.

Sora: "(OO) I have to clean all this up?"

Malfoy: "Yes.  (Chuckling to himself) Have fun..." As he left he heard…

Sora: "Cure... Supreme Cure!" Malfoy stopped, turned, and went back inside to see the room perfectly arranged, along with everything within it.  He gaped again.

Sora: "Wow that was fun!  Thanks Mr. Malfoy!" He then went to find if any of his secret passages might be better dealt with using these new abilities.  Lance walked by to see Malfoy still gaping.

Lance: "What happened?  You look in a mirror or something?"

Malfoy: "Very funny.  Sora just outdid me in enhanced magic.  He blew this room to kingdom come and then fixed it in two seconds with a Cure spell."

Lance: "Well, the little wielder is getting better.  Maybe he'd be good for a spar..." Lance left to challenge Sora.

Malfoy: "Hmm… Judging by Sora's combat ability currently, along with his new magic, I give Lance... Another thirty seconds. " Thirty seconds later Lance landed on the floor next to Malfoy, deeply char-broiled and evidently having been thrown.  He got up with vengeance in his eyes.

Lance: "Okay, I went easy that time!  No more Mr. Nice guy!"

Malfoy: "Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven... (Clash of weapons) Six... Five... Four (Magic used)... Three... Two... (Sora's magic is about to be used) One... Zero... (Lance is blasted and lands next to him again)"

Lance: "... Shut up Malfoy..."

Malfoy: "If you attack Sora again right now, I give you fifteen seconds."

Lance: "Shut up Malfoy!" Fifteen seconds later he ends up back on the floor.

Lance: "Not a word, not one word." Malfoy says nothing, merely smirks.

.

.

Some place far away. (A tropical resort)

Sun, blazing warmth, pure water for an ocean, an absolutely perfect beach and resort.

Evil leader: "Ahh, what an absolutely exquisite day.  Now this was the break I needed." His two second in command were also on this beach.  One was thinner and looked extremely fast, while the other was tall and looked impossibly strong.

Speed: "Do you really think we should be here?  According to Mal's last report the keyblade master is far along with sealing the worlds."

Power: "Yeah, but they caught the wielder who sealed Kingdom Hearts, and the other can't seal stuff."

Speed: "He has a partner who can, though."

Leader: "Silence.  It isn't that important, remember?  My scheme only requires powerful warriors."

Power: "But sir, we would willingly give our lives to your cause, and we are the most powerful aside from you."

Leader: "No.  You are both dark, and the sacrifice does not need to be willing.  I have made the necessary sacrifices of darkness, and some of light, but I need a few more extremely powerful warriors of pure hearts."

Speed: "You mean to sacrifice the keyblade master?"

Leader: "Either him, or his woman, like I did with Blasphemy."

Speed: "If he finds out that you were the one to do that, he'll come after you with your death in mind."

Leader: "He cannot even defeat Mal, and he is the strongest one among them."

Power: "What of the keyblade wielder?"

Leader: "He doesn't have enough power to compare to any of us.  Anyway, who cares?  Let us enjoy this vacation that we have."

Speed: "Uhh, aren't we supposed to be plotting?"

Leader: "(Death glare)"

Speed: "Right, we are plotting."

.

.

Back with Acronos' group (Warning: From here I don't intend to stop until this world's plot is finished, so it will be long.  Oh, by the way, I never saw the thing with Enishi, and it sounds too important to guess through, so I'll just set this a bit after Shishio)

  Chibi hefted the hammer up, and smashed it onto the nail, securing another portion of the roof.  He looked at his handiwork; most of the roof had been fixed, and no longer stood a chance of leaking.  Chibi had only a little more to do, so he got right to it with vigor.  In a few minutes he was done and wiped sweat from his brow.  He looked down and saw Kenshin washing the laundry using the oldest manner of doing laundry, the washboard. 

  Kairi was drying the laundry through spinning her staff with a little magic.  Chibi was bored and decided to have a little fun.  He conjured up a ball of water, aimed and fired.  Kenshin didn't hear or see it coming, so it knocked him on the head, exploding like a water balloon and plunging his head into the suds.  Kenshin came up with a beard.  Chibi began laughing his head off.  Kenshin just smiled, an actual happy smile.  Chibi smiled back and jumped down.

Chibi: "Hello!  Anything else to do?"

Kenshin: "Windows, walls, Kaoru -dono has her dojo damaged quite frequently due to this one."

Chibi: "Okay!  I'll get right to it.  Hmm, oh, Oni-chan is almost ready to come out.  Alrighty, work time!" He rushed around and began doing repairs to whatever damage there was.  The place was soon fixed and looked relatively presentable.  Chibi admired his handiwork once more and jumped in the air happily.  Soujiro came up behind him.

Soujiro: "You fixed all of this?"

Chibi: "Hai!  I've always been pretty good with repairs and stuff."

Soujiro: "But how did you manage to get all this done so quickly."

Chibi: "It is something I am just good at, Seta -san.  Doing good things quickly, that is.  Oni -chan and Battousai -nii want to ask you about Shukuchi."

Soujiro: "I will show you how I do it, but don't expect to be able to do it at once, if at all.  First you tap your foot to establish a beat.  Then you run, but not the usual running style.  No foot goes past the knee, and when one foot hits the ground the other rises at the exact same time.  This gives you immense amounts of momentum, and that makes you move fast." Chibi happily tapped his foot for a while, and the beat just revealed itself randomly to him.  He thought about what Soujiro said and finally got what should be done.  He sprung forward, moving very quickly, but still visible.  Soujiro dodged out of his way and he slowed to a stop.

Soujiro: "Not bad.  You need more momentum though, put more energy and effort into it." Chibi tried again, and this time, for a moment only, he moved too fast to be seen.  He stopped, turned where he stood so he had a good distance, and zoomed forward, putting all his energy into it and became totally invisible.  He got to the end of his run, a good amount of meters, in about one hundredth the time he would have made at a sprint.  Once finished he bounced up and down happily, but stopped and clutched his upper legs.

Chibi: "Oww!  This is a workout!"

Soujiro: "(Chuckles) Yes, it takes a while to get used to.  Oh, did you see anything while running?"

Chibi: "Yep, same as always."

Soujiro: "You're good at seeing things, it appears."

Chibi: "Thank you very much Seta -san."

Soujiro: "Just Soujiro, I'm not really the type for formality."

Chibi: "Okay!"

Kaoru: "Kenshin!  Seta -san!  Acronos!  Are you guys done?"

Kenshin: "This one is done with the laundry."

Soujiro: "I cleaned the floors some time ago."

Chibi: "Finished!"

Kaoru: "Well, come on in, it's getting dark." They did as told, going inside to different goals.  Chibi stopped momentarily, and turned back into regular Acronos.

Acronos: "Well, is there anything to do? D: "Not really, it's too late for training." Batt: "You could go out and find someone to kill?" Arch: "No, we try not to kill unless otherwise pressed.  I would recommend dealing with your comrades, they may have questions based on the new world." Chibi: "You should talk with Maioko -dono!  Battousai -nii, you kind of hurt her, so maybe we should apologize?"

Yeah, I'll go say sorry. Batt: "You do know having a lover is a weakness, right?" (Oblivious) Yeah, why? Batt: "Well... Never mind." D: "(To Arch) Hey, shouldn't the kid have gone insane?" Arch: "Apparently instead of loosing his sanity, he created an opposing pure personality so as to balance out.  Chibi is also an anchor to his past allowing him to remember to exist."" Following this long series of thoughts, Acronos went to find Maioko.  Problem was that he had no idea where she'd gone.  He decided to ask Kaoru.

Acronos: "Kaoru -san, do you know where Maioko got to?"

Kaoru: "Well, last I knew she was with Aoshi.  I guess they're at the riverbank."

Acronos: "Thank you."

Kaoru: "Why, do you need something?"

Acronos: "I need to apologize for Battousai's reaction.  Oh, Kaoru -san, I almost forgot he attacked you as well!  I'm so sorry!"

Kaoru: "Not to worry, your Chibi side already apologized, and I've been through worse than a dart nearly to the head." Acronos bowed and headed to the riverbank.  Since it was getting dark he decided to test his new Shukuchi.

Acronos: "This is probably a few steps off, but it's still very fast.  Tap foot to determine beat, locate, gain momentum, and go! " He zoomed off, invisible to the naked eye aside from his steps, which made brief bursts of air.  He arrived at the riverbank shortly and when he stopped he rubbed his legs, that was still a workout!  He saw Aoshi looking out at the river, as the sun began to set.  Acronos figured he should know where Maioko would be.

Aoshi: "If you're looking for Maioko -san, she left a while ago.  I don't know where." Acronos shrugged and went over and looked out at the riverbank.

Acronos: "... Are you here to look for peace?"

Aoshi: "Am I?"

Acronos: "... True."

Aoshi: "Are you?"

Acronos: "Right now I am at peace."

Aoshi: "Nothing bothers you?"

Acronos: "I have my friends, I like fighting, I get to travel and have fun, and I have very little blood on my hands."

Aoshi: "You are lucky, and young.  Don't kill, keep your life intact."

Acronos: "A warrior who lives to kill is no longer a warrior, merely weak and insane."

Aoshi: "..."

Acronos: "... Insanity made your mind clear for a time, correct?  You lost yourself and all your problems in the steel of your blades."

Aoshi: "..."

Acronos: "... The mind is annoying, but it is part of life.  I suppose you meditate to shut the mind up?"

Aoshi: "... Perhaps."

Acronos: "... I am talking too much, my apologies, Aoshi -san."

Aoshi: "I am used to it, do not worry."

Acronos: "I'll get straight to my point then.  No matter what happens, you are not unworthy of anything you obtain."

Aoshi: "... I doubt you understand."

Acronos: "All things you receive or get for yourself are yours, which means you were worthy of them.  Those who live are worthy of living because they could."

Aoshi: "So those who die aren't worthy of life?"

Acronos: "When you give your life, you were the most worthy of it.  However when you die because you weren't good enough or something, succumbing to fear or your mind, then you weren't worthy."

Aoshi: "... Perhaps you can learn a technique I know.  It allows you to move in such a way as to create multiple images of yourself while moving and being able to attack."

Acronos: "I've heard of it."

Aoshi: "I will show you it." He stood up and in a moment there were a circle of Aoshi surrounding Acronos.  He couldn't see Aoshi, his hearing was too slow as demonstrated when Aoshi tapped his back when he heard him on his side, and also his sixth sense was a bit too slow.  Aoshi stopped the motion.  He then explained how it was done.  Acronos managed the type of motion, but was still visible.  He called on Battousai's abilities momentarily, and performed the technique like Aoshi, managing to learn it.

Aoshi: "Good.  If you had a kodachi I could teach you some other ones..." Acronos pulled his knife out.  Aoshi nodded and raised his two.

Aoshi: "This technique is quite powerful and relies on surprise.  Here it is." He used a backhand slash, but moved in a strange way to do it.  He handed one kodachi to Acronos.  He switched to Battousai personality to use it first, and then thought for a moment and used it again.  He gave Aoshi his kodachi back.  They stood there looking out at a shore for a while.

Aoshi: "I will go back now."

Acronos: "As will I." Acronos used Shukuchi to zoom away while Aoshi walked.  He was just reaching the edge of town when the shadows elongated.  He sensed enemies around him, danger.  His hands eased towards the sheath of his kodachi as the shadows worked their way towards him.  His walk slowed down and his stance became more balanced.  From the shadows a ninja slowly arose, a claw strapped to its arm, intending to rip Aoshi's heart out.  Aoshi gripped his kodachi and waited... Waited... Spin and slash!

Acronos made it to the dojo before dark and looked around for Maioko, but first bumped into Sano's group.

Sano: "Oi!  Acronos, what's the rush?"

Acronos: "My apologies Sanosuke -san, I am looking for Maioko."

Sano: "Enough with the titles.  You mean Jou -chan the second?  Hmm, can't say I saw her."

Woman with long hair: "Who might you be?"

Acronos: "I am Acronos, you are?"

Megumi: "Ohohohoho!  I heard about you from Sanosuke.  My name is Megumi Takani."

Sano: "Also known as the Kitsune." The two begin arguing.

Acronos: "Selphie will love this. You know, in the Western culture, calling a woman a 'fox' usually means you're in awe of her, umm, beauty shall we say." Sano and Megumi stop instantly, shocked, look at each other, and turn away blushing.

Sano: "I only call her that because she looks like one and acts like it."

Megumi: "Yes, the Tori-atama is only being immature." They glare at each other and continue the argument.

Selphie: "Good one Acronos!  Hey, wanna help me get the three couples together?"

Acronos: "Umm... I suppose."

Irvine: "This should be fun, count me in."

Acronos: "I need to find Maioko though." They hadn't seen her so he went on his way to try and find her.  About five steps away Acronos sensed something coming, but it was far too late.  Someone had landed on his shoulders and wrapped their legs around his neck and mouth.  When he saw a skirt go over his head...

Acronos: "Mmph!  Mmph, mmph, mmph!! AHH!  Help me, AHH!! "

  He ran around for a few seconds, and launched into Shukuchi.  He heard the smack of wood on skull and the pressure on his neck knocked him back along with the person on top of him.  His head was in the wrong place, so he just closed his eyes and tried to squirm away.  It didn't work and the person awoke quickly.  He cast barrier and hoped to live.  The person spoke, and he recognized Acane's voice.

Acane: "And here I was thinking you weren't the type for this kind of stunt.  (She gets off) Not that I mind though."

Acronos: ".... (Comprehension of meaning sets in) ORO!!!! OO"

Kenshin: "(Walking by) That is my word, that it is.  However your situation more than accommodates it." Acane laughs her head off and goes to laugh with Misao about it, dusting herself off.  Acronos just stays there, still going Oro.  A soccer ball awakens him, sorta.

Acronos: "Oww!"

Yahiko: "Missed the goal, you okay?"

Acronos: "With all that's going on, I'm gonna die young. Batt: "Didn't I already tell you that?" Shut up Battousai. Arch: "Might I recommend healing any strife between Acane and Maioko?  Since Acane is more shrewd, she will probably strike at Maioko by doing this like that to you." Oh boy. I'm okay, here!" The kick slammed the ball into the goal Yahiko had been aiming for.

Wakka: "Whoa, not bad, ya?"

Lulu: "Might I recommend going inside as it is getting dark?" Yahiko shrugs and goes in, while Acronos keeps looking around.  He stumbles upon Auron and Tidus training.  Auron easily is evading Tidus' attacks, but is giving advice to a more and more frustrated Tidus.

Acronos: "Tidus, think clearly and look for an opening!" Tidus decided why not and jumped back, seeming to be waiting, but in fact gathering momentum.  Auron walked towards him, but the fierce midsection attack caught him off guard and knocked him back a bit.

Auron: "Nice one, but how about this?" The 'Shooting star' overdrive sent Tidus' blade flying.  That ended the match for a while.  Acronos walked around a bit more, but found no trace of Maioko.  Now worried he called on his sixth sense, but something seemed to be blocking him. 

  Believing a better view might help, he Triggered and flew into the air.  Maioko was on the roof, looking out into the distance.  Since the momentum was directing him up, Acronos returned to his normal form and went to land.  Right as his feet were about to connect with the roof at the edge, he heard yelling.

Kaoru: "Acronos -san!  Where are you?" His concentration thrown into the winds, his foot missed its mark and he dropped headfirst onto the ground next to Kaoru.

Kaoru: "Oh, there you are.  We don't exactly have enough rooms for all of you, and Kairi tells me-"

Acronos: "() I will go set up the bathhouse now.  How many rooms?"

Kaoru: "... Two, I think for Maioko -san and Acane -san."

Acronos: "Umm, perhaps different people?  Maioko -dono, I think it might be best, well, who am I to say anything, she is the leader."

Kaoru: "Maioko -san is leader?  How odd, you strike me as more of the leader type."

Acronos: "It's a long story."

Maioko: "One that we don't really have time for.  Let's get everyone together to have a vote." A few minutes later everyone was in one place.

Tidus: "So who are we sharing with?"

Maioko: "Actually everyone gets their own room."

Acronos: "However two people will be required to stay at the bathhouse."

Auron: "Why not share two of the rooms, we are all used to worse."

Acronos: "Well... Maioko, you're leader, your choice."

Maioko: "Hmm, I guess Auron and Acane should share a room, and -" It was obvious to Acane this was payback, and now officially war.  Acronos sensed the tension building but couldn't place it, yet.

Acane: "(Moves very near Acronos) Well I'm certain Acronos -chan won't mind sharing a room with you Maioko, or perhaps the other way around?"

Acronos: "Uh-oh, I see sparks flying, what to do?  Hmm… "

Maioko: "(Does same thing) Yes, it's quite the best solution as both of us are very well accustomed to sharing a room."

Acronos: "Not good, my brain is stopping, that must mean they're flirting or something!  Gulp... "

Acane: "Yes, but you're probably as noisy asleep as you are awake, perhaps a more mature woman would be best?"

Acronos: "Brain has stopped.  I'm dead- I'm dead- I'm dead- I'm dead- I'm dead... "

Maioko: "Of course maturity counts, that's why I should be there."

Acronos: "Okay, not liking this, must stop fight! (Note that his brain is still on standby) Maioko -dono, Acane -dono, perhaps a simple coin toss would be best?  We should certainly ask Auron's opinion on matters concerning him as well."

Auron: "I don't care either way. Just keep me out of this argument!  I value my limbs, thank you very much. "

Maioko: "Isn't a coin toss rather pointless if I'm definitely the one going? That's it!  Acane needs her ego taken down a few notches; she can't just mess with our guy like that!  I know I normally don't listen to a thing you say, but that sounded oddly right.  You see, I haven't lied once, you like Acronos.  In the 'love' way.  Whoa, that's getting a bit ahead of things there, I'm just friends with the guy!

  ... It's better if you address these things now before someone beats you to it.  Oh come on!  First off, there's nothing to deal with, secondly, who would?  Acane is just trying to annoy me, but it's just a sport, neither is the other's type.  Also, you know Acronos; he's the guy I can always rely on for a laugh by making him twitch.  Believe me, he's a fifteen-year-old male, things happen.  Speaking of ages, how long has this quest lasted anyway?  I could have sworn my birthday was near.  If memory serves, your birthday is some time either this week or next. "

Acronos: "Heads or tails?"

Acane: "Tails."

Maioko: "Ugh." Acronos points the coin away and doesn't look at it, turns it several times, and flips it.  He catches it, but the side still isn't visible.

Acronos: "Flip or no flip?"

Maioko: "Don't flip." Acronos opens his hand to reveal heads.

Irvine: "Well, that's the way luck favors people.  (To Acronos) I pity you, at this rate you're gonna die."

Maioko: "Well, luck is on my side."

Acane: "But not on Acronos'.  Good luck trying to get any sleep." Acronos sensed another fight coming, so he did what he thought best, diverted attention.

Acronos: "(Nervously) Hey, we don't even know where the rooms are, let's ask Kaoru -san!"  They found Kaoru outside and she gave them a brief tour of the dojo, showing them their rooms.  Acronos happily found a room sort of like an office near his.  That said, everyone was allowed time to set up their room.  Maioko looked at the room, noticing only one futon.  Before she said anything, Acronos grabbed a nearby blanket and placed it against a wall that faced the door.

Acronos: "I'll sleep against this wall, that way you get the futon. (Rurouni smile)"

Maioko: "Umm, are you sure?"

Acronos: "Yep! (Still Rurouni smiling)"

Maioko: "He's only faking a smile, isn't he?  Sigh. "

Acronos: "Oh yeah, now I remember why I spent so long looking for you and got clobbered!  I just want to apologize for Battousai's behavior when he hurt you.  I'm really sorry about that."

Maioko: "... It's okay.  I guess it was the normal reaction for a warrior when about to be hit."

Acronos: "I'm still really sorry."

Maioko: "It's alright, you don't have to be."

Acronos: "Well - (Kaoru yells that it's dinner time and that Acronos needs to help) Looks like I have obligations to fulfill.  See you in a bit." He runs off to teach Kaoru the basics of cooking.  Maioko sighs and begins setting up her area.  Leaving half the room for Acronos, she sets up a few things and goes out.

Maioko: "Hey, I left Aoshi at the river.  Shouldn't he be back by now? " She asked Misao, the one most likely to know, but Aoshi hadn't returned.  Maioko shrugged and went to bring him back for dinner.  As she started on the path, Aoshi came walking up.  He looked a little tired but nothing serious.

Maioko: "Hey Aoshi -san!  C'mon, dinner's almost ready.  Don't worry, Acronos is helping Kaoru make it, so it won't be too bad." Aoshi nodded and then blinked when a shinai connected with Maioko's head, obviously thrown.

Acronos: "Sorry Maioko, I couldn't stop Kaoru -san!"

Kaoru: "No formality okay?  It's enough that Kenshin calls me Kaoru -dono every moment."

Maioko: "Argh, why'd you throw that?!"

Kaoru: "Don't insult my cooking!"

  Aoshi blinked again in confusion as Kaoru and Maioko argued, for a moment he swore they were the same person.  When Maioko and Kaoru grabbed bokken he was certain of it.  Sano walked by, saw the two fighting, stopped in mid-stride, grabbed some popcorn, and began watching.  Megumi came by and shook her head.

Megumi: "Two tanuki?  One was enough."

  Acronos came in to try and stop the fight, was immediately hit with two bokken, which only gave Maioko and Kaoru another reason to argue.  Kenshin came in, saw all this and nodded to Acronos.  The two put their respective female allies in a hold to stop their direct fighting.  They still bickered verbally, while the two guys told them fighting wasn't such a good idea.

Kaoru & Maioko: "Well she started it!  No, I didn't start it, you started it!  Don't copy me!  Why I ought to..."

Acronos & Kenshin: "Kaoru/Maioko -dono, you shouldn't fight among yourselves!"

Aoshi: "..."

Selphie: "(Walks in and sees all this) ... Exact clones!!"

Soujiro: "Hey, she has a point, many of us are similar."

Acane: "I suppose we're alike since I'm the fastest."

Soujiro: "Actually I'm probably faster."

Acane: "Race?"

Soujiro: "Tomorrow, it's too late right now."

Acane: "What's the matter, afraid of the dark?"

Aoshi: "Actually there are heartless prowling around outside at this hour."

Acronos: "(Is about to say something when something else occurs to him) Hey, didn't we leave the rice on the fire three minutes ago?"

Kaoru: "I never took it off?" Acronos shakes his head.  They stay there for a moment, and then zoom off to save their cooking.  Everybody blinks in confusion momentarily.  About two minutes later the call of dinner being ready went out.  Soon everyone was assembled at the table.

Sano: "Prepare yourselves people, no way even Acronos could have made Jou-chan cook well." A pan connects with his head.  He shakes it off and throws it back like a Frisbee, and an arm reaches out and grabs it out of mid-air and pulls it back in.  Ifrit pops in.

Ifrit: "I thought there might be more tasty burnt food." A coal is thrown at him, which he eats out of the air and rubs his belly happily.  Acronos comes out of the kitchen shaking his head sadly.

Sano: "I was right, wasn't I?"

Acronos: "You all know how I hate to disappoint... Especially you Sano, since Kaoru's cooking came out great!" Kaoru comes out with a few plates balanced and sets them down.  It's almost burnt in the occasional spot, but overall a vast improvement.  Everyone gets a plate except Ifrit, who pouts.

Acronos: "Don't worry, oh head pyro of Hell, we saved you something." He carries in a large plate of charred, umm, can't really call it 'food', but Ifrit looks really happy.

Kaoru: "(Voice of shame) My failures.  These were produced when Acronos wasn't there to guide me everywhere."

Yahiko: "So basically Acronos cooked this and you watched?"

Kaoru: "Well..."

Acronos: "Of course not, Kaoru made most of this herself, I just gave her detailed instructions."

Misao: "... If you're giving cooking classes, count me in."

Aoshi: "At home we frequently use Misao's 'cooking' as coals for the fire." Misao gives him a short glare, but it fades easily.  She then turned to Acronos with puppy-dog-eyes.

Acronos: "Ahh!?  Okay, I'll teach you both!"

Kaoru & Misao: "Yay!"

Megumi: "Tanuki being able to cook?  (Shakes head) The apocalypse is near.  What's next, are you going to ask him for lessons in femininity, which you lack?"

Kaoru: "As a matter of fact, I will!"

Acronos: "(To Kenshin) May I? (He nods) Oro!  I am a male, Kaoru -san!"

Megumi: "You probably know far more about being feminine than the tanuki-girl.  You're as polite as Ken-san." Kaoru seemed ready to blow, as demonstrated by the steam coming off her head.  Acronos slowly backed away, calling up a barrier and aero spell.

Acronos: "Umm..."

Kenshin: "... Oh!  Acronos -san, if this one remembers correctly you offered your services to several people at once, that you did."

Acronos: "Hey, you're right.  Hmm… (Counts off on fingers) Cooking lessons for Misao -san and Kaoru, sparring with you guys, helping everyone else with training, aiding Selphie, fixing up this place... Anything else?"

Sano: "Oi, that's more than enough!"

Acronos: "Oh yeah, there's still the matter of the heartless to settle."

Aoshi: "That is stretching your resources rather thinly, don't you think?"

Acronos: "(Dismissive) I'll be fine, it's not like I haven't done work for an entire day."

Aoshi: "(Cryptically) You never know."

Acronos: "Huh?"

Aoshi: "..."

Acronos: "(Shrugs)" During all these conversations everyone kept right on eating.  Yahiko, Sano and Tidus all are voraciously, inhaling anything in range.  Aoshi and Auron ate very slowly.  Okay, describing eating habits isn't necessary, so they just ate.  Soon they finished and got up.

Acronos: "Now what? "

Maioko: "It's kinda late, we should get some sleep."

Kaoru: "Acronos -san..."

Acronos: "I told you, I'm not going to be able to teach you much, I'm a guy!"

Megumi: "About femininity?  Anyone can teach the tanuki since she has no idea whatsoever."

Kaoru: "Grr…"

Acronos: "Fine, I'll do what little I can." They went into a different room.  Seeming to be trying to sneak, Misao followed.

Acronos: "Umm, alrighty.  So you know, I really have no idea about this.  I never had a sister, a girlfriend, or even too many female friends who weren't tomboys or at least not superbly feminine."

Misao: "Hold on, you never had a girlfriend?!"

Acronos: "Nope."

Kaoru: "But you're a really nice guy and don't exactly look bad."

Acronos: "(Dismissive) Oh quit kidding around.  Anyway, is there anything you want to know in particular?" Kaoru and Misao looked around, checked outside, and mumbled something.

Acronos: "(Actually telling the truth) What was that? (They mumble a little louder) A little louder."

Kaoru & Misao: "... (Yelling) How do we get our guys!?"

Acronos: "Ahh!  Oh, romance?  That I know pretty well.  Bit annoying, but sometimes useful."

Misao: "It's not about being feminine?"

Acronos: "Not so much, but that's a part of it.  Anyway, the most basic thing I can say is just to admit your feelings.  Kaoru, I'm almost certain Kenshin likes you, but probably feels unworthy of, ahem, (imitating Kenshin) 'my sweet, innocent Kaoru -dono.  She is too pure to be tainted by these bloodstained hands, de gozaru yo.'."

Kaoru: "But he isn't unworthy!"

Acronos: "Kaoru -san, a thing about unworthiness.  You always feel unworthy, at all times, but you just dismiss it as fact and get on with life."

Misao: "Huh?  You know that?"

Acronos: "Anyway Misao, as to Aoshi.  I wouldn't be surprised if he already knew your feelings, seeing as you all but yell them for all to hear."

Misao: "I'm not that obvious, am I?  (Both Kaoru and Acronos nod) Aww!"

Acronos: "Now, I think he sort of likes you, but not in the way you like him.  He wouldn't say this if his life depended on it though, since he feels unworthy due to what happened in Kyoto and stuff.  Of course, he is an icicle though, so my recommendation is to trust in fate, and of course try to make yourself seem more like a grown woman, opposed to, pardon my saying so, (imitating Sano) 'that weasel-girl!'."

Misao: "What do you mean?"

Acronos: "Well, you could always get stronger physically, perhaps switching your attire?"

Misao: "What's wrong with how I look?"

Acronos: "Umm, please don't take this the wrong way and think I'm weird, but... Just think what would happen from one good breeze."

Misao: "Yeah, so?"

Acronos: "Oh boy... (Inhales deeply to calm down and gather courage) Showing off your butt to everyone may be great fan service, but it's not something a young lady your age should do." There was silence...

Misao: "Is there something wrong with my butt?" As she goes to check, Acronos literally flips himself in the air and slams his face into the nearest wall.

Acronos: "Oww... No, it's just... Umm... There many males who might take the showing of your posterior as a sign that you're easy."

Misao: "... Huh? (Blinks in confusion)"

Acronos: "Sigh, you're very innocent, aren't you?  I'm going to have to teach you some things." Acronos goes near and whispers in her ear.  Her eyes widen.  He continues for a bit and finally Misao turns to him with really wide eyes.  Acronos just nods.

Misao: "EWW!  YUCK!  GROSS!!"

Acronos: "Yeah.  Let's see if I can find something more fitting... Nope, sorry, I don't have any girl's clothes."

Kaoru: "But that still doesn't solve how we get them to..."

Acronos: "Don't worry!  (Goes Chibi)"

Chibi: "Selphie -chan and I are gonna get you two with who you need!  Oni -chan will get the two guys to think about their feelings, and then you just need to drop the right, very blunt, hints, and bang!  You get your guys.  Of course you should always try to do stuff to draw them to you, like a kimono, making them want ta' help you, stuff like that."

Misao: "I hate kimonos, they're too restrictive."

Chibi: "But the change might be interesting every so often.  Think of it as a game!"

Misao: "Well... I suppose."

Kaoru: "Are you sure this will work?"

Chibi: "Probably.  Do you really like 'em?  That's really what matters, not anything else." The two girls stood there a while, thinking.

Chibi: "Yawn!  This one is tired."

Kaoru: "Neither you nor Kenshin are unworthy, stop saying it."

Chibi: "Okay!  Yawn!  Sleepy time!" Chibi turned back into Acronos and trudged over to his room.  He slowly and quietly opened the door and snuck in.  He searched for the blanket, a little annoyed when he didn't find it.  A small fire lit up on the other side of the room.

Maioko: "Hello.  Any luck with Kaoru and Misao?"

Acronos: "Did I wake you?  Umm, I sorta managed to teach them what they needed.  They were more looking for romantic advice than feminine advice."

Maioko: "(Raised eyebrow) 'Romantic advice'?"

Acronos: "(Embarrassed) Uhh, yeah, I love reading and since most good stories have some sort of romance, I kinda learned what to do..."

Maioko: "(Amused smirk) Really?  I never pegged Acronos, the master of the twitchy reaction, to be a romantic."

Acronos: "Sure, rub it in why don't you?"

Maioko: "Sorry.  Anyway, here's the blanket you had, Kenshin took it to clean and left it in a different place."

Acronos: "Okay, thanks."

Maioko: "You sure you don't want a futon or something?"

Acronos: "There are no more futons, this was supposed to be a one-person room.  I'm fine right here."

Maioko: "Okay... Why do I seem to want him here with me?  It kinda seems like there's a lot of space between us right now.  See, I keep telling you that you like him, just accept it and tell him.  It makes even more sense now, since he just told you he likes romance.  Hey, you probably have a good chance!  No, I don't like him that way!  Stop annoying me, dammit! "

Acronos: "Hmm… Is it just me, or does she seem to want me over there? D: "It's not just you." Batt: "You don't have to be a master of reading moves to tell what she's feeling."  Arch: "I know your polite tendencies, however it might be the correct gesture to go over there.  Simply sleep against that wall instead of this one.""

  After a few moments of contemplation, Acronos did just that, leaning against the wall next to Maioko.  He wrapped the blanket around himself and closed his eyes.  Maioko looked at him with a mix of confusion and happiness in her eyes.  She then snuggled into the futon and closed her eyes.  A few moments later they went to sleep.

  The next morning Acronos woke up early as usual, but was a little later than the norm.  He found the blanket barely on him, leaning against the wall only on his neck, and Maioko nestled against his chest.  Normally this would cause some sort of humorous reaction such as spazzing, twitching or whatnot, but by now Acronos had somewhat gotten used to waking up in this manner, plus he felt quite tired, so he merely eased her off and got up. 

  He shook off the sleepiness and set up the bathhouse and cleaned himself and it.  After that he went and made breakfast.  Finished with that task he climbed up to the roof and began meditating for a while.  When he heard the sound of people getting up, he jumped down, feeling refreshed.

Kenshin: "You made breakfast already, Acronos -san?"

Acronos: "Yeah, I like to wake up early."

Kenshin: "(Rurouni smile) Sessha hasn't woken up as early as you in a while, he must be getting soft."

Acronos: "Sessha means 'this unworthy one', right?"

Kenshin: "Loosely, yes."

Acronos: "Oh well, wanna eat and then spar?"

Kenshin: "My skills with a practice sword are lacking."

Acronos: "We both have sakabatou, let's use them instead."

Kenshin: "That might hurt us, some of this one's moves are rather dangerous."

Acronos: "Don't worry, my Cure magic will heal any wounds we sustain."

Kenshin: "Well... Okay." They began eating.

Acronos: "I want to learn some of your moves if at all possible, and Battousai is all but begging for a chance at this."

Kenshin: "The Hiten Mitsurugi style shouldn't be passed on to the next generation."

Acronos: "A tool, weapon, or style, is only as dangerous and deadly as the person who wields it.  My only intent with the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu is to keep myself alive while sealing the worlds and helping out everyone."

Kenshin: "Perhaps, but what about the person you pass it on to, and the people they teach?"

Acronos: "Maybe, but I'll still try to learn the moves you use."

Kenshin: "(Chuckles) Any part of Hiten Mitsurugi that you can master from one duel you may keep."

Acronos: "(Smirking) You don't even know the half of it." They finish breakfast quickly and go out to the back.  Kenshin drew his sakabatou, and Acronos called his keyblade.

Kenshin: "Any particular rules you want?"

Acronos: "Since we're both using reversed swords, and both physically strong, why don't we fight until one of us falls and can't get up, gives up, or is knocked out?"

Kenshin: "Any limitations?"

Acronos: "Hmm… No, just win."

Kenshin: "Good, shall we begin?"

Acronos: "In 3... 2... 1... Begin!" Both circled one another slowly, trying to find a weakness.

Acronos: "Doryusen first, let's stay far. Batt: "Got it, the objective is to learn instead of immediately defeat."" Kenshin ran at Acronos, full tilt with his sword raised in attack stance.  Acronos ran back, dodging out of the way of an attack.  Both of them began reading the other's movement. (Kenshin's thoughts will be in italics, while Acronos will be in bold.)

The strike is from above and to the left a bit, dodge right! 

Missed, swing left to counter his dodge. 

Strike coming from the left, back flip away and maintain distance. 

Attempting to escape, stab forward and continue after. 

Dodge stab, keep running. 

What's he doing?  How do you fight from that distance? 

Fling a dart. 

Dodge the dart.  Guess he wants me to attack from a distance. 

I think he's taking the bait.

Kenshin: "Well, let us see how much you like one of the Hiten Mitsurugi techniques.  Doryusen!"

  Kenshin swung from a raised position into the ground so that his energy went towards Acronos, sending rocks and pellets at him.  Acronos waited for a moment and then back-flipped over all of the attack.  He landed in a crouch, slightly off balance, and saw Kenshin coming at him.  He swung his blade from the crouch, blocking Kenshin's strike with a loud clash.  The two began slashing at each other quickly, Acronos mostly as Battousai to keep up, and to learn the basics of the Hiten Mitsurugi.  Both jumped back, and Kenshin kept his distance.

Battousai: "Payback, eh?"

Kenshin: "Yes."

Battousai: "Payback indeed, Doryusen!" The 'Earth dragon strike' went towards Kenshin this time, but he dodged it.  He rushed Battousai.

Kenshin: "Let's see how you handle close-quarters fighting!  Ryu-Sou-Sen!"

  Kenshin's blade moved so fast that he was using extremely rapid strikes while he only seemed to be using one strike.  Acronos used a cartwheel to get out of the way while swinging sideways to block.  Landing, he had Battousai use the same move right back.  Kenshin used the move again to block.  He jumped back and moved at his godlike speed.  Acronos felt several light hits land on him and he fell to one knee.

Kenshin: "You can match my moves, but overall I'm still stronger than you."

Acronos: "... (Pained smirk) Heh, I could copy your godlike speed if I wanted to right now.  Thing is, I have something better." He tapped his finger on the ground, confusing Kenshin.  He raised his blade at ready, trying to prepare for anything Acronos might throw at him.  Without warning Acronos jumped up and disappeared.  Kenshin blinked in surprise, but saw the footsteps appear.  He began sensing where Acronos was.

Kenshin: "The difference between your Shukuchi and Soujiro -san's is that I can sense where you are by your emotions!" He swung at where Acronos was and heard his blade connect with Acronos'.

Acronos: "Emotionless, huh?  (Rurouni smile)" Kenshin then lost all sense of where Acronos was as he used Shukuchi to get away.  Acronos reappeared near Kenshin, still smiling.

Acronos: "Here's another move I learnt."

  He used Aoshi's water flowing technique to make multiple images of himself.  He then began laughing.  A strange, creepy laugh that sent shivers down people's spines.  This was only a distraction, since the laughter came from everywhere at once, and didn't really allow Kenshin to sense as well.  A whack to the head followed.  Kenshin just rubbed his head for a moment and ran at one of the illusions.  He basically knew that this wasn't the real Acronos, but did manage to get out of the circle.  Acronos reappeared smiling and waited.  Kenshin smirked and jumped high into the air.

Kenshin: "Ryu-Tsui-Sen." It was called 'Dragon Hammer Strike' for a reason, and Kenshin flew down.  Acronos triggered and grabbed Kenshin's blade.

Devil: "Actually, this is our move." Disengaging his Devil form, Acronos threw Kenshin behind him.  He landed on his feet though, and ran at Acronos, only to find him high in the air.

Acronos: "Here's how I do it!" He waited for the momentum upwards to end, and began falling.  He then began spinning very rapidly in a vortex style.  Right before he could land he spun upright and smashed his blade into the ground where Kenshin had been.  There was a small explosion as all the power and momentum found an outlet.  Both glared at each other for a moment, and then flew at each other, moving too fast to be seen.  Their blades clashed loudly, waking just about everyone up.

Kaoru: "... Huh?!  Oh no, Battousai!"

Sano: "Zzz… Ugh, who's making all that noise?  Keep it down, would 'ya?!  Zzz…"

Yahiko: "Zzz… What's… Kenshin!"

Misao: "Zzz… Aoshi -sama must be training again.  Zzz…"

Aoshi: "(Unsheathes kodachi) ... What's going on?"

Maioko: "The clash of swords...?  Awakens the spirit of battle.  Darkness and light...  Zzz…"

Selphie: "(Rolls in sleep) Ugh, need... Quiet!"

Irvine: "Zzz… Zzz…"

Tidus: "Zzz… Zzz…"

Wakka: "Zzz… Zzz…"

Tifa: "Zzz… Zzz…"

Kairi: "What's going on?"

Yuna: "Hmm… Must be Acronos."

Acane: "It's too early to wake up!"

Auron: "Then go back to sleep, no need to awaken me."

Lulu: "Hmm?"  Finished clashing blades at high speed, Acronos and Kenshin took up stances away from each other, both sweating and slightly tired.  Both then relaxed and sheathed their weapons, Acronos making a sheath appear and the symbol to shift so it wasn't making the blade larger than it already was.

Kenshin: "You know, the name Battousai means 'one who knows everything of Battoujutsu'.  Shall we discern if you measure up?" In Acronos' subconscious, Battousai asked him to show him the Battoujutsu technique.  Acronos showed it as well as he knew it and Battousai analyzed it.

Battousai: "Kenshin really does know a ton about this stance, let me take over fully or we'll never survive."

  Acronos allowed this and his eyes became fully amber.  That wasn't the end of it though, as his hair spiked itself further into being similar to Dev's, a gray headband appeared to hold it in check, the trench became dark gray, two small horns came out of his skull and curved so they were difficult to see, and a thin, wiry tail sprouted, with a razor-edged end.  Now fully Battousai in every sense of the term, he prepared for the attack.  He then realized that Acronos had seen Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki and that was enough to let him use it.  The two waited there for some time. 

  Then, a gust of wind came, blowing cherry blossoms in front of them.  Both immediately ran at each other, full-tilt.  Their blades connected at the exact same time, with the exact same speed and power.  For a moment they locked blades, but Acronos had Battousai jump away.  Right before he landed, Kenshin used all momentum remaining to use Doryusen.  Battousai's feet were blow out from under him, making him do several front-flips, but he landed.  Unfortunately Kenshin was already coming at him.  Acronos slammed Battousai away.

Acronos: "Haste squared!"

  He was already out of the way before he finished speaking.  He jumped into the air and used his downward slash, constantly moving at Kenshin's godlike speed.  Kenshin dodged it, and attacked again, but Acronos was just a bit faster.  The two fought at extremely high speeds, and got a few hits in. 

  Acronos stabbed in, and used his symbol to grab Kenshin's blade and pull it out of his hand, and slashed in a few times, giving Kenshin the opportunity to get his blade back.  The two jumped back and then ran at each other again.  Again they clashed at high speed, each fighting at full force basically.  Acronos still wasn't using much magic, relying mainly on his blade skills so as to increase his abilities.  He felt sort of annoyed that he'd used Haste, and jumped back to wait for it to pass. 

  Kenshin sheathed his blade and got ready for Kuzu-Ryu-Sen; one blade becomes nine and strikes the body's vital points.  Acronos stood still, waiting for the moment to dodge.  After ten tense seconds Kenshin charged.  Acronos started to get out of the way at Shukuchi speed, but the spell wore off at the worst possible time.  He started moving at godlike speed, but knew there was no way in hell for him to fully dodge in time.  He started to roll away, hoping to resist the damage or get away.  It didn't really work.  Half the technique hit him, effectively taking out his left side.

Acronos: "Oww, dammit!"

Kenshin: "I doubt you can fight with only half of you capable of moving."

Acronos: "Cura!  Now I can.  Let's go!"

  The Cura spell had only returned feeling to his side, but hadn't restored full strength, and now it was hurting heavily.  Acronos charged in, using Battousai's abilities to create a thick long sword and use Battoujutsu.  There was a flash of light and the two stood with their backs facing one another.

Acronos: "... Not bad.  I can't feel any portion of my body.  One good breeze should get me to the ground.  I still win, though.  I learnt some of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu."

Kenshin: "... You created your blade a little quickly I believe.  It was sharp." He turns to reveal a gash on his shoulder, not too deep though.

Acronos: "One of my pockets has a little green orb with a large aura.  Use that to heal yourself." A gust then came and he fell to the floor like a stiff china doll.  Kenshin located Acronos' Cure orb.

Acronos: "Just say Cure." He does so and his shoulder is fixed.  Kenshin then healed Acronos.

Kenshin: "A good sparring match indeed."

Acronos: "Yeah.  Good thing we didn't want to kill each other or I'd be dead." Both laughed happily.  Kenshin then opted for laundry while Acronos decided to get some supplies.  A few people were in the doorway, looking very surprised.  Acronos stopped and turned around.

Acronos: "I've still got more Hiten Mitsurugi to learn, Kenshin!  Hey, are there any techniques you've heard of that you can describe in great detail?"

Kenshin: "Planning on learning by hearing?  There was Jin-e and his 'One side of the soul' a contest of wills that allowed him to manipulate people's minds to do what he wished, usually paralysis." Acronos thought for a moment and gave Kenshin an evil glare.  He was extremely surprised and looked unable to breathe momentarily, but broke the spell.

Kenshin: "Surprising.  Shishio had the ability to manipulate fire on his sword."

Acronos: "I can manipulate fire anyway.  Also ice, lightning, earth, time, wind, gravity, etc…"

Kenshin: "Not bad indeed." Acronos then left to get the supplies, leaving a gaping crowd behind him.  Then there was the sound of eating as the guys with the larger appetites entered the kitchen.  Let's follow Acronos' (he hopes) uneventful trip to market.  On the way there, everyone he passed gave him a suspicious glare, to which he Rurouni smiled.

Acronos: "What's with them? "

  He reached market quickly and began looking around.  His computer gave him a list of possible ingredients that he looked for in particular.  Once done finding the proper ingredients, he decided to try and find a weapon shop, but found nothing.  Feeling bored, he found a trinket shop.  As he stepped inside, his grocery bags almost knocked something over.  With a nervous chuckle aimed at the shop owner, he stuffed them into the limitless space of his trench. 

  He then examined the place and found a very nice looking headband that Maioko might like, a romance novel for Selphie, an interesting looking hat for Irvine, polishing kits for Auron and Tidus, some laundry detergent for Kenshin, a new white ribbon for Kaoru, a beautifully designed comb that Tifa might like, but he then reconsidered and found two pairs of gauntlets for her and Maioko, replacing the headband, a charm for luck for Kairi, a pair of weights for Yahiko, some gel for Sano, a bit of chocolate for Misao, a watch for Aoshi, a soccer ball for Wakka, a book on hypnosis for Lulu, and a few protective charms for Yuna.  He walked over to the counter and asked how much all this cost.

Shopkeeper: "Uhh, it's all free for you."

Acronos: "Huh?  Wow, that's really nice, thank you!  What for though?"

Shop keeper: "Umm, because you look like a very nice guy?"

Acronos: "A bit fishy. Are you sure?"

Shop Keeper: "Yes, now please leave and don't hurt anyone."

Acronos: "Huh, why would you say I'd hurt anyone? (His hand accidentally brushes his keyblade, still sheathed at his hip) Oh!  You're afraid I'll attack.  I can't believe I forgot this was sheathed at my belt." He draws it out, scaring the shopkeeper until he looks at it.

Shop keeper: "Hey, isn't that a sakabatou?" Acronos' keyblade disappeared in its usual display of light.

Acronos: "You could say that.  Now how much is all this?"

Shopkeeper: "You still want to pay?  Tell you what, I'll give you a bit of a discount." Acronos came out happy at a decent price.  Since the shopkeeper had been curious, Acronos had called his keyblade again and again forgot it.  As he went to leave, he heard a shout.  Some police ran at him.

Policeman: "Stop right there!"

Acronos: "Huh?" They ran at him with staves raised.  Judging by their expression, they weren't friendly.  Acronos started to run off towards the dojo, but found police blocking most of his routes.

Acronos: "Sigh, this is what I get for being nice.  Oh well, bye." He bounced of the wall and ran off with the police in chase.

.

.

Maioko: "Hmm?  I felt a chill."

Misao: "Oh!  Someone you like is in trouble!"

Kaoru: "What could be happening to Acronos -san, I wonder?"

Maioko: "Ahh?!  What are you talking about, we're just friends!"

Misao: "(Sarcastic) Sure..."

Maioko: "Umm, (searching for something to change the subject to) why does Kenshin -san do the laundry?  That strikes me as more something you should be doing Kaoru -san."

Misao: "Yeah, Himura -san seems to do everything around here.  A little odd for a guy to do all the feminine chores."

Kaoru: "I don't know, Kenshin just does the stuff without question.  Then again, I guess it's just his way of paying the rent perhaps."

Maioko: "Maybe..."

Sano: "Oi, Jou -chans and itachi!  You know where Acronos got to, I wanted to spar him."

Misao: "(Whacks Sano) I am not a weasel!"

Sano: "You haven't proven that yet."

Misao: "Ack! (Can't respond)"

Kaoru: "Amazing, one for Sano instead of Misao!  This needs to be recorded."

Sano: "(Big grin)"

Maioko: "Hey rooster-head, I'll spar you."

Sano: "Sorry Maioko -chan, I don't hit girls."

Maioko: "(Raised eyebrow) Believe me, you needn't worry, I'm much tougher than any sissy girl who cries about everything.  Here, I'll show you my strength.  Let's shake on it." Sano does this and Maioko crushes his hand a bit.  He smirks in surprise.

Sano: "Well!  Little lady, big strength.  Let's spar."

Maioko: "That's more like it!" They went outside.

Kenshin: "Hello Sano and Maioko -dono.  How are you both?"

Sano: "Great, listen, we're gonna spar, so could you move?"

Kenshin: "Sessha isn't done with the laundry yet, you must wait."

Sano: "Sigh, you and your laundry.  Why do you like doing that anyway?"

Kenshin: "This unworthy one doesn't know, but it is calming."

Maioko: "What do you mean, how can hard work that tortures your back be calming?"

Kenshin: "(Rurouni smile) It allows this one to deal with his emotions, sort of like the ideas of Zen."

Sano: "... Deep."

Maioko: "Well, I suppose it'll get done quicker with more than one person." Maioko grabbed an article of clothing and began scrubbing.

Sano: "... Well, why not?" Sano hangs the clothes that Kenshin and Maioko wash.

Maioko: "(After a while) Hey, didn't you do this yesterday?"

Kenshin: "Yes, that I did."

Maioko: "Then how the hell is there this much laundry?"

Sano: "It's just one of those things you're gonna have to accept."

  They continued washing and cleaning.  After a bit they finished, but heard the front gate slam.  Everyone went to see who it was and found a dripping Acronos there.  He had a bit of a scowl on his face, and a police dog was firmly gripping his leg.  He was absolutely soaked and looked haggard. 

  He seemed to notice the dog for the first time and shook his leg to get it off, but to no effect.  He gave it his most evil glare.  It let go sheepishly and slowly backed away and finally scampered off.  Acronos looked back at everyone, still scowling, and then shook like a dog, getting most of the water off his hair and wiping the scowl off in the process.

Acronos: "(Rurouni smile) Your police force is very persistent, I ended up having to jump into the river to escape.  Why they chased me I still don't know.  Oh well, I come bearing food and a few small gifts." He gave everyone his or her gifts and got out the food to make lunch.  The gifts were accepted and Acronos started on his way.  However he stopped when he heard the gate open again, expecting the police force.  He turned to find Sienna and Riku standing there.

Acronos & Sienna: "YOU!  What are you doing here?" They glared at one another and slowly circled.  Each seemed ready to pounce on the other.  Right when tension was highest and they'd stopped and were reaching for their weapons, Acronos grinned.  Sienna grinned right back.  Both began laughing slightly, gaining in momentum until they were cackling.

Acronos: "Sienna, I can't believe you made it! (Arm over shoulder in drinking buddy manner)"

Sienna: "(Smiles warmly, does same) You being alive too is surprising.  Out of all the people on Earth, a knuckle-head like you makes it."

Acronos: "Hey tigress, how'd you make it anyway?  Weren't you absent the day it happened?"

Sienna: "Yeah, I got this amulet of mine the day before and something told me to stay home.  While I was studying it, I heard a noise and grabbed my wooden sword.  It was the heartless, and I almost died fighting them.  Luckily I found this rapier on the ground, so I managed to cut through them.  After that my amulet warped me to Twilight Town where I lived for a while, occasionally going to other worlds to seal them.  After the worlds were sealed I thought I could rest, but eventually this bum ended up at my front door.  After that we went and sealed worlds."

Acronos: "Whoa.  Hey Riku, does Sienna still inhale pizza?"

Sienna: "I do not-"

Riku: "(Smirk) I've seen slower vacuums than her." She then whacks Riku upside the head.  After this she looks Acronos up and down in a way that, had it been anyone else, would have made him blush totally.

Sienna: "Interesting fashion statement lion.  Hey, your mane grew back!  How did you manage that one, I cut it at camp only recently."

Acronos: "Yeah, but there was this freaky dream and… Just know that I thank magic.  So hah."

Sienna: "(Blows raspberry)"

Maioko: "Ahem, can you introduce us to your friend?"

Acane: "(In that annoying tone) Ooo!  Maioko's jealous!"

Maioko: "Shut up Acane, I am not!"

Sienna: "(Raised eyebrow) Your partners?"

Acronos: "My good friends.  Oi!  This is my childhood friend/rival, Sienna."

Riku: "Rivals?"

Sienna: "Don't get your keyblade in a knot, we love arguing but are the best of friends."

Wakka: "Riku, that you bro?"

Riku: "Hey Wakka... Is anyone else..."

Wakka: "Everyone."

Riku: "Where?"

Tidus: "Hey."

Selphie: "Hi Riku."

Irvine: "Been a while, hasn't it?"

Yuna: "Good day, sir Riku."

Lulu: "You made it."

Acronos: "You're probably looking for Kairi, eh Riku?"

Riku: "Yeah."

Acronos: "This should work, hold on... (Extremely loudly) OI!  RIKU!" Kairi came out rapidly and the two saw each other.

Riku: "... Hi."

Kairi: "... Hi... How have you been?"

Riku: "Good.  You?"

Kairi: "Pretty good... How'd you manage to get out of Kingdom Hearts?"

Riku: "Don't really know exactly.  I just did with the King's help." They stood there for a bit.  Acronos then realized this was more of a person-to-person reunion, so he quietly called his humanoid summons and pushed everyone back into the dojo.  Acronos then sneezed.

Acronos: "Huh?  Oh boy.  Pardon me." He went back to his room.

Kaoru: "Hey, all girls to my room, we need to talk, that includes you Sienna -san." Back with Acronos, he grabbed a new pair of pants and changed into them, and then took off his trench and shirt.  He then began searching for a shirt or something.

Acronos: "Damn, I don't have any clean shirts.  Guess I'll ask Kenshin if he has anything. " He walked out, still shirtless.  He bumped into Sano mid-way.

Sano: "(Raised eyebrow) Oi, why are you..."

Acronos: "No clean shirts."

Sano: "Oh, well we helped out Kenshin with the laundry, so he might have a shirt or whatever you call it." Acronos then went over to Kenshin.

Acronos: "Hey Kenshin -san!  Do you have any clean shirts I can use?"

Kenshin: "Hmm… No, sessha is sorry but there are no clean shirts at the moment.  This one can clean any of the ones you have."

Acronos: "Would you?  Thanks." He gives Kenshin a bunch of shirts and a trench or two, only a few being seriously dirty.  He nodded and turned.

Kenshin: "You seem to have several scars, why?"

Acronos: "I'm a warrior, it's common."

Kenshin: "Two seem as bad as the ones on my face."

Acronos: "The one on my shoulder I got from a really powerful heartless throwing its sword, the other from a boss of a world.  Anyway, is there any place I can grab something to wear or am I stuck shirtless for a while?"

Kenshin: "Ask Kaoru -dono for a training gi."

Acronos: "That's good, thanks." He went to her room, heard more than one person and got some tea ready.

Acronos: "(Knocks) Tea and a question!" The door opened to Kaoru.

Kaoru: "Wow, we were quite thirsty, thanks.  What's your question?"

Acronos: "Do you have a training gi I can use?  I'm out of clean shirts."

Kaoru: "Just a second." She put the tray down and looked around for a bit and finally came up with an old blue gi.

Kaoru: "Wasn't this Kenshin's old one?  Oh well, here."

Acronos: "Thanks." As he began to leave and put on the gi, Sienna gave up on trying to stop Maioko from gawking.

Sienna: "Hey lion, you've been working out."

Acronos: "Yep.  I'm gonna go make lunch since I just gave Kenshin more laundry, you girls want anything in particular?"

Maioko: "(Shakes it off) Anything is fine. ... Hey, when did you get those scars?"

Acronos: "Uh-oh. Umm..."

Sienna: "Lions get into fights, claws sometimes get out.  Right?"

Acronos: "Yep.  Anyway, I'll go make lunch, see you."

  He went and did so.  This attracted all the guys with large appetites.  Though Acronos tried his best, they descended upon the food like a horde of locusts.  After a few moments he sighed as most Sano, Yahiko, Wakka, Tidus, and Irvine were devouring his hard created food.
  Acronos sighed once more and decided to make pizza as sort of a commemoration of meeting Sienna again after so long.  Once finished he saw everyone else looking at the guys and the empty plates.  They all sweat-dropped.

Kaoru: "Looks like there's no lunch."

Sienna: "Sigh, is it always like this?"

Maioko: "Yep... Sigh."

Kenshin: "(Smiles) Wow, you guys eat very fast, that you do."

Auron: "..."

Acronos: "Hey guys, there is still lunch for you.  I made pizza!" Sienna's eyes glinted and shone with happiness.

Kaoru: "What's pizza?"

Sienna: "Gasp!  It's the best damn thing you'll ever have!  You get to try it made by Acronos too, lucky you."

Acronos: "Heh, I'm not that good."

Sienna: "What are you, nuts?  You made the best pizza I've ever had!" Acronos rubs the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.  Everyone grabbed a slice and soon had a look of bliss on.

Kenshin: "How do you make something this good, de gozaru ka?"

Acronos: "My own family-secret-special-recipe.  It works for most sauce-based foods."

Kenshin: "Oro..."

Soujiro: "This beats anything I've ever had, even at fancy restaurants."

Aoshi: "... It's too delicious for words."

Misao: "(State of nirvana)" Acronos noticed that Riku wasn't having any, and was instead looking for anything that wasn't consumed by Sano.

Acronos: "Hey Riku, why aren't you having any?  Are you lactose-intolerant or something?"

Riku: "Uhh yeah, exactly."

Acronos: "(Raised eyebrow) Really now?  What the real reason?"

Riku: "... ... It's too good for a back stabber like me."

Acronos: "What do you mean?"

Riku: "Since you knew my name from meeting me, and are from the same world as Sienna, I suppose you know my story.  I attacked Sora as if he were some common heartless, I let Ansem take over me, and I was evil.  I really don't deserve anything I've gotten.  I shouldn't have left Kingdom Hearts, maybe a few years there would have been enough time to repent."

Acronos: "Hey, you just helped Sora get stronger, you never seriously hurt him, and he wanted to find and help you.  Why repent when what you did was forgiven?"

Riku: "You don't really get it, but I'm glad.  Somebody like you shouldn't be forced to endure something of that nature."

Acronos: "Sigh, I'm not really going to get through to you at this rate, am I? "Riku: "You might want to duel me."" Hmm, that might work. Fine, I challenge you to a sparring match."

Riku: "Huh?"

Acronos: "Grab a slice of the pizza and meet me outside."

  Riku grabbed one remaining slice and ate it quickly.  He smirked and thought that it wasn't too bad at all, even if he shouldn't have had it.  He stepped outside.  Acronos drew his Battousai blade; Riku called out a black Ultima weapon.  The two stood at ready and waited a moment.  Riku was formulating a battle strategy that would allow him not to use full strength.  Acronos, however, was thinking of a way to make him use full strength and get out of this unworthiness thing of his.

Acronos: "Doryusen!" Riku was surprised but jumped over it in that immense high jump of his.

Acronos: "How the hell do you jump so high?"

Riku: "It's a gift." He ran at Acronos and slashed from several different areas, but none hit, Acronos seemed to know where each was coming from.

Acronos: "One of my gifts is the ability to read energy, allowing me to tell when and where your attack should be." Riku jumped back and then came with a frontal jump-slash.  It didn't work since Acronos dodged it.

Acronos: "C'mon, any less than full power won't even hit me."

Riku: "Grr, stand still and fight!" Acronos kept his distance though, taunting Riku into being less conservative with his attacks.  Finally Riku just stopped and stood back.

Riku: "Your turn." Acronos smirked and launched another Doryusen, with similar results.  However, he ran at Riku after it and used Ryu-Sou-Sen to hit him multiple times, but was blocked on that count.

Acronos: "You're not pulling your punches as much anymore."

Riku: "I'll only stop when you do."

Acronos: "Right then, see if you can live.  Sonic Blade!" Everyone started looking at the fight, so no one heard the gate quietly open and shut.  Riku dodged most of the strikes, but a few got him.  As retaliation he struck with much more force, sending a few bolts of lightning around.

Acronos: "Better, but still not enough.  Strike Raid!" Since the blade was spinning, it nicked Riku a few times.  Of course, Acronos wasn't using full strength yet, merely trying to get Riku to do so.  He was succeeding as Riku's aura got a little more enraged and he used his version of Strike Raid and Sonic Blade.  Acronos easily dodged with Shukuchi, but it seemed more like he had dodged smirking. 

  Riku's eye began twitching and Acronos could sense him starting to reach for full strength, but he began to quell the urge.  Unfortunately Acronos wasn't letting him and slammed Riku in the stomach while he was trying to calm down.  While Riku was crouched down into the position he had been when the blade struck, Acronos could have sworn he saw his aura flash crimson.

Riku: "You brought this upon yourself.  ... DIE!!" A sideways swipe nearly severed Acronos' nose.

Acronos: "Whoa, he took off the barrier? Batt: "This is my domain, let me fight!" Arch: "Our objective is to free him from his feelings of unworthiness and such.  Not to directly beat him.""

  Acronos called on more of his power and began fighting head on.  The two swept in a vortex manner, clashing blades as they spun around and around.  Riku slashed directly downward at one point, making Acronos jump back to dodge, he then shot bolt of dark blue lightning forward, again forcing Acronos to dodge.  Riku charged his blade with the dark blue lightning and began pressing forward in a swashbuckling manner.  Acronos dodged the strikes, charged his with golden fire and connected blades with an overhead slash.  An explosion followed and the two attempted to overpower the other.

Acronos: "(Strained from effort) What makes you believe you're still unworthy?"

Riku: "The fact that my friends were hurt because of me!"

Acronos: "Is that so?  I don't recall Sora taking much of a beating.  Even if he did, it's not like he hadn't been through worse due to the heartless." The two jumped away.  Riku paused a moment, and shook his head.  He sent pillars of dark blue lightning all around him and began charging up a ball of magic.  Acronos threw his blade with such precision that it hit Riku right in the head and bounced back to him.  Riku shook it off and did something along the lines of Tidus' Spiral Cut.  Acronos guarded against it.

Acronos: "C'mon, you've got to stop feeling unworthy!"

Riku: "Why bother?" Acronos had to take a moment to think, and Riku used this to kick him in the chest and spin into a smack of the flat to Acronos' head.

Acronos: "Oww!  Oh, I've got it!"

Riku: "Not quickly enough." He spun quickly, creating a small cyclone that Acronos couldn't resist.  Once inside, lightning occasionally hit him, and all was dark.  Then Riku began attacking fiercely and rapidly.  After a few moments Acronos was flung out of it with a massive hp reduction.

Acronos: "Owwie...  Cura-oomph!" Before Acronos could finish the healing spell, Riku fired a small blast of air into his stomach.

Acronos: "Oh yeah?  Well, Grav-ugh!" Though Acronos jumped out of the line of fire, it zoomed right into his stomach anyway.

Riku: "A homing blast.  Simple enough." Acronos started up his time aura.  Instead of shouting out the spell to trigger it, he simply slowed everything around him down.  Then he started casting Cure.  Riku's blast came at him, much slower than before.  Acronos used Cure then Cura, stepped out of the way, and knocked it right back, ending the 'bullet time'.

Riku: "Oomph!"

Acronos: "How do you like it?"

Riku: "About as much as you'll like this." Riku jammed his blade into the ground and all the area of fighting became one giant lightning pillar.

Acronos: "(Managed to use Barrier) Hey, no charring this gi!"

Riku: "Didn't peg you as the fashion type."

Acronos: "No, but this is someone else's."

Riku: "Oh, all right." He ran at Acronos, seemed to trip by shoving his blade into the ground, but ended up using an aerial spring-kick.  Acronos followed the same strategy Ganon had used on him and grabbed Riku and threw him after a spin.

Acronos: "So, here's my reason why you should quit with the whole 'unworthy' thing.  It makes you weak.  You can't fight or do anything at full capacity and strength if you don't believe you should.  You'll loose to me totally if you maintain this."

  Riku seemed to shake for a moment.  He looked up and insanity seemed written all over his face.  He charged and began hacking away like a madman, his power going over the top.  Then he began speaking, slashing with every syllable.  Acronos was reduced to blocking the strikes, waiting for Riku's rage to abate and him to go back to how he was before Kingdom Hearts.

Riku: "I (slash) failed (slash), don't (slash) you (slash) get (slash) that?!  I was unable to resist the darkness, and even though I was supposed to be the keyblade wielder I ended up shoving that on Sora!  He shouldn't have been exposed to that kind of thing, he had to grow up too fast!  Even after that, I taunted him constantly, and even stole the keyblade from him.  Dammit, I hurt my best friends! (Slash) (Slash) (Slash) (Slash) (Slash) (Slash) (Slash)!"

Acronos: "Without the keyblade, do you think Sora would have even survived?!  He matured, but that would have happened anyway, and besides, he hasn't matured all that much.  You hurt them, but that only made them stronger!  Sora still is your best friend, and you know how Kairi thinks!  You aren't unworthy of anything you've earned!  Stop thinking that or you'll loose, Ars Arcanum!"

  Riku took all of the strikes except the last two.  The first he sort of dodged, the second he blocked.  It ended with Riku holding up his keyblade, trying to resist Acronos' downward force.  Finally his arms just gave way and the blade smacked his head, but not too hard since nearly all momentum had ended. Riku stepped back, extremely tired.  Acronos also seemed tired, but pointed the blade at Riku and began the water flowing movement.

Riku: "(Tired smile) You probably win this.  However... I won't ever go down without a fight!" He jumped and used his huge lightning pillar attack.  He looked around and saw no Acronos.

Riku: "Did I overdo it?"

Acronos: "Not in the least." He appeared out of Shukuchi.  A sheathe appeared at his side, his keyblade adjusted to fit it, and Acronos took up the standard Battoujutsu stance.  Riku raised his blade and charged it with magical energy.  They waited for a bit.  Riku started it off, running at Acronos. 

  In retrospect, Acronos put his left foot forward and began running.  Right at the exact moment he was close enough and his left foot forward, he pressed the blade and swung out.  Without Battousai, Acronos doesn't know Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki, but he does know enough of the steps to use its base.  This was enough to smash his blade into Riku's stomach, knocking him out.  Acronos stood there panting for a moment, and then cured both of them.  There was a light clapping heard, surprising everyone.  A policeman with wolfish eyes looked back at them.

Kenshin: "(With dislike) Hello Saitoh."

Saitoh: "Hello Battousai.  Kamiya, I knew you liked to take on guests, but I never you'd have royalty over."

Acronos: "(Looks around) Huh?  Hey, do any of you have a royal background that I didn't know about?"

Saitoh: "I meant you, keyblade master.  A little bit stupid, but I suppose that's how it is."

Acronos: "Hey!"

Saitoh: "Anyway.  Battousai, keyblade master, as much as I hate saying this, we need your help."

Kenshin: "(Eyes are slightly amber) Oh, the almighty police force needs my help?  But I though you wanted me to, quote: 'die Battousai, die!'."

Saitoh: "(Really sour look) The police force needs your help... (Grudgingly) I need your help, all of Japan needs your help."

Kenshin: "Oro?"

Acronos: "That was a bit corny and cliché, but you've got my attention."

Saitoh: "The heartless attacks have been getting more frequent and seriously dangerous.  At one point they combined with humans and went to take over the gang underworld.  To save their ways the Yakuza tried to fight back with the police.  Heh, police on the same side as Yakuza, how ironic. 

  Either way, they lost and now heartless warriors have become gang lords.  They have called out every single one of their forces and have become extremely powerful.  Even grunt guards are difficult to defeat, I should know, it's hard even for me to defeat them.  They're looking for the heart of the world.  You know what would happen if they got to it."

Sano: "Yeah, and you government scum aren't much better!"

Saitoh: "Ahou, shut up.  I agree that the Meiji government doesn't have the best of intentions with the heart, but which would you prefer; the destruction of this world, or more taxes?"

Sano: "..."

Kenshin: "Your point is valid, but have you forgotten that this one no longer kills?"

Saitoh: "As your keyblade master friend will tell you, the weapon doesn't matter against the heartless, just the strength of heart you put behind it.  Besides, they aren't even human or alive anymore.  Since I'm sure that Jin-e was spotted, I think the heartless are giving life to the dead." Everyone looks shocked.

Acronos: "Hmm… This sounds good, but what's in it for us?"

Saitoh: "All charges will be dropped and you'll be paid.  You need it too, violating the sword banning act, and running from the police.  Battousai... Do I even have to tell you all your charges?" Kenshin shakes his head slowly.

Acronos: "Now how did 'Reflections' go?  Something about Sano leaving due to a crime, Kenshin dieing of a disease... Hmm, drop any and all charges on everyone here."

Kenshin: "This one still does not wish to kill."

Acronos: "Actually Kenshin, you're not killing anyone.  If the heartless are bringing back people from the dead, it's more than likely they're suffering and want to rest.  They aren't alive, and they beg for death.  The heartless are defacing even death, the final peace, violating graves and lives that once were.  Do you want to let that continue?"

Kenshin: "... No."

Saitoh: "... You won't be anyone's hitokiri, Battousai.  You'll be a hero, saving everyone from death instead of giving it.  Isn't that why you became a Rurouni, to help people?"

Kenshin: "Hai."

Acronos: "Then help them." Kenshin slowly nodded.

Saitoh: "Fine, come with me." Everyone except Soujiro, (hiding since he's technically an enemy of the state) and Aoshi started to follow.

Saitoh: "Not all of you, just Battousai and the keyblade kid."

Maioko: "Huh?  Why not?"

Saitoh: "Because Shinomori collects information already, and the rest of you are too weak."

Tidus: "What?!  I'll show you weak!" He does Spiral Cut, but Saitoh draws his sword, knocks Tidus' away, and places the tip to his throat.

Saitoh: "Thanks.  I thought I had a good impression of weakness before, but you sure showed me worse." Tidus looks extremely pissed, but isn't about to risk being impaled, since Saitoh looks like he would without a second thought.

Acronos: "C'mon already, you can't lead us if you're busy harassing my friends."

Saitoh: "(Raised eyebrow) You have weaklings like this for friends?  No wonder you're as odd as Battousai.  Let's go."

Acane: "Wait, if we can't go, I'm sending Ifrit along with you!" The fiery Devil appears happily.

Ifrit: "Hey, you're that Saitoh person!  Can I slowly simmer your organs in melted coal?  Or perhaps you'd like to be broiled?  Or maybe a simple spreading flame?"

Saitoh: "... Another Shishio.  Come along."

Ifrit: "Shishio?  He's my drinking buddy!" The Rurouni Kenshin characters all stare.

Sano: "Didn't he say he'd take over Hell?"

Ifrit: "A full human, take over Hell?  Bwahahah!  That'll be the day.  Shishio was able to get farther than anyone expected though.  He beat through the lower classes and all the demons like nobody's business.  However he met with the higher classes, namely me.  He almost had as much control of fire as I do, but I still had a huge advantage.  It was a fun fight.  The big boss decided to give him Devil blood and make him one of our agents.  He and I are friends now, and it's always fun to see how strong he gets."

Saitoh: "... More powerful than Shishio?  Great... Come along." Kenshin, Acronos, Ifrit, and Saitoh left.

Maioko: "(So only she hears) Be safe Acronos. I don't know what these feelings are... Damn! " Acronos stopped, turned on his heel and gave a salute/wave.

Acronos: "See you guys real soon!  Umm, if it gets to dinner, Tidus, Yuna, Maioko, you all can cook, so could you?  See you." Now they left.  After a few minutes they got to a regular-looking building.  Inside they found a bunch of officers.

Saitoh: "I got them." A long, rather boring speech and conversation followed.  Acronos was getting seriously bored and considering telling them just to tell him what to destroy and get on with it.  His computer scanned the conversation and basically determined that there was no point to this.  Acronos sighed and tried to look like he was paying attention.  Ifrit was a different story though.

Ifrit: "Sniff, sniff. Food!  BuRn It AlL!  Okay, but what about the people... I is waiting. "

  He began looking around for something fun.  He occasionally found a loose plank of wood to slowly burn, but nothing too interesting.  He picked up a gun and examined it, but put it down, bored.  After about ten minutes he went outside and saw that it was getting dark.  He smiled, heartless came out at night.  Soon he saw a bunch of ninja coming at him and the building.

Ifrit: "Oh, a preemptive strike?  That's good... Let's play. "

  Calling on flames, he unleashed a loose fireball at them, which exploded on contact.  From an arm, he launched a flame-thrower, turning about ten of them into ash.  He unleashed Inferno and burnt off a few of them.  One tried throwing some kunai at him, but they melted once they came in range of his flaming aura.  He then sent a spike of fire at that one, impaling and burning it from the inside out. 

  He spun, burning everything around him.  Ifrit had lots of fun; he ended up igniting every single ninja.  Ifrit walked back inside, his fire aura in full burn, and his usual insane grin going from ear to ear.  A few moments and his aura was immediately reduced by the total suffocating atmosphere.  He sat down, bored again.  A few hours later the conversation finished.

Policeman: "Now, we will brief you on the exact places you need to go tomorrow, so we expect you at the police station as soon as possible." They left and Acronos, Kenshin, Saitoh, and Ifrit remained.

Saitoh: "That was pointless.  I'll give you the details of what you need to defeat tomorrow.  Have fun." Kenshin had his hair in front of his eyes for a while, but shakes it off, now ready.

Kenshin: "Let's return to the dojo." Acronos made no reaction, his hair slightly over his eyes.  Kenshin called him, still nothing.  Ifrit poked him and he tilted slightly, but still nothing.  Kenshin pulls the hair away and saw Acronos' eyes open, slightly glazed.

Kenshin: "He fell asleep with his eyes open, de gozaru yo."

Ifrit: "Sigh." He started creating smoke from his fist and put it near Acronos' face.  After a minute or so Acronos began coughing and woke up.

Acronos: "Huh, wha, ugh, what I miss?"

Kenshin: "You fell asleep Acronos -san."

Acronos: "Oh.  I miss anything important?"

Ifrit: "Nope."

Acronos: "Phew.  Let's go then." They went outside and began the long treck home.

Kenshin: "There's a full moon out.  That means the weaker heartless won't be out, but the strong ones might be." They came upon a body a few minutes into their walk, and they ran to it, trying to see if there was any chance of saving him.

Ifrit: "I'll go inform everyone." Acronos' symbol reacted a bit and he reached down with his eyes closed and sensed the person.

Acronos: "Vampire.  A female one at that."

Kenshin: "How can you tell, de gozaru ka?"

Acronos: "(Turns the guy over) The bite marks on his neck, his heart still being in place, and the type of darkness."

Kenshin: "Hmm, this blood is still fresh...  We might be followed, one person isn't sufficient probably."

Acronos: "Right. (Sheathes keyblade)" They started walking down the dark streets, everyone was inside sleeping.  There was a slight noise and Acronos sensed the vampiress' darkness.

Acronos: "(Nods)"

Kenshin: "(Looks serious)" The darkness suddenly abated and an old woman in a cloak comes towards them.

Old woman: "Pardon me, but can you direct me to the market?"

Acronos: "... It's that way.  Take the right there, and your first left and then head towards it.  Problem is that it's dark and nobody will be there."

Old woman: "Why thank you young man.  May I ask your age?"

Acronos: "15, 16 soon.  Why?"

Vampiress: "Because I want to know the age of (Her darkness becomes fully sensed and Acronos starts reaching for his keyblade as her voice becomes stronger, more youthful) the blood that I drink!" She lunges just as Acronos grabs his keyblade and used Battoujutsu to knock her back.  She skids and lunges again, but Kenshin comes in.

Kenshin: "Ryu-Sou-Sen!" She stepped right past it, not taking any hits.  Acronos jumped and snap-kicked at her head, but she easily grabbed his foot.

Vampiress: "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.  Just as weak as everyone else."

Acronos: "Yeah, maybe, but I still have an advantage or twenty.  Here's one of them." He turned his sakabatou and sliced her face at the cheek.  She yelled and let go.  It began healing at Devil's speed.  However, she looked pissed now.  She disappeared, startling Acronos.  He felt a cold hand on his shoulder.

Vampiress: "How's this for an advantage?"

Acronos: "You moved faster than the eye could comprehend?  Not bad, since you'll need it."

  While speaking he was tapping his foot and speaking at the beat.  About a second after finishing, he started up Shukuchi.  She ran after him, but was just a tiny bit slower.  Acronos then ran towards Kenshin, who had gone into Battoujutsu stance.  Just as she jumped to catch him, Acronos dodged to the left, rolling away, and she just noticed the blade coming at her.  The Battoujutsu turned into Kuzu-Ryu-Sen and sent her flying.  Acronos came to Kenshin as he sighed in relief.

Acronos: "It takes a lot more than that to kill or defeat a vampire." There was a roar as she flew in, probably intending to dismember Kenshin.  Both sped away, Acronos heading for a building.  The vampiress struck at Kenshin and he dodged and smacked her to the ground.  Acronos had jumped onto the wall and flung himself to the ground and forward with all the momentum of Shukuchi.

Acronos: "Doryusen!" He smashed his blade deep into the ground and kept going forward.  As the momentum peaked and was going to end, he swung upwards, and the head of a dragon made of earth went forward towards the vampiress, which she didn't quite notice until too late.

Vampiress: "... Kuso." The roaring wave of earth smashed down upon her.

Kenshin: "That should do it."

Acronos: "You've never faced anything but humans, have you?  She isn't dead, or even knocked out yet." A portion of the mound of dirt exploded as her hand and then the rest of her came out.

Vampiress: "I am going to slaughter you!"

  Her fangs doubled in length and her mouth widened.  She looked more inclined to ripping a portion of the throat out instead of draining blood.  She lunged for Acronos, rather terrifying.  Right before her fangs tore into his throat, Acronos pulled out his knife and held it with the flat out, and she ended up biting down on it.  She hissed/roared and tried to pull away, but to no avail.  She kept trying to pull away, pushing on Acronos, tugging desperately, but nothing, her fangs prevented it.  With his free hand Acronos pulled out a dart.

Acronos: "Water.  Holy." With the dart now coated thoroughly in holy water, he impaled her in between the eyes.  She began shrieking as best she could with no jaw movement, but still lived.

Vampiress: "You insignificant mortal, I should tear you limb from limb and feast upon your lifeblood!" Acronos let Devil take over for a moment, and Devil opened his mouth slightly to show the array of canines he had.

Devil: "Weakling half-spawn!  I will show you the true purpose of canine teeth!  Ifrit!" The psychotic half-summon appeared, sporting his customary slightly sadistic, but mostly enraptured, grin.

Ifrit: "Yesh?"

Devil: "Show her why canine teeth were created, in the manner you prefer using upon heartless."

Ifrit: "Good point, I haven't had crispy heartless head in too long." Following this rather dismal prediction for any heartless foolish enough to exist anywhere near Ifrit, said lord of the pyre took the feminine embodiment of vampirism, encased her skull with the vice-grip of his palm, and bit into it like an adolescent bites into an apple.  (Kenshin: "Oro?  You are using big and fancy words, de gozaru ne?" Yeah, felt like it.  Now you shall watch as I ruin the atmosphere I just set and make it funny. 

Riku: "You wish."

I shall not beat you, instead I shall endeavor to disprove thee.)

Ifrit: "Mmm, (crunch, crunch, munch, munch).  (Her head heals) What?  Stay eaten!" Ifrit bites her skull again, and again it grows back.  He begins getting annoyed and chomps harder.  Again her head regenerates, pissing him off.  Munch, regrow, munch, regrow, munch, regrow, munch, regrow, munch, regrow, munch!

Ifrit: "Argh!  Stay down, I'm gonna stop being hungry at this rate!" The entire world seems to gasp.  Ifrit looks around with shifty eyes.  This time he takes out a bendable straw and has a bigger bite.  He sticks the straw in and begins slurping her brain down like a slushy.

Vampiress: "Argh!  Hi, what's your name?  Potato!  I made big doody... Gurgle... Goo!  (With accent) Howdy y'all, I'm the resident redneck!"

Acronos: "... Ifrit, how much brain mass was left when she said that?"

Ifrit: "Umm, almost none?"

Acronos: "Thought so."

Kenshin: "... Oro..." Acronos takes his knife from her mouth and sheathes it after quickly wiping it off.  He then takes his keyblade and whacks her head, sending what brains she had left onto the ground, and then he cast holy on her, turning her into ash.

Acronos: "Painful."

Ifrit: "Too long too, Maioko and Kaoru are the only ones up."

Kenshin: "Really?  Why wait for this unworthy one?  Oh well, what time is it anyway Acronos -san?"

Acronos: "Oh great, another unworthy one I have to fix.  It's... Whoa!  How'd it get to 2 AM.?"

Kenshin: "Are you certain there was absolutely nothing of use during that meeting? (Acronos nods) What a waste..."

Acronos: "We race home then."

Kenshin: "(To himself) Sessha has no home, he is a Rurouni."

Acronos: "Then what are the dojo and your wife?"

Kenshin: "Oro!  This unworthy one is not married!  ... Not anymore anyway.  Thank you Battousai, Sessha was well aware of that. "

Acronos: "Then why not marry Kaoru -san?  She'd love to." They began jogging so as to keep talking.

Kenshin: "Is he mocking sessha? What do you mean?"

Acronos: "Well, if you marry someone you'll have a home.  A family.  Isn't that what everyone wants?"

Kenshin: "Some may want it, but cannot have it."

Acronos: "Let me guess, your blood stained hands make you unworthy of Kaoru -dono?  Well... I wonder, might this work? Arch: "It will only work if he truly wishes it.  An illusion can only work on those who want it to." First off, your hands seem clean to me."

Kenshin: "Sessha did not mean literally, he has not killed in ten years or so."

Acronos: "And how long were you a killer for?  Four years?  Five?  You doubled the amount of time you spent killing and spent it atoning for every single thing you've ever done.  That's quite considerable."

Kenshin: "It is not enough."

Acronos: "Not enough for what?  True life?  Kaoru -san?  Both?"

Kenshin: "Hai."

Acronos: "Sigh.  Kenshin -san, you repent for the death you caused while believing in some ideals.  Just accept that you need to do something good for yourself.  If you repent by self-depravation, you have to do something good, otherwise it becomes masochism and not repentance.  Besides, I think I might just have something that can clean your hands."

Kenshin: "..."

Acronos: "Oh, and if you reject Kaoru -san due to your 'unworthiness', you'll be hurting her horribly, another thing you must repent for.  Believe yourself worthy of what life gives you, or life will make you unworthy."

Kenshin: "... ... ... What is this cleaning substance?"

Acronos: "Arch: "Some standard soap with a few extra things added to make it tingle and perhaps bubble." It's a special soap, created out of the essence of, Dammit, I can't lie like this!  Well, I do have this. The Cure and Holy spells."

Kenshin: "Well, perhaps this may work for sessha, it's not like this unworthy one can expect anything." They reached the dojo and Acronos located a small puddle.  The way the full moon reflected upon it, the clarity of it, this pool he chose, almost ritualistically.  Briefly he took out an item he'd forgotten, a purifying salt used to cure zombie status on the FFX world.  He solidified Cure and Holy on it.

Acronos: "Here Kenshin -san.  Cleanse your hands, your self."

  Kenshin took the 'soap' in one hand and looked down at his hands and his reflection in the pool.  To him, his hands dripped blood, totally soaked, and his entire body was coated in it, and he looked fully like Battousai.  Lightly he dipped one finger, experimentally, into the pool.  Some of the blood came off. 

  He jerked back, almost terrified as the blood that came off, hardened, turned to dust, flew to the earth, and dispersed.  Acronos was immensely surprised as well, he felt magic being in use.  Kenshin dipped both hands in and began scrubbing harshly.  The harder he scrubbed, the less blood came off.

Acronos: "Stop.  Didn't I tell you?  To repent, you yourself must be calm and believe that you can.  Don't scrub, hoping that it's the only way out, cleanse your soul not only of the blood, but of this unworthiness you believe in." Kenshin looked totally baffled that a 15-year old was giving him this kind of advice, but did so, or tried.

Acronos: "List what you have, what you want, and why you deserve it."

Kenshin: "Umm... This unworthy, (blood returns)... I don't have that much.  I do have my friends? (Blood starts to leave) I have Yahiko.  I have Sano.  I have Megumi -dono.  I have Misao -dono.  I suppose Aoshi is my ally.  I have my new friends, and strangely enough this mentor.  I have Kaoru -dono... My Kaoru -dono, even if she isn't, she's still the one who invited Rurouni Kenshin and Hitokiri Battousai to stay.

  (Hands are clean; blood starts to leave body into the pool) I want... To help them and everyone, not just to repent.  I want to care again.  I want... Food, I'm hungry! (Lots of blood leaves from the joke) I deserve it all... Because I can get it all for myself! " In a large amount of magic, Kenshin raises himself from the puddle, and he looks different, happier, cleaner, brighter...

Kenshin: "(Actual smile, just for being alive) Let us go greet our friends.  Oh, and Acronos... -sempai, thank you."

Acronos: "Heh, Kenshin, you're almost twice my age.  Sensei would have been more appropriate."

Kenshin: "Your elder or better merely needs to be wiser, which you are.  You aid everyone, this one can't understand how you do it."

Acronos: "Still not saying 'I'?"

Kenshin: "Everyone is used to this one's previous style of speech." They go inside and find Kaoru and Maioko fast asleep in rather uncomfortable position.  The two smiled to one another and bade each other goodnight.  They carried the two girls to bed.  About mid-way, both woke up.  Let's see Acronos.

Maioko: "Huh?  Acronos, z'at you?"

Acronos: "Yep, sorry to wake you."

Maioko: "Nah, it's worth it." She snuggled, (I suddenly dislike saying that word.

Narrator: "You?  I actually have to read it!"), into his grip and fell back asleep, content.   Acronos shook his head with a smile and went back to their room.  He placed her down on the futon and tried to get out of her grip, but that wasn't about to happen.  Acronos sighed and sat them both down.  He felt the fog of sleep invading his mind and gave in, slumbering peacefully.  Now with Kenshin...

Kaoru: "Huh?  What happened?"

Kenshin: "Sorry to wake you Kaoru -dono."

Kaoru: "That's okay, but where have you been for so long?!"

Kenshin: "This one was at the meeting Saitoh dragged us to."

Kaoru: "Oh.  Hey, are you carrying me?"

Kenshin: "Does it bother you?  This one can let you walk."

Kaoru: "N-no, it's alright.  I was just a bit surprised is all. Wow, what a change!  Maybe Acronos -san managed to talk to Kenshin?  If he did, I owe him. " Kenshin took her to her room, slid the door open lightly with a foot, and took one step inside.

Kenshin: "Here is your room, Kaoru -dono."

Kaoru: "Umm, thanks Kenshin." He sets her down and she blushes a bit.

Kenshin: "... What was I thinking!?  I can't possibly hope to be worthy of someone like her. 

  Look Rurouni, as much as I don't care about your 'this unworthy one' complex, she freaking wants you!  You're only hurting her with your belief that you can't have her.  Those who died, died at my hand, not yours.  Accept this fate that you have been given.  The gods made you suffer during the Tokugawa reign. 

  Now, the god that gave you brief happiness in Tomoe, bless her in heaven, gives you the chance at eternal happiness in Kaoru.  Accept it now or you'll loose her too!  ... Damn.  You surprise me every day Battousai, I thought you didn't care.  She's hot, I do care.  (Smacks him) Always your own reasons... Goodnight, Kaoru -dono, pleasant dreams."

Kaoru: "Goodnight Kenshin." He leaves and goes to bed.  The next morning Acronos woke up later than his usual.  Again he found his neck locked in a vice-grip.  He sighed and managed to squirm out and go make breakfast.  Just as he was finishing up, Kenshin came in.

Kenshin: "Good day Acronos -sensei."

Acronos: "Any luck?"

Kenshin: "A bit.  Strangely enough Battousai likes her too."

Acronos: "Now that's two against one, subconscious desire and Battousai versus unworthiness.  Hah, just tell her you like her.  At the proper time of course."

Kenshin: "When will that be?"

Acronos: "Probably when your mind is screaming at you to do so." Acronos pulled the food out and set a few plates aside for the ones with big appetites.  Deciding that that was sufficient, he looked it over, hoping to find something to do.  He felt someone's aura behind him, but just kept trying to find something.  The aura felt familiar...

Acronos: "Ahh?!" Sienna had jumped on him and was grinding her knuckles into his head.

Sienna: "What the hell happened last night!?"

Acronos: "I went to a meeting with Saitoh!"

Sienna: "Yeah?  Well why were you so late?  You worried me, your friends, and your girlfriend thought you'd died!"

Acronos: "Sorry!  And I don't have a girlfriend yet."

Sienna: "You mean you haven't gotten together with Maioko?"

Acronos: "Eh?  We're good friends, if that's what you mean."

Sienna: "Dammit, I'm almost relieved!  Gotta focus... Yeesh lion, you're really clueless."

Acronos: "Huh?"

Sienna: "Sigh."

  Since she had jumped to his shoulders she now attempted to swing off.  Of course, you all should know by now that I'd never let something like this pass.  Sienna missed the exact twist, setting her off balance.  This in turn caused her to tightly wrap her legs around Acronos' neck and grip the nearest object to regain said lost balance.  This happened to be his head.  Acronos, being himself, thrashed and lost balance.  He spun and fell on his back, while Sienna fell forward.  A loud 'oomph!' was heard.

Acronos: "Wow, she's really grown up and out, like Maioko.  ORO!  Why did I think that!?  Bad thoughts!  Curse you Irvine for your bad influence... Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph? (Hey Sienna, could you get off please?)"

Sienna: "Ugh..."

Acronos: "She hit her head?  Great...  Hold on, her stomach is too low to lift from.  Oh crap.  Wake up Sienna!!!!  Oh, wait, I can just roll... Nope, wrong place either way.  Oh great, does God have something against me? " (Not really, this is just fun.  Oh well, guess I'll make it easier on you.)

Acronos: "Oh yeah, wind magic! " Using some mp, he lightly floated her above him, rolled out of the way, and guided her into her seat.  Then he put the tip of his finger right in front of her nose, barely any distance, almost touching.  Her nose twitched slightly but she remained asleep.  He sighed and lightly blew on her face, waking her fully.

Sienna: "... Good morning lion.  You're the only one who knows how to wake me up."

Acronos: "Yep.  Sorry you hit your head.  Well, eat up."

Sienna: "Yay, food!" Acronos decided to do a little cleaning on the bathhouse.  Maioko woke up, again alone.

Maioko: "Sigh.  I really wish one of these days Acronos would sleep late.  I don't want to wake up alone once, it gets too cold.  See, I keep telling you, but do you listen?  Noooo....  I really don't have energy for you.  Just answer me one question.  Do you, or don't you care deeply for Acronos Tegrarian?  ... I suppose I do.  However, his dark side...  It's hard to believe a person like him has so much evil.  Umm...  No more, I need to eat. " She got up and stretched, followed by opening the windows, which woke her up.  She smiled and went over to the kitchen.  She found Sienna digging into the food.

Maioko: "Morning Sienna -san."

Sienna: "Mmph?  (Gulps down food) Just Sienna, a friend of the lion is my friend too."

Maioko: "So, how long have you known Acronos, if you don't mind my asking?"

Sienna: "Basically most of my life.  We've been friends since who knows how long.  I've called him lion ever since meeting him, since his hair has always been long for a guy."

Maioko: "(Eats some of the food) Any idea why he calls you 'tigress'?"

Sienna: "You mean you haven't noticed my temper yet?  Hey, have you told him how you feel yet?"

Maioko: "Huh?  No way, that's just freaky.  I keep telling you, everyone notices you like him. Umm, we're just friends."

Sienna: "He and I are friends, you and him seem more."

Maioko: "Uhh..."

Sienna: "You're not the first, don't worry."

Maioko: "Huh?"

Sienna: "Oh, not like that.  Acronos, as he always says, has never had a girlfriend before, but a few have taken a liking to the guy, he's too nice sometimes.  However, each and every time, in his own completely clueless way, he's gotten them only as friends.  If he knew anything about how he makes some feel, he could manipulate many a person."

Maioko: "Oh.  Well, no need to worry, we've only been friends, no caring or whatnot."

Sienna: "Right..."

Riku: "Good morning ladies."

Sienna: "(rolls eyes)"

Riku: "Ahem.  Sienna, Maioko. (Nods, grabs food, leaves)"

Kaoru: "Yawn!  I see Acronos -san has been here.  Where is he anyway, I've got to ask him something."

Sienna: "Lion went to the bathhouse to clean."

Kaoru: "Right, thank you."  Suddenly everything got deathly quiet.  Sienna lifted her plate off the table and edged away.

Maioko: "Huh?" There was a slight rumbling...  Followed by a war cry.  Maioko jumped out of her seat, startled.  Sano, Yahiko, Tidus, and Wakka zoomed in and descended upon the remaining food like a horde of locusts.  Irvine followed, but more slowly, and used a pole or fishing line to avoid loosing a hand.  Soon the guys finished and walked away.  Maioko looked at the table in a mixture of horror and awe.

Maioko: "They ate everything...  Are those bite marks on the actual table?  Yeesh.  Do they have a second, maybe a third stomach or something? " She shook her head and wandered around.  She soon bumped into Kenshin doing, what else, the laundry.

Kenshin: "Hello Maioko -dono.  How are you?"

Maioko: "A little bored.  Is there anything to do?"

Kenshin: "Well, you could help this one with laundry again.  Or you could spar and/or train with Sano and Aoshi -san."

Maioko: "Hmm, you use this laundry to think, right?  I'll help you out, I guess." She grabbed a shirt and began scrubbing away at it.  While doing this she thinks and tries to sort out everything in her mind.  A bit later Acronos came over.

Acronos: "Hey, Kenshin -san!  Shouldn't we head over to the station?"

Kenshin: "Most probably.  This one will finish the laundry with Maioko -dono first."

Acronos: "I'll help out!" He grabbed a shirt and began scrubbing in between Maioko and Kenshin.  For some reason Maioko couldn't get the blush out of her face.

Maioko: "Why can't I stop blushing like a schoolgirl!?  It's not like I haven't been near my friend before, we sleep in the same room!  (More blush) Grr… Stupid blood flow to the face.  Oh well. " They continued for a bit, Maioko still blushing, but with a focused/neutral look on.  She looked in Acronos' direction for a moment since there was a breeze, and he turned to her and grinned.  I don't know how her body did it, but her face got even redder and she began mentally cursing everything blush-oriented.

Acronos: "Can you pass me the kimono over there if you aren't working on it?"

Maioko: "Sure, here." Even blushing, she maintained a neutral expression.

Acronos: "(Concerned) Hey Maioko, are you all right?  Your face is all red." He puts the back of a hand to her forehead.  Steam begins to come from it and the bubbles disperse.  He holds it there for a moment and retracts it slowly.

Acronos: "You're very warm, your forehead that is. Hope she doesn't take that the wrong way. Batt: "Say hello to a new fist mark on your face. "

Maioko: "I dunno, I feel fine."

Acronos: "I live? Well, if you feel dizzy, be sure to get some sleep." They finished washing and Acronos and Kenshin began heading for the door after saying a quick farewell.  Upon arriving at the station, they found most of it literally blockaded by heartless, only one small route to the front door open via some walls.

Acronos: "Wanna clean up?"

Kenshin: "Well, this one really hates killing, but perhaps it must be done."

Acronos: "I told you, it isn't like a human kill.  Not one heartless has a home or family to go back to, none fight for any other reason than to satisfy their eternal urge for human hearts.  They are hatred embodied and exist only to fight and die, less than wild animals."

Kenshin: "No heart, no mind, no soul, no life to take?"

Acronos: "You might as well be breaking porcelain dolls." Kenshin cracked his neck, all opposition gone, and settled into Battoujutsu stance.  Acronos decided to let his Battousai side have some fun and he created a Zanbattou.  The two rushed in and cleared their path within a few moments.  They walked in, sheathing their weapons.  The police force within looked at them in surprise.  After a few questions as to why they were there, they were instructed to wait.  After a few moments there were the sounds of yelling, almost roaring.

Kenshin: "Saitoh must be mad." Soon the man just spoken of made an appearance, looking like he'd just beaten down half his own force.

Kenshin: "Hello Saitoh.  What was that saying samurai had about rage?"

Saitoh: "(Glare) You try doing paperwork authorizing all the stuff you fools asked for hours straight, and then have someone come in, making you spill ink on it, telling you that they were about to kill the people you've just been working on!  (Wolfish grin) On second thought, you two will be doing paperwork..."

Acronos: "(Eyes widen) Nooo!  I had enough at school!"

Saitoh: "Speaking of which, if all your friends are mostly in their teens, how will you all get jobs without an education?"

Acronos: "I can build just about anything single-handedly.  I also know the art of diplomacy.  Everyone else has their own talents and mostly come from worlds that are almost self-sufficient communities."

Saitoh: "Anyway, follow me.  Based on the fact that I can see daylight, I'd say you cleared out the heartless.  I have an assignment for you fully ready."

Acronos: "Whoa!" They were led and briefed on their target, a small 'Yakuza' hideout, apparently nothing big.  Kenshin took the lead on which questions to ask, since he knew the rules of being an assassin.  An hour later they found themselves getting off a train with a huge black building in the distance.

Acronos: "A small Yakuza hideout, he says.  That is not small!"

Kenshin: "It may be a large area, but that doesn't mean its guards will be strong."

Acronos: "So what are we aiming to do?  I highly doubt we can destroy all these people."

Kenshin: "There is most likely a leader, or something supporting them."

Acronos: "Hmm, the building is supported by a base..."

Kenshin: "Hmm?"

Acronos: "Leave it to me to topple this." They got to the building.  Acronos took out a compressed Ultima gem and began setting the equivalent of dynamite all around.  He went back to Kenshin and floated the gem in front of him.

Acronos: "This should take care of most of them.  Are there any hostages?"

Kenshin: "Hmm…  Almost the same chi signature...  No, there are only heartless in there."

Acronos: "Good and goodbye." He snapped his fingers and they all exploded simultaneously.  The building shook, stood for a moment, shuddered horribly, and began falling towards Kenshin and Acronos.

Both: "(OO) AHHH!!!!!" Using godlike speed and Shukuchi, the two zoomed away.  The building missed by about a foot, and the shockwave sent both flying.

Kenshin: "() Oro..."

Acronos: "() Owwie..." After a moment both got up.  Acronos absorbed any remaining energy and they looked around.  Only a few heartless/humans emerged, barely standing.

Kenshin: "You get the ones on the left." It took about three minutes to destroy all of them.  They went back to the train platform and headed back.  Saitoh greeted them once they returned.

Saitoh: "That was way too fast."

Acronos: "I blew up the base of the building and that took care of most of them." Saitoh nodded in satisfaction.

Saitoh: "Okay, now for your next assignment, this time it's a regular human who's taken advantage of the heartless.  He deals in drugs and uses heartless as guard dogs.  Here's the location and such.  Well?  Get going!"

Acronos: "Huh?  This is going to be much more serious than I thought, isn't it?"

Saitoh: "There are hundreds of heartless strongholds, thousands upon thousands of the actual bugs, crime is at a new high... Do I need to continue?" Acronos and Kenshin got on the train.  A little while later they ended up at a Western mansion.

Kenshin: "Another Kanryuu?" They marched through the gate in front, and were immediately surrounded.

Acronos: "Oh great."

  Both took up a ready stance.  Acronos decided to start it off, slashing forward and destroying the heartless in front of him.  An axe blade headed towards his back, with a chain coming from the right side, and a long sword coming from below.  The moment seemed to stretch as all options became visible.  Since the long sword was a bit to the left, Acronos turned so he was facing the blade and his back was to the chain, ducked out of the way, and smashed his blade into the axe wielder. 

  Since it dispersed after the cut, Acronos spun to facing the chain wielder, jumped towards it and unleashed a few, quick strikes to pressure points to defeat it, stopped by turning in a lunging position on the ground, sheathing the keyblade.  He then flew forward in Battoujutsu, literally breaking through the long sword wielder's guard by breaking the weapon and defeating it.  All this lasted about two seconds, each movement being extremely quick and fluid. 

  Acronos sensed a rapid movement coming towards his back, so he back-flipped and saw that they were darts, so he pulled out some of his own as he landed, turned, and flung them where he believed the others came from.  A flash of black caught his attention, seeing as it was only mid-afternoon.  He flung darts quite a bit in front of where it was and heard the sound of a hit, trip, and a ninja fell and died from the impact.  Acronos let his senses go all around, but sensed no hostility in particular outside.

Kenshin: "How did you fare?"

Acronos: "Well enough.  Wanna bomb the place?"

Kenshin: "There are humans inside."

Acronos: "Which should I stick with; magical abilities, or swordsmanship?"

Kenshin: "I've got the swordsmanship part.  Stick with magic for the time." They stepped inside with Kenshin's blade at ready and Acronos calling up Flare.  Nobody was there, and it was quiet and dark.  Acronos' Flare was the only source of light, so he simply blasted open a window.  One heartless/human stood there, no weapons, arms crossed.  Acronos, deciding not to waste much more time, called forth Umbra.

Kenshin: "You have control over certain heartless?  How useful." Umbra ran in and scratched at the weapon-less heartless, but was swatted away.  Umbra landed on the wall, bounded off, and attempted another claw slash.  This time the other punched Umbra, stopping it in its tracks.  Umbra staggered back, injured quite nicely.

Acronos: "Oh boy.  Cure, Umbra!" It was healed and nodded to its master in thanks.  Acronos summoned Sardukar, Subzero, and basically all his heartless.  The martial arts master uncrossed its arms from how they'd been.  Kenshin readied his blade and Acronos called forth some magical spells, especially his time aura.

  The martial artist launched forward without warning, smashing through a few.  Unfortunately for it, the smaller ones all had aerial attacks suited for hitting the ground.  The martial artist wasn't particularly injured, but this gave Kenshin enough time to run in and deliver a powerful strike.  Acronos also launched a few magical blasts; enough to send it back a bit.  It started to get annoyed and began an attack capable of immense destruction, based off its movement.

  However, Kenshin wasn't about to allow this and hit it with Kuzu-Ryu-Sen.  It fell to that and Acronos called back his heartless.  They marched up the stairs and through a series of hallways.  Finally they reached a large central room.  About one hundred heartless were there, with a few human/heartless crosses surrounding one man.  The man was thin and almost obviously weak, but had an annoying smirk on his face and held a glass of red wine.

Kenshin: "You appear to be the only human here, and so we must now place you under arrest."

Drug lord: "Hmm… How about not?  Of course if you beat through my minions, I would probably be forced to do what you asked."

Acronos: "Hitokiri Battousai and the keyblade master stand before you.  Do you really think these will stop us?"

Drug Lord: "Heh, perhaps, perhaps not.  Let us see." He snapped his fingers and every single heartless lunged as one upon the two.  The drug lord chuckled, but a beam of light pierced through and in a flash of light, Acronos and Kenshin stood there, ready for more.

Kenshin: "I do believe it is my turn.  You had two, so that's what this one gets, de gozaru." Kenshin ran at one of the guards.  It swung at him, but was destroyed instantly, followed by the rest.  Kenshin stood there, cleaning his blade.

Kenshin: "Is that all of them, de gozaru ka?"

Drug Lord: "Oh my.  Quite the swordsmen you are.  However, you're in for a treat.  Belladonna, please come out." From a side room a rather, (umm, how to say this), suggestive woman came out.  What she was wearing left, well; the only thing left to the imagination was why she was wearing basically a nearly transparent towel extremely low on her chest.

Acronos: "(OO, eye twitch)"

Kenshin: "(Raised eyebrow)"

Drug Lord: "I'm certain you gentlemen know how to work things out peacefully.  How about I give her to you for a while in exchange for saying you didn't find me.  How's that?"

Kenshin: "We won't be bought."

Acronos: "Kenshin, you do the talking, my hormones are causing my brain to stop.  Where's that blindfold?"

Drug Lord: "You two drive a hard bargain.  How about as much opium as you ever need?"

Kenshin: "... (Death glare)"

Acronos: "(Finds blindfold and happily puts it on)"

Drug Lord: "Well then, I cannot allow you two to leave alive.  Belladonna?" She rips the towel off, causing Kenshin to turn around, blushing, and Acronos to scratch his head in confusion.  She took a one-piece black bodysuit, put it one, and pulled out a pair of daggers.  She launched at them, and Acronos blocked.

Acronos: "Miss, why are you working for a person such as this?" She grunted and slashed with the other, causing Acronos to block with his knife.

Drug Lord: "She is mute, and can't be knocked out."

Acronos: "Wait, she can't be knocked out?  How do we beat her then? Batt: "Duh, kill her? Chibi: "Killing is bad. " Devil: "We could put a blade to her master's throat?" Arch: "Yes, she is quite loyal to him.  First we must block and send her away though. "" Acronos swung to block the daggers and jumped away towards the Drug Lord.  However, she somehow ended up in front of him, forcing Acronos to block and attack.

Acronos: "Arch: "Ahh, that jumpsuit has a reason besides stopping us from properly attacking." She's wearing a jumpsuit? " Acronos tried several times to reach the Drug Lord, but each time she blockaded him.  Just as he wondered where Kenshin had gotten to, he heard him.

Kenshin: "Cease the attack or your master's life will be terminated." She took one look and was about to run, but Kenshin started to draw blood, so she took a step back, horrified.  Two strikes later she was on the floor, paralyzed momentarily.

Acronos: "That works whether you can feel or not."

  They went back aboard the train, Acronos with his blindfold still on guarded Belladonna, while Kenshin kept the blade to the Drug Lord's throat.  Actually, Acronos more or less dragged her to the train.  When they got there, Acronos pulled off his blindfold and saw her giving him a glare of pure hatred.  Acronos' sixth sense started up and he was able to determine what she was saying through her eyes.

Acronos: "Hey, I'm sorry, but your master was involved in some pretty shady deals and had to be arrested."

Belladonna: " That is still no excuse.  He helped me out, I'm sure something could have been worked out. "

Acronos: "He offered us you, does that really sound like he cares all that much about you?"

Belladonna: "Well... Sigh. "

Acronos: "Like I said."

Belladonna: "Well what about you?!  Do you have a love interest too?  A crush, someone you care for, well? "

Acronos: "Where'd that come from?"

Belladonna: "Hah!  Your eyes speak a thousand more words!  You do, you do! "

Acronos: "No, what do you mean?"

Belladonna: "C'mon, just tell me.  I'm going to jail soon, so tell me her name so I can have something to do. "

Acronos: "Hmm, did you do anything illegal?"

Belladonna: "Well, I didn't really get a chance to do much. "

Acronos: "There might be next to no jail time then."

Belladonna: "Whatever, tell me! "

Acronos: "Umm, weren't we just enemies?"

Belladonna: "Well, technically I was just instructed to kill you.  Since that's over, I have no need.  Now tell me before I throttle you! "

Acronos: "Well... Arch: "He isn't in love particularly, but he has two girls apparently vying for attention.  A hand-to-hand fighter who tends to get angry with her fists and has a softer side, and a childhood friend with a temper, memories, and probably the remains of a crush she can't fully get rid of." Archangel!"

Belladonna: "Heh, knew it.  Well, if we had been real friends I'd play matchmaker! (Smiles)"

Acronos: "Umm, well..."

Belladonna: "Oh don't worry, I can tell you aren't in love yet, so you needn't worry about me saying anything. " She pats him on the shoulder and smiles.  During the course of their conversation the Drug Lord and Kenshin were looking at them with surprised expressions.  Once they finished both looked at the other and shrug.  The train reaches the station a bit later, and Saitoh isn't there.

Kenshin: "Oh great, now we have to drag both of you to the police station."

Acronos: "Umm, according to her, she wasn't given any real opportunity to do anything illegal."

Drug Lord: "That's true.  I never gave her any particular opportunity, so she is innocent of criminal acts." They got a carriage and headed back.  Saitoh took one look and nodded slightly.

Saitoh: "The girl wearing too little, you didn't need to get her.  She's in your custody for now."

Acronos: "What?!"

Kenshin: "Oro?"

Saitoh: "You heard me.  You now have to protect her and such.  Here's your last assignment for the day.  There's a nearby congregation of heartless.  They don't need to be there anymore."

Acronos: "What do we-"

Saitoh: "She's with you.  Hope she can fight.  Oh, and for rationality's sake, give her some clothes!" Acronos sighed and draped his trench around her shoulders.  She nodded in thanks.  They got into a carriage and were on their way.

Acronos: "Hey, how old are you anyway?"

Belladonna: "23. "

Acronos: "(OO) Whoa... You poor person..."

Belladonna: "Huh?  Oh, just due to that offer, don't think I was ever offered like that before. "

Acronos: "Then what of the umm..."

Belladonna: "I just got out of the shower, not my fault the towels are weird. " They reached an intersection and the carriage stopped.

Acronos: "I wonder why Saitoh needed us so badly?  These guys aren't particularly tough."

Kenshin: "You must remember that most of the police is not even a fraction of our strength.  Saitoh had his hands full." Upon stepping towards the group, they were greeted by fifty fully garbed samurai, led by a guy with a black cone-hat and a disturbing grin.

Kenshin: "Jin-e.  You live."

Jin-e: "Uhu, (his laugh) Battousai it is good to see you!  As I said, I watched you from Hell.  You even inadvertently sent a few with me!  Uhu, uhu, uhu."

Kenshin: "I believe you wish to die now?"

Jin-e: "Uhu, of course.  Being alive is interesting, but killing without blood is so boring!  However another death match against you should be fun."

Kenshin: "You know all my techniques.  This will be quite in your favor except for one thing.  You are dead already so I won't hesitate."

Jin-e: "Good, good!  I didn't even have to make you mad this time." The two took up their stances.  Acronos pointed out the samurai to Belladonna.

Acronos: "We fight them.  If you need help, I'll protect you. "

Belladonna: "You're more likely to need it. " They launched in and proceeded to destroy those in their path while Jin-e and Kenshin stood still.  After two minutes most of the samurai had been exterminated, leaving only the strongest enemies.  Jin-e made the first move, using Shin-no-Ippo to paralyze Kenshin for a second while he broke it.

Acronos: "Hey, I forgot about that one. " Since he'd been able to use that move since Kenshin mentioned it, he caught the remaining heartless in it.  Due to having no heart, they were unable to break it by matching wills.  This doomed them no matter how strong they were.  Meanwhile, Kenshin barely dodged a sideways slash, only managing to get a cut instead of death.  Since Jin-e wasn't going to be able to jump out for a moment, Kenshin bashed him upside the head while moving forward and away.  The two turned to one another.

Jin-e: "Uhu, shall we make this more interesting?" He used Shin-no-Ippo on himself to make himself twice as muscular.  Kenshin just allowed his Battousai side out fully.

Kenshin: "Consider this battle over." He took up the stance of Battoujutsu.

Jin-e: "Ah, this again?  Uhu, not this time Battousai."

  He readied in a stance sort of like a mirror Battoujutsu.  The two sprang at each other, Kenshin ready to use Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki, Jin-e ready to cut from bottom up.  Right before they met, Jin-e used Shin-no-Ippo, causing only a slight pause in Kenshin's movement, but enough to trip from.  Acronos saw this and was halfway there with Shukuchi while the spell was being cast.  Just as Jin-e was about to attack, Acronos launched forward with the Shukuchi momentum and simply broke the sword Jin-e was using.  He looked quite surprised but simply shrugged and the blade returned.

Jin-e: "Well, I suppose you should provide another challenge.  Do you mind, Battousai?" Kenshin shrugs.

Acronos: "Well then, let's start this off fun." He uses Shin-no-Ippo on Jin-e, freezing him long enough to land a powerful blow.  The two launched at each other, slashing and fighting quickly.  Finally a simple way of defeating Jin-e came to mind and Acronos flipped his blade.

Acronos: "Shin-no-Ippo just found a new route." His blade glowed dark blue for a moment and he sprung forward and gave Jin-e a tiny cut.  He raised an eyebrow, but suddenly began quaking in fear.

Acronos: "New move: Terror Infuse.  A small cut and you become totally afraid of me, even if you don't want to.  Best of all, there's no way to fight it!"

Jin-e: "(Shaking) Uhu, uhu.  Not bad, but not enough." He shook for a few moments, trying to move, and then finally attacked.  Acronos easily dodged and struck his stomach and then the back.

Acronos: "It ends here!  Ragnarok!" He ran forward and at a precise moment rolled, ended up beneath Jin-e, and kicked upwards, putting both in the air.  He spun to be upright and grabbed on and began draining energy.  At the top of the flight he brought both hands, which had been the points the energy had been drawn to, and connected them, causing an explosion and sensing small energy bullets at Jin-e.  This finished him and Acronos landed.

Kenshin: "Well, that's that, what next?"

Acronos: "We have to find Belladonna a home."

Belladonna: "Actually I have a place to live already.  Just wanted to help.  The train there is near here.  See you guys. "

Acronos: "Okay, see you then."

Kenshin: "Hmm?"

Acronos: "She has a home already."

Kenshin: "Right, goodbye."

Belladonna: "Good luck to both of you.  Oh, and Acronos?  Don't ignore your girl, go get her. "

Acronos: "Umm, she's not... I'll never win, will I?" She shakes her head and leaves after giving Acronos his trench back.  The two Rurouni take their train back.  They reach the police station first.

Saitoh: "That's that for the day, go home."

Acronos: "Hey, crime is probably up so maybe I can help with that.  Do you have some cases to be solved, paperwork, etc?"

Saitoh: "(A little surprised) You're asking for paperwork?  Well, whatever, take mine." They headed back to the dojo and Kenshin slowly opened the door.

Kenshin: "I need a rest."

Acronos: "Yeah, but I have that paperwork to do."

Kenshin: "It isn't necessary for you to do that, leave it."

Acronos: "Nah, gotta help.  Besides, I'm not that tired." After the gate closed, Acronos heard rapid footsteps that disappeared.  He called out his keyblade and tensed slightly.  Both waited for a moment, and then...

Acane: "Hey Acronos!  You're back!" A full glomp from the air.

Acronos: "Mmph!  Mmph!" Misao landed on Kenshin's shoulders and grabbed his ponytail.

Misao: "Forward grand steed!  To my knight in shining armor!"

Kenshin: "But Aoshi -san has a white trench coat, not shining armor, de gozaru." Misao falls off his shoulders in an anime fall.

Misao: "Am I really that obvious?"

All: "Yes." She pouts, frustrated.

Acronos: "Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph... (Oh yeah, gotta talk with Aoshi...)" While he 'said' this, Acane was struggling to hold in giggles.

Acane: "Quit that, it tickles!"

Acronos: "Mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph, mmph. (Well, your thigh shouldn't be in my face.)" Acane couldn't stop herself, she fell off in a fit of laughter.  Of course, when someone falls near Acronos, he catches them, so Acane was gently set down.  Everyone else came out.

Yahiko: "Acronos, Kenshin, thank Kami you're here!  Busu made stuff even more burnt than usual!"

Ifrit: "(Sadly) Even I couldn't eat it since it turned to dust on contact."

Acronos: "Cooking lessons."

Selphie: "I've got a good plan now, help me out, would you?"

Acronos: "That kinda stuff."

Tidus: "Hey, I've got a few ideas to try out, you mind?"

Acronos: "Large scale training. (He sees a damaged door) Repairs.  Okay, since dinner is nearest, I'll help you first Kaoru -san, then I suppose training should go on while there's light out, so that second, I'll help you after that Selphie, and then I guess I'll repair.  Let's go!" Misao, Kaoru, and him all went into the kitchen.  In there, he began advising on what might be seen and how to react.  After a few minutes Acane came in.

Acane: "Hey Acronos, could you make something light for us?  Some aren't feeling particularly well, myself included."

Acronos: "(Concerned) Can I help?"

Acane: "Nah, I'll be fine."

Acronos: "Alright, I'll make a salad.  Hey Kaoru -san, Misao -san!  Let's alter so we're making something lighter." Acane opened her mouth to thank him, but heard and saw Maioko coming in.

Acane: "Thank you so much Acronos, you're such a nice guy."

  Now this is flirting, so you can guess her body motions.  However, Acronos' battle spirit hadn't fully worn off, so instead of allowing himself the usual twitchy reaction, he just gave her a look that plainly stated "you're just doing this to make Maioko jealous, aren't you?" compounded with a smirk.  Acane looked quite surprised, and Acronos simply shook his head, still smirking.  Acane shrugged and began acting normally.

Acane: "Okay, thanks.  (jokingly) Make sure Kaoru doesn't burn mine." A frying pan connected with her head.  She shook it off and Acronos picked it up to fry stuff.  Acane left the kitchen to go race Soujiro again, (neither was particularly better than the other, one sometimes won, sometimes the other), and then Maioko walked in.

Maioko: "Umm, hey Acronos."

Acronos: "(Rurouni smile) Good evening Maioko."

Maioko: "Sigh, the fake smile again.  Am I annoying him? How was it?"

Acronos: "Rather tiring.  We fought a bunch of heartless and such.  Quite an odd day.  Thanks for asking."

Maioko: "Oh, he's just tired. Right, I'll leave you be."

Acronos: "As you wish." Soon they finished making the food and Acronos quickly set out the table, and ran outside to help Tidus out.  A half an hour later both came in looking happy but tired.  Dinnertime was called and food was served.  Everyone caught up on what had happened and ate happily.  After finishing, Acronos dragged Aoshi outside.

Aoshi: "You are here to try to get me together with someone."

Acronos: "Yep!"

Aoshi: "Who then?"

Acronos: "Who else besides the girl who is infatuated with you, Misao."

Aoshi: "..."

Acronos: "Why not?"

Aoshi: "Though I sound almost like Himura, someone like me should never be allowed near someone like her.  I would weigh her down.  She is happy, she doesn't need my sorrow, my foolishness."

Acronos: "What makes you think she wouldn't be made a hundred times more happy if you accepted?  Please tell me you've noticed that she likes you."

Aoshi: "(Slightly amused) Of course, the only way she could be more obvious is if she posted a sign in bright red letters saying "I love my Aoshi -sama" to her forehead." Acronos laughs heartily at that.

Acronos: "C'mon, if you don't accept soon, she might just do that."

Aoshi: "The day one happens is the day of the other."

Acronos: "You just signed your own death warrant. So you sort of believe you could make her happy?  I mean seriously, if you're making her so happy right now that she'd follow you anywhere to keep you, and you're not even trying...  Besides, she'll need help being leader, why not take advice from the best?"

Aoshi: "I am not the best."

Acronos: "You were made leader of your group at a really early age, you are very experienced.  Oh, and no "I'm too old" excuse, it'll only be a waste of breath."

Aoshi: "... Only if."

Acronos: "(Rurouni grin) Get an "I love you" speech ready.  Later!" He walks off and bumps into Sano and Megumi arguing as usual.  For once it appeared that Sano was winning.

Sano: "I'm telling you, Fox, I've had and seen a bunch of broken bones, you should apply more towards where the break came from."

Megumi: "Then the bone will heal crookedly!"

Sano: "Ahh, but the splint should be like that only for a little while." Acronos decided to go for another success, but how to do this...

Acronos: "Sano isn't partial to that whole 'unworthy' thing, so I suppose it's only a matter of getting them to see that the other likes them.  It could be confused, especially with all that din! Batt: "They're getting on my nerves!  Can I please kill them?" Arch: "Haven't you had enough killing today?"

  Chibi: "Why just smoosh them together so they kiss, eww!" Devil: "Or perhaps the jealousy route would work more amicably on Sano?" Arch: "The jealousy approach has its drawbacks and probably shouldn't be used on those who would think too deeply into it.  Luckily Sagara -san isn't one of them." Now how to do that?  Guess I'll just start off with a little more fun. You know, it's always said that the more two people argue, the more they like one another.  So, when's the passionate kiss?"

Sano & Megumi: "(OO) (Blush and turn away from each other)"

Acronos: "You know you want to..." Sano and Megumi's faces are now emitting steam.  Kaoru walks past.

Kaoru: "You see why I have a bokken  all the time, Kitsune?" Megumi nods and the blushes begin to leave.

Kaoru: "Acronos -san, were you teasing them about their 'relationship'?"

Acronos: "Just a bit."

Kaoru: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you should know that that's dangerous territory.  A relationship is very volatile before the first kiss."

Megumi: "And you know that very well, eh tanuki?" Kaoru fumed and a bokken appeared aiming at Megumi, who dodged it.

Acronos: "Where'd she get the bokken? Arch: "What have I told you of women scorned?" Run away fast? Arch: "(Nodding) Very good."" Megumi and Kaoru began arguing, and Acronos noted a similarity to Acane and Maioko.  He sighed and headed over to repair the door.  As he began the repairs Selphie came over.

Acronos: "(Reporting without turning) Aoshi is about to give, I just have to convince Misao to do one thing.  Sano and Megumi just need to be locked in a room together at the proper time.  Kenshin and Kaoru are under the exact same circumstances, just that it only needs to be them together and alone, it doesn't require a closet.  I trust you can take care of Sano and Megumi?"

Selphie: "You work fast!"

Acronos: "It's a simple matter of getting to the heart of the matter and attacking bluntly, no beating around the bush."

Selphie: "... So, do you like Maioko really?"

Acronos: "A) We're only friends, and B) Don't use my own strategy against me. (Selphie pouts and gives him puppy-dog eyes) Ahh?!  ... Oh all right, but at least spare me for a little while."

Selphie: "Yay!" A bit later he finished and went to talk with Misao.  He located her and took her aside.  After looking around and sensing to see if Aoshi was around he spoke.

Acronos: "Misao, do both of us a favor, would you?  Huh, a kimono?"

Misao: "(Sour) It's the only other thing I have with me.  I still haven't found any suitable clothes."

Acronos: "Oh.  Well anyway, I want you to make a relatively large sign with big red letters reading "I love my Aoshi -sama" on it."

Misao: "Umm, what for?"

Acronos: "Well, when I return tomorrow, I want you to strap it to your forehead and turn to Aoshi -san and point at it."

Misao: "That would be so embarrassing!"

Acronos: "Yeah, but he and I have a, 'bet' you could say."

Misao: "(Getting angry) A bet?!  I am not doing something like that for a bet!"

Acronos: "Trust me, you'll like what happens, if Aoshi is any good at it."

Misao: "Huh?  What is it?"

Acronos: "I'd like it to be a surprise.  For him too, so try and make it where Aoshi won't notice."

Misao: "(Shrugs) All right, I guess."

Acronos: "Yes!  I win Aoshi!  You and Misao are gonna be happy, hopefully, so hah! " With that he walked off.  Feeling a bit tired, he decided to get some sleep, but remembered the paperwork he'd promised to do.  He shrugged and located the office near his room and set the paperwork down and began working.  It wasn't half bad since it was like mystery novels.  At about 9:00 Maioko came in.

Maioko: "(Knocks) Acronos?"

Acronos: "Hello Maioko, what's up?"

Maioko: "Aren't you going to get any sleep?"

Acronos: "When I finish this stuff."

Maioko: "What if you don't finish?"

Acronos: "(Rurouni smile) Then I'll go without sleep for the night."

Maioko: "..." With that she left.

  Acronos continued his work, focusing deeply on each case of death, murder, and the worst parts of the human mind.  As he read, he took just a bit of that emotion, becoming more tense, allowing Battousai out more, definitely not good for sleep.  A while later he heard something.  The keyblade appeared in its sheathe.  A few tense seconds passed...

  Acronos heard a creak of foot on wood, right in that room.  With all the tension acquired, he didn't even have time to limit the Battousai and demonic impulses ready for attack.  The blade was in hand, actual blade out, and his eyes turned the colors of the flames of Hell as he spun.  Had he not controlled the attack at the last moment he would have slashed and Triggered.  Good thing too, he might have decapitated Maioko who was behind him holding some tea.

  She looked shocked and so did he, or would've, had he enough control over his face to show proper emotions.  With a fierce blink to reestablish control, he returned the keyblade to the alternate space it held itself while not with him.

Acronos: "I'm so sorry!  I didn't know it was you, I was too focused, I'm sorry!  (Continues apologizing)"

Maioko: "(After a deep breath and a moment to recover) I-it's okay, I guess I startled you.  Umm, I brought tea since you might be working for a while."

Acronos: "... Thank you.  I don't deserve such kindness after that. Batt: "No, you are not turning into a Kenshin 'this unworthy one' case, got that?!""

Maioko: "Sure.  Goodnight Acronos." She turned and left after that.

Maioko: "He attacked me?  Sigh...  Hey, calm down.  It's like you said, you startled him, and you know how dangerous his Battousai side can get. A sinister voice that's darkly seductive: "Yes, isn't it...  How odd that he chooses to attack only us.  Perhaps that vision from the Devil May Cry world was right, he has too much evil in him.  He's only one-third human, and what of the Battousai?  Dangerous business, this one..."

Oh shut up, who are you anyway? Dark: "Someone better, less annoying, and more useful to survival than you." Acronos...  Is admittedly dangerous, but he's been too nice to me to consider him evil. Dark: "... Yet...""

Acronos: "Man, if I'm so tired that I almost attack... D: "Get some sleep then." Chibi: "This is Hajime -san's work after all, he can do it." Better idea, I'll use that accessory that prevents the sleep status that I found during FFX! Arch: "Will it work against natural slumber?"" Acronos equips that and the fog around his eyes dissipates, but he feels even more tired.  With that he begins the work anew and keeps at it.

Acronos: "Finally I'm done!  What time is it?  5:00 A.M.?!  Great, no sleep.  Oh well, I'll just make breakfast, clean, and meditate for a while, that should give me energy back. " 

  The basic cleaning he did took only half an hour, and then he meditatively rested until he heard footsteps.  This was Kenshin, and he took care of his laundry.  They finished up before anyone was awake, and Acronos suggested leaving a note and going.  Kenshin decided it would be better to wait until 8:00 when at least someone would be awake.  Irvine came in a few minutes after that, followed by Yahiko.  They were really the only ones awake by 8:00, so Kenshin and Acronos left their note and left.

.

.

  This type of thing occurred from then on in.  Acronos and Kenshin were sent on assignment after assignment, then they came home and Acronos helped out everyone.  He trained with everybody, occasionally coming up with his own techniques, worked with Selphie to get together the couples, helped Kaoru and Misao with cooking, and working through the night on solving mysteries.  Each time he completed these, Saitoh was surprised but didn't give any particular praise, instead placing more trust in his work.  However, there were problems with this situation.

  As Acronos lost sleep, he was reduced to some of his habits.  He began to eat very little, used his fake Rurouni smile almost constantly, and basically put up more and more of a front.  Sienna noticed these symptoms and tried to find what was wrong and help, but when Acronos puts up a front like the one he did, breaking it is nearly impossible, even his own separate personalities had to endure his act.  Maioko felt that there was something wrong, but wasn't as experienced as Sienna was at reading the symptoms.  Also, to allow Acronos more rest time, Battousai and Devil took control more often.

  Though both tried to be on their best behavior in respect for Acronos' need for rest, Maioko ended up on the wrong end of a bit of their rage more often than not.  With each time, her darker voice got more of a foothold on her, slowly making her believe that he was evil, even if what he was doing was supposed to be good.  Also, since she was getting stressed over him, the voice of temptation linked Acronos to being the source of all her problems.  Her annoying, but relatively good intending, voice tried to stop the tempting voice by turning the confusion and anger against those trying to 'steal him'.  Of course, the tempting voice seemed to be one step ahead of everyone, and kept telling her that chasing him was pointless since he had so many girls who liked him anyway.

  Eventually this voice got Maioko so confused that she didn't know what to think, and all that she needed was a push in any direction for her to follow it.  Of course, such a change took place over the course of a month, and was slowed by the kind actions of her friends, and also Acronos when he noticed that she wasn't eating either.  There were plenty of important events occurring over the month of detective work, but I'll only mention a few.  Five days after starting, Acronos finished a particularly grueling series of mysteries, and would have set his pen down happily, had he proper consciousness.  His computer beeped lightly.

Acronos: "Hmm?"

Computer: "... Happy birthday."

Acronos: "(Nods) Now, what was left to clean? Batt: "Hey!  It's your birthday at least, loosen up, let go of all your inhibitions! (Are-you-kidding-me look) Me?  Not twitch and do stuff for an entire day?  Are you nuts?!

Batt: "Yeah, why?  Anyway, let me out at least, for the day, please?  I mean, it's technically my birthday too!" Umm... Well... Okay I guess. Batt: "Wahoo!" Devil: "That may not have been the best of ideas..." Arch: "Not at all."" Battousai rapidly cleaned everything around and used an ether and a potion to recover energy.  Kenshin woke up and saw him.

Kenshin: "Battousai, you're out unusually early."

Battousai: "Heh, Would you mind not telling him, I really don't particularly care about my birthday. I managed to force Acronos into a day off, so I might be at the station late, if at all."

Kenshin: "He needs it.  This one, yawn, will get Ifrit to help." 

  Kenshin and Ifrit left at eight as usual, while Battousai took a nap.  Since he didn't actually need the sleep, he gave the recovery to Acronos.  Soon it was nine and Battousai got up.  He left and sped off to town.  Once there he spent some time wandering around, but eventually ended up at a teahouse, a less respectable one if you catch my drift.  He stood outside and looked up at it with a lusty smirk.

Battousai: "I've always wanted to sample the female Japanese cuisine."

  Unluckily for Battousai, Acronos put two and two together and slammed Battousai out of the conscious.  Unfortunately for him, Battousai had already called himself out as a guest and two over-zealous, ahem, servers were pulling him in.  Acronos fell and grabbed the floor.  He was literally dragged in kicking and screaming, as his nails gauged lines into the dirt.  Once inside a mat gave way and he flew back, landing in a group.

  One addressed him with an 'offer', causing him to leap up.  Into a 'larger' woman, (if you haven't yet gotten where I forced Acronos into, just think.  What kind of place has many, many women, each making offers to the single male.  I'm not talking about a restaurant either.), and he jumped away after an apology.  Each jump landed him into another woman and soon he was quite dizzy.  He tripped and landed at the feet of an almost caring-looking woman.

Owner: "Now, now ladies, you're scaring the poor child.  We can't have that, now can we?" All responded collectively with a 'no'.

Owner: "Now dear, are you here looking for anything in particular?"

Acronos: "Umm... Think of a way out... Aha! I'm a detective for the Tokyo police department.  (Goes to blame a bet and leave)"

Owner: "Oh don't worry, we get people like you all the time!  Will you be wanting our more expensive selection?  (Gossip whisper) We even have an actual virgin, new."

Acronos: "() Umm, I'm, uhh, only here because I made a bet.  Umm, I kinda made a vow of chastity, so now I should be on my way.  My apologies for the rude interruption. Batt: "C'mon, live a little!" (Whacks him) You be quiet. "

Owner: "Are you sure?  You would be surprised what quality you'll find here."

Acronos: "(They come a little closer) Umm, I'm certain of it, but, uhh, (panicked) I must be on my way!" He took off at a clip that would make Soujiro proud, and zoomed to the police station in a few seconds.  Never mind that it was several miles away.

Saitoh: "I thought you said you were taking the day off."

Acronos: "That was Battousai, and he said I'd be late only."

Saitoh: "Hmm... (notices the dark rings under his eyes) These papers, you've been doing them late at night, correct?"

Devil: "Actually he's been doing them instead of sleeping." The paperwork was lessened from then on, allowing Acronos an hour of sleep.  The only one who noticed or knew that it was his birthday was Sienna, and all she could do was catch him before he went to do his reports and put him in a headlock.

Sienna: "Happy Birthday lion."

Acronos: "Urk, thanks tigress, but I gotta get to work."

Sienna: "I know.  You really should take a break every so often, things seem to be in discord a bit."

Acronos: "Maybe."

  While Acronos made an effort to care as little about his birthday as physically possible, when his computer mentioned that Maioko had her birthday soon, Acronos alerted everyone and basically took command of creating a surprise party.  Once he'd set it up properly, he went out and bought a kimono as a gift, asking for the nicest one possible.  Then he decided to make something himself, just to balance it out.  Happening across a piece of wood, he decided to make a carving.  During any spare time he was found carving it, and it finally came out as a grinning angel, raising her hand in victory.  If Acronos didn't know better, he'd have sworn he'd carved it to look like Maioko, how odd.  On the particular day, Kenshin got the day off, and Acronos tried as well.

Saitoh: "Another day off?  Well, I haven't gotten word of any activities today, so… (Another police officer runs in) Yes?"

Officer: "Fujita -san, we have just gotten word that there is a small army heading towards the Kamiya dojo!"

Saitoh: "Sorry kid, but you have to take care of this."

Acronos: "I know... But this is my best friend's birthday, I don't want to miss it."

Saitoh: "That'll depend on how you do.  I'll help in this one." They took a carriage over to the point and saw the army of several thousand heartless, many looking quite powerful.

Acronos: "(Summons everything) ... Battousai, Devil, I don't want this to take more than ten minutes.  You have my permission to use any means you wish to dispose of them. "

  Battousai looks like a little kid who's just heard that Christmas and their birthday were on the same day, twice!  Devil allows himself an evil grin and cracks his knuckles.  Acronos goes fully Battousai, who then Triggers.  He points the darkened keyblade forward and roars.  All the summons, Saitoh, and he all charge.

  Since they had the element of surprise, sorta, they ripped through half the heartless in a few moments.  To save more time, Battousai/Devil flew up and began shooting energy and magic everywhere, tearing through hundreds upon hundreds of them.  Meanwhile, Maioko walked towards the back of the dojo, there appeared to be no one there, she couldn't hear any sounds of human occupation.  She looked around, sensing something.

Everyone: "SURPRISE!"

Maioko: "Whoa!  What's this?"

Yuna: "It's your birthday Maioko -san, we're celebrating it."

Maioko: "Wow, I didn't think anyone knew. Well, thanks everyone." They began the celebration, but Maioko noticed that Acronos wasn't there and mentally sighed.  However, she was soon having too much fun to be sad.  About ten minutes late, Acronos came in, a bit cut up but otherwise fine.  Selphie noticed first.

Selphie: "Hey Acronos!  C'mon, the party started already!"

Acronos: "Sorry I'm late, I went to grab this stuff and got a little sidetracked with these guys.  Okay, come on in!" A bunch of Japanese people came in, holding sticks and drums.  They set up all these things and took up stances.

Riku: "You got entertainment?  Cool." The guys with drums began an elaborate presentation, moving incredibly rapidly and precisely to create a beat.  (Actually, I saw this before, it's kinda hard to describe).  Once they finished they were greeted with applause.

Maioko: "Well, he may have been late, but he definitely made up for it. "

Acronos: "Well, is it present opening time?"

Maioko: "Nope, sparring first!" After a good hour of fighting, they stopped and decided to eat.  Acronos went inside and brought out a large plate of pizza.

Acronos: "I made this once before, but I think once again is good." After everyone finished inhaling pizza, cake came out.  There was one big candle in the middle with the number 16 carved into it.  Ifrit looked at it with widened eyes.

Ifrit: "I am lightning that." His voice and expression dared anyone to disagree.  A moment later Maioko looked at a pillar of flames.

Maioko: "Umm, Ifrit?  I'm supposed to be able to blow it out."

Ifrit: "()"

Maioko: "Sigh.  Blizzaga! Umm, just keep everyone safe. " Everyone clapped and presents were given.  There was a mixture of books, jewelry, weapons, and clothing.

Maioko: "Thanks so much everyone."

Acronos: "Wait a sec, I've got one more present." He reached into the infinite pocket and after a bit of searching, pulled out the little victorious angel.

Acronos: "Here.  It isn't much, just something I carved, but at least it's sort of nice."

Maioko: "... No, it's very pretty.  Thank you." With that the celebration continued and finished.

  Here are another few events.  One day Misao was feeling happy and random enough to actually wear that sign on her forehead.  When Aoshi saw it his eyes widened slightly.  Since he hadn't been noticed, he hid in the shadows and briefly cursed Acronos quietly.

Aoshi: "Well now, this is a quandary.  I know I gave my word, but doing such a thing without actually caring would be painful for her.  Hmm... Do I actually care about her?  Damn, I cannot understand.  I need to meditate on this. "

  And meditate he did.  Finally he came to the conclusion that perhaps the best idea would be to ask her what her true emotions were, once she finished dancing around with the sign on her forehead that is.  So he waited until she did, but that was only for sleeping, so he decided to ask in the morning.  The next morning Aoshi woke up relatively early, early enough to see off Acronos and Kenshin.  He then went to a grove of cherry blossoms to meditate.  He chose the spot for the nice scent, and of course the romance that always seems to follow the little pink blossoms falling.

Aoshi: "Is love like these cherry blossoms?  Falling, dieing so quickly that there end up being thousands of dead petals on the floor, waiting to be cleaned up?  Strange, I don't think so, but I should not presume such things.  I have next to no romantic experience, or experience with any emotion in particular actually.  … At this rate I might be forced to ask Acronos -san for advice on this matter. 

  Now, I am certain that Misao has a bit of a childish infatuation with me, but I suppose that's perfectly normal considering that I spent so much time with her when she was a child.  However, the true question, I suppose, is whether I love her or not.  … I certainly don't act it, I believe.  If one doesn't act like something, then are they?  This is confusing; I do believe I do not understand this 'love' thing.  How odd… 

  Hmm, I have heard that love is a measure of physical attraction.  … Check.  However I don't think that is really a good way to measure someone, the physical is infrequently any clue into the realm of who the person is.  Ah, I just contradicted myself, didn't I?  Didn't I also hear that love is the incapacity to allow the person to leave you?

  How strange… I suppose I feel similarly about Misao, I honestly can't really imagine life without that constant high-pitched voice yelling 'Aoshi -sama!'.  … I don't believe I have ever been meditating without the constant presence of Misao to pour some tea.  How very unusual…  Perhaps I do… Let's see, physical attraction, check, permanent attachment, check, warm fuzzy feeling around the person… "

Misao: "Aoshi -sama, is that you?"

Aoshi: "Check. Aa. (That means 'yeah' by the way)"

Misao: "What are you doing out here, (giggle), you're getting rained on by cherry blossoms!"

Aoshi: "… Meditating on a very confusing subject."

Misao: "Really?  What is it?"

Aoshi: "… … I don't think you would understand it.  If you did, you'd be far better off than me. "

Misao: "Aww, c'mon!  Please!  Tell me!"

Aoshi: "… Hmm…"

Misao: "(Stretching out word) Please!"

Aoshi: "… Someone posed a question to me about love.  I have no idea how to answer, nor much idea about anything of that nature now that I think of it…"

Misao: "(A little downcast) If it's not too much trouble… Who?"

Aoshi: "… You could say it was a traveling philosopher."

Misao: "(Happy again) Really?  Well, what was that question, I might know the answer!"

Aoshi: "Hmm… innocent of all things, but knowledgeable on emotions.  She does experience enough of them to rival my own lack of them. I was asked how does one tell if they are in love."

Misao: "(Blush) Oh… Umm, well I think it's when you feel a sort of intense devotion for someone.  It's… sort of just the feeling that you'd do anything for this person, you'd walk through Hell with a smile if they asked. I wonder if he knows how I feel? "

Aoshi: "Really?  How odd, that seems to sum up Misao's feelings in a nutshell.  Mine… Are strangely enough almost the same?  For Misao, I would die without hesitation.  Even in the depths of insanity, I asked her not to follow me so she would not be hurt.  How… I cannot find a word at the moment. Ah.  So Misao, is there anyone in particular that you feel that way about?  Or would you prefer not discussing it?"

  Though Aoshi seemed even calmer than before and almost uncaring in disposition, his eyes betrayed him, showing an intensity that had only been seen a few times previously.

Misao: "Umm… Well, it appears I wasn't quite as obvious as everyone said.  Thing is, how to answer?  If I say him directly, he'll probably just shrug it off.  Hmm, maybe I'll say something indirect. Well, I guess I feel that way about someone…"

Aoshi: "Hmm…  Would you describe them?"

Misao: "Uh-oh, trap! Umm, he's very strong.  A man who holds all his pain inside."

Aoshi: "Hmm.  Oh good, not me.  Now she can be truly happy.  However, I am extremely curious. Anything else?"

Misao: "He didn't get it?  Guess maybe something more obvious?  Argh, this is the kitsune-onna's type of situation, not mine! He's tall, kinda dark and mysterious, a bit brooding too.  Even through all that, he still is always there for me when I really need it, and I love him all the more for it."

Aoshi: "Brooding?  How odd, there haven't been particularly many males to our restaurant.  Perhaps someone she met here?  'Someone who holds all his pain within'?  Acronos -san, Himura… the Tenken!? Ahh… Tell me, have you given them any indication of your feelings?  It isn't good to keep emotions bottled in.  I should talk. "

Misao: "He should talk. Well, I suppose.  Problem is, he feels unworthy, and just doesn't seem to get my message.  At least, that's what Acronos -san says."

Aoshi: "One off the list.  That leaves Himura and the Tenken.  I also really hope that I won't have to add Sagara to the list. He feels unworthy of you?"

Misao: "Yeah. (Mentally ripping her hair out in frustration) HE STILL DOESN'T GET IT!!!  Where are you Acronos -san, you should be able to help me! "

Aoshi: "(Sob) Only the Tenken left.  Kuso. (Aoshi didn't much like Soujiro before, and even after living with one another, they only have reached an agreement not to kill each other)  Well, this is Misao, and I still care for her, so even if I don't particularly like the Ten, err, Seta, I will help her anyway. Hmm… I think I have an idea of who you're talking about, unless you've met anyone at market."

Misao: "YES, FINALLY! Really?"

Aoshi: "Though I'm not too fond of Seta -san, I will help you capture his heart if that's what you desire."

Misao: "(Anime fall) I see why Kaoru -chan has a bokken all the time! I'm not in love with him!"

Aoshi: "Then who?  Himura?"

Misao: "Argh!!!" She starts to leave, most likely to vent her rage on some poor, unsuspecting townsperson.  (I can see it now, Acronos having to arrest her and Misao yelling that she wasn't the one who threw the kunai, it was the elves.) Thank goodness Aoshi was still curious.

Aoshi: "Misao, wait a moment."

Misao: "Sigh, Aoshi -sama, you're not good at guessing games, are you?"

Aoshi: "Not particularly. "

Misao: "I thought so.  Look, try and think.  Who's the only one who I know who's tall, dark, brooding, keeps his pain in, and feels unworthy.  No, Himura -san doesn't count, he's short.  Acronos -san, well, he's a great friend, but not whom I love.  And no, Soujiro isn't it either."

Aoshi: "Hmm… Well, the only person I've ever heard of Misao coming into contact with is- Saitoh Hajime?"

Misao: "ARGH!!!! Eww, that guy scares me, I still don't even get how he has a wife that's not dead yet."

Aoshi: "… I am sorry, but I can think of no one else outside myself, but that can't be it."

Misao: "… Fine.  Ask anybody in the dojo, they'll all tell you.  I'm going to go vent." She begins to stomp off, but in a sudden flash of inspiration, or maybe Kaoru hit his head with a bokken, Aoshi grabs her arm and twirls her to face him.  Their faces close, he spoke rapidly, almost taking Misao's breath away.

Aoshi: "Now it's your turn to play my guessing game.  I feel such emotions as you described for a woman, and now you must try to place her.  She is bright and happy, a constant ray of sunshine into my life.  Without her, there would have been nothing for me to ever come back to, and there may not even have been a coming back at all.  Can you tell who my love is, Misao?" Now, you must consider that Misao is basically a fangirl, and this is like several fantasies all coming true.  You can imagine her lack of air.

Misao: "(Hoping beyond hope, and speaking without thinking) … M-me?"

Aoshi: "Allow me to show you if you are right or wrong." He then kisses her passionately.  From then on in, Misao and Aoshi became a couple, but didn't make any public displays of affection, yet.

A few days passed from this incident.  Now, as to the job of being a detective for the police department, Kenshin was not exempt from the stresses.  He got sleep, unlike Acronos, but took to using the Rurouni smile more and more.  His politeness increased, and eventually he began referring to himself as 'sessha' again.  By this time, Acronos was extremely exhausted and could only chide him.  It all began when Kenshin said 'sessha' while near Kaoru.

Kaoru: "Hey Kenshin, could you heat up the bath please?"

Kenshin: "Hai, Kaoru -dono, sessha will get to it right away."

Kaoru: "Hey, did you just use 'sessha' again?  You haven't used that in a while, what brings it on?"

Kenshin: "(Rurouni smile) Remembering who sessha is, that's all."

Kaoru: "Kenshin, please stop.  You aren't unworthy of anything, don't say you are."

Kenshin: "S... This one will try, de gozaru."

Kaoru: "(Slight smile) That's a little better." They stayed in that comfortable silence for a while, and then Kenshin went to heat up the bath.  Unfortunately, he was still stressed and tired, so every so often he would call himself 'sessha' still.  Kaoru was getting sick of it, and kept telling him not to use that, and each time he tried, he let it slip.  Finally she decided to ask her source of wisdom.

Kaoru: "Acronos -san!  Acronos -san, where are you?"

Acronos: "(Clang!) Outside, Kaoru -san!" She grabbed him right out of the spar.

Kaoru: "Could you help me with something?"

Acronos: "I don't much have a choice, do I?  What's up?"

Kaoru: "Umm, Kenshin is still referring to himself as 'sessha', could you help me make him stop?"

Acronos: "Hmm... Well, I guess this would solve any and all Kenshin/Kaoru problems. You could just admit your feelings, kiss him, and tell him he's not unworthy of anything, especially not you." Kaoru blushes like crazy.

Kaoru: "Umm, ah, uhh, err..."

Acronos: "Look, this takes care of any difficulties.  Besides, it's basically fact that he has feelings for you too.  Just find the right moment, you should know when on your own." With that he went off to talk with Kenshin, why not, seeing as his training had abruptly ended.

Acronos: "Oi!  Kenshin!"

Kenshin: "Hmm?  Ohayo Acronos -sensei."

Acronos: "Alright, one simple question.  Who are you?"

Kenshin: "Huh?  Umm, sessha is Himura Kenshin."

Acronos: "Nope."

Kenshin: "Umm, sessha is Battousai?"

Acronos: "Not in the least."

Kenshin: "Umm, who is sessha then?"

Acronos: "I dunno.  I know you are Himura Kenshin.  Now, who are you?"

Kenshin: "Sessha is Himura Kenshin."

Acronos: "Nope."

Kenshin: "But you just said!"

Acronos: "I said you are Himura Kenshin.  Now who are you?"

Kenshin: "... I am myself."

Acronos: "Correct.  Now, what was my purpose in doing this?"

Kenshin: "Sessha doesn't-"

Acronos: "No, incorrect."

Kenshin: "... Ah, no 'sessha'."

Acronos: "Exactly."

Kenshin: "Sorry, but, so tired, all this stuff... You should know, you have your own bad habits."

Acronos: "(Laughing) Oh yeah, you're right."

Kenshin: "(Dead serious) Have you gotten any rest whatsoever?"

Acronos: "..."

Kenshin: "If you keep at this, you may injure yourself." Acronos shrugs.

  A few days later Kenshin came home and was washing laundry as usual.  Problem was that this day was even more difficult than usual.  The two Rurouni detectives had faced a total of ten boss-level monsters at once.  Even with their immense skills, the bosses beat on them pretty seriously.  Kenshin had several rather painful bruises and cuts taken care of by the Curaga spell.

  Unfortunately he thought this meant they were done with, but once a wound is healed, the pain remains a bit, and needs a bit of rest.  So, he was basically in excruciating pain while doing the laundry, but of course he just Rurouni smiled and bore it without complaint.  Thing is, after living with each other for so long, Kaoru had become pretty adept at telling when Kenshin was in pain or hiding something.  So she noticed.

Kaoru: "Hey Kenshin, are you okay?"

Kenshin: "Oh yes, s- this one is just fine."

Kaoru: "… C'mon Kenshin, quit hiding it, you're hurt.  What happened?"

Kenshin: "Just part of the job, a few minor injuries."

Kaoru: "(Pursed lips) Well then, no more laundry for you." She takes his ear and drags him off, despite protests of needing to finish off that one last kimono.  She dragged him to his room.

Kaoru: "Now stay here and rest while I get Megumi."

Kenshin: "Oh no, it is all right, this one will, (sees her glare), sit patiently here and do nothing to injure himself in any way."

Kaoru: "() Good boy." She left the room.

Kenshin: "What does she think we are, her pet or something?  Hello hitokiri.  Kaoru -dono is merely worried about us.  Rurouni, I know that.  I probably know so much more than you do.  I mean seriously, you still don't think she likes you.

  Why would Kaoru -dono, sessha, didn't Acronos tell you not to say that, err, this one is far too old for her, and is too bloodstained.  Not this again!  Remember, you cleansed yourself.  As to the old part… Hey, we're at least fit.  One point for me.  Did you notice how her hips seem a bit forward sometimes, inviting you to… () ORO!  That's a point for me.  I never get tired of that.

  Oh well, Acronos healed this one, and the laundry is almost done…  Rurouni, did you not notice the spasms of pain going through your body?!  Oh, that was nothing.  Baka.  Just get some rest, Sano can be forced to do it later.  How so?  Simple, threaten to mention that time he moaned Megumi's name in his sleep to said fox.  Battousai!  … That's pure genius.  Thank you, thank you! (Bows exaggeratedly)"

Kaoru: "Here we are.  Megumi, please see to Kenshin's injuries."

Megumi: "Oh, Ken -san, you get yourself hurt too often, not that I'm complaining, it's a good view." Kaoru began getting really annoyed.

Megumi: "I'm certain the tanuki can't really appreciate such things though, neh, Ken -san?"

Kenshin: "Umm… No, you are not handling this one, my turn! Actually Megumi -san, no one knows everything.  You could be surprised."

Megumi: "Huh?"

Kaoru: "Huh?"

Kenshin: "Nothing, nothing."

Megumi: "Well anyway Ken -san, (suggestive tone) I'm going to have to ask you to take off your gi…" Kaoru seemed to be looking for a nearby bokken.  However, Kenshin complied.

Kenshin: "A few bruises, remnants of them anyway.  There were probably broken bones earlier, but Acronos cured them.  I'd like a balm and some bandages, no need to apply them yourself."

Megumi: "(Whispered) Battousai -sama?"

Kenshin: "(Whispered back) Almost, just trying to get the Rurouni a proper position."

Megumi: "Ah, finally.  (Regular) Alright then Ken -san, I'll leave the balm and bandages for you and the tanuki girl, I must be on my way.  Come to the clinic if there's any extended pains."

  With that she placed them down, turned sharply, and left.  Kaoru looked quite surprised at Kenshin and Megumi's strange behavior and checked Kenshin's eyes.  Battousai had gone though, and Kenshin's eyes were violet again.  Kaoru shrugged to herself and got up.  Kenshin grabbed some of the balm, applied it with a wince, and began attempting to bandage his wounds.  He was having difficulties wrapping it around the bruises, some caused pain with larger movement.  Kaoru, being Kaoru, decided to help.

Kaoru: "Here, let me." She took the bandages and began wrapping.

Kenshin: "Kaoru -dono, you don't need to do this."

Kaoru: "But I want to.  You needed help, so I gave it.  () It's what friends do. Sigh, how I wish I were saying 'lovers'"

Kenshin: "..." Kaoru kept on wrapping and finished.  She lightly patted his shoulder to say she was done.

Kaoru: "That should do it.  Try and get some rest, at least for a little while.  Maybe I can get Maioko -san to do the laundry."

Kenshin: "... Thank you Kaoru -dono.  You have always been kind to this one.  However, this one would like to know why."

Kaoru: "Huh?"

Kenshin: "(Chuckle) You can't have forgotten that this one is still known as Hitokiri Battousai, the one who brings evil wherever he goes.  Why did you take someone like me in?"

Kaoru: "I... Wanted to know more about you.  Wanted to know why the embodiment of death became a gentle Rurouni.  Then because I couldn't stand to be alone.  After that... Because I love you. "

Kenshin: "(Almost Rurouni smile) Even you do not know. (To himself) Man, they're close.  Maybe, just maybe... "

Kaoru: "Maybe not, but I know that I couldn't stand it if you left. Hey, the past is past, all that matters is that you're here."

Kenshin: "(Mostly to himself) The question is whether or not someone like me should be. Hey, snap out of it Rurouni!  Do you like feeling unworthy?  Don't you remember that Buddhism also states that self-torture is painful and useless?  Actually I have an idea... "

Kaoru: "Kenshin, please..."

Kenshin: "() Oh, nothing to worry about, Kaoru -dono, just a foolish Rurouni mumbling."

Kaoru: "(Extremely worried) ... I have to do something, but what?  Maybe I should try Acronos -san's plan? "

Kenshin: "Yes!  Victory is in sight!  Rurouni, if you value what little sanity you have left, you will call yourself 'sessha' a few times, now!  Why?  Dammit, stop asking questions and just do it! Umm, thank you for helping sessha with the bandages.  Sessha will rest a few moments and then get back to laundry as that's about all sessha can do to repay his enormous debt to you. ()"

Kaoru: "Okay, that's it! "

  With that Kaoru all but jumped on Kenshin and kissed him.  Kenshin immediately kissed back, but remembered that this was his 'sweet, innocent Kaoru -dono' and he shouldn't be doing this.  Then the vision of what Acronos taught him came up.  After that every instinct and Battousai started screaming at him to continue.

  So, what ended up happening was that Kenshin kissed back just as passionately as Kaoru was kissing him, but finally managed to get himself under control… After the kiss broke since Kaoru needed to breathe.  She held Kenshin's face in her hands, looking closely at him, her eyes trying to drill into his.

Kaoru: "Kenshin Himura, no matter what has happened, or what you did, you are never, and will never be unworthy of anything… or anyone.  I say this because… because if you ever felt unworthy of me then you wouldn't be able to know how much I love you."

  Kenshin had a look of shock written across all his features.  While Battousai had commented on liking Kaoru's body, he didn't take over from there, but instead did a happy dance in Kenshin's head.  To say that it was mildly disturbing is a bit of an understatement.  (Battousai: "Places katana to my throat What was that, author?" Umm… No happy dance?  Battousai: "Better…" Hey, what're you complaining about?  Despite me putting you into happy-dance mode, you still technically get Kaoru.  Battousai: "… You have a point… (Begins thinking about what can be done, salivates)" Shakes head Stupid pervert, how'd you end up as part of Mr. Oro in the first place?)  Anyway, Kaoru looked at Kenshin, and taking his absolute shock as rejection, she started to turn away, tears in her eyes.

Kaoru: "I know… that I could never really be enough for someone like you, but I guess you now know of this silly little schoolgirl crush of mine, neh?"

Kenshin: "N-not good enough for me?  Kaoru -dono, haven't my actions told you that I felt unworthy of you?  Even through all this, I can't say anything besides the fact that I love you.  Ai shiteru, Kaoru -koishii. (Aaaand I now feel sick…)"

  This was enough to end all possible questions and the two kissed once more.  From that moment on, you were lucky if you heard Kenshin say the word 'worthy'.  It, along with 'sessha', left his vocabulary.  Now to select one more time.  Almost a month after Acronos and Kenshin began their stint as detectives, Blasphemy finally landed in Japan, swearing up and down through at least ten different languages because he'd ended up in the North American South and was chased by strange people with pitchforks.  He wandered about and finally came to one conclusion.

Blasphemy: "I can't find the ing keyhole!" People edged away from him at that comment.  He sighed and decided to check up on how Acronos was doing.  He went to the dojo, hidden in shadow.  He found Acronos quite a bit stronger, but Maioko confused horribly.  The idea of a more painful test came to mind as he approached her… 

Maioko: "Dark: "Any luck trying to convince yourself that I'm wrong and Acronos is a good guy?" Umm, yes… Of course!   Dark: "Look, you needn't go through so much trouble." Huh? Dark: "Yeah, there's an easy route that would make everything better.  You could even settle the score with Acronos, pay him back for all the trouble he's caused you."

… How?  No, don't listen!  This isn't even the dark voice anymore, it's- Dark: "Oh be silent!  (Banishes to the deepest corners of subconscious) You see how this easier path is?  Much more quiet now, isn't it?" Y-yes… My entire mind feels like it's been through a storm but is now quiet. Dark: "Yes, this is part of the path, the path of the dark." Darkness?!

Dark: "(Most seductive) Not so much the darkness you're thinking of.  It's just a bunch of friends trying to stop people like Acronos from doing any more damage to innocents.  They're trying to stop him from becoming the demon of chaos.  This is the right path, it quiets the mind and makes everything right." Umm…

Dark: "Go ahead and try to convince yourself that you're on the right path now and shouldn't change, keep trying.  But you know, when you change your mind and want the quiet back, all you have to do is talk with the one who represents the actual good guys…"" The chaos of having thoughts returned and Maioko almost cried out.  From the shadows, Blasphemy chuckled to himself, the first step was taken, now it was only a matter of time…

.

.

With Kenshin and Acronos

Saitoh: "Well, I've really got to thank you two.  Overall, you've exterminated 60% of all the heartless on this world.  You've made it so that only a few people fear going outside, and life can all but resume as normal.  For your reference, keyblade kid, not only was that 60% of the heartless on this world, but since this is the only one unsealed, you've gotten rid of 60% of all the heartless, period.  Problem is, we haven't been able to find the rest of the 40% anywhere around here. 

  Despite the keyhole hiding itself, we're fairly certain it should be in Japan at least.  Now, you may be wondering why 40% are not accounted for.  Thing is, they are now.  (He pulls down a map) Every single one that we haven't accounted for is right there, along the coast of China.  They've created an army, composed of the strongest types, susceptible to only a few weapons or people with strong enough hearts.  They would overrun Japan, and with the hearts from here, take the keyhole.  From there, you can only imagine."

Acronos: "So we're dealing with an army now?"

Kenshin: "Saitoh, I know we're the best of the best, but seriously!  Do you expect two men and a keyblade master to take on an army of how many?"

Saitoh: "Last count was up to 100,000.  More than you've ever killed at one time, Battousai."

Acronos: "Saitoh, I had to use full strength to take care of that army of 1,000."

Saitoh: "In five minutes."

Acronos: "True.  However, if we go against 100,000 warriors, all trained, skilled, and hive-minded, we're gonna die.  3 against 100,000?  I'm a strategist, those sound like pretty damn bad odds."

Saitoh: "True, but we've found a guy who's also a strategist and says we might have a chance." The immortal I mentioned earlier comes from the shadows and instantly everything seems just a tad brighter.

Immortal: "Good day Tegrarian Acronos."

Acronos: "Huh?  I've only told one person my last name since Earth, how do you know that?"

Immortal: "I met you on Earth, and the story of the keyblade master is one that I would have been truly foolish not to follow."

Kenshin: "How do you propose for us to emerge victorious?"

Immortal: "Very simple.  Assemble an army.  With all your friends fighting along you, and the peoples of Japan, and maybe even China if you can lead well enough, the odds become sufficient for you to win."

Acronos: "Okay, first off; despite the fact that I'm a good strategist, I am not the 'leader of armies' type.  I'm barely 16 for crying out loud!"

Kenshin: "Wasn't it 15?"

Acronos: "My birthday was a week or two ago.  Anyway, what army do we have to work with?  Those heartless can attack at any time, we need an army up and running, ready to fight now."

Immortal: "Have you forgotten the Meiji army?  They are skilled gunmen, and have enough heart behind their guns to do damage.  Besides, raising morale is something you should be capable of."

Acronos: "Hello, I'm not a general of any sort.  My job is to seal worlds, nothing more.  I have no idea how to lead an army."

Saitoh: "Actually, he has a point.  We have several good generals already, they can command, and the keyblade kid can be sort of like his own unit."

Kenshin: "Along with myself and the rest of the people we know."

Saitoh: "I suppose we could all make up our own unit."

Acronos: "Sounds fair."

Immortal: "Good.  One question though.  How are you going to deal with all those heartless if you only have a few good people and a distraction?"

Acronos: "Well… Hey, I know!  If I manage to seal the keyhole, the heartless will be severely weakened and most will probably die."

Immortal: "Good idea, the problem is locating the keyhole.  May I remind you that no singular person has located it as of yet?"

Acronos: "Don't you know where it is?"

Immortal: "… I may."

Acronos: "… There's a catch, there's always a catch.  What do I have to do, pay you, kill something, or perhaps do some horribly impossible task?  What?"

Immortal: "None.  There is only one simple catch.  I was given a task as a dieing breath once, to guard the final keyhole from anyone and anything.  I did so, casting a spell to make certain this world's keyhole will never be found, except by someone I deem worthy.  To do so, you will have to show me your worth.  If you meet the standards I have set, I will allow you access to the keyhole."

Acronos: "So it's the horribly impossible task?"

Immortal: "… Yes."

Acronos: "Okay, what are the standards?"

Immortal: "This must be a duel in front of your friends and allies.  And the ones who will soon be plotting your death. I will explain during the duel what you must accomplish."

Acronos: "Okay.  So I guess we just go to the dojo.  After we duel, I'll go seal the keyhole, we kill the heartless, and bang!  Duty complete, I can die in peace."

Immortal: "(Muttered under breath) You wish."

Acronos: "Huh?"

Immortal: "… Hmm… You won't be so lucky as to be able to die in peace after only the sealing of worlds.  Don't you remember you have more duties than that?"

Acronos: "Hmm… Oh, I can accomplish those in death too.  I'll just use my last breath to make my keyblade go behind the Door to Light and crack the lock a bit.  After that, I'll place a message around it telling Sora to use it to find and unseal the Final Door."

Immortal: "… True, you could die in peace then, but there still remains the task of living up to the expectations I have set.  Let us go to your dojo.  Oh, one last thing.  Tegrarian -san, do not worry about not immediately being able to implement your plan, those heartless are merely there and will not move unless otherwise provoked."

Acronos: "That's good, but just keep it to Acronos or a nickname, formality and my last name at once are a bit too much for someone like me."

Immortal: "Come along Hajime -san, your presence is required also." Saitoh nodded and they left for the dojo.  At the front gate, Saitoh stopped Acronos for a moment while the other two went inside.

Saitoh: "Keyblade kid, that guy you just agreed to duel, he feels dangerous, extremely dangerous.  Dangerous to the point where I'm barely managing not to shake in fear from the power of the aura he's giving off.  I'm going to show you Gatotsu once, so try to learn it.  It's probably nowhere near enough, but at least it's something."

  Saitoh positioned himself for a moment, giving Acronos time to note where his feet, arms, weight, and strengths were, and then launched forward in a stab that made a quite neat little hole through some of the dojo wall.  Acronos let Battousai give him the exact details, and copied it with relative ease.

Saitoh: "Good enough." With that they went inside.

Acronos: "(Yelling) Hello!  We're back!  With guests." Wakka strolled in and saw them.

Wakka: "Hey all.  Everyone else went with Kaoru to market, ya?  Anything the matter?"

Immortal: "Have you any idea when they will return?"

Wakka: "Umm, dunno."

Acronos: "It's okay.  You hungry?"

Wakka: "Yeah!  I actually have to skip lunch sometimes since Kaoru can't cook worth beans.  Actually, that hasn't happened too often lately, if at all, I think she's gotten better, ya?"

Acronos: "I think so, her cooking lessons are progressing nicely." With that he asked what everyone wanted and went to make it.  They ate for a while, and then just lounged around.  Acronos decided to train a bit, since he was almost feeling sleepy.  He launched his attacks vigorously, perfecting their form as best as he could.

Immortal: "You were a bit to the left that time."

Acronos: "Huh?  Oh yeah, you're right, thanks.  Batt: "Hey, hold on a second, I didn't even notice that!" D: "Some people are just better than any of us." Batt: "No way!" Arch: "It is quite possible."" Half an hour later everyone came back, with Sano somewhat drunk.  The Immortal shook his head and tapped Sano's head with the staff, seeming to dispel the drunkenness at once.

Sano: "Whoa… Damn!  Why'd you make it normal again?"

Immortal: "Your attention was needed."

Sano: "Huh?"

Immortal: "Come, all of you.  I have set some tests for Acronos, you should watch them."  They went to the back and Acronos called his keyblade while the Immortal pulled out his staff.

Immortal: "We will begin with a test of your physical strength.  Attack with everything you have, I will not counter, only defend."

Acronos: "Umm, okay." He launched forward and did an upright slash, but the Immortal had his staff up instantly and flung Acronos into the dirt with his own strength.

Immortal: "Pitiful.  Try again."

Acronos: "Well, no more taps." He launched Doryusen, but the Immortal blocked that with the greatest of ease.  He tried Ryu-Sou-Sen, but that was blocked easily too.

Acronos: "The strength of one attack, right?"

Immortal: "Correct." Acronos jumped up and executed the downward slash.  The Immortal's guard wavered slightly and he had to jump out of the way finally.

Immortal: "Pretty good, but still insufficient."

Sienna: "Aww c'mon!  With this kind of test, it's impossible to win since you can just keep raising it!  Make something legible!"

Immortal: "Hmm… Aha!  (He creates a gray boulder with a 10-foot radius) This is composed of solid titanium.  You need to cut through this with either a metal pole or your sakabatou.  That's my test."

Acane: "Are you kidding me?  There's no way anyone can cut through that!"

Maioko: "I doubt that even if I punched that with Final Heaven ten times it would so much as crack."

Tidus: "There's gotta be some way…"

Acronos: "Hmm… … Battoujutsu is basically the strongest one-stroke attack I know. With the rock not about to counter, I'd say we could use it. D: "Only one problem: even if we used Battoujutsu with full strength, due to the sakabatou it still wouldn't be enough." Arch: "Doesn't Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki cancel out the negatives of the sakabatou?" Batt: "So would adding Shukuchi." Arch: "That's two out of the three Battoujustu styles, the other is Shishio's, that of using a fire infused blade."

Chibi: "Hey!  How about putting them all together?  Use a left-foot first Shukuchi with a magic sword?" Arch: "No way that could work." Actually, it might do well enough… Batt: "Are you forgetting that only I can use Amakakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki and that only every other one of you can use magic?" Well, if I infuse every element into the sword, sheathe it, and then let you out fully… D: "Might not be enough, use my form while you're at it." Batt: "Do you realize how long this will take?!" Is the rock gonna move? "

  With that thought, Acronos moved back a couple of meters, as much space as possible.  He then held his keyblade in front of him and began placing magical coatings on it.  After a few seconds he'd managed it and sheathed the blade.  His eyes then went amber and he went fully into Battousai mode.  Battousai began tapping his foot and triggered.

  After a few more seconds, he put his left foot forward and disappeared.  Then there was a bright flash and a silent explosion that seemed totally concentrated.  Everyone waited with baited breath for a moment… There was a crack, then another, and then one crack going through the rock and half of it slid off, neatly sheared through the middle.  Everyone burst into applause.

Immortal: "Very good Acronos.  However, I was expecting it to take less time and effort.  Oh well, now we move on to speed of attack.  I will create 50 targets in rapid succession; you are to hit them all.  So you are prepared, the time for all the targets to appear is approximately 5 seconds."

Auron: "… That is extremely difficult to hit."

Immortal: "I know, however these standards can be met."

Tidus: "Yeah right."

Immortal: "I shall prove it to you." He creates the boulder, lets Acronos tap it to see if it was as hard, (it was harder), and then he just punched it once to break it into dust.  He then created all the targets and hit them all as well, yawning the whole time.  Everyone stared, wide-eyed.  Acronos took up position, waiting for the targets.

Immortal: "I have decided to institute a new rule so we won't be here all day and night.  You have three tries for each test.  However, you only need to win exactly one more than half of the tests to be considered successful." Acronos nodded and the targets came up.  He tried using Ryu-Sou-Sen to hit all of them, but missed 10.  The next time he tried Kuza-Ryu-Sen, but missed 5.  After a moment of mental swearing, it dawned on him that he had a quicker weapon and pulled out his knife.  After testing Ryu-Sou-Sen with it, he was ready.  He missed one target at the end.

Immortal: "… Insufficient, next test."

Selphie: "He only lost by one!  Give Acronos a break!"

Acronos: "No, it wasn't enough, so it wasn't enough.  Let's see the next one."

Maioko: "He cares so little about the loss? Dark: "He can simply deal with the loss of something unimportant when concentrating on the big picture.  Don't you feel small and insignificant, knowing that you could die and he might not care?" … "

  The next test was of agility.  Acronos' objective was to hit the Immortal in ten seconds.  To demonstrate the speed he'd be going at, the Immortal jumped and dodged around a few times.  Now, you're probably seeing a pattern, as he was almost invisible and he said he wasn't even going at full speed.  The first time Acronos almost got him, almost.  The second time Acronos flung darts all around, blasted the entire area with energy that would only have the effect of a paintball, and only on the Immortal, and did a wide slash, all at the same time.  Ten seconds had passed.

Immortal: "Once more… Oh?  No, that rip on the edge of my sleeve wasn't there before.  You pass."

Acronos: "That's good, next?"

Immortal: "This is a test of defense.  I will attack you; your objective is to survive for one minute.  How you choose to do this is up to you." It began and Acronos was on the ground before he could even get out a barrier spell.  The second time he managed to get a barrier up, but it did absolutely nothing.  (I would like to mention that when I say 'on the ground'; it means it excruciating pain, unable to move without the feeling of white-hot knives piercing into every muscle and fiber of the body.)  The third time Acronos attacked at full force, but was beaten down all the more.  One more thing to note, all that was done was to stop the pain, any internal or external injury remained.

Immortal: "Your next test is of speed.  Fetch me a fish from the riverbank.  You have 15 seconds."

Acane: "Are you mad?  Even I can't move that fast!  Hell, even if I used Shukuchi I couldn't!"

Immortal: "Haven't you noticed that I don't care?  Ready?  Begin." First time came out to a minute.  Second time came out to 30 seconds.

Immortal: "16 seconds.  Not bad, but not good enough." Acronos' eyes suddenly widened and he put his hand over his mouth.  He began coughing, but in such a way as to make almost everyone wince.  When it finally subsided, he slowly pulled it away and spat to the side, red.  He shook out his hand a few times to get the blood off that, and wiped his mouth.

Immortal: "This is potentially your last test.  I will give you a weight a little less than the weight of a large building.  You are to hold it up by magic alone for one minute.  Any way you see fit can be used.  Ready?" Acronos called his magic and energy.  The weight dropped from the heavens and he unleashed every bit of force he had against it.  After one minute he dropped it and collapsed.  Everyone started to rush over, but the Immortal stopped him or her.

Immortal: "The last test.  Overall ability.  Attack with everything you've got.  I may choose to counter, defend, attack, dodge, or use magic.  You will have to deal with it as it comes." Acronos used his last mp for a Cura spell, but immediately coughed up a good deal of blood again.  He started to try and reach for an item, but found his hand shaking like a leaf.

Acronos: "… (Shakier than Maioko on a tightrope between skyscrapers) I have three tries?"

Immortal: "Only one.  I will begin by defending." Acronos managed to stand with the use of his keyblade.  Every single portion of his body was shaking but he began limping over there.  He managed to pull the blade up and into the left hand at extremely close range.  The Immortal kept one eyebrow up, his staff up and in defensive stance.

Acronos: "Gatotsu… Zero…" He launched his blade forward with about the force one uses to write with a pen, and the Immortal tapped the blade away.  Since the blade was tapped away from Acronos, he let his body follow it and landed on the Immortal, grabbing his shoulder.  He partially triggered and brought the blade to some veins and nerves, and opened his mouth near the neck.

Acronos: "(Barely a growl) Make one wrong move and I rip your throat out."

Immortal: "Planning on dieing with your teeth in your opponent's throat?  Very good, I admire that sort of determination, but you still loose."  He smacked the lower portion of his staff against Acronos' knee, making a very loud "CRACK!"  The pain and shock were enough to stop Devil long enough to allow the Immortal to smash the jewel on top of his staff into one of Acronos' temples, sending him to the floor.

Immortal: "How odd, after that much pain, just about every mortal being passes out to avoid that mind-numbing levels of pain.  I do not believe you an exception to that fact.  Ah, an item allowing no rest.  … (Gives him a once-over) Have you slept at all recently?  It appears not.  You need it." He removes the accessory and Acronos passes out finally.  Every single person there had a look of shock on his or her face.

Immortal: "Tough child.  I've never seen such strength before in my life.  Tell him when he wakes up that the keyhole is in the exact center of heartless forces, and that if he wants to, I leave him a scroll of the way to achieve similar levels of power to my own.  It should be impossible.  Good day all." He calmly walks away, but right as he is about to close the door, he has to block an energy blast.

Immortal: "He will awaken stronger, with someone far superior to fight to surpass.  He will also know his limits better than before.  Do not worry; he will awaken, if you tend to him now anyway.  He's got internal bleeding at least, probably a punctured lung.  Most of the upper body bones are also broken, and the knee as well.  I think he also might have sprained his ankle while running to the river.  I have played my part, now play yours." He leaves without another word.  Acronos is taken inside then and Megumi rushes to get her stuff.  Yuna follows her, getting a few Curaga spells ready.  Several hours later, they came out.

Megumi: "Well, like that Immortal guy said, he'll be fine.  I'm rather surprised though, his analysis was almost completely accurate, Acronos broke most of his upper body, fractured his knee, his ankle was badly twisted, one of his ribs ripped halfway through a lung, the liver collapsed from shock, and some of the blood cells broke."

Kenshin: "Those wounds will usually kill a person, what made Acronos able to live?"

Megumi: "Yuna -san's Curaga spell rapidly increased the rate of healing.  I had to set the bones properly, and deal with the injuries I could, while she got the internal injuries fixed, and repaired most of the bones."

Kaoru: "Any permanent damage?"

Megumi: "Well, not really.  Since he hasn't slept in so long, there might be some damage to his system, but I don't think it will last too long.  Right now, all he needs is a few days, or weeks, in bed."

Tidus: "Yuna, looks like you and Megumi did a great job."

Yuna: "Thank you."

Sienna: "I can't believe that guy, why'd he have to go that far?"

Maioko: "Perhaps it was his own fault?"

Sienna: "What?"

Maioko: "Think about it, the Immortal gave us the keyhole's location even when Acronos lost.  His intent was never to test him in particular, but merely to show him what his limits were and how to improve them.  Acronos just had to try and break his own limits, so he ended up hurt."

Acane: "What are you saying?!  That those tests could have been solved without any suffering?"

Maioko: "Almost.  The strength one Acronos passed, the speed one he could have hit the Immortal to slow the targets, the agility one he passed, for the speed he could have just grabbed a fish from market, or even from the kitchen, magic he passed on, and he could have just chosen to not do the defense or overall ability ones." Everyone somewhat glared at her, knowing that she was speaking the truth technically.

Auron: "… Perhaps.  However, the past is past, we must now focus on the present.  Who will take first watch?"

Sienna: "I've got it." She gave a bit of a glare to Maioko, and her expression read that she half expected her to try and kill him.  Maioko shrugged in an unusually stoic manner.  Everyone went to go rest and recuperate, and maybe train.  Tidus for one decided that he would not be the weakest swordsman any further and began doing his own version of Hell training, pushing himself to the limit and trying to learn newer magics.  After a bit, he located the Immortal's scroll and began reading it.

.

.

(With Sienna watching over Acronos in his room)

Sienna: "Hey lion.  Looks like this time you actually couldn't do something impossible.  Hey, don't worry about it, you're still pretty strong."  She sat next to him and relaxed, checking up on him every so often.  Occasionally, due to boredom, she regaled him with stories of their childhood, and her perspective on them.

Sienna: "Hey, do you remember when I was first allowed to train with a sword?  I was so excited and had been working out just to be able to use it, but the moment I stepped into the dojo, everyone laughed at the silly little girl who must've been looking for knitting class.  (Chuckle) I remember that you whacked everyone who laughed upside the head and yelled about not insulting your friends.

  You know, that's always been something I've tried to be capable of, defending my friends against any and all odds.  You're a lucky guy, lion, stronger than anyone I've met.  I wonder if one of these days you'll get stronger than everyone who ever was?  What will you do then, when there is no more challenge to face, no fight to tackle, nothing for you to do.  Will you be like that Immortal?" Everyone eventually took turns staying with him, but Maioko got the last shift, since she was the one who stayed in the same room anyway.  Since it was dark, she lit a few candles and stood over Acronos, kodachi sheathed at her waist.

Maioko: "You're an idiot.  You hurt yourself severely fighting a battle that you didn't have to.  Why?  Do you enjoy the pain and suffering you cause everyone else?  Do you?  ... So you know, I'm no longer considered one of your allies; everyone distrusts me after I told them you could have backed out.

  There's probably someone at the door right now to make sure I don't kill you.  (She pulls out her kodachi) It would be so simple too.  All I'd have to do is place one through your throat or skull, walk out saying I need a walk, and be on my way to another world.  Everything seems to be in favor of me doing that.  If you die, your keyblade will return to Earth's core and it will live again.  All my family would probably come back too.

  I've sacrificed quite a bit to be here and helping you, maybe it's time you did the same?  … Or perhaps you already are?  You didn't need to take me along on your journey, you could have left me on Destiny Islands and saved yourself the trouble of looking out for just another new person.  You had the opportunity to let me die several times and yet I live.  You dealt with my fear of heights like nobody aside from my parents and cousin ever did.

  … It appears that under examination, you are the one constantly sacrificing for the good of everyone else.  Do you even have any dreams of your own that you wish to fulfill, or are you simply content to fight a battle that you were given?  I have sometimes seen in your eyes a strange thing when you face challenges we deem as deadly, or when you hear of a risk that could mean your life in exchange for ours.  It appears you would happily give up your own life.

  Well, I do not give you my blessings for such a task, you will live up until the day you die of natural causes or at least from an unavoidable fate.  That is my challenge to you, if you wish to die, live instead." She sat down on the opposite end of the room and fell asleep with her kodachi at ready.  Meanwhile, Acronos was given the ride of his life in his head, since he hadn't dreamed in so long.  He toured worlds, saw beautiful architecture, and saw everything possible.  He ended it sitting on a beach, looking out at a silver sunset.

Acronos: "How odd, the first I see without Maioko.  Perhaps it is my last?  It doesn't matter, does it?  … The nightmares will most likely come soon too, results of all my fighting.  Sigh, even asleep I allow myself no rest.  Well, I suppose the expression "no rest for the wicked" is applicable." He watched as the sun fell into the horizon, expanding into a bloody flame.  As the last of it fell into the horizon in a brilliant explosion, he heard a voice.

Maioko: "So you know, someone provoked the heartless yesterday.  We're all going to go fight.  Without the keyhole being sealed, we're probably going to our deaths.  At least it will be an interesting death, a good one.  So, if you wake up alone in this world, just know where we went.  So, for most likely the last time, goodbye Acronos, and farewell."

Acronos: "The nightmares begin, or perhaps this is reality?  I cannot allow either, so no further rest for this demon." His eyes opened with great difficulty.  He blinked a few times again and rose up.  He expanded his senses as far as they would go and felt his friends near the heartless presence.

Acronos: "Damn.  There's no way to reach them on foot.  Guess I'll see how much Trigger energy I have left.  But first…" After dealing with the requirements that one who has slept for three days straight, he checked to see if he had anything to bandage.  After wrapping up a few wounds and such, he went outside.

Acronos: "Devil, from here on out, you're in full control. D: "Should you even be awake yet?" I am awake, that's all that matters. Arch: "I wonder where Megumi -san got to, she could not have gone to battle…" Chibi: "She probably escorted everyone away and said goodbye.  I feel her close." We depart then! "

  With a roar, Acronos shifted over fully, allowing Devil free reign over his form.  Only for a moment, Devil's instincts thought up a brutal and gruesome death for everyone near, but he paid them no heed and stretched his wings out to their maximum.  He began beating them, at first slowly, and then faster and faster until he rose above the dojo.  He spotted Megumi running towards him.

Megumi: "Acronos!  Wait, you shouldn't be up yet!  Much less flying!"

Devil: "We have no choice, our friends are in danger."

Megumi: "You'll get yourself killed!"

Devil: "The I shall die." With that he took off towards where he sensed the heartless.

Megumi: "The keyhole!  I know its location! (He flew back in) At the exact center of the heartless forces, you should probably be able to sense it." He nodded and took off.  Extending his senses, he did actually managed to locate it.

Devil: "Perhaps I needn't die after all." He began moving at high speeds, going rapidly.  He arrived at the coast of China within several hours, and saw the boat carrying his friends.  The Trigger strength was at its bare minimum, and Devil was forced to land and return control to Acronos.  He turned to a sailor.

Acronos: "Do you have anything to recover tons of energy at once?"

Sailor: "Aye, we sailors have a remedy for everything that could ail you, but it'll cost ye."

Acronos: "I'm really not in the mood.  How much, and get some to me now!"

Sailor: "Har, har, I was just kidding ye, lad!  Take as much as ye wish, if you can handle it." Acronos grabbed a bottle of the stuff and started to chug it, but instantly spat most of it out.

Acronos: "Cough, cough, what the Hell is this stuff?  No, wait, screw that, I don't want to know." He downs it slowly, and feels his energy return, at the expense of his stomach feeling like it was in the middle of an earthquake.

Sailor: "Aye!  Be careful, there's enough monsters here to kill an army!"

Acronos: "Hopefully not for long, cheers!" He Triggered again and flew off towards the keyhole.  He was just a tad late for a preemptive strike though, as all armies were gathered.  He floated over them, looking like a bird.  He heard the generals giving pep talks, preparing the people for a full-scale war, speaking of how it would be when one was defeated and such.

  With a loud war cry, they surged forward.  Acronos gave them about one minute before they actually clashed with the enemy and some could die.  He unleashed full speed flight and dashed forward.  Locating the spot, he floated in the air and called his keyblade.  He pointed it to the ground and fired, but it hit only heartless.

Devil: "Crap, I have to kill all of them in the area. Arch: "Why not create a large energy bomb?""

  Devil did so, creating a kilometer wide ball of black fire in a few moments and flinging it to the earth.  The explosion was deafening and most likely stopped both heartless and human alike, giving Devil sufficient time to point the keyblade and shoot the seal beam forward.  Right before it hit the keyhole, a heartless jumped on it.  With the sound of a lock, both heartless and keyhole disappeared.  Every single other heartless shrieked in pain and terror.

  Their shriek of discord and chaos brought every human and Devil to their knees from the sheer high pitch and noise.  Luckily it lasted for only a few moments and when it was done, no heartless remained on the battlefield.  Acronos returned to normal and sighed, thanking anything responsible for being able to prevent any casualties.  A spasm of pain went through all his body, and he was again forced to a knee in pain, but resisted.  As he lifted his head, he saw something right in front of him.

  One air soldier, standing in front of him, arms crossed.  He stood and looked at it.  It looked right back at him and he was surprised at the look of intelligence on its face.  It uncrossed its arms and right in the middle of the heartless symbol on its chest was a keyhole, but the X went over it.

Air soldier: "Thank you keyblade master.  I have now been able to use the powers of the final remaining keyhole to merge with every heartless every, all at once.  I would recommend settling into a stance, for this is the portion where I change into something more dangerous."

  Though immensely surprised, Acronos did just that.  The air soldier roared and waves of power and all elemental forces rose from it.  Keyhole and heartless symbol alike cracked and burst as the darkness covered its body.  It's size increased exponentially until it became about five floors of a building high.

  The body was that of a human, the hands clawed like that of the air soldier before it, the wings on the back were one pair looking relatively normal, and another pair upside down, both connected at the tips, and giving the impression of a phoenix, the feet were created of guillotine blades, curved and dangerous, while the head was human, with two glowing yellow eyes, and a third red one, the mouth of a vampire, and long hair in a dreadlock style similar to a Dark-side's let down.

"I shall be known henceforth as Sage."

Sage: "I shall give you the full heartless summoning capacity of your symbol, keyblade master, along with energy manipulation, transformation and absorption.  Receive it now.  (He accepts it, slightly dazed) I am no longer under the control of the need for hearts, or anything of the sort, so I pose no threat to any world, especially since they are all sealed.  As it goes, you may choose to fight me now, or you may choose to allow me to reside on a dead world.  If we fight, you will loose at this point.  Make your choice."

Acronos: "I remember a voice… Telling me I could have walked out of the Immortal's battle.  I can walk out of this too.  This is not a matter of defending anything except my pride. If you promise not to harm anything intentionally, go forth and live in peace."

Sage: "As you wish.  You have made a wise choice today." He flew off into the atmosphere, to go to a different world, where he could simply be at peace finally, the true and original goal of the heartless.

Now, for an important plot detail that occurred after Sage announced the challenge to Acronos.  Sage could be heard over the distance, but not Acronos.

Maioko: "Dark: "Again he's taking a fight he shouldn't.  What an idiot.  He didn't even hold to the promise you asked of him." He appears to hold nothing I do or say as worth anything. Dark: "Defeat him..."

... Fine then, this was the last straw.  I will go with you, but I'm not joining yet.  That sound about right, Blasphemy? Dark: "Huh?  What do you..." I'm very good with remembering voices, and I've heard you before. Blasphemy: "Fine then." ... Give it a day before we leave.  I want to say goodbye and allow Acronos to do the same. "

  Back with Acronos, he decided that maybe leaving would be the best course of action, but found himself unable to Trigger.

Acronos: "What a time to be out of energy. " He began walking towards the others.  After a bit he reached them, and most of the generals stared at him, whispering about why children were allowed on a battlefield anyway.

Saitoh: "Well, well, well, you got out of bed.  I think you're two weeks too early."

Acronos: "Umm, I heal quickly?"

Sienna: "I'd hit you if you weren't still hurt."

Acronos: "I'm not that damaged, I spent three days asleep, and several hours in Devil's form, which recovers faster than anything else alive."

Maioko: "For your injuries, that's not enough.  You're an idiot, you should have stayed in bed."

Acronos: "Batt: "… That was harsh.  Too harsh… That sounded more like the voice of an opponent ready to kill than a friend." Oh shut up, Battousai. Well-"

Sano: "You'll get enough rest on the boat, and then you'll sleep back at the dojo, got it?" With that he picked up Acronos by the scruff of his neck, hoisted him over his shoulder, and began walking towards the ship.

Acronos: "H-hey!  I can walk on my own, put me down!"

Sano: "Nope, not happening."

Acronos: "Aww, c'mon!"

Acane: "Whatever he says, don't put him down until the ship." They reached the boat and Acronos was dragged to the top.  Kairi used her staff to chain him to a wall.

Kairi: "Now you have to rest, no training."

Acronos: "Why me?"

Maioko: "Baka, you chose to fight." The ship started moving along.  Everyone else walked around or watched the sea, while Acronos was still pinned to a wall like an ornament.  Sighing, he began trying to draw on the energy of the sea.  He was the first to notice dark clouds.

Acronos: "Oh crap… " With one loud eruption of thunder, it began pouring and the winds picked up.  In a panic, all people rushed down below to wait out the storm.  After the general chaos had subsided, Maioko decided to take count.

Maioko: "Let's see… hmm… I think that's about everyone.  Hey, wait a second, has anyone seen Acronos?  Don't tell me he's up there testing his will against the storm?"

Acane: "(OO) Umm, I think he is up there, but only because he's chained to a wall!"

Maioko: "Oh great, who's gonna get him?"

Acane: "What total lack of caring.  What happened to Maioko, she's gone from near-love to total hate of everyone and everything.  This could be bad, I think I'll have to quit my jokes for a bit. I guess I will."

Kairi: "I have to come along to undo the chains." Meanwhile, Acronos was being drenched and had closed his eyes and mouth to stop from drowning or getting more hair in his eyes.

Acronos: "Perfect, just perfect.  They had to make the chains tight, didn't they? Arch: "You have a history of not caring about your own personal safety." True, but what about the worst-case scenario, like this?! Arch: "(Shrugs)" Devil: "Damn!  Why can't I Trigger?" Battousai: "Why can't I reach my sword?!" Chibi: "Hey Oni-chan, I'm small enough to slip out." Phew, thanks Chibi, I think drowning is a distinct possibility at this point. " A bolt of lightning strikes dangerously close to the ship.  He gulps and sweats.

Acronos: "There's also that. " Chibi appears and easily manages to wriggle out of the bonds.  Acane and Kairi come up wearing raincoats.  Chibi waves hi cheerily.

Acane: "Huh?  You're Chibi?"

Chibi: "Yep!  Tight bonds."

Kairi: "I got them." She pulls on the chains a bit and they retract.  As they head back inside, a lightning bolt zips at them.  With Battousai having sensed it before the bolt came, Chibi swung his wooden keyblade upwards.  There was a bright flash of light and sound, and Chibi stood there, relatively unfazed.

Chibi: "Nope, wood doesn't conduct electricity." Acane and Kairi stared at the little one, but they went inside.  Inside the ship, Kaoru was clinging onto Kenshin, almost strangling him.

Kenshin: "It's alright Kaoru-koishii, it's just a storm.  Nothing to be afraid of."

Kaoru: "But what if lightning strikes the ship?"

Kenshin: "Don't worry, that's practically impossible." Chibi opens his mouth to argue differently, but Kairi just shushes him.

Kairi: "Better not to scare Kaoru -san too much, Kenshin -san's head might pop off." Chibi laughes happily and starts to run off.

Acane: "Nope, you still need sleep."

Chibi: "Aww…."

Acane: "I know, but think about how much damage your Oni -chan went through, and how stubborn he is about not caring about it." Chibi smiles and goes to sleep after finding a place.  The rest of the ride back was relatively uneventful, and they disembarked normally.  Chibi was still Chibi and sleeping, so Sano lifted him and carried him the way back.  Once at the dojo, Chibi woke up.

Chibi: "Yawn!  Good morning Sano -san!"

Sano: "Morning kid.  You sleep enough?"

Chibi: "Yeah!  Though Oni -chan is grumbling about sleeping late."

Sano: "He needed it anyway." Upon reaching the dojo, Yahiko and Megumi greeted them.

Megumi: "Back so soon?"

Yahiko: "The busu probably scared them all off with her cooking. (Whack!) Oww!"

Kenshin: "Actually Yahiko, it was Acronos -san's sealing of the keyhole… Where did he go?" Everyone looked around, confused, as Acronos hid in a tree, invisible in the leaves.

Acronos: "Hah, thank you ninjitsu class!  Heh, now I can go train.  I'm not even hurt or tired anymore, I've probably recovered fully. (Actual recovery status: 65% healed, 40% sleep regained.)"

Maioko: "Sigh.  Why not try actually finding him for a change, he's no ninja."

Acane: "Why don't you actually try doing something about it?  It's not as easy as you think." Maioko rolls her eyes and punches the tree Acronos was in without even looking.  He falls out and lands on the grass.

Acronos: "Oww… (Recovery: 60%)" She goes over and picks him off.

Maioko: "Like I said, no ninja."

Acronos: "(Rurouni smile) Yeah, but at least good enough to try."

Maioko: "Not even close."

Acronos: "(Anime dagger through heart)"

Maioko: "Pfft, idiot." She drops him unceremoniously and walks off.

Acronos: "Oww…"

Acane: "(Helping him up) What crawled up her ass and died?" A rock hits her in the head.  Many people sweat-drop.

Acronos: "Hey, now that I think about it, that about wraps it up." The Kenshin -gumi, (loose translation for 'Team Kenshin') all wonder what he means.

Acronos: "That was the last keyhole, there's no more need to seal them.  Hah, take that Blasphemy, you loose!  Anyway, after this, I guess we all say goodbye and go home, or wherever else we want to."

Yahiko: "So you're leaving already?"

Kaoru: "It's been a rather short visit, hasn't it?"

Aoshi: "Actually Kamiya -san, it has been a month since they arrived here, and a few days more for Misao and myself.  Perhaps we should all say goodbye."

Kaoru: "Umm…"

Misao: "Umm…"

Kenshin: "It is not goodbye that any of us will be saying, merely farewell.  All of us shall meet again, sooner or later."

Saitoh: "Speak for yourself Battousai.  I'd rather just go back to life as normal."

Sano: "(Grin) With the heartless gone, you're life will go back to just plain boring, eh ahou?"

Saitoh: "(Blinks in total surprise, and then smirks) You're improving, Rooster."

Sano: "(Big grin)"

Saitoh: "Later." He walks off towards his office.

Misao: "We don't have to leave yet, do we Aoshi -sama?"

Aoshi: "… No, I suppose we can wait a few more days."

Acronos: "Hey, I'm still stuck here too, doctor's orders.  How about you guys, do you need me to take you anywhere?"

Acane: "Nah, I could stay here for a while too."

Kairi: "Well… Why not, I wouldn't be used to not having everyone around."

Tidus: "I'm waiting for you, Acronos.  I've been training triple-time, and I want to see how I compare now."

Yuna: "(Soft smile) As one of the doctors, I must make certain you get enough rest as well."

Auron: "… Not like I have anything better to do."

Tifa: "Heh, someone's got to make sure you crazy kids don't get into any trouble."

Selphie: "Still got one couple left…"

Irvine: "Actually, I think it's only a matter of time, but I think a few more days won't hurt."

Wakka: "Hey, it's been fun, ya?  Why stop now?"

Lulu: "… Who am I to argue with fate?"

Acronos: "Hey wait, we don't have Maioko's vote yet."

Acane: "Don't worry, she should be back.  Problem is, I think I don't trust her much anymore."

Acronos: "Batt: "I agree, keep your guard up." Don't worry, Maioko is our friend.  She's helped all of us out in one way or another, a few tired comments are no reason not to trust her."

When Maioko had gone off, she'd gone in the town's direction and kept going until she reached it.  Blasphemy appeared, leaning on a wall at the entrance.

Blasphemy: "Hello."

Maioko: "(Stiffly) Hello."

Blasphemy: "… How long do you want to wait, I'd like a relatively exact time."

Maioko: "Tomorrow afternoon, around this time I suppose."

Blasphemy: "Twenty-four hours to say goodbye.  Sounds rather cliché.  Whatever.  How are you planning to leave?"

Maioko: "… Well, if I'm so cliché, why not just 'abduct' me?  I know you want to test Acronos, why not give him a quest?"

Blasphemy: "You know a lot more than they give you credit for.  Fine, I'll 'abduct' you and give your friend a world to explore.  I'll be the one to test him, I guess you'll have to be bait."

Maioko: "We'll see." Blasphemy dissolved into the shadows and Maioko shivered for a moment.

Maioko: "Dammit, he makes everything get colder.  Maybe I should set him on fire like Ifrit would… no, I can't think about them in a good way.  The path I'm taking… it might lead to their deaths too.  Or maybe not deaths, I don't think I could kill any of them right now, maybe I can convince them? "

  She strolled around for a while and eventually headed back to the dojo.  The moment she stepped in, she felt warm on the inside.  She shrugged it off as nothing, having already gotten a bit used to that cold from before.  Deciding that perhaps she was hungry, she went to the kitchen to fix something up.  She found some fish and rice on the table, still relatively warm.  Taking it and some chopsticks, she wondered who made it.

Acane: "(Somewhat coolly) Acronos' standard cooking, hope you like it."

Maioko: "(Was surprised, but didn't react) Hello Acane."

Acane: "(Carrying on, still somewhat annoyed sounding) He absolutely insisted that he make something in case you were hungry when you got back, 'no' simply wasn't an answer."

Maioko: "… He should have rested. (Begins eating)"

Acane: "(Cross between disgusted and angry) If you have any decency left, he's in his room playing cards with Yahiko, Kenshin, and Sano."

Maioko: "… (Right before Acane leaves fully) You know Acane, from the start I never particularly trusted you.  After a while I managed to do so, enough to know you'd never intentionally harm anyone or me.  You've been quite an interesting companion, so thank you for that.  (She stands with the plate in her hands) I think I should thank the chef, this isn't half bad." She leaves without another word, putting Acane off balance as to what's going on.  She was off balance enough not to notice Maioko mutter under her breath while taking a bite, "fools, all of them".

.

.

Sano: "(Slams cards down) Dammit, not again!"

Acronos: "Sigh, Sano, you just don't understand when not to play your hand, do you?"

Yahiko: "(Cackling) Baka Tori-atama."

Sano: "Watch it brat."

Kenshin: "(Calmly lays down a winning hand) Indeed Yahiko, you should have been more careful on your own selection."

Acronos: "Well, that's one more for you Kenshin.  Good thing we're not playing with money.  Sano, if you've lost every single time up until now, are you sure you should have a problem with gambling?"

Sano: "I do not have a gambling problem."

Acronos: "But the first step to solving it is to admit it."

Sano: "There's nothing to admit."

Acronos: "Are you sure…"

Sano: "Yes, now shut it and shuffle the deck!"

Acronos: "Yeesh, no need to be snappish.  (As he's shuffling, under his breath, but easily enough to hear) Gambling addict."

Sano: "I am not a gambling addict!!"

Acronos: "Really?  Stay out of the game then."

Sano: "Umm, uhh…"

Acronos: "(Enticingly) It's a card game… You know you want to… It's your obsession…"

Sano: "(Going nuts) … Nng… Okay fine, I have a gambling problem dammit!  Happy now?"

Acronos: "It's a start."

.

.

With Maioko, in her own way, she said a vague goodbye to each of her friends and allies.  When finished, she took the plate back to the kitchen and began washing it.  Riku came in and stood next to her.

Maioko: "… May I help you with something Riku?"

Riku: "… You're making a really bad choice."

Maioko: "Really now?"

Riku: "Yeah, try a different cloth, that one's too dirty to clean with."

Maioko: "… (Finds a new cloth)"

Riku: "Being dark is such a horrible experience.  Must feel good for those plates to get cleaned.  Here, I'll help you out."

Maioko: "… (Takes another plate)"

Riku: "Fighting for something you know you shouldn't have, injuring your friend through harsh accusations about stuff that isn't true… It's the subject of a book I read here, want the name?"

Maioko: "… No thanks…"

Riku: "It's got great battle scenes.  It vividly describes how horrible, painful, and guilty it is to attack one's own allies.  I know I can relate.  (Looks her dead in the eyes) Can you?"

Maioko: "… No, I haven't gone berserk enough to attack my friends, and I don't think I will.  Must be odd not having control over your body."

Riku: "Perhaps, but this book shows how the main heroine attacks her allies and kills most of them out of indignation."

Maioko: "… What an odd book, I wonder who possibly could have written such a thing?  Must have been a crazy person in jail or something."

Riku: "… I don't know, there are a lot of people who can think like that.  Some who may even act on it."

Maioko: "My, my, what strange places you must have visited."

Riku: "Yeah, my journeys in the service of the dark were rather long, probably the worst time of my life to look back on.  Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

Maioko: "Who knows?  It may have been, since you did end up helping everyone."

Riku: "Yeah, after causing a suffering I still regret up until this moment."

Maioko: "..."

Riku: "Shall I be blunt?"

Maioko: "Tact is a virtue."

Riku: "As you wish.  ... I wonder, I never got a chance to finish that book, how do you think it will end?"

Maioko: "... I'll tell you when I finish it."

Riku: "I dunno, I think you might not like it when you're done."

Maioko: "Maybe, maybe not.  I'll know for sure after it's done."

Riku: "... I know I cannot stop you from writing the last chapter in my book.  I can only tell you that such writing involves blood, sweat, and tears.  I promise you, you will regret ever writing that chapter for the rest of your life."

  He puts the plate down, half-cleaned, into the sink water.  Riku turns and leaves.  Maioko remains silent, already having made her choices.  She reaches in and takes the plate out to dry, thinking that the water would have cleaned it.  Her eyes widen slightly as the plate had become as dirty as before starting.

Maioko: "One last symbol, eh Riku?  It matters not; I've already made my choice. "

.

.

Meanwhile, the card game had long since finished and the subject was now therapy for Sano's gambling problem. (Sano: "I do not have a gambling problem!" Everyone: "Yes you do." Sano: "(Grumbles about everything)") after a few hours they'd made some progress, but Sano managed to break his bonds and escape.  (Note that he had been chained to the wall for the 'therapy')

Yahiko: "I'll get that Rooster!" He runs off after him.  Acronos decided to have one final conversation with Kenshin.

Acronos: "Hey!"

Kenshin: "Yes?"

Acronos: "Tell me, where do you plan to go from here?"

Kenshin: "This one will stay here at the dojo.  It is my home.  Heh, how strange that word feels."

Acronos: "Okay, but I've got a few things I've got to warn you of.  ... From what I hear, after marrying Kaoru and having a child, you feel that you don't know yourself.  This prompts you to wander again.  I will tell you this now, so you won't forget it.  Everyone on this world and every other is who they are.

  If it is not enough for you to know that you are you, list all things of who you are.  If that still does not satisfy the desire, meditate on it.  If you still will not accept that, wander, but only for short distances and times, like a man with a home and a family should.  Let me make this absolutely clear to you, no more Rurouni wandering.  Only go far enough that you may instantly return."

Kenshin: "Hai, I understand."

Acronos: "Good.  (Jokingly) I came here to make you have a happy ending, no ruining my hard work or else, got it?"

Kenshin: "(Jokingly scared) Yes sir!" They both laugh and Kenshin goes off with a smile on his face.  Acronos rolls over and gets some rest.  Soon it gets to be dinner and he gets up to help.  As he enters, he finds a good meal on the table.

Kenshin: "It appears we were beaten to the punch." Kaoru pops her head in along with Misao.

Kaoru: "We decided that since we won't be together for much longer, we should all pitch in and make dinner."

Misao: "Think of it as our last test, sensei!"

Acronos: "Sniff, my students have progressed so far..." Dinner that night was splendid, not one comment was made on the food being anything but good. 

Yahiko: "Grumble, grumble…"

Kaoru: "What was that Yahiko –chan?"

Yahiko: "Nothing, busu.  Just annoyed that this is, dare I say it, too good to gripe about.  It was getting to be almost a tradition.  Oh well, loss of tradition for being able to go to bed with a stomach not in severe pain, I can deal with that." Everyone laughed at that one.  With that, everyone headed to his or her room with full bellies.  Acronos stepped into the room and felt a chill go through his entire being.  He turned from the door and saw only Maioko staring at one large candle in the center of the room.  It was more of a small torch, actually.

  The light reflected and danced in her eyes, shining, blazing...  Until it began to dim, slowly but surely to the point where there was no longer any light to her eyes.  The flame on the candle ceased, ending abruptly the only source of light in the room.  There was only pure dark, the absence of light and heat.  That is until Acronos lit a small flame of his own and walked over to the candle that was snuffed out.  He crouched down next to it and lightly began blowing on it, to restart it.  He only got a few sparks.

Maioko: "(In a dead voice) It won't work, you cannot bring it back."

Acronos: "Okay." He transferred his flame onto the candle, and for some reason his went out.  With a Rurouni smile he shrugged and located the blanket on his end.  He wrapped it around himself and began to go to sleep.

Maioko: "Why did you do that?"

Acronos: "It was too dark."

Maioko: "No, I mean why did you allow your own flame to go out?"

Acronos: "It did its job, that was the only way."

Maioko: "... Hey Acronos?"

Acronos: "Yeah?"

Maioko: "It's been a fun trip, thanks I guess."

Acronos: "Any time Maioko, any time." They both fell asleep easily.  The next morning was the first time that Maioko woke up before Acronos.

Maioko: "Yawn!  Well, what to, hello?  Is that Acronos?  Still sleeping?  No way, I finally beat him to waking up!  What time is it anyway, 3 in the morning?  (Checks) 8:00 A.M?!  No way!  … Hey, now that I think about it, didn't I want to wake up with him a while ago?  What a strange twist of irony.  Maybe fate is trying to tell me something?  (Narrator: "No, ya think?!") Nah, probably not.  (Narrator: "D'oh!")"

  With an almost-smile, she quietly tiptoed out of the room and went to find breakfast.  No such luck, nothing on the table, and nobody else was up.  She sighed and began the arduous process of making breakfast for a bunch of people.  Once finished, she sighed again, since not one person had awoken yet.  She walked outside to the courtyard where everyone usually trained, and heard Yuna's voice.

Yuna: "No, that isn't it either.  What could it be?"

Maioko: "Need help with something?"

Yuna: "Oh!  Umm, I sensed something stronger than my Curaga magic, so I'm trying to reach it."

Maioko: "Hmm, must be that enhanced magic that I heard of somewhere."

Yuna: "Possibly.  Could you help me?"

Maioko: "Doubt it.  I'm not a white mage personally, you have the advantage here.  I'll see what I can do, though."

Yuna: "Thank you."

Maioko: "Well, show me how far you've gotten." Yuna calls up large amounts of Cure energy and tries to use it all, but fails and ends up falling down.

Yuna: "You see, there just doesn't seem to be any way to use all that energy in one spell."

Maioko: "… Hmm, have you tried not using a spell at all?"

Yuna: "Excuse me?  How would that be possible?"

Maioko: "I don't know, uhh, maybe you have to direct it yourself, or let it flow in a certain manner… I don't know."

Yuna: "Hmm, perhaps…" Allowing herself to become part of the Curative energies, she healed the area around her, bringing a couple of dead plants to life.

Yuna: "Yes, that was it!"

Maioko: "Whoa, good job Yuna."

Yuna: "I think, with this new magic, I can fully heal anything in one go!  Hmm, I will test it on Acronos, if it works he'll be able to train as usual."

Maioko: "(Raised eyebrow) Well, I guess that means we're leaving then." Lulu walked out slowly, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Lulu: "I felt a large amount of magic in use at one time.  What's going on, a magical duel?"

Yuna: "No, I managed to use Enhanced Cure."

Lulu: "(Raised eyebrow) That's odd, if your enhanced spells are anything like mine then that should have been two spells instead of one."

Maioko: "Maybe Yuna can just put more energy in or something?"

Lulu: "That may be the case.  Well then, what will you use that spell on, Yuna?"

Yuna: "() I think I'll see how far it goes by attempting to heal Acronos!"

Lulu: "Hmm… That may be difficult, but we shall see.  Maioko, you made breakfast?"

Maioko: "Got bored."

Lulu: "(Nods)" They go in to get something to eat.  After that, they sneak into Acronos' room.  He was still sleeping, leaning against the wall calmly with the sheathed keyblade resting in his hands."

Maioko: "Oh great, this is probably gonna be trouble.  Stay a few feet back when you do this, he's likely to jump up and attack before he wakes up."

  Yuna did so, standing behind Maioko and Lulu.  As she began calling up the energy, Acronos' nose twitched and they all tensed.  He just turned his head and tried to find a better position on his pillow.  Yuna began calling up energy again slowly and steadily, pausing each time Acronos made a movement.  It was rather entertaining to see a warrior, a black mage, and a white mage all cringe back like mice every time a sleeping 16-year-old blinked or shifted.  Sano came up behind them and tapped Yuna on the shoulder to get her attention.

Yuna: "Yipe!" Lulu began summoning a blast of fire to send whatever was attacking flying, but Maioko beat her to the punch, spinning and smacking a fist into Sano's head, sending him flying.  She landed in a stance and began to draw her kodachi.

Maioko: "Huh?  Sano?"

Sano: "(Gets up) Yeah, that's me.  Any reason why you smacked me?"

Maioko: "(Shrugs nonchalantly) You startled Yuna."

Sano: "Yeah, that's what I meant to ask about.  You three are cringing very often, what are you watching in there anyway?"

Yuna: "Maioko said that Acronos might attack if he woke up without expecting it and we don't want him to."

Sano: "Oh, then why don't you just wake him up normally and then do whatever it is you're going to do?"

Lulu, Maioko, & Yuna: "…"

Sano: "Sigh, I'll do it." He goes in front of them and they look expectantly at him, expecting some new and interesting method of waking up sleeping fighters.  Sano just picks up a rock and throws it at Acronos' head, landing a square hit to his forehead.

Acronos: "( Swirling eyes of near KO and dizziness) Good morning… Who was that ringing the doorbell?"

Lulu, Maioko, & Yuna: "(Anime fall)"

Sano: "My work here is done." He struts off to go eat.

Yuna: "Oh dear, now he's probably even more injured."

Maioko: "Nah, he's got a really thick skull."

Acronos: "… Ahem?"

Maioko: "Yes?"

Acronos: "Sigh…"

Yuna: "Oh yes, Acronos?  Would you mind if I tested out my new healing spell on you?"

Acronos: "(Swirling eyes disappear) Yeah, sure, go ahead." Yuna calls up the energy at once and lets it go.

Acronos: "… … Whoa… Man that feels good… It feels like every bit of pain and tension in my body has left at once…  Whoa… (Recovery: 100%, Sleep: 65%)"

Yuna: "It worked!  Wow, it really worked!"

Maioko: "Well, good job Yuna.  It seems you've reached the pinnacle of white magic."

Yuna: "Not yet, I still have to use this principle on my other spells!"

Acronos: "(Hesitant) Hey, umm, Yuna?  Does this mean I can go train now?"

Yuna: "Hmm…"

Maioko: "(Smacks him upside the head and checks for any damage) Yeah, he's perfectly fine and healing quickly again."

Acronos: "() Oro… did you have to check that way?"

Maioko: "Would you have preferred my kodachi?"

Acronos: "(00) No, thank you!"

Maioko: "Good then."

Acronos: "… Yay, training time!"

Yuna: "No, I think you shouldn't go directly into training yet.  It might be a good idea to wait for later."

Acronos: "… You're right, I'll just watch." Acronos got up and went to the kitchen, but found breakfast already there, so he ate.

Tidus: "How much longer before you can train with us again anyway?"

Acronos: "Actually, I'm healed now, I just should wait until the afternoon at least."

Tidus: "Yeah!"

Acronos: "I think I'll watch your training, see how much you've improved." So he went and sat on the porch of the courtyard and watched Tidus going through a few swings.  Acronos was surprised to see that his attacks were much more focused and dangerous, he could feel power coming from them at his distance.

Acronos: "Hey Tidus, what kind of training have you been doing?  You've improved dramatically!"
Tidus: "My own brand of Hell Training, and then the extremely painful but extremely useful training the Immortal put in his scroll."

Acronos: "Huh?"

Tidus: "After beating you, that Immortal guy left you a scroll of ways to gain powers similar to his own.  He said it should be impossible and he damn sure wasn't kidding!  I mean, the higher workouts here involve at least tons!"

Acronos: "Devil could probably do them, but I think they're meant for human training.  Does it say how long it requires before the higher exercises?"

Tidus: "Well, they all talk about some weird 'methods' and there's a blank spot that says 'realization'.  All the highest stuff is above that, but the realization thing is pretty far up too.  Either way, even the lightest stuff is hard to do, and the techniques are incredible."

Acronos: "Whoa.  I think I'll let you keep that for now.  I have a feeling it may come in handy for you." Soon everyone else came in and began training as well.  When the sun reached its peak, Acronos got up as well.  He pulled out his keyblade.

Tidus: "Ready to spar now?"

Acronos: "No, not yet, I need a little practice." He used Battousai's abilities to make a huge sword and began slashing with that.  Obviously it was difficult to use such a blade, if even possible, but Acronos felt he needed the training.  After a few minutes of this he accepted Tidus' challenge.  However, neither of them went full out, only testing each other's techniques and commenting on things that might need to be fixed.  Lunch was soon called and then a trip to market.

  The trip lasted a little longer than expected, and they ended up home around 3:00.  When they came home, they found one more couple, Sano and Megumi.  This one had only taken one matchmaking exploit by Acronos, and a simple one at that.  He simply discussed with Megumi whether or not she liked Sano, and left her really uncertain as to what her feelings were, (more like she knew she liked him but was still trying to convince herself otherwise, but failing at this point), then he talked with Sano similarly, gaining similar, if not better results.

  After that, he locked them in Sano's room under the guise of 'therapy for his gambling problem' (Sano: "For the last time, I do not have a gambling problem!!" Everyone else: "And for the last time, you do have a serious gambling problem, now get over it!!!").  After making certain there was no way for them to escape, and no need, Acronos had walked off to market chuckling.  When he came back to his plot having come to fruition he smiled widely.

Acronos: "YES!  That's that!"

Selphie: "Huh?"
Acronos: "Kenshin and Kaoru, check.  Misao and Aoshi, check.  Sano and Megumi, check.  (Whispering) Yahiko and Tsubame get together on their own, so no need for me to do anything on that."

Selphie: "Acronos, you rock." They had a quick dinner, and Aoshi then made an announcement.

Aoshi: "Kaoru –san, thank you for your generous hospitality, but I am afraid we cannot stay any further."

Misao: "Yeah, we got a letter saying that we have to get back or else, the paperwork is killing everyone."

Kaoru: "Oh.  Well, I wish you two the best."

Tifa: "… Perhaps it would be best if we left as well?"

Acronos: "Yeah, that might be better."

Kaoru: "So all of you are going at once?"

Acane: "Hey, don't worry about it, we'll all see each other again."

Kaoru: "Yeah, I guess."

Kenshin: "The dojo will certainly seem a bit more empty than before."

Acronos: "Hey, a little quiet is a good thing."

Kenshin: "Perhaps…" Everyone stepped outside to the glow of the setting sun.

Acronos: "It's been fun.  (Hands Kenshin something) That's a communicator.  Once you figure out how to work it, tell me when the wedding is. (Wink)"

Kaoru & Kenshin: "(Blush)"

Kairi: "When did you get one of those?"

Acronos: "I dunno.  I fished it out of the infinite pocket a few days ago.  It seems stuff randomly goes in there, since there are a bunch of them in there, and they're all suited for inter-worldly talk."

  With that, the long and difficult process of goodbyes was started.  However, as everything must, this had an end.  Aoshi and Misao left, going forward to catch their train back.  Acronos' group stood at the edge of the path while Acronos conjured up a save point.  He finished that and everyone stepped into the circle except him and Maioko.

Acronos: "C'mon Maioko, we should be on our way.  Or do you want to stay here?" She waited for a moment, and then began walking forward.  … All of a sudden a dark portal appeared behind her and Blasphemy jumped out.  He put a hand around Maioko's mouth to stop any screams or such.

Acronos: "Blasphemy!"

Blasphemy: "Maybe, maybe not.  Your journey isn't over quite yet keyblade master.  That is unless you want your friend to die.  Follow me if you dare, and maybe you can get her back." Maioko stared out at everyone with dead eyes, not caring about anything or anyone.

  One more thing you should know, but Acronos doesn't, or better yet won't notice.  Blasphemy only had his hand around her mouth, not gripping her arms in a lock, or anything of the sort.  For any self-respecting martial-artist, this is so easy to break out of, it's not even funny, but Maioko was just standing there.  Acronos didn't notice this though; he just assumed the lock or perhaps a stun spell, or something.  Blasphemy pulled Maioko through the dark portal.  Acronos immediately turned to his group.

Acronos: "Guys, follow on the gummi ship, it should be able to track me." With that he jumped through the remainder of the portal, as it was closing up.  Then all became black and burning, stinging, erupting pain as the portal through darkness took effect, hurtling Acronos hundreds of worlds away.

.

.

Acronos: "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

Simple.  Because something bad's gonna happen.

Acronos: "Umm, like what kind of bad?"

Well, let's just say that dark and light don't mix very well.

Acronos: "Now where'd I put those pain killers?"

Heh, this should be fun.

Maioko: "Umm, will the next chapter be as long?"

Dunno, maybe.  I really don't know, since it'll be only my world.  Completely original, almost a stand-alone RPG world.  No, wait… that's exactly what it'll be.  Since making stuff up… no that was only making stuff up according to a set of rules I think Devil May Cry just wasn't my thing, we'll see.

Maioko: "Hey, don't torture Acronos so much anymore, have some mercy next chapter, okay?"

Acane: "Why, so you can personally beat him?"

Calm down Acane.  Remember, there's a huge difference between story and current Maioko, and everyone actually.  Story Maioko is the only one who hates Acronos, not the one in front of you, so save your fury.

Acane: "Oh.  Sorry."

Maioko: "Meh."

Anyway, I guess Acronos might get some pity.  Hmm, I think I'll be giving him star treatment to be precise.

Acronos: "(Stops searching, looks up) Huh?"

Yeah, you heard me right.  You get to being a mercenary commander or something.  I think my only torture for you next chapter should be the wedding arrangements.

Acronos & Maioko: "WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS?!"

No, not yours, Acronos'!

Acronos: "Umm… (Whispers) You've gone against most original pairings up until now, I'm really uncertain what could happen."

(Whispered back) That's the whole point.  To see if I actually change my mind about the pairings, you'll have to read the whole behemoth of a story.

Acronos: "B-but…"

Oh alright, fine you big baby, I'll tell you what I meant.  (Whispers that part of the story)

Acronos: "Oh… (Begins laughing) hey, that's okay!"

See, told you.  Oh, but I'd highly recommend not getting used to it.  I'm going to end a chapter in the worst cliffhanger in existence, for the readers and for you.

Acronos: "Umm, gulp?"

Yep, let's just say the plot will be going from here.  Anyway, to the readers, please review.

Narrator: "Please, for the love of God or whatever you prefer, tell him to shorten the chapters!"

(Whacks him) Shut up, you'll scare the readers.