Broken Rainbow
By:Digitaldreamer
Chapter eleven: Accepting
Well then, Friday, April 2 was the beginning of my Spring Break. I planned on spending my break typing this fic. However, I confess, I'm quite the procrastinator. My mind usually refuses to work if it knows it can do something pointless instead like re-read web comics and fics, and play Kingdom Hearts in expert mode. (on the note of Kingdom Hearts Expert mode, it took me thirty-two tries to beat Riku/Ansem It took me a resounding three minutes to beat the dragon, yet it took me all day to beat Riku. See, it's very difficult to button mash when your opponent is really fast and constantly retaliates with attacks that take out one third of your hp) Unless I actully force myself to sit down and type, it just doesn't happen. Since I didn't force myself to just type and ignore all ither things, this chapter wasn't finished untill June. Sad, ne? So I'm gonna have to work out a scheduale somehow. I figure I give myself about two days of a break between typing, and then a day for each scene I have to type. So I can get out maybe about a chapter a week. I'm sticking to the schedual til' I get Microsoft Word , In which case I'll start revising old chapters, once I'm done with that it's back to one chapter a week. Yay!
So, that aside, I'm now typing authors notes in this form instead of script style with the chara's. It's a bit easier to say stuff without typing everything the chara's say, and it looks more professional.
(Riku snorts in the background. "And she's just lazy.")
Shut up Riku. Anyways, Easter's over now, so now, THREE weekends AFTER Spring Break, I started typing...pathetic.
In other news, HOLY CRAP HAS IT REALLY BEEN A WHOLE YEAR? And I took like, THREE MONTHS to write each chapter yet you guys still continue to support me. Thank you all SO much!
Okay, so rants aside, time to answer your reviews.
soraoathkeeper
Good grammar...are you SURE you're talking about ME? You can ask like, all of my friends if I had good grammar, and they would say you were clearly insane. And the link doesn't work cause I had to delete the pic, there's not enough space on my Boomspeed account. Yes, Shrek 2 is friggen awesome. "It's a THONG! HE'S WEARING A THONG!" XPPP
What will happen to Yami? Well, read and find out.
hands you an anti-writers block and anti-laziness pen Start typing!
cinedragon
Ah, the spelling mistake was okay, I knew what you meant......hands you some chocolate
I'm having trouble reading your fic, it's in script style and that style is kind of....cheap, if you ask me. I'll review, soon as I have time.
star's dreams
Ah, we all know if Yami were at full strength he would have whooped Bakura's butt. Ah well. hands you pizza
Ari Powwel
OO HOLY CRAP LONG REVIEW! Glomps THAAAAAAAAANNNKKKK YOUUUU!
I loooove your reviews they're soo...long. I like long reviews of doom! YAY! Man, you were reaaall hyper. See, lookie, I typed! Now gimme that Yu Gi Oh opening theme movie thingy! WOOT!
Hands you a giant pixi stix YAY FOR LONG REVIEWS! Glomps again
Atariel Falvrin
Thanks for the reviews Here's some chocolate!
Wingaurd
Yup, boy angels. Strange, but cool. Yaaaay..hands you some chocolate
neo-arados
WOO! You reviewed! YAY!
Oh crap....Riku fangirl! runs and hides
You'll understand about the Riku thing after you read this chapter, everything is explained here. Actually, I kinda based the angels in stone after the Fayth from FFX...then again, I'm a Final Fantasy nut..heh heh.
Actually, Malik is in the fic, he just hasn't shown up yet. He's kind of in Ryou's position, only Malik's still fighting...cause Malik's hot, and I like him. So just wait, things will be explained, usually things I leave unexplained in one chapter are explained in the next. Yaaay. Here's a pixi stix for you.
crystal-chan
Thank you And here's some pizza!
Juujin Bunshen
Actually I brought Sora back at the end of the first fic for the propose of the ending of this one. I suppose you're right, I should have had Sora come back in this one, but I didn't really want to leave everyone on a sad note, so I ended it happily, with him coming back. Of course, I wrote that fic a year ago and I can't seem to remember exactly what it was I was thinking...ah well.
Yeah, I should start describing stuff more, I have a habit of panicking because I wait so long to type these things, so I hurry through them and don't describe much. I'll work on that.
Thank you very much for your crits, they've helped me pretty well actually. I'm sorry this fic has disappointed you, though I hope as it progresses your disappointment will go away, as I have many plans for this fic and I wouldn't want to leave anyone disappointed. You're disappointed now, but right now we're only on the surface of things and I hope as we go deeper in, that you'll find it to be better.
Anyways, thank you for your review, here's a bottle o' Mountain Dew
FireSparkler
Thanks Here's some chocolate.
AeRiSdOnO
My chapters, perfect? oO You're clearly crazy, my writing is anything but perfect. But eh, thanks fer feeding my ego anyway;;;
And yeah, I used different languages. The song is a mixture of Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, just about every language you can find on Babelfish, as well as a few japanese words and a few of my own, made up words. But yeah, you got that line right, congrats! Here's a piece of pizza for you!
Krazy4
Well, I have yet to receive a flame yet, so I guess that's a good sign. Here's some french fries for you
ElegantArrow64
Eh heh, thanks I think this chapter is just as long, if not longer.
I know how it feels, I have many fandoms in my mind. Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy X, One Piece, Shaman King, and maybe the Lord of the Rings now that I've watched the first movie (Frodo is SOOO KAWAII! Glomps Frodo) But hey, I'm still managing to write this..even if it does take awhile. Heh heh...
Alrighty, lookit, I updated. I hope ya like it, here's some popcorn.
Disclaimer: Crys grins Okay, okay, I dun own it. At all. In fact, I didn't ask permission to use the chara's in this fic, so I could prolly get sued, but since I'm not getting any cash off of it they can't really sue me. Thankfully, I doubt any of those big companies like Square-whatever-the-heck-they-are-now and such look at Fanfiction.net anyway, ne?
There was a loud bang as the stone doors opened and Sora strode into a large stone room. Again, the voices sang, voices ringing through the room, echoing with bitter sweetness. He gazed around, taking in the ancient feeling of the room. Torches donned the walls, each glowing a different color as always. Crimson, orange, emerald, sapphire, silver, midnight blue, and amethyst. Symbols also adorned the walls, each glowing it's respective color. Swirls of crystal shimmered upon the ceiling. The floor was covered with a oriental looking red carpet, lined with gold. The carpet split into seven separate paths of crimson, and each split path led to a door, adorned with a single symbol and glowing it's color.
Also surrounding the room were six stone beasts. One was a swan, its loping, graceful neck stretched in an arc, wings outspread. It's eyes were made of silver, and gleamed with serene calm. Standing near that was a fox, ears pitched forward as it stood on all fours. Wings spread from its back, thin and sharp like that of a falcons. Two emerald eyes stared at Sora with keen readiness. A little ways from that was a tiger, perched upon it's hind-quarters. Two graceful stone wings stretched from it's back, like that of an eagle.
Crimson eyes glimmered in the flickering flames. Sitting directly next to it was a Lion, it's handsome mane falling into it's face. It sat as the tiger did, jaws set in an eternal grimace, warding all whom wanted to disturb the peace of the temple away. Wings stretched from it's back, feathers wide spread. Flaming orange eyes glowered at Sora. Next to that, curled upon it's tail, was a dolphin. It's grin was gentle, playful and kind. Where it's front fins should have been there were instead two wings, like that of an eagle. Eyes of sapphire playfully gazed around the room. And sitting next to that, perched upon a stone pedestal, was a dove. Though it was stone, it appeared so real it seemed to Sora he could stroke it's wing and it would feel soft. A small, amethyst heart was placed just beneath its neck, shimmering in the light of the flames. Lastly was a serpent, it's long coils snaking around each other. It's neck sloped upward, serpentine head coming down. Bat-like wings stretched from a place along it's spine, jagged and ripped. Midnight blue gem-like eyes stared into Sora's soul, seeming to pierce through him. It was as though those eyes knew all he had done, and all he ever would do.
Sora shuddered, tearing his gaze from the serpentine statue. There was something wrong about this place, he just couldn't figure out what it was. He shivered once more and looked at the doors. "I'm guessing I'm supposed to go through one..." He blinked. "But...which one?"
It was then that the door near the fox statue glowed emerald directly in front of him. Sora blinked as the symbol in front of it glowed. "...I guess I just follow the yellow brick road...or....green, in this case." Sora shrugged, stepping up to the door. He wasn't sure how to open it so he just placed his palm upon the symbol and prayed it would work. There was a flash of green and the door opened. "..That was easy." Sora blinked, stepping into the room.
It was much like how the room where he had met Irai had been. The room was of stone, decorated with oriental tapestries, symbols woven upon them. However, instead of looking like tigers, there were foxes decorating them. Sora followed the red carpet at his feet, coming to another glass like orb set into the ground, giving off an emerald glow. However, embedded into blackish green stone was a women, face down as the other had been. The back of her head and neck seemed to be attempting to pull out of the stone, emerald locks trailing from her head. Two dog like ears popped through her strands of hair. Her pale, naked back seemed to be straining, and a single wing stretched from her left shoulder blade. A fox tail stretched from her behind, arched above the stone as if trying to escape. Sora blinked down at it in awe. "She...looks like...Kimmu."
"Correct, Keyblade Master." A voice said from behind Sora and he turned to face the Angel, whom was floating a few feet away. "It seems...." She continued, with a small half smile upon her lips."You're beginning to piece things together."
Sora nodded. "Yeah..you ARE the girl in the stone, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am." Kimmu nodded.
"Are....all the other Angel's like this?"
Another curt nod.
Sora blinked confusedly. "Then...how can you all be like this?"
"I'll explain in time. For now, your test isn't over."
Sora groaned. "When is this thing going to be done!?" He demanded. "What do I have to do?"
Kimmu smiled. "Come." She said, taking Sora's wrist. "I will show you."
There was a flash of emerald light and Sora was forced to close his eyes. When he opened them, he was in a dark abyss, floating though the inky blackness. Sora blinked yet again. "Huh?"
"There is but one final thing you must do to pass my test." Kimmu's voice rang through the abyss.
Sora looked around him, searching for the source of her voice. Finding none, he replied. "What do I have to do?"
A light shone from above and illuminated a platform. It had an eerie look to it, steel gray in color. Spikes protruded from the edges, skulls decorating it here and there. Two pairs of claws stretched from the right and left side of the platform, and clutched within the claws were two glowing orbs of green. Inside the orb on the right was...
"KAIRI!" Sora cried, running towards the platform. He slammed into a force field and was knocked back. He shook his head to clear it and looked back up. "Kairi...." He whispered, looking into her helpless royal blue eyes.
"Sora! Sora help me!" Kairi pleaded, falling to her knees within the orb.
"Hang on!" Sora cried in a choking voice. "I'll be right there! Just hang on! Don't worry!"
Kairi shivered and put her arms around herself. "There're a bunch little kids in the other orb Sora!" She cried, pointing to the left. At her indication, Sora looked over at the left orb. Sure enough, inside were about twenty children, ranging from infant to toddler to about five years old. Some of the children banged against the sides of the orb, sending small shockwaves through the liquid like surface. Some cried, tears streaming down their cheeks and faces scrunching up. One small girl hugged a teddy bear to her chest with wide, teary, fear-filled eyes.
Sora's eyes widened. "D-don't worry!" He called. "Don't worry kids! I'll get you out....somehow...." He held out his hands, concentrating. A rainbow glow appeared around his hand. "Come on.....break!" He growled in frustration as the orbs only responded with glowing brighter.
"It's no use." Kimmu's voice said calmly. "They will remain within those orbs so long as the master of this realm wishes it."
At the sound of it's name a beast of gigantic proportions rose behind the platform. Crimson eyes glared down at Sora, set deep into a serpentine-like head. Long, curved fangs were curled into a snarl. Razor sharp talons slammed onto the platform, digging trenches into the metallic surface. Two torn draconic wings stretched from its back, never meant to be used for flight. The dragon, for that was obviously what it was, let out a long, drawn out howl from snaggle toothed jaws.
"That's the master!?" Sora cried. "What does it want with Kairi and the kids!?"
"Its meal." Kimmu's voice was grim. "This beast feeds off of pure souls."
Sora's eyes widened, and again he summoned energy into his palms. "That's not gonna happen to them!" He cried. "I won't let it!"
However, just as quickly as the energy had appeared, it dissipated. "No. Attacking it won't help, Keybearer." Kimmu stated.
"Well then, what do I do!?" He demanded, hands clenching into fists and glaring up at the beast.
"Keybearer, there are two offerings, yet this monster only has one mouth." Kimmu explained, still irritatingly calm despite the urgent feel of the situation.
"What's your point?"
The darkness seemed to gesture towards the orbs. "Choose." Kimmu stated. "Who will die?"
Sora's eyes widened. "You can't expect me to choose between them!"
"Choose." Kimmu repeated with the same ice cold indifference.
"B-but-"
"Choose." Kimmu put more force into the word this time. "Or they will all die."
"I....I..." Sora stuttered, eyes wide as he frantically looked from his timid looking girlfriend to the innocent children crying within their orb. Why was Kimmu making him choose? He didn't want to be the one to sentence any of these people to death! He bit his lip. He didn't want to sentence others to death....but when it came to himself! That was it! That was the answer! He was willing to lay down his life for others without a second thought. "I choose myself!"
There was a flash of emerald lighting that struck both orbs. Kairi let out a cry as the shock came, curling into a ball and shuddering in pain. The children, meanwhile, burst into tears, faces crumpling and howls and shrieks coming from their wide open mouths.
"It's not that easy Keyblade Master." Kimmu's voice stated, still calm as ever. "You were not one of the choices. Now choose."
Sora winced visibly as he glanced back at the orbs, the people within them now whimpering in pain. Those poor innocent children...if he didn't do something they'd all die. But.........Kairi! A girl he knew personally and loved with all his heart! If he choose to save Kairi those poor kids would die! But if he choose to save the kids, Kairi would be the one to face the agonizing death...
"Please....." Sora moaned. "Let them go. They are innocents! They have no part in any of this!"
"Choose." Came Kimmu's voice pitiless and cold as ice. That ice felt like a dagger in Sora's Heart.
Sora looked back and forth, the pain of the decision clearly etched upon his features. "I can't...I don't have the right! As the protector of the Keyholes, as the Essence of Heart, I have a sworn duty to protect all life. But.....which is worse? Sacrificing.....her, to save these children, or sacrificing innocent children, barely having lived any of their life, to save her?" Sapphire locked with Royal Blue. And all he could do was look at her. The one he'd given his life to protect. The very reason he was still here. What was worth her loss?
Sora had made his decision.
"I choose-"
"Sora, don't." Kairi cut him off.
Sora blinked. "But-"
"I know what you're going to say. And no, it's not right." Kairi stated, looking him in the eye, a firm expression set upon her features.
"But-"
"No buts Sora. You know that many lives are far more important then one. " Kairi smiled slightly. "Besides, I would rather die knowing these kids were saved then live knowing those innocent children were sacrificed for me. Sora......please?"
Sora bit his lip, the agony of the decision apparent on his features. But he nodded, shutting his sapphire eyes. "I'm sorry." He whispered before voicing his decision, voice cracking. "I.....I choose......Kairi." Tears slid down his cheeks the second he uttered the condemning words.
The second he spoke, the orb containing the children vanished in a shower of sparkles, falling over him in a cascade of radiance and Beauty. But there was nothing beautiful about what happened next.
The dragon snarled and the barrier around Kairi vanished. Sora tried to look away but found himself watching anyway, transfixed as jaws of death came down upon the girl, who watched her doom coming with defiance. She looked over at Sora and smiled. "I love you." She said, looking at him with tearful royal blue eyes. Time seemed to slow.
"I love you too." Sora said back, shimmering tears sliding down his cheeks to fall into the black abyss.
And then the jaws came, clamping over Kairi instantly, impaling her upon the razor sharp fangs. All Sora could do was watch in horror as Kairi's body was lifted up, limp. Her head hung to the side, lifeless. A small smile remained on her peaceful, now bloodstained face. The Dragon threw back it's head, tossing Kairi's body in the air before snapping her into it''s jaws and swallowing.
"Kairi...." Sora whispered, falling to his knees, tears cascading down his cheeks,shimmering with light. "Kairi....I'm sorry....I'm sorry.....Kairi........."
"Well done....Essence." Kimmu's voice whispered and with a flash of emerald light she appeared before him.
Sora shivered and looked up. "Kimmu." He whispered, voice dripping with bitterness.
"I'm sorry." Kimmu said, still in the same tone she always used.
Sora's eyes narrowed and he stood. "No you're not! This is all your fault!" He snarled, hands clenching into fists.
Kimmu raised a hand. "Sora, I am sorry. I truly am. " She said, and as Sora looked closer he saw a single tear shimmering in her eye.
"...Why?" Sora asked.
Kimmu turned away. "It was a test. The last of my test. We had to see if you were truly capable of the decisions that may come later on." She looked over at Sora. "But clearly, you have friends whom are able to teach you." She gave him a half smile. "I'm proud of you, Essence." She said.
Sora looked down into the abyss with half-focused eyes. "Thanks....but...Kairi."
"Wasn't killed." Kimmu said, and Sora quickly looked up. "Wha?"
Kimmu raised an eyebrow. "And here I was beginning to think you were smart." She snorted. " The Islands? The mountain? Airen's family? They all vanished. Everything you pass eventually disappears. Do you know why?"
Sora shook his head.
Kimmu laughed bitterly. "Don't you realize yet? Nothing here is real. Everything you see is a fabrication, a figment of an angels dream. We live within these realms crafted by our own fantasies. But eventually those all fade, figments cannot hold together for very long, you see. Eventually they break apart and we are left to remember that all they were were fragments, we can never truly experience reality, we can never feel the wind upon our face, we can't feel the warmth of another's embrace, we can't feel the change that comes with the seasons. This is all that there truly is, the icy hand of a death-like sleep that we can never awake from. We can cover ourselves with the fake warmth of our dreams, but they will always fade in the end, for they aren't real. Nothing here is real, and none of us will ever experience reality again."
Sora looked up at Kimmu. "You mean.....all of this.....everything...this is all just a part of your guys' dream world?" Kimmu nodded.
"Yes. Riku was never really here, and nether was Kairi."
Sora blinked. "Then they were just a part of your illusions?"
"Well....sort of. They were a part of each Angel's respective tests......Irai decided the form of Riku would be appropriate for his testing of you." Kimmu explained.
"Then...who was Kairi?"
"Me." Said a voice from behind Sora.
Sora turned to face a girl about his age. She had light blonde hair tied into a bun and two lavender chopsticks were placed into the bun, covered with sparkles. Her bangs hung about chin length and hung out of the bun. She wore a light violet halter top that stopped just above her bellybutton, covered with sparkles like the chopsticks. She also wore a black mini-dress over denim jeans that hugged tightly to her leath legs. Two shimmering white wings, decorated with violet glitter, were folded upon her back. He met her amethyst gaze, one that held a deep look of understanding and kindness.
"Who are you?" Sora inquired.
The girl giggled, bringing a hand up to lips to suppress the light laugh slightly. "My name's Ai." She said with a smile. "I'm the Angel of Love." She took Sora's hand. "And you, Sora, without a doubt, have passed my test."
Sora blinked as she released his hand and he looked at the amethyst gem she had placed in his palm. "But I ordered the DEATH of my girlfriend!" He said, looking confused. "How is that love?"
Ai smiled. "Love is many things, Sora. It is caring for those around you, it is being willing to give things up for those you care for. It is willing to help those who don't deserve it. It is able to heal even after the worst of harms. And sometimes Love demands sacrifice of the greatest kind..."
Sora blinked, then he smiled as well. "Thanks.....for showing me that."
"You're welcome." Ai said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Yuu's invited me to something so I have to go."
Kimmu smirked. "Another date?"
Ai blushed. "Yes..."
"Go tongue him kid!"
"Kimmu!" Ai shrieked, blushing furiously.
Sora snorted. "Bye then, Ai."
"Goodbye Keyblade Master...I hope we meet again." Ai said, smiling before vanishing in a burst of sparkles.
Sora just kind of stood in silence for a moment. "So...she was playing as Kairi...and Irai was pretending to be Riku. So none of them were really here....."
Kimmu nodded. "They cannot really enter this realm."
Sora nodded, then blinked. "Then how come I can?"
"That....is for another time." Kimmu said. "It's a long story....and you still have one final test to complete." She said, holding out an emerald gem. Sora took it.
"Now then....Keyblade Master." Kimmu looked into the darkness and a midnight blue door appeared within the dark. "Beyond those doors lies your final test. I must warn you, it will be difficult. The other Angel's allowed me to use their realms to stage my test. The next angel will not allow me to accompany you. You will be completely on your own."
Sora blinked, noting Kimmu's slight tense undertone to her normally calm voice. "Is their something...bad about the next Angel?" Sora inquired.
Kimmu looked away. "She is......different. She's had a tough time....she doesn't like to speak to us much."
"Why?" Sora inquired.
Kimmu sighed. "I wish I could tell you, but there is no more time. I just warn you.....do not let your guard down.....and be careful."
Sora nodded, turning to face the door. "Thank's Kimmu." He said as he looked at the kanji symbol that glowed upon the door.
"Sora.." Kimmu said from behind him and Sora turned to face her, but she had already vanished, so the last words were echoed within the abyss. "Good Luck.." (Suggested listening music? Going Under by Evanescence.....sqeee for angsty rock o' doom....and for those of you who dislike angst, I'd suggest skipping this) Bakura smirked as his fist clenched around Yami's shirt, meeting rageful crimson eyes. "It's unfortunate that your body was so weak. Maybe if you'd been able to protect your light from all of this, you wouldn't be in this position."
Yami scowled, unable to bring up the energy to struggle in Bakura's grasp.
Bakura's eyes narrowed and he lost his amused look. "Do you remember? Five hundred years ago? I was in your spot, and you were in mine." He hissed. "Do you remember how you made me suffer?"
Yami's eyes flashed but he said nothing.
Bakura snarled and shook Yami roughly. "Do you!? You must remember what you did me!"
"I remember." Yami snapped curtly. "And I also remember you deserved every bit of it!"
A sharp crack sounded through the room and Yami grunted as Bakura's fist met his face, slitting the skin along his cheekbone. "It's because of you that my plans failed!" Bakura snarled. "Because of YOU that I went through all that at your hands!" He pulled Yami closer to him until they were nose to nose. "I've waited so long for revenge for all you've done, Pharaoh."
Yami said nothing, merely met Bakura's eyes with defiance.
Bakura snarled, throwing Yami face-first to the rubble strewn ground. Yami winced as the sharp debris on the ground dug into his skin and drew blood, the thick crimson liquid staining his clothes and joining the stains of reddish brown that were Yugi's blood. Tendrils of black shot from the ground, wrapping around Yami's wrists and ankles, pinning him to the ground and leaving his back open and vulnerable.
Yami forced himself to remain calm, remain stoic. If he made no reaction to anything there was a chance Bakura would give up.
Yeah right.
"Now you'll pay." Bakura hissed, stepping behind Yami. He smirked as he uncoiled a whip from his belt with a snap. He was slightly disappointed that Yami did not flinch from the sound as his hikari had done. But that was fine. Revenge was far sweeter on a defiant spirit then a broken one.
With a snarl Bakura cracked the whip, the leather strap lashing across yami's back, tearing though remains of a school uniform and striking old welts and barely healed wounds, drawing blood. Yami did nothing. Bakura's eyes narrowed and he truly began. He didn't hold anything back, and brutally laid into the spirit. With each stroke it felt as if someone had laid a burning rope across his back and Yami couldn't help but hiss every time the whip landed. Time passed and the beating got nastier and more painful. Still Yami made no response other then small gasps and involuntary jerks. The skin visible beneath his shirt was covered with lines of crimson. Soon enough, the ground that he was bound to was slippery and red with his blood.
Bakura snarled, finding he still was getting no response after half an hour or so of this, and at this point Yami probably couldn't feel the whip anymore. He gave Yami one last powerful blow before letting the bloodstained whip fall to his side. Bakura scowled, panting from his exertions before pulling Yami from the ground by his hair, drawing a gasp from the former Pharaoh.
When Bakura saw Yami's sweat covered, bruised face contorted into a mask of defiance, he growled. Mahogany eyes bore into crimson. After searching his hated enemies face and finding no sign of pain upon it, Bakura growled in disgust and threw Yami against the wall. Bakura gestured, and shards of black shot from his hand, piercing Yami's flesh and pinning him to the wall several feet above the ground so he was eye level with Bakura. "Does it hurt, Pharaoh?" Bakura snarled, stalking up to Yami and gripping his chin, digging his nails into Yami's face and drawing blood. The blood seeped from the wounds like a small trickle of water coming from a leak. "Because this is what you did to me! Do you remember? Those lashes, those scars that I will forever carry upon my back!? Do you remember how many of them you inflicted!? DO YOU!?"
Yami said nothing, merely glared into Bakura's eyes.
Bakura scowled and backhanded Yami across the face, sticky blood clinging to his fingers as he withdrew. "NEVER LOOK ME IN THE EYES! REMEMBER SAYING THAT? DO YOU?"
Yami still gave no response.
Bakura's eyes had a slight wild look in them as he brought his fingers to his lips and lapped the blood from his fingers. "See who is in control now? Who has the upper hand now, hm Pharaoh? Who is the one hopelessly trapped, completely at the others mercy? YOU! Who is in control now? ME!!!" Bakura cackled.
A sick, twisted smile came to Bakura's lips as he traced a finger over Yami's cheek, gathering blood onto it. He brought the blood-stained finger to his mouth and lapped up more of the crimson liquid.
"Now who has the upper hand?" Bakura repeated. He smirked. "Who is the sick bastard now?" He asked as he took hold of one of Yami's wrists. Yami closed that hand into a fist. Bakura grasped one of Yami's fingers and pulled it from it's curled position. He held the small bone between his index finger and thumb and PRESSED.
Yami winced as he felt the pressure. "You are a cruel, heartless bastard, Tomb Robber."
Bakura smirked. "Am I any worse then you were?" He inquired before kind of rolling Yami's finger between his, the pressure now becoming unbearable.
SNAP!
The former Pharaoh's eyes dilated and he let out a cry before he could stop it. That twisted smile came to Bakura's face again as he moved to the next finger.
SNAP!
Yami squeezed his eyes shut, letting out a gasp, face contorted in pain.
SNAP!
"Bakura!" Yami howled in a strained voice. The former Tomb Robber came to Yami's index finger, squeezing the limb tightly and watching gleeful as the former Pharaoh's face seemed to fight to keep it's tears in check.
"You know...you could always simply retreat back to your little puzzle..." The thief whispered in an almost silky sweet voice. "Let your aibou take this....."
Yami snarled. "No!"
Bakura smirked. "Fine then."
SNAP!
Yami threw his head back, letting out another cry. Four of his fingers hung limply, red and bent at odd angles. Bakura smirked, taking Yami's thumb between his fingers.
SNAP!!
The former Pharaoh could no longer hold it back, and a full, piercing scream was torn from him. Bakura cackled, withdrawing as Yami's head fell back and he panted weakly.
"Do you remember doing this to me, Pharaoh? Surely you do. Surely you remember how I screamed.."Bakura's eyes darkened, holding out his hand, eyeing the scars that covered it. "I know you do..."
Bakura, noting he was receiving no answer, pulled a card from his belt. "Hmm....I like this one...though I'm sure you won't. Doma, The Angel of Death!"
A human, if one could call it that, appeared in a flash of deep mauve light. The being was anything but angelic, a crimson skull fashioned as a helmet upon it's head, horns protruding from that. More bone like armor covered it's form, a single, green lidded crimson eye that was ALIVE placed at it's chest. Two pairs of crimson bat wings stretched from it's back, midnight blue membrane torn in places. The pinkish, angel wings seemed so out of place as they stretched from the spot where the large, crimson eye pulsed upon it's chest armor. Thick gloves covered ti's hands, crimson in color, and dagger-like talons stretched from it's fingers, which were thick but rather small when compared to the "angel's" thick as tree truck arms.
The Angel gave an inhuman shriek that sent a chill down Yami's spine and with a flap of grotesque wings was floating before Yami. A disturbingly human face twisted into a cold smirk, mirroring that of Bakura's. A large, crimson covered, taloned hand covered Yami's face, palm going over his nose. If one could see, Yami's face was paling ever more so then before.
The monster now put pressure upon it's palm, crushing against the bridge of Yami's nose. SNAP!
Crimson eyes, mirroring the blood that now flowed from Yami's broken nose as the hand pulled away, dilated. "AAAAUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Yami screamed, arms twitching against his restraints as they fought to bring his hands upon to his nose, stars flying in front of his vision and awareness dimming as crimson blood created a pool upon the stone ground below.
CRACK! A fist struck his face, snapping his head back and bringing him back somewhat. A few seconds later, Yami wished he had stayed un-aware.
"BATTLE OX!" There was another flash and a large man with a bulls head appeared. It wore crimson and gold armor, and brown fur rippled over giant muscles. The beasts hands curled into fists the size of a turkey and brought back it's right arm.
TWHOCK!!! The Battle Ox's fist connected with Yami's collar bone with an audio able CRUNCH!!!
Yami let out another cry and fell forward, panting weakly and trying to draw a breath through a broken nose. Bakura laughed, an insane, trilling laugh that echoed off of the cracked stone walls of the room. He motioned to his two beasts and they stepped back as he stepped towards the former Pharaoh. Yami weakly raised his head, wincing as pain increased in his chest every time he took a breath.
"Remember when you did this to me? The exact same monsters? Same wounds, everything." The Tomb Robber's face twisted into a sickening, twisted smile. "Only now our roles are reversed." Yami gave no reply. Bakura's eyes narrowed and he grabbed a fistful of black and crimson hair. "DO YOU REMEMBER!?" He shook Yami roughly, making him gasp as his broken collarbone grated against bone and tendons. The former thief gave an evil smile as he his nemesis's distress and placed his hand gently upon Yami's shoulder.
"Does it hurt, Pharaoh?" He asked sweetly, a gleeful grin crossing his features as Yami's face paled rapidly.
"N-no.." Yami choked out. 'It's okay, it's okay, it can't be any worse then what's already happened. You're doing this for Yugi-'
The former thief smashed his fist ruthlessly into the former Pharaoh's collarbone. "DOES IT HURT NOW!!!??"
Yami screamed and tried to bite back the bile rising in his throat. His vision blurred and turned yellow but he wasn't offered the grey havens of unconsciousness.
"Do you remember Pharaoh!? Do you!? You remember watching all of this happen to ME! You were amused by it! You enjoyed it! Didn't you!?" Bakura's voice was oily and lethal as he continued to put pressure upon the broken bone.
Yami was hyperventilating rapidly as he tried to deal with the onslaught of pain. He tried to speak. but all that came out were weak gasps.
Bakura's eyes narrowed and he finally removed his fist. "I hate you.." He snarled. He was silent for a few moments, eyes blazed with fury. Suddenly, his cold smirk returned, only now his eyes held more malice. "I wonder how Yugi would react if he knew all this?"
Yami's head snapped up. Bakura grinned, beginning to pace. "Tell me, how much of your past have you told the boy?" Bakura stopped and grinned slyly. "Have you told him about the time you ordered the slaughter of a thousand men? The time you ordered the execution of a helpless family that had wandered into your palace? Have you told him of the times YOU were the one whom oversaw your prisoners torture? Have you!?"
Yami looked down at the ground and said nothing. "Thought so." Bakura smirked. "What would he think?"
Yami looked up at Bakura, meeting his laughing eyes with calm ones that flitted with pain every now and then. "He would forgive me. No matter what I have done, he would forgive me. Just as yours would forgive you."
Bakura scowled. "As if I want his forgiveness. I'm not sorry for anything."
Yami smirked weakly, the room beginning to spin around him. "Of course...in my opinion, you don't deserve it. But I suppose that is why I am Yugi's dark side....and I suppose I'm supposed to learn from him just as he is from me." He met Bakura's eyes. "Yes, I do remember. I remember you tried to steal from my fathers tomb...I remember you murdered him in the first place......and I also...forgive you..." With that, he slumped over, at last granted the haven of unconsciousness. (Suggested music would be Death on the Snowfield from FF6, try going to Overclocked Remix.com to find it...sooo pretty...)
Sora stepped into an icy, cold atmosphere. It wasn't like the mountain, which held a feeling of majestic power around it. This was a subtle, silk like cold that wrapped around you, draped a blanket of ice over your shoulders. A freezing hand, disguised in a vixens gentle caress that stole away your joy before you even knew what was happening. The Keyblade Master shuddered, a feeling of melancholy and serenity filling his heart the second he stepped through the door.
Whitish, light blue grass covered the ground, looking as if each blade were made of glass, yet as the grass blew back and forth in the chilling breeze the glass-like look seemed to flow with it, giving it the appearance of liquid crystal. Boulders surrounded the area, dark blue in color and also taking the appearance of glass, gleaming in the silver crescent moon that hovered in the sky. There was a pool of water set to the right, a darker blue then even the rocks and reflected all around it. A sakura tree was placed near it, however, instead of beautiful white-ish pink petals, sapphire petals that shimmered and appeared to be tiny little gems placed upon the tree. Next to this a small boulder sat, and sitting on it was a young women. Her raven black hair flowed down her back, and she sat delicately upon the boulder, staring into the water. What was startling to Sora were the two jet black wings folded upon her back, midnight blue sparkles decorating them.
'It's all...so...pretty....' Sora thought, gazing around in wonder. 'But....why does it feel so cold?'
He took a step forward and there was a sound, like the tinkling of thin glass breaking. He looked down at where he had stepped and lifted his foot to reveal small shards of broken crystal where beautiful blades of grass once waved.
"It's alright." A quiet, monotone voice whispered from the rock. The women turned her head to face Sora, pale skin bright in the moonlight. Her eyes were a deep, haunted, empty shade of midnight blue, and her cheeks seemed to be stained with many tears. The girl smiled, though it was a weak, bittersweet, half-hearted one. "They always fade after awhile anyway..."
The girl stood, her dark blue dress flowing around her like silk. Silvery, translucent material decorated the dress, hanging from the skirt as though it were a second one. The same material was draped over her neck as a scarf, nearly hiding her mouth from view. The dress cut off to reveal her shoulders, which were covered by silver netting which connected the dress to black gloves that allowed her fingers through, connecting the top and bottom of the glove together only by a small strap of cloth between her index and middle fingers. She folded her hands before her, speaking in the same tone as before. "Welcome, Keyblade Master...Essence of Heart."
Sora slowly took another step forward, again the tinkling sound was heard. "Who are you?"
"I am the Angel of Sorrow. My name is Hiai." The angel replied.
The Keyblade Master blinked. "Sorrow? Doesn't seem like a very good quality to me."
The Angel laughed, a quiet, sad laugh that seemed to be the opposite of all things a laugh should mean. "That's what they all said..." She whispered. "That's why they forgot."
"Huh?" Sora quirked his head to the side, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You'll see....soon.." Hiai spoke, voice devoid of all emotion.
Sora sighed. 'Why is it I never seem to get answers out of these people?' "Well........if you're the sixth angel, how come your wings are black? I thought you were all supposed to be good."
The angel gave a chuckle. "Good, yes. But even the purest light can grow dim." Her eyes bore into Sora's, hallow eyes fathoming a sorrow he could never hope to understand. "It's my fault we're here. All mine."
"What!?" Sora gaped. "How!?"
Hiai shook her head, turning towards the pool. "This isn't about me. This is about you."
The Keyblade Master blinked, following the girl to the water, a trail of thin, broken glass behind him.
"Sorrow." Hiai looked back at Sora. "You said it was a bad quality. In some ways, I suppose it is. It tears friends and families apart, it rips the innocence from children's hearts, it destroys lives and creates pain. But in a way, it is good. For sorrow is what truely brings people together. With great pain, comes also great healing, in which case the binding between souls can become stronger. And...without sorrow, one cannot truly know pain. If one does not know pain, how can one help those who are in pain? If one cannot accept ones sorrow, they cannot move on."
Sora at last came to the water. Hiai gestured down at the still liquid. "Tell me. What do you see?"
The Keyblade Master peered into the water, and his reflection gazed back at him. "I see....myself."
Hiai shook her head. "Look harder. What do you -really- see?"
Sora sighed, eyes narrowing as he stared into the pool. "I don't see anyth-"
Orange flames, scorching him, making his skin blacken, crack, and blister. Tongues of flame licking at his flesh, making him thrash against the bonds that held him to the glass-like surface of raw dark magic. Hades' face, twisting into a disturbing, snaggle-toothed grin. Tears falling down his cheeks, boiling under intense flames, teeth clenched in an attempt to bite back a scream.
Sora gasped, recoiling from the pool and falling to his knees, grasping his head in his hands. But the images kept coming.
A knife, sliding over the bare skin of his arm, drawing a trickle of blood that slid down his tanned skin. Jack-o-lantern-like eyes of his former enemy narrowing and stitched up mouth twitching into a smirk, a pair of scissors pulled from behind a large bulk of a canvas covered body. Sapphire eyes widening in fear, gloved hands clenching into fists, eyes squeezing shut to hold back tears.
"This is the great wound, un-buried deep within your mind after two years of suffering with it."
Liquid heat, running over his bare skin, dribbling from the mouth of a golden staff modeled after a cobra, delving deep into already made wounds, burning away flesh little by little.
"Since it remains un-accepted, un-buried, it continues to haunt you, driving you deeper and deeper into a hole of despair to hide your pain. You cover it with lies of happiness, with bitter smiles and feigned laughter. "
Claw like nails running over his exposed stomach, slimy tentacles wrapped around his arms and legs and cutting off his circulation. Jolts of lightning bursting through his veins, making him thrash and bite his tongue to hold screams of agony in check.
"PLEASE!" Sora pleaded, rolling on the ground, holding his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. "MAKE IT STOP!"
A hook tracing across his jaw bone, a line of crimson following, a fist smashing against his face and bruising it.
"You push the wound to the back of your mind, try and forget it exists. And because you ignore it, the hurt just gets worse. Any memory that comes you quickly suppress, refuse to remember and allow to heal."
A staff, thrust into the air, pulsing crimson. PAIN! Horrible, indescribable pain. Pain that twisted every nerve ending, every cell burned and screamed for release. A knife, twisting, white hot waves of pain flashing through his veins. A high pitched tone ringing through his ears, sapphire eyes wide and tears forming at the corners, hands balled into fists, body thrashing against ink black bonds. Teeth clenched. No screaming, no screaming.
"PLEASE!!" He screamed. "I WANT TO FORGET!"
Screaming, tears streaming down his cheeks, trashing in agony and bonds digging into his wrists, drawing blood. Pain raging through him, crimson light pulsating, lighting the entire stone room, screams reverberating off the walls. No light to protect him. No friends to keep him strong. Nothing to hold onto, nothing to lean on. Just his weak, lonesome, broken self.
"You cannot forget. This is a part of your life. Sorrow is a part of everyone's lives. Until you accept this pain you cannot heal, until you acknowledge it is there and stand up to it, it will haunt you. Accept it."
Pleading for it to end. Pleading for the pain to stop. Broken sobs echoing through the room, crimson glow still shining bright as ever, waves of pain washing over him and threatening to swallow him.
"I CAN'T!"
Dark energy, swirling into wounds, tainting pink flesh a grayish tint. Blood, spurting from fresh wounds...feeling dizzy...whimpering, shaking, crying....
"Yes you can!! This all happened! But you have to accept the pain, you can't let it rule your life! You have to move on, you have responsibilties and they cannot wait! You have to remember what happened, accept the past, and move on! I know it's hard, but you have to!"
Dizzy, pain, hurt...fire..........room spinning.....can't scream any more...throat hurts.....tired..so tired......can't....stay...awake...hurts...
Sora whimpered, tears streaming down his face as he huddled into a ball. "I...I do remember..." He whispered in a strangled voice. Two years ago, I allowed myself to be captured by my old enemies. I was tortured." His eyes squeezed shut as memories of every strike against him flashed through his mind. "...and...I died, saving my friends. But they brought me back.....because I still have things..I need to do. They brought me back...because they wanted me here, to be happy. They wouldn't want me.....to be sad. They would want me to move on. And.....I will." Sora pushed himself to sit on his knees, tears still streaming down his face, shoulders shaking. "I'm going to keep going. I'm going to do whatever task fate has chosen me to do. And....I won't let the past bother me anymore. The past is past...now is now...."
Hiai watched as Sora began to glow, every color of the rainbow pulsating from him with every word, growing brighter and brighter. Wisps of darkness began to float away from him, hisses coming from the dark as it was forced away, repelled from it's two year host. At last, they vanished fully, and the memories locked in Sora's mind lost their hold, their pain washing away, bandaged in white light to be healed.
The Keyblade Master gave a sob and slumped to the ground, littered with broken glass. He shuddered, tears streaming down his cheeks, five different colored crystals falling out of his pocket and onto the crystalline ground.
Hiai smiled slightly and placed her hand upon Sora's shoulder. "It's okay. You're going to be fine."
Sora gave a shuddering sigh and looked up at her, two final tears making their way down his cheeks, shimmering in the silver moonlight. "....Yeah. I will be."
Hiai nodded, gesturing towards where the crystals had fallen. "Look."
Sora sat up, blinking with wet eyes. The crystals had arranged themselves in a circle upon the ground. Hiai reached out and placed a midnight blue gem in it's place.
All six gems lit up. Crimson, fiery orange, sapphire, silver, midnight blue, and amethyst. A beam of light shot from the crimson gem diagonally across the circle to the orange one. A beam shot horizontally from that one to the amethyst one. From this, a beam of light lavender flashed back to the crimson one. Sapphire glowed, a burst of light shooting from this diagonally to midnight blue, midnight blue connecting to silver, and silver to sapphire. These gems and beams that connected them, created a rainbow like star. The star glowed, and above it the kanji symbol for light appeared in all these colors. The symbol glowed, brighter and brighter until it was so bright Sora had to shut his eyes.
"Until we meet again...Keyblade Master.....Sora..." Hiai's voice whispered through the white.
Sora groaned, sapphire eyes slowly cracking open. He blinked slowly, finding Kairi's arm draped onto his chest, her head resting on it. Tears stained his ripped jacket, blood as well. Her chest rose and fell as she slept, lines of dried mascara that had clearly been running on her cheeks.
Around the room, his friends all slept. Yuffie was curled up on a Laz-E-boy chair, magazine in her lap, head leaned against the overstuffed back. Leon sat in a chair, leaning, arms draped over his leather clad legs, against the wood back rest. Donald and Goofy were draped over the table, snoring. Riku lay against a corner, wings draped around himself, silver locks falling in his face.
The sun shown through the window, birds chirping outside, the sound of waves crashing against the beach a beautiful one to hear. The digital clock on the table read "1:00 PM." Sora slowly stirred, finding himself upon the couch in the cabin.
Kairi's eyes slowly fluttered open, feeling the disturbance beneath her as Sora sat up. She blinked, looking up. A look of disbelief crossed her face. "S-Sora!?"
Sora's face stretched into his trademark grin. "Hey Kairi."
"SORA!" Kairi cried, throwing her arms around him. Sora gave an 'oomph' and smiled as she buried her face into his shoulder.
This woke everyone else up. Riku stirred first, blinking as he took in the sight of Kairi and Sora hugging. He shrugged, and closed his eyes again. "Wait!!?WHAT!? SORA!" He jumped to his feet, running over to the two.
Sora blinked, looking up at Riku, grin becoming wider. "Hey."
"Y-YOU'RE ALIVE!?"
"..Yeah..." Sora replied, looking down at his hands. "At least, I'm pretty sure I am..."
Yuffie yawned, stretching her arms above her head and looking up. "WHOA!? HOW!" She cried, jumping her feet and bounding over to the trio.
Sora looked over at the young ninja. "It's....a long story. Let's just say at this rate I'm convinced death holds no power over me...."
"So......you're alive." Leon said, striding over.
The Keyblade Master looked up at him, nodding.
Leon nodded as well, showing a rare smile. "That's good."
"SORA! SORA!" Donald and Goofy jumped up and down.
"Eh heh..hey guys...ah...good morning...I think......"Sora scratched the back of his head, reaching his other arm around Kairi's waist and hugging her to him.
Everything was silent for a moment, and then everyone heard sobbing. Sora blinked, looking down to see tears streaming down Kairi's cheeks.
"I...I was so worried. I-I thought I'd lost you again..." She sobbed, hugging Sora close, burying her face into his shirt and openly crying.
"....Kairi, please don't cry anymore." Sora pleaded, lightly pushing her away from him so he could look her in the eyes. He caressed her cheek, wiping her tears away. "I'm okay now. You don't need to cry anymore. I'm here, and...I'm never going to leave you again."
Royal blue, tear-filled eyes stared into sapphire. Kairi smiled slightly. "....You promise?"
Sora smiled as well, pulling her to him and kissing her on the lips. "I promise..." He whispered as he pulled away.
Now, of course, everyone in the room saw this transpire. And smiled.
It was a new day.....a day for promises to be made that would never be broken.
Awwww, now wasn't that cute? Yeah, I'm really proud of those last two scenes here, after typing them I actually WANT to type more of this fic! Yay for being reinspired...sqeee! We're coming towards the end of the first arc of this fic, yay!
Now, it is currently June fourth, which means I spent an entire school quarter typing this chapter. I swear that'll never happen again, I have a schedule now and I plan to stick to it.
So, next chapter: Sora and Kairi talk, and ooohhh, what on earth is 'Riku' planning ?
Digitaldreamer