Changing Its Course
By: shinigami-no-elie
A/N: Special thanks to:
-Square Enix and Disney for releasing KH sequels
-Kubo-sensei for creating BLEACH
-Ma Friends!
-Those who review, I love you, guys!
Disclaimer: I won't tell you all if you don't stop ask me to do da disclaim! Have you all stopped yet? Have you? Kay then: 1) I don't own square and its games, and its back sound and back music, and also whatever the hell they have! 2) I don't own BLEACH or any other Kubo-sensei's stationary! Like hell I can get one! 3) I always thought that I own my computer, but in the end, Microsoft holds everything! 4) Conclusion: I own nothing! There! Happy?
"Talk"
"Thought"
"Talk" for Ichigo as Sora
"Thought" for Ichigo as Sora
"Talk" for Kail
Chapter VII
Curse…
After meeting Roxas, Axel decided to lead him back, right? Well, it didn't turn out well since the roads were so annoying like hell because of its "complexity". Moreover, it's dark. Simply to say, they're both lost in the middle of the court.
Roxas and Axel had been walking in circle. Looked like only Roxas realized it. Roxas pulled Axel's sleeve. Axel, turned annoyingly at the blonde, only grunted, "What?"
Roxas made a glare at him; Quick and threatening. "We've past here…"
Axel turned around and sweat-dropped. Seriously, he felt that the aura is still the same. Axel sighed and made a motion.
"We're lost…"
Eyes went big, face turned blue…
"WHAT!"
Axel had to shut his ears so that his yelling won't hurt him. "Craze…Don't worry. I'm sure this is the right way… now, are you going or not?"
"Going after! Axel, we've past here 2 times!" Roxas yelled. He's grown tired. No one should blame him though. He's been worn out from his training and definitely hyper tired. Letting out some steam would be necessary. Roxas sighed and tried to restrain his self. "We should really find other path. Really, I mean if we're lost here for-" Roxas stopped at his words. Dead silent until Roxas summoned his Oathkeeper. Axel also felt it coming. He also summoned his chakrams.
Some people were approaching…
"Two people…" Roxas whispered. Axel nodded as he crept onto the wall. Roxas followed him behind. The unknown people looked like realized they were being watched. Axel sensed their movement because their reiatsu vanished, as if nothing was even there in the first place. And then…
Wind…
It blew slowly, passing Axel and Roxas, ruffling and playing their spiky hair. "Something was wrong." Axel thought to himself. Realizing what's going on, His eyes widened in fear. "SHIT!"
Roxas turned at the cursing man. He felt his collar had been grabbed roughly and the next thing he knew, he had leapt with Axel. It's obvious since the one who pulled him and almost threw him was none other than Axel himself. Roxas shot a glare again at the pyro. The pyro was too more distracted on other things. Since Axel was only looking at the ground, Roxas decided to join. And then, he understood why in the first place, Axel had to pull him.
The wall where they had crept before had been torn to pieces. Moreover, the opposite wall seemed to be damaged by something. Whatever it is, it really made a good hole. Axel landed, followed by Roxas. Axel gritted his teeth and turned at the two people. "Oii… Are you going to kill your own comrade?" he said coolly. The two people only stood there. One with black hair down to her neck, wielding none other than the infamous keyblade.
The other, haired tied in somewhat pony-tail way, looked angry, crossing her hands over her chest.
Shikachi and Nenke…
Nenke only blinked. "Axel?"
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Sora, unconsciously, was thrown to the dungeon by some freaking heartless, along with Riku. That Ichimaru had almost killed Sora, and Riku hated it very much.
Flashback
"Oh really… I don't even manage…" Ichimaru said lazily to the two boys. Sora grabbed his sword tiredly. Riku only clenched his keyblade tightly. Yes, Ichimaru was tough. And Riku felt that the man hasn't even used quarter of his energy yet. Okay, about the neo-shadows? They wiped it in no time.
"Shit… if this continues…" Riku thought darkly as the silver-haired man approached them. He could feel Sora knelt from exhaustion. To his surprise, Sora only smirked darkly when Riku turned on him.
"Heh… this body is really annoying." He said darkly. His voice was rather shallow and tired. Still, he refused to give up as he stood up and pointed his blade to Ichimaru. "But we don't have many choices in this matter, do we, Riku? A fight till the end…"
Riku smiled and joined the brunette. Ichimaru only shook his head. The sky had grown darker than ever.
"Gee… persistent, aren't you two?" Ichimaru asked playfully. Riku gripped his keyblade tightly and stroke first. Ichimaru drew his sword, ready for another round. He parried it slightly quicker. Riku back away as Sora clashed his blade with Ichimaru's. The two fought fiercely, that is until Ichimaru saw an opening. He pushed Sora until he (Sora) went to defense stats.
After breaking through Sora's defense, He swung his blade for Sora's head. Riku quickly blocked it away to buy some time for Sora to recover. Ichimaru only smirked wider at the boy's effort. Ichimaru kept pushing him the way he pushed Sora.
"Sora…err…Ichigo…" Riku said reluctantly. He's been blocking Ichimaru's attack and saw no opportunity on counterattacking. "Need…help…" Riku blocked some Ichimaru's triple attacks. "…here!" - And then Riku's keyblade disappeared from his grip, and was thrown out by Ichimaru's Shinsou. Riku looked upon his reaper with hate. Ichimaru smirked deviously and pointed his Shinsou, ready to launch the finishing blow. That would happen if it wasn't for Sora to show up defending Riku. That also had a price.
"Really Riku… and I thought that… you're better than him… this boy…" Sora gasped. Ichimaru's blade had cut his shoulder. It spurted blood heavily. Riku only gaped. Ichimaru drew back his zanpakutou and back away for a bit.
"Hohoho… touching friendship…" he said mischievously. Sora looked upon their pursuers and frowned.
This wasn't meant to be the end...
Sora's/Ichigo's view was leaving him as he fell. Riku watched in horror, seeing the brunette fell from the lost. He quickly, and tiredly, caught him. Blood spurted everywhere; from Sora's clothing to his own. Riku reluctantly shook him a bit, being afraid of what might happen.
No motion…
Not even a flick…
"NONONONONONO! Don't' die yet you slacker!" Riku shouted in his head as he desperately shook Sora's limp body again. No motion; same as all.
"My, my… I've done it all wrong… He said not to kill either, but I've killed one. Oh well…" Ichimaru said. His wicked smile still there on its place as if glued to his mouth. Riku laid Sora's body and stood. Slowly, He turned at the murderer. His eyes flashed dangerously.
"YOU'RE DEAD!" Riku screamed on top of his lung. Never does he felt such hatred towards others. He pointed his hand on the keyblade over the battleground and called for it to return to its master. He stroke again with hate and anger towards the silver haired man. Ichimaru only smirked wider.
"Now you see it, now you don't…" Ichimaru muttered. When Riku was about to charged onto Ichimaru, He vanished. Riku stopped and looked around furiously, that is, until Ichimaru reappeared behind him and muttered softly.
"You're too weak, Riku…"
And the rest for him was a big blank…
End flashback
He looked at his best friend sadly. The wound had been healed. By who? He didn't care…
As long he could see Sora was breathing and alive…
Riku felt as if a barbell was put on his eyes. His head was killing him. Whatever the heck that Ichimaru used to knock him out, it surely hurt, bad. He leaned over the stone wall next to his companion and smiled weakly. "At least Sora is well…" He thought as darkness overtook him, again…
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'You want to come or what!" Shikachi screamed at Axel and Roxas. Nenke calmed her captain immediately. It's a good thing that Shikachi hadn't took her anger out on everything surround her, or else, it would be the first big bang that could happen in Seiretei. Axel hissed at Roxas.
"What's with your Captain?" he asked. Roxas only looked at his friend with a don't-ask-me look. Nenke noticed their little discussion and clapped her hands to turn their attention on her. Well, it did turn their attention on Nenke. Nenke coughed a little and start speaking while Shikachi only pouted behind her.
"What're you guys doing here? And Axel, shouldn't you be at your squad? I bet Byakuya was searching you. After all, after the Larxene's incident…" Nenke was still talking until Shikachi could hold her fury no more as she ran straight and almost collided on Roxas and Axel along the way. Nenke's word was cut as soon as her Captain ran.
"I guess we'll be running for a while… You two, go back to your squad!" she sighed and followed her captain. Roxas and Axel only stood there, not knowing what the hell just happened. Axel smiled wickedly.
"Want to go and find out?"
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"I've sent the message…" Shichi reported. Ukita, who was assigning a pile of paperwork slightly turned at her lieutenant. She was gasping tiredly. Ukita presumed that Shichi had used her shunpou as quick as possible. She held down her pen and walked towards the window behind her. She only looked for the night view.
"Good…"
Shichi smirked at herself proudly. Yes, she's her little sister after all, and will always be. Shichi then took a glance on the paperwork. There weren't much now the fact that Ukita had worked all day long just to finish her papers. Shichi smiled and walked towards the desk. Ukita was still enjoying the view. Shichi took the rest of the papers and held it.
"I'll do the rest. Why don't you rest for while, big sis?" she said as she took of to her room with her shunpou. Ukita was surprised by her sudden statement. She turned to the place where Shichi had been and smiled to herself.
"I guess that's good too…"
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Kagami was alone in the hospital room. 15 minutes ago, Marluxia had checked on him, to see if he is alright with everything. Well, being a genius in his age, he couldn't find his self any better or worse. For one, he's a genius and could take care of himself, and two; he had that stupid seal of his hindering his movement and action.
"I guess I shouldn't be too hurried on my revenge…" he sighed bitterly
"Indeed you shouldn't…"
Kagami turned over to the voice. Black-hooded person stood in front of the door. His/her eyes scanned the room carefully, as for Kagami, his eyes flashed dangerously over the person. He couldn't tell is it a she, or a he. That didn't matter until the person approached him.
Kagami readied his Haretsumashin on his hand. The person stopped and glanced at the newly-summoned zanpakutou. That person lowered her hood.
Short-Chocolate-brown hair was revealed. Her eyes, it was as black as the obsidian. Her gaze, it's full of enigma. Surely, Kagami wouldn't trust such a person…
"Back off, woman!" He threatened as he pointed his zanpakutou. The woman only frowned from this sudden 'warm' welcome. She back off a bit until Kagami lowered his sword a little. Kagami then scanned her feature. She was only covered with…black cloak? Somewhat, she's really like Jyuusan Kikan. His caution didn't wear off though.
"What do you want?" Kagami started interrogating. The woman only giggled slightly. Receiving such an answer, Kagami felt his blood boiled. He pointed his sword again. "What do you want? ANSWER ME DAMMIT!"
The woman chuckled again. "I'm just passing around and doing my stuffs…" She grinned. That's it. Kagami felt that this woman was playing dumb with him. He swung his sword, threatening her.
"Who would believe such an absurd answer?" he replied coolly. The girl sighed in a happy and cheerful way. Kagami was still cautious with his surroundings.
"Two…no… four people are going towards this place." Kagami thought. The girl summoned her short blade. Kagami stared at it cautiously. He only smirked grimly. "If you're here for doing some stuff, what are the stuffs?"
The girl smiled deviously as she drew closer to the raven-haired boy. "I don't know, what do you think?"
Kagami stood on his bed and repositioned himself either to parry or attack. "Let see… chasing me to get the ultimate power of Darkness?"
The girl only smiled wickedly. "Bingo! You're a bright boy!"
Her last words are his cue to defend his self. The girl landed some few combos on him. Kagami only blocked it with much effort since he's not in a battle condition. He panted heavily as the girl finished the combos. The girl back off for a moment, smirking happily.
"No wonder he wants you alive…" she muttered and was about to attack again. Kagami gritted his teeth; he has no more energy to block the attacks any further.
That is, until he had not felt the pain…
The girl's movement stopped as a thin metal sword slipped between her neck and shoulder. Kagami squinted his eyes a bit to see who was holding the other sword.
Shikachi….
"Touch him, and you're dead!"
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"Shikachi, Calm yourself!"
"But he's freaking in danger, dammit!"
"He'll be fine as long as he is with Marluxia around!"
"Let me go Nenke!"
Roxas and Axel finally made it to the women's destination: 4th squad. Pretty creepy in the night? Yes. They arrived at the field in front of 4th squad HQ. In front of them, Nenke was holding Shikachi back on her best effort. Axel glanced over Roxas. Roxas understood what he's trying to say on his glimpse and nodded. They ran towards the two.
"Nenke! We must hurry!" screamed the angry Shikachi. She shook violently but not enough to shove Nenke off. Instead, the other woman only held her tighter.
"Not yet! Someone unknown is still there!" Nenke said. Roxas went behind the lieutenant and so did Axel. Nenke only turned slightly at the two juniors.
"Have I told you to go back to your squad?" Nenke brawled. Roxas shrugged. Nenke sniffed as she tightened her grip on her Captain. This time, somehow, she failed and with that Shikachi ran towards the main door. Nenke cursed it.
"AFTER HER! SHE COULD DESTROY EVERYTHING INSIDE!" Nenke commanded the only shinigamis left on the field. Roxas and Axel nodded without hesitation, seeing few scenes about how Shikachi managed to escape. Whatever the hell this meant, someone's up to no good. They after Shikachi, followed by Nenke behind.
They stopped at the hall. It's full with shinigamis. From their looks, looked like they'd been hit by tornado
Roxas looked around while Axel raised his awareness. Nenke followed them behind. No sound…
Suddenly, they felt intense reiatsu pressure. Even Axel and Roxas knelt for it. Nenke, even though being a skillful shinigami, couldn't help but to lean over something. And then it stopped. Axel quickly tracked it without Nenke's order. Something was not right…
"It's from Kagami's!" Axel shouted as he ran through the corridors of the hall. Nenke and Roxas followed him behind. Oddly enough, every corridors they got through, there's no sign of anyone, even from the 4th squad their selves.
They turned right, to see Shikachi sliding her sword on a shinigami. Kagami was panting heavily, sitting on his bed while his zanpakutou lying on the cold floor. Nenke, seeing this view, only gasped. Roxas and Axel quickly summoned their weapons. Since they're in front of the room, it made quiet narrow space between everyone of them.
"Touch him, and you're dead!" Shikachi threatened the attacker. Silence hit the room. The girl only glanced at her from the corner of her left eye. She then, oddly, smirked.
"It's very nice to meet you, the first Dark Master. Though, your welcome is not the one that considered…warm." She snickered. Shikachi's eyebrows twitched. Her hand gripped the Hoshigaki tighter by the title that she'd given. Roxas and Axel were about to raise their weapon but Nenke stopped them by her hand motion.
"I can't give you a warmer welcome than this, ex-shinigami Freya. The last time I saw you, you were plotting to fail me in the process of creating the keyhole…" Shikachi said sternly. Freya only chuckled. Hearing the word 'keyhole', Roxas and Axel glared at both Nenke and Shikachi. Nenke couldn't say a word. She had no idea on how she had to put this. "…but then again, you tried to come here, to my 'successor'. What are you plotting now, ne Freya?" She asked.
Freya only frowned. Seconds later, she snapped her finger a dark portal appeared to the right of her. Shikachi was stunned by this sudden action. The girl, Freya, quickly used this opportunity and jumped into the portal. Shikachi cursed it as she walked to the window in hope finding a clue on Freya. Seeing nothing, she sighed in disappointment. She used her hand motion to order the rest of the group entering the room. Nenke nodded slightly and then, entered the room, followed by both confused Axel and Roxas.
"What the hell just happened?" Roxas whispered his words softly to his pyro companion. The pyro only sighed and shrugged; he had no idea. They looked around and leaned to the wall next to Kagami's bed, seeing no chair to be seated around (Nenke and Shikachi had occupied the two of it).
Shikachi's face was near…expressionless. She seemed speechless, as if a tornado had struck and destroyed everything. Kagami only sat there, didn't know what to say, that is until Shikachi said the word.
"Why you didn't tell us that you're that boy?" Shikachi asked softly, regretfully as well. Kagami only let out a 'humph'. Yes, he's not going to say anything onwards. Shikachi sighed. Seeing her so screw up, Nenke asked her question.
"Marluxia knows this, doesn't he?" Nenke stated. Kagami only nodded slightly, slightly enough for them to get. Nenke continued her question, "Do you know what is being a dark master?"
Roxas, feeling unnoticed, spoke up before Kagami could answer that question. "Nenke-fukutaichou… what are we talking about?"
Shikachi turned at the two. She totally forgot that they have them around. Shikachi let a heavy sigh and signal Kagami to not answer those questions. They must know since they'd been dragged into her messes. Moreover, Roxas was a keyblade warrior. He must know…
Shikachi took a deep breath before telling her story. "It all began when the court agreed to make a keyhole…" Axel's eyes widened.
"MAKE A KEYHOLE!" Axel shouted without believe. Shikachi's eyebrows twitched uncomfortably at the pyro. Kagami still remained silent, waiting the woman shinigami spit it out the things she had done. Axel watched her angry face and quiet back. Shikachi, feeling that she's got the attention, continued her story.
"That was, not long after me, Nenke, Ukita, and Aoi graduated from shinigami academy. There was a total fuss about weird beings walking in Soul Society. Heartless, those who are almost the same as hollows, but in very different ways, walked around and searched a good and tasty heart to feast on. At first, the Gotei Jyuusan Tai was troubled with this mess until someone stated this…"
Shikachi looked at Nenke for a brief moment as if asking her permission. Nenke didn't look at her eyes but nodded indeed. Seeing her cue, Shikachi nodded and continued her story. "'The heartless' are here because our heart of the world entrance is not sealed!' that statement was made by Nenke…" Axel and Roxas took a quick glance at Nenke. She only evaded their intense glance as she asked Shikachi to go on.
"…Well, she also had theory that Seiretei, as the realm of the dead, the afterlife, has unconnected heart. The heart is located exactly inside Kingdom Hearts itself. To go through it, we have to use the power of darkness in order to teleport there without being hurt by the heartless'…."
"However, we need someone who has almost limitless of dark energy and well; they found me…" she said bitterly. "Our plan is to seal the entrance so that the heartless' don't bother to comeback. To do that, we need keyhole to be sealed. The question is: 'how do we have one?' It all came back to us that Seiretei has never had any keyhole. That also leads to 'how do we make one!'"
"That's when my power was used, for both creating the connection between our world and its keyhole. Since we have Nenke, she can seal the keyhole. Everything seemed to work as it should be… until Freya had to show up and screw up everything…"
Shikachi sighed. Roxas and Axel were rigid at their place. The story is killing them…
"She managed to cause a catastrophe, breaking my concentration. The keyhole was done and I'd already use all of my strength. I knew this is going to happen so before I leave, I sent a bit of my power so that if I can't succeed, the holder of that power will, I hope, continue the project. That power itself is taking a form of seal. I called it the dark-night... curse…"
"But then, after Nenke sealed the keyhole, nothing happened. Moreover, newcomers arrive: Nobodies. We had killed them countless. We left no spot of heartless and nobodies."
"After my work, I was appointed as the Captain of the 14th squad, the newest squad from Gotei Jyu-yon tai. Nenke and Aoi was sent there as my subordinate. As for Ukita, being as genius as ever, she was appointed to be the Captain of the 3rd squad along with her sister as the lieutenant…"
"And then, I tried to find my successor… but the heartless and nobodies are on my way, again… that's how we found you all, the former of Jyuusan Kikan." Shikachi glanced at both Roxas and Axel. "And then, few days later, I found my successor…" Shikachi mumbled. Her tone was mixed into sadness, sorrow, anger; everything becoming one. Nenke only stared blankly at the blue sky, though she'd paid attention as well. Roxas only gapped in surprise while Axel wore a disbelieving look.
"Wait… a… minute…" Axel stuttered. "So Kagami's role, to your view, is only as a successor to your neglected work?"
Silence…
Shikachi cast her gaze away, feeling uneasiness in each other. Axel could feel his blood boil. He grabbed her by the collar and tried to hit her as hard as he could but Nenke quickly grabbed his hand. Roxas still sat there, watching Axel's failed attempt. He turned to Kagami who wore unreadable look. Sad? No. Angry? Can't tell. Hurt? Maybe yes…
"I know you're furious Axel, after what you've been through with Roxas when you lived…" Nenke was about to talk more until Shikachi motion her hand, signaling to stop it. Nenke did what she told hesitantly. Axel still stood face to face with Shikachi. He knew he has to stop, but his anger seemed to pour out, without end. He faced Shikachi again, ready to hit him. But this time, a hand reached out and grabbed it.
It's Roxas'…
"We really should hear the rest of the story, Axel…" Roxas said rather flatly, though his tone seemed to be rather trembling. Axel roughly drew his hand. He knew he should be sorry to Roxas but he's not in the mood. He himself had been a tool once: his service for the organization was considered to be a tool for Xemnas. That also went for Roxas. And if things like this happen again, he would have to admit that all in his life and death; he lived within the lies itself. Axel growled and walked out the room. Roxas sensed that he was outside, not intending to go anywhere. Roxas glanced at the captain and nodded, signaling that it's okay to continue. After all, he knew Axel wouldn't be too easy to be convinced.
Shikachi glanced over the raven-haired shinigami. Kagami didn't look at her eyes. He stood up and was about to walk outside too, until Nenke turned at him and said, "Where are you going?"
Kagami slightly turned his head. "Searching Marluxia…" he lied and off with his shunpou, leaving Shikachi with regret. He stood up to talk again to Roxas.
"I'm sorry Roxas… I've talked more than I have thought I would. It'd be best for you and the others to keep it secret…" Shikachi apologized grimly and walked towards the door. Roxas didn't give her a comment. Instead, he gave her the way. As Shikachi passed, Nenke followed her Captain. Outside, Axel was leaning over the wall. The two of them only walked pass him. His eyes were closed, as if he was sleeping. Shikachi thought not. Though he might never hear it, Shikachi whispered "I'm sorry…"
They passed him and off with their shunpou. Axel's eyes opened slowly.
"The upper-levels these days, how ignorant…"
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Kagami ran…
He ran with no direction…
He knew he should meet Marluxia in times like this. He's the one whom he could count on, even though he's such a bastard.
But he didn't care about it right now…
All he wanted to do is run from that very place. Honestly, he knew everything about the seal. He had heard the story about it. Yet, he had no idea that the vessel would be him since he had never seen the curse.
By the time he knew, it was Marluxia's information…
Marluxia is sneaky? No doubt about it. "No wonder they labeled him 'The Graceful Assassin'" He murmured as he dashed throughout the corridors. He'd been in the south building for too long. He'd missed the lively joy of 4th squad and its patient's writhing in pain. That wasn't supposed to be a good thing, was it?
He dashed passing people in the way. No one seemed to care though. They had more urgent matter to think of and do for. He arrived at a crossroad. Not knowing where to go, he turned right but only to bump into someone he knew very well and annoyed him in every way.
"Watch it bird brain!" the person scowled. He was taking some plastic bottles. Because of that collision, they were thrown in every direction. Fortunately, the seal and bottle is dense enough to survive a clash. His pink hair was as messy as ever while his face is still girly.
It's none other than Marluxia…
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The next 4 hours…
Riku opened his eyes slowly. He was still in the prison where Ichimaru kept "them" (as in Ichigo and Riku) hostage. He turned his head slightly. His head felt better right that time.
"Feeling better?"
Riku turned at the brunette. Sora was…
Smiling?
Smiling worriedly?
Riku rubbed his eyes once only to see him in his cold state. Riku felt as if he was staring at his own reflection. Whoever this Ichigo person is, possessing Sora's body is not a good way to release his self.
"Hey..."
Riku snapped from his thought. "Uh… yeah…" he said unsurely. His head is was not aching anymore but his neck hurts like hell. Sora, for the first time, grinned widely.
"Then let's prepared you for some run-away plan!"
Tsuzuku
A/N: A bit quick, yes… I'm a hard worker! Let's celebrate it! Dun-dun-dun-dun! Happy reading evry1! R&R