Heh, this fic is getting fun to write. I haven't had this much fun for a while! Also, we get to see more of Polaris in this chappy (I don't know whether that's good, bad, or you're indifferent to it, but it is what it is!). I guess that's all...enjoy!
Red Kitsune Fames: Well, I was just going to make him a weepy mess, but then I opted for not making him the complete loser that he looks like. What who's plan is, Kanone's? Oh, we're all dying to find that out. It will be revealed in time... I forgot to mention that, but Dry Eyes is my absolute favorite episode of the series! There were some other really good ones, but that flashback did it for me. Though, that other flashback where Kanone leaves Eyes is good, too, but it ended too sad to be my favorite. I had to rewatch the episode to make sure I got their conversation right, and I still loved it. Hmm, I'm not like Kanone that much...though I do love me a loophole. I'm pretty open with my intentions, though, so I could never be compared to him. I'm like Ayumu a lot more in the confidence department, which I've already mentioned (I know, sad, isn't it?). Oh, we welcome ranting here! Anyway, anything you've got to rant about, rant away! Thanks for reviewing (and ranting)!
CeTe: I guess that depends on whose viewpoint you're looking from. In Kanone's opinion, he's a complete bastard. No, though, I wasn't aiming to make him an ass in this fic. Heh, I only singled you out because you were the only one that said you hated Kanone in that flashback. Oh, Ayumu will be harmed, I assure you...it won't be serious, though... or it might be! Absolutely, he loves the abuse! Thanks for reviewing!
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Polaris stood in her apartment, a bit nervously. Kanone had called so suddenly, informing her that he was coming over to discuss some changes. Though, what those changes were she didn't know. She glanced to Madoka, who was currently tied up in a chair. Polaris hadn't seen the harm in letting her walk around freely, but Kanone demanded she be restrained, saying that he wanted nothing to go wrong, "Well, apparently something went wrong." she thought, checking the clock once more. Kanone should be there any minute, which raised more questions. Like, what could have happened to make him want to change his plans, and the potentially more dangerous question of what changes was he planning on making?
After a few more minutes, a knock sounded on the door, startling Polaris from her thoughts. She quickly opened it and smiled at the boy on the other side, who offered her a smile in return, "Hello, Polaris, I trust you're doing well?"
The girl nodded her silver head, "Yeah, so what's this all about?" she asked, moving so Kanone could enter.
He briefly glanced to Madoka, but turned back to the other girl, "It seems that Ayumu is getting a backbone a little late in the game." he informed her.
Blue eyes darted to Madoka, "Should we move the conversation elsewhere?" she asked.
Kanone looked to Madoka, and smiled at her, then back to Polaris once more, "No, I don't believe it will be neccessary. Dear Madoka won't be released until our plans are carried out anyhow." This caused an uncomfortable shift from the older woman.
"So, what exactly happened?" Polaris asked, sitting down.
Kanone followed suit, "It seems that Ayumu is determined to meet me head on this time. He says that I cannot stay as I am now without falling down. He thinks that when I come crashing down to earth, that he will be there in all his glory to tell me how wrong I was; expecting me to be looking for forgiveness."
"He's a fool." Polaris offered, "Empty words motivated by an empty heart."
Kanone smiled, "Empty? Broken, I would rather think."
"Perhaps, but either way, if he's determined to face you as he is, then we will need to take more extreme measures. Is that not what you spoke of when you mentioned changes to the plan?"
Kanone nodded, "You're a smart girl." Polaris beamed at this, always looking to impress Kanone.
"Do you know what the cause of his new-found strength is?" she asked. If Kanone knew that, then fixing it would be a cinch.
"Of course." Polaris waited, expectantly, "I know that at least Hiyono is giving him strength in himself. Ironically enough, the other Blade Children are giving him hope; hope that he will find Kiyotaka if he defeats me."
This caused Madoka to become extremely interested in the conversation. Polaris didn't give her a chance to speak, though, "Kiyotaka wants you dead." she reminded him, "Ayumu loves you, he wouldn't join forces with his brother if he knew what would result from it."
Kanone frowned, "He needn't join forces with Kiyotaka." he pointed out, "He only needs to weaken me enough for his brother to finish the job. Ayumu, of course, will never know the consequences of his actions. At least not until it's too late."
"And you won't tell him of Kiyotaka's involvement in this?" she asked.
Kanone sighed, "If Ayumu knew his brother was involved, which I know he's at least got very strong suspicions of, he'll make that his top priority. He won't listen to how or why Kiyotaka is involved. Telling him would only motivate him further."
Polaris nodded, then went back to what Kanone said earlier, "You said the other Blade Children told him that Kiyotaka would come back, though? Wouldn't that be motivation enough for him?"
"The others are fools. They know nothing, only giving him the same false hope that he has given them."
Polaris nodded, then took a deep breath, "And Eyes?"
Kanone had to refrain from glaring at her for this question, "What about him?" he challenged, telling her to drop it.
She knew shutting up then and there was the smart thing to do, but she knew that Kanone needed to be sure of this, "What's his involvement in all of this?"
Seeing that he wasn't getting out of the question, he sighed, "I'm sure he has more figured out than I've given him credit for, but I don't know how much Ayumu and he have talked, if at all." he paused, "I don't think that Eyes would want to come foward if he did know anything. In fact, I'm sure of it."
"Because he still loves you?" Polaris asked, "Are you sure you want to rely on that?" It was just common sense that Eyes didn't care for many people, let alone love them. Once he did love someone, Polaris wasn't sure just how much betrayl he'd suffer before he closed himself off to even those dearest and most important to him.
Kanone shook his head, "No, but that's not what I'm relying on." The younger girl glanced to him, confused, "It's...personal." he explained, thinking back to the promise that Eyes had made to him to protect him, "I told him to protect himself above all else." he recalled, "If I still mean as much to him as he makes it seem, then he wouldn't dare collaborate with Kiyotaka."
Deciding that she wasn't going to get anymore answers out of Kanone on the subject of his ex, she moved on, "So, who do you think is the most damaging to us? Hiyono?"
Kanone considered it, "Perhaps, but I'm hesitant to do anything to her."
"Why?" Polaris wondered, shocked, then thought it through, "Oh, I get it. If Hiyono means that much to Ayumu, then he'll be even more determined to take you down if you harm her." Kanone nodded, "Then...why take her?" she asked, motioning to Madoka.
Kanone smiled, "Ayumu cares for Madoka, but in a very different way than for Hiyono, and Madoka also helps him in a different way. I don't plan on harming Madoka because she's not a threat in the sense that Ayumu will do anything rash to get her back. Not saying that he doesn't care for her enough to go to extremes, but he will only do so if he thinks it will get her back. Hiyono, on the other hand, is extremely resourceful and we would have to eliminate her completely."
"So, you took Madoka instead of Hiyono because you know that she won't be able to escape?"
"Exactly. Either one of the girls would have worked for the plan, but Madoka is simply more of a safe bet than Hiyono. However, this also means that Hiyono is still with Ayumu, giving him strength that I'm not sure Madoka could." He glanced to Madoka, smiling, "No offense."
"If you're not going to do anything to Hiyono, then who else is there?" Polaris asked.
Kanone smiled, an evil glint in his eyes, "I said I was hesitant to harm her, I never said anything about you."
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Ooh, so now we have this fun little development. Kiyotaka's still a bit of a mystery, though. Basically, all we know is that he wants Kanone dead. We don't know why or who he has alligned himself with...secretive bastard. And Polaris is off after Hiyono now, wonder how that'll turn out? Review!