OBLIVION-CHAPTER THREE
He moved swiftly through the alleyways and rooftops, his black wardrobe doing a poor job of blending himself in. He was determined to search the entirety of Twilight Town, but for each second that passed, his spirit died down. The town was vast, but his target was not a usual one. If he had already discovered about his identity, and he most likely had, then it would be dreadfully difficult. Especially if that DiZ had found him. That was the only answer, though; it had been a little over a month since he found him here, since he interrupted The Struggle to try and reason with him. But he had no idea who Axel was. And that was what hurt the most, the fact that saving him was nearly impossible.
However, he had to try. The other members would serve as no help, and the Superior... Axel had no idea where he stood. He tugged on his hood and leaped down to the street below, something dark flashing forward in the corner of his eye. It caught him in midair, but he had enough time to summon a chakram in a burst of fire. The black blade met the burning red disc, and Axel landed awkwardly onto the street, the tip of the blade catching his uniform and tipping him forward. His attacker, wearing an identical outfit, frowned under his hood.
"A fire-and-wind wheel, eh...? So, you must be Number Eight of the Organization Thirteen: Axel," said the person cooly, tightening his grip on the sword; it was shaped in the form of a bat wing, a murky, jade eye planted above the handle.
"Yep, that's me," replied Axel shakily, glancing down at the other's weapon. "And you must be..."
"Not often you find a live one of yours roaming around; just what are you doing?" interrogated Riku, silver strands poking out from under his hood. Axel wondered on what he should say, his mind wracking. Whatever he said, he had to choose his words carefully.
"...What about you? Have you been following me?"
"You're in no position to ask questions," stated the boy, jabbing the point of the Soul Eater forward slightly.
"I won't try anything, really," he said. "You can put your little toy away. I have."
Riku looked down at Axel's hands, but it did little to persuade him. "Answer my question, first. Maybe then we'll discuss how I'll treat you."
'Gee, touchy...' groaned the redhead inwardly. Sighing, he fidgeted. "I was just looking for someone, but... now I doubt I'll find him around here. There, happy?" Riku let his arm fall slowly, the Soul Eater vanishing in a flash of light. He folded his arms and bowed his head, thinking. Axel stared at him quizzically, until he noticed something white move behind a building. 'A Nobody...' He glanced over his shoulder to see another. "We're being watched," he stated, nodding in their direction. "We'll talk somewhere else."
Riku looked up, tilting his head to the side. "...Follow me."
So they started a brisk walk eastward, keeping their voices low as they went. "What type are they?" asked the silver-haired teenager.
"Meh, Berserkers."
"So that means..."
"Number Seven: Saix..."
They reached a rundown building at the end of the street. Riku pushed the door open, its hinges squeaking with age. He motioned for Axel to get inside, all the while checking for any signs of more Berserkers. They were dangerous Nobodies, and if too many happened to attack, their chances of victory were slim. He pulled the door closed and shook his hood off. "Those Nobodies weren't after me; I would've spotted them." He glared at Axel harshly. "I find it a bit hard to believe that one member would be spying on another..."
Axel let out a half-hearted laugh. "Relax, kid," he said while pulling down his own hood. "we're talking about Saix here. The guy's hated my guts for no good reason since day one. He's obviously trying to pin me down with something so that the Superior will boot me out of my spot in the Organization. Believe me, had it been up to Saix, I'd probably be dead."
"So who you're trying to find... it isn't something you were assigned to do?"
Axel leaned against the wall, flicking a speck of lint from his sleeve. "...No, but I don't think the Superior cares about what I do or don't. We don't exactly see eye-to-eye anyway."
"Ah, so Saix's objective to get you out won't be fulfilled?"
"I doubt it," responded Axel with certainty. "but he could rally up the other members. They all practically despise me, well, maybe not Demyx, but he isn't a threat, either way. Then again, it all depends if the Superior wants me out of the picture."
Riku nodded and peeked out of a dust-filled window. He saw a figure in the distance, but did not bother to mention it. "...Where do you think the person you're looking for is?"
Axel smirked. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me out with that."
"Hmm?"
"You're an associate of DiZ's, right? I know I'm in no position to ask this, being on a totally different side then you guys-,"
Riku held up a hand to stop. "I doubt DiZ would consider you an enemy. You haven't acted hostile, and, from what I can assume, you're not working in the Organization's favor. Perhaps we could help you."
Axel shrugged. "...This person I'm searching for... I think he would be where Sora is."
Riku's gaze traveled downward, but his expression was like stone. "...I take it you mean his Nobody, Roxas."
"...Yeah." Both were quiet for a moment, but Riku closed his eyes. "I have no clue where he is, unfortunately. I fought him before, there, but after that DiZ took him to Twilight Town, and that was the last I saw of him. Besides..." he looked to the side, "when I encountered Sora earlier, I never saw him in that world."
Axel sighed and shook his head. "I guess it'll be harder than I thought. A lot harder."
Riku tapped his chin. "...Maybe not. I'll discuss it with DiZ, and... I'll try to get back to you."
"Really?" Axel's grin returned. "I'd appreciate it, but I won't just be sitting around, waiting."
"That's fine, just don't get in over your head."
---
The train departed, leaving Sora, Donald, and Goofy standing before a rather large, brick house. There was a fountain, broken and chipped, spewing out gushes of water in the center of the area. Grass was withered away, and the brick pavement had eroded in several places. Donald adjusted his cap.
"Is this the magician's home?" he huffed. Goofy scratched his ear softly. "I think it is... Where else would we be?"
"Come on," commanded Sora suddenly in a determined manner, stepping up to the door. He knocked lightly on the wood. He moved back, waiting. A few minutes passed, the fountain spurted, the sun melted into the horizon... The door shifted slightly, a zephyr coming from within. "Please, come in," came a raspy, yet powerful voice. Sora glanced back at the other two before going inside; they followed him into the foyer of the house.
A cauldron was bubbling in a nearby firehalf, and multiple bookshelves, their volumes old and ragged, were found at various points in the place. From atop the stairs, the voice greeted them. "Welcome, travelers, welcome... Make yourselves at home, please." Three chairs popped into existence through a puff of smoke behind them, but Sora looked up at the old man, who was dressed in light blue robes with a very pointy hat. A grand, white beard extended from his chin to his ankles, and he returned Sora's gaze. The Keyblade Master tensed; this man gave off a powerful aura. There was no doubt he was the wizard Hayner spoke of, but even before he could utter a single syllable, the wizard spoke again.
"I know why you have ventured here, young Sora, along with Donald and, of course, Goofy. I am indeed the sorcerer you are in search of: Yensid."
"Yensid?" Donald exclaimed in disbelief. "The same Yensid that was the king's mentor?" The old man laughed, descending the stairs.
"Yes, yes, however, it has been a good time since I have seen your king. Tell me, how is he? Oh-forgive me. He is, in fact, the one you are trying to locate!" Yensid berated himself quietly, drawing a breath. "Do not worry, I believe your king is doing extremely well. But you have not come to discuss that, no, no, no... You have come to discuss the current crisis. I am correct, am I not?"
"Crisis?" Goofy asked, and the wizard nodded. "The door to the World of Darkness was opened, and one seeks to reopen it, now that's its location has been discovered."
"Discovered?" Sora inquired.
"Yes, the endless abyss at the center of its world. The darkest of darkest... If one were to tap into its black depths, and somehow harness the massive power that would surge through their bodies..."
"But we closed the door," protested Sora. "Us three, and Riku and the king! Could it be opened again...?"
"Any door can be opened... with the correct key," stated Yensid as he stroked his beard. He studied Sora thoroughly, pointing at him with an aged finger. "Show me the strength of your heart, young Keyblade Master." Sora narrowed his brows, taken aback.
"Huh?"
"The Keyblade-summon it."
Sora nodded hurriedly and took a deep breath. He put his hand out, a golden light spawning from it. The light took the shape of the Keyblade. The brunet smiled; his "amnesia" had bore no effect on his ability to summon the weapon. Holding it out for Yensid to see, the wizard smiled ecstatically and nodded feverishly. "You've done it, Sora! You've mastered the Keyblade!" The boy grinned, waving it around a bit. But suddenly, he felt a tug in his chest; a small one, but he noticed the Keyblade fade just the tiniest fraction in that second. He dismissed it quickly.
Yensid cleared his throat and produced a long, wooden wand. "I suppose, then, that I must grant you a gift," he said with delight, but Sora appeared puzzled.
"Gift?"
"Yes, now please remain still. This should only take a moment..." Light engulfed Sora's body, and in its wake his clothes had been replaced by more fitting ones, the color of black. He eyed himself, turning his head and twisting around to glimpse at every part of his new attire.
"What's this?" he asked, tugging at the jacket.
"This," Yensid proclaimed," is my gift to you, Keyblad Master. These clothes will allow you to merge the power of your heart with another, yoelding great power. I will leave it up to you to decide on how to use it." Somewhere in the building a clocl chimed, and Yensid waved them away. "Well, now, you must be going. No sense in keeping you here for tea." He shooed them out the door, despite their protests, and Sora frowned.
"He didn't even explain anything to us!" he vented. "All he did was make me more confused..."
"Poor you," came a sneer. The trio of duck, dog, and boy spun around to see a person wearing a black coat standing near the fountain. He was hooded, and seemed to be of similar height when compared to Sora. He shook his head disappointedly. "You're Sora?" he inquired disgustedly. "...I can't believe I'm a shadow of you."
Sora scowled at the tone of his voice. "Hey, you're that person I saw on the way here! Who are you?" The hooded boy chuckled slyly.
"Wow, you're so perceptive, Mr. Obvious. It doesn't take a genius to piece two-and-two together. I've been following you since you waked up."
"Does that mean you know how we got there?" asked Goofy; the boy just shrugged.
"It doesn't matter," he replied, jamming a finger in Sora's direction. "I'm here to settle things with him, not answer questions." Sora scratched his head, bewildered at what this boy was saying.
"Wait a second, just what are you talking about?" demanded the Keyblade Master. The other boy merely flicked his wrist out, his tone changing drastically.
"Draw your weapon," he commanded sternly.
"What?"
"I said, draw your weapon!" repeated the boy, the Oathkeeper appearing in his right hand. In his left, Oblivion formed. Sora gasped in shock.
"Keyblades! But how are you able to-," He could not finish as the mysterious boy rushed at him, Keyblades being flicked around in countless circles and manuevers. Donald uttered a warning, but Sora stood his ground. The Oathkeeper moved dowanward to strike him...
It was met by the Kingdom Key. Gritting his teeth, Sora met the boy's gaze. "I don't know who you are, but... if you want a fight, bring it on!" He pushed him away, taking up an offensive stance. The hooded boy smirked, his face caught in shadow as Donald and Goofy took their places alongside the brunet.
"If you mess with Sora, you mess with us too!" said Goofy, pulling up his shield.
"Yeah!" remarked Donald. The boy chuckled once more, cocking his head to the side.
"Really...?" The Keyblades flashed forward; streams of light bombarded them as a black shape plowed forward. Sora dashed forward, meeting the boy, Keyblades clashing against each other. Donald and Goofy were stopped momentarily by the magic attack, but already the two Keyblade wielders were locking weapons in a tight struggle.
"Just who do you think you are?" Sora asked fiercely, trying to hold back the Oathkeeper and Oblivion. The other boy ground his teeth. "Who do I think I am?" he spat back. "It's because of you that I'm like this! I won't fade away!" With all his strength he twirled around and knocked Sora against the fountain. He rolled out of the way as the opposing Keyblades ripped through the fountain, sending chunks of stone flying in every direction.
Sora eyed him wearily, holding the Kingdom Key off to the side. 'How can he use Keyblades...? And... those are the keychains I have...' The boy dismissed his Keyblades, turning to Sora.
"This isn't over yet. You haven't proved your worth..." He then ran off, the brunet calling out to him to stop, but he did not, instead disappearing over a hill.
Sora glanced at his companions, nodding toward the train. "...Come on guys, let's get going."
END CHAPTER THREE