I'm baaaaack…hehehe! This chapter is a sad one…I know I'm gonna cry while writing it. –Sad face-
Neo: Aw. Poor baby.
I feel as bad as I did at the end of Revolutions, when you died, Neo! –Bawls-
Neo: Hm. Yeah, well, it didn't feel too pleasant for me either. –Sigh- KOS-MOS rox doesn't own anything in this chapter.
Some of the dialogue in this chapter is written in song lyrics, so don't review me saying "HEY, YOU STOLE THAT FROM A SONG!" because I'm well aware if it. LOL
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Xenosaga Episode II: Die Kraft der Liebe
Chapter 13: Any Way the Wind Blows
"Rubedo…" the boy said in a calm voice, looking at the U.R.T.V. Jr. studied him with the utmost interest, having no idea what was going on.
"H-How do you know my name?" Jr. asked frantically, searching the boy with his eyes. His physical features were subtle, yet perfect, and his eyes were a very bright green. He wore clothes very similar to chaos, but except of gold, the jumpsuit was green and black. He wasn't wearing gloves either. In his right ear, he wore a silver cross earring.
"I know many things about you," the boy stated matter-of-factly. "But that doesn't matter right now. All that matters is getting Albedo back."
"How do you know about Albedo?" Jr. demanded, placing his hands on his hips. "Who are you? I demand to know!"
"I know how you feel about him…" the boy continued, ignoring him. "In the chill of the night, you can feel your heart racing as you run towards the light that seems so far away…wandering forever in the darkest of shadows, wondering if you will ever see him again…"
Jr. stared in disbelief at the kid in front of him, not being able to comprehend how he knew that. That was exactly how Jr. felt…lost in a dark maze, waiting for his brother…
"No matter. We should move quickly before this thing has a chance to spread." The mysterious boy snapped his fingers, and a bright green portal appeared just behind them. "Follow me."
Just as the boy was about to step through the portal, Jr. stopped him. "Wait a second, what's your name?" the redhead asked, approaching him.
The boy paused, looking at the ground. "I don't know yet," he replied in a melancholic tone of voice, not bothering to turn around.
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After stepping through the portal, Jr. found himself in what looked like a forest. A young Albedo knelt in front of a tree, clawing at the dirt. His hands sunk beneath the surface, and he pulled a large chunk of the earth out. Kirshwassers stood all around him, watching him dig.
Jr. blinked in confusion at Albedo as the mysterious child stepped out in front of him, looking at the digging U.R.T.V.
"Digging in the dirt, he can feel you getting closer…" he said softly. "He steadies his hands through the blistering pain, anxiously waiting for the earth to reveal you, wondering if he will ever see you again…"
"Why's he doing that, though?" Jr. asked.
"I'm making graves for Rubedo and Nigredo," Albedo said in an insane, almost entranced tone. "It's just for pretend, though…I'm practicing so that when they die, I won't cry!"
Jr. backed away, grabbing the mystery child by the arm. The boy shrugged him off as Albedo stopped digging and looked up, gasping.
"If I link with U-DO again, I wonder if he'll kill me..." he said in a hopeful tone. "I hope he will…he is our leader, after all."
"I…I wouldn't do anything like that!" Jr. snarled at his brother.
Albedo threw his head back, laughing hysterically at Jr.'s comment. "Of course you would!" He turned his head sharply to look at his brother. A malicious look crossed his face as he said in a dangerous tone, "That's how you're built."
The infected variant's eyes began to glow a bright amethyst. "Because we're the anti-existence of U-DO!" he growled, glaring at Jr.
Jr. stumbled backwards even further while the mystery boy remained where he was.
"Do you know what the link is like?" Albedo asked in a poison-laced voice, slowly rising from his knees and turning around to face the two of them. The Kirshwassers gathered around him and clung to his body. The one on his leg, closest to his crotch just happened to be KOS-MOS rox!
"It's as sweet and seductive as a deal with the devil…" Albedo described in a dreamy voice. He groaned and sighed in pleasure as the Kirshwassers began to stroke him. Hehe. All right.
"Holy shit…" Jr. stammered, turning around. The boy beside him grabbed his arm and whirled him back around, almost making him fall over.
"Come, there's more to see," he said, snapping his fingers once again. Another green portal appeared just beyond Albedo's little Kirshwasser party. Jr. whimpered and walked next to the boy who had a firm grip on his collar, carefully avoiding Albedo.
Suddenly, the green-eyed child started to snicker uncontrollably. "Hey, what's so funny?" Jr. demanded.
"Rubedo, you're so…short!" The boy began laughing hysterically, letting go of Jr.
Jr. turned around, his face red with fury. "I am not short! I'm vertically skinny! Besides, we're the same height!
"I'm sorry…" the boy said, brushing a tear from his cheek. "It's just…I'm not used to you like this, Rubedo…"
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The sickening sound of a punch rang out, and the girl fell to the carpeted floor, unconscious.
Jr. looked in shock at the horrendous scene in Sakura's bedroom as his brother hit her in the face.
"I don't like you! You're bothering Rubedo, the way you always try and flirt with him…say something, you mannequin!" Albedo screamed insanely, glaring at the unconscious Sakura.
Albedo ran over to Sakura and pounced on her, straddling her hips. "What are you doing? Stop it!" Jr. cried, running up to them and trying to pull Albedo off of Sakura. The mystery boy remained in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
Jr. grabbed the back of Albedo's U.R.T.V. uniform and tried to rip him off of his lost love. Albedo jerked away and punched Sakura in the face, grunting with anger. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his pupils grew pinpoint.
"I hate you!" Albedo screamed, hitting her again and grunting angrily. "I hate you!"
Jr. finally got a good grip on Albedo's arm when he reared back to punch again. "I said, stop it!" he yelled, looking his brother in the eyes.
"What? Why are you stopping me? You are so annoying," Albedo complained, panting heavily. "It's not like you have any real power. The only thing you can do is butter people up!"
Albedo reached down and pulled up Sakura's upper body by her hair. "I hated this girl! She was always flirting with you!" he said, infuriated.
"I'm glad she's dead. I am." Albedo paused, still trying to catch his breath. "Now, there's nobody around trying to seduce you!"
"That's enough! Let go of Sakura!"
Blinded by rage, Jr. reared back and punched Albedo in the face. The infected one flew across the room and onto the desk, knocking a lamp onto the floor, which shattered when it hit. Outside the small window behind Albedo, Jr. could see U-DO swirling angrily as if it was caught in a violent wind.
"Rubedo…" the boy whispered as Albedo tried to regain his bearings after being punched. Jr. turned around to see him pointing at the slain body on the floor. Jr. threw him a weird look before the child mouthed, "Look again."
Jr. looked down and gasped as he saw that Momo was dead on the floor, not Sakura. Her expression was calm and neutral, almost as if she was asleep. "M-Momo?" Jr. stammered, horrified.
"No, that's right, there's still that imitation," Albedo said in a gravelly voice, wiping some blood off of his cheek.
"Imitation?" Jr. snarled, glaring at him.
"You're such a pitiful man, Rubedo. To think, you have to satisfy yourself with this toy!" Albedo exclaimed, laughing hysterically.
"Albedo, you son of a-"
"Is this rag doll important to you?" Albedo asked mockingly, glancing at the unconscious Momo. "It's too late…she's already been damaged. By my own hand!"
"Stop!" Jr. begged him, tears welling up in his eyes. "Don't say any more!"
"I enjoyed every minute of it, too," Albedo said, panting and licking more blood off of his fingers. "You should give it a try yourself, Rubedo. I'm sure if it were you, she'd be happy to-"
"I told you to shut up!" Jr. screamed and punched at Albedo once again, but the U.R.T.V. suddenly disappeared. Jr.'s fist collided with the wall, almost causing him to break his knuckles.
"Ow!" Jr. snarled in pain and jumped backwards, holding his throbbing hand.
"Let's hurry up and finish this. When I kill you, I'll have everything..." Albedo's voice reverberated through the room. "It's so disgusting... I'm sick of you clinging to me like this!"
That creepy laughing filled Jr.'s head as he staggered backwards through the door. "Are you ready?" the boy asked him. Jr. gulped and nodded hesitantly.
"Good. Let's move." Yet another green portal appeared behind them, and the boy leaped through. Jr. took one last glance at Momo in the bedroom before jumping in after him.
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He was falling…
Falling deeper and deeper into the abyss that was his brother's heart…
"Oof!"
Jr.'s feet met the floor with tremendous force, causing his knees to buckle. He stumbled backwards and hit his head on the hard tile floor.
Once his blurry vision cleared and the dull pain subsided, he slowly moved into a sitting position. "Damn…what was that?"
"Your consciousness created this matrix, Rubedo," the boy explained, leaning over him. "Your body had to adjust."
Jr. flashed him a confused look before rising to his feet. The boy followed him down a long hallway with mirrors on either side. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the tiny orange flames on the candles looking as if they would go out any second.
"What is this anyway?" Jr. asked, stopping and glancing into one of the mirrors.
"Mirrors?" the boy offered, shrugging. "Like I said, your mind created this. I don't know what it means."
"Hm." Jr. turned and resumed walking, but his mirror image remained stationary.
"Yo, Rubedo! Are you ready to fight now?" his image asked, arms akimbo.
"Wh-what?" Jr. stammered, backing away from the mirror. His image reappeared in the mirror behind him.
"You should just smash him!" His reflection punched the empty air above his head. "It shouldn't be a problem for you!"
"Stop it!" Jr. said, whirling around. Terror rose in his chest when he saw his reflection's bloodshot eyes. He was sporting a malicious grin, an aura of insanity lifting from his body.
Again, the image disappeared. Jr. ran to the next mirror to see it reappear, holding its throat. "How long are you gonna keep holding back? Kill him already! Come on!" he prodded in a sarcastic voice.
"Stop it!" Jr. pleaded.
"He was always getting in the way!" the mirror Jr. said. "You don't need a loser like him around."
"Stop it!" Jr. stumbled backwards towards yet another mirror, absolutely horrified. His eyes widened when he heard Albedo's voice ring from behind him…
"Hurry up and kill me!"
"Stop!" Jr. screamed, pulling out his guns. He fired at the mirror, and the glass shattered into a million pieces.
Suddenly, Jr.'s eyes flashed a dangerous red as his guns clattered to the floor. He fell to his knees and doubled over, a red aura engulfing his body.
"Dammit! Not now!" he screamed in anguish, throwing his head back. "Red Dragon Mode! The anti-U-DO shift! No…no!"
As Jr. continued to gasp and choke for air, a blinding white light filled his vision. He suddenly felt someone gently touch his back. Jr. looked over his shoulder to see Sakura Mizrahi behind him, a warm smile on her face.
"Rubedo…don't be afraid," she said softly. "I…I believe in you, Rubedo."
"Sakura?" he asked hoarsely, but he couldn't continue for his throat hurt from screaming.
The boy appeared beside Sakura. "Listen, Rubedo…" he said, looking at the U.R.T.V. "This is vital to my future with you guys." Jr. nodded and waited for Sakura to continue.
"Remember…remember the promise you made my sister?" she asked.
"Promise me…promise me you'll come back!"
"She needs you, Rubedo," Sakura said gently, kneeling down and resting her head on his shoulder. "Where I am, I don't. I think it's time we put the past behind us…you've grieved too long for me. Just know that I will always care about you, Rubedo…"
Jr. was about to protest when the revelation of Sakura's death washed over him. She didn't need him, and he didn't need her…she was in heaven with her father. Finally, he felt free…he was ready to move on.
With one final embrace, Sakura disappeared. "Now, get up," the boy said encouragingly. Jr. shakily got to her feet and urged himself forwards as the hallway reappeared.
"I am…me," Jr. said. "I won't…give in to it."
"Glad to hear it," the boy said, creating another portal. Jr. began to step through when he noticed the boy looking at the floor, a look of worry on his face.
"What's up? Aren't you coming?" Jr. asked.
"I can't follow you past this point," the boy explained. "You have to face Albedo yourself."
"Yeah, I know…" Jr. said, looking at the floor. "But one thing I'm wondering is…why are you here anyways?"
"I need to make sure that you make the correct choice, Rubedo," the boy answered. "you need to save him, and you know how…please, save him…if you don't, my life will change."
"What does Albedo have to do with your existence?" Jr. asked, narrowing his eyes at the boy.
"The future can change drastically with the slightest slip of the hand…" the boy mused. "A million different things can happen, no matter how you do something…"
"Small words please, having trouble keeping up," Jr. warned him.
"Um, how about…" The boy furrowed his brow, trying to come up with an easier response. "Ah, screw it. All I know is that my life might be different without him."
Jr. nodded and hesitantly stepped through to portal.
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Jr. stepped onto the tile floor, his feet shaking in his boots. His every step echoed as the fear rose in him. A sudden chill came over his body, causing the hair on his arms and the back of his neck to stand on end. With every step he took, he could feel the beating in his right chest increase with anticipation.
Breathing heavily, Jr. looked around, seeing Kirschwassers being grown in blue liquefied containers. "Kirschwassers?" he said softly.
"Glad you could make it, Rubedo!"
Jr. jumped, almost falling over again. He slowly raised his eyes to look into the amethyst of the creeping terror, Albedo.
U.R.T.V. unit number 667 sat on a throne of sorts, his eyes glowing with the overwhelming and insane power of U-DO. His bare chest glistened under a sheen of sweat. Red and blue tentacles took the place of his legs, taking up the space on the steps leading to his seat.
"Take a look at me! I've finally acquired what I was missing before," Albedo exclaimed. "I may have lost my body, but I feel so much better!"
"Stop the space-time anomaly, Albedo," Jr. begged, taking a few steps closer. "There's still time if you do it!"
"Oh, I'm to repent, am I!" Albedo asked sarcastically. "I think not! As my duty as an immortal, I've prepared a brand new world view for mankind!"
"New world!" Jr. asked. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"When I temporarily linked with U-DO, I climbed the ladder of evolution and saw the leaning tower of culture that humans have struggled to construct. It's not even a tower, really," Albedo scoffed, eyeing Jr. "It's a scaffold of rotting wood, built with meager knowledge and pitiful tools!"
"Shut up!" Jr. yelled. "I've heard enough!"
"But a nice guy would tell them the truth, would he not?" Albedo continued. "Hellooooo? You've got it all wrong!" he screamed, leaning forwards in his seat.
"What are you gonna do with this region of space?" Jr.'s breath was coming in small puffs as his stomach flip-flopped with fear and anxiety. Beads of sweat formed in his forehead.
"Who knows? Perhaps I'll cause a shift and shove this whole dimension into a high-order domain. Don't be afraid, we low-dimension creatures will move en masse to a higher plane!" Albedo offered, shaking with anticipation, waiting for his brother to lose control.
Jr. stared in horror as lights of purple began to surge around Albedo.
"It'll be glorious! The true eternal chain!" he yelled happily, laughing hysterically. "The fulfillment of that which we lacked! The evolution of mankind and the evolution of the very world itself that watches over us!"
No…No, he can't do this! "No!" Jr. screamed, holding his head in his hands.
"Happy days are here! They'll name a holiday after me! Something like 'Albedosgiving' or even "World Regeneration Day'!" the white-haired man loudly proclaimed, grinning at his brother. "That is, assuming they even have the concept of holidays on the other side."
That was enough. Enough to set every one of Jr.'s nerves on fire as he doubled over, his Red Dragon power flaring up again.
"Stop!" Jr. screamed in warning. "If you don't stop, I'll have to stop you!"
"Come, my positron…you are an anti-U-DO weapon! My heart tingles with anticipation! A weapon need not feel shame for desiring combat," Albedo said, rising completely from his seat. "For all we know, humans themselves may be weapons created by the world!"
You're right…I am a weapon! Every cell in my body is aching for a fight!" Jr. yelled, straightening himself. His pupils grew pinpoint as his eyes glowed a fierce, angry red. "They long to collide with their anti-existence. I've probably wanted to fight from the moment we were born!"
We think alike, Rubedo. I feel exactly the same way…right now, I'd like to rip you to shreds!" Albedo snarled, baring his teeth at his twin.
Jr. screamed in pure, uncontrollable rage as he forgot everything he had learned about gun safety (which wasn't very much to begin with) and ripped his Makarovs out of their resting place on his hips.
Fancily and skillfully twirling them, he crossed his arms and cocked them. "Bring it on!" he roared. "I'm gonna rip you right outta here and drag you back to the Durandal!"
Click boom!
Click boom!
Click boom!
Jr. fired three bullets at Albedo, knocking him backwards onto his seat. Watching his wounds heal through regeneration, Albedo uttered insanely, "More...give me more!"
Losing control of every thought, emotion, and muscle, Jr. rapidly shot at him, hitting him every time. The force of the blows knocked Albedo backwards, almost causing him to topple over the back of the chair. He healed himself after every bullet hit, grinning madly.
"What can a traitor like you do?" Albedo asked mockingly, launching an aura attack at his brother.
The instant it hit, Jr. felt his nose explode and a shower of blood rain upon his chest. He fell to the ground, cursing the day that he and his brother were born.
"Dammit!" he snarled, trying to stop his bleeding nose. Albedo laughed hysterically and uncontrollably as he watched his brother write on the ground, soaking up all of his pain, waiting for the final moment...
Jr. couldn't see. He couldn't hear, taste, smell, or feel. The rage welling up inside of him came to a head as he spat, "I hate you! I hate you!"
"Not as much as I!" Albedo exclaimed, continuing to laugh.
"I never liked you!" Jr. screamed, wiping the blood from his face. It felt warm and sticky on the back of his hand, and the color of it...he would never forget how red it was...
"You were always getting in my way!" Jr. grunted and got to his feet. "You were jealous because I spent time with Sakura! Ugh! Typical little brother attitude! You are so annoying!"
"Then now! Kill me now!" Albedo cried, watching as his brother slowly broke down into an insane rage.
"I hate everything about you! Why did I ever love you?" Jr. shot at him some more, his face flushed and sweaty with anger and hatred. "I'm glad I left you that day! I really am!"
"More...more!" the white-haired man screamed in ecstasy, savoring the searing kiss of hot lead as the bullets made impact with his body. The normal feeling of emptiness and loss was replaced by a feeling of complete and utter exhilaration now that his brother was about to kill him. Red and white...fighting just like they ought to.
Forgetting that his guns were mere pistols, he pulled the triggers, firing them as if they were machine guns. He cried out in frustration as he watched his brother practically dancing in glee every time a bullet hit him. Muttering and growling every profanity he had ever heard (shit, damn, Bob Saget, and Barbara Streisand were among them) he rooted around in his coat, searching for more ammo.
After he finally got the new clip into place, he continued shooting Albedo, incorporating some fancy footwork to avoid Albedo's attacks. Angry red aura exploded around the Little Master.
He continued shooting until he only had one bullet left. One bullet. One bullet could determine between life and death, between a brother's love and his hatred…
Please, baby, please…Jr. begged as he pulled the trigger. Watching as the bullet traveled in almost slow motion, he half-expected Albedo to bend over backwards, neatly avoiding it and then to hear one of his Kirschwassers say "Dodge this" into his ear and then shoot him in the head.
Thank God that didn't happen…KOS-MOS rox would have been labeled "Way Too Obsessed".
Albedo felt the bullet enter his chest, piercing a lung. He coughed and sputtered for air as the tentacles disappeared, revealing his legs, covered by a white cloth. He stumbled down the flight of stairs, landing in front of Jr.
The ceiling rumbled as the columns on either side of the room began to fall apart. Jr. looked upon his brother with dismay, cursing himself for what he had done.
"Not bad…Rubedo," Albedo gasped, a small smile forming on his face.
"A-Albedo? You…" Jr. began, at a loss for words. Albedo let out a quiet, relieved laugh.
"Well, Rubedo? Admit it," Albedo said softly, looking into his brother's blue eyes. "You enjoyed that…didn't you?"
"Y-Yeah. It was fun…my blood danced in my veins," Jr. admitted sheepishly. "We really are nothing more than instruments of war."
"No, no, that's not it." Albedo said, shaking his head solemnly at Jr. "We're not foolish because we're tools. It's because we're men. Oblivion, huh?"
Jr. stared in horror and disbelief as Albedo's left arm went transparent. Studying it, Albedo sighed and said calmly, "You might say this is a release…at least I won't have to fear losing anyone anymore."
"Albedo…no," Jr. whimpered, beginning to feel the burning sensation of tears clouding his bright blue eyes. He bent over, staring at Albedo's now-transparent hand.
"What's with that face?" Albedo asked, reaching up with his right hand to gently touch Jr.'s trembling lower lip. "You look like you just lost your best friend, Rubedo."
"Y-You bastard!" Jr. tried to say over the lump forming in his throat. "You knew…all along…"
Jr. drew in a shaky breath as a few tears rolled down his cheeks. "What are you talking about? Albedo asked, watching him. Jr. began crying harder, trying to wipe the tears away quickly.
"Rubedo, make sure you keep an eye on your so-called goddess…and keep an eye out for what she will bring."
So-called goddess? What is he talking abo- Jr. let out a small gasp. "Sh-Shion?" Jr. asked through the tears, bewildered.
Albedo gave him a wry smile and nodded slowly. He tilted his head back and took a deep breath. Warmth consumed his whole body as freedom came upon him at last…the moment he had been waiting for for fourteen years.
"Ah, look, Rubedo…" he said softly. "I'm free…"
Then, Albedo fell to his side, unconscious. His countenance showed an undisturbed peace, like he was a sleeping child.
Jr. gasped hoarsely, breaking down into hysterical crying. "No, Albedo, no! No!" he bawled, throwing himself on top of his lost twin.
"Don't leave me here alone!" Jr. cried. "I'm going to save you, Albedo! I swear it!"
Jr. wiped the tears away, plunged his hand into Albedo's chest, and fell limp against his body, diving into his brother'ssubconscious…
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Woot for more cliffhangers! XD
Hey, I've got a deal for you guys…if this story breaks 100 reviews, I'll draw you guys a request! Just review with what you'd like to see drawn, okay?
Until next time, this is KOS-MOS rox, signing off!