Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own this franchise or any of its characters.
Afterwards
Antibenzochlorine
So only one game left huh. Well. I wonder what this will be. Something else that creates an epiphany? Something else that reminds me of how much of an eyesore I am? Well whatever, whoever cares, it's none of my concern how I dance. If I do it in circles, if I do it in figure eights then at least I choose the dance. And these eyesores don't. Oh winning isn't even important anymore, anyone could do it except me, it's an eyesore's game. A test of humanity, the only thing that isn't in me. Oh so how fair is this game really? Not that fair. Not fair enough. Redemption is an eyesore anyway.
"The final game is here, ready or not, I don't care. A test of sacrifice. What will you give to make things right? This game is more of race really, cause only so many people can actually get there. That's where even more sacrifice comes in as your teammates may have to sacrifice themselves for their redemption. After all, the game's for life not heaven. A second chance. On your marks. Ready. Set. Go." Carrot Top cries.
Life then. Well that's something I do want. After all my life was stolen. Z-ONE needs my help after all and I haven't done everything I've hoped for. So even if I'm the only one to return there's no problems. Aren't I the only one that matters? Antinomy's fallen and Paradox doesn't even care. And I want my eye back. That brat has no right to see more then any ordinary being through me. Whatever. I'll win then.
There are several murmurs and a mild uproar.
"You pull us around like fools giving us pain and then you tell us it's all pointless, there was only one game after all? Disgusting. You are disgusting." The blonde with the bright and strong green eyes cries.
"Ku, disgusting yes. But can it be helped?" The clownish man in the back chuckles.
"Hm, it's not his fault." Paradox mutters.
"I don't believe he even controls anything." The older man with the clockwork arm mentions.
A deep roar of laughter comes from his brother. Soft chuckles from my own teammates. What's so fucking funny? Why's everyone laughing but me? Even the girl with a clumsy stance and tear stained cheeks laughs. A dark man puts his hand on my shoulder. Has he even spoken once during this? Unlike the other dark one he has a shaven head and eyebrows.
"The laughter is the realization of why we sent through the irrelevance. We have received pain almost equal to the pain we gave. We felt regret. We felt emotions that we supposed to be dead." He explains.
Emotions? Fools. I don't feel emotion and I don't feel pain. These eyesores think that they are receiving the equivalent to what they've done. Once a crime's been committed no matter what you do it can't be forgiven. I don't see why they won't just dance. It's the only thing to do really. But no, eyesores prefer to laugh. Even clockwork such as myself find this hilarious. That they didn't know. That they felt pain after all this time. It's not funny. Why does everyone laugh at me? Why does everyone laugh at agony? Slowly, slowly, everyone runs out. Do they even know where they are going? Probably not. Oh whatever.
The now saddened white haired man stands beside me. His cheeks are also stained. Eyesores, tears are. Then why do I recall the wetness of my face in those moments, in these thoughts? This is stupid. At least Divine isn't crying. But then again it might be worse. He's ego is all over his face, the ego and the zeal and insanity. I wonder what he saw in his own mind? I didn't see a thing. I literally was just standing.
"In order to make it up to him, I'll win. Even if I don't want to." Cries Kiryu.
He takes off faster then I would have expected.
"In order to destroy the girl in my Witch's place, I'll win. Even if I must give up everything I have ever worked for." Divine laughs.
He also runs off leaving me here. Paradox is still inside the building. Who'd have thought he'd be so depressed? He always had the most anger, the most emotion. It was even reflected in his eyes. Where ours were dull without light his always glowed. Funny, his are glowing now. What's the eyesore up to?
"Hmn, I'm just waiting Placido. I won't leave without my friend. So even if everyone else leaves I will remain until the other half of my heart is here. But you wouldn't understand would you?" Paradox smirks.
I shrug. Oh well, oh whatever. It's of no concern to me.
I walk at a slowed pace. The others are just running blindly. Screaming out reasons. Laughing. The blonde woman with the bright green eyes seems to know where she's going. I follow slowly behind her. She stops and turns to me. Whatever.
"What?" I ask with a shrug.
It's irrelevant though, It's irrelevant and none of my concern what she wants.
"Go away." She snarls.
"Whatever." I reply with my mouth turning slightly upwards.
I follow her anyway.
"Why are you following me?" She shrieks.
"Because my life was robbed from me and I want to live it again." I shrug with my mouth finally fitting into it's smile.
"What makes you think I know where I'm going?"
"You're too determined not to. If you didn't know you'd just be stumbling blindly like all the rest."
"Ugh, go."
"Oh no."
"Fine."
I speed up my pace to walk beside her. She growls again. I like this eyesore, after all she's dancing on her own. Maybe she would like to surrender all the pathetic emotions inside her. I hope so. After all we are two men short by now. Another would be good. Fuck. What was that? A flash of blue and red slams into me. Fucking Antinomy. Damn.
"Hey Placido!" He smiles.
Why's he so happy to see me?
"Are you trying for life or redemption?" He asks with a false kindness.
The anger in the woman's eyes magnifies.
"Oh shut up." I snarl.
"I thought we were friends after that talk." Antinomy frowns.
"We are not friends! Go away!" I scream.
The woman laughs.
"Hello, I am Sherry LeBlanc, nice to meet you both. You have no chance of succeeding, leave." Sherry smiles.
"I am Antinomy and he's Placido and no." Antinomy smiles back.
How can they argue with smiling faces? How can they act so caring? It's not fair. Everyone should always look and act how they feel. It saves me the trouble of trying to figure it out on my own. I hate that. I guess my time beside hers done anyway. I run up ahead. Kiryu and Divine and several others are racing towards a large light in the distance. Freedom maybe?
I wonder if my life is worth anything at all. What do I even have to give? Will I be denied? Are these eyesores winners after all? I refuse to dance anymore. I will walk. Dancing tiresome and a game that humans play. I wonder, isn't most of the sins the desire to be loved and to love? Isn't that ironic? I thought humans believed that love made you strong. After all that's all humans ever told me. And say the one time I open myself up will I be struck down? Say is loneliness the only thing waiting for me? Z-ONE didn't even try to get me back did he? So what's the point anymore? What's the point? Why bother going back to life just to dance for things that annoy me? Why dance for eyesores? Aren't these humans so filled with hate? Isn't that why they try? Hate? Not even love anymore. I understand. I understand, after all hate is the most powerful thing. I hate humans and these beings seem to hate humans as well. So we all dance the same dance. We dance for the amusement of a God with a paper and a pen. Well I refuse. I will not dance. I will not dance ever again. From now on there will be me and only me. There is no meaning to the song we dance to.
Except... I want to live. Aren't I ridiculous? No desire to dance but I want to live anyway? Might as well try. Whether I win or lose, it's of no concern to me.
"Get out of my way!" Divine shrieks as he shoves past the dark man with the blonde hair.
"No you move brat!" The man growls as he shoves Divine back.
Sherry halts as she comes to the man. There's no meaning to this song. No, there is. The meaning is pain. The end of the song however might make it something else. Look at me, analyzing life! It's fucking funny. And guess what? I know why they laughed. Out of pain, out of jealousy. And it's of no concern to me.
Divine screams some more. The older man with the clockwork arm separates his brother and the zealous red head.
"There's no meaning in fighting. After all I'm staying to try for redemption and I suggest you do the same, nii-sama." The older man mentions.
His brother's eyes flash with more emotions then I can even tell. Oh this removes two more.
"If you stay brother then I stay as well." The dark one laughs.
The two walk off back to the building. Antinomy catches up. Almost there. I won't let him stop me. Fucking moron.
"Anything!" The girl with tear stained cheeks and a clumsy stance screams.
The first one there. Faster. Faster. I want to live!
"Your memories." A woman, the cab driver, speaks.
"Take them!" The girl screams.
As those words pass the door swallows her. I want to live! I want to live even if I must with dancing humans.
"Your memories also." The woman speaks.
The dark and shaven man nods as he too is accepted. Feet away. I'm only feet away. People keep going. The clown, the woman with a model's features, LeBlanc.
"Two more." The woman speaks.
I want to live! Beyond anything else I want to live! Divine's still limping towards the gate. Paradox isn't even here. The other people have either gone or aren't anywhere near. Wait... where's Kiryu?
The white haired man with the frown and the emotionless face and the tear stained cheeks stands in front of the door.
"Even though I don't deserve life I have to tell Yuusei I'm sorry. Take anything you wish." Kiryu says.
No. No. No. Only one spot left.
"Your happiness is the price." The woman speaks.
"My happiness? You already have that." He mentions.
"So I do." The woman chuckles.
Kiryu is also swallowed by the gate. So then.
"Placido, do you want to live?" Antinomy asks beside me.
"Yes!" I scream.
He frowns.
"You may have my spot." He tells me.
"Oh. Thank you." I sigh.
What does he think the meaning of letting me live is? Does he think he's in love with me? Stupid. Oh well whatever, it's none of my concern.
"So you'd really let me take your place in the game?" Carrot top asks Paradox.
What?
"Yes, I did promise you earlier didn't I?" Paradox replies.
Divine stumbles over to the gate and lies against it.
"In order for you to return to life I will require your abilities." The woman speaks.
Divine stares at her.
"No." He laughs. "No. No. No."
"Your own fault then." She chuckles.
Faster. Faster. Faster.
I run forwards and just before my hand reaches it I'm pulled back. Paradox smiles at me.
"You haven't learnt your lesson yet. You can go when you do." He laughs. "It'll be alright, alright?"
"Let me go!"
"All memories of this place will be erased Hogan." The woman speaks.
"And that's alright." He smiles. "I'll make new ones."
"Well then this is goodbye."
There is no meaning. There is only sin. These eyesores were deemed worthy and not I. Then maybe I do have a lesson to learn. I think I'm upset. Antinomy sits down next to me.
"It's alright."
How dare that man stop me. How dare any- It's of no concern to me. Antinomy wraps his arms around me.
"Everything will be alright so don't worry. You won't have to dance anymore. We'll ascend together."
"Whatever."