Chapter 12: Caving

"People like to say that the conflict is between good and evil. The real conflict is between truth and lies."

- Miguel Ruiz

-Faction 1-

"Then I'll kill you. I'll kill you all." The words hit Takeura with enough force to stop his breath. This was his older brother and he was ready to kill him when prompted. Clearing his throat, Takeura shifted his gaze to the ground, finding it almost impossible to look Yamato in the eyes.

"Yamato… Why would you want to kill us?" He asked his older brother quietly, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer he would receive. Yamato smirked, crossing his toned arms with a swift movement. "It's simple. You, all of you, are a threat to the Cousins. They do nothing but the best for their people." Takeura couldn't believe what he was hearing. His own brother, the man he always looked up to for decisions, was siding with the two most terrible beings in faction 1.

"Yamato…" Takeura reached out, but stopped himself from getting too close, "Lillian and Magnus have corrupted those who live in central. Just look around," he motioned with his arm to the door, "Northside is not as fortunate as those who live within the marbled city."

Yamato scoffed, 'this general has no idea what he is talking about. His mind is corrupt.' Lillian's voice slithered into his mind, her power and control reaching for his body. A shiver traveled up his skin as he felt her grip tighten. Even from the distance he had travelled, the cousins could still manipulate him to no end. "You should be grateful that they sent me and didn't come themselves."

The younger brother looked up, his gaze burning through Yamato. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave. There is no rebellion being planned." A dark chuckle slipped past Yamato's lip, his hand reaching for the sword sheathed at his hip. "I'll leave once the rebellion is defeated."

The sword slid free, the point glinting. Yamato held it with both hands, staring the general down. "End him. End him before he has the chance to hurt you more than you already do. End them all." The muscles in his arms twitched, the motion of his arms swinging were more the power within him than his own.

*Shing* His sword hit that of the general's, blocking his swing. "Yamato! Please. Hear me out! It's me, your brother!" Takeura was on the defense, not wanting to attack his own brother. Yamato raised his sword, readying for his next attack. "I don't have a brother…" His words were silent, a near whisper.

Takeura blocked the attack again, rolling on his side from the shear force of Yamato's sword hitting his own. "A brother? We were unaware. He does have your eyes." Her voice again, tickling his nerves. Yamato shook his head, hoping this general wasn't of his blood. The cousins would use this against him. He refused to listen.

Yamato turned, grunting as he swung his sword, hitting the desk where Takeura's head would have been. "Yamato… Listen!" Another clank as the swords hit, catching the attention of Brant. "Hey what's going on… General look out!" Brant drew his sword, blocking a fatal swing from Yamato.

"Well, I guess you'll both have to go. Stand down and give into the crown or I'll execute you." Brant didn't hesitate with his attacks, swinging his sword, he jumped in front of Takeura, protecting his general. "Kill him first. Enjoy it." Yamato smirked at the demand, feinting to the left as he struck Brant between the ribs.

"No!" Takeura screamed, breathing heavily as he watched blood fall from Brant's lips. Yamato twisted the sword deeper, his blue eyes not leaving Brant's brown. He was victorious, and he enjoyed watching the life slip from his prey. "Excellent, pet."

Brant gasped, coughing as blood filled his lungs from the puncture of Yamato's sword. He felt his life ending, his breathing short and quick. "N-No… Please don't… Evil… Darkness…" Brant uttered his last words as Yamato slid his body off of his sword. His once white armor was dripping with red. He felt his body tense, the scar on his back reminding him that he wasn't there to mess around.

"Very good. Swing harder next time." Yamato gritted his teeth against the shock running through his body after the command, strength being lended to him. He turned on his feet, coming face to face with Takeura.

Takeura blinked back tears, shoving the image of Brant's death to the back of his mind. "Yamato, please. I don't want to do this." He knew his words meant nothing as Yamato lunged at him. Raising his hand, Takeura forced his brother's body back against the wall with air slipping past his palm.

Yamato's body crashed against the wall, falling limp to the wooden floor. I didn't want to do that, brother. Takeura sighed, shaking his head as he stood over the unconscious Yamato. He gripped his arms, securing his wrists behind his back as he confiscated Yamato's sword. Why you? Takeura let a tear fall down his cheek as he picked Yamato's heavy form off of the floor, moving his own brother to the only cell Northside had.

-Faction 2-

Three days. It had been three days since she had passed the leather journal over to Izzy for further inspection. She had found it in the local library, the pages practically pulling her to the shelf, begging for her to read it. She didn't. The words of the first entry alone were enough to scare her into never leaving her small apartment.

Who would write such things… Who would want such things? She sighed, running her fingers on the white marble countertop in her kitchen. Mimi had chosen the countertop to specifically remind her why she was still fighting. For him… For all of them.

Stretching her arms above her head, Mimi turned to look out her window. Her face scrunched in confusion at what she saw. Hm. Rain again? In June? Her brown eyes curiously scanned the dark clouds that were headed towards the city. She tapped a manicured finger on her chin, finding the weather a bit strange. "But what do I know. Everything is strange these days…" She shook her head, grabbing her long brown coat to head out.

She cursed as she ducked under the store fronts for cover, regretting that she didn't believe that the rain clouds would pour today. "Damnit, and I just did my hair this morning." She was trying her best to hurry to the library, hoping to find more strains of what the darkness had left behind.

Turning left, Mimi quickly headed down an alleyway. About halfway down, Mimi was stopped by a strange man. "Good day, young lady…" His eyes were dark, swirling patterns of grey. Mimi pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders. This man talks like he's from the medieval times show… "… G-Good day…" She gave him a nervous smile, nudging past his shoulder.

A hand gripped her arm, turning her back. "Oh not so fast, m'lady. You have caught the interest of a very important being…" Mimi gave the man a confused look, his forced smile setting her nerves on high alert. "N-No I don't have any spare change," she tried to pull away, "so sorry."

The man smirked, pressing her against the wall as she struggled. "It's not change we are looking for, Mimi." She gasped as he said her name, his palm pressing against the cool brick, sending the pair into a dark abyss.

Falling. Mimi remembered this feeling. It was the same falling she had experienced when Izzy sent the two of them out of faction 1. What did they call it? Jumping? Her thoughts swirled, the grip on her arm tightening.

I'm feeling.. I can't… Her eyes were heavy, closing as she felt reality slip from her. Spiraling. Her mind was spiraling out of control into the blackness of being unconscious.

-Faction 3: Darkling Cave-

"Yes… I have her." The darkling threw the unconscious form of Mimi to the feet of a cloaked figure. The figure scoffed, "She is unconscious? Well, I suppose it's better than dead." The darkling nodded in agreement, "She passed out on the Jump over, her power is strong, but all light." He pointed to the white swirls on her ankle.

The figure chuckled. "I'm not too worried. Sora started out like this. Powerful. Good. But my training turned her into nothing but evil and hate." He lifted Mimi's chin, studying her face. "Pretty little thing. Myotismon will be pleased."

The darkling smiled, scooping Mimi up into his arms as the figure waved him off. "Now, take her to the cells. Myotismon will be in after the ball." Nodding, the darkling carried Mimi down a flight of stairs. "Yes, Captain Lanus."

Mimi's body was placed into a cold cell.

*Author's not:

Hope everyone had a great time during the holidays! This chapter was a bit shorter, but I didn't want to delve into too much action. Thank you so much for reading! :)