The duo walked along the various landings and corridors that only seemed to further their descent down this massive, steam fueled castle. Some lead them into rooms of high technology, with wires of cracking blue energy carrying great disks across the skies. Others led to openings to running walkways overlooking the vast skies, where the earth below was blanketed by a sea of clouds.
Kuro hated it. The stonewalls began to run endlessly it seemed. The sound of crackling electricity in the lift rooms and bouts of pressurized steam was to be the music of this place. Kuro's hands remained ever tight as the thought of danger was around every corner. For it was. There wasn't another ambush along the way, but there was a creeping sense that they were still being watched. Dusk bounced along in its step, keeping up with Kuro's gait effortlessly. Dusk seemed mentally preoccupied. Their eyes squinting and head bobbing as if they had something to say.
"Is it scary?" Dusk's words break the silence as Kuro's eyes shift from the endlessly continuous wall down to his small companion. Eyebrows raised as if asking them to explain. "To be born into this world without a plan?"
"It's…an adjustment." Kuro mumbled honestly, his arms crossing over one another as he marched further down the hall. "The circumstances of my life seem to be…I'm not sure…confusing."
"What is confusing?" Dusk inquired.
"Why am I here? What…brought me here?" Kuro shrugged, stopping in his spot as he turned to the Shadow. His arms folded over one another as he looked upon his friend. Given the darkness of the hallway, he was grateful for the pulsing yellow orbs that bounced along in the dark beside him. "Am I a denizen of the dark or…something…else?"
The silence that followed elicited concern in the Heartless. Dusk wasn't sure even if there was a different answer. Dusk rose its antenna and flicked them towards Kuro. As if they were trying to read him. The brushes of the antenna felt like the brush of a feather duster with the pressure of the pads of a lumbering kitten. Soft, and pointed. Imprecise yet smooth. He hesitantly swatted them away, a smile threatening to break on his face.
"I do not smell any prominent light in you, friend. Not that I didn't smell before. The scent of vanilla, seasalt, and grass. That is not what you smell like." Dusk explained, its eyes narrowing as it focused on Kuro. Kuro raised his arm, sniffing himself. That smell, that light scent wasn't present, except for perspiration from the spar with the winged beasts.
"What do I smell like?" Kuro asked, a cringe spreading across his face. He was uncomfortable, clearly. Dusk once again tapped him with its antenna, this time getting a chortle out of the copper toned warrior.
"You smell of burnt wood. Of the friction of stone. Of smolder. Of sulfur. You smell like me. Tell me…Do you think that you are-"
"Heartless?" Kuro's eyes darted to the creature beside him as they continued their walk together. "I'm unsure of plenty of things, friend. All I am sure of is that I need to leave this place and find out exactly what I am supposed to be doing."
"What are you supposed to be doing?" Dusk inquired.
"I suppose the voice will tell me." Kuro muttered as he rounded a corner and groaned in annoyance. Another hallway of visible lights and crackling energy. The darkness illuminated by the blue jolts that thundered above them. "It told me I needed to leave this place."
"Why must you leave this place?"
"Because…" Even Kuro did not know. Kuro's eyes unfocused as he stopped in his spot. "I…I don't know. They said this was a dying…place."
Deeper and further they got, the two only grew more and more impatient. Kuro's eyes kept getting adjusted to the darkness before getting constantly blinded by the light of the outside every time. Annoyance to the highest degree.
It was in the third ill-lit hallway that it struck him. That's when it hit him, like a spear through the chest, through his heart. Kuro felt his body shake and tremble, his heart thumping hard. Thumping louder. Thumping rapidly. He squinted his eyes, shutting them tightly as he tried to ease the pain away. Dusk's cries grew louder, its screams deafening the area. And then it came.
Silence.
It was aggravating at first, to be stuck once again in the dark. His eyes transitioned to the dark and then the bleeding light beneath him. Breaking the floor beneath him and revealing just pangs and pangs of shimmering stained glass.
The stained glass beneath him shaped into the image of a brown haired boy, clad in red and white. Images of star shaped fruit and palm trees in the background. The lingering images of a brown hair girl, a silver headed boy, a duck and a dog are illustrated in portraits besides the main figure's body. Kuro glanced to the end of the platform, seeing the figure dressed in black leathers. Strands of blonde hair peeking out of the hood. Their eyes met, staring at one another. Kuro took a hesitant step toward the blonde haired kid. Eyes squinted and his hands curled into fists.
"Stranger," Kuro called out, his voice echoing the dark. "Where are we?"
"I'm not sure…" His voice was flat, droll, and cold. As if he were just asleep and still waking up. He looks up at Kuro, his piercing blue eyes meeting Kuro's fiery orange. "I've been having…these weird thoughts lately."
Kuro let out a breath, glancing around and tapping his foot against the glass. The echoing noise sounded like the clink of stone hitting window pangs. Echoing for what felt like eternity. He took another step forward.
"Like," Kuro began to say. The blond-haired kid taking a defensive stance. His right foot pivoting back, hands coiled at his sides. "Is any of this for real, or not?"
The two of them shared a quick, but serene smile. Exchanging the expression as the two of them drew closer and closer together. Their footsteps thundering throughout the boundless sky around them.
"Who are you?" The blonde haired kid asked, Kuro's eyes darting to the floor. He could see the vague reflection of his own face in the glass, save for the sunset glow of his eyes. He shook his head, turning his attention back to the hooded figure.
"Someone from the dark." Kuro responded, loosening his fists as continued forward. "A familiar spirit in this…I believe."
"A familiar spirit…" The boy responded, looking to his hand as he moved to reach for his hood, the world vanished once again. The lingering dark swallowed him whole yet again.
"See you later."
Kuro pulsed, his body aching and his screaming echoed in the halls. Dusk grabbed hold of the Kuro's face, their small clawed hands holding the sides of Kuro's face to keep his eyes locked on the yellow glow of their gaze.
"You passed out, Friend." Dusk muttered gently, their eyes softening as Kuro's orange hued stare met theirs.
"I did." Kuro grumbled in the dark. Slowly, he rose to a sitting position, propping his knee up to rest his elbow along the bend. Kuro's eyes squinted and his fingers rubbing the lids of his eyes. The deafening ringing in his ears making him cringe. "Oh, goodness. It stings."
"What's the issue?" Dusk whispered as their little claw rests along the knuckles of Kuro's hand. Kuro looks towards the small creature, giving him a weak smile and a sigh.
"Just… need a breath. I think…" Kuro whispered, his mind focused on the blonde hair kid, and the platform painted in darkness.
Eventually, the last corridor led them to this hallway of velvet carpet and dark oak walls. Kuro fell to his feet, rubbing his hand over the carpeted floor as he was thankful for not having more stone walls around him. As he settled to the floor, that was when he heard the roar.
"I'm not leaving without Belle." Kuro's body tensed at the deep guttural growl of this voice. The kind that made even Dusk jump behind Kuro in defense. "Now go! The Heartless are coming!"
Kuro's eyes narrowed as he slowly eased his paces and hesitantly matched forwards the mouth of this hallway.
"All right. Let's get out of here." This voice spoke out, a twinge of remembrance hitting the ears of Kuro. His eyes goin leg wide and his jaw dropping. He knows that voice. He heard that voice before. Kuro quickened his pace to enter the next large room, his eyes adjusting to the new surroundings as he and Dusk emerged from the dark.
The room revealed a massive lobby, with two curved staircases down to the first level, with a waterfall placed in between the two. A lion's mouth agape, pouring water out of its maw. Two postured lions on either side, standing guard besides the basin.
The carpeted indigo floors sewn with great intricate patterns, waved and motioned along the floors mimicking ocean waves. The marbled columns suspended the third floor above the second, which Kuro noticed with great interest. This world seemed to only get larger. He walked towards the edge of the staircase, looming over the landing to see this massive hulk slamming its claws into the heartless creatures. This beast was massive, no doubt dwarfing even the draconian creatures that Kuro had fought earlier. His slashes tearing through the heartless scores at a time, the weight of his strikes both emphasizing his ferocity and his strength. Kuro slowly descended down the staircase, Dusk beside him as they walked. Kuro felt their claws grip the edges of Kuro's pants, clutching them as they descended. The Beast rose high on its hind legs, a cerulean cloak draped across its boulder sized shoulders. Those huge mounds of muscle rolling back as it turned its ravenous maw towards the two. It's piercing blue eyes meeting Kuro's fiery orange. The two at a standstill.
"Stranger, what are you doing here?" The Beast growled, his claws locked and primed to strike out. Kuro continued his heavy steps down the staircase, his eyes focused on the Beast.
"Beast, I seek no quarrel with you." Kuro stated, his hands rested at his side as he made his way down. Dusk hidden behind him as he moved. "I just wish to leave this place."
"You…you didn't come with Sora." His voice bellowed out like the roar of a lion, nearly shaking the walls down to its foundations. Kuro felt a strange pang strike his heart, his eyes squinting as he heard that name. That weird, strange name.
"I…did not." Kuro said, as he reached the last step and stood on the carpet. His eyes focused on the great Beast. Kuro's hands tightened into fists, his head crooked to the side. Dusk's eyes peered around the edge of Kuro's leg. "Leave us alone and we will-"
"Have you seen Belle?" Beast's question was one that baffled Kuro, so much so that he let out an awkward chuckle in response. Kuro's hands loosened from his fists and hung loosely at his sides.
"I haven't. But if I do, my companion and I will-"
"Companion? Step aside from that creature. It needs to be destroyed!" Beast's growl could have blown Kuro off his feet had they not been planted firmly into the ground. Kuro's eyes gained a bolster of fury, his lips curled to a stagnant grimace.
"That is not happening." Kuro warned, shaking his head vehemently at the furried goliath. Beast's brow furrowed, as he leaned forward and began to prowl on his hands and knees. His gigantic arms pounding into the floor as he stalked around Kuro and Dusk, enclosing them. Kuro kept his chest towards the Beast, a hand resting on Dusk's bobbing head as he guided him to stand behind Kuro.
"You choose to ally yourself to the darkness? Are you willing to pay the price?" Beast grunted, his eyes focused dead on Kuro as he let his claws drag against the floor, leaving scuff marks against the carpet. Flaying it wildly. A sight that Kuro could see happening to him, should he not be too careful.
"I will not stand idly by as you attack my friend." Kuro warned, his chin bolting slowly to the left and letting it crack in anticipation. "So, let us pass."
"Not while that thing draws breath." Beast stated, stopping in his tracks and tending his hind legs. "This is your last warning-"
"If you don't back down and leave Dusk alone, I will make sure you never see your precious Belle again." Kuro growled in a rage, his eyes going wide as he realized he just threatened this hulk. Beast froze in his spot, before steadily rising up to his feet. Kuro barely reached his mid-chest, his broad power body looming over him. Those blue eyes of his growing still and dark as his jaw clenched and his fangs bared. Kuro cleared his throat awkwardly. "I am sor-"
Beast's claws took hold of Kuro's neck, giving him an eardrum splitting roar to the face, proceeded to slam him straight into the floor with great force, dragging him against the carpet before rocketing him into the waterfall. Kuro's body slammed against the decorative metal furnishings and marble, before dropping into the basin below. Kuro's body tensed in the dark liquid, a torrent of water beaming down atop of him and keeping him underwater.
Kuro's eyes burning from the rushing contact of the fountain, his body getting raddled with such power it started to burn from the force. Kuro rolled out from under the waterfall, stumbled around in the water and threw his arms along the edge of the marble bowl. A few harsh coughs and Kuro discharged water from his body. Draining out of him not unlike the marble lion that attempted to drown him.
In his groggy haze, Kuro looked up to see Dusk dodging to the left and to the right of the Beast's strikes. Those claws, while missing Dusk by inches, slashed through and left huge marks against the floors. Kuro took in a harsh breath, his hands gripping the brick and mortar as he steadily rose to his feet and stepped out of the water.
Kuro charges forward and rocks his fist against the Beast's side, Kuro's attack slammed against Beast's rib. On contact, Kuro's arm snapped and his wrist then popped against the flesh, feeling as though he had just punched solid stone and not a monster. Kuro's eyes went wide as Beast's forearm reeled back, to slam against him in an effort to knock him away.
Kuro ducked underneath, feeling the fur skirt above his head as Beast lunged forward to sink his teeth into him. Kuro reached ahead and took hold of the Beast's maw, feeling the pressure of his fangs dig deep into the center of his palms. Kuro pivots and with a twist of his hands, sends Beast into the western staircase's rising wall, the furious monster crashing into wood and metal with great force.
Kuro glances over at Dusk, whose eyes focused on the Beast before turning its attention to the suited armor that stood proudly in the corner of the room. Dusk scurried, moving as fast as it could towards the faux knight.
Beast prowled towards Kuro on all fours, fangs dripping in anticipation and trickles of blood that he earned from Kuro's grasp. Kuro flexed his hands, feeling his blood trail between the webbing of his fingers.
"You decided to risk your life for this nothing? For a monster?" Beast lunged forward, Kuro's jump back dodging a crossing motion of the monster's claws, nearly tearing him into ribbons. Kuro dipped out of the way of a clawed right paw uppercut, then rolled under the slashing motion of his left hand. Kuro saw Dusk jump onto the armor's chest plate, and with three hard pulls, disarmed the suit with the spear in their hands. The heavy metal decoration toppling to the ground. The sound of metal on wood thundering the nearly silent room.
Kuro bolted towards Dusk, his right hand pulling the spear into hand as he throws Dusk up into the air with his left. The spear, unbalanced and hollow inside, was made to look dangerous. Never the intention to see real combat.
"First time for everything." Kuro thinks to himself as he turns to Beast with the spear in hand. With a charge, Kuro jabs and thrusts the spear towards Beast. The rounded tip of the weapon smashes into the Beast's broad chest and abdomen, the force of the stabs pushing the Beast back towards the center portion of the room. Kuro pivots and lets his hand slide down the grip, hands folded together with one over the other and slamming the rounded tip of the spear against Beast's cheek.
The blow nearly rocking the monster onto his knees before Kuro drives the spear into the Beast's thick throat. On impact, the spear bends against the flesh and snaps immediately. Kuro stumbles off his feet as he is propelled forward, the stance breaking nearly sending him to the floor. Kuro didn't have time to react as Beast shoves their shoulder into Kuro's stomach and knocks him the rest of the way down.
The rest of the way down, Beast pounces and slams his claws on either side of the floor against Kuro's skull. Beast, with an open maw, goes in for a bite. Kuro struggles but eventually slams the rounded grip of the spear into Beast's jaws. The massive fangs leaving deep imprints in the metal as Beast rustles and twists, trying to wrestle the spear out of Kuro's grip.
Kuro keeps a steady hold, before tensing his body and slamming his skull into Beast's snout. The first blow doesn't disorientate the monster, neither does the second. Each hammering of the attack made the Beast's jaws slowly sink further into the wooden shaft. It was the fifth smashing of skull on nose that finally broke the bite and Kuro could try to escape. Slamming the bottom half of the spear into Beast's cheek, Kuro was able to wrestle the monster onto their back.
With the Beast's snout dribbling blood and Kuro mounting over their broad chest, Kuro grabbed hold of the right protruding horn and sent a right cross into the Beast's chin. Another to the cheek, one to the eye, and the fourth to the nose. Each slam darkened Kuro's knuckles, the third one splitting skin and the fourth leaving his blood across the face of the Beast.
Kuro pulled his arm back for another strike, eyes wide and his breathing erratic.
"Wow, and I thought we had to deal with just one boy with silver hair and anger issues. What a surprise?" Kuro's eyes darted up from the downed Beast, his eyes seeing a lithe figure clad in a black coat. The figure's voice was smooth, cocky, and snide. Their finger fiddling and tugging on the small silver chain hung around their collar and the free hand tugging at the edges of the hood they pulled over them. Hiding the figure's face from Kuro. They reminded Kuro of the Blonde Haired kid. Just taller, and a more annoying voice. "You think that would be just a funny coincidence if it weren't so hectic back home."
The figure removed their hood, a huge mane of red erupting from the pull of the hood. Two small tattoo black checks along his cheeks, and burning emerald eyes focusing on Kuro's form.
"What is home?" Kuro asked, stepping off of Beast and walking over towards the red headed figure. His orange eyes blazing in a passive rage as he meandered closer. His split right hand slowly trickled blood on the floor spaces he passed. "Who are you?"
"The name is Axel," The figure noted with a smug grin, raising his right hand and tapping it against his temple. "Got it memorized?"
Kuro squinted his eyes, flexing his wrists and rolling his shoulders back.
"What do you know about me?" Kuro inquired, letting his stepping cease before relaxing his weight on his back leg. Staring at Axel. "What do I do to make people so scared?"
"You're… the wild card in the deck." Axel quipped, with a loose shrug of his shoulders and sucking his teeth with a relaxing gaze. "I'm not so sure what's got Xemnas so anxious about you, but if you are so dangerous, I just had to meet 'cha."
"Consider me met." Kuro crossed his arms over each other, before diverting his attention to the floor. Kuro's eyes focused loosely on the carpeted area around him, before nodding his head gently and turning back to Axel. "How do I leave this place?"
"You want to leave. By all means, I don't care if you leave. That look on Xemnas face makes it all worth it." Axel then snapped his fingers and a corridor of darkness erupted up out of the floor, the pulsing dark calling to Kuro. Beckoning him to enter. "But stay aware that you are going to be facing some… unhelpful individuals wherever you go. Especially with those eyes looking like that"
"Where would this send me? This… darkness." Kuro asked, as he slowly approached the corridor. Dusk slowly trailing behind him, their little paws brushing over the other in anxious worry. "If it just doesn't kill me outright."
"A place." Axel said, getting an unenthused glare from Kuro. "A place where you don't have to be… It's a place for people like you. Lost and… worldless folks. I think you'll fit right in."
Kuro walked hesitantly forward, staring daggers at Axel before he flashes him a wicked grin. Axel then claps his hands together, ushering him into the dark. Kuro, taking up Dusk into his arms and then walked into the dark. The gloom dim surrounding the both of them like sunlight covers a barren field. He then hears the redhead's voice break out a string of hearty laughs that begin to echo as he enters the dark.
"Make me proud!" Was the last thing Kuro heard before the dark enveloped him.