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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 14, 2009 20:40:12 GMT -5
There was a pause before Minato nodded. "Tartarus is dangerous... if I go by myself, there's a chance I won't make it to the top in time. There's a teleporter in the lobby-- you probably saw it before-- but it doesn't lead to the top of Tartarus. I'll need someone to come with me, just in case." He stopped before looking toward Yuugi. "You can leave after we get to the top."
That would probably be best. They didn't have to witness whatever would probably happen that night. Sighing, Minato looked out the window. Clouds covered the sky, but it didn't look like it would rain.
Still, it was getting late. He looked toward the door again.
-----------------
K1 didn't need to be told twice, and stood up before walking over to Kaini. He crouched down a bit.
"Put your arm around my shoulder. I'll support you," K1 stated. As he got closer, the stench had definitely gotten worse. Kaini really needed that bath. The rash wasn't helping either.
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 15, 2009 0:15:06 GMT -5
Yuugi hesitated. He didn't want to abandon Minato to his fate like that. He didn't even know how it was going to work with how his Death Clock was reading. Minato obviously expected to die tonight. Death Clocks could be changed, true... he couldn't help but feel there was something he was missing about this. After a moment of awkward silence, during which he glanced at Atem, he nodded.
"Even if you didn't need the help, I'd want to. I have to go get my sword. You still have that bow from before for Atem, right?"
"We'll meet you outside," Atem responded for Minato. Yuugi nodded and quickly made his way out of the apartment. Atem waited a few moments before focusing on Minato, "He won't leave until its over, you know. But thank you for your honesty about that. Yuugi would have taken whatever you said as the truth. Oh, I can use a spear as well if you have something of better quality than that bow from before."
Atem stood up and headed for the door. He paused to look behind him to make sure Minato was with him, "To be honest, I think he hasn't accepted it yet... He'll allow what has to happen to happen, but he'll fight until the last moment. I suppose that's from my influence..." Atem gave a bittersweet smile. He'd always told Yuugi to never give up. There were times when that backfired. He'd accepted Minato's fate as inevitable, but Yuugi... he wasn't sure.
-----
Yuugi pulled out his COMP on the stairs. He'd e-mailed K1 and Souji about things already, but he wanted to tell them about the new development. He wondered if K1 would even care at this point. He shook his head. Just because he was mad wasn't reason to abandon his friends... right?
Yuugi spent a good few minutes hovering in front of his apartment door as he finished up the e-mail. Getting things like grammar right was a pain... K1 didn't bother with that, but Yuugi saw no reason not to. He hit send somewhat solemnly and pocketed the COMP. He wanted to say more to K1, but as he had said he was on a bit of a time limit. And he didn't want to hurt K1 more by saying things that needed to remain between the two of them in a message Souji was receiving. He unlocked the apartment door and placed the sefet in its sheath before heading out and down the stairs. Atem and Minato were probably wondering where he was at.
-----
Kaini felt like rather the inconvenience here, "...thanks," he told his older twin. He didn't want to seem ungrateful. He was walking funny for the obvious reasons, but his legs were supporting him more than he expected. He almost tsked dryly. A week ago he wouldn't have guessed himself to be this resiliant.
He had placed his arm around Keiichi's shoulder, their identical heights (at most a centimeter or two seperated them, if that much) making it easier than it might have been. Naoya dug something out of the bag and headed out of the room. He had grabbed medicated soap, but there was no need to say that. It would take a bit for Keiichi to get Kaini to the bathroom, Naoya intended on setting out towels and such.
Kaini thought he was an inconvenience, which amused Naoya. He was a younger brother, of course he was an inconvenience. He felt nowhere attached to him like he did to Keiichi, but there was a degree of seperation that attached him to the youngest member of the trio. Keiichi obviously cared for him despite having just met him, and it would be best not to aggravate him. At the rate his brother was going, he was going to surpass him in terms of inner darkness before long. Mission accomplished...?
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 15, 2009 16:03:10 GMT -5
K1 smiled a bit as he walked Kaini across the room, but his face still looked blank and unreadable. It was impossible to sense whatever thoughts were behind that smile now. He hadn't even noticed this change in himself, but that time when he absorbed Belphegor's energy, that same cold chill hadn't moved through his body... or maybe he just hadn't noticed it that time. After all, at the time, he had been in full rage mode at Belphegor.
At that moment, his COMP beeped. Someone had mailed him. Either Midori or Yuugi, probably... and he wanted to talk to neither of them. He'd read it later. At the moment, there were more pressing matters.
"Watch your step," K1 said as they walked into the bathroom, though it was an unneeded comment. Kaini probably knew to watch his step.
-----------------
Minato nodded. He wasn't much of a liar, but he knew that he probably could have lied to Yuugi, and Yuugi not come with him. But for some reason... he wanted them to come. They'd be the last people to see him before his soul was torn away and made into the seal. He wouldn't last long after that. He remembered how sleepy he'd been after making the seal the last time.
Without another word, he went into another room and picked out a spear he'd been using to practice with (most of the weapons were just for practice) as well as the practice bow from before and his rapier that he actually used for battle. These would work. He came out of the room carrying them and moved to the door where Atem was standing.
"Sorry, this spear's not too good either... which one would you prefer?" Minato asked.
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 15, 2009 16:18:32 GMT -5
For all the weapons Minato had carried on him that first time they met, he really did seem underequipped. Atem held the spear, an unreadable expression on his face as he held it over his palm. He was getting the feal for the balance, but it was like as not Minato knew that. He nodded to himself, the words being as much for his benefit as Minato's, "This is a better choice, it doesn't need ammunition like the bow."
Which was partially why it was so favored back in Ancient Egypt - so once the arrows ran out a soldier wasn't defenseless. He looked up at Minato, "We should go. Yuugi will be waiting for us outside."
That famous shift in Atem had occurred, it was possible Minato picked up in it. Back when he and Yuugi shared a body, that shift was generally the only side of Atem the outside world saw. The post-battle mode stance. His closest friends had sometimes see the softer side and now that he was out it was fairly common around Yuugi, but it had still been rare. But Atem had shifted into his battle mode... it was a colder version of the former pharaoh, more calculating and such. It was the kind of attitude one would expect of a warrior. Some called it the "King of Games" mode.
-----
Kaini nodded. Keiichi was right, he didn't need to be told. But there was an element in the older twin's voice... it was soft. It was like when they'd first met. Which was an odd comparison, that first meeting hadn't exactly been fun. But Kaini realized something. That tone was Keiichi... the other, it wasn't. Kaini's mind wasn't conflicting over Keiichi's name with that tone like it did with his darker one.
It was odd. Seth had never met Abel, but he now realized that there was a distinction there. Naoya didn't have that distinction. Kaini had never considered himself a truly observant person, but it seemed Naoya only wore that name to humor people. Kaini realized he'd been in his head a while and turned to Keiichi.
"I can really manage in the tub myself... I may be hurt, but I'm still seventeen," he said as he hovered next to the tub with Keiichi's support.
I don't like God. Not after all the hell I've been through. But... I don't want you to lose Keiichi, Kaini grimaced, which was actually an expression of the dark humor that had crossed his mind, I remember... I wanted to meet you as Abel. But I don't want you to lose Keiichi, either...
He was looking at Keiichi, and it was likely to be interperted as waiting for a response. But he'd made some kind of decision, even if he wasn't fully aware of it. Cain wanted to bring out Abel... if he was going to be in this War, he would fight to make sure Keiichi was never fully lost...
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 15, 2009 17:10:22 GMT -5
Minato nodded and headed outside, having set the bow back down on the table before walking out. It was time.
As he walked down the hallway, he saw Yuugi waiting. It looked like the teen was carrying the sefet. "We should go."
"Indeed."
Minato turned, and saw Souji leaning against a wall, holding the strap his sword case was attached to. How had he missed him before? Souji pulled himself off of the wall, and adjusted the sword case on his back.
"I'm going with Yuugi and Atem," Minato said. "We'll be fine with the three of us. Besides, we're only going to the top of Tartarus. I'm not going for some fight."
"I promised someone I'd watch you. And I intend to do that until the bitter end," Souji stated. Minato looked down.
"Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on K1?" Minato asked.
"Keiichi doesn't even want to look at us now that we know," Souji stated.
"I mean shouldn't you be helping out with Kaini... Kaini was really hurt last night. You helped carry him in. You should know," Minato said.
"While I am concerned for Kaini, I'm concerned about you too," Souji said. Minato said nothing.
--------------
K1 smiled, this one much more sincere than the previous one. There were no hints of Abel in this smile. It really seemed like this was the real K1 here, not some pseudo-demon.
"Alright," K1 said. "Um... I'm gonna let go of you now, okay?"
And without waiting for Kaini to respond, he pulled his twin off of him, hoping that Kaini could support himself. And if he couldn't, there was always a towel rack to grab.
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 15, 2009 17:37:56 GMT -5
Any measure of startled Atem might have had quickly faded to bemusement. Not that you could tell, the former pharaoh still had his "game face" on, so to speak. Souji had snuck up on them a bit. He glanced at Yuugi, who seemed far more surprised but settled down quicker than Minato or Souji might have expected it. However, it didn't take a genius to figure out why Minato was there. For one, that person who had asked him to keep an eye on Minato was him. Two... well, he had no doubt someone had slipped Souji a message. Yuugi's surprise made it clear he hadn't expected Souji to show up, though.
Atem finally spoke, although it was clear he had been analyzing the situation before doing so, "Tartarus won't show up until midnight, and its only about eight thirty now. It means we'll be together outside the hotel for a while. Can both of you handle that?"
It was fairly clear what Atem meant. There was a nearly unavoidable chance of awkward silence that was going to occur because of this. He made no attempt to dissuade or even influence the decision of the two taller teens. He had been the one who asked Souji to keep an eye on Minato, he wasn't going to go back on that now. Yuugi seemed to be analyzing the situation as well. He wanted to wait for Souji or Minato to respond to Atem before making any comments that might muddy things too much. He did look a bit concerned, but this was Yuugi - It would have been odd for him to not be concerned at the impending death of a friend.
-----
Kaini smiled back, and it was probably the softest smile that Keiichi had seen from his twin in.... ever, really. They hadn't hit it off well and he'd been grimacing so much since the Belphegor incident. He planted his feet as well he could for them still being a bit sore from the nail that had been driven through them, but it was an indication he had heard his twin.
As Keiichi pulled back, Kaini did seem a touch wobbly. He closed his eyes and managed to steady himself. He hesitated for a moment, but decided he wanted out of the damn clothes. He slowly began trying to work of the rags that had once been his shirt. He winced and closed his eyes at the discomfort, and it was the first time Keiichi would be able to get a good look at his scars and such without being blinded by rage or exhaustion.
It was horrible, even before the shirt was fully peeled off. Noaya had said that the wounds on his back were barely healed, but hearing that and seeing it were two different things. There was maybe three layers of skin healed over the best of them, most of them had thin scabs and such. They were crisscrossed across his entire back, it honestly didn't look like there was a spot without at least some kind of wound.
And while they were the worst of the wounds, as Kaini pulled the ragged shirt off it was clear there were others. He had burn marks, particularly on his chest if Keiichi was able to stomach looking beyond the back. Wounds similar to his back crisscrossed his arms, along with what looked like healed cut wounds (as a blade would cause), some looking to have been inflicted with a jagged instrument. More burns covered his arms. Kaini seemed to be trying to control his breathing as he let the shirt fall to the floor. He was focused on working past the pain... to focused to notice Keiichi's reaction unless it was over the top or the older twin chose to clearly show Kaini the emotions.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 15, 2009 18:10:02 GMT -5
Minato looked down at his feet. Atem was right, as usual. Souji had not reacted to Minato's decision well. And while Souji was probably Minato's closest friend here (or maybe because Souji was Minato's closest friend on the Island), Minato didn't want him to come. But Souji was stubborn. He wouldn't back down from a fight, and he wouldn't back down from this either.
Finally Minato spoke. "Alright. You can come."
----------------
K1's eyes went wide as he saw the wounds. He'd seen some of them before, but it had been night. Even with the full moon, the ones on Kaini's back hadn't been completely visible. And at the time, K1 had been too blinded with rage to see them well. And he hadn't seen everything underneath Kaini's shirt either.
Belphegor had obviously tortured Kaini in every way he could think of. Those cuts, those burns, and then the crucifixion. He'd probably whipped Kaini too. In fact, that was probably where those cuts on Kaini's back had come from. Belphegor had done something unforgiveable... and then he'd killed himself to keep from getting his just deserts.
K1 clenched his hands into fists. Belphegor should have stood there and been torn to pieces. He should have let K1 rip his arms from their sockets, to let K1 tear out his throat. But instead the coward killed himself.
Blood began to trickle from K1's palm, and a couple drops hit the bathroom floor.
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 15, 2009 18:18:04 GMT -5
Kaini felt the air change and paused. He realized he hadn't heard Keiichi leave the room and his eyes got wide. As well as he could in his condition he turned to see his twin looking ready to explode. He looked down in shock at the blood trailing from his hands. He closed his eyes and mentally chastised himself. He should have waited for Keiichi to leave the room before he took the clothes off.
"Abel..." he paused when he realized what had come out of his mouth. Well... crap. He looked up towards his brother's eyes, expecting a negative reaction to what he'd said. He'd meant to say Keiichi, why had it come out like that?
-----
Atem nodded, "We should go."
He walked forward without waiting for the others. Yuugi hesitated. It had just now hit him that while Atem was facing his head on... he was already grieving for Minato. How had he missed that before? He was doing what had to be done... both of them, really. He hesitated between Atem's leaving figure and Minato and Souji. He didn't want to just chase after the former Pharaoh...
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 15, 2009 18:28:42 GMT -5
K1's hands suddenly unclenched, and he stopped in the middle of another murderous thought as Kaini had his little slip-up. He blinked a couple times as he tried to process what Kaini had just said.
"...What did you just say, Kaini?" He unintentionally emphasized Kaini's name, as if to say "those aren't our names."
---------------------
Minato was the first to start walking. Souji followed along once Minato had gotten some headway. After all, Minato was the leader of this little group. Even if it was leading one of its members to their deaths.
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 15, 2009 18:34:45 GMT -5
Kaini was mentally kicking himself right about now. That darkness that had fallen down was flaring up again, and it was obviously from his slip up. He hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the side of the tub.
He took his head into his hands, "I'm sorry, Keiichi. I... I'm having trouble sorting the memories. I told you Belphegor made me remember my past life, and ever since then I've had trouble..." He looked up, "Hell, I have trouble with my own name. Half the time I think of myself as Seth, not Kaini. Naoya too... I have more trouble thinking of him as Naoya than I do of you as Keiichi and myself as Kaini."
Keiichi wouldn't know this thanks to the nature of Apathy Syndrome, but Kaini wasn't using the big brother honorific for Keiichi he had taken to using during that time. It wasn't a lack of respect, and while Kaini had developed a fear mixed with worry of sorts towards his brother, it wasn't that either. It was how hard he'd had to focus on saying Keiichi, for fear he'd mess it up again. It didn't leave room for an honorific.
Kaini glanced at the blood that was still trailing from Keiichi's hands. At least his nails weren't digging into his palms anymore. His eyes were filled with pain from various sources. He didn't want Abel to lose Keiichi, but here he was... Seth losing Kaini.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 17, 2009 5:41:41 GMT -5
As Kaini talked, K1's expression fell back to the softer one from before, the one that was most definitely Keiichi Kimura. He had no idea this was what had been going on with Kaini. All he'd known was that his brother had been forced to remember his past life by Belphegor. He looked down at the floor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't--" He stopped in the middle of his sentence. "I'll leave."
K1 turned around and left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Once on the other side of the door, he didn't move from where he stood. It was at this point that he realized that his hands were bleeding as he held up his own hand. When had that happened?
And then K1 realized that he'd actually been about ready to explode on anyone nearby at the sight of Kaini's scars. Naoya only seemed prouder and prouder as K1 had been getting more like this, but Kaini... had seemed almost afraid at more than a few points. Shit. This wasn't how it was supposed to work.
As K1 stood there on the other side of the door, kicking himself, he realized something that he hadn't noticed in the hours since he'd bumped into Minato on the stairs.
"...My wallet's gone."
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 17, 2009 7:05:57 GMT -5
Kaini looked up to tell Keiichi he didn't have to leave, but his older brother was already in the process of closing the door behind himself. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, pausing and grimacing. He looked down at the bit of blood on his hands - Cain had done some effort for wiping the worst of it off while Keiichi had been out, but only so much could be done.
Kaini looked at the scars for the first time, really looked at them. He shook his head. He doubted Belphegor had been going for a stigmata reference, the demon hadn't intended on him surviving the crucifixion. But it was there whether intended or not. Kaini looked at a bit of hair hanging in his face. It had a bit of blood in it, but it was mostly grungy from sweat.
He stood up and finished getting undressed. He had to be far more careful getting the pants off, and was grateful for the small favor of not having to muck with shoes. His feet had the same cross-shaped scar, though. He hoped A.. no, dammit! Keiichi. He hoped Keiichi hadn't thought he was critcizing him.
-----
Naoya walked out of the bedroom with carefully folded sheets. Well, not so much folded as clumped together in a deliberate fashion. He was avoiding the filth as much as he could. He paused when he heard his brother speaking. About that same time the shower could be heard being turned on.
"Was anything important inside?" he asked. Leave it to Naoya - He was always either straight to business or making some harassing remark.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 17, 2009 7:19:06 GMT -5
K1 took a moment to respond to Naoya, having been lost in his own thoughts. "Yeah... a couple of photos, and... that cell phone strap I used to fight Beldr with." He sighed and walked past Naoya to the living room, where he started checking under the couch cushions for it.
"Dammit, if I lost my wallet, this is going to be a big problem," K1 stated.
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Post by mugenginga on Nov 17, 2009 7:31:45 GMT -5
Naoya stared at Keiichi for a few moments, and his eyes wandered to the teen's hand. He recognized instantly the type of wound it was. He sighed and walked forward a bit, placing the sheets on the ground. He walked over and grabbed his cousin's wrist firmly, just in case the teen tried to jerk away.
"You have to get that temper of yours under control," Naoya pointed at the wounds, "We need to get those wrapped before you go out to look for the wallet."
Two things were key. Keiichi had never been that hot under the collar before the War, but Naoya was referring to a "temper". The other factor was he showed no signs of saying he shouldn't look for the wallet. While he didn't find the pictures important, there was a chance he'd need the strap again.
The more disconcerting was easily the reference to the temper. Truth was, Naoya... perhaps better said to be Cain... recognized that level of temper. It got "people" killed.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Nov 18, 2009 3:46:01 GMT -5
K1 had tried to jerk away when Naoya had grabbed his wrist, but his cousin's grip had held, and so K1 had stood there listening to every word Naoya said. His face turned to a guilty expression as Naoya went on.
"...'m sorry," K1 mumbled. "It was an accident..."
He had already been kicking himself over his response to Kaini's slip-up. Now he felt even worse.
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