|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 30, 2009 22:53:45 GMT -5
Minato looked a little depressed as he nodded. “Izanagi said Souji was a Shadow. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. I don’t know. But even if he is human, I doubt he’d take you disappearing again too well. You weren’t around the first few weeks after Souji appeared on the Island, so you wouldn’t have known, but Souji was pretty much in shock that whole time. He wasn’t anything like he is now… I think after his friends started showing up again, he calmed down a bit, but before then, he was pretty broken. If you disappeared on him, I think he might just break down… he depends on you guys a lot.”
How did Minato know this? Souji had told him himself during that vacation they had taken a while back, the one that had ended so badly. They had become good friends during that vacation, and it had been that vacation that Minato had learned that Souji was really protective of his friends. It had been the whole reason Souji hated Izanami so much, because she had nearly killed his friends when they tried to keep her from killing him.
Minato had been about to say something else when he heard a yell from somewhere outside the apartments. It had been one word that had gotten him focused on the yell. “Nyx.” And now Minato was officially panicking.
”Oh god.”
He wasn’t running outside now. Because if Ryoji knew, there was nothing he could do now.
--------------------
Souji flinched as Atem touched his shoulder, and he opened one eye. One eye that had been that cruel yellow color Shadows tended to have before they faded back to their normal grey color.
“I’m okay… Izanagi isn’t, though. I’ve shut him up for good,” Souji said. He sat up and rubbed his head. “Ow, ow… I hope he enjoyed those few hours he had in control of my body, because I’m not going to let him have any chance of doing that again. He’s back to being a Persona.” Souji went very quiet after saying that.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Dec 30, 2009 23:30:45 GMT -5
Ryoji adjusted himself a bit so that he was sitting. His head didn't hurt. It felt pretty clear. He wished it hurt. He looked up towards the sky again. He knew people were staring at him, but he didn't care. He was upset Nyx was calling him Death.
"...Am I Thanatos?"
For a few moments, Ryoji didn't think he was going to get an answer. But that voice spoke again, Why would you think that?
Ryoji's smile set new levels of bitter, "Because I can't stop thinking of you as a mother of some kind. Weren't you watching when I was doing the research? And you seem to think my name is Death."
The teenager felt Nyx sigh, I forget how much of a hold you still have on your memories. I can answer you that you are not Thanatos, but I doubt that makes you feel any better. If you wish it, I will call you by the name you have taken for now.
"...Thank you. What's going to happen to Minato-kun-tachi? He's afraid of me..."
That... Nyx hesitated, If I told you the truth, I fear you would panic. De... Ryoji, you know the answer to all the questions going through your head. You are not allowing yourself to remember. In truth, you should not be here right now. I suspect "Minato" has had influence on your reappearance, as has powers you have not yet recalled. You are upset with me now, but you are calm. I doubt that calm will remain when you regain your memories. Because I doubt you will want to do anything but hurry with your... our purpose when you recall, I will say this now. I am truly sorry.
"If I asked you why, you'd tell me I'd know if I could remember, right?"
Yes. It is odd. You should not have gained this much knowledge before you truly awoke. I suppose you have your friends to thank for th-
Ryoji heard Nyx cut off. He looked surprised, "Hey, what is it?"
......
"Nyx...?"
He had thought she had sensed something. But she wasn't talking. He put his hand on the ground and pushed himself to his feet. She was still there. He could still feel her. His emotions were linked, and she was concerned about something. She also didn't want to speak anymore, so she was remaining quiet of her own will. He ran his hand through his hair. Minato knew what Nyx said he would remember, he was sure about that. He didn't want to pressure Minato. In truth, he felt like getting the hell away from Minato, and not because he didn't want to spend time with him. The opposite. Because he felt time was short.
----------
Far closer to the apartments, a woman in casual wear consisting of pants and a baggy sweatshirt was standing. Her gaze had narrowed at the sudden plummet in Izanagi's energy. He almost wasn't there right now, and it was more an existance than a presence. She flared her energy up a bit on purpose. It was likely not enough for the avatar to pick up unless he had fully merged with Izanagi... and then it would just be a case of a human body owned by a god.
Mana had a suspicion about what had occurred. It almost hurt. The damn fool, maybe they could have talked it out had he just shared his body with his avatar. If her suspicion was correct, that wouldn't be possible in this incarnation. Well...
It's not like I wanted to talk to him anyhow. Souji, I'm sorry I have to take one of your friends... she scowled at herself. What the hell was wrong with her? She didn't care about sealing Atem, he had overstayed his time in life in any case. She was grumbling to herself when her head shot to the side.
"Who the hell is there!?" she shouted.
----------
"-ell is there!?"
Ryoji blinked. He couldn't help but shake the feeling he was the one being talked to. He didn't... no, okay. He had felt something. Nyx had felt something, and he realized why she had gone quiet.
----------
Atem had narrowed his gaze at Souji's eye. He knew that kind of eye. Yuugi had been in the middle of saying something but he had cut short. He knew it too. Anyone that had ever faced their Shadow knew it. However, Yuugi pushed that fear out of his mind first. Souji was quiet, so he was worried. Yuugi knew it was possible Souji had seen the expression he and his other half had worn.
"At least you're okay, Seta-kun! Do you need help getting up?"
"I'm worried about Izanami," Atem said.
Yuugi winced a bit. He didn't even care that Kaiba had gone off. Well, Atem had been known for sharing honorific usage. Kaiba was one of the few people he'd never attached one to. Not so much as a "-san". What bothered him was that Atem was going all business. He looked up.
"We can fight her when she shows up... can't we worry about Seta-kun?"
Atem's gaze softened, "You're right. Souji-kun...?"
----------
"...I didn't know he had taken it that hard. I never even got to see the others before the other side got all screwy and full of fog again. And everyone talks about time fluxes, I might have vanished the same time Sensei did," Teddie shook his head and then nodded. It was a humorous paradox, "Thank you Mina..to...kun? Minato-kun, what's wrong?"
Minato had said "oh god" and paled. The only thing Teddie could think of was Ryoji. He hadn't heard anything, though. And he wasn't sensing a strong shadow, so he doubted it was related to Ryoji's shadow form. But still, Minato was panicking. And not responding.
"Minato-kun!?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 31, 2009 19:36:20 GMT -5
Souji shook his head and slowly came to his feet. His head was still throbbing, and he felt exhausted. Well, he probably should have expected that last part. He had been nearly wiped out of existence. A few more minutes, and there would have been no Souji. Just Izanagi. Souji was still wondering how he survived. He didn't even remember forcing Izanagi out. He did remember forcing Izanagi to return to being a Persona after he regained control. Souji wasn't sure how he'd done that either.
"I'm sorry, I was... thinking. I'm so tired..." He shook his head. "I'd ask if I could lay down over here for a few minutes, but I don't think we have the time. I sensed Izanami before I forced Izanagi out. She's gotta be getting close... if she's not already here."
He didn't feel like sharing what he'd been thinking about. Again, he couldn't remember forcing Izanagi out. But he did remember the last words Izanagi had said to him. Telling him he didn't exist anymore. And then that sudden loss of memory before regaining control. That was ominous. The look Atem had given him after he opened his eyes again... also worrying.
He rubbed his head again and winced. He didn't think he'd taken that hard of a fall...
-------------------
Minato didn't respond for about another minute before he shook his head and sat down in a chair. "I heard Ryoji yelling. To Nyx. He said her name... I think he knows."
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Dec 31, 2009 20:36:17 GMT -5
Mana narrowed her eyes. She felt another presence, and it wasn't human. It was rather comparable to her own. In many ways, to be truthful. She glanced at the building where she knew the Pharaoh was staying. She hadn't given a time frame for when she would fulfill her end of the deal. Right now she was more concerned with a certain energy. She turned away from the building and began heading towards it.
Ryoji loosened his scarf. He had a feeling standing there wasn't a good idea. It was very faint. He couldn't know this, but he was getting the outer edges of what Nyx was sensing. She still refused to talk, even though Ryoji tried to get her to several times with his thoughts. They had been communicating well enough, and now she had clammed up. He dropped that angle. If he pissed her off, he might disappear. Souji had seemed so close to that...
The teenager headed towards the apartment in a wide loop. From what he'd seen of the Island, it was possible he'd just gotten onto the radar of some random presence and startled it. That didn't feel right. He somehow knew, probably via an extension of Nyx, that he knew the energy. He'd sensed it faintly before, but had been unaware of it. The bottom line was that if he kept his distance, maybe nothing would come of it.
Mana stopped. Whoever it was, they were trying to avoid her. She let out an annoyed sigh and looked at her hands. She'd not had problems with this form like Izanagi had with Souji. She had taken hundreds of years ago. It was her first and likely her last avatar. There was advantages to being immortal, even in the fudged mortality the gods possessed. More accurately, she was undead, but that was besides the point. A comparison to the western vampire was perhaps best.
It did have its drawbacks, though. She looked around and found a tree. This area of Void City had gotten a few smacks with the beautification stick, so trees were pretty much everywhere. She leaned against it and closed her eyes. To most she would seem to be asleep. In truth, she was projecting herself. Humans would call it something like astral projection, she supposed.
Ryoji saw someone. Well, not so much saw but sensed. With his mind's eyes. It was complicated, but it was something like a mostly transparent presence. A shielded presence, he could tell what he was seeing/sensing wasn't its true form. Nyx seemed very annoyed. He turned towards the presence. It was feminine, in any case.
Who are you? it demanded.
You are Japanese, correct? Is it not in your culture's proper way of speaking to introduce yourself first? My name is Nyx, goddess of the night This is... Ryoji.
Death. I am known by several names as I suspect you are. You may call me Izanami.
Ryoji looked annoyed, "My name is Ryoji."
The presence turned away from him, What are you doing here?
My avatar lives here. I return the question to you, Izanami.
"Wait, you're Izanami!?" Ryoji glared, "I won't let you hurt my friends!"
----------
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard," Yuugi stated. There was concern, but it was more serious. More like a friendly warning. Yuugi was still worried about the eyes, and it was fighting with his worry about Souji.
"I have to agree with my Partner, Seta-kun. I know what I said before, but after what you just went through it won't do any of us any good if you collapse in the fight."
Atem didn't want Souji to do anything until he got his thoughts in order. Atem was not a mind reader, he was just observant. There was more than a fall contributing to the obvious pain Souji was in. It was possible he was fighting with his own inner darkness.
Atem had not missed Izanagi's warning. In truth, he was very concerned. The last person who had lost himself was no longer on the Island, and no matter how much he tried not to, Atem worried about K1. He'd seen him walking the knife edge... he was not certain he had not seen him fall off it into the darkness. Souji would still be getting that hard to read look, though, although the former Pharaoh managed to look worried as well.
----------
Teddie ran over to Minato and grabbed his arm, "You can't give speeches like that and just give up! If Ryoji-kun is losing himself you have to be there! We really will lose him if you just abandon him! I know, I almost lost myself once and Sensei saved me and if Ryoji's a shadow you're probably to him what Sensei is to me!"
Bad grammar and oversimplification aside, it was possible Teddie had a point... After all, he didn't know that Ryoji hadn't actually awakened yet. Anymore than Minato did.
----------
Kaiba had exited the door to the apartments. He grabbed the playing card sized pendant around his neck and flipped it open. Souji, Izanagi, whatever had said that he wouldn't be returning home for some time. He scowled. Mokuba could run Kaiba Corporation just fine, but if the messed up time flux didn't work in his favor, things would go south quickly. Mokuba had the skills, but he didn't have the respect. Kaiba didn't for one instant think that jackass Pegasus wouldn't sweep in and perform a hostile takeover if he saw the chance.
And Kaiba had to admit, that was probably the best case scenario. After all, up until about two years ago, Kaiba Corporation had been about war. There were always people trying to buy out the stock to restore that department and the twisted ambitions of Gozaburo Kaiba. The man had tried to use the Solid Vision system concepts for war. Kaiba closed the pendant. He didn't run around goofing off like Yuugi did. He had a business to run.
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 31, 2009 21:25:26 GMT -5
Souji sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried. I had a memory lapse." He looked down. "It's weird. I can't remember what I did to force Izanagi out..." He rubbed his head again, and he took a couple steps toward the couch.
"...Hey... can I just sleep for a little bit? If Izanami shows up, you can wake me up, right?" Souji asked. He really was completely exhausted. He winced again. What did Izanagi do while he was in control of his body that was making him hurt like this?
Maybe it wasn't Izanagi. Maybe there was something wrong with Souji that was making him have this horrid headache. Maybe it was just from the force of his will going into keeping Izanagi a Persona. Or maybe he was unconsciously fighting... something. He didn't know. All he knew was that it hurt, and it hadn't hurt like this while Izanagi was in control.
-------------------
Minato looked up at Teddie and nodded. And this was why he shouldn't do all of this inspirational crap. Do as I say, not what I do. Bah.
"If that's the case, then we need to hurry. I don't know why he was yelling Nyx's name, but it couldn't be for any kind of good reason," Minato said. He looked toward a short sword he was keeping near the door, and shook his head. Teddie hadn't sensed a shadow, so Ryoji was probably human still. After another moment, he ran out of the door.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Dec 31, 2009 21:58:38 GMT -5
You claim he is your avatar, and yet you do not know what he clearly does. I do not need to answer your question, find it out yourself.
There is no reason to force out information from him.
The Izanami presence laughed, You care for him that much? He will be lost eventually anyhow, he is nothing but a shell!
Ryoji didn't know how Izanami had reacted towards Souji and Izanagi. So he had no idea that she was treating the "shell" the same way she had treated the previous one. He did, however, know she was making him angry. Even if he was a shell, Nyx was not Izanagi. It was strange, he really did feel like she regretted things she couldn't tell him. Something like care, there was a reason he kept thinking of her as maternal.
He knew that Nyx, despite being touted as a simple goddess of the night, was going to be responsible somehow for death. She called him "Death", and he couldn't get her connection to Erebus out of his mind. It wasn't memories. He would admit that maybe some of them were influencing his subconscious, but a lot of it was educated leaps. Nyx's purpose here was destruction. And his purpose was to help with that. Despite talking to her, he felt that she was unfathomably far away. He didn't want this, but he knew he had no choice.
And Izanami was focusing on that. He'd lose himself later, he was sure of that. But right now he wasn't Death. He wasn't the Avatar of Nyx. He was Ryoji Mochizuki and he tired of being ignored. He felt Nyx' surprise as he sent every memory he could access to her. If he had to initiate the "transfer", he'd do so. He wanted the goddess that would be making him become lost to know everything about him. Nyx' focus turned back to Izanami.
Pharaoh Atem may have overstayed his time in life, but it should not matter to you. He, and all the others... Nyx hesitated before continuing. Death knew, and the conscious that was Ryoji would remember soon enough, ...The Fall will kill them all, regardless of how long they have overstayed their presence on the mortal coil.
"Wh-what did you say...?" Ryoji stuttered out.
Kill them all. Nyx had said "The Fall" would kill them all. What the hell was The Fall!? Ryoji's knees felt weak. He was pretty sure he knew. In those memories Nyx said he couldn't remember...
----------
"No problem! I mean, Bakura-kun was always tired and... oh, sorry..." Yuugi winced. The example seemed applicable enough, but it probably wouldn't do much for Souji's mood.
Atem glanced at his Partner and made sure Souji was steady. He had zero doubt that Souji's memory lapse was connected to the way his eyes had looked. It was possible Izanagi was right. It was possible that Souji was a Shadow. That didn't bother him. Teddie was a Shadow and was just fine. Ryoji... well, Ryoji was a Shadow with a specific purpose. Then again, if Souji was he was supposed to be.
The former Pharaoh still believed that Souji was the true owner of his body. It didn't change that he had been "created" as a shell. If he was a Shadow, he had defied his purpose. This was uncharted territory as far as Atem was concerned. They wanted Ryoji do defy his purpose. Atem wished he could convince himself Souji was merely tired. That the yellow eye had meant nothing. It wasn't happening.
"Partner, help him to the couch if he needs it," Atem said.
He moved over to the table and began gathering the scattered cards. He glanced at the Millenium Eye before picking it up and placing it in his pocket. He'd deal with that relic of the Ancient Past later. Right now they had to help Souji and defend themselves against Izanami.
----------
Teddie nodded and ran after Minato. He had to stay strong. For Souji.
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Dec 31, 2009 23:19:57 GMT -5
"...Thanks," Souji said. He managed to make it to the couch by himself, and he lay down on it after a minute. It didn't take him long to fall asleep; he was literally that exhausted. He hadn't had time to take off his shoes when he entered the apartment earlier, so he was still wearing them as he slept. He still looked in pain, even while he was sleeping.
---------------
Minato and Teddie had made it out to where Ryoji was just as Ryoji stuttered out his question to Nyx. Minato couldn't think of anything to say. He knew Ryoji had to be talking to Nyx. His expression was similar to Souji's when Souji had been talking to Izanagi before. The same kind of unfocused look.
"...Ryoji, are you alright?" Minato asked. He wasn't going to ask anything too direct yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Jan 1, 2010 0:12:00 GMT -5
Atem's expression was rather soft as Souji fell asleep within seconds of laying down. Something was wrong with Souji. Whether it was a natural progression of throwing off Izanagi or some last attack by the god, Atem wasn't sure. He didn't care, either. He jerked a bit as he heard Yuugi's voice as he got the cards back in their pouch.
"It won't help anyone if you just stuff it."
Atem gave a bitter grin, "It won't help anyone if I say it, either, Partner."
"Other than you," Yuugi said. Atem looked away and he sighed, "Is Seta-kun going to be okay?"
"Since when do you doubt the strength of your friends," Atem winced a bit as Yuugi looked hurt, "It's nothing, he'll be fine. He said he sensed Izanami before he lost contact with Izanagi. We should focus on that."
"Kaiba-kun could have helped us..."
"Could and would are two very different things, Partner."
----------
Ryoji looked like he was by himself. Minato had picked up on one of the people he was "with" so to speak. Whether he knew about Izanami's spirit presence or not was unclear. Whatever the details, Ryoji almost jumped out of his own skin as Minato spoke. Teddie jerked back as well in response. It would have been funny in other circumstances.
"M-Minato-kun!" His voice was a bit weak and he looked rather panicked.
The Fall will kill them all, Ryoji looked pained. He didn't think Nyx was lying. In fact, it sounded to be the truest thing he'd heard in a while... ever even.
Your avatar is going to break, Izanami taunted.
And your human form is mortal. One that has overstayed its presence on the mortal coil more than the Pharaoh. My avatar is Death, you would do well not to forget it, Nyx returned.
Ryoji was spiralling into panic. Quickly. He seemed to slip out of awareness of hte situation and he covered his ears. He knew it wouldn't do any good, but it was the only thing he could think of doing.
"Please shut up..." he muttered. He was close to something, and there had been nothing in his life that he had ever wanted less than to reach it...
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 1, 2010 1:29:34 GMT -5
Minato looked pained as he stepped forward. Judging by Ryoji's reactions, he didn't know everything yet. But he was getting there. And Nyx was talking to him, and Ryoji didn't want anything to do with it.
Minato felt useless. He knew what was going on with Ryoji. But he didn't know what to do to help. He was a horrible friend. And unlike before, he was standing there, watching Ryoji slowly lose it. This was even worse than before.
He stopped just about a foot away from Ryoji. "Hey, Ryoji... I don't know who's talking to you, but if they're trying to get you do something you don't want to do, I want you to tell them to go fuck themselves."
His thoughts moved to those cards Ryoji had been given by Himitsu. They had one card that was out of place, the one Ryoji said meant "Fate". He said it was something that couldn't often be changed without the influence of Death. Well, Death was sitting right in front of him.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Jan 1, 2010 2:04:20 GMT -5
Ryoji winced at Minato's voice. Probably made the poor teenager feel like crap. However, he looked up. That was something. Nyx and Izanami were still arguing, but he didn't really know what was being said anymore. There were too many things to focus on. His missing memories, Nyx and Izanami, Minato. Minato had said something. That's why he looked up. He heard the last part. He looked less panicked, but the pain in his eyes wasn't fading.
"Some things can't be changed..."
Where did that line come from? He felt dizzy.
"Ryoji-kun, are you okay!?" Teddie ran past Minato, but Ryoji took a step back.
"I'm not sure... I should stay here..."
He's rather cracked... but you made your point, Nyx. I'm not here for you anyhow. You speak of The Fall. And yet you don't seem to realize that if you destroy this dimension, the entire multiverse stands a chance of crumbling.
It's not my choice...
"It's not my choice..." Ryoji echoed Nyx' words.
He didn't quite... seem all there. He wasn't flickering, but his eyes were almsot lifeless. That wasn't the worst part. The worst part? His voice seemed to be wavering a bit. Only once had Minato heard the voice that seemed to be trying to get out. It wasn't Ryoji's voice. It was Death's. It still seemed suppressed, but barely...
Teddie stopped cold. He was picking up on that Shadow again. And with what he now knew... it was faint. But it was there.
(OOC: Confused? Go watch the Japnaese version of The Truth About Ryoji again, yo. XDD)
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 1, 2010 2:20:15 GMT -5
Minato's eyes widened as Ryoji started saying words that clearly weren't his own. He ran forward and put his hands on Ryoji's shoulders. He didn't want this. He had to shut it up somehow. However futile it was.
He was lightly shaking Ryoji as the words that were quite blatantly Nyx's, or maybe even Death's, came out of Ryoji's mouth.
"Ryoji! Listen to me! You have a choice! You don't have to do this! Please! Ryoji!" Minato cried. Literally, as there were tears streaming down his face. Now he was breaking down. It didn't surprise Minato at this point that he was starting to break down. He was watching his friend realize he had no choice but to bring the world to an end for the second time in his life. He was watching his friend become the harbinger of the world's end again. Once was enough for one lifetime.
"A-And even if it is fate, well, fate can be defied! I'm supposed to be dead! You hear me? My soul's supposed to be the lock on that stupid bitch that's talking to you! I died to stop her before! It was my fate to die for the world! And I'm talking to you right now!" Minato said.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Jan 1, 2010 2:49:41 GMT -5
With it all taken into account, it was probably the tears that did it. All of it, really. Nyx wasn't anything more than a voice, but somewhere in her history she had been humanized. So to put it in human terms, the goddess hung her head. She apologized, but only to herself. No one would hear her. Not even Ryoji... Death.
The first impact had occurred with the tears. The complete breakdown had occurred with the tears. Ryoji's eyes came back into focus. He had an expression Minato would know all too well. He'd had it before. He'd apologized with it before. It was the kind of expression that made a kicked puppy look to be on cloud nine. His face was partially concealed with his scarf and he looked as if the world had already collapsed around him as Minato spoke through his own tears. His own tears, because Ryoji was crying now too.
He opened his mouth but just a sob came out. It was probably clear in his eyes. He remembered. All of it, and yet his humanity was still intact enough for the impossible round 2 to hurt to full extent. Maybe five seconds passed, if one were to be generous, before Ryoji had his head on Minato's shoulder, making it damp. He remembered.
Teddie looked pained, but he said nothing. He was pretty sure he'd just make things worse if he spoke. He felt like crying himself. He chose to focus on his feet as he fidgeted.
(OOC: Um.... well.... we didn't PLAN on shipping them... *cough*)
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 1, 2010 3:06:57 GMT -5
Minato couldn't say anything. He just grabbed Ryoji and pulled him closer. He knew the moment that Ryoji started crying that he remembered everything. And Minato still couldn't do anything. He never felt so useless in his life. And even if he could do anything... he didn't want to lose Ryoji again.
"...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Minato choked out. He pulled Ryoji closer.
---------------
Souji winced again, and he had to wake up this time. He couldn't sleep with all of this pain. He slowly sat up from where he was lying on the couch. His head felt like it was splitting in two. He didn't think it was possible, but he actually felt worse than he had when he went to sleep.
...It's just because my spirit's recovering from what Izanagi did. That's all, Souji thought to himself. To be honest, though, he wasn't sure it was just that. The way Atem had looked at him before. It was still bothering him.
|
|
|
|
Post by mugenginga on Jan 1, 2010 3:38:37 GMT -5
It wasn't that Atem doubted Souji's prediction from earlier. The fact that he didn't doubt it made him worried. He hadn't been sure Izanami was going to strike tonight, but Souji had claimed to have sensed her. Or that Izanagi had. That was the core of the problem. Izanagi hadn't seemed to take losing all that well, so he could have pulled something. The irritating part was that it had succeeded. Now that seed of doubt about when Izanami was going to strike would remain until she did. It would effect his performance.
"Atem, you have to tell someone what you're thinking!"
Atem glanced at Yuugi, "Partner, I..." Atem stopped, "Souji-kun?"
He was actually grateful for the interupption. A lot of people thought Yuugi was a pushover and a puppy, but the short teen was... persistant. If he decided someone needed to say something, they'd end up saying it. Atem suspected he was going to be subjected to a "chat" later if he didn't say something soon.
----------
Ryoji just kept crying. Izanami had left the conversation and Nyx was silent. He was grateful for that. He didn't want to talk to her right now. She'd apologized before. He knew why, now. But she'd been wrong about something. He didn't want to hurry for "their" purpose. He wanted to hurry away from it. They didn't have time. A month on the outside, and Ryoji knew that was if he fought it with every fiber of his being. This world wouldn't see Christmas.
Things were going faster here. He didn't really know why, he just knew they were. That month was for The Fall. Ryoji would be lucky to hang on for two weeks. Very lucky. He could already feel himself slipping, Death taking over. First Death would take over, than Nyx. Because the memories weren't just Ryoji's. They were Death's. It had been Death and Nyx S.E.E.S had fought at the top of Tartarus, not Ryoji. Ryoji had returned to give parting words to the group. Not because he'd wanted to have those memories. Because Ryoji was part of Death and Death had known it couldn't carry the emotion needed for that message.
Ryoji found himself burying his head deeper into Minato's shoulder. He wasn't fighting what could only be called an embrace, that was for sure. Fate could be altered, sure. But twice? And even if The Fall was stopped, he'd be lost. It was horribly stupidly terribly selfish, but that's the part that hurt the worst. Even if The Fall was stopped, they'd be ripped apart... again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 1, 2010 4:31:27 GMT -5
Souji looked up at Atem and Yuugi. He still looked worried. And for some reason, he felt like they were hiding something from him. It was a stupid thought, they were his friends after all, but he couldn't get that thought out of his head. Just the way Atem had looked at him when he opened his eyes.
"...Can you guys be perfectly honest with me?" Souji finally asked. "...Did I do anything odd or something while I was trying to get control back from Izanagi? Or right after I got it back?" He couldn't remember anything at all from that moment. He remembered Izanagi trying to push him out of existence... and then waking up after he got his body back. He didn't remember anything between then.
--------------
Minato wasn't moving. He didn't want to let go. He knew they didn't have much time together now. Because that stupid Izanagi had told Ryoji that he was someone's avatar. So Ryoji started figuring things out. And now Ryoji remembered.
For all of Minato's talk before, he sure wasn't feeling too confident now. He never had really felt too confident about this. He hadn't felt he could convince Ryoji. He had tried the night before, but Ryoji hadn't really been listening. His heart hadn't been in the speech anyways.
Minato wasn't crying now, but he still didn't want to let go. "...Ryoji... we should... tell the others..." he said softly. He closed his eyes. They were going to tell their friends that their days were numbered. What a wonderful conversation that was going to be.
|
|
