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Post by mugenginga on Jun 5, 2010 14:25:17 GMT -5
The Dark Hour had ended in the three apartments inhabited by the King of Bel and his court at the same time it ended everyplace else. Cain and Seth had both slept through it, with Seth having set up a guard at Cain's suggestion. As such, a Phoenix stood inside the door to their room. However, she was roosted atop a chair and was only mildly aware, but if something came near she'd be up in an instant.
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The same was more or less true for the room shared by Atsuro and Kaido. Kaido at least slept, having put up a Flauros as guard. It was for the demon's ability to reflect the Mudo skill family. With what had occurred lately, he didn't feel like running around taking chances. There was still the factor of what had gone on earlier, and Kaido might have spent half the day flipping out if Cain hadn't finally used a demon to put him to sleep. Even afterwards, he'd been groggy and rather unmotivated to do much more than sleep. As such, he was in the bed. Really, it was possibly surprising he'd had the sense to set up a guard.
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In either case, about five minutes after the Dark Hour ended, both Flauros and Phoenix had sensed something. Something strong, and while not as strong as Abel in his angrier moments, it was certainly worth raising alarm about. Phoenix flared out her wings and let out a shout, getting Cain on his feet in a second. Not out of surprise, but out of readiness. Seth was up and had even gotten the dagger Cain had insisted he learn to use at ready, his COMP off the shelf and unplugged in the same swift movement.
"Your highness, a demon!"
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Flauros had let out a growl of rather loud volume as well, Kaido had jerked awake and his COMP was open and at ready, but he wasn't on his feet the way Cain and Seth had been. He still felt a fair bit groggy but damned if he was going to let that get him killed.
"A demon is approaching, and one I do not recognize!"
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At the end of the hall, a tall white rabbit in a suit stepped out from a rip in reality. The rip zipped itself up once the rabbit was through. He took several tall strides down the hall and pulled back his hand to knock upon the door to Cain and Seth's room. It was only polite to introduce himself, after all. It was only a pity Fate decreed he arrive at a time when the King was out. However, he knew he would meet him soon enough. There was no guessing or hunches involved. It was, after all, Fate.
In fact, he even knew his hand would not connect to the door before it opened. He knew that those from the room to the right would come out before he got the chance. He knew many things... the name man had given him was not for naught.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 5, 2010 16:16:40 GMT -5
Atsuro had been in a pretty deep sleep when Flauros gave the alarm, but the moment Flauros gave that loud growl, he shot awake, though he was still rather groggy. He snatched his COMP off of the bedside table and jumped off of the bed as Flauros stated a demon he didn't recognize was approaching. Quickly, Atsuro ran into the hallway, COMP at the ready.
He blinked as he saw a rabbit about to knock on the door to Cain and Seth's room. That had to be the demon, it had a rabbit's head and a man's body, after all. But something about it seemed strange.
"Who are you?!" Atsuro demanded.
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 5, 2010 16:25:59 GMT -5
There had never been any doubt that the teenager would come rushing out of the room while his hand was less than a centimeter from the door. He lowered his hand as Atsuro demanded his name. Less than a second later the demon Flauros and the human named Nikaido Tadashi, or Kaido, appeared in the hall. With no sign that anything was changing, the demon took two steps back and the door to Cain's room flew open. It avoided the rabbit's nose by even less than he'd not hit the door with his knock.
As the rabbit demon had stepped back, a rip in reality had appeared. It stepped through it, the tear zipping up just as a thick stream of fire shot. It avoided him by a hair at most, and a huge scorch mark burnt a small hole in the wall behind where he'd been. Phoenix flew out and spread her wings, blinking at the absence of her target despite the energy still remaining. As Cain ran out, Seth holding up a flank position, a tear in reality appeared in front of the door to Abel's room. The demon stepped out and gave a deep bow.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Court of Bel."
"Laplace's Demon, I presume?" smirked Cain, likely leaving wonder as to how the hell the silver haired man had guessed that.
"I am honored you know my identity, Cain Son of Adam. I would say surprised, but that would be a lie. I am indeed the entity known as Laplace's Demon."
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 6, 2010 0:56:32 GMT -5
Atsuro's eyes widened as the demon stepped through a portal just before the Phoenix Cain and Seth had on guard in their room attacked it. The demon had effortlessly avoided the attack before Phoenix could even shoot it off, like it knew it was coming. He fell back into cautiously observing the demon as it reappeared in front of Abel's door.
His eyes widened as Cain spoke, and suddenly, things clicked into place. That would be why the other demons didn't recognize him, and why he'd been able to dodge that attack like that.
"You're who trapped us here, on the Island, aren't you?!" Atsuro yelled.
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 6, 2010 7:42:53 GMT -5
Kaido glared at the white rabbit when Atsuro yelled at it. He took a step forward and Laplace's Demon smiled, his gaze remaining on where it had turned to Atsuro about a second before Atsuro had begun to speak. Given his contruct, the smile was rather unsettling. Kaido didn't even notice the smile and ran forward. The COMP had given no information on weaknesses or resistances, and a physical reflect would just smart.
Cain crosses his arms as Kaido ran forward. He seemed rather amused at the action. Seth had opened his mouth to shout at Kaido to stop, but Cain had lifted a finger and Seth had gone quiet before getting anything out. Kaido's fist, as expected, went through thin air, the demon having stepped through yet another rip. At least the man had balance, as he managed to not faceplant at the unexpected hit. Laplace's Demon appeared about five feet back from where Atsuro and Flauros were. He turned to Atsuro.
"I would not possess the power to do such a thing, Kihara Atsuro. I merely informed you and yours of such an occurance via the channel the General of your Court granted me access to. Becoming trapped here, as with everything else that has happened, was Fate."
This would likely greatly upset Atsuro. Hadn't he and his friends defied the predictions of Laplace Mail during the Lockdown? Kaido was glaring at the demon and taking steps forward again, but Cain held out his arm. He grabbed Kaido rather roughly when the man tried to slip past and gave him an annoyed expression. It would just be a waste of time if Kaido continued. He released the hand after the look. However, he'd let Kaido continue.
"What are you even here for?" growled Seth. Fate, huh? So what had happened to him was unavoidable? What had happened to Nirad, all of it, had to happen?
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 7, 2010 11:31:58 GMT -5
Atsuro had expected Kaido's attack to miss like Phoenix's had, and such, it didn't surprise him when the demon stepped through the rip. He was fully glaring at it as it appeared in front of him and Flauros, and its response didn't do anything for Atsuro's bad mood. In fact, his face showed more anger than he typically showed once it finished speaking.
"You're saying that everything that happened to us was all supposed to happen!? We defied your stupid mails! Your mails said we'd die, and we didn't! You're telling me your mails lied?!" Atsuro yelled. He sounded even more pained as he went on. "You're telling me that all of this was destined to happen!? That K1 didn't even come close to changing fate!? That he was going to become this demon king no matter what?!"
Atsuro looked about ready to snap. He couldn't believe that everything horrid that had happened to them, just everything from the Lockdown on, had been fated to happen. That they really hadn't been changing fate.
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"...Your majesty," Ame-no-Uzume started. Abel looked over at her with a confused expression. The demon was staring at the hotel, and she seemed concerned.
"...What is it?"
"You don't sense that? That... powerful presence," Uzume said. Abel raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Uzume sighed. Was their overlord really this oblivious? Perhaps it was just because he was a very young demon.
"...If you sense something, something must be wrong. Let's go," Abel said, and sped up a bit. Uzume ran after him, still keeping an eye on the hotel as she ran.
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 7, 2010 11:51:51 GMT -5
"The mails stated nothing more than what Fate had them state. Your actions to them were what Fate decreed. For you as you are, and your allies as they exist, what happened was nothing but what was required. As for my presence, I am but a puppet of Fate as well. It was fated, and so I am here."
"No matter what... like this...?" Seth said, his voice having become hoarse. That expression of tears without them falling had returned, "No matter what we did, we had to come to this?"
"The way you word it means your understanding of Fate is a pointless skill," Cain smirked, "No matter what happens, couldn't you say it was Fate? That you knew it would arrive? We as we are... so simply in one universe, we turned out like this. Wouldn't the choices made be different in others? Choices are what creates the Multiverse. Are you quite done playing with us, or do we have to contend with you and your way with words further?"
"Perhaps you could. However, your King and one of his servants will be coming up the stairs in a few minutes at most. He has not sensed me, but the one called Ame-no-Uzume has. Does that perhaps reduce your doubt that I know all worlds from beginning to end?"
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 7, 2010 12:15:39 GMT -5
Atsuro looked toward Cain as he spoke. Actually... that made a lot of sense... even if it still angered him that things had to turn out this way. That they absolutely had to turn out this way.
He blinked as Laplace's Demon stated that Ame-no-Uzume had sensed him. He couldn't remember Abel using a demon by that name. He knew the name from myths, but he couldn't actually remember Abel using that demon.
At that moment, Abel ran up the stairs, followed by a demon who rather well resembled Kikuri-Hime. Abel narrowed his gaze as he saw the scene.
"What the hell's going on here?" Abel asked. That being with a rabbit's head had to be what Uzume had sensed, but he didn't recognize a demon like that.
Atsuro wheeled around at Abel's voice. Except it didn't seem to quite be Abel, the expression held too much emotion to be Abel. "K1!"
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 7, 2010 12:27:03 GMT -5
Seth's eyes had widened as the demon foretold the arrival of Abel and another demon. He was turning around just as the footsteps could be heard on the stairs. His eyes widened as the prediction came true, a demon he didn't quite recognize and the younger of his two brothers. He jerked his head back towards Laplace's Demon, and one could tell by his face he had no words. Cain stepped back and gestured towards the rabbit.
"Your Majesty, it would seem Laplace's Demon has come by for a visit," he seemed to be enjoying this a bit much, "Fate apparently ordered him to do so. I'd introduce you to him, but it would be a waste of time would it not?"
Laplace's Demon bowed, "The honor is mine, Your Majesty King of Bel."
"What the hell!? Just get the hell out of here!" Kaido glared at Laplace's Demon. His hand was clenching his COMP. This was the worst. If the thign could just dodge, there wasn't a damn thing he could do.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 7, 2010 12:41:58 GMT -5
Abel narrowed his eyes as Cain explained things. So, this was Laplace's Demon. He took a couple more careful steps forward, and stared the demon in the eyes.
"If you're Laplace's Demon, then you know how I feel about you," Abel stated. "Now tell me. Why did you come here?"
Uzume had taken up a careful stance behind Abel. Atsuro was staying silent. He doubted anything he could do right now would help any.
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 7, 2010 12:47:46 GMT -5
"Your rudeness is not appreciated, but I could expect nothing but," Laplace's Demon said as he straightened up. His eyes flicked towards Abel's mp3 player, "A limiter does little beyond limit, as one would expect but many would not understand. My presence here was decreed by Fate, I was to properly introduce myself to you and your court. The man of many identities as revealed but one. Shall I be going."
It was not stated as a question. As for the rest of the group, Kaido looked like he was about to crush his COMP. Cain was smirking at the way the man was as tight as a spring. Seth was leaning against the wall between the doors leading to Abel and Cain's rooms. His legs looked a little weak and he was pale. Knowing that things had been predestined was both a comfort and a horrifying thought. It was clear the words of Laplace's Demon had gotten to him the most. Phoenix had turned a concerned head towards Abel and moved out of the way, and Flauros was just a bit in front of Atsuro. There was the fact that the demon knew everything that was going to be done, but it was no need to break formation.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 7, 2010 13:36:02 GMT -5
Abel gave a scowl as Laplace's Demon's eyes flicked toward the MP3 player. Another demon who could sense it. So... that meant he was stronger than him. Some help this limiter was doing right now.
"Leave," Abel growled. "And don't let me catch you around my court again."
Atsuro had looked concerned at the comment about a limiter. Since when had Abel worn a limiter?
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 7, 2010 17:32:08 GMT -5
"To leave or not to leave, that is the question. Be it nobler to obey the whims of royalty or suffer the wrath thereof," Laplace's Demon seemed amused with its parody, "However, it seems I must take leave, but not from any order of you or yours. I leave you to yourselves."
Laplace's Demon bowed. That familiar rip in reality appeared beneath the demon, and it slowly sunk into it. It was closing once his head was through and vanished completely just as the ears fell beneath it. Kaido seemed to finally have enough with things and had lifted his hand in the air. Cain seemed almost to be chuckling to himself, but it didn't show his reaction time of grabbing Kaido's arm and catching the COMP with is other hand as it fell into it.
"These things don't grow on trees," his voice was dangerous, but he said it with a smirk.
Seth was using the wall for full support. At some point he'd seemed to step out of the conversation. None of it could have been changed. None of it? He was looking at the scars on his hand, but his eyes were fairly hollow. Cain glanced at him for a moment before returning his gaze to Abel.
"Then your excursion was successful? I suppose thinking you got a guarantee it would do you no harm is being overly optimistic," Cain said with dry amusement, "That naivete will never fade, will it?"
"....no choice..." Seth was chuckling to himself. It didn't sound altogether sane.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jun 7, 2010 17:49:46 GMT -5
Abel didn't look away from Laplace's Demon until the dimensional rip it was sinking into sealed up and disappeared. At that moment he gave a breath of relief. He turned as Cain asked if his excursion had been successful. He gave a nod, though he chose to ignore the comment about his naivete.
"As far as I can tell, I'm about as close to human as I can get, and normal demons can't sense anything off about me. Any demon stronger than me without the limiter can sense me, though..." He looked away as he said that. Like Lucifer. He hadn't expected to see Lucifer there.
Abel and Atsuro both turned toward Seth as he spoke. Atsuro was almost alarmed at how hollow Seth's eyes looked. He couldn't remember them looking this hollow since that time Cain had nearly died thanks to Abel.
"Seth, are you okay?" Atsuro asked, walking a little closer to him. That chuckling didn't seem anywhere close to sane to him.
Abel had taken a couple steps toward Seth as well. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke in a quiet voice. "...Keiji?"
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Post by mugenginga on Jun 7, 2010 20:22:36 GMT -5
Seth gave no indication whatsoever he heard Atsuro. There was a twitch as Abel spoke, and he seemed to almost freeze for a moment. He still had his hands in front of his face, which was looking down, but the distant gaze remained. After a moment of deafening silence he squeezed his eyes shut and began to chuckle again. It was even less sane than before. Kaido's eyes had gotten wide, and Phoenix seemed extremely nervous. Flauros was watching Seth carefully.
Cain had been staring at the situation as it unwound. He placed Kaido's COMP in his pocket and walked over to Seth. He glanced at Abel, who seemed preoccupied with Seth's condition, as it were. Atsuro was now the furthest with Cain the closest. Cain had a generally unseen serious expression on his face, but it faded to his usual smirk rather quickly. He lifted his hand up and slapped Seth across the back of the head with enough force to knock the already unstable teenager on the ground. Anyone watching him and not flipping on Cain would see his hands flew out to catch himself.
"I told you once before, if you dislike the situation that much do yourself a favor and jump off the top of the hotel," Cain stated. It didn't sound angry or short, just... factual. That ever annoying mildly amused yet truly emotionless tone he was known for.
...beyond that it was possible he was in a fair amount of trouble.
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