A Resolute Person [Aerith/Open]

[Lagunamov]

Ridiculous.

After a couple of minutes of work, the girl’s head leaned back against the wall, her red hair getting messier than it was already. On her, or rather, its hands rested the severed head of the man, now the last remaining thing from him in the world now that his body had also been taken care of. How a creature of ethereal origin could even consume something that large remained a mystery, but it was unimportant.

Standing up slowly, letting the new memories reassemble themselves in its mind and pushing them back so that they would not take prevalence, Animositas focused itself on tracking down its partner. It appeared most, if not all those that had been at the alley had moved onto someplace else, not that far from their previous location. Easily accessible, it only took the Sentiment walking a block or two to reach the back entrance of the cathedral, finding a small wooden door through which it had seen the higher ups in whichever religion governed in that world enter at times. It tried pushing it open, to no avail, leading the armor to kick it down.

Once inside, it was easy enough to find them. A fight had broken out between this Jericho person and one of the girls who the Sentiment had assumed was one of his underlings. So much for keeping control on the lesser creatures. The shadow image of the girl sighed as it lowered its head, with a faint interference barely revealing the armor beneath it for a fraction of a second, before it started to walk towards the trouble. As it approached the conflict from behind, flinging the head up and down on its hand, it couldn’t help but notice the shadow creature for a second. It seemed he had improved.

Stopping only a couple of meters away, Animositas threw the head in between the two fighters as if annoyed at the entire ordeal, giving the appropriate look with its fake face. “You can’t help but pick fights anywhere you go or something?” it asked, remembering its previous encounter with this so called Avatar of Darkness.

[Shadow Facade memory extraction over.]

[Slash]

Let the anger feed y-Hey, armor thing!

[/center]

Jericho took the hit willingly, striking back in turn. She had to know what it felt like to actually hurt the one you hated, how nice it was.

The Guardian freaked out. With a roar that was somehow unmuffled by the bandages around its mouth, it attacked Emi relentlessly.

This whole scene was interrupted by that one guy's head being thrown into the fight. Jericho caught it, threw it back up in the air, and caught it again.

While the Guardian continued to attack, Jericho nonchalantly turned towards the armor thing that had thrown it.

"Well, I'm not sure if you understand this since you don't have emotions and all that, but I do really enjoy fighting. Especially when I'm using it to prove some sort of point. You know?"

[Aerith]

Everyone is here.
--------

Ethan noticed the armor before anyone else did. The fight between the girl and Jericho was interesting to a point. He could see what Jericho was trying to do, but there was little for Ethan himself to do at this point. The girl had no idea who he was, anyway.

So, when Animositas showed itself, Ethan's boredom quickly dispelled. "How fortunate that you found me again!"

Glancing at Aerith to make sure she would be fine without him standing next to her, he moved closer to the armor. The frenzied attacking of Jericho's shadow creature was almost comically pushed to the background. Introductions needed to be made, after all. Proper introductions, since it seemed the two had met before.

"Jericho, this is Animositas. Am I correct in assuming you already have the pleasure of knowing each other?"

Nadia, too, had stopped watching the scuffle and moved next to Jericho. She acknowledged Ethan's respectful removal of his hat with a nod and a slight smile.

"And this lovely creature is Nadia."

Nadia laughed a little. "You're always going to be like that, aren't you?" It was a little embarrassing, mostly because she wasn't used to such positive attentions.

"My apologies. I will try to curb my enthusiasm." He laughed as well, then turned back to Animositas. "I see you've brought a present? Does that head hold some sentimental value to you, or are you particularly fond of carrying around heads?"

[Lagunamov]

At least the head didn't need an introduction.

It appeared that whatever this man had summoned to do his bidding was now acting all on its own, as he simply carried on and started talking to the Sentiment for a bit. “I understand emotions and the need to fight. I do not understand why that need is being satisfied with your underling. Unless her leash has loosened up or something,” it answered back, the façade of the red haired girl scratching the back of her head. Some mannerisms were needed.

Now it was clear that Ethan had previously met this man and his colleagues, with him trying to introduce them all as if this was some sort of business meeting. Leave it to him to ignore the mayhem only meters away and start a perfectly calm conversation. “Yes, I met him once. And because of his annoying one sided questionnaire, I would have decapitated him had his underlings not showed up with such perfect timing,” it commented, with the girl’s voice changing enough to suggest some joking in that statement. “As for the head, I’d rather not waste any resources. Your friend Nadia here should understand that perfectly,” it gave her a devilish glance out of her eyes, the sight of her beast devouring the larger part of the man’s body still in its head.

“Either way,” it trailed off, turning its head back to the fight. “Anyone care to explain why the underling that was behaving so damn well till a minute ago is now trying to rip four eyes’ pet to shreds?” it asked, pointing at the fight with its index finger almost as if it was choosing something out of a shelf at a store.

[Oathkeeper Emi]

EMI ANGRY. EMI SMASH.
--

Under the influence of Amplification and Empathy, Emi couldn't have cared less about the conversation going on between the others if she had tried. She couldn't even hear them.

The Guardian's first attacks landed perfectly, and while it injured her it also made her angrier. What a fun a little game. The more the Guardian attacked her, the more fiercely she wanted to fight against it... the more she fought against it, the angrier the Guardian got. And since they were connected by Empathy, she felt that anger- and it just made her want to fight more. They fed off each other.

She got slashed across the face, pushed down and hit but she kept getting up. She even managed to get a few solid hits in. It was a good fight if there ever was such a thing. Finally, she realized she didn't just have to swing her keyblade around like a barbarian. She lifted it into the air and seconds later, the Guardian was being forced to the ground by the gravity spell.

Emi grinned and used the break to catch her breath and wipe the blood off her face.

--
Battle Report
Emi used [Demi]!
2 uses left
2 posts until next use.
Affects on The Guardian last for 1 post. Inflicts moderate damage.

[Titan]

And then he was gone. The massive Titan had left, presumably to find the others who had awakened, and likely to awaken those who had not yet.

And then...there would be much for them to talk about.

[Slash]

I think it's time to go.

[/center]

The Guardian was held down, and Jericho figured that this had gone on long enough. He released his hold on Emi's mind, the Guardian dissolving back into his shadow.

"Did you have fun, puppet?"

He turned to Animositas. "I was simply making a point. You need to loosen up a little. It's not healthy to be so stiff." He smiled.

"I think we've all overstayed our welcome. It's time to leave. Ethan, you can take your new friend along if you want to- I have to find where Aerith's hiding."

[Guardian was retracted.
Empathy was retracted.][/size]

[Aerith]

A small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.
--------

Ethan had been so delighted to see Animositas again that he had completely forgotten about Aerith. Now that Jericho mentioned her again, he noticed that she had disappeared somewhere. "It does seem that she is hiding."

He looked at Animositas. "Jericho is correct. It won't do if you are constantly uptight that way." He considered the armor silently for a moment like he might consider a half-finished painting. "But if you come with us, I can help fix that."
________________________

Meanwhile, Aerith found herself alone in a section of the cathedral that was a small branch off the main sanctuary. From here, all she heard was silence. Wonderful silence. She could almost imagine that none of the events in the alley had happened.

Standing with her hands clasped in front of her, she glanced at the various religious icons that covered the walls. While there were many that were comforting--soft depictions of angels, saintly people, and a particular woman she kept seeing over and over--there were some that disturbed her deeply.

Scenes of angels and demons locked in vicious combat were less prominent but nevertheless present. Even here, in a place she expected to be a bastion of light, there was fighting and death. Worse, she realized it was probably the human influence that was responsible.

Sighing, she closed her eyes. "So much death..."

Suddenly, inspiration struck her, almost like something inside her unlocked. Opening her eyes, she bent down in front of a statue of that woman and touched her hand to the ground. The floor beneath her hand cracked and split, pushed apart by a cluster of Aerith's flowers. The sight of them comforted her, and she gently stroked each leaf and petal.

"Welcome to a new world," she said with soft affection.

[Slash]

Sister.

[/center]

Jericho found Aerith in a place heavily decorated with religious icons. He was familiar with this world's religion, and could place most of what was going on. All these symbols and statues and paintings...he didn't like them. To him such worship seemed almost gaudy.

What will we be remembered by, sister, in the world that you will create?[/color]

He saw her touch the stone floor, dead material pushed apart by new life.

How funny. You represent life and redemption; I represent death and corruption. We are opposites, yet it is essential that we coexist.[/color]

Jericho crouched down by her. "It's over. We're leaving."

He paused for a while. The fact that Aerith had to be exposed to all of this meant something to him, even though for anyone else it wouldn't matter. He almost wanted to give something in compensation...

"Aerith. There are plenty of people I won't kill at your request, but if I'm attacked or insulted I will retaliate. I am not kind, and I am not fair. However...Name three people. The people who you name I will never harm, directly or not. They will be safe, and even if they attack me I will do nothing to them."

[Oathkeeper Emi]

RAAAAAAAAGH--- *cough* What the hell happened?!
--

The spell was just about to let up. Emi had her keyblade ready, up in a defensive position when suddenly... all of her emotions and thoughts returned to her. It was like coming up for air, but she was drowning at the same time. It took several seconds for her to get used to being back in her right mind, and then she was highly irritated. Jericho had called his Guardian back. Emi turned to face him.

"Jericho, you asshole! Stop doing that![/color]" she screamed at him, and chucked her keyblade at him. Of course, it disappeared shortly after that and Emi crossed her arms. Jericho, of course, left without paying too much attention to her. She was still mad at him, but back to restraining herself for fear of it happening again.

It was time to go again, so she zipped up the front of her cloak in anticipation of another trip through a Corridor. She shot a glance at Nadia. "I'm not too thrilled with you either,[/color]" she muttered. There were other things she wanted to say to Nadia, but decided this was neither the place or the time. She'd get her chance.

[Aerith]

You'll really keep your promise?
--------

Aerith heard the footsteps, but she knew long before the sound echoed off the walls that Jericho was coming to find her. At least when he wasn't specifically using the darkness for anything, her senses didn't feel so overwhelmed.

She didn't look at him for a while, even after he finished offering her the opportunity to give three people immunity. Only three? So little. But it meant something, didn't it?

"Cloud. I want Cloud to stay safe." That one was a given, the name automatically coming to her lips without any thought. "Oh. He's a member of the RGRC, too. Blonde, spiky hair and blue eyes. And he carries a large sword. He's...a very good friend."

She could feel her skin threatening to blush, but she quickly continued. "And Leon. Also a member of the RGRC. He has brown hair. Also carries a large sword."

The last one required more thought, but suddenly, she knew. She knew who needed to be protected, who was too important to lose.

Finally turning her eyes on Jericho, she said with quiet finality, "And Sora. Please don't hurt Sora. I know he has a Keyblade, but...please don't hurt him. He's already lost Mickey and Kairi."
__________________

While Jericho went off to look for Aerith, Nadia stood silently, still but for her eyes, which went from Animositas to Emi back to Animositas and back to Emi. Ethan, she paid little attention to. He was trustworthy enough that she didn't feel the need to constantly watch him. The other two, however...

Emi was zipping up that odd black cloak she insisted on wearing for some reason. She muttered something that Nadia couldn't quite make out and then shot a glance toward her. Apparently, fighting Jericho's shadow hadn't been enough.

"Do you have any other facial expressions besides annoyed, frustrated, and enraged?"

[Oathkeeper Emi]

Short post is short, too tired to write the last 49 words.
--

"Yes,[/color]" Emi said. "There is also sarcasm and impatience and obnoxious laughter at your expense. But you haven't given me much of a reason to use any of those, now have you? Except maybe the impatience one... where the hell did Jericho run off to?[/color]"

She was ready to get going. The faster they got a move on the faster all of this would be over. While they waited for Jericho to get his slow-poke self back to them, she leaned against a nearby column and thought. Nadia had screwed around with her memories of Castle, and she knew it. She closed her eyes... "Shit...[/color]" she growled, slamming a fist against the column. She pushed herself off and walked over to Nadia. "Put my memories back. We're done playing now, there's no point in it.[/color]"

[Aerith]

Road trip. No boys allowed.
--------

Nadia's expression went from cold and aloof to amusement when Emi asked her to fix her memories. "Are we done playing? Jericho might be, but I'm not."

She walked around Emi once, looking her over curiously. Perhaps because she had been able to see all of Emi's memories, Nadia felt something in her. Emi only needed to understand, and then she would see. Then, she would know the depth of the satisfaction Nadia had found. Forcibly breaking her might not be the best approach.

A spontaneous decision was made. Nadia turned to Ethan. "Tell Jericho not to worry when he comes back to find us missing. I have Emi."

Moving closer to Emi, Nadia summoned a Corridor around them, and they vanished from the world.

[Slash]

I agree, albeit reluctantly.

[/center]

The first two names meant nothing to him. The survival of those who possessed said names meant nothing to him either way.

The last one, though...His lips pulled back in an angry sneer. The Other materialized and growled, responding to his rage.

She thinks she can control us. Kill the boy and dump his corpse at her feet. We'll see how much her healing would do then.[/color]

He wanted to. In that moment, he wanted to find the boy and kill him, maybe killing the other two she had named on her way there. It was stupid, blind fury that was spurring him on- it would benefit him in no perceivable way, as the loss of Aerith was more important than the death of a boy Keyblader.

Who cares? You can control her and everyone else. Give in. You only give in when it will benefit you, and push yourself back afterward. Stop thinking about whatever plans you have and lose yourself in the flow of darkness.[/color]

It strained at its chains and got one arm free as Jericho silently considered its words. Reaching towards Aerith, it spoke from beneath the mask.

"The little boy you want to protect is the reason everything has happened. He will die, whether you want him to or not."

"Enough," Jericho said. Despite the tempting offer he was and would always be the one in charge. The Other disappeared back into his shadow.

You can lie to yourself as well as her. But when the time comes, you'll renege on your gift.[/color]

Sora had hurt the darkness, had chained it down. Ansem would have opened it, the Ansem that the darkness had known as a powerful Heartless. They had never known each other, yet Jericho still felt a strange kinship to him. If they could have met while he was still whole, they would have much to discuss.

Sora had killed Ansem and had locked the door to Jericho's home.

"He is the reason I exist. I'm here because he locked the door. Because he made the darkness weak. In places like this, where the light is too strong because of his intervention, there's a pain in the back of my mind. An endless hunger that keeps worrying away at me. And you expect me not to touch him? He lost a few, yes, but maybe he'd prefer to wander the worlds like a stray dog, driven completely by hunger and want."

His sneer grew wider, then he repressed it with a great effort and said, "Fine. I won't touch him. But you'd better keep him under control once I'm gone. If he tries to pull something like that again..." The black stigma on his skin spread as his irises grew larger and faintly luminescent.

"Then that proves that humanity in general was a mistake. One that would have to be corrected."

He angrily attempted to control himself, annoyed even further with his lack of it. He managed to return to his usual appearance, although he was shaking quite a bit.

[Aerith]

If you want to kill him, I really can't stop you.
--------

Aerith had known including Sora in the list wouldn't go over very well, but this was another level entirely. She knew from the moment Jericho's expression changed that she might be in trouble. When his shadow came to life once again, the possibility of harm increased dramatically.

Would you kill me, brother? Is the only reason you don't do so now because I am a Princess of Heart?

Even when the shadow stretched out its one free arm toward her, she didn't move or flinch. She didn't look away or close her eyes. She was at peace with the idea of her own death, should it come for her now.

There was no sensation of claws ripping into her flesh. No searing pain signalling her removal from this life. The shadow returned to its constant repose beneath Jericho. Aerith stifled her sigh of relief.

She watched him for a long time. Her hand automatically lifted to reach for him, but she hesitated, then replaced it in her lap. Looking away, she sighed softly.

"I don't want you to kill anyone. You know that. But I don't expect you to honor that wish. Honestly, I really don't expect you to honor this one, either. But you asked, so I answered. I'm sorry if that offends you."