A Life to Lead ^_^

"I'll make a deal with you, sweetie..." Larxene moved her glass aside, and took Reno's, taking a sip from the deep red liquid and swishing it about the innards of her mouth. Once she had swallowed the intoxicating liquid, she ran her finger around the rim of the glass she had just consumed out of.
She stared at the liquid, her tone-of-voice remaining the same as her eyes softened. "...I will be kinder, when you sprout wings and fly."

 

"....Hah..okay." Reno laughed and shook his head as if agreeing with Larxene.If that was how she wanted to play, then he was going to give her a challenge. She'd be nice, or try to ..and if she didn't, well ..he had ways of making people like her talk, be it good or bad.Now, Larxene had only a taste so far, but as for the entire course, she was far from getting there.He'd be the one to change her ..if he wouldn't, who will?

"That's the game you'll be playing? All right Larxene, I bet I can make you show an ounce of sincerity and compassion before this night is over.If I win, the reward is obvious ..but if you win, I'll admit I was wrong and kiss your feet, sound good?"

 

Larxene smiled at the thought of Reno bowing before her. Scratch that; she loved the thought of anyone bowing at her feet. Although the thought of Reno seemed more appealing.
"Okay then.." She agreed, sipping from the glass again. "Make me show an ounce more sincerety than usual, and you win. And if I win, you kiss my feet and apologise.." With a nod she confirmed it, and sipped the last of her second glass of wine.

 

(OOC: Nice try, but it's not going to work.)

Ragingwaters took a step back at the explanation she heard from him. "I'm sure he knows what he is doing. Summon him here yourself and question his methods if you're not sure. Give me your answer and then I'll explain the other part you need to know concerning another one of your members."

When he had been joking with Axel and had looked up before, Demyx had a feeling she would take off and run like the coward she was when he no longer saw she was there. Smirking he looked to the distance and knew how to track down a human easily. Nobodies had keen sences, and used the path of the darkness to locate thier prey by traveling through it. Being a spirit and able to conjur up a swirling vortex that would lead him to her, in the blink of an eye he decided to see what Axel's plan of action would be? How quaint for her to think she had gotten away. Starring at Axel, he placed his right hand on his hip and laughed slightly. "She thinks that she got away? Man I forgot how naive humans could be. She is obviously scared out of her wits because she knows at any moment we could easily snatch her heart. She doesn't have any means of protection like a keyblade to help fight us off. Hmmm I wonder if I should have some fun with this woman?" He snapped his fingers, as he called for his minions as well as for dusks. Turning to them, he got down to business. "Pursue a woman who is very similar to Number XII, except she wears different clothing. Have some fun with her, but don't kill her just yet. Axel and I still need to talk to her and if there is anything Axel hates it is being ignored. We will join you momentarily." He dismissed them as they nodded and disappeared out of his sight. "This is going to be to easy," he walked in front of the fire wielder, his eyes glancing in the direction she could have gone.

Cloud slapped his hand across his face, not believing for a moment that she could have been killed so easily. He was glad that Tifa had taken Xion and Roxas out of the room, but the question was how would he avenge the loss of his friend. Starring at Leon, he wondered what he was experiencing and if he had any ideas? "Hey I thought about going after that guy, but what if it was just a trap? I need to think with my head and not let my emotions get a hold of me." He made an excuse for not going after Gex even though he felt guilty for doing so. "Zack told me to take care of Xion and my other friend so that's what I'll have to do. I'll get that guy next time."

Many small portals appeared in the town as the dancers searched the city for the description they were given. There were a few of them along with the dusks that waved their bodies from side to side, hissing in their throats and thrashing about in the air to gain speed. Spotting any source of light and the darkness that they dominated, the nobodies swarmed the town like locusts killing the heartless shadow creatures along the way if they ran into any.

 

(OOC: Axel is not naive. He is very resourceful.)

"I told you nobodies were evil. That proves it right there." Leon hated to be the bearer of bad news, but Cloud needed to know the truth about his so called friends. "Cloud, I know what you're going to say. Your friend would never do something like that. He's too good and what ever he makes you believe, but you have to remember that they don't have any hearts which means they are incapable of feeling emotions like you and I do." He stopped at that for he didn't want to give his friend a lecture not with what just happened. Just starring at Cloud, Leon could tell his friend was about to crack and he couldn't hold on being tough when it was obviously causing him agonizing emotional pain from within. "You did the right thing not to go after that guy." He opened the door to get some fresh air. "What we experienced was a huge loss and she will be avenged, but now we have to try to not think of revenge Cloud. Come walk with me and we'll talk about it some more. You need some air."

Roxas followed Tifa and kept his eyes on Xion making sure she would be all right. He was concerned for the baby and her own saferty. It just wasn't fair. How could someone kill an innocent woman like Aerith? She had not done anything wrong? Life was so cruel at times.

"Of course she got away. She would have been killed if she dared attack us," Axel took a few steps forward and placed his hand behind to scratch the back of his head. "It's strange how she kept quiet this whole time like she happened to know who and what we were. Now how do you suppose that is? I smell a traitor in our midsts and you know what happens to traitors," his emerald eyes lit up, as he watched a tree burn with the snap of his fingers. "She is a coward. I chose not to fight and gave her the beneift of the doubt. This clearly shows she is afraid of us. You were right about her Demyx. She needs to be dealt with if she becomes a threat." His long stride turned into a pace, as he thought about what else Demyx had mentioned to him telepathically. "If this woman is somehow connected to Reno and if Larxene chooses him over her own kind then she will be painfully disposed of as well like all traitors get in the end," he clenched his fist as if it was her head in his grasp. Turning to Demyx, his stance was firm and bold. "I'm going to seek out this scared mouse so we'll just combine our talents and ambush her." He was used to taking command which held one of the many qualities that made him a born leader. Speaking in the tongue of the nobody, he recited what was on his mind. "As you have sent your dancers and dusks after her, I will send forth my assassins as well though they will be in two groups" He called for them, and glared dangerously at them making sure they understood his orders. "Seek out the dancers and join them in their efforts. Do not harm her unless she harms you first. Capture her if things get rough. As for the other group of you remain stealthy and follow her without being noticed." He gave the command watching them disappear and ended the nobody link. "The hunt is on." Axel bounded to the rooftops and led the way knowing Demyx would have no trouble catching up to him.

The assassins soon found the dancers and told them the order that the flurry of dancing flames gave them. Working with the deadly others and now knowing the description of the one they were after, they split up in search for the one that was on the run.

 

Xemnas stared down the lesser with an intensity out of character for a nobody.

"I don't need to summon anyone of any kind. If he isn't willing to work, then he won't regain his heart. It is that simple. If you desire, go tell you master that. Am I clear with you?"

 

Xion held Roxas' hand, her eyes gazing into the distance as she saw the future amassed as colors and pictures. She winced at some of the more painful ones, but watched them all, then sighed, weary. "So....There are several possibilities."

Tifa listened, her eyes narrowed, then nodded. "I'll go. Roxas can stay with you. Stay safe, you two." She went off in search of Cloud, her mind tumbling. Aerith? A Heartless? That might just break him. She sighed, turning onto the street. "Cloud? Leon?"

 

Seeing shadows approaching just up ahead, Elena skid to a halt and looked to her left and right, trying to find a suitable exit.Alleys were too obvious, but perhaps her only choice. Soon she'd have no choice but to defend herself from those guys.Left and Right.Forward and Backward.Up and ...Down? Glancing downward, Elena realized that the sewer was the last place they'd expect.

..but it was just so icky >.<

Ewww...I guess I don't have a choice.. she thought, reaching down and quickly pulling the grate to the side.Giving one last glance up towards the incoming shadows ahead, just around the corner, Elena grabbed the handle of the ladder and hurriedly climbed down, being sure to pull the grate back under her before anyone came.

The smell was ..clean, almost ..as if this part of the sewage system wasn't in use yet.She found it odd ..was the plumbing destroyed by Axel's rampage? If so, thank god for rash, berserk attacks.She slid down the rest of the way until she hit dry dirt.Of course the possibility of walking on the cement platforms on both sides would've been better, but she didn't plan on staying for long.She merely had to make a call now."I've got a problem ...Yes, I know ...may I have permission to defend myself with any means?..yes,understood." she quickly finished up the conversation with Rufus.

Now she had to hold out for a while.Eyes flying up towards the closed grate, she wondered if she lost them ...if not, then running was the next option ..and she'd find another point to escape.The tunnels weren't that dark just yet ..in fact, they had light ..odd, she didn't think that it would be necessary, but Hollow Bastion wasn't a normal place.Turning towards her right, she ran through the dirt, hoping to find a random grate to leave from.

 

With a heavy sigh, after 10 minutes worth of menu-scowering time, Larxene placed the laminated card onto the table and folded back to it's original state. The atmosphere in the restraunt was reasonably romantic, with the music being low as well as the lights. People were talking in a low murmor, so it should be easy to attract the waiter's attention, right?
Wrong.
Of the multiple times Larxene had stuck her hand up, in an attempt to attract or catch the waiters eye, he just glided straight past her with his tray of drinks and whatnot.
"hey..you..." She called, stretching out her arm once again. And, again, she was ignored. Looking back at Reno with a tired expression, she sighed again. "I'm losing patience."

 

"Well, there are multiple ways of getting what you want in a situation like this .." Reno peered over the menu and looked over towards her.It was a surprise seeing her actually trying this so quickly ..and he hasn't even gotten to convincing her yet.It would be easy ..or perhaps she knew he could make her change."You could stand up and get up in his face ..or you could do it my way.." yes, his way ..he developed it a while ago, and it always worked in a place like this.But for it to work he needed a waiter, and here came one now.

As he drew closer, Reno reached into his suit and pulled out his Electro Rod, extending it under the table and waiting for the waiter to draw closer...almost...almost..ZAP!Sending a weak blast of electricity towards the leg, the waiter lost his balance and stumbled and spilled two glasses of expensive wine by Reno's feet, leaving stains around his ankle.

"I am so sorry!" apologized the waiter as he picked up the tray, a little nervous about what just happened.He never tripped, ever!Would he get fired, lose pay? It all depended on whether Reno was merciful or not.

Mocking surprise, Reno looked down at his stained pants, ankle down, and shook his head.Now, he just needed to seal the deal.He'd play a good guy this time ..the guy looked scared enough."Agh..Damn it." he shook his head and stood up.

"I-it was an accident! Please don't do anything drastic!" the man pleaded, clinging his tray closely to his chest.He was young ..and sensitive it seemed.

"..Man, look, I just got fired from my job, all right?" now, to play the sympathy card."My sister just died a few days ago, I'm nearly broke ..and to make things worse, my girlfriend is pregnant." he looked over towards Larxene, mouthing: 'roll with it'.

"She's already had two kids by another man who left her for some other tramp ..and with a situation like this, the least I could do was take her to someplace nice.She deserves it .." he looked back to the young man, who was wiping his eyes with a napkin already.He'd laugh at how quick that was, but had to make sure he was completely fooled."We were barely able to find a babysitter for the other two ..and we've been sitting here waiting for someone to take care of us ..now, I won't tell anyone about my pants ..but I need you to help take care of us, okay?"

"...*Sniff*...Yes...I'll be sure to get you your orders..as..as-" the waiter blew his nose and whimpered for a moment, taking in such a rough story.He weakly moved over to Larxene."You have a very nice guy with you .." he blew his nose again."I'll take your request now, if you want, miss."

Behind the waiters back, Reno was snickering silently, hoping she wouldn't murder him with the pregnancy thing.but come on, being poor and pregnant was an easy sympathy getter ..at least with this guy it was.He wasn't complaining.

 

WHAT WAS THIS IDIOT DOING!? Pregnant? Me? Was he mad? With a stomach as flat as this, the waiter must be dillusional to think that children were being grown in there. Ew. Children in my stomach. How disgusting!
With a slow nod, Larxene held the glare at the waiter. "I tried to get you attention various times, but you ignored me. Do I look invisable to you? Can you see through me?" Some part of her was raging at the waiter, loving the blubbering he was doing. This was somewhat of a perfect situation for the Nymph to bask in the feeling of utter power above the man. "I am HORMONAL. I am HUNGRY. And soon, I will file a complaint, and cause one hell of a scene in here, boy, if you do not get me my food." Looking at Reno, behind the waiter, a small smile lit up the 'pregnant' girls face. "Would you like to order first, dear?"

 

"You're too kind!"

Being confronted with such hostility and rage, the waiter shook out of fear and nodded quickly, hoping she wouldn't strike him.

"Isn't she just the sweetest little sunflower in the meadow?" Reno patted the waiters shoulder and cleared his throat."Anyway, I'll just be taking some of your homestyle spaghetti, side it with garlic bread and bring me some wine ..my lovely lady right here needed mine." Reno moved over towards Larxene, standing behind her seat and placing a hand on her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her a little."Your turn, my love.." he said in her ear.

 

With her hands on top of Reno's, Larxene brought them down the more she spoke to the waiter before them. She hated the aspect of someone leaning on her shoulders, and it made her feel overly-dominated, she didn't think the red ehad would mind much either. "I'm unsure, probably something very filling? I'll just have a pasta, and if I am still hungry, be back here incase I want dessert." With a nod, she dismissed the poor man and looked up at the man behind her. "...Did I do it okay?" she giggled, stopping the motion of her hands to speak.

 

With the waiter gone, Reno could laugh with Larxene as well."Yes, that was perfect ..loved the hormonal part, you did great." he complimented, giving a soft kiss to her lips and bringing his arms around to hug her at the same time.Sure, he'd need to wash his pants later, but it would be worth the sacrifice in the end.Releasing Larxene and pulling out of the kiss, he took a seat beside her again and chuckled.It worked out perfectly ..no flaw. The kid could've wondered about how far along she was, but he was a bit young and probably didn't have enough interest."..so while we wait ..where do you live?"

 

This post seems to have been ignored. Just reposting it so fire mage can reply.

 

She replied a while ago, you just didn't look that hard. I mean it was four posts after the last one you made after all.

 

(OOC: That's right. Thanks for quoting it Asterisk)

Leon drug Cloud with him for he didn't want his friend to be down in the dumps for it wasn't good for him. They needed to get past the tragic experience that had happened to Aerith. Revenge was not the key right now. "Cloud, will you talk to me at least. I know that you feel guilty, but it isn't your fault. So don't be so hard on yourself. Remember she was my friend too, even though you have more of a connection, she wouldn't want you to feel sorry for her," he patted him on the shoulder.


Upon waiting for Luxord or Xeol to respond the Lunor Devine nobody was getting really tired of no response. He may not careless of what they had to say, but he hated non responsive nobody;s and without a care or even gesture he just telported to the Alter of Naught and looked onwards at the heart. He was glad that Xemnas was getting his hearts, but he was still wary of certain betrayals they might come upon. "Xenmas, would you like me to spy on the other events below the human world?" He asked him. His Berserkers were doing it, but he had more faith in his own self since they might be eliminated.


Roxas stayed with Xion as he wonderd what else was going to happen. He needed to keep her safe at all cost. In short truth he had wondered where Axel had been for such a while. It was unlike the flurry to stray away for such a long while. "Xion, are you okay?" He touched her shoulder with comfort and was hoping that all of this tramatic nightmare would'n't scar her or even worse.


Bounding from building to building was the easiest way to spot someone from above the ground. He had an bird's eye view of the whole town, but he couldn't really remembered which part of the town he had destroyed. Shaking his head from the thought the wind past through his vibrant spikes as he stopped short and saw the desperate woman leap into a sewer. Cringing his nose in digust this was not an area the flurry would ever trend. He was too vain and had more dignity than that. Either way she may have gotten away from him, but it didn't mean that his assassins wouldn't continue the search. Being of this type nobody they could blend into their surrounding and underground. Poundering where she could of gone he decided to follow the trail above the roof tops until he found another sewer grate and waited patiently for it to open up.

 

(OOC: Because Hellkitten has not been here I will take over Xigbar temporaily until she comes back.)

Having his arm being pulled was just not comfortable at all especially his friend doing it. Yanking it back, he wiggled it free for it to remain at his side. He didn't need to be pulled around like a child. Cloud walked with Leon as they passed through the empty streets and his mind was still on Aerith and what had happened to her. Nodding his head to let the brunette know he was listening to him, the blond kept silent for a moment until he broke the silence. "Yeah." He looked away, his heart heavy with pain. "There will be a time to avenge her though. She did not need to die just so suddendly. I couldn't forgive myself if I let that creep get away without a scratch." He walked ahead of Leon, his steps striking the earth and shuffling the sand as it was kicked out of his way with his boots. He didn't know where he was headed nor did he care as he stood in front of some fine restaraunts and glanced at the window to see Reno with Larxene though the glass. Seeing them was the perfect distraction not to go hunt down the killer. Being surprised at what he was witnessing, he turned to the side of the building and hid in the shadows so not to be seen by the turk or nobody. Pulling Leon over with him, he kept his voice low to that above a whisper. "Reno is dating the enemy. He is either losing his mind or he has forgotten his motto of what the Turks believed in. Talk about hypocricacy." He recalled the times when the Turks requested Cloud's help to defeat an opponent and from what he learned through the guy not being the best fighter or a solider, but he did have good morals and a heart of gold. Thinking of this made Cloud assume differently. "No he wouldn't do that for some girl. Maybe he is convincing her to join him? What ever the reason, it would never work between them. I don't ever see Larxene changing and how could she since she doesn't have a heart?"

Ragingwaters didn't expect Saix to reveal himself so suddendly, but she kept to herself and was uncertain about what Xemnas had said. She wouldn't question him, but she also wouldn't let him assume the worst about her master. "Superior with all due respect, my master does things for a reason and I know he is loyal like he has proven himself time and time again to you. He may not be the most dependable, but he tries and does what it takes to get the job done."

From everything that had happened, Xigbar had been acting like a spy and knew exactly what was going on. Being the one to easily appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, and have the advantage of hiding himself from others without them knowing, he was the perfect solider when it came to easedropping. Now from all that he had learned and watched from viewing the ones in Hollow Bastion, and not to mention recieving information from the lower nobodies like dusks and his own servants the freeshooters, it was time to report back to the World That Never Was and reveal all that needed to be exposed to Xemnas, but first he wanted to let Axel and Demyx know he was there. Chucking darkly Xigbar fired his weapons to get their attention. "So this is where the young ones are hanging out? Woah small world, and it's getting smaller by the minute. Yep I know what you two are up to and I'm sure the boss would like to know as well. Be good boys now," he disappeared and revealed himself at the Altar of Naught and glanced at Saix and one of Demyx's servants the dancer who seemed to take control. "How quaint of the kid to leave a dancer in charge of other dancers." He walked past her and stood next to Saix. "Ah I see you're here as well. Boy do I have some news for you all then especially you Superior," Xigbar smirked and eyed Xemnas out of his good eye.

Axel was gone by now and so was that woman. Sighing he ran after the eighth member and got his location. From viewing Axel's where abouts, he glanced ahead seeing the assassins enter the sewer. Must of been Axel's order, and he knew the flame dancer would never even think about dirting himself in such extreme filth. Who knows what kind of gunk was down there? Demyx didn't blame Axel for what he had done since it was a smart move on his part. He had his mind on one thing and that was to help his friend. In the blink of an eye and not expecting a sudden attack, the melodious nocturne nearly panicked when Xigbar had fired his lazers at the ground nearly hitting him, and before the young nobody could question or react, the senior member had disappeared and was on his way to their home world. "Oh no..." Demyx moaned placing his hand over his face. This was not good. He had never expected Xigbar to be spying on him and Axel while they were in the town? What else had he witnessed and heard especially though the nobody telepathic connection? Demyx gulped and was extremely worried. Now he had to prove himself by getting the one they were after to show the boss that he wasn't just fooling around. Calming down, he had to think of a plan. Assuming that the woman dared enter the sewage world underneath them and that the assassins had no trouble following, this act gave the musician a brillant idea. If she wanted to escape from them through the sewer route then he would just have to flush her out.

Quickly his water began to rise above like streaks forming into a large liquid display fanned out throughout over his hand that was stretched out. The water formed a large orb that burst revealing his sitar as he swung and caught it in his hand. Notcing the flurry up high on the rooftops, the water wielder had some dusks remove the sewer lid and toss it away. Gazing beyond the horizon of Hollow Bastion, Demyx made a mental note of where his water would end up and that was in out in the outskirts of the land and in the sea. Glancing upwards at Axel he whistled to him to get his attention before ordering the dusks around. "Be sure to seal every lid you see and block all of the grates with your presence. This is going to get ugly. I hope she can go with the flow." Walking over to the entry way where the assassins had entered, Demyx prepared himself for his watery debut. Striking several cord on his sitar, he jumped in the air and shouted "Dance water dance!" Water clones formed, pressed on another by the different tempo Demyx played and flowed down into the sewer, thrashing about like raging rapids as the nocturne let his power wreck havoc on Hollow Bastion's plumbing and sewer systems. With each passing second, more water flowed down underneath becoming a tide that grew rougher, stronger, crushing anything in its path as the fluid gained speed and passed through all of the entryways underneath within a matter of minutes. There was no stopping the massive flood as if one person tried he or she would drown and or get crushed by the pressure if trying to go against it.

 

Xion began to shake, holding tightly to Roxas. "Demyx and Axel....they're..." she closed her eyes, controlling the images. "Demyx and Axel are doing something to the sewer system...Tifa is being attacked by Heartless, and Cloud and Leon are spying...." she shivered. "We should go."

Tifa ducked then whirled, kickiing the heartless, making it disappear. She jumped up and spun out another kick as one jumped at her back, then landed, narrowing her eyes. She would take them all down. They hadn't been heading for her, they had been going for Roxas and Xion.

 

Closing her eyes, Larxene inhaled a deep breath. There was something different in the air, suddenly. It was a musky smell, something that she could easily pick up above the aroma of garlic and hot food.
With the re-opening of her eyes, the Nymph was immediatly looking towards the door, her eyes cold and sharper than when she had previously had them revealed.
How dare someone even think of spying. How dare they.
Slowly, she rose from her seat, but continued to lean her hands on the table. She glanced at Reno, her expression showing the immense change that had occurred in a matter of seconds. She had now switched to her usual aggressive, defensive state.
"It appears we have a miniture audience." She informed Reno coldly, before averting her eyes back towards the doorway, both becoming slim, icy slits in contrast to what they once were.