Kyxsha just HAD to scream out that I was injured. I could've smacked her for that...I didn't need ANY of their pity...none of their gazes...not a single one of them could've faired any better than I. The only reason I still bore my wounds was because I dare not use my newly acquired power on such a low level of energy; it had really drained me to break that odd mirror of Serix's. Part of me wondered just how he'd managed to form such a strong based element...Triskix jumped down at Tanex's command. I was slightly surprised that he'd listened to him so quickly, without a tiny bit of contest. He healed me...and not a word was spoken between us. Our argument wasn't over...I could feel it. Just as our elements, when we two clashed...it was hard. Yet I stood firm...Xraktos would be no simple foe. I tried to halt the flow of ice forming beneath me...though I couldn't stop the temperature around me from dropping...
Since I was slightly irritable...I decided it best for me to remain silent during the discussion. To instead 'take things in', rather than put in my 'two-cents'. Tanex listed off a couple tasks that needed to be dealt with...it would seem this war was only expanding. The only end I could see in sight was by Xraktos's death...therefore an end to his madness. If he truly wished to join this Martel...I'd be more than happy to SEND him to her. I remained silent...that is...until Nyx gave a suggestion I NEVER thought possible...
"I think we need his help...Xerebus's..."
My mouth dropped for a moment, then turned upwards in a full out snarl. However, before I could snap I sensed an attack on me. Jumping back quickly, I just barely avoided a void set at me by Tanex. It didn't vanish, but instead lingered before me. "TANEX-!!" I shouted but was cut off.
"Step through the portal RaXi...before you speak there's something we must address. Apparently I can put it off no longer..." He spoke in a serious tone as he stood up. "Everyone...please continue the discussion...this will only take a moment."
Reluctantly I stepped through...from his tone I really didn't care to hear what he wanted to 'address' with me. On the other side I found the familiar plane of "betwixt and between". "Why the HELL did you interrupt me back there?! You KNOW I would never go along with a plan that included Xerebus! Why would Nyx....why in the world-!"
"That's EXACTLY why I stopped you...as soon as she mentioned him...I began to realize something in her RaXi." Tanex explained, totally calm. Eerily so almost. "There has always been something different about her...you must've sensed it as well. Perhaps she holds a connection to this man...do you want to be the one who kills any chance of finding her past?"
"No...and yet..."
"And Yet...what RaXi?! Will you stop at NOTHING to exact REVENGE?!" Tanex glared at me, his voice raised and yet completely stern and serious.
"My vengeance is not your concern." I stubbornly rebuked.
"RaXi, let me ask you this." Tanex spoke walking to the opposite side of me. "WHY do you wish revenge on Xraktos and Xerebus?"
"You must know this..." I began, but noticed the stubborn look in his eye...he was waiting for an answer regardless. "Because they stole Vincent from me. There! Are you satisfied?! They managed to STEAL another person from my life! I may have let Sora escape...but I will NOT allow them to..."
"Yet...Vincent isn't REALLY dead...or are you denying Verex's existence?"
I was stunned by this question. Of course I'd accepted Verex...after all...I had been so determined to free him. It wasn't just his appearance, everything about him screamed 'Vincent'. "I..."
"And if Vincent still LIVES through Verex...doesn't it stand to reason that you no longer have 'vengeance' to exact?" Tanex queried with a smug expression.
"Damn you Tanex...I see you've gotten wiser with age..." I spoke after a bit of consideration, unable to contest his claims.
"It's not that RaXi. You know you are, and shall ever be the strategist of the apprentices of XIII...your vision was just clouded. Blinded by your rage...and need to invoke vengeance. It's that spirit of yours, how you've managed to keep such honor...even as a Nobody still astounds me." He laughed.
"However...I refuse to let Xraktos go...the matter between he and I has become personal. No one tries to chain me like a subservient dog...and no one tries to break me and invade my thoughts. He shall pay for his crimes against me...and for tricking that fool Triskix as well." The mention of his name caused me to look to the side in disgust.
"Haha indeed. But come now...you should know that by now too. Triskix may be our little orderly pyro...but he'll always need us to keep in line." He spoke smiling at me. "Now, is there something you'd like to add to all this? Verex?"
I hadn't even sensed him, turning quickly he was standing there. "Thank you Tanex but...that's all. RaXi...I never wanted you to exact revenge for me. All I ever wanted, even when I was alive was for you to try and accept your own existence. I wanted you to 'live'. Not to dedicate yourself to something like vengeance..."
I suddenly felt a bit guilty...at least...I thought that was what I was feeling. It had been so long...
"On a different matter altogether, I came to inform you of a breakthrough..." Verex continued. "We've done it...we've made a perfect copy. All that's needed is a tiny sample from any of nobody...and we can do it. We can duplicate them to the T. They only difference present is in their power level. The copies made through us only have the strength of the lowest level nobodies. Their main power lies in deception...not even someone like RaXi who can read energy can tell them apart from the real person. I think this may be the breakthrough you need in your plan....after all...if we can MAKE expendable nobodies...you won't have to sacrifice others? Correct?"
Tanex broke into a small fit of laughter, followed by him slapping Verex on the back and congratulating him. He opened up a void back to the meeting hall to inform the others, but before he went through faced Verex head on. With a serious face he asked, "Now. How in the world did you manage to find me?"
Verex smiled. "Simple. I just calculating the trajectory of your void from the point of departure and taking into consideration the output of the castle and world itself-"
"You know...Nevermind..." Tanex halted him and he stepped through first.
My question would've been...how in the world did he manage to suddenly grasp the concept of the perfect copy? In the lab, they hadn't made the slightest hint of obtaining that...and when I leave, THEN they are able to solve it?
Before I stepped through, he stopped me and grabbed me by the shoulders. "RaXi...are you alright? You aren't still wounded..."
I gave him a questionable glance. I wondered how he KNEW I'd been wounded...more severely than when I'd returned. Then when I realized just what exactly had happened....I was astounded....incredible. "Verex...I'm....I failed...I'm so sor-"
His finger pressed my lip shut. He shook his head from side-to-side. "It's alright...I should never have forced such a task upon you. It was wrong of me to try and hide my knowledge. It's actually a 'good' thing it returned to me when it did...after all...without that basic knowledge of cell composition...I would've NEVER discovered the process again in time. Thank you..."
I pulled away. "Don't 'thank me'....I don't care what you say...I failed as a guardian...lost something I was supposed to 'protect'. If I can't even protect a crystal like that...how in the world am I supposed to protect THEM?!" I concluded waiving my hand at the void behind me.
Verex smiled. "You TRUST them RaXi. Have faith that they won't put themselves in unnecessary danger...and just guide them. You can't control anyone's fate...so just accept that...alright? Oh, and another thing...I haven't seen you since...well..." He started to blush a bit. "I've been thinking a lot about that...and well...that isn't exactly how I imagined our 'first kiss'."
My eyes went wide and I turned away...trying to conceal that I now was blushing as well. "You....imagined such a thing?"
"Of course I did." He laughed. "This isn't the time or place that I wanted to tell you THIS either...but I've a feeling things are about to get hectic around here...so I just wanted you to know...RaXi..." He grabbed me and turned me to face him. I stared up at him...his expression was so genuine...His Golden Eyes shimmering even in the darkness... "I LOVE you...and don't try and tell me it isn't possible..." He stifled a laugh...no doubt SURE he'd known how I would respond.
I was speechless and unsure just what to say. I still didn't really...'believe' in this whole love thing...but I was beginning to. How could I refute it...with such a serious expression on his face. "I..."
"You don't have to say anything...I KNOW what's there RaXi." Verex smiled, he then began to lean in slowly. "This time...let ME initiate this." He whispered as he kissed me.
It was quite pleasurable...long and deep...and INTENTIONAL...not rushed like the previous one. I couldn't get over the sensation our opposing elements brought...When we pulled away I felt myself blush, but quickly regained composure...there was no way I'd allow ANY of them within that room to know what'd just transpired! The first one to find out....would DIE *-*
Casting him a quick smile, and him returning the gesture, he made a portal back to the lab to speak with Xirian about Tanex's reaction. I stepped back into the meeting hall and took my seat. I allowed no questions to be asked...and I kept my silence concerning the plan with Xerebus. As promised...I would not interfere...but I never agreed to contribute either. No...not until I knew more of this man. Much, Much more. And what I wanted to know...maybe even moreso...was just what connection HE could possibly share with Nyx. Therefore...I was staring at her for most of the remainder of the meeting. If he harmed her...I swear I would kill him... and not even Tanex could save him.
~RaXi
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Wow...that was so long...I'm very sorry. ^O_O^ I didn't mean to haha. Thing is...there was a lot I wanted to convey...and it all just sorta happened! At the very least I hope it was enjoyable. XD And not just for RaXi *is shot*
RaXi: *blows off tip of gun* Anyone ELSE like to contribute? And...DIE? *-*^ <-holding up gun
oh yeah, see Ash...I fixed it. It turns out RaXi's Hatred for Xerebus is pwned by her love for Nyx :3
RaXi: Love?! Who said LOVE?! It's not like that...>.>' Got it all wrong...I just don't wanna kill a source of info. I can always TORTURE him first...
You know you look more guilty the more you deny it right?
RaXi: -_-'
