Y.C.Manga - PG-16

Clair sat in the highest seat in the bleachers, watching with an amused grin as the masses cheered and roared their anticipation at the event that was to unfold. She was the only one of the Organization seated. Of course, no one else knew that - as far as anyone else was concerned, all the Organization regulars were in attendance. Aeon had seen to that.

Across the stadium, Rose eyed the group skeptically. Maybe Blood's words were getting to her. She really was beginning to grow concerned by the Organization. After all, they WERE the only people who had yet to be questioned (Well, out of the people worth questioning, at least), and while she had planned on doing that today, this entire fiasco with Icy and Blood had proved an adequate distraction to the rest of the Administrators.

More worrisome still was the fact that Fallen and The Maker had seemed to dropped off the face of the Kingdom. This information, obviously, was not made public. And it wasn't unheard of among the Administrators - it wouldn't be the first time The Maker had disappeared to do something, but he usually left behind some kind of brief message. This time, there had been nothing.

"Troubled, dear?" a song-like voice drifted over to her. Snapping out of her reverie, Rose looked over at Opal, who had come to attend this event with her.

"Ah, yes, a little." Rose admitted, pushing some hair away from her face. "Although I'm sure you know why - you've been briefed on everything, after all."

Opal nodded. "Yes, I'm aware." she replied with a sigh. "Fresh from my vacation, and I wander right into this crap? Welcome back to duty, Opal..."

Rose laughed, though it was a hollow one. "Poor, poor you." she teased.

Opal just elbowed her lightly. "Oh well. At least I get to watch this little spectacle. I gotta tell you, I've always wanted to watch those two duke it out."

"Even so, they still shouldn't be doing it." A new voice caught the attention of the two ladies.

"Oh, Darth, you're here?" Opal asked, seeing the man as he approached the two and took his seat. "Only two Administrators are required to oversee any battles that take place in the Kingdom, you know."

"I know it." he replied with a sigh. "But considering that there are two Administrators involved in this fight, I figured I might as well attend as well."

Rose nodded absently, fixing her eyes on Clair across the stadium.

"Whatcha staring at?" Opal asked, taking careful note of where Rose's eyes were pointed.

Rose snapped her gaze back to reality. "Oh, uhm, nothing."

"Uhhhhhh-huh." Opal replied with a giggle. "Sure."

Rose didn't respond.

-

Inside his waiting room, Blood was now pacing back and forth frantically, having just listened to a message on his recorder. That can't be right. How could we have never noticed? It'd be impossible for us to ignore it if it were true! Stopping his pacing, he stared at the wall, where on the other side, he imagined were stands of attendees, Opal among them. "She's been fraternizing with them?" he asked aloud, still unable to fully believe it.

Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes, focusing all of his power on Opal, and performing a scrying.

He saw....

The Administrators. Opal's home. Her throne. Her friends. Her past battles. Her Spell Cards....

But nothing on the Organization. Not even a flicker, beyond the things she saw with all of the other Administrators. Opening his eyes, Blood stared in annoyance at his communicator. Could JG be lying to me? I've just looked through the girl's past. If there was anything on The Organization, I would have seen it. And I know her quite personally, so the things that could be left out are next to none... especially if she was seen with them just today...

Settling, he dialed the number on his communicator.

-

JG sighed, listening to his employer's rattling on and on, failing to see the truth.

"....and I know her, so my scrying should be next to perfect!"

"Look boss," JG replied wearily. "I'm only reporting to you what I see. I haven't got anything to gain by lying to you. You should just accept the facts if you know what's good for you. Look, if you want, I can send you video feed of the incident."

"I don't believe you. How should I know if you have anything to gain or not? I don't trust assassins-for-hire, hunter. You're no different. Why should I believe that Opal is a traitor?"

"Well for starters," JG replied, doing his best to keep his voice even, despite wanting to yell. "Her name isn't Opal."

"....what?"

"Everyone was calling her Raven. Opal is apparently an alias."

There was silence on the other end. And then the line went dead.

"Hmmm, what was that all about~?" a flamboyant man dressed in a cape asked, standing next to JG atop one of the Kingdom's towers.

JG snorted, though his helmet distorted the sound. "Our employer is losing his sheet over a traitor in his midst."

The caped man sighed, crossing his arms and flicking his head to shake some hair away from him. "So, do we make our move then?"

JG nodded. "I've already obtained enough information to put a stop to several of their rank all at once. If your traps are set, we can get started."

"They will be all ready in a matter of twenty minutes." he replied with a coy smile, turning to his left. As he turned, a thin, TV-like screen appeared in midair, followed by another, and several more, until several screens dominated the night air. The man looked them all over, his carefree, half-lidded expression never leaving him. "Yes. Everything looks to be in order."

"Good." JG said, firing up his silent jet pack and taking to the air.

-

Nexev sat up in his bed in the infirmary, his laptop at his lap, insisting upon working even while he recovered. He used only one hand to drum at the keys, his other being carefully tended to inside of an icy case, where the severed hand was being slowly reattached, so as to ensure no mistakes were made with the nervous system.

After a couple keystrokes had been finished, he stared absently at the screen for a moment, while everything registered. Then, he smiled. "It's ready."

Movement caught the corner of his eye, and he glanced down at the minimized surveillance screen on his computer, maximizing it immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly. "And what are you up to?"

-

Davok clutched his shoulder stump with harsh breaths as he made his way further down the stairs of Nexev's lab. He had really underestimated that scum he had fought - his shoulder was growing to be in more and more pain as the seconds passed. Whatever that freak had used to incinerate his arm was affecting the rest of his body.

Stepping low into the "Off-Limits" area (to the general public of the Organization), he came across a large door. Grunting angrily, he kicked it in, immediately leaning against the wall afterward to prevent himself collapsing.

Nexev's voice came booming on the loud speakers. "Davok, might I ask what you are doing? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Mind your own business." Davok replied with a shaky voice.

"You're in my lab. The off-limits section, no less. I believe that is my business."

"Just shut up!" he called back, aiming his still in-tact arm at one of the speakers, incinerating it instantly. I had hoped to wait longer for this. he thought to himself as he marched forward, clutching his stump again. But there can be no more waiting. It has to be now.

"Don't tell me you're up to what I think you are." Nexev's voice sounded, a bored quality on it, as though he had no intention of stopping him. Which was the truth, frankly.

"And if I am?"

"Nothing, I suppose. Just that I don't think you can handle it."

"There's nothing I can't handle." Davok's reply sounded slightly more maniac, his typical personality managing to seep back in despite his pain. He could do this.

Arriving at a final door, he kicked it in as well, revealing a small room with a pod occupying its center. Within the pod was a lone figure, appearing to be completely at rest. He grinned at it.

"Hello, Theta."

-

"Aaaaaaaalright! It looks like they're ready to begin, Bobba!"

"Right you are, Jimma! The ref has called for the fight to start, and the combatants have taken their positions!

Iiiiiin the red corner, the bloody baron, the calamitous seer, BLLLLLLLLLLOOOOODERUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNN!"

"Aaaaaaaand, in the blue corner, the blue blitzkrieg, the flawless vision, JOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH ICY!!!!!!!!"

The two administrators stared unwaveringly at each other. Icy was ready - his Spell Deck had been carefully selected, his focus was primed, and he was fully prepared to take the fight as far as it needed to go. Only just so far to obtain victory.

Blood, meanwhile was heavily distracted. At a time like this...why now?! He could not afford distraction in this fight. One slip up around Icy could seal the match. But how could he give his full attention to this fight, when the visions flooded his mind now, coming unbidden?

He couldn't call it off. He would be seen as a coward looking for an excuse. And knowing Icy, he would simply call Blood paranoid. But here Blood was, staring the evidence in the FACE.

He never knew her real name. No one outside the Organization did. He knew Opal, and that's who he had always seen. But now, with the revelation of this identity - something as simple and yet as defining as a name - he saw everything she had hidden from the Administrators.

And Raven was sitting right there in the audience, watching him.

"....and begin!" Blood barely registered the voice of the referee, giving him the go ahead, and narrowly avoided a sudden lunge from Icy's spear.

He shook his head, trying to clear the visions of Raven from his mind, doing his best to bring his focus to the now. Holding his hand out, he called his weapon of choice - a large, golden, double-ended hammer, the shaft of which was tipped with a deadly-looking spike.

Immediately, Icy's eyes took on an intent look, scanning Blood for anything.

And Blood was right with him, scanning the future for Icy's next immediate actions, swinging his hammer effortlessly to ward him off. But Blood didn't stop there - he remained ever the aggressor, chasing after Icy with the sharp end of his weapon.

Icy was quick to hold up his spear, blocking the blow, just in time to take a step back and block the next.

"Look at that Jimma! Locked in physical blows! Neither has tossed out a single Spell yet!"

"I gotta feeling that the first Spell that gets thrown out will be the one that decides the rest of the fight, Bobba! Just look at those serious stances - neither are leaving room for error!"

And it was very true. Icy would scan, Blood would predict, and Icy would scan it, and Blood would predict it, and it would keep going like that, a flurry of images inside both of their minds dictating their every move, each doing their best to allow room for cognitive faculties inside the midst of all this.

And Clair simply watched, sitting next to the fake Zex and Rox, smiling. "This'll all be over soon."

-

"My, what a pretty little trinket."

Omega, the caped man atop the Clock Tower, eyed a small golden speck he had found on the floor. "Ugh, such beauty inside the soils of so much ugly...well, no matter. I'll fix you right up."

He plucked the thing up, breathing on it and polishing it idly. He was rather bored at the moment, after all, and any little thing could catch his attention. After all, there had been no word back from JG just yet, and there was still just a little bit of time left until Omega himself would have to make his move.

Looking away from his newfound little trinket, he glanced over at one of his many glowing screens. "Hmmmm~ Everything is settled. It's almost time."

"Oh is it now?"

Omega went rigid, a look of shock crossing his face as he spun on his heel, staring at the new presence on the roof of the Tower with him. "You!"

"Oh, you know me?" Skuldur asked nonchalantly, raising his hand and summoning forth his claw. "Good. It saves me the trouble of introducing myself."

Omega's slightly frightened expression relaxed into one of composed coolness after a couple seconds had passed, once he had glanced at several of his screens. "Oh, how silly of me to panic like that. You still can't lay a hand on me. You're still 325 degrees by 7 degrees. How foolish of me to make that miscalculation." he babbled, laughing to himself all the while. "Though I am curious as to how you got so close without me noticing."

"What in the HELL are you talking about?" Skul asked, an amused smirk on his face. "Ah well. It doesn't matter. I was given one assignment, and that was to make sure you don't cause any trouble. So yeah."

Faster than any human eye could see, Skuldur was in a lunge, his Snake Fang-like Claw diving for the assassin.

Omega laughed out loud as his claw collided with empty air, repelling him backwards, and then proceeded to flounce his hair at his foe. "DIDN'T I TELL YOU? YOU CAN'T LAY A HAND ON ME, INGRATE." His expression was suddenly furious, his fingers reaching out to push at buttons that suddenly appeared suspended in the air, the same way the screens around him did.

Skul had a brief moment of confusion, and then proceeded to evade the sudden onslaught of energy he found tearing through space around him. As Omega maniacally pressed more and more keys, lines of bright violet matter streamed through the empty air, ripping through any solid object that happened to be in their path.

Skul's supernatural reflexes kept him safely out of harm's way, swiftly dodging stream after stream, until they finally subsided for a moment.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Omega laughed, looking to have gone completely off the deep end. That is, until his expression returned to that lazy, half-lidded grin of his. "My my my, your movements are so lovely. I just want to rip you half~ Yes, that would be beautiful. So beautiful...do you like this?" he asked of his query suddenly, holding up his little gold trinket. "I just found this before you showed up, you know. Polished it nice and pretty. Should I wear it while I kill you? It'll add that extra bit of beauty to your death~"

"Oh would you just shut up? One second you're terrified, the next you're laughing like a lunatic. What the hell is your issue?"

"JUST SHUT UP..... No, no, I'll wear it. It'll make me feel better..." Omega mumbled, pulling a string out of seemingly nowhere as in a matter of minutes, he managed to loop the string through a small hole in the golden trinket, placing it around his neck. "There now, isn't that lovely?"

"Just so we're clear." Skul asked, a deadpan look on his face. "You ARE one of Bloodrun's assassins, right? Because I'm finding it hard to believe he'd hire a nut like you."

"Yes, yes," Omega replied. "I suppose I am a bit much to take in all at once." he chuckled out, sounding crazier every second. He raised his right hand, fisting it in his hair as his eyes widened and his smile grew. "I just take my work VERY seriously! When Bloodrun hired me, he hired PERFECTION. AND PERFECTION MUST BE BEAUTIFUL, FLAWLESS, AND DYNAMIC. And according to my calculations... your entire Organization goes up in smoke tonight!"

Skul smirked. "We'll just have to see about that, won't we?"

-

"This isn't good..." JG mumbled to himself as he pressed his hand against the side of his helmet. Omega wasn't responding to his calls. And half the time he was just getting static. "Damn it! I'm in position, Omega! I need the signal!"

"Mmm, speaking so loudly like that. Not much of a hunter, now, are you~?"

JG turned on the spot, lifted his gun, and fired.

"Ohohohoho! Awfully hasty, aren't you?"

Behind the visor of his helmet, JG glared at the girl who hovered carelessly above him. The two of them were atop the roof of the Coliseum, beyond the sight of the spectators and combatants below, and yet so close.

"So, you can fly too, then." JG commented.

"Yup. But I don't need that stupid little jet pack." She replied with a grin, flexing a pair of wings on her back that looked more like wing-shaped weather veins than actual wings.

"And I assume you're with the Organization."

"Like you have to ask."

"So logically, the last two screwed up too badly, and our presences are fully known to your Guild."

"Right again. For assassins, you're all pretty sloppy about your work."

"And to whom am I speaking?"

"You're speaking to Xirno, the Second in line for the Yellow Division~"

"Oh? My intel told me that that position was held by Skuldur."

In a flash of movement, JG flew backwards out of the way of Xirno's attack, firing at her as he went. She avoided the shots with a few colorful flips, twisting in midair to throw a storm of needles at her foe.

JG lifted an arm, projecting a barrier outward to block the incoming projectiles, stopping in midair to stair at her in mild surprise. The entire sequence had only taken place inside of 3 seconds.

"You're fast." he remarked.

"NEVER try and tell me Skuldur holds that position. It's me. Understand?"

JG chuckled. "Sure thing, doll. Not like it'll matter, though. You're through."

"Wanna bet?" she asked, her smile intensifying darkly.

JG followed her sudden gaze down to his left arm, where he had projected the barrier. One of Xirno's needles had pierced into the thick metal of his armor. He stared in disbelief at that for a moment, and then his surprise only increased when the piece of armor covering his entire forearm fell off, clattering uselessly to the floor.

"Oh, look at that. It broke." Xirno drolled, taking on an expression of mock sympathy. "You can send me the bill, but I'm not gonna pay it."

How did she...? JG was thankful for his helmet - it hid his surprised look. He couldn't afford to lose face here.

"Well... things have gotten interesting, haven't they?"

"You won't be alive long enough to know~"

-

"So?"

Roxas was leaning against the balcony of the Administrator's Tower, staring blankly at Aeon.

Aeon didn't reply for a moment. He remained stooped over, examining a section of wall in the tower. After his fingers finished tracing a pattern on said wall, he stood up and faced Roxas, grinning. "That settles it."

Roxas smiled. "Good. So we're settled."

Aeon nodded. "And Skul and Xirno are already handling their mission as we speak."

Roxas reached into his coat, tugging out a card and giving it a smirk. "Perfect."

"Did you expect any less with me and Nex on the job?"

Whatever reply Roxas was about to make was interrupted when his communicator sounded, at the same time as Aeon's.

Grave expressions took them, and they remained in silence for a moment before Roxas answered. "Roxas here."

"Roxas, this is Nexev. We have a slight problem."

"...how slight?"

"Davok slight."

Aeon facepalmed as Roxas sighed.

Just what they needed.

To Be Continued.....

bury the year · February 6, 2010

FIRST POST~

And I'm glad you've picked back up on this project after so long. With all the staff changes on YCM, though, I wonder how the potential plot will be impacted. Also, who are you retconning? :0

Skuldur · February 6, 2010

Hurray. It's back. =D

You can probably get it stickied now.

The chapter was awesome. I do wonder what Davok did this time. xD

Also, ""NEVER try and tell me Skuldur holds that position. It's me. Understand?"" xD

Larxene · February 6, 2010

Bout time bish.

As long as I'm still incredibly awesome, I'm good with it.

Oh and also, you should update the ability glossary when you get the chance.

Davok · February 6, 2010

Now this was unexpected. <3

Can't wait for the next chapter.

I'm so mischievous~

Larxene · February 6, 2010

Oh, and since I was just about to reread the previous chapters...

You said some things were being changed, you should probably make a few edits to the older chapters~ xD

I'm sure it won't be too hard, but I just like forcing you to do extra work.

Zexaeon · February 6, 2010

Lol, well, only a few past characters are being retconned - for the most part, it's people who were only briefly mentioned or who had only a few lines.

A few characters that had minor roles are also being removed, so we can just pretend they don't exist anymore.

As for the staff changes, I have decided not to let it impact the plot; after all, this fic was started back when the staff present in this fic was accurate, and I'd rather not rewrite the past. xD

Also, no worries Rin, you weren't retconned. You were supposed to be featured in this chapter, but it was getting long, so I split it into 2-parts. You'll be in the next one.

And I don't think it can be stickied. Seeing as how this will probably be regarded as a technically new thread.

Larxene · February 6, 2010

Edit the old chapters into this topic and get it stickied then. D

Nexev · February 6, 2010

I'm so mischievous~

You fused with Theta, the creepy ass sex thing.

That's not mischievous, that's pretty crazy.

When she takes control try not to leave too much of a mess. The samples would be lovely but an excess would contaminate some of my equipment.

@Lar: I concur.

Plus Zex you should have done BB first, he could have had acceleration which flings items at super high speeds turning everything into a bullet.

Then give him a bat and he can summon zombies, set them alit, them knock thier heads off at high speeds.

So now with the power switch me, Revolver and you are technically equals. So do we get promoted later?

Don't worry Skul, you can still be number 2 in my group.

And seriously, I would have loved to make that prequel, but you won't share the information necessary to make it accurate.

Whatever, if you finish this maybe I can bug you to do it with my aid.

I mean Yddisac would be such a cool villain and you get to be a prosecutor.

Why does that always seem to fit?

Shame Sleeve and Churro aren't active enough to be in it.

Though I never encountered RAven/Opal.

Meh.

JG doesn't seem nearly as tricky a fight as Silent and Nagato.

Zexaeon · February 6, 2010

I fixed the formatting. I only just noticed how screwed up it looked.

Phantom Roxas · February 6, 2010

You can just make staff changes happen over the course of the story. After all, me leading Organization XIII and being a mod should be a big thing.

I need to look over the members of my squad.

Larxene · February 6, 2010

Ah yes, that reminds me.

What WERE the squads again...? x3;;

Cause I claim Xirno, Marly, and Zeonark in mine.

Nexev · February 6, 2010

Here you go Lar.

Red Squad - Roxas

+ Demyx / Davok

+ Sleeve (who has yet to be mentioned)

+ Zaraki

+ Mineku

+ Ramanga

Yellow Squad - Clair

+ Riku

+ Marly

+ Xion

+ Rin

+ Fenrir

Blue Squad - Aeon

+ Nexev

+ Raven

+ Phoenix

+ EZ

+ Bludmonkey (xD)

You got your wish.

O got 3 people I never met in my entire life 1 month 3 weeks of online time.

Of course this will later need an update.

Zexaeon · February 6, 2010

Here you go Lar.

Red Squad - Roxas
+ Davok
+ Infinitus
+ Mira
+ Sleeve

Yellow Squad - Clair
+ Skuldur / Xirno
+ Marly
+ Rin
+ Zeonark

Blue Squad - Aeon
+ Nexev
+ Raven
+ Phoenix
+ Zeonark

Sleeve is too legendary to leave out, even if he's gone.

And Lar and I fight over Zeo. S/he has both of our badges.

Nexev · February 6, 2010

You wrote out a couple of characters from existence.

Meanie.

Skuldur · February 6, 2010

So, Xirno and I share the 2nd-in-command position? xD

Phantom Roxas · February 7, 2010

I'm satisfied with my squad.

Zexaeon · February 7, 2010

Starting with this Post, I shall go about restoring the chapters here.

[spoiler=Chapter 0]

Y.C.Manga – Episode 0 (Prequel): The Council

He watched in mild amusement from his vantage point on the balcony as two Newbies battled in the courtyard below, trying ever so desperately to overcome the other. Watching them was probably his favorite pastime, actually. Watching professional Card-Makers at work was always so boring, seeing as how there were seldom any mistakes, and it was all about skill. Whenever Newbies went at it, however, there was always that splash of luck and excitement that came about when an ill-conceived Spell Card went horribly awry.

Speak of the devil. One of the two Newbies had just cast what he claimed to be his “Ultimate Spell Card”, something that was allegedly supposed to cause of chain of explosions on his target. Unfortunately for him, his card decided to explode on him, and the ref monitoring the battle quickly raised the blue flag of victory for his opponent.

Aeon laughed. Ah, newbies. Always killing themselves with crappy cards. It was at that moment that the clock in his bedroom tolled out, indicating that it was Noon, which caused his laughter to immediately shift into a sigh. Time to get her up…

The afternoon sun blazed down upon the Card-Maker Kingdom, an enormous network of rays bouncing off the formidable network of arches and pillars that made up the enormous castle. Sunbeams gleamed gloriously off of the Tower Peaks, shining their lights into the Castle Town below. It was the kind of day that just made you glad to be alive. Especially if you happened to be one of the lucky Court Mages accepted into the Kingdom, having unlimited funding available to make new Spell Cards to their hearts content.

Of course, you weren’t feeling so lucky if you were on the ass end of an ass-kicking, which tended to happen in a lot of the Court Duels.

And ruling over the community of the expansive Kingdom was the High Tower, where the Council of Administrators resided, led by the Head Administrator, or, “The Maker”.

And there was a meeting scheduled today.

A look of distaste crossed Aeon’s features as he gazed at the sleeping form on his sofa. She was snoring rather loudly, her limbs all akimbo, blankets tangled around her haphazardly. And her sleeping form was a quite accurate depiction of her waking self, as well. She was probably the laziest individual he had ever met in his life. So lazy, in fact, that she wouldn’t even sleep in her own bed at night. No, she insisted upon using his sofa for whatever reason.

“Clair.” He muttered, nudging her with his foot. “Wake up. You need to get ready.”

A small growl erupted from the girl’s throat, a clear sign that she was not in any mood to wake up before 2 in the afternoon. Aeon, however, was not having any of it.

“Listen here you.” He said as he began to tear the blankets off of her. “I went through hell trying to get you a hearing with the Mod Council today and you are not about to ruin that by being late!” he commanded, with quite a sincere sentiment. After all, as far as the administrators were concerned, he was a nobody. Looking back on it, he wasn’t even entirely sure himself how he had managed to get the Mod Council to hear a meeting with Clair, especially since she had a bit of a…notorious reputation.

“Leave me alone, Zex…” she muttered into her pillow, using her nickname for him and shrinking in on herself without her blanket to keep her warm.

“No. Get up.”

“Ugh…fine. I’m up.” She stated finally, lifting herself veeeery slowly from the cushions and fixing him with a murderous glare.

Fortunately, he was one of the few people in the world immune to the withering might of her glares, and matched it with one of his own. “Well it’s about time. Your meeting is an hour, so go get ready.” He explained with little patience in his tone, yanking her off the couch and causing her to land on the floor in an unceremonious heap.

A rather cross look upon her features, she retaliated in the form of a heavy throw pillow thrown at Aeon’s head (which hit its target right on the mark).”FINE.” the girl exclaimed in frustration, standing up and sauntering into Aeon’s room to use his shower.

Nursing his new head wound, he was almost satisfied to hear the water running. But then he was reminded of the times she had simply turned on the shower water and then went back to sleep in his bed, and decided that checking on her would be in order. She had apparently anticipated this, though, as the moment he opened the door a bar of soap was flung straight into his face.

“Get the hell out, Zex!”

Despite the new pain, a smirk tugged at his lips. “Sure thing, Lar.”

Today was the day! Today, she would change the way things worked! At long last, she would get the damn recognition she knew she deserved!

Honestly, she had been sitting idly by for a long time, doing nothing while (in her opinion) newbies ran rampant shamelessly through the Kingdom. She totally thought she would make an awesome leader. And today, she had her chance to prove that to the mod committee!

She giggled jubilantly as she scrubbed her arms up and down, keeping an ear peeled for just in case Aeon decided to “check in” on her again. Check in. Yeah right.

“Well, today’s that day, hmm?”

“Yes, that it is.”

“Think she stands a chance?”

“Of course she does! She may be the laziest woman I’ve ever met, but she’s far more qualified to lead than a lot of other individuals I know.” The blond man replied heatedly, adjusting a pair of spectacles on his nose.

“Yeah, but isn’t she disliked by a lot of the council?” his silver-haired companion asked.

Nexev took a good look at Riku, contemplating what awful thing to do to him for talking back, while also registering what had been said.

“Well…actually, you have a point.”

“See? I can make points.”

“True…” Nex replied, before smacking Riku across the face.

“Ya know, I’m not going to keep letting you do that forever.”

“Let me? My dear boy, you have no choice!”

“…just shut up…”

“What are you two prattling on about?” came a question from a familiar voice behind the two, accompanied by a head of lavender hair and a sure-of-himself stroll.

“Oh, hey Zex. We were just discussing the finer points of Riku’s back-talk. It really needs to come to a stop, don’t you think?”

“Now listen here-" Riku started.

Nexev cut him off quickly. “Riku, our kind and benevolent leader, Roxas, is quite fond of his favorite treat, toasty smores. In order to watch his calories, he has decided to limit his intake of them to only two per week. Imagine his surprise when he found, Tuesday, that this scrumptious treat of his was gone. I’m sure he would love to get a hold of surveillance footage depicting the silver-haired boy who took his treat from him?” the blond then held up a small DVD, labeled “Riku Blackmail”.

Riku’s eyes widened somewhat as he beheld the disc. Roxas, the leader of the miniature Organization faction of the Card-Maker Kingdom, could be quite the scary individual when he was angry.

Aeon resisted the urge to chuckle at Riku’s expense. “So, you two here to offer support for Clair?” he asked casually, looking up at the high tower before them – the highest tower in the Kingdom, where the Mod Council meetings were held.

“But of course, Zex. Why else would we be here? Isn’t she supposed to be with you, anyway?” Riku asked.

Aeon shrugged. “Well, she was. Then she sorta went off on her own. She promised me she’d get here on time though.” The man replied, a bit of apprehension in his voice. The girl had a habit of unpredictability, after all. Who knew where she could be right now?

“I’m kinda surprised no one else is here. I thought the whole Organization would be here to support her.” Riku remarked thoughtfully.

“Yeah, what’s up with that?” Aeon asked.

Nexev decided to offer explanation. “Well, Roxas is apparently busy judging a Card Tournament between some of the lesser Organization members. EZ and Amethyst are both competing, and Mineku ran off somewhere when I mentioned you’d be here…” the scholarly man smirked and chuckled. “As for Davok….I have absolutely no idea.”

Well, that was certainly a morale boost. “Oh well. I suppose we should suffice well enough. Not like we can do much for her at this point.”

Darkness. Spacious darkness that seemed never-ending. And then, a spotlight, shining down upon a girl clad in black robes and boots, her blond hair short and framing her face, while two antenna-like extensions were styled out of the top. She called it her “Flandre meets Larxene” style. Whatever that was.

One by one, spotlights illuminated the chamber, shining down upon high thrones, each one seating a different, robe-clad individual. They looked down upon Clariex with scrutinizing eyes, with the exception of a few. One of them spoke, after what felt like interminable silence.

“The council will now hear the case of “Clariex for Administrator of the General Tower.” Came the voice of Fallen, a man affectionately nicknamed “Pizza”. Upon his announcement, a small ‘humph’ could be heard from one of the lower seats in the room, the current General Admin.

One of the high Admins, Darth Browarod, usually called ‘Darth”, spoke next. “Clair, you have been brought forward to this court to state your case and reasons for selection as an Administrator of the General Tower. Give me one good reason why you should be selected?”

“Well,” she responded. “The Tower is overrun by all kinds of Newbies who don’t know how to properly control their own magic. They throw their Spell Cards around and start inappropriate subjects of conversation with veteran Mages, bringing useless material forward for speculation, and even vandalize the Tower. I think this issue doesn’t get nearly enough attention, and would like to cast my support for-“

“Now wait a second.” Came the voice of Glass. “Don’t you think you’re being a little harsh? The Tower is under constant inspection, every day! Besides, I know you; you’d probably just go mad with power!”

A mock look of surprise made its way onto Clair’s face. “Daily? I had no idea! Then I suppose I just imagined all the vandalism!”

This time, it was the voice of the Over Administrator, the Maker himself, who spoke. “Excuse me, but haven’t you been reported as openly insulting the current team of Administrators? How did you even manage to get a hearing with us? Who allowed this?”

A small clearing of throats could be heard. J-Max spoke. “Well, Icy said it might be a good idea, and Darth seemed behind it…”

“And it was Icy who told me to let her have a shot as well.” Darth added.

Icyblue chuckled nervously. “Well…I was presented a very well-thought-out case by one of the mages…um, Aeon. He was so charismatic about it, I figured, why not?”

The rest of the room began to murmur similar stories, relating to either being persuaded by a fellow Mod, or persuaded by Aeon. Only a couple had openly rejected, but the majority vote had allowed Clair a hearing.

The Maker laughed. “I don’t believe this crap. Clair, get out. Admission as an Administrator denied.”

She gawked. “What? You’re not even going to give me a shot?!”

The Maker gave her a disinterested look. “Nope.”

She was quite clearly furious. However, she held her tongue, making an about face as she turned to leave the chamber she only briefly had any amount of time in.

Aeon, Nexev, and Riku were all smiles when they saw her emerge from the tower…until they saw the look on her face.

“I’m guessing it didn’t go so well.” Aeon remarked, Nexev nodding beside him.

Clair didn’t say a word as she passed them – she merely made a gesture to indicate that they should follow.

“Wow…that’s really screwed up.” Roxas remarked, seated easily in his armchair in the main Hall of the Organization XIII Tower. Originally, it had been a small building, like all starting factions were allotted, but in time, it came to be the largest faction building throughout the entire Kingdom. In fact, it was second in size only to the Administrator’s Tower.

As soon as Roxas had gotten a hold of everyone he could, a meeting had been called for Clair to explain the events of her procession with the Mods. And she had quite a colorful tongue in describing just what she was feeling.

“Wow. Sorry to hear that, Lar.” Amethyst spoke up from his seat on the long Sofa. “Should I…make some waffles for you?”

The girl just pouted for a moment. “…no. Candy.”

Amethyst nodded before standing and racing off toward the kitchen – his kitchen – to prepare Clair’s comfort food of choice.

“Well…what’s done is done, I suppose…” Came Minkeu’s voice.

“No. No way.” She responded. “I’m not about to let this die.” She then stood and bolted for the Tower balcony, heedless of the boy at work in the kitchens below.

“Rox, we should probably follow her.” Aeon stated. Rox nodded silently, getting up from his seat and following the know-it-all up the stairs after her.

“What do you think she meant by that?” Riku asked, looking over at Nexev.

Nexev shrugged, slightly worried. “With her, anything.”

In the corner of the hall, Davok leaned against the wall, smiling darkly to himself. “I have an idea of what she might be trying to do now.” He stated out loud. However, he refused to elaborate any further, and abandoned his dark aura for a happy one as he skipped off toward the kitchen to intercept some of Lar’s candy.

“Why do I get the feeling that something bad is going to happen?” Glass asked no one in particular as he gazed up at the moon. The event of the day was still playing in his head, and he didn’t like the look on Clair’s face one bit.

“It’s because Clair is involved. Nothing good ever comes of that.” Came the disgust-laden reply of Blood, one of Glass’s associates. The two shared an uncomfortable silence for a moment before he spoke again. “I’ll bet my left arm she’s up to something.”

“Your whole left arm?”

“Yep.”

“Huh. Must be serious then.”

In the Card-maker Kingdom, where magic flew around all the time, a bet as serious as “your left arm” could be taken quite literally.

“Oh come on. Don’t read too much into it.” Icy calmly stated as he appeared on the balcony, having just crested the stairway.

Blood snorted. “Leave it to you to defend her…” Blood had never been very fond of Icy – or Clair, for that matter – to begin with. This wasn’t helping any.

“I simply think you’re overreacting, is all. I mean, realistically, what can she do? Attack us? We do have the Administrative Cards, in the unlikely event that she would ever attempt that.”

“That’s true…” Glass said, kicking his legs through empty air as he sat himself on the rail of the Balcony. Nice breeze tonight… “But I still don’t like that look she had.”

“People put on scary faces when their angry, Glassberry. It’s natural.” Was Icy’s casual response.

“Tch.” Blood grunted, flicking a small toothpick he had been chewing on away from him over the edge. “think what you want. She’s up to something, and I know it. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with, Joshy.” He remarked then, making a vague reference to the clairvoyant magics he was said to possess.

And he intended to use them.

At the same time, Clair was overlooking her own balcony, Roxas and Aeon leaning against it on either side of her. She seemed to be entertaining herself by flicking random specks of electricity through the air. She tended to make very liberal use of her magic.

“Lar-“ Aeon started, but was cut off.

“Let’s branch off. Start a new Kingdom.” She said suddenly. An idea began to formulate in her mind as she spoke the words, a wicked grin fixed firmly upon her features. “Yeah. That’s it. Perfect! If we did that, then…and then the Maker, he would…and then we, oh We would have our own…hmmhmmhmmhmmhmm! Yes!”

“Ex…cuse me?” Roxas asked, a bit surprised by the declaration.

“Shut up and listen! Nexev has fortification magic, right? And Riku works as a powerful magic booster! Amethyst is good at nothing in particular, but as a result, has a huge well of untapped magical energy, ya know, the power of “Potential”! And there’s Davok, whose powers scare me, and then you and Zex! With those powers, we could easily form our own Kingdom, couldn’t we? I mean, how often does such a perfect combination of the right powers come along to do this?”

“Well, there was the whole Summa Crossroads Kingdom…” Aeon mentioned, referencing the Kingdom created by one of the Card-maker Kingdom’s banished Mages. “And the friendly Kingdom of IFX.”

Clair waved his words off casually. “Yeah, but us! WE could rock this world if we had our own Kingdom! I mean, look at us! We’re already the second-biggest Tower in the Kingdom! The only reason we’re not THE biggest is because the Administrator’s Tower automatically commands more influence than us by technicality! We could totally do this. And then…we could bring this Kingdom to its knees!”

Despite himself, Aeon found himself chuckling. “Well…maybe it is worth a shot. You do have a point about the whole powers thing.”

“And I wouldn’t mind having a bit more freedom…” Roxas remarked, munching on a smore (the ONLY smore he had been able to locate today).

“And having our own Kingdom would allow me to go further in my studies and experiments…heheheh….” Nexev laughed, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

“You were eavesdropping, weren’t you?” Roxas asked in what should have been a reprimanding tone, but instead came out as hopeless, as he already knew he wasn’t going to punish Nex for it.

“Well, so was everyone, really.” Nexev replied airily, gesturing to the stairs where the rest of the Organization was (poorly) attempting to hide.

“Well, long as you’re all here, what do you think?” Clair asked, unashamed.

There was a general murmur of agreement among the smiling members.

“Seems we have Cirno’s blessing…” Nexev remarked sarcastically, poking fun at Clair’s current obsession with a certain Video Game character. Clair promptly shocked him.

“Alright! And this is the perfect time to do it, too. After all, the Kingdom is currently at War with the renegade Mages. We shouldn’t attract too much attention with our activities…heheheh.”

“I suppose you’re right. Well, cheers.” Aeon congratulated, using a Spell Card to conjure some Wine Glasses and a fresh bottle of –APPLE CIDER KIDS- for the Organization. “Let’s drink, shall we?”

“Yes. Tomorrow, the Card-Maker Kingdom.” Clair replied, satisfied. She raised her glass high.

“And then?” Roxas asked, quite amused.

“Duh. The world!”

The Organization raised their glasses then, drinking the night away –ON APPLE CIDER-.

“Can I pilot some sick mechas…?” Fenrir asked suddenly, a hopeful young member in the Tower.

Clair looked at him for a moment. “No.”

And so, our story begins…

[spoiler=Chapter 1]

Y.C.Manga – Episode 1: It all comes together.

“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to tonight’s spectacular duel-off!” the booming voice of the announcer filled the stadium, greeted with ruckus cheers and applause. In the center of the stadium stood two individuals, both staring at each other menacingly.

In the Card-Maker Kingdom, things like this were a very common occurrence. The whole reason the Kingdom had a Stadium to begin with was so that the denizens of the many Towers could have some nightly entertainment. Tonight, though, was set to be more entertaining than most.

It seemed the one in the Blue corner had greatly offended the one in the Red corner, though how had not been adequately explained, and he had been challenged to a duel to the death. And the crowds tended to just eat that stuff up. Especially considering the fact that neither of these combatants tonight were newbies who didn’t know what they were doing.

However, not all of the spectators were entirely pleased. Some of them, like a certain lavender-haired man with his arms crossed irritably across his chest, thought that it was simply appalling that the Kingdom allowed death matches. Had it been up to him, he would not even be attending this event. However, Clair had gotten really excited about it and ended up dragging him (and the rest of the Organization) along for the ride.

On top of that, these events could sometimes get out of hand; considering that, having so many powerful mages here (as nearly everyone in the Organization was) could improve the chances of people in the audience not dieing. Aeon sighed.

“Clair, why do we have to be here? Shouldn’t we be discussing…it?” he asked, wary of their public surrounding.

“Oh, Zexy…” she replied, a smile tugging at her lips. “Trust me. I have a very good reason for being here. Yooooou’ll see.” She drew those last two words out, putting on her typical “=P” face.

“Ugh, fine. But I’m going to get popcorn.” He decided, figuring he may as well enjoy the show if he had to.

“Ooh! I’m coming to!” Riku called, getting up to follow. Amethyst and Zodiac, two other members also wordlessly followed.

“Things are already looking exciting, Jimma! Just look at those auras!” one of the announcers shouted, referencing the glow surround both of the combatants in the arena.

“I gotta agree with ya, Bobba. We’re probably gonna see a great fight out of these two!”

“Shall we introduce the contestants, Jimma?”

“I think so, Bobba! In the Red Corner, we haaaaaaaave, Silencer! This androgynous fellow/girl is just itching for a fight, as apparently, his or her opponent really ticked him, er, her….it off!”

“That’s right, Jimma! And in the Blue corner, we haaaaaaave, Rin! A young up-and-coming, and look how sure of himself he looks!”

Down in the stadium, a referee approached the two. “There are two very simple rules. No calling a friend for help. No using any illegal Spells. Now then…fight.” And with that, the ref was gone.

It took the two a moment to register what had happened, and after that moment, they both leaped back from each other, trying to gain distance.

Silencer had caller his/her gun to her, her weapon of choice, and was already preparing a Spell Card to launch. “You’ll pay for what you did!” S/he said, clearly portraying the cliché of alluding to, but never explicitly mentioning, the offense in question. She then loaded a card into the small slot in the back of her gun before pulling the trigger. “Blue Storm!” she called, as her Spell Card took effect, generating a maelstrom of air around the Stadium.

Rin stumbled at the sudden burst of air, a look of surprise on his face as Silencer took to the air within it. How odd. She then aimed her gun toward him, pulling the trigger to release a small pellet. Knowing better than to underestimate such a thing, Rin took a dive to the side, barely avoiding the pellet as it plummeted into the ground next to him, generating a huge crater.

“WHOA, Jimma! Now how did that little thing manage that?”

“My guess would be her natural magic, Bobba – she’s probably a Transmuter! They’re known for modifying the properties of objects.”

“Right you are, Jimma!”

Rin frowned at the annoying commentary. He could have figured that much out for himself.

Icy also frowned, though for a different reason. He sat in the stands just like everyone else, although he was across the stadium from where the Organization sat. Beside him was Rose, one of the few Administrators Icy found to be pleasant company. She herself was a rather easy-going Administrator, though she could be serious when she was needed.

Icy’s frown prevailed. “She’s not a transmuter.” He said.

Rose nodded beside him. “You noticed? That pellet wasn’t some artificial material. It was a clump of skin.”

“Yes. Which means she’s modifying Organic Material.”

“I’ve heard of that. I believe we call them Biocentric Variables. Their powers vary, but it typically includes either modifying themselves, or something that came from their bodies.”

Icy took that information in as another Skin-Pellet crashed into the ground with more force than should have been possible. He also took note of how she seemed to fly through the air she had created.

“I think I get it. Her power is the modification of weight. Look how easily she flies – it’s like she’s weightless. She can probably modify the weight of her body and anything that comes from it, which would explain the impact that that clump of skin keeps making.”

Rose smirked. “Observant as usual, Icy. Do you know where everyone else is?” she asked, suddenly changing the subject.

“Not many of them were interested, and only two Administrators are required to view these things, so they opted out.”

“I see.” She remarked thoughtfully, tossing some popcorn in her mouth.

“No, no, no, extra butter.” Aeon commanded at the sales clerk at the counter. Honestly, what was so hard about that? This was the third time he’d messed up his order. “If I had wanted you to douse it in chocolate, I would have asked for chocolate.”

Behind him, Amethyst and Zodiac, or EZ snickered, while Riku rolled his eyes.

“Like this?” the clerk asked, handing over a bucket that was now covered in Tuna Juice. Tuna juice?! Why was that even at a concession stand?!

“No, no, no, you little bastard, I swear, I’m going to hit you in front of your mother.”

The clerk looked frightened now. “Not my mother!”

“Oh yes. Your mother.”

He frantically scrambled to get a new bucket together, finally adding the proper amount of butter before placing it on the counter. “Yes?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Okay, that’ll be 7.50.” He said with a smile.

“No it won’t.” Aeon replied, walking away with the bucket.

Amethyst stared after him. “Did he just steal popcorn?”

Riku chuckled, a bemused smirk on his face. “Yes, yes he did.”

Behind him, the clerk was preparing to call security. Eyes now narrowed, Riku rushed to the counter in an instant, his left hand at the clerk’s throat. But the clerk was more suddenly afraid of what was on the hand. Seemingly out of nowhere, a claw had appeared. A steel, silver claw with several intricacies in its design. The Index and Pinky fingers of the claw were extended past the other two, and bent to give them the appearance of fangs. It was these fangs that were nearly breaking skin on the clerk.

“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.” Riku advised softly. The two were close enough that only a close-looking bystander would even see the claw, let alone hear the threat. “You see, we can’t exactly afford a scandal of any kind.” He explained, thinking back to the night prior.

Clair sat lazily (as usual) on the Balcony railing, the entire Organization before her, Roxas and Aeon both standing next to her. “Alright, if we’re going to do this, one thing has to be clear – we can’t afford unnecessary attention. We don’t want anyone catching wind of our little project, especially since we’re going to be overthrowing the Kingdom. So anything that would inspire investigation, anything at all, even the smallest possible whatever, should be avoided. Are we clear? Oh, but don’t get all reclusive, ‘cause that will also raise suspicion.”

The members all nodded. So…act natural? Suuuuuure.

Seriously, how had Aeon already forgotten that? Had he just lost his patience? In any case, Riku couldn’t let the kid call Security if it meant drawing attention to anyone within the Organization (especially one of the three leaders). “So here’s what I’ll do, kid. You don’t call anybody. And I leave. Simple as that. If you DO call security as soon as I’m gone, I’ll find you and kill you. We clear?”

The clerk nodded furiously, obviously too meek to say anything back.

“Excellent.” Riku replied, dismissing his claw and turning back to EZ and Amethyst. “You guys want anything?” he asked.

“Veal.” Amethyst replied with a dreamy look.

“I’ll take a hotdog, I guess.” EZ also stated.

The clerk did not screw up their orders once.

Rin was laughing now as he continued to dodge the furious shots from Silencer, who had still yet to hit him.

“Hold still!” she called angrily, firing another wad of Skin at him. How was this guy so agile?! S/he was the one who could manipulate his/her weight! Speaking of which, he had just given her an opening. He was beneath her now, staring cheekily up at her. She smirked. “Well, let’s see how he likes me now.” He said, mostly to himself, as he rearranged the molecules and magical suspension in his/her cells. S/he then began a sudden, downward plummet toward Rin.

A look of surprise crossed his features as she suddenly began to fall. He barely made it out of the way in time before the now two-ton Silencer came crashing down. The rubble S/he knocked loose, however, pelted Rin quite soundly in the chest as he flew across the arena.

“Oh! Look at that Jimma! The boy got laid out!”

“And it doesn’t look like she’s done yet, Bobba!”

Silencer, now at his/her normal weight, stood again and prepared to fire one more skin pellet. “Nighty night.” S/he said, launching the now-heavy object.

It smashed into Rin’s location like a wrecking ball. However, as the smoke cleared, the cliché hero-is-still-alive moment occurred. Rin was standing, grin on his face, protected by a thin, film-like barrier. “Spell Card: Mesoglea, Exumbrella.” He said cockily. “Generates a shield of nerves that detect impact, and respond by reorganizing the Organic Cellular Structure so as to best absorb it. In short, it’s like an elastic sheet that bounces physical force right off.” He explained as his Shield disappeared.

“Tch, I see you’re finally ready to start fighting. That’s the first thing you’ve done other than run away.” Silencer replied angrily.

Rin smirked. “I didn’t want this to be over too quickly.”

Rose chuckled. “I love this anime.” She said absently.

Icy gave her a confused look.

“Ignore that. I’m just breaking the fourth wall.”

“Ah, I see.” Icy responded.

“Didn’t want to be over too quickly? Talk about cocky.” Roxas commented from his seat.

“I wouldn’t think so.” Fenrir spoke up. “I’ve seen Rin fight. Trust me, this will be over quickly if he calls his weapon. Especially after seeing just how unspectacular Silencer is.”

“Is that so?” Roxas asked.

Clair just grinned, as Aeon chose that moment to return to his seat with his popcorn. “What did I miss?”

“Oh, not much. In fact, you’re just in time to see Rin kick some ass.” Fenrir responded.

“Uh….huh.”

“This fight is going to be over in less than a minute.” Davok suddenly spoke up. “I can tell from here. Foolish he-she. It has no idea what it is up against.”

The remaining members all stared for a moment at the first words Davok had spoken all night.

A bright smile then appeared on his face. “Hey Zexy! Can I have some popcorn? Please?” he asked childishly.

Aeon chuckled. “Sure thing, Dem.”

Demyx, Da SKIPPAH, was Davok’s other personality; a powerless, childish, cute-as-puppies individual who you couldn’t help but want to hug.

“Yay!!!!” He happily called before snatching the popcorn and gobbling it down in a matter of seconds.

Roxas laughed. “Awww, looks like your popcorn run was for nothing.”

“I guess.” Aeon replied. “Except I didn’t pay for it, so no loss.”

“You didn’t?”

“Nope. Just walked off with it. Where the hell are the other three, anyway?”

“Shut up! It’s starting!” Clair said excitedly.

All eyes turned to the arena.

“Well, Silencer, I’ve had fun, but it’s time to say good night.” Rin announced. “So come on out…Forneus.” He added, softly.

And before him a shape began to form. A large, domed shape, with several tendrils trailing off of it. The shape floated upward, taking a more direct appearance, a more defined shape, as it finally manifested itself into the world. A gigantic Jellyfish with immaculate coloring and 20-foot tentacles floated in the center of the arena.

“This is my weapon, and my partner, Forneus.”

Crowds in the stands were surprised and cheering.

“A Familiar-User?” Aeon asked, surprised.

“Yup.” Was Fenrir’s reply

“Don’t see those very often.” Was the thoughtful reply.

“That certainly explains that bizarre shield from earlier.” Roxas commented as well, sipping at his drink.

Davok, back to himself, just grinned wickedly.

“I can already tell Silencer’s lost this one.” Rose observed. “Cindy is picking up more than enough information.”

Icy nodded. “Not to mention the power of that Shield from earlier. My analysis shows that it was at a much higher level than Silencer’s magic.”

“Maybe if it’s lucky, Rin will spare its life.”

“Forneus, go.” Rin commanded.

The Jellyfish immediately shot its tentacles out at its prey. Silencer took top the air again, her wind still blowing through the area, as she readied a bullet against the beast. However, she was caught off guard when a pair of tentacles shot out from behind her, out of nowhere, and wrapped around her now-helpless form.

“Spell Card: Refraction Step.” Rin stated, holding up a dissolving Spell Card. “It tampers with light around Forneus’ exumbrella while he moves, causing image refraction to tamper with the opponent’s perception of Forneus. Simply put, it makes Forneus leave behind uber afterimages, confusing you!”

All too late now, Silencer could see the Jellyfish behind her, holding her within its grasp as incredible pain flooded through her body. She tried to scream, but couldn’t find her voice.

“And now to finish this.” Rin stated ominously. “Spell Card,” he announced, holding up a new one. “Fulgadrum.” And with that, he tossed the card in her direction as it exploded into a burst of condensed electrical energy, charging straight into her body.

By the time the air had stopped crackling, her body was already limp.

The referee appeared then. “Silencer is no longer able to battle. Blue corner wins.” At this announcement, Forneus dropped her lifeless body onto the ground before disappearing, as the crowd broke into ruckus cheers.

Aeon sighed. “I’ll be the last one to say I liked Silencer, but I still hate death matches.”

Davok smirked. “48 seconds, if you cut out all the time he spent talking. I was right.”

“Clair, why did you drag us all to come see this?” Roxas asked.

But she was already gone, heading down to the arena.

Icy couldn’t help but quirk an eyebrow at Clair as he saw her amble her way toward Rin, a coy smile on her face. Rose didn’t seem to notice at first, until she saw Icy’s gaze and followed it.

“What do you think she wants?” she asked.

Icy thought for a moment as he watched her talk and laugh with Rin. “Probably just congratulating him, or possibly challenging him.” He said, although he wasn’t completely sure. How could you tell with her?

“I can have Mindy dip in and pick up some of the conversation?” Rose suggested.

“No, that won’t be necessary.” Icy decided. “Come on, let’s go back.” He added, standing and thinking to himself. Blood’s paranoia was probably just getting to him. Even though he couldn’t help but feel something was up.

Rose was also unsold on the matter. After what had happened the day before, at the Council Hearing, Blood had started remarking at how suspicious Clair was. Rose couldn’t help but think she should be spying on the girl. But then she though it might just be Blood’s paranoia, getting to her. Like Icy.

Yes, there was nothing to worry about.

Amethyst opened his eyes, satisfied. Beside him, Riku stood with EZ. The three of them were leaning against the stands that icy and Rose had just been sitting in.

“That was easier than I thought it would be.” Amethyst said.

“Probably thanks to Riku.” EZ added.

Amethyst had the power of Potential – untapped Magical Energy that could be woven into various different forms. EZ’s magic was based upon Hypnotism, ranging from deception to suggestion. And Riku was a powerful amplifier to any kind of Magic.

With the three of them combined, convincing even the powerful administrators that nothing was wrong, even from a distance, proved to be a simple task.

“We’re like the special ops, huh?” EZ remarked.

Amethyst raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

Riku answered for him. “Because we’re working behind the scenes to make sure no one interferes with our plan.”

“Ooooooooh. I get it.”

The three departed then, heading back toward the Organization’s Tower.

“So you wanted his support?” Roxas asked.

“Yup. I needed to see him in action so that I could figure out how strong he was, and also determine how ruthless he was. That gave me a good idea as to how likely his support would be.”

“And?”

“And he seems interested. I haven’t disclosed the full scope of our plan to him yet, but Rin could be a very useful asset.” She explained.

Despite his distaste for deception, Roxas had to agree that Rin would in fact be useful if he could be lured to their side. He was obviously a very strong mage. Create Category, Familiar Class, and with a flair for powerful Spell Cards. A force to be reckoned with, indeed.

“I noticed Nex wasn’t here tonight.” Riku added, walking casually beside Clair.

“Oh, he had his own job to worry about.” Aeon spoke up suddenly. “Let’s say I’m having him get a head start.”

Clair grinned. “Oh Zexy, that’s what I love about you. Always planning ahead.”

Demyx ran up to her then. “What do you love about me?” he asked excitedly.

Clair laughed. “Probably the fact that you’re adorable and yet scare the ever-loving crap out of me.”

A sudden change later, and Davok was chuckling at her. “Oh Lar, you need not worry. I don’t have any reason to turn my fury upon you.” He said, almost sweetly for him, before taking off ahead of the rest of the group.

“Seriously dude, the split-personality is really messed up.” Roxas said, matter-of-factly.

Blood sat in his private throne, arms crossed and face irritable. Before him, seven figures stood with varying expressions.

“I have called the seven of you here to do a job for me. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Court Mage, Clair? I have reason to suspect that she and her associates are planning something that does not bode well for the Kingdom on the whole. I want you four to find out what it is she is up to, and take any appropriate measures to put a stop to it. I will take responsibility for anything that goes public, but try to keep it below the radar, hmm?”

Each of them nodded.

“Each of you is capable in a specific field of reconnaissance. I expect results.”

“Sure thing.” JG, one of the mages, answered for the group.

“That reward had better be worth our wile, though.” Omega added.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Now go.”

Each of them turned to leave then, shrugging in some cases, and proceeded to file out the doorway and into the hall.

“Unreasonably pushy.” Nagato stated once out of earshot.

The man known simply as Silent Swordsman nodded beside her…or him. It was hard to tell, as Nagato was clad in form-concealing clothing, used a Voice synthesizer, and wore a mask that only exposed one eye.

Silent Swordsman was clad in simple armor, a sword across his back and a deck of cards worn at his waist. His hair fell in clumps down to his nape, but stayed out of his face thanks to the gel he used.

JG was clad in armor up and down, including a helmet which concealed his face. However, his voice was most definitely masculine.

Omega wore nothing but a long sleeved shirt and pants, along with a cape and mantle.

Three more traveled behind them; Frlf, Brushfire, and Haris. They simply gave each other a look as they traversed down the hall.

Nexev let his eyes scan over all manner of information handed to him by his assistants – he had asked Marly, Mineku, and True, three other member sin the Organization, to stay behind with him at the Tower while he got to work.

It was proving to be very beneficial, as the added support allowed Nexev to progress at a much faster rate than he could have on his own. According to the various printouts he had created regarding the progression of construction thus far, he had already managed to successfully locate an appropriate space, and had developed a central structure for The Organization’s new home.

Only four hours had past, and already The New Kingdom that would topple The Card-Maker Kingdom was well underway. Fortification magic alone wouldn’t have been enough to handle this task normally. He would have to thank Amethyst for generously donating some of his magic for the procedure.

“So…how are we coming?” Mineku asked, looking over his shoulder.

“We’re fine.” Nex answered, adjusting his glasses. “At this rate, our Kingdom Will be ready for us to move into in a matter of Days.”

“Awesome.” Came True’s voice from the Central Computer Console Nexev kept in his lab. True was currently browsing through it, maintaining surveillance on the Organization’s Tower outside, using Cameras developed by Nexev. “So we’re just going to up and leave, aren’t we?”

“That’s what Clair wants to do. Although, she says we should wait until the Administrators’ attentions are all drawn to the War with Shiny Blast Kingdom.”

“That seems like too much chance. What if we end up waiting for months for Shiny Blast to launch an attack that will distract The Admins?” True asked, turning away from the screen.

Marly replied softly, having just arrived in the room. “We don’t need to wait. Roxas and Clair have already made arrangements.” He explained, chuckling a bit.

As if on cue, Nexev’s phone rang. “Hello, Nexev here.” He answered, placing the receiver to his ear. “Ah! Yes. Yes, thank you. We’ll be ready on our end in just a few days. Yes. Thank you for your assistance in this matter, Draco.” And with that, he hung up.

“Draco?” True asked.

“You didn’t know?” Mineku asked. “Clair and Rox managed to get Summa Crossroads to help us out…”

“Yes. And Aeon has also made arrangements. There a f few…. Moles, in the Administrators’ midst.”

Nexev grinned his genius smile. “Here’s to Drift.” He announced, raising a glass of –APPLE CIDER- high.

His associates followed suit.

Icy sighed, looking at the moon from his room. “Why do I feel…like something is wrong?”

Nexev · February 7, 2010

Um, you switched Riku's name to skuldur in 6.

So why is he still called Riku in chapter 0?

Zex, you need to pay more attention to your remakes.

Zexaeon · February 7, 2010

I didn't say I was remaking them. Just that I was restoring them onto this Thread.

[spoiler=Chapter 2]

Y.C.Manga - Episode 2: Psycho versus Psycho?! A deadly encounter!

Sunlight filtered through the thin blinds of Rose's room, landing softly against her bed spread. Unlike any normal day, however, Rose was not in her bed, waiting to be awoken by the sun's peaceful rays. She was already up and about, sitting at her computer, fingers drumming away nonstop, frantically. How could this have happened?!

About 2 hours prior, at the ghastly hour of 4 a.m., she had been stirred from her dreams by a call from one of her officers - and said officer promptly reported to her that the Tower of Artistic Design had been infiltrated. Every Tower in the Kingdom had its own unique information to protect, magics woven into the walls, artifacts tucked safely away. The surplus of magical items, spells, and information hidden away throughout the Card-Maker Kingdom was part of the reason it was so very powerful. And the absolute prime directive of all Administrators in the Kingdom was to guard the information, items, and magics that rested in the Tower they ruled.

Rose was one of three Administrators who was in charge of the Artistic Design Tower, a Tower where mages came to express opinions on art, as well as to place their own creations on exhibit. She was also the only Administrator in charge of the Animation Tower, a Tower in the Entertainment District. And apparently, while she, Hioco, and Haptism, her fellow Art Admins, were sleeping, the Tower had been infiltrated by an unknown entity and had had one of its precious artifacts stolen.

The Guards didn't know which one it was yet - the room protecting the Safe Room required extensive security measures to get into. As such, the guards had yet to actually get into the room and see what had been taken. They only something had due to the alarm. This was the reason why Rose now sat at her personal computer, entering in all the appropriate passwords and answering the right questions, so as to remotely unlock the Safe and allow the Guards entry. As soon as she finished, she would be making her way over to the Tower herself.

-

One thing was gnawing especially on Rose's mind as she made her way down the halls of the Administrative Tower, having finished her job in her room. Considering all the precautions and safety measure she and her guards had to take just to open the Door to the Safe, how was it that a thief had gotten in, taken something, and then gotten out without anyone seeing them, or without even having to make any visible signs of forced entry? It was a very worrisome thought. If someone could pull this off that easily, how on earth could they prevent another theft?

As she rounded the corner of this particular hallway, stepping through a Doorway just around the bend into the cool Morning air, she could see Blood, Glassberry, Icy, and Darth all making their way to the same location. Clearly, this was quite the serious matter. She made haste in catching up to the small group.

"Any word back yet?" Darth asked as she approached them.

"No." She responded. "I entered the passwords, but the last doors will still take about a minute to open. By the time we get there, they'll probably have just found what was stolen."

Blood looked especially aggravated this morning, possibly due to a combination of waking early and having this to deal with. "What I want to know is how this happened. I've already asked The Maker to call a hearing for you, Hioco, and Haptism. If you three couldn't prevent something like this, then you have no right to call yourselves Administrators."

Rose looked angry herself, now. "What? Excuse me, but our security is all but perfect. I have no idea how the breech occurred!"

"Of course you don't. If the security is "All-But-Perfect", that would lead me to suspect an inside job, after all." Blood quickly retorted. He then added, a bit thoughtfully "If it were my tower, it would never have happened."

Rose was about ready to attack her fellow Admin for his egotistical remarks.

"That's enough. We won't know anything until we investigate, Blood, so let's not start pointing fingers. If it could happen to one Administrator, it could have happened to anyone." Darth spoke in a soft but commanding voice.

Blood snorted. "Perhaps you've forgotten, but I have other means of looking into things."

"If your precognition was so great, why didn't you see this coming?" Icy snapped.

Blood rounded on him. "My precognition has gained us the upper hand in many different conflicts, in case you've forgotten that too, Joshy. Doubting my abilities because I failed to see one thing is-"

"And yet here you are calling Rose's competence into question, despite your own failure. If your failing to see anything beforehand is such a one-time thing, why is it that you can't go easier on her? This a first-thing for her, too, as well as all of us."

Blood was prepared to retort, but a clearing of the throat from Darth gained his attention. "We're here. Come on."

Without another word, the Admins all entered into the Tower, which was now swarming with Guards all over (clearly trying to locate clues). The Doors to the Safe were now open wide, and several individuals stood inside, taking inventory of the Artifacts stored there.

Rose approached them first, as they were her men. "Have you found what's missing?"

One of them turned to her. "Unfortunately, we think so. Most of the Artifacts in this Tower are relatively harmless, even in wrong hands. The thief took the one that was actually dangerous."

Rose sighed, rubbing her temples with her thumbs. "Of course he did. Which item?"

"The Cryomancer's Core. Small, ancient meteorite. Discovered May 15th, 1999. Noted to react powerfully with individuals possessing Cryocentric powers, as well as those whose powers reacted with Creationism. At its weakest, it is capable of freezing a human being solid near instantaneously. At its strongest, it could cover an entire city block in Ice, and bring about unnatural winters."

Rose groaned. There's no way the thief would have just stolen something at random. They obviously knew what they were doing if they were went after something as dangerous as that. "We can narrow the suspect list, then, down to individuals within the Kingdom who possess Cryocentric powers, right?"

"I don't think so." Glass spoke up, examining the empty pedestal where the Item would have been located. "Just because it isn't any use to someone without those powers doesn't mean it couldn't have been stolen by someone without those powers."

"Still, checking with the Cryomancers is a good start." Icy remarked. Already the walls were beginning to shift and bubble, very subtly (something one only really noticed if they were aware of it), as Icy's magic began to probe the area.

"Getting anything?" Darth asked, hopefully.

"No." Icy responded as the walls went back to normal. "My detection didn't find any signs of forced entry, magical entry, or even leftover residue from a possible portal." He sounded a tad mystified. "How did they manage to get in?"

"What about Telekinetic Transportation? As unlikely as it is, if someone knew exactly where that specific item was, and how to get to it, they could remotely teleport it out of the Safe with that power, right?" Glass asked.

Darth nodded. "True, but the problem with that is that no one in the Kingdom currently possesses that power. The only two we have on record no longer live here, and the Kingdom is protected by all magics from the Outside. Even if they returned into the Kingdom just so that they could steal it, they would have had to gain admission from the Guards, who would have notified me, Pizza, Crab, and The Maker that we had visitors."

Glass huffed. "Every theory we come up with gets shot down."

"How can we help it? this is completely bizarre. An item just up and vanishes, and there is absolutely zero detection regarding how it could have happened." Rose replied, exasperated.

"Like a bunch of headless chickens. Running around frantically, so blind to the obvious answer." Came the enigmatic voice of....something.

The Admins all turned to see a figure covered from Neck to foot in a long, black cloak. All around its body were spiked rings, straps, belts, and spikes. Covering its entire head was a silver, metallic mask which exposed only one eye of the face beneath. Although, one couldn't be too sure, as the eye was all one could see; no skin, no eyelid, no lashes, nothing other than an eye on the left side of the mask. Was there even a face beneath it? Who knew.

"I know you." Blood said, seeing the thing standing before them. "You're Nagato. You're one of the assassins-for-hire that lives in this Kingdom."

Darth stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Yes. He's a lawbreaker. You aren't too intelligent to show yourself in broad daylight in front of enforcers of the law."

Nagato stared blankly back before cocking its head to the left, going so extreme as to have its head now at a complete right angle from its neck. "Aren't I? I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't aware of this, but I was hired by one of your own. I'm sure my client would be upset to hear that you had put me behind bars. Especially when I have information regarding this case." its raspy, machine-like and yet human-like voice came back, sounding both male and female at the same time.

"What the hell are you talking about, freak?" Glass asked, looking a little....frightened of the thing that now turned its eye upon him, staring blankly into him. Almost like it was looking through him.

"Why don't you ask amongst yourselves? Perhaps your Precious Maker?"

That took them aback for a moment. Rose spoke up then. "You said you had information?"

"Confidential, of course." Nagato replied, placing its head back in the normal position. "For me and my employer, exclusively."

"Then why did you bother showing up here at all?" She asked.

"I simply wanted to ascertain how well your investigation was progressing. Clearly, not well at all. In any case, I should be off then." it replied, turning its eye upon each of them in turn before turning back out through the door it came in from.

"The Maker?" Darth asked, mostly himself. "Why would he hire someone like that?"

"I aim to find out." Blood responded. "Conveniently, The Maker cannot be reached at present. Apparently, he's off in his own little world again. But I'll look into this." Blood then closed both his eyes and placed his hands up near his head, his body beginning to glow a pale yellow color.

In a few moments, he was back to normal, and looking at his fellow Admins. "I couldn't find anything specific, but images did indicate that Nagato has some sort of involvement with The Maker."

Darth's brows furrowed at this. "I'll have to talk to Pizza about this. Rose, have your Guards lock down this Safe again. Take any measures you see fit to up your defenses, as well."

She nodded. "Yes sir."

"Icy, you-" he was interrupted as the sound of a phone filled the air. Rather, two phones.

Icy and Blood both looked down to the phones at their wastes and hastily answered. There was a moment of silence before a deep sigh came from Icy, and a cry of "What!?" from Blood.

Icy looked to Darth. "It seems the Card Creation Tower has been robbed."

The words hit the air heavily. Rose couldn't help but smirk. "What were you saying earlier, Blood? You know, the whole "If it were my tower" business?"

Blood turned a murderous glare at her, shutting off his phone and racing out of stifling Safe at a breakneck pace. Nagato... what is going on?!

-

Nagato stood atop a tall pillar in the General District's Main Square, pondering. Another theft? That's more bold of you than I had anticipated. And in broad daylight, as well. That's two of us acting out in the open then. That fool Blood thinks he has this situation under wraps, but has barely even scraped the surface.

As if on cue, the communicator in its helmet rang.

"Nagato!" came Blood's heated voice.

"Speaking." was the reply.

"What's going on? What did you find out!?"

"Patience, my dear Client. All in good time. If I told you now what I knew, you would simply rush in blindly to try and deal with it. Not even your ESP would save you then. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're the one in complete control. You only provide the reward - it is I doing the work. You wouldn't want me spilling the beans to your compatriots, telling them it was you who hired me, now would you?"

"You underhanded little...!"

"One must learn never to trust someone fully. Aside from the promise of a reward, you have no sway over me. And at this point, even should you retract it, I've my eye on a better prize to compensate. I'll be hanging up now. You can call me when you've calmed down." And with that, the call was ended.

Nagato knew exactly what it would do. It would wait till nightfall. And then it would strike.

-

"Cheers to Rin! Our newest member!" Clair called out, raising a glass of -APPLE CIDER- into the air. The other members of the Organization all raised their glasses as well, welcoming Rin amid a chorus of "here here!"s.

Just the day prior, having spoken with Rin after his triumph of Silencer, Clair had managed to get Rin interested enough in her cause to grow curious. One day of light conversation later, and the entire plan had been divulged to him. And he was more than happy to be a part of it. Rin claimed that he liked the idea of changing things, and that Clair's plans were the ideal choice for change.

"Happy to be here." Rin announced cheerily, raising his own glass as well.

"Lar, a moment of your time, please." Aeon stated from the doorway to the next room over. "Oh, and welcome Rin. I'm happy to have such a powerful fighter on our side." he added with a smile and a nod.

"If you'll all excuse me, I've apparently got some important things to deal with." Clair stated jokingly as the Organization chuckled. "Everyone just party it up!"

"Yeah, cut loose." Roxas added, also heading toward Aeon.

The members all nodded, talking amongst themselves and simply hanging loose. They all knew that there was still planning to be done.

-

The next room over had a small audience consisting of Roxas, Aeon, Clair, Nexev, and Riku. Nexev sat at his computer, analyzing some substance or another as the three Leaders made their way in.

"Glad you could make it. I have some information to report on where we stand. I'm sure we all do."

Roxas nodded. "Go ahead then. Nexev, you start."

The scientist rose and turned to face his colleagues, clearing his throat. "Draco called in. He's ready to release his forces onto the Castle in a puny, pathetic attack whenever we're ready. The attack is intended to be weak, as it is just supposed to draw The Kingdom's attention. Once their attention is drawn between him as well as the Shinyblast war front, we can begin evacuating. Our movements should go unnoticed.

And on that note, in case you couldn't guess, Our Castle is Ready. Between me, Amethyst, and Riku, the Construction of the structure was rather simple. We just need to furnish it, a task I'm sure we can handle."

Clair's eyes narrowed and a smirk hit her features. "So quickly? That was fast. Hahahahaha, to think, we already have our own Kingdom."

Riku spoke next. "The next order of business is Davok. He's managed to obtain two of the Artifacts we need. Just one more should be enough to give us the Firepower we need to contend with The Maker and his forces."

"How sad." Clair remarked. "Their little Administrative Cards won't have any effect on members of another Kingdom."

"Which is exactly why we can gain the upper hand - element of Surprise." Riku added. "Once we're all settled into our new Home, we can launch our attack on The Card-Maker Kingdom. Thanks to Aeon, they won't even realize we ever left, and will still think us denizens of this place."

Nexev picked up the conversation. "They'll send out their Administrators with their Special Administrative Spell Cards, only to find they are useless. That will give us the edge."

"Where is Davok now?" Roxas asked.

"He's currently out trying to obtain the last artifact. He said he'd be back tonight."

Roxas nodded as he stepped over to Nexev's desk, looking at the two artifacts present there. "To think we have these right here, and yet we haven't even received a knock at the door."

"They're in turmoil." Aeon explained. "They're probably still formulating a list of suspects. Thanks to EZ's hypnotism, Rose and Icy are unlikely to suspect us for a while, and will probably act in our defense against the accusations Blood and his cronies are sure to make. They probably won't arrive for questioning till tomorrow, earliest."

"Don't you just love a well-thought-out plan?" Clair asked with a giggle. "And then there's the best part. Once we claim the element of surprise, Summa Crossroads will strike from the outside, using their full military force. We'll have them got in a tri-sided conflict they can't win."

Roxas smiled, surprisingly. "Yes. And then things here will fall, and we'll be the only ones left to claim command. Who else in The Kingdom would deny us? Not a soul. But of course, there's no reason to stop there."

Clair's smirk stayed on her lips as she listened. "You're right."

"After all, with control over our own Kingdom as well as this one, we'll possess overwhelming power. We could take down Summa Crossroads, too, and finish things with Shinyblast. We can become the world's only Superpower."

"That's awfully sneaky of you. I thought you didn't like deception?" Riku asked, sounding very amused.

"I don't. But come on - do you expect me to pass up an opportunity like this?"

"I'm rubbing off on yooouuu." Clair teased, ruffling Roxas' hair.

"Don't any of you want to hear my part in this?" Aeon asked, feigning hurt.

Clair looked to him. "Actually, yeah, you haven;t really elaborate don that."

Aeon put on a carefree look. "I've just been having Haris, Brushfire, and Frlf posing as Assassins for employ. Apparently, they were called by Blood last night, along with four other, real, assassins. They've been giving me inside information on the Administrative Tower, and have been helping me set up my wards. After all, if I'm to make it seem as though we never left the Kingdom, I'll need a few Spells woven into hard-to-reach places."

"Oh Zexy, how devious of you." Clair giggled out. "So, meeting adjourned?"

There was a group grunt of approval. Roxas spoke afterward. "If you'll all excuse me, there is something I'd like to see to myself." he offered no further explanation as he made for the exit.

They didn't question it as they dispersed, Clair heading up the Stairs to her balcony, Aeon on her heels.

-

The clock tolled, twelve times. It was Midnight. The moon was high in the sky, its light illuminating the Main Square in The General District, the reflections also casting illumination to the Clock Face of the Bell Tower.

It was the perfect type of night to spill some blood, Davok decided. He stood casually on top of the Square's Fountain, hands in the pockets of his black robes as he gazed about him. It didn't take long for him to spot who he was looking for.

"You're quite persistent." he expressed admirably, looking up the Bell Tower. A cloaked figure, wrapped in what looked like Bondage gear met his gaze with its own from atop the Clock.

"Persistence is one of my many strong suits." Nagato replied. "I must say, however, that you are quite difficult to follow. It's no small wonder you managed to completely dupe the Administrators with your thievery. I don't believe there's ever been a record of someone who could become completely Transparent. And I see you've managed to get a hold of another one."

"You mean this?" Davok asked mildly, tossing a small Red Stone up and down in the air.

"Yes, I mean that precisely. You do realize, of course, that our banter cannot last. I will have to take your life now."

Davok grinned. "You may certainly try."

Nagato's eye narrowed briefly before his cloak flew open very suddenly - but there was no body beneath it. Only row after row of various vivious-looking contraptions. From within this mass, two whirring saw blades were launched with devastating speed, homing in toward their target. Davok looked surprised for a moment, but made haste in calling for The Flames of Hades to his hand, forming those deadly fires into a large sword which he used to block the incoming assault. After a moment of struggle, a sweep of his arm sent the deadly discs flying off.

Nagato's eye took a look of surprise to it. "I see. So in addition to Transparency, you even have access to Pyroclasmic Fortification? You are a unique one."

Davok grinned maniacally at the comment. “You’ve only just begun to see what I can do.” He stated ominously, letting out a low whistle.

At that sound, the sky began to darken further, a purple, mist-like substance filling the air. The moon’s color began to change, becoming a deep crimson as its light now became eerie. All around Davok, the ground began to shift and bubble. The first claw burst out from the Cobble below, grasping at the air desperately, as it was quickly joined by another, and another, until the ground was erupting with hands and claws. Out of the ground, the dead began to lift themselves, their horrible, decayed faces gaping awfully, their eyes devoid of actual eyeballs (except in a few cases), some of them with fangs instead of teeth. The corpses weren’t even all human, by the look of it.

They were like something out of a nightmare. A nightmare you couldn’t ever wake up from. Nagato was even more surprised now than it had before. "A Necromancer, too?"

"That's right, my most unfortunate victim." his grin didn't leave him as he made a light flick of his wrist.

Immediately, the corpses were in action, leaping with inhuman ability up the walls of the Clock Tower, their horrifying screams and roars reverberating through the air. The attack was sudden, and before Nagato knew what was happening, they were upon it, bringing the thing back down to the ground, pulling on Nagato every which way.

They held it down, forcing a bowing posture out of it as one of the disgusting corpses leaned in closes, speaking to Nagato in Davok's voice. "How very disappointing. Granted, given my many viewpoints in battle, the most I can ever ask of my opponents to give me something of a challenge - but you couldn't even provide me with that. Accept your death now as penance."

Davok approached the stooped figure at a leisurely step, smiling. "I couldn't have said it better myself." And with that, he lifted his blazing sword high into the air, slashing down on Nagato. The thing's head went rolling across the ground. Davok sighed in discontentment at the absence of any blood, watching on as his corpses began tearing apart what was left of the body.

"Honestly, and here I had high hopes. But if that's all you were capable of, then I'm most disappointed."

"I believe that's my line."

Davok turned at a quick spin. Behind him, the severed head of Nagato now floated in the air, staring at him calmly. "Are you quite finished? Because if so, I'm the one who should be disappointed."

Through the eyes of his corpses, Davok could already see the other torn up pieces of Nagato's body rising up, slashing away at his corpses, slicing them to ribbons. The pieces then began to float back together, each clicking into place where it seemed to belong. The head floated over as well, settling itself back onto the shoulders. Nagato cracked his neck from the left to the right, working the kinks out of his reformation.

"So, there's some fight in you after all." Davok commented, mad enthusiasm returning to him.

Nagato's answer was a pair of giant claws which shot out from behind his cloak, grabbing at the remaining corpses and tearing them to pieces, their decayed entrails flailing about, staining the area around them. "My patience with you wears thin. Let us start this battle in earnest."

Davok decided it was time to pocket the Red Gem now, feeling that this battle might require the attention of both his hands. "Come then. Your emotions serve no purpose than to feed my battle lust. Your cries will decorate the air before the moon sets this evening - a beautiful euphoria. I look forward to hearing it."

"Poetic." Nagato replied dryly. "We shall see who triumphs whom."

-

Clair stared at the night sky with a dreamy look, staring at the Crimson Moon Davok had painted for her. "The color of blood." she thought, out loud.

Aeon nodded, looking up at the same moon. "Indeed. More specifically, the blood of our enemies."

"My thoughts exactly. We're going to have to show them, aren't we? They'll figure out the penalty for messing with me."

Aeon laughed, full and open. "As loathe as I am to get too sure of myself, I must say - I can already taste victory. The plan has too many precautions and fallbacks for it to fail."

Clair licked her lips, staring again at the Blood-Red Moon. "The taste of victory...Zexy, what do you think The Maker tastes like?"

Aeon smirked. "Perhaps you'll have to find out."

-

A group of guards charged down the alleyways, making great haste in trying to reach the General District Square.

"This way men! The magic energy is emanating from here! We can still catch the thief!" The Captain of the squad called, making a sharp left around a corner. He still couldn't believe it - another treasure, stolen! But this time, they were hot on the thief's trail.

The Captain pulled one more left before stopping in his tracks. A figure stood alone in the Alleyway he had turned into. He immediately went into defensive mode, the Guards behind him following suit. "Stand aside! Unless you want to be taken under arrest!"

Roxas looked up at the commander, giving him a blank look. "I'm sorry. I can't do that." he stated, as the look he gave to the Captain became more dead. One couldn't even see his pupils properly. He began to walk toward the man, slowly, casually. The Guards immediately readied their magic rifles, training the guns on Roxas as he approached. He drew closer, a pair of Swords appearing in his hands - one of them shining brightly, the other glowing darkly. "You see, it would be trouble for us if you reported back the things you would find in that square."

He stopped just 3 feet in front of the captain, who couldn't seem to bring himself to pull the trigger. "So the only reasonable course of action is to make sure you don't report back at all." he announced, staring the Captain in the eyes. "So, please die now."

Suddenly, the Captain didn't seem to have control. His arms were moving on their own. He screamed, grunted, tried to stop it. He fought hard against the strength of his own arms, but to no avail. He was now pointing the Gun at himself, horrified. "N-No!" but it was too late. The trigger was pulled, and the commander fell back, stock still in a pool of red.

"Captain!" the remaining guards all called out in unison.

Roxas stared at them next. "You can all join him." And he charged straight into the mass of them, swords flairing.

-

Darth sat quietly in his room, unable to understand how it was possible. He had gotten the call just moments ago. Another theft. He lowered his head into his palms, frustrated.

"What the hell is going on?"

-

Basking in the light of the red moon, two horrifying individuals stared each other down - one clasped a flaming weapon and possessed a maniac look in his eyes. The other was flanked by a pair of sickeningly deadly claws, its single visible eye appearing uninterested.

At once, the two attacked, beginning what would surely be the road to a Red Dawn.

TBC

Plaguespreader Zombie · February 7, 2010

Ah yes' date=' that reminds me.

What WERE the squads again...? x3;;

Cause I claim Xirno, Marly, and Zeonark in mine.
[/quote']

I feel loved <3

So' date=' Xirno and I share the 2nd-in-command position? xD
[/quote']

NO. GET AWAY FROM MY POSITION YOU BASTARD.

Skuldur · February 7, 2010

I'm Lar's High Knight! >=O

Now go away, peasant.

Zexaeon · February 7, 2010

[spoiler=Chapter 3]

Y.C.Manga - Episode 3: Psycho vs. Psycho?! Midnight Calamity!

A blood-red Moon cast its eerie glow down upon a deserted City Square. The Bell Tower stood resolutely against the night, it's clock standing completely still. Midnight. It had been midnight for the last several minutes. The Tower cast a foreboding shadow on the Square as well, mingling with the moonlight to create a mixture of color most would shy away from in fear.

Davok leaped nimbly to the left, straight into that shadow, as an object that could only be described as a Scorpion's Pincer of Death came flying from the blackness of the Enigma's cloak. The claw ground itself deep into the torn cobble of the ground beneath, Davok now taking the opportunity to swing his blazing sword down upon it, slicing the thing from the long arm it was attached to.

Just as he expected it to, the severed claw simply floated up and reattached itself to its master. Nagato continued to stare passively at its lunatic foe, unblinking gaze never showing the slightest inkling of worry. Davok's smile from earlier had turned itself into a frustrated frown. "I must say, your tenacity is becoming tiresome."

"Too much for you?" Nagato shot back without a pause. "I'd understand if it was."

Davok merely struck an at-the-ready pose, his sword blazing. "Not so much that. I simply find it disrespectful that you recover effortlessly from wounds delivered unto you by these flames."

"Disrespectful? You expect your opponents to simply allow themselves to be killed?"

"Precisely. It is their place, after all." Davok answered, is smile returning.

"Well then I should inform you that your attitude is disrespectful. Especially since you're losing." Nagato retracted its claw back into the confines of the cloak, and instead produced four jointed pole-like extensions, each one tipped with a razor-sharp blade.

"I can treat whomever I wish with disrespect. It is my place to do so."

"Arrogant fool." And Nagato was on the attack again, shooting forward as its blades reached out for their foe, lashing at him mercilessly as he deflected them with his blade.

Frowning again, Davok conjured more flames to his other hand, using them to manifest a small ball and chain, the ball in a perpetual state of combustion. With one swing of his right hand, he knocked two of the offending blades aside, following with a quick spinning and throwing of the flaming, iron ball.

Nagato hadn't seen such a swift attack coming, the ball pelting it in the face as it flew backward, crashing into the Tower behind them. After a moment's hesitation, it floated itself back upright, shaking its masked head briefly before turning to face Davok again. "That one was pretty good. Congratulations."

Davok let his ball hit the floor as he leaned forward, resting on the handle of his Sword. "Tell me something. What are you? You have piqued my curiosity."

A rasping chuckle came of Nagato's duo-voice, the first indications of humor it had shown. "Have I now? Well, that's an interesting question, with a difficult answer. I can say for certain, however, that I am no more human than you are."

"Ah, so you noticed?" Davok replied smugly. "Well, that would seem to imply you gave mere traces of humanity in you, wouldn't it?"

"But of course. I was human once, after all." A seemingly normal-looking hand emerged from the closed cloak, reaching up to pluck out the single eye that decorated Nagato's mask. The hand then released the eye, letting it float in the air as the now featureless mask looked on blankly at Davok. "If I remember correctly, I was a human man who was experimenting with obtaining immortality. To some extent, I obtained just that."

Davok began to laugh, hefting his sword back upward. "So nothing more than a petty scientist? And to think I thought so highly of you."

"I wouldn't say that. Experimentation does not necessarily mean one is a scientist. I'd say I was more of an Avatar for Shadows. My human self had given up his own life long ago, living semi-immortally since then. My memory is fuzzy, but I'm guessing he simply grew tired of being a slave to the fiends that perpetuated his life, and found a way to fashion a new body for himself. I believe the sacrifice of another life was needed. He chose a human woman, of that I am certain."

"Ah, so there is more to you than I thought. Well, it will be my pleasure to prove your immortality false."

Nagato sighed. "Awfully high and mighty, for a deficient God."

Davok flinched.

"You guessed I could tell you weren't human, but you didn't anticipate I could recognize what you were, did you? A God stripped of his powers, sent to rot on earth. Then finding a loophole in the form of a mentally unstable child that you could possess. More amusing still, that child's consciousness later merged with the mind of another human, this one quite similar to yourself. It's as though you're two minds rolled into one, with a third mind pulling the strings between them."

Davok stared for a moment. Then, after releasing a wicked smile, he began to clap. "Very good. You managed to figure all that out?"

"There wasn't much to figure. No human has ever had the ability to become transparent, nor has anyone possessed the same degree of Necromancy as you do."

Davok's grin widened into that maddened state again, licking his lips as he did so. "Well then, now that we've dispensed with pleasantries, I do believe we should resume what we started."

"Yes, lets."

Davok held out his hand, and between his index finger and his thumb, a Card Appeared. "Spell Card: Shrill Dusk." he recited. Despite the glow of the moon, the sky began to darken again, black mist rolling through the area. A scream was heard. Behind Davok, a woman had appeared, with mottled black hair, hanging in clumps in front of her face, unidentifiable liquid dripping off her little exposed skin, a white drapery hanging limply off of her body.

The girl screamed again, and Nagato's body began to shake and clatter. His eye, floating in the air, began to move about crazily, before placing itself back into the Mask.

Davok lunged forward, sword arcing through the air, and cleaved the distraught enigma clean in two, the cloak burning up in tatters as it caught fire. The upper body of the thing, all its contraptions now exposed, continued to float upward, firing a storm of needles down at the attacker, who simply held his blade in front of him to block them. However, he had been careless - out of the exposed lower body, one of the pronged blades shot out and sliced through the muscles of the man's right arm, the limb falling uselessly from his body and clattering to the floor with the sword.

Davok let out a brief howl of pain as he clutched his right shoulder, only to feel no blood seeping out. Before him, the lower body floated up to meet its other half, reconnecting as the cloak seemed to conjure itself out of thin air, covering up the grotesque build beneath.

Davok stared above him though, up at the clock, whose hands were still pointed at midnight. Realization dawned upon him then as he chuckled. "I see. This is your true power. Your body is engineered to constantly reform itself, but it is only able to do so because your Power freezes time."

"Correct." Nagato answered. "I halt the flow of time around me to execute my abilities. Those with an active brain are immune to being frozen directly - as you can see, you are still able to move and think just fine. However, certain effects that take place within the flow of time are halted; your wound for example. If I were to unfreeze time now, you would begin bleeding quite profusely. It is because of this power that I am able to flawlessly reform myself."

Davok nodded, amused. "My flames move, however. Do they pose an exception?"

Nagato became thoughtful. "I was wondering about that myself. If you took the time to notice, the torches around us have all frozen." he commented, pointing out the lit torches in the square whose fires all stood stock-still. "And yet the flames of your blade still flow. Well, it is not something I will concern myself with." Nagato decided, releasing his hold on time at once.

Pain flooded through Davok again as his stump of a shoulder began to bleed, a flood of red falling all over his body. "How troublesome." Davok remarked. "Restoring this limb is quite a simple task." he explained, using his free hand to pluck up his fallen arm. "But it requires time. And I am to understand you will not freely give me that time."

"Of course not. And I don't intend to let you escape either, if you plan on running."

"Of course not." Davok mimicked. His left hand still held the Ball and Chain firmly, and he wasted no time in swinging it above his head and releasing the projectile at the monster floating above him.

Nagato was prepared for this. "Spell Card: Mask of Ten Forebodings." a card appeared before him, and vanished just as quickly. In the next instant, Nagato's mask had changed - instead of being a simple, oval shape, it now bore the appearance of a metallic, skull-like face. Still, his one eye rested in the left socket. 'Foreboding One." he stated calmly, just before the ball's collision with his face. It seemed to halt in mid-air, blocked by an invisible force. "Now combine with Foreboding Two."

The ball was then sent hurling back at Davok, the smiling man just barely dodging its impact into the floor. Nagato seemed prepared to attack again, but something suddenly held him back. Turning his gaze behind him, he could see just what - the horrible face of a corpse, staring at him with what looked like a fanged smiled, its arms holding him in place. The thing was protruding from the Tower wall behind him, half its body visible.

"So you can even move the spirits of the dead through walls." Nagato commented, staring the beast right back in the face. Above him, the clock was about 2 seconds away from striking one minute after Midnight. However, before it could, Nagato froze time once more.

Midnight remained.

Davom smirked with satisfaction, his shoulder no longer bleeding. "At the slightest chance that you might be wounded, you freeze time to ensure you can be pieced back together. Hahaha."

Nagato's eye narrowed into a glare.

"Not so immortal after all, are you?" Davok taunted, the ball he once again held morphing with the shifting flames, transforming into what appeared to be a blazing pistol. "I'll burn you to ashes. See how well you reform then." Davok announced with a laugh as he raised his gun, firing off bolts of flaming energy at the cloaked monster.

"The third Foreboding." Nagato stated as a pair of saws emerged behind him to slice away the arms of the Zombie behind him. His mask then glowed with yellow energy as the bolts connected, seeming to bounce the attacks off. Nagato's eye was strained in appearance, however, stuck in a look of concentration as the fire would not relent.

Davok continued to laugh as he fired more rounds of flame, a Spell Card appearing gradually in front of him. Abruptly changing angles, he pointed his gun at the card now, firing through it. "Hellfire." was all he stated as the card burst into unholy flames, firing out over an extremely wide radius, burning away all in their path.

Nagato, for the first time that evening, let out a small scream of agony as the burning washed over his body, burning away bits and pieces. Using what few weapons he had left, he thrust himself off of the wall of the Tower, sustaining several injuries along the way, as he escaped the flames' heady flow.

He now floated above Davok, body mangled and burnt, making the motions of heavy breathing, although only light rasps of his voice could be heard.

"Ahahahaha! So much for being indestructible. I knew it. I have only to disintegrate your body. Then, it can't regenerate at all, now can it?"

A murderous glare clouded the vision of the eye. "The sixth foreboding."

Davok's arm, which still lay on the floor next to him, suddenly burst. A bright flash of light was the only visible occurrence for a moment. In the next instant, the arm was gone.

Davok stared at the spot for a moment, all his humor gone. "You ingrate." he turned his gaze back at the enigma, aiming his gun at him again.

However, Nagato reacted quickly, opening what was left of his body, and launching dozens of small spears from within it.

Davok grunted and applied his transparent abilities as a last ditch effort, the spears impaling him in spirit rather than in body, as they flew straight through him. As his solidity returned to him, he fell to one knee in exasperation. This battle was beginning to take its toll on him. He summoned one more card to him. His favorite, really.

"Spell Card," he muttered in a weakened voice. "Grasp of the Living Dead."

The card exploded into darkness then. The girl - the one from earlier, the one who screamed - she stood motionless in front of her master. Then, with a flick of her wrist, her might was upon her foe.

All around Nagato, emerging from portals of the deepest black, grasping hands emerged, grabbing a hold of him before he could stop it. It was much like the grasps of the corpses from earlier. And yet it was different. Am uncharacteristic chill ran through him at their touch, and where they touched... he felt like they would destory him from the inside out. He wouldn't piece himself together after this one.

The girl screamed again. The hands hardened their grips. And they began to rip.

Nagato's eye widened, as he spoke once more. "The Tenth foreboding!"

His mask lit up then as the hands yanked his body apart, ripping away and instantly destroying the contraptions tucked away inside him, bending, breaking, tearing, destroying. He screamed then. The hands enclosed around him, removing him from site as his body seemed to explode in a blaze of darkness.

Davok watched all of this as the screaming girl disappeared. At once, his arm began to bleed again. In two short seconds, the big hand on the clock face inched forward. 12:01.

The deficient possessor stumbled to his feet, arm clutching his shoulder again. He was done here. And the Red Gem was still safe and sound in his cloak. He felt ashamed that he would be returning to The Tower looking so.... worse for ware. But it didn't matter. He had won.

Above him, the Red moon returned to its normal, peaceful color as the black mists rolled away into a netherworld. He turned to leave the accursed Square, preparing to become transparent again to make his trip easier. But then something caught his eye.

Lying on the floor, several feet away, was a Mask. Nothing attached. Just a mask. The socket where that accursed eye had been lay empty as the mask gave a blank look up at the night sky. It was covered in blood.

Davok smirked as he kicked the thing against a wall, smashing it into a thousand pieces before he turning away afterward. "So much for immortality. No one can achieve such a lofty goal. You were doomed from the moment you chose me as your enemy." he spoke softly to the thing as he paced away, limping slightly, and passed through a wall.

Behind him, the empty mask simply stared. And just slightly, the single piece of the mask which would have born the eye...glowed.

-

Roxas looked around him at the dead bodies. They had all panicked, raising their rifles halfhazardly against him. He had chopped through them like they were nothing. Were these supposed to be the Administrative Royal Guards? Ha.

Footsteps behind him got his attention as he turned to strike. However, his posture slackened again when he saw whom it was.

"My, my, my. You've made quite the mess." Aeon commented dryly, looking on at the death.

Roxas chuckled. "I couldn't have them finding Davok, now could I?"

"Fair point. But they will be expecting reports."

"Yes, you're right on that." Roxas nodded. "I assume you'll want to be getting a look at them?"

"Naturally." Aeon responded, pacing over and crouching down next to one of the dead bodies, before removing his helmet to inspect his face. "How drab. This one will be easy. And the uniforms will be child's play. How did they act?"

Roxas shrugged. "The Captain had a very commandeering personality. The rest just seemed blindly loyal."

Aeon walked over to the captain to inspect his body next. "Vocal patterns?" he asked while inspecting the body through half-lidded eyes. It's a good thing Roxas had made him shoot himself cleanly - otherwise, there wouldn't have been a face for him to inspect.

"Loud, no breaks, maybe D minor." Roxas answered.

Aeon nodded. "Very doable. Alright, I've had my inspection. You can go ahead with the cleanup."

"Sure thing." Roxas responded, as he flicked his shining sword through the air at the pile pf bodies. A wave of light was emitted from the Sword's tip, washing over the bodies and completely evaporating them.

"How long ago did you do this?"

"I encountered them about ten minutes ago. Finsihed up about 8 minutes ago. I've since been waiting here."

"Alright, that time frame is reasonable enough. They'll be expected back anytime now. Well," he spoke, a slight sigh in his voice. "Shall we?"

"Might as well." Roxas responded with a nod, dismissing his blades.

Aeon nodded back. "Alrighty then, boss, here we go." His hands lit up with a pale energy then, and he raised them high above his head as the energy washed over himself, and his Leader.

-

Blood's fist collided hard with the arm of his chair, breaking the thing off rather simply. Damn that Nagato...! He had been trying to get into contact with his assassin for hours, and had received no answer whatsoever. How the hell was he supposed to glean information if his assassin was completely useless?!

An sound chimed over the PA system.

"Attention all active Administrators. Squad B of the Royal Guard has returned."

Blood sighed. Finally, some good news. Perhaps he could gain some information here.

-

The Administrators (or at least, the ones who were available) had all gathered in their Meeting Chamber to greet the Sqadron of returning Guards. Before them, a group of seven knelt in reverence - six troops, one Commander.

"Enough formality. What did you find?" Blood asked, obviously impatient.

The Guards hastily stood up at the rebuke, hands clapped smartly against their sides. The Commander spoke. "Sir! We followed signs of Magical Energy that we picked up immediately after the theft, and followed it into the General District."

"Figures." Crab, one of the Top-Ranking Administrators spoke up. "That area is so chaotic, of course a thief would run there."

Some of the Admins were a bit surprised - Crab didn't often like to speak in meetings.

Blood pressed onward. "And? What happened then?"

The guards all looked at one another for a moment. "We tried to make it into the Central Square, but we were repeatedly blocked by a magical barrier on all sides. Our rifles couldn't penetrate it, and even Lileam's Mantle Penetration couldn't break it." The Captain explained, gesturing to one of the guards. "Eventually, however, with persistence, we brought it down. But by the time we made it through, there was no one there, and all signs of Magical Energy we had been sensing was gone."

"So in other words, you failed to find anything of use." Blood replied.

Rose sighed. "The thief has taken three of the Kingdom's Precious Artifacts, and all we can do is sit here. I even tapped Cindy into the vault of the third theft, and she didn't pick up a thing until The Gem was no longer where it should have been. I tried looking through her surveillance, but the only thing I saw was a wisp of movement."

Icy appeared to be deep in thought at this. "What about the rest of the vaults?"

"CIndy has been tapped into every vault, by now." Rose replied. "I'm also thinking of letting Mindy join her, so as to give us audio."

"I'll tell you what Mindy should be doing." Blood interrupted. "She should be in The Organization's Castle, listening in on their conversations!"

"This again," Icy sighed.

Rose shook her head. "We have no evidence, Blood, to suggest that they are involved. In any case, we were going to question some of them tomorrow. In the meantime, it would be constitutional violation to spy on them like that."

"Not like they'll really know if we do." Crab remarked, again drawing stares.

Darth nodded. "While I'm averse to the idea, that is a valid point. How would they know? Mindy is nigh undetectable. Only people like Icy would be able to realize she's there."

"And how do we know The Organization doesn't have people like Icy? Not all of them have been up front with their Abilities, you know. And they hardly ever fight in tournaments. In fact, the only member I've ever seen in action, personally, was Roxas, about a year ago. He used swords." Rose remarked thoughtfully.

"So we're in a bind then. Blood insists we spy on them, but that violate their rights. Even if we go ahead with it, we don't know if anyone among them would realize it and call us into question. And half of us here are against the idea." Darth added.

"Come to think of it," Icy stated, his pensive expression never leaving his face. "They have a scientist among them - Nexev. Even if no one among them had a power like mine, I wouldn't put it past his technological prowess to have a means of detecting such things."

Darth went silent at the mention of the name. Nexev... wasn't he one of the two people that The Maker had put into place about seven years ago? Only a few people even knew about that little incident. Darth could hardly remember it, himself. This would need some looking into.

"Ca we go now?" Crab asked. "We're getting nowhere. Let's just question them tomorrow, as planned."

Darth nodded. "I agree. Let's go. I'll report a message to Fallen and The Maker. Oh," he added, turning to the guards. "You may go now. Thank you for your hard work."

"Hardly." Blood snorted before leaving the room.

The Guards bowed to the remaining Admins, and took their leave as well.

-

"Silent Swordsman." Blood spoke into a small communicator as he made his way back to his quarters. "I've lost contact with Nagato. I want you to infiltrate The Organization's Tower. Report to me anything significant you find. Understood?"

After a moment's pause, a voice came back to him. "Understood, sir."

"Good. And be wary of traps. Their scientist is a wily one, I here."

-

Aeon wore a smug grin as he entered The Organization's Tower behind Roxas, both having entered from one of the many secret passageways they kept in The Tower.

"Good to know you haven't lost your touch." Roxas laughed.

"Indeed. I don't think it could have been any easier." The Lavender-haired man replied. "And they wonder why we aren't up front with our powers - haha. If we were, we could never have pulled that off."

"Naming one of the Guards was a nice personal touch, too."

"Of course. Everyone knows that the Royal Guard, with the exception of its highest officers, is like a disposable towel to the Administrators. None of them would bother to actually know the names of their Guard."

"Their fatal weakness, in this case."

The two made their way into the main Quarters, where the rest of the High-Ranking members were assembled enjoying some quality T.V.

"How did it go?" Clair asked from her perch on the couch's arm, smiling expectantly.

Roxas yawned. "Aeon is as sharp as ever. It went perfectly. They're going to question us tomorrow. And Nexev, do be on guard for any infiltrations tonight - even Rose decides not to do it, Blood might just send one of his cronies down here."

"Speaking of." Aeon piped in. "How's Davok?"

"Still recuperating." Riku said solemnly. "I don't know who he fought, but I'm glad he won. I wouldn't want to go up against someone who could do that kind of damage to Davok of all people."

Nexev stood up from his seat, adjusting the spectacles on his nose delicately. "And to ensure that we don't have to deal with something like that, I believe I'll attend to my duties now. Sweet dreams, everyone." he said, almost mechanically, as he turned to head toward his lab.

Riku got up to follow. "I'll come with you. No reason why you should be on guard on your own."

Nexev gave him a nod as the two continued forward.

Clair watched after them, sighing. "You really think there will be an attack?"

"If I'm to understand correctly, yes." Aeon responded.

Roxas picked it up. "They seemed real borderline on it. At least, the ones who were there."

"You shouldn't worry though." Aeon walked forward, patting her shoulder. "Nexev and Riku are both extremely competent. They won't let us down. And remember, we have all three Artifacts now. All we need to do is wait for Davok to recover..."

"And then you can pull your great Vanishing Act." Clair finished with a giggle. "You guys are right...we've progressed too far to be stopped now."

"And Don't you forget it." Roxas replied, munching on a smore.

-

Standing atop one of the Neighboring Towers, The Swordsman stared up at the home base for Organization XIII. So, he was to get in tonight? It didn't look too difficult. He would get in, and he would get the information he wanted.

Not just for Blood, or for the Money. But because he loved a challenge.

TBC

Plaguespreader Zombie · February 7, 2010

I'm Lar's High Knight! >=O

Now go away' date=' peasant.
[/quote']

Lar loves me more than you! D<

And Zex, wouldn't it make more sense to keep them in one post? =/

Larxene · February 7, 2010

It'd pass the text limit.

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Y.C.Manga - PG-16

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