One of my latest fics, earlier than Prodigal Sons. Still only have three chapters though. Im working on that. Anywho, enjoy.
"See me, want me, give me, trust me
Feed me, hug me, love me, touch me
This whole world is cold and ugly
What we are is low and lovely
I am the most beautiful boogie man
The most beautiful boogie man
Let me be your favorite nightmare
Close your eyes and I'll be right there"
-Mos Def, Boogie Man Song
Chapter One: Awake
Sometimes there's a clear cut path to choose in life. Good or evil, light or darkness, hero or villian. Those who have these options are the lucky ones, the ones who are respected by all, loved by most and hated by few. Heroes like Hercules, Tarzan, and Sora, to name a few. Heroes that simply do the right thing, no matter what the consequences are, no matter if something bad may happen because of it. Heroes that would spare their worst enemy's life, instead of destroying them.
They are fools.
Then there are the confused heroes, the ones who do anything to achieve their goal. Cloud and Riku come to mind. What's that old saying? The ends justify the means? They lived by that and would probably die by it too.
They don't have it right either.
I am not one of those heroes. I'm not even sure if I'm a hero, or just some nameless mercenary. It doesn't even matter. I do my job, get paid, and go on to the next one. Stay busy. Its the only way I can keep my mind off the past, off of memories that could taint my heart if I let them. So instead of lying around thinking, I throw myself into each assignment I'm given. I do it with such care, such passion, that I am hailed as Seven. Sevens are the elites in the group of mercenaries that I work with. We don't have a name for our organization, just as we don't tell each other our names. We create new code names each time we take a mission.
Why?
No one wants to get too close. The life of a mercenary doesn't have an insurance policy or health care benefits. We die as easily as flies, sometimes beginning a mission and perishing before we actually start it. No one really cares for mercenaries. We are seen as the hyenas, viciously attacing and stealing without care for anything.
We are diseased, avoided by everyone who lives in this city of perpetual darkness.
We are hated, by the family of those who have been assasinated.
We are spit upon, by the victims of our theft.
We are feared, by witnesses to our destruction of what they hold dear.
And yet.
They come to us, pay us to perform some task they they are too afraid, or too ashamed, or too proud to do themselves.
Ironic?
Damn right it is.
They think they are better than us, and yet we are the ones controlling them. They pay us to be gods, to take life, to create chaos, to protect them.
And through all the gloom, all the pain, all the havoc we've wreaked, we laugh.
They think they have us in the palm of their hand, right beside their money, but they're oblivous. They don't see that we are the ones with the keys. The keys to their life, their fate.
We are angels.
We protect and serve them. Care for them when commanded, save them when asked, love them when paid. We make them laugh, shout, and cry with joy.
We are demons.
We kill them, assasinate them, we completely eradicate them. We bathe in their blood, we mutilate them, we are their worst nightmare come true. We make them scream, bleed, and cry with fear.
We are nonexistent.
We are put away in our box when they don't need us, ignored when nothing needs to be done. We are invisible, not seen until someone's husband has cheated, or someone's kid needs saving, or someone's enemy beat them up.
We don't care.
We don't do this for the respect, because if we did, we'd all have jobs selling cars or something. We don't do it for the love, because if we did, we'd have probably gone mad and committed mass suicide for lack of emotional attention. We don't do it for the intense hatred, for if we did, we'd be the happiest bunch of mercenaries on earth.
We do it to escape. Some people have drugs, but drugs rot away the brain and body. Some people have sex, but one can become easily addicted and have a one track mind. Some daydream, but daydreaming is just one's personal wish, something that most likely won't occur in their life. And some people go crazy, so disappointed about their pathetic life that they spend their time inside the chambers of their mind, not wanting to leave.
We're different.
What we do is far more dangerous, far more addicting, far more idiotic than all of those combined. But we have payoff, literally. There is always something waiting at the end, some treasure, some money. It doesn't matter though, most dont do it for the pay. They do it to get away from boring wives, boring kids, boring friends, boring lives. They do it to feel a sense of purpose, a sense that they're making a change, no matter if that change is good or bad.
"Hey, that girl's checkin' me out."
And now back to our regularly scheduled program.
My friend...no associate, was looking at a young brunette sitting about five stools away from us. Every now and then, she'd look up from her drink and glance in our direction. She'd flash a little smile and look down, waiting for the object of her affection to come and sweep her off her feet.
"Sorry, but I believe she's looking at me," I replied, brushing a lock of ebony hair from my eyes. She looked up again and stared directly into my eyes, mine the color of fine wine, her's the color of a stormy sky.
"Damn," my associate cursed, knowing he was defeated. I got up, patting him on the back as I did, and walked over to the girl. I stood there until she looked up and smiled.
I returned the latter.
"Mind if I sit down?" I asked politely. She nodded shyly. I've heard that nice guys finish last, but I have yet to experience it.
"Would you like a drink?" I asked, in that same soft voice. As soft as a cloud.
"No thank you," she replied, her voice melodius. I could almost sway to it. "My name's Airya, what's yours?"
Airya. Beautiful. Fits like a glove.
The bartender awaited my order, and I asked for a water. He smirked and filled up a glass from the tap. I guess to be a real man, one has to order the strongest drink in the bar.
I looked to the girl, to Airya, and saw that she was looking at me expectantly.
Oh yes. My name. I guess there was no harm in telling her. A fake name that is.
"My name's Janus," I lied. "Pleased to meet you." I reached out my hand.
She smiled and shook it, replying, "You should work on that."
"Work on what?" I asked, smiling back.
"Lying."
I stopped shaking her hand and my smile froze.
Damn. Smart as well as beautiful.
I gave a short laugh, looking into her eyes.
"How would you know if I were lying or not?" I questioned, curious. It was not everyday that someone pointed out my attempts at deceit. They usually had valid reason though.
The girl turned her head and looked at the bartender. "Two Twilight Hours, please."
I raised an eyebrow, not at the fact that she had ordered the strongest drinks in the bar. She didn't answer me right away, using my same tactic against me.
I could appreciate the irony.
We were given our drinks and I downed mine quickly, wanting to get back to the conversation. Of course I expected her to sip on it, ladylike and all. Surprise surprise, she downs it like it's nothing.
"You don't remember," she said as she set the glass on the table. "Do you?"
"I remember a lot of things," I replied emotionlessly. "Anything in particular?"
The girl looked hurt.
We are demons.
As I said before, my past is something I don't like to think about.
We are nonexistent. At least we wish we were.
"You don't remember me...?" she asked, her voice berely above a whisper.
Do I remember a brunette with gray eyes?
Do I?
Do I care?
Should I?
"I'm afraid I don't," I replied. "I've forgotten a lot of things...some of them purposely."
"How can you not remember?" she asked. "You've done so many great things."
Me? Do great things? I don't remember doing things for others.
We are angels.
"Would you like to refresh my memory then?" I asked, a little irritated, "or do you want to beat around the bush some more."
"I know your name," she said softly. "Even though you don't use it anymore, I've still treasured it."
"Don't say it," I warned, glancing around.
Who knew how many people in this would love to know my real name. Once someone hnows your identity, you're all there's.
"Why not?" she asked, a little loudly. "You're a hero-"
"Shutup," I whispered fratically.
Too late.
"Tell us about this hero, kind woman."
A man stood up, as bald as he was ugly. But he did have one thing going for him. An insanely muscular body and what I thought was a kick-ass scar under his eye.
The girl stood, eager that she had a little crowd going.
"This," she took a deep breath and paused dramatically.
I wanted to throw up.
"This is Develyn Bishop," she continued, gesturing toward me. "The greatest hero of Twilight Town!!"
So she did know my name...damn.
Grunts and whispers of disagreement followed this statement.
I smiled.
"That's funny! I heard he was an assassin and a thief!!"
Baldie had the floor.
"The blood of hundreds are on his hands!!"
I glanced at my hands. Hundreds? Who's counting?
"We'd better get out of here," my associate whispered. "Before things get uglier than that bald guy."
Nice one.
"Alright, let's go," I whispered back, standing up. I was kind of bored anyway. The girl was giving some bullcrap speech about how I had saved two kids from a burning building.
Ridiculous.
"Where do you think you're going?" A man with a mop of blonde messy hair stood in my path.
I wasn't angry, just exasperated.
"I'm leaving," I replied. "Do you want to move, or die?"
We are demons.
At least I am. My parents saw the demon inside. They named me Develyn. They saw me for what I was.
A devil.
Parents can be such a drag. Or so I'm told.
I was wearing a long black overcoat that day. Not for style, although it did highlight the red in my eyes. It's big enough to hide a sword in, and I decided it was time to unveil my friend.
That sound, that excruciating sound of metal aginst metal. Like a symphony to me, a nightmare to enemies.
I grinned as I unsheathed the sword slowly, for full effect. The blonde guy's eyes widened, and he took a step back.
Yes. Rethink life.
I heard another sword unsheathing, the sound coming from behind me. I glanced backwards to see that my associate also had his sword out. He smirked and raised an eyebrow.
I turned back and saw that a lot of the men also had weapons on them. It would be interesting.
"Are you going to let us leave?" I asked quietly but coldly. I was giving him one more chance to back out.
The bald man looked around, knowing that if he back down now, he would be deemed a coward.
Pride is man's downfall.
So am I. At least these guys' downfall.
"We're gonna get rid of you murderers once and for all!!"
Murderers? That's valid. But they're not calling us saviors, bodyguards. We've worked a lot of different jobs, but we're condemned for the bad ones. I thought they would balance out.
Oh well.
"Then come on," I taunted. "Or do you need some more steroids to get you started?"
He raged, then charged.
The girl was behind the counter, hiding after causing all of this.
Ten on two. Easy.
The bald guy swung an axe, and I blocked it with my sword, one-handed. Doing that looks way cooler than blocking with two hands.
I swung a fist, connecting with his cheek. I heard a sharp crack, as if someone had snapped the leg of a chair in half. He flew back onto a wooden table. Of course it collapsed under his weight. A metal table would collapse under his weight.
I glanced back to see my associate fighting off two people at a time, his long white hair flying around wildly. Looks like he didn't need my help.
Another man swung a sword at me and I dodged quickly to my left. Before he knew what happened, I drove the hilt of my sword into the back of his head and he crumpled to the floor.
I didn't even get a chance to celebrate my victory, because I was attacked simultaneously by three men. So was my associate, so there would be no help there.
I was debating whether I should kill them all, or just knock them out. Killing them would be way easier. I would just wait for an opening and give them the old sword-in-the-gut. To knock them out, I would have to get closer than I wanted to. But.
I had an idea.
I ran back toward the bar, the men hot on my heels, and jumped behind the bar. Grabbing the girl, I slid my sword across her neck, the dull side of course.
"Stand back," I commanded. "You guys wouldn't want this pretty lady to have a second mouth, would you?"
Checkmate.
The guys backed away, slowly. So did the men who were fighting with my associate.
"Drop your weapons please."
They complied, of course. They were good, hard-working men, and they wouldn't cause the death of a girl, even accidently.
I walked from behind the bar, the girl struggling in my grip. She couldn't break it though, she wasn't strong enough. We walked all the way to the door, my associate right behind me with his sword. We were going to escape.
Breathing wasn't this easy.
"Well gentlemen," I smiled. "I have to say that you are the weakest people I have ever fought."
Anger in their eyes. Laughter in mine. Like fire and ice.
"Good day," I said, throwing the girl into the group. My associate and I ran out, already knowing what to do.
It was raining, big, cold droplets that splattered everywhere. I hate the rain. For some reason, it plays hell with my hair.
"See you there!" my associate called, running down an alley.
I took a different one, knowing that we would have better luck splitting up. We'd meet at the hideout later.
As I ran down the darkened alley, I thought back to the girl who started all of this. I've never seen her before in my life, nor have I done all of these good deeds. So who was she?
I was so deep in thought, that I almost didn't see the pairs of yellow eyes that had emerged from the shadows of the alley.
Heartless.
I stopped. Sliding the sword from its sheathe once again. And that's when I heard it.
You hold one of the keys...
Strange voices in my head? So on top of everything else, I'm crazy?
You will help open the door...
"What door?" I asked aloud. "Who are you?"
The door to the light You will help open it with the weapon of your heart
The Heartless were still standing there at attention, as if waiting for the voie to stop its speech.
"What's the door to the light? And the weapon of my heart?"
The door to the light. Kingdom Hearts The place of eternal light, and darkness
"And the weapon of my heart?" I asked.
See for yourself Put your hands out, in front of your chest[/color]
Sure, I'll play along. I have nothing better to do besides wait for another mission to fall into my lap.
I held my hands out in front.
Now close your eyes and concentrate Concentrate on your heart and the strength within it
I did. I thought about how nothing has been able to break me, no matter what I've seen. No matter what has happened to me, I'm still here. I'm still standing, ready to face whatever comes my way. I thought of all the abuse I had suffered throughout my life, physical and mental. And I thought about how it had only strenghened me.
But most of all, I thought of her...
And it happened.
I felt something in my heart. Something that was both warm and cold. Something that hurt, and yet felt good at the same time.
I opened my eyes and saw it. A keyblade exiting my body slowly, glowing softly. It was black, blacker than the shadows that surrounded me. The blade was straight for about four feet before curving wickedly at the end. It finally exited and I grabbed the hilt, tacking a few test swings. It was light and easy to use.
Use it well Keyblade Master There will be times when the darkness will try to take your heart Where you will feel as if the weight of the world is crushing you down but don't give in You have one of the strongest hearts of all You will bring peace You will bring hope You will bring light Farewell
"Wait! What am I supposd to do now?!" I yelled, looking into the dark, cloudly sky. At that moment, the clouds drifted, revealing the starry night behind them. As I stared, a star blinked and disappeared. A planet had been snuffed out. The Darkness had defeated another world.
The voice was gone, leaving behind questions and the keyblade. I held the latter up, letting the rain splash off of it.
A Keyblade Master.
They say expect the unexpected, but not even they could have predicted this. Me, murder, savior, thief, lover, arsonist, bodyguard, terrorist. The list goes on.
I join the ranks of Sora and Riku. But which would I be?
Would I be like Sora, following my heart blindly? Doing the right thing all the time, no matter what the consequences?
Or would I be like Riku, doing whatever is necessary to do the right thing?
Whatever. I'm thinking too much. I'll figure it out in the morning.
I started to continue my walk when the Heartless attacked. I jumped back lightly and took my fighting stance, the keyblade in hand. The first time. Let's see how it handles. The Heartless rushed me, and I let them.
"Oh can you say Discordia?"
-Stephen King, Dark Tower Series
Chapter Two: Illusionist Stranger
It's almost like a drug, fighting. That adrenaline rush that seems to make you invincible, heightening the senses and numbing the pain.
I love to watch my enemies suffer.
And scream.
And cry.
Am I a monster?
Maybe.
But then, everyone has their guilty pleasure.
We are demons.
But I digress. Flash foward to now, the present. The only time that matters.
It's a new world, but new doesn't always mean good. Everyone thought that the hero Sora had destroyed the Heartless two years ago. That he had banished the darkness. That he had obliterated evil.
Impossible.
Destroying every Heartless, every shadow, every evil. It's just like trying to kill every ant that exists in every world, or whatever strange insects they have. You would die a million times of old age before you even began to complete your task.
Now, the Heartless are back.
And stronger than ever.
They're also more ruthless.
And of course, in our hour of need, Sora is nowhere to be found. Neither is Riku, the lesser known hero.
No one knows that Sora is back at Kingdom Hearts, searching endlessly for his friend.
Sora doesn't know that Riku has already escaped with King Mickey.
Riku doesn't know that Sora came to find him, that their friendship never ended.
How do I know all of this?
The keyblade.
As I grasp it's hilt, the memories of past Keyblade Masters flow through me, whispering untold of knowledge. Past events, that no one alive today could know, flashed through my mind.
Geez. Almost.
I Jumped back as a Shadow Heartless dove at me, its small claws swiping the air. Before it landed, I slashed at it with the keyblade. It disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of black dust.
I turned to face the other Heartless, but they were no longer there. In their place stood the girl from the bar.
Except she was dressed in a black, leather body suit.
And her hair was white and short.
And she looked dangerous.
"So you're a Keyblade Master?" she asked, sounding disgusted. "But why would it choose you?"
"I guess it was attracted by my charming personality and excellent hygiene," I answered, my grips on the keyblade and sword tightening. I noticed her eyes looking, past me, and I chanced a glance backwards.
Another girl.
She was wearing the same thing, black bodysuit. This girl, though, looked a lot deadlier. Her shoulder-length, hair had a light bluish tint and matched the color of her eyes.
"Hello," I supplied, giving a little wave. She didn't return the gesture.
I'm sure she just needed to warm up to me.
And yet, there was another. I don't know how I knew, but I did.
I looked up and there, sitting in the sill of a window, was another girl with long, jet-black hair. Her eyes were green, and they seemed to glow in the moonlight.
She smiled.
"Don't mind Angel," the girl said as she gestured toward the blue-haired girl. "She's not really sociable."
They all looked to be about my age, early twenties.
And they were all pretty beautiful, truth be told.
And they all had deadly katanas strapped to their backs, for easy access I presume.
"Assasins," I guessed aloud, looking at Airya, though I doubted if that was her real name. "If you ladies came to complete a job, then please," I crouched slightly and tensed, "by all means complete it."
The girl, Angel, stepped forward, unhesitant, but was stopped by Airya.
"Wait a minute, Angel," she said, raising a hand to stop her. "I want to take him down myself." She unsheathed the katana and pointed it at me.
Confident are we?
"Do you know why I'm going to kill you?" she asked as she walked toward me, her lips curled slightly.
"Not really," I answered, returning the smile. "But before you do, could you at least tell me your real name?"
The girl on the window sill giggled, covering it behind a hand. "I do believe he's smitten with you, babe," she joked to my new friend.
"He has to wait in a long line, Rayne," she responded, not taking her eyes from me for a second. She said to me, "You're going to pay, right here and now. For everything..."
"Wait, I thought you said I was a good guy?" I reminded her, already knowing it was complete bull. I may not have had the best memory, but I know I'm no hero.
She smirked and lowered her sword. "You believed that? I just said it to rile up everyone in the bar. I wanted to see how strong you really were." She put a hand on her hip. "It seems as if the stories were true."
Stories? I don't remember reading about myself.
"And what stories are those?" I asked. "Excuse me for not knowing them but I'm not big on tall tales."
"They say you're rising in the ranks of the Oranization," she replied. "That attaining the title "Seven" is only the beginning for you."
"How the hell do you know about the Organization?" I asked suspiciously. Such knowledge could only mean one thing. That these assassins were hired by someone had knowledge of us. Someone who was in the Organization.
"Enough talk," she snapped, changing the subject. As your executor I'll grant you your last wish. My name is Sonia. Speak it now, because it will be the last sweet thing you ever taste on your tongue."
"Beautiful and self-absorbed," I observed aloud, a grin on my face. "I like it. You remind me of myself."
"I'm not like you," Sonia said, walking toward me. "You're a murdering bastard."
She had me there.
"Okay, so I may not have a father and I may have killed a couple of people, but-"
I wasn't allowed to finish.
She darted toward me quickly and slashed with her sword. I jumped back and responded with a swing to her head with my sword. She ducked and I concluded my attack with a thrust from the keyblade. She blocked it and began slashing furiously at me, her hands and the sword a blur.
She was fast. I had to give it to her.
But I was faster.
I kicked her leg out from under her, and she fell forward. Before she could do anything, I stepped on her back and held her down with my foot. Her friends tried to come to her aid, but pressing the tip of my sword on the back of her neck remedied that situation.
"Take another step, even another breath, and she'll have a spicy new haircut."
The ebony-haired assasin stood there in the alley, having jumped down from the sill, and laughed.
I raised an eyebrow, more than perplexed.
"May I ask what the joke is?" I asked as I struggled to keep Sonia down. "Surely it isn't funny at a time like this?"
"It's just...I wish I could play poker with you," she said, smiling.
I raised an eyebrow, perplexed. "And why is that?"
"Because you put forth a terrible bluff," she answered, her laughter subsiding. "You wouldn't kill her."
So she knew that I wouldn't, but she didn't know for sure.
"How do you know I'm bluffing?" I asked, my smile fading. "Are you sure you want to gamble on a bluff?"
Her smile faded as well. And I knew why.
I turned around to see the girl with the blue hair rushing toward me. She jumped into the air, her sword raised and her eyes blazing. I rose the keyblade in defense, and sparks flew as the two weapons clashed.
I was forced to release the girl as I jumped back to avoid a swing from Angel. I ducked, somehow knowing that the ebony-haired assassin would attack from behind. Her sword wooshed as it but above my head and I jumped backwards, driving an elbow into her gut. She collapsed to the ground, coughing.
It may sound horrible, but I have no problem with punching a lady. Hell, I'd punch a kid if he was running at me with a sword.
Two down, at least for now. The last assassin raced toward me, unafraid. Even though both of her allies were down. I ran toward her as well, but never got to her.
There was this piercing sound. It screamed through my mind and I tried to move my hands to my head, but my body was frozen. I collapsed to the ground, my vision swimming before me.
What...the hell...?
I saw Sonia on the ground too, except she was out cold. I looked ahead, with difficulty, to see Angel staggering.
Then I saw something.
A shadow approaching, the outline of a person walking toward me. I squinted, trying to block out the pain and concentrate on seeing who the person was. But the darkness overwhelmed me.
~~~
Just darkness.
I looked around, trying to find anything, anything that looked like an exit or escape.
Nothing.
Whatever. I might as well just start walking. Maybe I'll find a way out of here.
At this moment, another person in this situation would probably think they were dreaming. I knew I wasn't. Any fool should be able to seperate reality from reverie.
Why do you deny me?
The voice came from the shadows, as cold and as hollow as the gloom that surrounded me.
I don't even know who you are, pal, I responded to the voice.
You don't?
This is why I was brought to this world of darkness? To be played mind games with?[/color]
Games are for fools, Develyn. This is reality.
Then why don't you tell me who you are?
Because you already know.
If I knew, then-, you know what? Forget it. Just tell me how to get outta here.
Out of where?
Out of this dream! This darkness!
Unfortunately, you will always be in darkness. Soon, you will wish it was a dream.
~~~
"Hey, wake up!"
At the sound of the voice, my eyes slowly opened. Someone was standing over me, but I couldn't discern their identity. Everything looked soft and blurry, like a bad photograph.
"C'mon, get up. I know you didn't get beat up by a thief, or something."
"Look buddy," I croaked, getting shakily to my feet. It was still raining, and I started to feel like I was in Burmecia again. "Thanks for your help so far, but you're no longer needed."
"Man, do you even know who I am?" the figure asked. As he said this, his image began to clear. White, shoulder-length hair, dark-blue eyes, and a brown trench-coat was all I needed to see to know with whom I was talking to.
"I thought you went to the hideout," I said as I rubbed my temples. I had a killer headache and the steady patter of rain, while beautiful, did nothing to dull it.
"I did, but you didn't come back for a while so..." he trailed off.
"You came back because you were worried about me?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, yeah," he answered, shifting uncomfortably.
I was more than shocked. This type of behavior among assasins was unheard of. Even partners who had been working together for years wouldn't go back into the proximity of a hot spot to help their comrade.
But then again, he is relatively young, I thought to myself. He only looked to be about eighteen or nineteen at the most. A baby really, when average age of assasins is around thirty. I thought I was the youngest at twenty-six, but my spotlight was taken, so to speak.
"You're an idiot," I growled. A jolt of pain raced through my body, but I gritted my teeth. I began limping slowly down the alley, sheathing my sword. The keyblade had already disappeared, and I was grateful. For some reason, I didn't want the kid knowing I wielded the it. At least not yet.
"And why is that?" he demanded, keeping up with me easily. "While you were unconscious, someone could have killed you!"
"One's life is his own," I explained, looking directly into his eyes. "No one else is responsible for it."
you were responsible once
"But Sora always relied-"
"On his friends," I finished for him. "And look where it got him."
The kid looked confused. "What do you mean? Know one even knows where he is."
Oh yes, I forgot. I only know where he is because of the keyblade. "Exactly. He's lost, probably on some dark world where only Heartless live. He probably fights everyday for his life without a moment's rest."
"Or he could be on an island somewhere, sipping a drink and getting a tan."
I shook my head. "Nothing's ever that easy."
"Why not?" he asked. "What's so wrong with having a little hope?"
"Hope is like a bubble," I responded. "It looks tangible, like you can grasp it and hold on to it. It even looks beautiful. But as soon as you get close to it, touch it, it explodes, leaving behind only what you started with. Reality."
The kid was silent for a minute, before shaking his head. "Sorry, but I just can't accept that. I think you're just too cynical for your own good."
"Maybe," I admitted, "but I'm alive, and I've been a mercenary for quite a while. Does that tell you anything?"
"Not really," the kid said.
"Well, as long as you understand," I sighed. We emerged from the long alley onto the sidewalk and I cursed.
"What?" the kid asked, an eybrow raised.
"Where the hell's my motorcycle?" I growled. I looked around frantically, already making plans to find the bastard who stole it.
"Did you forget? You left the cloaking device on."
Oh yeah. "Of course I didn't forget," I snapped, hoping he couldn't see through my lie. "I was just seeing if you were on your toes. Assassins have to be ready for anything."
The kid scratched the back of his head. "Um, okay. Did I pass?"
I sighed heavily. "Let's just go." I went to the space where I left my motorcycle and felt around. My hand touched cold metal and I smiled faintly. I pressed the button that disables the cloak and stood back. The motorcycle flashed quickly then disappeared, then reappeared.
If there's one thing I love, in this entire world, it's this. This piece of machnery that has never failed me throughout the years I've owned it. I removed my trenchcoat, only wearing it for the mission, and tossed it behind my shoulder.
"Nice shirt," the kid said, already on his motorcycle.
I smiled and tugged the sleeves. "What this old thing?"
He laughed and reved up his engine. "Yeah, red's not really my color, but it's still pretty cool. Where'd you get it?"
I hopped on my bike, patting the black metal for good luck, as always, and stroking the name written in red on the side. "It's more of a dark-red really, and I got it at that..." I trailed off slowly, having heard something. A whisper.
"From whe-," began the kid, but I interrupted him.
"Sshhh," I cut in, getting off my motorcycle. The kid did the same, looking confused.
"Listen..." We stood there for a minute, maybe two. Stood there in the dark street, the rain hammering down on us relentlessly as we listened to the night.
"I don't hear anything," the kid finally said. "Maybe you just...just..." His eyes trailed up toward the sky, behind me.
What now?
I turned around to find nothing there, and I returned to the kid.
"What the hell were you looking at?" I asked, more than confused. I just hoped that the kid wasn't seeing things now. But I knew he wasn't. Whatever he saw, I knew he wasn't.
"There was this ...thing... It looked like a Heartless but..." he stuttered, a frown on his face. "...it was the biggest thing I had ever seen..."
I looked back to where the Heartless had been. "Well, it's gone now, so-"
"Don't you just hate those dramatic events where you think something's gonna happen, but it doesn't?"
I whirled around, my sword already unsheathed. From the dark alley emerged a man both the kid and I knew. The kid sighed and sheathed his sword, but I didn't. I had never really liked the guy, personally. I felt an aura around him that just didn't put me at ease.
"Geez, you scared the hell out of us," the kid complained, brushing hair from his eyes. "What're you doin out here, anyway? This was supposed to be a two man mission."
The man smirked as his gold-colored eyes looked up toward the heavens. "I just wanted to enjoy the fine weather we're having here tonight," he explained softly. He ran a finger through his ebony hair. "By the way, did you two succeed in your mission?"
"Of course we did," the kid snapped. "What do you think we are? A couple of amateurs?"
"I would never even dream of such a thing," the man said, his face still turned toward the sky. The rain pattered on his face relentlessly, but he seemed not to care. "However, I would like a summary of your mission..."
"Fine," I said, waving a hand at the kid to calm him down. He looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel, and we didn't need that. "I'll tell you exactly how it went."
The man smiled. "Good." He finally stopped looking at the sky and faced us. "Please, begin. You have my undivided attention."
~~~
"This should be easy," the kid chirped as he got up from his motorcycle. He pressed a button and it disappeared, leaving behind no signs that a vehicle rested there. I did the same, giving my motorcycle a final pat before I pressed the button. The invisibility cloak was something that I was grateful for, something that was standard issue for the mercenaries that I worked with.
"One thing I've learned," I said as we began walking toward our destination. "Don't go into a mission thinking you've already won."
"But all we have to do is kill this guy and we're done," he argued, walking next to me. "Just one man. And you know that he's dead, even if one of us was sent."
"You must have forgotten that he's one of the largest crimelords in this city," I replied, my hand on the hilt of my sword. The sword was hanging from my waist but was hidden behind a black overcoat. I didn't want this guy to see the sword until it was kissing his neck.
The kid laughed, his bravado combating his ego for superiority. It seemed to be a tie to me. "So he'll have a couple of bodyguards with him. Who cares?" He unsheathed his sword and swiped at the air a few times before putting it away. "They'll be cut to ribbons before they even know what happens."
I sighed, but couldn't help but crack a smile. The kid's enthusiasm was a little contagious.
"Well, here we are," I said, looking up at the building. "Are you ready?"
The kid smirked. "I'm ready for anything." I rolled my eyes exasperatedly and walked in with the kid close at hand. There was a security guard at the front desk, but he was too busy watching some cheesy soap opera to even pay attention to us. I shrugged and walked toward the elevator while my associate stifled a giggle. I glanced back with a frown.
The elevator arrived only a few seconds after I pushed the button and we walked in. As soon as the doors shut, I turned to the kid.
"Do you mind telling me what's so funny?" I asked softly, my voice belying the irritation I felt.
He grinned in response and said, "I was just thinking how everyone's going to blame him after we kill this guy. While he's watching a soap opera, we'll be performing our own little show."
The elevator stopped at the top floor, number fifteen, and the doors opened. We stepped out, myself in the lead, and headed toward the door with two guards in front of it. They couldnt' be more obvious if they had put a giant neon sigh over the door that said, "Kill this guy, he's here."
"Hey you," one of the guards began, holding out a hand. "What the hell are you doing up-"
He never finished his sentence, because I finished his life. My sword was out before he even knew what had happened and with one quick motion, I slashed his neck. He crumpled to the ground and I smiled, satisfied. There was no way he could walk that one off. I turned to the other guard to find he had already been taken care of by the kid, his sword justting from the guard's back. He pulled it out and wiped the blood on the guard's suit.
"You ready?" he teased, grasping the door handle.
"Just open the door," I replied, my sword quivering in anticipation. The kid opened the door and there, behind a desk, sat one of the largest kingpins in Twilight Town. No one knew his real name, or even where he came from. Everyone just called him Styx.
"Hello, gentlemen," he greeted us, standing up. He stood up an unimpressive five feet, and his muscles didn't tell the tale of hard work and training. They whispered of laziness and ineptitude.
And yet.
I felt as if he felt he had our numbers.
"What can I do for you today?" he asked cheerfully.
"Besides your life, there's pretty much nothing on my wish list," the kid wisecracked, walking slowly toward Styx. "I was hoping that since I was a good boy this year, Santa would grant me this one gift."
The kingpin laughed heartily, stopping my associate in his tracks. "I'm sorry, it doesn't seem like you'll be having a very good Christmas this year then," he responded with a grin. "But I'm sure if you work extra hard, you can still get a pony and some chest hair."
With that said, guards began pouring out of every nook and cranny, surrounding us before we even knew what happened. Each of them wielded a firearm and confident grin.
A trap. They thought they had us.
I returned their cocky grins with a cold smile.
Fools.
Poor, lost fools.
Before any of them could react, I charged the one nearest me. He was surpirsed when I slashed with my sword. He then screamed when he realized he was lacking a hand. I cut his throat, ending his horrible racket. It was a little harsh on my ears.
One of the men tried to point his gun at me, but I threw my sword at him, the blade embedding itself in his chest. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Without even turning around, I kicked backwards, knocking one of them off their feet and into a bookcase. I didn't care. The bookcase looked like it was unused. Before he could get up, I drove my palm into his nose, causing the bones to pierce his brain. He died clinging to my leg. I retrieved my sword and looked to see how the kid was doing. All I saw was bodies strown everywhere and him standing on top, triumphant.
"You thought six men could take us down?" the kid asked, incredulous. "I could've taken them all down myself!" Our query, having lost his "edge" was now cowering in a corner, trying not to piss his pants, I would imagine.
"P-please, don't k-k-kill me," he moaned, his eyes wide with fear. "I'll give you anything you want..."
The kid smiled. "Well thats great. Maybe we can work out an agreement after all." He held out his hand to the Styx, and he took it, a look of relief on his face. However, the kid pulled his arm quickly, jerking the kingpin's body into the sword that lay waiting.
"It's too bad we want your life..." He said as the crimelord sank to the ground. The kid wiped his sword on Styx's suit and sheathed it.
"Well, now that that's out of the way," I said, also sheathing my sword. "Why don't we hit the bar?"
~~~
"And that's why we're here," I finished, rubbing the hilt of my sword softly. "Any other questions?"
The man smiled, shaking his head. "Not at the moment. I'll meet you two back at the hideout. Be safe." With that, he disappeared, leaving behind only the rain that was there to begin with.
"What's his problem?" the kid muttered, sitting back on his motorcycle.
"I don't know," I replied, hopping on my motorcycle as well. "But you'd be best not to cross him."
"Yeah, he gives me the creeps for some reason," the kid said, revving his engine. Suddenly, a look of mischief shone in his eyes. "Last one there as to pay for the drinks next time?"
"I can't say no to that," I answered, pushing the petal to the metal. The kid laughed and followed quickly, going as fast as he could.
I smiled, but I was cold.
Not from the weather. As the wind raced through my hair and the rain pelted my skin, I could only think of one thing.
Those eyes.
Those yellow eyes.
"I was now a member of a relatively new and particularly detested segment of society, one of those who refuses to play the hand that he was dealt."
-Vincent, Gattaca
Chapter Three: Who Are We?
I was pissed.
Pissed because I didn't know what the hell was going on anymore.
First, some girl I've never seen before reveals my identity to the world. Then, a strange voice in my head plays games with me. Then, another voice gives me the keyblade. Then the girl turns out to be an assassin. My assassin.
I didn't know whether to beat some ass or go see a psychiatrist.
We were at the base, a two story building that didn't look like much but was the center of the Organization. I was just about to knock on the door, but the kid said something.
"Hey, look at this."
"What?" I asked, walking next to him. On the side walk, in red words, it read: Anxa is coming! Repent!
"Have you accepted Anja as your lord and savior?" the kid asked me, smiling ruefully.
I rolled my eyes, already heading back to the door. I didn't have time to read the messages that pretty much covered Twilight Town. They weren't unusual, so the writing wasn't a surprise.
Here, everyone who believed in a god or religion believed in Anja and Anxism. The belief in it was at such a fervor, one could believe it was a cult instead of a religion.
As the story goes, Anja, god of light, created the world and everything on it. In those days, its said he lived among the humans he created and interacted with them in everyday life. Then, the light was everlasting, and nothing pervaded its warm glow. Everyone was always happy, and no one fought or quarreled. That is, until a demon of pure darkness emerged. He wanted a world continually bathed in shadow and gloom, and he waged a terrible battle with Anja. His name was Zaleo or Zanraf, or something.
So then, Zaleo and Anja fought furiously and heedlessly, destroying everything around them. Finally, Anja retreated to the heavens, seriously wounded by the demon Zaleo. Zaleo, victorious, bathed the world in darkness for some reason. Except the only town or city left standing was Twilight Town, the place where Zaleo made his home.
Death and despair and all that reigned for centuries until Anja finally sent an angel down to dispel Zaleo and the darkness from the world. This angel's name was Anxa, and he was bestowed with incredible strength and powers of light. He was also given a weapon of great and terrible power.
Anxa appeared in Twilight Town, his light dismissing the shadows around him. He challenged Zaleo to a battle, and ended destroying Zaleo easily with his weapon. No one knows what the weapon was, but it was supposedly so powerful that it could destroy worlds.
Anxa then stayed in Twilight Town, training seven chosen people to be the protectors of the world. He left, satisified that his followers could handle any evil that tried to pervade the world. Even though Anxa tried, he couldn't dispel the darkness that crept around the world. But it's said that he created another world of pure light, exactly like Twilight Town that would be revealed when he was reborn again. When someone worthy of his weapon was born into the world, Twilight Town's mirror image would also be born.
It's said that Anxa returned to the heavens, to sit with Anja, and to await the day he was needed again. That they sit side by side watching over us, and protecting us.
"Hey!"
I was interrupted by the kid snapping his fingers in front of my face. I shook my head and knocked on the door, turning back.
"To answer your previous question, no. I haven't accepted Anja." And I never would, because there was no such person or god. If there was, then why was I an orphan as a child? Why couldn't I protect myself back then? Why couldn't I protect her...?
"Yeah, I think it's a load of crap too," the kid agreed, leaning against the wall next to the door. "The only people that watch over us are ourselves."
Before I could answer, a slit opened in the door revealing what would have been a pair of eyes if the person had two eyes. Instead, an icy blue eye peered out and a black patch. The slit closed and the door opened, revealing a double-barreled shotgun. Behind the gun was the grizzled old man that stood watch behind the door. Behind the grizzled old man was the dark narrow hallway that led to the main room.
"Do we always have to go through this?" I asked, gently moving the gun aside. "You should know my face by now."
"Yeah," the kid piped up. "Are all these precautions really necessary?"
"You're damn straight they are," the old man growled, lowering the shotgun. "Everybody wants a piece of the Organization, one way or the other."
"Well, as long as you do your job that won't happen," I said, smiling. "Now if you'll excuse us..."
"You punk kids are all the same," the old man muttered, shaking his hand. "Always rush, rush..."
I walked toward the door to the main room, the kid behind me.
"How long has that guy been here anyway?" he asked me, as I opened the door.
"He was here when I got here, so he's been here a while," I answered, scanning the room. The thick, black carpet and rich, mahogany tables and chairs told a different tale than the building's faded paint and chipped bricks. Three, elegant crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in warm light. The mercenaries were hanging around relaxedly, trading information and talking. Some wore the uniform of the Organization: a black, hooded raincoat.
I walked toward the back door, where the Boss's office was. The kid was beside me, already excited about getting paid.
"Hey, how was the mission?" a figure clad in a black ninja outfit asked. Even his face was covered with the black cloth.
I didn't even slow my stride. I didn't really like the guy anyway, probably because he wore a mask. People who wore masks always had something to hide.
"Successful, as usual," the kid replied, giving a thumbs-up. "You should know that by now."
The man laughed, shaking his head. "He's as cocky as ever, huh?" he said to me, jabbing a thumb at the kid.
"Yeah," I agreed, walking past. "Sometimes I don't think he can turn it off."
"Hey, I resent that," the kid replied, folding his arms. "I'm not cocky, I'm confident."
I opened the door to the Boss's office to find her sitting behind her gigantic mahogany desk. A single chandelier lit the room and a book-case stood against the wall.
"Can't you ever knock?" the Boss asked, standing up. I smiled and found myself wondering, as I did everytime I saw her, what she looked like under her hood. She wore the Organization raincoat, except that her's was adorned with a silver necklace shaped like bird's wing. With a musical voice and flawless brown skin, I'd expect her to be pretty beautiful. Her hood covered half her face, only revealing her one eye that glowed a bright yellow.
"Sorry," I shrugged, grabbing a seat and putting my feet on her desk. The Boss shook her head and sat down, motioning for the kid to sit as well.
"We succeeded in our mission," the kid informed her, taking his seat. "Where's our money?"
The Boss laughed, reaching behind her desk. "Straight to the point, huh?"
She pulled out a suitcase, placed it on the desk, turned it toward us and flipped it open.
"Whoa," was the whispered response from the kid as he stared at the suitcase filled with dols, the currency of Twilight Town. Even I sat up in my chair.
"Five-hundred thousand dols," the Boss said crisply, closing the briefcase. "Two-hundred and fifty for each of you."
I grabbed the suitcase and placed it between the kid and I.
"Before you leave, I also have other matters to discuss with you," the Boss said.
"And matters are those?" the kid asked, looking anxiously at the briefcase. He probably couldn't wait to spend some of it on a new car or something.
"As both of you apparently know, each of you are of the rank "Seven."
"Yes, of course," I nodded, leaning back into my chair. "Go on."
"The rank of Seven is a great achievement," she continued. "But both of you have earned the right to join the Unknowns."
"The Unknowns?" the kid repeated, a frown of confusion on his face. "Who's that?"
"The Unknowns are a sect of seven members that govern over the Organization. They are powerful and brilliant, each bringing forth their own abilities and talents to the table. I myself, am a member."
"What do you guys do?" the kid asked.
"As I said before, we are responsible for the actions of the Organization, but our power and influence go far beyond that alone. Since the Organization's creation, seven memebers have ruled over it with wisdom and strength. Whenever a member is killed or leaves, a search is began to find another worthy of the Unknowns."
"And you found us," I said, skeptical. "What makes us so worthy?"
"You two are the strongest mercenaries we have here," the Boss replied. "None of the others even come close to your mission success rate, strength, and abilities."
"So we join your little group," I said. "What's in it for us?"
"Besides power and control?" the Boss responded. She glanced at our newly acquired briefcase. "Your first week's salary alone will make that look like chump change."
Her saying that sealed the deal. I'm a sucker for money.
"Fine, I will accept your offer," I said, standing up. The Boss also stood and shook my hand.
"Congratulations, Develyn Bishop," the Boss said, to my surprise. "You are an Unknown."
"How'd you know my name?" I asked, curious.
"We do extensive background research on potential members of the Unknowns," the Boss answered. She looked at the kid. "What do you say, Andrew? Will you join?"
The kid thought for a moment before standing up and extending his hand. "Yeah, what the hell. More money, less problems. Right?"
"Then I welcome you also to the Unknowns," the Boss said, smiling. "My name is Fayexia."
A knock on the door came before anyone could respond, and the door opened revealing one of the hooded mercenaries.
"Ma'am," the figure said, voice undeniably male. "Three female figures have been spotted standing on the roof. Your orders?"
Three females? That sounded a little familiar.
Fayexia looked toward us, a hand on her hip. "Well? Any suggestions?"
"We'll handle it," I told her, turning toward the door. If it was who I thought it was, I didn't want anyone killing them until I had asked them some questions.
"Wait," Fayexia said, reaching behind her desk once again.
"If it's more money, then by all means..." Andrew trailed off when she threw two of the Organization raincoats at us.
"For two new members of the Unknowns," she said. "And besides, it's cold out there."
I threw mine on and the kid followed suit. We walked out of the door and, as I zipped the coat up, I realized what we had become. We were officially Unknowns.
As we walked up the stairs, the kid asked me a question.
"How come we're handling this?" he complained. "We could just send some of the lower guys."
I sighed and shook my head. "Five minutes on the job and you already want to shirk your responsiblities?" We passed the second floor, which was the living quarters for the mercenaries that slept here.
"It's our job isn't it?" the kid laughed, reaching the door to the rooftop first. As soon as he opened it, hard rain hammered upon us and we both put up our hoods.
We walked outside and I wasn't surprised to see the three assassins standing there, waiting.
The one with the white hair, Sonia, drew her sword and held it ready. "Send out Develyn Bishop and you won't be hurt," she said, tensing. The blue-haired assassin, Angel, did the same and so did the ebony-haired assassin, Rayne.
I threw back my hood to reveal my face, and their eyes narrowed. Sonia turned to the ebony-haired assassin, "Jackie, take down the other one. Angel and I will deal with Develyn."
"They're pretty hot," Andrew whispered to me, drawing his sword. "Why do they wanna kill you so badly?"
"I don't really know," I replied, waiting for them to make their move. "But I'm going to find out."
Suddenly, quicker than quick, all three of the assassins darted towards us with swords raised. The kid jumped forward too, toward the one called Jackie.
I waited until the last second until throwing back the coat and drawing my sword, the Black Requiem, and simultaneously summoning the keyblade to my other hand. I deflected the overhead swing of Sonia with my sword, and Angel's side swing with the keyblade. I jumped back and swung my sword quickly, but Sonia ducked gracefully and thrusted her sword at me, forcing me to jump up. As I jumped, Angel swung her sword savagely, and I blocked it with the keyblade again, the clash causing sparks to fly. As I landed back down on the ground, Sonia slashed quickly and repeatedly with her sword, but of course none of them got through. As Sonia attacked, I blocked each one successfully with the keyblade and drove the hilt of my sword into Angel's head without warning. She crumpled to the ground and I pressed my attack on Sonia relentlessly, finally knocking her sword from her hands. I glanced at the kid to see him holding the other assassin at bay with his sword. He hadn't noticed the keyblade yet and I dismissed it without even thinking.
"Just kill me and get it over with," Sonia spat, turning her head to the side.
I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Are you in that much of a rush to die?" I asked, sheathing my sword.
She looked at me suspiciously and got up slowly. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing," I replied. "I just want to know who sent you to kill me?"
Sonia searched my face for a moment, before finally saying, "We don't know. It's an anonymous source."
I sighed, exasperated. "Well, is there anyway I could meet him? Get in contact?"
The assassin narrowed her eyes, but then saw Angel on the ground unconscious and Jackie still about to be skewered. Her face softened.
"We're supposed to meet him tonight at the abandoned church on Derry street," she revealed. "We can take you."
I shook my head. "I know where it is. I'll go myself. If this guy wants to kill me, then he's at least going to see me in person first."
"You need us to be there," Sonia said. "We'll be the bait so he doesn't know that you're there. Then you can come out."
"Why so helpful now?" I asked, curious. "You could've just let us go there and rid yourself of any more trouble."
"It's because Sonia wants to kill him," the ebony-haired assassin spoke up, standing. Andrew had sheathed his sword when he saw that there was no danger apparent. "Because-"
"That's enough," Sonia said, interrupting and throwing a harsh glance toward her. She turned back toward me. "Is it a deal? We lead you to the guy, you see him. I kill him."
"Deal," I said, nodding and extending my hand. She looked at it for a moment before turning away and picking up Angel. She didn't look back, only said, "Meet us at the old train station at midnight sharp. Don't be late."
The three assassins walked away, leaving the kid and I on the roof top. He turned to me, confused.
"What the hell is going on?"
"That's what I'd like to know," I replied, putting my hood back on.
"See me, want me, give me, trust me
Feed me, hug me, love me, touch me
This whole world is cold and ugly
What we are is low and lovely
I am the most beautiful boogie man
The most beautiful boogie man
Let me be your favorite nightmare
Close your eyes and I'll be right there"
-Mos Def, Boogie Man Song
Chapter One: Awake
Sometimes there's a clear cut path to choose in life. Good or evil, light or darkness, hero or villian. Those who have these options are the lucky ones, the ones who are respected by all, loved by most and hated by few. Heroes like Hercules, Tarzan, and Sora, to name a few. Heroes that simply do the right thing, no matter what the consequences are, no matter if something bad may happen because of it. Heroes that would spare their worst enemy's life, instead of destroying them.
They are fools.
Then there are the confused heroes, the ones who do anything to achieve their goal. Cloud and Riku come to mind. What's that old saying? The ends justify the means? They lived by that and would probably die by it too.
They don't have it right either.
I am not one of those heroes. I'm not even sure if I'm a hero, or just some nameless mercenary. It doesn't even matter. I do my job, get paid, and go on to the next one. Stay busy. Its the only way I can keep my mind off the past, off of memories that could taint my heart if I let them. So instead of lying around thinking, I throw myself into each assignment I'm given. I do it with such care, such passion, that I am hailed as Seven. Sevens are the elites in the group of mercenaries that I work with. We don't have a name for our organization, just as we don't tell each other our names. We create new code names each time we take a mission.
Why?
No one wants to get too close. The life of a mercenary doesn't have an insurance policy or health care benefits. We die as easily as flies, sometimes beginning a mission and perishing before we actually start it. No one really cares for mercenaries. We are seen as the hyenas, viciously attacing and stealing without care for anything.
We are diseased, avoided by everyone who lives in this city of perpetual darkness.
We are hated, by the family of those who have been assasinated.
We are spit upon, by the victims of our theft.
We are feared, by witnesses to our destruction of what they hold dear.
And yet.
They come to us, pay us to perform some task they they are too afraid, or too ashamed, or too proud to do themselves.
Ironic?
Damn right it is.
They think they are better than us, and yet we are the ones controlling them. They pay us to be gods, to take life, to create chaos, to protect them.
And through all the gloom, all the pain, all the havoc we've wreaked, we laugh.
They think they have us in the palm of their hand, right beside their money, but they're oblivous. They don't see that we are the ones with the keys. The keys to their life, their fate.
We are angels.
We protect and serve them. Care for them when commanded, save them when asked, love them when paid. We make them laugh, shout, and cry with joy.
We are demons.
We kill them, assasinate them, we completely eradicate them. We bathe in their blood, we mutilate them, we are their worst nightmare come true. We make them scream, bleed, and cry with fear.
We are nonexistent.
We are put away in our box when they don't need us, ignored when nothing needs to be done. We are invisible, not seen until someone's husband has cheated, or someone's kid needs saving, or someone's enemy beat them up.
We don't care.
We don't do this for the respect, because if we did, we'd all have jobs selling cars or something. We don't do it for the love, because if we did, we'd have probably gone mad and committed mass suicide for lack of emotional attention. We don't do it for the intense hatred, for if we did, we'd be the happiest bunch of mercenaries on earth.
We do it to escape. Some people have drugs, but drugs rot away the brain and body. Some people have sex, but one can become easily addicted and have a one track mind. Some daydream, but daydreaming is just one's personal wish, something that most likely won't occur in their life. And some people go crazy, so disappointed about their pathetic life that they spend their time inside the chambers of their mind, not wanting to leave.
We're different.
What we do is far more dangerous, far more addicting, far more idiotic than all of those combined. But we have payoff, literally. There is always something waiting at the end, some treasure, some money. It doesn't matter though, most dont do it for the pay. They do it to get away from boring wives, boring kids, boring friends, boring lives. They do it to feel a sense of purpose, a sense that they're making a change, no matter if that change is good or bad.
"Hey, that girl's checkin' me out."
And now back to our regularly scheduled program.
My friend...no associate, was looking at a young brunette sitting about five stools away from us. Every now and then, she'd look up from her drink and glance in our direction. She'd flash a little smile and look down, waiting for the object of her affection to come and sweep her off her feet.
"Sorry, but I believe she's looking at me," I replied, brushing a lock of ebony hair from my eyes. She looked up again and stared directly into my eyes, mine the color of fine wine, her's the color of a stormy sky.
"Damn," my associate cursed, knowing he was defeated. I got up, patting him on the back as I did, and walked over to the girl. I stood there until she looked up and smiled.
I returned the latter.
"Mind if I sit down?" I asked politely. She nodded shyly. I've heard that nice guys finish last, but I have yet to experience it.
"Would you like a drink?" I asked, in that same soft voice. As soft as a cloud.
"No thank you," she replied, her voice melodius. I could almost sway to it. "My name's Airya, what's yours?"
Airya. Beautiful. Fits like a glove.
The bartender awaited my order, and I asked for a water. He smirked and filled up a glass from the tap. I guess to be a real man, one has to order the strongest drink in the bar.
I looked to the girl, to Airya, and saw that she was looking at me expectantly.
Oh yes. My name. I guess there was no harm in telling her. A fake name that is.
"My name's Janus," I lied. "Pleased to meet you." I reached out my hand.
She smiled and shook it, replying, "You should work on that."
"Work on what?" I asked, smiling back.
"Lying."
I stopped shaking her hand and my smile froze.
Damn. Smart as well as beautiful.
I gave a short laugh, looking into her eyes.
"How would you know if I were lying or not?" I questioned, curious. It was not everyday that someone pointed out my attempts at deceit. They usually had valid reason though.
The girl turned her head and looked at the bartender. "Two Twilight Hours, please."
I raised an eyebrow, not at the fact that she had ordered the strongest drinks in the bar. She didn't answer me right away, using my same tactic against me.
I could appreciate the irony.
We were given our drinks and I downed mine quickly, wanting to get back to the conversation. Of course I expected her to sip on it, ladylike and all. Surprise surprise, she downs it like it's nothing.
"You don't remember," she said as she set the glass on the table. "Do you?"
"I remember a lot of things," I replied emotionlessly. "Anything in particular?"
The girl looked hurt.
We are demons.
As I said before, my past is something I don't like to think about.
We are nonexistent. At least we wish we were.
"You don't remember me...?" she asked, her voice berely above a whisper.
Do I remember a brunette with gray eyes?
Do I?
Do I care?
Should I?
"I'm afraid I don't," I replied. "I've forgotten a lot of things...some of them purposely."
"How can you not remember?" she asked. "You've done so many great things."
Me? Do great things? I don't remember doing things for others.
We are angels.
"Would you like to refresh my memory then?" I asked, a little irritated, "or do you want to beat around the bush some more."
"I know your name," she said softly. "Even though you don't use it anymore, I've still treasured it."
"Don't say it," I warned, glancing around.
Who knew how many people in this would love to know my real name. Once someone hnows your identity, you're all there's.
"Why not?" she asked, a little loudly. "You're a hero-"
"Shutup," I whispered fratically.
Too late.
"Tell us about this hero, kind woman."
A man stood up, as bald as he was ugly. But he did have one thing going for him. An insanely muscular body and what I thought was a kick-ass scar under his eye.
The girl stood, eager that she had a little crowd going.
"This," she took a deep breath and paused dramatically.
I wanted to throw up.
"This is Develyn Bishop," she continued, gesturing toward me. "The greatest hero of Twilight Town!!"
So she did know my name...damn.
Grunts and whispers of disagreement followed this statement.
I smiled.
"That's funny! I heard he was an assassin and a thief!!"
Baldie had the floor.
"The blood of hundreds are on his hands!!"
I glanced at my hands. Hundreds? Who's counting?
"We'd better get out of here," my associate whispered. "Before things get uglier than that bald guy."
Nice one.
"Alright, let's go," I whispered back, standing up. I was kind of bored anyway. The girl was giving some bullcrap speech about how I had saved two kids from a burning building.
Ridiculous.
"Where do you think you're going?" A man with a mop of blonde messy hair stood in my path.
I wasn't angry, just exasperated.
"I'm leaving," I replied. "Do you want to move, or die?"
We are demons.
At least I am. My parents saw the demon inside. They named me Develyn. They saw me for what I was.
A devil.
Parents can be such a drag. Or so I'm told.
I was wearing a long black overcoat that day. Not for style, although it did highlight the red in my eyes. It's big enough to hide a sword in, and I decided it was time to unveil my friend.
That sound, that excruciating sound of metal aginst metal. Like a symphony to me, a nightmare to enemies.
I grinned as I unsheathed the sword slowly, for full effect. The blonde guy's eyes widened, and he took a step back.
Yes. Rethink life.
I heard another sword unsheathing, the sound coming from behind me. I glanced backwards to see that my associate also had his sword out. He smirked and raised an eyebrow.
I turned back and saw that a lot of the men also had weapons on them. It would be interesting.
"Are you going to let us leave?" I asked quietly but coldly. I was giving him one more chance to back out.
The bald man looked around, knowing that if he back down now, he would be deemed a coward.
Pride is man's downfall.
So am I. At least these guys' downfall.
"We're gonna get rid of you murderers once and for all!!"
Murderers? That's valid. But they're not calling us saviors, bodyguards. We've worked a lot of different jobs, but we're condemned for the bad ones. I thought they would balance out.
Oh well.
"Then come on," I taunted. "Or do you need some more steroids to get you started?"
He raged, then charged.
The girl was behind the counter, hiding after causing all of this.
Ten on two. Easy.
The bald guy swung an axe, and I blocked it with my sword, one-handed. Doing that looks way cooler than blocking with two hands.
I swung a fist, connecting with his cheek. I heard a sharp crack, as if someone had snapped the leg of a chair in half. He flew back onto a wooden table. Of course it collapsed under his weight. A metal table would collapse under his weight.
I glanced back to see my associate fighting off two people at a time, his long white hair flying around wildly. Looks like he didn't need my help.
Another man swung a sword at me and I dodged quickly to my left. Before he knew what happened, I drove the hilt of my sword into the back of his head and he crumpled to the floor.
I didn't even get a chance to celebrate my victory, because I was attacked simultaneously by three men. So was my associate, so there would be no help there.
I was debating whether I should kill them all, or just knock them out. Killing them would be way easier. I would just wait for an opening and give them the old sword-in-the-gut. To knock them out, I would have to get closer than I wanted to. But.
I had an idea.
I ran back toward the bar, the men hot on my heels, and jumped behind the bar. Grabbing the girl, I slid my sword across her neck, the dull side of course.
"Stand back," I commanded. "You guys wouldn't want this pretty lady to have a second mouth, would you?"
Checkmate.
The guys backed away, slowly. So did the men who were fighting with my associate.
"Drop your weapons please."
They complied, of course. They were good, hard-working men, and they wouldn't cause the death of a girl, even accidently.
I walked from behind the bar, the girl struggling in my grip. She couldn't break it though, she wasn't strong enough. We walked all the way to the door, my associate right behind me with his sword. We were going to escape.
Breathing wasn't this easy.
"Well gentlemen," I smiled. "I have to say that you are the weakest people I have ever fought."
Anger in their eyes. Laughter in mine. Like fire and ice.
"Good day," I said, throwing the girl into the group. My associate and I ran out, already knowing what to do.
It was raining, big, cold droplets that splattered everywhere. I hate the rain. For some reason, it plays hell with my hair.
"See you there!" my associate called, running down an alley.
I took a different one, knowing that we would have better luck splitting up. We'd meet at the hideout later.
As I ran down the darkened alley, I thought back to the girl who started all of this. I've never seen her before in my life, nor have I done all of these good deeds. So who was she?
I was so deep in thought, that I almost didn't see the pairs of yellow eyes that had emerged from the shadows of the alley.
Heartless.
I stopped. Sliding the sword from its sheathe once again. And that's when I heard it.
You hold one of the keys...
Strange voices in my head? So on top of everything else, I'm crazy?
You will help open the door...
"What door?" I asked aloud. "Who are you?"
The door to the light You will help open it with the weapon of your heart
The Heartless were still standing there at attention, as if waiting for the voie to stop its speech.
"What's the door to the light? And the weapon of my heart?"
The door to the light. Kingdom Hearts The place of eternal light, and darkness
"And the weapon of my heart?" I asked.
See for yourself Put your hands out, in front of your chest[/color]
Sure, I'll play along. I have nothing better to do besides wait for another mission to fall into my lap.
I held my hands out in front.
Now close your eyes and concentrate Concentrate on your heart and the strength within it
I did. I thought about how nothing has been able to break me, no matter what I've seen. No matter what has happened to me, I'm still here. I'm still standing, ready to face whatever comes my way. I thought of all the abuse I had suffered throughout my life, physical and mental. And I thought about how it had only strenghened me.
But most of all, I thought of her...
And it happened.
I felt something in my heart. Something that was both warm and cold. Something that hurt, and yet felt good at the same time.
I opened my eyes and saw it. A keyblade exiting my body slowly, glowing softly. It was black, blacker than the shadows that surrounded me. The blade was straight for about four feet before curving wickedly at the end. It finally exited and I grabbed the hilt, tacking a few test swings. It was light and easy to use.
Use it well Keyblade Master There will be times when the darkness will try to take your heart Where you will feel as if the weight of the world is crushing you down but don't give in You have one of the strongest hearts of all You will bring peace You will bring hope You will bring light Farewell
"Wait! What am I supposd to do now?!" I yelled, looking into the dark, cloudly sky. At that moment, the clouds drifted, revealing the starry night behind them. As I stared, a star blinked and disappeared. A planet had been snuffed out. The Darkness had defeated another world.
The voice was gone, leaving behind questions and the keyblade. I held the latter up, letting the rain splash off of it.
A Keyblade Master.
They say expect the unexpected, but not even they could have predicted this. Me, murder, savior, thief, lover, arsonist, bodyguard, terrorist. The list goes on.
I join the ranks of Sora and Riku. But which would I be?
Would I be like Sora, following my heart blindly? Doing the right thing all the time, no matter what the consequences?
Or would I be like Riku, doing whatever is necessary to do the right thing?
Whatever. I'm thinking too much. I'll figure it out in the morning.
I started to continue my walk when the Heartless attacked. I jumped back lightly and took my fighting stance, the keyblade in hand. The first time. Let's see how it handles. The Heartless rushed me, and I let them.
"Oh can you say Discordia?"
-Stephen King, Dark Tower Series
Chapter Two: Illusionist Stranger
It's almost like a drug, fighting. That adrenaline rush that seems to make you invincible, heightening the senses and numbing the pain.
I love to watch my enemies suffer.
And scream.
And cry.
Am I a monster?
Maybe.
But then, everyone has their guilty pleasure.
We are demons.
But I digress. Flash foward to now, the present. The only time that matters.
It's a new world, but new doesn't always mean good. Everyone thought that the hero Sora had destroyed the Heartless two years ago. That he had banished the darkness. That he had obliterated evil.
Impossible.
Destroying every Heartless, every shadow, every evil. It's just like trying to kill every ant that exists in every world, or whatever strange insects they have. You would die a million times of old age before you even began to complete your task.
Now, the Heartless are back.
And stronger than ever.
They're also more ruthless.
And of course, in our hour of need, Sora is nowhere to be found. Neither is Riku, the lesser known hero.
No one knows that Sora is back at Kingdom Hearts, searching endlessly for his friend.
Sora doesn't know that Riku has already escaped with King Mickey.
Riku doesn't know that Sora came to find him, that their friendship never ended.
How do I know all of this?
The keyblade.
As I grasp it's hilt, the memories of past Keyblade Masters flow through me, whispering untold of knowledge. Past events, that no one alive today could know, flashed through my mind.
Geez. Almost.
I Jumped back as a Shadow Heartless dove at me, its small claws swiping the air. Before it landed, I slashed at it with the keyblade. It disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of black dust.
I turned to face the other Heartless, but they were no longer there. In their place stood the girl from the bar.
Except she was dressed in a black, leather body suit.
And her hair was white and short.
And she looked dangerous.
"So you're a Keyblade Master?" she asked, sounding disgusted. "But why would it choose you?"
"I guess it was attracted by my charming personality and excellent hygiene," I answered, my grips on the keyblade and sword tightening. I noticed her eyes looking, past me, and I chanced a glance backwards.
Another girl.
She was wearing the same thing, black bodysuit. This girl, though, looked a lot deadlier. Her shoulder-length, hair had a light bluish tint and matched the color of her eyes.
"Hello," I supplied, giving a little wave. She didn't return the gesture.
I'm sure she just needed to warm up to me.
And yet, there was another. I don't know how I knew, but I did.
I looked up and there, sitting in the sill of a window, was another girl with long, jet-black hair. Her eyes were green, and they seemed to glow in the moonlight.
She smiled.
"Don't mind Angel," the girl said as she gestured toward the blue-haired girl. "She's not really sociable."
They all looked to be about my age, early twenties.
And they were all pretty beautiful, truth be told.
And they all had deadly katanas strapped to their backs, for easy access I presume.
"Assasins," I guessed aloud, looking at Airya, though I doubted if that was her real name. "If you ladies came to complete a job, then please," I crouched slightly and tensed, "by all means complete it."
The girl, Angel, stepped forward, unhesitant, but was stopped by Airya.
"Wait a minute, Angel," she said, raising a hand to stop her. "I want to take him down myself." She unsheathed the katana and pointed it at me.
Confident are we?
"Do you know why I'm going to kill you?" she asked as she walked toward me, her lips curled slightly.
"Not really," I answered, returning the smile. "But before you do, could you at least tell me your real name?"
The girl on the window sill giggled, covering it behind a hand. "I do believe he's smitten with you, babe," she joked to my new friend.
"He has to wait in a long line, Rayne," she responded, not taking her eyes from me for a second. She said to me, "You're going to pay, right here and now. For everything..."
"Wait, I thought you said I was a good guy?" I reminded her, already knowing it was complete bull. I may not have had the best memory, but I know I'm no hero.
She smirked and lowered her sword. "You believed that? I just said it to rile up everyone in the bar. I wanted to see how strong you really were." She put a hand on her hip. "It seems as if the stories were true."
Stories? I don't remember reading about myself.
"And what stories are those?" I asked. "Excuse me for not knowing them but I'm not big on tall tales."
"They say you're rising in the ranks of the Oranization," she replied. "That attaining the title "Seven" is only the beginning for you."
"How the hell do you know about the Organization?" I asked suspiciously. Such knowledge could only mean one thing. That these assassins were hired by someone had knowledge of us. Someone who was in the Organization.
"Enough talk," she snapped, changing the subject. As your executor I'll grant you your last wish. My name is Sonia. Speak it now, because it will be the last sweet thing you ever taste on your tongue."
"Beautiful and self-absorbed," I observed aloud, a grin on my face. "I like it. You remind me of myself."
"I'm not like you," Sonia said, walking toward me. "You're a murdering bastard."
She had me there.
"Okay, so I may not have a father and I may have killed a couple of people, but-"
I wasn't allowed to finish.
She darted toward me quickly and slashed with her sword. I jumped back and responded with a swing to her head with my sword. She ducked and I concluded my attack with a thrust from the keyblade. She blocked it and began slashing furiously at me, her hands and the sword a blur.
She was fast. I had to give it to her.
But I was faster.
I kicked her leg out from under her, and she fell forward. Before she could do anything, I stepped on her back and held her down with my foot. Her friends tried to come to her aid, but pressing the tip of my sword on the back of her neck remedied that situation.
"Take another step, even another breath, and she'll have a spicy new haircut."
The ebony-haired assasin stood there in the alley, having jumped down from the sill, and laughed.
I raised an eyebrow, more than perplexed.
"May I ask what the joke is?" I asked as I struggled to keep Sonia down. "Surely it isn't funny at a time like this?"
"It's just...I wish I could play poker with you," she said, smiling.
I raised an eyebrow, perplexed. "And why is that?"
"Because you put forth a terrible bluff," she answered, her laughter subsiding. "You wouldn't kill her."
So she knew that I wouldn't, but she didn't know for sure.
"How do you know I'm bluffing?" I asked, my smile fading. "Are you sure you want to gamble on a bluff?"
Her smile faded as well. And I knew why.
I turned around to see the girl with the blue hair rushing toward me. She jumped into the air, her sword raised and her eyes blazing. I rose the keyblade in defense, and sparks flew as the two weapons clashed.
I was forced to release the girl as I jumped back to avoid a swing from Angel. I ducked, somehow knowing that the ebony-haired assassin would attack from behind. Her sword wooshed as it but above my head and I jumped backwards, driving an elbow into her gut. She collapsed to the ground, coughing.
It may sound horrible, but I have no problem with punching a lady. Hell, I'd punch a kid if he was running at me with a sword.
Two down, at least for now. The last assassin raced toward me, unafraid. Even though both of her allies were down. I ran toward her as well, but never got to her.
There was this piercing sound. It screamed through my mind and I tried to move my hands to my head, but my body was frozen. I collapsed to the ground, my vision swimming before me.
What...the hell...?
I saw Sonia on the ground too, except she was out cold. I looked ahead, with difficulty, to see Angel staggering.
Then I saw something.
A shadow approaching, the outline of a person walking toward me. I squinted, trying to block out the pain and concentrate on seeing who the person was. But the darkness overwhelmed me.
~~~
Just darkness.
I looked around, trying to find anything, anything that looked like an exit or escape.
Nothing.
Whatever. I might as well just start walking. Maybe I'll find a way out of here.
At this moment, another person in this situation would probably think they were dreaming. I knew I wasn't. Any fool should be able to seperate reality from reverie.
Why do you deny me?
The voice came from the shadows, as cold and as hollow as the gloom that surrounded me.
I don't even know who you are, pal, I responded to the voice.
You don't?
This is why I was brought to this world of darkness? To be played mind games with?[/color]
Games are for fools, Develyn. This is reality.
Then why don't you tell me who you are?
Because you already know.
If I knew, then-, you know what? Forget it. Just tell me how to get outta here.
Out of where?
Out of this dream! This darkness!
Unfortunately, you will always be in darkness. Soon, you will wish it was a dream.
~~~
"Hey, wake up!"
At the sound of the voice, my eyes slowly opened. Someone was standing over me, but I couldn't discern their identity. Everything looked soft and blurry, like a bad photograph.
"C'mon, get up. I know you didn't get beat up by a thief, or something."
"Look buddy," I croaked, getting shakily to my feet. It was still raining, and I started to feel like I was in Burmecia again. "Thanks for your help so far, but you're no longer needed."
"Man, do you even know who I am?" the figure asked. As he said this, his image began to clear. White, shoulder-length hair, dark-blue eyes, and a brown trench-coat was all I needed to see to know with whom I was talking to.
"I thought you went to the hideout," I said as I rubbed my temples. I had a killer headache and the steady patter of rain, while beautiful, did nothing to dull it.
"I did, but you didn't come back for a while so..." he trailed off.
"You came back because you were worried about me?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, yeah," he answered, shifting uncomfortably.
I was more than shocked. This type of behavior among assasins was unheard of. Even partners who had been working together for years wouldn't go back into the proximity of a hot spot to help their comrade.
But then again, he is relatively young, I thought to myself. He only looked to be about eighteen or nineteen at the most. A baby really, when average age of assasins is around thirty. I thought I was the youngest at twenty-six, but my spotlight was taken, so to speak.
"You're an idiot," I growled. A jolt of pain raced through my body, but I gritted my teeth. I began limping slowly down the alley, sheathing my sword. The keyblade had already disappeared, and I was grateful. For some reason, I didn't want the kid knowing I wielded the it. At least not yet.
"And why is that?" he demanded, keeping up with me easily. "While you were unconscious, someone could have killed you!"
"One's life is his own," I explained, looking directly into his eyes. "No one else is responsible for it."
you were responsible once
"But Sora always relied-"
"On his friends," I finished for him. "And look where it got him."
The kid looked confused. "What do you mean? Know one even knows where he is."
Oh yes, I forgot. I only know where he is because of the keyblade. "Exactly. He's lost, probably on some dark world where only Heartless live. He probably fights everyday for his life without a moment's rest."
"Or he could be on an island somewhere, sipping a drink and getting a tan."
I shook my head. "Nothing's ever that easy."
"Why not?" he asked. "What's so wrong with having a little hope?"
"Hope is like a bubble," I responded. "It looks tangible, like you can grasp it and hold on to it. It even looks beautiful. But as soon as you get close to it, touch it, it explodes, leaving behind only what you started with. Reality."
The kid was silent for a minute, before shaking his head. "Sorry, but I just can't accept that. I think you're just too cynical for your own good."
"Maybe," I admitted, "but I'm alive, and I've been a mercenary for quite a while. Does that tell you anything?"
"Not really," the kid said.
"Well, as long as you understand," I sighed. We emerged from the long alley onto the sidewalk and I cursed.
"What?" the kid asked, an eybrow raised.
"Where the hell's my motorcycle?" I growled. I looked around frantically, already making plans to find the bastard who stole it.
"Did you forget? You left the cloaking device on."
Oh yeah. "Of course I didn't forget," I snapped, hoping he couldn't see through my lie. "I was just seeing if you were on your toes. Assassins have to be ready for anything."
The kid scratched the back of his head. "Um, okay. Did I pass?"
I sighed heavily. "Let's just go." I went to the space where I left my motorcycle and felt around. My hand touched cold metal and I smiled faintly. I pressed the button that disables the cloak and stood back. The motorcycle flashed quickly then disappeared, then reappeared.
If there's one thing I love, in this entire world, it's this. This piece of machnery that has never failed me throughout the years I've owned it. I removed my trenchcoat, only wearing it for the mission, and tossed it behind my shoulder.
"Nice shirt," the kid said, already on his motorcycle.
I smiled and tugged the sleeves. "What this old thing?"
He laughed and reved up his engine. "Yeah, red's not really my color, but it's still pretty cool. Where'd you get it?"
I hopped on my bike, patting the black metal for good luck, as always, and stroking the name written in red on the side. "It's more of a dark-red really, and I got it at that..." I trailed off slowly, having heard something. A whisper.
"From whe-," began the kid, but I interrupted him.
"Sshhh," I cut in, getting off my motorcycle. The kid did the same, looking confused.
"Listen..." We stood there for a minute, maybe two. Stood there in the dark street, the rain hammering down on us relentlessly as we listened to the night.
"I don't hear anything," the kid finally said. "Maybe you just...just..." His eyes trailed up toward the sky, behind me.
What now?
I turned around to find nothing there, and I returned to the kid.
"What the hell were you looking at?" I asked, more than confused. I just hoped that the kid wasn't seeing things now. But I knew he wasn't. Whatever he saw, I knew he wasn't.
"There was this ...thing... It looked like a Heartless but..." he stuttered, a frown on his face. "...it was the biggest thing I had ever seen..."
I looked back to where the Heartless had been. "Well, it's gone now, so-"
"Don't you just hate those dramatic events where you think something's gonna happen, but it doesn't?"
I whirled around, my sword already unsheathed. From the dark alley emerged a man both the kid and I knew. The kid sighed and sheathed his sword, but I didn't. I had never really liked the guy, personally. I felt an aura around him that just didn't put me at ease.
"Geez, you scared the hell out of us," the kid complained, brushing hair from his eyes. "What're you doin out here, anyway? This was supposed to be a two man mission."
The man smirked as his gold-colored eyes looked up toward the heavens. "I just wanted to enjoy the fine weather we're having here tonight," he explained softly. He ran a finger through his ebony hair. "By the way, did you two succeed in your mission?"
"Of course we did," the kid snapped. "What do you think we are? A couple of amateurs?"
"I would never even dream of such a thing," the man said, his face still turned toward the sky. The rain pattered on his face relentlessly, but he seemed not to care. "However, I would like a summary of your mission..."
"Fine," I said, waving a hand at the kid to calm him down. He looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel, and we didn't need that. "I'll tell you exactly how it went."
The man smiled. "Good." He finally stopped looking at the sky and faced us. "Please, begin. You have my undivided attention."
~~~
"This should be easy," the kid chirped as he got up from his motorcycle. He pressed a button and it disappeared, leaving behind no signs that a vehicle rested there. I did the same, giving my motorcycle a final pat before I pressed the button. The invisibility cloak was something that I was grateful for, something that was standard issue for the mercenaries that I worked with.
"One thing I've learned," I said as we began walking toward our destination. "Don't go into a mission thinking you've already won."
"But all we have to do is kill this guy and we're done," he argued, walking next to me. "Just one man. And you know that he's dead, even if one of us was sent."
"You must have forgotten that he's one of the largest crimelords in this city," I replied, my hand on the hilt of my sword. The sword was hanging from my waist but was hidden behind a black overcoat. I didn't want this guy to see the sword until it was kissing his neck.
The kid laughed, his bravado combating his ego for superiority. It seemed to be a tie to me. "So he'll have a couple of bodyguards with him. Who cares?" He unsheathed his sword and swiped at the air a few times before putting it away. "They'll be cut to ribbons before they even know what happens."
I sighed, but couldn't help but crack a smile. The kid's enthusiasm was a little contagious.
"Well, here we are," I said, looking up at the building. "Are you ready?"
The kid smirked. "I'm ready for anything." I rolled my eyes exasperatedly and walked in with the kid close at hand. There was a security guard at the front desk, but he was too busy watching some cheesy soap opera to even pay attention to us. I shrugged and walked toward the elevator while my associate stifled a giggle. I glanced back with a frown.
The elevator arrived only a few seconds after I pushed the button and we walked in. As soon as the doors shut, I turned to the kid.
"Do you mind telling me what's so funny?" I asked softly, my voice belying the irritation I felt.
He grinned in response and said, "I was just thinking how everyone's going to blame him after we kill this guy. While he's watching a soap opera, we'll be performing our own little show."
The elevator stopped at the top floor, number fifteen, and the doors opened. We stepped out, myself in the lead, and headed toward the door with two guards in front of it. They couldnt' be more obvious if they had put a giant neon sigh over the door that said, "Kill this guy, he's here."
"Hey you," one of the guards began, holding out a hand. "What the hell are you doing up-"
He never finished his sentence, because I finished his life. My sword was out before he even knew what had happened and with one quick motion, I slashed his neck. He crumpled to the ground and I smiled, satisfied. There was no way he could walk that one off. I turned to the other guard to find he had already been taken care of by the kid, his sword justting from the guard's back. He pulled it out and wiped the blood on the guard's suit.
"You ready?" he teased, grasping the door handle.
"Just open the door," I replied, my sword quivering in anticipation. The kid opened the door and there, behind a desk, sat one of the largest kingpins in Twilight Town. No one knew his real name, or even where he came from. Everyone just called him Styx.
"Hello, gentlemen," he greeted us, standing up. He stood up an unimpressive five feet, and his muscles didn't tell the tale of hard work and training. They whispered of laziness and ineptitude.
And yet.
I felt as if he felt he had our numbers.
"What can I do for you today?" he asked cheerfully.
"Besides your life, there's pretty much nothing on my wish list," the kid wisecracked, walking slowly toward Styx. "I was hoping that since I was a good boy this year, Santa would grant me this one gift."
The kingpin laughed heartily, stopping my associate in his tracks. "I'm sorry, it doesn't seem like you'll be having a very good Christmas this year then," he responded with a grin. "But I'm sure if you work extra hard, you can still get a pony and some chest hair."
With that said, guards began pouring out of every nook and cranny, surrounding us before we even knew what happened. Each of them wielded a firearm and confident grin.
A trap. They thought they had us.
I returned their cocky grins with a cold smile.
Fools.
Poor, lost fools.
Before any of them could react, I charged the one nearest me. He was surpirsed when I slashed with my sword. He then screamed when he realized he was lacking a hand. I cut his throat, ending his horrible racket. It was a little harsh on my ears.
One of the men tried to point his gun at me, but I threw my sword at him, the blade embedding itself in his chest. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Without even turning around, I kicked backwards, knocking one of them off their feet and into a bookcase. I didn't care. The bookcase looked like it was unused. Before he could get up, I drove my palm into his nose, causing the bones to pierce his brain. He died clinging to my leg. I retrieved my sword and looked to see how the kid was doing. All I saw was bodies strown everywhere and him standing on top, triumphant.
"You thought six men could take us down?" the kid asked, incredulous. "I could've taken them all down myself!" Our query, having lost his "edge" was now cowering in a corner, trying not to piss his pants, I would imagine.
"P-please, don't k-k-kill me," he moaned, his eyes wide with fear. "I'll give you anything you want..."
The kid smiled. "Well thats great. Maybe we can work out an agreement after all." He held out his hand to the Styx, and he took it, a look of relief on his face. However, the kid pulled his arm quickly, jerking the kingpin's body into the sword that lay waiting.
"It's too bad we want your life..." He said as the crimelord sank to the ground. The kid wiped his sword on Styx's suit and sheathed it.
"Well, now that that's out of the way," I said, also sheathing my sword. "Why don't we hit the bar?"
~~~
"And that's why we're here," I finished, rubbing the hilt of my sword softly. "Any other questions?"
The man smiled, shaking his head. "Not at the moment. I'll meet you two back at the hideout. Be safe." With that, he disappeared, leaving behind only the rain that was there to begin with.
"What's his problem?" the kid muttered, sitting back on his motorcycle.
"I don't know," I replied, hopping on my motorcycle as well. "But you'd be best not to cross him."
"Yeah, he gives me the creeps for some reason," the kid said, revving his engine. Suddenly, a look of mischief shone in his eyes. "Last one there as to pay for the drinks next time?"
"I can't say no to that," I answered, pushing the petal to the metal. The kid laughed and followed quickly, going as fast as he could.
I smiled, but I was cold.
Not from the weather. As the wind raced through my hair and the rain pelted my skin, I could only think of one thing.
Those eyes.
Those yellow eyes.
"I was now a member of a relatively new and particularly detested segment of society, one of those who refuses to play the hand that he was dealt."
-Vincent, Gattaca
Chapter Three: Who Are We?
I was pissed.
Pissed because I didn't know what the hell was going on anymore.
First, some girl I've never seen before reveals my identity to the world. Then, a strange voice in my head plays games with me. Then, another voice gives me the keyblade. Then the girl turns out to be an assassin. My assassin.
I didn't know whether to beat some ass or go see a psychiatrist.
We were at the base, a two story building that didn't look like much but was the center of the Organization. I was just about to knock on the door, but the kid said something.
"Hey, look at this."
"What?" I asked, walking next to him. On the side walk, in red words, it read: Anxa is coming! Repent!
"Have you accepted Anja as your lord and savior?" the kid asked me, smiling ruefully.
I rolled my eyes, already heading back to the door. I didn't have time to read the messages that pretty much covered Twilight Town. They weren't unusual, so the writing wasn't a surprise.
Here, everyone who believed in a god or religion believed in Anja and Anxism. The belief in it was at such a fervor, one could believe it was a cult instead of a religion.
As the story goes, Anja, god of light, created the world and everything on it. In those days, its said he lived among the humans he created and interacted with them in everyday life. Then, the light was everlasting, and nothing pervaded its warm glow. Everyone was always happy, and no one fought or quarreled. That is, until a demon of pure darkness emerged. He wanted a world continually bathed in shadow and gloom, and he waged a terrible battle with Anja. His name was Zaleo or Zanraf, or something.
So then, Zaleo and Anja fought furiously and heedlessly, destroying everything around them. Finally, Anja retreated to the heavens, seriously wounded by the demon Zaleo. Zaleo, victorious, bathed the world in darkness for some reason. Except the only town or city left standing was Twilight Town, the place where Zaleo made his home.
Death and despair and all that reigned for centuries until Anja finally sent an angel down to dispel Zaleo and the darkness from the world. This angel's name was Anxa, and he was bestowed with incredible strength and powers of light. He was also given a weapon of great and terrible power.
Anxa appeared in Twilight Town, his light dismissing the shadows around him. He challenged Zaleo to a battle, and ended destroying Zaleo easily with his weapon. No one knows what the weapon was, but it was supposedly so powerful that it could destroy worlds.
Anxa then stayed in Twilight Town, training seven chosen people to be the protectors of the world. He left, satisified that his followers could handle any evil that tried to pervade the world. Even though Anxa tried, he couldn't dispel the darkness that crept around the world. But it's said that he created another world of pure light, exactly like Twilight Town that would be revealed when he was reborn again. When someone worthy of his weapon was born into the world, Twilight Town's mirror image would also be born.
It's said that Anxa returned to the heavens, to sit with Anja, and to await the day he was needed again. That they sit side by side watching over us, and protecting us.
"Hey!"
I was interrupted by the kid snapping his fingers in front of my face. I shook my head and knocked on the door, turning back.
"To answer your previous question, no. I haven't accepted Anja." And I never would, because there was no such person or god. If there was, then why was I an orphan as a child? Why couldn't I protect myself back then? Why couldn't I protect her...?
"Yeah, I think it's a load of crap too," the kid agreed, leaning against the wall next to the door. "The only people that watch over us are ourselves."
Before I could answer, a slit opened in the door revealing what would have been a pair of eyes if the person had two eyes. Instead, an icy blue eye peered out and a black patch. The slit closed and the door opened, revealing a double-barreled shotgun. Behind the gun was the grizzled old man that stood watch behind the door. Behind the grizzled old man was the dark narrow hallway that led to the main room.
"Do we always have to go through this?" I asked, gently moving the gun aside. "You should know my face by now."
"Yeah," the kid piped up. "Are all these precautions really necessary?"
"You're damn straight they are," the old man growled, lowering the shotgun. "Everybody wants a piece of the Organization, one way or the other."
"Well, as long as you do your job that won't happen," I said, smiling. "Now if you'll excuse us..."
"You punk kids are all the same," the old man muttered, shaking his hand. "Always rush, rush..."
I walked toward the door to the main room, the kid behind me.
"How long has that guy been here anyway?" he asked me, as I opened the door.
"He was here when I got here, so he's been here a while," I answered, scanning the room. The thick, black carpet and rich, mahogany tables and chairs told a different tale than the building's faded paint and chipped bricks. Three, elegant crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in warm light. The mercenaries were hanging around relaxedly, trading information and talking. Some wore the uniform of the Organization: a black, hooded raincoat.
I walked toward the back door, where the Boss's office was. The kid was beside me, already excited about getting paid.
"Hey, how was the mission?" a figure clad in a black ninja outfit asked. Even his face was covered with the black cloth.
I didn't even slow my stride. I didn't really like the guy anyway, probably because he wore a mask. People who wore masks always had something to hide.
"Successful, as usual," the kid replied, giving a thumbs-up. "You should know that by now."
The man laughed, shaking his head. "He's as cocky as ever, huh?" he said to me, jabbing a thumb at the kid.
"Yeah," I agreed, walking past. "Sometimes I don't think he can turn it off."
"Hey, I resent that," the kid replied, folding his arms. "I'm not cocky, I'm confident."
I opened the door to the Boss's office to find her sitting behind her gigantic mahogany desk. A single chandelier lit the room and a book-case stood against the wall.
"Can't you ever knock?" the Boss asked, standing up. I smiled and found myself wondering, as I did everytime I saw her, what she looked like under her hood. She wore the Organization raincoat, except that her's was adorned with a silver necklace shaped like bird's wing. With a musical voice and flawless brown skin, I'd expect her to be pretty beautiful. Her hood covered half her face, only revealing her one eye that glowed a bright yellow.
"Sorry," I shrugged, grabbing a seat and putting my feet on her desk. The Boss shook her head and sat down, motioning for the kid to sit as well.
"We succeeded in our mission," the kid informed her, taking his seat. "Where's our money?"
The Boss laughed, reaching behind her desk. "Straight to the point, huh?"
She pulled out a suitcase, placed it on the desk, turned it toward us and flipped it open.
"Whoa," was the whispered response from the kid as he stared at the suitcase filled with dols, the currency of Twilight Town. Even I sat up in my chair.
"Five-hundred thousand dols," the Boss said crisply, closing the briefcase. "Two-hundred and fifty for each of you."
I grabbed the suitcase and placed it between the kid and I.
"Before you leave, I also have other matters to discuss with you," the Boss said.
"And matters are those?" the kid asked, looking anxiously at the briefcase. He probably couldn't wait to spend some of it on a new car or something.
"As both of you apparently know, each of you are of the rank "Seven."
"Yes, of course," I nodded, leaning back into my chair. "Go on."
"The rank of Seven is a great achievement," she continued. "But both of you have earned the right to join the Unknowns."
"The Unknowns?" the kid repeated, a frown of confusion on his face. "Who's that?"
"The Unknowns are a sect of seven members that govern over the Organization. They are powerful and brilliant, each bringing forth their own abilities and talents to the table. I myself, am a member."
"What do you guys do?" the kid asked.
"As I said before, we are responsible for the actions of the Organization, but our power and influence go far beyond that alone. Since the Organization's creation, seven memebers have ruled over it with wisdom and strength. Whenever a member is killed or leaves, a search is began to find another worthy of the Unknowns."
"And you found us," I said, skeptical. "What makes us so worthy?"
"You two are the strongest mercenaries we have here," the Boss replied. "None of the others even come close to your mission success rate, strength, and abilities."
"So we join your little group," I said. "What's in it for us?"
"Besides power and control?" the Boss responded. She glanced at our newly acquired briefcase. "Your first week's salary alone will make that look like chump change."
Her saying that sealed the deal. I'm a sucker for money.
"Fine, I will accept your offer," I said, standing up. The Boss also stood and shook my hand.
"Congratulations, Develyn Bishop," the Boss said, to my surprise. "You are an Unknown."
"How'd you know my name?" I asked, curious.
"We do extensive background research on potential members of the Unknowns," the Boss answered. She looked at the kid. "What do you say, Andrew? Will you join?"
The kid thought for a moment before standing up and extending his hand. "Yeah, what the hell. More money, less problems. Right?"
"Then I welcome you also to the Unknowns," the Boss said, smiling. "My name is Fayexia."
A knock on the door came before anyone could respond, and the door opened revealing one of the hooded mercenaries.
"Ma'am," the figure said, voice undeniably male. "Three female figures have been spotted standing on the roof. Your orders?"
Three females? That sounded a little familiar.
Fayexia looked toward us, a hand on her hip. "Well? Any suggestions?"
"We'll handle it," I told her, turning toward the door. If it was who I thought it was, I didn't want anyone killing them until I had asked them some questions.
"Wait," Fayexia said, reaching behind her desk once again.
"If it's more money, then by all means..." Andrew trailed off when she threw two of the Organization raincoats at us.
"For two new members of the Unknowns," she said. "And besides, it's cold out there."
I threw mine on and the kid followed suit. We walked out of the door and, as I zipped the coat up, I realized what we had become. We were officially Unknowns.
As we walked up the stairs, the kid asked me a question.
"How come we're handling this?" he complained. "We could just send some of the lower guys."
I sighed and shook my head. "Five minutes on the job and you already want to shirk your responsiblities?" We passed the second floor, which was the living quarters for the mercenaries that slept here.
"It's our job isn't it?" the kid laughed, reaching the door to the rooftop first. As soon as he opened it, hard rain hammered upon us and we both put up our hoods.
We walked outside and I wasn't surprised to see the three assassins standing there, waiting.
The one with the white hair, Sonia, drew her sword and held it ready. "Send out Develyn Bishop and you won't be hurt," she said, tensing. The blue-haired assassin, Angel, did the same and so did the ebony-haired assassin, Rayne.
I threw back my hood to reveal my face, and their eyes narrowed. Sonia turned to the ebony-haired assassin, "Jackie, take down the other one. Angel and I will deal with Develyn."
"They're pretty hot," Andrew whispered to me, drawing his sword. "Why do they wanna kill you so badly?"
"I don't really know," I replied, waiting for them to make their move. "But I'm going to find out."
Suddenly, quicker than quick, all three of the assassins darted towards us with swords raised. The kid jumped forward too, toward the one called Jackie.
I waited until the last second until throwing back the coat and drawing my sword, the Black Requiem, and simultaneously summoning the keyblade to my other hand. I deflected the overhead swing of Sonia with my sword, and Angel's side swing with the keyblade. I jumped back and swung my sword quickly, but Sonia ducked gracefully and thrusted her sword at me, forcing me to jump up. As I jumped, Angel swung her sword savagely, and I blocked it with the keyblade again, the clash causing sparks to fly. As I landed back down on the ground, Sonia slashed quickly and repeatedly with her sword, but of course none of them got through. As Sonia attacked, I blocked each one successfully with the keyblade and drove the hilt of my sword into Angel's head without warning. She crumpled to the ground and I pressed my attack on Sonia relentlessly, finally knocking her sword from her hands. I glanced at the kid to see him holding the other assassin at bay with his sword. He hadn't noticed the keyblade yet and I dismissed it without even thinking.
"Just kill me and get it over with," Sonia spat, turning her head to the side.
I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Are you in that much of a rush to die?" I asked, sheathing my sword.
She looked at me suspiciously and got up slowly. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing," I replied. "I just want to know who sent you to kill me?"
Sonia searched my face for a moment, before finally saying, "We don't know. It's an anonymous source."
I sighed, exasperated. "Well, is there anyway I could meet him? Get in contact?"
The assassin narrowed her eyes, but then saw Angel on the ground unconscious and Jackie still about to be skewered. Her face softened.
"We're supposed to meet him tonight at the abandoned church on Derry street," she revealed. "We can take you."
I shook my head. "I know where it is. I'll go myself. If this guy wants to kill me, then he's at least going to see me in person first."
"You need us to be there," Sonia said. "We'll be the bait so he doesn't know that you're there. Then you can come out."
"Why so helpful now?" I asked, curious. "You could've just let us go there and rid yourself of any more trouble."
"It's because Sonia wants to kill him," the ebony-haired assassin spoke up, standing. Andrew had sheathed his sword when he saw that there was no danger apparent. "Because-"
"That's enough," Sonia said, interrupting and throwing a harsh glance toward her. She turned back toward me. "Is it a deal? We lead you to the guy, you see him. I kill him."
"Deal," I said, nodding and extending my hand. She looked at it for a moment before turning away and picking up Angel. She didn't look back, only said, "Meet us at the old train station at midnight sharp. Don't be late."
The three assassins walked away, leaving the kid and I on the roof top. He turned to me, confused.
"What the hell is going on?"
"That's what I'd like to know," I replied, putting my hood back on.
