Rising Storm (Organization XIII, PM to join)

[Zephiris]

Xigbar

He hit, naturally. Time to switch targets.

With a crackling grin, Xigbar peered through the crosshairs on his other's weapon and spun slowly on his heel, tracking the girl Axel was having so much trouble with. For a few moments his trigger was stayed by curiosity; the girl's fighting method was curious, wielding shadowy weapons of darkness. A pity the Organization weren't real Heartless, otherwise a blow (assuming one managed to land on Axel) wouldn't have nearly the sting.

Of course, Zexion for all the worlds would make it look like it did. He was still here, weaving his illusions from a remote place. Xigbar knew he didn't dare be anything but the last to leave, otherwise the illusions might not hold. Then sayonara, the second goal of this mission would scrap, and only one more thing would keep the whole deal from rendering pointless and keep Xemnas from his fury. Xigbar smirked. Yeah, the kiddo sure as hell ain't leaving yet.

Xigbar whooped as one of his ricocheting bolts hit their mark, but the wind stole the air from his lungs and took the sound with it. He noted that though the winds were strong, the rain was ceasing, and the air no longer trembled with electricity. Xaldin was the only one left upholding the storm.

But then Axel's Corridors flared and he was gone, too. The girl's weapon sliced through nothingness.

Xigbar headed towards her smirking, his crossbow cocked and loaded, this time aiming dead on. He was the only obstacle between this girl and her friend under the collapsed cave. She'd never reach him.

Was he the only one enjoying himself? Xigbar paused. On second thought. . . without Axel, more than one member of Light was no longer occupied. Even if he finished this target, sticking around would really lose its appeal. Maybe with Xaldin's hamster blundering around as reinforcement -

Xigbar suddenly halted his approach, realizing something. His awareness was skewed by the storm, but even then he had given little thought to the other two Key bearers, as they hadn't posed an immediate threat. He had kept an eye on the injured silver one for a bit, but then assumed they'd gone and targeted Xaldin. The Freeshooter turned slightly, keeping one eye on the girl. What he saw thoroughly convinced him it was time to go.

The Keybladers were fighting in tandem. The Bahamut didn't stand a chance. Even Xaldin was looking reluctant to participate until the creature had somewhat tried the last dregs of the pair's strength.

Xigbar wasn't waiting until then. The point of this mission wasn't to battle to the end so much as to impress, antagonize, instill whatever seeds of doubt or anger they could. With a jaunty salute to the flaming-haired girl, Xigbar called upon the licking shadows of the Corridors to envelop him and he left the Islands to their ruin.

[Zephiris]

Riku

[/blockquote]

"So, suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?"

"Well, I haven't really thought about it. It's just. . . I’ve always wondered why we’re here, on this island. If there are other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one?"

Riku wrenched his eyes away from the burning paopu tree. The stark purple flames imprinted on his retinas danced as he sought out Sora. He had an idea, and somehow it had to be communicated with a look through the ebbing rain. The red-headed assailant was gone, but a behemoth of a creature ransacked their island freely across only a stretch of beach. . .

The bright-haired girl was calling to him. "Please, follow me!"

But Riku was already running. With luck, help would follow. Forsaking the barriers, Riku commanded ribbons of streamlined darkness to aid his flight. But even without the flash steps he was no longer being fired upon; the wielder of the range weapon must have had his attention on something or someone else. With the wind manipulator in the sky, though, Riku would take no chances.

The burning was back, blotting out much else. This time it was both Dark and Light and red though on the surface there was only cold. When he leapt silently for the Bahamut's flank, keyblade raised, Riku's eyes were blue chips of ice, and his only thoughts were of fury against these monsters that had crossed the line and come here. He felt Sora close by. It had been so long since he'd fought beside his friend, but the familiarity had never faded. This fight would not be lost.

(( Please assume that in this interlude, Sora and Riku work together to successfully defeat the Bahamut. Aryn and I may someday play this out. Whether the aeon is restored to its crystal form and Xaldin retrieves it I do not know. Either way, due to Chris' inactivity it can be assumed that Xaldin already left or was otherwise occupied and leaves soon after. ))

And all of a sudden, the winds abated. As the remaining gusts blew their course Riku began to be able to hear his own thoughts again.

He was kneeling, panting, gripping the sand between his clenched fists. He took a breath and let the grains run from his fingertips. First attempt to stand failed; he had forgotten about his leg, and the pain hasty cure magic had only temporarily managed to subdue. He would have cast again if he had the energy. As it was, Riku pulled himself up without mystical assistance, and looked about for Sora.

What he saw first was the rubble that was the entrance to the Secret Place. A flash of bright color bobbed visibly among the clouds of dust. Right. . . the girl who had called for him to follow. He assumed it was her stirring up the dust, possibly hard at work to clear the debris. Riku couldn't imagine her reasons. But he needed to get over there too - now. With nerves wound to the highest degree and teeth grit in a cold, dangerous expression, Riku made his way forward.

"Sora!" he called. His throat was dry, and his voice more croaked than yelled. "Tidus and the door!"

[Era]

Not reaching him was never an option: Era would reach Rook; she had no plans to die while trying... no matter what condition that would leave her in getting to him, she would get to him, and no one was about to tell her otherwise.

Another tremor shook the foundations of Play Island. There was a monstrous growl and a screech from the Behemoth behind her. Calls between the other characters of Light, but that was not her battle. Her battle lay before her, whether or not her silver haired accomplice had decided to tag along.

Sharp, icy blue eyes stared directly at Braig's golden ones. There was no fear in her. No timidity. No trepidation. She growled, an angry, escalating growl, and made for the last body standing in her way, fully aware of her disadvantage for bringing a pair of swords to a gun fight. Her Will took its hold, her mind had been made up and after ransacking her island and potentially destroying her friend, she was only mere seconds from seeing red.

An anger ignited within her, set ablaze even more by bozos who thought they could get between herself and everything she had left in the worlds. Losing a home was a torment. Losing what few, precious memories she'd made here since her rebirth was suffering. Losing her friends was her bane.

Adrenaline numbed most of the pain in her legs; the wounds sustained from the frustrating Heartless who foolishly thought he should stand in her way. And it was a good thing, too, because the shifting sand underfoot, and the pain, she would hardly allow to slow her down. She would not even be wavered by his confusing salute. This young female had a will of steel. She fully intended to run him over and retire him from the battle if he didn't move out of her way. Era, the small steamroller was coming through.

Her heart raced, muscles tensing as she braced herself for another shower of bullets. Charging someone with a gun head-on... it was stupid. It was frightening. And it would likely leave her in horrible condition. She knew that, but she wasn't about to stop. Not now. Not after all this. Her heart had already taking a beating today, and she was preparing to give one back: to savor the flavor of sweet, impulsive vengeance, when all of a sudden he, too, vanished.

She was very close to the cave now. Her eyes traced quickly, scrutinously, for where he could have gone off to. A few dragging, prolonged seconds and she found nothing but the stillness of the passing storm. A few calls from far away from the other champions of light.

Red flags stayed up in the back of her mind. She was prepared for that Heartless to return when she dropped her guard and come in for another assault, but until that happened...

...Hurried feet shuffled toward the pile of debris. She'd heard the rocks shift and clatter as they settled just before she arrived. Frantically her eyes scanned the area, searching for that blue vest, that head of red, unkempt hair... those torn up black shoes, even...

But as the second layer of dust began to dissipate, and she could see into desolate patches of the rubble, nothing turned up. Her heart sank as fear arose within her. Maybe one of them had already taken him away, much like she'd been snatched up long ago? It was like a shower of cold needles had penetrated her heart just then.

All that bullet-train effort in getting here; all that will power, all that momentum had suddenly come to a screeching halt. Her confidence dissipated, replaced by a moment of stark, irrefutable injury. A single, quiet word had come out from this brokenness, a heart-breaking mumble amidst the clearing storm. "...Rook." All that time apart, and now, again had they been divided? Did fate know no kindness?

[Zephiris]

(( Bump ^^ ))