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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 25, 2020 16:47:12 GMT -5
The place seemed to remain quiet, allowing the two to recover from the horrors found within their hearts. A few wisps gathered around, intrigued by what was happening, but without any malicious intent being shown. Taking a little bit of a distance, one of the wisps seemed drawn towards the scene, particularly towards Henoke. The others followed, although they kept their distance in fear of catching him off-guard or startle them altogether.
The wisps seemed to draw mist from nowhere as they began to take form. Hazy, barely visible, but they were still there —the shapes of those who were Henoke’s friends. Without a word, they smiled faintly before grouping around the two and hugging tight. Even though the grip was almost non-existant, the feeling remained there.
Tori noticed it, opening her eyes just a little bit, yet the wisps dissipated as quickly as they had appeared. She noticed Henoke had returned the embrace, repeating her own words in hopes of reassuring her. She let go for a bit, noticing how the two still had stuff to let go. She chuckled, rubbing her eyes with one hand, while she looked at Henoke with a caring smile.
“Better, then?” she asked, and then let out a faint laugh, “Sheesh… The more we think about stuff, the harder it gets to cope with it…”
She took a few steps back, but never really breaking eye-contact with him. After rubbing her eyes dry from the tears, Tori held one arm with the other hand, somewhat clamped up still, but she then sighed. Looking at the horizon, she smiled faintly.
“They knew… All of them did…” she said, almost absent-minded, “As soon as they arrived here… The truth reached out to them…” Tori shook her head before looking at Henoke, “While they were alive, they couldn’t have known… Once their souls came here, and after learning what truly happened… They regretted all of what they said in their last moments. I’m sure you also felt the same way, before your memory was split and used the way it was.”
Tori smiled caringly, her eyes shifting to purple yet again. Coping with her own emotions, she nodded faintly.
“Even beyond life… The bonds between people never break. That’s how they live on -through the people who remember them close to their hearts” she placed her hand over her chest, “As such… Once they arrive here, they don’t disappear immediately, for those who recall them maintain their soul alive. And that’s why we Spirits exist… To remember those who’ve fallen, and to ensure the past’s mistakes are never repeated again…”
She looked down, but suddenly blinked in shock. What had she said? She couldn’t really make sense of it, but some of it rang true. She shook her head, smiling with unease, as she came to a conclusion.
Having helped Henoke out, Tori’s own memory seemed to flare back from the depths of her heart -the memory she had so much trouble remembering. The thought caused her to smile.
Maybe… Just maybe… She’d be able to remember “Kosuke” soon enough.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 25, 2020 17:46:07 GMT -5
Henoke had closed his eyes, allowing his heart to quiet as he got lost in the moment. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he opened his eyes, seeing wisps beginning to gather around the two. More used to them at this point, the teen wasn’t surprised by their presence, though he was curious as to what they were doing here. Oh! As mist began to form around Tori and him, Henoke wondered if he should mention something—not entirely sure about how they worked or what they were up to.
The image they formed left the teen speechless, a light feeling filling up his heart as he saw the forms of his past friends, a warm sensation washing over him as they came in to join in on the embrace. ”You guys…” It was a tight whisper that escaped him, his eyes stinging once more as Henoke smiled. As the images began to vanish, washing away with the light breeze, Henoke felt Tori shift. ”Better, then?” Looking down and seeing her rubbing at an eye, Henoke noticed his own wet cheeks as he found a smile on his face, laughing along with Tori lightly. ”Sheesh…the more we think about stuff, the harder it gets to cope with it…”
Boy was that the truth. This is why I hate thinking, Chirithy… The small guardian had oftentimes chastised his lack of forethought—but Tori was right, sometimes thinking really wasn’t beneficial after a while. As she backed up, Henoke felt a mild embarrassment, having realized how many times Tori had seen him in a state even he wasn’t familiar with. As she looked away, Henoke did the same, his face a shade of red outside of anger—a hue he was less familiar with. For a moment, the two looked out at the horizon, both seemingly clammed up. ”They knew…all of them did…”
Her comment made him look back at her, his eyes knowing and his heart much lighter than before. ”I’m sure you also felt the same way, before your memory was split up and used the way it was.” Henoke’s face fell only faintly, thinking of how many of his friends and him perhaps shared their last moments together in a way that none of them had expected. The thought still held too much bitterness and pain for him to truly swallow—part of him knowing that the only reason he could be okay right now as because someone else was there—Tori was there. ”Even beyond life…the bonds between people never break. That’s how they live on—through the people who remember them close to their hearts.“
It was an idea Henoke took comfort in, despite the pain of knowing most of his friends he’d most likely never see again. Heh—though I did get a better goodbye… A jolt in his chest reminded him not too think too much, otherwise who knows what his heart would do? It was bittersweet (mostly sweet), but something he cherished more than anything right now. ”That’s why we Spirits exist…to remember those who’ve fallen, and to ensure the past’s mistakes are never repeated again…” Henoke was stunned for a moment. ‘We spirits’? Wait! Was Tori a spirit too!?
Kosuke had explained once, being a spirit himself (he still remembered the scarred emblem he had been shown). The realization dawned on him—why wouldn’t Tori be a Spirit, too? If Kosuke was, and the two of them were friends who hung out and knew each other, why wouldn’t she be? Tori’s face seemed perplexed, only adding to Henoke’s confusion. Sighing a bit, Henoke rested a hand on his hip while rubbing at the back of his neck as he gave Tori a sheepish grin. ”That’s good and all—but I hope you all live for yourselves once in a while…” Henoke thought of Kosuke, always thinking of Tori and others before himself. He had an idea in his head that these ‘Spirits’ might tend to be a little ‘too’ helpful, at risk of themselves.
”Well—” Henoke had his usual confident smile on his face, his heart eased from some of the pain and torment, though he knew there was only more to come as he ventured further down his past. ”—I ain’t gonna let you shoulder nothin’ alone!” Thinking of his past friends, Henoke’s smile only widened as he looked at Tori reassuringly. ”I’ll be there for you like you've been here for me!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 26, 2020 4:59:41 GMT -5
Tori, lost in the moment, was a bit startled as Henoke voiced his thoughts. Turning towards him, shocked at first, she couldn’t help but draw a smile at his willingness to help.
”I’ll be there for you like you've been here for me!” The sentiment hit closer than she thought it would, but it only broadened her smile. Chuckling a bit, she nodded, placing one hand on her chest.
“I appreciate it” she replied, “I really do.”
Tori then sighed, feeling her body exhausted. How couldn’t she be, though? Emotionally speaking, they had gone through a lot —both of them. Henoke had a lot to process regarding his memory, and Tori did, too. She still had to wonder why the sudden recalling of a past she was unaware of exhausted her as much as it did. Not to mention the pain that came with it.
She glanced over at the huts, wondering if someone would mind if she used them for rest. She had seen inside them, and it wouldn’t be the first time she would rest besides the waves’ reach. Thinking it further, she decided against it.
Not until she could be sure of Henoke’s wellbeing in a place like that. Who could say what would happen to him if she left?
With that thought of, Tori sat back down, calmly listening to the waves. Playing a bit with a mist in her hand, she smiled, thinking about what Henoke had just said.
“Live for ourselves, huh?” she mentioned, to then glance over towards him, “Is there a reason why you said that?”
As she asked him the meaning behind those words, the image of someone smiling towards her came to mind. Tori didn't seem to react to it, but a thought formed in her head.
"Little by little... I'll remember what I've lost..." she thought, cheerful, "It's one promise I'll keep to myself, and myself alone."
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 26, 2020 7:24:44 GMT -5
”I appreciate it” Henoke smiled and nodded, happy that his words seemed to help a bit. He saw the exhaustion behind Tori’s gaze, feeling a bit spent himself. I can’t stop here, though! The teen needed more memories before they left—wanting to piece together the missing pieces between the memories he had now. I’ll figure out what happened, you guys. I won’t forget you any more! Images of his past friends flashed before his eyes again, cementing the need for him to move forward. He’d work through the exhaustion—if he stopped now, he hardly had the right to keep them with him.
”Live for ourselves, huh?” Henoke noticed Tori had sat down on the grey sand, though he remained standing, afraid that if he sat for too long he’d lose the enthusiasm he was keeping up—holding the other emotions at bay with his short-sightedness. ”Is there a reason why you said that?” The question caused Henoke to chuckle, a faint smirk on his lips as he gazed at the horizon. ”Yeah—Kosuke’s always tryin’ to help people, too.” Resting his hands behind his head, Henoke had a mildly annoyed look on his face, though his smile was still there. ”He’s too helpful for his own good—always stickin’ ‘is nose into stuff, even if it’s dangerous.”
Henoke’s smile was full and bright by the end of his sentence, thinking of his time with Kosuke fondly. ”Heh—he was easy to get along with ‘cause of that…” Realizing he had most likely gotten distracted thinking of Kosuke, rather than answering Tori’s question, Henoke flashed a surprised look before scratching at his cheek with an embarrassed chuckle. ”I guess I just said it ‘cause I wanna see you both happy and carefree—not just taking care of others.” Glancing at Tori, Henoke smirked a bit, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets with a sigh. ”You two're similar in that way—but I dunno if that’s a good thing.”
The teen laughed at his own joke, his heart feeling light thinking about a friend. He and Tori may not have known each other long, but Henoke knew her and Kosuke shared that trait. She didn't have to help me with all this...she coulda just let us leave without saying a word. Hadn't it only proved to be hard for her, too? Helping him? Staring out into the sky, Henoke’s smile faded a bit, his eyes lost to the drifting clouds and wisps far in the distance. Where are you now, Kosuke? He didn’t have to worry about him being ‘okay’, Henoke knew the guy better than that. He’d be just fine. Oh well… It was no use thinking about, the two would cross paths again one day, Henoke knew it.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 26, 2020 9:34:08 GMT -5
”Yeah—Kosuke’s always tryin’ to help people, too.”
Tori listened as Henoke described Kosuke -someone who helped other even if things got rough or dangerous. Someone people could easily see as a friend… Tori smiled.
“Heh… Now I wish I could meet him” she admitted after listening, “He sounds like someone I’d get along with, for sure.”
Something in Tori’s heart seemed to rejoice, but she couldn’t really tell what or why. Still, it didn’t sting or hurt, but rather, it felt right. Something that she didn’t want to let go off. The thought alone made her happy, and yet she really could say why.
”I guess I just said it ‘cause I wanna see you both happy and carefree—not just taking care of others.” Henoke’s words caused Tori to perk up and look at him in confusion. Why did those words sound as if they meant more than she thought they did? Thinking about it confused her, so she decided not to ask. She thought maybe Henoke wouldn’t even have the answer for her question, so maybe it was best left alone for later.
“He’s saying that ‘cause we’re friends… Right?” she thought, somewhat oblivious, “It feels as if that’s not just the case though…” We liked each other.
A sudden thought crossed her mind, causing her to think yet again. The words didn’t ring false, however… Had she liked someone before, then?
“If that’s the case, then maybe that’s why it hurts when I remember…” she pondered.
It would make sense. Having lost someone dear to later forget about them would definitely hurt, far more than simply losing someone. Tori could at least honor the fallen’s memories, but if she wound up forgetting…
She couldn’t even keep them close to her, no matter how hard she tried.
“Hey… So…” Tori glanced over at Henoke, “You’ve… met him, right? Kosuke, I mean” she began, “What… Has he said about… me? If… If it’s even me he was talking about…” she added hastily, with an uneasy smile, as she looked away.
“Ah… There you are…”
A voice startled her out of thought, causing Tori to turn around faintly. Her face red, full of embarrassment; she quickly looked back as someone approached her. In the moment, she began to stand up, but a voice stopped her.
“Wait, don’t. I wanna talk” it said, concerned. “How did you even get here?” Tori asked back, not looking. “Necro helped me. Y’know, we’re all worried… You left like that without any warnings… How could we not?” “…” “Tori… Please. Can we talk?”
After a moment of silence, Tori nodded, sitting back down and wrapping her arms around her knees, bringing them closer towards her. That person sat besides her, looking at her directly, while the dragon around him gave them some space and began to roam around. A sudden sigh caused Tori to glance back as someone began to talk.
“I’m sorry I didn’t give you an answer before… When you confessed to me…” he began, “I… I honestly didn’t know what to say… It was so sudden, I couldn’t think at all. But…” he turned towards her with a caring smile, “I know the answer now.” “That being…?” Tori asked sullen, looking down. “…I care about you -a lot. Far more than what you think” he replied, slowly, “You’ve always been there for us, not just for me, but I can’t help but feel special about it. Even when you’re troubled, you leave that aside to help us… And I’ve wanted to change that, for a long time. That’s why…” he grabbed her hand, still smiling, “I made myself a promise -I’d make you smile, the same way you make us smile. Yet, even if I made that promise, and even though I know you don’t want me to force myself into liking you… I can’t help it.” “…Huh?” Tori looked up, a few tears forming on her eyes. “I love you, Tori -I really do. And this isn’t just me trying to uphold some promise, trust me. I genuinely love you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Tori found herself smiling, looking at the sea in front of her calmly. The memory just now...
Why was it so sweet? Why was it so warm? She wanted to know, however, the reason why that person's face was still somewhat blurry...
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 26, 2020 10:24:02 GMT -5
”You’ve…met him, right? Kosuke, I mean.” Henoke glanced over at Tori, pulled from watching the horizon as his mind had wandered and mulled over all of the new information he had learned here. ”What…has he said…about me?” Henoke rested a hand over half of his face, closing an eye while the other gave Tori an exasperated look. ”Tch—you’re askin’ the guy with messy memory to remember stuff?” Laughing at his own joke, the teen sighed before scratching at the back of his head. Thankfully, his time with Kosuke were one of the few memories he had of time spent with a friend that he didn’t forget. Heh…and everyone—
There had been many others he had befriended on his journey so far, all of those memories fresh and present in his heart, something he was thankful for. ”Well…to be honest, when I first met Kosuke, he was searching for his own memories—“ Henoke chuckled a bit, crossing his arms as he recalled the first time Kosuke had mentioned Tori. ”—you were one of the first things he remembered. Seems you’d both joke around a lot, and he’d get on your nerves sometimes.” He remembered teasing Kosuke about it, the memory bringing a slightly childish smirk to his face. ”At first, he couldn’t recall much—but he never once forgot how important you were to him.” Important enough to fight for even without remembering fully who she was—that was how important Tori had been to him.
Oh! Henoke remembered the confusing woman they had run into on that world—finally realizing what she had said to him all that time ago, back when none of it had made sense. Tch—to think, it all sounded so confusing… One of his own enemies had known his ‘truth’ before even he had, huh? That’s annoying. If he ever ran into that woman again, she’d definitely meet his wrath once more. ”They weren’t all good memories, though…that’s how close you two were.” Henoke’s face fell a bit as he mentioned it, remembering the harder times Kosuke had faced when recalling memories. For a moment, he wished he had experienced what he had now, so that he could have helped and related to Kosuke more at that time. Well, what’s done is done. It was what it was.
”Heh—I’m kinda glad he didn’t remember everything…otherwise he probably never would’ve shut up about you, to be honest.” Grinning as he shoved his hands into his pant pockets, Henoke felt something slightly crumpled in it that caused him to jolt in surprise. ”Oh! Hey, I forgot!” Pulling out the slightly creased picture of Kosuke and the small girl with similar eyes as Tori sitting on the shore, Henoke held it out to show Tori. ”I thought I dropped this earlier, but it looks like I had shoved it in my pocket…” He was hoping that perhaps, if that was Tori in the photo, it would bring back a memory. "Is this you?"
He still wasn’t sure how Kosuke would look so much the same and she wouldn’t, though. Maybe it’s something to do with being a Spirit? He hadn’t really thought about it much ‘till now. Raising an eyebrow at Tori, the teen waited to see if the picture confirmed his suspicion or not. Hopefully, if it was Tori in the picture, it would bring back a fond memory, rather than another hard one.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 26, 2020 11:21:34 GMT -5
Tori found herself laughing at Henoke’s joke, only further cheering her up. How he described things was amusing, but there was something that bothered her about it all.
Apparently, Kosuke couldn’t remember much of himself, based on Henoke’s description. Despite that, he seemed to be able to remember her rather well, albeit with some memories. Tori looked down as she thought about it for a bit. If Kosuke was a Spirit…
Why couldn’t he remember?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Henoke handed her another picture, smiling with unease after he admitted having forgotten about it and left it in his pockets carelessly. Tori grabbed the picture as he asked whether the girl in it was her. She looked at it for a while, surprised to see herself there, albeit it at a very young age. She frowned, tilting her head in confusion.
“It… is me…” she replied, nodding along, “Odd. I mean, I can’t be much older than 4 there…” she looked down for a bit, frowning, “…” she handed the picture back, still confused, “That is me… I guess I did really know him…” she answered, “Noo matter how much I try, though, nothing really comes to mind… Don’t get me wrong, though —I have remembered a few things. But…” she looked away, “Whenever I try to remember that face… It’s always blurry.”
She hummed in thought for a bit, before standing back up, having recovered if only a little bit. She brushed herself off a bit, before looking back at Henoke with a concerned question in mind.
“You said… That Kosuke doesn’t remember a lot about himself, right?” she asked, “And yet he’s a Spirit… Do you know how his Emblem looked?” as if to ascertain his answer, Tori grabbed onto her glove and took it off, to then show Henoke her palm. In it was a black, heart-like emblem, cohesive in its shape, “Did it look like mine? Exactly like this one?”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 26, 2020 13:46:13 GMT -5
”It…is me…” Henoke was glad his suspicion was confirmed, though it didn’t answer the question as to why Kosuke still looked the same, even now, whereas Tori looked so much older. ”No matter how much I try, though, nothing really comes to mind…” Henoke placed the picture back into his pocket, making a mental note to return it to the hut later. ”Don’t get me wrong, though—I have remembered a few things.” For a moment, Henoke turned, a hopeful look on his face. Frowning as Tori admitted that the whole picture wasn’t coming back to her, he wondered what else might help trigger more memories.
”You said…that Kosuke doesn’t remember a lot about himself, right?” Henoke nodded, a wary expression coming across his face. ”Do you know how his Emblem looked?” As she removed her glove to display her ‘Spirit Emblem’, his eyes averted as he rubbed at the back of his head. Shit—so that’s where she was goin’ with this… There was something Henoke had failed to mention to Tori…the reason why she couldn’t remember Kosuke anymore. I had wanted to really make sure it was her before I told her...but now— Fearing she would connect the dots on her own, Henoke worried he may have waited too long. ”Did it look like mine? Exactly like this one?” How would she take it—knowing that he had withheld that information?
A new guilt creeped up in his chest as Henoke’s eyes lingered on the sand, his hand on the back of his neck. I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew... Henoke wondered if Kosuke would be mad at him, if he was the reason Tori pieced together why she forgot him. Kosuke hadn’t wanted to meet up with his friends until regaining his memory, so he wouldn't want her to know, right? But…I can’t lie to her, either. Henoke’s heart felt conflicted between two friends he wanted to help, but also wanted to be a loyal friend who could keep a secret. Sighing a bit, Henoke shook his head, finally meeting Tori’s eyes again. ”Nah…his was messed up. It was still there, but faint.”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 26, 2020 14:13:51 GMT -5
“Knew it…”
Hearing Henoke mention what she’d thought about only reassured her theory. Whoever Kosuke was… Had his Emblem struck. How or why it didn’t matter, but it explained a lot more than what she thought it would. Placing the glove back down, Tori’s expression was a stern one.
Already aware of what had happened.
“If that were the case, then it’d explain why, no matter what or how much I remember about my past… His face remains blurry. And if the others knew him… Then odds are they’ve forgotten about him as well” she explained, “I assume you already know the reason why, considering you didn’t tell me up until now…” she smiled with concern, “I don’t blame you for hiding it, though. You want to help him, after all, right?”
Tori took a little bit of time before continuing, finding the need to recollect her thoughts in an orderly fashion, before voicing them out. Henoke had just as much right to know about her problems, since she had seen them, regardless if she’d been willing to. Fair was fair.
“In any case… That’s not the only thing that solves the whole problem” she mentioned, crossing her arms, “Just forgetting him because he disappeared doesn’t explain why my whole memory’s missing. I’m not sure if you know why I saw this, but I’ll try to make this short.”
“A Spirit’s memory is to themselves. In other words, even if they temporarily forget, the memory returns back to them no matter where it is. A Spirit can’t truly forget, even after they die by natural causes —if they die but their Emblem remains intact. Even if their body is torn asunder, their memories never truly detach from their hearts, so long as their Emblem isn’t harmed in any way. And… You’ve seen my Emblem already, right? It’s complete —no scratches, no parts missing. Nevertheless… Ever since I arrived at Sakura Island… I’ve barely been able to remember, when I should’ve recalled things much faster. Isn’t it odd, then?”
She allowed the question to remain in the air for a bit, to try and see if Henoke was following. Even if he wasn’t, she already had a way to explain things.
“If this was just me forgetting things solely because of time passing by, then my memory should’ve been back by now, but it’s not” Tori said, “If it was just Kosuke, then I’d understand. But it’s not just him —I’ve had trouble remembering Sharih, Chise and Dantès as well. My time here, in this world” she turned around, “Because I’m dead certain that this is where I used to live, before I ended up at Sakura Island… And remember when I mentioned that this world was selective? Spirits aren’t meant to coexist with the worlds outside, because of what they’re capable of. If one ends up outside, it doesn’t take long for either the light or the darkness to find and destroy them, hence the reason why this world doesn’t let them go out —to protect them. So, then, how did I get out, if this world makes it so Spirits can’t leave, no matter what?”
“I’m sure you already figured it out… But someone, much like Adrien, wanted me out of here to get rid of me. Someone who hates me to death, and wants nothing more than see me dead.”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 26, 2020 15:48:00 GMT -5
”Knew it…” Henoke stayed silent, still feeling a conflict in his heart. Not only did Tori connect the dots—she taught him that the reason her memories weren’t coming back were because of Kosuke’s state. Henoke hadn’t thought of that. ”I assume you already know the reason why, considering you didn’t tell me up until now…” He felt his guilt rise up, averting his gaze with a quiet nod. ”I don’t blame you for hiding it, though. You want to help him, after all, right?” Caught off-guard, Henoke’s eyes widened as he looked back at Tori—not having expected such a quick forgiveness.
Seemingly collecting her thoughts, Henoke felt a weight lift off of him, a sudden relief lifting his heart up. ”In any case…that’s not the only thing that solves the whole problem.” Henoke tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. It doesn’t? Truthfully, the teen was still pretty confused about it all. As Tori explained that she was missing memories outside of Kosuke despite her Emblem being attached, Henoke began to see what she was getting at. ”Ever since I arrived at Sakura Island…I’ve barely been able to remember…” Henoke nodded as he listened, crossing his arms as he scrunched up his face as he attempted to fully grasp it. Hm…so besides Kosuke, she should remember more, based on how Spirits work? It seemed to be the case, as Tori finished explaining.
”Isn’t it odd, then?” Henoke nodded, having understood the gist of it. ”If it was just Kosuke, then I’d understand. But it’s not just him—“ As Tori listed off the others that her memories were broken of, Henoke grew a somber expression—understanding that feeling all too well. ”And remember when I mentioned that this world was selective?” He nodded, not really remembering but seeing as how she was telling him now, he figured it wasn’t a big deal. Hearing that Spirits weren’t supposed to exist outside of the world, Henoke wondered about all of the Spirits he had run into with Kosuke. Furthermore, it seemed that if this was Tori’s original home, she wasn’t supposed to be able to leave. Hm... He was lost.
How did she get out, then? ”I’m sure you already figured it out…” Henoke couldn’t help but force a false grin to his face, scratching his cheek while attempting to presume confidence. ”But someone, much like Adrien, wanted me out of here to get rid of me.” Hearing Adrien’s name, Henoke’s face darkened as he scowled, imagining the boy in green and his stupid face. ”Tch—you’re right about that…” Resting his hands on his hips, Henoke sighed, giving Tori an exasperated expression as he shook his head. ”I dunno why they hate you so much…” Both Adrien and the odd woman he had fought with Kosuke back then had mentioned aiming to hurt her—but neither had many any sense to Henoke.
”They just seem like psychos, to me.” Raising an eyebrow at Tori, he tilted his head in thought before asking his question—figuring a shot in the dark was better than nothing. ”So—I’m guessin’ you don’t know why they’re after you, huh?”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 26, 2020 16:09:43 GMT -5
Arms crossed, Tori shook her head with some dissapointment. Even after all that, neither of them could really tell the reasons behind all of it. Much like with the reason why Henoke was made a Replica, Tori couldn't guess just what reasons some Spirits had in mind to wanting her dead.
She then sighed with exasperation, frustrated at not being able to make much sense.
"Honestly, I've tried to figure it out on my own, but nothing really cohesive comes to mind" she explained, "If I knew, then this would be a lot more easier... But I guess that's the reason why they want me to stay as I am now -so that I'm open to a back-stab."
What was spoken remained there, not really possible to continue forward. They'd hit a wall while trying to figure it all out. Knowing this, Tori decided to drop it.
They had nothing to go after now.
"Still..." she glanced over at Henoke, with a smile, "I'm... sorta relieved you're worried about me. Y'know -helps reassure that you're on our side" she said cheerful, "Even though I can't say how you got into this whole mess..."
Seemingly returning to a somewhat more optimistic stance, Tori chuckled. It felt nice, really -having someone willing to help her remember, even though he knew nothing about her. It just came to show how, in little time, they trusted one another.
Tori soon perked up, and she turned towards the shoreline. She placed her palm forward as a few more wisps came by, tilting her head with surprise. They were slowly gathering in groups, rather than one at a time. It seemed like, the more Henoke remembered, the more that would gather around him. It made Tori wonder just how long would it take for a mass of wisps to float towards him, although it was most unlikely.
They wouldn't try to overwhelm their owner.
"Well... This is unusual..." she said, dumbstruck, "I can't really say if they're got a good or a bad timing..." she added with unease, but she then shook her head, playing along with the wisps that danced in her palm, "There's no point in chasing after something we have no further leads into, so... Let's get back to what we remained here for..." she finished, looking at Henoke with an uneasy smile.
"Which one's got your fancy?" she joked a bit.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 27, 2020 0:51:54 GMT -5
As Tori shook her head, Henoke tsked while kicking at the ground a bit. Damn it…just when we were gettin’ somewhere. Hearing how Tori’s foes most likely were trying to take advantage of her current state, the teen felt a fiery indignation flash through him. Tch—those cowards! He’d teach them a lesson, if he caught either of them that is. ”I’m…sorta relieved you’re worried about me.” Caught by surprise, Henoke scratched at the back of his head, smiling sheepishly with a nod. ”Even though I can’t say how you got into this whole mess…” Chuckling a bit, he rested his hands behind his head with a wide grin. ”I gotta knack for meddlin’.” His Master and Chirithy had oftentimes criticized him ‘sticking his nose’ where it ‘didn’t belong’.
It tended to help more than hurt, in his opinion. Seeing Tori perk up, Henoke followed her gaze until he too saw the coming wisps. There’re…so many! It wasn’t an insane amount, but definitely the most wisps he had seen concentrated here so far. ”Well…this is unusual” Reminded of why they were still on the Shore, the two were put back on track by the sudden entrance. ”Which one’s got your fancy?” Henoke stared between all of the floating distortions, tilting a head as he cross his arms in thought. Hm… Walking away from Tori and towards the memories, the teen came to a stop in front of one that his eyes kept going back to.
I don’t get any of this… He wasn’t really understand what he was supposed to be feeling, so instead he just went with his gut. Reaching out to the wisp in front of him, Henoke shrugged, seeming rather carefree about it all. ”Let’s go with this one.” Bringing the ghost-like entity up to his face with his hand, he dove his face in until the world around him melted to white—
”Ha ha! This is why no one likes you, Henoke! You’re so hard to talk to~” He sat on an unmoving swing, clutching the chains of it with smaller hands than he had now. Beside him on the only other swing in the set was a girl that appeared around 12. Who is that? Her tan face held a smirk, framed by her long curly brown hair, contrasting her bright green eyes. ”Whatever—I don’t care if I’m liked.” Scrunching up his face with an indignant glare, Henoke turned their head as they began to rock back and forth on the swing. ”I’m the only friend I need.” Her laugh that followed his comment rubbed him the wrong way.
The small ‘park’ they were in sat on a tall and grassy hill, adorned only with a simple jungle-gym and a swing set in a patch of mulch. Below in the near distance was a small town, surrounded by thick forestry and tall mountainous hills, littered with dirt and gravel roads, wooden homes and shops and faint streetlights that had turned on to warn the coming sunset. ”Ha! That’s so sad!” Henoke scowled as he stood up off of the swing, his fists clenched as he gave her a dirty look. ”You’re lucky you’re a girl…” Another laugh and the girl had leapt off of her own swing. ”Morel like you’re lucky I’m a girl~” Landing near Henoke, she struck a pose while flexing her arms.
”I beat up older boys, too, y’know!” Rolling his eyes, Henoke shoved his hands into the pockets of his blue cargo shorts, beginning to walk away from the ‘park’ and towards the small town ahead. ”Tch—but can you beat Toge?” Following behind Henoke with a skip in her step, the girl had an annoying sing-songy tone that was draped with jabs and teases. ”I heard you cheated to win that one~” Turning around, Henoke felt his face flush again as he raised a fist, glaring at the girl. ”Who said that?! I beat ‘im fair and square!” With a devious grin, she placed a finger over her lips with a wink. ”I’m not telling!” With that, she raced towards the town, rushing away from the gravel and grass towards the cobblestone paths.
”Shiki, get back here!” Chasing after her with raised fists, Henoke rushed through the tall grass as everything began to fade into a white mist—
”Shiki…?” Blinking in confusion as the Shore returned around him, Henoke found himself looking down at his now empty palm, which had once held the wisp. Was that…from before my training? Where was that? Was that his home world? I’m the only friend I need? Had he really said something embarrassing like that? Despite the anger his younger self in the memory had felt, Henoke found himself agreeing with the girl in his memory, ‘Shiki’. That is sad… Had he been a lonely kid? It was a weird sensation—learning about one’s own childhood from a passive perspective.
He felt so different now. People could be aggravating, but Henoke was glad he met all the people he had since the Keyblade chose him. She was there, though. Even if the memory hadn’t made it seem like they were close, Henoke’s older self could see the memory he had of Shiki in a different light than his younger self. It seemed like they had done nothing but argue and tease each other, but Shiki had been there for him when others weren’t, apparently. There was an odd pain in his heart—mixed with a light and warm feeling which caused him to feel confused once again.
”Jeez…this is kinda a hassle, huh?” Sighing a bit, Henoke ruffled his spiky and disheveled hair while slipping his other hand into his jacket pocket. Wonder whatever happened to her… Recalling his memory of meeting Chirithy, it seemed he had been yanked from his home to battle Heartless with the Keyblade. Did I ever get to see them again? Had his home been okay, when he had been pulled from it? Even if he knew what world was in his memory, Henoke realized he had no means of finding the people from his past, even if they were still alive and well.
I need to control this power… One thing at a time, though. There was no use stressing about what he couldn’t do yet. Staring between the other wisps floating in the area, Henoke took a moment before delving into the next memory.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 27, 2020 2:33:41 GMT -5
While Henoke called onto one of the wisps, Tori glanced his way while the others kept dancing in her palm. She allowed him some space after he remembered, turning her gaze back at the memories she held. They seemed... Tame. Normal, even, something she hadn't seen before from Henoke's memories.
"Your old home... Huh?" she asked, absent-minded, not really wanting to provoke an answer.
It must've been tough for the real Henoke to handle -being thrown out to another world he knew nothing of, told things he never truly understood... Much like her, now. With the difference that Henoke himself hadn't returned to his world in ages, unable to do so as he'd passed away.
Maybe, now, it would be different... But it would also be bittersweet. Tori shook her head, not wanting to hurt him any longer.
How long would it take for both of them to remember what they cherished the most? She couldn't help but wonder about it... Some of it was bothersome, but at the same time, warm to the touch, so to speak. Glancing over at Henoke one last time, Tori's expression was once more a caring one.
"Y'know... I could have you meet 'em once more..." she said, "I'll just let you know, in case you... I dunno, wanna talk to them again or something... It wouldn't be too hard, either."
She looked back at the resting wisps -3 more. They seemed to hesitate a bit before faintly floating back in a strange dance above her hands. Tori smiled a bit, not really happy about what was in them, but rather at the memories themselves.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 27, 2020 10:26:43 GMT -5
”Your old home…huh?” Henoke nodded, a conflicted and bittersweet expression on his face. Staring at the other wisps, he couldn’t help but wonder what other memories were there. ”Y’know…I could have you meet ‘em once more…” Tori’s sudden offer caught him by surprise as he glanced between her and the memories. Giving it some thought, Henoke couldn’t help but think of Kosuke. Shaking his head, he seemed determined. ”Nah, I gotta remember more stuff first.” He couldn’t face those from his past yet…not until he figure out more pieces of the puzzle. I can’t meet them again until then. He felt certain that his decision rang true, understanding more of what Kosuke had said once in the past.
”Thanks, but…maybe once I know more.” Walking back towards Tori, where the other wisps resided, Henoke glanced between the remaining three, trying to choose which one he’d delve into next. Reaching out at random, Henoke decided to grab the nearest one, before delving into the memory as the world seemed to fade into mist—
”WAAAAHHHHH!!!” Tears fell as the young blonde kid cried, holding their hands up to a bloody nose. They couldn’t have been older than 10 or so. ”You’re a jerk, Henoke!” Another shout caused him to turn, seeing another young boy about the same age with bright red hair and a black shirt. ”It’s supposed to be a game!” Young Henoke, about 8, stood in what looked like an empty lot—a small patch of gravel behind a wooden shop, away from the main street’s view. Clutched in the boys hand was a small wooden sword, the edge a deep crimson as the blonde boy’s blood stained it.
”He hit me first!” Henoke wasn’t unscathed, his left cheek welted up and a loose tooth on the floor. Waving the wooden sword around, Henoke stomped from one foot to another, fuming as steam left his nose. ”No face-shots, idiot!” Pointing the sword at the crying blonde boy, Henoke scowled. ”You’re lucky that’s all I did!” Glaring at Henoke with blotchy red eyes, some tears still forming, the blonde boy threw their own wooden sword on the ground. ”Whatever! I’m not playing with you anymore!” With that, the blonde ran away, leaving the boy with red and orange hair to their own devices in the back lot.
”Toge! Wait up!” Glaring at Henoke, the redhead stuck out their tongue, spitting back one last comment before chasing after their friend. ”Heh—Toge’s strong, just wait! He’ll get you back!” It donned on the present Henoke, watching passively, that this was most likely the forming of a budding hatred that he had mentioned in a prior memory. Seemingly unfazed, Henoke rested the wooded sword on his shoulder, watching the two run off. ”Tch—last time I play swords with them.” Wincing as he felt the stinging in his cheek and mouth, the young boy began to walk out of the lot alone, looking up at the sunny blue sky. So…I was a lonely kid, huh? As the little boy exited the small alley that led to the main dirt and gravel street, lined with shops and homes, Henoke heard a familiar voice.
”There you are, Henoke!” Turning, the small boy had to crane his head as he stared up at the mountain of a man before him. ”You got into another fight!?” Going down to one knee, the large man’s golden eyes met Henoke’s, the same hue if not brighter. They held a stern and icy power. He had dark brown hair and an exasperated expression on his face as he looked at his son’s welted cheek and bloody lip. ”When’re you going to try getting along with others?” Reaching out to ruffle Henoke’s hair, his father’s hand was slapped away by the hotheaded youth. Crossing his arms, Henoke turned and looked away, pouting a bit as he glared at the nearest wall. ”I tried gettin’ along with ‘em, dad! They’re all just jerks! Big babies!” Kicking at the dirt road beneath his feet, Henoke refused to look his dad in the eye.
”Oh, Henoke…” With a heavy sigh, a large hand found its way onto his tiny shoulder. ”You and your mother, I swear.” Standing up, he offered an open hand out to the small boy, who glanced embarrassingly at it before noticing others walking around the small town. ”Tch—get offa me, geezer!” Rushing past his father, Henoke made sure to run ahead a few paces as the two began to head down the street, blending in with the small and spaced out crowd that flowed through…
Everything faded to white—
Henoke was blown away. That—was my—? For some reason, he hadn’t imagined his dad to look like that. He was huge!! A menacing looking man, Henoke was surprised to find that his dad had been soft-spoken, caring and patient. He seems so different from her… An image of his mom flashed before his eyes, who seemed headstrong, loud and confident. The two were really opposite to each other. Wonder how that worked? Shrugging the thought off, the teen couldn’t help but realize he had been a brat in the memory, feeling his face grow faintly red at the thought. Tch—well, kids’re kids. He silently hoped that he had gotten to be nicer to his dad, who seemed like he had just been trying his best.
Scratching at the back of his head, Henoke couldn’t help but grin sheepishly at the thought. Sorry, dad… Glancing up at the sky, Henoke wondered where his parents were. Were they still in his home world, with this ‘Shiki’ and ’Toge’? ”Hm—parents...?” It was a newer concept to him, who for the longest time (or at least, since reawakening), had assumed the closest thing to a ‘parent’ he had was his Master. There was a happiness in his heart mixing with the embarrassment an the stinging pain—a convoluted concoction brewing in his heart.
Shaking his head, Henoke sighed, glancing between the last two. Are they all…normal? He remembered the horrifying memory he had been shown, the one with the war. Shaking his head a bit at the thought, Henoke looked at the wisps with a steely gaze. No! That doesn't matter! I need to remember how I died! Once he found out who had ‘axed’ him, Henoke would also figure out who ‘recreated’ him. A dark look flashed across his face for a moment. They’ll pay. One thing at a time, though. With a steady breath, Henoke prepared himself for the other memories that Tori held.
Who knows what he’d find in them?
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 27, 2020 14:06:55 GMT -5
Curiosity took ahold of Tori, glancing over at Henoke as he chose between the memories that had gathered towards him. The recollection of his family, as he pieced them back little by little, reminded her of her own family. Which, one, however…? She looked away, recalling two times where the word “family” echoed strongly.
On one hand, she recalled both her parents, yet neither of them related by blood, who had accepted her into a broken family when she needed refuge the most —when she first arrived in the world she’d call “home”. The memories of it all were bittersweet, however, as there were memories she recalled fondly, but others she grimaced at the mere sight of.
On the other hand, her faint recollection of memories past Sakura Island. Chiseko, Dantès, Sharih… And the blurry face of Kosuke. Surprised to see herself capable of remembering the fact at least, Tori smiled. What little memories she had were happy ones, but knowing her current state, she couldn’t help but wonder if they were all blissful.
"Still… Isn’t it better than not remembering at all?” she asked herself in thought.
She glanced at the horizon, noticing how it seemed to change, if ever so slightly. A memory she was fond of, without her knowledge, managed to surface in a seemingly random moment.
Tori blinked as she stared at the shoreline. It seemed far more vivid than what she was used to, but that didn’t really bother her. Her size -that of a toddler’s- looked with some unease at the man a few steps into the water, a dragon coiled besides him. He held his hand towards her, inviting to step inside.
“Don’t worry —I’ll keep you afloat, okay?” he said with a smile.
Tori nodded faintly, her feet touching the lukewarm water. A few steps in, the water already was reaching her waist, and she shuddered. The man, noticing this, walked towards her, making his way past the waves with ease, and grabbed her hand. With a smile, she pulled her towards him.
“It’ll be okay. Just... relax.” “Won’t I drown?” Tori asked with some skepticism. “So long as you hold my hand, you won’t. I promised I’d teach you how to swim, remember?” “…Right.”
Tori smiled, and the man held both of her hands firmly, slowly pulling her into the sea. The dragon besides him simply chuckled as Tori began to swim, held by the hands. Little by little, Tori’s skepticism turned into cheerfulness, as she splashed in the water surrounded by laughter.
“That’s the way! Keep at it, Tori!” he cheered, never letting go of her hands.
Finding herself drawing a smile, Tori couldn’t help but chuckle. Even though his face was still blurry… She was slowly remembering him, albeit it slightly. Glancing over at the sea once more, Tori turned to the wisps in her palm with a caring smile.
“Why don’t you go on ahead?” she asked, playing with the wisps in her hand.
They didn’t answer her question, yet they floated away towards Henoke. While they did so, Tori took off her shoes before treading a bit deeper into the water.
“It has been a while since I’ve gone for a swim…” she thought, “I know I won’t lose practice, but… I’m kinda craving for it, anyways.”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 28, 2020 1:53:10 GMT -5
Finding his resolve, Henoke opened his eyes to find the last remaining wisp fly from Tori’s hand towards him. Seeing Tori prepare to go in the water, Henoke smirked a bit as he shook his head, resting a hand on his hips. Now who’s the carefree one? It was a pleasant change to see. Resting in his open palm, the remaining wisp seemed more blurry than some of the others—recoiling a bit at Henoke’s touch as his other hand hovered near it. Whatever it is…I need to know. He couldn’t chicken out now. Bringing the memory up to his face, the Shore faded away as his vision blurred, only to be replaced with—
”Tch—damn Shiki…she’s probably pullin’ my leg.” He swatted at a thin branch that was in his way on the overgrown path. Walking through a vast and verdant forest, Henoke made his way through a hardly walked on path that twisted and turned beneath fallen trees and over thorned hills. ”Did she really see a monster out here?” Imagining the girl in question, Henoke scoffed, shaking his head as he continued onward. ”Yeah right!” Laughing to himself, the young teenager slashed his way through the path with a large fallen branch they had found.
What am I doing? From what he’d seen so far, Henoke knew this ‘Shiki’ was involved, having seen some ‘monster’—but why was he out here? Heh—we really must’ve been friends. Was he here to make sure it was taken care of? Or prove it wasn’t real? ”Argh—she’s such a liar!” He had spent half of the day walking through these forests, the sun beginning to set with a familiar golden hue. ”There’s nothin’ out here!” Frustrated, the 14 year old brushed the fallen leaves and snapped twigs off of their blue vest and black shirt. ”Last time I listen to her…” While the teen grumbled, snapping over more branches and twigs as they continued on, the current Henoke found himself recalling the scenery.
Wait…isn’t this…? In surprise, the teen came upon a familiar opening in the forest, where the sky began to grow blotted out from thick leaves above. A voice echoed throughout, though it seemed to vibrate throughout his very being. ”Come…this way.” Turning direction, Henoke walked further into the forest, the sky only growing more shrouded as the leaves above the other trees grew more thick and lush. Where am I going? Powerless to do anything but watch, the present Henoke was both nervous and excited. ”The door…don't be afraid.” For some reason, the voice sounded familiar. Had he heard it before?
After a short while of walking through the forest, Henoke came upon an insanely large tree, thicker than all the others that towered highest into the air, shrouding the sky with its thick and twisting branches and leaves. It is! Within the trunk of the tree was an engraved door, slightly ajar. This is from the earlier memory! He had been here before, as a child! It was a recent memory, but one he knew to be true. What am I doin’ back here? Seemingly forgetting about their initial purpose, the Henoke in the memory stood mystified in front of the tree.
”Come. The door…will open.” Taking a step forward, Henoke reached a hand towards the large wooden door, engraved into the tree. As he walked forward and yanked open the wooden door, he seemed as though in a trance. Pitch black greeted him, adorned with countless yellow orbs. No! Those were—?! ”Don't be afraid.” Darkness surged forth as Henoke shouted out, raising both fists as he prepared himself for whatever came—
Everything began to fade to white—
Shouting out in surprise, Henoke took a step back as he prepared a fighting stance. Before he summoned his Keyblade, the teen realized where he was, standing on the Shore. Blinking in mild confusion, he reached a hand to his head, gazing at the grey sand. What—was that? What had he done? What was he trying to do? It had something to do with her… That ‘Shiki’ person. She had seen a monster? Was it the Heartless? Had he encountered Heartless before wielding the Keyblade? He couldn’t recall anything else—though he remembered one of the many memories he had regained while here.
I had told Chirithy I hadn’t ever heard of Heartless… But just because he hadn’t heard of it hadn’t meant he might not have seen them…or fought them. Were they causin’ problems there, too? A small worry nagged at his heart, threatening to grip him before he shook it off. No—that was so long ago…It’s no use worrying about now. He’d find his home world, and when he did he’d worry about its state. Until then, there was no use stressing about it. Grimacing a bit, Henoke rubbed the back of his head, gazing out at the horizon. Seems like I got more to do… His list was just getting longer, at this point.
Noticing Tori treading into the water, Henoke rested his hands behind his head. Well, at least I’m a little closer… He wasn’t sure how many memories remained here for him to gather…but he’d recover what he needed to help his friends and get his vengeance. Smirking at the thought, the teen slipped his hands into his jacket pockets as he watched Tori from the shore. Wonder what it’ll be like for her…? Would she have the same kind of odd experiences he was dealing with? Had she already?
The two seemed connected more than he realized, though things like that were far beyond him.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 28, 2020 4:57:17 GMT -5
Already at her ankles into the water, Tori perked up as she turned towards Henoke. She’d heard him shout, and as she turned towards him, he was poised into a battle stance. She smiled with unease, unable to shut down a chuckle. Even though his memory wasn’t a really pleasant one, she still couldn’t help it after seeing his reaction.
“They’re memories, y’know” she teased, “They can’t hurt you physically…”
She turned towards him, noting just a single wisp left. She sighed a bit before turning back at the sea. How long had it been since she’d felt the water of her own world’s sea? It felt like ages. Taking a bit of a head start, Tori ran before diving further into the water, popping out a few seconds later while shaking her head.
“Yep… I was missing this…” she thought with a smile.
Tori turned to her back, allowing the water to carry her for a bit as she looked at the sky above her. It felt different, for sure, but why? Thinking about it, she concluded that it was most likely because she’d been remembering a few things, albeit it most of them remaining foggy. Still, it was enough for the time being, but she couldn’t help but wonder where the gruesome ones would surface.
That was a given to her, really. Knowing that some memories wouldn’t be as pleasant as the ones she’d recalled so far.
“Even so… There’s a reason for me to remember…” she thought once more, “Once I remember… Then I’ll also be able to use this power to its fullest… Right? That’s why they don’t want me to remember… Because if I do, then I’ll have the upper hand.”
She smirked with confidence, already knowing her advantage. She reached towards the sky, noticing a few wisps going towards her —although none of them belonging to anyone she knew. They seemed to be cheerful, floating by without a care in the world.
“I’ll remember everything… No matter how painful it may be” she said as the wisps danced and played in her hand, “I’ll remember you… Kosuke.”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 28, 2020 13:01:43 GMT -5
”They can’t hurt you physically…” Hearing Tori’s laugh from the shore, Henoke turned and crossed his arms, an indignant look coming over his face as a faint hue of red crept into his cheeks. ”Tch—I knew that!” Of course, he hadn’t thought of that at all, but he’d be damned to admit it. Scratching at the back of his head, Henoke sighed as Tori dove into the water, resting his eyes on the last wisp. ”Alright…let’s see what you’ve got.” He was determined, each emotional blow from a memory taking less from his heart, a steel determination forming a wall to protect it. Walking to the last wisp, Henoke grit his teeth as he reached out, only for it to back away slightly.
”Get over here!” Rushing forward, Henoke chased the wisp for a moment in the grey sand, his temper flaring as he finally leapt and caught it in both hands—the shore beginning to fade away as the memory took hold—
”Where’s Gula?! I know you saw him!” Thunder boomed above as the rain poured down over the broken and dying world. Clang! Clash! Swoosh! Countless Keyblades rang out in the night, mimicking the thunder as their owners collided. ”You idiot! You can’t do this!” He stood in the pouring rain, glaring at the boy with large hair and glasses. Neither had their Keyblade’s pointed at one another, but grasped at their sides. The war… Another memory showcasing him and his Masters failure. It certainly stung his pride.
”You don’t think I can win?!” Glaring at the boy with large hair, Henoke shouldered his Keyblade, a dark look coming over his face. ”Henoke! Please, just listen!” Surprised washed over the present Henoke, watching the memory from his own past eyes, as he saw the girl in all pink. She was soaked to the bone, with small wounds littering her form, but was alive. She’s—! He hadn’t done what he thought?! But what about Moogle Mask…? He couldn’t freely move his head to look around. ”…I’m sorry…” His eyes had averted after locking with the girl in pink’s. It seemed even though his worst fears hadn’t come true, he had done something.
”But this is the only way to stop what’s happenin’!” Refusing to let himself be cowed by guilt, Henoke raised his free hand in defiance, clenching his fist. ”If my Master’s failed, then it's my job to knock some sense into ‘im!” His Master’s technique’s weren’t the only thing he had been learning—but his feelings and ideals as well. ”What if you beat Gula?” Glaring at the two, Henoke felt a hand rest on his shoulder, surprising him as he spun around. ”There’s still four other Leaders, too.”
Gritting his teeth, his eyes glared at the girl wearing the red bandanna, despite the current Henoke’s relief at seeing her in a better state than the last memory. Still no Moogle Mask, though… Maybe they had taken him somewhere safe? ”So?! I’ll talk to them, too!” Raising his Keyblade into the air, Henoke gave the other three a look that told them his heart was set. ”And if they don’t listen—I’ll just take ‘em out!” While the girl in pink and the boy with glasses glanced between each other with worried expressions, the girl with the red bandanna shook her head before giving Henoke a faint grin. ”Like you could do it alone!”
Walking past Henoke and towards the others, she turned and gave him a surprising smile before clasping her hands on the other two’s shoulders. ”Then we’ll just have to help you out!” The other two looked shocked, staring at the girl in red with open mouths. ”What?!” They both shouted out in unison, as Henoke watched with an equally stunned look. ”Hm…He does stand a better chance if we’re with him, and I don’t want to fight more friends…” The girl in pink seemed to have calmed down first, smiling faintly at Henoke with a nod, seemingly still worried but willing. ”I’m only gonna give you some back-up! You’ll have to do the leg work!” Crossing his arms, the boy with large hair and glasses seemed to agree somewhat reluctantly, though a faint smile lit his face as well.
”You guys…” Henoke didn’t know what to say—he was both happy but worried about them all. ”Don’t even think of saying no, hypocrite!” The girl in the red bandanna came up, a stern look on her face. ”You’re not the only strong one here, you know!” A wide smile spread across Henoke’s face as he felt his heart lighten. Wiping a finger over his nose, the teen smirked and raised a brow at her. ”Pffft—I’m definitely stronger than you!” The comment got him a cuff to the head, to which he laughed loudly while rubbing the spot.
His eyes were scrunched close due to the wide smile on his face, a faint stinging in his eyes. ”Alright! Let’s go!” Everything faded to white as the memory dissolved—
A smile lit his face as the memory faded, though a faint worry nagged at his heart. Gula? He had been talking about fighting the Foretellers head on? That seemed kinda reckless even for him. Tch—did they do me in? It was hard to imagine, a Master slaying a Wielder…but given the memories of the war coming back to him, it was sounding less and less incredulous. And the guy with the mask… He hadn’t seen him at all in that memory. Sure, anything could have happened in between the events that Henoke couldn’t remember…but it pained him with a guilt nonetheless.
I wonder how that fight went? Had it even happened, or had they all gotten taken out before they even reached them? Scratching at the back of his head, Henoke sighed as he shoved his other hand into his jacket pocket. Looking out at the water, he allowed himself to be distracted by Tori floating in the grey sea, multiple wisps floating around as though not having a care in the world. At least everyone else was okay. Henoke was a little disappointed, having hoped to learn where his Master had gone. Where was he, during the war? The man had left to investigate the discord between Unions, that was the last thing he remembered.
What happened to him? Henoke walked to the edge of the shore, kicking off his shoes and socks beneath to go barefoot over the grey sand. As he neared the tide, the boy shivered as the water bit at his toes and soles of his feet. As a gentle breeze passed, his feet adjusted to the water as he went in up to his ankles, his pants already rolled up enough to not get wet. Staring into the water, Henoke looked at his own reflection—pondering some of the new memories he had regained. Hmph—what a pain. Allowing his conflicted emotions to wash away, Henoke bent over to run a hand lightly through his reflection, rippling and distorting the image as it washed away.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 28, 2020 15:03:48 GMT -5
Ignorant of the memory Henoke recalled this time, Tori kept looking at the wisps floating near her, smiling caringly at their playfulness. They seemed… Happy around her, as well, not really hesitating to approach her in a teasing matter. Something about it also felt familiar, even though none of the memories there were of people she knew. Still, she could see them…
The memories they held dearly and close to them. Happy memories of better times in the past.
As she turned back to shallow waters, she saw Henoke stepping in, much for her surprise. Although he hadn’t stated it… There was something that kept him from going further. Maybe? The thought caused her to chuckle, as she walked a bit towards him and then held her hand towards him.
“Wanna go for a swim?” she asked with a cheerful smile, “I know you’ve got a lot in your head, but… Maybe you should take a break from all that. Space out, y’know? It's not good to just... Try and solve everything at once. Trust me -I'd know.”
The wisps that had gathered around her remained where they were, somewhat deeper into the shoreline, before they decided to leave. Whatever their intentions were, they didn’t seem willing to bother the two. They shivered, even, although most likely neither would be able to notice it.
A faint flash crossed Tori’s mind, suddenly seeing what Henoke had recalled. His words, in particular, caught her off-guard, but she quickly dismissed it, still holding her hand towards Henoke in hopes he’d take it. If not…
She was ready to drag him a bit deeper, but not to the point they’d need to float up. Patiently, she waited…
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 28, 2020 17:07:38 GMT -5
”Wanna go for a swim?” Henoke’s eyes broke away from the water. Seeing Tori’s cheerful smile, he couldn’t help but feel a bit more carefree. ”It’s not good to just…try and solve everything at once.” Tori was right, it wasn’t doing him any good, trying to piece everything together at once. Watching the wisps drifting around them, Henoke imagined allowing his thoughts float like them. ”Yeah, I guess you're right…” It was a mumble as he glanced at her outstretched hand. Not the best swimmer, Henoke hesitated. ”Yeah right, Kupo, I bet you just can’t swim!” The boy’s voice from his memory rang through Henoke’s head, bringing a faint grin to his face as he nodded. Moving the picture from his pants to his jacket pocket, Henoke tossed the blue layer onto the shore.
”Alright, sure!” Smiling back, Henoke grabbed Tori’s hand before following her deeper into the water. Let go, huh? Closing his eyes as he felt the water splash against his legs and the breeze pass through him. Goosebumps prickled his bare arms as his eyes opened, looking around the water they waded into. The smallest of splashes seemed to thunder, given the otherwise 'stillness' of the world. ”It’s so quiet…” There weren’t any fish swimming, or birds chirping—just the wisps, floating silently. Thinking of the pictures he had seen in Kosuke's hut, the teen couldn't help but wonder what had made the world what it was, though it wasn't something he was going to think about now. Trying to take Tori's advice, Henoke tried to not think of anything in particular, other than the sensation of the water and the breeze. Staying in a section where his feet would be on the ground (thankfully, he was pretty tall, so it was easy), Henoke shivered a bit, not used to the beach winds or the brisk water. He had grown up surrounded by forests, after all, rather than a coast. Heh...never would've thought. It was a new fact he had only just learned about himself, but it explained why he had never felt super comfortable in deep water. Maybe he was only used to rivers or something like that?
It felt nice, knowing his own roots and history, even if it was only in small fragments.
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