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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 28, 2020 17:35:31 GMT -5
Chuckling a bit as he grabbed her hand, Tori led Henoke through the water until he let go. As for her, she went a bit deeper, never really looking away. Although Henoke’s memory was laid bare for her to see, she still wanted to push him a bit further.
And she knew just the trick for it.
“Come on —why’re you standing there for?” she teased, smirking, “Lemme guess, then… You don’t know how to swim” chuckling, she shook her head, “Want me to teach you? It’s fairly easy. Besides, I promise is worth the trouble!”
As if to taunt him, Tori pushed herself backwards. The quiet felt right to her, allowing her to focus on what was important. Still smiling towards Henoke, she swum backwards deeper into the sea, her feet barely being able to touch the sea floor.
She knew what dwelled underwater. She hadn’t seen it, but she knew it was still there. Even if there were no creatures both in the air or underwater, Tori still knew of a little treasure hidden deep down. And she wanted to show him.
“It’s not too late to learn, y’know” she continued, “Besides, what’ll happen if you encounter Heartless that like the water? How’re you gonna fight ‘em then?”
Surrounded by a bubble, young Tori looked with awe at the seafloor in front of her. Multitudes of coral and sea plants, all unleashing their pure beauty for her to contemplate. Besides her was a white, nine-tailed fox, also looking in awe. A faint chuckle brought them to glance elsewhere, as a dragon floated past them, followed by Kosuke. With a smile, he pointed at the coral reef, to which Tori could only tilt her head at. He then pointed upwards, indicating he wanted to go to the surface. Tori followed, popping the bubble as soon as they were up and back in land.
“You wanted to know what that was, right?” Kosuke asked, glancing over at her while he shook his hair. “Yeah…” “It’s coral. Pretty, isn’t it?” “What’s… coral?” “They’re like plants, but… They’re much more alive than that —they’re sea creatures.” “So… They can remember?” “Pretty much. Although I dunno what a coral could remember…” Kosuke admitted sheepishly. “There was also something… star-like…” “Oh, a starfish? There was one?” “Mm-hm. So… What’s a starfish?” “Heh… You’re not getting tired with asking all this?” “No. I never knew they lived here…” Tori shook her head, eager. “Even though this is your world, technically speaking?” “It’s not mine!” “But you’re the one keeping it alive!” Kosuke laughed, to then ruffle Tori’s hair a bit, “In a sense… You’re the one giving them life, y’know? I doubt they’d be here if it wasn’t for you. Maybe you wanted them to live here?” “…” Tori’s eyes open with awe, “Really…?” “I bet that, if you wanted it, there’d be plenty of birds and butterflies flying around.” “What’s a… butter… fly?” “Right, you’ve never seen one before, either…”
Tori dove down for a bit, while waiting for Henoke to follow. She opened her eyes, smiling.
“It’s still here, then…”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 28, 2020 17:55:59 GMT -5
”Come on—why’re you standing there for?” Hearing Tori’s jab, Henoke splashed some water in her direction, giving her an indignant glare. ”Pfft…I know how’ta swim…” Grumbling a bit, the teen pressed onward, allowing himself to go deeper into the water. As Tori pushed herself backwards with ease, Henoke grimaced as the water raised to his chest, causing another shiver to ripple through him. ”It’s not too late to learn, y’know” Lowering himself, the teen pushed off, swimming after Tori with a slower pace. ”What’ll happen if you encounter Heartless that like the water? How’re you gonna fight ‘em then?”
Making his way to Tori, Henoke wiped the sea from his eyes as he gave a devious grin. ”With magic!” Magic wasn’t his strongest suit, but he did seem to have an affinity for fire and lightning. As Tori dove underwater, Henoke took a deep breath before closing his eyes and diving under. Opening his eyes beneath the water, the teen allowed himself to float, feeling the weightlessness. The light shone dimly down in the water, illuminating small sections with rays of light that lanced through the bubbles escaping from his closed mouth. It's...pretty. Trying not to get too distracted, Henoke swam after Tori, diving deeper until he finally came up next to her to see what she wanted to show him.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 28, 2020 18:14:15 GMT -5
Tori glanced over as Henoke followed her down. Given how clear the water was, seeing through it would be easy, albeit possibly blurry. For her, at least, there wasn't much trouble, since she was used to it. Still... As Henoke pointed out before diving, magic could be useful for fighting, but also to give oneself an advantage.
"I had a bubble around me... Back then..." she thought, recalling the memory. Had she conjured it herself? But she was so small...
She noticed the coral reef not too far away, its vibrant colors oposing the monotony of the shore alltogether. Smiling, Tori dove a bit further, still able to hold her breath for just a little longer.
Just like she remembered.
"My world, huh?"
If she was the reason behind the Shore's lackluster state... Couldn't she turn it back the way it was? Something told her it wouldn't be as easy as it seemed... She'd been there twice already, and yet nothing seemed to change. What could she do to change that?
She flinched, suddenly feeling the need for air. She pulled herself upwards, shaking her head as she reached the surface to take a deep breath. Obviously, she had to keep herself afloat now, being so deep into the water.
"...Right..." she seemed to remember something as she looked towards the sky, with a faint smile, "This used to be my world... Or rather... My prison... That's why I hate this place..."
The thought felt bittersweet, and she could see why. After all...
Hadn't pleasant things happened during her life there, trapped in that small world, taunted about the worlds outside? Shaking her head, Tori chuckled.
At the very least, she'd managed to leave... But at what cost? As she thought, she swam her way back to land, somewhat not expecting Henoke to follow. Why would he?
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 28, 2020 21:42:24 GMT -5
Swimming further down, Henoke followed Tori to where the coral reef was. Woah… He had never seen something like it before—though, maybe that wasn’t saying a lot, considering his fractured memories. !!!! Mesmerized by the site, Henoke had momentarily been ignoring his lungs cry for air. Swimming back up to the surface, Henoke took in a greedy breath the moment his face broke through the sea. Shaking the water out of his face, Henoke kept himself afloat, albeit he’d dip down more often than stay upright. ”This used to be my world…or rather…my prison…” Hearing Tori’s thought, Henoke glanced at her with a tilted head.
Her prison? Had she been trapped here? Seemingly caught up in her own thoughts, Tori began to swim back to shore, leaving Henoke reflecting as he allowed himself to float on his back (though it took him a second to get the hang of it). ”A prison, huh?” For some reason, he thought back to the odd castle he awoke in. So…that’s where I was ‘created’? Having originally thought he had simply woken up there after his last journey, the teen had different thoughts about the castle, now that he knew what he was. He could hardly remember what it looked like on the outside—though he remembered nothing but white walls on the inside…
Floating above him, a wisp had appeared, slowly beginning to whirl down. Raising an eyebrow, Henoke watched it absentmindedly as he floated in the water, listening to the clouded sound of waves in his ears. ”Are you…?” Before he could fully make out his thought, the memory floated down and the world seemed to vanish—
”So, this one’s a failure, too?” A faint voice reached Henoke’s ears, though it sounded like more of an echo. ”No, no! I merely did too well of a job recreating the heart! That’s all!” His eyelids fluttered open, though they seemed insanely heavy. Henoke couldn’t make out much, as his vision seemed to be blurred, though he could make out an odd hue all around him. What is this? The sensation of floating had enveloped him, and for some reason he felt so…sleepy. ”Sounds like an excuse.” Through the haze, Henoke could make out the faint outlines of two figures, seemingly talking.
”I simply got carried away with the data—it seems if they recall too much they’ll hardly be easy pawns to use.” He was floating in what seemed to be a large pod, all white with a translucent yet murky glass-like surface allowing him to see somewhat outside. Where…am I? Even his thoughts felt groggy and slurred. ”I merely have to extract a few...’key memories’, to strip them of their will a bit more…” The two figures he could make out a little better, though neither had distinct features. Both were cloaked in all black, with gloves and boots to match the shadows and hoods they draped themselves in. The room around him was a deep and dark blue, dimly lit by large monitors and adorned by not much else.
”I see.” Walking towards the pod he floated in, one of the hooded figures came closer to Henoke, peering into the tank with a shrouded gaze. ”We can’t afford mistakes.” Turning back to the other figure, the one near Henoke rested a gloved hand on the tank, to which the teen groggily glared at. ”I trust you’ll be able to succeed?” Seemingly offended, the other cloaked figure rested their hands on their hips, turning their head away while raising it with indignation. ”Hmph! Of course I can! I’m a genius, after all!” Glancing back at Henoke, the one with their hand on the tank gazed in at their experiment with unseen intent—though the vast shroud of the hood alone was unsettling. ”Yes…I trust you won’t disappoint.” With that, the gloved hand fell from the glass as Henoke felt his eyes grow weary.
As they began to close, the world around him faded into white—
He was staring back up at the sky, a blank expression on his face as he floated in the water. Those were…! Two figures in all black, hooded and unseen. Belle had mentioned an individual in ‘all black’ being behind the Heartless problem back on her world. Is it a coincidence? He wasn’t sure—but if the individuals who created him were running amok on other worlds…well, he’d need to make them pay in more ways than one. Henoke stopped floating, deciding to make his way back to shore (it took a second, seeing as how his form wasn’t great). After swimming a bit, Henoke felt the sand beneath his bare feet, pushing himself back up out of the water as he began to walk onto shore.
I wonder if I’d find out more at that castle? He wondered as he walked, reaching the spot where he had thrown his jacket. But, how could I get back there? He still wasn’t able to control his destinations with the Keyblade, being more at its mercy than its master. Carrying the jacket at his side, Henoke walked over to where Tori was on the shore, deciding to leave his worries for later. ”Hey—what was that thing you showed me underwater?” It had been colorful and lively, contrasting against the dark sand below on the sea floor. ”I’ve never seen somethin’ like that.”
He had really enjoyed it—it looked soft yet spiky all at once.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 29, 2020 3:22:42 GMT -5
Tori sat down, watching Henoke drift away as he made himself float above water. Thinking of her own story, she hardly noticed him swimming back towards shore, and it was only until he spoke that she came back to her senses. His awe was clear in his eyes, causing her to chuckle.
“A coral reef” she replied, calmly, “I won’t lie, I was just as amazed as you, the first time I saw it.”
She glanced back down, thinking on what she’d been able to recall. She had managed to hear Henoke repeat it, and, all things considered, it was troublesome for her as well. She knew, however, the answers all too well, much like before.
Sighing, she shook her head and glanced over at Henoke. The memory he’d recalled seemed to bother him, though, so she decided against mentioned her own troubles. After all, they were there because of him… Sort of.
“Something bothering you?” she asked, tilting her head a bit, “Even though I said that thinking about stuff all at once won’t help… I can’t help but think about something in particular…” she placed her head over her hand, pouting, “And, being honest… I wanna take it off my chest…”
Although she wanted for Henoke to simply order up his thoughts, it wasn’t a lie. Tori herself wanted to clear stuff up, but she knew she couldn’t do it alone. Even though Henoke had admitted that thinking wasn’t his forte, would it hurt to try and think about it just a bit? All things considered, he could probably help her with things she was unaware of, and viceversa.
It was just a matter of seeing what to do, before they left for good.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 29, 2020 10:19:13 GMT -5
”A coral reef.” Henoke nodded at the word, imagining the beautiful colors and shapes he had seen beneath the water. A coral reef, huh? Hearing how Tori was just as interested when she first saw them, Henoke grinned a bit. It was certainly a beautiful natural wonder. ”I wouldn’t’a found it on my own.” Not being one prone to swimming, especially diving, Henoke was thankful that Tori had guided him to it. Noticing her sigh however, Henoke’s face fell a bit. Hm…seems like she’s got some stuff on her mind, too. Surprisingly though, when Tori spoke next, she had asked if he was the one doing okay. ”Even though I said that thinking about stuff all at once won’t help…I can’t help but think of something in particular…”
Rubbing the back of his head, Henoke decided to humor Tori—who had been awesome about helping him out this far. ”I was just thinkin’ of that weird castle I woke up in…” The most recent memory had been bizarre—Henoke wasn’t even entirely sure how it was his memory. ”Before, I thought I had ended up there during my travels with the Keyblade—“ He crossed his arms with a sigh, shaking his head. ”—but I think that’s where I was made.” It was weird, saying the word ‘made’ or ‘created’ instead of ‘born’. ”You remember what Belle told us, ‘boutta guy in all black?”
Waiting for Tori to either affirm or deny remembering, Henoke would continue. ”It could just be a coincidence…but I saw two people in black cloaks in my last memory.” A serious look had come across his face, a mixture of determination and worry setting into his heart. ”It was at that castle—I don’t know how…but I’m sure of it.” Resting his hands on his hips, Henoke shook his head once more, turning away to look back at the sea for a moment. ”I wanna go investigate it…see who those people in black are, but I can’t control where I’m sent with the Keyblade yet.”
He was frustrated at his own lack of control and skill. That was the feeling his latest memory had brought up. Having dried off a bit, Henoke finally pulled his blue jacket back on, shoving his hands into its pockets as he went over to sit next to Tori. ”So—that’s what’s eatin’ me right now. How ‘bout you?” The teen grinned a bit sheepishly as he sat next to her, asking for her to open up about what was bothering her, too. He knew he wasn’t the only one going through similar issues—especially seeing as how Tori’s memory seemed to be more elusive than his.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 29, 2020 11:03:36 GMT -5
”I was just thinkin’ of that weird castle I woke up in…”
Henoke’s comment brought Tori to look at him, with clear attention. The mention of that place again was certainly no coincidence. But how would he even recall something like that? Wasn’t it when he, or rather, the current Henoke, was made? It was a bit too much to focus, but she managed to follow the lead. Not only that, but it seemed like whoever “created” him could be the same people that caused trouble in Beast’s Castle.
There was barely any room to leave it as a coincidence.
“We might want to look deeper into that, then…” she thought, “Although that’s not a place I’d go willingly… Like this place.”
If Tori was the one opening them a path, then they could definitely end there with no trouble, unlike Henoke’s hit-or-miss Power of Waking. A Rift, while having its own disadvantages, was still a viable travel method.
”So—that’s what’s eatin’ me right now. How ‘bout you?” Once more, Henoke’s words forced her to look at him, noticing he’d sat down not that far away from her. Smirking with some unease, Tori shook her head, amused.
“Well… There is one thing…” she glanced over at him, calmly, “I know you heard me say it, though. But… I still wanna get it off my chest.”
“So far, the things I’ve been able to remember… All happened here. While not all of it has come back to me, it doesn’t take much to just stitch points together and figure out something. And… That’s what I’ve been doing, albeit somewhat unconscious” Tori sighed, looking at the sea, “This used to be my world —where I’m from. A prison I could never leave from, no matter what I did… Destined to forever watch as things outside the Shore happened, unable to act… A bystander, if you would.”
Saying it was somewhat bitter, but she didn’t mind it. What could break her at that point, having gone through who knew what sort of hardships? That was nothing —knowing she was a prisoner of a world full of memories of those fallen, meant to remember for eternity as she watched things happen. But that wouldn’t make sense, would it? If she was supposed to never forget, to make sure things didn’t repeat themselves…
Why would she have to remain there?
“It’s tough, though” she continued, “I can’t really say why I was meant to remain here for… Eternity, maybe. A Spirit’s supposed to remember in order to avoid tragedies from repeating themselves… So, what would be the point of that, if I’m supposed to just watch?” Tori shook her head, “It makes no sense…”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 29, 2020 11:32:24 GMT -5
Hearing Tori begin to explain her memories, Henoke nodded, able to relate on some level. ”This used to be my world—where I’m from. A prison I could never leave from, no matter what I did…” His face grew somber as she spoke, his eyes drifting to the sand. So, she was trapped here. It sounded lonely—something else the teen was beginning to relate to more. ”It’s tough, though. I can’t really say why I was meant to remain here for…Eternity, maybe.” Henoke listened to her thoughts on her ‘purpose’ for being trapped at this shore, raising a finger to his chin in thought as his eyes fell on the sea. Hm…was she put here? Like him, had she been formed or ‘created’ somewhere against her will?
Are Spirits ‘made’ though? Or...born? Was there a difference? He realized he wasn’t really sure—never having to have asked the question before. Shaking his head, Henoke leaned forward, resting his arms on his raised knees as he continued to watch the water. ”It doesn’t make sense…unless someone put you here’re somethin’…” Thinking aloud, he decided to give it a shot, even though this kind of thing wasn’t necessarily ‘up his alley’. ”But even then, I don’t see how it’d be helpful to keep someone here watchin’ memories forever.” Seriously—how did that help anything? Taking away someone’s freedom, just to watch stuff that had happened already? There had to be some motive behind it, right?
”But you’ve been gone…and the memories’re still here, right?” Glancing at Tori, the teen doubted he was helping at this point—most likely just adding to the confusion. ”So…did anyone have to be here to begin with?” It was something that wasn’t clicking for him. Why have a Spirit linger on this world just to watch memories that were otherwise fine just…wandering around? It didn’t seem like there was much of anything on this world to disturb them. It was probably something he was missing—or just didn’t know. After all, he was out of his element. Jolting a bit, Henoke had a sudden idea strike him.
”Wait! Did anyone ever show up here, when you lived in this world? Like…to ask about the memories, or anything?” It was a long shot, but Henoke was thinking of his own memories. How were ‘memories’ of people created, or added or subtracted from people? If they’ve all been here already… Could someone gather memories from this world, or harness them, to take them to another world? Was Tori intended to be used as something to bridge the gap between? Shaking his head, Henoke sighed, resting a hand on his forehead.
Tch—it’s all so confusin’. His head was starting to hurt.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 29, 2020 12:37:22 GMT -5
Tori sighed, not really sure on what answers to give for every question that was placed. Although some were with answers, others were rather troublesome. Focused on ordering her facts together, Tori began to answer each one at a time, mostly for herself, but making sure Henoke followed.
“I can’t say if someone put me here” she began, “It’d make no sense, really, nor would it be possible. Can’t say exactly why, but… Spirits themselves aren’t really… tame, no matter which one you try and force to do something. They’ll fight back, no matter the odds, and win with ease. So, I see it hard for someone to have forced me into remaining here…” Tori shook her head, “Mostly likely… I was born here. It’d make sense why this world obeys my word, and no one else’s. Same goes for the memories residing here —it'd make sense why they gather first towards me, than to you. At least, the ones that don't belong to you." “There is a reason for someone to remain here. This place isn’t what it used to be. Someone remaining here anchors the world tight, since it doesn’t have a ‘heart’ to speak of… Its core resides elsewhere, so that the memories gather here have a spot to either hide or remain. So…” Tori glanced over at Henoke, “If the core is removed —as in forced away from its origin—… This world would start to die out. And if that were to happen… Then I think the outcome’s rather obvious —the memories gathered here would leave towards the worlds outside, and link themselves to people, causing trouble while they’re at it. Remember, these are the souls of those who’ve fallen, with some not willing to let go or with darker intentions in mind. That just spells trouble.”
”Wait! Did anyone ever show up here, when you lived in this world? Like…to ask about the memories, or anything?” Tori perked up, and then pondered. Had anyone showed up there, with the intentions of asking about their memories, or to take other memories with them? The thought was unlikely. And even if they did…
The Spirits wouldn’t allow it.
“If they ever showed up, they would’ve gotten nothing out of it” Tori replied calmly, “Remember, this world is selective on what it lets out. Not to mention, this is a world where Spirits are at their strongest, because it’s right in the center of the Realm of Twilight. If someone really came here to take memories with them, they wouldn’t be able to leave unscathed or with said memories —if not the Spirits, the world wouldn’t allow them.”
“Of course, asking for memories would be different, but they would still be chased out. They’d remember nothing, anyways, since what’s forgotten remains deeply hidden in one’s heart —coming here would be worthless, other than causing one to lose themselves to those resting here. Yours is a special case, remember? The original you died, and with that, his —or, rather, your memories— gathered here. That's the only reason you're remembering while staying here.”
Of course, she was saying too much. She noticed Henoke placing his hand on his forehead, groaning with a hint of pain, to which she could only sigh and chuckle.
“Yeah… Maybe we should cut it some slack…” she said with unease.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 29, 2020 13:43:41 GMT -5
Hearing Tori explain how it was hard to imagine someone placing her in this prison, Henoke furrowed his brows. Though he was glad someone hadn’t forced her into this world, it did make things just as confusing as the start. ”There is a reason for someone to remain here. This place isn’t what it used to be.” As she mentioned it, Henoke thought of the pictures in Kosuke’s hut once more. Hm…so she is the reason it’s changed? As Tori explained what would happen if the ‘core’ of the world was removed, he was reminded of the danger of the memories. Oh, yeah… He had genuinely forgotten their more sinister nature, seeing as how tame they had all behaved while he and Tori were here. They weren’t just ‘memories’—but the ‘souls’ of fallen people—himself included.
”If they ever showed up, they would’ve gotten nothing out of it.” Another dead end, then. Henoke sighed, scratching at his head as he was once again reminded of important information he never fully grasped. ”Of course, asking for memories would be different, but they would still be chased out.” It was reassuring at least, to hear how the world and spirits seemed resilient, in their own nature. ”Yours is a special case, remember?” That’s right—he was only ‘allowed’ here unbothered because his own memories were gathered here. He was already dead. That’s…still weird to get used to. He had hoped to overcome the uncertainty around it all quicker.
”Maybe we should cut it some slack…” Seeing Tori’s unease, Henoke lifted a hand and waved it dismissively. ”Nah—it’s fine. Just annoyin’ is all…” He scratched at his cheek with a somewhat sheepish grin. ”Though you probably get that more than I do, huh?” Leaning back and propping himself up with his hands, the teen glanced up at the sky, attempting to take a second go at it. ”Hm…well, by the sounds of it—since you’ve been gone, this place’s changed in a bad way…” Turning to look at Tori, he tilted his head a bit—wondering if his next question would lead to another dead end. ”So, does that mean that the green jerk and the confusin’ woman’re plannin’ on tryin’ to destroy this world? Do they just wanna unleash these ghosts on everyone?”
It made sense for two psychopaths, even if it was simple, but Henoke failed to see the ‘end-goal’ in a plan like that. ”Like…maybe you were born here to be the worlds guardian? So people like them couldn't unleash the ghosts?” It was the only idea he could come up with, at the moment. Though the name sounded glorified, it didn’t really settle the idea of it being a thankless or lonely job, or why Tori of all people was the one chosen for such a frustrating task.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 29, 2020 16:01:49 GMT -5
Chuckling at his confusion, Tori couldn’t help but shake her head faintly. She’d been doing that far more often than what she was used to, but it didn’t stop amusing her altogether. Not only was it a small distraction, it also allowed her to keep moving onwards even when the more serious stuff was touched upon. That alone was enough.
Hearing the mention of Adrien and Kira —someone who she hadn’t thought about, nor a person Henoke had already met— brought her back to earth. They weren’t the only ones looking to take advantage of the situation… If anything, Adrien could be considered more of a pawn than anything —someone who jumped in for the fun of it. Kira, on the other hand…
”Like…maybe you were born here to be the worlds guardian? So people like them couldn't unleash the ghosts?” Henoke’s suggestion caused her to think once more. It didn’t sound wrong, but at the same time, it didn’t feel too close to the truth, either. She hummed for a bit, before shaking her head once more. It was starting to be a habit now…
“I don’t think that’s the reason, but it’s not completely wrong, either” she replied, “By the by… You never told me you met Kira. Well, not that you could’ve” Tori rolled her eyes, “You were way too busy keeping Adrien in sight… Anyways, back in track” she chuckled before continuing, “As I said, maybe you’re partially right in why I was kept here. However…” Tori frowned, “I can’t really say what else I’m missing… Wish I could. What I do know is the following: it’s true that they want this place down in order to allow the memories to roam free. What they gain from that is chaos” Tori pointed out with a smirk, but quickly turned to a more serious mood, “Chaos capable of overthrowing the world’s current state to the ground. Almost in the same way as what the Keyblade War did —the war you were lured to. It’s a selfish motive, really —they want to erase everything in order to create a slate they are pleased with. And they won’t stop until that’s done.”
With a sigh, Tori stood up and brushed herself a bit of the sand stuck to her due to the water, before looking at Henoke with a mix between seriousness and calm. Crossing her arms calmly, she took her time before talking once again.
“While I’m willing to explain things at greater detail… I wanna know one thing” she said, calm, “Is there anything left you’re in need of remembering? Like… A memory that links others together. It’s mostly just to calculate how much longer we’ll take, so that I can make a Rift and get out” she smiled, “I’m not rushing you, though, but I would like to know regardless.”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 29, 2020 20:18:02 GMT -5
”I don’t think that’s the reason, but it’s not completely wrong, either” Henoke sighed, a faint scowl curling his lips as he scratched the back of his head. Seems that’s as good as he’d get in this leg race. ”You never told me you met Kira.” Henoke shrugged, waving a hand dismissively. Truth be told—he hadn’t bothered to remember the woman’s name—nor had he ever wanted a reason to bring her up. All he needed was a face—one he’d remember in case his Keyblade ever came across it again. That goes for you, too, Adrien. His face reflected his inner grumblings before he shook the thought off, focusing on what Tori was saying.
”What I do know is the following: it’s true that they want this place down in order to allow the memories to roam free. What they gain from that is chaos.” Henoke’s brow raised as he tilted his head in confusion. What good did chaos do? Hm…that ‘Kira’ lady had talked about despair and sadness a lot. What had it been? Something about her ‘feeding’ off of it? ”Chaos capable of overthrowing the world’s current state to the ground.” His eyes widened a bit at the comment, as he hadn’t expected that kind of graveness. ”Almost in the same way as what the Keyblade War did—the war you were lured to.” His throat got a bit dry as Henoke was reminded of a question he had meant to ask—something he had shoved aside until learning more memories.
Kosuke and Necro mentioned that, too...a ‘Keyblade War’… It was less a suspicion and more something he was willing to deny until hearing the truth. Hearing Tori’s sigh, Henoke glanced over to notice she had stood up. ”I wanna know one thing.” Standing up as Tori asked him what else he wished to remember, the teen gave it serious thought as he brushed himself off before staring once more at the sea. ”Well…I guess that...kinda depends.” Deciding to pull the trigger, Henoke turned to Tori with a serious look. ”You've mentioned a ‘Keyblade War’—so that was the war I was in?” Perhaps it was even the war he died in—he wasn’t completely sure of anything fully.
He hadn’t really thought much of it—considering it hadn’t had a name when he was alive. Few wars were named, before they settled, after all. ”How long ago did it happen?” Did he even have a Master anymore? Henoke was a little slow on the mark at times, but the teen had known that there was no hope in him finding his Chirithy, once arriving here. He must’ve faded when I died… The two ‘hearts’ were connected, after all. He also knew in his heart that his past friends were gone—having seen them all here for a moment. There was some small part of him that still hoped someone was around to remember him, to be searching for him like he had been for them.
But what if the war was long ago? His golden eyes burned as they finally looked back up to Tori—a steely confidence showcasing they were ready for whatever hard truth awaited them. Depending on her answer, Henoke knew his next goal would be one of two choices.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 30, 2020 9:21:18 GMT -5
As a concerned look took place in Tori’s eyes, she listened attentive to Henoke’s questions. She couldn’t help but smile faintly, reminded of his own trouble.
It’d make sense for him to wonder about it, since it was most likely when he died. Still, the confidence in his eyes was different from before —a proper confidence, fitting of someone willing to learn the truth.
“I can’t say exactly how long ago it was… But ‘ages’ ago sounds more than plausible” Tori replied, calmly, “Right now, it’s a story. A legend, of sorts, of how the worlds became what they are now —disconnected from one another.”
Placing her hand on her chest, Tori took a deep breath. She had an idea as for why he was asking that, having already seen a few memories depicting said war. She couldn’t help it —she pitied him. And that was the only reason she needed to step forward and lend him a hand in remembering.
“…You wanted to see if… By chance, someone you knew was still alive, didn’t you?” she asked with a faint sigh, and then smiled, “We can try. If their memory isn’t here… Then odds are they’re still alive, somewhere roaming the worlds in search for, perhaps, you. I’ll understand if you don’t want me to do that, though, but I’ll leave the offer there regardless.”
Tori turned faintly, as a few things clouded her own mind. How did it feel, knowing you died, and yet not knowing how long you were dead for? The uncertainty of it all was somewhat frightening, and at the same time… Familiar.
Didn’t she technically know of someone who’d died, and somehow, had returned from death’s door?
“Right… Kosuke…” she thought, calmly, “You’re still out there… Even though I can’t remember you, you’re looking for me…”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 30, 2020 15:05:33 GMT -5
”I can’t say exactly how long ago it was…” Seeing the look in her eyes, Henoke knew it was anything but recent. ”Right now, it’s a story. A legend, of sorts, of how the worlds became what they are now—disconnected from one another.” Not only did his heart take a blow from the fact that it had in fact been too long for even his Master to still be around—Henoke was also stunned by the ramifications of the war. We failed… His fists clenched tight at his sides as he felt his eyes sting and a red hue creep into his cheeks. Though he didn’t have all of his memory back, Henoke had learned enough to show that his Master’s absence in the war had only led to his ‘original self’ taking on the role. It seemed both student and Master had failed in their shared goal.
Sorry—Chirithy. The war had been so hectic—he was sure the small guardian had tried their best to keep him out of trouble. When did I join in, though? The last thing he recalled was being sent to harness more light for the coming war while his Master attempted to work on reducing the chances of it happening. How did I end up there? For a moment, Henoke was so caught up in the whirlwind that was his thoughts, Tori’s voices seemed like a faraway echo. ”You wanted to see if…by chance, someone you knew was still alive, didn’t you?” The question caused his spaced out glance to snap back to focus, his golden eyes curious but also hesitant with their eagerness.
”We can try. If their memory isn’t here…then odds are they’re still alive, roaming the worlds in search, for perhaps, you.” Though his heart leapt at the idea—part of Henoke was also a bit destitute towards the thought. It’s been ages, though… His Master was just a normal human, when all was said and done—and humans only had so much time. That decides it, then. Shaking his head, Henoke’s eyes flashed a dark look as he glanced off towards the horizon, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. It was time he faced the reality of it all. ”Nah…don’t bother.” Turning away from Tori, Henoke crouched a bit, keeping his hands in his pockets as he stared into the soft waves with a distant look. ”Everyone’s long gone, by now.” It hurt, but it was something he had to face head-on. That was his style, original or not.
Standing back up, Henoke looked back at Tori with a determined glance, a faint pout on his lips. ”I bet whoever ‘axed’ me is long gone, too.” It was kind of rough, not being able to get his own revenge. ”I’m gonna find the cloaked bastards who made me—the one’s causin’ trouble on other worlds, by the sounds of it.” With his usual confident grin, Henoke seemed a bit more himself as he raised a fist. ”I’m gonna make ‘em regret ever bringin’ me back!” He wouldn’t forget about his promise, though—to both Tori and Kosuke. Seeming a bit more relaxed, though he was still pretty revved up, Henoke rested both hands behind his head as he gave Tori a smile.
”But first, we’ve gotta get your memories sorted, now that we’ve got most'a mine!” There wasn’t much else he cared to remember, at this point. Everything else would probably just bring him more heartache or frustration—all in all, it was literally ancient history. Maybe the parts I’m missin’re things I’d wanna forget, anyway. Less attached to the idea of ‘completing’ his memory, Henoke was more relaxed as he settled into his resolve. ”Oh!” Seemingly remembering something, Henoke reached back into his pocket, pulling out the picture he had shown Tori before. It was a little more creased and crumpled on the edges than before, but otherwise it was in perfect condition.
”I’ve gotta put this back!” He definitely didn’t think Kosuke would want him to keep something so sentimental. With a grin, Henoke pointed in the distance towards the huts. ”How ‘bout it? I’ll put this back and then we can make that Rift!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 31, 2020 13:40:18 GMT -5
The sentiment Henoke projected was more than understandable. Not wanting to possibly hurt him, Tori dropped the issue easily enough. She’d only suggested it in case he wanted, but if he didn’t… Well, no harm was done with asking. At the very least, he seemed somewhat able of coping with the truth, unlike at the beginning.
It was a step forward, in the end.
Still, his determination was surprising, focusing on finding those who “created” him and making them regret their decision. Tori couldn’t help but agree, as she herself had something to tell those people about the consequences. If they didn’t listen… Well, fighting was always a somewhat appeasable option to her. If she had to go all-out, then it would prove to be almost no issue whatsoever!
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Henoke noticed he still hadn’t returned the picture he’d taken from Kosuke’s hut. She looked at his with a hint of amused disappointment, shaking her head while shrugging. In the end, some things never changed…
”How ‘bout it? I’ll put this back and then we can make that Rift!” “I’ll wait for you here, then” Tori replied, “I wanna settle a few things for myself, is all. You go on ahead.”
As Henoke would make his way back to the huts, he would see a pair of people not too far away, but just out of sight to Tori to have noticed. One was a blond girl, wearing an orange kimono and covering her face with a fan, turned towards Henoke’s way. The other, only visible from the back, had orange hair tied in a high ponytail, and wore a somewhat tribal outfit. Both seemed to be discussing something…
“I told you, already —it’s not my fault they decided to jump the gun and attack me” the blond girl complained, her fan covering most of her features, “I had no other choice but to annihilate them…” “Then you should’ve made better use of your Illusions…” the orange-haired girl replied in a growl. “Oh, please! I managed to secure the Rift, didn’t I? I can defend it if you really need me to.” “One world isn’t enough —we need more.” “Then I’ll just go to more worlds and secure more Rifts! Happy?”
The blonde girl leaned forward with a seeming pout, but she quickly flinched as she saw Henoke approaching. Her fan still covering most of her face wasn’t enough to cover a malicious smirk behind it, as the orange-haired girl turned only slightly towards him.
“Are you lost, boy?” the blonde girl asked, “Do you need me to show you the way out?” “…” the orange-haired girl turned a bit more, her green eyes glaring at Henoke, “You’re that boy Kira and Adrien mentioned… Aren’t you?” she drew a faint smirk, “Just how did you end up here, of all places…?”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 31, 2020 15:04:06 GMT -5
Making his way back towards the hut, Henoke blinked as the outline of two figures came into view. Huh? Was he seeing things? Squinting for a moment and rubbing his eyes, the teen was surprised to indeed see the shape of two people standing further up. Are they ‘ghosts’, too? Curious, the teen pressed onward until he was near the huts, able to make out the details of the two figures he had seen. Who’re they? Weren't he and Tori the only ones on this world? Unable to make out the words between the two as he approached, Henoke moved closer to the pair until they seemed to take notice. ”Are you lost, boy?” Gritting his teeth, Henoke glared in response to the blond’s condescending tone.
Before he could respond, the woman with orange hair fixed him in her green glare, immediately causing the teen to scowl as he clenched a fist. They lookin’ for a fight? He had just come over to say 'hi' and figure out who these people were—why were they being so hostile? ”You’re that boy Kira and Adrien mentioned…aren’t you?” Her comment made him take a battle stance, though he hadn’t summoned his Keyblade yet. ”Just how did you end up here, of all places…?” The two would be met with a glare of his own as he glanced between them. ”Tch—so you’re friends with those freaks, huh?” Having just been talking about Adrien and Kira, it seemed like too perfect of timing. Typical... He felt his agitation flare. With the information Tori and him and talked over, the teen was sure that these two were up to no good, if they affiliated with the likes of Kira and Adrien. Are they in on those psycho's plan?! An malicious look flashed across the boys face as he summoned his Keyblade into his hands, squaring off against the two.
He didn’t mince words with enemies. ”I ain’t got nothin’ to say to ya, then!” Hot-headed as usual, Henoke figured he could clock heads first and ask questions later. Lifting the blade high above his head, the teen called down a Thundara spell, hoping to at least use it as a helpful distraction if the lightning spell didn't land any damage. Using the opportunity and space his spell would hopefully provide, he would rush to fill the space between him and the woman with a green gaze. Using his Sliding Dash ability as he followed it up with a swift and powerful combo, Henoke had started the battle!
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Post by therunawaygirl on Jul 31, 2020 16:02:23 GMT -5
The two girls glared at Henoke as he used his Thundara spell, aimed to distract them. Even if a few bolts landed true, they didn’t seem bothered by it. As he summoned his Keyblade, the blond girl looked in utter disgust, lowering her fan to reveal an irritated glare. The girl with orange hair, still barely turned towards Henoke, turned her back towards him, seemingly uninterested.
“If you want to, he’s yours” she said calmly. “Oh… Gladly…”
The blonde girl opened both fans as she met Henoke’s Keyblade with her own fans, surprisingly with a lot of strength behind the struggle. Her glare was a fiery one, revealing a relentless hatred to his opponent. The girl with orange hair didn’t even dare to glare as the struggle continued, her back turned against them without a single hint of attention.
“Who would’ve thought that you would be a disgusting Keyblade Wielder?” the blond girl growled, pushing Henoke with her own strength, “I hate your kind out of all, so I’ll do the worlds a favor and eliminate your stench from the face of this earth!”
The blond girl broke the struggle, jumping backwards as a thick mist surrounded her, taking soon the form of a flaming horse behind her. Its eyes, black and devoid of life, looked back at Henoke with the same intent as the blond girl.
A murderous intent.
“You know? I’m not really feeling merciful today… So, I’ll do this the slow way” she declared, scratching the chin of the horse as she smirked with malice, “Do make this entertaining, though! Not that I’ll let you off easily…” “Don’t overdo it, Fujiko” the orange-haired girl said, “Remember where we are… Right now, throwing a fit here won’t help us, either.” “I’m aware… But I just can’t seem to help it today… I want to enjoy making one suffer… The ones before didn’t even stand a chance…” the blond girl —Fujiko— raised her chin with the same malice as before, “It was so boring!”
Smirking, Fujiko spun around a bit before both fans were thrown towards Henoke, aiming to strike him down with her Whirlwind Step. All the while, the orange-haired girl didn’t even dare to turn, instead focused elsewhere as she began to head out.
Tori glanced over at the horizon as she waited for Henoke to return, thinking on a few things she’d come across while being there. Since somethings weren’t really clear for her, she decided to try and clear the fog surrounding them, almost to no avail.
Mostly, she wanted to figure out the reason why she was being targeted. Had it had anything to do with the Shore, and its current state? Why would she be so important as to make her a sole target, when other Spirits were just as capable, if not more? It just didn’t click…
She perked up as she saw a pair of wisps hastily floating past across the sea, seemingly running away from something. The ambiance also seemed to shift, as something felt out of place.
“They’re… stirred…?” Tori mumbled with worry. She looked at where Henoke had left to —the huts, “What’s going on…?”
Without a second wasted, Tori put her shoes back on (she hadn’t done that after all that time) before running towards the huts, worrying about Henoke…
What was happening now?
As Fujiko and Henoke were engaging in a fight, Tori arrived with a bit of lost breath. She flinched when she saw two people aside them —both of them up to no good. While Fujiko glared with malice towards the newcomer, the girl with orange hair had stopped on her tracks, turning faintly to reveal yet another smirk along her green gaze.
“So, the rabbit returns to her lair…” she said, amused, “Such a dumb mistake for you to think this place is safe for you…” “Who…” Tori began to ask, but quickly stopped, her gaze a firm one, “You’re… Traitors…” “Hmph —that’s a name you gave us. But I don’t think I’ll tolerate it anymore.” “Just what do you think you’re doing, huh?” Tori said bitter, “You think you can just waltz in and say stuff like that?! I know what you are, and why you’re here —that alone is enough!” “…” the girl with orange hair turned fully, her green gaze now a bitter one, “Fujiko, the Replica is yours to handle. I’ll take on Tori.” “Hmph… My pleasure.” “Separate them.”
Fujiko grinned, her fans returning to her even if the hit hadn’t connected. Burning with bright flames, she danced with her flames as they conjured walls of fire, spreading rapidly to separate both Wielders form each other after using her Dance of Fire. While Fujiko took on Henoke, Tori would be stuck with the orange-haired girl, who’d summoned a spear to her side, and quickly jumped towards her with impressive strength.
“Henoke!” Tori shouted, but was quickly interrupted by the girl with the spear. “I think you should focus on me, instead, Tori” she taunted back, “Unless you truly want me to kill you.” “Guh… Fine, then!” Tori pushed her back, “I’m not falling for the likes of you!”
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 31, 2020 22:47:13 GMT -5
CRASH! Henoke was surprised to see the blond meet his attack, rather than the woman with orange hair. ”Who would’ve thought that you would be a disgusting Keyblade Wielder?” The two’s weapons clashed with a spark of steel, Henoke pushing back with his own strength as he fixed Fujiko with his own glare. ”I’ll do the worlds a favor and eliminate your stench from the face of this earth!” As the struggle broke, Henoke charged forward, only to pause as an odd mist began to appear. ”Tch—the hell?!” Seeing the flaming horse appear, Henoke readied himself. ”You know? I’m not really feeling merciful today…” Henoke smirked.
That made two of them. ”Don’t overdo it, Fujiko.” Hearing the other woman’s voice, Henoke glanced in her direction. Hmph—so she’s not fightin’, huh? He hated people that talked a big game but cowed out. As the blond suddenly shot out a ranged attack with fans, Henoke was grit his teeth in irritation. Heaving his own hefty weapon, Henoke used his Reflect Raid, aiming to deflect the fans. Though the Keyblade arced and clanged against the first fan, the surprising force knocked it off course for the second! Shit! Recalling his weapon in a ray of light, Henoke brought up a guard just in time to block the next fan.
”Urk—!” Grunting from the force of the attack, which knocked him backwards, Henoke regained his stance. Just as he readied his own attack, the teen noticed the blond’s eyes avert—glancing in the direction behind him. ”So, the rabbit returns to her lair…” Turning his head to look over his shoulder, Henoke shouted out in surprise at Tori’s entrance. Damn it! She must’ve noticed the fighting’… If these two were in cahoots with Adrien and Kira, that meant their objective was Tori herself. Henoke had known that charging into this battle—hoping to take care of them before she had arrived. ”You’re…Traitors…” Henoke lowered his weapon a bit as he tilted his head in confusion, looking between Tori and the other two.
Traitors? What did that mean? Was that what Adrien and Kira were, too? While Tori and the woman in orange hair talked about confusing stuff Henoke didn’t get, the fiery teen readied his stance once more, fixing the blond in his glare. ”Fujiko, the Replica is yours to handle. I’ll take on Tori.” Henoke glanced at the woman with orange hair once more, then towards Tori. ”Separate them.” Before Henoke could move to run towards Tori, Fujiko struck. As the fire wall erupted between the two, Henoke leapt back, fixing the blond with an irritated expression as he readied his weapon. He hated other fire users. How dare they use his best element against him?!
”Henoke!” Hearing Tori’s shout, Henoke grit his teeth, though fixed a smirk on his face, shouting back to Tori without taking his eyes off the enemy. ”Don’t sweat it, Tori! I’ll take care o’ this small fry!” Confident and heated, Henoke gave the blond a malicious look as he gripped his Keyblade. ”You’re pissin’ me off—“ As the bandages around Henoke’s Keyblade began to unwind (seemingly of their own accord), the teen ripped the weapon apart, transforming it into its Fighting Heart form. ”—I ain’t holdin’ back!” Both Keyblades in his hand began to glow in a bright light as he crouched, readying a cross-slash position. ”LET’S GO!!!” Launching forward in a powerful burst of speed, Henoke closed the gap between Fujiko and him as he used his Blitz ability.
Whether or not the attack landed, Henoke follow up his melee attack with his Quake spell, lancing one of his Keyblades into the ground as the other stayed poised and ready to strike. The ground erupted in a violent tremor.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 1, 2020 2:43:51 GMT -5
Fujiko huffed bitterly as Henoke voiced his thoughts, her irritation only growing stronger by the second. She allowed him to take the first attack between them, as if to mock his strength. While it was somewhat impressive, her hatred was more than enough to quell any other emotion other than anger.
While his Blitz attack was blocked by the flaming Familiar as it charged forward to protect its Summoner, the Quake spell caught them both off-guard, causing them to stagger back.
“Urgh, how annoying…” Fujiko groaned, as she tried to regain her balance, “Do you all need to be this annoying?!”
Fujiko waved his fans in an arc-like motion, conjuring 5 orbs of light than then shot a beam directly towards Henoke. While her Scathe looked for raw damage head-first, Fujiko’s Familiar quickly stomped its way towards Henoke in attempts to follow its Summoner’s attack.
Both were unwilling to lose.
Tori was struggling on her end, mostly forced to the defensive as the girl with the spear attacked with a relentless fury. Her eyes revealed utter hatred towards who she was up against, her murderous intent clear. And yet, Tori couldn’t afford falling back, so she had to come up with something to get her off her. The girl with the spear, however, had other plans in mind.
“What’s the matter?” she taunted as she locked a struggle with Tori once more, “Are you scared? Are you trying to think on how to win here?” “Tch…” Tori forced herself back, breaking the attack altogether, “Why are you so hell-bent on taking me on…?” she asked with some unease. “So, you don’t remember yet… That’s good —for us. It means I can just kill you with ease!” “Fight back, now!”
Having taken some distance from the girl, Tori dual-casted spells in order to quickly gain an advantage. First casting a Faith spell onto herself, she conjured Blizzaja. The freezing mist gathered around the girl’s feet, who managed to get away but not unscathed. Quickly, Tori almost seemed to teleport behind her with her Flash skill, the Keyblade landing true.
But she was not letting up.
Mist gathered around Tori as she aimed a Flood spell in order to break Fujiko’s Dance of Fire, the wave swallowing the flames entirely. Caught off-guard after having chanted Scathe, Fujiko was forced to back down, else the wave would’ve swallowed her as well.
The mist then burst forth with strength, but not really looking to harm anyone. Gripping onto the reverse crystal Keyblade, Tori glared at the orange-haired girl… Yet a faint of regret remained. A regret the girl couldn’t help but scowl at.
“Don’t you dare pity me!” she roared in anger. “…I wasn’t going to do that…” Tori replied before charging forth once more.
This time, the tides had turned in her favor. She wasn't wasting that chance.
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 1, 2020 7:50:22 GMT -5
Yanking his other Keyblade from the ground as his spell ended, Henoke rushed towards Fujiko only to pause as the Scathe ability began. As the light orbs emerged, beginning to glow with violent intent, Henoke was already running. ZZZZT! As the laser-like beams shot forth, zig zagging across the battlefield, the fiery teen dodge rolled and leapt to avoid their paths. Tch—!!! Scraped by one of the beams, Henoke ignored the mild pain as he had to change his course due to the stampeding familiar. ”You’re both way more annoyin’!!” Having heard Fujiko’s comment earlier, it was Henoke’s turn to be annoyed.
SKKKKKOOOOOOOSH! Halting in his charge, Henoke shouted out in surprise as Tori’s Flood spell broke through the flaming wall separating them. Raising a Keyblade into the air, the teen shouted out victoriously as he was able to see what looked like Tori kicking the orange-haired woman’s ass. Turning to give Fujiko an evil look, Henoke felt a new vigor burning through him. ”Like I’m gonna let her do all the work!” In a blur of orange, Henoke used his Sliding Dash ability once more, though he began to glow with a faint light aura. ”Zantet—!!” Within less than the time it took to blink, the teen stood behind Fujiko, both Keyblades raised at his sides as he crouched—both weapons steaming from the speed at which they had attacked. ”—suken!!!” By combining his fast charge with the already impossibly fast attack, Henoke had learned how to power up his already most powerful attack. Though it was far from perfected, according to his Master. It at least exhausted him less to use, these days, though. That means I'm gettin' better at it! Confidence filled him as he stood up straight once more, turning to face off Fujiko and see if his attack worked.
Readying himself with both Keyblades, Henoke fixed a scowling glare onto his face.
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