kingdomdressing | (no subject)

[Had this been a few hours ago, did he not feel he had so much on the line now, the counter-attack might have been successful. As it stood, the encounter with the Neoshadows had reminded his body how to move and his aggravation sharpened his instincts.

As the Aubade slides along Soul Eater's edge, Roxas lets that sense of ruthlessness he'd held back on take over; dropping as he turned and trying to sweep Riku's legs out from under him.]

Why is it whenever I'm doing something important, you have to show up!?

[Riku could only grunt in answer of his question. Mainly because in his concentration to launch his elbow at Roxas, he apparently hadn't anticipated his feet to be swept from under him so suddenly. He kept Soul Eater raised even as he fell back. His arm that he was using to go after Roxas in the first place now catching him. And then he was soon after pushing himself up and throwing a dark firaga his way. If not to hit Roxas than to gain some distance.]

[The sense of animosity in him was almost overwhelming. Thinking back to Sora's encounter with Saix, he could only wonder if perhaps this was the kind of rage he continually embraced. It was intoxicating, it felt powerful... it felt like poison in his veins.

His imagination raced, as if whatever he had for a heart was trying to tell him something. He saw him cutting this Riku down and in a world like what they were in, he could see him just making it his mission to make each one of them suffer for him being wronged at the Memory's Skyscraper. And then he saw Xion, wondering what she would think of him if he gave in like that. That sensation alone seized up in his stomach, prompting him to dodge aside from the azure flames instead of going with instinct and breaking through.

The distance was good for now, Roxas knew his focus was starting to waver. If he was going to fight this one as himself, he realized that being justifiably angry was one thing, but just letting his will cave to his pent-up rage would not win things here.]

[Riku took the opportunity of that gained distance to gather himself to his feet again. His expression was set in that mildly irritated frown as usual as he seemed to observe the nobody. Seemed because it was honestly hard to tell with that blindfold of his being worn.]

Important? Sorry. But whatever intentions you have I'm gonna have to overrule.

[He raised Soul Eater, adjusting his grip accordingly. And then he was soon after charging after Roxas with several sharp and swift strikes, taking on a nasty offensive.]

[Uncertain as he was, he was trying to keep his focus on Riku as his feet gave ground, stepping back as he moved Aubade to parry the incoming assault. The last blow nearly got through and he felt a searing pain as the edge of Soul Eater leave a generally modest laceration across his midsection. It wasn't bad, but he didn't need to look down to realize that there'd been a small spray of black mist that seemed to compose the 'blood' of a Nobody.

So much for hoping he might have a heart.

A short jump back left him in a defensive posture as he mentally wrestled with the situation. Why was Riku fighting him here? Was it really even Riku? They were in Xion's heart or mind or whatever it was that Naminé was fixing her memories in. There was just so much here that didn't make sense. Did he represent some part of her? Or did the real Riku just hate them both so much that he somehow made it his business to make sure that Xion and now possibly he, would never wake.]

It's over with! Sora did his job and you got your friend back!

Don't I have the right to get mine back?!

[An epiphany coursed through his consciousness as he mulled it over a little. He wasn't doing this because he just bore a grudge against Riku -well, that might be lending strength to his offense. But the whole reason Roxas had done any of this was for the sake of his friend. It wasn't about rage, it was about his will to exist -his will to ensure that she existed with him.

In effect, it was little different than Sora's will. It was a will that would not give when the fate of his friends were on the line.]

[Riku watched Roxas as the nobody backed off, regaining some ground between them. For the moment, he simply stood his ground and just listened. Quiet with that same thin expression. Always so unreadable and yet expressing a certain distinct, grim certainty. Knowing far too much for how young he really was. That was honestly that best way to describe it.

He took one step forward, shouldering Soul Eater for the moment. Perhaps a cocky move but then Riku had always seemed to carry an abundance of confidence for the abilities he possessed. But unlike his younger self, he held no smirk like he might have back on the islands. His posture alone honestly attested enough though, probably.]

Without you and her, my best friend still sleeps.

[And then he was pointing Soul Eater-- no, not Soul Eater anymore but Way to the Dawn. Was it just a trick of the place they were at? Or had he even had Soul Eater to begin with? Perhaps the only thing that attested to that still was the injury that was still 'bleeding' mist from his midsection. Not that Riku seemed phased by that.]

Come on now. Tell me, Roxas. What would you do if she slept without me?

[That always bothered him about Riku; that arrogance was almost intolerable. Sora might brush it off as the boy being playful, but for Roxas, it was downright infuriating, as if the rest of the world hadn't done its best to rub his nose in the ideal that he was somehow worth less than any other person, his Somebody's friend really knew how to drive that idea home.

While he was curious enough to hear the other young man out, the words that came out were enough to make him wish that he'd just rushed in with a brutal offensive. The news implied by those words put fears he'd tried to brush aside for Xion only an hour or so before and he'd been hoping more than anything that perhaps for once he was right.

As the Nobody deliberated on an answer, he blinked a moment as he realized that there was a sudden change in his opponent's weapon as well. Ultimately it made for a trivial detail, neither of Riku's usual armaments held any particular abilities that he'd noticed through Sora's eyes -really neither of their weapons were more than just ornately-shaped swords when it came down to the situation they were in. But none of that made things any more comforting as he weighed his words carefully.

He wasn't afraid to face Riku. He wasn't afraid to be erased here. He was afraid that his friend might perish here and depending on just exactly what all he was experiencing right now was, this encounter might be much more than just a battle between warriors.

Roxas drew a steady breath in, never letting his stance falter; though the anger in his expression visibly waned, allowing some of his personal hurt to show through.]

If you're asking if I'd erase you too for that, then you already know the answer.

[He lets a beat pass before speaking up again.]

But would it have killed you to tell either of us anything!?

Do you think Sora would be happy knowing you erased not one, but TWO people for his sake!? It's not only you he'd be upset with, he might even hate himself!

[His feelings were coming out like a shattered fountain as he advanced, weapon ready to push into a brutal counter-offensive in a moment's notice.]

You can't say you know your best friend at all if you think he'd be fine with any of it! The first way you come up with isn't always the right one! If Sora was fighting to save you, he'd work tirelessly until he found a way to save you AND any Nobodies you produced!

[There was venom in his voice as he started feeling content that he was getting his point across.]

And don't you give me anything about Nobodies not having a right to exist. Me, Xion... even Axel, I'm sure can feel just as well as Sora can.

It's not a matter of you having a right to exist or not! [That was all DiZ. And give or take, he hadn't agreed with the man on that account, but he had the cards lined up and was willing to work with him and Naminé. And at the time? That was all that mattered.]

Sora's life was on the line! [He had screwed up. Badly. It had been his fault in so many ways. He was repenting. Even if he had to take a path most would frown down upon, if it meant getting his friend back... And ignorance was bliss, wasn't it?] And while he sleeps, the worlds aren't safe. Whether Xion realized that or not doesn't matter. She decided to go back of her own free will. Don't blame me for your friend's own choice! I just showed her the way when she was ready!

[And maybe... it would have turned out the same way between them had they had the time. But they hadn't. Rather, instead, Roxas had rushed in without thinking, hell bent on something so suicidal. The very thought of that foolish act made Riku's brows furrow while he pointed Way to the Dawn at Roxas.]

But without you, her choice ends up for nothing. Don't you get it? You're the key to all this, to waking him up and stopping everything! We don't have time to find another way!

[And then he was lunging forward with his weapon singing through the air, coming at Roxas with renewed strength and focus.]

[For the moment, he listened for the response. Though while the words he heard didn't make him regret listening, he'd easily admit that they did sound like a broken record. It was tiresome, aggravating. To Roxas, it felt like another repetition of a past that had already wounded whatever he had for a heart and left scars that were still in the process of healing.

His eyes followed the point of Way to the Dawn when it was directed at him, his grip on Aubade tightening as his instincts told him to be ready -not to trust this as having turned into anything close to a civil conversation.

This wasn't like when he'd found Naminé in the digital Twilight Town, there was nothing trapping him and nothing really limiting the direction he could take. And again, as he digested those words, the more he could feel resentment building within him. Once more to Riku, he was naught but a means to an end.

His instincts saved him. The attack his body had expected came and the Nobody was ready. His blade went forward and upward, trying to catch Riku's weapon, snare it in one of the spikes of his own weapon's hand guard. Fortune not withstanding, he would then force Way to the Dawn downward before throwing a hard left-cross at the silver-haired boy's face.

But in either case, the attack would hopefully be deflected, buying him time to speak.]

You're right. Xion made her own choice... but it was a choice made from what little you gave her!

[His tactics shift as he circles, ready to attack but not doing so. Roxas figures he's going to try talking once more. Something about this just wasn't adding up. This was all history unless Sora slept again for some reason -he would have known if something important had been going on before that however. His last recollection was just the night after Sora and his friends returned and everything had been figured as safe. His Other went to sleep and then he awoke with Xion.]

You know that while your way worked, it was the wrong way. By anyone's standard! Now Xion's sleeping and I'm here to wake her.

I'm going to end this. And I'll do it while rubbing your face in how stupidly painful what you did was to so many others!

[It wasn't just him and Xion, Axel had been hurt too. While there was no telling how their relationships would've ended if his friend hadn't drifted on her own, he trusted Axel. If he'd realized what the right thing was to save Sora, then certainly if he knew about their mutual friend, he would've told them before it got too serious. And while resisting the Organization may potentially have ended in all three of them being terminated, he would've been alright going to that end as long as he had his friends. As long as he had them, he could even face the uncertainty of what happened to a Nobody when it was erased as long as he had them.]

I don't know how yet, but I'll find a way to save everyone!

[Although the counter didn't work to Roxas' desire, he did manage to easily block Soul Eater, throwing him off balance. The older teenager stumbled back, almost falling but a few scattered steps more and he had kept his footing. He stood there, his expression hard to read at always with that blindfold, listening to the nobody. Or was he just using that time to recovered from his failed attempt to attack Roxas in the first place.

He bowed his head a moment, seeming to consider the words... but soon after Roxas had finished, he was looking up again. His teeth grit.]

Save everyone? And how do you suppose you'll do that? By destroying yourself? That's what you almost did last time!

[He swung out again. Curtly.]

[Okay, part of him could understand the angle Riku was coming from. Granted, he's still not entirely sure that would have been the case, but it's not lost on him that his choice in attacking the remaining members of the Organization all by himself was probably not his most brilliant idea. But honestly, at the time he saw that as his only option; he wasn't much of a planner and he had no friends left in the world.

And then what happened between him and Xion had pushed him into one of those little rage-binges where he thought he really could just muscle his way through and crush his former cohorts. But then in defense of how things were now, he'd seen the worlds through Sora's eyes and had time to understand his own feelings a little better.

He's had time to see that there's always a way.

As Riku lashes out at him, he parries again, figuring he'll make one more effort to reason with him. Truth be told, he was demanding answers that he didn't have and while he suspected that this was more than just a fight, he really didn't know what more he could do.]

It was the only option I thought I had! I didn't have anyone else! Even you knew that at least out there somewhere, Kairi was waiting for you! Who did I have?!

[His voice goes quiet, almost sad.]

I'd just told Axel that I felt he'd picked the Organization over me and I'd just erased my only other friend. No one was left that cared about me. And no one would've missed me if I'd been destroyed... and I had no idea about Sora.

[He shakes his head at that idea.]

No, even if I knew about that, it wouldn't have mattered to me.

[There's a moment of silence.]

But it's different now... Xion's sleeping -she's counting on me to wake her! There's also a world out there with so many people! Axel must be alive out there somewhere, waiting for us.

And if Sora's sleeping again, then... I'll just add figuring out a way to save us all to my list then.

[His stance changes. There's something more assured, more resolved and just more certain in the way he carries himself. The way he carries his Keyblade reflects his renewed determination as he stands ready to finish this.]

So if you still want to try taking me back. Then I guess I'll just have to save you after I save everyone else.

[Another counter and Riku was sliding back yet again but this time, he was a lot more graceful in his footing than the time before. Grunting to himself before looking to Roxas again from behind the blindfold. Again, listening... probably more than Riku seemed like he ever would have before. Or perhaps he really would have given Roxas this chance had that been the way the nobody would have approached it in the first place. It was hard to say, especially since the Roxas from the now knew so much more than the Roxas from the then.

All this talk... The more he heard it... the more Roxas really did sound like him. And that... drew a sad chuckle out of him. Something that might seem almost uncharacteristic of him for the front he put on.]

You really are his nobody... [He clicked his tongue and then sighed audibly. His keyblade lowered although his attention definitely remained on Roxas undeniably. Brows furrowed as they always were. He gripped the hilt hard for a moment before he relaxed it once more.]

All this talk about saving everyone... means nothing if you can't prove it. And sometimes? Some people don't want to be saved.

[And taking a step closer.]

As for Xion, the truth is she knew all there was. About Sora's memories that she took and about what she was doing to you. She spent weeks trying to decide what to do. But it was her choice, not mine, for her to return.

[His voice suddenly becoming a little more than withdrawn.]

The same choice I would have given you if you hadn't done something so reckless.

[Some things, were inescapable. It frustrated part of him really, that constant comparison. It both couldn't be helped and yet shouldn't be expected. Riku loved playing that card and Roxas despised him for the insinuation that he was just a copy -a badly drawn rendition of the person he was derived from.

Still he heard him without an outburst to counter, as much as he would have just wanted to cut him off... and down. And then with the last of it said and done, he shakes his head.]

And I would've turned you down flat all the same.

[The news about Xion, something made him wonder what Riku was getting at before the pieces seemed to click together in his head. When her behavior became particularly erratic, those times he felt so weakened and fatigued when she was on top of her game and the nature of her existence.

It all made sense. Their power -their life back then, possibly even now was shared. Like two people balancing on a scale in cages over water; except the one that lost too much power drowned.

The tiny smile that creased his face was grim, as if he'd realized that all routes led to annihilation, save for a far off and remote chance. A chance that he was more than willing to gamble on.]

I guess I should thank you for that little bit. It just cleared something up for me. But while she made her choice back then, that was then and this is now. This time she's sleeping because her memories are all tangled up.

Naminé said it was something about the world we just entered. I'm sure that at this time, she wants to be saved.

[His posture shifts, defensive yet his legs don't seem as firmly set to the ground as they were -he's stepping lightly, circling. He's expecting he'll need to move quickly soon.]

Anyway, are you done yet? I don't know why Sora's sleeping again... but this time, I'm going to make sure this ends better.

[There was that resolve again, that defiance. Unless Riku expressed interest in trying things differently, it was fairly clear that the Nobody was losing his patience to converse.]

Heh... Guess this is it then. [No more words. No more games. No more excuses. Nothing but a test of strength and will. But then... those were the rules that Riku seemed to abide by best. The one who took down the other had the right to follow through with their choices. It was fitting. So, that that, he flourished Way to the Dawn to the side while with the other hand, he peeled away the blindfold. Unlike last night, he remained as he was. Ansem, or Xehanort's Heartless to be more accurate, perhaps would remain just as a memory. But then... as he opened his eyes.

Blue. Not the almost teal of the ocean that hugged the islands but a distinct blue. A blue like the sky. A blue like Roxas' own eyes.

And a blue like Xion's.

And they blinked, the stain glass below them cracked slightly. But if Riku noticed that. Or Roxas' would be reaction, he didn't show it as he made to charge, conjuring up a dark firaga his way.]

[Roxas mused to himself that it took long enough. He was annoyed to no end that if Riku wasn't even going to try doing things another way, to stop making what he viewed as the same stupid mistake all over again he would've just kept his mouth shut. It was wasted time. There was no telling how long had passed outside in the world and he still had no real clue as to what he would be looking for while in Xion's memories -or at least having all of that 'rechained' or whatever it was Naminé said; something that had to do with him.

He was braced when he saw the blindfold come off; as if expecting a reply, he stood ready to react to that fast-move trick, but instead found something strange. Digging through his memories of what Sora saw, he didn't remember Riku's eyes being like that... especially not being like hers.

The outbreak of battle yanked his attention away from such details. Seeing his opponent charge and try to clear the way with his signature spell, put him back into fight or flight tendencies. The Nobody charged to counter-attack, a sweep of Aubade in front of him dispelled the offensive magic as he leapt into the air. His other hand reached overhead, grasping on nothing and calling Two Become One to his hand as he descended with a vicious overhead slash.]

[Perhaps it was a waste of time... Maybe even time that could have been spared in the thick of things. That could have been spent taking him out and getting to Xion sooner than trying to talk it over. But still, Riku did have his reasons all save for the little reason to trust Roxas. Because even if he was Sora's nobody, he was just so avid about being himself... Somehow, saving everyone? Just sounded like a sermun more than a reality.

Riku didn't seem to flinch even as the dark firaga perished, choosing to barrel straight through. He ducked under Roxas. Just in time, too. As Roxas hit the ground just a hair's breath from where Riku had been seconds ago. And then the teenager was swinging back and around with Way to the Dawn towards Roxas' exposed back. Better move fast.

In the meantime, the floor below them continued to slowly crackle away, the warm light that spawned from it starting to dim just a little. But nothing really distinct. At least not yet.]

[It was strange. Amidst the duel, he could feel so many feelings he hadn't noticed before. Rather, not all at once and not at this strength. Determination, hope, belief and conviction flaring in perfect sync with the drive to do one thing: prove himself. Nothing for his own pride, nothing selfish, but to prove to this Riku that he could overcome him and that by overcoming him, he would make that reality of saving everyone come true.

The more he dwelt upon the matter, the more it really did sound like either Sora or just some random flight of fancy. Perhaps in doing this, in believing that he could do all this, he was just shrinking the gap of things that separated him from his Somebody. Perhaps if he was to be returned, this time he would just completely merge and lose himself.

Maybe. But then perhaps not, he considered. There were still things that made him different. Roxas' memories, his experiences, his feelings, attachments and motivations -there were worlds of differences between himself and Sora. Which made it alright from where he stood; it was alright to walk the same path.

He watched as Riku evaded his blow, his grip on Aubade shifting as he swings back at an awkward angle to try and deflect the incoming strike. If he's fortunate and his gambit to try and catch Way to the Dawn on his Keyblade's rain guard worked, he'd pull forward and try to yank his foe off-balance before sweeping around in a low-kick to face him. ]

[Well, it wasn't much of a stretch to consider such a statement close to home. It was something that Sora lived by- and something that Riku perhaps wished that Roxas could see as well. But Roxas... was Roxas. Even if the Sora side to him could be triggered, that was just a side built from Sora's memories. It didn't change the fact that he wanted so much to be himself- that that was the reason why he was seeking excuse after weak excuse in Riku's eyes. At least that was the front he held. Meeting his replica and meeting Xion... People, even mere replicas as some would put it, could change someone... but that only made things more difficult when facing up to those who were the bane of his sleeping friend's right to live.

Fortunately for Roxas, his move did catch Riku's keyblade just as he had hoped... although it didn't end exactly as he planned. If only due to Roxas floating around in Sora for a little too long. Riku followed through instead of resisting, bringing himself down to have that kick miss him. Although he hit the ground pretty roughly either way, the glass underneath shattering from the impact although it somehow held its rigid form. Riku, himself, had twisted his body. Enough that he had a free hand reaching out to latch at Roxas' one leg and try to bring him down with him. Turning what would usually be a battle keyblade to keyblade into a potential fist fight.]

[He didn't pay any mind to the damage the surroundings were suffering. It seemed to him that there was little point in worrying about something that wasn't directly threatening him and he couldn't precisely control. Besides, he didn't think he should give his opponent something to distract him with. The stakes were high once again. But after their last duel, Roxas was determined to emerge the victor; he would accept nothing less of himself and would fight until his body vanished in the swirling miasma of a terminated Nobody.

However there was that part of his thoughts there were pointing out that he'd talked pretty big a few moments ago and having the silver-haired boy brush his ambitions aside didn't free him from the responsibility of upholding them. He still wasn't sure where he'd begin, but then neither did Sora when he set out on any of his journeys. And yet, he figured if he just learned from his Somebody and played things by ear; trusted his friends and gave it his best, he too could earn a happy ending. And the first step to that was waking Xion.

Roxas grit his teeth as he tumbled to the ground, the other boy's hand catching his sweep and off-balancing him enough for his momentum to do the rest. Since he was falling and rolling in mid-fall, he struggled to right himself just enough to bring another kick into action. With due luck, the blow would take Riku in the side and send him tumbling as well.

Whatever happened next, the Nobody felt himself hit the ground. Aubade and Two Become One slid across the floor and vanished in a pair of brilliant flares. Hastily, he scrambled to his feet a tried to call his weapons -shocked when he found neither of them responding. His eyes narrowed as he took a fighting stance not too different from what he'd seen Hercules use when Sora visited him in Olympus.

If whatever made the rules here wanted this settled with fists, then Kingdom Hearts help him, he would brawl.]

[Sure, Sora hadn't really known either. Riku might have given him that. But between him and Sora, it was pretty easy to pick out who Riku could trust more. And who was the less reckless of the two. Although admittedly? Sora had really gotten himself into one hell of a mess in Castle Oblivion. Still, the outside forces at work... Now knowing about them? Riku was certain Sora could overcome them. And that was why... among many other reasons...

Of course, it was also times like this when he was comparing Sora and Roxas, when he would look at Sora more favorably especially since the experience factor... that he would look sight in the reminiscing and that had cost him. He was floored before he even realized that had happened. Way to the Dawn spiraling across the floor before simply vanishing. But if Riku seemed caught off guard by that, he didn't show it. Just as Roxas hurried to his feet, so did he. His eyes still that familiar blue hue but sharpened in a way only Riku could do as he took up a stance in brief.

But soon after, he was taking a few jabs at Roxas. Testing the waters. As below, the glass continued to crumble...]

[Good old fists were weapons that Roxas had only some very limited experience with. Ironically, most of what he remembered aside from watching how the Olympian fought alongside Sora, was from the fabricated memories of a couple rather badly-chanced run-ins with Seifer. It seemed not every dispute between the two small gangs of children were settled with Struggle bats.

Thankfully, counter-balancing that was the fact that Roxas was both a fast-learner and just happened to have a significantly meaner streak than his Somebody. Riku's first jab easily broke past his guard and took him in the chest, not enough for noteworthy injury, but more than enough to wake him up. He brought his guard up when the second came, deflecting it properly this time and the third, he parried.

Yes, it wasn't so hard when he thought of the same movements he used when wielding a Keyblade. His range was shorter, but with these being his arms -something that he very literally was connected to, he could react faster and make them work in different ways because he had his hands to work with too.

A glance to his peripheral forced him to realize that the ground was giving. The Nobody minded his footing as he began his counter-offensive. He drove forward, using his elbow to both guard and effectively as a battering ram as he tried to force his way through Riku's defenses. If he could get past that, his other fist would immediately go rocketing at point-blank for his foe's gut.]

[Unlike Roxas, Riku had had more experience fighting bear-handed. Wrestling, rather. Considering the antics back on the island, as much as it was child's play back then, it gave him an advantage on the field. He saw that elbow coming, and with a grunt, brought up his forearm to block it in turn. Sliding back along the glass as Roxas pressed forward but otherwise remaining grounded and more than ready.

As soon as he stopped skidding, Riku let himself readjust for a split second before he was suddenly shoving forward with his other palm, following with his weight to try and upset Roxas balance, most likely a move that would send them both to the floor. But then, that was the idea. Even as the cracks in the glass finally made it to the edges... and then the glass itself started to give there, falling away.]

[ The difference in hand-to-hand skill was showing as Roxas quickly found himself mentally scrambling for balance as his body instinctively tried its best to stay grounded properly. He braced against the push, but the foot on his back leg slipped. To his surprise, his front leg had been set well enough that rather than directly stumble, he pivoted around on it and in that split-second, he found a peculiar inspiration in this mishap.

He twisted his body to the side, Riku's momentum now pushing past him and deflecting the Nobody aside from his line of force. At this range, if the silver-haired boy was paying attention, he might see the blond grin his most wicked grin ever.

Roxas followed the twisting motion, adding his weight to it so that it was sped up significantly. If his balance had been in jeopardy before, this was certainly going to be an all-or-nothing gambit to either keep or lose it. As he whirled about, he swung his leg up in a vicious roundhouse kick angled high and hopefully aimed for the back of Riku's head now.

If fortune was on his side, he had his hunches that he'd need to end this fight before their ground shattered. Of course, no telling how he'd get out of things period even if he won. But there'd be time to figure that out later, he mentally assured himself. ]

[Riku had been expecting Roxas to fight his way through. That much was for certain. No matter what, it just seemed like their fate to disagree. To be on opposite sides of the field. Which in a way... it was really too ironic considering who Roxas came from. But then perhaps not.

But what he didn't expect was that suddenly move he moved. Was it sheer luck or had he underestimated the nobody? Whatever the case, it didn't change the impact that while it didn't hit his head as intended, Roxas certainly nailed him right in the back and sent him grounded momentarily. Riku heaved a few painful breaths from the floor. But him submitting from that one blow? Was a little more than unlikely. Soon enough, he was twisting around to find his feet again, turning so that he could throw out a kick in the direction Roxas was. It wasn't really aimed and wasn't really meant to harm him. More to draw him away so he could gather himself more properly.

All the while, the platform... which had originally started giving away at a slow pace. Suddenly seemed to have a sudden increase in speed.]

[He hadn't been expecting the retaliatory kick, but his reflexes were good enough that he hopped back, moving just barely out of range. A cursory glance around their arena of sorts revealed that their time was very quickly running out and he was running out of space to move. Considering his usual preference for hit-and-run tactics, this situation was growing worse with each passing second.

And yet with all that was on the line, he refused to yield.

No sooner had Roxas' feet touched the ground from his hop back than did he charge at full speed and hurl a dashing punch at his recovering foe's jaw. With their ground rapidly vanishing, he didn't even need a knock-out at this point, he just needed to off-balance him and send him off into the murky depths below.

Of course, odds were, both of them were going down that way at this point. It was just a matter of who was going first.]

Re: Sounds good to me~!

Suddenly, my tags are going super short. FFF I blame new muse syndrome.

Don't worry about it. And now I randomly tag before work.

And now to finally tag back~. o7

Now it's my turn to "finally" tag back

/o/ And I finally get back to you in turn.

And now my muse starts venting

And now Riku :|'s and has a hissy fit. Finally.

Don't worry so much about it

Short tag is short. @@;

Sometimes we just hit that block, ya know?

Yeah, and it sucks balls. :|

It's alright though

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Happy New Years Post!

/o/ HAPPY FUCKING NEW YEARS.

May this year be less sucky than the last!

We shall see~

That we shall, but I'll figure out how to manage making things better yet.

Oh, will you now~?

You know me, ever the optimist.