"I hope I am," Axel chuckled as she glomped him, the mood and tension much more lightened, considering the circumstances. He didn't mind Shigiku crying, she was going through a hard time right now, and had to, but at least what mattered is that she had some ray of hope still left. She wasn't going to be completely scarred by this, and it put him at eased as he broke their embrace, looking at her eyes, "Remember what I told you before, about what true strength and bravery really is." Now, to get this news to Xemnas and see where it takes them, because he was sure as hell going to keep her, he wasn't going to abandon her now, and maybe she'll find a place there in the castle. As another thing popped into his mind, though, he stared at her sternly, his expression changing to that of serious as he eyed her sharply, "Though, I have to make sure you don't do one thing...
I kind of have to disagree with that. He wasn't in a kill or be killed situation, he had many choices to take, but he took the one where he played them all, and had no problem killing any of his comrades. Axel could've simply reported, instead of getting into the situation, and he laughed and enjoyed every single moment of it. Yes, he sacrificed himself, but for what, really? To redeem himself? To make up for what he's done in the past? That's what's really called repentance. All he did was save Sora (Roxas), after even being selfish enough to get the idea of turning Sora into a Heartless again so he can get his friend back (KH2 written novel). It wasn't until the end that he finally realized that he was self-seeking, and took a bullet. Not that he had anything left. Granted, he did "die" (not really, according to Naminé, he got to be whole again) for a good cause, but it doesn't necessarily resolve or erase what he did before. In CoM, in my opinion, what he did was unforgivable. He was smiling, grinning, loving Zexion's and Vexen's death, he was just...hell, that's why sometimes people separate KH2 and CoM Axel, because they're just two contrasting people sometimes. Don't get me wrong, look at my sig and avatar, and I understand what he did in KH2, I'm not going to harass him, but to me, he was a completely different person in that game, and always will be. Wonder what Roxas would think if he found out what he had done? That side of Axel? Even Sora was disgusted when he saw him kill Vexen. Like a fellow YouTuber said: "Axel's a real b*tch. If you sucked all the attitude and insincerity and *** out of Axel, you could fuel a machine that ran on that sh*t forever." Actually, this just made me laugh, but still. Larxene was cruel, but all she really did was taunt Sora, giving him a few kicks here and there, as well as hitting Naminé when she was pissed at the ruin of the plan, but otherwise...I think I'm the only one that found her entertaining xD. Exactly. If anyone truly redeemed themselves, it was Riku. He corrected all his wrongs, fought, and came out a better person for it. He got forgiveness from Sora and Kairi, and searched for himself. That's the path of redemption.
OOC: Oh, okay, darn. I probably won't ^^;. Axel had to smile a little too as he kept her in his arms for a while, a bit glad to hear a bit of happiness and joy in her voice compared to all the sadness that he had been hearing from her so far, especially for the loss of her parents. This made him feel more free and less bitter about the whole thing, except that he wouldn't tell her where the bodies are...that was something...he didn't want her to look at them...he didn't even know how Jack killed them, she was too young to see that. However, he rubbed her back in a comforting manner, before finally breaking their hug, passing his hand through her hair, wanting her to know something, "Listen, I'm not trying to replace your parents or anything of the sort....I could never do that, but I'll try my best to fit the parent role...I mean, I've never exactly had a kid..." He quirked a grin there, trying to make a joke.
OOC: Oh, okay. And is the love of a daddy :3. What age do you think Axel is? He looks like a twenty-one to me...everytime I see him is like..."twenty-one." If not, twenty.
Axel didn't turn his eyes away from her, wanting to see if she was telling the truth, and once he was aware that she didn't blame him, or hated him for anything at all, he felt a bit better, excep that he couldn't help but sympathize and feel for Shigiku at the moment, losing her parents at such a young age, and for a mistake...a simple mistake from a blind man that he should've killed. He wiped away her tears as he always did when she was crying, letting one of his own fall down his cheek, before he had her in a proper embrace again, hoping that she'll be alright in the end. Now....now it was his job to look and care after her, and that's what he was going to do. "I'm sorry, really...but I'll be here, and I'll protect you for as long as I can, alright? As long and as much as a father could...because you're staying with me..." He hesitated for a moment after this, but went to add quietly, yet with all the meaning he could muster as a Nobody, "I love you, Shi-chan..."
"No, it's not that," Tifa answered calmly, looking at him in the eye, before staring down at the paper that had the dorm number on it. Aerith wasn't like all other girls, she knew her feelings for Cloud...and even before, she knew that Cloud had feelings for her, at one point. She was aware that he loved her now, there was no doubt, hopefully, but who's to know what the meeting will bring. Yet, he also had a point about not seeing her for a long time, at least they both went to the same school. Still, she was kind of...threatened. Whatever the case, Tifa didn't want to speak about it. Waving the note in her hand, she merely added, "I got the dorm number, we should go now."
OOC: Naminé left the room, ooh, go to the scene of Jack. For some reason, I chuckled a little at the "Nami" thing xD, since she doesn't like people calling her that. ZOMG, Axel is going to brainwash her. Next thing you know, he'll be calling Luxord, "Brit". And calling Xengla, "Angle" xP (if he ever accepts her). Axel lifted his head up, going to look at her face intenttly, yet not breaking their embrace, wanting to see if she wasn't just saying that to make him feel better, his eyes burning and getting a bit blurry. She didn't blame him? "Really? I mean you're not mad or hate me because I didn't bring your parents back like I promised? Because I was going to....I really was...we were taking a break, but...I was...I'm sorry, Shi. For everything. Now...you have lost the important people in your life..."
OOC: Alright then. Lol, Cloud doesn't understand a female's jealousy, does he? :D Letting out a breath as she quelled down the sudden fit of fire in her, she went up to a desk where one secretary was, and as she reached her, the lady looked up at her, and asked what can she help her with. Tifa answered this quickly, nodding her head, "I'm looking for the dorm number of Aerith Gainsborough? There's a emergency at the moment, and I need to reach her, whether by phone to call, or any other way if you please. I don't have my student I.D with me, but I do go here. My name is Tifa Lockhart." The lady listened intently to her words, before giving a stern nod, searching for the the girl's name to make sure she was a student in the school, "Very well, just give me a moment. If I find you're qualified, I'll get you the girl's dorm number." She waited for 'Tifa's' nod, and quickly began to look. She had found her file soon enough with her recent picture on the side, and she checked to see if they were the same person. There was no doubt, so she quickly looked for this Aerith Gainsborough's profile, giving Tifa a warning at the same time, "Hope you're not planning on doing any sort of prank, you, if we hear about it, you will get caught and get in trouble. I have to put the name down of whatever person is looking for said student in their profile, so you better know what you're doing." "Don't worry, we're actually old friends," Tifa replied back, frowning a little, but otherwise, bit her tongue. It took awhile, but the annoying lady ripped a page of a Post It Note and grabbed a pen, writing the number down, and handing it to her. With a forced smile, Tifa took it, and turned around to leave, "Thank you." She didn't waste any time walking the short path to the door and opening it again, seeing Cloud there.
OOC: I'm surprised Jack can even speak xP. Maybe he can tell Xengla about a redhead guy beaten the hell up or something now that Xehanort asked and about Shigiku, which makes Xengla visit the suite...Jack knows which one it is?...*shrug* "Our options are limited, Naminé. The best we can do now is take her to The World That Never Was. I'm not leaving her in a orphanage," Axel stated, knowing there was just no other choice in the matter, and he didn't think Shigiku would want to be far from him at the moment, or anyone one of them, they were the only ones she knew. He'll make sure nothing goes wrong in the castle, and besides, it wasn't like all the Organization members were mentally ill, and if they are, she had him to be there for her. They can make it work. He could portal her every day to school, and let her come back to what will be her home, help her with her homework, unless he didn't fade by that time, he could....goodness, he was going to have to be a real father now, wouldn't he? Letting out a breath, he felt something moving under him, and found Shigiku waking up groggily, only for the little girl to look at each of them blankly. 'Feeling' a swelll of sadness and guilt, as well as disappointment in himself, he went to wrap her arms around her little body tightly, bringing her into a hug as he leaned down. Another ache filling him, he muttered in a croak and of regret as he closed his eyes on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Shigiku...I know I promised...but I couldn't...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."
OOC: The stigma xP. Do you want it to be serious or easily cured? Tifa frowned deeply at his sentence, and gazed at him from the corner of her eyes questionably. He wants to see her picture? And that tone...she didn't even really know what to think, just that it hit her more than she liked...more suspicious than she liked. Feeling a sudden burn in her stomach at him, she gave him a serious and rough look before opening the door, standing there then saying, "Actually, I rather you wait for me here." With that, she went in, and the door closed behind her, leaving Cloud on the other side. Not that he was even going to look at her picutre unless he turned to see it on the computer desk of the secretary.
OOC: Lol xP, and Naminé is like what, 15? "I didn't kill him," was all Axel whispered tightly, swallowing hard as he kept his eyes on the little girl who was sleeping soundly. He didn't really know whether he was happy with his decision...actually, he wasn't, but he just couldn't do it, the reasons why made him think otherwise. There was no way he was going to do it to avenge Shigiku, then there'll always be that turning cycle that wouldn't end of payback, not to mention, he didn't want Shigiku to know he was a killer. That was just something he didn't want...yet, he was serious on his last threat. If Jack ever showed his face, he'll make sure his whole body will become numb and wouldn't be able to move them for the rest of life. Breathing in a sigh, he went to continue, "He's beaten up severely though. I couldn't do it...it will make me just like him, killing for revenge. And Shigiku...anyway, he told me where...where...the bodies are, so...we got to report that. And...Naminé, what are we going to do with her? She has no place to go, and we're basically her parents now. I can take her back to the castle, but then...I'm not sure what might go on there. Her growing with a group of Nobodies, no school, no social experience, I don't know...unless I send her to some school in Twilight Town or some place...she could make her life in that world." It was then he finally looked up at the blonde.
"Yeah, but as I said, it might be something that didn't mix well within you," Tifa answered as they kept walking down the hall, only to stop in front of the door of the main office. Perfect. Now, hopefully, they'll let her get the information, and take Cloud to Aerith...for the sake of healing him. Glancing over at him, she asked, "You want to come inside, or you want to wait here for me?" OOC: Okay, Tula, what do you think I have to do? xP. You want it to be serious or a fleeting thing to take care of? I don't know...
Axel gave Naminé a strange look, and he slicked passed the blonde quietly, going into the living room, then looking at the bedroom beside it in another room, finding Shigiku sleeping. Guess he didn't have to deal with tears and to tell her he was sorry, but he somehow wished he could've been there to comfort her. Axel wanted to hug her and see if she was alright, but before that, he had to clean up his hands, so he deviated silently to the bathroom, opening the door without a word to anyone, and heading to the sink. Even if they were gloved, he used liquid soap to wash it off as well, making sure there were no traces left; he didn't want to have anything stuck of that murderer on him. Watching the blood leave with the clear water, he rinsed them again, and closed it, wiping his hands off on a towel, that left no marks. Good. Clean. As he made his way back, he sauntered down the hall back to his bedroom (the other bedroom, which was Naminé's, the other way from the bathroom), and carefully sat down on the mattress next to Shigiku, staring at her with a mixture of emotions, not knowing exactly what to make of all this. Passing a hand through her rose colored hair softly, he waited for Naminé to come. They needed to talk, because now, they were officially by default Shigiku's guardians, as well as her permanent new mother and father figures.
OOC: Hope she got that xP. Axel was evil in CoM, everyone was his game in there. Axe let Repliku drained Zexion of his energy, but he really didn't strangle, Zexion was just grabbed by his collar (doesn't make it less horrible though *shudder*). If you want to see, look it up in YouTube and put "--insert name-- Death". Be warned xP. Axel had speed walked back to the suite, which was only around the corner, not knowing what to do or what to think now, or what Shigiku is thinking. The girl had nowhere to go, and he didn't want to simply throw her in a orphanage, he couldn't do tha, despite that it was dangerous to live with him, and he could "die" himself as well, which would be another loss. But he also couldn't leave her alone either. It was ironic...how before he thought that it didn't matter, that he was going to spend more time with Shigiku and delay the search of her parents...only now to really keep her with a valuable price sacrificed. It wasn't truly what he wanted...not that way. As he reached the door, he merely knocked on it with his knuckles, not finding the need to get out his card key and open the knob, especially if his gloved hands were a bit bloody from the constant punching. Axel didn't feel anything much anyway, at the moment.
Axel didn't say anything after that, the only answer he gave was tightening the hand that was in Jack's throat even more and more, he could hear him even struggling under his palm as he fought for the air to breathe, all the way, he kept the same hard and set expression on his face, he didn't feel anything at the moment, as this was perhaps a favor to Shigiku. He wondered what she will do when she finds out his death...it was then Axel thought back on the day when Angel was in the nursery, because of the accident that caused her blindness, and how he had jokingly said that she didn't know the real him...the dangerous one, and how frightened Shigiku was. In fact...Shigiku was always frightened and gazed at him in shock everytime he said something dark. Would she think of him differently if he killed someone himself...became a murderer, just like the guy she hated? Wouldn't it be the same? Revenge? Only this time, it was for the little girl who he had somehow grown to love and care for? Jack wasn't a Nobody, he was human, whole, with a heart, body, and soul, and a Nobody simply becomes Nothing when they fade...and even then, where they are or where they exist after fading is still a mystery. Jack wouldn't fade...then again, he could always lie and said he died by accident. But then he also promised Shigiku that he wouldn't lie to her anymore...and he already broke one now...her parents. He had failed. Couldn't get them back now, never again... Clenching his jaw, his mind raving with indecision, when his hand was almost about to crack the bone in his neck and kill him, he found himself loosening his grip. However, with a quick poitny flicker of his green eyes, the hand turned into a fist, and he suddenly found himself punching Jack's face to the point of Oblivion, making the side of his cheek hit the wall from the force, and he only did it again on the other side as he let go of his wrists, over and over he hit and hit, sometimes even setting them on fire, expressing all the anger and hate he had for him. It wasn't until he almost broke his jaw, that he grabbed him by the collar, and with surprising strength, flung him to the other side, making the body hit the metal bars of the ship that kept the people safe from falling over in the dark sea in a loud clash. Jack's body plopped down into the floor in a heap, his face a complete and bloody mess that Axel couldn't tell what it was anymore, but he just looked blankly at the disheveled form before him, stepping up to it, saying simply, "I decided to be a bigger man than you and spare your life, go live with what you sinned, because there's no way in hell you can redeem yourself, and do what you want to do with it. You better pray I don't see your face around here or withing a few feets of me, because God forbid, I will slaughter you. Hope you suffer in misery, b*tch." It was a shame too. Judging by his appearance and face, Jack looked to be about his age, if not only a few years older. With a nasty last glance at him, Axel turned around, his black cloak billowing behind him, and began to walk away, wanting to head to Shigiku now more than ever, and apologize...apologize for swearing a oath that he couldn't keep, his failure. OOC: I decided that instead of killing him, he'll beat him up pretty badly xP (and it kind of makes sense, I think o.O). You can do what you need with Jack, Destiny.
OOC: OKay then, I'll guess I'll just say goodnight too, just in case xP. "Are you sure? No one in your mind?" Axel kept questioning roughly, lowering his tone, wanting to figure it out, because, hell, that person was coming next. He got a bit disgusted at the fact of finding the bodies, just seeing these people...such a tragedy. He would have to report it first to the infirmary...if they were still there. So if there was no one that wanted harm to Jack...was a normal murder? A normal daily killer that happened to unfortunately cross paths with his family? Axel wanted to make sure. "Say it now, so I can at least pay your real revenge to the exact person that did the crime. Not that you deserve it, is only for Shigiku."
OOC: Yeah, well, I would think he would've acted that way for someone he cares about. And I know, right?! He might be a human waste to Axel, but he sure isn't to me :3. "Very well," Axel stated emotionlessly like the Nobody he was, narrowing his eyes into slits. It was all his fault, this all had to happen, it was all his fault...no, it all began with whoever killed his family, but Jack was just as guilty...he took the wrong path for being stupidly blind, and now...Shigiku, she was going to have to suffer with the fact that her parents are gone. And this was a big step for him as well, he had killed Nobodies, human formed as him, yet, it wasn't the same as killing a human, was it? Nevertheless, the hatred and the antagonizing boil in his stomach drove him to keep choking him, but not before he made a few things clear, for Shigiku...before he had to face her. Why...? Why was the human race so pathetic? To go that far. He almost felt ashamed being a part of it, not that he was exactly now. His voice still tight, he asked in a hiss, "Where...where are their bodies? And do you know of anyone who might have bad blood against you? Guess you didn't think about that either, huh?"
OOC: Awww...poor Shigiku TTATT. Now the question is, do I make Axel kill Jack? "You sure are a f*cking horrible person, there's not denying the crap that you're a human waste, you...you damn b*stard! Do you understand what you've just done?! And here you were, strutting around the f*cking ship without a care! You're wife and daughter must be so proud of you now...making a girl a orphan at the age of freaking five! Or six! Hell, she's young!" Axel shouted in a frenzy, not upset at her parents' death as he didn't know them, but more at the fact of what it was doing to her right now...he could only imagine. And he broke his promise...he said he was going to find them, and he really didn't even find them, just the murderer. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly found his hand wrapping around Jack's neck in a tight grip, and as each second passed, he only made it tighter, shutting his eyes hard as he tried to calm his flowing fury. He hated this man...he hated him for being stupid, for being blind, for killing her parents, for ruining Shigiku's life, he just hated him. He felt no pity for him. Not anymore. Snapping his eyes open sharply, now gazing at the man with pure deadliness, his lips set in a thin line as he rumbled coldly and blankly, with dark tones under, "Tell me, do you want to live? Oh, and don't get me wrong, I'm not going to let you."
OOC: OMG, they're really dead? o.O The news was so shocking that Axel didn't process quickly what he had admitted, and for a moment, he stared blankly at Jack, even his anger diminished for just that second as a sense of failure and disgust overtook him. Disgust....because guilt was filling him as he thought over how he halted the search, even if it was for just a hour or two. No...it wasn't his fault...it just wasn't, that time would've been wasted searching for them too, if not, more. His head snapped sideways when he heard Shigiku's cry, looking at the little girl get taken away by Naminé, and a sense of fear and sadness shivered down his spine...and if he did have heart, it would've fallen... Shigiku?... Feeling his breathing quickening, knowing he promised her...he promised her, Axel gazed at him intently with wide eyes, not believing it. "You're...you're lying right...there's no way...how long ago you did this? How..." It was kind of ironic how he had things in control and now he was rendered speechless, yet his hold on Jack just got tighter. "Be honest...this is a little girl's life you're ruining, where is she going to go?...her parents weren't even guilty, you couldn't have...you didn't even think to look for more evidence before you...
OOC: Watch Re: CoM. If not torturing them himself, he sure doesn't mind it. Gah. I hated Axel in that game, I have to admit. Zexy ;-;. Axel scoffed, laughing at him harshly, the fact that he kept resisting raising his rage more. "You say that now, but moving on...why is that? Has the family ever shown you hate?! Have they ever shown you dislike?! Have they ever done anything cruel to you?! What would they gain from killing them?! Why would they kill your family when they have a happy one of their own?! Why will they kill a little girl?! Answer me that, idiot. You're just like aaaall the rest with revenge in their minds...blind, stupid, and never seeing the bigger picture. All because you found someone's jacket. Have you ever heard of a word called 'framing'?" Letting go of his neck for now, he gripped the collar to pull him forward, only to slam him in the wall again, this time, more hard and making the surface behind him burn. However, he made sure there was no escape yet. "Maybe I don't know the whole story. So let's give yours a try. Oh my, what do you have to reveal?" He gave a sarcastic sort of interest at him.
