In time for Halloween, it's the third Alpha and Omega sequel "The Legend of the Sawtooth Cave." It's not really set on Halloween, but there's a cave in Shadow Forest that's said to be haunted. The adults are hesitant to go in but decide to check it out again anyway because that's where the food is. The kids return to check it out on their own and get chased away by rude porcupines, a strange wind, and a ghost wolf. Runt sees past all that and finds a wolf named Daria who is blind, and he agrees to take her back to her old pack. She's lived in the cave all alone since she was young because according to the law of her pack, the handicapped had to be killed. Her mother got killed instead and she's hidden in the cave ever since, protected by her ghost mother and the porcupines. As Humphrey puts it, "This is beyond twisted." After fighting a little with her old pack, they escape and agree to take her in to their pack, and her mother's ghost is appeased. There was also a message about parents letting go of their children and letting them grow up, but it would have profited from better writing or a better setting. It could have been tightened to half an hour with fewer subplots involving Tony and his cohorts almost leading a witch-hunt against the ghost or the porcupines. Unfortunately, there's going to be another installment in the spring, though I don't know what it's supposed to be about. This series ceased being amusing long ago. It's not even about anything anymore except maybe preaching tolerance in different ways, and even that is getting old.
I enjoyed the episode of Teen Titans Go! titled "Friendship," which had Control Freak send them into an episode of Pretty Pretty Pegasus. The best part was when he said "Holy smokes you're a nerd" to Raven when she was explaining what a flerd was (a combination of flock and herd for pegasi). Given the various fight sequences in the real MLP, though, it shouldn't have taken much for the rest of the Titans to convince the ponies to solve their problems with violence when communications broke down...with a smattering of "Swarm of the Century" with Pinkie not explaining herself properly. If the unicorns had just explained why they couldn't stop playing music, there wouldn't have been much of a conflict to begin with...though that would have led to a "Dragonshy" situation.
On Whose Line, I think they've started to catch on that starting mock fights with Aisha equates to ratings. Meanwhile, the current season of Power Rangers keeps recycling plots from previous incarnations both early and recent.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Reviews and Update
The gluten-free episode of South Park didn't touch upon the subject of people who can't eat it versus it being a phad, so that was disappointing. Still, gluten-free food is pretty tasty. The Family Guy/Simpsons crossover just proved that The Simpsons is a better show. I didn't care for the psych-out with Vance's health on NCIS either; we got enough of that with Jenny. Due to the pacing of Sailor Moon Crystal, the relationship between Usagi and Mamoru has been advancing unbelievably fast. There's something to be said for filler in the classic series, even though it's still convoluted.
Just noticed that Riku and even Ansem talk about the stench of darkness more than Zexion does, to the point where I'm starting to believe it's not a real power and the others are just humoring the poor kid to make him believe he's special. As for my fan fiction, it'll probably continue once III comes out and storylines wrap up. As for what I've written in the timeline of III, that's mostly stuff I'd wanted to happen regardless of what actually ends up happening, in which case I'd only tweak it a little bit to make sense or ignore the outcome entirely. That being said, here's another bit of content:
Riku showed up to the castle to see Ansem. Ienzo was still afraid of him or was at least made nervous by his presence, so he avoided him as much as possible. He remembered their battle; after Riku had broken through his illusionary tactics, Zexion had become frustrated and tried to jump him from behind and suplex him like some of the others used to do to him in the past. Since Riku had been shorter than him, he'd seen it as his only chance to do so to someone else for a change. It hadn't worked, of course, because though he'd been younger and shorter, Riku was still much stronger than him. Now that Riku had grown up too, he was even stronger and slightly taller than him. He was also slightly jealous and annoyed that Riku had been spending so much time with Ansem as of late. He called Kagemiya over to talk about it.
Kagemiya arrived at the castle and greeted Dilan and Aeleus. "Ienzo sounded like something was bothering him. Did something happen?"
The two looked at each other with concern. "Who would know but him?" Aeleus replied. Dilan held the door open for her and she went inside.
Hurrying down the corridor, she nearly bumped into into Riku, who was on his way out. "Hey! Who are you?" he asked, grabbing her wrist.
She looked at him, stunned. "It's okay, Riku. I'm friends with Ienzo, one of Ansem's apprentices. My name is Sayuri."
"How do you know my name?"
"Eh? Why wouldn't I know your name? Excuse me." She pulled her arm out of his grasp and ran off. She hadn't really met him before, only his replica; she knew he'd fought Aeleus and Ienzo as Nobodies. She didn't feel like explaining it to him.
Ienzo was waiting for her in the library. He seemed to be sulking. "Hey."
"Hey. What's wrong?"
"It's...Riku. He's been spending a lot of time here recently...since he and King Mickey are friends with Master Ansem."
"Oh? Is that a problem?"
"No...I just...it feels like Riku is taking my place...in his heart."
"That could never happen."
"Are you sure?"
"Even if their friendship were to take on a father-son dynamic, sibling rivalry is completely normal."
"What?"
"Ienzo, he could no more replace you as a son than you could replace Mako-chan as my brother."
"Really?" This did not seem to cheer him up any.
She patted him on the head. "You and I are friends, and the two of them are friends. You don't have to worry."
He didn't seem to appreciate the gesture either, but he accepted the advice. "Okay."
Just noticed that Riku and even Ansem talk about the stench of darkness more than Zexion does, to the point where I'm starting to believe it's not a real power and the others are just humoring the poor kid to make him believe he's special. As for my fan fiction, it'll probably continue once III comes out and storylines wrap up. As for what I've written in the timeline of III, that's mostly stuff I'd wanted to happen regardless of what actually ends up happening, in which case I'd only tweak it a little bit to make sense or ignore the outcome entirely. That being said, here's another bit of content:
Riku showed up to the castle to see Ansem. Ienzo was still afraid of him or was at least made nervous by his presence, so he avoided him as much as possible. He remembered their battle; after Riku had broken through his illusionary tactics, Zexion had become frustrated and tried to jump him from behind and suplex him like some of the others used to do to him in the past. Since Riku had been shorter than him, he'd seen it as his only chance to do so to someone else for a change. It hadn't worked, of course, because though he'd been younger and shorter, Riku was still much stronger than him. Now that Riku had grown up too, he was even stronger and slightly taller than him. He was also slightly jealous and annoyed that Riku had been spending so much time with Ansem as of late. He called Kagemiya over to talk about it.
Kagemiya arrived at the castle and greeted Dilan and Aeleus. "Ienzo sounded like something was bothering him. Did something happen?"
The two looked at each other with concern. "Who would know but him?" Aeleus replied. Dilan held the door open for her and she went inside.
Hurrying down the corridor, she nearly bumped into into Riku, who was on his way out. "Hey! Who are you?" he asked, grabbing her wrist.
She looked at him, stunned. "It's okay, Riku. I'm friends with Ienzo, one of Ansem's apprentices. My name is Sayuri."
"How do you know my name?"
"Eh? Why wouldn't I know your name? Excuse me." She pulled her arm out of his grasp and ran off. She hadn't really met him before, only his replica; she knew he'd fought Aeleus and Ienzo as Nobodies. She didn't feel like explaining it to him.
Ienzo was waiting for her in the library. He seemed to be sulking. "Hey."
"Hey. What's wrong?"
"It's...Riku. He's been spending a lot of time here recently...since he and King Mickey are friends with Master Ansem."
"Oh? Is that a problem?"
"No...I just...it feels like Riku is taking my place...in his heart."
"That could never happen."
"Are you sure?"
"Even if their friendship were to take on a father-son dynamic, sibling rivalry is completely normal."
"What?"
"Ienzo, he could no more replace you as a son than you could replace Mako-chan as my brother."
"Really?" This did not seem to cheer him up any.
She patted him on the head. "You and I are friends, and the two of them are friends. You don't have to worry."
He didn't seem to appreciate the gesture either, but he accepted the advice. "Okay."
Sunday, October 5, 2014
An Impossible Romance part 2
Originally I wasn't going to continue with this, but it needed a proper continuation and a conclusion. Zexion of course doesn't get a chance to return to Jump City and instead is sent to Castle Oblivion a few days later.
***
One day, seeking some peace and quiet, Raven decided to leave the Tower for a little while. "Oblivion would be nice," she said to herself, opening a portal. She'd meant oblivion with a lowercase "o," but the spell took her to Oblivion with a capital "O" - Castle Oblivion. "This isn't what I had in mind, but...it sure looks desolate enough," she reasoned. Having no idea who lived there, if anyone, she took a chance on opening the door and entered into the empty hallway. "Hello? Is anyone here?"
Down in the basement, where he was stationed with Vexen and Lexaeus, Zexion stopped talking mid-sentence when he sensed her arrival. He gasped in surprise. "What is it?" Lexaeus asked, concerned. If he had a heart, it'd be leaping out of his chest, he observed.
"It's her...She's here..." he whispered excitedly.
"Who's here?" Vexen demanded impatiently.
"Raven. The girl I told you about."
"How did she know where to find you?"
"I didn't tell her, if that's what you're accusing me of. She must have found it on her own." I'd better intercept her before someone upstairs does. He teleported to the entrance hall to greet his guest. "I'm pleased we could meet again, Raven."
"Zexion? What are you doing here?" Raven asked neutrally, surprised to see him too.
This is some coincidence, Zexion thought, realizing she hadn't come to see him after all. "I'm here on a secret mission. How did you find this place?"
"I came here sort of by accident," she replied sheepishly.
"Really?" Maybe it had been a little too presumptuous of him to think that she had tracked him down.
"Yeah. I just wanted to relax for a while and this is where I ended up." She began to twirl her hair nervously but stopped herself. What am I doing?
"Well you don't have to worry about those monsters showing up here, but there are five - no, six - other members of my group living here too, so I can't promise absolute silence."
Raven remembered the darkness she had felt from him. "What's your secret mission about, then?"
"I can't tell you that, of course, but we are looking for something."
Raven wasn't sure whether she should volunteer to help or not. She could easily send out her power over the castle to find whatever it was, but she got the feeling that it wouldn't be used for anything good. Not that Zexion seemed interested in finding it for nefarious purposes. Right now he only seemed interested in talking to her. He hadn't once broken eye contact. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked quietly.
Zexion quickly looked away. "Sorry. Your eyes are just so captivating."
What? Does he...like me? Raven wasn't new to the concept of dating, but it hadn't exactly turned out well for her in the past.
Suddenly, the brooch on her cloak started flashing. "What's that?" Zexion asked.
"There's trouble back in Jump City," she explained. "I have to return to the Tower."
Zexion nodded. "I understand."
"You're going to be here a while, right?"
"For the foreseeable future."
"I'll come back another time, then."
Zexion repeated what she'd said to him before. "I'll be waiting."
Raven departed, and Zexion returned to the basement. "The verdict?" Vexen prompted, clipboard at the ready.
"She hadn't meant to come here, but she said she'd be back later."
"That's good, isn't it?" Lexaeus said encouragingly. Zexion didn't respond, wondering if it really would be good. He certainly hadn't expected any trouble...
***
When Raven finally returned to Castle Oblivion on another day, no one appeared to greet her in the entrance hall. She touched the wall and used her powers to try to sense what was going on. She got a vision of Sora, Donald, and Goofy entering the castle and being greeted by two other cloaked members of the Organization. Those three she sensed were still upstairs along with some other people, but Zexion was not among them, nor were any other members of the Organization. "Did they leave?" she wondered aloud.
She sent out her power slowly with the hope of finding some clue as to what had happened, but couldn't find a trace of anyone left. "People don't just vanish," she told herself. "There has to be some explanation." Still, she didn't find anything other than a blocked off room her powers couldn't reach. "Maybe that's what they were looking for, and they reported back." She didn't sound too sure, though. She returned to Titans Tower feeling unfulfilled.
***
Raven was in the back of Ienzo's mind after he reconstituted along with the others. As soon as things became settled in Radiant Garden, he set about trying to find her. He knew she lived in Jump City in a place called the Tower; that seemed like enough to go on. Someone would point him in the right direction.
It had been over a year, and Raven had not expected to see him again. Sure enough, however, he turned up at the front door of Titans Tower wearing a white lab coat instead of the black coat of the Organization. "Zexion, is everything okay?"
"More or less, and I'm back to using my real name, Ienzo."
"The first name you said."
"Yeah."
"What happened? I went back to Oblivion but you were already gone."
"It's a long story."
"I figured as much when we first met. You don't have to explain. I have a past too."
"You do?" Ienzo couldn't imagine what she could have been through that would have been on par with or worse than his own experiences.
Raven nodded. "Are those for me?" She pointed to the flowers in Ienzo's hands.
"Oh! Uh, yes." He quickly handed them over. "Almost forgot."
"Thanks." She hesitated. "I know you're infatuated with me, but you should know this isn't going to work out."
Hearing this stung, but Ienzo knew it was probably true; they each had a duty to their own world. "No reason we can't still get to know each other better and be friends."
"I think I can handle that."
***
One day, seeking some peace and quiet, Raven decided to leave the Tower for a little while. "Oblivion would be nice," she said to herself, opening a portal. She'd meant oblivion with a lowercase "o," but the spell took her to Oblivion with a capital "O" - Castle Oblivion. "This isn't what I had in mind, but...it sure looks desolate enough," she reasoned. Having no idea who lived there, if anyone, she took a chance on opening the door and entered into the empty hallway. "Hello? Is anyone here?"
Down in the basement, where he was stationed with Vexen and Lexaeus, Zexion stopped talking mid-sentence when he sensed her arrival. He gasped in surprise. "What is it?" Lexaeus asked, concerned. If he had a heart, it'd be leaping out of his chest, he observed.
"It's her...She's here..." he whispered excitedly.
"Who's here?" Vexen demanded impatiently.
"Raven. The girl I told you about."
"How did she know where to find you?"
"I didn't tell her, if that's what you're accusing me of. She must have found it on her own." I'd better intercept her before someone upstairs does. He teleported to the entrance hall to greet his guest. "I'm pleased we could meet again, Raven."
"Zexion? What are you doing here?" Raven asked neutrally, surprised to see him too.
This is some coincidence, Zexion thought, realizing she hadn't come to see him after all. "I'm here on a secret mission. How did you find this place?"
"I came here sort of by accident," she replied sheepishly.
"Really?" Maybe it had been a little too presumptuous of him to think that she had tracked him down.
"Yeah. I just wanted to relax for a while and this is where I ended up." She began to twirl her hair nervously but stopped herself. What am I doing?
"Well you don't have to worry about those monsters showing up here, but there are five - no, six - other members of my group living here too, so I can't promise absolute silence."
Raven remembered the darkness she had felt from him. "What's your secret mission about, then?"
"I can't tell you that, of course, but we are looking for something."
Raven wasn't sure whether she should volunteer to help or not. She could easily send out her power over the castle to find whatever it was, but she got the feeling that it wouldn't be used for anything good. Not that Zexion seemed interested in finding it for nefarious purposes. Right now he only seemed interested in talking to her. He hadn't once broken eye contact. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked quietly.
Zexion quickly looked away. "Sorry. Your eyes are just so captivating."
What? Does he...like me? Raven wasn't new to the concept of dating, but it hadn't exactly turned out well for her in the past.
Suddenly, the brooch on her cloak started flashing. "What's that?" Zexion asked.
"There's trouble back in Jump City," she explained. "I have to return to the Tower."
Zexion nodded. "I understand."
"You're going to be here a while, right?"
"For the foreseeable future."
"I'll come back another time, then."
Zexion repeated what she'd said to him before. "I'll be waiting."
Raven departed, and Zexion returned to the basement. "The verdict?" Vexen prompted, clipboard at the ready.
"She hadn't meant to come here, but she said she'd be back later."
"That's good, isn't it?" Lexaeus said encouragingly. Zexion didn't respond, wondering if it really would be good. He certainly hadn't expected any trouble...
***
When Raven finally returned to Castle Oblivion on another day, no one appeared to greet her in the entrance hall. She touched the wall and used her powers to try to sense what was going on. She got a vision of Sora, Donald, and Goofy entering the castle and being greeted by two other cloaked members of the Organization. Those three she sensed were still upstairs along with some other people, but Zexion was not among them, nor were any other members of the Organization. "Did they leave?" she wondered aloud.
She sent out her power slowly with the hope of finding some clue as to what had happened, but couldn't find a trace of anyone left. "People don't just vanish," she told herself. "There has to be some explanation." Still, she didn't find anything other than a blocked off room her powers couldn't reach. "Maybe that's what they were looking for, and they reported back." She didn't sound too sure, though. She returned to Titans Tower feeling unfulfilled.
***
Raven was in the back of Ienzo's mind after he reconstituted along with the others. As soon as things became settled in Radiant Garden, he set about trying to find her. He knew she lived in Jump City in a place called the Tower; that seemed like enough to go on. Someone would point him in the right direction.
It had been over a year, and Raven had not expected to see him again. Sure enough, however, he turned up at the front door of Titans Tower wearing a white lab coat instead of the black coat of the Organization. "Zexion, is everything okay?"
"More or less, and I'm back to using my real name, Ienzo."
"The first name you said."
"Yeah."
"What happened? I went back to Oblivion but you were already gone."
"It's a long story."
"I figured as much when we first met. You don't have to explain. I have a past too."
"You do?" Ienzo couldn't imagine what she could have been through that would have been on par with or worse than his own experiences.
Raven nodded. "Are those for me?" She pointed to the flowers in Ienzo's hands.
"Oh! Uh, yes." He quickly handed them over. "Almost forgot."
"Thanks." She hesitated. "I know you're infatuated with me, but you should know this isn't going to work out."
Hearing this stung, but Ienzo knew it was probably true; they each had a duty to their own world. "No reason we can't still get to know each other better and be friends."
"I think I can handle that."
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Pumpkin-coctions
I finally got the pumpkin Oreos. Yay! They are the golden Oreos though, which I don't like as much as the regular chocolate cookies. Didn't they use to have cookies called Cameos that were like that? I liked those. I would never eat the fruit punch Oreos. Yeeeeeuch. I baked some pumpkin cookies too and got pumpkin muffins. I don't have a problem! I also baked maple bacon cookies. Yes, those exist. The batter witch has her tendrils everywhere!
Anyway, we finally got some news on the Homestuck Gigapause front. My boyfriend took advantage of the year-long pause to get me into it. I'm an Aries and a Heart player. My favorite moment was when Vriska fell in love with Nic Cage. Other favorite moments include John and Nepeta having fun with Karkat's name (Karkitty. Beep beep meow!), Nepeta in general because she is teh cute, Bro kicking Dave's ass (That's all there really is to say on the matter), Jade hitting Bec Noir with a rolled-up newspaper, Karkat shoosh-papping Gamzee, Caliborn shooting Gamzee repeatedly, and the 12 Trolls of Christmas fan videos.
Kingdom Hearts 2.5 came out in Japan today, and a secret scene was posted with English subtitles. In it, Braig was talking to young Xehanort in the lab whilst everyone else was still unconscious and Terra-nort was nowhere to be found. It's pretty much what I expected had happened. And people love Braig/Xigbar so of course they'll be happy to see more of him.
Inevitably, I began comparing Organization XIII (minus Roxas) to the Homestuck trolls (using the 12 trolls videos). Demyx would be Terezi, Xemnas would be Sollux, Larxene would be Nepeta, Marluxia would be Feferi, Zexion would be Karkat, Lexaeus would be Kanaya, Axel would be Tavros, Luxord would be Vriska, Xigbar would be Gamzee, Vexen would be Eridan, Saix would be Aradia, and Xaldin would be Equius. Additionally, Master Xehanort would be Lord English, young Xehanort would be Caliborn, and Erauqs would be Calliope. Actually, now that I think about it, Roxas is more Tavros and Axel can be Rufio (the imaginary one).
Anyway, we finally got some news on the Homestuck Gigapause front. My boyfriend took advantage of the year-long pause to get me into it. I'm an Aries and a Heart player. My favorite moment was when Vriska fell in love with Nic Cage. Other favorite moments include John and Nepeta having fun with Karkat's name (Karkitty. Beep beep meow!), Nepeta in general because she is teh cute, Bro kicking Dave's ass (That's all there really is to say on the matter), Jade hitting Bec Noir with a rolled-up newspaper, Karkat shoosh-papping Gamzee, Caliborn shooting Gamzee repeatedly, and the 12 Trolls of Christmas fan videos.
Kingdom Hearts 2.5 came out in Japan today, and a secret scene was posted with English subtitles. In it, Braig was talking to young Xehanort in the lab whilst everyone else was still unconscious and Terra-nort was nowhere to be found. It's pretty much what I expected had happened. And people love Braig/Xigbar so of course they'll be happy to see more of him.
Inevitably, I began comparing Organization XIII (minus Roxas) to the Homestuck trolls (using the 12 trolls videos). Demyx would be Terezi, Xemnas would be Sollux, Larxene would be Nepeta, Marluxia would be Feferi, Zexion would be Karkat, Lexaeus would be Kanaya, Axel would be Tavros, Luxord would be Vriska, Xigbar would be Gamzee, Vexen would be Eridan, Saix would be Aradia, and Xaldin would be Equius. Additionally, Master Xehanort would be Lord English, young Xehanort would be Caliborn, and Erauqs would be Calliope. Actually, now that I think about it, Roxas is more Tavros and Axel can be Rufio (the imaginary one).
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Kagemiya Sayuri part 4
Chapter 4: Discharged
A whole week had gone by before Even could make a decision on how to continue treating her; he wanted to be thorough. After the tenth day, he decided against any invasive procedures since he still didn't know what specifically was causing the arrhythmia. He continued giving her the medicine that was keeping her condition stable. "It's not a cure, so you'll have to keep taking it for the rest of your life," he told her. "I'm sorry I can't do more."
"You've done enough. You probably saved my life," she said appreciatively.
"If you have any more fainting spells, please let one of us know. You've had us all very worried."
"I'm sorry for troubling you."
"It was no trouble at all. You're in perfect health otherwise so of course we're concerned."
"If it happens again...then what?"
"Drastic measures."
Drastic measures that could just as likely kill her as cure her; Even didn't want to take the risk unless he absolutely had to. He watched as one of Kagemiya's aunts came to collect her; outwardly, she showed no tenderness toward her niece and did not support her while walking home. Kagemiya looked back at him over her shoulder briefly before they were gone. He was suddenly reminded of how he had treated Ienzo when he was growing up. "Good Lord, what have I done?" he whispered to himself and went back inside to find Ienzo. "I may have made a mistake," he told him.
"What? With Kage-san?" Ienzo asked worriedly, having no context for this statement.
"No, with you. I wasn't as warm with you as I could have been like the others were. I'm sorry."
Ienzo was stunned. "Okay. What brought this on?" Even explained about Kagemiya's departure, and Ienzo realized too how she could relate to him so well. Then he remembered what she'd told him back when they were in Castle Oblivion.
Ienzo waited a couple of days before going to see Kagemiya. The boy who answered the door had to have been her brother Mako, but apart from their eyes, the siblings looked almost nothing alike. "Nee-san, the boy from the castle is here to see you."
Kagemiya was sitting in a chair reading but stood up when Ienzo came in. "Hi, Ienzo. How are you?"
"You don't have to get up. More importantly, how are you?"
"I'm still getting my energy and strength back, but you can tell Even I'm taking the medicine as directed and that I'm doing fine."
"I will, but that isn't why I came over. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Kagemiya smiled. "No, but I could use a friend."
"Do you want to go for a walk, or would it tire you out too much?"
"I could go for some fresh air, and my legs keep twitching. Not too far, though. Mako-chan, I'm going out."
"Come back safe," Mako called out.
Ienzo didn't think he could support her if she collapsed again, but he didn't want to acknowledge it aloud; he wanted to take care of his friend. "So this is where you grew up," he said as they walked around the neighborhood.
"Yeah. What do you think?"
"It's...quaint."
"That's what Dilan said too back when he used to walk me home at night."
"You must have a lot of memories of this place."
"Well I have lived here my whole life and still do."
"Right. I guess I'd gotten used to having you around when we were Nobodies."
"I know what you mean."
"What will you do now?"
"I guess I'll go back to school."
"Don't work too hard, Sa-chan," said a familiar voice.
"Myde," Kagemiya exclaimed as he had appeared out of nowhere. Ienzo looked just as surprised but not at all pleased.
"Glad to see you're up and about."
"It wouldn't do to stay in bed all the time. I need to be able to walk, you know."
"Why didn't you go see her sooner?" Ienzo asked accusingly.
Myde was taken aback by this. "I wanted to, but I knew her aunts would just shoo me away again like they did when I first found out."
"Then what about when she was still in the castle?"
"To be honest, people are afraid to go anywhere near your place because of what happened. No offense or anything, but..."
"We're doing the best we can to reverse the damage we did because of Xehanort."
They were starting to make Kagemiya nervous, but before she could ask them to stop fighting, they fell silent. "Let's go back," she said, walking back in the direction of her house. The two of them followed behind her just out of earshot.
"What are her aunts really like?" Ienzo whispered. "Are they all similar to Even?"
"Huh? Well..." Myde thought for a moment. "When you put it that way, one of them was super bossy. I think she's the oldest."
"That must be the one who came to pick her up that day."
"The second one was really uptight, the type who's concerned about appearances. The third one was crying hysterically. I think she's her godmother."
"What's a godmother?"
"That's someone who your parents designate to take care of you if they're not around anymore. Would that make Ansem your godfather?"
"I don't know..."
"Sorry."
"How long have you known Kage-san?"
"On and off since elementary school. Lea and Isa too."
"Would you say you two are close?"
"Sort of. Why do you ask?"
Ienzo couldn't bring himself to ask. She was his friend, but there was so much about her he didn't know. Maybe it wasn't even his place to ask.
"Oh, we're not like that, if that's what you were thinking," Myde whispered, thinking Ienzo was jealous (which he was, but not in that way). "Aren't you too young for her though?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Hey, are you two literally talking about me behind my back?" Kagemiya asked, suspicious. She hadn't heard the whole conversation, but she did hear Ienzo say her name.
"He wants to ask you something," Myde volunteered.
"No, forget it," Ienzo denied.
"What is it?" Kagemiya asked. "You can ask me anything."
Ienzo tried to think of an appropriate question. "The aunt who came to pick you up...do you like her?"
This caught Kagemiya off-guard. "She's fine, I guess. Why?"
"After you left with her, Even apologized for the way he'd treated me, all because he saw how the two of you walked away."
Kagemiya became more confused. Was Even like her aunt? "Well, she did help raise me, and Even helped raise you. They're both strict, I suppose. It's too late for us now, though."
"Huh?"
"They brought us up, so we tend to act like them whether we want to or not. What do you think of that?" Ienzo made a face like he didn't like it at all.
"It's true," Myde put in, causing Ienzo to glare at him.
"I'm sure he's always liked you, Ienzo. You're important to him." When he told me that story about Ienzo as a baby, his expression did seem to soften.
When did this start being about me? Ienzo just nodded.
When they reached Kagemiya's house, she said, "I think I'll go lie down now, but one of my aunts will be bringing some food over if the two of you want to stay for dinner."
Depends on the aunt, Myde thought, reluctant to answer.
"I'd better go," Ienzo declined, not looking her in the eye.
"You all must be busy. I hope my stay didn't set you back too much in your real work."
"Don't worry about things like that. Just take care of yourself." As he turned to leave, he almost bumped into a red-haired woman carrying Tupperware containers. "Pardon me."
"What's the rush? Aren't you staying?" the woman asked genially.
"That's the godmother," Myde whispered to him. Out loud he said, "Yeah, the two of us came over to visit."
"Is it really okay, Ienzo?" Kagemiya asked.
Well, I didn't say when I'd be back, Ienzo thought. "Yeah, it's fine."
"Ienzo? I've heard a lot about you," Kagemiya's godmother said, realizing who he was.
Ienzo became even more nervous. Kagemiya's family had obviously been attacked by the Heartless as well. Did they know it was his fault? Did they blame him and the others? What had they talked about on the first night back? "I'm sorry!" he burst out.
The woman looked puzzled. "For what?" she asked. "All I meant was that Sayuri used to talk about you all the time when she babysat you."
"Oh..." Either she really didn't know or she was being incredibly kind by not talking about it.
The five of them sat down to dinner. Ienzo remained quiet, still somewhat plagued by guilt. If Mako held any ill-will toward him he didn't seem to express it. Myde seemed at ease talking to this oba-san, which meant that she was fine on her own; it was the other two aunts who hadn't wanted Kage-san to have visitors.
"By the way, is your father coming home soon?" Ienzo asked Kagemiya.
"As soon as he can. Any day now," she replied.
"That's good."
"He and my husband are land surveyors," her godmother explained. "They're gone for most of the year."
"Interesting. What do you do?"
"I'm a teacher."
"Oh?" Ienzo seemed to appreciate this.
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. "Thanks for the food, ma'am," Ienzo said as he got up to leave.
"Thank you for looking after my niece."
"I didn't really do much of anything..."
"I'm sure you did. Sayuri told us that all of you at the castle had taken care of her."
Ienzo ran into Lea when he returned home. "You're out kinda late," Lea commented.
"I was visiting Kage-san."
"They let you?"
"Yeah. The aunt who stopped by today was the nice one, according to Myde."
"Oh yeah, I like her. Is she coming back here to see you?"
"I don't know. She says she's going to finish school."
"That's right. It's been a while. I wouldn't worry, though. After everything that's happened, she's not going to forget about you."
Ienzo remembered the pinkie-swear, their promise to remain friends even though he didn't need her to look after him anymore. "You're right. We are friends, after all."
He went back to visit her again the next chance he got. When he arrived at the house, her two girlfriends were just leaving. It was another reminder to him that she had a different life that he wasn't part of. Without prying too deeply, he wanted to talk more about what they had in common, even if it wasn't a happy subject. "Back at Castle Oblivion, you said that your brother doesn't remember your mother. Do you tell him stories about what you remember?" he asked.
"Not much to remember," she replied glumly. "We mostly look at old photos together."
"I don't have too many of those myself. Sometimes when I find myself really missing my parents, I'll ask one of the others to tell me about their memories of them. They always tell me how much they loved me."
"That's really nice."
"What about you? Have you ever asked your aunts?"
"No, just the photos. Why are you asking about that?"
He took it as a warning to back off. "You almost died. I didn't want to be the one telling your brother stories about you to remember you by. He must already dislike me anyway."
"He knows where he stands. The two of you may be the same age, but you're my friend and he's my brother. Although...you have called me 'nee-san' a couple times already."
Ienzo had to own up to it. "Well, the others at the castle are like uncles and brothers to me. You're like the sister I never had. Even when we were Nobodies, I thought that..."
"Back then I still had this instinct to look after you, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't projecting my bond with my brother onto you too. Senpai called me out on it once. Isa-kun and Lea-kun didn't seem to like it either."
"I thought it was me they didn't like."
"That may be true too, but it's not like everyone outside the castle hates you. You really don't trust anyone beyond the six of you, do you?"
"It's complicated. You know, based on what we had done. But you're right. I've led a sheltered life. When you first arrived I thought you were kind of a spaz, cutting your finger like I had by complete happenstance."
"I was nervous."
"Don't get me wrong. I liked you, but I couldn't tell you everything. I didn't want you to hate me."
"I was pretty mad when you finally did tell me, but I could never hate you or any of the others. I wasn't there, so I can't fully understand what you did or why, but I've been around you long enough that it's okay. I've gotten to know you, and based on your personalities, I never thought you were bad people."
"I've had to question that a few times myself."
"Good people have flaws and they make mistakes. You're no different."
"We knew what we were doing was wrong but went ahead with it anyway. My guilty conscience used to give me nightmares, even as a Nobody. What would my parents think? What would they have done in my place?"
"You have no way of knowing that."
A whole week had gone by before Even could make a decision on how to continue treating her; he wanted to be thorough. After the tenth day, he decided against any invasive procedures since he still didn't know what specifically was causing the arrhythmia. He continued giving her the medicine that was keeping her condition stable. "It's not a cure, so you'll have to keep taking it for the rest of your life," he told her. "I'm sorry I can't do more."
"You've done enough. You probably saved my life," she said appreciatively.
"If you have any more fainting spells, please let one of us know. You've had us all very worried."
"I'm sorry for troubling you."
"It was no trouble at all. You're in perfect health otherwise so of course we're concerned."
"If it happens again...then what?"
"Drastic measures."
Drastic measures that could just as likely kill her as cure her; Even didn't want to take the risk unless he absolutely had to. He watched as one of Kagemiya's aunts came to collect her; outwardly, she showed no tenderness toward her niece and did not support her while walking home. Kagemiya looked back at him over her shoulder briefly before they were gone. He was suddenly reminded of how he had treated Ienzo when he was growing up. "Good Lord, what have I done?" he whispered to himself and went back inside to find Ienzo. "I may have made a mistake," he told him.
"What? With Kage-san?" Ienzo asked worriedly, having no context for this statement.
"No, with you. I wasn't as warm with you as I could have been like the others were. I'm sorry."
Ienzo was stunned. "Okay. What brought this on?" Even explained about Kagemiya's departure, and Ienzo realized too how she could relate to him so well. Then he remembered what she'd told him back when they were in Castle Oblivion.
Ienzo waited a couple of days before going to see Kagemiya. The boy who answered the door had to have been her brother Mako, but apart from their eyes, the siblings looked almost nothing alike. "Nee-san, the boy from the castle is here to see you."
Kagemiya was sitting in a chair reading but stood up when Ienzo came in. "Hi, Ienzo. How are you?"
"You don't have to get up. More importantly, how are you?"
"I'm still getting my energy and strength back, but you can tell Even I'm taking the medicine as directed and that I'm doing fine."
"I will, but that isn't why I came over. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Kagemiya smiled. "No, but I could use a friend."
"Do you want to go for a walk, or would it tire you out too much?"
"I could go for some fresh air, and my legs keep twitching. Not too far, though. Mako-chan, I'm going out."
"Come back safe," Mako called out.
Ienzo didn't think he could support her if she collapsed again, but he didn't want to acknowledge it aloud; he wanted to take care of his friend. "So this is where you grew up," he said as they walked around the neighborhood.
"Yeah. What do you think?"
"It's...quaint."
"That's what Dilan said too back when he used to walk me home at night."
"You must have a lot of memories of this place."
"Well I have lived here my whole life and still do."
"Right. I guess I'd gotten used to having you around when we were Nobodies."
"I know what you mean."
"What will you do now?"
"I guess I'll go back to school."
"Don't work too hard, Sa-chan," said a familiar voice.
"Myde," Kagemiya exclaimed as he had appeared out of nowhere. Ienzo looked just as surprised but not at all pleased.
"Glad to see you're up and about."
"It wouldn't do to stay in bed all the time. I need to be able to walk, you know."
"Why didn't you go see her sooner?" Ienzo asked accusingly.
Myde was taken aback by this. "I wanted to, but I knew her aunts would just shoo me away again like they did when I first found out."
"Then what about when she was still in the castle?"
"To be honest, people are afraid to go anywhere near your place because of what happened. No offense or anything, but..."
"We're doing the best we can to reverse the damage we did because of Xehanort."
They were starting to make Kagemiya nervous, but before she could ask them to stop fighting, they fell silent. "Let's go back," she said, walking back in the direction of her house. The two of them followed behind her just out of earshot.
"What are her aunts really like?" Ienzo whispered. "Are they all similar to Even?"
"Huh? Well..." Myde thought for a moment. "When you put it that way, one of them was super bossy. I think she's the oldest."
"That must be the one who came to pick her up that day."
"The second one was really uptight, the type who's concerned about appearances. The third one was crying hysterically. I think she's her godmother."
"What's a godmother?"
"That's someone who your parents designate to take care of you if they're not around anymore. Would that make Ansem your godfather?"
"I don't know..."
"Sorry."
"How long have you known Kage-san?"
"On and off since elementary school. Lea and Isa too."
"Would you say you two are close?"
"Sort of. Why do you ask?"
Ienzo couldn't bring himself to ask. She was his friend, but there was so much about her he didn't know. Maybe it wasn't even his place to ask.
"Oh, we're not like that, if that's what you were thinking," Myde whispered, thinking Ienzo was jealous (which he was, but not in that way). "Aren't you too young for her though?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Hey, are you two literally talking about me behind my back?" Kagemiya asked, suspicious. She hadn't heard the whole conversation, but she did hear Ienzo say her name.
"He wants to ask you something," Myde volunteered.
"No, forget it," Ienzo denied.
"What is it?" Kagemiya asked. "You can ask me anything."
Ienzo tried to think of an appropriate question. "The aunt who came to pick you up...do you like her?"
This caught Kagemiya off-guard. "She's fine, I guess. Why?"
"After you left with her, Even apologized for the way he'd treated me, all because he saw how the two of you walked away."
Kagemiya became more confused. Was Even like her aunt? "Well, she did help raise me, and Even helped raise you. They're both strict, I suppose. It's too late for us now, though."
"Huh?"
"They brought us up, so we tend to act like them whether we want to or not. What do you think of that?" Ienzo made a face like he didn't like it at all.
"It's true," Myde put in, causing Ienzo to glare at him.
"I'm sure he's always liked you, Ienzo. You're important to him." When he told me that story about Ienzo as a baby, his expression did seem to soften.
When did this start being about me? Ienzo just nodded.
When they reached Kagemiya's house, she said, "I think I'll go lie down now, but one of my aunts will be bringing some food over if the two of you want to stay for dinner."
Depends on the aunt, Myde thought, reluctant to answer.
"I'd better go," Ienzo declined, not looking her in the eye.
"You all must be busy. I hope my stay didn't set you back too much in your real work."
"Don't worry about things like that. Just take care of yourself." As he turned to leave, he almost bumped into a red-haired woman carrying Tupperware containers. "Pardon me."
"What's the rush? Aren't you staying?" the woman asked genially.
"That's the godmother," Myde whispered to him. Out loud he said, "Yeah, the two of us came over to visit."
"Is it really okay, Ienzo?" Kagemiya asked.
Well, I didn't say when I'd be back, Ienzo thought. "Yeah, it's fine."
"Ienzo? I've heard a lot about you," Kagemiya's godmother said, realizing who he was.
Ienzo became even more nervous. Kagemiya's family had obviously been attacked by the Heartless as well. Did they know it was his fault? Did they blame him and the others? What had they talked about on the first night back? "I'm sorry!" he burst out.
The woman looked puzzled. "For what?" she asked. "All I meant was that Sayuri used to talk about you all the time when she babysat you."
"Oh..." Either she really didn't know or she was being incredibly kind by not talking about it.
The five of them sat down to dinner. Ienzo remained quiet, still somewhat plagued by guilt. If Mako held any ill-will toward him he didn't seem to express it. Myde seemed at ease talking to this oba-san, which meant that she was fine on her own; it was the other two aunts who hadn't wanted Kage-san to have visitors.
"By the way, is your father coming home soon?" Ienzo asked Kagemiya.
"As soon as he can. Any day now," she replied.
"That's good."
"He and my husband are land surveyors," her godmother explained. "They're gone for most of the year."
"Interesting. What do you do?"
"I'm a teacher."
"Oh?" Ienzo seemed to appreciate this.
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. "Thanks for the food, ma'am," Ienzo said as he got up to leave.
"Thank you for looking after my niece."
"I didn't really do much of anything..."
"I'm sure you did. Sayuri told us that all of you at the castle had taken care of her."
Ienzo ran into Lea when he returned home. "You're out kinda late," Lea commented.
"I was visiting Kage-san."
"They let you?"
"Yeah. The aunt who stopped by today was the nice one, according to Myde."
"Oh yeah, I like her. Is she coming back here to see you?"
"I don't know. She says she's going to finish school."
"That's right. It's been a while. I wouldn't worry, though. After everything that's happened, she's not going to forget about you."
Ienzo remembered the pinkie-swear, their promise to remain friends even though he didn't need her to look after him anymore. "You're right. We are friends, after all."
He went back to visit her again the next chance he got. When he arrived at the house, her two girlfriends were just leaving. It was another reminder to him that she had a different life that he wasn't part of. Without prying too deeply, he wanted to talk more about what they had in common, even if it wasn't a happy subject. "Back at Castle Oblivion, you said that your brother doesn't remember your mother. Do you tell him stories about what you remember?" he asked.
"Not much to remember," she replied glumly. "We mostly look at old photos together."
"I don't have too many of those myself. Sometimes when I find myself really missing my parents, I'll ask one of the others to tell me about their memories of them. They always tell me how much they loved me."
"That's really nice."
"What about you? Have you ever asked your aunts?"
"No, just the photos. Why are you asking about that?"
He took it as a warning to back off. "You almost died. I didn't want to be the one telling your brother stories about you to remember you by. He must already dislike me anyway."
"He knows where he stands. The two of you may be the same age, but you're my friend and he's my brother. Although...you have called me 'nee-san' a couple times already."
Ienzo had to own up to it. "Well, the others at the castle are like uncles and brothers to me. You're like the sister I never had. Even when we were Nobodies, I thought that..."
"Back then I still had this instinct to look after you, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't projecting my bond with my brother onto you too. Senpai called me out on it once. Isa-kun and Lea-kun didn't seem to like it either."
"I thought it was me they didn't like."
"That may be true too, but it's not like everyone outside the castle hates you. You really don't trust anyone beyond the six of you, do you?"
"It's complicated. You know, based on what we had done. But you're right. I've led a sheltered life. When you first arrived I thought you were kind of a spaz, cutting your finger like I had by complete happenstance."
"I was nervous."
"Don't get me wrong. I liked you, but I couldn't tell you everything. I didn't want you to hate me."
"I was pretty mad when you finally did tell me, but I could never hate you or any of the others. I wasn't there, so I can't fully understand what you did or why, but I've been around you long enough that it's okay. I've gotten to know you, and based on your personalities, I never thought you were bad people."
"I've had to question that a few times myself."
"Good people have flaws and they make mistakes. You're no different."
"We knew what we were doing was wrong but went ahead with it anyway. My guilty conscience used to give me nightmares, even as a Nobody. What would my parents think? What would they have done in my place?"
"You have no way of knowing that."
Kagemiya Sayuri part 3
Chapter 3: Steps
Kagemiya awoke early the next morning, aware of where she was this time. She looked over and saw Ienzo asleep in a chair next to her. She sat up as there was a light tap on the door. Aeleus walked in and gave her a flower. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Any better?"
"Thank you, Aeleus. I'm still tired."
"Are you...afraid?" he asked hesitantly. She nodded and her eyes welled up with tears. He hugged her as she began to cry. "It's going to be all right. Even will take care of this."
Ienzo woke up. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" he asked, panic rising in his voice as he stood up to join them.
"I'm okay," she said, trying to stop crying for his sake. "Thanks for worrying about me. That couldn't have been very comfortable."
"I fall asleep sitting in chairs all the time," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. Kagemiya leaned over and hugged him too.
"Don't even think about getting up," Even warned her as he walked into the room to change her IVs. "You're in no condition to move."
"When can I...?"
"When I say you can, when I'm done running tests." He drew a vial of her blood, which tired her out even more. Aeleus casually looked away. Ienzo stared at Even, knowing that he was helping her even though what he was doing was still keeping her physically weak. She spent a good amount of that day asleep too.
Every day that she was in there, Aeleus brought her a flower. Even was starting to get annoyed because they were cluttering up his work space. After a few days, he allowed her off the table, but she nearly fell when she tried to stand up; he caught her before she hit the floor and eased her back onto the table. "I'm afraid your leg muscles have atrophied from being immobilized for too long. You'll have to re-learn how to walk." He noticed she was on the verge of crying. "Please don't cry," he added, patting her hand.
"I just feel so helpless," she whimpered.
It reminded Even of when Ienzo first learned how to walk, so he related the story to her. "When Ienzo was a toddler and tried to walk for the first time, he stumbled and fell. I don't know whether he was crying because he'd scared himself and gotten hurt or if he had actually been ashamed of his failure. Then, when no one was looking, he got out of his child seat and tried again. He still stumbled but caught himself on my leg."
***James and Even had been in the research room when Marian had come in with Ienzo to teach him how to walk. The toddler had made it halfway between his mother and father before he'd lost his balance and fell. James had picked up the crying child and tried to console him. "It's okay. You did your best." Even had looked on awkwardly. "There, there. No more crying. Papa's got you."
Eventually Ienzo had calmed down. Marian had given him a bottle and put him in his child seat to rest. Instead, when no one was looking, Ienzo had gotten up and started walking again. They hadn't noticed until he'd stumbled and grabbed onto Even's leg. "Did...did you just walk from over there?" Even had asked in disbelief, picking him up. "Well done."
***He'd looked so happy when I praised him. I haven't given him much positive reinforcement since then, have I?
Ienzo walked in on their conversation. "Are you telling her embarrassing stories about me?" he asked incredulously. "What I was like as a baby is still none of her business!"
So it did bother him when I told Ventus about his parents. "Miss Kagemiya fell off the table. She can't walk yet," Even explained to him. "I was only trying to cheer her up."
Ienzo forgot his embarrassment over his concern for her. "Kage-san, are you okay?"
"I'll be all right...eventually."
Dilan helped her by leading her forward while holding her hands, but she was breathing heavily by the time they made it to the door. He carried her back so she could rest and brought her something to eat (up until then she'd been getting medicine and sustenance through the IVs in her arms). "Thank you. I humbly accept."
When Lea returned to keep them updated, Braig told him what had happened to Kagemiya, and he tried to go see her. Even was in the middle of taking her vitals when he let himself in; Braig watched from around the corner. "I heard about what happened. How are you doing, Yuri?" he asked.
"I've asked you not to call me that," she responded, though she sounded less annoyed than usual when telling him off; she was exhausted from trying to walk on her own and stumbling around like a baby deer.
Even spoke up in her defense to get rid of him. "The patient requires more rest. She is in no condition to see anyone for the time being."
Lea backed off, thinking that Even, Ienzo, and Kagemiya were likely still mad at him for what he had done to them as Nobodies. Ienzo followed him out. "Why do you keep calling her that if she doesn't like it?" Ienzo asked. At least when she was Mikage she eventually got the hang of their new names; Lea seemed to be doing it on purpose.
"Because it means 'lily,'" he said in response. "Why does she let you call her Kage-san?"
"Maybe she likes 'shadow' better than 'lily.' What do Isa and the others call her?"
"Isa calls her Kagemiya-san. Relena-senpai called her Sayuri. Myde calls her Sa-chan."
"Well, none of them have shown up yet."
"They probably won't." There was an awkward pause as the two stared each other down. "I'm really sorry, okay?" Lea said at last, not being able to take the silence. "What I did to you guys was really rotten."
"I've already forgiven you. I'm sure they have as well. With Kage-san's illness it's just been a little tense around here."
Kagemiya awoke early the next morning, aware of where she was this time. She looked over and saw Ienzo asleep in a chair next to her. She sat up as there was a light tap on the door. Aeleus walked in and gave her a flower. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Any better?"
"Thank you, Aeleus. I'm still tired."
"Are you...afraid?" he asked hesitantly. She nodded and her eyes welled up with tears. He hugged her as she began to cry. "It's going to be all right. Even will take care of this."
Ienzo woke up. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" he asked, panic rising in his voice as he stood up to join them.
"I'm okay," she said, trying to stop crying for his sake. "Thanks for worrying about me. That couldn't have been very comfortable."
"I fall asleep sitting in chairs all the time," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. Kagemiya leaned over and hugged him too.
"Don't even think about getting up," Even warned her as he walked into the room to change her IVs. "You're in no condition to move."
"When can I...?"
"When I say you can, when I'm done running tests." He drew a vial of her blood, which tired her out even more. Aeleus casually looked away. Ienzo stared at Even, knowing that he was helping her even though what he was doing was still keeping her physically weak. She spent a good amount of that day asleep too.
Every day that she was in there, Aeleus brought her a flower. Even was starting to get annoyed because they were cluttering up his work space. After a few days, he allowed her off the table, but she nearly fell when she tried to stand up; he caught her before she hit the floor and eased her back onto the table. "I'm afraid your leg muscles have atrophied from being immobilized for too long. You'll have to re-learn how to walk." He noticed she was on the verge of crying. "Please don't cry," he added, patting her hand.
"I just feel so helpless," she whimpered.
It reminded Even of when Ienzo first learned how to walk, so he related the story to her. "When Ienzo was a toddler and tried to walk for the first time, he stumbled and fell. I don't know whether he was crying because he'd scared himself and gotten hurt or if he had actually been ashamed of his failure. Then, when no one was looking, he got out of his child seat and tried again. He still stumbled but caught himself on my leg."
***James and Even had been in the research room when Marian had come in with Ienzo to teach him how to walk. The toddler had made it halfway between his mother and father before he'd lost his balance and fell. James had picked up the crying child and tried to console him. "It's okay. You did your best." Even had looked on awkwardly. "There, there. No more crying. Papa's got you."
Eventually Ienzo had calmed down. Marian had given him a bottle and put him in his child seat to rest. Instead, when no one was looking, Ienzo had gotten up and started walking again. They hadn't noticed until he'd stumbled and grabbed onto Even's leg. "Did...did you just walk from over there?" Even had asked in disbelief, picking him up. "Well done."
***He'd looked so happy when I praised him. I haven't given him much positive reinforcement since then, have I?
Ienzo walked in on their conversation. "Are you telling her embarrassing stories about me?" he asked incredulously. "What I was like as a baby is still none of her business!"
So it did bother him when I told Ventus about his parents. "Miss Kagemiya fell off the table. She can't walk yet," Even explained to him. "I was only trying to cheer her up."
Ienzo forgot his embarrassment over his concern for her. "Kage-san, are you okay?"
"I'll be all right...eventually."
Dilan helped her by leading her forward while holding her hands, but she was breathing heavily by the time they made it to the door. He carried her back so she could rest and brought her something to eat (up until then she'd been getting medicine and sustenance through the IVs in her arms). "Thank you. I humbly accept."
When Lea returned to keep them updated, Braig told him what had happened to Kagemiya, and he tried to go see her. Even was in the middle of taking her vitals when he let himself in; Braig watched from around the corner. "I heard about what happened. How are you doing, Yuri?" he asked.
"I've asked you not to call me that," she responded, though she sounded less annoyed than usual when telling him off; she was exhausted from trying to walk on her own and stumbling around like a baby deer.
Even spoke up in her defense to get rid of him. "The patient requires more rest. She is in no condition to see anyone for the time being."
Lea backed off, thinking that Even, Ienzo, and Kagemiya were likely still mad at him for what he had done to them as Nobodies. Ienzo followed him out. "Why do you keep calling her that if she doesn't like it?" Ienzo asked. At least when she was Mikage she eventually got the hang of their new names; Lea seemed to be doing it on purpose.
"Because it means 'lily,'" he said in response. "Why does she let you call her Kage-san?"
"Maybe she likes 'shadow' better than 'lily.' What do Isa and the others call her?"
"Isa calls her Kagemiya-san. Relena-senpai called her Sayuri. Myde calls her Sa-chan."
"Well, none of them have shown up yet."
"They probably won't." There was an awkward pause as the two stared each other down. "I'm really sorry, okay?" Lea said at last, not being able to take the silence. "What I did to you guys was really rotten."
"I've already forgiven you. I'm sure they have as well. With Kage-san's illness it's just been a little tense around here."
Kagemiya Sayuri part 2
Chapter 2: Critical Condition
PRESENT DAY
Ienzo and Kagemiya were returning from running an errand when suddenly she put her hand to her chest again. This time it brought her to her knees. "Kage-san?" She was really scaring him this time.
"Can't...breathe..." She collapsed on the street in front of him.
"Kage-san!" Ienzo couldn't lose someone else. He knelt down beside her and flipped her over. Her face was flushed and her eyelids were fluttering rapidly. "Help! Someone help!"
Braig was the closest. "What happened?" he asked when he saw them on the ground.
"I don't know. She said she couldn't breathe and then she collapsed."
Braig wasted no time in picking her up. "We need to take her to Even right away." The two of them ran back to the castle.
She was awake by the time they got her to where Even and Ansem were. "What ails you?" Ansem asked.
"My heart..." she responded before passing out again.
Even instructed Braig to put her down on his examination table so he could attach monitors to her chest and wrists. Ansem stayed out in the hallway with Ienzo to console him. "It will be all right. She's in the best hands," he assured him.
"I told her years ago to get this thing checked out," Ienzo whispered. "It was nothing back then."
"Tell me what you mean."
"It was only once, but she said she felt her heart skip a beat. Since it didn't happen again, she didn't tell anyone else about it. Back when we were cleaning up, it looked like it was happening again but she was able to get her breath."
"I'm trying to stabilize her, but I can't seem to find the cause of all this," Even reported, stepping out into the hallway with Braig to join them.
"What's happening to her?" Ienzo asked.
"Her heart is beating so rapidly that it can't pump any blood. That's why she keeps losing consciousness. However, I haven't found any abnormalities within her system, so I have no idea why it's doing this."
Kagemiya screamed from the other room as she regained consciousness once more, having no memory of how she'd gotten there; she'd never been inside the laboratory before either, let alone on the examination table. "Where am I?!" She only started to calm down when they all ran to her side.
"You're safe, here with us," Ansem said soothingly.
"Try to relax," Ienzo advised, sounding anything but relaxed himself.
"You're going to have to be here a while," Even informed her. "Your condition is...quite difficult to discern."
"Am I dying?" she asked, terrified.
"No. No one is dying."
"All right. I trust you." She closed her eyes again.
"Did she just fall asleep?" Braig asked when no violent convulsions followed.
"Yes. She is quite exhausted," Even answered, gingerly touching her forehead and fixing her hair. Remembering the kindness she had shown to Dilan and him, he returned the favor by making sure she was comfortable too, putting a blanket over her and a pillow under her head.
Ansem made sure to contact her family so they wouldn't worry too much. That night, Ienzo wanted to stay in the room with her in case she woke up and was frightened again; he was scared too. "Kage-nee-san..." he whispered to himself. Had this condition become worse on its own, or did her heart being stolen and then returning to normal do something to speed up the process? He didn't even know what had happened to her after he pushed her away from Replica Riku; they hadn't discussed it because the situation was moot. It wasn't any use getting mad at Lea, who was off with the other Keyblade masters. The monitor showed that her heartbeat was still too quick, but the medicine Even had started her on was slowly bringing it back down. "Please be okay."
PRESENT DAY
Ienzo and Kagemiya were returning from running an errand when suddenly she put her hand to her chest again. This time it brought her to her knees. "Kage-san?" She was really scaring him this time.
"Can't...breathe..." She collapsed on the street in front of him.
"Kage-san!" Ienzo couldn't lose someone else. He knelt down beside her and flipped her over. Her face was flushed and her eyelids were fluttering rapidly. "Help! Someone help!"
Braig was the closest. "What happened?" he asked when he saw them on the ground.
"I don't know. She said she couldn't breathe and then she collapsed."
Braig wasted no time in picking her up. "We need to take her to Even right away." The two of them ran back to the castle.
She was awake by the time they got her to where Even and Ansem were. "What ails you?" Ansem asked.
"My heart..." she responded before passing out again.
Even instructed Braig to put her down on his examination table so he could attach monitors to her chest and wrists. Ansem stayed out in the hallway with Ienzo to console him. "It will be all right. She's in the best hands," he assured him.
"I told her years ago to get this thing checked out," Ienzo whispered. "It was nothing back then."
"Tell me what you mean."
"It was only once, but she said she felt her heart skip a beat. Since it didn't happen again, she didn't tell anyone else about it. Back when we were cleaning up, it looked like it was happening again but she was able to get her breath."
"I'm trying to stabilize her, but I can't seem to find the cause of all this," Even reported, stepping out into the hallway with Braig to join them.
"What's happening to her?" Ienzo asked.
"Her heart is beating so rapidly that it can't pump any blood. That's why she keeps losing consciousness. However, I haven't found any abnormalities within her system, so I have no idea why it's doing this."
Kagemiya screamed from the other room as she regained consciousness once more, having no memory of how she'd gotten there; she'd never been inside the laboratory before either, let alone on the examination table. "Where am I?!" She only started to calm down when they all ran to her side.
"You're safe, here with us," Ansem said soothingly.
"Try to relax," Ienzo advised, sounding anything but relaxed himself.
"You're going to have to be here a while," Even informed her. "Your condition is...quite difficult to discern."
"Am I dying?" she asked, terrified.
"No. No one is dying."
"All right. I trust you." She closed her eyes again.
"Did she just fall asleep?" Braig asked when no violent convulsions followed.
"Yes. She is quite exhausted," Even answered, gingerly touching her forehead and fixing her hair. Remembering the kindness she had shown to Dilan and him, he returned the favor by making sure she was comfortable too, putting a blanket over her and a pillow under her head.
Ansem made sure to contact her family so they wouldn't worry too much. That night, Ienzo wanted to stay in the room with her in case she woke up and was frightened again; he was scared too. "Kage-nee-san..." he whispered to himself. Had this condition become worse on its own, or did her heart being stolen and then returning to normal do something to speed up the process? He didn't even know what had happened to her after he pushed her away from Replica Riku; they hadn't discussed it because the situation was moot. It wasn't any use getting mad at Lea, who was off with the other Keyblade masters. The monitor showed that her heartbeat was still too quick, but the medicine Even had started her on was slowly bringing it back down. "Please be okay."
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