Kingdom Hearts - Blades of Three Realms

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Roveth just coughed a bit more, but eventually got to his feet thanks to the Curaga's help and all as he looked over to Xion and axel, smiling a bit gently despite it being still in a pained expression, yeah, he was definitely going to be taking it easy for now "heh, maybe so, but it's kinda hard to say no to an Egyptian God wanting to punish the mortal who trespassed into the realm of the gods through stolen godhood." he said, chuckling a bit, before looking up to the sky, particularly the crescent moon grinning and laughing as he sweat-dropped a bit lightly, before he shook his head "okay, we might all be under one sky, but i'm sorry, the sun and moon are -creepy-!

Axel chuckled a bit, putting his arms behind his head a bit, having dismissed Blaze Diffusion and all "true, so once the others group up this way, we should probably get inside and get something to eat, and you back to the infirmary." he said, with Roveth groaning lightly "no bitching allowed Roveth, we saved Shiro for the most part, kicked the clown's arse, and now we need to rest. no doubt we're not -completely- done in this universe anyway since i doubt we can sneak out quietly after such a... flashy battle. got it memorized?" Roveth whined, but didn't say much ore on that as Axel was actually playing the responsible adult, since Isa wasn't there to do it for him so he could be laid back.

Shiro just groaned a bit while standing up "ah yes... i do owe you for -that- don't i... well, that can wait til later, everyone's probably tired and hungry so food would be a good idea... maybe we should go find Maka and soul, they'd know the cafeteria at least..." he said, rubbing his neck a bit lightly "also owe the brat who blasted me before Kefka kidnapped me anyway as well.. jeez, what i'd give to have swiped Wolfwood's rubber bullet using gun.." he muttered, clearly thinking of shooting a few people in the head for attacking him, and-or insulting him, but it was probably for the best he didn't have a gun, hell, he may be an expert archer, but guns are a whole different beast!  

[[XIII] Roxas]

It didn't take long to get Roxas and Roveth both situated in the infirmary after acquiring a substantial amount of food from the cafeteria. It came as no surprise that Roxas was starving after all that high speed running around and fighting off the Heartless, not to mention the fact that he had also been using way more magic than he usually does. And, of course, once he was fed, he conked out almost immediately once they put him to bed in the infirmary.

The rest of the group had been informed of Shinigami-sama wanting to have a word with them. This mainly applied to Crystal, Shiro, Roveth, Riku, and Axel so Xion was free to remain with Roxas while he slept, in case he woke up and got antsy about where everyone had gone off to. The others, meanwhile, would be led to the Death Room to have their meeting with Shinigami-sama directly.

"After this we should probably look into booking a room at a hotel for ourselves since we can't crowd everyone into the infirmary," Riku pointed out as they were being escorted to the Death Room for what was very likely going to be some sort of interrogation. "For one thing, there definitely aren't enough beds."

"Hopefully once we get out of here we can find a place that still has a few vacancies," Crystal was inclined to agree.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Shiro thankfully would be Roveth's 'walking cane' so to speak since he was still limping a bit after the incident, but at least the ones escorting the group were Maka and Soul, who were keeping quiet for now, though sneaking glances back to the others and whispering, making Roveth look annoyed. of course, once they got to the death room, they had to walk along a slightly swervy path with guillotines it looked like right above them, causing shiro to sweatdrop at the... oddity of that. "... okay i know i'm probably being paranoid but.. has.. any of those dropped?" maka blinked, before glancing up and shook her head "actually... those are fake, from what i know it's made all from plaster and cemented rebar to look like that." Shiro would still look up, but nodded as everyone continued on, soon, they would meet a man... who looked like a patched up frankenstein, with a giant bolt in his head, twisting it while looking at everyone, and the latter, well... "hello hello~! you guys must be the travellers that's been causing a stir yes? would you like a cup of tea while we discuss things?" he said while waving with a blocky cartoon hand from his cloaked body.

Roveth just stared a moment in unblinking surprise as he raised an eyebrow "... so i'm staring at someone who clearly has been with a mad scientist or is one and did that to himself, and someone who not only looks like an 80's reject cartoon but has the funky voice to go with it. okay, i have to ask, did you lose your--" cue a Shinigami Chop here to stop Roveth mid thought and sending him crashing to the ground "you might want to watch what you say boy or you might get the Shinigami Chop!" Roveth would twitch on the ground while having a cartoon smoke depicting a skull rising from his dented head "should've... done the warning... before you hit me..."

Shiro meanwhile just sighed, facepalming at Roveth's antics "sorry, Shinigami-sama, it seems my dark half still doesn't have a filter for his mouth sometimes." the shinigami just brought out both hands and did an OK sign with both of them "that's okay! i'm used to disciplining unruly students." of course, off to the side one could see a currently fountain of blood spewing from Black Star, no doubt for his antics out there and his trying to say excuses about it. still, a cartoon like sky room and littered about being cross gravestones did look a bit ominous even if it was tacky.

Axel just stayed back and kept quiet for the moment as he was not about to open his mouth like roveth did, because he probably would've said the same thing. thankfully though he kept with Riku as well to make sure he didn't say anything stupid off the top of his head and all.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

once everyone was given some tea, and crackers as well after things got started, Stein... well, he was sitting in his usual desk chair smoking like normal, though he seemed to be studying Shiro rather intently while twisting the bolt on his head a bit, of course, Shinigami-sama would start things off, switching to a deeper and more serious voice "now then... aside from the trouble aside, which i could tell was because you were apparently provoked by that odd clown-man that appeared and all... i have to ask how innocent and normal souls like yours are able to use magic without looking like a Witch's soul... and Dr. Stein here also wanted to have a close look at your souls, as the academy's strongest Meister, he can see the souls and their particular wavelengths." he said, while Stein spoke up "hmm... well for the most part two of the five here are easy to read... for one... the red-head.. aside from his soul reminding me of senpai's soul.." he said, reminiscing on that, before looking at Axel "is a passionate hot soul.. much like the element of fire in fact... might be why he used fire magic to great effect out in that battle."

Axel had nodded, chuckling a bit lightly "yes well i've been told i'm a hothead despite the fact i play the easy-going older brother to these kids." Stein chuckled a bit, while still twisting his bolt in his head "okay, i can definitely see that, growing up in age made you more mature despite your soul... speaking of souls... the next easiest one to read is Riku.. i think is what i think your blonde friend called you? yes... a serious soul indeed, and yet with a bit of dark humor to it.. little bit of spice to a soul that has possibly seen much in their short life."

Roveth of course, by now had gotten up and shook his head just as Stein turned his head to look at the dark half of Shiro "you should be one of the hardest, given how you were summoning creatures left and right, yet your soul i can see clear as day... a prankster soul within the grip of avarice that does have a deep thirst of knowledge..." Roveth pondered that while walking over a bit to sit down "hmm.. that's about right, as for my summons, well, their souls willingly reside within the cards i carry, well, a tether to their souls, which acts as the bridge of me being able to call them from their home."Stein nodded, looking away from Roveth, and next looking to Crystal next "as for you young lady... no doubt you can see my soul given your status as a summoner as well, but looking past those.. i see a down to earth yet open minded soul, also one that's an open book to read due to the fact you wear your emotions on your sleeves as well... though like your friends i seem to see no standing signature much like ours that would signify you as a witch... maybe your magics all run on different wavelengths and don't necessarily need to tie into your soul wavelength?" he pondered, idly thinking on it screwing his bolt and adjusting his cigarette in his mouth as Shinigami-sama took a sip of tea "Dr. Stein... before we get into that final soul, let's continue the talks about their capabilities and why they came originally before that clown started doing what he did, and what those weird creatures they fought were, as well as where they came from."  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Shinigami seemed to bob in nodding as he thought about it, Stein of course let his glasses flash creepily as he had one of his 'dissect you' smiles "really... so there are other worlds out there huh? makes me want to go out and findm ore research data. anyway, with the young miss's capabilities, she could be a very effective Meister." before starting to twist the bolt in his head with amusement "in either case, the final soul..." he would look right to Shiro, only to frown and actually look serious, even so far as sitting up straight instead of hunched over the back of his patchwork chair "... it seems that this one is a summoner as well, different compared to the young lady here, but one all the same, then there's the large overimposing copy of the Demon Sword's soul... but.. not even that... Shinigami-sama, while this guy's soul is as normal as can be.. it's size... i can't even see the outline... i think we're sitting within it. hmm...? what in--GAH!" of course, he had fallen backwards as if struck, and his eyes looking -definitely- cut, with his glasses falling apart "that... that wavelength... while it seems he is a helpful and kind soul... he is by far -not- normal, yet he still.. functions on the same wavelength.. Sword... ow." he would wipe blood away from his face as he at least tossed aside his glasses since they were ruined ".... a Distorted individual? normally that would definitely lead to being a Kishin, but... i guess this 'sword' think Stein mentioned... might make him more a Weapon more than anything, though he could work as a Meister as well."

Shiro had blinked a bit, tilting his head lightly all too innocently (which he was) "wait... what's all this about Meisters and Weapons anyway? i mean, don't get me wrong, i -do- consider myself a weapon, but i don't think we're talking in the same sense." Shinigami and Stein looked at each other before Stein would move back into his seat "well, Meisters are those that can work together with Weapons, people who can become weapons at will, in essence.. like Maka and Soul, Maka is a Scythe Meister, while Soul is the Weapon, of the combo, basically Meisters and weapons partner with each other who resonate best, so they can fight effectively. unfortunately, due to the nature of this boys soul.. i do not think many people could utilize him as a Weapon, outside of myself or Shinigami-sama. myself because i can adjust my wavelength to match his, and the same with Shinigami-sama, but he cannot wield the boy unless he becomes a Death-scythe, a Weapon that has collected 99 Kishin eggs, souls that are slowly becoming Kishin, and 1 Witch Soul." Shiro tilted his head lightly "so i assume Deathscythes are powered up people who have greater powers in their weapon form?" Stein and shinigami both nodded in their own way.

Roveth just shrugged a bit lightly "well, i really don't know how long we want to stay here, much less let Shiro collect -any- souls, which i doubt he can." of course, shiro nodded, given that he fundamentally worked on a different level of things, he might not be able to learn things here, or he might, who knows?

Axel of course just sweatdropped at everyone and shrugged, he was glad to be just a firebug and nothing more as he sat there watching things "still, as for leaving your world... you seem like you're pretty important to the world at the moment, Stein, so i don't think we can take you anywhere." Stein would give off a thoughtful hum of agreement, even if he was really wanting to just leave this world behind so he could study more stuff, and possibly help train a few of the people here in utilizing their souls...  

[[XIII] Roxas]

In Roxas's dream it could have been any random day in Twilight Town. He was up on the clock tower like always with Hayner, Pence, and Olette eating sea-salt ice cream. It would have been a nice memory if not for the fact that it also immediately tipped him off that what he was remembering was one of the artificial memories that had been implanted in him by DiZ and not a real experience he had actually had.

The scenery shifted and suddenly he was with Axel in Radiant Garden. It was the first time Roxas had been to that particular world, when Axel had decided to show him the world he actually came from. Naturally, that wasn't Axel's only reason for bringing Roxas there. Axel had found out from one of his contacts that it was also a world frequented by Crystal and Shiro when they weren't off in battle with the Heartless Generals so if Roxas wanted to be able to keep better tabs on how they were doing he should know where it was because clearly they didn't always come back to Twilight Town. This visit also stood out in his mind, in particular, because it was the first time Roxas had seen the real toll the aftermath of some of their battles had taken on them. Shiro was always the one who got hit the worst, but in this case it was just after the first time Sephiroth had taken an interest in Shiro. Crystal got cut up pretty badly too, but she was more concerned about Shiro who was a bloody mess covered in bandages with darkness pulsating all around his wounds.

Roxas remembered overhearing Crystal arguing with Axel. "Ugh, why did you have to bring Roxas here? I didn't want for him to see us like this. We'll be fine, of course, but if he wasn't worried already, he's sure as heck gonna worry about us now."

"That's your problem, not mine," Axel took it all in stride like always. "Roxas wants to know what you both are getting up to. If this is the kind of thing that happens all those times you don't come back to Twilight Town, then he was going to hear about it eventually. If he didn't find it out from me, then Riku would have told him eventually."

"If he comes looking for us he might get hurt!" Crystal protested. "It's too dangerous to be around me and Shiro. That's why we can't ever stay in one place for very long. I thought it was just the Heartless Generals, but it's like the darkness is after us no matter where we go. And lately it's been getting worse!"

Roxas knew better now. The darkness wasn't after Crystal at all. It was only out to get Shiro. Although, Roxas also understood that in Crystal's mind there probably wasn't a difference.

I just wanted to be normal, Roxas was thinking to himself inside the dream. That's what I used to think, anyway. That's why you guys tried to keep me far away from the conflict you both were facing, isn't it?

Crystal had been right, of course. Roxas did worry. A lot. And often. Any time those two didn't turn up in Twilight Town for an extended period of time he would have begun to wonder if they were even still alive. That was also when he had agreed to cooperate with Riku to help out with Sora's training. He wanted to prove he was still capable of fighting for himself, that he didn't have to wait around on the sidelines all the time, and that he could still use the Keyblade. It wasn't fair for him to be living the quiet life while everyone else was busy fighting their own battles and leaving him in the dark without a clue.

Roxas would have seemed somewhat confused upon first waking up because it took him a few seconds to remember he was in a bed in the infirmary of that weird academy they had all been escorted to. None of the others were there except for Xion.

"How long was I out?" Roxas asked finally.

"Not long," Xion told him with a smile. "It's only been about an hour."

"Yeah, that's definitely better than being a vegetable for weeks at a time," Roxas had to agree. "I still can't believe the Organization treated that like it was perfectly normal."

"I know, right? Looking back on it now, that didn't make any sense," Xion admitted.

"So, where is everyone?" Roxas wondered sounding a little concerned.

"They should be fine," Xion assured him. "They're still being interrogated by Shinigami-sama, but nothing has exploded so I don't think there's been any trouble."

"Yeah, probably not," Roxas nodded a bit. "Well, that's good, I guess."  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Stein seemed to hum in thought while the shinigami understood, nodding with a bob of his head a bit while the 'doctor' spoke up "well, if you at least plan on spending a couple of days i can teach you and your sword friend here how to weaponize your own soul wavelength, known as Soul Menace, you might've seen it used when Black Star hit your friend in the back." he said, pointing to Shiro who suddenly turned to look to the side, scratching his cheek "can be useful in a pinch if you're not given enough time to summon those keyblades of yours, not to mention, i can at least help the Sword-boy here in earning a flexibility or resistance to it, so anytime he might be hit with something like Soul Menace he won't turn into weapon form."

Shiro of course pondered it, while shrugging a bit "well, Riku aside there's not much keeping us here except recuperating from Kefka's insanity, so i think we can stay a couple of days, at least until either the Dimension Grid points to something or we're rested enough to return back to Twilight Town, Riku longing for Namine aside." of course, being Shiro, he couldn't help but take a snipe at Riku's desires to return to Twilight Town being mostly because of namine.

Rovewth of course just chuckled a bit while shrugging "well, being taught by a guy with a screw in his head is interesting enough" he then looked to Riku with one of his 'smirks' as he grinned "plan on using protection when she welcomes you back?" of course with the waggle of the eyebrows, Shinigami would just anger-vein and swat Roveth flying with another Shinigami Chop, KOed once more.

Axel just sighed, shaking his head at Roveth, and got up to go fetch him "i'll take care of getting mister bleeding fountain Roveth here to the infirmary, since it seems he can't keep his mouth shut." of course, with Shiro being interested in that strange chopping technique, he would be asking about it as Axel proceeded to haul Roveth to the infirmary to recover from both the fight and from the subsequent abuse to his cranium, if the cartoon skull smoke wafting from his head was any indication.  

[[XIII] Roxas]

Roxas and Xion both looked over when Axel carried Roveth into the infirmary. "I wonder who he pissed off to deserve that," Roxas commented with regards to Roveth's peculiar cranial injury.

"That looks like it must hurt," added Xion.

Roxas was, of course, a little bit worried not seeing Crystal, Shiro, or Riku with them. "Are the others okay?" he asked Axel since he probably knew what had happened having been the one to carry Roveth back and all.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Axel just sighed, setting Roveth down in the bed with an eyeroll "the first shot to his head was because he had the galls to insult the Shinigami to his face, the second time which led me to dragging his a** back to the infirmary was because he went a bit over the line when teasing Riku over wanting to go back to Twilight Town and such to be with Namine." he said with amusement, sitting down on a nearby chair and crossing his legs "how are you two feeling after that fight? " he'd ask, smiling a bit, glad to at least see Roxas wasn't going to go into a coma and all.

Shiro of course would deadpan at Riku and sigh, holding a finger up as if saying 'one moment' before turning and leaning towards Riku, before saying "Shiro CHOP!" and proceed to use his hand to chop Riku's head for going a bit too far in teasing Crystal, with the cartoon skull smoke rising off of Shiro's hand "yanno, there's a point when you take it too far into antagonizing territory Riku..."

Stein and Shinigami both looked between each other, then back to Shiro before chuckling themselves, it seemed the technique had been passed on to this group of travellers now! "maybe you guys should get going and get looking for that Hotel room, it is getting a bit late as it is." he said, while Shinigami's mask smiled in it's own way "do drop by for a bit for some more tea when you're not busy learning from Dr. Stein here~" he'd say in his happy bouncy voice, with cartoonish hands in a thumbs up position.  

[[XIII] Roxas]

"I'm totally fine thanks to you being so quick with the defense, Axel," Xion answered with her own smile.

"I'm still a little tired, but definitely better than before," Roxas added with his own smile too. "I'll have to remember this in the future if I'm going to use that Keyblade again though," he continued while sounding thoughtful. At least they didn't have to worry about getting into another fight like that for a while hopefully.

"That trick of combining elemental magic really came through for us out there," Xion pointed out.

"Yeah, I wonder what world Crystal picked it up from," Roxas agreed. "We were all really in sync with it too."

"She really wasn't joking when she said it would be obvious if we were doing it right," Xion added with some amusement. "It really was obvious."

"And Kefka really didn't seem to like it," Roxas nodded. "You and Axel put on a really great show for us."

"Um... hey, Roxas, what's it like?" Xion asked suddenly while getting a little bit fidgety and blushing slightly visibly. "I mean, you being together with Crystal?"

"What's it like?" Roxas blinked innocently. It seemed like everyone had been asking variations on that question since the whole thing started. And Roxas really wasn't the best one to be explaining it considering Crystal had a way with words that he seriously couldn't match. "How do you mean, exactly?"

"Well, I'm curious since you don't really talk about it," Xion answered a bit awkwardly. "And I just wonder how it's different from the way things were before."

"It's actually not that much of a difference in most aspects," Roxas admitted while looking thoughtful since Xion clearly wasn't prying to tease him the way that Roveth and Riku might. "I guess just knowing has made me feel calmer and I'm definitely happy about it too. It makes talking easier too because we're not freaking out over it like we were before. Plus, she's comfortable to be around. It's still awkward at times, but I think I'm becoming less nervous about it for the most part. Does that help at all?"

"Yes, thanks," Xion nodded. It was all a bit vague, of course, but she did mostly understand what Roxas was trying to say. It sounded nice.