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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 16, 2009 17:50:40 GMT -5
Rildax opened the door and looked at Herutsu with a smile. "Morning," he said. "You don't look too fully awake yourself." Rildax was dressed fully, perhaps because he hadn't slept anyway, but he still seemed quite alert. His hair, seeming to be flattened by nothing, spiked up as usual, perhaps without the use of gel now.
"Good morning!" Came an eager voice from outside. Kara smiled to herself and called back. "Morning Reno. You can come in." The door opened and Reno skipped inside, obviously in a good mood. For what reason, Kara partly dreaded to find out. "What's put you in such a good mood?" Kara asked. Reno grinned. "Dunno," he finally said. Kara laughed quietly and stood up, checking her hair in the mirror and walking towards the door, Reno right behind her. Kara closed the door and the two walked along the corridor, looking for anyone else to talk to.
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Post by Masina on Oct 16, 2009 18:03:06 GMT -5
"I'm not. Elle made me get up, then ran off to see Ayla. How the hell those two can be awake this early I don't know." Herutsu ran a hand through his dark hair as he looked at Rildax. "Ayla usually up by four or five in the morning. I'm usually not awake till about ten." He laughed slightly. "I sleep like I've been hit with knockout gas." He smiled. "You want to come and find the girls with me? Elle went to say happy birthday I think, which Ayla will be ever so pleased about." He smirked. "They will be in Ayla's room."
"You can sit down you know?" Ayla told Elle. "I'm not that harsh, I will allow you to." She motioned to the sofa by the door. "What are you going to do Ayla?" Elle asked her, her voice suddenly serious-showed by her using Ayla's old name-, as she sat on the sofa. "What do you mean?" Ayla's voice was puzzled by this question. "Usually you'd take off now. But Rildax, Reno and Kara." "Oh." Ayla sighed. She placed her eyeliner down on the unit and turned around. Using her arms to lean against the dresser. "No idea."
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 16, 2009 18:25:23 GMT -5
Rildax nodded. "Yeah sure," he said. He seemed a little absent though. Either way he closed the door and followed Herutsu.
Reno stopped and leant in the doorframe that led to where Kara had been with so many other ill people. Reno folded his arms and looked at Kara. "What?" Was Kara's instant response. "It's Ayla's birthday today, isn't it?" He asked. Kara nodded. "Don't do the guilt trip, I've got a present, I always kept it with me in case we crossed paths again. It's nothing much, but..." Reno grinned. "Aw, you're such a mother!" Kara's eyes darted to Reno, confusion on her face. "You what?" Reno laughed at her expression. "Me and Rude always had that joke. You were like the mother to everyone." Kara smiled, an eyebrow raised. "Oh really? In what way?" "You were the one making sure things were going alright and everyone was ok." Reno sighed contentedly. "And other stuff." Kara shook her head in a 'typical Reno' fashion. "Of course."
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Post by Masina on Oct 16, 2009 18:35:14 GMT -5
Herutsu shoved his hands back in his pockets and walked silently until he reached Ayla's door.
"Herutsu's outside." Ayla told Elle. She nodded and got up she. She skipped to the door and opened it just as Herutsu was about to knock. "Morning boys." She smiled cheerfully at Herutsu and Rildax. "How did you?" He asked, obviously far to tired to comprehend what anyone else would have known as he yawned. "Ayla." She motioned to the girl leant against the dresser with her eyes closed. As ayla opened them, they drifted to Herutsu and Rildax. She stood up properly. "You are allowed in you know." She said dryly. "Elle, Herutsu is clearly not awake yet. Why did you wake him up, this is early for him?" "Because, i-." She cut off. "I'm not sure." She shrugged. "I'm aware of what you were going to say." She raised her eyebrow at Elle. "And yes, I'm aware its my birthday thank you. But it's just another day of the year." She shrugged, dropping down onto the bed, her ponytail resting absently on her shoulder. "Are you going to let them in, or baricade the door for the rest of the day?" "Baricade the door." Elle joked. "Elle." "Okay, okay." She laughed. "Come on in." She smiled at the before walking back to the sofa and sitting down.
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 17, 2009 15:35:57 GMT -5
Rildax smiled at Elle and Ayla as he walked inside. He noted that Ayla was wearing the necklace he'd got her. "You know I didn't actually expect you to be wearing that," Rildax grinned. "Not sure why..." He glanced at Herutsu. "Don't worry, I used to hate getting up. It was never earlier than 10 for me."
Kara began to walk towards Ayla's room, Reno once again following. "You're like a loyal dog, you know." Kara smiled at Reno. Reno nodded. "Yeah, oddly enough Rude said exactly the same thing to me the other week..." Kara laughed and suddenly flung her arms around Reno, his arms out in surprise. "Can't... breathe..." Reno mockingly gasped, even though Kara wasn't hugging him overly tight. "Don't you ever change, ok?" She laughed. Reno smiled kindly back. "I promise already!" He changed back to his playful style. "Just let go! Someone'll think the wrong thing!" Kara let go of Reno and coughed. "Well, let's keep going, shall we?" She continued to walk, smiling when he couldn't see her. She seemed pretty pleased that she'd just made Reno jump.
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Post by Masina on Oct 17, 2009 15:48:19 GMT -5
"She's still got her locket on though, I can see the chain around her neck." Elle said to Rildax. She looked over at Ayla, who returned her glance and smiled slightly. Then rolled her eyes as Herutsu dropped onto the sofa. "Urgh!" Herutsu jumped onto the sofa, spreading out, basically lying across, it, but not putting his feet by Elle. He knew she'd hate it if he did. "Ten o'clock? Herutsu never emerges from his room until twelve at the earliest." Elle said sarcastically. Ayla just rolled her eyes again and moved her feet from the end of the bed. She sat up so she was leant against the headboard. "Sit down Rildax, you're making my legs ache just looking at you stood there." She smiled at him and motioned for him to sit on the bed. If she knew Herutsu, he'd be out like a light in five miutes. Then there was no hope of him moving. Unless Vexa showed up and electricuted him. Ayla laughed slightly at the thought.
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 17, 2009 16:05:16 GMT -5
Rildax flopped back onto the sofa, but sat up. He grinned at Ayla, bouncing on the bed lightly. "I have way too much energy today," Rildax sighed.
Kara stopped outside Ayla's room and rummaged in her pockets until she found a neatly wrapped gift, then another in her other pocket. "Can I have one?" Reno asked. "To give to her I mean." "Don't worry," Kara smiled. "She won't mind." Reno shrugged. "Take that as a 'no' then," he pretended to be hurt. Kara knocked on the door and waited.
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Post by Masina on Oct 17, 2009 16:11:34 GMT -5
Ayla looked over at the door. "Hey Kara, Reno." She waved her hand and the door swung open. Hitting Herutsu in the face. Ayla smirked. She had done that on purpose. "Try and find somewhere to sit." She smiled at them, then looked at Rildax as he bounced on the bed. "You're right, you do. I don't know which made me feel more nautious now, you stood up looking even taller than me than usual, or you bouncing on my bed." She said saracstically. "Ayla, that hurt." Herutsu scowled at her. "Then you should actually let peope sit down shouldn't you?" Ayla told him. She sounded slightly like a mother telling off a small child when she said that. Herutsu just shrugged. "Fine." He sat up and shuffled to beside Elle, who's cheeks went bright red at Herutsu's closeness. Ayla giggled slightly. "What?" Herutsu looked over at her. "Nothing." Ayla shook her head at him. Elle froze and her face when back to its normal colour.
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 17, 2009 16:23:13 GMT -5
"Hey," Kara smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, Reno leaping on next to her. "Hi!" Reno smiled like a little kid. Kara handed the two gifts to Ayla. "The smaller one wasn't from me," she said. "It was left to you in our parents' will. Except you couldn't get it until you were eighteen so I had to hang onto it, then I never gave it to you when we met again because I didn't have it. Now I do and I polished it off for you." She motioned to the other. "That one's off me though." The one that had been for Ayla in their parents' will was a brooch that was exactly like the one Cloud always wore, a wolf head made of silver. It had been in Kara's house for some time and she'd found it a few years back and polished it to the gleam. Apparently it was a promise of hope and faith. It seemed to work too. The other one was something Kara had bought and modified some time ago. It was a knife, the blade virtually indestructable with a handle that curved to fit the hand perfectly, thanks to Kara's carving abilities and topped with a dragon head with small rubies in the eyes. Kara had added that too. "Well, hope you like them."
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Post by Masina on Oct 17, 2009 16:41:14 GMT -5
"They are both great Kara, thank you." Ayla smiled at her sister, but her eyes told another story. She was thinking about something. Kara had said their parents will. Ayla didn't understand. "Ayla?" Herutsu looked at her cautiously. "What is it?" "I don't get it. Why would they give something to some one they didn't know?" "Ayla!" Elle snapped. "Don't sound so ungrateful." Then she froze. Ayla wasn't being ungrateful, she actaully was grateful, but there was a look in Ayla's eye that had never been there before. Sadness and confusion. Elle thought that she understood everything. Then Elle thought about what Ayla had said. I don't get it. She actually was confused. "Oh. Sorry." "It's true. Dad never knew me at all, he died before I was born. Then mum, I ignored her most of the time. She died just after I ran away. The time she payed the most attention to me was when...Never mind." She paused. "She ignored me most of the time, so I ignored her. I treated her the same when I treated KAra, and eventually Cloud. I treated like they meant nothing to me." "Ayla." Herutsu whispered sadly. "Hey what can I say?" She smiled. "Everyone knows I'm not good at expressing myself. Well expressing anything other than anger. Heck the only thing that is the opposite of hate that I've admitted I was tricked into. Glad I was though." Ayla looked at Rildax smiling slightly before looking down at the bed sheets again. She moved to kneeling and moved closer to her sister. "I'm sorry." She whispered as she hugged her. "For everything." This was different. Herutsu knew after Yuffie telling him, that only Rildax had ever seen Ayla like this. This was totally different from how she usually was. He sighed as he noticed the black flames in the doorway. He smirked slightly, as Vexa slouched against the doorframe, Ayla never noticed her, so she obviously didn't want to be noticed yet.
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 17, 2009 17:43:34 GMT -5
Kara hugged her little sister back, grinning. "You don't need to be sorry," Kara said. "I always made sure you and Cloud were ok, no matter whether Mum was there or not. I didn't mind what you two thought of me, I was your older sister, I am your older sister, and I promised I'd protect you for as long as I could." She paused. "I know that Mum and Dad loved you so much. Dad would always be talking about 'the baby' and Mum was always asking about you." Rildax smiled at Ayla before noticing Vexa in the doorway. He smiled slightly at her, but it turned into a somewhat awkward one.
Skarlia walked quickly along the corridor, glancing about every so often. No one was around, not even Axel. She'd just been left to explore the castle. But she had other plans. Her cloak flapped around her ankles as her speed increased, heading towards the door so then it was possible for her to disppear in flames. "Where are you going?" A cool voice entered Skarlia's ear, or perhaps her mind, she was unsure. She skidded to a halt as Axel appeared, leant against the wall the her left. "Axel..." she mumbled, but nothing else came out. "So where were you going?" He asked again, walking slowly towards her. "To see them, all of them," Skarlia said quickly. "Thought so," Axel nodded but continued to advance on Skarlia, who once again found herself taking steps backwards. "You never said anything. Why?" Skarlia was silent. He was so close now and she was against the wall like a frightened lamb. "Were you scared of my reaction?" His drawing voice was stroking Skarlia's insides again. His arms were on either side of Skarlia's head, trapping her against the wall. She caught the smell of his aftershave and it drew her in even more. "You know I'm only interested in your happiness, not where you go." This voice was that of Axel, yes, but it was different, as though there was darkness behind these words. Skarlia tried again to resist Axel, but there was no escaping him. "I'm not stopping you going," Axel continued. "But please don't be afraid of me." Skarlia's eyes dropped and she jumped as Axel kissed her lightly on the cheek. She found herself kissing him back and the two remained there, Skarlia's hand on Axel's cheek, his hands still on the wall. They finally parted and Axel took a step back. Skarlia continued to walk towards the door and as soon as she was outside she disappeared in flames. As soon as Skarlia was gone, Axel turned his head, his cold eyes regaining their deathly look and he walked along the corridor towards his room.
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Post by Masina on Oct 17, 2009 18:08:49 GMT -5
Xyrina noticed Axel walking down the corridor and spun around him. "Fexier has serious wounds. He was making Vexa fight him all night last night. It serves him right for pushing her too far."
Ayla pulled away from her sister and leant back against the head-board. "I could have been nicer to all of you though." She said quietly. "I was like that to everyone though. After what happened with our uncle. I don't think I trusted any of you. Not even Cloud." "This is a bit morbid for your birthday isn't it?" Vexa said sarcastically. "Vexa!" Ayla looked up, her ponytail span round and landed on her back as she faced Vexa. "Yeah, sorry. I didn't knock. The door was open." She smiled. "It's fine." Ayla nodded. "You okay?" "I'm fine." Vexa nodded, she sat down beside Herutsu, who smiled at her. "Fexier, well, isn't." "You didn't over-do it again did you?" "I lost my temper. You wouldn't believe how many times I had to knock him down before he stayed down." She laughed. Ayla smiled at her. "Take two. Morning Vexa." Herutsu smiled at her. Vexa smiled back. "Sorry, hey guys." She looked at Reno. "I don't believe I've met you. I'm Vexa. Ayla's nobody." "Number three in organisation XIII." Herutsu told him. "he kind of, well, Ayla once called her the Axel of this organisation, since she does all the stuff he had to do, and still manages to betray them." Vexa just laughed slightly. Ayla smiled, before looking down again, her eyes and expression distant as ever.
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 17, 2009 19:18:55 GMT -5
Axel didn't look up and continued walking. He waved a hand absently. "I'm sure he'll get over it," he said.
"Well, nice to meet you," Reno said. Kara nodded before a glazed look appeared over her eyes. She was staring at the floor. Reno didn't notice for a little while and when he did he made a 'oh-my-god-she's-gonna-hurl' face. Reno placed a hand on her shoulder, but Kara didn't notice. Usually she'd flinch out of her trance and back into the real world, but she was frozen to the spot. "Sorry," she suddenly blurted out and was on her feet, dashing through the door and along the corridor. She made it through the doors and kept up the pace until she was in the town. Her head darted left and right. Her eyes were keen and focused. Another vision of the present, but an extremely vague one. Now she was here, without Axel. Where was she? Kara took to the rooftops, racing along, checking left and right as she went.
Reno watched Kara go, but he'd seen that look before. She had seen something and she'd be fine, he hoped. He sighed and looked between Ayla and Vexa.
"Skarlia!" Kara shouted as she stood on a rooftop and suddenly she was gasping for breath as the run caught up with her. Then she spotted it. A billowing pyre of black flames and from within Skarlia stepped out. She saw her mother instantly and made a dash for her. Kara held her daughter in her arms once again. "Are you alright?" Kara asked her quietly. Skarlia nodded, letting go of Kara. "How are you and everyone else?" "We're fine," Kara said softly. "So... why are you here? And is Axel here?" "I came to see you," Skarlia replied. "Alone. Axel isn't here. As far as I know." She looked at the ground. "I feel isolated there. I only really talk to Axel. None of the others really talk to me." Kara nodded. "Does he know you're here?" Skarlia nodded. "Yeah. I wasn't going to tell him, but he knows." Kara closed her eyes and sighed. "At least your safe."
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Post by Masina on Oct 17, 2009 19:30:08 GMT -5
"Ayla, you okay?" Vexa asked suddenly. "Fine." Ayla nodded, but her voice was absent. Everyone els had looked up when Kara left, but Ayla's eyes stayed fixed on the bed. She span around so she was sat by Rildax now, her legs dangling off of the side of the bed. Vexa looked at Ayla carefully before sighing. "This should be interesting." She smiled. Ayla finally looked over at her. "What?" "I said I had a surprise for you. Curtousy of Yuffie so don't kill me, okay?" She smiled innocently. "I'm not in the mood to kill anyone." "Funny, you said that to me then killed the guy who hired you to kill me." Herutsu joked. Ayla didn't lose her expressionless face. "Okay, uh, come on." Vexa mumbled. A shadow appeared on the wall and Eve stepped out of it. "Mum?" She whispered. Ayla's eyes widened and locked on Eve. "Eve?" She smiled. Eve ran over and basically jumped on her mother, who held her tightly to her. "I've missed you mother." Eve said, biting back tears. "I've missed you too Eve. More than anything." She whispered to her daughter. "Care to explain?" Herutsu asked Vexa, his expression was total shock. "Later." Vexa smiled at Eve and Ayla.
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Post by Skarlia Kara Strife on Oct 17, 2009 19:46:47 GMT -5
Rildax's eyes lowered after watching the two for a few moments. He caught Reno's eye. "Mother and daughter reunited," Reni sighed. Rildax gathered he wasn't just referring to one person.
Kara sat down on the edge of the roof and Skarlia sat beside her. "So who are you with?" Skarlia asked. "Oh, a few people..." Kara said. "Ayla, Herutsu, Rildax, Reno and a girl called Elle... oh and Vexa." Skarlia's eyes lowered. "She's against the Organisation, isn't she?" "It looks that way," Kara replied with a nod. Suddenly Kara was on her feet, span around and was face to face with a man, his hands buried in his pockets, a faint sense of recognition passing over Kara's face. "How long have you been stood there?" Kara asked quickly. "Not long," the man replied. "Don't worry, your sense of your surroundings caught me. Or perhaps not." "What do you want?" Kara asked again, Skarlia standing up beside her. The man's eyes passed over Skarlia and they fixed on her for a few moments. Then they flicked back to Kara. "You are Kara Strife, right?" The man asked. Kara hesitated, but nodded. "Then you are alive." The man smiled. "My name is Quinn Erani. I must say it is very nice to finally meet you properly. You know, on a name-to-name basis." "Do I know you?" "You may not remember me as we met only briefly, but the point is..." Quinn's head span rapidly and he stared into the distance. Skarlia tried to follow his line of sight but couldn't see anything. "The point is?" Kara said. Quinn looked at her again. "I'm sorry, I must go. I will come back when I can." He vanished, not in black flames, but more like he disintergrated into the air. Kara glanced at Skarlia. "What the heck was that all about?" Skarlia shrugged.
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