Kingdom Hearts Reborn

[Erin]

The Beginning
There was once a world throughout which peace and unity reigned. It was a land full of a warmth and light that people loved.
But such a love did not come without its price. People loved the light so deeply that they lusted for it and coveted it. Soon, they began to fight over it.
It was from this desire that darkness was born. Darkness, little by little, began to find its way into every heart, and began to smother out the light. Soon, not even the light of the world could survive the darkness that had tainted it.
When all existence was thought to have suffered oblivion, there was but a small glimmer of hope. This hope was a small amount of light found in the hearts of children. The light found in the hearts of these children was thought to have recreated the world itself, but not entirely. Rather, it divided the once massive world into several smaller ones.

So it is said. No one really knows why, but there is only this age old tale that has been told as an explanation for why there are countless worlds. Some of course are physical planets. Others may be alternate parallel planes of existence, whether an original or duplicate of another world, no one knows. This tale, however abstract, is the only clue.

However, with light and darkness at one point came something else. The keyblade.
The true origin of the keyblade also remains forgotten or unknown, a weapon resembling both a sword and a key. It is a weapon not forged or manufactured, but something that serves as a manifestation of one’s heart. Some say that a keyblade is in some ways a conscious being, something that is said to choose its master. Others say that the heart itself creates it.
Whether the keyblade was created to protect a world or destroy it, it is capable of either course of action. Every world, an entire plane of existence or planet, contains something known as a “key hole”. This “key hole” is said to serve as a thin border between a world’s “light” and “dark” counterpart. If this keyhole or door is opened, darkness will swallow the world, and the world and everything in it will cease to exist. If the keyhole is locked or sealed, the world will be forever preserved.

Birth By Sleep

And so, it was in one world that an order of keyblade wielders was founded, an order that sought to protect and balance all worlds. This order was founded in a place known as the “Land of Departure”, a land contained in a world overseeing vast lands, in which towns such as Traverse Town, Twilight Town, Radiant Garden, Destiny Islands, and many others were contained. For centuries, those who had the potential to use the keyblade trained to become keyblade masters. There came a time where there were three potential candidates who trained under the Keyblade Master Eraqus. There was Ventus, a cheerful and eager young boy who wielded his keyblade backhandedly like a dagger, Terra, a strong young man who used a large keyblade, relying mostly on his brawn, and Aqua, a determined young woman who was quite powerful in using her magic. The three had grown up together, and were best friends. But one day, that would be forever changed.
It was a keyblade master named Xehanort who first set everything into motion. For ages, Xehanort had craved the knowledge of “the keyblade war”, and whatever else lay behind the “door to darkness”, a place called “Kingdom Hearts”. No one knows for sure what Kingdom Hearts is, why it exists, or what lies beyond it. Most commonly it is said that Kingdom Hearts, or the door to darkness, contains all knowledge. One who would access Kingdom Hearts would in turn have the ability to determine the fate of existence itself, and could rule over it. In order to set such a plan into motion, Xehanort knew of a tool that could open Kingdom Hearts, known as the X-Blade. Somehow, Ventus’ heart contained the secret to creating the X-Blade. Upon extracting all darkness in Ven’s heart, He used it to create Vanitas, a manifestation of Ventus’ darkness, and made Vanitas his apprentice.

On the day of Aqua and Terra’s Mark of Mastery Exam, a test that the two had to pass in order to become fully certified keyblade master, Xehanort came as an audience, and secretly toyed and manipulated with the darkness in terra’s heart. Terra in turn failed the exam, with only Aqua emerging victorious. However, Xehanort shortly after disappeared, and Eraqus discovered that malicious creatures known as the unversed began to appear throughout the worlds. The keyholes of these worlds, as it had turned out, were in danger of being unlocked, and in turn their existence was in jeapordy. So, Terra and Aqua went throughout the worlds to stop Xehanort and fight the unversed. Ventus, originally told to stay home, was egged on by Vanitas to pursue his friends.

The journey went on. Aqua and Ventus helped the inhabitants of every world they visited, hoping each time that they would find answers about each other or Xehanort’s whereabouts. They even met Ino, a young girl who was also a keyblade master-to-be, who was apprenticing under a man named Yen Sid. Terra, on the other hand, was eager to find Xehanort at any cost, and in turn helped some dangerous people in each world, running favors for them, in exchange for information. Each time, the darkness in his heart was manipulated.

Eventually, everything about Xehanort’s scheme was discovered when he and Vanitas convinced the three friends to go to a place known as the Keyblade Graveyard. There, it turned out that Xehanort intended to obtain the X-blade by fusing together the hearts of Ventus and Vanitas. Eraqus, intending to stop Xehanort’s plan, tried to kill Ven, only to be vanquished by a deceived Terra and Xehanort. Terra then tries to stop Xehanort, but not before the elder master took over the younger warrior’s body. But while Terra’s body was lost, his will remained in his discarded keyblade armor, and the armor defeated Xehanort for him. Simultaneously, Aqua and Ino collaborated to fight against a fusion of Ventus and Vanitas, in physical form, while metaphysically, Ventus fought Vanitas for control of his heart. Aqua managed to destroy the X-blade, while Ventus destroyed Vanitas. However, Ventus lost his heart in the process, and a blow from the X-blade caused Ino to lose hers.

Aqua took the bodies of Ino and Ventus to Yen Sid, only to learn that they would not likely awaken. To protect their bodies, Aqua carried Ino and Ventus to the almost decimated Land of Departure. Sealing the keyhole, she transformed it into a place known as Castle Oblivion, where anyone adventurer would lose their memories and never be able to discover the land’s secrets.
Aqua then went to Radiant Garden in order to face Xehanort, who had taken Terra’s body. After the battle, Terra fought Xehanort from within, and managed to unlock his heart with his own keyblade. In turn, he fell into the realm of darkness to be saved by Aqua, who took his place, and returned to the Garden without any memory but the name “Xehanort”.

The Aftermath
Ten years have passed since Aqua, Terra, and Ventus’ adventure. First came with Xehanort’s discovery of creatures known as heartless, who spawned from hearts that were separated from a body. Fascinated by them, he performed many almost inhumane experiments, and in turn lost his heart. However, he, and many others, lost his heart and became a heartless.
But the body left behind was not erased, and not a completely lifeless shell. It was a body without the strong heart that once gave it life. Not the fist-sized organ, of course, but a sphere of light. A severed body became a Nobody, while a severed heart became a Heartless.
There were once twelve Nobodies who longed for their hearts, and so they collect hearts harvested by the heartless to hopefully obtain Kingdom Hearts. Recently, the Organization has acquired two new members, Xion and Xustnev, two nobodies who wandered aimlessly amongst the castle.

But it is not only the Organization who craved what Kingdom Hearts had to offer. Eight powerful beings from several different worlds have collaborated to obtain Kingdom Hearts in hopes of controlling all of existence. They have also learned to take advantage of the darkness in their hearts, and learned to control the heartless. They have named themselves the “Order of Chaos”.

Recently, both groups have taken interest in a world they call “the Untouched world”, the only world that, up until a decade ago, had never once been accessed by someone of another world. Somehow, by opening the door to darkness, Xehanort had revealed the “untouched world”.
There are seven individuals, known as the purest hearts, who contain the key to opening the door to Kingdom Hearts, that each reside in this world. Both the Organization and the Order of Chaos seek to find these seven hearts to obtain their goal.
But this world is not without hope. Other people from a place known as “Traverse Town” are informed of both the Organization and the Order’s plans, and seek to stop them. While it contains the “purest hearts”, it also begins to spawn weilders of the keyblade. Will these chosen ones save the world, or bring it to its destruction?
Only time will tell.

[Erin]

Basic Rules of the Roleplay

The usual stuff, really.

-No Godmoding

-No Powerplaying

-No Sues or Stews unless it's necessary for the plot

-If there is a need to speak out of character, use double parantheses

-All of this takes place ten years after the events of Birth By Sleep, where the events of the first Kingdom Hearts game started. This means that Sora, Riku, and Kairi DO NOT exist. The wielders and pure hearts of this world replace the original ones.

- There is also NO Disney in this plot line. It is just a franchise, and nothing more than that. No characters, no worlds, no nothing.
-In our world/ the real world/ the unbreached world, the games "Kingdom Hearts" and "Final Fantasy" DO NOT EXIST. So if you're one of the keyblade wielders, this does not mean your character suddenly knows what it is and is all like "MMMYEAAAHH Imma go kick some heartless ass, bitch". So yeah.

Rules Applying to the Order of Chaos (The villians of Final Fantasy VI-XIII) and Organization XIII

-In combat, your character(s)'s abilities are limited to whatever powers/ attacks they had in the game from which they originated. So for example, while Seymour Guado is really powerful in magic and as a summoner, that doesn't mean that he can randomly pull out Cloud Strife's sword or conjure one up and start kicking ass and be trolling like "UMAD?" And Demyx can't randomly pull something that looks like Xemnas' swords. Pretty obvious stuff, but you'd be surprised...

-However conceited or boisterous a character may be, that doesn't mean they can go frollicking about in the worlds they invade. If necessary, they may wear a disguise or have to avoid being seen entirely. If they're seen and they're not supposed to be, they've gotta make tracks fast.
(I'm not sure if anyone in the Organization though is capable of removing their cloaks. I think I read somewhere that those cloaks somehow give them the ability to open the portals of darkness, so without them they can't teleport between worlds? Iono :/)

-Unless they are in a pinch or given permission/ orders to start summoning heartless from the higher-ups (Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz in this case), they need to avoid doing so, or even using magic/ abnormal conventional weapons at any cost.

- Anyone is able to travel/ teleport between worlds at their will.
Just note that those from the Order usually go somewhere from this beam of light, while the Organization has to use portals of darkness.

-The main headquarters of the Order are in the ruins of what once was a thriving castle and town. The kingdom's name, for the time being, is known as Hollow Bastion.

-The headquarters of the Organization are divided between w place called the "World that Never Was" and Castle Oblivion.

Rules applying to the Purest Hearts

The Purest Hearts are seven people whose hearts, for whatever reason, are full of light and are unable to be tainted with darkness.

But these hearts are chosen and prophesized randomly before the person was even born. This isn't based on the character's personality. Your character can cuss every minute, use substances, maybe they aren't even a virgin, and they can still be one of the "Purest Hearts" if chosen to be so. I only ask that they haven't murdered anyone, or things like that. Everyone has a different definition of Pure.

-Note that this time we've said "Purest Hearts" and not "Princesses of Heart". That is what we mean. Unlike Disney and Square, much as I love both, WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE. Who says a boy can't have a pure heart?

- A Purest's chosen heart only have the potential to unlock Kingdom Hearts while he/ she is young. So preferably, they should be anywhere between seven and in their twenties.

-A Pure heart cannot, cannot cannot CANNOT wield a keyblade unless it is given to them. However, they can have a weapon, if they so choose. However, if they have one, it has to be one that he/ she knows how to use, and one that is from wherever world they originate. So if your character comes from Earth, he/ she CAN'T USE A FLIPPING GUNBLADE IN THE WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY 8. If it hasn't been invented in their world, they can't have it. If he/ she is given a weapon from another world, like something that looks like Saiix's weapon, they can't magically figure out how to use it perfectly if they've never seen it before.

-A Pure Heart can also have the potential to use magic, be it black or white, or summoning. Black magic is more offensive types, like Firaga, Blizzara, thunder, or status-inflicting spells like "bio" or "darkness". White magic consists of healing/ supportive spells, like cure, life or panecea. Summoning magic is the ability to summon a monster to aid him/ her, like Shiva or Bahamut.

However, if your character is capable of using magic, they can't magically learn something like "DoomsDay" when they are first starting out. They are either taught, or they may use it by accident, but they can only use the simplest of spells, such as fire, cure, or at most summon Ramuh or a moogle or something. And yes, a summoned beast can be something of your own creation as well as something original from a Square game.

Your character can use magic without a staff or wand, but it wouldn't be as strong, and they wouldn't have as much MP without some sort of medium.

Rules Applying to the Wielders.

-The only weapon you can have, once you discover your keyblade, is the keyblade. You can't have a keyblade and then pull out a backup shuriken or a bazooka.

-Since the keyblade is a manifestation of the heart, it has to be one of your own design, something that says something about your character. So no, you can't suddenly wield the oblivion, ultima, or pumpkinhead. If you can't or don't feel like drawing/ designing it, I can help :3

-Keychains are also available, and you may be able to change your keyblade's appearance, but only to an extent. So say your character's default keyblade looked like a green dragon breathing fire out of its mouth. If you found the keychain for the oblivion keyblade and attached it to yours, that dragon may turn black and purple and look all gothic or something.

-Before having the ability to wield the keyblade, all of the wielders have to have a dream first. This dream basically is like when you first start out in the original Kingdom Hearts game. Your character starts out falling through an endless abyss of darkness, only to land on an odd round terrain resembling a stain glass window (whatever is on the platform must have something to do with your character or the plot overall. Your choice.) There are suddenly four pedestals that somehow emerge from the ground. On each pedestal there is a weapon. Choosing the Sword will make your character a fighter, the wand/ staff will make your character a spellweaver, the smaller dagger will make your character a swifter, and the shield will make your character an eclectic.

-Keyblade wielders fall under four categories/ classes, which determine what strengths and weaknesses they and their keyblades have. Swifters rely on speed, and have Ventus' abilities They are more flexible and agile, and can use moves such as strike raid. Spellweavers rely mostly on magic, and have Aqua's abilities.They have more magic and their magic-based attacks/ spells do more damage than a fighter, swifter, or versatile would. Fighters have Terra's abilities, and rely on strength. Whatever physical attacks they use deal a great amount of damage. Eclectics have neither strengths not weaknesses, and are basically wielding the same keyblade with the same abilities Sora had. They have the potential to learn any move the other three classes have, but in turn do not start out with any particular stength.

-Regardless of class, a wielder is capable of learning magic. However, like the Pure Hearts, they would have to start out with basic spells and branch on from there. Spellweavers are the same, but they are capable of learning spells faster than any of the other classes, and may be able to learn spells that the other classes may not, such as Holy or Doomsday.

-Drive modes (Like in KH2) are also possible in this roleplay, but not without its condition. The drive mode allows the wielder to essentially fuse with another person. That person would temporarily change form and become a keyblade. Wielders can only drive if they have two things;

-A Specific Drive Sphere

-A person who would be willing to imprint on that Drive Sphere.
So, if your character was a loner who didn't have any friends or party members, or at least didn't have someone to imprint on their sphere(s), they couldn't randomly go into valor form and whip out another keyblade and a random reddish outfit from nowhere. Even if your character has friends, if no one volunteers to imprint on a drive sphere, or if you don't have a drive sphere, then you cannot use the drive ability.
When someone imprints on a wielder's drive sphere, all they have to do is touch it, and whenever the wielder wants to take on the form that the sphere gives them, whoever imprinted on the sphere will disappear and transform into the wielder's clothes and even a keyblade.

When a form wears off, that form cannot be taken again for a while. The sphere will need time to recharge.

There are five drive forms currently known;

-Valor Form-

Gives the wielder a second keyblade. They become extremely agile, able to jump at magnificent heights, and they deal a great amount of damage. However, in this form, the wielder CANNOT USE ANY MAGIC until the form wears off. This mode is activated by a valor sphere. In order for this mode to be effective, whoever imprints on the sphere would have to be a very strong fighter. So, if you fused with someone like Freya Crescent from Final Fantasy IX, she would probably transform into a keyblade resembling s dragoon spear and lend you her strength. However, if you fused with someone like Vivi, who is better at magic than at fighting, then he wouldn't lend you much strength. In valor form, the wielder's outfit becomes red and black.

-Wisdom Form-

This form increases the wielder's magic. They do not gain an extra keyblade, but they no longer need to grip onto their keyblade, as if moves freely and of its own accord. The wielder also no longer is restricted to the ground, but glides about. Instead of using basic attacks, the wielder shoots out an array of magic bullets that do a good amount of damage. The potential of this form, however, depends on whoever imprinted on the wielder's wisdom sphere. The better the imprinter is at magic, the more powerful the wielder's wisdom form is. If the imprinter knows spells that the wielder does not know or may not be capable of learning, then while in wisdom form, the wielder may know these spells. Wisdom form transforms the wielder's clothes to blue and silver.

-Master form-

Master form gives the wielder increased attack and magic, as well as an extra keyblade. the wielder's keyblade still requires the wielder's grip, but the second keyblade moves on its own accord. Master form requires not one, but two people to imprint on a wielder's master sphere. The master form transforms the wielder's outfit to yellow and black.

-Anti-form-

No one knows why, but a wielder who uses any kind of drive excessively sometimes does not always obtain the form he or she intends. Randomly, he or she may assume something known as "anti-form". Both keyblades are completely absent, and the wielder's body transforms into something resembling a heartless. They consist entirely of shadow except for a pair of bright yellow eyes. The wielder's attack is greatly increased even without a weapon, as they use their newly-obtained claws to attack. However, he or she is not capable of using magic in this form, and he or she cannot restore his or her health. Anyone who imprinted on any of the wielder's spheres vanishes during this time, only to reappear when the form wears off. Anyone who has not imprinted on the wielder's spheres is spared. The wielder also cannot leave this form of his or her own accord, but must wait for it to wear off.

-Final Form-

Another form that comes from driving excessively, but only if into Master form. The wielder's strength and magic is greatly increased, he or she gains an extra keyblade, and neither keyblade requires the wielder's grasp. The wielder can fly about in this form, each keyblade also moving of its own accord. The wielder can leave this form whenever he or she chooses. The two who imprinted on the wielder's master orb disappear for the duration of this form. This transforms the wielder's outfit to white, black, and silver.

Also, note that nobodies, even if they can wield keyblades, are incapable of being used for the drive ability. A nobody with a keyblade can use it if someone with a heart imprints on his or her sphere, but because nobodies lack hearts, they cannot imprint on another's sphere.
Rules for Original Characters

You're allowed to create your own characters who aren't Canon Square Enix characters, wielders, or Pure Hearts, but just one made up. You can even do a self -insert. Just any old character who one way or another gets caught up in the plot. They can originate from any world. They can have any weapon or abilities, provided that they are from the world from which that character originates, and can pretty much do whatever they want. They may choose to become part of a wielder's or canon character's party and fight alongside them. They may become a supporting member as well.

However, if they choose to serve the Order or the Organization, they can't become official members, so Organization XIII may give you a cloak, but they're not going to make you number XV, even if you are a nobody. If given permission from the higher ups of either party, he or she may have the ability to control heartless or nobodies.

[Erin]

Current Events
Current Location: New York City
Current Time: 10 AM
September 2011

Reports have been on the news of people randomly disappearing, only to return, if at all, completely cathartic, saying nonsense, if anything at all, often about white or shadowy monsters. Some believe it to be just some sort of urban legend, other a potential serial murder case. One rumor sprouts after another. The only thing that can be certain is that more and more people, at the dead of night, have been vanishing without a trace. Those who believe it are beginning to panic.

The Order and the Organization are only vaguely aware of each other's existence, knowing only that they could be a rival. Each has sent someone to investigate the city, knowing that heartless and nobodies have begun to stir there in the dead of night, and possibly the location of potential pure hearts and keyblade wielders. No leads, however, have had yet to surface.

[Erin]

The sun seemed to be smiling, its warm rays penetrating through the towering buildings and skyscrapers. The cool transition between summer and fall had just begun, with every refreshing breeze slowly turning into a chill. The boy and dog wandering through Central Park were thankful that the sun's warmth was still able to cast through the buildings and counterattack further delay the approaching cold.

Kyle loved the summer, but the heat wave that had almost burnt everything to a crisp had made September all the more welcoming. As much as he loved the summer weather and going to the beach, the boy also loved watching the sea of emerald in the trees become a pallet of gold, brown, and maroon. In short, it was nice neutral weather.

The boy had been in such awe of the scenery that he only noticed by looking at his phone that he and Gabriel had been standing in the same spot for ten minutes.

"Dang, Gabe, how much more is there to sniff? Trying to find buried treasure under all that grass?" In reply, the dog seemed to grunt, as if he were trying to tell his bipedal companion that he was almost done. The boy laughed it off. It had been a while since he had gotten to take a long walk in the park.

It's been a while since I've been able to walk in the park like this. I hope mom doesn't get too worried...

His stomach lurched at the thought of hearing all of that stuff about people supposedly disappearing and coming back crazy. It almost sounded like some kind of urban legend or ghost story, but either way it gave him the willies. But knowing that Gabriel was with him was somehow very reassuring. The only thing that worried him at the time would be giving his mother reason to do so.

"I hope we don't stick around here too long. I don't want to be here till nightfall. The park is mad creepy at night..."

[Erin]

" Ulgh! What putrid air. Being in even the cleaner parts of this cesspool offends my senses."

Tossing his head to get a few silver stands of hair out of his eyes, the infamous narcissist of the Order of Chaos felt his stomach turn as he watched countless people from the rooftop of a towering building. Normally, Kuja wouldn't worry about waltzing about through the streets in his comfortable thong and boots, but the Order did not seem to agree with his taste of fashion whenever carrying out missions in this "Unbreached World". Not that what they said went without region of course. Strolling about the city in broad daylight in his most preferred attire would certainly make him stand out (not that he'd mind) and could put the Order's priorities at risk in the event he gained any unwanted attention. He wouldn't give a rats ass about what the others wanted, of course, if it hadn't meant jeopardizing his own plans.

Standing on this rooftop, however, was far preferable to his former predicament. For a while, Kuja had been forced to wander throughout the subway, scurrying like Burmecian rats through their tunnels, in a magically -induced disguise as a run-of-the-mill white collar business man on his way to work (an apparently normal attire for men in this world). Garments like that, for him, were far too close for comfort, and if he were to dawn his true silver mane, he would have gotten a lot of stares, and was forced to transform his hair into something shorter and, well....boring. Thus, he decided to take the later option, keeping his true appearance in exchange for keeping out of sight.

Why was he even here? Ah yes, to look for any hints on the movement of heartless, nobodies, keyblade wielders, or that riffraff from Organization XIII. The only way he would be able to identify the last was apparently by anyone waltzing about with a black cloak. But honestly, who in all of existence would be that STUPID?
Of course, any sign of the heartless or nobodies acting up (though they only did it at night) would also be telltale signs of something at least.
"How boring. Of all people, why was I placed at this post? Surely we couldn't have just summoned a few shadows or found a lackey to do it....I could even have conjured up a black mage or two, if they had let me! I was never made for something as tedious as grunt work, of all things." the man snarled, and anxiously paced back and forth. He almost wished that someone would see him so that he could try killing them to keep them quiet....at least that would be something to do....or maybe not.
Chaos needs to get his priorities together." it bothered him so much that it made him want to blast something, anything to smithereens, at least something to use his magic on for the time being.

[Fiona]

This world was different from the rest.

The tall buildings (skyscrapers, actually) reached towards the blue sky. A few pigeons cooed, in search for a meal. In an alley, far from prying eyes, arose a portal. Darkness swirled from it. A hooded figure appeared, cocking its head to and fro. Footsteps padded against the concrete ground. The being lowered its head with a coarse chuckle, “Heh. This is new.”

A smirk slid across his lanky features, Through all the black, the whites of his teeth gleamed like a feral dog’s. One golden orb shone, gazing ahead. New, indeed. Yet, the skyscrapers reminded of the World That Never Was, albeit brighter. Well, dude. Guess it’s time for work. He rubbed his hands together at the thought. In order to avoid being seen, he would stick to the maze of alleyways. If a human or two saw him, then he would hope (hah, as if he could feel that) that they’re a tad worse for wear. Cracking his neck, he stole a glance at the sky. It reminded him of- Why, that was foolish. They weren’t supposed to remember. They did not exist. Rather, they were not meant to exist.

This mysterious figure was a Nobody. Neither a heart or a soul. That was the correct terminology was it not? No matter. He was a member of Organization XIII, the group that was hell-bent on resurrecting Kingdom Hearts. Nothing would stop them in their quest to obtain their own hearts in return. His name was Xigbar, the Freeshooter. The Superior had sent him on a mission to this world in particular. It was the simple fact that Xigbar didn’t look like he was ‘busy’. Sure, he was just sitting on the couch, waiting for something to fall into his lap- Guess that didn’t look busy enough. He mused to himself. Thus, here he was, on a mission to gather Intel.

To remain further incognito, it would have helped to ditch the cloak and change into something deemed ‘normal’. ‘Course that wasn’t happening. Lose the cloak and then you use the ability to go back home- Whatever the hell home is. The Nobody bleakly thought to himself. He took to wandering down the endless alleys, spying a stray dog or two. He paused, looking at the furry creature. Never had he seen such a thing before. The dog lowered its head, growling viciously. Xigbar raised his arms, as if to surrender, “Wow. Chill, dude. I’m not gonna bite’cha.”

He continued at his even pace, spying nothing out of the ordinary thus so far. His chest heaved with the motions of a sigh, shoulders sagging ever so slightly. Although Xigbar looked relaxed, he was still on his guard. On his toes, so to speak. From the back of the alley, he could hear the roar of motors and herds of people as they rushed towards their destination. Man, this is the most people I've seen... He rubbed his chin, wondering where they were heading. Clucking his tongue, he crossed his arms. Xigbar would probably get a better view from above, but it was far too risky. He would have to stick to the shadows.

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[Erin]

Slowly, but surely, time was beginning to pass. And with it Kuja impatience grew. At this point, the every step the man took was accented by a click from the heels of his boots. It resounded in him almost like an incessant metronome, counting down until a bomb was about to go off.

Finally, he had become fully frustrated, far to antsy to wait any longer. He had to leave. Of course, he couldn't just fly down from the building as he normally would float about through the abandoned castle. With so many people scurrying about on the streets, someone was bound to notice a flying man in a thong. If these people had any taste in fashion, he wouldn't stand out so much, and of course he wouldn't even have to be up here.
He decided that he would have to teleport, and within moments a wall of blue light emanating strange characters and runes consumed him. He wouldn't have minded it so much if it hadn't meant wasting some of his magic. But on such a dull mission, it was probably unlikely that he would even have the slightest opportunity to use any. Even if he did run into one of the members of the apparent organization or the husks, or whatever those white pawns were called, who would be stupid enough to walk about wearing a cloak in the middle of the d-

Kuja's thoughts were interrupted when the pillar of runes had finally cleared , and he was on the ground....standing just a few feet behind a figure dawning a black hooded cloak.

Well, well, well. Speak of the devil, and the devil will come. Finally, the curtains have opened, and the real show has begun.

Now things were already getting interesting. He had only spent a few hours skulking about the concrete wasteland, and of all things, he may have run into those nothings. The most he would have expected was a shadow or two, but he never expected to catch anything big. And to top it off, no one else was in the alleyway. For a while, as long as he did not exceed the boundaries of the rooftops, he could escape gravity's loathsome grasp. No footsteps, no problem.

Heartless ingrate or not, it's worth investigating. Ignorant fool.

With that, Kuja folded his legs, almost crossing them, and hovered barely even a foot above the ground, keeping just enough distance so that he could tail the figure.

[Fiona]

This mission was beginning to turn into a dud. He scoffed, pausing in motion to rest a gloved hand on the top of his hooded head. A whole lotta nothing. No kids with keys or big baddies. Seems way too- What’s the world? Normal. His lips twitched at the thought. However, Xigbar wasn’t about to give up. Actually, he would observe a bit. It beat roaming in the alleys for hours on end. Sometimes, you simply had to watch and wait before something would fall right into your lap.

He did just that. The Freeshooter pressed his lanky form against the cool bricks. He lifted on leg, pressing the boot against the wall. Folding his arms, he lowered his head and watched.

People moved at an irregular place. Time, in no means, was stalled. Cars sped by. Cars stalled. Cars honked. In Xigbar’s stance, they didn’t exactly look like the mode of transportation he was used to. I’m still getting nada. What I see’ll make a decent report. ‘Field analysis’ or whatever it’s called. Back at the Castle, there was no doubts that the Superior would be waiting for a response. That is, if he weren’t on a mission himself. He ran a gloved finger over his jagged scar, in the midst of contemplation.

Yet, the Nobody couldn’t shake the feeling (as if) that he was being watched. Now, the skunk-haired male was, in no means, paranoid. He was keeping an ear to the ground, so to speak. No point in lowering his hood. Again, there was the whole ‘incognito’ concept. Dude. This is not cool. A thin scowl contorted his masked features.

He shifted his golden gaze towards the bustling streets,

Funny how he didn’t look back at the alleys.

“It’s not nice to stalk, dude,” Xigbar mumbled.

Naturally, he suspected it was the canine from earlier.

How wrong he was.

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[Erin]

Upon being discovered, Kuja quickly darted from where he was hovering to a new haven, very reluctantly, in a spot between a dumpster and an area where the outside wall of one of the buildings protruded, slowly descending so that his feet could not be heard as they touched the decrepit pavement.

Hmm...it appears my new possible adversary may have a brain stem after all.

But being sharp alone and simply waltzing about in a black hood was not enough to confirm that this fellow was a member of the Organization. Now that Kuja's target was aware that he wasn't alone, he could not simply stand aside and shadow him. If the man knew that he was being followed, there was no way that he was going to do anything suspicious. Now, Kuja needed bait to provoke him, and test his hypothesis.

Chaos had told those in the Order not to summon the heartless unless absolutely necessary. But, considering the circumstances and the necessity to gather intel, it was a win-win. If the man knew how to deal with the heartless, then it at least showed that he knew of their nature, unlike the rest of the people in this world. Even if he wasn't a member of the Organization, he would definitely prove for somebody worth tailing, or at least for Kuja to kill some time. That alone could be enough to report to the Order. And if the man couldn't fight, what was there to lose? The heartless would simply steal his heart, kill him, or even both, and keep someone out of the Order's hair.

With that, Kuja slowly raised his hand in front of him, and a few feet behind the stranger, three pools of darkness suddenly materialized from the ground, and from each of them arose the twitching antennae and gleaming yellow eyes of what would shortly after become a shadow. Jerking violently and silently, the creatures crawled towards the hooded figure, their shadowy claws outstretched.