A Mysterious Message (Joshua/Genesis)

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

And then my face went dumb. "F...forever...?" That was an interesting concept... Plenty of time to find the Gift... And I wouldn't have to degrade into a worthless pile of feathers... But I don't know what I'd do with an eternity. "I, uh... Joshua, that's quite the offer... How does one reply to being offered immortality for practically nothing?"

[Joshua Kiryu]

He raised a hand.

"There would be... a catch, however. I owe you at least that much. You would have another job to do. One week, or two, out of every month, you would work for me. No one could know what you were or had become. And..."

He looked ito Genesis' eyes. "You would have to die, first, in order to be reborn."

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

I chuckle lightly, and raise my hands in the shrug I did earlier. "Always a catch... At least you're pointing it out..." But a week or two out of the month? ...That left so little time to find the Gift... But it gave me such a longer timespan to do it... "Alright..." But how would I die, I wonder... Not that it would be of importance, really. "I... I can agree to this, Joshua."

[Joshua Kiryu]

"I need something sharp," he said. "May I borrow your sword?" he reached out a hand expectantly.

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

I nod once, unsheathing my rapier that was the color of blood itself. I hold it up, reluctant, as if handing over my own life. Well... I guess I was. But I flip it and grab the flat end of the blade, holding the handle out to Joshua. "Whatever you're doing, be swift."

[Joshua Kiryu]

"In order to start the process, I need to 'taint' you with my blood," he said, taking the hilt of the sword in one hand, and closing the other around the blade. "After we exchange blood, we'll need to find a Crossing - they're the only place in this world I can use more than a fraction of my power - to seal the deal." He gripped tight, then sliced with the rapier, in order to open a wound on his palm.

When he let go, Joshua was bleeding. But he wasn't bleeding red, the blood of humans; instead, a silvery, crackling fire began to ooze from the wound.

"On the outside," he said with a small laugh, "I don't look all that different from you, do I?"

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

I raise my eyebrow in utmost curiosity. "Heh... I suppose you do. This, though... Is interesting..." I grin in response. It looked very painful... "What exactly are you, Joshua Kiryu?"

[Joshua Kiryu]

"There are many who would call me a god," he said. "But I'm no such thing. Just... someone with incredible power and even greater responsibility. Every Game has rules... it's my job to make them." He held out the sword.

"It's not too late to back out."

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

"No... it is. It was sealed the moment I agreed." It was. And without a moment's hesitation, I take my blade back and quickly cut across my palm without hesitation. Even my blood was beginning to gray... "Damn... Maybe you caught me just in time, boy." I sheathe my weapon now.

[Joshua Kiryu]

Joshua took Genesis' palm in his. THeir blood intermingled, the fire racing up into Genesis' veins; Joshua could feel its progress, a small part of himsef and his power reaching out to enter every fibre of the other's being.

It wouldn't be a comfortable feeling; he could only remember what it had been like for him when the silver fire had eaten him completely - at least in Genesis' case, it was only a touch of his power.

He could feel a small amount of strength returning to him, but only a small amount. ANd he sensed the fire settle into Genesis' being, and begin its purpose. It sought out imperfection, loathed the degradation - the two were the opposite of each other, and held themselves in combat, stabilizing each other as he had hoped they would. But his fire was winning, by ever so slight a margin, and he smiled.

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

I fought back the screams that wanted to escape me. Of course, my face showed the pain. The sweat from this effort made my hair stick to my face. "I.. knew this would hurt..." I chuckle out. It felt like my insides were on fire. Well, they probably were. The blaze was terrible. But at the same time, I could feel myself getting better, in terms of the degredation. It was... counteracting the G-cells.

[Joshua Kiryu]

His expression turned to one filled with sympathy.

"It should subside in a few seconds," I told him quietly. "It hurts because you're still alive, and your living body is trying to fight the new introduction. It's entering every system in your body, touching every piece of you. When it's done, you'll have adapted to its presence. I don't know how far it will hold the degradation off, but it should give you another few years at least."

He let go of Genesis' hand, both wounds already closed over from the passage of energy between them.

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

True to his word, the pain was beginning to subdue... I fall onto my bottom and let out an exhausted sigh. "Guh... This... hurts." I finally say. But it was fading. "Now what...?"

[Joshua Kiryu]

"Now, we need a Crossing," he replied, sitting next to Genesis. "I need the energies present there to finish the process; we're ready to be bound - but in my present state, I can't forge the binding. I can only do that inside a Crossing."

[Genesis Rhapsodos]

I sigh. "Right. Of course. It's a little shady, really. You need to be inside an attempted-demon-takeover to get the energies or power or whatever it is... You're a really strange kid, Joshua." I stop wincing. The pain was nearly gone now. It was more like my body was just really warm, and cold, at the same time. "Let's just go, then."