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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Nov 23, 2012 23:51:17 GMT -5
What had...
Oh, shit!
Quickly, I made it all disappear. How the hell could I be so careless?!
"I... it's a long story," I said. "One nobody needs to hear right now. More importantly - how the hell is Hojo still alive?! I saw that part of the building collapse! He shouldn't be a problem anymore..."
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Nov 23, 2012 23:54:50 GMT -5
Noctis knew a hint to drop the topic when he heard it so he didn't make any further remarks on it and instead chose to answer Neku's question. "If I knew, I would tell you. He's always been sneaky." He explained before he glanced towards Rin. He seemed innocent enough but Noctis had never seen him before. Could he be trusted?
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Nov 23, 2012 23:56:48 GMT -5
"I'm taking him to see the Head," I told Noctis after noticing him glance at Rin. "What did Hojo do to you? There's just something... different..."
I couldn't put my finger on it; there was something wrong, I could sense it, but I couldn't pinpoint what that 'wrongness' was.
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Post by Namine Joy LeBeau on Nov 24, 2012 0:00:34 GMT -5
Despite wanting to huff and puff a bit I do know my priorities... And with the way Darla has been talking about him when we do talk is enough to know he's on that list.
I frown.
"Don't worry, Noctis, we won't let him live this time," But I do end up giving him a look of sympathy. "Want me to help you walk home?" What? Neku can deal with Lea by himself! Noct needs more help.
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Nov 24, 2012 0:08:42 GMT -5
Noctis sighed at the question before he looked down at his arms. Most of it had been injections but there were bandages over small incisions here and there. "This and that. Most of it didn't take because of what's already there but he injected me with demon blood." He curled his fingers slightly, the nails harder than normal fingernails and they were slightly pointed like claws.
At the sound of Namine's voice he glanced up from where he'd been looking down at his arms, grateful to hear that Hojo wouldn't be getting away this time as well as for the offer to help him get home. He smiled but shook his head lightly. "Thanks but I think I can get there from here. I was just resting for a bit, it was a long walk."
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Nov 24, 2012 0:23:39 GMT -5
And suddenly it clicked.
He smelled like a Halfer. I had been able to tell, from the moment I'd seen him again, that he was no longer... human.
"It took, didn't it?" I asked, looking down at his hands, the claw-like nails, then looked at my own - perfectly human, but they hadn't been just a minute before.
Dammit, I really was careless. How had I forgotten?
I was just... so comfortable with being in my own skin that...
Mentally, I shuddered. Since when had this stopped being my own skin? But I knew the answer to that. It was still... still hard, just a little. I'd been human for ten years.
"You're... like a Halfer now."
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Nov 24, 2012 0:45:25 GMT -5
Noctis was quiet for a moment after Neku asked his question before the dark haired young man nodded. "Yeah, it took." He replied as he curled his fingers inward as if to hide the claw-like nails. However, Neku was right in that Noctis was a halfer now even though he'd been born human. "From what Hojo gloated about as well, he used the blood of a demon lord." He explained as he tried to remember the name Hojo used. Understandably those sessions in the lab were a little fuzzy.
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Post by Namine Joy LeBeau on Nov 24, 2012 0:47:19 GMT -5
Damn.
And I thought MY life sucked.
I frown again, "Sorry, Noct... Is there anything... we... can... do?" Wow. How nice of me, right? Ugh. I give up!
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Nov 24, 2012 1:14:48 GMT -5
Namine... calm down. It's alright. I reached out, took her hand. I know you're mad at me... but don't take it out on Noctis. It's okay to do what you're doing for him...
Then I dropped her hand, before she could throw it away.
"A demon lord... I wonder who..."
Then Rin spoke up. "Why don't we take him with us?" he asked. "If we're all traveling together maybe this Lea guy will hear us all out?"
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Nov 24, 2012 1:23:35 GMT -5
It was times like this that Noctis was glad to have friends, even if he didn't know a lot of them as well as he knew the few he'd grown close to. "Thanks Namine. I think I'll be ok for now." He responded before Neku pondered over whose blood might have been used and Noctis shrugged in response. "I wish I knew. Unfortunately that part of my memory is a little foggy." He replied and pushed himself up in order to stand now that he'd rested for a bit.
When Rin mentioned Lea he couldn't help but wonder what might have happened since he'd been gone. "Lea? Why would you-" Then he remembered what Neku said about taking Rin to see the Head. "Neku, what happened while I was missing? Why is Lea suddenly the Head?" He asked the other Network member, now permanently red eyes focusing on Namine's fiancé.
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Post by Namine Joy LeBeau on Nov 24, 2012 1:36:46 GMT -5
"Oh yes, Neku Sakuraba, why the hell is Lea the Head? Hmm? Are we enlightening him? If so I suggest you do so before I SCREAM IT SO LOUD THE WHOLE BLOCK CAN HEAR!!!" I glare at Neku and then snort. "Chicken, pussy ass, scared, sour puss, annoying, damn adorable yet moronic boss!"
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Nov 24, 2012 1:41:49 GMT -5
I used the wall to help myself up, looking away from the both of them. Namine's shouting had hurt my ears and my brain.
"I..."
How was I supposed to explain it? Noctis had seen... had seen me. Maybe...
"I... I'm no longer qualified to be a member of the Network," I said quietly. "Let alone it's leader. So I... resigned."
I closed my eyes completely. "Let's just.... leave it at that. Okay, Nami? Please?" I could feel a tear leak out from under my eyelids.
I wasn't expecting to... have to meet anyone else, not this soon. I was hoping that I would be better prepared... maybe Nami was right, and I really was running away.
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Nov 24, 2012 1:48:10 GMT -5
As Namine went on her tirade Noctis couldn't help but look at her in surprise. While he didn't know her well he had never heard her go on or cuss someone out like this, especially not someone she cared for in the same way she cared for Neku. It clearly bothered the former leader as well since he was looking away from both of them. Noctis had clearly seen what Neku was before and, honestly, the explanation irritated him a little. "What does that say for Lea? Aya? Me?" Noctis said calmly, watching Neku with analytic eyes. "Are none of us fit to be part of the Network either?" He sighed, ready to leave it be since Namine had sounded at her wit's end. He could only guess how often she'd tried to talk sense into Neku.
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Post by Namine Joy LeBeau on Nov 24, 2012 1:51:35 GMT -5
I can't help it, I drop my glare and reach out... and take one of Neku's hands in mine. A small, sad smile finding its way onto my face, "Sorry, love..." And I look to Noctis. "And he isn't talking about Halfers or Halfer like people, Noct... Think... Kiara."
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Nov 24, 2012 1:54:12 GMT -5
I'd opened my mouth, ready to shout and scream at Noctis, anger welling up in me even though I knew there was no real cause for it.
Then Nami took my hand, told Noctis straight-out.
Well, as straight-out as I think she could bring herself to say it.
"I'm not human anymore, Noctis, and I never was," I said. Then... I held out a hand.
"See for yourself."
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