Number Nine

[Xaldin]

<Hikari-Sora1> What was this? The serene majesty coating and caressing through his limbs, past his face and his ears. Gentle sea green irises fluttered opened and his supple lips parted. Not a few moments later, the eyes attempted to adjust his sight to his surroundings. Wh-what was this...he couldn't feel his arms...or his legs. This was almost like he had no appendages whatsoever and almost began to panic. Then he felt that familiar embrace. That weightless embrace held the boy dearly as his clouded mind picked up a bit of tranquility. It was then his eyes saw past the darkness and found himself immersed in his element. Soft hues of blue ran on into the distance getting darker and darker. This was heaven. A soft smile came to the Nobody's lips but as quickly as it came it faltered. The expression of a brunette flashed in his memory. He looked confused...then sad, like he pitied him. That's right! The Keykid! What happened at the ravine...he held off the kid...and then his world went black. This simply wouldn't do...what would his superiors think? They must've thought him a hopeless case. He never got to say goodbye...was he dead? 'Did...I die?' The sound of his mental voice sounded strange, echoing in his thoughts. So this must be what its like. Death was merciful even to Nobodies? Is that why he rested here in this endless body of water? The young Nobody wondered then and there where everyone was and realized he was alone...no...even the widest and warmest of sweet waters wouldn't make him happy. Not if he couldn't be with his family. I want to go home...then like a sign, a glimmer of light shimmered rays of warmth through the water, illuminating a path like a road to paradise. It was nostalgic in a way, he remembered feeling this way. The light was a beacon, surely it must be. Everyone must be there waiting for him. Demyx traversed to the light, never once stopping.

<BlindTaleTeller> Well the mini vacation had been nice. More than a few trips to the casino, time out on the water and for him more importantly in the wind.. and best of all he had very good company. " I promise, we won't stay for very long.. " Xaldin offered to Luxord as they stepped out onto the Dark Beach again. He knew how this place affected him and didn't like taxing him like this, but: standing orders as they were, the stop was necessary. " I just have to check with the Dragoons .. they're supposed to be patrolling right now. " Shifting his duffle to the sand, his eyes scanned the nearby shore: the stone arch they had come up under shadowing the moonlit waters as always. One of the Dragoons was dancing over the sand there, making odd designs in the water-wet silted earth. " Hm.. " his fingers squeezed Luxord's softly, glancing back to him. " Fifteen minutes, maximum. "

<Moth-Orchid> He couldn't help but wince slightly as he followed the Lancer into what, to him, felt like trying to breathe stagnent water. "Time here is irrelavant," he couldn't have stopped him self from saying that for a new deck and his own galleon. "What's he on about over there?" he asked as he caught sight of the frantic Dragoon. "Someone else come up?" It was not, in his opinion the most wonderful of opportunity. He had little fondness for those who had remained submerged, even if Axel could play a decent hand of Texas hold'em. He wondered how Xaldin would take the suggestion to throw whom ever it was back.

<Hikari-Sora1> Just...a little further...the boy's lungs screamed for rest. He didn't realize it was so far but he still didn't stop, he was almost there. Demyx reached up seeing what looked like the surface and broke through. A splash of water crashed from under the stone archway as the Nobody took in a gasp of air greedily suddenly feeling exhausted and weak. Perhaps from his journey, who knew. Waves rushed against the arch and the shore as the panting boy tried desperately to reach shore.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin was already on his way at a quick stride, shrugging with a slight smirk in his smile aimed back at Luxord. " Could be he's just playing in th-- " The splash had cut his thought off and whipped his head back around; though it was the breath in; that sudden extra motion of confirming air that got his feet moving a lot faster for the shoreline. " Okay never mind that. I'll snatch him! " The other two Dragoons that had been roaming up and down the shore were coming in from either side. The Lancer didn't waste any time summoning up his weapons and riding the dragon out to circle back down to whoever had come up, offering his hand. It looked a little off, not being in the uniform cloak: he was still dressed for the warmer weather of the Islands. It took all of two seconds to identify him.. " Demyx... " he himself was glad it wasn't VIII. That would have likely meant a bit of struggle, just for one. His voice picked up " Take my hand, I'll pull you out. " and tossing back far louder to Luxord: " It's Demyx! "

[Xaldin]

<Moth-Orchid> Demyx? Just ducky. He considered going further out but there wasn't much reason too, not with Xaldin moving that fast. He watched the Nocturne struggling and found himself wondering why Demyx was straining so hard. Water was his element, it should be bolstering his strength, just as the sea bed had bolstered Lexaeus. Oh course the Nocturne always did tend to panic and not see a resource even when he was swimming in it. He half wondered what would become of the boy without Xigbar to follow around like a lost puppy. It seemed he was going to find out.

<Hikari-Sora1> Demyx panted and shivered as if he were cold and strained his muscles. 'So...heavy....' His hand trembled greatly as he saw the other extended to him, that voice was so familiar. Water dripped from his body, weighing him down like gravity. Why was it fighting against him? Demyx squinted and huffed out from shivering lips. "X-Xaldin?" And latched to the offered hand or rather arm, collapsing from fatigue.

<BlindTaleTeller> Latching his arms up under the Nocturne's once he had a solid grip, Xaldin carried him back the rest of the way to the shore, his dragon half dug into the sand as his feet connected, letting the boy down on his back in the sand and checking him over quickly; though he didn't expect to find any actual wounds. He'd been through it. He knew how exhausting just coming up had been. Most of them had slept directly after, if not passed out for a short duration when they had come up. Xemnas, had been among the exceptions, according to Saix. Looking back at his Dragoons, they were weaving back and forth staring like a bunch of geese angling their necks before he whistled and nodded at them. One stayed where it was. " Lets get him home.. " though his blue eyes were turned on Luxord when he said that: it wasn't just Demyx he had in mind with his hurry of course. He knew how constricted his Gambler felt in this place, and didn't like making him stay at the beach for elongated periods of time as a result. The Dragoons were already crossing their lances to form the poles of a stretcher as he came back to where his duffle was not far from where they had come in to fetch a beach blanket, string and pin it in place. Looking up to Lux again he smirked a bit. " Help me lift the kid over? We can check him over and I can assign a Dragoon if I have to when we get home.. I.. " his smirk softened a bit as his hands went under Demyx's shoulders " I don't want to tax you being here any more than we already have. We can deal with the rest back at the Castle. "

<Moth-Orchid> He snorted softly declining to comment as he released the now slightly healthier looking Gambler and took the Nocturne's legs and moved him over on to the impromptu stretcher. "Let's just get out of here," he said in a carefully blank tone. The lack of time was starting to get to him again, that it had begun to drain him so quickly. Something very odd was going on but he'd be damned if he let it show.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin nodded, not needing any more prompting than that; well none at all really: a quick order to the remaining Dragoon as the other two fidgeted a moment waiting for the portal he opened up to finish forming: two more arriving to take their place at the shore for now. Giving the kid another glance to make sure he wasn't going to fall off, he sighed as he started for it behind them, offering his free hand to Luxord as he again shouldered his duffle. " I like the other beach better.. we should go back some time, minus the mission excuses. "

<Moth-Orchid> Luxord gave him a tight smile as they moved forward,"Yes I like that idea." He truly did but something had happened when he'd touched both Demyx and now again with Xaldin. It was all he could do to contain the vertigo.

<BlindTaleTeller> " I'll leave these two with him, to keep an eye on him until he comes to. " The portal opened up not far from Demyx's room: the Dragoons taking him to it and waiting for their master to open it for them. Xaldin only paused long enough to do so. Demyx could rest. His main concern was Luxord, and it showed in the slight furrow of his brows. " Are you all right? Do you want to lay down? "

<Moth-Orchid> Luxord looked at his hands and then at the Gambler still following him and then at Demyx and then Xaldin. "I think it would be a good idea if I sat down...." he mumbled as his knees gave out.

[Xaldin]

Continued HERE