A Storm Approaches

[Knell]

"I wonder how." He chuckled. "Why don't you ask yourself that, young Akihisa?" He waved his arm as a skeleton materialized next to him. "All will be known shortly, or perhaps it is already known, but you do not know it? Destiny and Fate, are they predetermined or can you change it? Nobody knows, or maybe they do." He vanished into a puff of black smoke and re-appeared behind Akihisa, placing both his hands on the boys shoulders. "The truth just might be obvious, perhaps I am you? Maybe I'm what you become? Or maybe I'm what you desire most? Strength. The power to protect your friends." He vanished into another puff and appeared in front of Akihisa. "Yes, that is perhaps what you desire most. But at what cost? Your sanity? Your freedom? Will you be a slave to fate? Would you give up the world to protect those close to you? I do wonder, it's so very interesting. Why don't you come with me? It's so easy when you're evil, to gain that which you desire."

He laughed before backing up and twirling in a circle. "As for Sei's plans, they are one, but none. They are nothing, but everything. What could they be?"

[Metroid Life]

Galenn snarled and claws unsheathed from her hands.

"Stop talking in riddles! If you're going to say something, then just say it already!"

She didn't mean to say anything, but the words forced their way out of her mouth. She knew Lucifer hadn't been talking to her, but his words reminded her of her own past, why she wanted to be the strongest youkai. She wanted power, so she could keep what happened to her from ever happening again. If she'd just been stronger, then her sisters would still be alive... 

[kokoroandherkokoro]

Akihisa stepped back as he stared down to the ground. He did have good points, plus he did want to protect his friends. Strength, that thing that I always was lacking throughout all of his life. Maybe...Maybe it would be alright to take his advice.

Akihisa let out a breath and looked up at Lucifer. "Lucifer, maybe you are me and maybe you're not. My opinion on Fate and Destiny is mixed and I'll never tell until the time is right but I know I'll never be a slave to fate at all!" He then crossed his arms. "I'll come with you so that I'll be able to gain that strength, what I'll do after is my decision only however."

[Metroid Life]

Galenn could clearly see she wasn't needed here. Whether Lucifer intended to help Akihisa or was just messing with his head, he had said nothing to her, hadn't even acknowledged her presence. This wasn't her show. She let out a sigh, then walked right past the two, intend on following Sei. If Lucifer wouldn't tell her anything, then she would just have to find out for herself.

[Knell]

"Wonderful! You won't regret your decision." He held out his hand for Akihisa to take it. "Let us go."

"Yare,Yare." A voice suddenly cut in, it was that of a male, perhaps in his late teenage years. Standing on a tree branch with his back against the trunk, was Zenjuro, wearing his trademark lab coat. The black haired boy looked down at Lucifer with an lazy blue eyed stare with his arms crossed. "Still trying to get into the pants of little boys I see, you haven't changed at all. I thought we got rid of you once and for all back then."

Lucifer looked up and smirked at Zenjuro. "If it isn't my old friend, I was wondering when you'd show yourself."

"Save the friendly chit chat, don't think I'm just going to sit here and let you corrupt the mind of someone who has a bright future ahead of themselves."

"What power do you have? Nothing! You cannot stand up to me."

"Maybe not, but I do have friends that can help me deal with you. I'm sure they'll show any minute, so why don't you bugger off?"

"I don't think I will."

"Your Funeral."

-Farther down the path-

Sei continued walking, he had stopped caring about the person who was still following him. She could follow all she wanted, if she walked to her own death,that was her own fault. He would soon near the outskirts of town, where he would head for Kourindou.

[kokoroandherkokoro]

Akihisa couldn't help but snicker loudly at Zenjuro's remark, even if Lucifer could be his future self. "Ha! He called you a pedophile!"

Suddenly, the sharp blade of a Naginata was at Lucifier's throat.

"You should listen to him, you know. It could save your life." The quiet voice of Kokoro said to him. She then turned to Zenjuro, still holding onto the weapon tight and Monkey Mask on her face. "And Zenjuro! You need to stop being so fast!" She puffed her cheeks out in a pout. "I can only float so fast, you know."

[Metroid Life]

Galenn didn't bother with hiding, she knew that was pointless now. She walked right up alongside Sei, pondering what to say, before settling on the obvious.

"Why do you want to kill Rinnosuke?"

[Knell]

"What he took from me can never be replaced." He said quietly. "I was powerless back then, unable to protect her, but that's changed now. Now I have the power to do something, and I will not rest until I have my revenge."

"Revenge, the most worthless of causes." The voice of Rinnosuke said as he met them halfway on the path to his house and store. "You say you want to kill me for something I took from you?" He adjusted his glasses. "I cannot comprehend what I could have done, I don't even know you."

"Don't play stupid! I know it was you, I was there as you killed my wife with that cold look of yours, that same cold look you have right now!"

"Killed your wife? That could have been me, I honestly can't remember the name of everyone I've killed. It's been a long time since I took up my blade, but if I did kill her, I must have had a good reason, I don't kill for fun you know."

"I don't know what your reason was, but it seemed enough for you to want to kill her."

"Then let me ask you." He drew the katana that was located on his left waist with his right hand and pointed it at Sei. "If I killed your wife, why didn't I kill you too? If you were so weak, surely I'd have killed the only witness."

Sei was at a loss of words, Rinnosuke had a point, why was he still alive? Why was he still breathing? It was then that he turned and ran, he didn't know what was what anymore. Who was he? All he could remember was that day, all he could remember was wanting to kill Rinnosuke. What was his purpose?

Rinnosuke chuckled. "So he's beginning to wonder about his existence." He reached up and ripped off his hair, or was it his face and revealed himself to be none other than...Sei Yagami! His long purple hair reached to his shoulder blades as he ripped off his clothes to reveal a pure white cloak. He smirked. "Just as Planned." He said as he summoned his staff to his hand. "I created that artificial Sei so that he would search out strength, which would cause Lucifer to show himself and make a deal with him. Thus allowing me to find out the Devil's whereabouts, now that he's out in the open, I can begin phase 2."

----

Lucifer sighed as the naginata rested at his neck. "How very troublesome. You did bring friends after all." He wondered what to do, but decided to stick around, maybe they had more to say. "So, Akihisa, what will do you? Aid and join me? Or join them?"

[Metroid Life]

Galenn looked back and forth at the two Seis, confused. 

"So... you made a copy of yourself to draw out Lucifer? Then what are you going to do with the copy?"

She was having trouble grasping what exactly was going on, but she knew it was wrong. To truly suffer loss was terrible enough, but to make another being solely to suffer, that was unforgivable!

[kokoroandherkokoro]

"W-What will I do?" Akihisa stepped back slowly, his body shaking. Of course, this decision wasn't uncommon with him especially in his home but he never really answer it, he would always walk away from it to buy more time. "I don't know...I just don't know alright?! I know that you could be my future self but if those two have something against you then you must be evil." His hands flew to his head as he started to tug at his hair. "GOD FUCKING DAMN IT! Why are decisions like this so hard for me?!"

Then a message ran clear through his mind: Because I keep trying to please everyone. I can't please everyone, my main objective should be please to myself! 

He then shook his head and stared at the others. "Listen up! I've made my decision!" He turned to Zenjuro and Kokoro. "First off, I'm not on your side for I don't want to kill him, IF he is my future self even if it is for the greater good. However...." He turned to Lucifer. "That doesn't mean I'm on your side either! In fact...." He then pulled out a katana and pointed it to Lucifer, a smirk on his face. "I want to fight you. If you're really me from the future, I want to see how well you last and what better way than a battle, am I right?" 

[Knell]

Lucifer vanished and appeared behind Akihisa in a flash. "Sleep now." He said nonchalantly as he would aim to slam his fist into the kid's skull which would smash his face into the ground. "Was I really this stupid in the past? Jeez, Shame on me."

Zenjuro sighed, he did nothing to stop Lucifer from moving. "Do whatever, tell me when you're done securing your own future so we can fight, I want this to be fair."

___________

Sei chuckled and snapped his fingers, as an explosion could be heard and the essence of the other Sei traveled back to him, merging with his soul. "It was required to draw Lucifer out, and just to ease your mind, Rinnosuke's over at the Hakurei Shrine, I just took this moment to pose as him. Now if you excuse me." His eyebrow twitched. "Eirin wanted to talk to me about something and I don't wanna know what'll happen if I'm late." He took off in a flash, leaving the girl there alone.

[kokoroandherkokoro]

Akihisa barely to time to react to such an attack, well he didn't really have time to react. He slowly lifted his head from the ground, coughing out any loose dirt that was caught in his mouth. "First off I'm not stupid! I'm so tired of my intelligence being underestimated!" He then got back onto his feet as if the attack felt like nothing to him. "I bet you're wondering why I'm still alive after that because I can survive things like this: I've had a spear impaled into my chest before!" He then slammed a fist into Lucifer's cheek. "Simple as this: It'll take a hell of a lot of damage to bend me to your will, even if you are stronger than me."

[Knell]

Lucifer didn't flinch from the attack. He would grab Akihisa by the neck and lift him upwards. "Your lack of understanding is disturbing. Don't ever rush into a fight you know you cannot win, it'll get you killed."

[kokoroandherkokoro]

Akihisa let out a choked breath as he tried to get Lucifer's hands off of his neck. "And you need to understand this ! It doesn't fucking matter if a battle is winnable or not, besides that's what fate always says; you can't win this, you can't do that, etc., etc., ETC.! You know what I say? Fuck it! Fuck all of that! Fate isn't set in stone, you can always knock it on it's ass and that's what do! Starting by kicking your ass, er, my ass,er, my future ass that really isn't-Whatever!"

[Metroid Life]

Galenn was frozen in shock for a second, but it didn't last. This Sei was a manipulator, a liar, who would use anyone or anything to get what he wanted. She hated that sort of thing, people were not pawns to be used as they fit! She clenched her fist.

"I don't know what he's doing, but I'm gonna stop it. And the best way to do that..."

She ran back as fast as she could to where Lucifer was, just in time to hear what Akihisa said.

"You're right, screw destiny! I don't know what's going on, exactly, but I think I'll help you, 'your majesty'."