Topic: A Growing Darkness.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-04 00:17 EST

Riku was asleep, but his sleep wasn't so sound. Dreams....well nightmares were taunting his sleep. Nightmares of his master who had done so much that he had not liked. Blood dripped down walls and ran through corridors. It was twisted and yet seemed normal. Then his eyes opened and it was all gone. The nightmare had faded just like it had come. A silent look around showed him that he was just sleeping within one of the couches at the hearth in the Inn, but he still felt strange. Like something was changing. This change was from inside him, not outward. It had the presence of his Master, but his master was nowhere around here. Little did he know his Master was actually dead, but that's a different and untold story. He tried to think of what it could be, but there was no answer. Nothing to tell him what was going on. Slowly he would close his eyes again attempting to let sleep wrap its arms around him again, but it just wouldn't happen.

He felt folds of darkness pouring through his heart. The blood was still there in his mind. It could not be tamed. The urge to....tear at something. To....kill someone or something. It was there like any other thought, but it was unnatural in his mind. It was like some demon had corrupted his thoughts. The blood-thirst had never been there before and he tried to fight it, but slowly it was taking over him. A fearful thought at what his Master may have done to him was hard to keep out. It was like his very being was infected. Maybe he was going mad? He didn't know, but he wanted it to stop. He could even hear those around the Inn going about like nothing was happening within that couch, but slowly....oh so slowly his fur was turning blood-red and his eyes were going black. Vapors of shadows were running through the air in torrents around his body. Then all his thoughts were gone and he blacked out.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-04 03:56 EST

A slight shaking was coming from the couch. The fox within was changing, but not into his human form. Oh no, that was out of his control. In fact his whole mind was gone. There was another presence within him. A presence that now turned his fur blood-red and his eyes black. Vapors of shadows were running through the air in torrents about him. Slowly the fox moved out of the couch and glanced around. His vision was altered. It was like looking through a dark blue scope. He could make shapes out, but not who or what they were. Black eyes shoot to Ripper and a ferocious growl erupts from him. That was the presence wanting blood to be spilled.

Ripper was speaking"Yes. I know the feeling." But blood may come sooner than that as black eyes land on the eyeless one. Ripper inclines his head toward....Riku" Well, I suppose we all have our monsters. Spines rattle threateningly as teeth are exposed in a definite show of force. Don't mess with me.

Marshall was left out mostly, but"It's jus' easier that way, really." In his own way, one hand came to rest on his thigh. Guns, of course, aren't the angels choice of tools, but they do work from time to time, if needed. The other hand formed an almost restraining half grip, something rather calm and almost wary all at once.

Is all the show of force does is make the ferocity grow. Slowly he would move towards Ripper. Those vapors of shadows darting out here and there. It was an odd thing to see. Especially if you had actually talked to Riku before. It was un-natural behavior for him.

Jericho had entered. The tip of his cane caused a faint echo of sound as it tapped onto the first step leading up to the porch. More and more of these tiny sounds followed as Jericho limped his way to the door and gave it a light push open. There he paused for just a moment, blinking as though dazzled from walking outside for the first time on a sunny day and after regaining his wits, he moved away from the door.

Ooo, a challenge, thought Ripper. Spines rattle again, but now the bladed tail is brandished. Back off. Stay away from me, man! Go smoke your f*cking peace pipe!

Jericho was thinking. Now, there was an interesting creature to be seen and without a doubt, Jericho's interested was piqued. However, he'd studied enough species to note the signs of a threat, to know when something was ready to strike and he thought it would be in his best interest not to put himself in a prime position to be shredded. So, he limped across the room and approached the bar instead. It seemed a safer choice.

For Marshall's part, the normally stoic face kept itself that way. It's not that he doesn't care, it's that he physically care. "You know, gettin' in pissin' matches ain't much fun. If you're gonna do it, might as well do it."

A glance to Marshall briefly. But then the presence was fading and all the vapors of shadow burst out with a horrible wind sweeping across the Inn. Then Riku drops and his fur returns to white and his eyes to crimson. Eyes closed now and just resting. The presence would be back though.

The bar presented Jericho with an unusual concept. The self-serve sign was something he took a moment to consider before glancing this way and that. Empty, bereft of any tenders or servers, he could only assume the sign was meant to be taken seriously. Clearing his throat, he awkwardly hobbled through the break to search for a drink.

Devlin has a point though Ripper. So, he leaps up into the rafters faster than any creature in the universe and disappears in the shadows. Try to find me now, crazy fox! Oh.

People were jumping and people were going to sleep, apparently. The man at the bar was given a random shrug, it tends to happen. All the same, the bottle came right back up, along with a stare for the alien. Sudden motions and this one are bad, the hand on his hip had already started creeping lower. And finally, the man's odd confusion was sort of noted. "Jus' throw some money on the bar and get what you want, ain't really anyone who's gonna make you pay or get nothin' for you." Said Marshall.

Blink blink. Riku is stared at, and slowly the alien unspools down hanging next to Dev. "What was the deal with that?"

Yep all that show just for the presence to leave before anything happened. Soon Ripper may find out. Least when the fox woke up.

Jeircho clucked his tongue and nodded absently to the man who offered the helpful advice. "Thank you," he said before fishing some coins to leave on the bar from his pocket and grabbing an empty mug from overhead. "I've got no idea, really. I ain't one to really dance, I jus' startin' droppin' hats an' lettin' go." It's true, the formality of a fight was lost on this one.

"Hrm." He looks at Riku a moment, then directs his gaze to the newcomer. Hey, a newcomer! Time to make friends as only an alien can!

(Thank you to Jericho, Marhsall, and Ripper(Unseen Killer)

Riku · Date: 2012-11-04 04:06 EST

The energy had been drained from him and he was back into a deep slumber, but even this slumber had the nightmares. Flashes of the beast he had briefly become and what he had almost done. It was hard to understand, but he would try. Then the nightmare changed. He was in a cave with a high ceiling and spread far out. There was his Master standing there and he was kneeling. "Please it won't happen again!" He heard himself shouting this to his Master like that would matter.

"You're right Riku, it won't!" The sharp sound of a whip being snapped and pain flared through his torso as bloody gouges were ripped open from his bare chest. He knew he didn't deserve this cruelty, yet all Riku could do was curl into a ball and sit there while lash after lash of the cruel whip cracked against his bare skin. Blinding pain was all there was for him....and then it stopped. "You've had enough." A hard kick to the side sent him onto the ground beaten, bruised, and bleeding.

He began to mutter. "I'm sorry....I'm sorry....I'm sorry....I'm sorry..." Over and over again those same words like they would make a difference, but he knew they wouldn't. His Master did what he wanted when he wanted. Footsteps faded away to silence and then the rumbling started. Slowly he tried to get up, but the pain was unbearable. The light at the end of a tunnel was slowly disappearing as rocks caved in front of the only entrance. He was trapped in here until his Masters anger was gone....and that might take weeks....With a jolt Riku was back awake.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-04 23:19 EST

He had left the Inn and took a walk down the streets and through the area's. Slowly he was making his way towards the glen, but not on purpose really. He was just wandering aimlessly and thinking. Wondering what had happened to him. He rubs his eyes with his hands roughly. Maybe he thought it would help. Maybe it would, but he didn't know. Flashes of what he had done were attacking his mind. It was a fearful thought not to know your own mind and now he didn't know if he knew his. Then there was the presence....A dark feeling that was slowly creeping through his mind. A feeling that made him want to kill everyone around him, but that wasn't how he was. He actually liked the friends he was making here.

Riku had made it to the glen and he was at the edge of the lake. Just standing there thinking. When suddenly a spasm passes through him and once more he feels the darkness threatening to take over. Slowly he falls to his knee's holding his head. Not wanting to go back to that terrible beast he had become, but it was overwhelming. The shift from human form to fox form happened so fast. Even as he changed into this form with the six tales and pure white fur it was changing. The blood-red was staining his fur and his eyes had already went to black. The vapors of shadows were spinning in torrents around the body of the fox.

Then the evil thirst for blood started....A bad time for a man to be taking a stroll not too far from where he was. The man was 6'5" and had short trimmed black hair. He was wearing a plain white tee and blue jeans. A lunge brought Riku right in front of him and the man yelled in surprise, but the yell was cut short as the vapors of shadows pushed forward and just ripped the man apart. Blood was flying through the air and the shadows still held the two pieces, but soon even they were torn into smaller pieces and just tossed into the lake. That didn't stop the thirsting for blood though. It was far from gone.

Black eyes searched the vicinity for anyone else, but luckily there was no one. Well lucky for anyone who might have been around. Unfortunately that had Riku speeding off towards the Inn where he knew there were people. People who would not expect a random attack. He was in the town and just in front of the Inn, but now the presence was finally fading. With a great wind the vapors of shadows dispersed and his fur returned to normal along with his eyes. The cuffs on his ankles were now broken and useless, but Riku just dropped. Exhausted from the demonic take-over.

His sleep was not undisturbed though. The nightmares were present once again, but this time it wasn't his Master. No this time it was just the presence and him in a dark room. The presence was nothing more than a shadow-man. There was form to him, but no physical features. Just a skinny body, short, and no hair. You could see through him, or you would be able to if the shadows weren't racing around to keep the form. Then the presence spoke. "You will be mine." It was a soft voice, but so cruel. It sent shivers up Riku's spine. "It is your Masters final will....He lies dead now and he has given you to me." Riku's fears were confirmed.

"He can't do that! I'm free!" He shouted at the presence, but it just laughed. "I won't let you have me!" That just made the presence laugh more. The sound seemed to come from all around. It made him just want to find a corner and just curl into a ball and hide. It made him feel so small and pointless in such a large world...

"That is not up to you." Slowly the presence walked towards him and he backed up. Then he hit the wall, but the wall didn't stay. He fell through it like it was liquid. He was drowning now. Drowning in what appeared to be blood, and it probably was. Then the presence pulled him back out and threw him to the ground. The shadows making the form of the presence shifted and changed until there was a large hawk there. It descended upon him and ripped into his chest, but there was no pain as the presence faded into his very being...

Riku · Date: 2012-11-05 21:14 EST

Words were trailing through his mind as he tried to sleep. The words he had spoke with Dev. Maybe he could control the presence that was trying to take over him, but it would be difficult. It was something terribly new to him and so foreign. If only he could know when the attacks would begin, then he could fight it better. His Master wasn't that stupid though. He had chosen a presence that didn't have a pattern to when it would attack. It just happened and each time it happened he was scared of what he might do. These thoughts were all with him as he finally relaxed into sleep, but just like other times he had slept recently. This sleep was plagued with the nightmares...

He was once again with the presence, but his Master was there. It was odd to see them both in the same area. "I still own you." A slow menacing laugh came from his Master. "Even in my death you cannot escape me. Even not knowing where you are I still control you." They were words I didn't want to hear as he stepped forward to look at me. "I can't let you have it easy and be happy Riku. You don't deserve that." Anger boiled in my blood and I hit him. He didn't try to stop the blow, but anger showed in his eyes. "I'm already dead. It's too late for you to start fighting back."

"Let me rip him apart..." That was the presence, but oddly my Master shook his head. The presence knew its orders and it would have to follow him. "Not as much fun you know" I could torture him for days before letting death embrace him. Then I could revive him and do it all over again." I couldn't tell if the presence was smiling in the shadowy form it had. "Surely a couple deaths before I take over wouldn't be so bad?" Again his Master just shook his head. Now the presence was angry with him. "You can't order me around Nero. If you remember you sacrificed yourself to do this. Your death may have brought my form back, but I own your soul." Now I knew my Masters name and there was a lot in a name.

A smirk actually came across my lips as I said his name. "Nero....You've made a mistake Master. You really shouldn't allow me to learn your name." The presence looked to me along with my Master. My Master looked amused, the presence....Well emotions weren't traceable in it. They didn't think there was anything in a name apparently as the presence let shadows spell out it's own name....Firian....Now I had both of their names. I just laughed at it. "Firian. You will lose the battle to take me over. Don't get your hopes up."

"If only you knew how pathetic you are Riku." The presence slowly shifted into the hawk and I felt myself get knocked to the ground as it once again tore into my chest. I would awaken within the couch as I started to feel the presence battling for power over my body and mind, but this time I would not let it. This time I broke it's hold and a shriek in my mind told me I had won this battle.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-07 01:32 EST

Riku had talked to people since that night. He had tried to find something out. And the only idea he was gonna use was what Ripper had told him. He was gonna try and compromise with the presence. So as he slept within the couch near the hearth at the Inn he called in his sleep for the presence to come. It was a weird feeling to actually call for it, because before he had wanted nothing to do with it. He just wanted it gone. He just wanted it out of his mind never to return, but if he could compromise it wouldn't be so bad. It would be something good for self defense.

The presence had listened to his calls and he found himself in a dark room with the presence facing him. "What do you want' Decided to give yourself over to me?" There was a smirk in the presence's voice. Like he expected it to be that easy. That angered me, but I wouldn't let my anger stop me from trying. I had to try because if I didn't try what did that make me" A coward, a loser, a pathetic soul.

"I wish to compromise. We both share the body, but I choose when you come out." The presence just laughed at him. "If not I will continue to fight you and I will take you out Nero." More laughing from the presence. He was amused by me trying to compromise. It seems I would have to do this the hard way. I would have to keep fighting him until I was almost finished with him and then call on the deal again. "Eventually you'll choose to compromise." More laughing of course.

"You really think that will happen?" He was definitely amused. "That will never happen Riku. I will take you and that will be it. I don't need your compromise. All I want is your body. Having it all to myself is much better than sharing it with you." I turned away but the presence came up and shoved me into the wall. This time I could feel pain. "You don't know what you're fighting." I felt as the shadow hand ripped through my back to grab my heart. The pain was excruciating and I just screamed. It was too terrible. Then he let go and the pain was gone. "Don't think this is over Riku." With that the presence was gone and my sleep returned to dreamless.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-07 05:33 EST

Guess who was just waking from a dream and coming out of the couch at the hearth' Riku was and as soon as he was out he stretched and made his way over to the bar and hopped up onto it to lay down still in fox form. He was too lazy to switch forms right now."For what?" That was Fae with a confused look as she poured a mug of coffee and placed it next to his plate, filling one for herself soon after. Heaping sugar into her own mug with a grin. "Have you done something terrible?" Brow up in question, but she was still smiling."Hey Riku" The fox got a pet, between the ears. The only place she assumed was safe without having to ask first.

Charles nodded to the coffee. "Nothing terrible....I don't think....Just when I annoyed you and Mai the other day. When all that stuff was going on" A slight twitch of the ears as Riku is petted and a sound of delight. Fae got a nod from the fox and so did Charles. Though he didn't like that rifle Charles had slung across his back.

"You didn't annoy me." Scritch scritch of fingers into fur. At least till Fae set to leaning on the bar to use her fork to cut a slice of pancake up. "It takes a great deal of effort to annoy me. Its a flaw you see. I tend to be in this happy state all the time." Grin. "And you were tense as well. Walk into a fight and blood everywhere. Bound to react in one way or another."

Charles shrugged "But I know better than that, it wasn't like it was the first time" Riku is okay, Charles doesn't hurt foxes. For good purposes More sounds of delight and such as Riku's scritched. It was nice and he'd never had anyone do it before, but there was an issue. He felt the presence fighting to rise up and he believed it was because of the conversation he had had with it.

"It is just one of those things. We all put our foot in it at some point. You are no different. So quit worrying about it." The smile was easy and real. Taking a mouthful of pancake to chew on. Yummy. A new bit was rolled up by Fae and offered on fingers to Riku. With luck he wouldn't mind the lack of manners with using fingers, it was just better then using a fork with an animal form.

Charles shrugged a bit and kept eating, the warm coffee helped alot to him as well. As such he perked up just a bit. A quick scritch over to Riku just to be nice. Riku was having such a good day it seemed so far. He ate the offered pancake piece and more delighted sounds at the scritching from Charles. Yep this was good. Except for the presence continuing to rise in his mind as he worked on fighting it. That was not so good. Now Fae spoke. "When I last saw Mai she was fine. So I wouldn't worry hun." This to Charles as she ate her pancake with relish. So much yummy sweetness.

Charles nodded silently. "Good pancakes" guard was lowered as his silver eyes returned to normal. A smile at Fae for her kindness as he puts another pancake down onto his plate

"I will thank the cook." Said Fae chuckling. "I can't cook, but I can warm stuff back up. That is about as domestic as I can get. Unless you count bbq's. I can hold things over fire..which now I think about it. Is just another way of warming things up.."

Charles chuckles "A winter BBQ sounds nice. If I'm not on guard duty or on a mission I'll definitely drop by For that" Making mental calender for it Riku stood up and started to slowly back away from Fae and Charles. The presence was winning this battle. It was like it felt everything depended on it, and maybe it did. He didn't want to find out though, but slowly but surely his fur was beginning to go blood-red. His eyes changed to black and the vapors of shadows started swirling around his body. Now Riku's mind was gone and it was all the presence. The presence growled at Charles and Fae. It wanted blood, but there was a problem. Riku was still fighting it. Even with his body taken over he didn't want to go after anybody. It was a resolve he was hoping to keep while his mind stayed his own.

"It is one thing I can't fail at. Making a fire...." Fork paused between stabbing more pancake. Felt the energy shift in the room. A tilted look as Fae watched Riku. "Ooo this not good. Riku...don't let it win." Yup, remembered the talk of possession and this looked like one.

Charles turned to Riku. He stood up unarmed his silver eyes looking at the fox's "Riku listen" just learned his name "You can't fight this completely, just believe in yourself" He knelt down on his level " You can do it. I know the fox I just saw is there, not this one. Stay strong Riku" A shake of his head as they begin to talk to him. The normal Riku was in there and fighting. It was a difficult thing though. A couple of steps forwards at the two and then a couple back. It was like strings pulling him different ways. Every time he stepped back his eyes changed back to crimson and every time he stepped forward they were black again. Charles snapped somewhat into action. A non intrusive aura was soon around the fox "Clarity" the soft word from his tongue. If all went well the spell would help him fight against the possession, by clearing all other thoughts or feelings and boosting his ability to ward it off.

"Come Riku. You can do it. You are stronger.." Soft words,non-threatening. If anything, Fae was going into what could be classed as lullabye mode. Peaceful and calm. "This is your home..not his. Your life he wants to ruin. Fight him."

Opening the Inn door, Arthour walked in, he smiled to Fae and Charles but his eyes were caught by the fox. Listening quietly, he walked in slowly. The aura Charles had used dimmed down the presence and he was weakening. That plus Fae's words were slowly helping Riku regain control. Slowly his eyes returned to crimson and then the vapors of shadows blew off of him in a fierce wind as his fur returned to white. Another shake of his head as he moves back over to them and gives each of them a small nuzzle in thanks before laying back down. Charles nods accepting the nuzzle."Test my friend" returns to his seat, a nod to the incoming Art.

"Well done darling." Once he settled back into his usual form, laying down he was given a new scritch between his ears from Fae."You totally showed whatever that spirit is, that you'll not roll over." Shifted back into her lean. Spotting Art. "Hola Art."

(Thank you to Fae Pendragon, Charles Blackstone, and Arthour)

Riku · Date: 2012-11-08 03:11 EST

More talk had gone on such as a bond between him and Fae for him to sleep, but that was unimportant. Now he was asleep again within the couch at the hearth and the presence was giving him hell for what had happened. It was so much worse than usual. He could even feel pain this time. Actual physical pain. A dark room like all the other times and the presence just standing there smiling. This really did not look good and Riku didn't like it. This may become very bad for him.

The presence slowly moved towards Riku and he backed into the wall. Then the presence took him by the neck and slammed him into it. Then he drops him and pulls out a shadow dagger. "You'll regret ever trying to stop me Riku." Slowly he advanced upon Riku twirling the dagger. Then with magic he held him down as he kneeled by him and began carving into his face. Riku screamed in pain as it felt like fire was coursing through his veins. Anglo-Saxon Futhork runes were being carved small into the right side of his cheek. The same word was repeated 3 times on his cheek....Failure. That was all that was wrote. Then the presence stabbed him through the chest. He ripped from him part of his very soul and Riku could do nothing about it.

Afterwards he lay on the ground shivering as the presence stood over him laughing. "You can't fight me Riku. I will overpower you no matter what." Riku watched as he devoured that piece of his soul. It was horrifying to see. Then the presence kicked him and changed into the hawk form to burrow into his chest. This time the pain was excruciating. It was like he was being stabbed by a thousand razor sharp swords at the same time. It was an unbearable pain that had him black out. Then his sleep was all darkness. No other thoughts or dreams to take over.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-09 23:07 EST

Riku had been talking to Fae, but the nexus had taken him. He'd been so weak from what had happened in his nightmare. By the time the nexus had dropped him back around the Inn he could barely crawl back into the Inn and change forms to get into the couch for sleep. Of course this sleep had nightmares as well. The same dark room with the presence just standing there and smiling. "Did you like waking up?" Of course he hadn't and he made a small growl at the presence. "Aww don't be like that. It could be worse." He knew that was possible, but it didn't make him any less angry. He would pay the presence back for what he had done.

"You'll get what you deserve Nero." The presence, as always, just laughed at the futile attempt to scare it. "Remember I've got those friends and I'd imagine if I asked him that Charles guy could completely banish you." I saw the anger flare up as he stepped towards me, but he stopped and just smiled. It was scarier than the rage I had seen unfolding as he had moved. He just nodded his head watching me.

"Riku, you will be taken by me. You will obey what I want. You will be forgotten." A broader smile. "Remember you're a FAILURE!!!!" He yelled the last part. "A failure at everything you do. You'll never be worth the dirt on someone's shoes. They aren't your friends. They just want someone to be there for them and then to kick you when you're down. They're still in the stage of making you happy enough to do that for them, but soon you'll be pushed away and kicked like a dog." It was hurtful hearing that.

"You're lying. They wouldn't do that. Just go away!" With those words the nightmare faded though one echo from the presence was heard in my mind. 'You'll see me again...and I will hurt you again. I will make you want to die.' It was chilling, but I could deal with it. Then normal sleep washed over me like it hadn't since the presence had first invaded with images of his Master.

Fae Pendragon · Date: 2012-11-28 15:21 EST

Fae chose the twilight hours to return to the inn, it was the most peaceful time. When even the Red Dragon was empty and silent. It was perfect for what she had in mind. So dressed in shades of midnight it was a unseen path she trod. As silent as the night itself, she padded bare footed up the step and crept into the common room.

Soft footsteps took her to the couch, she had seen Riku retire to the very same place often enough to be able to pick out the small space between pillows and the back of the couch that he slept in. It only took a few moments to rearrange the pillows and gather up the sleeping fox. So gentle was her touch that she didn't even disturb his slumber, only moving him enough to be held in her lap.

One hand drifted down his back in a stroke of fingers into fur. "I'm calling. Come hither, I want you to follow down where we dance in the shadow filled hollow. I'll sweep you to carelessness,wrap you in dreams and you'll sleep so deep, no monsters can follow." It was a sirens lullaby. Magic woven into words and allowed to flow down into the brushing strokes of finger tips. Till the connection took hold. Stealing him away to a peaceful and restful sleep.

Riku · Date: 2012-11-28 22:46 EST

The change in his sleep was so sudden. It had went from the presence being near to absolute nothingness. It was a new sensation to be sleeping to. It was a nice feeling though despite what he had thought it would be. All dreaming had ceased and he was just kind of dropped off. The way the presence had him made it a slow process to complete dead sleep though. So he had a few moments of thought before he dropped out. This was mainly just thinking that Fae had made the connection and he was happy. It would be good to get a nice sleep, but then he was gone. No thoughts to pierce his sleeping mind.

Fae Pendragon · Date: 2012-12-03 15:01 EST

It was the faint wash of golden light that brought the imp back from the void like rest she called sleep, finding the inn much like she left it. Peaceful, silent and a sleeping fox in her lap. A gentle smile blossomed on lips, turning them up at the corners. A tiny pet of her little friend given, before she started the task of moving him back into the pillows once again.

When he was tucked back up cosy, she straightened up and lifted hands high. Fingers linking over head as she gave a languid stretch of slender form. A lazy hum of some long forgotten tune was heard as she made her way towards the bar and behind it. Fresh coffee after a good deed, seemed fair.

Riku · Date: 2012-12-03 22:53 EST

It wouldn't be long after the fox was sat back within the pillows that he would awake, but he stays there. It was too comfortable to move, though he would be leaving at some point. He just hadn't decided when. It all depended on how he felt, though right now he felt quite fantastic and knew that Fae had helped him. He would have to thank her when he got the chance. Of course by the sounds of it that chance was as soon as he decided to stop being lazy. So after a few moments he stirred and began to climb out of the couch.

Riku · Date: 2012-12-19 21:53 EST

For the last few days the Presence had stayed away from his dreams. It was like it thought it was blocked off. There was no sign of it in his movements either. He was normal again. Or at least as normal as a kitsune can be. Riku was starting to have his old energy back and he would be prepared when the Presence came back. He'd even talked to Ripper, but they hadn't found a way for him to enter his dreams yet. That was the only unfortunate thing. Today though his dreams were plagued by childhood before his Master. It would have been nice, but those days were long gone and he could barely remember them. So they were distorted dreams. In fact the dreams couldn't even be considered his childhood with all the distortions. There were random parts of the dream that were just black space and nothing else by others playing while he watched.

He was changing into his human form for the first time to go and play with the other kids. His tail and ears were even hidden, but as he approached them they moved away. It was almost like they could sense he was different. He'd never been seen before so he was shunned. "I just want to play!" It was a useless shout at kids who thought they were too good for a nobody. He'd sat that day over in a field. One girl didn't shun him though. It was long after the others had left and he was miserable.

"Why are you all by yourself?" She had asked him. She had even sat down next to him.

"The other kids don't like me." It was my response to the cruel world, but the dream was shifting. Where the girl sat the black space invaded taking her away. Then the black space enveloped Riku. It seemed that the Presence was coming back. The darkness was slowly changing into that small dark room. And standing before him was the Presence.

"Missed me?" The Presence asked. "It's time for you to pay." Without warning he leaped forward to attack me, but I was ready for it and I dodged kicking him into the wall. "I see you've got some fight in you now. This should make it fun!" Another attack that he hit me square in the chest with sending me stumbling back. Then I launched my own attack faking a punch to his head and quickly sweeping his legs out from under him. As he fell I took the chance to slam my fists down on his chest to make his landing harder. For a moment he didn't get up. Then black blades were forming in his hands and he renewed his assault. I was dodging left and right, but slowly he was getting cuts in on me. "You'll never be strong enough to beat me Riku. Face it!" A missed dodge had one of the black blades stabbed into my stomach and slowly I knelt to the floor.

"I guess....I just can't do it....yet." As I knelt he smiled at me. I knew he was smiling because I could feel it. "You'll pay for this Nero. I'll make sure I kill you or you come under my control." The Presence just laughed. He thought he'd won this battle, but I wasn't done yet. This was a dream and it was my dream. A longsword materialized in my hand and I sliced down upon the Presence cutting him in half. A laughing echo followed as he faded away.

"You're doing nicely for when I take your body..." I screamed in frustration at the now empty room. There was nothing for it. I slowly fell to the floor and laid there. The dream wasn't fading and I couldn't move anymore. That was when I heard the presence come back. "You're a fool Riku." I felt the pain as his hand reached through me again gripping my heart and I felt the energy being pulled from me. Finally I was able to black out....A jerk awake in the couch of the Inn had me back into reality.