|
|
Post by Flood/Akvan on Mar 20, 2015 21:42:15 GMT
Note: Unmei no Yama, the Mountain of Fate. Whilst most of the mountains are in ruin, the smallest one survives. Inside, it is as dark and gloomy as it was when Akvan first hid here. How long would it be? How long until Akvan was cast back and forced to do his original duty? After all, he'd failed. This world wasn't the world worth saving, and there would be no way after experiencing the grief and suffering in her son's heart that the Sun Goddess would even consider seeing this world any different from a failure. All Akvan could do was wait it out, wait for his name to be called, and his mind to melt into nothing. It was depressing, but it was also the reality of what Akvan had always pictured his life as. He would fail and fail over and over, until one day his mind would give up, and take the world with it. Be it by Shinda's power, or the Sun Goddess', there wasn't a difference anymore. Sighing, Akvan walked up to the mountain's entrance, unable to summon Eteru anymore, and didn't have the heart to try and use his light shadow magic right now to move quicker. He was just plain old Akvan, disease magic replaced with an extra helping of self-loathing and misery. He didn't miss this feeling when being Flood and pretending his life was different, but someone had to go and force him back into it. Akvan walked carefully into the cave, surprised that it wasn't as bad as he thought. The ground had been dug up in places, but other than that, the room Akvan had once spent his last few days in was identical to how he'd left it. There was something else though. As Akvan went deep enough, there was a hum through the air, and something hit him on the back of his head. Akvan turned fast, not knowing who to expect this time, although he almost cried in relief. It was a little green skull, covered in dust and dirt, but very happy to see Akvan. The Sun child smiled, lifting a finger for the skull to rest on. "Harno... you didn't need to wait for me." Akvan muttered, though still glad to see the little familiar still working. The skull didn't pay attention, doing a few flips before forcing its way under Akvan's hat. Over a short moment, Akvan's smile slowly faded again, dragging himself to a wall to sit against. He'd simply stay here, alone, until his memories were taken, and he could be rid of this world. Akvan had died here once, and he was willing to do so again. After all he'd heard from Chester, from her brother and his brother, Akvan knew he wasn't needed here, not anymore. He closed his eyes, beginning to quietly sing to himself. "Where once was light, Now darkness falls. Where once was love, Love is no more. Don't say...goodbye...
Don't say... I didn't try... These tears we cry,
Are falling rain. For all the lies We told you, The hurt, the blame! And we will weep,
To be so alone. We are lost! We can never go home."Extra note: Song is Gollum's Song by Emiliana Torrini, (Cover example : HERE) Few small edits by me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gensho Night on Mar 20, 2015 22:07:05 GMT
Gensho had been as illusive as he could for the past few days. He himself was having issues keeping the hunger away, the desire to drown his sorrows and anger and consume souls. But Gensho had been dry of souls for seventeen years, not once had he killed without reason, and until now he'd been determined to never find a reason to eat. But Akvan's 'revival' and the emotions it had brought back to Gensho, were enough to bring him close to doing so. But Gensho was strong, he'd toughed up through the years of failure and loss, and would survive and resist like he always had. And his cure, was Onrah's letter. Gensho had found it when he'd looked for a tissue in his pocket, and had read over it a dozen times. And in its contents that Gensho had once considered holy and inspiring, was what brought Gensho to follow Akvan to the old mountains the brothers had once hidden in. Where Akvan's and Onrah's graves had been built by Gensho himself.
Gensho, my partner in crime and drinking buddy. We've made quite a mess together huh? And I bet, with or without me, you'll continue to make Sohul the fun night-time realm I already see it as. What you have is a power I think is lacking in others, and has inspired me numerous times before. You are a master of forgiveness. No matter the mistake, you see rationality behind it. Your gift is that you can see the hope in others, even when you don't carry much inside of yourself.
Those words carried on over and over again in Gensho's head. Earlier, they'd brought Gensho's dried and red eyes to bring up more tears, and inspired him to get up now and do what he was currently doing. Forgiveness, that was what Gensho apparently had that Onrah saw as special. Did the Demon still hold such a power? Gensho himself didn't know. But if it was in Onrah's memory, then he'd at least give it a try. When reading the letter, Gensho had sat for a good long while, thinking rationally about everything. He tried to see the current situation from Akvan's view, a hard thing to do when he'd had seventeen years of time to change. But Gensho had managed to guess a few things that his 'once brother' must feel, and had his speculations supported when entering the mountain's cave, and hearing a song echo down towards him. It felt hard to listen to. Having begged Akvan once for so long to sing some of Gensho's own works, and now to hear that hidden and beautiful talent being used in such a miserable and hopeless manner. Gensho picked up his pace, quickly entering the large cave area to look at his brother's slumped form. "Please tell me that isn't the end... that the song picks up, finds hope again." Gensho said into the quiet air. He was near to breaking down just looking at Akvan again, and took action quickly before anyone could have a say. Gensho almost stormed over towards the wall, grabbing a startled Akvan quickly and bringing him into a hug. "I once remember telling you that I was always going to be a shoulder for you to cry on... so before I demand answers, before anything else, use this shoulder once more, I have a feeling you need it right now." Gensho almost whispered, holding tightly onto Akvan so the small brother would have no choice but to give into Gensho's offer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Flood/Akvan on Mar 20, 2015 23:13:22 GMT
Akvan was just taking a moment to remember the words, and calm his throat down enough to even continue singing, before someone spoke. Someone else, in this secret place known by only a few. And the voice belonged to one of those people. Akvan's eyes were wide open when he recognised the voice at last, looking almost fearfully at Gensho. There was so much more punishment Akvan felt like he deserved, and was completely expecting Gensho's reason for being here to be to let out some of his own anger. Rurushu and Chester had already done so, so Akvan's twin brother should be no different. But Gensho seemed different, his soul was blotched in red and black, but a lot of other softer colours too. Akvan couldn't see as much blood red hate in Gensho as the others. Needless to say, Akvan still pushed himself back against the wall when Gensho rushed over, wondering if perhaps Gensho would be the one to put this lost soul out of its misery. But no. Instead, Akvan found himself forced onto his feet, and pulled into a hug. Akvan was frozen on the spot as Gensho spoke so quietly, still startled by what was even happening right now. Akvan's eyes dribbled down onto Gensho, hands shaking by his side. He'd expected every kind of pain when Gensho came over. Physical pain, mental pain, emotional pain. This felt like a mixture of everything and more. It was the pain of relief. Of being given something that, after everything that had happened over these few days, Akvan didn't think he'd ever have the right to receive again. Having such an embrace now, made Akvan never want to forget it. And it made him sick to his core. To think for so long, so very long Akvan had assumed he could live a day, let alone seventeen years, without his brother's understanding and loving nature. The way Akvan simply melted down into an emotional mess the moment Gensho hugged him, just went to show how wrong the Sun child was. Akvan felt like he'd stood there and cried forever, realising exactly what Gensho had meant. How Akvan's brother seemed to know more about Akvan than the man himself did. Finally calming down, but still not moving from this spot, not feeling like he had the strength to move anyway. "B-b-but... you s-still hate me... d-don't you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Gensho Night on Mar 20, 2015 23:36:40 GMT
This felt right. This felt like something Gensho would do, not slap someone or try and kill them. He was still livid deep down, but that side of Gensho that Onrah had always seen was still there. He knew feelings very well. Gensho knew that Akvan must be suffering just as much as Gensho and Chester, perhaps both. Because whatever happened seventeen years ago must have had enough of an impact on Akvan to stop him from seeing them. There must be a reason, a rational explanation that thus far, no one had given Akvan the chance to explain. Onrah said that Gensho was able to see the reason behind each action, but this one was a bit harder to understand, and to do so, he needed Akvan himself to explain it. Sighing, proud to have struggled through Akvan's long moment of tearful venting without crying too much himself, Gensho slowly pushed his brother away. He gave Akvan a look when he was still confused, although Gensho himself didn't really know an answer to Akvan's question. Eventually, Gensho sighed, nodding slightly. "I am mad at you, Akvan. For leaving us like that for so long... But I'm also... overjoyed?" Gensho tried stating, going to brush a hand down Akvan's messy hair like he used to do, "After all... I have my brother back." Gensho added, almost unable to believe it when saying it either. Gensho took another breath, going to move back a step. "But, you do have a lot of explaining to do. I'm not here to tell you what a horrible thing you've done, I'm simply here to listen. Listen, and decide on what to do about how I feel." Gensho admitted, before gesturing towards the ground as he slowly went down to sit. "So come, and explain to me everything, from the beginning."
|
|
|
|
Post by Flood/Akvan on Mar 21, 2015 23:20:39 GMT
Akvan didn't want to move, but also knew not to overstay his welcome into the hug. Sniffing, the Sun child tried composing himself a bit as Gensho explained his reason. Perhaps everything wasn't as lost as Akvan believed. He knew it would all be hopeless, probably, since in the end, Akvan was still bad blooded no matter how well he explained himself now to Gensho. But if Akvan considered it as payment for Gensho's comfort, then he'd gladly explain everything, if only for Gensho. Akvan's past wasn't one he brought up properly, and didn't know how well he'd get through it all. But for Gensho, Akvan would try. He hesitantly sat down next to Gensho, taking a few deep breaths as he planned what to say.
"You... you and Chester asked Mo to find me, didn't you?" Akvan began, looking to the ground in front of them. "Well he did exactly that. I was... weak at the time, barely able to remember it, but Mo certainly came here, where I was hiding, to try and save me. At the time, Shinda was in control, but I was able... to stop him from killing Mo, or moving when Mo attacked. Once our magic was taken, I was forced to take control of the body again, and I... I asked Mo why it was all happening. Why was I, of all Demons, stuck with this evil, extra soul in my body? Why could Shinda take control like he would do, lay waste and murder my inside our mind over and over like playing some sick game? And then Mo told me... who... what I was." Akvan had to pause, though he almost smiled slightly after preparing himself to continue, "Funny, because I remember you... and Onrah used to joke that I wasn't Demon. I didn't do or like anything a Demon should naturally like. Well... what you joked about, was true. In fact, I'm not Demon, Angel or Human. I'm something very different... How much do you know about Sun Tears?" Akvan asked, not really needing an answer. He knew Gensho wouldn't know anything, since Akvan was the only one left, and had been kept hidden for so long. "Well, Sun Tears contain beings known as Sun Children, pure blooded descents of the Sun Goddess herself. I... I am the last living Sun Child. Mo told me that when the evil Devil, known as Shinda, returned in a new body, my mind was forced into him to stop the Devil from destroying this world." Akvan shuddered, hating the next part, and everything about it. He glanced to Gensho, wanting to see how he'd react to it. "Which means, the Akvan seventeen years ago, and all the time before then, wasn't real. He'd never existed, didn't have a body or a place. His only purpose was to act as a means to stop Shinda from destroying everything. All of the times you'd tried to help him, make him happy, mourned him when he'd died, it was all for nothing. Because Akvan wasn't a living thing, and without even knowing so himself, he was doing nothing but toying with everyone into believing he was what he was. That name... when people call me it, I feel like I'm stabbing them every time they do. They still think I'm him, Akvan. You do, too, don't you? And yet, I just don't feel like I belong to that name anymore. Being called Akvan reminds me of the life I'd pointlessly lived, the people I cared for.... the people I loved, the ones lost because of me. And what was it all for? What was anything Akvan ever did for?" Akvan rubbed his head, doing his usual lift of the knees to hug against his chest. "Do I deserve that name now? The ones who loved it? I don't know.... I don't know who I am anymore."
All of it was confusing. There were so many in both lives, in Akvan's and Flood's. But to the one that had lived each, he didn't know which path he wanted to choose. Since he was made well aware now, that both lead down to nothing but pain and... naturally, destruction. That was another point Akvan needed to explain to Gensho, which came with why he'd stayed away. "There's... there's something else. Realising what I was, and what my life had represented, I didn't hesitate to take it away. I'd stabbed myself, right over there... hoping that I could take Shinda down with me, so that he wouldn't create the evil future Mo had once seen. But instead of remaining dead, I went somewhere wonderful. A field of orange flames, warm and soft, and my moth-... the Sun Goddess was there, and explained even more to me. She told me the name she'd given me, Flood, and my true purpose." Akvan tucked his arms around his knees, lip pursed as he looked to Gensho again, "Long ago, the Sun Goddess had given up on this world, and created me and other Sun Children to go down and destroy every inch of the world so that she could start over again. And now that I'd returned to her, she wanted me to do the same thing now, that which she couldn't do before. After all I'd done, and thinking of who this world belonged to that my fake life's memories and heart still cared for, I refused. I thought that, perhaps, I could save the world instead, and prove to her that there was something in life worth saving. So I came back, in my own body, at last. It had felt so new and fresh, though took a long time to get used to. For the first year, I stayed with Nanari, getting used to everything." Akvan swallowed hard.
"Then there was news of you and Chester, how she was suffering, and you were struggling to save our... your race. And I was... I was... scared. After remembering my last try at living, where I'd left you poisoned and Chester almost dead, I didn't want to interfere in that life again. And I didn't know what life even was, I still don't. Not my life anyway. Am I Flood? Am I still Akvan? Will I save this world, or follow the calling in my blood and kill everything? I thought that, perhaps if I saw the world from a different perspective, I could still save it. So I didn't tread in the waters of my old life. I didn't interact with anyone from the past, knowing how horribly I had made that, and still struck by the truth that it was all never real, all except the poor souls I'd forced to suffer for no reason. To save the world, I thought that perhaps if I could live and prove to the Sun Goddess that everyone could come together and make the world what they could all agree on, then perhaps she wouldn't ask me to destroy it all. But then... then I messed up. By leaving you and Chester, and everyone alone, trying to pretend that one day you would forget me and live, I thought perhaps you'd be happy at last. But it was a fools idea, since in the end, I'm still going to be made to do what is in my blood. I'm going to destroy the world, as I always have, one muck up at a time."
Akvan finished, somehow making it through with only going pale, and not actually breaking down. His eyes moved towards Gensho slightly. "You should... you shouldn't forgive me, I don't expect anything less."
|
|
|
|
Post by Gensho Night on Mar 22, 2015 12:27:30 GMT
The God was glad Akvan was being open now, according to others, Gensho's brother had been very vague about his reasons for, everything. Perhaps all it took was a small comfort to reassure Akvan, and being his brother, no matter what happened in the past, Gensho believed he had some right to know. But Gensho didn't know what to think when listening to it all. All of those people, assuming Akvan remained so secret and lied so many times lightly, were gravely mistaken. If everything Gensho was being told was true, then Akvan had a right to be confused, to be scared of life in general. And no one had a right to think everything he'd done was selfish, stupid and never thought through. Because how could one live a life they themselves didn't know existed? But Akvan was still wrong, though Gensho was able to forgive him for being so mistaken, and was will now to realise how hard it must be for Akvan to think of what was right and what was wrong.
Sighing, Gensho sat in silence for a bit, before taking his hat off. "There is a part of me that doesn't want to forgive, but I know I don't want that... I know he wouldn't want that either." Slowly, Gensho reached a hand into his hat, pulling out the impressively preserved letter and holding it out towards Akvan. "Chester held onto this, whilst we were in hiding, and when you were being locked away by Shinda. It's a letter... from Onrah. He wrote it just before... before that happened."
Gensho left the letter in Akvan's hands, leaning back against the wall to smile softly. No matter what was going on now in his life, Gensho was glad that finally, Akvan got to read that letter, like he should have done so long ago. Perhaps if he'd read it then, things would have been different. But whatever had happened, had happened. There was no point thinking of the past anymore, Gensho was willing to forget, so long as he could have his brother around in the present. That was how Gensho had decided to feel.
|
|
|
|
Post by Flood/Akvan on Mar 22, 2015 13:03:59 GMT
Akvan took a few good breaths, wondering if Gensho would ever answer, or whether he'd understand Akvan's story and move on. Would it break his brother to realise that the face and brother he'd once thought of as his twin wasn't really alive? Just like it had hit Akvan all that time ago when he'd first heard it from Mo. But Gensho just dragged out the silence, before finally answering to Akvan. All it took was a few words for Akvan to start tearing up again, face going pale as he listened. Then Gensho held out a letter to Akvan, causing the Sun child to frown. But Gensho told him what it was, and Akvan face lifted to stare up at Gensho, almost having his face lifted into a smile. Of all the people Akvan wanted to speak to after having his own body again, Onrah hadn't come up. Because Akvan had long thought it would be impossible to hear from his older brother again. But this letter, it could hold a few simple words, and Akvan would treat it like a treasured gift, because it would allow Akvan to hear from Onrah again. His hand shook as he took the letter, nodding his head to Gensho as Akvan began unfolding it. The cave was left in silence as Akvan read through it, tears already sinking to the floor as he did so.
Akvan, the hope I see in you is probably the strongest I've come across. Sure, there are plenty of people out there that are kind, loving and full of hopes and dreams. But I have never found something to compare to that hope I felt in the heart of my adorable little brother. And I've been able to watch as you, without even knowing it yourself, manage to make everyone else that little bit more hopeful. But I know that you are caught in a darkness that drags you back from seeing this greatness inside you yourself. But I promise, which is a hard thing to do when one is facing death in less than a day, I promise that one day you will be able to see what kind of beacon of hope you really are. Once you find the strength to love yourself, the world will follow, give or take a few stumbles along the way. You and Gensho are the same, you both are so humble that you're practically blind. But you both gave me the belief that Demons can be just as good as Angels of Humans. We don't have to act dark and evil because our 'blood' makes us so, we choose what we want to be. Gensho, you can be ambassador for the Demon race, teach the world that friendship beats war anyway. Akvan, you can be the one example of what happens when you mix greatness, humbleness, love and determination into one person... you can be a hero, and to me you already are.
Be a hero, choose what he wanted to be. Make the world more hopeful, realise that there is greatness amongst the darkness in his heart. For a letter seventeen years old, Onrah seemed to have been able to predict a lot. And facing death so soon after writing this. He thought Akvan could be a hero, even back then. Onrah could see a light of hope in Akvan's heart, even though the Sun child was convinced he didn't have one. From anyone else, perhaps Akvan would have dismissed their words, refusing to let the encouragement break his wall of self-loathing. But it was the same when he was alive... Onrah had always been the one to bring Akvan back up from despair. And even long dead, Onrah was still here, looking out for Akvan and Gensho, as if he knew what kind of future his little brother's would have. Akvan couldn't refuse to believe this words. Because if he did, then he'd be shaming everything Onrah once stood for, what he'd died believing was true. "Onrah... I-I don't know if I can ever become this... hero, you want me to be... b-b-but I won't stop trying. Even if... even if the world hates me, I won't give up on it. I don't know who I am... but I do know one thing... t-that I had one amazing brother... and am still blessed with another. A-and that, maybe... out there, one day... someone s-still has the heart to l-love me. And I p-promise, that I won't ever give up on them."
|
|
|
|
Post by Gensho Night on Mar 23, 2015 21:12:55 GMT
Gensho remained in silence, letting Akvan read the words of someone great without a distraction. Gensho had read it many time, he knew exactly what it would mean to read, perhaps he couldn't predict exactly what it would mean to his emotional twin, but Gensho got a good idea from Akvan's shivering and tears. He didn't move, in fact, until Akvan had finished, and spoke. Gensho smiled as it felt like Akvan had finally got what he needed to hear, and looked to the sky, picturing Onrah's big dumb face smiling right now. He thanked the Demon in his head, eyes watering when he imagined how difficult the situation could have been, without Onrah's much needed opinion. The opinion Onrah had kept locked up for a long time, finally expressed on paper for the brothers to remember forever. Gensho slowly got up, striding towards the middle of the cave, almost chuckling to himself. "Well... I think I've reached my decision." Gensho stated with a smile, turning to offer Akvan a hand up.
"I'm still confused about all of this, Sun Tear stuff. And I'm just as sympathetic about how much it must confuse you too. But there is something, I shall be very adamant about." Gensho made sure Akvan was looking forward, rather than down for once. "And that is that we don't get to choose what life we have, where we are born. What defines us, is what we do with that life we have. We can always give in, and accept the blood running through us and follow fate's tempting path. Or we can make a difference, refuse to give in, and defy destiny."
Gensho glanced to the letter. "There was one stupid Demon I once knew, who did everything in his power to make his life perfect, beyond carrying out his purpose. He didn't just live, he succeeded. How did he do that? Because he never gave in, and still hasn't, even when he's not here anymore. That Demon refused to give up on his family, and on the world. He went to every length to try and create a world where we could live happily. So tell me..."
Slowly, Gensho smiled. "Do you think he would have gone to those lengths to help a brother who'd never existed?" The God placed a hand on Akvan's chest, not feeling a pulse, but knowing his twin still had a heart in there, "You are Akvan, you are the one I chose as my brother, and the one Onrah chose to believe in. You're the one who tried with every moment of his life to make a difference, the one Chester loves, even when she won't admit it, and the one who can make a difference..."
"Perhaps you will destroy this current world, but only to make a much better one, one where I hope you can finally be happy... where everyone can finally realise what an amazing little person you are."
|
|
|
|
Post by Flood/Akvan on Apr 2, 2015 21:51:50 GMT
Being here with Gensho, reading a letter from Onrah. It all reminded Akvan on what he'd once desired to protect. The thing that made him look up to the all powerful Sun Goddess, and refuse to follow her word. It was the people like his brothers, the ones whose hearts, though riddled with pain and life's most cruel complications, were also so passionate about the life they'd been given. They forgave, they loved, they cared. They had hope, the very essence of what the Sun Goddess feared was gone from this world. Akvan's breaths shuddered, hands shaking with the delicate letter held carefully between them. He tried to hold in the tears, only to break down once more as Gensho brought the smaller brother to his feet. For once, Akvan went to grab Gensho into a hug, never wishing to let go again. It would break Akvan to go through any more loss. Thinking of losing Gensho again, or anyone in Akvan's heart, made the Sun child desperate.
"When... w-when people are reborn... A-Angel or Demon. They l-lose their memories. T-they lose everything and start over again." Akvan mumbled, before looking up at Gensho. "S-so I thought... a-after dying and coming back... I s-should act the same... s-start again, and forget." Akvan rubbed the stream of tears from his face, head shaking. "But I don't... I don't want to f-forget. Everyone I love... I want to protect you all, and n-never feel that pain again, b-but... I don't w-want to forget." Akvan took a deep breath, stepping back a bit. "I've been... such an i-idiot. C-chester was given new life... keeping her memories, l-like me. But she r-refused to forget, f-forget me or anyone else. And s-she carried that blame, the blame I h-hoped would die with me, for so long." Akvan thought how they'd left off. Chester refusing to see Akvan as the one she'd known, but still gave the pathetic man advice, like she'd done before. And what did Akvan do with that precious advice? Akvan's lips quivered, "She'll... never forgive me, w-will she?"
|
|
