When Devils Rise, The Search For Brothers Begins With You
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downtown Diablo City, Devil May Cry Building, Earth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Damn, business is slow."
The young man sat back in his chair lazily. Behind it, a red trench-coat carrying his custom-made twin pistols, Ebony and Ivory, and Rebellion, his sword handed down from his father, was hanging from a coat hanger. He ran a hand over his short, white hair.
"Not one demon for three whole weeks. No jobs, either. I don't know how long I can take this."
Dante sighed with boredom. Sure, it was pretty fun when the Dark Ones were running around, he enjoyed putting an end to their antics. But now...things were quiet. Too quiet.
"This sucks." He leaned back even further and closed his eyes. "I need action, for crying out loud."
The bell over the door rang.
Dante looked up and saw a young man in a grey, black lined shirt and glasses. He had very short, black hair and a small beard, two short scars under his black eyes, and a cross hanging off his neck. He looked very timid.
"Um...are you Dante?"
"You don't look like the kind of guy that would stray into this part of town." Dante raised an eyebrow. "But whatever. I'm assuming you've got a job for me? Or are you just lost?"
"So...you're him?"
"No sh*t, Sherlock."
"I...uh...I need you to look for someone." The man adjusted his glasses.
"That's it?" Dante looked the other way. "Look, I don't go looking for missing people, that's a job for the police. I'll let you use the phone, but it's gonna cost you."
"The person I'm looking for...isn't exactly a person, per se."
Dante looked back at the man. Now this was interesting. "I'm listening."
The man fiddled with his cross. "He's, well...how should I put this...you can't see or hear him. But he's there."
"How the f*** am I supposed to find him if I can't see or hear him?" Dante asked.
The man winced. "I...I heard some rumors that you had some...special abilities."
"You heard from the right people, then." Dante smirked. "But humor me. What kind of rumors?"
"I heard that you weren't completely human. I've even heard..." The man tightened his grip on his cross. "...that you were half-demon."
"Ha, guilty as charged." The half-demon spread his arms wide open in pride. "But don't worry, I won't steal your soul and send you to hell or whatever you Christians believe."
The man looked generally surprised. "How...?"
"Oh, come on, it's so obvious you might as well carry a sign. The cross was a dead giveaway. It wouldn't work on me anyway." Dante got up from his seat and crossed his arms. "But enough chit-chat. This non-person you want me to find..."
"I thought, maybe, you could somehow sense him or something..." The man said hopefully.
"Well, if he's a devil, then yes, I can." Dante answered plainly.
"A devil...?"
"I hunt them."
"What?!"
"We can discuss this later. Is he a demon?"
"I don't even know WHAT he is..." The man put his hand on his neck in nervousness. "And he's...family."
"Family matter, huh?" Dante nodded. "Alright. Here's what we're gonna do." He walked towards his trench coat and pulled out a coin. "I'm gonna flip this coin. If it's heads, I'll help you, free of charge. Tails, and I'll send your *ss flying out the door."
"What!" The man screamed. "Why?!"
"Because I'm bored, OK?" Dante put the coin on his thumb. "Ready?"
"Wait!"
Dante ignored him and flipped the coin. It flipped about a dozen or so times in the air and landed on his open palm.
It was heads.
"Well, well, well." Dante said. "Today's your lucky day."
The man sighed in relief. "You'll help me?"
"I've got nothing better to do." The devil hunter picked up his coat and put it on, checking to see if all of his equipment was in place. "So, got a name?"
"Edgar." The man answered. "Edgar M. Vargas."
"And the non-person?"
"Scriabin S. Vargas." Edgar said. "He's my little brother."
"And do you have any idea where he might be?"
"Probably in someone else's head."
Dante blinked. "...You have some explaining to do, Ed."
---------------------------------------------------------
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan, Earth.
--------–-----------------------------------------------
You have no idea where we are, do you.
Shut up, I know what I'm doing.
Want me to tell you?
No.
Have you ever been to Japan before?
He--...I...haven't, obviously.
Have you ever even HEARD of this place?
SHUT UP.
Mari put a finger in her ear. "Ow, OK, you don't have to yell...we're in the Shibuya Crossing, by the way." She said out loud. She didn't have to worry about attracting attention, after all. This was one of the busiest walking crossroads on the planet.
I knew that.
No, you didn't. That's the last time I leave you in charge of directions.
Why do I have to do your hard work? Scriabin sounded quite annoyed.
Because if you're going to be in my head, the least you can do is try to help. Ya know, pull your own weight.
I don't weigh anything.
You know what I mean, Scri.
Don't call me that.
Why not?
Just don't, OK? Mari felt a very defensive feeling coming from him, and decided that she would press on that issue later. The light changed and all at once, hundreds of people started to cross at the same time.
Why are we even here, anyway?
I'm looking for something. Mari answered simply.
What are you looking for?
...Let's just say I'll search the whole planet if it's the last thing I do, OK?
...Your determination is impressive. Whatever you're looking for, it must be very important to you.
Mari didn't say anything, but she was sure that her feelings told all to Scriabin.
Why don't we make a deal?
Mari stopped once she got to the other side of the street.
What kind of deal?
An exchange of information. You tell me why we're here, and I'll tell you a little about myself. You can ask whatever you want.
And you'll answer truthfully?
Well, that's up to you if you'll believe me.
Hmm. Mari thought about it.
Somehow, I doubt I will.
You say a lot of hurtful things to me, Mari. Scriabin said innocently, although she had a feeling that he was faking it.
Why is that? I've haven't done anything wrong.
Mari found an empty bench to the side and sat down. She thought about his question and, to his surprise, she felt genuinely sorry.
Yeah...you're right. I'm sorry, Scriabin. I'll try not to be so judgmental.
A moment of silence.
...You're...sorry? He said slowly.
Yeah, I can apologize for that...whatever reason you had for saving me, good or bad, you still saved me. So the least I can do is try to be nice to you. After all, she probably wouldn't be here now without him.
So...thanks.
After a few minutes of awkwardness, Mari spoke up.
You seemed surprised.
You can actually take responsibility for yourself.
A strange choice of words.
Um...of course I can.
...To be honest, I...don't know how to react to that.
Mari made a confused face and sort of shifted her weight to one side.
Really?
He never took responsibility for himself-- She felt him bite his tongue at his words.
Huh? He?
...Forget it.
You know someone?
Look, are you going to take my deal or not? He was being dismissive again. Whoever he is, he certainly has a story to tell...he was just not so willing to tell it.
I've noticed you redirect a lot on subjects you don't want to talk about.
And I've noticed that you're too bossy.
And I've noticed that being sadistic is basically your default state!
Mari heard a slow clapping sound in her ears. She looked around and yet, no one was clapping.
Such insight. Wow. I am just astonished. Scriabin deadpanned.
How are you clapping if you don't have a body? She thought.
Not having a body doesn't mean I don't have hands.
That kinda...made no sense.
Neither do you.
Uhhh...good point, actually.
Why, thank you. Scriabin sounded rather pleased with himself. And Mari couldn't exactly imagine why.
So...about my proposition--
You first. Mari thought without hesitation.
"Straight and to the point. I like that." Scriabin said physically without missing a beat. Mari turned around and saw that he was sitting right next to her, his legs propped up against nothing and looking like he didn't have a care in the world. Or he didn't just care.
She was going to ask how he could do that, just appear and disappear at will, but she was worried that he would count that as a question.
"God, you're sharp." Scriabin frowned and put his hand on his chin.
"That's going to be a problem."
Mari forgot briefly that he could hear her thoughts. She opened her mouth to ask what he was talking about, but that was a question too. She needed to word what she wanted to ask him carefully.
"This should be interesting." Scriabin leaned in closer.
"Shoot."
What kind of being are you, some kind of spirit? Mari asked.
"Well played." Scriabin leaned back and smiled.
"If you'd just asked 'What are you?', I would have answered differently."
That you are a pessimist, which you already told me.
"You're very sharp. Hmm." He crossed his arms.
"To answer the second part of your question, being a spirit implies that I'm dead, which I'm not."
So you're not a spirit. Mari repeated in her mind.
"No." Scriabin answered simply. "
And to answer the first part...well...I'm not quite so sure myself, in some ways. But I do know where I come from."
Where did you come from, originally?
"Another well played question. It's difficult to explain, but I guess you can understand. See, there is this system. A lock system."
What is this lock system?
"You're good at this. The lock system is mainly something that harvests hate or something to that effect. And they do that by driving people insane and turning them into glorified hate funnels called locks."
How do they do that, exactly?
"...Well, that's where I come in. They...sort of make these...voices and put them in people's heads and sort of...do whatever it takes to generate as much hate from them as possible until..." Scriabin trailed off.
"I don't know why they do that, nor exactly who runs the lock system...but I do know...that they created me. I don't know. I'm just repeating what I heard."
So...what makes you different? You look like you're different. Mari couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something rather strange about Scriabin. She just couldn't figure out what.
"They said something went wrong with my...programming." Scriabin continued, saying the word 'programming' with such hatred and venom that she actually winced.
"Like I was some kind of...robot or something, for Christ's sake. Well, I'm not their tool anymore, that's for sure."
Not their tool? "Free will." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
Scriabin raised his head and had this...confused yet knowing expression on his face.
"What?"
They gave you free will. Unintentionally, but still. That's what made you...you. Mari thought back, she didn't want to attract attention like last time. She really didn't know where she was going with this herself, but hey, it looked like it was working.
Because Scriabin didn't answer right away. Until...
"Not exactly. That's..." He trailed off again, thinking to himself. He was remembering something, that was certain, but Mari couldn't hear Scriabin's thoughts. Why is that?
"'Cuz you're not in my head, that's why."
...But...
"Yes?" Scriabin sort of sat up straighter. A feeling of interest was coming off him, but...
Um...nothing.
"...Hmph." He went back to his original position, this time putting his hands behind his head. He looked fairly disappointed. Mari decided to keep the conversation going.
Scriabin?
"Yes?"
Why are you telling me all this?
"Hehehe...Know thy enemy, my dear."
Riiiiiight...and one more thing.
"Hmm?"
You said those voices drove people insane.
"...Yes." Simple response, no emotion.
Well...did you do that? Drive people insane?
That struck a cord. God, she was asking all the right questions and he couldn't find an opening to mislead her. Or maybe he was losing his touch. Hmm.
What to say.
Um...Scriabin?
He had been silent for too long.
"...Once. Very nearly."
Who, exactly? The innocence in that question. Scriabin thought to himself. She cannot know. She mustn't know. She knows nothing, absolutely nothing, but she was asking all the right questions and she knew nothing, NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING AT ALL--
You...don't have to answer if you don't want to.
Innocence. And she knew nothing.
Or did she?
What to say...
"Your well worded questions are actually getting annoying." Scriabin said with a growl. More like driving him insane.
She couldn't know.
A question is a question. Who? She asked.
She's persistent. Well, the truth is stranger than fiction. Might as well.
"...My older brother."
......You...have an older brother?
"Yes--"
THERE'S TWO OF YOU!? Mari mentally screamed. Which was good, because if she had said that out loud at that volume, she would have broken glass.
Meanwhile, Scriabin saw this as the perfect opportunity to screw around a little.
"Three, actually." He pretended to correct her, with a sly smile.
...You're lying, aren't you? Mari crossed her arms and squinted her eyes in the universal 'I'm on to you' sort of way.
"Hmm, OK, you got me." Just giving her this one just to let her guard down.
"It's just me and Edgar. And he's hardly...like me. He's normal...well, sort of."
Sort of?
"Yes, sort of, as in not quite." You're slipping, dear.
Mari heard that thought and reworded her question.
Sort of, how?
"There we go." Wait, was that approval on his face, or was Mari just imagining it? No, it was probably fake. He continued,
"While being a lock is nothing but a burden on whoever the lock system targets, it does come with one perk. That person can't die, unless the voice in their head somehow does the job himself."
And something tells me you don't wanna die, obviously.
"Who doesn't?" Scriabin shrugged.
"That's it."
Or that's all you're going to tell me?
"Bingo." He smirked.
"Sorry." Not sorry at all. Of course.
Can I ask about your brother?
Scriabin saw no harm in telling her a few minor things.
"His name is Edgar M. Vargas. He's 28, his blood type is AB, right-handed, allergic to shellfish, Christian, a complete wuss, irresponsible, naive and professional doormat."
Uhhh....Waaaay too much information...
"Mmm, that's just the gist of it." He smiled in that creepy way again, and Mari got the feeling that something evil was going on in his head..or something to that effect.
"Would you like for me to go into more detail?"
NOOOOooooooo... Mari shook her head furiously and waved her hands in front of her.
Nooo, that's OK, really.
"Oh, the stories I can tell. For example, he's got this really ugly scar on his--"
NONONO, you really don't have to tell me more about Edgar...really.
"I was going to say on his shoulder. It's very unsightly. No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend."
Scriabin--
"Hey, do you want to know what his middle name is?!" His whole demeanor changed from being creepy and sly to that of a giddy child.
You're not going to let this go, are you. Mari deadpanned.
"Do you want to know?"
Ugh, fine...what's his middle--
"Moonflower! MOONFLOWER!" Scriabin literally doubled over in laughter.
"Moonflower! Pftthahahahahaha!"
Moonflower...? Mari thought.
"His--our parents were hippies." He said once he calmed down, but he was still chuckling.
"Pfft, Moonflower. Gets me every time."
Huh. That's a pretty name.
He gave her a curious look.
"Pretty?! Come on, it's hilarious. Don't you have any sense of humor? I mean, MOONFLOWER. Imagine saying that in public. Moonflower!" Scriabin burst into laughter again.
"Hello, my name is Edgar MOONFLOWER Vargas, haha--"
"What's yours?" Mari casually asked out loud, but not too loudly.
Scriabin instantly stopped laughing.
"...What?"
"What's your middle name?"
A flash of annoyance crossed his face, followed by a hard emotionless expression.
"No."
"No? Your middle name is No?" Mari cracked a smile. "Because if it is, that would explain a lot of things."
"No, as in I'm not answering that."
"Why not--Ohhhhhhhh. I get it." Mari smiled knowingly. "You are such a
hypocrite. You think you have an embarrassing middle name too!"
Scriabin turned away from her.
"I think you've asked enough questions."
"Come on, tell me!" This time, it was Mari's turn to be excited.
"No. F*** off." He turned his head and growled at her.
"Never."
"Please? Come on, it's not like everybody can hear you, just me. I won't tell anyone, I promise."
"NO."
She sighed. Man, he was difficult. "Look, if I didn't think Moonflower was funny, what makes you think I'll laugh at yours?"
Scriabin didn't say anything.
"OK, you've forced me into this. Tell me or I won't tell you why we're here."
She heard him growl again in frustration.
"Of all the people I had to..Goddamnit...ugh, FINE." But he just fell into stubborn silence.
"So? What is it?"
"....."
"Scri? I'm waiting."
"....symphony...." A low whisper, bearly audible.
"What?"
"SYMPHONY!!!" Scriabin turned around and screamed at the top of his lungs. There was a huge headache that followed and it throbbed in her brain for each word said.
"IT'S SYMPHONY, OK?!"
"GAAAAH!!"
Immediate silence both inside her head and around her...wait.
Around her?
Mari. Scriabin's mental voice echoed through the pain. He didn't sound worried or concerned at all.
Ow...what?
You yelled that out loud.
I...Wait, what?
Idiot. Look around.
Mari shook her head a little, the pain slowly subsiding. Dizzy, but that too, was clearing. She opened her eyes and saw that people were staring at her. Lots of people.
Argh, not again!
Hey, Miss Too-curious-for-her-own-good? You might want to take a look behind you.
Marching towards her were about a dozen or so solders in black, and within minutes, they had her surrounded. One of them stepped forward. "Mari, by order of Dictator Muhti, you are under arrest for assisting the Dark Ones in their heinous crimes."
Now, THAT'S a pretty big lie. This 'Muhti' sounds like a pretty bad kid. Scriabin sneered.
My kind of company.
Oh, don't you get any ideas.
"You will come quietly. He requested that you and all of Master Hand's Army be brought to him alive." The soldier continued. "You should be thankful."
"Yeah, yeah, the day I say I'm thankful for something he's done is the day I jump off an airship. While it's exploding." Mari pretended to think, putting a finger to her chin. "Oh, wait, I already did that. So sorry. Could you do me a favor?"
"What?"
Her hand suddenly glowed with a white light, and she punched him right in the gut. He flew a good five feet backwards, straight into a pole.
"Tell him I'm very, very busy right now. He'll know what I mean." Mari said in a much more serious and deadly tone. "And if he so much as lays one hand on on him, I'll rip his soul to shreds, stitch it back together, and then send it straight to hell."
I had no idea you could do that! Scriabin said excitingly.
I told you, I'm--
No, I had no idea you could be this beautifully diabolic... He laughed cruelly.
And something tells me you can be even darker. Man, you actually have a spine to stand up with! Heh, that's certainly a nice change.
Scriabin, please, I'm trying to be threatening here.
Want some tips? Scriabin chuckled a little at his own wittiness.
Snarl a little. Men are terrified of women who snarl. It also helps to hold your head up high, especially when you are this small. What are you, 5 foot even?
Scriabin!
5 foot 2?
Will you be quiet!?
Maybe even 4 foot 9?
I'M 5 FOOT 4, OK--
A gunshot rang out and Mari instantly put up a shield around herself. The bullet bounced off like nothing and pretty soon, the whole squadron of soldiers were firing at her. People started screaming and ran away as soon as the first bullet rang out.
Fffffffffffu--
Don't you dare finish that word!
I thought they wanted you alive! What the hell did you do?!? I take it back, when I find this Muhti, he's going to regret ever coming into existence!
It's not really Muhti, it's--Ugh, we don't have time for this!
Mari extended the shield outward, pushing the soldiers back a good distance away from her so that she could make a quick getaway. She didn't have time to deal with this.
Not when he could be somewhere nearby.
He?
Later!
"After her!" One of the soldiers cried after he recovered.
Mari teleported to the other side of the crossing and began tearing down the street toward the Shibuya 109 Building. When she got there, though, she was faced with an unpleasant surprise. More soldiers blocked the entrance to the building itself, while more of them were blocking all means of escape.
Looks like someone's dying today, and I'm sure as hell it isn't going to be me.
Uh, hello? I'm right here!
You better not die either, otherwise I'll make things very painful for you--
No one's dying today, Scri.
The ferocity and finality in her mental tone made him sort of recoil a bit. At least that shut him up. Mari got into a fighting stance. This should be no problem.
There
was a lot of them, though. How did they get here so fast? Was Chaos expecting her to come--
Of course. He was the one who told her he was here!
WHO THE HELL IS CHAOS!?! AND YOU WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO BELIEVE HIM?!?
"AAARGH!" Another spitting headache, one that shook her entire body and brought Mari down to her knees in pain.
I can't believe this, how can you be this moronic?! This was all a trap! Argh, of all the people I had to pick, it had to be someone with their pathetic heart on their pathetic sleeve! Scriabin ranted.
God, why did I have to get stuck with you?!
P...pick...stuck..?
SHUT UP!!!
As another wave of white-hot pain came over her, the soldiers moved in to capture their quarry. "She seems to be in the middle of some sort of seizure. We might need a medic." Said one of them.
"She picked a good time to have one." Said another.
"Oh, it really isn't her fault."
"Huh?"
Meanwhile, Scriabin switched to his physical voice to inflict more pain on Mari, of which he seemed to be completely aware of.
"Of all the...Damn it, you're not even standing up!" Scriabin was now hovering above her with a mean, unmerciful look of hate.
"Get up! You're going to get us killed!"
"Stop...yelling..."
"You are NOT the boss of me! Now get up and beat the crap out of--
"ENOUGH!!" Mari suddenly screamed and lunged at him, her hands crackling with white lighting. She completely caught him off guard, but of course, she went right through him, as he wasn't really there. But you get the idea. "You are not the boss of me either!
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S MAKING ME FEEL THIS!!" Mari had trained herself to not blow up like this, but damn it,
HE WAS GETTING ON HER LAST NERVE.
"ME?! I THOUGHT YOU ACTUALLY HAD A SPINE!" Scriabin has recovered quickly at her previous thought and yelled back in rage.
"BUT NO, YOU TURN OUT BE ANOTHER GODDAMN DOORMAT! A FEW HARSH WORDS AND YOU'RE ON YOUR KNEES YOU WEAK-MINDED LITTLE--"
"Please leave her alone, Mr. Vargas. You really aren't making things any better."
Both turned around and saw two teenage boys standing a few feet away. One had blue eyes, purple clothing, white shorts, purple headphones and bright orange spiky hair. The other had a gray polo shirt, dark pants, dark blond shaggy hair, gray eyes and he was holding an orange cell phone in his right hand. He was the one who spoke first.
"Who the hell are you two?" Scriabin growled.
"I'm busy."
"Busy torturing someone who's clearly suffering because of your temper tantrums?" The orange haired-boy made an angry face.
"You're really selfish, aren't you?"
"Screw you, you don't know me! I can do whatever the hell I want!"
Mari took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
2...4...6...8...10...12...14...16...18...20.
Calm.
When her mind was clear...well, besides the grumbling voice that was cursing in... Russian? Scriabin knew Russian?
"Um...Scriabin?"
"Oh! Now you decide to stop being a wimp!" He turned back angrily towards her.
"Scri..."
"Do not call me that! You know, I really thought you weren't a fool, a doormat, a weak, pitiful little girl, but you can never tell how people will react to a serious--"
"Scriabin, they can see you!" Mari screamed.
He took a moment to process what she said, and turned back to the two teenagers.
"What...the f--" Mari took this opportunity to hit Scriabin squarely on the back of his head while he was distracted. Sure, it went right through him, but she was still a little angry.
"What the hell was that for?!" He yelled, even if he didn't feel anything.
"That was for giving me two seizures today." Mari said annoyingly. "Also, no cursing while in my brain."
The two teens chuckled.
"You're looking at someone shouldn't be underestimated, Mr. Vargas." The dark blond guy smiled slyly.
"Are you sure you can handle her?"
"Handle--who do you think you are?" Scriabin strode towards the pair in an angry fit of rage.
"You know nothing about me, pretty boy--"
"Oh, I know much more about you than you do yourself, Scriabin Symphony Vargas. Lovely middle name, by the way. It's so ironic, yet it fits."
"Why, you--"
"Scriabin, please, let him talk." Mari, now feeling much better, stepped forward. "I'm sorry, he can be kinda...robust."
"Robu--This coming from a walking doormat?"
"Stop calling me a doormat."
"Yes, I agree." The boy shifted his hair to one side and put his phone away.
"The adults are talking here, Scri."
Scriabin looked like he was about to pop a vein.
"Is...is it OK...if I strangle his TINY SCRAWNY NECK?!?"
"Are you asking me because you can't?" Mari asked.
"DO IT FOR ME, THEN!"
"I am not strangling
anyone." She said calmly.
The non-physical being made a loud frustrated sound and pulled his long black hair with such force she thought he was going to tear it all out. The idea of Scriabin being bald was a little too funny for her and she couldn't help but crack out a smile.
"..............." Scriabin's eye twitched as he caught wind of that thought.
"..................Screw it. Screw this, screw you, screw you and screw YOU." He pointed to the two boys and then Mari with every 'you' he said.
"Screw everything! I'm done! D-O-N-E. Good-bye, thanks for playing, GO JUMP OFF A CLIFF!!" And with that, he disappeared from sight, even Mari's. Until he popped up a few seconds later with an ominous message. His tone was cold and unforgiving.
"When you're done talking to these losers, I'm coming back out. Consider yourself in danger when I do...I'm always listening."
Always. Even in here.
He disappeared again.
A chilling silence. After a few tense seconds, Mari ran a hand through her hair and, for some reason, drew a shaky breath. Was...she afraid?
What else can this guy can do to me?
"It's OK, Mari."
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to face the orange, headphone wearing teen. He had a kind look on his face.
"It's only natural to feel like this. Heck, I'd be freaking out too if I had someone like him in my brain."
"Thanks...but...how'd you know my name?"
"Yeah, you're kinda famous by now." He explained.
"Your face has been all over the news. That, and Joshua told me."
"Joshua?"
"That would be me." The dark blond teen spoke up.
"My name is Yoshiya Kiryu...but you can call me Joshua."
"I'm Neku Sakuraba. Call me Neku." The other one said.
"I'm Mari." Mari said. "But you guys apparently knew that already."
"And your new...friend?" Joshua asked.
Mari heard a small scoffing sound coming from somewhere in the back of her mind. She ignored it for now. "Didn't you say you already knew all about him?" She pointed out.
"Ooo, you are sharp. But humor me." He smirked. Somehow, Joshua reminded her of Scriabin, but he had a much more...pleasant air about him.
"Um...Scriabin Vargas. Like I said, he's a bit robust." And a lot of other things...
"Hmmhmm. And what else?"
"Um...he said he was a pessimist."
Joshua had the most amused expression on his face.
"Reeeeeally? I adore pessimists. They're so cute."
"Umm, not to change the subject, but..." Mari looked around. All the soldiers were lying on the ground in a heap of bruises and maybe a broken bone or two. "Did you guys do this?"
"Heh. Yep." Joshua looked a little smug.
"And they have no idea who they're really working for."
"Wait...you mean you know? About..."
"Chaos? Oh, yes, I do." Here, he frowned.
"So he's finally making his move..."
Mari turned towards Neku and gave him a confusing look that said, 'Do you have any idea what he's thinking about?'
Neku shrugged as if to say,
'No clue.'
"Regardless, I suppose that's not quite the reason you're here in Shibuya, now, is it?" Joshua continued.
"I hear you're looking for a certain someone."
"Who...told you?" Mari said defensibly. She REALLY didn't need another person trying to derail her search. Seriously, if he was going to get in the way, he is SO getting beat down...
"Oh, relax. I'm not here to get in the way." Joshua smiled.
"In fact, I want to help you find your older brother."
A surprised sound from Scriabin. To him, this just got interesting.
"......How?" Mari asked cautiously. Normally, she would have been more trusting, but Scriabin put her in a bad mood. That, and he knew too much. Honestly, she didn't like people who knew too much, but she tried to give everyone a chance.
Well, almost everyone...
Har Har.
Back so soon?
Scriabin didn't answer back.
Joshua was eerily silent for a few seconds. It was like he was waiting for Mari and Scri to finish 'talking'. Meanwhile, Neku was listening to music on his headphones. He figured he'd let them do all the talking for now.
"Well, I present to you with two options." Joshua said after a while.
"Either we search the old fashioned way, looking for one person out of a country of 9 million..."
Neku took off his headphones. Were they getting old? Suddenly they sounded all scratchy...
"...OR we could play a game."
"Joshua." As soon as he heard those words, Neku turned and stared at Joshua with this...serious look on his face.
"No."
"Don't you trust me, Neku?" Joshua said with...what, smugness? Mari wasn't sure.
"I do." Neku said simply, his hair covering his eyes, making him look a little dark.
"But don't do this. This isn't what I was expecting when you said 'adventure'."
"Well..." Joshua turned back to Mari, that smug smirk still on this face.
"Let's have Mari decide. After all...it would be a shame if she left our beautiful city empty-handed."
Mari didn't need to think too hard to know the answer.
"I don't have any reason to trust you, Joshua." She stated simply. "I'm sorry, but I can't let a silly little game cloud over what's important to me. I...I have to find Eric."
"What would you give up to see him again?" Joshua asked.
"Everything." Mari said without hesitation.
"Even your life?"
"...No."
"Oh?" Joshua raised an eyebrow.
"Why is that?"
"Because he's alive and if I die before I can find him, I...I'll have to wait that much longer." Mari could feel tears beginning to form for some reason, but she held them in. "I can't...I can't
do that to him, not now. But if he's in some kind of danger...if his life was on the brink of oblivion...then yes. I would die to save him. The same goes for my friends, too."
"So when it comes to friends and family, you would do anything to keep them safe." Joshua recapped.
"But here's the question of the hour..." He paused for dramatic effect.
"Would you give up your friends for your family?"
"Joshua, please." Neku interrupted.
"I know what you're trying to do. Don't do this."
"I'm just asking her some questions, Neku. Don't be so alarmed. She hasn't even made her choice yet." Joshua reassured him.
Mari did some serious thinking. And all the while, Scriabin was listening. To be honest, he was quite curious to see how she would answer. She sat down on stairs to the Shibuya 109 Building and thought some more. It was quite a while before she spoke again. "That...would be the hardest decision I hope to never face. But fate has never been so kind to me."
Bah.
Shut up.
"But...in a way...my friends ARE my family." Mari continued. "Sonic's...Sonic's like Eric in a lot of ways. He sort of...filled in a hole I thought would never go away. And Magolor's like an overprotective parent...Sonic too, but he's a little more cool about it now...and they've always been there for me, even when I pushed them both away. Marx...Marx is like the crazy uncle and Drawcia's the over dramatic aunt." Mari's smile got wider as she remembered her friends. "Luco's...like, the nicest cousin/best friend ever. So is his brother, Del. Richard and Wesker are like the mischievous twins and Fire and his gang too, I think. Frostwraith...yeah, he's a good leader. A great leader. He would be...our babysitter!" She laughed. "And Smashfan...oh, jeez,
Smashfan. I have no idea." More laughter. "That guy is nuts...but in the good way. Xiroey--"
She stopped.
"Xiro...is just a wonderful person. He's like a brother to me, too. He's a great guy to hang around with. Just don't put him near any berry smoothies, he'll go crazy for those things. Or...was that Typhlosion? Because he definitely likes berries. Almost crushed me to bits for some...actually, now that I think about it, he was just happy to see me. Oh, and
Latias! Man, I haven't seen her in a long time...and Stormy! Stormy's a lot like Xiro, too. I wonder--"
Another pause. And...a sudden ache in her heart.
"I wonder how they're all doing." Not much time had pasted since the Dark One's Master was defeated and they all went their separate ways...and she already missed them.
Suddenly I feel so...lonely.
"And Muhti?"
"Huh?" Mari sort of forgot that Joshua and Neku were still here.
"I heard that you and Muhti were friends, even if you both annoyed each other to death." Joshua continued.
"You were even on the same side, once."
"Yeah, but...that..."
That was a long time ago...now...I don't think I ever really knew him at all. I tried to, but...now I know the truth.
Or at least some of it.
"Muhti...is like a long lost third cousin twice removed. That I had a really big fight with. That's...that's how things stand now."
I think.
"Don't you hate him?" Joshua asked.
"Of course I...hate..." Mari slowly trailed off.
I do hate him, he's done things I can never forgive him for...but...
Wait. I hate Chaos, not Muhti. I mean, I did hate Muhti--no, that doesn't sound right either! I...
I don't know what to think anymore! Gah!
Life can be such a ***** sometimes, you know?
Shut up, Scri.
Make me.
Ugh, no thanks, too much effort.
That's what I thought.
Aaarrrgh...
"Mmm." Joshua put his hand to his chin and sighed.
"You still haven't completely answered my question."
"Oh. I...I can't choose, really. My friends are everything to me, but Eric...he's the only family I have left. And...family will always be there for you. At least, that's what he told me, a long time ago. Eric, I mean."
Almost always.
Mari didn't even bother to ask what he meant.
"So. The thing that you value the most is both your friends and family." Joshua smiled kindly.
"Um...Yeah." She didn't know why she opened up to him like that, nor did she know why he was asking all these questions. Maybe she just needed someone to talk to that wasn't a complete jerk...
You know, things would have gone a lot smoother if you'd just listen to me.
I don't even want to deal with you right now.
"Joshua?"
"Yes?"
"How do you know all this, anyway? How can you and Neku see Scriabin? Why do you want to help me?"
"Whoa, whoa...slow down there." Joshua said.
"Well...let's just say I have a certain...omnipotency."
"I just use my Player Pin to Scan for things that aren't visible to the naked eye. Joshua let me keep it." Neku held up a small black and white pin with an elegant skull symbol on it.
"That's how I can see him. Joshua has his...omni-whatever thing going on for him."
"As for wanting to help you...things have been rather boring in the UG..." Joshua sighed.
"So I came here to the RG and found my partner here, Neku."
"You never told me anything, you know. Just 'Let's go on a little adventure!'" Neku looked annoyed.
"But if you're just here to 'recruit' new Players--"
"Um...I have no idea what you two are talking about, but I don't have time for a game, alright?" Mari interrupted.
"Oh, it's not that time consuming...only a week."
"A week?!"
"All you have to do is give me the one thing you value most as your Entry Fee." Joshua said calmly.
"So what do you say?"
"What the--
No! I am
not giving up those I care about the most just for the sake of
YOUR entertainment!" Mari stared angrily into his eyes.
"Think about it, at least." Joshua was still using that calm tone, like if they were just discussing what coffee they like or something.
"Say you give me your brother--"
"NO. That's final. I am
NOT playing your stupid game!"
"But if you win..." He continued.
"I would give him to you."
"I--wait...you...you know where he
IS?" Mari yelled.
"Hmm, not exactly, but if you agree, he would be in my possession. And if you manage to make it through the week, I'll return him to you. That's how the Reaper's game works."
"Reaper's Game?"
"Don't do it." Neku reached out a hand as if to stop either Joshua or Mari.
"Just don't."
"I wasn't planning to. I'm sorry, but if you're here just to play games, then you guys are wasting my time." Mari turned away. "I'm not giving up my brother for...for...for
anything."
"Not even your friends?"
Mari's eyes widened.
"So you WOULD give up your friends for him. Interesting."
"No! No, that's...that's not what I meant...they're ALL important to me, OK?" Mari sighed. "I...if they were both in danger, I would try to save both, no matter what the conditions and consequences are! "
Both teens were quiet. Even Scriabin was quiet.
"Even if it costs me my life." Mari had never been more serious about something like this for...a while.
"Man." Neku spoke after a few seconds.
"Must be tough being you, then."
"You don't know the half of it."
"Heh heh...well, that's it, then. You pass."
"Wha?" Both Neku and Mari looked at Joshua confusingly. "Passed what?"
"My little test. You put other's needs before your own, even your own life." Joshua said to Mari.
"And you won't let anyone or anything get in the way of that. Not even the Reaper's Game. Usually, people don't have a choice in participating, but I gave you a very special offer. I AM Shibuya's Composer, after all."
"Composer?"
"I'll, uh, explain later." Neku said.
"It's complicated."
"So...I passed your...test?" Mari asked.
"And your reward? Our services." Joshua bowed a little.
"Both of our services."
"THIS is the thing you didn't want me to know, isn't it." Neku looked unamused.
"OK, fine, I'll help too."
"...Thank You."
Yoshiya "Joshua" Kiryu Joined Your Team!
Neku Sakuraba Joined Your Team!
Scriabin? Mari thought.
What?
Do...do want to want to help me find Eric too?
Are you seriously asking me? Please...like I have a choice.
You always have a choice.
Whatever. You're probably going to regret this anyway.
For once, I agree.
(((GAH, I COULDNT FIND THIS IN A SMALLER SIZE BUT THIS IS A MUCH BETTER PICTURE OF SCRIABIN EXCEPT HE DOESNT HAVE THE RED TIE OF YARN IN HIS HAIR AND HIS GLASSES ARE A LITTLE SMALL BUT YOU CAN JUST TELL HE'S A TOTAL A** JUST FROM THIS PICTURE. K SHUTTING UP NOW.)))
Scriabin Symphony Vargas Joined Your Team!
"Well, now that all the formalities are out of the way, why don't we get going?" Joshua said.
"I think your brother is somewhere in the east part of the city."
"Really!?" Mari yelled in excitement. "What are we waiting for?!?
"We can take the bullet train." Neku suggested.
"Oh, good idea, Neku. Let's go. I have a feeling someone's already there." Joshua was already walking down to the station.
"And I think it's someone you know, Mari--"
A flash of white suddenly ran past him, and by the time Joshua and Neku catched up, Mari was already halfway there. A little while later, they were at the station. Joshua was right! Coming out of the train was Frostwraith, and some other new faces.
"Frostwraith! Over here!" Mari happily called. She was pretty glad to see him, but why was he in Tokyo? "Hey! It's been a while!"
----------------------------------
Somewhere in Tokyo...
----------------------------------
"And...you can lead me to her if I help the Church of Truth?"
"If it is God's will."
"What's the catch?"
"You must repent for your sins and relinquish all that corrupts both the heart and mind. Your sister may join as well, if she wishes."
"Yeah...on second thought, cults aren't really my thing."
"You dare to refuse His judgment?!"
"No, I just have a bad feeling about you and your...Messiah."
"You sinner! You will PAY for your blasp-GAAH!"
The dark-haired male with gold eyes just waved his glowing hand and the white cultist flew backwards into a trash can in a dark alley. "I think I'll pass." He said. After that, he fell back into the busy crowd, his white trench coat flapping in the wind. On the back of his coat was a strange blue symbol that resembled a sword inside a very intricate oak tree. As he stood on a corner waiting to cross the street, a businessman bumped into him. He apologized in Japanese, and moved out of the way.
Japan. 9 million people. They haven't given a response to join The United Nations or not...but that's not the only reason I'm here...I'm only looking for one person. He thought.
And I'm not even sure if she's on Earth anymore...
"Lovely weather, isn't it, Eric?"
Eric turned around and found a middle-aged man with a red bowtie and tweed jacket. He was looking happily at the sky, for some reason.
"Look, I already told you, I'm not joining your cult." Eric's eyes briefly went from gold to neon blue. "So forget it."
"Oh, I'm not with them. I am, however, quite curious on how you're going find your sister. 9 million people, all moving around, never stopping for a second. Everyone's got something to do here." The man looked down at Eric and smiled. "You might need some help."
"I don't have a reason to trust you." Eric said.
Does everyone know about me and Mari?
"Oh, alright, then, I'll give you one." The man extended his hand outwards. "Hello, I'm The Doctor."
Eric didn't take his hand at first, but...Mom always told him to give everyone a chance and then some. He shook The Doctor's hand.
"Well...Hi. I'm Eric."
(((OH MY GOD, THIS TOOK FOREVER. But I think I did good! Not gonna write a summery cuz I hate you. XD Kidding. Remember, Frost, You can't see or hear Scriabin...unless you wanna, like, somehow sense him. Mari won't tell you he's there, tho, cuz I'm sort of building up something.)))
