The Missing Friend

The Missing Friend
Date of Scene:	18 December 2012
Location:	Cornelia
Synopsis:	Remaining at Cornelia for the time-period, Reize had contemplated over the Prince's fate. And yet, at the same time, Reize wondered about Riku... of course, he gets a special visitor.
Cast of Characters:	Reize Seatlan, Riku, Shiki Misaki

---

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Nighttime passes in Cornelia.

Here, the cool air blows as hard as the wintery sky. The presence of the town is looming with the darkness since the return of the Temple of Fiends. Even worse, the prince is still afflicted with something unknown to all.

The castle is filled with guards patrolling the area.

At the top of the castle grounds that leads to the stairwell is Reize. He leans against the railing of the castle, staring at the water. His antenna hair flops low, contemplating. The condition of the prince is bad and Riku's whereabouts are unknown. Reize can be thankful that he convinced Faruja to take down the bounties.

However...

"Riku, where are you...? Why are you doing this...?"

Riku has posed:
Riku has cut down on his portal useage. It has started malfunctioning again which he has started to suspect is an indicator of his mental state. He is more than a little confused, holding the remnants of a torn down bounty in his hands.

He walked a considerable distance today. Just.. walked through the countryside to see the places beyond. It reminded him of how he used to feel. How he used to make up all the places he would see once he left Destiny Island forever.

Now they seem somewhat all the same places. It all blurs together.. or maybe that's just the snow. It's starting to fall again. He looks down at the scraps, considering it is a fairly decent likeness (although they got the nose wrong) and tugs the grey cloak around his shoulders a little tighter.

Eventually, he's bound to run into someone like Faruja. He is seeking out the shard seekers for a very specific reason. The rumors pointed to Cornelia, and so that is where he went.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Moments later, Reize left that very ground that he stood on to contemplate. Perhaps a trip down to the town would do him some good. Maybe just to get away from it all and get some fresh air walking through the town.

So here he is, walking through the castle. The gate slowly opens, the drawbridge moving down. This allows the young traveler to walk ahead and explore his way through the town. His journey towards the town put him outside world, where the creatures can haunt him.

However, he continues to brave the field.

~ Cornelia Plains. ~

Cornelia fields is the plains where all of the creatures lurk. Imps, spiders, all sorts of nasty creatures. It is strange how they all manifest through the darkness. However, someone is out there through the darkness of the field.

"Ooooiii!" Reize calls out towards the cloaked individual.

Riku has posed:
The cloaked individual slows but does not come to a halt. They continue to trudge steadily across the snowy field towards the town.

They raise a hand in a wave of greeting, clutching a battered piece of paper as they begin to trudge slowly past. There is a flash of silver as the figure readjusts their hood as the wind batters to blow it back.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
As the figure trudges through the snowy fields, the boy quirks an eyebrow and he blinks. Wait, the figure is throwing his hand in a greeting. Reize brightens considerably. If they are returning the greeting, then that means that the person is friendly!

The boy runs over towards the individual, "It looks like you're lost! If you're heading towards the town, I can help guide you th---.." As the distance closes between himself and the individual, Reize can see that highlight of silver in the midst of adjusting the hood.

Given that the boy is a lot closer to the individual now, his eyes widen and he just stares.

"...Riku?"

Riku has posed:
"Good grief, Reize." Riku says very quietly in what he can't help but be a slightly chiding voice. "Running through the snow at a stranger that this time of night? What if I was a bandit, or a monster waiting for you to get close enough to eat you?"

he says both of these with heavy irony, shifting his weight as he reaches for a money pouch at his waist. He brings it out slowly, making no threathening movements. "Here. I'm resigning from the Shard Seekers. From what I hear, and-- see.." he raises the bounty slightly. "You can barely hold onto your group with one nasty and conniving individual in it, let alone two."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Riku asks a very important question to the boy, who now contemplates over the 'what ifs'. However, the young adventurer brightens his smile and exclaims, "But it's not! It's you!" The boy beams happily. Then, he looks over towards the money pouch.

When he brings the pouch up towards him, Reize's eyes widen. In a way, the boy feels a knife twisted in him as a friend is slowly starting to leave him, "No... Riku!" The boy lowers his head at the sight of the bounty.

"...I found out about that recently." The hand is held out towards the offered pouch, handing it to Riku. "...I convinced him to remove the bounty. It was an action that he should not had done... Shard Seekers do not put bounties on Shard Seekers."

He pauses, then he looks up at Riku, "I... heard of your involvement with Manhattan, and... it is likely true, but... you're still my friend, Riku. You're still Riku. And I won't let the darkness take you."
In that brief moment, the pendant gives off a faint glow.

Riku has posed:
Riku closes his eyes for a moment and lets out a faint sigh.

He opens his eyes, looking wearily at the cheerfully smiling youth with something that looks like disappointment and distain. He crosses his arms, shifting his weight to the other foot as he looks towards the pendant, then up at Great Desert Adventurer.

"Reize. Are you ever going to grow up? The darkness took me before I even left my home. You know that. I told you. Faruja's bounty serves a purpose, even if it is to capitalize on the grief and hatred of others with the promise of money."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
"It doesn't completely have you!"

Reize snaps back. He shakes his head towards Riku, "...You're right, it may have taken you, but it has not completely taken you. You are still yourself. You are the friend that came by when we were in danger from the strange fiendish man when we first met up at Fluorgis. You are the friend who we shared adventures with, even the most painful ones with. Even though you go off on your own way, you always felt like part of the family."

The young man lifts his head up at Riku.

"...That bounty was going too far." He shuts his eyes, "...I know I cannot stop Faruja or anyone from doing what is necessary." Then, his eyes furrow. "...I know someone who is similarly in your situation... Someone with the darkness. However, deep inside, there is still a light. There is still a light that yearns."

The Child of Light offers a faint, weary smile. "...I am not going to give up on that. I am not going to give up on my friends!"

Riku has posed:
Riku laughs tiredly. He looks at Reize, there is something that flickers across his eyes but he doesn't do anything. The snow settles on his shoulders as he peers out at Reize, clawed hand reaching to readjust the hood again. "Alright, Reize." he makes a dismissive gesture.

"--I'm not going to be the one who beats some sense into you. That probably isn't even possible. Your delusions of what you think light and darkness are will stay with you no matter what I do." he throws the money at Reize's feet contemptfully. "Enjoy the attentions of your faithful members and your continued stint as a figurehead." Riku turns his back on Reize, starting to trudge back the way he came.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
There is that flicker in his eyes. Reize blinks and thne he frowns when the older teenager begins adjusting his hood. Yet, when Riku takes a more dismissive stance towards him, the boy frowns as the money is thrown towards his feet.

"..." The young leader of the Shard Seekers stares towards Riku as he begins to turn back and trudge away. He grits his teeth, not having any of this. The boy runs over towards the older teenager to reach out for his wrist.

"Why! What brought about this change, Riku?!"

Riku has posed:
"Ah.. so the puppy has fangs, does it?" Riku asks with blank, flat inflection. Reize grabs his wrist and he pivots to face the younger boy and look down at him. His expression isn't blank. He is flatly disapproving. "Which one, Reize? I've been away for awhile. I haven't kept track." he looks down at his hand. "This?" he inquires curiously.

"It's a long story, Reize. I don't think you have the attention span for it." he says very quietly. "Let me go, Reize. I'm done with you. I'm done-- with your arrogance. I'm done with your ignorance. I'm-- I'm sick to death of people like you, who hide their anger and their betrayals and their pain behind a smile and a syrupy speech."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
The boy's eyes widen, looking directly towards Riku, then he stares towards his disapproving glare. After those few moments, Reize shakes his head, then he looks down to the hand. Yet, when Riku finally pushes the boy away...

...There is only so much that the boy can do to reach out to someone. However, Riku has shown he doesn't what that anymore. Reize lowers his head for a moment. His hand slowly releases Riku.

"Sometimes, we have to hide the anger to prevent it from hurting other people. Sometimes, we have to stave off the pain to continue." He furrows his eyebrows, "...Yet, I'd rather it not let it consume me." He glances towards Riku, "...You may be sick of me, but I still consider you a friend..." His head shakes, "...However, I suppose this now puts us on the opposite sides of the fight now...?"

Riku has posed:
"Oh. I see." Riku chuckles quietly. "I've finally scratched the surface. If I don't toe the line, I'm your enemy am I?" he slowly clenches and releases a hand.

"Stop being dramatic. I didn't tell you to give in to hate. To give into pain. I simply told you to be ANGRY with me. To have a rational response to a betrayal, instead of this simpering happiness. But of course I was wrong, Reize. I'm sure hiding your anger until you explode like a bomb is best for everyone."

Riku shakes his head, taking a step back from Reize. He inclines his head slightly, but the gesture is mocking. "Draw-- or walk away. Your choice this time, Fearless Leader."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
"..." Reize lowers his head a bit, unable to figure out a simple response. Reize looks up towards Riku.

"...Because in the end, even you will need someone who will still be able to welcome you back..." His eyes narrow, "But, since you want my response now..."

Fine. You'll have it.

Both boomerangs are withdrawing from his sides. With the weapons held in front of him, the boy glances over towards Riku. "...Very well."

"Draw."

Riku has posed:
Riku smiles very slightly. This he can understand. He bows slightly to Reize, taking the cloak off and throwing it to the wind.

It disappears in a roil of flame, tearing away into bits of dark energy as the wind picks up. Snow spirals down from the sky as he gestures forwards. "Come on, Reize. Let's see if your fighting style is as stagnant as your personality."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Once Riku tosses the cloak, Reize notes the dark energy that tears against the fabric. There is nothingleft, except for the snow spiralling down along the two. The young adventurer lowers his head, preparing to tighten his grip on the boomerangs in an inverted stance.
And now...

To fight Riku.

Sucking in a breath, Reize slides a foot forward. And then he springs towards the older teenager as fast as lightning. When he closes the distance, the boy swings his foot out with a roundhouse kick, then the other leg comes out for a hook kick.

Should he land, both boomerangs swing outward to strike against Riku. Then, Reize sweeps along the ground to trip Riku off his feet.

Riku has posed:
Riku jams the roundhouse kick with a closed fist, letting it and the hook kick slam into the armored sections of his jacket. The boomerangs strike into his sides, causing him to expell a faint WHOOSH of air through grit teeth.

The sweep doesn't work quite as intended as Riku flips backwards even as Reize's foot connects, slicing pieces of black ice crystalizing out of the winter chill. He completes the backflip, rolling one shoulder.

"Come on Reize." he says in a bored voice. "Try a little harder. Try some righteous indignation. You have no idea what I've been doing before this. Maybe I've even kicked some puppies. Stop hitting like a girl."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Unfortunately, Reize was not completely successful with the upcoming strike. Given that Riku had flipped backwards to release the slicing black ice at his leg, it gives the older teenager the distance that he neded. Reize is holding his leg with a wince as the shards penetrate the leg.

The boy looks up towards Riku, growling as he tightens his fists, "...Did you really kill all of those people...?!" He had heard stories. The boy grits his teeth while he slams his fist towards the ground.

Standing up, Reize yells out.

"I do not hit like a girl!"

He roars out his indignantion, then he springs closer towards Riku. With the distance closed, Reize springs forward off of the ground with his body spinning in a full spin before he releases a roundhouse kick, followed by a hook kick. Then, he drops low to present another kick. Last but not least, the boy springs ahead with a landing and then he springs off of the ground, releasing a flipping kick to knock Riku off of the ground.

Riku has posed:
"Hgh." Riku weathers the storm of kicks with the same lack of expression Reize has seen on his face once before. The kicks jar him and he even folds over them, but he shows no sign of actually being in pain. It almost looks as if the teenager is humoring Reize.

WHAM.

The spinning kick launches Riku into the air and he falls gracefully into a tight roll that ends up with him back on his feet again. He coughs very slightly, wiping a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Better." he intones politely. "I mispoke. You don't hit like a girl." Riku starts to smile at one corner with genuine amusement. "That would be insulting to girls." He doesn't respond to the indignant cry about the people of manhattan. It's complications and his part in it all, he simply does not comment on.

Instead he launches an attack of his own. He slices at shoulder height, then at knee height, two razor-fast slashes followed an attempt to grab for Reize and drive a knee straight into his stomach. No dark magic involved. Even the sword is real, a thin sliver of a long knife that he holds with the competance of practice.

Still.. he's holding back.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
The lack of expression, that emotionless stare that the boy is getting. While Riku is showing some signs of wounds from his actions, Reize manages to get Riku up high enough to where Reize is no longer able to really do any significant damage to him.

Nevertheless, Reize presses forward.

---Until his coment.

The boy's face becomes more anger and indignant, the fist tightens and he springs up to the air. He does not hit like a girl! That jerk! The blade slices up towards his shoulder and then at his knee. The boy's eyes widen when he is knocked with a knee towards the boy's stomach. He coughs, clutching onto his stomach.

However, Reize is angry. He tightens his fists and then he springs towards Riku.

"Answer my question!"

From his bag of tricks, the boy produces the hookshot. He whips the weapon over his head, and then he uses it to spring up towards Riku. Should it catch onto the teenager's arm, Reize will use it to shoot himself up and closer to knock the older teenager off to the ground with a diving kick.

Riku has posed:
Riku narrows his eyes as the Hookshot latches onto his arm, but instead of trying to get himself loose the teenager wraps his arm around the cord, yanking it hard as Reize shoots towards him.

He twists at the last second, the diving kick driving him with a heavy CRUNCH into the packed snow of their battlefield. The moment he thuds into the ground, he slaps a hand into the ground palm down. Black thorns explode from the terrain-- reaching up to try and grab Reize and wrench him away from Riku and give the teenager space to breath.

Not that he needs it. Riku does not seem to be getting weaker with the attacks. In fact, he almost seems to be getting stronger as Reize continues to lash out at him. " What is it that you want to hear, Reize? Oh, I laughed and laughed. I thought it was funny as hell. All those people, screaming to be saved, --well. Just up until I ripped their hearts out. Then they were quiet and did what I told them." Riku's eyes don't match the cruel smile on his face, but then the smile drops away and Riku looks at Reize contemplatively. He considers telling Reize the truth-- "Or so I assume Faruja and the others would believe I would say." and decides that the boy with the yellow scarf deserves at least that. "--but they'd be wrong. I did what I did for what I believed was a good reason. I hurt only who was neccessary to complete that task."

He banishes the thorns with a gesture, gesturing for Reize to try again.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Reize has gotten a lot better with the Hookshot by now. It shows when he latches that device around Riku's arm. When the boy springs up into the trajectory of Riku, the boyimmediately shoots his way.

That diving kick does manage to send Riku diving back into the snow. But, the boy is caught wit the black thorns that explode from the snowy terrain, "Buh...?!" The piercing thorns prick and capture him, "Gaaaaarggghhhhhh!!!"

The boy grits his teeth, struggling against the black thorns when he looks down at Riku. Struggling, Reize looks down towards the older teenager as he struggles along the spikes. The words of Riku laughing and describing the horrible things... The boy's energy slowly wells. The energy keeps building up until his will is preparing to explode.

It's not that the boy believes that line. It is the fact that Riku is lying right there because he doesn't believe that for a second!

But then, the truth is given. Reize looks over towards Riku with a tearful gaze. "... I knew that had to be the reason. ....You always do what you feel is right..."

A blast of energy erupts from the boy, resonating around him as he roars out.

"This is my will!"

Then, the boy dashes towards Riku, swinging a boomerang out towards his chest. "You betrayed us!" The boy is really angry about that. Even if Riku was doing what he felt was right, he stabbed his own friends in the back.

Then the boy vanishes again.

"You caused an entire city to become consumed by the Heartless!" The boy re-appears to release a kick from behind, only to disappear again.

"And we will find those shards and restore it!" Once again, the boy re-appears at the front with a boomerang uppercut.

Then, the boy moves around like a whirlwind. Over and over, that boy rushes around the older teenager. Strikes are coming everywhere..

"And for the record..."

Until he explodes from the whirlwind.

"I DO NOT HIT LIKE A GIRL!"

The boy releases a spinning kick that is aimed towards Riku's head.

Riku has posed:
Riku looks almost relieved at the anger.

His smile becomes genuine again as he /FINALLY/ gets the response he had been looking for. He just had to dig considerably to actually get it. Mercade wore his anger and his scorn openly. With Reize he practically had to bash the younger boy into paste.

This time though---

This time he's ready for the outpouring of emotion (and kicks, and punches, and assorted attacks) that follows. Riku reaches out a hand to knock the boomerang off course as it slams down towards his chest but manages to be an instant too slow. There is a satisfying THWACK as it lands, making the teenager's body jerk as Reize vanishes. He spins--diverting Reize's attack from behind at the last second to take only a glazing hit to the shoulder but taKEs the full brunt of the next attack. His jaw snaps upwards and there is muffled grunt of pain as his head is snapped back by the boomerang.

THe Whirlwind continues. Attack. Attack. Attack.

Riku seems to be too slow to dodge and too slow to deflect most of them. They all thud into the armored jacket and into his body exactly where they are intended to land, if not a little off by the occasional deflection Riku is able to manage.

By sheer chance, Riku collapses to his knees, rolling awkwardly and avoiding the spinning kick that probably would have knocked him out by sheer momentum.

He lays on the snowy ground, face up, looking at the overcast sky and heaving for breath. Riku coughs, ostensibly looking a little too shaken as he tries to pick himself up from his feet. "..finally. An honest response." he brushes the snow off himself, listing to one side slightly as if dazed or stunned.

It almost looked.. a little too obvious that he was hurt.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
There has been a lot to hold Reize back from expressing his anger. What if Riku is trying to use it to justify never returning? What if he feel that people would not take him back after all that he done. He did not want to abandon a friend, even knowing the story. He knows of Riku's past. He knows why Riku did what he did back then...

...But will the boy reach to the point of no return?

It does not matter now. Reize is angry. Reize is in his outcry of anger, coming from all directions. That boomerang slams against the older teenager, which is the outcry of his entire wrath. There was no pleasure in doing this... Okay, well, maybe a little. Only because the jerk said that even a GIRL HITS HARDER THAN HIM!

After the spinning kick, Reize is met with that deflection inthe form of something that sends the boy blasting away from Riku. "Gaaaahhhh!" Reize is sent flying across the ground and he skids to a halt. Reize rolls along his stomach, wincing to himself. A hand rests on the ground, trying to push himself up.

He coughs, biting back his tears.

"...Yes... I am angry.. Yes, I may have hid it, but I was not going to turn my back on you!" He struggles, "...What will you do now?" He looks up at Riku, trying to get to his feet. Unfortunately, Reize can barely move.

Riku has posed:
Riku shakes off any pretense of being hurt. A black wind passes around and over him, and any sign of his injuries vanishes when it has gone. He approaches Reize, step by step.

"If I was some random monster you ran gleefully towards on the road, I should very well try and eat you." he says this while yellow fills his eyes until he looks as blind as when Reize offered to help him in Fluorgis. He stands over Reize--and he blinks, and inbetween one blink and the next the eerie, faintly luminous yellow is gone.

He turns blue/green eyes down at Reize, his face twisted in a lopsided smirk. "But seriously. I'd get cavities." he extends a hand to help Reize up to his feet. In a much quieter voice he says. "I'm glad to have a friend like you, Reize -- but you make my head hurt."

Reize Seatlan has posed:
It is a fight that is only left in ruin.

Reize is pretty injured from the fight. The fact that Riku's sign of injuries are fading, it makes the boy wince in the fact of: Did he really have a chance of fighting against Riku? The boy is still inexperience, but how strong IS Riku?

When he makes his way closer to the boy, Reize can see the eyes glowing with that yellow glow. It is soon that his pendant slowly glows, flickering like a beacon. Then, the eyes reveal the blindness that the teenager had back in Fluorgis.

That luminous yellow glow fades. Despite that, the boy is worried of what will become of the teenager.

Yet, when he gives a smirk and exends the hand, the boy reaches out to Riku to take the hand and get up. His antenna hair flops to the side, before it wiggles and rises up, "Thank you, Riku..." Then, he brightens to a grin, "Someone has to be around to do that to you, otherwise you'll be dour all of the time!"

Riku has posed:
Riku can't help himself. He sighs, putting the knife away assiduously before attempting to grab Reize and grind his knuckles not too gently into the top of the younger boy's head. "At least you didn't vow at me this time! I swear-- you say things like that to the wrong guy and you are just going to buy yourself a world of hurt." He still feels like shaking Reize until his teeth rattle, but the younger boy has been hurt pretty badly so instead he offers a potion from his supplies.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Doot doot doo, Cornelia is boring.

Shiki's been here for a couple days now and she's kind of... bored silly. The place has no mod-cons, it's not got Fluorgis' exotic nature and it feels like the first little stop-off you go to, find it's kind of dull and never go back there again when you're on a journey. So she's gone out into the surrounding countryside to scope out the scenery, maybe grab a little Munny since she's pretty much exhausted all of her funds from all the repeated travelling and ice cream purchases.

And it seems like she's been drawn to the commotion!

"Oh, hey!" she shouts from some distance away, waving her arm to try and get everyone's attention. "Hey! Reize! Oh hey, Riku! It's been a while!"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Admittedly, there was a Knight's Vow that rang in Reize's mind. It seemed rather appropriate. His finger is raised, as if preparing for it.

... Until...

 !!!!

Reize is grabbed up close by Riku, "Gack!" And he is given a very vicious noggie, "Atatataatatataaa...!" The boy flails, the body shuddering.

But soon, a potion is offered to the boy. "Eh heh.. thanks!" The young boy drinks the potion. Even in the midst of this, Reize is grateful to be able to spend a peaceful time with Riku like this. Away from the situation, away from the shadows over Cornelia.

It was something that Reize needed.

But then, a shout is called over to the boy. "Buh?"

Reize turns his head towards Shiki, offering a wave her way, "Ooooiii!"

Riku has posed:
Riku thumps Reize on the back a little harder than neccessary. He leans over to say to Reize quietly. "Like I said-- even beating you to paste isn't going to change anything. Learn to pick your fights a little more wisely, huh? If I can provoke you so easy, others can too." he pauses, then shakes his head.

"And for the record..?" he smirks, then turns to Shiki. His gaze is speculative and unsure suddenly and he takes a step away from Reize. But not before he tells Reize in a stage whisper "..SHE hits harder than you do." he waves to Shiki, then turns away from the both of them and starts to move through the snowy landscape out of town.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
"Hmm?"

Shiki's not quite sure what to make of all this. Having never seen the note Faruja disseminated amongst the group members, she still has no knowledge of what happened in Manhattan, and so she's just cheerfully oblivious to what's been going on.

"Did you two slip up fighting some monsters or something?" she asks, hands on her hips. "Well, looks like one of you did, at least."

She walks over to Reize and begins to fuss over him, checking his clothes and ouchies. "Good thing you're around, Riku. You know where we're all staying, right? I guess we'll see you back there later?"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
WHONK!

Reize's eyes swirl around, then he stumbles back slightly. And Riku is right, it isn't going to chance Reize's optimism. The boy has a wide grin, then he furrows his eyebrows. Others provoking him in battle.

He gives a thoughtful frown, "Errph."

Andthen his comment.

 !!!!!

The boy's face turns red and his antenna hair points at Riku like a gun. *CLICLACK!* If his antenna hair could fire lasers, it would be firing all of the lasersin the world at Riku. Every single laser would be shooting him down!!!

And Shiki getting closer, the boy winces while the older girl fusses over him. The boy lifts his finger up to state something to her regarding Riku, but his finger drops low and he rubs his forehead.

"...Shiki... He resigned from the Shard Seekers."

Riku has posed:
It is a sad fact that Riku is immune to Ahoge Lasers. Otherwise he would be shot dead by the pure intensity of the beams. "Oh, you know me Shiki." Riku says with heavy irony, almost laughing out the words but not turning back to face her or Reize.

"I'm always out and about doing something. Maybe-- I'll catch up with you all again some other time." he descends down the side of a small hill, navigating the slippery snow covered grass carefully. When he passes out of sight-- he does not return.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
Where were your ahoge lasers when I needed you to slay a dragon, Seatlan?

"Uh"? Shiki asks, looking a bit confused for a moment, but Riku speaks up and 'clarifies' things. She listens, and subsequently shrugs. She understands; at least he's not being antisocial.

"Wandering man, huh? Alright, seeya later, Riku. Come back to Fluorgis if you need to crash," she calls innocently. Whether or not he heard it before vanishing, who knows?

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Reize looks over towards Shiki, then he reaches over towards the bag of coins that Riku dropped earlier. Reize exhales a sigh, then he pockets the bag into his pouch. This will have to go into the HQ funding. The young adventurer rubs his forehead, looking at Shiki.

"It won't be that easy for him to be about Fluorgis for a while. He betrayed the Shard Seekers. ...He is responsible for Manhattan's disappearance."

That is the words of the leader before he starts walking back towards the castle.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
And then /that/ hits Shiki like a ton of bricks.

"W-what?!" she shouts, hand raised to her mouth, staring at Reize like he's just told her that hamburgers are secretly made of baby seals in the world of ruin.

Mr. Mew is standing on a rock in Reize's line of sight, giving him this /look/ with his arms folded.

Shiki stands there for a second, then begins to run after him. "Wait, wait! What are you talking about? What happened to Manhattan?!"

Reize Seatlan has posed:
Annnnnd Mr. Mew is in front of him. Mr. Mew is giving him a look of admonishment. Reize cannot help but to wince at the stuff cat giving him that look. The boy coils back and he turn to face Shiki.

A sigh is given, "We lost Manhattan. Everyone is displaced." He sighs, shaking his head, "... Many of the Shard Seekers and I were fighting to get as many people as we could out. But in the end, Manhattan was gone. ... Riku was responsible for it." He boy shakes his head, a hand resting to his forehead.

Shiki Misaki has posed:
And here's a look that has been on Shiki's face far too often recently- her eyes sort of glaze over, wide as saucers, the background seeming to fade away in a haze.

"Uso..." she says, very quietly, as all the pieces fall into place. She tries to take a step, only to find her legs have suddenly gone, leaving her to cling to Reize's side in a burst of shock.

This has to be a nightmare, she thinks. All of these last two weeks. Surely.

Reize Seatlan has posed:
And when Shiki starts to collapse....

Reize moves forward to catch her.

The young man looks over to the older girl whe she gives a helpless look. A frown stirs, but it soon becomes a faint smile. "But we're not giving up." He moves to try to pull her up to her feet.

"We're going to earn the name sake of our group." He tightens his fists, "We will look for the missing shards and restore things the way that they once were." He looks at Shiki, "However, with the people that are displaced, they all need help. We are going to focus our efforts to help them and set things right."

Shiki Misaki has posed:
"Y-yes," Shiki says, looking right at Reize, suddenly shaking.

"...let's go back to Cornelia," she says, voice somewhat dull.