;;partnership

[2246]

link to contest
.:* kit 1-yuroshi *:.
.:* kit 2-nikolina *:.

[2246]

.:*name: Akari
.:*age: 14
.:*likes: her sister, night, watching stars,
catching fireflies, making jewelry,
making straw figurines
.:* dislikes: war, loud noises, smell of iron, crows,
ruined nature
.:* quirks: bites her fingernails, sniffs her nose a lot
.:* bad habits: cries a lot, gets confused easily,
loses sense of self a lot

"Do we really have to go through this again?..
Oh..My sister Bellum?
I’ll try my best to explain, but I’m sorry if I don’t make much sense.
She’s wonderful, strong, kind, she’s my protector.

She may seem cold at times, but when Bell cares about you,
she really, really loves you, and she’ll do anything for you.
Because I know she’d do anything for me.

She has already given up so much, and I know, without a doubt,
that she’d give up everything for me if I asked her to.
It doesn’t matter that her powers are made out of darkness.
No matter how dark her powers may be, she isn’t.
She’s anything but dark.

...Me, though?
Why should I tell you about myself....
I'm nothing but a child, held in their hands..
I love the night, the moon, counting the stars, but the most, my sister..
My power is light- but you already know that, don't you?
I want to be good, and do good things for this world.
I will fight for what is good, and pure.
I'll do everything in my power to make sure that the good in this world prevails,
and the innocent are saved! Sometimes... sometimes,
I think I may be going about it the wrong way... but no.
After all I've done, it can't be, can it?
I may not be the cloak and shield like my sister is, but I I can be a lance, a sword.
I can cut through the evil.
I'll make things good, even if I have to die trying!“

[Yuroshi]

.:*name: Bellum
.:*age: 14
.:*likes: her sister, dawn, watching stars,
night walks, sneaking around,
animals
.:* dislikes: war, the Knights, complete silence,
adults,ruined nature
.:* quirks: sways while talking, constantly glaring
.:* bad habits: falls into rage easily,
steals “just to prove I can”,
threatens others to get her way

“ You want to know about Akari?
Hmph.
What right do you have to ask?
Why should I tell you a thing?
...
I suppose I could share it with you.
But if you try to use any of what I say against her? You'd better be prepared.
I won't go easy on you.
Likely, there won't be much of you left.

My Akari, she's the sun. Simple as that.
She's warm, giving, bright. She's the reason for life on this planet-
at least, she's my reason.
She's brilliant, and kind, and she is all that's truly worth saving.
She's full of love- so forgiving, so sweet.
If there was anyone on this world who fits the definition of innocent, it would be her.
She wants to do good for the world...
even if she doesn't yet understand the difference between what is good or pure,
and what is right.
She tries harder than anyone.
I love her with all of my heart, all of my soul. I'd die for her.. but really? I live for her.
She's all I have left in this world that she tries so hard to save.

Me? Hm..
If Akari is the sun, then I'm the moon.
If I'm doing good in the world, giving back some brightness, some light?
It's just me trying to do right by her.
I am her reflection. I know I'm dark- look at my powers, for Chaos's sake.
But as long as she is here, I won't be evil...
I love her, and she keeps me light.
I have no wish to do the world harm, no, that isn't my intention at all.
But, for her?
For her I try my best to do the world right.
Sure, I care about others, and I'll fight ferociously for innocents...
but I'm not the light one.

Akari is.
No matter how hard the Knights of Order try to take that from her, they never will.
Maybe you don't see it as often anymore,
but it's still there in the few moments she's smiling.

Maybe, when she smiles, you can even see a bit of... "good," in my smile too.”

[Yuroshi]

The Sun and The Moon

In this world, there is nothing without a divide. Everyone, everywhere, is trying to draw a line- keep us divided, create poles. Whichever side you choose, that becomes who you are- divided, we shall fall. As soon as you're old enough, you must choose. Join the side of the Good? The Knights of Order, who very rarely lose? Or commit yourself to the Knights of Chaos- the renegades, the rebels... the bad guys.
Whatever you do, choose wisely. Because once you choose... there's no going back.

My sister and I, we were always together. We were the closest set of twins you'd ever find- we didn't have anyone else for us in the beginning. Only each other. And we were happy. We wandered.. I'd use my shadows to cloak us, and Akari would use her light to keep us warm and safe. We loved each other, and we never planned on picking a side- it was us against the world, and we were okay with that.
One day, we stumbled upon an old cottage, with a kind-looking old lady smiling at us from the porch.
"My, it has been such a long time since I've had visitors here that were neither Order nor Chaos. Come, children- would you be willing to listen to an old lady's ramblings?"
We were hesitant, at first, but we approached. She told us of the world before the Knights- she told us of the gray between the black and white, told us of the love that everyone had for each other, and how much it warmed her heart to see us together. And slowly, she stopped being simply a kind old lady. Slowly, she became family. She took care of us, kept us close. And to this day, I'm sure that she's the reason it took the Knights so long to come for us.
She was old, and one day, her life simply faded out. I was there when it happened. I'll never forget her last words to me.
"No matter what, my Bell, no matter who tries to divide you, and tell you otherwise, remember this- in the end, it is you two against the world. There is no such thing as good and evil. There is only love, versus hatred. Please, choose love, my dear."
And with that, she disappeared, wandering into the forest. That night, my sister and I cried together again, and I vowed to myself that I would do whatever it took to protect her. I loved her with all of my heart- if I was choosing to love, there was no one better than her. She had the purest love for the world, and everyone in it. She wanted everyone to be happy. We thought we would just be together again, us against the world...

Fate had other plans.

Barely a week after that, the Knights found us. They'd heard rumors of us- two children, one with powers of light, and one with darkness. The Knights of Order reached us- but they didn't want both of us. They were too "good" to be "tainted" by anyone with the powers of shadows and darkness. After all, to them, darkness was evil.
Utter fools, that's what they were.
But we were only children. We were two, and they were many. In the end, we didn't stand a chance.

At first, we wouldn't tell them a thing. Akari and I didn't want to lose each other. We tried to make them choose- both of us, or neither. But... they were horrid. They looked at the scarves on us, the only things left from our parents, and they just decided to take a guess. They saw that mine was lighter, while my sister's was dark. And they decided that they would kill her.
Not. Going. To. Happen.
When they came the next day to commit their horrible crime.. I was enraged. I attacked them with my darkness... it did nothing more than scare them off for one more day. I had one last day with my sister. My sister. I told her what happened, I told her how much I loved her, and that I would always, always be on her side. She cried for me, that night. She had always wanted to do good for the world, she'd always had the biggest heart.
The next day, they came. I hid within my darkness, and as they marched her away, gentle and worshipping, I let loose a single tear. I hoped beyond all hope that, no matter what happened, they would never destroy her brightness in the name of their own twisted version of good.

And I could do nothing but watch as they tried their best to do exactly that.

They made her use her light to hurt others, tried to convince her that it was what was necessary in order to keep the world "good." Slowly, she stopped smiling as much. She began to seem apathetic about it. It was only when she was alone, cloaked in the shadows of night, that she succumbed, and she'd cry. She'd cry for all of those she was forced to hurt in the name of good. I liked to think that it was the darkness that reminder her of me, like the light that reminded me of her, that allowed her the comfort of tears. But.. there shouldn’t have had to been tears in the first place. They had done things they never should, taking my sister away and forcing her to become a soldier. And I raged.
That night, I used my darkness, and let it use me. I destroyed their camp, even though I hurt no one. I was too dangerous to approach her.
The very next day, I joined the Knights of Chaos. I was fed up with watching them crush my sister. I couldn't watch her weep anymore as she tried to convince herself that everyone she hurt, she hurt for the sake of the good of the world.
To protect her, I use my darkness to protect others. The night before she must go on her raids, I use my darkness to move everyone away, as though they've simply vanished. I don't care about them- only her. But every day she does not have to hurt another, I can see her smile return, just a little bit more.
We may be on opposite sides- her, the side of light, and I, of darkness- but I could not care less. Dark or light, right or wrong, I will do anything if only to protect her smile. I will always choose her, and I will always love her, even if I have to be swallowed by my darkness to do so until the day that Knights fall, and love, not hate, prevails.

[2246]

I bit my lip, looking at the disgusting mess they called “food”.

“Eh, what is it kiddo? Not used to eating garbage like the rest of us, huh?”
They teased, I looked at them, men and women, dressed in light colored armor, fighting for what they think is right.
“Do you think you’re better than us??” They continued, as I just sat there, wishing my sister was here, to hide me away from them.

I remembered back, before the old lady, playing in the fields, catching fireflies. Staring at the sky, counting the stars together. I always tried to make her laugh, I made up stories about planets near other stars, she would laugh and tease playfully.
I still remember how they ruined the field, building stone buildings..
We had to leave.

I remember back, hiding away from them, we had no idea what threat the world was.
Our parents tried to keep us safe.. I hardly remember them.. My sister remembers them more.. She used to tell me stories about them.. I forget way too easily..
What if...
What if I forget her too?
No..

“Not hungry??” I looked at an older male, as he simply took away my plate. I felt my stomach rumble.. I'm disgusted.

I remember how my sister would steal food from others, just to feed us.
I always begged her to bring me the sweetest apples, from a yard that was hard to get in to..
And she would. She went. No complaining.. Even when they caught her..
It was very wrong, what I did, I wish I could change it all.
I wish I could change the past.
I wish we ran away, somewhere, anywhere, away from the world.
I just want to be alone, with her.
She cares for me, she loves me, and I love her.
We don’t need anyone else.
We don’t need the good or bad, the damn world, its people.
Take them all away just please, please, let me be with her.

The bell rang.
Lunch time was over.

Back to training.

Back to brain washing.

We’re doing the right thing
Fighting the evil
We’re the good guys...
Fighting for what is right...
We're right..
..Right?

I miss you

[Yuroshi]

I laid on my back, hand reaching towards the stars and full moon above me.
They used to bring me such happiness, such peace, yet somehow, now...
I couldn’t help but clench my fist as I felt rage and sadness bubble inside me.

It wasn’t the same without her.

I felt myself be swallowed up by memories as I remembered times before, happier times, better times- times with her.
Times with her, always. Times our parents and the old lady lived in.

I remembered clearly, sneaking out of our parents house at night, running recklessly through the field. She tripped and fell- I ran back to her, worried, but she just smiled and pulled me down beside her, and taught me how to appreciate the sky, the stars. To love the darkness, to revel in its beauty.
I couldn’t help but think that not even the brightest of the stars couldn’t match the way she shined, the way she always had.
I remember our parents coming out worried to pull us inside, but even they could help but smile at her laughter.

I nearly smiled at the memories... but they kept going, and I suddenly didn’t feel like smiling at all.

I remember as they explained that we were gifted- cursed- whatever you like to call it. That we had magic.
How they told me we’d be hunted if anyone knew.
The way they looked at me, as though their heart was breaking to even have to say it in the first place, when they begged me to protect myself and my twin.

I think they knew that it wouldn’t be long after that.

I remember when the Knights came, and our happy playground became nothing more than another barracks.
I remember wanting to cry, and give up, and the horrible feeling of realizing I’d never be able to see my parents again.
I remember thinking I’d never be able to smile again.

But then she looked at me. So much trust, so much boundless love in her eyes..
I remember how it felt to learn to be happy again.

My hand dropped back down to the ground, and I tucked it behind my head, pretending I didn’t notice the shadows twisting to warn me of the approach of a Knight of Chaos. I let myself be taken by the memories again.

I remember teasing her gently, just to hear that precious giggle, the one that never failed to make me grin.
The way she would tug my hand when we were passing something she liked, she wanted, or just thought I would enjoy seeing.
I remember how I never once thought to refuse her of the silly little things- if she wanted the best fruit, and it just so happened to be at the top of the tree? Well, I’d just have to get it down. If she wanted the merchant’s earring, and we didn’t have the money... it was extra anyway, he’d never notice it was missing.
The look on her face when she woke up to find it the next morning was more than worth it.
Nothing in the world could make me smile the way she did.

The Knight came forth, and coughed gently to get my attention. I glared at him, indifferent to his fear-filled flinch, before slowly rising and distractedly following him away.

I remembered the times when it all went wrong.
I remembered how, not long ago, the Knights of Order took her away from me, for I was dark, while she was pure.
How they took her from me, and tried to turn her into a soldier.
How they began to try to break her.

My shadows flared menacingly, reaching towards the nearby Knights who scrambled to get out of the way. The Knights... it was their fault.
Forcing her to be Order.
Forcing me to be Chaos.

It was never supposed to be like this.
It was always her and me, just the two of us against the world.
It still would be. Even on “opposite sides,” I know that it isn’t really that way. I know that we are together- always together, always us.

Sisters.
We love each other.
And we’d never give up on each other.
Eventually, we will be strong enough to stand up to everyone in this twisted world.. or lucky enough to get away.

Eventually...

Hmmm..

I tried to find it within me to smile, looking back up at the stars, and trying to think of her, but how can I when I know she is hurting?

My frown simply deepened... without her, there’s really no reason to smile at all.

I hope eventually happens soon.

I don’t usually forget...
but without her, I can’t seem to remember how to be happy.

We reached the captain’s tent, and I took a deep breath as I prepared to go inside.

I want to save her.
I want to be with her.
I want it to be the two of us, like it always was.
I want to go back in time..
I love her.
I need to protect her...

I miss you.