FLASHBACK: Gravity (Shadow/Roiyaru)[FINISHED]

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

[This takes place within the joint subconscious of Abbadon and Shadow after the events in "Recall: Part 1," located in the Devil Saints sub-board of the Ningenkai.]



Abbadon stood over the grave of his father, dressed in his usual black attire. It was his calling card sort of speak, being one of the few celestials that wore black so much that you know who it is instantly. He sighed as he stared at the gravestone of his father, knowing that if he were to look over to right a bit, he would be observing the grave of his mother as well. He closed his eyes and smirked a bit.

"We did it, dad," he said. "All we need is this one last attack and we'll stop Tsubasa for good. Then if I'm right about this, I'll be able to bring you back. I'll be able to bring mom back too."

He lowered his head and sighed. He tried to imagine that this wasn't that hard of a thing to do, but he couldn't. He couldn't ignore that talking to his dead parents was just as crazy as talking to himself, which he did admit to doing quite a bit. But it made him feel better about himself. He looked back at the tombstone of Noel Hakaisha and smiled.

"Taiyou finished my training with fire magic today," he said as a giant fireball erupted in his left hand. "I'm not as strong as he is with it yet, but at least I can match him in a fight now."

Abbadon grabbed his hand again, extinguishing the fire in his palm. He smiled at the grave as tenderly as he could.

"I... I can't wait to see you again," he said as tenderly as he could without shedding tears.

With that, Abbadon heard small footsteps behind him. Without looking behind him, Abbadon smiled and closed his eyes.

"How long have you been listening to my rumblings?" he asked the being behind him

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru slowly walked within the cemetery grounds, seeing his master spend time with the ones he failed to protect; the ones he repented to his creator numerous amounts of times for not reaching his expectations. He knew his master was doing nothing but mourning in his own right; the fact that he refused to cry did not make the act any less noticeable. When he heard his master speak next however, he could tell that he was not talking to the spirits before him.

"How long have you been listening to my rumblings?" he said.

Roiyaru sighed before smiling. "Not long, master," he said with a smile as he walked to his left side. When he reached him, Roiyaru rested his head on his masters leg and closed his eyes, releasing another sigh.

"I miss them, too, master," he said to the upright. "But look at it this way; even if this plan of yours after Tsubasa's overthrow tomorrow goes array, think of it as this. They sacrificed themselves so that you could become the person you are now; strong, daring, courageous and fair. They can rest in peace just by knowing that Abbadon Hakaisha is here to look after the Heavens."

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon felt better knowing that Roiyaru was at his side. He looked at him when he rested his head on his leg and found it adorable. Abbadon reacted by placing his hand on his head, scratching him behind his ears delicately. Roiyaru always knew a way to make him smile, especially whenever he heard him give Abbadon advice. He stood there, listening to Roiyaru's spoken piece of mind, letting the words touch his heart as usual.

After hearing his dog's assuring words, Abbadon sat down next to Roiyaru. He placed his left arm around his neck and rested his own head on his.

"Thanks, buddy," he said with a mixture of sincerity and sarcasm. He went on to give Roiyaru a small yet meaningful kiss on his cheek before resting his forehead on the right side of his face, finding any moment between himself and his dog absolutely perfect in it's own way.

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru loved the affection his master would give him on an everyday basis. It didn't have to be because he always brought up his spirit. It could have been over something small, like reminding him of something he had to do on a certain date. Most of the time, it was done out of the sincerity of his heart, because there was nothing inside of it but good intentions. And Roiyaru would return that affection three-fold, just to show his master how much he loved him and cared for him.

After the kiss he received from his master, he returned it with a simple lick to his face. He then went on to rest his head on his master's shoulder, cradled by his neck. There was no better feeling than this to Roiyaru. According to him, to be loved is the greatest feeling of all.

"I love you, master," he said softly. "Always remember that. If you ever get to the point of doubt, ever reach the point of despair, if you ever get the feeling that there isn't a single solitary soul that doesn't love you, always remember that I do..."

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon chuckled as he felt the tongue of his dog on his cheek. And when he rested his head on his shoulder, that took the cake. Abbadon couldn't think of how this moment could get any better, yet once again Roiyaru takes him by surprise. He could feel his fur on his naked neck and found it comforting, this animal being the only being other than the woman he intended to marry allowed to get this intimate with him.

Not even Shadow was, and he's his best friend.

When Abbadon heard Roiyaru's little heart-felt speech, he smiled again. This dog really knows how to make someone feel special, doesn't he? But then again, if he didn't learn anything from Roiyaru but one thing, it would have to be that the best feeling of all, is to be loved...

"I love you too, guy," Abbadon said as he let his head rest on top of Roiyaru's, using the arm wrapped around his neck to pet the side of his left cheek. Even though Abbadon would never admit it, when it comes to connecting with certain people or certain beings you become drawn to them, unable to free yourself from them. And only when you're caught up in that beings gravity do you realize just how much you mean to that individual. And, sometimes, how much they mean to you...

"Shadow's gonna be here soon, Roi," Abbadon said to his dog. "He wants to go over some of the battle plans that he came up with when he worked with Taiyou last week."

Abbadon's voice started to trail off as he continued to pet his dog.

"But... he's been acting weird around me lately," he said in a concerned tone of voice. "More weird than usual. What do you think is wrong with him?"

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow bit his lip as he over heard his best friend talking to Roiyaru moments before Shadow could say that he was here with his plans to overthrow Tsubasa.

But... he's been acting weird around me lately, he heard, More weird than usual. What do you think is wrong with him?

He doesn't know..., Shadow thought as he took a step back slightly, ....No, he doesn't. He's smart enough to had come to me if he had figure it out. He's not the smartest one out the three of us....

Clearing his throat to grab both of their attention, he smiled---though it was nervous one at best---and spoke.

"What's wrong with who?" he asked while he clutched his papers full of information about the strike that he and Taiyou had worked on for the past few days.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

"What's wrong with who?" Abbadon could hear behind him. Lifting his head off of Roiyaru's, he looked behind him to see Shadow Seijin. He smiled as he saw him with the battle plans underneath his arm. He patted Roiyaru on the back to let him know that he was here and stood up.

"Hey, bro," he said as he approached Shadow with extended arms. He gave him a quick, yet effective hug. Once he let go, he placed his hands on Shadow's shoulders, shaking him a bit.

"Alright!" he said as he grabbed the battle plans. "You got the blueprint scales for Tsubasa's palace! Sweet!" He looked through the scrolls quickly, going over the details thoroughly. "This is awesome! What would I do without you, man?"

Abbadon then caught the look on Shadow's face. It was almost like he was gonna blow chunks. Abbadon knew that whenever Shadow looked like that, he had something he had to get off his chest.

"Hey, bro," Abbadon said as he placed his free hand on one of Shadow's shoulders. "What's wrong? Everything okay?"

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow took a deep breath and gave another nervous smile, this time not giving Abbadon any eye contact. He had to think of something and something quick.

"I---uh--I," he studdered as he put his right hand on Abbadon's shoulder, mirroring Abbadon's hand, "I'm just a bit tired. That's all, making those blue prints was not easy..."

Neither was that hug.... he thought with a quick blush. Clearing his throat, he looked over to Roiyaru, then back at Abbadon again.

"Hey, buddy," Shadow said with another sound of his throat clearing, "You don't mind if I talk to Roiyaru for a moment. There are somethings that we need to go over with . It won't take long."

Shadow hated that he needed to lie to his only true friend around here but he couldn't just let everything go out in the open like Abbadon does or like Taiyou. In a way they were all different, with Shaodw feeling more different than the other two. But he had to put that a side intill everything with the over throwing Tsubasa was done and over with. Intill then Shadow was willing to put his feelings aside intill it was over.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon gave Shadow one of his stares he always gave him whenever he said something confusing. It wasn't the fact that Shadow wanted to talk to Roiyaru; that's been common for the past three weeks. It was just his actions and how he was able to read his body language, like he was struggling with something. Maybe it was that he was feeling a bit insecure about himself since they left the army for this rebellion. But being the kind of person Abbadon was, he couldn't stand to watch him struggle and not do something about it.

But, Abbadon knew Roiyaru was better at these situations than he was. He nodded at his best friend, smirking.

"That's cool," he said before looking back toward his sitting dog. He walked back toward him and sat down next to him, starting to look over the schematics more carefully.

<Shadow wants to talk to you about something, Roi,> he told Roiyaru through their mental channel. <See if you can find out what's wrong with him, will you? I'm a little worried about him.>

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru sat as his master greeted Lieutenant Seijin behind him, easily finding the voice familiar. He felt his master release his embrace to greet him, but Roiyaru did not look behind him to see the two friends mingle. No; instead he kept his eyes on the tombstone of Noel Hakaisha, staring with a face serious as stone.

"I believe I now know why I failed to protect you and your wife, Noel," he said softly. "Before your son was birthed into this world, I felt that protecting you and Habashi was nothing but a chore; cursed with the never-ending duty of my creator's wishes."

He smiled.

"But only with the birth of your son did my duty seem to have meaning," he continued softly. "It was as if before his coming, my task was for nothing. But now that he is here, I rest at nothing to keep him safe. I feel selfish and heartless for saying this, but it was as if the two of you had to die. Both you and your wife had to sacrifice yourselves so that Heaven could be graced with a being that loves it... equally as I do him.

"I admit no shame by mentioning this, Noel; I truly love your son. I loved him since the day he was born. I can only plea for your forgiveness for not showing the same amount of love that I have for master to you and your wife."

Roiyaru bowed his head.

"I feel as though you are cursing me for not being there to protect you," he continued, "bringing this being into his life that has the ability to love him in far greater quantities than I can. But, I understand my judgment and I shall do the time which is sentenced of me. After all, I have all the time in the world."

Roiyaru saw his master sit next to him out the corner of his eye, viewing scrolls of papers obviously brought back by Lieutenant Seijin.

<Shadow wants to talk to you about something, Roi,> he heard him say through their mental channel. <See if you can find out what's wrong with him, will you? I'm a little worried about him.>

Roiyaru sighed before nodding. <Of course, master,> he replied before standing on all fours. He turned to see Shadow, obviously downtrodden and scared. Roiyaru sighed before displaying a friendly smile.

"What can I help you with, Lieutenant?" he asked him.

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow pointed with his thumb towards a church that was near by. He walked over to the building very calmly at first. When he reached out of ear shot of Abbadon but enough for Roiyaru to hear him he turned around and faced him, half way towards the church.

"Roiyaru," he started, "I have been having those dreams again. The same one with those red and black eyes looking at me and judging me. Do you think that it is time for me to tell Abbadon how I really feel about him. I know I want to tell him but for one, I don't know how to tell him and two, I don't know if I should tell him after this is over with or before it will begin."

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru sighed after listening to what Seijin had to say. It was not uncommon for the lieutenant to ask him for advice, but lately all he could do was pour his heart out to him. Roiyaru had no problem with the situation, but after hearing what was on Shadow's heart made him realize that there were indeed others rather than himself that cared for his master.

Curse you, Noel, he thought to himself. You knew this would happen, didn't you?

But, Roiyaru had to be tame. He could not let selfishness get the best of him. Shadow was struggling, and he couldn't dare watch anyone his master appreciated suffer.

"I believe," Roiyaru started as he gathered both his thoughts and his inner peace, "that you should follow your heart. To me, these two pairs of eyes judging you symbolize your lack of showing your true emotions to the people you care about. Keeping your emotions in like that does things that are unexplainable. I don't think that neither yourself or master would want that."

Roiyaru walked closer toward Shadow, wearing a look of humbleness and sadness on his face.

"You must follow your heart, Lieutenant," he told him. "Do what you feel is right. And whatever the outcome may be, the fact that you took the initiative to make things right will help on your road to recovery. And maybe those eyes would ease up their gaze on you. Follow your heart, Lieutenant. Follow your heart..."

[Akuma Shadow]

'But what if I can't..." Shadow spoke as he looked at Abbadon, a smile coming over his face as he saw him looking over the battle plans and the place to hit.

"I'm not like Abbadon, I just can't go over to him and say that I love him. What if those eyes were telling me that it is a bad idea to do something like this. i can't do it!"

Tears began to run down Shadow's face as he looked down.

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru sighed once again, finding this situation saddening. One way or another, Lieutenant Seijin would tell his master how he really felt about him. And the situation Shadow was in was nothing more than heartbreaking. But -- like he did when he first brought the situation to his attention -- Roiyaru swallowed, and prepared to give him his advice.

"This burden," Roiyaru said, "has been put upon you ever since the two of you were little. And for over a thousand years, you have let this build up inside you to the point that it is starting to affect your mind. This has to be told to the person it was meant to be told to. So if not now, then when?"

Roiyaru sat down, awaiting Lieutenant Seijin's decision.

[Akuma Shadow]

"I guess....you are right." Shadow said as he took his right hand and wipe away some of the tears that fell from his eyes. "But I will tell him when the time is right, I just can't tell him out right and not like this." Clearing his throat, he smiled, sincerely this time.

"Roiyaru, are you ready to take down Tsubasa? I mean, this could be it, we could be done with that bastard for good but I just have this feeling that this isn't really the end..."

[Roiyaru]

Roiyaru nodded at the lieutenant's response, gladdened that his words reached him to the point of understanding. Even the fact that he decided when to tell his master how he really felt about him was somewhat comforting to Roiyaru; knowing that he had a hand of helping his master's closest companion next to himself was comforting, aside from the selfishness he shared toward him.

When Roiyaru heard Lieutenant Seijin ask is he was ready to take down Tsubasa and his feelings toward the subject, he sighed, honestly thinking about the subject.

"We have no idea what the future may hold for us, Lieutenant," Roiyaru said. "Our actions now change the outcome of our destinies that were set before us. What is more important is the past; to be able to remember our mistakes, our faults and our achievements makes our present and future that more bountiful; that more fulfilling.

"Never forget your past, Shadow. Never forget what you feel for my master. Who knows? The same love you have toward him in the present might end up saving his life in the future."

Roiyaru stood up, but not without first picking up a mental signal from his master a few yards away from them. He chuckled.

"I believe my master misses your company," he told Shadow.

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow rose his up and looked at Abbadon who was looking at him with a puzzled look. Shadow only smiled as he brought his look back at Roiyaru and made a slight nod.

Walking back over with his hands in his coat pockets, he thought

So tonight I tell him, I'll tell him everything....

When he got over, he still held his smile in place as he made contact with the plans and placed his hands on them.

But first things first...

"So," he started "How do you like my full-proof plans, my friend. With this we can finally take him down!" he had more energy, which was common whenever he was around him. he didn't know why it happen all the time, it was like that since the first day that they met. it was the only reason why he went along with this and, at first, was not sure about this, was now committed to this attack.

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon looked through the schematics Shadow gave him, not noticing Roiyaru head over to talk to his best friend. From what he gathered, the effects of what the three of them already did as far as preparation for the attack was perfect for at least two of them to intercept the castle. And Abbadon already knew which two it would be.

Abbadon took a break from looking at the blueprints in his hands and looked up toward the sky. Everything that had been happening these last past few days was torture. Planning and plotting and his training with Taiyou. Everything to prepare himself for this moment; to bring the Hakaisha line honor in the heavens. I mean, what else is there to bring when your the only freakin' one left?!

But he knew this was something he had to do. And the last thing he wanted to do was involve someone he knew wouldn't have been able to handle it. Someone he knew was having problems on their own. Someone he couldn't help but care for their well-being since they met at this exact graveyard.

And that someone was his best friend, Shadow Seijin.

Abbadon immediately looked over to his left to find Shadow standing over his shoulder; his sudden appearance surprising him a bit. As soon as he started gloating about how fool-proof his plans were, it made Abbadon laugh. He stood up and snickered at Shadow, rolling up the plans in his hands and bopping them upside his head.

"You wouldn't know fool-proof if it hit you in the face!" Abbadon joked before sighing and preparing himself for what he was going to say.

"Listen, Shadow," he began. "I know you've been by my side since day one. For that, I am grateful. With what we did to cripple Tsubasa this far, it would be easy for any of us to finish the job."

He looked away, seeing Roiyaru keep an affective gaze on the two of them. Then he looked back at Shadow.

"That's why tomorrow," Abbadon started, "I think I'm going to go solo on this one."

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow laugh at the joke comment that his friend told him but what he said next wasn't funny at all. the young man stared at Abbadon for what felt like year frozen in time.

"Going....solo..." he utter out after a few seconds to get his head straight.

"Why are you going Solo. You can't do that, that's not the plan. the plan was to go in there, as a team, take down Tsubasa, as a team, and leave out AS A TEAM! Are you crazy, you're going to get yourself killed and all of our work would have been for nothing!" There was a hint of rage in Shadow's eyes as he kept his gaze on Abbadon."

"Tell me why you doing this."

[Hakaisha Abbadon]

Abbadon sighed immediately as he heard Shadow repeat the words "going solo." He knew this shit would happen. So, he patiently stood there, taking all of Shadow's ramblings, only noticing that there was more to what he was saying than just rage -- which itself was something else he wasn't expecting either.

"Tell me why you're doing this," he asked.

Abbadon sighed again. "Because I don't want to see you get hurt again, Shadow," Abbadon said. "Next to Roiyaru, you are the closest thing I have to a family, and I'll be damned if I have to watch my brother die because of something that I have to do, alright?!"

Abbadon sighed and closed his eyes. He knew he was letting his emotions get the best of him, but he could give two shits and a tailwag about those fuckers right now.

"I don't know why I'm doing this, Shadow," he said. "All I know is that I have to. I have to be the matriarch to make Heaven a better place for you, for me, and for all the other uprights, because I'm the only one who can. And I refuse to lose you over something that I have to do. I need you." Abbadon swallowed. "I need you now more than ever."