FLASHBACK: Unsettled Spirits (Shadow)[FINISHED]

[Oracle]

[This takes place after the events of "FLASHBACK: Gravity."]



Oracle stood outside Tsubasa's palace as his robes flowed in the wind, blending in with the flags around him. With his staff in hand, he blended in perfectly with the palace walls. His hood was on and his vision ever so clear. He waited until he noticed anyone; Hakaisha, Kanjin, even the Seijin fellow he boned up on when he researched the chaos user's friends and allies. At this time of night, he would be happy to receive anything at all.

That's when he noticed a being walking into an isolated area outside of the palace. It was definitely a male, and from what Oracle could tell, he had a head of purple hair. Oracle smiled underneath his hood, realizing who this specimen in question was.

"Seijin," he said under his breath.

Oracle immediately transported from on top of the palace walls and into the isolated area, using his void magic to make himself invisible to the Archangel, hiding in plain sight...

[Akuma Shadow]

Where the hell is he? Shadow asked himself as he stalked the area slowly with blade drawn.

This isn't right, something isn't right... He quickly turned around, hearing a slight noise from behind him. It was nothing and Shadow let out a sigh of relief. he was still on edge over the fact that Abbadon went on his own but this was new fear.

"I wish he would just come out here already, I'm worried enough as it is!"

[Oracle]

Oracle grinned evilly as he stalked his worried prey, circling around him like a vulture waiting on his dinner to fester in a heated desert. He was teasing him, really; hovering around him invisible to his eyes, leaving sounds and noises on purpose to make Shadow fidgety and sloppy with his guard. That's when he heard him speak.

"I wish he would just come out here already," he said. "I'm worried enough as it is!"

The thought made Oracle chuckle out loud, causing his voice to echo throughout the area. Liking the effect his void magic and the space gave his voice, he decided to continue experimenting with it.

"The only thing you should worry about is the future, my dear Seijin," he said to the Archangel followed by another eerie chuckle, still invisible to his eyes.

Oracle hovered directly in front of Shadow, watching the look on his face.

"The future can be troublesome," he said to Shadow. After a few seconds of saying the sentence, Oracle revealed his true form to the scared Archangel, his staff in one hand and his free one outstretched.

"Let me guide you..."

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow rose his head up swiftly when he heard the words that came out of no where. He scanned the area as quickly as he could until he saw him.

It was the abomination. It was Oracle.

He had heard stories from people about this person, about what he did and the fact that he seemed to appear to him was not a good thing.

The only thing you should worry about is the future, my dear Seijin... The future can be troublesome, let me guide you...
Shadow heard him say as he made himself known to him.

Shadow frowned as he said "My future is my own right. You know nothing of me. Why are you here?" His blade was pointed at Oracle as he looked at him dead in the eyes.

[Oracle]

Oracle looked at Shadow with a smile as his sword was pointed his way. He looked at the Archangel and scanned him with his eyes, using his racial ability for the first time in his life. Then he disappeared behind him, twirling his staff and readying it for attack.

"Oh, but I do, Lieutenant," he said before he bashed in Shadow's head with his staff. Twirling it again, he hovered in the air.

"I know about your strengths," he said as he slowly approached him, "And I know about your weaknesses."

Oracle then used his void magic to change the entire area into a timeless void, concealing everything in a darkened state. The only ones able to be seen fully were Oracle and Shadow. He smiled.

"And that weakness," he said, "is Hakaisha Abbadon."

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow wobbled back after getting bashed from the staff that Oracle had in his hand. He turn around to see him slowly approach him.

I'm letting this get to me.... Shadow thought to himself as he tried to pull it back together. Shadow then heard something that made him lose it.

"And that weakness is Hakaisha Abbadon."

And there was only Rage.

"Shut UP!" Shadow rushed to Oracle with blade pointing at his enemy. He began to swing it wildly with every one step he took.

[Oracle]

Oracle was expecting him to get this angry, but not this angry. With his racial ability, Oracle was able to pick up easily his infatuation over the chaos user. As a matter of fact, you could almost say that it was nothing but lust. But as he saw Shadow charge toward him with his sword in a completely emotion-based attack, he could pick up another emotion other than lust that had a hold on him.

And that emotion was pure rage.

Interesting, Oracle thought to himself, gaining an idea in his head.

The Malakite dodged the Archangel's attack with a small glide. He immediately sent his knee into Shadow's gut with a thrust as powerful as a battering ram knocking down a door. Oracle smiled as his face immediately met Shadow's; finding every single emotion priceless.

"I sense a battle raging inside you, Shadow," he whispered. "The lust you have toward your companion has made you weak. And the rage you have toward everything else has made you foolish. When looking at it up close, it's actually quite a ridiculous atrocity, wouldn't you say?"

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow slid back an inch as he coughed and tried to take a breath after that attack. He wobbled again in place as he wiped the blood from his mouth that seemed to stream down his mouth. As much as Shadow wanted not to believe in what Oracle was saying, he knew that deep down inside that he was right.

About everything.

No! Shadow thought as he clutched his blade in his right hand and left, I won't let him hurt you...

"I am not weak," Shadow spoke, "You speak of weakness. The one who is an abomination. You are the weak one." Shadow took off running from the right side with the blade at his left side, trying for a break in his defense.

You know nothing of me... he thought as he made a upward slash motion.

[Oracle]

Oracle chuckled after hearing what Shadow had to say. This had to have been the most entertaining thing he witnessed all day. Just watching Shadow's resilience and will to keep going was worth a poor mother's pride.

"Now now, Shadow darling," Oracle said with a chuckle. "There's no need for mud-slinging..."

He watched as the Archangel prepared to strike again, only to stay perfectly still. That was when he heard the thought racing through his head.

You know nothing of me...

Oracle once again chuckled to himself. And apparently, he thought, neither do you...

When Shadow slashed his sword, Oracle used his void magic to transparent himself so that the attack went through him, not causing any damage to his being. He smiled as he made himself solid again.

"I thought we went over that already."

Oracle then kicked Shadow in the chin with the swiftness of a fluttered wing. He hovered back a bit and readied one his free hand with gray void magic, ready to act out his ever growing idea...

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow flew back and landed on the solid floor hard. He spit up blood from his mouth and rose out off the floor with the help of his blade. He staggered from the left and then back.

Running toward him again, there was no yelling, no breathing, just the sound of Shadow's foot steps toward the enemy. There was no thought, only rage.

There was no passion in the attack, just pure blood lust. Shadow didn't care at the moment about his well being, he only wanted him dead. To see the blood run down his blade and to only see Abbadon again when this was over.

[Oracle]

Oracle watched as his victim landed on the floor, only to pick himself up into a jumbled piled mess of relentless will and blood, tied into one ridiculous package of melancholy. Oracle's hand flickered and a smile raged on his face as he saw Shadow run toward him.

That's right, Oracle thought to himself. Come to me; I'll make it all better for you, Seijin...

Finally, Shadow came within striking distance. With a single duck, Oracle dodged the swing of Shadow's blade. Then with the most powerful thrust Oracle could dish out, the wingless Malakite impacted his voided hand into Shadow's face. Time seemed to slow as Oracle's hand phased through Shadow's head and escaped through the other end in the form of a fist. And once that fist was visible, so were the two essences that the fist had a hold of.

Once Oracle was directly behind Shadow and his body parts free from the Archangels skull, Oracle released his grip on the two essences and watched as they took forms. They were both male, only one had light brown hair and the other had a lighter shade of purple hair than it's original host. Oracle smiled as he gazed upon his work, finally aware that he had the power to split whole emotions into separate personalities.

Oracle gazed upon his creations; Lust and Rage...

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow felt, for a moment, nothing. There was no emotion to be felt and at first Shadow thought of himself as dead. He felt dizzy after a few moments and his vision was some what blurred. He could make out Oracle but he then saw two other figures.

What...What happen?

He then heard a blood thirsty yell and he made a blocking position, thinking it was Oracle attacking him only to notice nothing happening to him.

Looking up and having his vision return, he saw someone attacking Oracle with his blade. He saw the other figure just standing there with a lustful stare in his face just watching Oracle from afar.

"Who are you!?" he questioned the one that was standing still. The figure did nothing but stood silent and watched.

[Oracle]

Oracle watched his two creations wander around the area. Watching Lust react to Oracle only proved that he was successful in his first stunning performance. However, by seeing the purple-haired Rage come toward him with a blood-thirsty roar only made his reaction all the sweeter.

Now for the ultimate test, Oracle thought to himself.

Placing his staff in his right hand, Oracle reached within his robes with his left, and grasped the end of a small sword by his waist. As Rage came closer, Oracle blocked the sword attack with his staff and quickly yet efficiently swiping his hidden blade across.

When his attack was complete, he noticed that Rage was in one peace. But what he noticed afterward was that blood was still present. Oracle looked at him and found out that it wasn't his blood. He looked at Rage, who was apparently still struggling to attack until he blew a bit of void magic his way, causing him to be completely still.

"Don't move," he said smugly as he removed his staff.

Oracle stood upright and turned to the direction he saw the blood flow. When he did, he looked at Shadow. He smiled at the sight in which he gazed, knowing his experiment was a success...

[Akuma Shadow]

Pain. It was flowing through Shadow's right arm and the Archangel didn't know why. At first he didn't scream but within him he knew he was too late to do anything. Walking toward Oracle, he placed his left hand where he felt the pain at and felt nothing was there.

"Thi...This can't be it..." Shadow said in whispers over and over with each step. Stopping half way, he kneed down on the floor, still looking at Oracle with the last of his strength. He thought of his life. He thought about all the things that he had done. he then thought of Abbadon and the kiss he gave him. Shadow smiled as his body slowly leaned to the the floor and laid there.

The figure's Lust and Rage started fade.

[Oracle]

Oracle smiled as he walked over toward Shadow, meeting him halfway. He looked at the dying Archangel and picked him up with his free hand. He directed his head toward Lust and Rage and smiled as he brought his own head closer to Shadow's ear.

"The one with the brown hair is called Lust," he introduced. "The one with your hair color is called Rage. Learn them well, Seijin; you will be spending a very long time with both."

Oracle pointed his staff at the two, exhibiting a force of void magic over them.

"I bind you two to the spirit of this Archangel," he commanded them. "Only through a traumatic occurrence will you make your presence known to every single incarnation of this spirit, be it Celestial or Mortal, if they exhibit the emotions you were created by. And once your presence is known, you shall plague that individual until the current incarnation can fuse you both together within it's own psyche."

Oracle watched as the two personalities once again became essences, and entered the ears of Seijin Shadow, waiting on their host to die and start their mission.

"This is what you get for loving an individual who dwells in chaos," Oracle said. "I know you think that it was worth it, but was it really worth sacrificing your life -- your future -- for a heart of darkness?"

Oracle sighed, resting his chin on the shoulder that used to home his right arm.

"I guess I can make this easier for you," he said, "by leaving you with a parting gift."

Oracle once again used his sword, this time thrusting it through the Archangel's chest. He didn't know what he hit or what he didn't. All he knew was that the angel was going to die. And through his death, his art would come to life.

"You brought it upon yourself, Shadow," Oracle whispered. "Enjoy whatever life you have next with nothing but the plague of this one on your shoulders..."

Then Oracle dropped him, watching as the one-armed angel with a sword through his back bled out. But Oracle refused to leave until he heard Shadow's last breath.

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow said nothing as he was picked up by Oracle, the blood loss from his arm made sure of that. He did, how ever, heard him put the hex on him.

"I bind you two to the spirit of this Archangel," he commanded them. "Only through a traumatic occurrence will you make your presence known to every single incarnation of this spirit, be it Celestial or Mortal...."

The rest fell out of place and silence took over. His senses failing, Shadow felt one more tug of pain in his heart and he made a jerk. He fell on the ground and did nothing but watch the darkness that was his sight.

This is it, huh? he questioned, I guess good-bye is a second chance...but Abbadon...

"I...need...you." Shadow sighed as he finally closed his eyes for one last time.

[Oracle]

Oracle watched as the angel underneath him died, smiling as he saw him close his eyes to accept death. Oracle snatched off a piece of Seijin's clothing, using it to wipe away the blood from his sword before placing it back in it's hidden place underneath his robes. He removed his hood to gather the essence of the scene before him, snapping his fingers to release the black void surrounding them.

The vision of the fifth layer returned to Oracle's sight, as he scanned the area around him. Satisfied with his work, Oracle turned to leave. He did not feel like dealing with Celsus meddling in his affairs. It was already bad enough that Tsubasa was checking on his progress every five minutes or so.

As Oracle left the body to be found by someone else, he started to dwell on the Archangel's honest deed he picked up when he used his racial ability. The event happened in the capital city of Famiel within the sixth layer; Hakaisha's birthplace and home. He would no doubt find the chaos user there.

"And now to face the being that will grant me my freedom," Oracle said as he continued to walk down a deserted street, slowly yet surely disappearing into the thin air of Gousou.

Little Lotty, let your mind wander...