SHIFT 2 - Purgatory

Darkness rising

Ryu was the first to reach the mountain. His wings making the flight easy. Mori was lagging slightly, due to the extra weight of his brother in his arms. Lucifer stayed close to the silent dragon vampire. His eyes wandered over the dragon.

"Siris?" Nagisa whispered.

"He left the same time Reggie did." A deep voice hissed nearby.

"Don't tell me..." Nagisa leaned over the side of the red dragon.

Under him, as if he were their shadow, flew a darker dragon. Ziren snorted. "You thought you could take him into battle without me?" he quikered an eye ridge at the vampire.

"How can I hear you?" Nagisa demanded.

"You are the true mate of my soul, duh!" Ziren chuckled.

So, Siris had gone after Reginald. Nagisa sat back. His mind raced as the castle of gloom and doom drew ever closer. Marcus, what should we do? He pondered. Never in all his life had he asked his brother for advise. Well, not since he was nine. Marcus had kicked him, telling him to figure it out on his own. Ever since, that was what Nagisa had done.

He didn't lean on his cousin. He didn't use Coldar's knowledge of weapons. He didn't ask his siblings for help. He fought alone. An army of one, since he knew he couldn't count on anyone to ever back him up.

"That wasn't the lesson you were trying to teach me!" Nagisa gasped.

Marcus hadn't meant for him to learn to be alone. To keep himself apart since he wasn't like his siblings. He had only meant for Nagisa to learn to rely on his instinct. To see the battle before him, and use the players as he needed. He sighed.

"So stupid! There were a million better ways he could have done that!" He growled out now.

"Can you please stop talking to yourself and let the rest of us in on what's going on?" Farady demanded.

Nagisa glanced over at her. She sat with her arms wrapped around her sister so the siren didn't fall off. Nagisa met her cold, determined eyes.

"You were his first training partner, yet no one sees you as his equal, why?" Nagisa asked.

"Because, there is no equal to Marcus Romanari." Faraday insisted.

Nagisa laughed. "That's where you went wrong. He isn't the best. Never was, may never be. There is always someone or something better out there." Nagisa insisted.

"You could be his equal, if you gave up your fashion business sand went to seminary." Hari smiled delighted to be able to add to the conversation.

"Sister, your wrong too. See, I wasn't born to be this damn good. The fucker drilled me day and night to become his equal. He failed with Mori. Not sure where or why he thought that. Maybe it was killing his mother that put a soft spot in his heart for him." Nagisa shrugged.

"With me, there was only one goal he had. To pass on everything he could to make me this damn good!" Nagisa stood up on the back of the dragon.

He pulled the sword from his back. Twirling it he gazed down the length of it at the old owners daughter. Flipping it around, he held the handle out to her.

"It should have been yours. I'm sorry I took it from you. But, right now, you need a weapon." He waited.

"A sword was never meant to grace my hand. I have a weapon." Farady smiled mysteriously.

"Go do your insane shit, baby brother. We will be here to save your limp lifeless body." She rolled her eyes.

Nagisa held the sword for another moment. Then flipped the handle back into his hand.