Woven

Kyo: Chapter 19

A bubble within a bubble within a bubble. When he thought about it, if it wasn't so scary, the way he was infiltrating the Reaper's dome was kind of amusing, since it produced an imagery that reinforced the... oh, whatever, Kyo wasn't interested in all that. Not at the moment, anyway. Right now, he was interested in keeping both his inner bubble and the outer bubble in place in order to keep the Reaper out and in respectively. Oh great, now it was complicated. He kept walking regardless.

Beneath his feet, the grass was much more drained than outside, crumbling to the very wind brushed up by his steps. It was strange. As he went deeper, it became easier to progress, to hold out the Reaper, contrary to how he thought it would go. He expected he would've had to push for every inch of ground, but instead, it was as if he was being ushered along a line, one in which everyone else had to wait, but he could move right along to the front.

What was it with these comparisons? Kyo didn't know what lines were, since even the subjects that had come to see him before he was split never had to wait in one. Every time he came up with an analogy he didn't fully understand, it confused him. It was almost like... trying to remember a dream that he had last night, but not being able to.

Strange, isn't it?

The voice seemed to come from everywhere, scaring Kyo to death. He looked around, but he already knew the source. Ahead, the darker dome was the same size as it had been that first day that they had encountered the Reaper closely.

Of course I can speak to you; now that you're within my own rudimentary body, speaking to your rudimentary mind is a simple task.

Kyo responded, I can only imagine.

Ah, telepathy. I didn't think you'd still have that after Anima killed us.

I have friends.

Kyo could almost hear the Reaper laugh, Alas, so you did. But now you are here, without them. Please, come closer.

What little pressure was left on Kyo's barrier relaxed. If he didn't know better, he would release it, leaving himself unsheltered within the Reaper. However, then he would be unable to get what he wanted. Kyo walked forward, reaching the darker gray dome. Hesitantly, he put a hand out to touch it. It passed right through with no trouble at all. Kyo stepped into it.

Within was a bright small world, completely saturated with color. The grass beneath was a fuller red than Kyo had seen outside. A strange assortment of objects was scattered about, littering the ground with no rhyme or reason to their piling. In the midst of them sat a small figure, turned away from Kyo.

"Like them?"

Kyo didn't respond. He didn't recognize any of the objects, so he had no opinion on them. Besides, they were too cluttered for his taste. However, he did identify the cloak that the figure wore. The shape of it, anyway. The main color was the original white, but now there were streams of deep red decorating it with black trim on the sleeves. The figure -- no, the Reaper stood up, revealing the blood red leggings he wore to match his cloak. He turned to face Kyo, revealing the kitsune mask that he was wearing. "It's good to meet you at long last."

I'd return the sentiment, but you've tried to kill me a lot.

"But isn't that what you're here to do? To kill me?"

When Kyo didn't respond, the Reaper took off his mask, revealing a face identical to Kyo's. However, the color was very different from his; the hair was white, matching the mask; when he smiled wide, hints of his blood red mouth stood out against his shining teeth; and most disturbing of all, his eyes were all white, no pupils or irises. "I thought you'd at least appreciate my outfit. I realized I should clothe myself once I figured out what you wanted to try."