As some of you may know, Peanut and I are crazy about Roleplaying, and it's clear, since this is the second one on this site that belongs to us. And we aren't even done with the first one! Regardless, that won't stop us from starting this new roleplay, Rude Awakening!

 

Kinda dark and mysterious title, eh?

 

As stated in the title, this RP is one on one, no exceptions. Please refrain from posting in the RP. Instead, follow us on this new journey!

 

Peanut, my amazing friend, let's begin!

Riku eyes darted around the area, scanning over the Heartless to see if any of them held a single twitch. Nothing. But after a moment, the Darkness in the room grew with the appearance of a Dark portal. He grunted in alarm as a hooded figure walked out of it, only a few yards away from Lightning. That was too close for comfort. And when the voice echoed around the room, Riku felt his body stiffen.

 

"You've grown stronger," Cedric said, smirking behind the darkness of his hood. "It seems the Master has done well in training you, Claire." Of course, Riku trained her to fight against the Organization, but that wouldn't work. For multiple reasons.

Lightning did a small jump back, holding her gunblade with both hands as she stared at the man. It was so obvious who it was even with his hood up. Her father decided to drop in. "Yeah, I'm stronger," she said lowly. She lifted it, pointing the gun at him as she set a finger on the trigger. "I'm strong enough to end this." I hope. 

Cedric glanced up when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Riku was making his way down from the balcony, using other ledges to jump from and descend. "He doesn't seem to think so," he said, looking from the Master as he landed smoothly on his feet and then to his daughter. Master Riku was still awfully protective of Lightning. That would be her downfall.

Lightning didn't look back at Riku, remembering her training. She wasn't supposed to take her eyes off her enemy, especially not her father. It'd get her into trouble. "He can be wrong every once in a while," she said simply, keeping her firm hold on her weapon. She was strong enough to do this. She had to be.

Riku summoned his weapon to his grasp, but he didn't get into his stance. He glanced from Lightning to Cedric and ignored her response. He was protective of her, naturally, and he believed she could defend herself. But he didn't know if she was strong enough to defeat Cedric on her own. She still had attachments to who he used to be, or who he pretended to be. "...What do you want?" Riku asked lowly. This was no time for games. If Cedric was here, he was here for a reason. He wouldn't have wasted time tracking them down.

 

"My daughter," Cedric replied instantly. "I need her to come with me." And this time, it wasn't for the Organization's purposes. The Organization was gone. The Thirteen were destroyed.

Lightning still kept her weapon raised, re-positioning her finger on the trigger. "No thanks," she said dryly. As if she was going to go with him. He could try to take her by force, but it still wasn't going to happen. It was two against one, and even if Lightning was new at fighting, she could still do damage. 

Edited February 15, 201411 yr by Peanut

"I think you'll be swayed once I explain myself," Cedric said, taking a few steps forward and lowering his hood. His blue eyes fell on those identical to his as he ignored the Master's presence. "You remember my comrade Jihl, don't you sweetheart? You see, she's in on this whole plan, as usual. But I was the one who decided to get your sister involved."

 

Riku grunted faintly in alarm, eyes widening before they narrowed viciously. Serah was brought into this?!

Lightning ground her teeth in fury. She was always protective of Serah from the small things of life, and now that she was in real danger, she was even more protective. "Where's Serah?" she asked in a tone nobody heard before. She was infuriated and looking for blood; nobody wanted to mess with her now.

"A world you haven't visited, I'm sure." Cedric smiled darkly, a look his daughter should have grown accustomed to by now. "Jihl is with her, so don't get any bright ideas, Master Riku." He could practically hear the wheels turning in the boy's head, and he glanced over at him in the short silence that followed. The Master only glared at him in his fury. Cedric's eyes flicked from him to his daughter. "Unless you cooperate, Claire, Serah won't survive."

Lightning tightened her grasp on the weapon's hilt, though she couldn't very well do anything with it now. "What do I need to cooperate with?" she asked lowly. What did he even want with her? It wasn't time for the final showdown yet, was it? 

"Come with me and I'll tell you all you need to know," Cedric said with a small wave of his hand. "Those are my rules. Oh, and Master Riku doesn't follow. If I find out he's trailing us, Serah dies."

 

Riku's jaw flexed as he fought with his fury. This was so ridiculous! But how could he tell if Cedric was lying? That was the thing: he couldn't. Riku's hard eyes moved to Lightning. He already knew that she would agree to those terms to save Serah. But...Riku couldn't just let her go!

Lightning slowly lowered the weapon. It wouldn't do her any good now. She couldn't save Serah when she was worlds away. She couldn't do a single thing to protect what mattered most. She ground her teeth, stowing the weapon away in the pack that hung behind her. She had no choice but to obey. 

While Cedric smiled in approval, Riku blinked. "Lightning," he hissed. There had to be some way around this. This couldn't be the only way! Besides, Riku had a feeling that if Lightning went through with this, something terrible would happen to her. Riku feared he wouldn't see her again...

Lightning briefly glanced out of the corner of her eye at Riku, but then she looked at her father. "Last time, you were prepared to let me say goodbye," she said, curling her fist to stay calm. "Will you let me do that this time?" She hoped he would. After all...she had no clue what was in store for her.

Cedric gazed at his daughter for a moment, studying her. "...No games," he ordered strictly. The last time he allowed her a goodbye, Lightning knocked him out. He would keep a close eye on her this time to be sure that didn't happen again. With those guidelines, Cedric would let Lightning tell the Master farewell.

Lightning nodded slightly, turning to face Riku. This was the first time she looked at him since her father appeared. Needless to say, he looked very peeved and worried. She wasn't sure how she looked, but she was remaining as calm as possible. Panic won't help. Need to focus on how to solve this whole thing. She was smart. Riku was smart. In whatever brief time they had to say farewell, they had to come up with something.

Riku gave Lightning a look. You're crazy! he thought. No way was he just going to let her go! Didn't she remember what he said? He couldn't lose her again... It nearly broke him the first time. Seeing her walk away would hurt more, especially when he couldn't help. Riku wasn't the type of person or warrior--or boyfriend--to let someone so important to him disappear with the enemy.

Light stepped in front of Riku, fighting the urge to set her hands on his arms as she faced him head on. This wasn't a time to get emotional. "Stop panicking," she said quietly. "Stay calm. I'm buying you time. Find Serah. Get her somewhere safe." If he didn't take care of Serah, then she'd be a hostage forever. That was the last thing she wanted. 

"He never said where she was, Lightning," Riku stated, voice hard. "Do you know how long that could take?" Finding Serah would prove difficult unless he got some sort of hint, which he was sure Cedric wouldn't deliver. Lightning going was an awful idea. Cedric never said that if Lightning came with him that Serah would get to go home.

"Start at home," Lightning said lowly, ignoring the truth of Riku's statement. "Noel may know something. It'll give you a lead." She now lifted her hands, setting them on his tense arms. "Serah's defenseless. I'm not. I can last longer with him than she can with Jihl." It was bitter to say it, but it was the truth. And Riku knew it. 

Riku's grasp tightened on his Keyblade at Lightning's touch, and her words. "...Light," he whispered, his eyes closing for a moment before he gazed at her again. "...I can't lose you again." He couldn't watch her walk away. He couldn't let her walk away. But...Serah... She needed them both to cooperate.

Lightning tightened her grasp on Riku's arm. "You're not losing me. Serah will be another story soon..." They needed to cut this short. The sooner Riku left, the sooner Serah would be out of harm's way. "You need to work quickly. I'll give you a day before I start to fight back." By then, Serah should have been safe. 

Riku glanced over at Cedric, who met his gaze instantly. He stared for a moment and then sighed, closing his eyes as he lifted his free hand to Lightning's face. "...Be strong," he encouraged, aquamarine eyes finding her. "Once she's safe, I'm coming for you." Riku wouldn't leave Lightning alone for long. He had to be brave, just like he told her.

I feel like I should be telling you to be strong, Lightning thought in silence. He was acting more distraught than she was. But then again, she wasn't allowing herself to panic. She had to be calm for her own sake. "I know," she said quietly. "But Serah first." If Riku came for her before Serah was safe, there'd be serious problems. 

"I know," Riku said with a nod. "I promise." He would help the innocent first, and that was Serah. She was only a kid and defenseless. If anyone needed his help, it was her. Lightning could hold her own; she was trained for it. It was just letting her go that would be hard. Regardless, Riku let his hand drop. Cedric was getting impatient, and Jihl had a terrible temper. They needed to split up.