I'm a needy fighter...I don't need a preacher...

[boxingemperor]

Characters: Akihiko, Shadow Akihiko, and anyone in the gym
Setting: Gymnasium, September 7th
Format: Either is fine.
Summary: Maybe he was meant to walk alone after all.
Warnings: Violence, everything typical of a shadow self encounter.

[Akihiko's shadow has been reduced from a snarky, cruel dating show host to a miserable, sobbing wretch on the floor. It cries more than humanly possible, and the gymnasium floor is covered in a thin film of water. This only makes the out of control electrical currents surging through the light fixtures and tv equipment much more dangerous.]

It's not fair! I just wanted to be normal! After the Dark Hour's gone, nobody will have a reason to be with me! Even my best friend doesn't want to be around me anymore.

Quit lying! You aren't telling the truth at all!

[But he is. Akihiko doesn't realize he's in denial, because the reasons his shadow is upset seems so...silly. He should be over these things...he is over them, right?]

Heh, I can't stand to be around myself, it seems.

I couldn't even get Minako-chan to like me, after I thought I finally figured it all out! She turned me down for Shinji! He was always the stronger one.

I don't need anyone! I can get by just fine on my own now.

[Now he's getting emotional too. Perhaps because seeing his shadow cry like that is so painful. But really, that can't be him. Maybe it was a few years ago, but not today.]

Doomed to be alone forever...I might as well get used to it. Nobody's going to help me, so they can just keep their distance. And if they try to hurt me, I'll use force.

Stop talking like that. I'm sick of listening to you. You're...

[Shadow Akihiko looks up at the original.]

You're not me!

[When the shadow hears those words, he holds his head in his hands. The waterworks stop, and the handsome cream-colored suit he was wearing begins to rip and tear as its body grows in mass. His hair grows into a wild mane, and his flesh fades into a pale and sickly turquoise color. A skull-shaped mask hides his face. Wrestlers wear them all the time, but it's the perfect way to hide his feelings too.

The towering gorilla of a shadow flexes and lets out a mighty roar, crackling with electricity as he swipes at Akihiko. The boxer gets knocked into the stage, writhing in pain.]

I am a shadow...the true self!

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

[It certainly makes a huge impact, knocking Lancer off and throwing him onto the wet ground.]

[boxingemperor]

Are y-you done yet?

[Because the shadow's getting tired of this -- both mentally and physically. It shows in the way it carries itself after it recovers from a dizzy spell.]

[puppy_lancer]

Nope!

[Lancer climbs to his feet, though getting thrown off the Shadow has left him rather sore.]

[boxingemperor]

[That's okay Lancer. The Shadow will attack itself for you. Still dizzy, Shadow Akihiko crashes into the wall again. Now's a good time for a finisher!]

[puppy_lancer]

[He stares at the shadow, almost pitying it for second. Then he strides up to the crouching shadow, grabs its head, and pushes so the shadow's head smashes into the floor. He hopes it'll stay down, because his ribs, which had been broken by Saber, seemed to have been fractured all over again by that fall.]

[boxingemperor]

[Shadow Akihiko's massive figure stills as the dust settles around him. He shakes and shudders a little, but it looks like he's not going to be moving much.

In fact, it's so drained that it returns to mimicking Akihiko's guise once more. It'll be easier to deal with this way.]

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer gives a sigh of relief, and then turns back to look at the unmutated boy.]

Hey, kid, your brother's back to normal. Try saying the right things this time, will you?

[boxingemperor]

[Damn it, the blue haired guy doesn't look so good. Akihiko finds the energy to aim his Evoker. It might look like he's going to blow his brains out, but when he pulls the trigger, a bright light flashes. His persona, Caesar appears, lifting a big globe up into the air as the warmth of a Diarama spell washes over Lancer.

He probably shouldn't have done that, but it's the least he could do. Despite the fact that he feels like he could pass out at any moment, he staggers towards his shadow, nodding at Lancer. Time to accept this darker side of himself.]

[puppy_lancer]

What the hell--

[Lancer rushes toward the boy, trying to stop him from committing suicide for whatever reason. However, he is too slow to stop the gun from going off. Before he can get over this shock, he receives another surpise when the boy not only appears unharmed, but the gunshot had somehow caused an armored warrior to appear over the boy.]

[For a second, he wonders if this kid is also going to mutate into something, but all the warrior does is lift up a globe. As he does so, Lancer feels a warm, fuzzy, and comfortable sensation throughout his body. Not only do the wounds he received from the shadow heal over, but his broken ribs from the fight with Saber also seem to heal. He feels much better than he's felt for the last several days.]

Uh...thanks, I guess.

[Lancer doesn't understand the details of what just happened, but apparently this kid had healed him.]

[He frowns a little when he sees the boy staggering.]

Woah there, you don't look so good. Tell you what. Maybe I should just take both of you to the infirmary.

[boxingemperor]

[Both the shadow and his host look at Lancer. Gymnasium, infirmary, it doesn't matter where they decide to talk. But the shadow doesn't want to be kept too long.]

[puppy_lancer]

I'll take that as a yes.

[Lancer hooks his arm around the standing boy to heft the kid over his shoulder.]