From Beyond the Grave

[Kenji]

When I die.. your mine, its not like you have anything to lose. I mean... you left her.. alone, pregnant... what else does a dog like you have to live for?

Bad memories, something a person would long to forget. Kenji sat up in bed late one night, looking down at Royce as a hand brushed softly over her cheek. He sighed and shifted out of bed and walked into the kitchen.

Kenji, Your alone in this world, an outcast.... its not like anyone else would accept you...

The voice boomed in his head and he growled lowly as he poured himself a glass of water. The surge of anger rising in his veins again. "Dumb bastard." Kenji murmured under his breath as he leaned back against the counter and took a deep breath.

Its only a matter of time before this body becomes useless... good, you have no resistance...

Kenji looked down at the tattoos on his fingers. He stared at them for a long time. "Just a matter of time huh?" He repeated as he dropped the glass into the sink and went back to bed. "We'll see just how fuckin lucky you get."

[Royce]

Kenji had been acting strange lately, and it worried her. His strange reactions towards Yumi and Niko had her try and act a bit more...possitive...lately. Yes, Royce was trying to act possitive. Her opening up her mind and joining with Kenji the other night had been an awesomely powerful experience. They had shared everything, and the feelings were like a powerful drug in her system. The sadness and happiness mingled, love and hate couldn't be separated. She had only opened her mind to show him he needn't fear, and hadn't expected him to open up right back.

Ever since then, she had been more in tune with him on levels like never before. Kenji went through the same feelings on their joining, but where as his feelings would fade, hers remained highly sensitive...the gift she carried having been used in a way and now energized for more. She sensed every aggrivation he carried, every confusion, ever laugh and every tear as if it were her own. So when Kenji had sat there that night, she was very much alert even through her sleeping mind. When he had gotten up for the water, her eyes slid open and she stared off towards the window. Hearing him return, she'd close her eyes and feigned sleep once more, wishing she could understand the complex confusions and angers she felt radiating off of him now.

[Kenji]

He would talk to her come morning, he knew eventually he would have to. Especially if it meant putting her and the kids in danger, Kenji hadnt heard that Lyre had died but he could feel it, right down to his bones he could feel the mans soul struggling to get to him. What was holding me back? Kenji wasnt too sure but he could feel the restraint but at the same time he could feel that power.

"You will be mine." Lyre's soul sat in Sadies Temple and he was working on setting himself free. All he needed was a body to minipulate and he had that already now he just needed to extend his power out to him.. and it would be done.

That night, Kenji slept with his arms wrapped around Royce and he hugged her tight. In the back of his mind he knew things were about to get worse but he wasnt willing to give in yet.

[Royce]

Royce: Royce stayed snuggled up to him, though for the rest of the night she never slept, just letting her consciousness gently probe at him, being very slick about it. She was worried, very worried, and she didn't know what to do. Finally, unable to sleep anymore, she rolled over with a soft sigh, snuggling up against him, her arms going about him.

Kenji: "Mmph?" Was his response as his arms wrapped around her. "Yea?" He asked as he looked down at her, not really tired himself. His fingertips ran up through her hair and he let out a soft, content sigh at the feeling of her in his arms.

Royce: She nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder, her gaze fixed on him. Her fingers ran down his spine as she lay close to him. Se didn't say anything for a long moment, before giving another soft sigh. "What's wrong, Kenji?'

Kenji: "Hmm?" He looked down at her and blinked a bit. He hadnt realized she had been awake. He ran a hanf through his multi colored hair and sat up a bit with a tired yawn. "What... ever happened to Lyre?"

Royce: She blinked herself, then brows drew together in bemusement as she frowned, propping her head up on her hand as her fingers came around and ran up his chest. "Lyre? My brother killed him..chopped his head off. Why do ya ask?"

Kenji: "Ah.. so he is dead." He murmured as he rubbed his eyes and leaned forward to kiss her brow. "Just trying to figure out my own behavior lately."

Royce: She closed her eyes briefly, then sat up next to himi, that frown still evident. "What's Lyre gotta do with it?" She had a feeling she already knew...the shit that Lyre had pulled over the years...were still affecting so many people.

Kenji: "Ugh, when I left you I ran into him." He shook his head a bit and looked down at his finger tattoos. "He took me in and ran some tests, or whatever the fuck he does and by the time I had left he had minipulated me into a bargin, he would let me stay who I was if I gave him my body."

Royce: "Do...what?" She straightened a bit more, watching him. "What do ya mean?"

Kenji: "If he died... his soul would replace mine in this body." He said looking away from her his hands clasping together.

Royce: "Like hell he would!" She snarled suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Fuck no..no." She shook her head with a sudden anger..not at Kenji, but for fuck face.

Kenji: He looked at her and his brows raised a bit as he watched her. He knew her anger was directed at Lyre but he still growled alittle. "How do you plan to stop him? Ask him nicely?"

Royce: Oh if only she could get over her pride and talk to her mom. But that wouldn't happen any time soon. She shook her head with another growl, turning and getting up to grab a teesirt to slide over her nude form. "I ain't lettin' it happen. If I have ta have my mind in yers constantly...I'll keep th' fucker out. Sorry, but yer soul became mine th' other night, an' he can't have yer body without a fight..an' believe me..despite his tricks an' spells an'...experiements...he has nothin' over me."

Kenji: Kenji just shook his head and smirked. "Royce... I know your powers arent lacking. But.. I have seen this man and how he works. You dont force Lyre to do anything... dealing with Lyre is like an elequint dance. One that kaledra learned to dance very quickly upon her arrival at his home.."

Royce: "An' jus' goes ta show how much confidence others have in me.." She muttered, slamming the drawer shut. "I'm a freak o' nature..what do I expect?!" She snarled, and opened another drawer to pull out a pair of bum jeans. "Ya can't do it, Royce..he's too powerful. Ya can't do it, Royce..ya don't have th' style. Ya dunno what yer doin' Royce..jus' stay out of it." She gave a snort, slamming the drawer shut again as she bent over and yanked one leg into those jeans.

Kenji: He sighed as he watched her, "Thats not what I meant." He grumbled as he watched her get dressed. "I just dont want you getting hurt... if he can hurt your mother then he can hurt you... please Royce just... lets see what happens.. where ever he is now he cant quite reach me.... so please lets just.. see what happens."

Royce: "Yea...let's see what happens an' have him take yer damn body an' shove yer soul inta nothin'ness without us even realizin' it." She scowled, yanking her other leg into the jeans and pulling them up, snapping them shut. "An' I am not my ma...an' she's not me..so dun go comparin' us.."

Kenji: She was exactly like her mother in some ways but Kenji would keep his mouth shut. He watched her, "Well where are you going?" He asked as he finally stood up from the bed.

Royce: Good decision! She would not like to hear how she was like Belle. She picked up the brush from the vanity and yanked it through her hair, not looking at him. She was highly upset...and frightened. Tho she didn't care that he saw that she was angry, she didn't want him seeing the fear through her eyes. "Goin' to check on th' kids..since I ain't much use in anythin' else."

Kenji: He rolled his eyes at that. "Your going to get dressed to check on the kids?" He said with a smirk as he walked up to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Come on Bitch... lets go and talk about this?" He asked softly as he turned her around to face him.

Royce: "Well I sure ain't goin' ta go out there in m'birthday suit.." She snorted, and went to pull her hair up in a ponytail, before she was turned about. She kept her gaze averted though, her hands pulling her hair into a tail, swiping the brush through it. "What's ta talk about? Ya made it obvious there ain't a thing I'm allowed ta do about it."

Kenji: "I just dont want you running off after him. Espcially if he cant touch me from here. I dont know.. I feel like he is caught some where at the moment and.. instead of dealing with Lyre head on we have to learn ... to... dance to get what we want."

Royce: After that tail was set, she tossed the brush on the vanity, finally daring to look at him, her arms folding. "An' just how do we do that?"

Kenji: He looked down at her and took her face in the palms of his hands. "To dance with the sadist we have to understand him... and do you know what it is that Lyre wants the most?"

Royce: "Ta make everyone's life as miserable as he is?" She asked bitterly, though brows were drawn together, that obvious worry shining in those green rimmed pupils.

Kenji: He kissed her lips. "Yes... but... who is the one person he wants? The one person who could turn everything around and end it all?"

Royce: "Rin?" She asked softly against his lips. She had picked up bits and pieces everywhere, but they were no where near the whole puzzle to her.

Kenji: "Mmhm." He nodded slowly, "Rin we use Rin we can get rid of Lyre right?" Oh there was that proof that Kenji was still not mentally stable would probably never truely be sane.

Royce: "An' just how do ya propose to use Rin?" Brow rose slightly, her fingers moving up his ribs.

Kenji: "The same way you use a mouse with a snake... lead him into the lions den." He said with a grin as his arms slid around her waist and his lips kissed hers softly.

Royce: "Well that doesn't tell me anything.." She murmured against his lips, her arms lifting to wrap about his neck.

Kenji: He smiled and pulled her close and kissed her lips. "We find a way to give Rin to Lyre... once that happens then... he will have no use for me."

Royce: Brows furrowed, as she pulled her head back from him, staring at him a moment, ten shook her head. She actually liked Rin..even if she couldn't stand her mother. "An' how do ya know that? we give Lyre Rin.then what? What would he do then? Jus' stop his madness? I doubt that'll happen...he'll find someone else..pick someone else.."

Kenji: He laughed alittle and shook his head. "No... Ive heard him talk to kaledra about it.... well in a round about way. Rin murdered his family and Lyre doesnt want the man to live, Lyre wants him to suffer then die.. I with your powers there has to be a way we can give him that satisfaction?"

Royce: "An' how is he goin' to make Rin suffer?" She asked a bit stiffly. She shook her head slowly. "Rin lives for my ma an' now for their son... " She was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable.

Kenji: "Dont you think Rin has already suffered?Royce... if we can minipulate the one minipulator then we can destory him." Kenji said as he looked at her with a smile. his arms tightened softly around her his fingers softly caressing up her spine.

Royce: "I dun get it.." She said, shaking her head and sighing in frustration. She really didn't...and she blamed the mun cuz the mun wasn't getting it.

Kenji: He sighed, "You have the power to minipulate the mind, so why cant you.. very suttly minipulate Lyres in to thinking Rin is close by then... with some careful planning we can get rid of his soul. Or.. you can just kill me and he wont have a body to go to?"

Royce: "You ain't dyin'." She said with a sudden growl, before her arms tightened about him and her head laid on his shoulder with a sigh. "Yea..I have th' power ta manipulate. But how th' hell do we get rid of his soul?"

Kenji: "Now I dont know much about souls so we would have to ask your mother.. not to mention she fought Lyre before didnt she? She knows how to deal with him."

Royce: "I....suppose..." Yeah, that bitter hestiancy sounded rather loud in her voice.

Kenji: "I know... you dont like your mother... but we need to work together to get rid of him right?"