I know it's a shame

[gracefuldahlia]

It had not been hard to see how long it would have taken to devise a way to call on his scythe without Zexion's assistance. Marluxia had been better placed than others to learn, since mist manipulation and chakra control were already a part of his repertoire, but the process had still been slow at times, and frustrating. Zexion had guided where he could, and Marluxia had made sure not to let his frustration with the rate of progress show.

The first time he'd succeeded, and Graceful Dahlia had taken her familiar form and weight in his hand, there had been... comfort. It had felt as though a missing item had been returned to its proper place.

It had lasted a frustratingly short spell, and further practice had lengthened the time Marluxia could maintain the weapon by mere seconds. He required, according to Zexion, a sparring partner. Someone Marluxia could trust to push him in a fight, and help Marluxia train his control of the scythe under more trying circumstances.

He'd known the moment would come, of course, and it made Marluxia wary. The only person he could consider for such a role was Lumi, and Lumi was....

Marluxia did not like admitting his own weaknesses, but Lumi was in a league somewhat above Marluxia when it came to physical combat. They acted as partners, and Lumi was the closest thing to a partner that Marluxia had on Spira, but Lumi was the stronger. In some ways it was like having Larxene assist; Lumi was very much his own agent, who worked with Marluxia for his own purposes, but Lumi was more dangerous than Larxene because Larxene had been simple. Simple was not something that applied to Lumi, and Marluxia afforded Lumi the careful respect adopted by one who swims with sharks, which anyone who associated with Khamja did.

When it came time to bite the bullet, Marluxia ensured they were not in the Palace, or otherwise in range of anyone from Khamja. Though he was distantly aware that L likely had spies no matter where they went, L was not a problem. Aizen, Gin, and even Kuja, however, were not to become aware that Marluxia was currently at a disadvantage compared to the Order's members, or that he currently bore any difficulties. He was too strong to acknowledge a weakness, unlike Kadaj, who was too weak to be a real problem. Khamja was a dangerous place to occupy any of the intervening ground between those two points, and so Marluxia did not want the fact he was training in something to become public knowledge.

They'd gone on a journey to deal with a mark which, for them at least, would pose no real danger. It was in the Travel Agency, away from civilisation centres, and the Palace, that Marluxia had made mention of his need of a sparring partner to Lumi. Lumi could, if the mood so took him, erase Marluxia when he was vulnerable in such a session. Marluxia knew that, and yet Lumi was the only one Marluxia even trusted halfway. He was, at least, reasonably sure that Lumi would not take the opportunity to end him.

"It would require you to hold back," he said, knowing that holding back was something Lumi was more than capable of, but it was something Marluxia thought needed to be stressed. He wasn't sure if Lumi might realise how much he may have to hold back, although the possibility of sustaining injury was something Marluxia had made his peace with. "When it comes to combat prowess, I am good, but you are better," though he wasn't fond of admitting that, either, but Marluxia's advantage, up to now, had been in the magical aspects of combat, "and I require you to push me, but likely not yourself."

He hadn't told Lumi what ability he was trying to practice, as yet. That information need only come if Lumi seemed amenable to the idea of helping Marluxia train at all.

Comments

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi had not given Marluxia's decision to go after a relatively easy Mark much thought. The Palace was, for many people, claustrophobic. It was large, yet underground. Granted, the building had some rather sprawling grounds attached, but even they were sealed within a canopy of rock and soil. A garden within a room, while still a garden, was nonetheless enclosed, even with a false sky above it.

He didn't mind being closed in. In fact, he preferred it. He did not suffer anxiety at the idea of open spaces, but he was more than accustomed to being trapped within a familiar set of walls for an extended stretch. Marluxia was not the same and it would not have been the first time that they had taken off on some small-time excursion in search of a Mark far beneath them, simply to get out of the Palace for a while without suspicion. They also always went as a pair, purely to give the impression of a united front, an inseparable partnership. Neither believed that Khamja were above trying to separate them to weaken them, for they were Ryoka both. Divide and conquer, as it were.

Marluxia had been unusually distracted during this trip. It was a subtle difference in his usual demeanour, but Lumi had not missed it. He had, however, not asked about it. They were partners, work partners. Marluxia's life was his own and Lumi was not given to inquiring as to his state of mind. His suspicions, however, were confirmed in the Travel Agency.

"You require a sparring partner," Lumi said, low and quiet, after listening to his request. Marluxia was ... nervous. That was understandable. "Very well."

[gracefuldahlia]

One thing Marluxia liked about Lumi's company was the refreshing lack of questions. He noticed things, Marluxia was aware of that; Lumi was almost frighteningly observant, he was just disinclined to ask about things if he didn't think they were of concern to him. Marluxia wasn't sure if it was lack of curiosity, or simply nonchalance because anything serious enough to affect Lumi would inevitably make itself known before it became unmanageable.

There was definite nonchalance in the reply, Marluxia noted. A simple 'very well', suggesting that Lumi was fine with being mildly inconvenienced. Marluxia wasn't sure how he felt about the implications of that, but he wasn't about to fool himself into thinking that Lumi was agreeing out of camaraderie and friendship. Their relationship was more complicated than that, and at the same time simpler. They worked together, and both trusted each other slightly more than the rest of Khamja, but rather less than was required to classify them as friends. Marluxia was fine with this, or had been up to now, and he expected the same was true of Lumi.

But now he had to expose a weakness to Lumi, which pushed at the boundaries of Marluxia's trust. Lumi had less to lose, and Marluxia disliked being at a disadvantage.

He nodded his head just the once when Lumi agreed. "I have been re-acquiring an ability I had lost on our arrival here," he said, "but the technique must be worked on under combat conditions to be truly mastered." He looked at Lumi, momentarily sincere as he said, "Your assistance is appreciated."

[thesilentstorm]

Not just a sparring partner, then. He was training in something not entirely new, but that required Marluxia to bare his throat to his too-capable fangs in order for him to learn to control it to the fullest. That was ... interesting. Lumi was, of course, more than capable of holding back enough to not kill him, but he had no idea what to expect from the sparring session.

Or sessions.

Marluxia had an interesting skillset already, many of his abilities being those that Lumi, utterly unskilled in magic, could never hope to learn, but now there was something new? Lumi didn't feel apprehensive at all, but not knowing exactly what he wanted his help training in did put him on his guard just enough to strip him of any feelings of complacency.

He nodded in response to Marluxia's thanks. The only question left was: "When?"

[gracefuldahlia]

"As soon as practical," Marluxia answered, looking at Lumi with his mouth set in a line and his expression serious. "The rest of Khamja are not to know that I am developing this ability." Marluxia was understandably cagey about explaining details of any of his abilities to the others in Khamja; that was merely the intelligent thing to do. Revealing a vulnerability to Khamja members was absolutely off the cards, but it was necessary to expose that to Lumi. "As such, I would prefer to do so away from their eyes and ears."

And scientists. Saix could do it; they'd all seen that, and the damnable idiot had done it so brazenly it suggested he made a habit of it. Still, it had let Marluxia know it was possible, and Aizen and the others did not necessarily know, at least yet, that anyone other than Saix was capable of it. For now, Marluxia wished to maintain a careful silence on the matter around Khamja, and allow them to come to their own conclusions. Marluxia would use that time to develop the ability himself, and intended to be fully adept at the technique before the matter had the chance to rear its head.

Once he was adept, of course, he didn't plan on flashing it around. Abilities the rest of Khamja did not know about were a useful thing to have, after all.

[thesilentstorm]

"Of course," Lumi said, inclining his head a fraction in understanding.

It would be interesting to see what this new ability of his was, especially if he found it necessary to keep it from everybody else. Khamja was a dangerous collection of people to be associated with. That said, even if Marluxia was looking to re-master an ability he had apparently lost during the transition from their old lives to the one they had now on Spira, he was no weaker for it than he was before his decision to reclaim it.

Marluxia was still a capable Mage, even if he had to re-learn ... whatever this was, Lumi knew that. That meant that, as well as the temporary vulnerability of re-acquainting himself with an old skill, something that should be apparent only on the training field, he wanted to keep the nature of the ability he sought to regain from Khamja for other reasons.

"I will keep my silence," he said.

Marluxia being targeted by them for one reason or another would be almost as detrimental to his own position within the Clan as it would be to Marluxia's. He was curious about his reasoning, but he opted not to ask, nor to speculate.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia allowed himself a twitch of a smirk at Lumi's answer. That they had an alliance wasn't in doubt, for Marluxia. The issue was that their alliance had untested boundaries, and the approximation of loyalty was undiscussed up to now. Neither of them had bared their throats to the other, neither had, yet, truly exposed a weakness.

Marluxia was forced to be the first to do so. That fact made him uncomfortable. If Lumi really wished, he could destroy Marluxia at his weakest, and Lumi was, when they sparred, inevitably going to see such opportunities.

That was, realistically speaking, the greater threat than Lumi running his mouth off. It was a pleasant change from working with Larxene.

"You have my gratitude," he said.

Still no question about what he was training, too, Marluxia noticed. Lumi's disinterest likely stemmed from a number of factors, one of them being that he'd see for himself anyway, and another being Lumi's well justified self confidence.

"You and Zexion are the only ones who currently know about this," Marluxia explained, quietly. "Zexion developed the technique, and has agreed to share the knowledge," Marluxia smirked faintly once more. Zexion was in need of allies, and Marluxia had found an opening, but protecting this information was in both their best interests. "The rest of the former Organisation are capable of it, but only Saix has thus far been witnessed making use of it." Which had been lucky for Marluxia. "Hopefully it will remain that way for some time." Time enough for Marluxia to master it himself, but should they run into any current members of Xigbar's reassembled Thirteenth Order, it would be best if the use of it did not come as a surprise to Lumi.

[thesilentstorm]

"Hopefully," he said softly. There was always the chance that they may run into his old allies and be forced to use whatever technique it was, but the chances were mercifully slim.

It didn't escape Lumi that Marluxia and Zexion, the new Ryoka, had been in discussion. That was certainly interesting, for it meant that Marluxia had made an ally of an old enemy. It was a turn out for the books, especially given what he knew about Organization XIII's past, but it was not something that he would openly concern himself with. Zexion would have to be careful, since Marluxia already had two allies, albeit one more trustworthy than the other, and Marluxia would have little reason to be wary around Zexion. It was an alliance of convenience that worked more in Marluxia's favour than otherwise.

Even so, it was an alliance that he would have to keep in mind. Post-Organization XIII politics weren't his main concern, but it would not do to forget that Marluxia's safety, and potentially his own, could be compromised, depending how things went. Still, he had a more immediate concern -- Marluxia's request.

"Will I require a weapon?" He asked, moving back onto the more pressing issue.

He had no idea what type of technique it was, but he had the ability to competently use a range of weapons, so it was prudent to ask.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia inclined his head, slowly. "A weapon would be prudent," he said. He wondered, briefly, if Lumi was going to be familiar with the sort of weapon he was helping Marluxia with, and then decided that was highly unlikely. They hadn't run into one on Spira, and from what Marluxia could gather, Lumi's own world wasn't the type to favour that sort of weaponry.

He'd probably be unfamiliar with the style of combat, then, but Lumi was very adaptable in that regard, and at any rate, would not be at the disadvantage.

"Something which can defend against a bladed weapon," he said. Lumi was adept with numerous weapons, but some of them would be less suited to this task than others, "As well as attack." Up to now, Marluxia had concentrated on magical attacks; Lumi would need to know that was not the intention here.

[thesilentstorm]

A sword, then. He nodded, wordlessly.

That came as something of a relief. A bladed weapon he could deal with. Magic, less so. He nodded. Guns, while his preferred weapon, had an annoying tendency to run out of ammunition when you relied on them for long periods of time. As such, he felt it necessary to carry a back-up weapon or three, a sword among them. A sword, though not his favourite option, did afford him more reach than a dagger, and had more heft than a razor, if a less keen cutting edge.

A guaranteed sharp bite to the blade, thankfully, wouldn't be an issue in a training session.

[gracefuldahlia]

Lumi hadn't voiced any further questions about what Marluxia intended, and Marluxia was disinclined to discuss unnecessary details. In any event, what Marluxia intended would be more easily demonstrated than discussed.

They'd come out of the way to spar. It wasn't unusual for two hunters, even less unusual for two people engaged in a hunt, and the local wildlife would not be an issue. The area was already clear, and with Lumi in the mix, it was likely to stay that way.

It may take several sessions, Marluxia knew. It had taken time to get this far, and would take more time still to get further. He hoped it would not take too long. He'd prefer not to require multiple journeys away from the Palace and the people therein or things may start to look suspicious; like he was trying to get away from the Palace. Permanent residence away from the Palace was in their long term best interests, but even that would result in close monitoring, and would be of no help with this. Best to throw everything at it and progress quickly; it would make life simpler in the long run, draining as it would be for now.

"Shall I dispense with the preamble and simply show you what I am training?" He asked, looking at Lumi when they were both satisfied that their location was suitable. The demonstration would answer more questions than words, after all.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi had stood back to allow Marluxia to pore over maps and decide where would be the best location for the training session. He tended not to worry about native monsters no matter where they went, so he felt no need to second guess his partner's decision ahead of arrival.

His choice of location had turned out to be well away from any settlements, either major or minor, and secluded amongst natural hills, rocks and the occasional hardy tree. There were signs that large animals had spent time in the vicinity, but he couldn't feel any close at the moment. In fact, there wasn't even so much as a Dreamhare for just over half a mile. Good.

"If you would," Lumi replied.

A long explanation would no doubt cut into their training time, and it didn't stay light forever. A simple demonstration would be quicker and more concise, if not quite as comprehensive.

[gracefuldahlia]

Lumi really wasn't one for excessive questions, which was definitely something that could be considered a virtue. Marluxia smiled, faintly, and inclined his head.

He raised one arm, and concentrated. It didn't feel the same as it once had, in other worlds, but Marluxia was quickly growing accustomed to it. His reiatsu, he had found, when concentrated enough to be visible, resembled petals, and that discovery had caused him a glimmer of amusement at first.

First one petal, then a multitude, and then Graceful Dahlia snapped into existence amidst the flurry which faded away, leaving Marluxia to heft the familiar weight of his preferred weapon and look at Lumi. The scythe looked the same as it always had when he was a Nobody; green shaft and pink blade, reminiscent of the flowers he'd once commanded.

These days he commanded Malboros. Marluxia had to admit, they were an improvement.

[thesilentstorm]

A lesser man may have taken a step back when Marluxia's Chakra became visible. Lumi did not. He stood fast, his hair and coat blown back by the increased pressure of Marluxia's usually suppressed Reiatsu.

Lumi watched the display almost without expression. That his Chakra manifested as petals once it reached a high enough concentration to become visible to the naked eye didn't surprise him. It was ... unusual, but not entirely unknown. It was certainly not shocking for someone of Marluxia's devotion to his Element.

The moment that the weapon burst into existence, however, surprised him enough to make his eyes widen. He wasn't entirely sure what to expect ahead of time, but that had certainly never crossed his mind. It was an interesting piece of equipment -- green-stemmed and pink-headed, like a flower. There was no denying that it was almost deliberately decorative, but that did little to disguise the fact that it was designed with functionality in mind. It was handsome, yet lethal.

"Subtle," he said, the excess Chakra that had brought the weapon into being dissipating as he spoke. "Very you."

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia's eyebrow twitched upwards at Lumi's response, and he eyed him for a moment. Marluxia suspected he was being got at, in a very quiet and adroit way. Lumi wasn't known for his sense of humour, but that didn't mean he didn't have one.

"Former members of Organization Thirteen all have a weapon," he said, "each unique to its wielder." He hefted the weight of the scythe again, "They bear our signatures in their shape; mine is a scythe, where Zexion's is a book." And not to be underestimated just because it wasn't a conventional weapon, Marluxia thought, to himself. Let Aizen and the rest focus on the alchemy, or the ability to hear the green word and control Malboros; the full extent of what a former Nobody could really do could evade their attentions, at least for now.

"The difficulty, right now, is that maintaining Graceful Dahlia like this is a drain. I can only hold it for so long at a time. Combat practice will help lengthen that time so it becomes a reliable weapon once more." He would like to be able to use the scythe again, as well as magic and geomancy. Having it dissipate in the middle of a fight was not something he would be able to tolerate; it was too risky.

"So," he said, finishing, "I require your assistance."

[thesilentstorm]

"You have it," he said, looking from the scythe to its owner.

So, all of the Organization XIII Ryoka were capable of producing a weapon -- a personalised weapon, at that-- from nowhere. No, not nowhere. From their own solidified Reishi. From their Chakra. Given Marluxia's difficulty with it, it was clear to see that it was an approximated version of some old ability he'd had. It was possible, then, that non-Ryoka could master such an ability, providing they had the necessary Chakra reserves and training. No wonder Marluxia wished to keep the fact that he had to learn it at such a late stage under wraps, especially if the rest of his number had already gotten to grips with it.

On its own, it was not a dangerous piece of information. Certain Ryoka had the ability to produce a weapon. That wasn't a problem, of course; Ryoka were known for having unusual talents. It was the fact that he had to learn it that was the issue. It was better for everybody if it was simply assumed that he came to Spira with the ability intact. Him being in the learning stages ... well, that was the risk. Should somebody like Aizen figure out that he could teach himself such an ability... no, that was best avoided. It would make more sense for him to have kept such a thing hidden from Clan Khamja than it be known that he had been taught by the Thirteenth Order's turncoat. As such, Lumi understood his reasoning.

"Do you wish to be pushed?" Lumi asked, tilting his head to the side very slightly.

[gracefuldahlia]

"It is less of a wish," Marluxia answered, "and more of a requirement." He didn't wish to be pushed, really, and if he could do this in any way that did not involve combat with someone as dangerous as Lumi could be if he wished, then Marluxia would have taken that route. Instead, this was the only way, and Marluxia would have to continue to fight even when he was weakened.

And he would be weakened, he knew. He couldn't hold the scythe's form for long enough, yet, which meant he'd have to forge it again, likely more than once, and that was a drain on his chakra, to say nothing of actually fighting. At least when sparring he could refrain from using magic to focus his energies on the important thing, for now.

"Still," he said adjusting the weight of the scythe, readying himself, "the harder you push, the more effective this will be." Marluxia would have to trust Lumi, not only to know how hard he could push, but to stop short when necessary.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi gave a single nod, a simple display of understanding.

Marluxia had misgivings, Lumi could see that. He was concerned that Lumi didn't have the control required to pull his punches, that he wouldn't be able to stop himself killing him in the heat of a sparring match. It was a valid concern. Lumi made a point of being dangerous and he didn't mind that fact being known, didn't . For now, he would have to make it clear that he could be trusted with restraint and composure.

"And if that," he glanced at the scythe, "loses solid form? Would you have me back off, or keep coming?"

Marluxia needed to be pushed, but would the loss of his weapon require a brief let-up, or would he need to learn how to re-form it quickly, even with a risk? Even with the latter, Lumi could stop short, but he intended to make entirely clear what was expected of him before he undertook such an ... unusual training exercise.

[gracefuldahlia]

The corner of Marluxia's mouth pulled upwards into a twisted smirk. He could play it safe, or he could get the job done; and he was already placing enough trust in Lumi to refrain from using lethal force.

"When it loses form do not stop," Marluxia answered. An enemy would do him no such courtesy, and Marluxia couldn't afford to allow the illusion of safety to make him complacent. "I will simply have to trust that you will refrain from actually slitting my throat when the opportunity inevitably arises."

[thesilentstorm]

"You are of no value to me dead," he said plainly, giving a slight shrug of his shoulders.

That was the truth. Plainly set out. Lumi wasn't known for forming friendships with people. He made alliances. Marluxia was, as far as he was concerned, his ally. He trusted him as much as he needed to, probably as much as Marluxia trusted him in turn. He had no other allies besides, perhaps, Kuja, unlike Marluxia who counted Zexion among his own number. Marluxia was, quite simply, useless to him dead and killing him in a sparring 'accident' would only make his life difficult in the long run.

"Shall we begin?" He asked, pushing his coat aside to reveal the hilt of his sword, which he grasped.

[gracefuldahlia]

How comforting, Marluxia thought, but didn't point out that Lumi would have no reason to claim otherwise even if it were the case. Lumi, however, didn't appear to be deceptive. If anything, it was said as a careless truth; one that wasn't dressed up as it required no further consideration than its existence as a truth had already been given.

Lumi was refreshing.

"By all means," Marluxia replied, moving into a ready stance, to the only part that really mattered. Lumi had never seen Marluxia fight with a weapon before, but similarly, Marluxia had never sparred against Lumi before, either. This would be interesting.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi pulled the sword free of the scabbard with practised ease. The sword felt comfortable in his hand, even if he did prefer a firearm to a blade. It was a reassuring weight, something he suspected would be necessary to defend against an attack from Marluxia's ... whatever that was.

"Come," he said, narrowing his eyes.

He wanted to get the measure of Marluxia's reach from the off.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia suppressed a laugh, but his amusement was still evident. Lumi was too smart to walk within range of the scythe blade when he'd probably not seen such a weapon used before. Marluxia could get to like being too much of an unknown for Lumi to approach.

It wouldn't last, but for now, it tickled him.

Of course, the flip side was that Lumi being too smart to wade in to the unknown required Marluxia to step in first against an armed and ready Lumi.

He moved forward with a surprising amount of speed for someone who had, up to now, dealt in back row fighting, and swung Graceful Dahlia hard and fast, holding the shaft from a little over halfway down. He could extend his reach further and hold the scythe right at the end of the handle, but that was a good way to get it knocked straight from his hand against someone like Lumi right now.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi watched the way Marluxia held the weapon. He took a step back as he surged forward, but was still forced to duck as he treated him to a far-too-close-for-comfort demonstration of a strike.

That was fast. Faster than he had expected, given the unwieldy nature of the weapon's shape and the apparent weight. The cutting arc was wide, but the shape of the scythe-blade limited the risk zone somewhat. That did little to disguise the fact that it was clearly a dangerous weapon that would prove extremely difficult to parry.

To push him, Lumi knew that he would have to stay close -- reach was meaningless against an opponent too close to use the blade on. Even so, Marluxia's speed was something that he would have to keep in mind.

He took in a breath, slow and calm, and lunged at him while the momentum of Marluxia's swing took it too far off to the side to be an immediate threat.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia backed off sharply, using the handle of the scythe to parry Lumi's lunge. Lumi was quick, and he'd apparently decided that getting close would make Marluxia's life harder right now.

He was right, and Marluxia gave the scythe a short swing in Lumi's direction, though the intention wasn't to strike but to push Lumi back a step.

He was having to concentrate on holding the scythe together already; he'd held it for some time while they'd talked, and now that they were actually trading strikes it was more difficult. Marluxia was developing an appreciation for the ease with which he'd witnessed Saix, in an Arrancar's memory, use the technique.

His short swing at Lumi was followed up by a faster one that left the blade a pink blur in the air as he let his hand slip further down the shaft, extending his reach with it in the process.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi backed off when Marluxia swung to make him do so.

He was stronger than Lumi had expected. Marluxia, in Lumi's experience, had always been a back-row fighter, a mage. He had never displayed any kind of physical fighting prowess before, done nothing that would indicate that he had the ability to swing a weapon of that size, of that weight, with such effortless proficiency.

The weapon presented problems, yes, but Lumi had not missed some of the vulnerabilities presented by the shape. As well as the proximity issue that Marluxia was trying hard to negate by keeping him at a distance, he gave the scythe itself a weak point that grew more easy to exploit the further down the shaft he held it. The reach was improved, but the balance was thrown off.

Lumi made sure to keep just far enough away to avoid the cutting edge of the scythe and held his own sword two-handed and high. With one sharp move he drove the point of the sword down, aiming to catch the scythe in the right-angle that joined the blade to the shaft.