An Illusive Condition

Uh, hello everyone out there! My name is Daisuke Niwa. My girlfriend's sister told me about this place...apparently she was using it to find out information about Dark? Which is, uh, news to me. I mean, why would Dark get a blog without me knowing... A-anyway! I'm 16 years old, and I attend Azumano High School. I'm also a member of the art club. Other than that, I'm perfectly normal. Completely normal. Really. M!A Status: Unrestricted Abilities at School (is how I'm interpreting it orz)

[keywieldersora]

Well hey, you can talk to me about anything! That’s what friends are for, right?

So it runs in your family, huh? Never seen anything like that before. And…you’re saying you’ve never been separate? Like, he was inside you from day one? I bet you guys must be pretty close then, huh?

[cinnabarfeather]

...thank you, Sora.  I'll try to keep that in mind.

Yup, he's genetic...sort of.  He's technically a "curse", but I don't really like calling him that.  And because of that, the only times we've ever actually been separate are times when magic has gotten in the way--basically, when things go really wrong.

We're...I guess we're close.  But there's still a lot about him I don't understand.

[keywieldersora]

I knew it had to be something like that! Though, it’s kind of a weird thing to have in common, huh?

But…if he’s not a Nobody, then…what could he be?

[cinnabarfeather]

It feels so weird to be able to talk about something like this to someone who isn't really "involved" almost normally.  It's...pretty refreshing.

This probably all sounds weird, but...in my family...when the males turn 14, they...Dark manifests himself in them for the first time.  There's, uh, some magic involved...and a few other things...but he's like our--like my--other half.

[keywieldersora]

Yeah, I did. He’s…he’s inside me now, but sometimes we talk about stuff. We didn’t exactly get off on the right foot at first, but now we’re pretty good friends.

Why do you ask?

[cinnabarfeather]

Ah...i-inside...of you.

My friend.....other half....he's inside of me, too.  He's sleeping right now.  I think he's different from a Nobody, but somehow...

we might have more in common than we originally thought.

[keywieldersora]

Well, a Nobody’s like..a person who’s you, but they’re also not you. They’re sort of like…half of you. So I thought maybe, from the way it sounded, it might be something like that. Or maybe even the other way around. 

I had a Nobody way before I even knew what they were, so it’s not totally out of the question.

But, then, you said it’s not like that, right? So I guess it doesn’t really matter. Sorry for the mistake!

[cinnabarfeather]

Ah...n-no.

We're not...it's probably not quite that kind of relationship, but...it's also not...wrong, probably.

Um, did you ever...meet your Nobody?

[philandering-phantom]

What the hell did you just say about me, punk?

[cinnabarfeather]

You heard what I said.

Besides, are you not just proving my point, butting in like this...

[keywieldersora]

Wait a second, who exactly is this guy to you? Because, well, it sounds a lot like the way things are with a friend of mine. 

You’re not a Nobody, are you?

[cinnabarfeather]

Ah...eh...um...w-who is he, t-to me...?

He...He's just an annoying idiot who keeps me up at night because he won't leave me alone and keeps begging me to let him have his way.  N-nothing odd...or anything....

But I'm not a "Nobody" in any case...I've never heard that word used that way before.

[keywieldersora]

Light used for evil? That’s a new one….I’ve never seen it done, so I’m not sure. But…why would someone wanna use light to do something bad? I don’t get it.

Why would you wanna avoid him? He’s your friend, right? You trust him, don’t you?

[cinnabarfeather]

Ah, forget about it then...j-just me thinking out loud again!

It's...a bit complicated.  I trust him.  I want to trust him, so I do.  For me, it feels really simple.  But others...are afraid of what he could do.  We're in a kind of balance, where we rely on each other for...for things you probably wouldn't normally need to rely on another person for.  And I've been warned before that, if I'm not careful, he could take advantage of that and...smother me.  I wouldn't...be me anymore, if that happened.  So friends worry...

But rather than something like that happening, I think we can coexist.  So I trust him.

...a-ah...sorry, I just kept blathering on.  I've never been able to talk about this at all before.  But you're pretty easy to talk to, somehow.

[cinnabarfeather]

Ah….y-yeah…

W-well…I was just….you see, there’s someone I know—someone important to me—who…I thought might have fit your description of “darkness”, so I got worried.  But I’m not sure that’s the case anymore.

S-Sorry for freaking out like that…

[keywieldersora]

Well, darkness isn’t always bad. Riku taught me that. So…maybe your friend is like Riku. Just because someone wields darkness, it doesn’t necessarily make them a bad person. They can use it for good.

So if that’s what you mean, then I’m sure your friend’s fine. Just make sure you look out for ‘em. 

[cinnabarfeather]

Darkness used for good, huh?

...wait, then would you say light could be used for evil?

I don't think he needs much looking out for, though I do try.  To be honest, I'm usually told that I'm the one that needs to be wary of him.  Though I'd rather not think like that, since I can't exactly...ah, avoid him.

[cinnabarfeather]

N-n-n-n-no!! Not at all! No problems here!

Nothing exciting ever goes on here!  Nothing at all!  No living artworks! I’m just, uh, thinking out loud, yeah!

[keywieldersora]

Are you sure? You sure seem worked up about something.

[cinnabarfeather]

Ah....y-yeah...

W-well...I was just....you see, there's someone I know--someone important to me--who...I thought might have fit your description of "darkness", so I got worried.  But I'm not sure that's the case anymore.

S-Sorry for freaking out like that...

[cinnabarfeather]

DAISUKIIII. With's met some people and they asked for a name but they said With isn't a name, kyuu. What does With do, kyuu? With is With, but With is also Daisuki, and Dark, and lots of people, kyuu--does With need a name like Daisuki's?

Aw, With…well, you could always tell them why you’re named what you are.

With is With, because you’re always by our side.  You’re always “with” us.  We’d be very lonely without you!

[kyuuchuu]

Only if With has to go on the scary rides! (With didn’t like that haunted house… or that movie!)

*shudders* A-anyway, kyuu! With’s okay with amusement parks otherwise! And okay, kyuu, With miiiight go crazy in a strawberry field, but With would behave, promise!

But Daisuki’s suggesting a lot of stuff With and Daisuki can do even if With isn’t a human, kyuu! ouo If Daisuki wanted to spend more time with With, and talking to With, Daisuki could have just said so~!

With knows Daisuki wanted to know more about With, but With didn’t talk much before, kyuu… But you know… it’s not just a family resemblance—With thinks of Daisuki and all the rest of the Niwas as family! So… With would like to think With would be a Niwa too. So naturally, With’s gonna look it, kyuu! So if Daisuki thinks it’s familiar, it’s ‘cause With is Daisuki’s brother!

[cinnabarfeather]

Alright, I'll take your word for it.  I'll talk to mom about making plans...maybe we can all go?

Well, I just thought it could be more fun if you were in this form...since you could really take part in everything and enjoy it fully.  I feel like you'd be left out of some things if you were in your usual form, you know?

...My...my brother?  I guess you'd technically be an older brother as well, huh...?

Heh, including Dark, I have two pretty interesting older brothers then!

[keywieldersora]

Well, normally they’re monsters, and they can look like pretty much anything. But I’ve seen them cause some strange things so…possessed artwork could be the work of the Heartless, I guess.

…Why? Has there been a problem? Because I’d be happy to check it out for you!

[cinnabarfeather]

N-n-n-n-no!! Not at all! No problems here!

Nothing exciting ever goes on here!  Nothing at all!  No living artworks! I'm just, uh, thinking out loud, yeah!

[cinnabarfeather]

DAISUKIIII. With's met some people and they asked for a name but they said With isn't a name, kyuu. What does With do, kyuu? With is With, but With is also Daisuki, and Dark, and lots of people, kyuu--does With need a name like Daisuki's?

Aw, With…well, you could always tell them why you’re named what you are.

With is With, because you’re always by our side.  You’re always “with” us.  We’d be very lonely without you!

[kyuuchuu]

The park? Like an amusement park, kyuu? That sounds fun, kyuu! With can sneak in through Daisuki’s bag then, kyuu, because those places look big and expensive. Hehe~

And we can go strawberry picking any other time, kyuu. With always behaves, what is Daisuki talking about! These are strawberries we’re talking about, kyuu! Strawberries! Can we go tomorrow?

Kyuun~ Ah, but With doesn’t think you actually need the photo album to recognize a Niwa, kyuu… You all look alike. With should know, With’s been with and transformed into all of them, kyuu!

[cinnabarfeather]

Well, I was thinking more of a scenic park...since, if memory serves, you had a bit of a tough time the last time you were at an amusement park.  But I think I'll leave it up to you...this is a pretty unique chance you have now!

Come on now With, are you trying to tell me you wouldn't go crazy in a strawberry field?  I think I'd have to see it to believe it!

Hmmm...now that you mention it, though....

I guess there is something pretty familiar about that form of yours.  Must be the family resemblance...

[cinnabarfeather]

DAISUKIIII. With's met some people and they asked for a name but they said With isn't a name, kyuu. What does With do, kyuu? With is With, but With is also Daisuki, and Dark, and lots of people, kyuu--does With need a name like Daisuki's?

Aw, With…well, you could always tell them why you’re named what you are.

With is With, because you’re always by our side.  You’re always “with” us.  We’d be very lonely without you!

[kyuuchuu]

…HAS WITH NEVER SHOWN DAISUKI WITH’S NEW TRICK?? KYUU—SORRY!

It’s not a human form, really, kyuu. It’s a bunch of your ancestors, mixed together, kyuu! With With’s own touches of color, of course. o3o

Don’t you recognize your great-great-grandfathers, kyuu? They’re in the family photo album, kyuu~!

[cinnabarfeather]

N-No, you haven't...but it's amazing!  Maybe one day we can go to a park together.  Or maybe go strawberry picking--but you'd have to behave.

A...color-changed compilation of my ancestors, huh...?  I actually haven't looked in the photo album often--isn't that also kept in the basement?  Maybe I should page through it a bit...

[cinnabarfeather]

DAISUKIIII. With's met some people and they asked for a name but they said With isn't a name, kyuu. What does With do, kyuu? With is With, but With is also Daisuki, and Dark, and lots of people, kyuu--does With need a name like Daisuki's?

Aw, With…well, you could always tell them why you’re named what you are.

With is With, because you’re always by our side.  You’re always “with” us.  We’d be very lonely without you!

[kyuuchuu]

OF COURSE, KYUU. Why wouldn’t Daisuki call With, With? With is With’s name after all, kyuu!

With is just going to call With Akira when With is being… well, Akira, kyuu! Like this~ *poof*

[cinnabarfeather]

AAH!!

Y-You have...your own human form...?  So this is what you were talking about earlier...

That's...amazing...

[cinnabarfeather]

Fighting the darkness…?

Sounds a bit scary.

A-anyway, I don’t know much about lacrosse either, but just from watching I can tell she’s very good at it.  I just know her team will be able to advance!

[keywieldersora]

Yeah, I guess it can be, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. All in a day’s work!

I’d love to come and watch her sometime. I bet it’s really exciting!

[cinnabarfeather]

As long as you're careful...

But...what kind of darkness, exactly?  It's not...oh, I dunno, possessed artworks or anything, right?

[cinnabarfeather]

DAISUKIIII. With's met some people and they asked for a name but they said With isn't a name, kyuu. What does With do, kyuu? With is With, but With is also Daisuki, and Dark, and lots of people, kyuu--does With need a name like Daisuki's?

Aw, With…well, you could always tell them why you’re named what you are.

With is With, because you’re always by our side.  You’re always “with” us.  We’d be very lonely without you!

[kyuuchuu]

Kyuu? Akira (丹)… Akira (卯)? Akira Niwa? Kyuu…

*scribble scribble*

With likes the bunny one better ouo The other one looks funny!

Ah, but… kanji is hard, kyuu! *scribbles some more*

Maybe With is better off like this, kyuu!

[cinnabarfeather]

Haha, oh With...oh, you don't mind if I still call you With, right?

But the hiragana definitely suits you better.  I'm glad you like your new name!

[cinnabarfeather]

Keyblade…Master?

What’s a Keyblade?

Anyway, Riku is doing very well!  She plays lacrosse, and her team is about to go to a pretty big tournament, so she’s been practicing nonstop.

[keywieldersora]

It’s a weapon for fighting the darkness. See?

Oh, a tournament, huh? I don’t know much about lacrosse, but I hope her team wins! 

[cinnabarfeather]

Fighting the darkness...?

Sounds a bit scary.

A-anyway, I don't know much about lacrosse either, but just from watching I can tell she's very good at it.  I just know her team will be able to advance!