Kaoru/Zelgadis: Personality Match?

[Shukuen]

"Yah, I'm fine." Shukuen rubbed the bump, moving into a relaxed sitting position. He blinked at the odd, shadowy figure, wondering why he seemed familiar. "So... who are you exactly?"

[Bean Bandit]

The shadow man shrugged, his manner relaxed as he watched.

"A friend. You looked like you could use some help, so I pulled you to shore."

[Shukuen]

"I... see..." Shukuen glanced around at the lake, then back to the shadowy man neutrally. "Don't think me ungrateful, but you don't look like the kind of person who would perform a deed without some compensation."

[Bean Bandit]

The shadow man shrugged. "Mistrustful sort, aren't you?" The red eyes managed to convey amusement.

"But, you're right. I do have something of some import to discuss with you...Hm. Shall I call you Zelgadis, or would you like to give me your other name?"

[Shukuen]

Shukuen smirked in response. "My name is usually never shared, so just call me 'Zelgadis', if you please."

[Bean Bandit]

The shadow man shrugged. "As you wish. In any case, a situation has come up, and you should know about it, seeing as how it's how you came to be here...which isn't the 'Slayers' anime that you started out in..."

He paused. "I'm here to help you. I can tell you what you need to know." he offered.

[Shukuen]

"Oh, really?" Shukuen raised an eyebrow, returning to his neutral face. "You still haven't told me what you wanted. And, personally, I don't think doing me two favors would be fair until I repaid the first one."

[Bean Bandit]

The shadow man paced casually. "If you like. You CAN do things for me, but the decision is yours. I won't bind you to my service in exchange for arming you with information you will most likely need. Do you even know why you ended up here?" He paused.

"And by here, I mean where you are now...and the body you currently wear.  After which, If you feel the need, I can tell you of my problem, if you wish to assist."

[Shukuen]

Shukuen shrugged indifferently. "Fine then. I admit I am a bit curious on why this is happening."

[Bean Bandit]

The shadow man smiled. "Alright, then. Hm. How to begin. "

He paced briefly, then stopped. "Well...let's start with where you are...have you ever heard of the anime 'Rurouni Kenshin'? I know it exists on your world..."

[Shukuen]

"Heard of it, seen the first episode." Shukuen shrugged again. "Beyond that, I have no clue."

[Bean Bandit]

The shadow man smiled again, faintly. "That's where you are right now. Somewhat similar to how you came to be Zelgadis Greywords."

"I suspect you've noticed how you can't access your body's natural spellcasting abilities here. But...there is a way around that. Interested?"

[Shukuen]

Shukuen raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Natural spellcasting abilities? I actually thought them more as foreign aid since spells mostly rely on beings of another plane." He shrugged, "But, yeah, you got my interests."

[Bean Bandit]

The Shadow man nodded in response, his ethereal for twisting slightly. "True. But, you can use them because Zelgadis has an aptitude toward those particular magics. But that's neither here nor there. Do you still have the gems you took from your last opponent?"

Shukuen blinked in response. "Last I remember of them was when I brought them out to show that mage," he said, checking his person to see if they were still on him.
After a short search, they were located in a pocket in his cloak.

"Those will be important to you." The dark man replied, nodding as they were produced. "They're...power taps, of a sort. you can use one of them to regain your magic."

"Oh?" Shukuen glanced at both stones, then frowned. "What does the other do then?"

"The same thing. But, when you use one, the other will become useless to you. When the time comes, choose wisely."

"Uh huh, how in genre." Shukuen pocketed the gems again. "So basically, I can choose one now and have guaranteed ability to cast magic in that area, but then, I cannot use the gems again if I enter an area where I need it most, correct?"

The shadow man laughed. "Not at all. Whichever gem you use will be useful for as long as you need it. But each gem contains conflicting energy, so if you use one,you block yourself off from the energy of the other." he explained. "You need not worry about your powers failing you."

Shukuen blinked; "All right... what are the differences between the gems if they conflict?"

"They're a direct line into the energy of me...and my nemesis, if you will."

"I... see..." Shukuen sweatdropped. "Mind telling me which is which then? In case I need to know?"

The shadow man sighed. "I wish I could. But that would consititute direct intevention. Which is the only rule I cannot even bend, much less break." the shadow man frowned. "All I can do is encourage you to trust your instincts. Though...right about now would be a good time to explain how you got here...and how it relates to this..."


Shukuen shrugged; "Fine then. Let's continue this, shall we?"

A nod. "What do you know of higher beings, 'Zelgadis'?"

"Depends, do you mean my thoughts back in my 'real' plane? Or in this anime 'multiverse'?"

The other shrugged. "Both. I'd like a frame of reference to explain this to you."

"Well, let's see..." Shukuen paused in thought. "Back home, I, well, 'believed' there were multiple higher beings, even though I didn't believe any of them were the 'supreme' being." He shrugged, "I also put a lot of thought into Fate, Destiny, and Karma; where everything happened for a reason and all."

"As for the multiverse, well... I've seen where most of them were either meddlers. Or the series last hope or greatest fear towards existance."

The shadow man smiled. "Precisely. My opponent and I are what you might call...aspects of this universe. We're the primary ones...and we used to run it together. But...things have changed...which brings us to the current conflict...and your arrival."

Shukuen nodded; "Do go on."

"My opponent...is something of a controlling personality. She has a set destination in mind for the timeline...and weeds out anything that might stand in her way. Unfortunately for her...I'm a little too big to be removed...especially by the methods we've restricted ourselves to. Which is why she brought you here. You...and eleven others. Are you with me so far?"

"Yes, go on."

"Excellent. Now, we get into what I'm hoping for from you. I've contacted one of her other 'recruits' already, and secured his assistance. I'd like your help in resisting her influence here."

"Specifically...In changing the nature of this particaular timeline. It's a focal point of sorts. There is a key battle about to take place...but we MUST avoid a scripted ending. I will aid you indirectly, in any manner I can...any information I can provide you to assist, I will."

"Hmm... so, I'm guessing the role of the watcher is out?" Shukuen asked sarcastically, stretching the kinks from his stone joints.

The shadow man laughed. "Any higher being who says he keeps his hands out of his area of influence is lying to you. There ARE limits...but with the stakes this high, one cannot afford to watch."

"That, I can agree with." Shukuen nodded, smiling briefly before returning to a neutral expression. "However, it is mainly against my personal ideals to take a side. I can promise you a favor for saving my life. But I cannot, under good conscience, pick any side. Sorry." Shukuen bowed slightly. "I don't mean any disrespect, but I was raised to follow what I believe most."

The shadow man shrugged. "As I said, I won't force you to side with me. Time is too short for such heavy handed, unreliable tactics. But, my offer of help still stands. You lack information that I can provide."

"And I thank you for whatever help you wish to provide, but my stance on choosing a side still remains." Shukuen sighed, then smiled. "Besides, where's the fun if you just tell me everything I needed to know? I prefer to know what I need and let the rest come through experience."

The shadow man nodded, a bit amused. "Admirable, if a touch naive. You have my word, I will fully answer 3 questions, free of any type of strings. Will that suffice?"

[Shukuen]

"Yeah, that's do," Shukuen said absently, pondering what he knew so far.

"You mentioned others. Can you tell me who they currently are so I'll know them when I meet them?"