you monster--DERRICK

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    The much larger lion would draw in a sharp breath of the humid air surrounding him. He was new, and that meant he had to learn how this place looked. Even so, he wasn't exactly sure what this place was even called. He knew that it was the Cartel, but with the temple thing? It intrigued him. So, he would be sitting on the border, looking at the temple from afar.

    Derrick hated The Cartel with a burning passion. It didn't matter that Betty was no longer there. Or that anyone involved in his son's death- murder - were no longer there. Even mentioning them made his blood boil. Months had passed and he still had a gnawing hunger for revenge. It was, for the most, the reason he was hanging around their territory. He would kill someone. He would burn the place to the ground. Something. Coming across the lion at the border, his shoulders tensed. There was a tingling feeling, something telling him... well, he didn't exactly know. Instead, he steeled himself for any questions. That was the norm after all.

    He had heard of Derrick's ill-dated son. He actually felt bad. Vanitas could feel negative emotions, and sadness was one of them. He knew what it was like to lose a son-- having to kill one of them was worse, and that's what the lion was trained to do. Perhaps that's what helped lead to his bloodthirsty ways. Perhaps he and Derrick were more similiar than they knew.


    He had used the ability to sense negative emotions to tell that the tiger was there. And he knew exactly what the lad wanted. "Just do the first strike, Derrick. I don't believe Ven is cursed to take my blows anymore-- she might be, but she always comes back. So, she thinks don't you just attack me?"

    His blood ran cold and the air around him dropped several degrees. That's what the feeling was. He knew exactly who this was. How. And most importantly why. Vanitas said her name and he had to bite back a snarl. Did something happen to her? Is that why he was here? "Why. Why are you here!?" Derrick wanted to tear him apart. No, he's lying. He would never forgive himself if he ever hurt Venta again. It wouldn't matter if she could come back. Tears welled in his eyes, but they weren't of sadness. He was frustrated and angry.

    He drew in a sharp breath. Why? He wasn't sure he knew the answer. He thought by going back to Venta, he'd be happy. But he wasn't. He still would only feel negative emotions. "'Why?' You ask. Well... It's because I know I will only be an abomination beyond saving," he knew Derrick's frustration and anger well. He felt a smile creep on his face as he said that. He was truly insane. "So, I might as well have fun and be my f**ked up self while I'm here!" His tone grew sickly sweet, like a poisonous nightshade berry. The full-maned lion turned his head towards the tiger, grinning, with golden orbs locked onto Derrick.

    "I should kill you," Derrick snarled before he could stop himself and actually think. Once someone joined the Cartel, they were guilty by association. It only made matters worse that this was Vanitas, someone he already had a history with. "You don't deserve to live and you never have!" He took a threatening step forward, rage coloring his vision red. Why was he smiling? It was unnerving, to say the least. But that wouldn't stop him.

    Oh, so Big Brother Derrick wanted to be a knight? At least the vessel of darkness admitted he was screwed up! He should kill Vanitas? Not quite. The lion wanted to continue to live. Vanitas let out a hollow, dull laugh before he started straight at the tiger. "You should kill me? Are you so sure? You might do something you'd regret, fratello."

    Derrick nearly choked on his own breath. He spluttered, but quickly recovered. A few tears fell, leaving track marks on his dingy face. "Do not call me that," he muttered. He heard that laugh before, the only difference now is that it came from the being across from him and not himself. His claws dug into the earth beneath him, if only to ground himself. Yes, he wanted to kill Vanitas, but his statement had forced some small logical side come back. He couldn't be sure the two were completely separate. For now, he would hold back.

    "Mm? Perché? By all means, you are technically my brother. I'm a creature from Venta riven. 'Creature from Venta riven, to you, the name Vanitas shall be given.' Has she told you that phrase, partigano?(Partisan) Has she told you that her weakness led to my creation? I am Venta!" Vanitas' tone had begun calm, like a clear day. However, as he continued speaking, it grew more and more angered, like a roaring thunderstorm. His stance changed into an attack stance, with ebony claws unsheathed, tail upward, mane ruffled, and his face contorted.

    None of that mattered to him. The confusion from the phrase didn't either. Damned if Derrick ever thought of Vanitas as anything close to a sibling. "NO YOU ARE NOT! SHUT UP!" Derrick screamed back, losing himself. He was trembling now, and he shut his eyes to calm himself. It didn't help. Suddenly, he painfully aware of the tears streaming down his face. Weak and stupid. His eyes snapped open and he surged forward, aiming to slam into Vanitas and knock him back. "I don't give a f-ck who you think you are to me, who are you in general, and definitely not about technicalities. I decide who gets to call me brother. You are not one of them!

    Somehow, despite the fact there was no weight advantage, Vanitas was knocked back into a tree with a bit of a whimpering noise. He did not expect that... and yet... This was the Derrick he liked to see! So full of anger and rage. Maybe even a sprinkling of vegeance in there too! He chuckled, "I am Venta. Need I say it again? I'm really related to you! I'm half of Venta's soul!" Darkness surrounded the lion's mouth to form the red and black blade. Void Gear.His golden eyes sparkled with some sort of amusement as he would swing it at Derrick, attempting to scratch a shoulder or something of the like.

    There a glint of joy flash in his eyes when he heard the quiet whimper. Served him right. Derrick advanced on him, tail lashing back and forth behind him. If possible, he became even angrier. This was not Venta and he didn't care what their creators thought. He did not care. "Shut up." He didn't even flinch when the blade struck his shoulder, only leaped to the side and then pushed back toward Vanitas. "Need I say it again?" he growled in a mockery of the ... creature's words, before he was moving in, aiming to grab him by the throat this time and force him onto the ground.

    Vanitas made a rather odd noise as he was grabbed by the throat. He made a sound as if he was being choked. "Gonna Force me to... huh?"Which, well, was actually a bit close to what was actually happening. Even for the masochist, this was losing it's fun value. He still wanted to live. So, with the blade in his jaw, he would do an act of repeating, attempting to break part of the keychain to once again curse Derrick.

    Derrick wanted to press further. He wanted to end the being's pitiful life. I could, he thought bitterly to himself. Instead, he faltered and stumbled back, staring at Vanitas with his wide pink eyes. "What the hell are you doing?" This felt familiar. The bad kind of familiar. "Stop!" he shouted, just as he watched Vanitas break it. He leaped forward again, slamming his paws down in hopes of slamming them against the lion's shoulder and chest. After, he would try to grab at his ear and part of the mane, tugging if he caught it.

    Good. That let Vanitas catch his breath. He felt the heavy tiger stagger off of him and he got up for a brief second, breathing heavily to regain his breath. And he felt these huge, large, paws slamming into his shoulder and chest, causing him to be knocked back. That's when he felt bites and claws at his ear and mane. Seriously?!


    Vanitas grew more angered, digging his claws into the earth when he felt something. Mud. With a grin, Vanitas sneakily separated the water from the mud and attempted to claw Derrick's face.

    Derrick snarled, brushing the black hairs from his face as he was struck across the face and he moved back. His eyes narrowed, teeth gritting against the pain. After so many fights, he gained the ability to not show any sign of defeat during confrontation. That meant no crying out and no flinching. So far, so good. He could nurse his wounds later. With some concentration he was able to focus on the cold air around them, pulling water from it. He was going to try something he hadn't before, but the abrupt pain of drops of the water fall on his back caused him to lose focus and then rest fell. It hit between his shoulder blades, splashing out onto his wings. More rolled down his shoulders and that's when he cool facade wore off in a sudden hiss of pain. He stumbled, just slightly, burning gaze falling back on the black lion. "You... bastard," he growled through his gritted teeth. He moved forward once more, though, bringing his paw up and then down quickly, aiming to sweep his claws down across Vanitas' face.

    Vanitas wouldn't disagree with that term. He knew he was a bastard, and was completely fine with it. Watching the facade of not having pain fade away from his enemy caused his smile to grow further. "Oh! Grazie mille, fratello!" He cooed in his once again sickly sweet tone. The class managed to get Vanitas' eye, causing for now, a temporary blindness. He snarled, looking at Derrick, attempting to swing the Void Gear against his temple to hopefully cause some pain.

    Derrick roared, the water soaking into his fur suddenly flying out and forming into a swirling orb above him. Vanitas just wasn't getting it, was he? Everything about the dark creature was pissing him off more and more every second he stayed in his presence. The orb flew forward and as it did, it seperated and froze into spikes of ice. They had been thrown in the general direction of the lion, but as it was in a fit of rage, it was probable they would miss.

    A moment later, his entire field of vision went black and he stumbled to the side. Pain suddenly flared at the side of his head. It took him another moment to make the connection of what happened. His vision slowly came back, incredibly blurry, but at least he wasn't blind. The flare turned to a sharp, throbbing pain. Some blood trickled down his temple. He was disorientated, and dizzy. He moved to take a step and stumbled. Shaking his head in frustration made the pain worse. Still, he moved again toward Vanitas, now with uneven steps, and attempted to slam against him again. He also snapped at his shoulder, though with his double vision he wasn't sure if he was aiming for Vanitas' actual shoulder or not.

    Hah! His trick had worked. Vanitas was thoroughly enjoying this fight. Obviously, things wouldn't get through his thick skull. Well, a ball of ice certainly did, causing him to crash back slightly, and the fact that his fur was now a frozen mess like he had been living the Arctic. He hissed as it stung, and blinded his vision further. And then came the second and third attacks, a body slam and part of his shoulder being gone. He stopped with his chiding, taunting words for just a moment. Locking onto Derrick, he would attempt to send a blast of a black-colored fire his way.

    Derrick had to shut his eyes now. The dizziness was making him feel sick and the pain began to affect his eyes as well. Lucky enough, he was able to avoid the fire stinging his eyes this way. However, he still felt the heat and it hurt. He stumbled back, opening his eyes again and thanking whoever was out there that his vision was seemingly back to normal. Still blurry, but there was only Vanitas in his vision now. He lowered his head, much like a bull would. It would hurt him whether the attack landed or not, but he had to try. He wasn't sure he could pull another ice trick at the moment. He burst forward, aiming to slam against Vanitas' side with his horn.