Kaze walked down the streets, cognizant of the occasional stares the populace gave him, but ignoring it. If there was anything he had learned from his experiences as a Keyblade Master, it was that no matter how outlandish he looked, no one would bother him if he acted as if this weren’t out of the ordinary.
Luckily for him, Walt and Nanaki weren’t with him. They’d split off for this venture. Right now, he was concerned with finding his mark.
One of the men walked out of the university, and Kaze double checked the yellowing photograph. This was it.
Abandoning all pretenses of normality, he walked up to the man. As he did so, he was mentally noting the features that reminded him of his two friends in the neighboring world. The man looked at Kaze, curious more than anything.
“Hohenheim of Light, correct?” Kaze asked.
Hohenheim looked at Kaze, “I’ve gone by that name… why do you ask?”
“I’m a friend of your sons,” he said, and only a brief widening of the eyes suggested the man’s surprise at this, “They require your help in their home country.”
Hohenheim nodded, “This will require some discussion. Perhaps somewhere a bit more private?”
Kaze nodded, following the older man into a secluded coffee shop. He went to a table, and Kaze followed. The dust on the table hinted at the privacy they would be given.
“Hiding in plain sight,” Kaze said, “clever.”
“Not half as clever as you. Or, at least, we could say, talented yet deluded. How have you managed to arrive here?” Hohenheim asked with an edge in his voice.
Kaze smirked, “You think I arrived here through your Gate, that I’ve performed human transmutation. Don’t worry, I know other means to travel from world to world, means that do not sacrifice human lives…” Kaze narrowed his gaze across the table, “Means that I am willing to share with you, for the meantime, if you are willing to help me.”
“Forgive me, young man, but I have become somewhat paranoid in my old age. I want to know how it is you know about me and my sons, especially given your odd style of dress.”
Kaze shrugged, “Fair enough. I’m a part of a small group of fighters attempting to stave off an inter-stellar plague known as the Heartless. I believe you’ve encountered them when Dante captured you and sent you here.”
Hohenheim nodded gravely, and Kaze continued, “After your departure, my friends and I aided Edward in destroying Dante and all of her Homunculus, then in retrieving Alphonse’s body from the Gate. In doing so, I was able to seal off the world so that the Heartless would be unable to enter…” his face hardened, “But the situation has changed. Ambitious people on both sides of the gate are conspiring, and the result is weakening the seal I’ve placed on the worlds. The Heartless are starting to trickle back in, and soon we fear the worlds may be destroyed after all. Ed and Al are trying their best to find a remedy, but we need help. You know the most about the fundamental laws of these two worlds. We need that knowledge to prevent a catastrophe.”
Luckily for him, Walt and Nanaki weren’t with him. They’d split off for this venture. Right now, he was concerned with finding his mark.
One of the men walked out of the university, and Kaze double checked the yellowing photograph. This was it.
Abandoning all pretenses of normality, he walked up to the man. As he did so, he was mentally noting the features that reminded him of his two friends in the neighboring world. The man looked at Kaze, curious more than anything.
“Hohenheim of Light, correct?” Kaze asked.
Hohenheim looked at Kaze, “I’ve gone by that name… why do you ask?”
“I’m a friend of your sons,” he said, and only a brief widening of the eyes suggested the man’s surprise at this, “They require your help in their home country.”
Hohenheim nodded, “This will require some discussion. Perhaps somewhere a bit more private?”
Kaze nodded, following the older man into a secluded coffee shop. He went to a table, and Kaze followed. The dust on the table hinted at the privacy they would be given.
“Hiding in plain sight,” Kaze said, “clever.”
“Not half as clever as you. Or, at least, we could say, talented yet deluded. How have you managed to arrive here?” Hohenheim asked with an edge in his voice.
Kaze smirked, “You think I arrived here through your Gate, that I’ve performed human transmutation. Don’t worry, I know other means to travel from world to world, means that do not sacrifice human lives…” Kaze narrowed his gaze across the table, “Means that I am willing to share with you, for the meantime, if you are willing to help me.”
“Forgive me, young man, but I have become somewhat paranoid in my old age. I want to know how it is you know about me and my sons, especially given your odd style of dress.”
Kaze shrugged, “Fair enough. I’m a part of a small group of fighters attempting to stave off an inter-stellar plague known as the Heartless. I believe you’ve encountered them when Dante captured you and sent you here.”
Hohenheim nodded gravely, and Kaze continued, “After your departure, my friends and I aided Edward in destroying Dante and all of her Homunculus, then in retrieving Alphonse’s body from the Gate. In doing so, I was able to seal off the world so that the Heartless would be unable to enter…” his face hardened, “But the situation has changed. Ambitious people on both sides of the gate are conspiring, and the result is weakening the seal I’ve placed on the worlds. The Heartless are starting to trickle back in, and soon we fear the worlds may be destroyed after all. Ed and Al are trying their best to find a remedy, but we need help. You know the most about the fundamental laws of these two worlds. We need that knowledge to prevent a catastrophe.”
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