[This was not what he had expected to wake up to... actually, he hadn't expected to wake up at all. Sure, Real Thing said his heart would go wherever his would, but c'mon. The place is way too lively to be some kind of afterlife, and it's not like he's seen Riku around.

Just thinking about his circumstances gave him a headache. Him, some kind of "Chosen?" And now he's gotta work with some monster-thing?

As he marches down the streets outside the Terminal Building, the Replica wears a scowl on his mug and pays little mind to the Kotemon toddling after him.]

H-hey! Slow down! I never even got to introdu--

Save it.

[The Replica stops, just briefly, looking at his 'partner' with a deadpan expression.]

If you need a partner that bad, can't you go find a new one? Trust me, I'm no "chosen" anything. Just someone's pet project.

[Just as he prepares to move again, the little Kotemon tilts her head and blinks a few times.]

...No, I'm pretty sure you're one of the Chosen. And I can't replace you! That's, um. Well, you see, I was kind of waiting a long, long time and--

[He's already started moving again, forcing his partner to make chase.

They make it to just outside the meeting hall before the Replica groans, stops once again, and takes a deep breath. If he can just get his darkness to work...

But nothing happens, and soon his partner reaches him. Nonetheless, he keeps trying. Even swipes his arm through the air to call his Soul Eater; no dice. Growling, he glares down at Kotemon.]

Okay, you want me to listen to you? Then you'd better explain why I can't use the darkness anymore. What did they do to me?!

D-darkness? But... I mean, I don't really--

[She stumbles back, voice dropping to a whisper.

Someone may want to step in before he gives her a heart attack. Dude's kind of sucky at this whole partner thing.]