Hello hello! I am going to love typing this chapter, as well as the few surrounding it. This area of the manga is one of my personal faves, if not my very favorite! I love it when Kuro is shown that it's okay to regret having done something…and I love the push Mahiru gives him so that he can begin at fixing things and moving forward. It's so touching!
And, of course, adding Ai in to this little heart-felt mix is going to be even more heart-felt!
Now, I'm gonna start the chapter with a little bit of backtrack on Mahiru's end, since we know what happened on Ai's end upon her entering Kuro's mind. Also, "BlueMoon Goddess" I so wished I would've thought of adding in the scenario of Ai not taking Kuro's "big secret" well, like you commented in your review from the last chapter. I loved that idea and only wish I would have thought of it.
So, let's get this thing started, shall we?
Thank you for your review: "xenocanaan", "NightlyRowenTree", "BlueMoon Goddess", "Keelan1210", "ScarryKid", "Lady Storykeeper", "harajukudarkangel", "Gust1995"
Thank you for your favorite: Sorry...no new people here.
Thank you for your follow: "CreepyAngel"
Chapter begin!
Mahiru stood in a desert, a long, black cloak covering him from head to toe. The wind swooshed in, blowing rather violently, but…how did he get here? Also, where was Ai? Was she safe? Had she travelled to a place like this? Or, was she in this desert, somewhere?
"Kuro…!" Mahiru shouted.
Suddenly, a tombstone-looking stone appeared, Inner Kuro sitting on top the stone, fishing. He seemed to ignore Mahiru, the Eve getting closer to the weird demonic-like cat.
"Umm…are you…Kuro?" He asked a little confused.
"Yo." It responded, though it wasn't much of one, really.
"Where is Kuro?" Mahiru inquired. "And is Ai here?"
"Why are you here?" The creature asked, not even looking to Mahiru. "Kuro doesn't want to see you. And Maeda Airi…is safe."
Mahiru became irritated with the cat. "You're lying about Kuro! Where are you keeping Ai?! Are you keeping her against her will?!"
The creature never replied, just continued to fish. Mahiru knew this creature, but it wasn't only from when he had received his weapon. This was the "thing" Ai said led her to Tetsu's when Tsubaki's subclass drugged her. Obviously, it was friendly…well, it was with Ai. It was a part of Kuro, right? If Kuro liked her…did this thing also develop some sort of feelings towards her, too? Hey, at this point, Mahiru believed anything was possible.
Suddenly, Mahiru paused.
He could hear a bell ringing. It was Kuro's bell, he knew that for sure. He couldn't stay here. He needed to find Kuro and talk to him, and while he was at it, he needed to find Ai, too. Still, he had a sneaking suspicion she was fine. So, he walked on. He was barefoot, and, though it was a desert, the wind was cold. Also, he was extremely thirsty. As he walked, the little cat creature followed, teasing and taunting him the whole way.
"By my calculations…there is no one beyond this point."
"Yo! Hey there!"
"Hello!"
"Yo! Hey there!"
It just never seemed to stop! Hopefully this little pest didn't taunt Ai like this, too! Mahiru tripped, landing hard on the desert floor. As he pushed himself off up, though, he heard a bell chime, like before. It was…coming from underneath the desert? How was he supposed to get there?! He could really use Ai right now. Somehow, she always seemed to be able to solve these sort of things.
But it was just him…
There was no one to ask. Back then, when he met Licht, as well as the time Licht saved him…Mahiru had to wonder if, somehow, Licht was able to see through his easy-going nature. I needed to think for himself. After all, he was there of his own free will. He needed to speak to Kuro! He needed to face him! Just like it wasn't mere talent that got Licht to where he currently was at, Mahiru would need to rely on different tactics and skills.
"Imagination…" Mahiru thought to himself inside.
Licht's words echoed in Mahiru: "Don't do just anything…do what you want to do."
Suddenly, an idea came to him. He might have figured it out! In this place…what if he could do whatever he thought up? It was worth a try, if nothing else. So, he pulled up the cloak's sleeve and began to cut his hand through the sand, creating a box. Sure enough, he was able to grab it as if he'd made a lid or something similar. Lifting up on the "sand lid", he found water underneath, as well as a stairway that went down.
Diving was his only course, so he jumped into the water and soon discovered that the stairs rested underneath the water. Literally, the water ended and under the water were stairs…dry stairs at that. This place was confusing, but maybe there was a reason for that.
So, he walked down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs he wasn't too surprised to see a door. What he was surprised to find was Ai sitting on her knees by that door, the little demonic cat creature standing next to her.
"Ai?!" Mahiru shouted as he ran down the rest of the steps, kneeling down to her. "Are you okay?! What's wrong?!"
She looked lost, as well as hopeless.
Then, she looked to Mahiru. "M-Mahiru? But…how? I was just…"
She paused, looking around. "Where am I now?!"
Obviously, Ai had been in a confusing situation, too. What all had she been forced to endure? He could see she was wearing the same weird black cloak he had previously had on before he took the little swim from moments before. He wanted to ask her about everything, but the cat creature spoke first.
"With Shirota Mahiru." Inner Kuro replied, Ai nearly glaring at him.
He ignored her glare, him next speaking to both Mahiru and Ai. "As promised…I'll let you in."
"Hey, you…" Inner Kuro said, jumping Mahiru as he forced his shirt off. "THERE'S A DRESS CODE!"
Next thing either of them knew, Ai and Mahiru found themselves in a room, one that was familiar to Ai. She'd seen it during some of her dreams and such, but she never knew what was going on. Was it, then, memory from Kuro she'd somehow received? Ai looked at the scene, Mahiru too preoccupied to actually take the surrounding setting in at this moment in time. They were at a table, but more importantly all seven Servamps were there, too. Ai looked to Mahiru, each other having a questioning gaze. Both of their eyes settled on a single figure who sat at the head of the table: It was Kuro.
"Kuro?" Ai said aloud.
Hugh spoke, Ai and Mahiru looking his way, "We can't be emotional. I am simply telling your C3's request."
Ai noticed the small vampire held a letter that had been sealed with a wax seal. This was a very old memory. Also, the Servamps looked…different, in a way. The clothing they wore was different from their current fashions. Well, aside from Hugh. Past or present, it apparently preferred looking like Tiny Dracula.
Jeje, Ai recognizing him as Mikuni's Servamp, spoke in his usual soft voice, "Why…can't we be calm?"
Ai looked and spotted two Servamps she didn't know. Still, judging by their words, it wasn't hard to figure out which Servamp sin they represented.
"WE DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO C3! IT'S CRAP! A LETTER?! I'LL EAT THE DAMN THING!" Spoke who Ai assumed was Gluttony.
Next, Lawless spoke, him looking anything but pleased, "Kill that person?! Seriously?! If we accept the order, what will happen?!"
Lilly, then, spoke in a gentle manner, "That person is very dangerous. Surely all of you know that."
Then, a girl with long purple hair spoke, a pissed off expression on her face, "There's no room here…for neither rhyme nor reason?"
Ai felt herself get torn already. The Servamps were given an order to kill someone? It sounded like this person, whoever they were, was someone important to them. Obviously, though, Ai nor Mahiru knew exactly how close this person was to these seven siblings.
So…who was this person? Who were they ordered…erm, "requested" to kill?
"It'd be weird for us to do something like this…" Lawless stated. "After all, that person is the person who created us!"
Ai felt her heart almost stop.
They were ordered to…kill their creator? How horrible! Ai noticed that Mahiru was just as shocked at this sudden news. So…how did the vote turn out? Obviously, it wasn't good. The Servamps were split, after all.
"Yes, a genius who created us seven…" Lilly stated. "…monsters."
Ai felt her heart sink at that word. They weren't human…she knew that, but "monsters" just sounded terrible. She didn't like it.
Hugh spoke once more, gesturing to the letter he held, "According to C3, someone of that person's description was seen in Japan. Who saw them last? I believe it was…"
Lilly raised his hand. "I think it was me…but that was hundreds of years ago.
"If that person is still alive…they're not human." Hugh concluded. "They've surpassed any power a human can have."
And, Lawless became immediately irritated. "So you're saying they're a monster then?"
Jeje spoke up, "What if that person makes dozens…or hundreds…like you?"
Gluttony slammed his hands on the table, pushing himself to his feet as he shouted to Jeje, "But they haven't! There's no need to kill'em! And speak up, jeez!"
Jeje continued, "If we wait, it'll be too late…"
Ai and Mahiru could tell that Kuro didn't want them seeing this. Some of the next lines were blurred with some weird electronic-type of sound, making it impossible to understand everything being said. Still, Hugh's next words were clear as crystal.
"An impasse…" The little vampire said, him looking to Kuro. "What do you think…Sleepy Ash?"
TO BE, OR NOT TO BE…THE ANSWER IS…
Ai and Mahiru looked to the sleepy vampire, curious as to what his answer was. Still, seeing all of this…the things Inner Kuro showed her, it all made sense. Ai already knew Kuro's answer. Mahiru might not have known…but she did.
"We kill them." Kuro replied, Ai feeling her heart sink even more, Mahiru bearing an absolute look of shock and disbelief.
Kuro continued, "And I…will do it."
Ai looked at the table. She knew what the answer would be, but…hearing it was still hard.
To think Kuro carried out such a task, alone. It was almost unbelievable, and yet she knew it had happened.
Lawless kicked his chair away as he stood up abruptly, anger filling him as he began walking over to where Kuro sat "You will…do it? Kill the person who made you? Maybe you've been sleeping too long, big bro…and your brain's still shut off."
Lawless just twitched as his irritation grew, a grin on his face. "If not for them, we wouldn't exist! It's true, right? They may as well—"
Lawless grabbed Kuro by his cloak, shouting him, fangs exposed. "—BE OUR PARENTS FOR GOD'S SAKE! THEY'RE A PART OF OUR FAMILY! If we don't support them…what the hell are we?! If you're against them…what the hell are you?! A family like us—"
"You shouldn't be using that word." Kuro interrupted, his Lawless a very serious expression, almost like he was irritated.
Lawless looked shocked, his eyes growing small at his elder brother's words.
"What are we anyway?" Kuro asked, still serious like before. "How were we born? *****mos** likely."
Ai and Mahiru, again, had been kept in the dark, not being able to hear a small portion of Kuro's words. At this moment, Ai was so conflicted. So much was going on here. She didn't know who to feel sorry for! Lawless was legitimately upset with this final say, and…Ai knew Kuro wasn't "fine", either.
Still, the Servamp continued, "I…never once thought being born a vampire…as being…a good thing."
Lawless began to become a little shaky, him increasing his grip on Kuro's cloak. "B-But…but, it's just…that person…is your—!"
Lawless released Kuro, Gluttony holding back the Servamp of Greed as Kuro walked away from the group, hands shoved in his pockets. Ai couldn't stay there, watching from her seat. She wasn't sure why, but she bolted from the chair, running after Kuro.
"Kuro! Stop!" She shouted, Mahiru chasing after her.
Ai grabbed a hold of Kuro's cloak, Mahiru having a hold of Ai's wrist. When the contact occurred, everything became devoured in black, another scene greeting Ai and Mahiru's eyes. Again, Ai knew this setting, but…it was back at the time when Tsubaki forced her to consume his blood. The area around them was Japan. The houses gave that away. Ai continued to walk after Kuro, Mahiru right beside her.
These had to be Kuro's memories. No doubt about it.
Ai tried to fathom everything in her head, but it wasn't easy. So, a single human created all the Servamps? Even Tsubaki? Did Kuro feel a tie to the man, then? You know, like how a son would feel for his father, or did Kuro feel hatred towards the man? He'd told Lawless to not use the word "family" to describe them all, so…did Kuro not even see the other Servamps as true siblings?
Ai was so confused.
No doubt Mahiru was too.
Finally, Kuro came to a door, him pulling it open. Ai noticed a figure who was just a white, glowing outline. Kuro had purposely kept the image of the man hidden. He was ashamed.
"Long time no see." The creator greeted. "I'm glad to see you're well…Sleepy Ash. Well, now—"
The two had shared a conversation? Kuro, however, was keeping that hidden, too. With each regret Kuro felt towards this single moment, what appeared to be black thorny roots grew from the ground, them wrapping around Mahiru but strangely enogh leaving Ai alone. Instead, black and blue energy wrapped around her ankles and wrists, it pulling her away from the scene, or at least it tried to. She was putting up a pretty good fight! She could see the thorns were cutting Mahiru, this being Kuro's way to desperately holding Mahiru back from having to witness this scene.
Kuro's thoughts from that moment just echoed, Ai's heart sinking more and more with each one said.
"It can't be!"
"It's them! Who is that?! I can't believe they are still alive! It's them! Tell me this isn't happening!"
"I want to run away! Is there anything I can say here? This sucks! Can I kill them?! I DON'T WANT TO!"
"Ask…Ask what they plan to do next."
"This brings back memories…STOP THAT! DON'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING! DON'T TRY TO REMEMBER!"
"I've got to end…"
"I can't kill…"
"Why—come to this?"
"Not a person…"
"This is the right—"
"But, if I don't kill them…"
Ai felt the grab on her wrist and ankles actually begin to hurt her, Ai screaming from the pain it was causing, but she didn't care. She still fought.
Kuro carried out the "task" while feeling like this? He wavered…no, he more than wavered. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to kill this man, but he felt he had to. He felt it was the right thing to do, despite how it made him feel. He wasn't sure…but still did it anyway.
Ai noticed tears come from Kuro's eyes as he leaped at his creator, claws extended as he readied for the kill. Immediately, more and more black energy wrap around herself, it preventing her from actually looking at the scene. In fact, she felt herself begin to be dragged down, into what should be the ground. She could hear Mahiru screaming as the thorns began to truly hurt him, all of it being Kuro's way to trying to keep this a secret.
Ai shouted. "KURO, STOP! KURO!"
"DON'T LOOK!" Kuro's voice echoed in Mahiru and Ai's thoughts. "DON'T LOOK! I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE DISAPPOINTED OR IN DESPAIR! I JUST WANTED TO BE A HERO."
The aftermath came to their attention, all of the Servamp siblings together. Pride (Hugh) spoke first, "No regrets. This had to be done."
Jeje also spoke, "There was no other option…"
Lilly added his own comment. "Thank you. I feel this is for the best."
"No problems…" Gluttony said, obvious in reluctance. "Someone will always do what they're gonna do. There's no other way…time after time…"
Wrath also added her thoughts, too. "I'm not angry. We have no right…to be angry."
Lawless, however, had very, very different thoughts on the matter, him glaring at Kuro as he walked away. "I'm never going to forgive you for this! Why…! Why did you do it?! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
This was Kuro's uncertainty…his regret. It was something he'd carried all this time, for years and years. And he'd been carrying it alone. Ai reached out towards Kuro, tears beginning to stream from her eyes.
"YOU IDIOT! LET US HELP YOU!" She shouted. "IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, KURO! FOR GOD'S SAKE, STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM THIS! IF YOU CAN'T DEAL WITH IT ON YOUR OWN…WE WILL! I WILL! KURO! GOD DAMN IT!"
Ai didn't know how to deal with all of this, though. Neither did Mahiru. But, they would try.
They needed to be there for Kuro…even if he was currently trying to push them away.
Suddenly, a very familiar voice spoke, "Say…do you know what lasts forever? The living die. Things rot. Memories fade…but there is one thing that will never go away…"
Ai knew this voice immediately. This was Inner Kuro speaking.
"That which lasts forever…are the things that last as long as people." Inner Kuro's voice echoed, both Mahiru and Ai hearing it.
Inner Kuro suddenly appeared before Ai and Mahiru, only he was upside down.
"That is…" Inner Kuro began. "The sin of humans! This 'energy' lasts forever, you see."
Oh, and Ai was holding him…oddly enough. Ai just stared at the cat creature, her then gasping in surprise—as well as a little bit of fear—as she let it go, it rolling away as it dropped to the ground. Mahiru looked around, Ai still possessing a look of shock. They were in what appeared to be a large room that contained many, many black boxes that had chains securing them shut. Padlocks kept anyone or anything from entering, too.
"Where…?" Mahiru asked, looking around.
Inner Kuro spoke, "Now that you've gotten this far…you can just leave well enough alone."
Ai felt a sudden irritation. "Why do you keep trying to get rid of us?! We want to help Kuro! You're a part of him, right?! You should want us to help him, and get him out of this rut he's been keeping himself in!"
Inner Kuro just looked at Ai. He looked surprised for a moment, it then it turned into that usual creepy grin of his.
"Why not try bustin' into one of Kuro's secrets, then?" It inquired, gesturing to one of the several locked boxes. "You might learn something neat!"
Ai just glared at the creature.
"Come on! Give it a go!" It urged. "I'll give you both a weapon. Something stronger than a broom! You can bust up the other rooms, too!"
An axe appeared in its hand, it chopping away at one of the black boxes with no result happening. "Why not break in here? Why kind of weapon do you need for this?"
Ai went over, grabbing the axe from the little feline creature. "ENOUGH! YOU HEAR ME?! I DON'T WANT TO BREAK INTO ANYTHING OF KURO'S! I DON'T CARE HOW MANY SECRETS HE HAS, OKAY?! WE ALL HAVE THEM! I JUST..."
Inner Kuro just looked at Ai, a type of awe present in his gaze.
Ai clenched the axe tighter, tears beginning to come to her eyes. "I just want to see him...okay? I need to know he's fine. I need to…okay?"
Mahiru came up to her, holding her for a moment. He looked to the box the cat creature had tried chopping into, him looking down to Ai, who was still sobbing a little. "I think I know where he is."
He touched the box's wall. "He's inside her…isn't he? We just want to go inside…we don't need a weapon for that. We just need to knock."
So, Mahiru knocked on the wall a few times, Kuro's voice coming from inside, this instantly brightening Ai's heart and mind. "Who is it…?"
"I'm…" Mahiru started, his mind going blank for but a moment as hesitation came. "I'm…?"
Immediately, what looked like spears of glass shot from the box, Mahiru's cheek getting cut as they went back inside it. Mahiru's eyes widened in shock and fear. Ai's widened, too. Kuro, again, was trying to keep them away. Or…maybe it was because Mahiru hesitated?
Ai stepped forward, her hand pressed on the glass-like wall. "Kuro…it's me, Ai. Can we come in…?"
"Ai…" Kuro's voice could be heard. "Mahiru…?"
"We're both here. Let us in." Ai repeated.
A doorway was cut, a handle forming so that they could enter. Ai entered first, Mahiru almost right beside her but trailing about a step or two behind. As they walked, both could hear Kuro's voice, over and over.
"Just what…what did I do it for anyway?"
"No…but…no, I had no choice."
"This world doesn't need more monsters."
"Would it…have been better to try and talk?"
"Could I have even done it?"
"The world was doomed from the start anyway."
"What should I have done?"
To think…Kuro had been carrying so many burdens. No wonder he never did anything. Something like this…it would be enough to send anyone into a "hermit" like persona. He'd been alone…all this time. Poor Kuro…
Ai stopped, Mahiru right beside her.
Ai knew this situation. It was almost identical to Kuro's innermost wish. He sat with his knees pressed against his chest, arms hugging his legs. His head was pressed into his knees. He just sat there…silent, all of the tormenting thoughts echoing, more and more.
"I was…right. I wasn't wrong…"
"This world doesn't need more monsters. Stopping it all…was right."
"If I hadn't…someone else would have."
"Did I really have to kill him?"
"What if I was wrong? Why did I do it then…?"
"I'll never do…anything again. No more decisions! If someone tells me to do something…I'll do it. That's all there is to it…"
Ai felt her knees get weak. Seeing him, like this…is was almost too much. She glanced to Mahiru, and he, too, was taking it hard.
Kuro, then, lifted his head, a look of utter regret etched inside him. "I WASN'T WRONG."
Ai's heart broke.
That was the last straw. She felt hers legs just barely begin to buckle, almost as if they just suddenly decided to stop carrying her weight.
Kuro pressed his hands to his face, hiding himself. "PLEASE…SOMEONE SAY IT! TELL ME…THAT WHAT I DID WASN'T WRONG!"
He was sobbing.
Kuro…was crying.
Ai felt herself cave to the ground, landing right in front of him, her arms wrapped around him as she held him near. "You idiot…"
Kuro twitched just a bit, Ai holding him even closer to herself as she finished. "Why can't you see, Kuro? You have it all wrong. We can't…we can't say whether what you did was right or wrong! Your siblings can't say it, either! It's for you to decide! But…you were alone for so long…the guilt etched itself inside your mind, hollowing you…numbing you. And…I'm…I'm sorry…"
His body began to go black, like it did before.
He was losing himself, again.
"You were so afraid…afraid you'd be hated. Be seen as a disappointment." Ai said, tears dripping. "I'm not disappointed. I don't hate you. I'm proud of you…you admitted your mistake, yes, but you've been fighting it alone. It's too much for you to handle…"
Ai pulled back, placing her hands on either side of Kuro's face. "But…it's going to be okay. I've been so blind…but, now, I know…"
She placed her forehead against Kuro's, the Servamp inwardly stirring, rather than further losing himself.
"I love you, Kuro…" Ai said, tears streaming even more.
The black that covered Kuro's face and hands instantly left, the Servamp looking at Ai with the utmost shock. Ai just laughed a bit, trying to ease the atmosphere as she wiped her eyes. "I can't stop crying. I don't know how to put anything into words without babbling…but you're not alone. I promise. We'll face it. You, me, and Mahiru."
Mahiru sweatdropped a bit, him thinking to himself, "Actually, this feels like more of a 'Kuro and Ai' thing…ah well…"
"You made that first step, Kuro…" Mahiru spoke, Ai still wiping her eyes. "Now, you need to continue. You can't afford to sit here in self-pity. We need you."
Kuro looked to Mahiru, closing his eyes afterwards as he muttered to Eve's words. "You're the kind of pain in the ass…that will kill me someday…"
The white background completely shattered, giving way to a beautiful meadow. Ai smiled, looking around before looking back to Kuro. She expected him to look away, but he didn't. He just…looked at her. It was a stare, but it wasn't one that left her feeling uncomfortable. He closed his eyes, a glow blue completely engulfing him, Ai believing he'd become his cat self and they'd be on their merry way, back in the real world in no time at all.
But, of course, that was what happened.
Ai blinked, the area around her completely void of any such meadow as what was there moments before. Instead, it was white and she was surrounded by beautiful trees. Not just any trees, though. No, these were Cherry Blossoms, and they were all in perfect bloom.
"Wow!" Ai exclaimed, ready to touch one of the flowers when her attention got diverted.
It was Kuro, who had appeared from that same blue glow that had earlier engulfed him. So, then, he hadn't become his cat self? Surely, there wasn't more for her to see, was there? In a way, she just wanted to go home.
"Kuro?" Ai asked.
He looked at her, scratching his cheek with his index finger just before he walked closer to her. Ai just blinked, looking up at him. Kuro, with almost no true hesitation, wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Ai's eyes went wide, a blush creeping up on her.
"Kuro, what are yo—" She began, her placing her arms around him in a loose manner.
"Me too," Kuro cut her off.
Ai blinked, looking up at him. He released her, but it was just enough so that she could peer up at him. His arms were still around her, loosely.
Again, Ai blinked. "Huh?"
Kuro seemed extremely hesitant to explain. For what seemed like forever, he just looked into her eyes. Naturally, she stared back into his. Ai studied them, a knowing smile coming to her face as she nodded. "I understand. I'm glad. I missed hugging you, you know. Also—"
She was cut off when she felt the back of Kuro's fingers brush her cheek, Ai's heart quickening.
Honestly, neither Kuro nor Ai really knew what happened next…
Before either could comprehend the situation, their lips were already touching. Kuro's arms were wrapped around Ai's wait, her arms around his neck. When had they embraced each other like this? The kiss wasn't a passionate one but rather a sweet one. Ai parted, a deep blush present, and, for whatever reason, she began to apologize. This, however, was also cut short as Kuro gently pulled her towards him for yet another gentle kiss.
After a moment, they parted, Kuro whispering into her ear. "Thank you…Ai."
"My name is Maeda Airi, and I fell in love with a vampire. I so did not expect this…"
Well, well, well, well, well…was this what any of you were expecting or waiting for? Did this little turn of events, as well as results, make you happy? If so, tell me all about it in the form of a lovely review or PM! And if it wasn't what you wanted…review anyways! Feedback is feedback, right?
So, seriously, what did you guys think? Was it worth the wait for this moment? Did I capture it correctly, or did it maybe need some more work and/or extra thinking and planning time? Let me know!
Well, I'll be working on the next chapter really, really soon…so expect to see it within a few days!
Until then…bye-bye!
