Final Chapter

To Be Continued…in 'Fox & Dragon'.

A/N: Do I know what I'm doing with this anymore? No, not really. Am I gonna write anyways and see what new fresh hell Alu gets blasted into trying to mend the bonds of her dumb boys back to the world of BSD? Hell yes.

Stick around kids. Volume 7 of BSD Underground is a real trip after this next volume "Fox & Storm".

Last Chapter

Kick it into Gear

Chuuya admitted to seeing Verlaine's memories. Alu understood better than before. Was she sent here to better understand someone like Paul Verlaine? Azuki had told her not to interfere with pre-destined events though. Alu was honestly a bit more confused.

Sure enough, the boys swiftly move out of the way, as the destruction left behind by Adam detonating still left a 'tail' of Guivre behind. That little tail flicks with hate, now protruding as a flaming body with humanoid shape, two red eyes, dark flames, just pure raw hatred—for all living things. Knock knock, it's the anti-Christ, Alu thought inwardly, grimacing. Geez, it wasn't like she expected Verlaine to be killed off easily but this man was seriously probably harder to kill than Dazai—and that was saying something!

It was clear that Guivre, though smaller than before, was still just as deadly. Alu knew this was a version of events that originally transpired without her involvement. She had a feeling it would end with Dazai and Chuuya finding a way to kick Verlaine's ass, but she didn't know what she was supposed to do about Verlaine, herself.

Dazai explained the situation. It was clear even though he was on edge. Verlaine was a manifestation of negativity now, and there was no telling how long it would take for his singularity to die out on its own like a flame going out. Dazai estimated a month to a year. Chuuya knew they didn't have that luxury. In 30 minutes, that thing would destroy their home.

Alu found herself on top of a building now with Chuuya and Dazai, the scenery shifted again by Azuki's influence, Alu could only surmise.

Dazai explained his strategy to open the gate. Chuuya's gate. But, there was something else. For the first time, he wasn't pompous. Alu listened with genuine surprise, as the 16 year old Dazai, for all his plotting and darkness and edgylordiness— stated to Chuuya that if he were to activate Chuuya's gate, that Chuuya's code linked to his human memories would be lost forever—and he was asking Chuuya in his own way if Chuuya would be okay with that… or if he needed a moment to want to look through those memories. He offered him the time he could reasonably spare which wasn't a lot but. This was not something Dazai did often, Alu knew, but he was asking for Chuuya's permission.

Alu smiled.

It was all the time Chuuya needed to show his appreciation—by being fired up to defeat Verlaine once and for all. Alu gazed at the bandaged faced Dazai. She could sense the darkness in his own heart, the melancholy, and how he didn't understand why Chuuya put so much value into being recognized as human. In a lot of ways, she thought he and Verlaine were surprisingly similar.

It almost begged the question.

What does it mean to be human, anyways?

"So you're not a complete insensitive bastard at this age after all, huh Mr. Mummy?" Alu chuckled, putting a hand over her mouth, and letting out a giggle.

Azuki loitered near her. "Now do you understand why I brought you to this time?"

Alu nodded. She watched as the fight of Arahabaki versus the beast Guivre broke out. She wasn't sure how Chuuya was going to come out on top since his power didn't have to do with spiritual emotional absorption like Alu's, but…no doubt. The power of 'stience' would definitely save the day in Alu's enigmatic place.

Watching the fight unfold, was really something though. This was the extent of Chuuya's power? Dazai had long since cleared from the top of the building, now Alu stood alone with Azuki, just watching the fight outbreak before them. No doubt Dazai went to give orders and be 'responsible' for a change of pace.

"Yeah, I think so…" Alu looked to Azuki.

Azuki wasn't looking at her, mind and eyesight on the fight. "…" Alu thought she actually looked a bit lost in thought, her own place of something hard to obtain. Alu's demonic prowess picked up on it faintly, but was Azuki…sad?

Bewildered, Alu wanted to ask but Azuki spoke again. "Go on then, tell me."

Alu blinked. Ah, right. Focus. Alu pushed her ADHD down, and cleared her throat. "You wanted me to see the result of not interfering. You wanted me to better understand that though I wanted to help Chuuya, that in this instance, that wasn't ever required. Because Chuuya already has people that care about him, watching over him. In regards to Paul Verlaine, you wanted me to understand that my words can't always change the heart of a person…because a person's heart is not so easily changed…" Alu smiles smally, though sadly. "Paul Verlaine may have been the one who feels more 'code' than 'human', but his ability to have feelings in the first place, to determine for himself what is in his heart—-thoughts that he can rationalize, and even thoughts that can't be put into words…he is human… just like Chuuya."

Azuki looked at her like she'd eaten a lemon and chewed glass alongside it and washed it down with a cheap carton of spoiled milk left on the shelf. "That's… not even close."

"Huh?"

Azuki groaned, holding her head in her hands. "Gah, why are you so dense?"

Alu blinked, confused and smiling like someone who seriously wanted to punch something. "Eh?"

Azuki groaned again and finally put her hand on her hip, waving her other hand in a dismissively irritated manner. "Do you know what Paul Verlaine is?"

"A human being?" Alu asked, helpfully.

"…points for your anime tier analysis," Azuki deadpanned. "Besides that. He," she pointed at the raging beast fighting Chuuya and making the ground shake under their very feet. "…is the only one capable of you getting your dumb fox demon back."

"How do you even know about Juubi?" Alu snapped, still confused about Azuki's role in all of this. "What is your end game for Dazai, even?"

"Questions, questions, so many damn questions! Stay focused will you?" Azuki huffed irritatedly. "I'm trying to help you here. I didn't want to spell it out but it seems since you're capability to read between the lines is at a grade school level, I have to!"

"Oh that's it!"

Alu grabbed Azuki swiftly by her shirt, and pulled back a fist. Azuki squeaked and put her hands in front of her face. "Not the face, please! That's my selling point~!"

Alu could see the family resemblance. It was annoying. "Tch." She shoved Azuki away, folding her own arms across her chest, with a scowl. "What the hell. You tell me that I'm not supposed to interfere. Then you tell me I need to interfere because of Paul Verlaine! Honestly! I thought the point was for Chuuya to win! Sure his power isn't like mine in the sense that it can absorb the negativ—-…."

"….."

"…."

"….."

Azuki waited for the complicated formula of '1+1' to compute in Alu's mind.

Wait.

Alu let it dawn on her. She looked with wide eyes at the fight still taking place. Azuki meant for her to absorb Guivre?!

Her face must have shown something because Azuki began to clap, sarcastically.

"Wait…absorb? But I don't know what that will do to Juubi," Alu sharply said, sucking in a breath. "If something goes wrong, it could end up that I have that thing and Juubi both inside me, fighting for control of a 'host'!"

Azuki sighed. "That thing is nothing remotely living. It is just raw energy, a 'being' solely purposed through artificial means by the greed of human scientists. With that energy, you could bring Juubi back to full power… in an instant."

"But if you're wrong?" Alu countered, frowning at Azuki.

Azuki put her hands on her hips, affronted. "I am never wrong."

Ugh, spoken like a true smart-ass. Alu was oddly reminded of Ranpo hilariously enough at that moment. The pouting certainly matched that whiny detective's complaining. Alu's eyes flickered. Jeez, where was the ADA in all of this? What would they have even been able to do, anyways?

She was surprised the Japanese Government itself wasn't flapping around wildly or that news personnel weren't trying to film this—or maybe they were and the Mafia was killing them all. Eh, that was terrible but it did make sense.

Alu gazed at Chuuya fighting the monster. She watched as he unleashed light and dark, bringing the beast down—completely defeating it with a deafening roar.

Azuki walked over to Alu and put a hand on her shoulder. Alu flinched. Azuki spoke. "The longer you waste time grasping at childish excuses, the less time you have to take action and do what needs to be done…for your demon fox's sake and your own."

Alu's eyes flickered.

That beast, Guivre, it was a part of Paul Verlaine. But, Azuki was right. Alu could sense it was a being entirely separate from Verlaine. It was like an odd parallel could be drawn between their relationship and the relationship Alu had with Juubi. But she understood the difference.

This beast was raw energy—but unlike Juubi, it had not evolved to develop a soul. No rather, a soul was incapable of merging with this beast of raw energy.

Arahabaki was different though.

Alu smiled dryly .She knew the difference between Chuuya and Verlaine. Chuuya had been born human—regardless of how that came to be, his fighting spirit is what drew Arahabaki to him. Whereas, Verlaine rejected Guivre with his entire being. His resentment gave the beast power, and in doing so, it was past a point of forming any meaningful bond because Verlaine's hatred for humanity had given that thing a purpose for living.

Alu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She fisted her hand over her heart, grasping at the silk collared shirt she was wearing. She had someone she had to save. Someone who depended on her.

"I know what I need to do."

Azuki smiled a bone-chilling smile. "Good. Oh, try not to screw it up this time around!"

Without warning, Alu found herself engulfed by a bright flashing light. "Wai—!"

[log entry=# 32*118 ]

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