Hi hi!
So, finally, one last flashback to the glory days of Kuro and Yoru.
If we're being honest here, part of the reason I put this chapter here is because I'm still trying to decide how the climax of this story is gonna go.
That and I feel like I don't do the Pre!Kuro enough justice, you know? There's just this huge sort of difference from the Kuro then and the Kuro that's forming now.
Anyway, enough time waste, let's move it on!
ONWARDS!
The day had finally come.
Kuro sat at the table with the four other demons, still rubbing the sleep away from her eyes. The day had started by being awoken thanks to an Abraxas who managed to sneak into her apartment, grab her by the ankle, and pull her off of the bed with one firm pull.
Of course, Kuro returned the favor, as evident by the way that Abraxas was clutching the side of his face at the given moment, but other than that, nothing else was really abnormal.
"And we're sure that it's going down today?" Zagan questioned, looking over the maps with so much confusion and bewilderment, as if the maps spoke in a different language.
"The spies I sent out this morning confirmed it," Vale insisted, rolling his shoulders. He stood off to the side of the room, looking over a newly installed shelf to hold a few shard weapons. He took a lance into his hands, weighting it as he went on, but not before throwing a few photos onto the table, "Dajjal got me pictures, we have evidence of Kroni leaving to go to Limbo, and from what I've gathered on Winter, he has been within Ahiania for the past week or so."
"Which would make the secret trade of information appreciated, by both parties." Shax finished, taking a sip from his cup.
Kuro found it weird, Shax owned a bar, but he was never really known for drinking. Just a small temperance quirk, she guessed, but still intriguing enough for her scattered mind to pick up.
"So, lemme get this straight." Abraxas sighed, pointing to a red dot on the map, "We're assuming that, because Winter's been staying here, that's where the deal is going off?"
"That's the best conclusion we have at the moment," Vale sighed, "Unless, of course, you have any better ideas?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Abraxas murmured, grabbing a pencil, before moving forth to the map, "So, as we all know, Limbo is the smallest area in all of hell. And, thanks to our king, he had a large building put in the middle."
"I assume that you are speaking of Hitama tower?"
Kuro nodded along with everyone else. Since Limbo was where the human souls went, it made sense to set the place up as a basic prison. Of course, assuming that prisons would fry and burn their victims until it got boring and some demon decided to take them out as a meal to go.
"Judging by the height of Hitama tower, if I, or anyone really, could get to the top, we'd have a clear and nice vantage point." Abraxas said, circling the tower, "The only real problem of this tower would be breaking or sneaking in."
"Which would mean that, if you were to be moved up there, you'd need someone else to help you break it." Shax concluded.
At that very moment, Abraxas sent Kuro a pleading look. While this morning's events were more than enough to leave the boy to die, she gave a small scowl at the attempt of puppy eyes, the effects only rising when she imagined his hood down, "I'll help."
"But we need you to be tracking Kroni." Vale insisted, seeming to sense that something was going on.
"But I need someone quick to help me get into that tower." Abraxas said back, before hitting Zagan's chest, "Besides, I'm sure that Zagan can do it."
"The words 'Zagan' and 'nimble' do not go well together." Vale murmured.
"But, Abraxas and Kuro do work best together when it comes to the fighting aspect." Shax noted.
"Well, she's even better on the ground with me when it comes to covert and stealth." Vale fought back.
The two engaged in a small battle of the minds and willpower, something that happened more than you'd think between the two "good friends", before finally, Vale gave in, "If you think you're so smart, so be it. Even if you call the shots, you should at least consider a second opinion."
"As soon as you get on the ground, you may begin to call the shots." Shax said, as if he was giving Vale some sort of consolation prize, "But, I say that we go with Abraxas' play; it is the safest, logical and, in the long run, raises the chance that you all come home at the end of the day."
The way that Shax said it sounded so...final. Kuro hadn't been a part of the team for too long, heck she was considering dropping it all after Kroni was forced to kick the bucket, but it didn't change the fact that these demons have become family to her.
At any other time, she could have gagged at the word, but the thought of one of them dying, one of them not making it back, added to the way that Shax expressed it, it drained all the stupid fun from the job and replaced it with that sense of mortality.
to which, of course, was quickly shaken away. Of course, they'd all make it back.
"It can be done." Vale sighed, solidifying what Kuro knew to be true, "That'll leave Zagan and I to tag both of them. I was going to have Zagan be back up, but this should work just as well."
"So, just for a quick recap before you all depart," Shax murmured, rubbing his forehead as if this was a bigger headache than he had originally thought, "Vale, you'll be dropped in first and tagging Winter."
Meanwhile, Abraxas absentmindedly fiddled with Kuro's hand, causing her to slap his hand away, giving him a look.
"I already have a current location on where he is," Vale insisted, before popping his com into his ear, "If I reach out to some other associates within the area, I should be there within the next half hour."
This led to Abraxas pinching her thumb, which was once again met with an irritated look, one that did not pair too well with the stupid playful grin on Abraxas' face, an expression slowly infecting Kuro's face.
"Good," Shax nodded, before turning to Zagan, who was now absentmindedly fiddling with a knife, "As for you, Zagan, you'll be on Kroni as soon as you arrive in Limbo."
Kuro, finally deciding the indulge the follower of gluttony with what he wanted, grabbing his hand before setting her thumb down, Abraxas doing the same.
"Yes!" Zagan said, as if that had been the only thing he had managed to understand, "I can do that!"
"Which leaves you two," Shax said, giving Abraxas and Kuro, who were, at the moment, caught up in an intense thumb wrestle, "To the tower."
"I get to play bodyguard, for once." Kuro grinned, pinning Abraxas' thumb down, as she looked over to Zagan, "No offense, big guy; but I wanna try out the role for once."
Zagan didn't reply, already invested in all the weaponry Vale had brought in for the new racks, unsure what to go with.
"Well, all of you get ready to depart." Shax murmured in a dismissal tone, before going down the stairs, most likely to wherever he retreated to during these missions for communication.
Of course, growing to know the guy decently well over the past month or so, she knew that was his way of saying he cared.
Meanwhile, Zagan stretched his arms out, his long coat making him look even bigger, if it were possible, "Well, I have what I need! Vale?"
"As am I." Vale nodded, before looking to Abraxas and Kuro, "We leave as soon as you two are ready."
Abraxas nodded, waiting for the two to be alone, before going over to the rack, "Kuro, come over here real quick."
Kuro nodded, walking over as she put a small pistol into a holster that resided on the belt under her hoodie, before giving the weapon in his hands a look, "I thought you were kidding when you started talking about a bow-."
"Well, I made those jokes for a reason." Abraxas grinned, holding out the bow and a quiver of arrows to her, "But hear me out."
"I know that you prefer knives and whatever you find in the field, but the bow and arrows are really light. It won't hinder your mobility."
"But I've never really used a bow before." Kuro sighed, why was he so insistent on the whole long-range weaponry thing? "Besides, a sniper and a bow really aren't similar in anyway."
"Still, I'd feel a lot better if you had it," Abraxas insisted, "Besides, I'm sure you'll figure it out quickly when you have to. You're seriously stupid smart like that."
"If only I had other smarts." Kuro finally muttered, grabbing the weapon, throwing both the quiver and bow over her shoulder, like a backpack, tugging at her jacket sleeves to make sure it wasn't too snug, "Alright then, I got everything, you ready to head out?"
Abraxas grinned, slinging his own sniper over his shoulder, "Don't worry about it, this whole mission I mean." Abraxas said with a grin, "It'll be like any other mission. Shax just wanted to sound all dramatic because this was the only real time he'd get a chance."
"He'd better be." Kuro murmured, making sure that she had a few extra knives on her, before nodding, "Well, when we get back, I expect a sniping rematch. 'Cause, let's be honest, those stupid yellow sunglasses of yours help you cheat somehow."
"Tell you what," Abraxas grinned, handing her an ear piece as they made their way for the door, "When we get back, not only do you get a rematch, but you can use the sunglasses, alright?"
"A done deal, my red panda friend." Kuro said, a huge stupid grin on her face,
"With every passing second, I regret ever showing you what I have under this hood."
The moment they went through the gates of Limbo, Kuro could feel the change in atmosphere.
The usually almost-uncomfortable heat from the rest of hell was gone, leaving a sort of chill running down Kuro's spine. Of course, it made no sense since this was one of the only spots in all of hell were the ground had been left in its natural state, with fissures and puddles of lava all over the ground.
As soon as they had arrived, Vale broke off from the team, dashing off to intercept wherever Winter was at the moment, quickly disappearing into the, well, hellish landscape.
Kuro snuck about the area, Zagan and Abraxas not too far behind. While the sniper was no good in close combat, Abraxas looked intent on using it as a sort of club with the hold he had on it. Zagan, much like herself, had a small knife on hand and ready to go.
It ended up being a lot easier to sneak around Limbo then initially thought. Of course, they had to duck down whenever shackled hordes of corrupt souls were forced to walk by, but other than that, there was no interference.
Finally, Zagan broke off from the group, but not without first giving the two a huge smile, slapping Abraxas on the back before going off.
"You know, I hope the big guy doesn't get caught." Abraxas whispered back to Kuro, as he le d the way to the Hitama, "When he walks, I swear, the very ground shakes."
"I know I've heard that from somewhere." Kuro muttered to herself, before shaking her head, "This is supposed to be a stealth mission, you idiot. Keep quiet."
"I can't help it, I talk when I'm nervous."
To this, Kuro gave the back of his head a look, "You lead me out of the safety of the bar saying that this would be another normal run. I knew you were full of shit, but this is a whole new low."
"What? Oh, no, I'm not worried about this mission, not one bit." Abraxas said, turning around quickly to give her an apologetic smile, "There's just something else on my mind, sorry."
Kuro nodded, not pressing it. It was an unsaid agreement, if you don't elaborate and it's not important to the matter at hand, you don't push it.
Finally, they rounded one last corner, before they stood at the base of Hitama tower.
It looked very...edgy. As in the team who built the place either worshiped the gothic way or had an employer who did. Either way, it looked dark, borderline creepy and almost depressing.
"I take it that you're just gonna walk in through the front door." Kuro muttered, noting how no one was around the base of the tower.
"Looks like it," Abraxas grinned, before turning on his earpiece, "Looks like I really didn't need back up, huh, Kuro?"
"I'd hope not. If that's the case, I allowed you to trade me Kuro for Zagan for no reason."Came Vale's irritated voice.
"Well, with her being quick and on the ground, she'll be the easiest pawn to move when the time calls for it."Shax said through the com link.
"Oh, I love you too, great chess master." Kuro grumbled, tightening her grip around one of the knives, before looking to Abraxas.
It was agreed that she'd go in through the front door, posing as a new worker before offing singular guards here and there. Of course, the mission was to target the two who wanted to make the deal, but there was nothing against needless violence thank Satan.
Kuro watched as Abraxas locked something to the front of his sniper, aiming for the top, before shooting it. A line was shot up, much to Kuro's amusement, "I didn't know that I'd be working with the famous Batman on this."
To which, Abraxas gave her a look, before tugging the line twice, zipping up faster than the eye could track. With a deep inhale, Kuro finally pushed the doors open, a knife tucked away in her jacket sleeve as she faced off with the startled demons within the base level of the building, some of which already going for their weapons.
Oh, this was gonna be fun.
This was no longer fun.
Kuro wiped the blood and sweat dripping from her forehead, gun in one hand while the other held a knife, giving an irritated look at the still oncoming guards rushing down the hallway. She'd only made it to the fifth floor, and being how there were at least twenty, she wasn't making much progress.
"Kuro, do you copy?"
"What do you want, Vale?" Kuro sighed, shooting another one down, "I'm kinda busy at the moment."
"Good, I didn't think that the direct communication would work. Anyway, there seems to be some sort of interference within the tower," Vale droned on, as if he hadn't heard a word she'd just said. It wasn't really something she could get angry with, a gun going off isn't exactly soft, "The higher you go up, the worse the connection to us will be. I am not able to get a hold of Abraxas, so I'm assuming that he's alright at the top of the tower?"
"He Spidermaned his way up there as soon as he could," Kuro muttered, before ducking under a thrown axe, watching as it impaled itself into the wall behind her, "Now that I'm in here, fighting my way up, I can see why he bailed as soon as he could."
"Well, the faster you get up there, the better."Vale said, before the line went silent for a moment.
Before Kuro could ask, the connection cut, much to Kuro's irritation, "Can you believe this guy?" Kuro sighed, looking over the slowly dying demon in the corner of the room, as if she wasn't the one to put the knife deep into his chest, "He goes ahead and drops something important on me, and right before he can say anything, dude just dramatically drops the line! Guys these days, am I right?"
She sighed when the now lifeless demon slumped over. With a sigh, she looked around to make sure that no one else was going to jump out of nowhere, before pulling the knife from the guard's chest, "How rude, you're just the same."
With a tired groan, she trekked her way over to the stairway, going to clear the next floor. In the back of her head, it was repetitive and tiring work, to the point where she was wishing that she had just stayed on the ground. It wasn't like Abraxas really needed her to clear the tower, not when he had just decided to basically fly up to the top.
Hopefully, Abraxas was having a field day at the top.
Finally settled at the top of the tower, Abraxas looked all of Limbo over.
He quickly whipped out his yellow tinted glasses, pulling them on before situating his sniper. From where he was, he could see a light blue-tinted demon. Without a doubt, it was Winter.
"I've got eyes on Winter," Abraxas said, looking about the area, "I can also see Kroni. He's closing in, at least half a mile away. He's got a whole party with him too, maybe it's a lack of trust thing."
He then looked about to the other rooftops, "I've also got a few snipers on some of these rooftops, at least five visuals in total. Some of these guys aren't even trying to hide, what a joke."
"You guys are so glad that I'm on your side and not theirs," Abraxas said in a teasing tone, "I may be a screw up, but at least I have a level of professionalism. Am I right, boys?"
He frowned when there was no sound coming back, before looking back around. He couldn't see Vale or Zagan, which he supposed was good. If he couldn't see them, the chance of the snipers spotting them were even lower, "Hey, guys, you copy? If you're ignoring me like you did during that Myrrka incident, don't forget how I got you all back in Erith."
Nothing but more silence.
"...Guys?" Abraxas tried once more, before switching to personal direct links, "Hey, Kuro, I think that the connection is out, tell me that at least you can hear me."
He scowled when nothing but static came in, before looking back through his scope, taking aim for the back of Winter's head. Of course, he wouldn't shoot prematurely, but to have it tracking what he thought would be the biggest threat wasn't a bad idea.
But, little did he know that, somewhere close and behind him, a figure stood silently, waiting for their own cue to strike the unsuspecting sniper.
The higher up she got, the easier it seemed to be when it came to clearing out the floors.
There were a few floors where there was no one there, as if left behind in a hurry. That's what kept her on edge, while it was great that there was no one and that she could take a breather, it kept the apprehension.
Where was everyone? Had they fled at the first sign of danger? No, there was no way that a demon could ever even think to be so cowardly. Especially when they have strength in numbers, right?
What if they were out, calling for back up? For all she knew, they had run back to the castle to gather reinforcement and back up. If that were the case, they could close in on the tower, effectively trapping both herself and Abraxas in.
But no, they wouldn't, right? Limbo was said to operate on its own. Sure, they took orders from the King, in the end no one really denied the guy, but they also didn't rely on the Capital.
Right?
Kuro shook her head, she could worry about that possibility later, right now she had to clear out whoever didn't seem to get the memo and get to the roof.
From what she had heard once, Limbo had a sort of special set of guards, to make sure that they didn't have too much interference with the rest of hell.
Of course, like many other things, it was just a rumor passed around on the streets. She could put it up on the list when it comes to real things, right in front of love, but behind Leprechauns.
It was at the eighteenth floor that she took a short breather. Rubbing her forehead, she looked down to see the blood coating it, before using her jacket sleeve to get the rest. It was only then that she noticed that she was basically lightly coated in the stuff. Of course, it was to be expected, clearing out demons with only words and a pretty face often didn't go too well, but she had no idea how the stuff also managed to get all over her face.
She stopped in a room off to the side, ridding her face from as much of it as she could, before she heard a door close down the hall.
Kuro stiffened, as she quickly made sure her gun had ammo loaded up. She could hear a faint hissing down the hall, to which she didn't understand. She'd cleared this floor, she was gonna head up to the next one. Who else could be around?
There were no footsteps, only that same hissing and clicking sound, which she didn't get. She knew how to be quiet, but she had no idea how the hell someone could be soundless.
"Huh, I thought that the one to do this would have been a bit more...fearless."
Kuro jumped, the voice coming from right next to her head, before turning to shoot. She was met face to face by nothing but black wisps of smoke covering a small smile.
The bullets went right through, forcing Kuro back into the hallway. The mist materialized, making her curse, "So that's the special force that Limbo's got. I thought that Shades were fake."
"Just about as fake as that gun your pointing at me." The demon grinned, the voice unmistakably feminine. It was hard to tell on sight alone, since the mist whipping around the figure, only allowing anything to be seen for a few seconds at best, "Not that it'll do much. If you know what I am, then you should be able to know what I am able to do."
Kuro cursed, knowing what she was talking about. Shades, from what legend said, were incorporeal. Bullets, even if they were shards, would do nothing.
She didn't know if knives did the same though.
"You know, when the two of us were brought in, I assumed that the souls were trying to escape," The Shade went on, a cruel smile on her face. Her voice was way too sweet, and she was talking way too much, "But then they told us that it was their own code red, and that all the others were going to secure the souls...I knew I'd have some fun."
With a snap or realization, she could almost see a younger version of herself in this Shade.
And, judging by that sickening smile, the Shade noticed it too.
"But you don't seem as fun as I assumed you'd be." The Shade sighed, taking her sweet-ass time to talk, as if the gun and knife didn't affect her.
Honestly, Kuro could see why it wouldn't.
"Well, why don't you stop talking and show off a bit, huh?" Kuro murmured, knife held tightly in her grip.
The Shade didn't move. She didn't flinch, didn't speak, nothing. The only sign that she was still alive was that she had her head cocked to the side, just a bit.
That was the only warning Kuro got, before the Shade's shadow leapt out.
Now, normally, Kuro wasn't someone scared of a shadow. She wasn't someone that childish, to be afraid of the dark, but looking at how the jagged black outline lashed out, breaking through the wall as it avidly, Kuro knew that it would do the same to her skin just as easily, "Aww, I thought that you had wanted to play a game!"
Kuro groaned, feeling a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen, but kept moving. She dashed into a room full of desks, before ducking behind one of them, knife held out at the ready, "Oh, a game of hide and seek? Goodie, I'd love to play! My counterpart doesn't like playing games with me, I don't know why."
Kuro was ready to go out shooting and slashing. She was ready to jump out, lashing at the Shade, only for the advance to stop.
Kuro took her chance, peeking out the side, only to notice the Shade gone. Now that she was, the tense air was gone, the shadows didn't look so...sinister.
Kuro was ready to just take a break there, a small breather and self-inspection. That throbbing pain was still going strong, but it was more irritating than painful. Knowing her luck, it didn't hit anything "vital".
And so, the follower of Sloth was ready to just take a nap, doze off for just a bit.
"You know, when the two of us were brought in, I assumed that the souls were trying to escape,"
To that, Kuro groaned, smacking herself in the head, before forcing herself up. Checking her gun once more, she got to the stairs as quickly as possible. Surely, with what the Shade had said, no one was left around. That meant she didn't have to waste more time looking around.
Not that they'd matter anyway, who needed a normal guard force when you've got a Shade?
Hell, it gets even worse when you realize that there are at least two of them.
Vale scowled, looking up to the tower.
He wished that he still had communication with the Hitama tower team, but he could still make do with what he was given, "Zagan, do you see anything on your end?"
"I can see a few snipers on the top of some of these buildings, but other than that, nothing much."
Vale scowled, peeking back around the corner. Winter had decided to make himself comfortable on the streets. He had set himself up a table with two chairs, he was sitting in one, sipping something out of his cup, as he took in the landscape.
to this, Vale scowled; what a damn privileged demon.
"Anything new on Abraxas and Kuro?"
"I have no way of communicating with them, Shax." Vale sighed, once again looking over what he had. Three knives, a small hand gun, and his handkerchief. It already wasn't much for him, but it would amount to even less if he had to go toe to toe with Hiems.
He scowled, nearly ripping at his hair. He wished that, for once, Shax listened to everything he had to say. No more of this "I'll pick what I want to hear and go off of that" bullshit. Shax could have stood a chance against Winter, and he knew it, but no, he didn't want to risk his ass when really, even Zagan could operate the communication.
Vale sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, before looking back up to the tower. If he squinted, he could see the top, but that was it. No sniper barrel peeking out, no stupid hoodie-covered head popping out either.
He shook his head, keeping a bitter laugh to himself. Could he really depend on either brother, at this point?
Kuro kicked down the door just in time to see the second one.
It stood over Abraxas, said demon breathing heavily. One hand was over his side, the other trying to ward the Shade off with a knife.
The Shade stood over him, looking a bit more regal and less childish than the other one. It turned to her, giving Kuro a look, before whispering, "I wasn't aware that there were two of you."
Yep, another female.
Jeez, were Shades only female!?
Kuro didn't have the chance to ask when the Shade held its hand out, a scythe being thrown up from the ground, right into her grip, "This one proved to be much too easy," She had no real emotion in her voice, she sounded similar to a machine, "I doubt that you'll be much of a challenge."
"...Have we met before?" Kuro grinned cockily, before ducking under the scythe. Good thing about fighting against it, it wasn't like it was a small and easily looked over weapon.
The Shade didn't waste time with words, like the other one, so Kuro filled the silence, "I'm not kidding here, I swear I've seen you around before," Kuro went on, narrowly missing the scythe once more, "but hey, what do I really know, I've got a shit memory."
The Shade scowled, about to retaliate with something, only to gasp, dropping the scythe. Confused, Kuro looked to where the Shade was, only not noticing the silver gleam of a blade, before the Shade growled, muttering angrily before melting back into the shadow.
Now, with the Shade gone, Kuro could look over Abraxas. She grinned, offering a small stupid wave, only for her hand to drop.
From afar, she couldn't see his face.
"Dude, what happened to your eye!?" Kuro whisper-shouted, quickly rushing over.
Abraxas grinned, using one hand to push her off, "Calm down, mom; it's below the eye. I'm good."
"No, you're not 'good'." Kuro grumbled, looking to the sniper that had been tossed to the side, most likely out of shock. It was then that it hit her.
No way he could shoot like this.
Abraxas seemed to get it too, as he laughed, clutching his side as he did so, "Wow, I've got my brother's luck."
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" Kuro scowled, before looking over the tower. It was a nice view, she had to admit, and a great vantage point. Maybe it was from all that training, but she didn't have to squint to see where everyone was down there. She could easily see Vale, and Zagan, Kroni approaching, and…Was that Winter sitting at a small dainty little table?
"Man, what the fuck." Kuro grumbled, before looking back to Abraxas, "...You cover my ass. There's only two of them, but that's all that I know of."
"Oh, yeah, I can totally do that." Kuro could hear the damn sarcasm but chose to ignore it. She looked over Abraxas' sniper, only to groan. It was seriously heavy-looking, but it wasn't like she really had a choice at the moment.
"I seem to get what I want when I want it," Abraxas said suddenly, taking the knife that Kuro pressed into his hand, before getting up, "But, since my parents couldn't get it right twice, I seem to have gotten the short stick of luck."
Kuro gave him a look, before kneeling to be eye level with the sniper, the training kicking in rather smoothly despite the stressful situation, "What?"
"You asked what the hell I was talking about," Abraxas said, shrugging, "I explained."
Kuro was ready to tell him off, only to hear gun shots going on down there. With a frantic look over the side of the tower, Kuro took aim, only to laugh cynically, "Damn, Zagan really is bad at the whole stealth thing, isn't he?"
These damn flashback chapters have so much, like damn.
I never mean to have them so long, but before I know it, I have to make it into two parts.
Sorry, I guess I'm going to make you guys wait longer.
It was only after writing this that I realized that I based the two Shades off of Lilith and Lizzie from my other story, My Shadows.
I asked a friend of mine to read the characters through because I thought the two Shades felt a bit repetitive, and then she brought up that they were similar to the two half sisters from my Slenderman fic (which I plan to write more for, but that's a different story).
So, with a quick revise, I made them a bit more similar because hey, why not?
Why I took the time to type this all out, I really don't know, but it's just a fun little side note.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed, and with luck, the next chapter will be about soon! Hope you all enjoyed, and I'll cya next chappie!
Till then, bai bai!