Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Title: Forgotten Memories

Author: The Rogue Shadow

Genre: PG-13

Rating: Drama/Humor

Disclaimer: I don't own Disgaea... In fact, I don't even own the style in which I write this fic. I'd like to thank some other nameless author for this, though it was possibly ripped off from someone else. For some reason I found it easier to write this way since narration-style makes writing fics seem a little less interesting and boring to write with. (blinks) I'm not really sure what I'm talking about right now, so I think it'd be best if I move on with the fic. And now what you've been waiting for since you've bothered to click on the next chapter... the second installment in Forgotten Memories!!

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Chapter 2: No Mercy for the Weak

- Laharl -

Ugh... My aching head... What the hell happened?

The only thing that I can recall is a flash of red followed by total darkness.

I slowly and painfully open my eyes to see a girl with both her hands on the sides of her face. She keeps on pacing back and forth right by my body. She's mumbling something to herself that I can't quite make out and it's annoying me to no end.

If anyone has something to say, he or she should just say it. There's no use in being timid if you're trying to get a point across. Being small voiced is just another way of saying you're weak. And if there's one thing I hate most in the world, it's being weak.

I strain my ears to try and hear what it is she's saying.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!! I killed him. I KILLED HIM! What am I going to do? What can I do?! Will the king find out and have me executed? Or tortured for all of eternity?" She stops and breathing rate increases. "Maybe he'll let it slide... After all he's a demon. He understands the way these things go. Right?"

She pauses for a moment before she starts pacing again.

"Oh who am I kidding?! The king would never let something like this happen without any sort of consequence, especially since the queen came along. I doubt she'd let him off the hook if he shrugged off the death of his only son. I suppose it's only typical of humans. I've heard that they're more concerned and sensitive about these kind of matters. Unlike demons, they would most likely keep an unexpected child or at least make sure the child is taken care of if they don't want to keep it."

Her eyes seem to flash with hurt after those words.

I wonder what it is she's thinking of that would make her look so sad. My guess would have to be of her own family. That is if she even has a family to begin with. I know that lots of things happen in the Netherworld that goes unheard of. Many crimes that disgrace the demon name and should be punished for still go on without consequence. One of these days I'll get my hands on those sad excuses for demons and pound them till they die, resurrect them as zombies, and kill them off again. With all that going on, I could only imagine how bad this girl had it.

Her eyes are downcast till she remembers what she's supposed to be focusing on.

"But what the hell does it matter? I'm still screwed regardless. Why the hell did it have to be the prince of all people who was trying to pick a fight with me?!"

What in the name of Baal is she talking about? Who does she think she is trying to tarnish my bad name? I know that I'm known for being ruthless and arrogant, but attacking defenseless girls? That's going way too far.

I shake my head.

Whatever, it's time straighten this crap out.

I let out a small groan, as I slowly struggle to my feet. I'm not quite at one hundred percent but I'd like to see who would be after being tackled by surprise and having had their head smashed against the marble floor.

She's walking away from me, lost in her ranting, unaware that the "dead" prince is actually alive, not to mention on his feet.

With one hand on my head, I do my best to focus on her retreating form. "Hey! Do you mind keeping it down over there?!"

I see her body go rigid and she slowly starts to turn around.

"I swear you're loud enough to wake the undead!" Even though I'm still in pain, I manage to pull off my trademark smirk.

Her red eyes stare unbelievingly at my own eyes, which are filled with indifference. Now that she's fully turned around, I am finally able to see the girl responsible for this headache I have. She wears her red hair up on both sides of her head. The tail that she has sways back and forth from time to time. She's wearing a black choker and her clothes are as skimpy as that of a succubus.

I inwardly shudder at the thought of them.

I absolutely hate females with sexy bodies, whether they are demons, humans, or even angels. I doubt I'd ever see a sexy angel ever wear something like that though. Still, if one of them would exist, my opinion wouldn't change. I can thank the freaking Seraph that mother isn't one of those women. She may be only human but at least she has standards.

However the effect that this girl was supposed to have on me is not felt at all. I wonder why. Perhaps it's because she is not as mature as the rest and the curves that she has are barely developed yet.

I shake my head fiercely, realizing just what exactly I'm contemplating. If there were a psychic around, I could be blackmailed for all of eternity because of those perverted sounding thoughts.

That put aside, I impatiently wait for her to give any sort of response. Seeing as she's rendered speechless from my so-called resurrection, I try once again to talk to her.

"So what's this I hear about killing the prince of the Netherworld? Sounds like a pretty big event."

Anyone listening could hear the sarcasm flow through those words, but I doubt she was aware that I was even talking.

- Etna -

I can't believe it. The prince is still alive!

Relief flows throughout my body as I can feel all the fear I previously had wash away. For a minute I thought I was totally screwed. I mean the king was the only one who even showed the smallest signs of caring for me. If he were to turn on me like the rest I wouldn't know what to do.

Of course this doesn't change the fact that I had attacked and almost killed the prince.

I silently sigh to myself and curse my luck. They say that bad luck is better than no luck at all. If I ever find out who it was who said that, I'll personally rip out their throat with my bare hands. This luck is without a doubt definitely worse than being unlucky.

I can only hope that the punishment for attacking the prince won't be too bad.

"Damn it! Say something!"

I snap back to reality and see the prince's face studying me from less than a foot away.

"WHOA!!"

Out of instinct, I quickly bring up my hand and slap him as hard as I can. This causes him to loose his balance from his crouched position and fall backwards on the floor. I can only gawk at imprint of my hand on his cheek.

His eyes turn from confusion and pain to anger. His left hand reaches up to tend to the bruised mark. He glares at me with such fury that it makes me want to shrink and disappear from his gaze. It makes me feel both guilty and a little afraid.

"What the hell did you do that for?!"

I quickly realize that I have screwed up my only possible chance to make amends with the prince for my attack on him.

The fear that I felt before comes back full force, before I could even enjoy the previous relief. All those what-ifs I was thinking of before once again become a very real possibility.

My feelings of terror are slowly replaced by a grim acceptance of my fate.

What's the use in fighting it anymore? All my efforts wind up in vain when it comes down to it. Nothing I do or say will matter because no matter what, I'll only manage to screw it up in the end.

I guess I know why I was abandoned.

After all, who'd ever want a girl as messed up as me?

With those thoughts I once again begin to cry.

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A/N: Well jeez, that took a while huh? I honestly don't know what happened with the updating. I just kept playing video games, watching anime, and sleeping during my free time. (blinks) Ok, so maybe I do know what happened... Anyway this chapter had more story to it, which will become the chapter 3. The reason I'm separating it is because it would look kinda weird to have two noticeably different sizes for Chapter 1 and 2.

In any case, stay tuned for the much quicker update of the next piece, "No Hope for the Abused". Also there will definitely be some Laharl/Etna in it, so it'll be something to look forward to.

- Response to the Reviews -

ClawsofDeath:

Thanks. I plan on continuing this for a good while. Should this ever come to an end, then I guess I'll go with a sequel. Hope you continue reviewing.

Goldamon X:

I really appreciate the review. I could always any motivation I get my hands on. If and when you make a Disgaea fic then tell me. I'll be glad to review right back. I may tend to ramble from time to time but the point will be somewhere in there. I hope you'll enjoy the future updates.

Who Knows:

Hey, as long as you do review then I don't mind. I know what you mean about not checking this section often. If you check at least once a week then it should be an accurate time frame. My idea was a friendship/humor thing for this but I think it may evolve to something else. Maybe I'll do Laharl/Flonne after but it looks like they have a good amount of support already.

Kei-kun:

Glad to know you're looking forward to it. You're right in demanding that the updates should be sooner. I'm not saying this fic is so good it should be updated. Rather it's more of a 'author protocol' or something. I dunno. Besides if I don't then it may turn out like all my other fics; in suspended animation. O.O But they weren't really animated to begin with. Either way if there are people waiting then I definitely shouldn't keep them. Expect the updates to be once a week. I'll try to keep it at that.

DragonAlex:

Thanks. I'll be making the updates sooner than... every two weeks... It'll shorter than that. I guarantee that. Unless I run into a writer's block... but what are the chances? (pauses) I hope I didn't just jinx it...