Disclaimer: Don't own anything but Kuro Tenebris.
"Are the preparations complete?"
"They are, my lady. We need only a vessel now."
"Perfect." The woman smirked and threw a dagger at a picture. A white haired girl's face was cut in half in the photo.
"Come on!"
"Noooooo." Kuro drawled the word out as he sat at the table.
"Come on man!"
"How many times do I have to tell you Cana? I'm not playing Truth or Drink!" he growled.
She pouted before she left him.
"Something on your mind kid?"
"Can't you just read my mind?"
"Ohh. Edgy as hell." Kira laughed "But where's the fun in that?"
Kuro frowned "It's just…If I was faster. I could've killed him."
Kira was quiet. A soft sigh could be heard before silence reigned in his mind. It seems the devil's curiosity was sated…for now. He glanced at Mira and saw her and Cana get ready to play. At the table was also one of their new members along with Lisanna. Mira waved him over. He sighed. He just couldn't refuse her.
He shook his head. He had no time for petty games, especially on this day. He walked out the door.
Mira looked down in sadness before gasping. How could she forget?
August 19th
"What's the matter with Tenebris?" Gajeel asked with slight curiosity. He heard a lot about the swordsman, mostly about his prowess in battle and his cunning. To see him like that was incredibly surprising.
"August 19th. He's always like that on this day." Lisanna was the one who spoke "Though no one knows why." She shrugged before Mira got up and started following Kuro. She smiled knowingly along with Cana.
Kuro was walking through the forest absentmindedly with a bouquet of flowers. He was pointing out the enemies he had made. That half breed, the thing that shot him, whoever the two worked for and the demon he swore to kill. He sighed "Things always have to be complicated." He complained before stopping. He looked at the blue sky with a glazed look on his face. He shook his head and continued to walk. He scowled as he stopped. He couldn't believe that he actually went here. The makeshift grave he made for his mother. A simple cross with her name engraved on it was near a cliff. The cliff allowed those who stayed there to see the horizon. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Seeing the trees' leaves rustling with the wind. Feeling the soft grass blades with your hand. Relaxing in the gentle rays of the sun and many, many more.
He sighed once more and sat near the cross.
His mother always loved to look at the celestial bodies in the sky. The sun, the moon, the stars, it was her favorite thing to do. She especially liked both the sunrise and the sunset. Some days she would wake him up before the sun rose and the two would watch it together. It was a simple thing but it turned into a family tradition if he thought about it.
Katsura Tenebris
That was his mother's name. A powerful name for a gentle woman. He sighed once again as he sat there, simply staring into the horizon. He knew this was bad for him. Dwelling on the past would just bring him more pain. But it was hard. So, so hard.
He could barely remember how she looked.
And he hated himself for it.
His thoughts drifted to his father.
He seethed at that man's memory.
He hated him.
The fool wasn't there when his family needed him. That was enough reason for Kuro to hate him.
Kira was quiet. He went through the same thing Kuro did only on a much larger scale. He wasn't always a devil.
No.
He was human.
Just like everyone else.
But he wasn't strong enough to protect his family.
That's when he learned.
For someone to defeat an opponent stronger than him, that someone needs to become something more.
Stronger than a human.
Stronger than a dragon.
Stronger than a demon.
He had to become what he is now.
He had to become a devil.
He scoffed at that thought.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions after all.
He shook his head. He put that crap behind him a long time ago. He wasn't going to let the past make who he was now.
Kuro looked at the sunset. The sky was now a beautiful shade of orange. He softly smiled and got up. He dusted his clothes before straightening the cross and putting the flowers he got for his mother near the cross. They were black roses. Extremely rare to come by but they were his mother's favorites. He could remember how they had a small garden of these things. Whenever they would bloom his mother would smile nonstop.
He looked at the cross again and scowled.
That demon bastard was going to pay.
"Black roses?" a voice asked from behind him. He tensed but relaxed soon after.
"Yeah…" he muttered.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah…"
"That doesn't sound reassuring." The voice chuckled.
He grunted and she stopped "Why are you here Mira?" he asked.
"To check up on you." She said and went beside him "So she was your mother?"
"Yes."
"How was she? If you don't mind me asking."
"She was…beautiful, caring. She was everything a mother should be. She…died to protect me…" he scowled. He was weak back then.
"I'm sorry." She said. She briefly wondered, would she have went through the same pain he's going through if Lisanna would have died?
"Don't be." He sighed.
"It's okay to cry. I won't tell anyone."
He didn't respond.
A few drops of water flowed down on the ground before he scowled and wiped his face clean. He turned on his heel and looked at Mira "C'mon. I'm done dwelling on the past." He muttered. The two left the clearing soon after.
The wind blew, gently picking up a few petals. The petals flew in the air before they rested on the cross.
"So how's rebuilding the guild hall coming along?" he asked, surprisingly being the one breaking the serene silence. He didn't know why but he always enjoyed simply being around the white haired girl next to him. It didn't matter if they talked or just walked. It felt good.
"It's going really good!" she smiled "Everyone's helping out how they can. We took the day off to relax but it should be done in a week or so."
"Surprising. I thought it was going to take a whole lot more judging by the idiot who drew the plans." He chuckled "Who drew them anyway?" he asked.
Mira smiled. Kuro widened his one eye.
And just like that, Mira was crying her eyes out with her hands on her face.
"Come on Mira. I didn't mean it…" he sighed before Mira tiptoed and kissed his forehead. He was stunned and sputtered before backing up "W…Why'd you just kiss me on the forehead?!"
"Cause that counts to five hundred. Tomorrow we go on a date." She smirked.
"You sneaky little…" he glared before chuckling along with her.
For that one moment, everything was perfect around him. There was no desire to hunt down the demon, no empty feeling when he thought about his mother, no guilt. Just him and her.
"Something's coming!"
And then that moment ended.
In a flash a slender figure pinned Mira down and threw Kuro away, impaling him on a branch. He yelled in pain before looking at the figure. It was all black but there was something peculiar. It didn't wear black clothes. It was made out of some black substance. He growled and freed himself from the branch. The wound healed quickly but he fell down. His regeneration always left him drained after it was done.
He reached out to Mira but she along with the figure were gone. He closed his eyes and his consciousness faded.
Mira struggled against her chains. She had to leave some sort of trail for Fairy Tail to follow but how… Her long hair briefly touched her hands and she widened her eyes. She found her trail.
The white haired girl started tearing out strands of her hair and letting them drop. The thing in front of her that was dragging her by the chained collar was oblivious to the act.
Mira smiled to herself. It was only a matter of time before someone found her now.
Kuro found himself into a black void. He looked around but he didn't see.
He tried to talk but nothing came out.
He tried to move but he didn't fell.
It scared him.
A small light appeared in front of him. It had a distinctive humanoid form but that was it.
"What will you do?" it asked in a soft feminine, childlike voice.
"I'll find her and get her back."
The figure mouthed a long series of sentences but he couldn't hear her. The figure seemed to give a smile at the end before it exploded in a burst of light, waking him up.
He was in the guild hall.
Was it bad that he was getting used to the hard beds in the infirmary?
"Yep."
"You are of so much help…" he groaned and got up.
"What happened Kuro?" The master asked as he got up.
"Why yes I'm fine master." He said sarcastically. The old man sighed before saying an apology. Kuro shrugged "There was this thing that pinned her and took her away. I got to find her." He said before trying to get out of bed. The old man stopped him with a slight glare.
"You need to rest now."
"I need to save her." He groaned.
"How? You cannot find her. Let us do the searching."
"…Fine. I'll rest." He sighed as the master exited the room. Kuro glared at the door before getting up and putting his clothes on. He silently cursed as his favorite clothes got trashed. His body could regenerate…his clothes couldn't. He went to the window and opened it "I said I'll rest…didn't say that's all I'll do." He chuckled before jumping out the window and on his search for Mira.
Mirajane hissed in pain as the figure roughly chained her to a wall. She looked at the thing. It tilted its head at her before its whole blackened face split in two, something akin to a smile. Maybe it tried to reassure her but it just made her fell less so. The thing brushed a strand of hair from her face behind her ear and breathed on her. She hated this. She struggled to free herself.
"Stop that crap!" A woman's voice spoke from the shadows "I need her intact." The thing growled before its mouth closed up, without a trace. The thing vanished into the blackness of the cell she was in "Intriguing creatures are they not? Shadows I mean." The woman stepped closer, her steps accompanied with the clank of wood on stone "Loyal to a fault and deadly. From butlers to assassins they truly are the best servants."
"Where am I?" She asked and struggled again. This felt so wrong. She could feel the woman's eyes on her. How they bore into her. It was as if they looked inside of her. She felt like a piece of meat. She hated this.
"You are in my home. Do not worry. I don't plan to hurt you. I simply want something from you." She got closer again.
"What do you want?"
The woman stopped. Her face obscured by the shadows. The clothes she wore were expensive looking. A blue coat with golden jewelry and high-heeled boots along with black leather pants and black shirt. Her hair was long. Very long as it reached the ground "I want you." She snarled the last word while leaning forward.
Mira widened her eyes. The woman's whole face was badly burnt. Her face was barely that of a human's. Her eyes were the only things that were normal. A distinct shade of blue, different from hers. They were lighter, like the sky.
"M-me?" she asked.
"Of course." The woman chuckled "Kai? Are the preparations complete?" she asked out loud.
A man wearing glasses spoke from outside the cell "We need only wait for the full moon today."
"Good."
Mira gulped. She had a bad feeling about this.
"C'mon…There's got to be something…" Kuro muttered as he looked at the surrounding area. He was back where Mira got kidnapped. He looked around but couldn't find any clues as to where she could have been taken.
He looked towards a path. He smirked.
"Nice thinking Mira." He said as he followed the strands of white hair.
"Here." That man, Kai if she remembered correctly got her some food "It won't do you any good if you starve to death."
She looked at him with a deadpan expression. She lightly shook her chains and he awkwardly blushed "Oh right…you uhh you can't eat like that." He looked down and started feeding her. She refused to eat "It's not poisoned if that's what you think…" He sighed before she relented and ate the food. It was simple cooked meat.
After finishing the meal she couldn't help but ask "Who is she?"
"My lady is of the noble house of Hellguard. A house most ancient and blessed by the Archangel Uriel himself." He sighed "At least, that's what they used to be."
"What do you mean?"
"They were annihilated. My lady wishes to kill the one responsible but she needs to become stronger. She needs to ascend from these human shackles and become a god to kill the one responsible. To do that, she needs sacrifices. You will be the last one."
"How come you're telling me this?"
"What can you do to stop her?" he asked.
"Not me." She smiled "But I know someone who will."
"Who? The boy you were with?"
Kuro was in . He scowled as he searched for the strands of hair in the snow. Thankfully there was no storm so maybe it wasn't covered up.
"Yes. He will come and he'll make you regret doing this."
He kept looking and growled when not finding anything.
"Please. That boy cannot do anything. Did you forget that you went through Mt. Hakobe? Any trace he could find is long gone." He said arrogantly.
"I wouldn't be sure about that. If there's one thing I know about Kuro, it's that he's persistent. He will find me."
Kuro smirked as he found the strand of hair. Suddenly as if by magic, he could see a whole lot more, leading him in a direction. He ran towards that.
"He'll still have to get past the Shadow." He shrugged.
"Oh I believe he can do that." She smiled "Oh and by the way." She said as he began walking out the cell "Be on your guard." She warned before the door to the cell closed.
Kuro shivered as he walked through the snow.
"Couldn't that thing take her to a tropical resort? No…It had to be cold." He sneezed.
"Gesundheit."
"Thanks." He muttered and rubbed his nose before continuing to walk. Another strand of hair proved he was in the right direction. He silently both cursed and praised Mira's hair. He cursed it for being white and having to keep his eye open for it in the snow. He praised it because it was long and beautiful.
"Beautiful? Where did that come from!?" he yelled before shaking his head. He had bigger fish to fry. The moon was starting to rise and he hurried his pace.
The door to her cell opened and in walked the woman and a couple of men. They all wore the exact same style of clothing- a simple white kimono with black strips. The black strips were the same unusual shade like the woman's hair.
She was unchained before two men began dragging her while following the woman. She tried to talk so she could stall them from getting where they were going "That boy Kai told me why you want to do this."
"Did he now?" the woman chuckled "And?"
"Why would you want revenge? You can live happily without trying to kill anyone."
"I'm horribly disfigured you know. How could I live with someone in happiness?" She chuckled "As for the plan. You see I want to become a goddess to cleanse this world. Destroy the darkness and end all suffering."
"You're sick."
"Aren't we all?" the woman shrugged before they arrived. She got tied to a pillar and examined the room. It was circular with glowing red runes all around the walls. None of them were familiar.
"Now. When the moonlight hits you, you shall die. And when that happens I will become a goddess. Oh don't worry I might bring you back."
She struggled to free herself but to no avail.
An explosion rocked the place.
"WHAT?!" the woman yelled and Mira smiled.
Kuro came knocking!
"Ah-choo!" Kuro sneezed as he dusted himself off. He walked through the dungeon with his sword ready and his instincts on high alert.
A screech could be heard before his senses screamed at him to dodge. He did and leaned his body to the left. Barely avoiding a thrust from the Shadow. He kicked it away soon after before it got up and its face formed a smirk with the sound of cracking bones. The thing screeched again before dashing at him. He scoffed before parrying the blow with the sheath of his sword.
The two fought for dominance before the thing overpowered him and sent him into a wall. He growled as he got up or at least tried to. The thing was on him and ready to tear his head off. He grunted and kicked it off of him and into the ceiling. He got up and panted a bit before dodging another strike. The thing tried to pounce on him but he dodged and sent it into the ground. He glared at it before jumping upwards to avoid a trip.
He landed and rolled out of the way of an attack before punching the creature away. It roared before getting ready for another dash. He grunted and prepared to draw his sword "All will die before me…" he muttered and dashed along with the creature. The two struck once.
The thing turned back to watch its enemy fall down in agony but what it saw was the cold hard ground that it died on. Its chest was oozing the black substance that was akin to blood continuously. It gave out its last breath before twitching once and laid unmoving.
"What the hell was that?"
"A Shadow. Nasty little buggers. Really strong, really fast and really annoying. They come from human negativity."
Kuro nodded before touching his forehead. He started to have a fever. He scowled. He had no time for this.
And with that thought, Kuro made his way to the familiar signature of Mira's magic. He crashed through the door and snarled at them "Release Mira and I'll let you live."
"Not going to happen." The woman scoffed before she clapped once and the entire room was filled with men "Get them!" she yelled before a shot rang through and she fell. A single bullet hole in her forehead. Kuro looked around before setting his sights on a woman with a red bandana and a simple black sniper rifle.
"What're you waiting for?!" The woman from above yelled "Grab your girlfriend and let's go!" she shot Mira's chains straight off before she jumped down near the door.
He scowled at that before grabbing Mira and the three ran.
"Who are you?"
"We don't have time for this!" She yelled.
He narrowed his eye but ran along with her. They stopped around a corner and hid.
"Who are you?" He growled out.
"I'm Neameni." She smirked and pointed at herself.
"Kuro Tenebris. This is Mirajane." He pointed at the white haired girl.
"Pleasure to meet you Neameni."
"Likewise. I'd say 'let's grab something to drink' but you know. Circumstances." She glared at Kuro "I had my eyes on this gig for a whole month. You just had to come and try to save your little girlfriend…"
"She's not my girlfriend…" he deadpanned.
"I'm not his girlfriend…" Mira said.
"Really? The distance you came for her I was sure you two were…never mind. Since you are here, you might as well help me." The bandana wearing woman grunted.
The three were now stalking the halls, in search of the room they left.
"You need to help me destroy the altar. Since she died near it, she'll be counted as a sacrifice which will be disastrous since there's no host for the ritual."
That was Neameni's explanation on the ritual.
Mira looked worriedly at Kuro. He was panting and burning up.
"Hello there." Kai spoke from the other end of the snowy hallway. He was accompanied by four other copies of himself "I'm afraid I can't let you pass." He sighed before he along with his copies took their glasses off.
"Oh I remember him. I blinded him with a flash grenade a couple of years ago. His hearing is through the roof though. He could hear a pin drop during raging storm."
"Something I need to repay you for. In any case, Kuro. I would like to tell you that before you go on and kill all of us, four are innocents. There's only one real me." The copies alternated talking during this. He could discern one female amongst them.
"He's telling the truth."
"Just a reminder, the real me swallowed up a fire lacrima that is bound to explode any minute now. If you don't do something soon you will all die."
"Dammit…I don't want to kill innocents." Neameni grunted.
Mira tried to think of a solution but she couldn't. Her eyes drifted to Kuro as he kneeled and picked something up. The five Kais started running at them.
"The real one's blind right? That means that four of the five can see…Gotcha!" Kuro smirked and dashed forward.
"Kuro!" Mira yelled.
"Don't tell me you're gambling with odds like these!" Neameni yelled.
"Watch and learn!" he yelled before showing off the small rock he had. He stealthily switched the rock to his left hand and threw. Four of the Kais looked towards the apparent trajectory but the rock bounced off with a 'Clank!' from the railway on the other side. He smirked as one of the Kais' head turned in that direction instinctively "Gotcha you bastard." He ran faster. Avoiding the other Kais' attacks he sliced once and sent the real Kai flying over the railing. His whole abdomen was cut.
"You…win…" Kai spoke before he landed. Kuro panted as he kneeled down. That should cover the lacrima from exploding. Now to find the ritual chamber again. Mira ran up to him as the other Kais fainted. She touched his forehead and gasped. He was burning up. He was pushing himself too far for her.
She looked at the bandana wearing woman "We need to get him to a hospital."
The woman chuckled before her chuckled turned into full-blown laughter "Now why would I do that? If I do that, my chance at godhood will be lost!" she grinned.
"What?" he coughed.
"Aww don't tell me you're surprised! I mean who would pass up becoming God eh?" she smirked before a dozen of men appeared "I'm your new leader!" she yelled at them "Kill both of them!" the men slowly advanced towards the two.
"Mira…You gotta run. I'll…I'll distract them." Kuro said as he painfully got up.
"No." she said before grabbing him "I got you in this mess. You run." She said before pushing him off the edge. The snow there should soften his fall.
"No…" he muttered before falling. He crashed through the snow and grunted as he saw Mira get taken away. He growled and got up before shakily making his way back into the building. He couldn't fight now. He needed to hide. And so he climbed into the vents of the building. He sighed as he laid down on his back.
"I couldn't keep her safe." He muttered to himself "I haven't changed. I'm a weak, pathetic coward! Just like before!" he growled before finding a diary of some sorts.
He felt sick reading through it. It was diary of a slave girl. A girl who was hurt, berated and raped each day. The diary depicted the deaths of everyone who wronged her. At the bottom of one page was the name Neameni written on it.
He felt…pity towards the woman.
"You know? If you ally yourself with the chick trying to become God, you could technically ask her to bring your mother back." Kira suddenly spoke.
"…"
"What will you do?"
"I don't know…"
"What are you going to do?" Mira asked as she kneeled.
"There are times when people come at a crossroads. They start questioning who they are, what are they doing and how they want to live."
"I'm going to draw out Kuro." Neameni smirked before she grabbed a microphone. She got a dagger and slashed the top side of her dress. She widened her eyes as she got pinned down by one of the men "Testing, testing. I know you're around Kuro but it would be in your best interest to come here. You wouldn't want to miss the fire sale on Mirajane's maidenhood now would you?"
He widened his eyes as he heard that. He turned around and crawled through the vents towards Mira's signature. He crashed through the roof and ran.
"NO! STOP IT! GET AWAY!" he could hear Mira yell.
"Hey I trust him."
"It's okay to cry. I won't tell anyone."
"Why'd you just kiss me on the forehead?!"
"Cause that counts to five hundred. Tomorrow we go on a date."
He grunted and sped up.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! KURO!" Mira screamed before the doors burst out.
"How will you live? What will you do? Who…will you be?"
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Kuro roared and slashed once. The slash cut everyone near Mira in half instantaneously. Their upper bodies fell down with a wet 'Thunk'. Mira was too scared to see what Kuro just did.
"Heh. You're more of a man than I thought you were Kuro. This changes things." She sighed "How about the two of us become allies? When I become a God I can grant your every wish. There's got to be something you need."
"…" He looked down "That thought occurred to me. But I refuse."
"You little…!" she calmed down "No matter. The moon will be in position soon. Even if you fight you will either be too late or die."
"Tch. Funny. Normally when I'm in dangerous situations my instincts tell me so." He smirked "But somehow they aren't screaming at me to run." She grimaced "Which means I'm not checkmated yet. I still have options. Options like this." He took off his long coat and covered Mira with it. She looked at him with grateful eyes. He got up and glared "I'll live in the present. The past is behind me. There's no point in trying to return." He got his gun ready. He lost most bullets during the fall but he still had one.
"You idiot boy!" The bandana wearing woman growled before taking aim.
"Look at this!" he yelled and threw a book. She glanced at it before widening her eyes.
"It couldn't be…" she thought before dropping her sniper rifle and grabbing the book. She touched the red cover with a smile as tears welled up at the corners of her eyes "Where have you been?" she asked the book before she heard a gun being cocked near her forehead. She glanced up only to see the barrel of a gun staring down at her. She sighed before the magical bullet was discharged with a giant bang.
Her whole head exploded and her body fell down. He stared at the body before turning on his heel. He looked at the men there. They were crying over the death of their priestess.
He scoffed.
That diary showed him a lot.
This place was a cult that worshiped some sort of deity. When the woman that kidnapped Mira got here they saw her as some sort of priestess. The woman he just killed now was a slave that the woman used to keep the men in check, letting them relieve stress through her.
He scowled and swung once, releasing potent magical energy and killing all the bastards there. Mira hugged him from her kneeling position as she shuddered. He looked down. His hair overshadowed his eyes which contained barely contained hatred. He should have been faster. He should have known! He should have been better!
"Kuro!" she sniffed as she cried. She had a vice grip on him but he didn't say anything. He had no right…
"I'm sorry." He said before he fainted.
Mira cried once before having to take Kuro back. She somehow succeeded before crashing down on the floor of her beloved guild. After Porlyusica checked him for any lasting effects she declared that he was going to be fine. He just needed to rest for a bit before doing anything. Now she didn't tell him this as he was unconscious. That job was Makarov's.
The other guild members tried to make Mira tell them what happened but whenever someone brought up that subject she just clammed up and hugged her knees close to her chest. She acted normally but there were some signs. Whenever her brother would touch her shoulder to get her attention she would tense before she would relax. Some people caught on what happened back then but others didn't.
A soft, soothing light was above Kuro's bed. The light took a female like form before leaning down next to Kuro. The figure brushed a strand of hair from his one visible eye and seemed to smile. It then kissed him on the forehead. The door opened and the light was gone. If one would look at Kuro they would see a smile on his face.
A day later and he was up. He looked at his hands before scowling. He needed to get stronger. What was about to happen to Mira was something that was way too close for comfort.
"You alright kid?"
"No…Miro almost got… you know."
"That's good."
Kuro growled "Good?! How is that good?"
"It's good because the almost was there. Better than the deed being done, don't you think?"
He sighed "I guess…" he got up and looked at a chair. On it were new clothes. He raised an eyebrow and looked to see what the clothes were like. He smiled and donned them.
The coat he had now was the same shade of black but with intricate dark grey designs on the length of it. His shirt was a dark red and reached past his lower back. The pants were the same color as the shirt with a scale-y design and his new shoes were combat boots of the same model as before only the same color as the shirt and pants. He smirked as he tied his katana to the belt of his pants and put on a black fingerless glove on his left hand.
A piece of clothing fell as he straightened the bed he laid in. It was an eye-patch, black in color with a tribal white triangle on it. He chuckled before putting it on and leaving the infirmary. He opened the door and crashed straight into a person. Because of his larger size the two fell with him on top.
"Sorry." He apologized before seeing who he fell on "Mira?"
"Kuro…" she smiled softly before he got up and helped her "Thanks." She said before the two sat down at a table.
"…Are you alright?" he asked suddenly "With the…" he didn't say anything else as Mira raised a hand.
"Just…just don't bring it up. I'd rather forget all of that happened." She sighed.
He nodded before looking down. He wasn't good at making small talk. Usually people started the conversation, not him.
Thankfully the master decided to spare him the awkward moment "Kuro, a moment?"
He nodded and went to the second floor "What is it?" he leaned on a pillar there.
"I said stay put and you went regardless."
"So? I saved her didn't I?"
"You could have gotten killed as well!" the master shouted in anger. The guild quieted down at that.
"Hey unlike some people I can't stand to see people I care about get hurt." He glared at the short master.
"Well because you couldn't stand waiting to see what would happen, the council now wants you dead!"
"They wanted that for years!" he growled.
"And now they have the motive to do so. The people you killed in that place are enough of a reason for the council to declare you a Dark Mage!"
"Wait. Kuro killed people?" Natsu asked. They got here a day ago.
The master looked expectantly at the black haired young man in question. He sighed and spoke "Yes. I did."
"It was in self-defense right?" Erza asked with a raised eyebrow.
"…Not mine."
"Then whose?"
"…" he stayed quiet. It wasn't his place to say what happened. If they wanted to hate him then let them.
"Kuro? Who did you kill for?"
"…" he was getting agitated. He clenched his sword. Makarov saw that and got ready for the worst.
Just when a fight looked about ready to break out Mira intervened "It was mine…" she said softly but everyone could hear it.
"Huh?"
"I got kidnapped by something. One thing lead to another and Kuro had to kill to keep me safe." hhe looked down and shivered. Kuro narrowed his eyes. She was uncomfortable telling everyone this.
"Is it true Kuro?"
"…" he didn't say anything. The old fool was really getting on his nerves with his lack of trust. He scoffed and jumped to the first floor with a thud. He got up and dusted himself before making his way out. He passed by Erza. The two locked eyes for a second before he continued to walk. She nodded. Mira was telling the truth.
The sun was rising as Kuro walked along the riverbank. The soft sound of the passing water helped sooth his mind and nerves. He smiled slightly as he watched a group of kids playing in the water. A little girl noticed him and waved at him. He grunted and waved before turning around and continuing to walk. Not long after he joined Fairy Tail he ended up helping at the orphanage in Magnolia.
Lisanna asked him so it was a given that he'd help. Damn that girl's puppy dog eyes spell.
The kids there took a liking to him. A girl in particular who didn't interact much was the one that took a shine to him the most.
Flashback
Kuro yawned as he watched over the hyperactive kids running all over the place.
"Getting tired Kuro-san?" an old woman asked with a chuckle.
"No." he said before resuming watching over the kids. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a little girl with short dark purple hair. She was standing in the corner, simply staring at the other kids, occasionally stealing glances at him. When she saw that she was caught staring she blushed and looked away, looking awkwardly back only to do the same again. He raised an eyebrow before looking at the old woman "What's wrong with her?" he nodded towards the girl.
"Hanako?" she asked. He simply nodded "Yeah she's not a very social person." She sighed "Her parents died not too long ago and now she's like this. She rarely talks, she doesn't play and I can barely make her eat."
He narrowed his eye and got up "You good here?" She nodded and smiled as he approached the girl.
He bowed down to her level and stared at her. She stared right back before she awkwardly looked away "What do you want?" she asked.
"What happened to your parents?" he asked. The old woman's jaw dropped as he asked that. What? Was he too blunt?
To everyone's surprise the young girl smiled "It's kinda nice to be asked like that." She looked at him "They died in a storm at sea. They were on a vacation and…" she stopped and looked down, ready to cry. He grunted and picked her up before setting her on his shoulders. She yelped before he started walking "H-Hey! Where are we going?!" she yelled.
"Somewhere." He muttered and left along with the girl.
The two were in a clearing overlooking the sea. He got her off and he began cutting wood "What're you doing?" she asked.
"Making a cross." He said.
"H-Huh?" she was surprised.
"It's going to make you feel better. Trust me." He said and she looked at him.
"C-Can I help?"
"Sure."
Hours passed and the sun was setting. The cross was now made out of smooth wood with the names of the girl engraved on it. He set it into the ground and planted some dirt around it. He looked at the cross as the girl sneaked her hand around his. She gripped tightly as she cried. He let her do that before she eventually calmed down. He picked her up again and started walking towards the orphanage.
"Did that make you feel better?" he asked. She grinned, a lollipop in mouth. She asked for one as they were coming back. He tried to refuse but you can see the result.
"Loads better!" She smiled.
He let her down and opened the doors for her.
"Will you come and visit?" she asked while looking up at him.
"I'll try." He shrugged. He wasn't going to make any promises.
"Alright!" she grinned and entered the orphanage. The old woman exited and smiled at him.
"How'd you do it?" she asked.
"Do what?"
"She smiled. I haven't seen her do that ever since she came here."
He shrugged and started walking away "Hey Kuro-san!" she threw him a bag of something. It was Jewels "Thanks a lot!" she smiled before the bag was thrown back and Kuro was walking away.
The old woman chuckled "That kid is something else."
Flashback end.
He scoffed as his memory ended. He looked at the morning sun before climbing back to the streets. He walked again and stopped at the bridge. He sighed and leaned on it, overlooking the flowing water.
"Hey kid!"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Mind telling me why you're going emo on me?!" Kira yelled and Kuro fell in shock at the question.
Climbing out of the water he coughed before internally glaring at Kira.
"You have to admit, that was funny." Kira laughed madly.
"Ha-ha." He grunted and walked back to his house.
He remembered suddenly and slapped his forehead. Today was the Fantasia Parade!
He groaned before making his way back to the guild.
The 'Miss Fairy Tail' contest was in progress as he entered.
He sat at a table before looking to see the competitors.
Mira was on stage. He ignored Max yelling about her and for her to show off her stuff. Instead he focused on her. Her smile, her hair, her Happy face?
…
…
"WHAT THE FUCK!? MUST. BURN. IMAGE!" Kira yelled while flesh hitting wood could be heard "IT'S NOT WORKING!" he cried in anguish.
Kuro stared simply. He drank his water while silently praying that Mira wouldn't come to haunt him in his dreams. He ignored the rest as he drank. He widened his eye as a familiar magical power appeared.
Laxus was here.
He looked at the stage to find him next to a petrified Lucy. Behind were the other girls, also made out of stone now. He growled when he saw Mira like that. He got up and walked over to Laxus.
"A Fairy Tail battle royale!" Laxus yelled before disappearing. Kuro grunted and turned around.
"Kuro…Did you hear all that?"
"Yes. I'm going after Laxus."
"Do not severely injure him."
"Can't promise that." He grunted and exited the guild hall.
He set into a light jog into a direction. He could feel Laxus' magic energy coming from there so it was his best bet.
Back in the guild hall.
Runes appeared at the exit.
"Kuro Tenebris versus unknown?" Makarov read out loud "What in the world?"
"Ohh man! They're getting to have all the fun!"
A rune wall appeared around him. He scowled as he tried to cut through it. It didn't work and he growled.
"Well, well, well." A familiar voice spoke from above him "Looks like we won't be interrupted like this." A flap of wings and the figure was at the same level as he. It was the figure that shot him a few weeks ago.
Kira scowled. Looks like he was getting impatient.
"You again." Kuro grunted before setting into a stance "Who are you?"
"We…are Kindred." The figure bowed. Its wings were dual colored. The one on the male side was like that of a bat's while the other one was that of a bird's "And right now, we need Kira."
Kuro narrowed his eye and prepared to draw his sword. He blinked and the figure was gone.
"Nighty night." The figure spoke from behind him. He scowled and jumped over it, avoiding the shot before kicking it away. It got up and dusted itself before cracking its neck and smirking "Oh this is going to be so much fun." And with that it flew towards him. He prepared before he found himself being dragged to the right. The figure smirked as it threw him into a rune wall. He groaned as he released himself and fell down.
He looked around before the figure dropped on him. A massive crash was heard as the figure laughed. It got off of him and went to grab him and leave. He suddenly got up and tripped the figure. He tried to impale it on his sword but it blocked the strike with its wings. It smirked before back flipping away "Funny thing about our wings. They are impenetrable."
He growled and shot once. The bullet was blocked by the wings though with difficulty "You're not gonna get rid of us that easily. Wings. Remember?" it cackled. He growled and got into a different stance. It smirked before dashing forth once more. It grabbed him and flew into the air before deciding to crash down. It started dropping before Kuro smirked. He got out of Kindred's hold and got on top of it. He grabbed its wings and started the pull.
"You keep bragging about your fancy wings." Kuro growled "Let's see you land without them!" He roared and tore the appendages right off. The figure screamed in agony before Kuro got off and let Kindred crash on the ground. He used the wings he just tore off to glide back down safely.
He sighed as he let the wings drop and the rune wall disappeared. He looked behind him when he heard a weak laugh "You were right master. He truly is the one!" Kindred laughed before looking at the sky "But now the question is, will he have what it takes to do it?" Kuro grunted and made his way to it.
"Who is your master?"
"You'd like to know that wouldn't you?" it cackled "You'll see soon enough. I just can't wait to meet you in hell after he's done with you!" it gleefully spoke "Oh I can see our rematch." It sighed dreamily as it started to rot away.
Kuro scowled. He wasn't getting anything out of it. He turned around and proceeded to go after Laxus' signature "One more thing, Black Light." It spoke as he left. He stopped and listened "You'll die. You'll all die. Every human out there will perish because in the end my master's not in your world. You all are in his." It laughed before a bullet passed through its skull. Kuro scowled as he holstered the handgun and walked away silently.
In a dark place.
"Kindred failed…" a woman's voice sighed.
"So did the two siblings." An old voice spoke. It was male.
"Weaklings. All of them." A younger voice scoffed.
"He's getting stronger." A mature man's voice muttered.
"What would you have us do master?" the woman spoke with something akin to affection.
"We will observe for now." The mature voice coldly spoke "If he proves to be an obstacle I believe we have something that would…interest him." A faint light could be seen in an orange tube filled with liquid. It resembled a woman "Don't we, Katsura Tenebris?"
Back in Magnolia
The fight took longer than he planned. Right now he, Natsu and Gajeel were fighting Laxus. He scoffed. This was just overkill. Laxus was backed into a corner thanks to his presence here.
The blonde mage growled and summoned his magic power "FAIRY LAW!" he roared as light began to flood from him.
"Kid…Run!"
He widened his eye and did what his inner demon yelled at him to. That much concentrated light could kill Kira even if he reached into the deepest parts of Kuro's soul.
Unfortunately for Kuro, he wasn't faster than light and thus got hit.
He screamed in agony along with Kira before falling unconscious, the final words that the figure made from light spoke to him surfacing.
"Go forth with your heart as your guide, child of light, bearer of the dark and remember what true strength is, Dark Fairy of Fairy Tail."
Chapter Preview:
"Now that you've been exiled you finally get it?"
"Are you alright?"
"Besides the massive headache and the sore body, yeah. Just peachy."
"Things have been quiet."
"That can't be good."
"Kuro. You along with Team Natsu are going to band together with members from other legal guilds to defeat Oracion Seis. You will also be accompanied by two independent mages."
"I can't trust these people..."
"YOU!?"