The flinch did not escape his notice but Aku continued to hold and stroke Azura’s tired face. Despite the circumstances, it was so good to see a part of her that was still her true self but Aku knew that time was limited, especially when a tendril began to tighten around her throat.
“Do not worry about that now,” he soothed. “We must free you from his grip before it’s too late.” As the demon spoke, his clawed hands began to pull and tug and tear at the dark binds covering her throat and body.
Azura watched as Aku tore the dark pieces off her, vacant eyes stared as he attempts to free most parts of her body from the hat demon’s grip. Yet the most stubborn part that held onto was her head, oozing like wretched, living oil that seeped directly into her brain. It was how Black Hat was controlling her no doubt, leaving the host limp from how much pain she had to endure in the midst of this hostile takeover. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think for herself. It was as if Black Hat was trying to erase her mind, freeing up space so he could move over. It was exhausting. Every great evil thought crossed her mind, malicious ideas mixed around her subconscious, and Azura started to wonder if it was his or her own at this point.
“It’s hopeless. Hopeless…” She repeated, doing absolutely nothing to even try to break free from the Hat’s grip. “I’m… nothing without him… my existence means… nothing without him…” They may be words that came out of her mouth, but there was no question it didn’t belong to her. It sounded like a broken record, repeating itself.
Once Azura’s body was free, Aku wrapped his arms around her and tried to tug her away from the mass of darkness, but her head was still too stuck and he didn’t want to risk harming her further. It was frustrating, especially when those wretched words kept pouring form her mouth like a ventriloquist’s dummy. Had Azura truly begun to believe such lies?
“Nonsense!” the yokai growled. “If your existence did not matter— If I did not love you, I would not be here!”
Determined to free her from the disgusting slime, Aku coiled part of his body around Azura like a giant tendril and slid higher up to face the monstrosity sprouting from her head. His first inclination was to slice through it but once again, he feared harming the host beneath. Steeling himself, he plunged his hand into the offending substance in some attempt to grab part of it and disrupt its flow into her mind.
“Villainy has a new member!” For a starter being on the side with Crow!
“Ahhh The Great Aku! It’s interesting to meet another villain who succeeded! …For a time at least.”
“OR you can answer me this,” Aku interjected. “Have you ever defeated another force of evil — one that is far greater and more terrible than you might ever imagine? Do you have any idea what you will be dealing with when we embark on this quest to free my daughter?”
The Shogun cut a powerful figure as he towered before Crow with claws clasped behind his back expectantly. Villain or otherwise, he had high expectations for those with whom his daughter chose to associate.
“If you think Black Hat is a terrible force of evil, then someone evil as him is the generic democratic government with involvements of businesses backing. Throw Holy water on BH and bam, done.” Crow says simply.
“But yes, I have fought good and evil doers alike, if your looking for a simple answer. The only reason I’m not going to throw holy water on it is because that would harm Azura.”
“I am afraid that is incorrect,” said the demon. “Throwing Holy water upon a creature like Black Hat will serve merely to enrage him further.He, like myself, is a primordial evil of Eldritch proportions. He poses a significantly dangerous problem. I hope that is understood.”
Aku awoke at the sounds of fleeing and sat up to look around. But seeing no one there, he stretched his tongue out with a big yawn and slumped back into his throne to continue his nap, completely unaware that he’d been crowned the Flower King.
The Shogun of Sorrow 