A scowl appears and the girl shot him a rather intimidating look in her eyes, that seemed unsuitable with her petite figure. She tightens her clutch on the Hat, protective of it.
“No. This hat is MINE. It’s special. It speaks to me- it speaks wonderful things and promises of power, p-pure, raw, unimaginable power! I need it, I deserved it,” and out of nowhere, she broke into great sobs, which gradually turns into bone-chilling laughter.
“THE HAT CHOSE ME! IT’S MY BURDEN TO WEAR THE HAT! I love, loooove my hat, my omnipotent, powerful, cunning and dashing masterhnnnggggg-”
Azura doubled back, kneeling on the floor, her hands subtly trying to pull the hat off, but the more she tried, the more it bit into her, causing pain which she frustratingly yelled out, mixed with gleeful laughter. It was heart wrenching to see her this way, how her emotions were amped up and mixed like a slushie of madness.
Watching Azura devolve into a frenzied mess of conflicting emotions as she struggled fiercely for control of her own mind was like being stabbed through the chest by the Samurai’s blade. No blade was present but it still felt the same.
No… It felt worse. Suddenly, Aku didn’t feel so big and powerful anymore. Without any thought given to his actions, the yokai appeared before her at a size much closer to human and he fell to his knees just in front of her. He did not grasp for the hat, heeding Black Hat’s own warning that doing so could do more damage than it was worth. Instead, he grasped one of her hands and held it.
“Do not listen to his lies!He is neither friend nor master. He is a parasite that uses mortals as his hosts. His only means of power is by feasting on the minds of the weak.” He squeezed her hand firmly and shot a death glare at the monster atop her head.
“But you, Azura, are not weak. You must keep fighting him!”
Flug sat down quickly, sick from the sudden teleportation. Once he had calmed he looked to Aku. “No, I agree, she seems a wrong fit, not that that’s a bad thing. I think he chose her out of desperation.”
He rubbed his head, trying to get his thoughts in order. “The cult, the followers of Black Hat. They’re hiding in different sects around Hatsville and other parts of Hat Island. They blend in so well, it’s hard to pinpoint some of their meeting places, but I do know of a few. They’re are always willing sacrifices among them, it’s a matter of finding one, male or female, that suits his needs. They must be smart, young, able bodied…” he bounced his leg from where he sat.
“It’s not going to be easy.”
“So round them up, make them fight to the death and the one who lives receives the prize! What’s so hard about that?” snapped Aku, whose patience regularly bordered on nonexistence, and that was on a good day. He leaned forward, eyebrows flickering.
“Flug. You possess a toxin that is capable of incapacitating your boss. I know this for a fact as I have witnessed it firsthand.” And he would not soon forget it. Not ever. “If he can be paralyzed, he can be more easily extracted from Azura’s head.”
“More then you realize.” He managed, trying to calm himself. “God- I…Why, why did this- I thought she had a stronger will then-!” but he knew better. Black Hats glamour; the thrall he had over humans was incredibly powerful.
“A man doesn’t just- forget about his first love.” He huffed out finally, trying to keep his crying in check.
If this pitiful display was to be believed, then it appeared that Flug could be of use in these miserable times. But only if the scientist was able and willing to defy his master.
“Then you agree the hat must be removed as soon as possible,” Aku spoke, inferring a temporary alliance.
“Yes…He..He needs another host, someone who has-” He reached up, covering his mouth. He risked Black Hat hearing him.
“A-aku, this is harder then you might think.” he muttered. “The cult, the rites, and he…he has to choose.”
Aku could see this wasn’t the best place to hold a conversation. Without warning, he zapped Flug with his eyebeams and teleported him to a location where their conversation could not be overheard by prying spectators. It was a large, dark cave and it didn’t smell very nice but it would do. Aku arrived shortly after, appearing from thin air.
“Tell me about this cult,” he urged. “Why would he choose my Azura? I would think that with her hero-mind, she would make for a poor host.”
“More then you realize.” He managed, trying to calm himself. “God- I…Why, why did this- I thought she had a stronger will then-!” but he knew better. Black Hats glamour; the thrall he had over humans was incredibly powerful.
“A man doesn’t just- forget about his first love.” He huffed out finally, trying to keep his crying in check.
If this pitiful display was to be believed, then it appeared that Flug could be of use in these miserable times. But only if the scientist was able and willing to defy his master.
“Then you agree the hat must be removed as soon as possible,” Aku spoke, inferring a temporary alliance.
The Shogun of Sorrow 