Before Cinder entered the room, Aku had caught the scent and was sitting up very straight. Someone had shabu shabu. Aku want. Seconds later, in walked Cinder with the food.
He leaned toward her with big, staring eyes.
“…You’re gonna share that, right?”
A grin lit up Cinders face as she began to set up the traditional meal before the yokai. Ever since Azura had been gone, Cinder continued to visit and bring the demon gifts and little meals.
“Of course! Shrink down a bit and I’ll start cooking!”
The yokai shrank himself down to a more reasonable size, not because he’d been told to but because it was easier to fit at the table this way. Even so, he still towered over Cinder as he seated himself at the table.
“I have not had shabu shabu in some time,” he said and proceeded to watch eagerly and unblinkingly as the food was prepared.
“I thought getting rid of him would help me put my fears into ease but… I just feel more distraught than ever.” She didn’t even find that usual comfort Aku has whenever he pats her head, just numbness.
The demon sighed. Why did she have to be such a hero-type?
“How unfortunate it is that your sense of morality will not allow you to feel the slightest bit of relief,” he spoke. Morality. What a bothersome and pointless trait. “Here you are, rescuer of all humankind, yet you speak as if you have committed the greatest act of evil.”
This was not the first time Azura’s actions had led to death and destruction. For once, this was a death that had spared the lives of billions. Aku was beginning to think there was nothing Azura thought she could ever do right.
“Let me ask you this: do you think the Samurai would have any regrets if he had the chance to slay me?” He would not. Aku was absolutely certain of that. “And would you view him as any less of a hero regardless of your feelings for me?”
“He would regret it,” she replied, rather quietly, “If he knew you better personally.” Azura kept her head down, deep in thought.
“All my life I always thought that heroes have the easiest jobs because of how easy it is for them to take down foes. It looked simpler on the TV. Hunt them down and beat up bad guys, stuff them in jail. They don’t feel troubled or grief of taking down a deadly enemy. They were relieved knowing that killing them would bring peace to everyone, never the opposite.”
“I don’t know if it’s just me or that I’m doing things wrong… but I don’t want to kill anybody. I’m just not that kind of person to do so. Even if they’re bad. There’s always some ounce of goodness in them that’s waiting to be noticed.”
The Samurai? Regret killing him? Aku was very certain that would never happen. He opened his mouth to retort yet no arguments came forth. For once Aku found that he could not speak. Finally, he seated himself beside her with a quiet huff of resignation.
“You are cursed with a heart that is truly pure. I had hoped I might be able to change that, but alas…” Alas. It had been she who had changed him… in a small way. She was exceptionally skilled at worming her way beneath the skin of evil and rooting out any possible trace of goodness hidden within. Aku almost wished he could be angry with her for it but it was far too late for that. Better to deny it. Better and easier.
“You did all that could be done,” he continued with quiet honesty. “You searched long and hard for what you so believed was there. Perhaps you were not slated to find what you sought. Or perhaps there was nothing there to find. You could have spent your entire lifetime searching for something that may or may not exist.”
In all likelihood, it would have been a waste of a perfectly good lifetime. Aku twisted to look at her, his clawed hand resting on the ground behind her.
“But you should keep in mind, Azura, that you are not beholden to any one being’s happiness or his ‘reformation’. In the end, it is not up to you if someone should accept your help or your kindness.”
Aku couldn’t believe his alternate self had uttered such a question.
“ABSOLUTELY NOT. You are the handsomest being I have ever laid eyes upon and anyone who says otherwise speaks nonsense and blasphemy.”
“……….”
“Go on.”
“What for? This is something you should already know! What more is there to go on about? Your luxurious, well-groomed beard? Your perfectly wicked smile? Your magnificent broad shoulders? Your glorious eyebrows that set even the blackest of hearts ablaze?
Can’t you see you are the epitome of excellence? You EXQUISITE FOOL!”
“It’s not like they’re going to achieve anything with YOU as a father, anyway, I’d be doing you a favor.”
Half-human, he wanted to snarl. Technically, one of his daughters was fully human, though Aku refrained from mentioning her. Azura had enough problems to deal with. Human or otherwise, it hardly mattered.
“I thought getting rid of him would help me put my fears into ease but… I just feel more distraught than ever.” She didn’t even find that usual comfort Aku has whenever he pats her head, just numbness.
The demon sighed. Why did she have to be such a hero-type?
“How unfortunate it is that your sense of morality will not allow you to feel the slightest bit of relief,” he spoke. Morality. What a bothersome and pointless trait. “Here you are, rescuer of all humankind, yet you speak as if you have committed the greatest act of evil.”
This was not the first time Azura’s actions had led to death and destruction. For once, this was a death that had spared the lives of billions. Aku was beginning to think there was nothing Azura thought she could ever do right.
“Let me ask you this: do you think the Samurai would have any regrets if he had the chance to slay me?” He would not. Aku was absolutely certain of that. “And would you view him as any less of a hero regardless of your feelings for me?”
The Shogun of Sorrow 