“That is because he knows when to create a scene and when not to. His sense of honor forbids him from allowing harm to come to innocents when they are present.”
“Thank goodness for that then.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better, at least you can rest well knowing that this Samurai would not attack unless provoked. Why else would the other Aku survive this long if they had interacted with each other? Alone, even?”
“I suspect it is a ploy, one designed to gain his trust and then lead him to his death. The ultimate betrayal.”
“Mmmh… I see. So if they die, they die. And I should not burden myself with efforts to deter them.”
“In a way, yeah. It’s not like they’re going to listen anyway. I know how stubborn I can get. And you should know that about yourself too.”
“And if you’re worrying about your other self getting comfortable with the Lady Samurai, might I advise you not to worry yourself too much. He’s an old eldritch monster who had survived a kajillion years, he would know what to do if he was in mortal danger.”
“And it seems that the Samurai is bonding gently as well. I don’t think she’s the kind of person who would harm a friend, either.”
“I hope you are right. After what I saw in my vision, I trust no Samurai. No matter how ‘friendly’ they may seem.”
“Eh, I don’t blame you. But can I tell you in a little secret?”
“Remember back when I was down with that nasty infection that one time, where I started to look and act like you? Well apparently the Aku that I took care of felt that he needed to fix things by asking Jack for help. And despite my hostility against him, he… he didn’t actually do anything to harm me or Aku. Even after hurting him…”
“It’s crazy, but I think he’s alright. He’s been invited to that Aku’s tea party before and didn’t cause a scene since nobody provoked him, despite having Demongo and Beast along, too. I think it’s a safe bet, boss.”
“That is because he knows when to create a scene and when not to. His sense of honor forbids him from allowing harm to come to innocents when they are present.”
“Mmmh… I see. So if they die, they die. And I should not burden myself with efforts to deter them.”
“In a way, yeah. It’s not like they’re going to listen anyway. I know how stubborn I can get. And you should know that about yourself too.”
“And if you’re worrying about your other self getting comfortable with the Lady Samurai, might I advise you not to worry yourself too much. He’s an old eldritch monster who had survived a kajillion years, he would know what to do if he was in mortal danger.”
“And it seems that the Samurai is bonding gently as well. I don’t think she’s the kind of person who would harm a friend, either.”
“I hope you are right. After what I saw in my vision, I trust no Samurai. No matter how ‘friendly’ they may seem.”
“For the sake of argument, let us say that the fool in the scenario is your own alternate self. Would that change anything?”
“Of course not! Heck, I know I need to get my butt kicked by my own mistakes to learn from them in the future. Same goes from them. Er, me. I suppose.”
“Mmmh… I see. So if they die, they die. And I should not burden myself with efforts to deter them.”
Aku leaned on his elbow and gave silent consideration to her words. It was true that hostile words were getting them nowhere. Perhaps it was time to change his approach.
“Mmmhhhh… Very well. But expect no apologies.”
He sighed then and sank deeper into his throne, though it was clear by the agitated tapping of his talons that something was on his mind.
“Tell me, Azura. If you suspected that someone important to you may be headed down a path of weakness and potential self destruction, would you intervene? Or would you step back and allow fate to take its course?”
“To be honest, it depends on the person you’re talking about. If you’ve tried and tried again to make them snap out of it and still wouldn’t listen, then they need to suffer the consequences of their own actions and learn that it was bad for them the hard way.”
“Sounds harsh but hey, you do what you gotta do.”
“For the sake of argument, let us say that the fool in the scenario is your own alternate self. Would that change anything?”
After that mishap with the Beast losing track of Azura and being unable to locate her himself, Aku was happy to see that she had returned all on her own.
“THERE YOU ARE!”
Aku, in his excitement, sometimes forgot how loud and terrifying he could be.
“Yes! The Beast told me he’d lost you. But now that you are back, I won’t have to ANNIHILATE him.”
“Annihilate? Surely you can’t have been worried for me that much.”
“If you really want this bickering to end, I propose that you apologize to your other self for your teasing and never speak of his obvious jealousy ever again. No matter how much you want to rub your victory all over his face.”
Aku leaned on his elbow and gave silent consideration to her words. It was true that hostile words were getting them nowhere. Perhaps it was time to change his approach.
“Mmmhhhh… Very well. But expect no apologies.”
He sighed then and sank deeper into his throne, though it was clear by the agitated tapping of his talons that something was on his mind.
“Tell me, Azura. If you suspected that someone important to you may be headed down a path of weakness and potential self destruction, would you intervene? Or would you step back and allow fate to take its course?”
The Shogun of Sorrow 