Post "The Big C Part 1"

[the_innocent_blade]

[1]

(Dated to immediately after the mission/Somewhat locked to people on the mission )

[Well Al Azif just turned into hundreds of pages in front of Kurou. Thankfully the pages eventually reformed into the shape of a regular book but...that was it. It was just a regular book.. No matter how what he did it remained that way. Not responding, not snapping back at him, not telling him he was an idiot. Nothing.

The former Master of Necronomicon slammed his fist into the floor before picking up the pistols that were left behind and limping towards the elevator.]

I'll fucking destroy them all.

[Someone might want to talk some sense into him]

[2] [Dated a bit later, after the White Chalice has found it's way to the Hadou's secret underground base.]

[Sometime later Kurou could be found in the Hadou Library holding what remained of Al. It seems like he was trying to look for something, some way of restoring her. Anything.]

Comments

1

[stardreadnought]

[There's now someone standing in your way, and she looks pretty serious.]

Stop right there.

Re: 1

[the_innocent_blade]

Nanoha...

[This should have been a nice reunion but...]

Don't get in my way.

[stardreadnought]

[She's not budging though. Even if she was her younger self, she'd do the same, and you know it.]

Then, once you're out there, what do you plan to do?

Without magic, you can't use Demonbane. The enemy is formidable too.

[the_innocent_blade]

Shut up!

[He snaps at her without thinking.]

So what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and do nothing!? Al...Al sacrificed herself to save my worthless ass. How could I live with myself if I didn't try to fight?

[stardreadnought]

[That earns you a good slap, Kurou. Nanoha is having none of that 'I'm worthless' crap.]

...I'm not saying that you shouldn't fight, Kurou-san.

She was your trusted partner, wasn't she...? If she believed in you enough to do that, then surely, there's something you can still do.

But it's not that time yet. First, your injuries need to be treated. You should take that time to cool off a little too.

[the_innocent_blade]

[Well, that stops him in his tracks.]

...you're right.

[Thank god Nanoha, you've slapped some sense into him. Literally. Conveniently a Hadou Medic comes up to direct him to an infirmary. He gives Nanoha a small nod of thanks before following the medic down a hallway.]

[stardreadnought]

[And she'll watch quietly as you depart, Kurou, but not before returning that nod.

Now she knows one thing for sure: if that's the case, this isn't over yet- not by a long shot.]

1

[fermionprincess]

Sir Kurou Daijuuji! I must insist on not acting on thoughtless impulse alone!

[the_innocent_blade]

I've put plenty of thought into how I'm going to kill them.

[Yes he's just being an immature brat now.]

[fermionprincess]

A sentiment I cannot entirely disagree with.

But pray tell, what do you hope to achieve? Other than join the previous companion of lady Al Azif in the afterlife, that is.

[the_innocent_blade]

If I can kill one of those bastards before that happens I'll be satisfied.

[fermionprincess]

One vile person for a noble one? That is a rather poor trade, is it not? After all, the former are much more numerous.

[the_innocent_blade]

And what should I do instead? I can't pilot Demonbane anymore Princess. I'm just a third-rate detective now. That trade is the only one I could possibly make now.

[fermionprincess]

Need I remind you that no one else possesses the ability to pilot Demonbane as well? Yet, we act with more self-preservation than to charge at the enemy on foot, mere handguns in, well, hands.

[the_innocent_blade]

Did you just lose your partner? Did you just have to watch people you care about get killed in front of you without being able to do a god damned thing about it!?

Excuse me for being a bit more pissed about this than the rest of you are.

[fermionprincess]

Sir Kurou?

[Alessandra looks really nice and friendly as she inches closer. So unlike herself, not suspicious at all.]

[the_innocent_blade]

What, got nothing else to say now?

[Full asshole mode initiated.]

[fermionprincess]

[In a practiced movement tempered by many years of House Conseneco training, an armored fist lauches itself at your gut!

Such are applied physics in practice!]

You are such a titanic fool!

[the_innocent_blade]

[That fist completely stops Kurou from moving and speaking.]

[fermionprincess]

Is it your honest belief to think that no one, especially yours truly, experienced the pains of close personal loss? This sensation is very familiar to me!

Your current feelings are likewise far from alien, which is why I have decided to take action, stop yourself from doing something terribly stupid.

[the_innocent_blade]

It isn't, but you know it just happened to me. It wasn't just Al either...

[He finally calms down a bit.]

I know it's stupid but I just...I just want to be able to do something.

[fermionprincess]

You are not alone in this sentiment. Let us create a plan of action - together.

2

[gift_of_magus]

[Eibon doesn't announce her presence with words, but Kurou can feel her arrive. The feeling is like a bunch of snow being packed around his heart.

She's not happy, to say the least.]

Re: 2

[the_innocent_blade]

[Yeah he was expecting this. He placed what remained of Al onto a desk for Eibon to see. Not saying a word.]

Re: 2

[gift_of_magus]

You...You...

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!

Re: 2

[the_innocent_blade]

I do. I realized that when she died in front of me.

Re: 2

[gift_of_magus]

You say that, but I don't think you can. You haven't been alive long enough to see entire civilizations crumble. You haven't seen an entire family line wiped out by time while you watch.

You just lost us our most powerful weapon, one thousand years of history, and the last memorial to of dozens of heroes.

[the_innocent_blade]

I've been through more than enough with Al to realize that Eibon.

Believe it or not, she was more than just that to me.

[gift_of_magus]

What do you think she was to me?!

[the_innocent_blade]

Someone extremely precious to you.

Who's death I caused...

[gift_of_magus]

Correct.

Al is...was a priceless relic and a weapon without peer, but...I opened my heart to her.

I do not do that often.

...I hope that you can begin to grasp the tiniest iota of the sheer magnitude of your failure.

1

[2000_skills]

Hold it, you're just gonna get yourself killed if you go out there like this now.

1

[chozo_girl]

[Okay, Kurou, you face a problem. The exit door is blocked. Mostly because there's a huge woman standing in the doorway with an air of finality to her. Getting through here may take some doing]

[the_innocent_blade]

Get out of my way.

[Even against the overwhelming aura coming from Samus Kurou doesn't back down.]

[chozo_girl]

No.

[the_innocent_blade]

[Well then, he's going to try to walk past you Samus.]

[chozo_girl]

[A single hand raises and grabs your head before you get past. You might as well have gotten your head in an industrial vise]

Stop.

[the_innocent_blade]

[Despite that Kurou throws his full weight forward in a pathetic attempt to try to get through Samus. This wasn't helping his injuries at all.]

[chozo_girl]

[Samus simply keeps him at bay with a hand on his face and skull, that squeezes somewhat painfully. And through the fingers he can see the crystal eyes of Samus looking at him straight with no mercy]

She decided that you continuing to live was worth more to her than her own life.

If you so desire to spit on her hopes and desires, however, I can kill you right now.

[the_innocent_blade]

[That shuts him down.]

1

[saikyocivrobo]

Damnit, Kurou, nein! Al sacrificed herself to get us all out of that mess! Are you going to ignore that and just waltz straight in again?

[the_innocent_blade]

I can't just sit here and lick my wounds while those bastards are still up there!

[saikyocivrobo]

So you will get yourself killed instead? You can't avenge anyone if you're dead!

[the_innocent_blade]

If I can just take one of them with me it'll be worth it.

[saikyocivrobo]

What are you smoking? That "if" won't happen! And even if it will happen, it won't be worth it!

We can get all of them. But to do that, I need you ALIVE. I've seen one Demonbane pilot too many sacrifice his life needlessly.

Technically it's the same life

[the_innocent_blade]

...you're right.

[Well Kurou seems to have been successfully talked down. He still slams his fist into a nearby wall though.]

It pisses me off...but you're right.

[saikyocivrobo]

Yeah. Don't let rash decisions cloud your mind. You're a scholar. Mage. Whatever.

I know it's hard. It pains me too, and for me Al was just someone I knew. But for you... I'm sorry.