Aureliaâs gaze darkened. She knew her past would creep up to haunt her, but at this rate, sheâd come to terms if Xavier and the rest of the Vales come after her. âIâm aware that it doesnât erase at all, if anything our past shapes us.â Acceptance. Sheâd accepted her fate should her past resurface in present time. Biting down on her tongue hard, Aurelia knew she had to choose her words carefully. However, the underlying threat to his statement meant that although she may not be the target, those around her will. Whether that be her family, the Academy, or a mere innocent civilianâŚThe blood will fall unto her hands. âTaking the easy way out wonât do.â she flatly replied. However, there was a switch in her demeanour as her tone held no remorse. âYou have no business, nor right to harm period and that especially applies to those around me. Even if it kills me, I wonât let you try.â
The more Kazunari spoke, the more anger Aurelia felt. In truth, a storm was beginning to brew as dark clouds slowly rolled in. However, she refused to break first. She had too much pride in herself to do so. âSo the easiest solution is to group all of us as the problem? Thatâs fucking absurd. Not everyone causes damage, nor casualties. Weâre not all at fault!â Was there even a point in wasting her breath? Kazu seemed to have made up his mind and as the Director of SHOT he had his purpose and agenda to follow. âThe City is supposed to be a haven for our kind. You canât just assume that we all wanted the casualties to occur! Eliminating all of us would be considered a genocide. Youâre no better than those despicable people that caused atrocities throughout history. There are many victims at stake here too!â All she could think of was her students at that momentâŚShe gave them hope that they could be who they are without having to worry about the consequences. Now it was all a lie.
Aurelia fell silent and stared at Kazunari without any emotion. That was thing, he can use the human card to get away with it. However, she begged to differ. âWe never had a choice. Many of us were born into our abilities, some inherited, some gained and paid the priceâwe all have our reasons. Those assholes you listed, doesnât speak for everyone here.â She then gestured a wave as a gust of wind flew past them, âBut by all means, go on ahead and continue being a bunch of hypocritical fucks. We wonât back down to your prejudices.âÂ
"It shapes us. Â Hmm ...," Kazunari said, looking past Aurelia. Â A glossy veil shielded his eyes as he had the far-off expression come through him. Â He sighed, "Not willingly sometimes." Â The bite in her words came at him, caught him by surprise but it made him excited. Â Threats were only fun if the people who gave them to him would follow up with them. Â "I've not harmed anyone," he said calmly, "You don't need to resort to violence to win. Â You need to be a little smarter than that. Â Like I said, I'm interested in fighting you right now but I will hit you where it hurts. Â Not physically."
As the dark clouds came in, Kazunari smiled. Â There was a dark hue that appeared around him. Â The hue darkened, deepening as the clouds ushered int the darkness. Â With the storm starting to brew, Kazunari remained at peace as an excited calmness echoed in his expression. Â "People always say the most when they're angry," he calmly said. Â He closed his eyes as she continued to preach about what the city was supposed to be. Â "Not just that, but the angrier someone is, the less likely they are to listen to the opposition."
Kazunari stared at her and started to laugh. Â He looked at her and shook his head. Â "You speak as if you know all the truths," he started. Â The darkness that surrounded him grew, wrapping around him. Â "What of those who were affected by the people with powers? Â Not the ones physically harmed by your so-called heroes. Â The ones who were born without powers," his expression shifted, stretching into a sinister one. Â The shadow that had wrapped itself around his grew, basking him in it as it seemingly grew into a tangible form. Â "Or the ones who lived where your heroes fought a great battle, destroying their homes and leaving everyone in the city destitute? Â The ones who were sold to scientists trying to discover a way to tap into the mutant genes?" Â He started to cackle as he pressed his hand against his face, covering it, "Or the ones who were tortured by scientists fascinated by mutants and their genetic prowess? Â Five years old and subjected to endless tortures until they left him for death ...," Kazunari started to cackle, laughing the pitiful story.
The darkness around him shielded him from the gust of wind that flew past them. Â The darkness transformed, became a tangible being attached to Kazunari. Â It hovered above him, shaped like a giant raven with its wings outstretched to shield him.
"I know that feeling all too well. Â Not wanting this life and yet, you've been trapped in it," he said. Â "But it's alright, it's alright. Â We're okay because, because, because ...," he smiled, "Dark Shadow is my friend."