blocked.

Amber shrugged, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her lips pulled into a grin as she looked over at Kazunari. He was right. All of the evidence is on her …if it didn’t explode. With the full strength of her inventions, Amber knew better than leave them without a failsafe plan. Especially when people like Kazunari and S.H.O.T. and whatever other threats were out there waiting for a chance like this. The potentially destructive things her creations could do were not something that she would allow to fall into the wrong hands.

“Now,  you’re talking fucking insane,” Amber said as she pointed to him. Her thin silver bangles clicked together as she grinned at him, “Everything that’s on me is something you can find one anyone, man.” She shrugged, shaking her head at him as she said, “Maybe you need to take you head out of your ass and see that I’m not the one trying to cover anything up.” Her eyes sharpened as she looked at Kazunari. S.H.O.T. never sat well with the scientist. 

There was something around Kazunari that Amber did not understand. A power source that trickled into magic, perhaps. Whatever it was, Amber hated not knowing. Amber shrugged and looked at him with a grin, “I’m not the one make threats but fuckin’ come at me, bro.”

Kazunari stared at Amber and said, “Liars are the most wonderful storytellers.”  Then he clapped his hands together and said, “I’m tired of your stories, Dr. Rhee.  Please, provide me with something more interesting.”

Ceres Centropolis welcomed many people that should not be among them.  After all, people like Amber Rhee from a broken dimension had made a home here.  Her looked over at Amber and smiled, “You keep calling me insane, but aren’t you the mad scientist?  I doubt that anything on you is ordinary.”  He wasn’t wrong to assume that the items on Amber were plenty of her own creations.  He expected someone as seasoned as her to cover up her trails, after all.

This kid was precious and Julienne wanted her to know. She gave a final pinch before letting Ophelia go. “You’re so fucking adorable, but wow, you’ve grown. I don’t remember you looking this tall or… like an adult.” She tried to remember if they met while she was in this vessel or if it was during one of her exciting adventures on the spiritual plane. She sighed and then turned Ophelia around. “Oh yeah, you’re definitely not a little baby anymore. Julienne approves of you, Ophelia… but why are you here?” She started to frown. “Are you planning to submerge something? Because if so, I have a request for you to not do that.” 

"Because I don’t want to talk about it! Who the hell wants to hear about an orphan’s shitty story?” Felicity started yelling at Ophelia. She had never been good at dealing with her emotions or with people. The only thing that she ever formally did completely was joining the military and it wasn’t like they taught people how to handle their feelings well. “Tell me! Do you want to hear about how a mother can’t even be bothered to name her kids or even take care of them? Or should we talk about how relieved I was to be without parents? Oh, do you want to know about how I even met Mae? Let’s start with how I tried stealing from her because that was the only thing I could think of doing.”

Her eyes were burning and it felt like someone was taking sandpaper to the back of them.  She started to rub them and in her anger and in her consternation of the whole situation, she didn’t realize that tears were falling down her cheeks. “In my sick, little fucking kid brain, I thought that if I stole this thing at least my little sister would have food when she comes back from the market, but you know what? She was gone, I lost her. She wasn’t coming back because she probably died in a ditch while I was sick out of my damned mind.” Felicity scoffed. “I fucked up. What else do you want from me?” She wiped her face, trying to clear it of her tears and the rain. She knew that she was getting too emotional, but that’s what sometimes happened when Ophelia came around. 

"It's stupid.  Ophelia thinks you're stupid," the child of water said.  She shook her head and said, "For you to think that you're only person who has suffered like that, it's stupid."  All of their siblings that Mae adopted had suffered before the dragon found them, Ophelia included.  For all of the rain that followed her, Ophelia couldn't remember when it started, let alone why it even began.  What she could remember was that one day, she woke up as usual and there was no one there;  her family disappeared, washed away in the constant rainfall that followed her wherever she went.  "You're not that only who has ever lost those that they care about or has ever been abandoned," Ophelia said.

Ophelia knew Felicity's story wasn't one that held much happiness.  she always thought that Mae had a tendency of finding those that needed help and giving them their chances;  she owed her life to the Dragon.  She looked at Felicity and said, "You carried that guilt through your life when it wasn't even your fault.  You didn't lose her but you swear like you did."  Ophelia's eyes went down.  That guilt was one that she had carried herself.  When you're young and the world made no sense, it was easier to internalize the blame and play the constant game of "If I did this, then this would have happened" or "Maybe if I didn't do this, then things would have worked out";  it was always easier to carry the blame when you only knew your details.  She looked at Felicity, "Ophelia didn't have a name.  Not until Mae came and made the rain go away."  She looked backed up to her, "That's why Ophelia loves her name because it means she was given a second chance to fix the situation she was in and make it better."  

“I heard you, loud and clear.” she stated flatly. If a war was something he wanted, then a war was something he’ll get on her end. She wouldn’t bring the people she’d care about in it, in fact she’d do the exact opposite and handle it herself. Now that Angeline opened her eyes to what she was capable of doing, she wasn’t afraid of showing her true identity. “Clearly, you’re delusional.” Did this Director not see the havoc he had caused on the many different beings that were out there? Then again, she was practically talking to a brick wall as he wasn’t going to own up to his doings.

It was moments like this where Aurelia wished she didn’t have the Director title to her name. She would have just went in for the kill if she could. “Fair enough, but to be frank the opposition isn’t worth listening to.” She carefully watched as darkness began to seep through out of nowhere. Something about his aura didn’t settle well with the Director of the Academy and a part of her knew that she was bound to see a side of him that she wouldn’t expect to see. 

She remained silent as he spoke, but it was his final form that caused her to hold her breath and put her defences up. “Those are valid points.” she began to say. “But you’d be naive to think everyone has a fair chance at life. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but life has the tendency to not be fair.” She then glanced up at the sky and cleared away the clouds as she allowed the sun to shine through. Her only logic behind all this was to fight darkness with light, it was a shitty attempt, but she had to try. “There are other ways to go about this, but revenge isn’t one of them. Take the Academy for example, it’s there to assist with those who need help with their abilities, to prevent such destruction and chaos that ensues from someone who can’t control it. There are resources, there are people who could help!” 

She took a step back and summoned a wall of flames that surrounded her. She couldn’t take a chance as she kept her distance. “If that ability of yours is considered as your friend. Then what gives you the right to live? When it does the exact same destruction that you’d point out.” She needed to get out of here fast as she looked around for her exit points. She played fire with fire and here she was ending up with the consequence, but she wasn’t the type to back down from a fight. 

"Again, you should take that up with your government," Kazunari said with a short shrug.  He let out a breath and said, "They're the one who pushed us into this current position, I hope you know.  We weren't actively pursuing and detaining.  Not until the government put us on their payroll and upped their ante."  In fact, S.H.O.T.'s purpose had been skewed the moment that the Elementalists' strike kicked off in the United States.  Though, it was easier to manipulate the direction that the agency had been aimed at after that.  Confusion always was a good mask for manipulation.

People in Ceres Centropolis were annoying.  Kazunari felt the itch in the back of his head;  he rose his hand to scratch it as he winced.  He shook his head slowly as the darkness around him became tangible.  It flowed from out of him and rose around himself, tightening its wings around him.  From where Kazunari stood, it felt like there was static everywhere.  He could hear the white noise filter through, shuffle through him he felt himself grow tired.  "You talk too much," Kazunari decided, "You talk too much about things that haven't changed anything."

Kazunari's eyes narrowed at the wall of flames she summoned.  Elements.  His eyes moved from the wall of flames over to Aurelia as he made a quiet clicking noise  He frowned as the dark wings that wrapped around him opened.  This brush of darkness that surrounded him had taken the full form of a large raven perched upon his shoulder.  Its eyes were blank, completely hollow.

"Dark Shadow isn't my ability.  I told you, Dark Shadow is a friend," Kazunari repeated with a stronger tone.  "I haven't done anything in your city," Kazunari replied, "The S.H.O.T. agents in the city are acting as the will of your government.  To blame me for their actions is the same as your continual prodding of people blaming all powered users for what the Elementalists have done."  He chuckled and looked at Aurelia, "The people in Ceres Centropolis are blinded.  You live here in your freedom to do as you please, but you're living in a bubble.  The world is on edge because of what goes on outside of Ceres Centropolis.  You live in a sanctuary but don't consider the effects outside of here."

Amber knew her crimes and for the ones that she couldn’t remember, she had it saved somewhere in her labs. The problem with people who knew too much was that she couldn’t gauge what he wanted to do. Not right away.

“They’re lessons that we can all learn from,” Amber said. If there was one thing that she knew, it was not to ever let someone know that she was scared or nervous. Especially a man like Kazunari Urameshi. If she showed any sign of weakness, it would lead to trouble for her. “Besides, you have no evidence on what I have or have not done,” she replied and then shrugged at him, “So, you don’t even have the grounds to arrest me.”

If he was human, then there was something else with him. It had to be magic related. There was no other explanation. The scientist eyed him slowly. Humans were the most dangerous. She based this on the countless atrocities that she has done and has continued to do; humans had an awful ability to scratch that itch in the back of their mind and they will not stop until it has been scratched. 

“I don’t care about you,” Amber said with a simple shrug as she stepped away from him. She threw her shoulders into an up and down motion as she started to walk away. “If you throw force, don’t be surprised in if I throw right back to you, Urameshi.”

Despite all of the things that people have said about him, Kazunari thought that he himself was a pleasant person.  He never shouted, never yelled and most of all, he liked sweets the most - this, of course, was his own decision and was incredibly wrong.  The man lived in his mind so often that sometimes, what went on his mind crossed into reality and reality stabbed into his own thoughts.  Amber was starting to annoy him.

"The evidence is on you," Kazunari said calmly as he pointed at Amber.  His finger moved from her then aimed at her glasses and then over to her bracelets.  "You carry the evidence on you constantly," he lowered his finger and then shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not the one who has an arrest warrant out for you, Dr. Rhee.  You and I both know that it's a higher power that has you labeled as one of the most dangerous humans.  Even if you pretend that you aren't."  The law was only wonderful if it worked in his favor.  This time around, Amber's criminal past was something that lined up with what he wanted.  He smiled at her, "I wonder what you're trying to cover up now."

Everyone always resorted to force or violence.  The people in this city were starting to get too bold, in his honest opinion.  People with this much power running around without so much as care - that was dangerous.  Someone could end the world in the snap of their fingers and somehow, people are alrigh with that?  Kazunari shook his head.  People were fools.

jackson hated when someone came up that he couldn’t read.  this man was someone who he couldn’t get a grasp on.  usually, men in power had so much pride that jackson could easily poison their thinking - the sin of pride reveled in his power, enjoying the perks that came with poisoning someone’s pride.  however, the longer he stood in front of kazunari, the more he realized that this man’s pride did not belong to him.

“you make many threats,” jackson grinned at him, “you should make a note not to make threats as a public figure.”  the way the public consumed your identity was one that dictated how easily things would go for them.  at the moment, it seemed that s.h.o.t. was having a much more challenging time than most people were.  it seemed that that jackson’s opinion met with the rest of ceres centropolis’.  for once.  “just as you said,” jackson nodded, “i’m not someone you want to challenge either, kazunari urameshi.”  in this case, jackson would need to battle kazunari without physical connection - it would need to be legally.  

lectures from people who weren’t as inexperienced as him irritated him.  especially when these people were the mouthpiece of something jackson could barely grasp.  pride could sense it.  the darkness that came with this man.  as kazunari neared him and threatened him, jackson could feel it.  his eyes sharpened, glaring at the man as he said, “if you want a war, you need to check your army because i’m not one you can defeat just as yourself.”

"But a public figure such as yourself should be prepared for threats," Kazunari replied to the CEO.  He stared at him, blinking slowly as his smile widened.  "You recieve more threats than I alone could make.  I'm sure you've gotten the publicity training for it."

Challenges, like the one Jackson Knight just announced, were Kazunari's favorites.  A declaration of war like this was all he needed to spark the flame.  Pushing people's buttons to the point that they become what they hate was something Kazunari enjoyed.  There was something entertaining in the way their eyes flared with hope, that faint glint of courage - Kazunari enjoyed diminishing the flame.  He smiled, "I'm not the one who declared the challenge, Jackson Knight, but I will rise to it."

"I think I fake things just enough, Ophelia, and I’m perfectly fine with how well I can do it. If I’m a machine, lies keep me oiled, you slug.” Felicity smirked and then copied the rain woman. She shook her head and crossed her arms. “She was my legal Guardian, but I will never call her my mother… She doesn’t deserve that title and I don’t think you’d get it.” She wasn’t exactly the sharpest, but certain words meant more to her than others. She could see why Ophelia warmly called Mae her mother, but Felicity couldn’t bring herself to compare the dragon to the woman who had given birth to her. “You’re a witch, slug.” She said, quickly moving from her bad memories. “I’m not asking you to understand me, but I’m getting tired of this whole miscommunication thing. I was happy before you all decided to show up. I have a house with my girlfriend and I’m in a fancy job… It was great, but now I have to worry about you all accidentally ruining all that.

Every time this man spoke, he had this ability to twist whatever was said to suit him.  Brett did not like that.  It was dangerous.

Brett stood quietly, letting Kazunari change the narrative to suit his telling.  It was strange.  The more Kazunari spoke, the less Brett believed that this was his own words, own ideologies;  despite what Kazunari said, none of his words made sense.  This left Brett with the challenge:  how do you convince a man so deep-rooted in his skewed mentality that he was wrong?  As the new Director of the Inner Sanctum, this was something he needed to figure out and fast.  If he was going to rebuild the organization in the way he wanted to, he needed to handle this quickly.

"What caused you to think like this?” Brett asked.  He stepped out of line, shuffled past them and went through the other side of Kazunari.  At the moment, he wasn’t sure of what was going to happen or what Kazunari would do.  What he did know was he needed to distance both of them from the people.  With the tensions rising between them, he knew the people in line were starting to take notice.  From where he moved, his gazed hardened into a glare.  "Even you would react to the provocation your team has been producing, Urameshi,“ Brett said.  "I’m not going to ask what your purpose is again because I already know you’re not going to give me a straight answer.  What I will do is tell you to leave the people alone.”

“A lot of things have happened,” Kazunari said in response to Brett’s question.  “Life is weird but it happens the way it’s supposed to.”  Many people claimed that things happened for a reason.  At first, Kazunari questioned that with every fiber of his body - he argued with it, claiming that things don’t happen for a reason.  Yet, somehow, when he met Dark Shadow, he decided that things did happen for a reason.  Yes, they were supposed to meet.  We are a team.  They became a strong team.  Yes, a strong one.

Everyone was so demanding in the city.  This wasn’t the first person that Kazunari met who demanded that he leave.  The least they could do was ask politely - please and thank you were very helpful.  Not that Kazunari would have told their current operation to leave, but it would have been nice.

Uly liked to think she knew everyone who visited her bookstore on at least a semi-regular basis. Their faces took up space in her already far too crowded storage of memories, but she never forgot them. Something about keeping memories of people made her feel more.. normal. A human library of experiences and engagements. She did not recognize the boy who wandered into the store eating marshmallows.

“Darkness?” She inquired with a curious raise of the eyebrow. Such a strange question and yet… he looked so sure of it. Something at the back of her mind itched, though she ignored it for the moment. “What kind?” For there were many. On far too many occasions, Uly had assumed the person she was talking to was hoping for incredibly rare texts when in reality they just wanted something… simple.

“I’ve got some old children’s books with pictures…” She mused, though she doubted that was what he wanted. As she stood, she mentally scanned her catalogue before shrugging, “There’s a few information texts on the void. They have some pictures.” With a scratch of her head she shrugged again, “A few overly romanticized texts about the early creation gods and goddesses… there’s one devoted to light and dark. Maybe that one?” 

In truth, Uly was usually very good at reading people’s interests. This man, however, she couldn’t quite place.

“Hmmm ...,” Kazunari stretched the word out as he listened to her ask her questions.  He rest his elbow on the nearby counter as he slumped the side of his head against his shoulder.  “You know, I’m looking for information on what makes The Darkness stronger,” he said.  In the back of his mind, he could hear Dark Shadow reprimanding him for not being clever enough to ask the right questions;  all Kazunari could do was shrug and profusely apologize, promising to be better at this next time he wandered into a bookstore.

As she suggested children’s books, Kazunari’s eyes narrowed at her for a moment.  He rose an eyebrow slowly and shook his head, “No, I don’t need children’s books.  I’m not allowed to have children.”  With the state of the world as it was, Kazunari had decided that he would never bring a child into suffer the same fate as he did.  He needed to fix the world before he could think of ever bringing a child in.  

Aurelia’s gaze darkened. She knew her past would creep up to haunt her, but at this rate, she’d come to terms if Xavier and the rest of the Vales come after her. “I’m aware that it doesn’t erase at all, if anything our past shapes us.” Acceptance. She’d 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 civilian…The blood will fall unto her hands. “Taking the easy way out won’t do.” she flatly replied. However, there was a switch in her demeanour as her tone held no remorse. “You have no business, nor right to harm period and that especially applies to those around me. Even if it kills me, I won’t let you try.”

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. “So the easiest solution is to group all of us as the problem? That’s fucking absurd. Not everyone causes damage, nor casualties. We’re not all at fault!” 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. “The City is supposed to be a haven for our kind. You can’t just assume that we all wanted the casualties to occur! Eliminating all of us would be considered a genocide. You’re no better than those despicable people that caused atrocities throughout history. There are many victims at stake here too!” All she could think of was her students at that moment…She 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. “We never had a choice. Many of us were born into our abilities, some inherited, some gained and paid the price—we all have our reasons. Those assholes you listed, doesn’t speak for everyone here.” She then gestured a wave as a gust of wind flew past them, “But by all means, go on ahead and continue being a bunch of hypocritical fucks. We won’t back down to your prejudices.” 

"It shapes us.  Hmm ...," Kazunari said, looking past Aurelia.  A glossy veil shielded his eyes as he had the far-off expression come through him.  He sighed, "Not willingly sometimes."  The bite in her words came at him, caught him by surprise but it made him excited.  Threats were only fun if the people who gave them to him would follow up with them.  "I've not harmed anyone," he said calmly, "You don't need to resort to violence to win.  You need to be a little smarter than that.  Like I said, I'm interested in fighting you right now but I will hit you where it hurts.  Not physically."

As the dark clouds came in, Kazunari smiled.  There was a dark hue that appeared around him.  The hue darkened, deepening as the clouds ushered int the darkness.  With the storm starting to brew, Kazunari remained at peace as an excited calmness echoed in his expression.  "People always say the most when they're angry," he calmly said.  He closed his eyes as she continued to preach about what the city was supposed to be.  "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.  He looked at her and shook his head.  "You speak as if you know all the truths," he started.  The darkness that surrounded him grew, wrapping around him.  "What of those who were affected by the people with powers?  Not the ones physically harmed by your so-called heroes.  The ones who were born without powers," his expression shifted, stretching into a sinister one.  The shadow that had wrapped itself around his grew, basking him in it as it seemingly grew into a tangible form.  "Or the ones who lived where your heroes fought a great battle, destroying their homes and leaving everyone in the city destitute?  The ones who were sold to scientists trying to discover a way to tap into the mutant genes?"  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?  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.  The darkness transformed, became a tangible being attached to Kazunari.  It hovered above him, shaped like a giant raven with its wings outstretched to shield him.

the man’s childish nature made the darkness that lay within him seem completely unbelievable.  though, if mickey was completely honest, it made this man even more fearsome and more terrifying than most people could even begin to understand.

"ah, well, i guess i will have to learn to cope with your strong dislike,” mickey replied to the man.  he stayed quiet as kazunari rambled on, ranting about the responsiblity of those with powers before he rose an eyebrow at him.  "that’s quite a statement,“ mickey said as he nodded at kazunari, "considering the amount of damage that shot had done could easily match whatever damage these other groups have done.  if not more.”  those who were immersed in their thinking, especially when bolstered by those around them, were difficult to show the truth to.  that stubbornness was going to be a hard factor to overcome.  he looked over to the man and simply asked, “what of the organization you affliate yourself with?  are they not simply doing as they please with no regard toward the law?

the mention of excalibur caused tension to run through mickey’s body, stiffening him to the the point of freezing.  his family had been the duty and task of protecting excalibur from all threats, despite excalibur being strong enough to retaliate against them.  he knew many people who wanted to take that weapon from him but it was hidden, constantly moving and always protected.  how did kazunari know?

"excalibur?” mickey smirked, letting out a short laugh as he did.  he shook his head, then tilted it to the side for a moment when said, “now, what on earth could someone like you possible want with excalibur?

"Everyone keeps bringing up the damage that S.H.O.T. has done," Kazu said with a sigh, "And yet you keep ignoring that these heroes and villains and what-have-you are also rampaging around the city.  No one gets mad at their damages or the troubles that they have caused."

Heroes were a particular brand of powered people that he thought were the worst.  They could be just as bad as the villains people thought were vile - actually, he thought they were the worst.  He looked over to Mickey and sighed, "See, Michael, you're twisting the words to suit your perspective.  S.H.O.T. is doing what we were employed to do - detain and capture those with powers who are immenient threats to society and its people.  We're within our rights."  He smiled and pointed out, "We've got the paperwork and everything.  I even have a badge, Michael."

Excalibur was a thing of stories - a tall tale that Kazunari hadn't believed, until it was proven to be real.  It took a great deal of research, of combing it out and digging through everything that he could.  It seemed that the world they lived in liked to make things of imagination come to life.

Billie had something to say but the moment Ophelia revealed that she did not have friends for a Galentine’s day party, the teenager recoiled into silence.  She looked at the woman in front of her, suddenly realizing that there was a hint of loneliness in the way she spoke.  “Oh, Galentine’s day is just when you hang out with your girl friends and treat each other to food, fun and sometimes gifts.  Just a day to show extra appreciation for your girls,” Billie said, “I mean, you show it on the regular but you can a lil’sum-sumthing on Galentine’s.”  She looked at Ophelia and smiled, “How about you come hang out with me on Galentine’s?  I can introduce you to my friends.”  Billie never had a problem making friends.  Her personality was too strong to ignore.  Moments like this made her realize how fortunate she was.

“Noooo …,” Billie said covering face the way Anh usually did.  She felt herself grow flustered - her face went warm as color seeped into her cheeks.  “Okay, fine.  I do like someone.  But it’s not like … official?  I mean, I want it to be but ahhhh …no.  We’re not discussing this.”

Ophelia stared at Billie happily and excitedly.  The expression of joy, glee and bewilderment painted itself on the girl's face.  She pressed her hands upon her cheeks as if to check if this was all real - it was, she wasn't just daydreaming.  "Oh, Ophelia is ever so happy that you have made this offer to her," she said, pressing her hands against her cheeks, "Ophelia is so happy that she could cry."  There were the traces of tears forming in her eyes, readying plunge as she sniffled.  "Ophelia will bring presents for everyone who is going," she decided.  She didn't know them but if they were as kind as Billie was, she knew she would love them greatly.

Brett swore that the way this man spoke had such unspoken malice and ill-intent in his words.  Kazunari said many words, but there was a darkness in them that Brett swore he could feel - it radiated off the man.  

When Kazunari turned to face him, Brett took a step back to widen the distance between the two of them.  He blinked a few moments, staring at him as he spoke of truth and misconstruction.  If anyone in the entire city was suspicious, itwould be the man that stood in front of him.  Brett turned to watch Kazunari moved from the line and into the shade.  Maybe it was his eyes, but something about Kazunari made the shade seem darker, more tangible.  Something was definitely wrong about this man.

"You claim this but you’re making judgments based on nothing,” Brett said, “You can’t claim that you know people would misconstrue your truths.”  Though judging from their conversation, Brett wondered just what this man’s truths were.  He knew he shouldn’t expect much from the Deputy Director of S.H.O.T., but people were never what he assumed.  He was about to start the rebuttal, but Kazunari threw back questions that caught Brett off-guard.

When responsibility was spoken of, Brett looked at Kazunari.  "What about the damages that S.H.O.T. has created?  Not just the physical damages,“ Brett started.  He felt his voice raise and he took a breath to calm himself down, "The psychological toll that S.H.O.T. has taken is far greater than the damages that you’re speaking of.”  Those raids had taken down some fine establishments and harmed too many younger mutants.  "Your agents are using intimidation to provoke,“ Brett accused him, "With the way your group is prancing around the city, targeting unsuspecting people, you’re the ones who are provoking people.”

People have said that time heals all wounds, but Kazunari knew that was a lie.  There were things that happened that could never be erased;  memories that were painfully etched into his skin that would bleed its resurrgence into his mind.  The ghosts of the past were impossible to escape when all he could do was stare at them.

"You see," Kazunari said as he looked at Brett, "I haven't even said anything about my perspective and my ideologies, yet ...," he moved his hands in front of him toward Brett.  This was typical and something Kazunari expected.  Opposition always came from those who thought their beliefs were correct - Kazunari was someone who, often times, fell victim to that belief.  However, he was thankful for Dark shadow - the beast always managed to help set him back on track and stop him from straying into their truest goal.  He smiled at Brett, "It's alright.  I forgive you for being judgmental toward me."

Felicity couldn’t counter Ophelia because the younger woman wasn’t wrong. She acted like a pain in the ass on purpose and she wished that they would just leave her alone. There wasn’t anything wrong with being human, but now she was stuck with this ‘God-touched’ nonsense. She sighed. “Information is important, maybe, but my work deals mostly with how much of it I can fake.” She did most of the counterfeiting work for the Inner Sanctum and then some for those who could find her through darker means. Knowing how things connected was a part of her job, but she turned away from Calloway problems on purpose. “I like to ignore Calloway kids and their mother. I enjoy being human and going to Hell more than your crazy adventures. At least, I don’t have to worry about misplacing people.” She did that once, a long time ago, and it still hurt to this day. 

He knew which dimension she was originally from.

Amber rarely allowed herself to look nervous, but even she couldn’t hide the immediate veil of uncertainty that enveloped her. She frozen, unable to think for a moment as he spoke. The scientist forced herself to clear her throat, to bring herself back to the reality in front of her. This was the Deputy Director of S.H.O.T - she shouldn’t be so surprised that he knew who she really was and where she came from. Her fingers reached for the corner of her glasses, tapping the button to start into a scanner - while it looked like a regular pair of glasses, from Amber’s view it had everything she needed to analyze the man in front of her.

“Under arrest?” Amber laughed as she took a step back. She circled her fingers around her left wrist, then mimicked the movement with her right wrist - she wanted to make sure that those thin silver bangles were still on her at the moment. This was going to turn ugly. It was important to have an escape route, especially one that could warp her out of here immediately. She smiled, “For what reason? I haven’t done anything illegal today. Besides, I have no powers.”

Amber spoke the truth. The woman, no matter how great her achievements were, had always been human. Unlike the man in front of her. The scanner in her glasses picked up that dark hue that started to form around Kazunari. Something was wrong. Her brows furrowed - her scanner couldn’t analyze what it was, just a darkness.

“What the fuck are you?”

Amber Rhee was well-known with the Inter-Dimensonal Police force.  While most people on Earth didn't need to pay attention to the IDP, Kazunari took it upon himself to befriend them and learn of the threats that came to Earth.  Amber Rhee was a name that came up a few times during those meetings and every time, Kazunari wondered when he would meet that infamous scientist.  Never did he think it would be at Ceres Centropolis.

"Do I really need to list our you crimes?" Kazunari said with bored laced in his words.  He looked over at her glasses, leaned forward and waved to her.  His eyes followed her movements, pausing only at the thin silver bangles that rest on her wrists.  As he realized what those bracelets were, his lips stretched into a curious smile.  "I wasn't aware you were someone who was modest about her accomplisments," he said, nodding at her before he paused and said, "Then again, no one really wants to admit their failures.  Especially at the size of yours have been."