"Yes. Payment." She confirms, unperturbed by his grumbles and grief. No one is above the rules. Not even Aku. Though there are many that think they are. Beings far lesser than this yokai even.
Oh.. but that question. It's expected and it's been wished for many times with no one actually able to pay for such a thing. The cost of taking another life is nothing so simple. Nothing cheap, surely not.
She parts her lips for a moment, taking pause, before deciding to go a different path with this particular inquiry. "I will answer you... but first I would like you to tell me what you think the value of a life is worth? One mortal life. Of the billions of humans that dwell in this world alone what does the price of one life, extinguished forevermore, cost? I'm curious as to what you're value of such things would be..."
"Pah!" he scoffs. "My sentience may span but four centuries but I have existed since the dawn of this universe. I have seen the rise and fall of entire galaxies. To one such as I, human life is short and fleeting. They are born, they die, and new ones arise in their place. I see no reason why a single mortal life should be worth little more than a leaf on a tree." What more could be said of mortals? They live briefly and then they die. Well, most of them—the ones who actually do it right. Then there were those like Samurai Jack who failed to accomplish even the simplest thing and that is where the problem lies.
"However. This particular human refuses to wither and die no matter how many times I have tried to destroy him. The fool even refuses to age as humans naturally should. Though I suppose this may have something to do with my casting him into the future and displacing him from his original timeline... Nevertheless! His death is much more valuable to me than his pathetic mortal life."
Still, there's the matter of payment. What was it the witch could want? Why couldn't she just tell him rather than ask pointless questions? Was she trying to suggest to him that one mortal life was worth another life? Aku furrowed his fiery brow as he tried to figure her out, then gave his beard a thoughtful stroke.
"In exchange for your service, I will give you... one of my top 10 slave chefs to serve you whatever your heart desires for the rest of his mortal life." Surely this would suffice. Who would turn down a lifetime of delicious food? "Now then. Back to the matter at hand. How will you bring about the Samurai's untimely demise? I was thinking death-by-lightning-strike should cut it. Or perhaps a misstep at the top of a long flight of stairs. Hit by a car? Chicken pox? Bitten by a mosquito carrying the Malaria virus?" All cheaply mundane yet very valid methods of death and there's plenty more suggestions where that came from!
"How will I bring about the samurai's demise?" She questions before shaking her head. "I will not be. One human life is not worth what you just offered me. This human mortal may be one of many but it is still a life. A life you are deeply entwined with. A life with threads connecting over time now. Do you really think a mortal life is worth what you offered me? And the cost of taking a life, any life, is heavy, heavy enough to crush a person. Meaning that the only proper payment for taking this life is to offer your own in return. Two souls so deeply bound... so vexed at one another's existence. This life that you've come to me to stamp out. Surely this life means more to you than one slave." One of the top ten at that. "No other payment will do than your own life in payment for his."
His offer is hardly balanced. How insulting to this human samurai who has run this yokai in circles for who knows how long.
"You mentioned that humans are nothing more than leaves on a tree. But even leaves serve a purpose. They collect sunlight and convert it into food so that the plant can continue to live. A tree without leaves is one that will surely die. And without a doubt humans are flawed. But then... we all are. Their lives are short so they cherish more. Love harder. Fight more valently. And maybe they will bring about the end of the world. But they will also fight their hardest, harder than I ever could, to prevent it."
She offers the yokai a very small smile. "Every tree needs leaves. One or hundreds. They all serve a purpose. They are not so worthless, I promise you."
As he listens, Aku's face cycles through a range of emotions starting with indignant wide-eyed shock. He raises a clawed finger and his jaws part as if to dispute her claims but no sound comes forth. Finally, he clenches his teeth together along with both fists, eyebrows flickering wildly, until—
"BLARGH!" he utters explosively. As appalling as it all sounds, as much as he wants to disagree, he can't say that his and the Samurai's lives are not intricately intertwined. But this doesn't stop him from fuming openly and with incomprehensible growling sounds. How dare someone point out how the Samurai's life is so important to him! How dare it be suggested that he must give up his own precious existence to erase his foolish mortal foe! How dare...
After his emotional outburst, his growling thankfully dies down to a raspy grumble. To his side he raises a hand and curls his claws in a beckoning motion. A chair, as if of its own accord, drags itself swiftly across the floor to him and the yokai seats himself across from Yuuko. His claws grip the armrests like the talons of a falcon as he shifts about uncomfortably for a moment, then slumps. This time when he speaks, his voice is softer, almost subdued as if he's finally accepted the futility of his situation.
"...I see that my efforts are in vain. The Samurai shall forever be a righteous thorn in my side." His mighty frown hangs like a wet noodle from his face. Ugh, what has his life come to? At least, for once, he was airing his thoughts to someone other than himself, even if she could not help him in any other way.
"Thoughts of him plague my mind night and day. Things I once enjoyed are no longer enjoyable and my days are filled with consternation. It sickens me to realize that my glorious existence has been reduced to these constant worries." Here, a bit of conviction creeps back into his tone. He's not ready to give in and be conquered by his fears just yet. Or ever! "I seek to place my efforts toward something greater, a distraction worthy of my time. Something that will provide me with unending companionship, loyalty and adoration. Or perhaps someone."
Alright. She lowers her head just a bit to hide a faint smile. That's not professional but it's still very funny. Such a strange tantrum. But at least he's not arguing with her or complaining or making even more wild demands. She appreciates that... Even mortal customers can get rather rude and near violent when they can't get their way.
As he sits before her she straightens up, being the attentive professional that she likes to appear as. To see someone like him so crestfallen is quite a sight. He, like her, must be quite lonely. Beings like them are fated to be that way. The long endless years make companionship of most kinds near impossible.
"It is not unwise to focus your attentions elsewhere. Crafting a legacy of a different kind is advisable. If you keep meddling in the affairs of this samurai you are only going to knot yourself tighter and tighter with the strings of fate and find yourself in an inescapable circumstance." She leans back in her chair picking up her pipe once more to craft more swirling smoke in the air. "It sounds like you're looking for a companion. Someone to rule at your side. Or perhaps just be an adorer at your side... It probably won't be hard to manipulate something like that to your whim. Finding the genuine emotion however... that will be much harder."
"Yes, I know," he says slumping deeper into his bladed shoulders. Even his horns give the appearance of drooping.
In all those eons he spent alone in the depths of space, Aku had never once felt a need for companionship. But now that he's been granted the gift (and curse) of sentience by human hands, there's a desire for something more than watching the masses cower before him. A desire for genuine respect and adoration. He had failed miserably in his attempts to endear himself to the younger generations of mortals — it was Jack they adored and lauded as their hero, not him. But perhaps if that younger generation was his own offspring... it would have no choice but to love him.
"A progeny of my own would be ideal," Aku continues without making eye contact. This is pretty personal stuff after all and he's not especially proud to admit he has such feelings. "But alas, my team of scientists have been unsuccessful in their efforts to splice my essence with that of any mortal creature. I am a being of darkness, destruction and discord. Perhaps it's no surprise that life does not spring from my essence."
"A mortal, in theory, would do the trick if they were of great potential be it magical or devine.... perhaps even darkness themselves. Even an immortal lifespan would have to be potent in such things for any sort of growth to take place. But realistically... creating life, at the end of the day, is not so difficult."
Most creatures create. There are few in this world that cannot. And some simply will never have the opportunity.
She thinks on all of this for a few moments pondering just what can be done and at what price. Life is an easier thing to pay for. Death is the one with all the hiccups and taboo restrictions. "Is this your new wish then? If you cannot wish for a life to be taken will you wish for new ones in return? Is that the real reason that you have come?"
"If it can be done then, yes, that is my wish," he answers.
However, Aku's expression remains skeptical. He leans an elbow on the armrest of the chair as he eyes the witch across from him. No doubt she has her own very real mystical powers but that doesn't mean he trusts her not to take him for a fool.
"But there are questions that should not be left unanswered. Firstly, where am I to find an immortal individual of such 'great potential'?" That part of it alone sounds highly improbable. "And furthermore what payment do you seek for this hypothetical wish?"
These are good questions. Questions she can't quite answer just yet.
"Life begets life. The price for creating life is giving life to something else." She offers him a small smile. "There are all sorts of humans in the world. Humans that have self destructive behaviors or are incapable of truly taking care of themselves and can't create a union with another so easily. Sometimes they are given a task. If they can keep the life of something smaller alive they can be given something else. They learn responsibility and care."
She once more set asides her pipe and pushes herself to a stand. "I will be giving you a similar task." She moves silently to some drawers behind her and rummages through them for a moment or two. She returns to him with a velvet satchel and offers it out to him.
"Seeds." She explains. "Grow these seeds if you can. Breathe life and love into them. Show that you are capable of taking care of something. And grow life. In return life will be given to you. That is the payment for getting what you seek. If you properly take care of what grows the answer to who will bare this burden will become clear. For all flowers hold a meaning. And they will give us the answer we need so long as you care for them properly."
It's a simple task, no? But perhaps for someone like Aku it may prove difficult.
"No magic. No cheating with time. Any foul play and they will wither and your hopes with them. You must craft life as humans do. But if you feel yourself above such a menial task I am sure you'll find what you're looking for some other way."
How fortuitous for him that spring is starting to take root and now is the perfect time to start planting! If he needs a place to start this task the garden out back is perfect. She can also keep an eye on him and make sure he's not cheating. Full offense, but she doesn't trust him not to.
Aku leans forward to eye the satchel before his gaze turns once again to the witch. What was this? A task to fulfill? A test of his will? The No Magic and No Cheating rules are the icing and cherry atop the cake of unwanted responsibilities. There's an objection waiting at the tip of his tongue simply at the principal of being assigned such a menial task, but because this wish is something he sincerely wants, he opts to bite back his words of discontent and play along.
However, the silent look of dismay he gives her tells much more than words ever could. This is in part because he knows the seeds will die before they ever sprout since that's what happens to most everything he touches. And love? Pfeh! Just because he desires love from others doesn't mean he's capable of expressing it himself. After all, one who has never been shown love and compassion cannot truly comprehend it.
After a brief eternity of silent and intense frowning, his claws snag the satchel out of Yuuko's hand.
"Very well! I will plant your seeds," he growls and rises from his seat. With a wave of his hand, the chair is sent racing back to its former place in the room. "Then you will see for yourself how they refuse to grow and the burden will be on you to rethink this foolish gambit." That's right, he's a failure and he'll prove it! You'll see! Aku turns to face the doorway and pauses just short of storming out.
"And just where shall I plant these seeds?" Because her yard is definitely the place he has in mind.
She meets his unhappy stare and doesn't back down for a moment. He'll do it. He'll do it because he has no choice. And she knows it. Because the possibility is worth it even if you know you might fail. And maybe he will. But she'll give him as many seeds as he needs to get it right. If he does it the first time will he have learned anything? Maybe. But it is through failures in which knowledge is truly gathered.
"If blaming me for your inability to pay for your own desires is what will make you happy then by all means... blame away. It won't actually change anything."
She moves past him never minding his huffing and puffing and shows him to the back door in which she slides open. "You may plant the seeds anywhere in the garden so long as you don't undo what is already planted. Consider the soil. Where the sun shines. Where the rain may fall. Too much and too little of one thing will ruin your work. Take as much as you can into consideration. And you may try as many times as you like until your wish is able to be granted. Grow life. Get life in return."
She has years upon years before the promised day arrives. Before that boy appears on her doorstep and before the promised children arrive. There is time to do this song and dance. Seasons upon seasons... She suspects, in time, he can get what he desires. After all... he's here right? That's all according to fate.
No, blaming her would NOT make him happy. At this point in his existence, Aku isn't entirely sure if anything will truly make him happy. But he's willing to do whatever it takes just to try.
Once again the demon lord bows his head as he steps out onto the back porch and casts his sights toward the garden. Glowering, he considers for a moment where he should plant the seeds. Soil. Sun. Rain. Not too much, not too little. Pah! What does it matter? Then, satchel in hand, he leaps from the porch as an arc of darkness and into the garden.
Not much is growing yet except maybe some tiny shoots here and there. Aku picks a relatively bare spot that has nothing but dead leaves and a few weeds covering it. On this spot he breathes a gust of fire-breath to clear it and destroy the weeds. Now then, onto the planting. He drags his claws through the soil like a rake and then tosses the seeds into the ruts soon after. Having had plenty of time to observe early man till the soil (often before splitting the earth beneath the man's feet and dragging him into it), Aku knows well enough how it's done even if he's never planted anything himself. He goes about it somewhat carelessly but it gets the job done.
After covering the seeds, he raises his claws skyward, arms outstretched. There's still one last thing he needs to finish this and the clouds shift overhead, gathering above the shop and growing darker by the moment. Soon a light but steady rain begins to fall.
"The deed is done," he speaks at last. "Hey... What kind of seeds are these?" You know, just out of curiosity. Not in case he needs to cheat or anything.
Yuuko watches him work with mild amusement and interest. Aku certainly has an idea of how this all works so that's a positive in his quest. She had a thought that he might throw the seeds on the ground and walk away so color her impressed. Ah... she glances upward as he wills the sky into a storm. That's... that's a little bit like cheating but she'll give it a pass. He can just as easily fill a pail with water but... it's fine.
"It's a mystery for now. Whatever they bloom into will provide us with the answers we seek. All flowers mean something... and when yours bloom it will point you in the direction of the person who will help you create what you most desire."
The witch turns away from the outside, desiring to go back in and continue her evening uninterrupted. "Come back as often or as little as you like to care for your seedlings. No one is going to do it for you." She pauses and glances back at him, wanting to make sure he doesn't forget. "I will know if you try and cheat."
Aku growls under his breath, his shoulders drooping. He hated doing things the 'honest' way but if the witch truly had a way of knowing if he cheated, then he would have no choice.
In the coming days and weeks, Aku returned every so often to check on the patch of earth in the garden and water it if the soil felt dry. For the longest time it seemed as if nothing was happening and each time he left, he looked more and more disappointed. There was irritation, yes, but there was also a growing sense of despair that he would never recieve his wish. He almost considered not returning at all until one morning he arrives early to find the tips of tiny green shoots sticking up from the soil. Aku blinks as if his eyes deceive him and moments later, he bursts in through the back door of the shop, grinning excitedly.
"Yuuko!" His serpentine form flies from room to room in search of the witch. It doesn't occur to him that she may not even be awake at this early hour. "YUUKO!"
Yuuko is most certainly not awake at this particular hour. Him bursting into her quarters where she passed out only a few hours ago is not a pleasant experience for her. The witch holds her head as she slowly sits up needing a moment to process just what and why this is happening at this hour.
Aku is it?
She scowls a bit. He's been coming and going, which is all well and good, but he's mostly kept to himself up till now. She's had no problem with that arrangement. Why this had to change right now is beyond her.
"What... could possibly be so important...?" The witch slowly rises from where she'd been sleeping and takes careful and somewhat steady steps towards him. Because as tempting as just pulling a blanket over herself is she now has company. And as the owner and proprietor of this business she does have a responsibility to customers... even if that customer burst into her home and woke her up her duty is irrefutable.
Careful steps are important, especially as a rush of solid darkness whirls around Yuuko. Suddenly, the demon lord is standing right beside her with fangs bared in a smile much too bright and cheerful for this world. It's a wonder that his face is even capable of emoting such an expression.
"They are ALIVE!" he announces joyously with claws raised and arms spread. "But you must see it to believe it!"
Aku can see that Yuuko has just awoken and is only barely awake but he can't be bothered to care. This news is MOST important! Of course, if the situation was reversed and he'd been the rudely awoken one, he'd put a swift end to whoever dared to disturb him from his nap. The most he does to dial himself back is shout in a 'softer', slightly hushed way.
"And if you can see it then I'll know that my eyes do not deceive me!" Because apparently he isn't sure if he can believe it himself yet. One of his arms remains extended out in front of them while his other hand hovers behind Yuuko as if he means to lead her through the house and into the backyard.
There are a dozen and a half things she'd prefer to do than go outside and look at the ground. She'd like to put on something that isn't slipping off her shoulders. She'd like to run something through her hair. She'd like a drink of the alcoholic variety. A quick smoke from her pipe... literally anything else.
A customer is a customer though...
So... not even bothering with shoes or even another word she moves to go outside and into the crisp morning air.
Now, if this were any other time of day she'd be much more interested and intrigued at the state of things. She honestly thought he'd be at this for years and years but to have something start to sprout at his very first attempt? This wish of his must be a very longed for desire. And she truly is impressed even if the early hour does not allow her to be so.
"Alright... show me."
Not that she doesn't trust him but... she doesn't trust him. Yuuko knows where the seeds are planted and presumably so does he since he's come here quite frequently but just in case. The witch doesn't want him pointing out any other sprouting plants and claiming them as his own.
If Yuuko's hair is a mess, Aku doesn't notice. And if her clothes slide off, so be it! The important thing now is that she set eyes on Aku's latest achievement. As they near the garden, he leaves Yuuko's side and heads straight for the patch of dirt he's been cultivating for the past several weeks. He's pleased to see that the sprouts have not vanished like a mirage and are still there. Tiny. But there.
Beaming at his unexpected success, the yokai takes his place beside the tiny sprouts and gestures grandly to them with both hands as if to present a great gift to the witch.
She leans down to take a look at the sprouting flora. There it is. In all it's green glory. Well... She's actually quite impressed.
Yuuko nods a bit and turns to face him. "That certainly is life. But your task isn't over yet. It needs to continue to thrive and once it blooms it will give us the answers you seek in regards to who will be able to carry that which you greatly desire. Until then... continue to look after your creation. But..." She offers the demon a smile. Despite the rude awakening and hangover it's still rather kind. "Know that I'm quite proud of you."
She moves away from the soon to be flowers and takes to take a seat on a the porch to her home. There's only so much standing and moving around she can do in this state. "I know this is simply a means to an end for you but... what are you hoping to see spring out of the ground? Any prospects?"
The smile she gives him and the words that follow leave Aku feeling somewhat perplexed. It's more than a little surprising (and confusing) to hear words of praise directed at him. Was it a joke? A veiled insult? He can't tell but at this point he can't bring himself to care much. The plants were alive, he's one step closer to receiving his wish and that's all that matters. His gaze follows Yuuko as she retreats to the porch but Aku remains where he stands near the plants as if he's not ready to leave them yet.
"I could not care less about what these things are so long as they continue to flourish and become large and strong," he answers with some theatrical movements of his hands. Large and strong! — what any parent would want their offspring or plant to become. But more than anything, Aku wants the answers these plants will provide should he manage to keep from killing them. Turning toward the well, the demon points a clawed finger to the sky. An arc of water leaps up out of the well like a jumping jet fountain which he directs into a nearby watering can to fill.
"How will these plants provide us with the answers I seek?" he inquires, stopping just short of asking Yuuko if she will 'read the flowers'.
"All flowers have meaning and purpose. Perhaps you cannot relate but people have flowers that resonate very well to them or to an occasion. The most obvious one, of course, is the rose which represents love. And there are flowers that represent death too... When your flowers bloom we'll be able to find out a suitable host due to the very species and color."
Yuuko leans back on her hands, kicking her legs out a bit as she watches him work. "The love and attention and hard work you're putting into those budding sprouts will resonate within the flowers that bloom. I'll read them, of course, but it is your efforts that will lead us there." Her gaze flickers up to the morning sky... ugh... it's much too early to be awake.
"Life leads to life. That is why you doing this on your own is so important. Creating life will allow you to find a way to allow you to make more. It is, in some ways, the natural order. And most importantly it keeps things in balance."
"The red spider lily..." That was the one that represents death. Aku was no master of flowers but he's been around awhile.
Once the watering can is sufficiently filled, the demon points his finger toward the patch of earth where the seeds have sprouted. Following his silent command, the can lifts itself up off the ground and floats to where it's needed. There, it hovers in midair as it pours water onto the seedlings. Apparently, Aku has an endless supply of magic to call upon at his whim and it seems to come not from the universe, but from him.
While his magic does the work, Aku returns to the house and takes a seat at the edge of the porch overlooking the garden. He listens as she explains how his efforts will lead to the type of flower that will grow and the life that will follow. And of course, something something, balance.
"You speak often of balance," he states plainly. Balance and Aku were two concepts that did not go hand in hand. The demon could see no value in keeping things 'in balance' and would sooner liken himself to an Extreme. His gaze shifts to look at the witch.
"I must wonder—" he frowns, slouching as he rests his elbows on his knees. "What if the host indicated by the flower should refuse me? I am, after all, the fearsome Lord of Evil and Darkness." Even he has to admit not every chick is into that.
She glances at him with a small smile at the mention of the red spider lily. Yes... that certainly is one. One that grows in this very garden for somewhat obvious reasons.
"I speak of balance often because I am bound by it." She lazily lifts up her hand and looks to her wrist as if there were some sort of shackle binding her to this shop. There isn't... but there is a weight, certainly, of the laws that must be followed in regards to her magic. They are, at times, like heavy weights that stop her from taking a firmer position in many situations.
"When I do things that tip the scales too far in one direction terrible things come to pass. And people get hurt. Those with great power must learn to control it so it doesn't effect the world around them too greatly." She gestures to Aku. "Even you are bound by some sort of balance. You and this samurai you spoke of before. One without the other would surely lead to some sort of ruin and chaos. At the very least a void where once the other stood."
She shrugs her shoulders a bit. Too tired and too hungover to say more than that. It's the sort of thing she thinks he'd scoff at and she has no great interest in explaining how her world works to him. In the end it's too sad a story. Instead she'll answer his concern which is a much easier.
"You have to trust in the magic and the contract that is made by creating life. You will have created something and it will lead you to someone who can help create even more. That is what you're paying for and that is what you will get. Have faith in my work and in yours. So long as those flowers bloom your wish will be granted."
Just as Yuuko had suspected, the demon scoffs inwardly at the notion of Jack playing the role of counterbalance to the glorious power of Aku. Yet, he does understand the sense of feeling shackled and weighted down by the samurai's continuing existence. It's part of why he's agreed to this contract, after all. While he might not be able to obliterate his foe (at least not yet), he could lighten the weight by finding a purpose beyond the samurai and create his own powerful allies.
Which means he must make these flowers grow and find the one who will help him grant his wish. Straightening out of his slouch, Aku, Lord of Evil and Master of Darkness, makes a solemn vow: "Then I shall make these flowers grow."
In the months to follow, Aku became more and more of a permanent fixture in Yuuko's yard. What started as short daily visits grew longer when he realized all the dangers waiting to sabotage his efforts. After discovering that something had chewed on some of the new leaves, he often took the form of a large owl and perched in the tree above to stand guard. And when a late snow fell over the garden, he shielded the sprouts like a mother bird shielding her young from the cold. Sometimes, on cool nights, he napped beside them in the form a of a cat. Other times Yuuko might find him napping on the porch, but for the most part, the demon kept away from the house and did not interfere with her other clients.
As the seasons changed, the plants grew taller and taller. Not all of the seedlings had survived but the ones that did seemed to be as stubborn as their caretaker. In the warm months of summer, buds appeared on the delicate stalks. Finally the day came when the buds opened and the long-awaited flowers bloomed. On that day, Aku once again leads Yuuko to the garden to show her the fruits of his labor. It's clear that he's proud of his work and he's eager to hear what she has to say, but there's still a small part of him that can't help but feel apprehensive.
Wearing his best poker face, Aku looks to the witch for the answer he's been waiting for, "What is your verdict, Miss Yuuko?"
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unspeakablyevil) wrote2017-11-10 02:58 pm
no subject
Oh.. but that question. It's expected and it's been wished for many times with no one actually able to pay for such a thing. The cost of taking another life is nothing so simple. Nothing cheap, surely not.
She parts her lips for a moment, taking pause, before deciding to go a different path with this particular inquiry. "I will answer you... but first I would like you to tell me what you think the value of a life is worth? One mortal life. Of the billions of humans that dwell in this world alone what does the price of one life, extinguished forevermore, cost? I'm curious as to what you're value of such things would be..."
no subject
"However. This particular human refuses to wither and die no matter how many times I have tried to destroy him. The fool even refuses to age as humans naturally should. Though I suppose this may have something to do with my casting him into the future and displacing him from his original timeline... Nevertheless! His death is much more valuable to me than his pathetic mortal life."
Still, there's the matter of payment. What was it the witch could want? Why couldn't she just tell him rather than ask pointless questions? Was she trying to suggest to him that one mortal life was worth another life? Aku furrowed his fiery brow as he tried to figure her out, then gave his beard a thoughtful stroke.
"In exchange for your service, I will give you... one of my top 10 slave chefs to serve you whatever your heart desires for the rest of his mortal life." Surely this would suffice. Who would turn down a lifetime of delicious food? "Now then. Back to the matter at hand. How will you bring about the Samurai's untimely demise? I was thinking death-by-lightning-strike should cut it. Or perhaps a misstep at the top of a long flight of stairs. Hit by a car? Chicken pox? Bitten by a mosquito carrying the Malaria virus?" All cheaply mundane yet very valid methods of death and there's plenty more suggestions where that came from!
no subject
His offer is hardly balanced. How insulting to this human samurai who has run this yokai in circles for who knows how long.
"You mentioned that humans are nothing more than leaves on a tree. But even leaves serve a purpose. They collect sunlight and convert it into food so that the plant can continue to live. A tree without leaves is one that will surely die. And without a doubt humans are flawed. But then... we all are. Their lives are short so they cherish more. Love harder. Fight more valently. And maybe they will bring about the end of the world. But they will also fight their hardest, harder than I ever could, to prevent it."
She offers the yokai a very small smile. "Every tree needs leaves. One or hundreds. They all serve a purpose. They are not so worthless, I promise you."
1/2
"BLARGH!" he utters explosively. As appalling as it all sounds, as much as he wants to disagree, he can't say that his and the Samurai's lives are not intricately intertwined. But this doesn't stop him from fuming openly and with incomprehensible growling sounds. How dare someone point out how the Samurai's life is so important to him! How dare it be suggested that he must give up his own precious existence to erase his foolish mortal foe! How dare...
no subject
"...I see that my efforts are in vain. The Samurai shall forever be a righteous thorn in my side." His mighty frown hangs like a wet noodle from his face. Ugh, what has his life come to? At least, for once, he was airing his thoughts to someone other than himself, even if she could not help him in any other way.
"Thoughts of him plague my mind night and day. Things I once enjoyed are no longer enjoyable and my days are filled with consternation. It sickens me to realize that my glorious existence has been reduced to these constant worries." Here, a bit of conviction creeps back into his tone. He's not ready to give in and be conquered by his fears just yet. Or ever! "I seek to place my efforts toward something greater, a distraction worthy of my time. Something that will provide me with unending companionship, loyalty and adoration. Or perhaps someone."
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Alright. She lowers her head just a bit to hide a faint smile. That's not professional but it's still very funny. Such a strange tantrum. But at least he's not arguing with her or complaining or making even more wild demands. She appreciates that... Even mortal customers can get rather rude and near violent when they can't get their way.
As he sits before her she straightens up, being the attentive professional that she likes to appear as. To see someone like him so crestfallen is quite a sight. He, like her, must be quite lonely. Beings like them are fated to be that way. The long endless years make companionship of most kinds near impossible.
"It is not unwise to focus your attentions elsewhere. Crafting a legacy of a different kind is advisable. If you keep meddling in the affairs of this samurai you are only going to knot yourself tighter and tighter with the strings of fate and find yourself in an inescapable circumstance." She leans back in her chair picking up her pipe once more to craft more swirling smoke in the air. "It sounds like you're looking for a companion. Someone to rule at your side. Or perhaps just be an adorer at your side... It probably won't be hard to manipulate something like that to your whim. Finding the genuine emotion however... that will be much harder."
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In all those eons he spent alone in the depths of space, Aku had never once felt a need for companionship. But now that he's been granted the gift (and curse) of sentience by human hands, there's a desire for something more than watching the masses cower before him. A desire for genuine respect and adoration. He had failed miserably in his attempts to endear himself to the younger generations of mortals — it was Jack they adored and lauded as their hero, not him. But perhaps if that younger generation was his own offspring... it would have no choice but to love him.
"A progeny of my own would be ideal," Aku continues without making eye contact. This is pretty personal stuff after all and he's not especially proud to admit he has such feelings. "But alas, my team of scientists have been unsuccessful in their efforts to splice my essence with that of any mortal creature. I am a being of darkness, destruction and discord. Perhaps it's no surprise that life does not spring from my essence."
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Most creatures create. There are few in this world that cannot. And some simply will never have the opportunity.
She thinks on all of this for a few moments pondering just what can be done and at what price. Life is an easier thing to pay for. Death is the one with all the hiccups and taboo restrictions. "Is this your new wish then? If you cannot wish for a life to be taken will you wish for new ones in return? Is that the real reason that you have come?"
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However, Aku's expression remains skeptical. He leans an elbow on the armrest of the chair as he eyes the witch across from him. No doubt she has her own very real mystical powers but that doesn't mean he trusts her not to take him for a fool.
"But there are questions that should not be left unanswered. Firstly, where am I to find an immortal individual of such 'great potential'?" That part of it alone sounds highly improbable. "And furthermore what payment do you seek for this hypothetical wish?"
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"Life begets life. The price for creating life is giving life to something else." She offers him a small smile. "There are all sorts of humans in the world. Humans that have self destructive behaviors or are incapable of truly taking care of themselves and can't create a union with another so easily. Sometimes they are given a task. If they can keep the life of something smaller alive they can be given something else. They learn responsibility and care."
She once more set asides her pipe and pushes herself to a stand. "I will be giving you a similar task." She moves silently to some drawers behind her and rummages through them for a moment or two. She returns to him with a velvet satchel and offers it out to him.
"Seeds." She explains. "Grow these seeds if you can. Breathe life and love into them. Show that you are capable of taking care of something. And grow life. In return life will be given to you. That is the payment for getting what you seek. If you properly take care of what grows the answer to who will bare this burden will become clear. For all flowers hold a meaning. And they will give us the answer we need so long as you care for them properly."
It's a simple task, no? But perhaps for someone like Aku it may prove difficult.
"No magic. No cheating with time. Any foul play and they will wither and your hopes with them. You must craft life as humans do. But if you feel yourself above such a menial task I am sure you'll find what you're looking for some other way."
How fortuitous for him that spring is starting to take root and now is the perfect time to start planting! If he needs a place to start this task the garden out back is perfect. She can also keep an eye on him and make sure he's not cheating. Full offense, but she doesn't trust him not to.
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However, the silent look of dismay he gives her tells much more than words ever could. This is in part because he knows the seeds will die before they ever sprout since that's what happens to most everything he touches. And love? Pfeh! Just because he desires love from others doesn't mean he's capable of expressing it himself. After all, one who has never been shown love and compassion cannot truly comprehend it.
After a brief eternity of silent and intense frowning, his claws snag the satchel out of Yuuko's hand.
"Very well! I will plant your seeds," he growls and rises from his seat. With a wave of his hand, the chair is sent racing back to its former place in the room. "Then you will see for yourself how they refuse to grow and the burden will be on you to rethink this foolish gambit." That's right, he's a failure and he'll prove it! You'll see! Aku turns to face the doorway and pauses just short of storming out.
"And just where shall I plant these seeds?" Because her yard is definitely the place he has in mind.
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"If blaming me for your inability to pay for your own desires is what will make you happy then by all means... blame away. It won't actually change anything."
She moves past him never minding his huffing and puffing and shows him to the back door in which she slides open. "You may plant the seeds anywhere in the garden so long as you don't undo what is already planted. Consider the soil. Where the sun shines. Where the rain may fall. Too much and too little of one thing will ruin your work. Take as much as you can into consideration. And you may try as many times as you like until your wish is able to be granted. Grow life. Get life in return."
She has years upon years before the promised day arrives. Before that boy appears on her doorstep and before the promised children arrive. There is time to do this song and dance. Seasons upon seasons... She suspects, in time, he can get what he desires. After all... he's here right? That's all according to fate.
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Once again the demon lord bows his head as he steps out onto the back porch and casts his sights toward the garden. Glowering, he considers for a moment where he should plant the seeds. Soil. Sun. Rain. Not too much, not too little. Pah! What does it matter? Then, satchel in hand, he leaps from the porch as an arc of darkness and into the garden.
Not much is growing yet except maybe some tiny shoots here and there. Aku picks a relatively bare spot that has nothing but dead leaves and a few weeds covering it. On this spot he breathes a gust of fire-breath to clear it and destroy the weeds. Now then, onto the planting. He drags his claws through the soil like a rake and then tosses the seeds into the ruts soon after. Having had plenty of time to observe early man till the soil (often before splitting the earth beneath the man's feet and dragging him into it), Aku knows well enough how it's done even if he's never planted anything himself. He goes about it somewhat carelessly but it gets the job done.
After covering the seeds, he raises his claws skyward, arms outstretched. There's still one last thing he needs to finish this and the clouds shift overhead, gathering above the shop and growing darker by the moment. Soon a light but steady rain begins to fall.
"The deed is done," he speaks at last. "Hey... What kind of seeds are these?" You know, just out of curiosity. Not in case he needs to cheat or anything.
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"It's a mystery for now. Whatever they bloom into will provide us with the answers we seek. All flowers mean something... and when yours bloom it will point you in the direction of the person who will help you create what you most desire."
The witch turns away from the outside, desiring to go back in and continue her evening uninterrupted. "Come back as often or as little as you like to care for your seedlings. No one is going to do it for you." She pauses and glances back at him, wanting to make sure he doesn't forget. "I will know if you try and cheat."
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In the coming days and weeks, Aku returned every so often to check on the patch of earth in the garden and water it if the soil felt dry. For the longest time it seemed as if nothing was happening and each time he left, he looked more and more disappointed. There was irritation, yes, but there was also a growing sense of despair that he would never recieve his wish. He almost considered not returning at all until one morning he arrives early to find the tips of tiny green shoots sticking up from the soil. Aku blinks as if his eyes deceive him and moments later, he bursts in through the back door of the shop, grinning excitedly.
"Yuuko!" His serpentine form flies from room to room in search of the witch. It doesn't occur to him that she may not even be awake at this early hour. "YUUKO!"
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Aku is it?
She scowls a bit. He's been coming and going, which is all well and good, but he's mostly kept to himself up till now. She's had no problem with that arrangement. Why this had to change right now is beyond her.
"What... could possibly be so important...?" The witch slowly rises from where she'd been sleeping and takes careful and somewhat steady steps towards him. Because as tempting as just pulling a blanket over herself is she now has company. And as the owner and proprietor of this business she does have a responsibility to customers... even if that customer burst into her home and woke her up her duty is irrefutable.
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"They are ALIVE!" he announces joyously with claws raised and arms spread. "But you must see it to believe it!"
Aku can see that Yuuko has just awoken and is only barely awake but he can't be bothered to care. This news is MOST important! Of course, if the situation was reversed and he'd been the rudely awoken one, he'd put a swift end to whoever dared to disturb him from his nap. The most he does to dial himself back is shout in a 'softer', slightly hushed way.
"And if you can see it then I'll know that my eyes do not deceive me!" Because apparently he isn't sure if he can believe it himself yet. One of his arms remains extended out in front of them while his other hand hovers behind Yuuko as if he means to lead her through the house and into the backyard.
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A customer is a customer though...
So... not even bothering with shoes or even another word she moves to go outside and into the crisp morning air.
Now, if this were any other time of day she'd be much more interested and intrigued at the state of things. She honestly thought he'd be at this for years and years but to have something start to sprout at his very first attempt? This wish of his must be a very longed for desire. And she truly is impressed even if the early hour does not allow her to be so.
"Alright... show me."
Not that she doesn't trust him but... she doesn't trust him. Yuuko knows where the seeds are planted and presumably so does he since he's come here quite frequently but just in case. The witch doesn't want him pointing out any other sprouting plants and claiming them as his own.
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Beaming at his unexpected success, the yokai takes his place beside the tiny sprouts and gestures grandly to them with both hands as if to present a great gift to the witch.
"BEHOLD! I, AKU, have created LIFE!"
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Yuuko nods a bit and turns to face him. "That certainly is life. But your task isn't over yet. It needs to continue to thrive and once it blooms it will give us the answers you seek in regards to who will be able to carry that which you greatly desire. Until then... continue to look after your creation. But..." She offers the demon a smile. Despite the rude awakening and hangover it's still rather kind. "Know that I'm quite proud of you."
She moves away from the soon to be flowers and takes to take a seat on a the porch to her home. There's only so much standing and moving around she can do in this state. "I know this is simply a means to an end for you but... what are you hoping to see spring out of the ground? Any prospects?"
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"I could not care less about what these things are so long as they continue to flourish and become large and strong," he answers with some theatrical movements of his hands. Large and strong! — what any parent would want their offspring or plant to become. But more than anything, Aku wants the answers these plants will provide should he manage to keep from killing them. Turning toward the well, the demon points a clawed finger to the sky. An arc of water leaps up out of the well like a jumping jet fountain which he directs into a nearby watering can to fill.
"How will these plants provide us with the answers I seek?" he inquires, stopping just short of asking Yuuko if she will 'read the flowers'.
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Yuuko leans back on her hands, kicking her legs out a bit as she watches him work. "The love and attention and hard work you're putting into those budding sprouts will resonate within the flowers that bloom. I'll read them, of course, but it is your efforts that will lead us there." Her gaze flickers up to the morning sky... ugh... it's much too early to be awake.
"Life leads to life. That is why you doing this on your own is so important. Creating life will allow you to find a way to allow you to make more. It is, in some ways, the natural order. And most importantly it keeps things in balance."
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Once the watering can is sufficiently filled, the demon points his finger toward the patch of earth where the seeds have sprouted. Following his silent command, the can lifts itself up off the ground and floats to where it's needed. There, it hovers in midair as it pours water onto the seedlings. Apparently, Aku has an endless supply of magic to call upon at his whim and it seems to come not from the universe, but from him.
While his magic does the work, Aku returns to the house and takes a seat at the edge of the porch overlooking the garden. He listens as she explains how his efforts will lead to the type of flower that will grow and the life that will follow. And of course, something something, balance.
"You speak often of balance," he states plainly. Balance and Aku were two concepts that did not go hand in hand. The demon could see no value in keeping things 'in balance' and would sooner liken himself to an Extreme. His gaze shifts to look at the witch.
"I must wonder—" he frowns, slouching as he rests his elbows on his knees. "What if the host indicated by the flower should refuse me? I am, after all, the fearsome Lord of Evil and Darkness." Even he has to admit not every chick is into that.
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"I speak of balance often because I am bound by it." She lazily lifts up her hand and looks to her wrist as if there were some sort of shackle binding her to this shop. There isn't... but there is a weight, certainly, of the laws that must be followed in regards to her magic. They are, at times, like heavy weights that stop her from taking a firmer position in many situations.
"When I do things that tip the scales too far in one direction terrible things come to pass. And people get hurt. Those with great power must learn to control it so it doesn't effect the world around them too greatly." She gestures to Aku. "Even you are bound by some sort of balance. You and this samurai you spoke of before. One without the other would surely lead to some sort of ruin and chaos. At the very least a void where once the other stood."
She shrugs her shoulders a bit. Too tired and too hungover to say more than that. It's the sort of thing she thinks he'd scoff at and she has no great interest in explaining how her world works to him. In the end it's too sad a story. Instead she'll answer his concern which is a much easier.
"You have to trust in the magic and the contract that is made by creating life. You will have created something and it will lead you to someone who can help create even more. That is what you're paying for and that is what you will get. Have faith in my work and in yours. So long as those flowers bloom your wish will be granted."
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Which means he must make these flowers grow and find the one who will help him grant his wish. Straightening out of his slouch, Aku, Lord of Evil and Master of Darkness, makes a solemn vow: "Then I shall make these flowers grow."
In the months to follow, Aku became more and more of a permanent fixture in Yuuko's yard. What started as short daily visits grew longer when he realized all the dangers waiting to sabotage his efforts. After discovering that something had chewed on some of the new leaves, he often took the form of a large owl and perched in the tree above to stand guard. And when a late snow fell over the garden, he shielded the sprouts like a mother bird shielding her young from the cold. Sometimes, on cool nights, he napped beside them in the form a of a cat. Other times Yuuko might find him napping on the porch, but for the most part, the demon kept away from the house and did not interfere with her other clients.
As the seasons changed, the plants grew taller and taller. Not all of the seedlings had survived but the ones that did seemed to be as stubborn as their caretaker. In the warm months of summer, buds appeared on the delicate stalks. Finally the day came when the buds opened and the long-awaited flowers bloomed. On that day, Aku once again leads Yuuko to the garden to show her the fruits of his labor. It's clear that he's proud of his work and he's eager to hear what she has to say, but there's still a small part of him that can't help but feel apprehensive.
Wearing his best poker face, Aku looks to the witch for the answer he's been waiting for, "What is your verdict, Miss Yuuko?"
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