Akumi: Redemption

Bound by Dark Auras

On their way back from the illustrious Primal Instinct headquarters, James and Akumi walked side by side, their drones hovering closely behind them. As they made their way through the bustling city, Akumi seemed more excited about James getting his bounty hunter license than he was.

"That's what I'm talking about! You aced it like a champ," she said excitedly.

But Akumi quickly noticed that James wasn't as thrilled as she was. Something still gnawed at him.

"What's wrong now?" Akumi asked, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, her eyes searching his for answers.

James's mind was lost in thought, weighed down by his situation. Stuck in a strange land filled with creatures from fairy tales and nightmares, with no clear way home. The advanced technology and unfamiliar culture of Spug City were all starting to overwhelm him.

"Ain't nothin', it's just... all this is a lot ta take in. I'm seein' things an' folks here that I couldn't even dream up in my wildest dreams. I'm just tryin' my best ta keep up, is all."

Akumi understood James's trepidations. It was definitely a fish-out-of-water situation for him, and she did her best to reassure him that she'd always be there. Looking deep into his eyes, she placed both hands on his shoulders, her voice taking on an extra reassuring tone.

"This place can be a lot sometimes, but don't you worry—I'll be by your side every step of the way, okay, sharpshooter?" she said, her words filled with sincerity.

Akumi's words gave James some respite from his anxiety. She had been there for him, even when he wasn't always the nicest to her, and she still aided him when he needed it. She was a truly loyal friend to the brooding bounty hunter.

"Thank ya, I needed that. You really are somethin', ya know that? I... um, Akumi, you alright?"

Akumi's violet eyes bore into him, her stare as vacant as when they were at the hospital. Her grip tightened on his shoulders, her gaze still locked on his as if she were in some sort of trance.

"Hey, Akumi, you alright? You're actin' kinda weird."

Akumi didn't respond; she was too engrossed in him, possibly due to the dark aura emanating from James himself. It was the same aura that made humans distrust him, caused elves to fear him, and provoked male demons to aggression while drawing female demons to him with dangerous desire. Every other race had a mix of reactions, ranging from wariness to other negative.

Akumi placed her hands on his shoulders, her nails suddenly digging into his skin.

"Ow! What in the hell is wrong with you? Hey, are you listenin'? Let go of me!"

James tried his best to pull free, but Akumi's grip was surprisingly strong. Her expression was vacant, her actions devoid of any clear emotion.

"Let go! What's gotten into ya?"

Again, no response. Without a word, Akumi, still holding on tightly, wrapped her arms around his neck and placed one of her legs behind his. Before James could react, she shifted her weight forward, sending them both crashing to the ground. The force of the fall seemed to jolt Akumi back to reality.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" she cried, eyes wide in confusion. "JAMES, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY AM I ON TOP OF YOU?"

"I DON'T KNOW, YOU TELL ME! I WAS THIS CLOSE TO PUNCHIN' YOU IN THE STOMACH!"

Little did they know, a crowd had gathered around them, watching the strange scene unfold. Akumi's face flushed with embarrassment as she looked to James for answers.

"James... what's going on?"

James, just as confused as she was, gave the best answer his mind could muster.