Kuro-A Mystic Messenger Adventure

Chapter 18: Kuro Leaves

You sat in the grass, folded in the newly freed Searan's arms. Seven was kneeling next to the two of you, cuddling with Buddha and Honey. In front of the three of you lay the broken and bleeding body of Rika. You were enjoying the first real moments of peace that you had felt in many weeks.

Kuro came from where he had been resting and lay his huge head in your lap. He looked up at you with those familiar, heartbreaking blue eyes. You stroked his black pelt, carefully avoiding the scratched he had earned during his fight with Rika.

"I guess now's as good a time as any to get some explanation," Seven commented as Honey got up to cuddle with Searan. She was so sleepy she practically fell on top of the white haired man.

Kuro sighed, blowing the hair out of your face. "I suppose it is."

"Well?" Seven looked up from Buddha who he had been soothing.

Kuro rolled his body a little, stretching in that very Kuro way of his. "What do you want to know, then?" It fascinated you to watch Kuro speak. His lip moved in a very feline way, whiskers twitching, and his white teeth showed every time he spoke, appearing and disappearing behind black lips.

"Start at the beginning," Seven ordered, sitting back to take in the story.

Kuro looked thoughtful before he started. "Well, my name is Kuro. I suppose I must have done something terrible because I get the feeling that I was banished."

"Banished from where?" Searan stared at Kuro as he rubbed Honey's soft wing.

"I don't know," Kuro admitted. "Home. Wherever that is. After being banished I wander world after world helping people. Most of the time, everytime actually, I have to use this form at some point. Once I go back to that small form, though, I disappear to a different dimension, another world. I never stay. I've tried in a couple worlds but it never works. I just can't stay in this form. When I fall asleep I transfer back to my other form and leave."

You could tell that the boys were just as upset about this news as you were. The magnificent beast that had joked with you, lived with you, shared you emotions, comforted you, and, in the end, protected you was going to leave you. How could he just leave after all that you had shared? It just didn't seem possible.

"The question, then," Searan said, startling the rest of you, "Is how do we spend the time we have left?"

"We'd best get this body found," Seven said, trying to hide the fact he had been wiping his eyes a moment before. "Then, we should get home. I heard that we've got a wedding to prepare for."

You blushed as Honey nuzzled your cheek and Searan watched you with love in his eyes.

Kuro smiled. "I'm very sorry I can't stay to see it, but I can't stand being around geek for very much longer. I might have to throw up."

"Same here, cat," Seven scorned but he could look at the cat and he was half hiding his face. "Same here."

The walk through the forest was peaceful, though it was strange to leave a dead body behind. You, the boys, the dragons, and Kuro reached the car soon enough and, Kuro hiding in the back of the car for the trip, Seven contacted the police and gave them directions to Rika's body. It was decided that you would drive because Seven's arm really hurt after all the twisting it had endured and Searan was too dizzy to even walk in a straight line. Apparently, getting knocked by a few logs would do that to you.

You had just reached the city limits when the police drove past you in the opposite direction. It was so strange to see civilization after all you had been through. Even weirder to consider that you had a panther in the back of the car, waiting till you got to your apartment.

Your apartment was closer so the group pulled up in your driveway and you piled out quickly, getting into the apartment before Kuro and the dragons were seen. While Honey and Buddha investigated the apartment, you and the boys stopped in the living room to talk with Kuro before he left.

Kuro bagan to tell stories about his "children" and the villain he had been up against. He talked about finding the library and meeting Searan there and how he found the magic there. He talked about meeting you and random anecdote. Then, he started to tell about his favorite things about you and the boys.

"I love that you were always worried about the boys, she-being. I loved that you invited me in even though I was just a dirty street cat. It made my life much easier. There have been many times when I've had to do outrageous things to stay near the person I have to protect. You've been the fastest on picking up how to speak with me. You were very perceptive.

"I like about you, White hair, that you were willing to completely change yourself. You were willing to listen even though it completely messed up your entire world. It might have been because of She-being but it takes a very special person to completely change himself, even for a girl. You were also really good for a conversation about weapons and such."

Searan smile. "You were pretty great, too. I will always remember the ways to kill people that you told me about. It's just a shame I'm not cat enough to pull off a couple of them."

Kuro smiled and turned his glowy eyes on Seven. "Geek. You're probably expecting some insults about being wrapping paper and unhealthy and an idiot. There, I gave you some. I really wanted to say, though, that I was impressed by your willingness to jump in and help and do what you could, even if your plans sucked. Plus, I have a high regard for anyone who can manipulate computers. I've had those stupid things explained to me over and over and I still don't get it."

Seven smiled, tears welling up in his eyes. "I guess it just takes being a geek."

Kuro shook his head. "No. It takes being a god geek."

Seven had to choke down tears as Kuro stood up. "I have to go, now." He looked at each person in turn. He looked at Honey and Buddha who had come to see the cat off. "I will always remember you. I will try with all my being to see you again."

Kuro smiled at you, gold shining in his ears. Seven was really crying now and Searan look like he was holding it back. You let the tears run silently down your cheeks.

"I'll miss you," you managed to say, throat clogged with emotion and tears. You would always treasure the relationship you had developed with this cat.

"Thank you for you love," Kuro said to you. He turned to Searan. "Thank you for changing." Seven stared at Kuro through wet eyes. "Thank you for letting me make fun of you. None of you are allowed to change or forget what you have learned. You shall suffer my wrath when I find out." Kuro smiled, that mischievous glint shining from the blue orbs.

You nodded a promise.

"Bye, Kuro," Searan said, and Seven surprised you by jumping up and giving Kuro a huge hug. As Seven backed off, Kuro closed his eyes. He was striped in bands of blue and seemed to be fading in and out. He began to glow, his eyes shining as he opened them for one more look to solidify your faces in his memory. He turned back into a small alley cat he had been for so long and then, in a flash of blue light, he disappeared.

You held out a hand to catch one of the sparks that Kuro left behind and you smiled, no longer crying. Neither were the boys. The sparks seemed to whisper that Kuro would come back. He would come back with his tail high, blue eyes sparkling mischievous, ready to tease you just like he always did.

"I wonder how long," Searan wondered out loud into the silence.

Honey curled up in your lap as you said, "I hope it's soon. I think I want him to watch after my kids."

You looked at Searan as you said this and Buddha made a whistle sound much like a cat call.

"Shut up, Buddha," Seven shushed good naturedly. "That's my job."

Buddha laughed before bouncing off the walls and disappearing into the kitchen.

"I'd better get him," Seven sighed. The hacker gave you and Searan a smile before disappearing into the other room.

Searan looked at you closely, tilting your chin up. "I love you," he said gently before leaning in to kiss you. You closed your eyes, knowing Buddha, Honey, and Seven were watching. For some reason, you didn't seem to care.

Thoughts from Kuro: She-being, White hair, god Geek. I love you.