The Past and its Venom (Sharaku)

Now it was time to let the last of his teammates know about his past. He had saved Sharaku for last because he knew out of all the people, he figured Sharaku would be one of the least likely to care or perhaps offer advice that the android has not yet heard of. The former was quite likely, the latter the android was never quite sure about. To be honest, Sharaku was always a bit of an enigma to him, he never could tell what his friend was thinking. It was almost always hidden, except for times when he truly was caught off guard or needed emotions to express a point.

Regardless, he had called Sharaku to the same park where he told Shunnosuke at much of the same hour. Though it was a bit chiller, so he naturally advised bundling up a bit. The android himself, naturally had on a heavier coat, while he may not get cold easily it would be better if he chose to blend in rather than seem like an insane person wearing summer clothing in the middle of winter. He sat on a bench with a warm drink for his comrade. He figured he should at least have gotten him something warm, rather than calling him out here without giving him anything. For now he just waited in his heavy coat for his friend to arrive.

The android smiled as his friend approached him, "The same to you my friend, you must be cold, so I brought you a warm drink. I hope you like coffee, not sure if it tastes good, but it should help keep you warm." The android said handing him a warm coffee in a can. When asked if there was anything he wanted from his friend, he shook his head no. It wasn't that he needed something from his friend, just that they had something to discuss. He gestured for Sharaku to sit, "I don't need something, as much as I need to tell you something."

Once they were both sitting across from each other, the android looks his friend in the eyes. "I understand your belief is that what happens in the past does no matter or it should not affect us now. However, I feel as though I hold a responsibility to let you know what happened in my past, and let you come up with your own judgement about it. Perhaps you can offer some advice, if you want to." With a sigh he get ready to explain what happened for the fourth time, but it had to come out through his own methods rather than someone else who learned of this dark secret.

"As I may have told you, Maria's father was killed in a fire, and as far as Maria knows that is true. However, it isn't the truth. That night I discovered that Maria's father had plans for his daughter. In order to ensure her safety he planned on turning her into an android like me, but colder and without the emotion you saw in her previously. She would be functioning as self-serving android that was focused entirely on its own survival all others would be irrelevant and expendable. When I discovered this, I took action, and I killed her father. I murdered her father, and Maria doesn't know." The android sighed once more and scratched the back of his head.

"I wanted you to know so you can render judgement and in case someone tries to use it against me. I'd rather be upfront and let you know about it. I also would like to know how you would handle the issue with telling Maria the truth. She doesn't know, and I'm not sure how or when I should break the news. Sooner is better than later, I imagine." The android said looking toward Sharaku with some concern on his face, hoping his friend had some advice for him.

The android sat and listened intently to Sharaku's responses, seeming to hang on every single word that the man spoke. Sharaku was most certainly a realist, kill or be killed, humanity is cruel, the past does not matter, what matters is here and now. Realists were never the happiest type of individuals and the android began to wonder if Sharaku truly knew the word happiness. If he did, then he most certainly did not show it often. In fact, the guardian was only sure he had seen the man laugh maybe once, and it wasn't a laugh of joy and happiness. However, now it was his turn to respond to his advice and thoughts.

"I thank you for taking time and commenting as well as offering advice to me. It seems to be following the trend of other advice I have received. I appreciate you taking the time to discuss what many would see as an uncomfortable situation. So thank you for being a good friend and willing to hear it out." The android said, somewhat tuning into the discomfort that his friend was feeling, and simply decided that now was a a proper time for a change of scenery. Now that the sensitive information was over, and he did not want to trouble his friend with anymore of that subject. After all friends did not force friends to discuss issues that made them uncomfortable, there was a time and place for such things, this was not the time or place for it. The android knew that and understood it. It was only fair that they move on to something nicer, namely Sharaku's newest fur friend.

"Now that the morbid secret is out of the way, might I suggest a change in scenery? There is a cafe that we can sit in and discuss happier things in the warmth of the building." It was obvious why the android chose the very empty park over the crowded and warmer. The latter might cause the android to get in trouble should someone too curious for their own good over hear the converstation.

The android was surprised, with how willing Sharaku was to continue this type of discussion. He had thought he felt a feeling of discomfort with the issue, and if it was not toward the subject, then what? What was Sharaku uncomfortable about? While the android did not know what it was at that moment, he would later learn. "Hmm, I would rather keep this conversation a private and away from prying ears. I believe you would understand, but you did remind me of something that I would like to ask you." The android said sitting back down at the bench. Though that could wait as Sharaku mentioned not being a fan of discussing the past and how he had something that the android did not know about.

"Hmm, like Hyde then huh?" The android said with a soft smile recalling his meeting with Hyde, but at least now he learned what Sharaku seemed uncomfortable about. The past, his past in particular it seemed, since his secret appeared to revolve around it. Otherwise, why would be so uncomfortable with the past? If his secret was not in the past then he would have nothing to fear. However, it was then that Sentinel nodded his head, "It seems this entire team has skeletons in our closet, and it would make us on even ground. Not to mention, you have made me a bit curious, but feel free to tell me what you have told the others. If you are comfortable with it, some humans cope better by telling people, other people would prefer to handle it on their own." Granted, if Sharaku was worried about Sentinel sharing it, well he most certainly had leverage over the android to say the very least. "Though it is entirely up to you. If you desire to share it with me then feel free to do so. I assure you that it is safe with me." That was something that his friends could count on, he would not tell anyone else. Loyalty to his friends was one of his strongest traits.

The android nodded at Sharaku's offer, "Ah, I did not know that, but yes that would be a far better place to have this conversation at." The android said. He looked around, no one wanted to be in the cold, so they had a bit of privacy considering how most people were in their cars at this moment. However, the conversation continued right along as his friend mentioned how they all had skeletons in their closet. "However, I think our willingness to share these skeletons speaks to how much we trust one another. I'm not going to go on a speech about how good it is, but...we all have gotten quite close to exchange such secrets. I think it means we've made a lot of progress in our friendship." There he was done! He was trying to actively avoid the long drawn out speeches. Though when Sharaku mentioned it would be better if he knew anyway, the android could only wonder why? Had his friend done some dark deed as well? Was there blood on his friend's hands?

However, when Sharaku began to explain his powers and how they were different, the android was pleasantly surprised. He had always been a bit curious, to be perfectly honest, Sharaku truly was the odd one out overall. When his friend explained it was a Shadow of all things, the android blinked. A shadow....Sharaku had control over a shadow? How, those things seemed like savage monsters the last time the group fought them. However, here his friend was with a Shadow under his control, it was quite surprising to be perfectly honest. When his friend suggested that he direct how this conversation go, the android nodded.

"Well the best place to begin for me is...how did you come to control a shadow and make a weapon out of it?" The android inquired, more than a bit curious as to what the answer was. How on earth did his friend manage to take a wild creature and make it submit to his will? They did not speak the language of humans, except for some rare occasions and even if they did then it seemed unlikely that they would submit to human rule. So how on earth did his friend do it?

The android followed Sharaku to his home, nodding a bit, Sharaku did have a point their trust as going up quite a bit. Hopefully, Sharaku trusted him....of course he did. They were both sharing deep and personals secrets! Surely they had a strong sense of trust! The android wanted to bonk himself on the head because of such a foolish thought, but he feared it would make his friend question his sanity. The android looked at Sharaku, he was right he did not like the beasts that much. However, Sharaku was not a shadow, he was not one of those beasts. He could tell the difference, Sharaku did not actively seek to harm others, all his friend wanted to do was live his life and not have to worry about this damn mystery.

When they entered his home, the android began to survey the room for structural weaknesses or the like, seeing none he takes a seat on the couch before looking toward his friend. "Nice place you got here." he would keep his jacket on, since they may not be here long. As his friend explained that he did not get a choice and he was forcibly bonded to the shadow the android's eyes widened a bit. Even more so when his friend compared it to MAria's planned operation. "I see how horrible for people to do such a thing. Why on earth would they do that?" The android pondered aloud, before looking toward his friend. "Clearly, you may have an idea, but no doubt they left you in the dark." What would the next question have to be? Well the next question was somewhat natural to the android.

"This shadow, I assume you can control it, no?" He had demonstrated a great amount of control over the shadow thus far, but the android was not sure if this was a mere temporary measure. If it was then perhaps the android could try to find something to help his friend, but his experience with such supernatural matters was not all that much. No doubt, he would have to learn a lot more. Right now though his friend's safety came first and foremost before anything else occurred.

The android nodded toward Sharaku, so it was to see if they could somehow control the shadow's power? That seemed unbelievably foolish, but here Sharaku was a living and successful experiment. Thought a question that had still yet to be a answered was at what cost? What did it cost Sharaku to have these powers thrown upon him? Well...the android always had the feeling his friend did not consider himself entirely human, but he was. He was just different in a very unique way, but then Sharaku began to explain his relationship with his Shadow. So they were two separate beings, but bounded by the need for one another in order to survive. It was funny how life turned what would be two enemies into two allies fighting for survival. Well it was to the group's advantage.

"I see so it is like symbiosis, but less mutual and more one sided. I think, or so I gather from what you are telling me. I am no longer sure I have any more questions about it, I trust you enough to let the group know if there were any concerns you had about it. Though, I have heard it speak on occassion, and it was....interesting to say the least." The android said, and it also explained why Sharaku did not see the blue doors like he did. Very interesting, but that was something else to discuss at another time. The android looked toward his friend, "Why did you hide this? I understand the fact that you are working with a shadow might be of some concern, but it doesn't change who you are as my friend?" He asks, well the android could clearly seperate the two beings and did not have a concern about his friend. If he did then he would know to ensure that his friend was made aware of it.

The android nodded, it was more parasitic than symbiotic, but for it to favor the host so much was so strange and unheard of to the android. He had never heard or read of such a relationship existing it made it so unnatural. However, Sharaku soon explained that the mystery behind his power was not the reason he wanted to tell the android this. There was another reason that would make itself clear with time, and that reason was the fact that he was forced into this experiment that he had escaped from it. In other words, he was afraid that some people were going to come after him to reclaim him for further experimentation. No doubt, since they were associated with him they would be dragged into it as well.

"Of course no one wants to bring up the past, it is not something that people want to dwell on due to the pain it can cause us. Even the pain it causes in the present. However, I understand what you are saying. Because I am associated with you I might get dragged into their hunt as well." The android said raising a hand to his chin, and that may mean that Maria is in danger. However, the android understood quite well, he was created by a man who had turned mad man. No doubt if he had escaped with Maria, her father would be hunting them down and he would be forced to live like fugitives. "Well I don't think you should count yourself out if those people happen to find you. You have a group of friends who would not allow them to take you back so easily for further experimentation." He said offering his friend a smile before raising another point. "If they do happen to find you then it might be better to stand your ground and make it clear that you have no intention of being their lab rat. Then they might back down and consider you a lost cause, after all the resources it will take to acquire you will far outweigh the benefit. That is of course assuming that these individuals are rational."

Given, from what the android had been told...he wasn't sure that these people were rational. They seemed mad given what they were doing with their knowledge. It was disturbing for the android to consider that there were other mad men out there who would use their knowledge for such harm. He had personal hopes that Sharaku would not have to do that, but if it came down to it then he would stand by his friend.