Saga of Shinso: The Vow
Disclaimer: I do not own Rosario + Vampire storyline, background, characters and similar media. Nor do I have had a hand in the creation of either it's graphic or animated incarnation.
A lone man marched down the empty corridors of the castle. Each footstep roared like thunder as he dared to march against what was decided for him, to embrace what his heart told him. What his pride demanded of him and to damnation with the consequences, he was not some lowly commoner beyond these castle walls. He was an aristocratic noble, but not just any noble. He was Count Issa Shuzen.
Soon enough, Issa had reached his destination and burst into the private study of the great lord of the castle. The ancient vampire and ancestors to nearly the entire vampiric civilization known only as Shinso. The powerful being donned a metallic mask and helm, cloaked in capes and gloves that hid his true identity to all and was revealed to only the most trusted of apostles that were also known as the Dark Lords for their heroic battle against an inheritor of Shinso's blood Alucard who dreamed of only destruction. It was of only one of these Dark Lords, the leader of the triumvirate, that brought the count's visitation to Shinso that day as he kneeled before the ancestor. The Dark Lord in question, Akasha Bloodriver, could only observe the whole affair.
"Rise." Shinso quietly commanded before Issa followed his orders. "Now then, Count Shuzen, do I dare ask of your business before me?"
"Do we dare play such games when all of the Ayashi Realm knows of your great ability of foresight, your power of prophecy?" Issa countered, while he occasionally stole glances towards Shinso's adopted daughter. Each time their eyes met, she could only blush and look away.
"Tis a heavy burden for one who foretell events before they come to past." Shinso replied. "Even the tales of the human Greeks warns of the selfish need to see the future. You must be mindful of what you ask of me of such a topic."
"Prophecy is not what I seek my business with you this day." Issa reassured Shinso. "However, even you should have realized the true purpose of my presence here today so why ask when you already know of what I seek."
"Yes, but I felt it proper to 'humor' you in your request."
It was then that Akasha spoke as she approached Shinso. "Father, do you know of what Issa-san requests of you?"
"Yes, but I'll allow the count the honor of its revelation-" Just then, the doors erupted to reveal a visibly angry vampiric countess as she stormed into the study.
"You bastard!" The vampire countess roared. "You dare to actually go through with this even though you had just sired your seed within me?"
"Gyokuro be still!" Issa roared back at his wife. "Though we may be husband and wife, my life is still my own and this is none of your concern-"
"Oh, but it is!" Gyokuro then aimed her outstretched finger towards Akasha. "Even if we are sealed in union, you still desire her! Did you think you can do this behind my back and get away with it?"
"I have done my duty to both House Shuzen and House Kuronkubisuto, an heir will be born-" Issa began.
"Your duty is to raise this heir properly to rule, not just impregnate me and throw me to the wind for this ancient whore-"
"It is best if you watch your tongue when before my presence Gyokuro-chan." Shinso warned quietly, yet his yoki was proof enough of his words. "This is not court society where you may hide behind the backs of others."
"My apologies, my lord, but the actions of my husband cannot be ignored! This proposal of his is but an insult to my pride as a vampire and a future mother! How will I know that he will keep to the vows of our houses when he turns Bloodriver-sama into his mistress?" The declaration caused a blush upon Akasha's face as she hid her reaction behind her fingers.
"I can assure you, wife, that I will hold dear to the vows between our houses and unto our union so grace me this opportunity to choose of my own free will!" Issa roared back.
"She is of the earliest generations of vampires!" Gyokuro lectured to her husband. "She is centuries- no, millennia too old for you to even contemplate anything remotely similar to a sealed union!" It was then that Issa spied a glass goblet upon Shinso's desk. He then recalled an ancient tradition well known by all vampires young and ancient, a ceremonial vow that one dared not to break for the gravity of the consequences.
Just as Issa contemplated upon his next actions, Gyokuro then turned towards Shinso. "My Lord, tell my husband that such a mating will not occur, that his future is that with me and this child and us alone!"
"Be warned child," Shinso cautioned the countess. "Prophecy is not for those that have expectations." At that moment Issa had slit his wrist with his sword and the blood from the wound flowed into the goblet.
"You swine!" Gyokuro roared. "You dare invoke that vow!" Issa ignored his wife's outburst as he approached Shinso with the goblet that contained his blood.
"Dark Overord Shinso, with the blood I offer before you I proclaim the vow that Dark Lord Akasha Bloodriver will not be harmed so long as she remains by my side as my bride." Issa promised as he offered the goblet to the ancient vampire. The Vow of Blood was a ceremony of great importance to vampires in days long since past, one whose penalty was death. In those ancient of the ancestors, vampires such as Shinso were able to assimilate the powers and abilities of other beings through the consumption of that being's blood, including those of other vampires. In effect, the vow was an exchange, an insurance policy that the terms of the vow will be fulfilled much like how the daimyo of feudal japan exchanged relatives with one enough to cement alliances and ensure that they would not be attacked themselves. Even though Shinso bore none of the weaknesses of the vampires that survive to the world of today and thus would not benefit from this blood vow, it was not a task to be taken lightly by any vampire no matter the station.
With great hesitation, Shinso took the goblet from Issa's grasp. "Count Issa Shuzen, the terms of your vow were made in vain."
Issa hung his head in defeat as Gyokuro simply smirked in satisfied victory. "So then, you do not approve of my hand with Akasha-san."
"No." Shinso placed the goblet upon the surface of the desk before he turned back towards Issa. "It is because you will fail."
The words truck Issa like an axe to his neck. Shinso warned of the dangers of prophecy to him, yet he did not understand until it was too late. The realization that he would not protect Akasha, his one true love despite his position and his nature as a vampire had wounded his pride- no, his heart.
"I'm sorry." Shinso apologized quietly to Issa before he left the study and the count with both his current and future wives.
It would have been kinder if Shinso had said no.
This is but the first of two one-shot stories that involve the mysterious Shinso. Currently I have no plans to expand upon this character, but perhaps sometime in the future and that there's enough interest for the character by that time.
As always, no flames nor brutally honest reviews.