A lone figure sits upon an ebony equine, cape draping behind him, his long tresses cascading down his back. Cobalt eyes focus in front of him, the gravel path winding ahead, slowly fading to the thickness of a hair, until it disappeared over the hills that lie on the horizon. The day is bright and sunny, yet the feeling of sadness overwhelms him, although he does not show it. His gloved hands clutch tightly to the reins as he breathes deeply- in, then out, an attempt to clear his thoughts. This was the day he left for good. This day he would no longer live on the ranch. This day was his debut as a Vampire Hunter. Just like his father.
A man stands in the driveway, on the brink of tears, waving slowly, wanting to grasp the last memory of his "little brother". He lowers his brow, lip trembling. He inhales and the feeling subsides. He watches the back of his nephew trot away on that gallant steed he so dearly loves. He gives a nod of reassurance to himself, then heads back into the house.
It seemed like it was only yesterday. But it had been 17 years.
Seventeen years. Seventeen whole years ago that his sister and the one he looked up to the most had died. Since he was raised by the doctor until he was 17 himself. Since he raised his nephew like his own son. And now, the time had come for him to leave.
--
The morning sun shone through the window, the curtains an elegant addition to the beauty that was nature. The old farmhouse was quieter than ever. He was sitting on the edge of his nephew's bed, his hand slowly brushing the young boy's hair out of his eyes as he slept.
"It's time for me to go," came a voice from the doorway. As he turned, he saw Dr. Tsurugi standing there, his suitcase in hand. It was his 17th birthday, and what did he get? His father substitute leaving.
But no one could have ever been a better father to him than D. He looked up to him like a big brother. He was his big brother. Oh, had he hoped, back in those little 9-year-old eyes.
"Be safe," he told the doctor, tears welling up in his eyes. This departure made him think of the departure he and his sister had, or the one that he and D had. Sometimes he'd cry all night, but then he reminded himself of that thing D had told him.
--
"Dan, remember what I said?"
"About being strong?" He wiped a tear from the young boy's cheek.
"Yes. Be strong for your sister. It's okay to cry, but just be strong for her. You don't wanna see her cry, do you?" He shook his head, giving his brother a hug.
"I'll be strong, D... I'll be strong."
--
He gave the doctor a handshake, then a hug.
"You tell him I gave him my best wishes, alright?" He said, motioning to the sleeping boy. The 17-year-old nodded.
"I will, Pops. I will."
"Alright then." With that, he turned and left, suitcase alongside of him. Dan nodded to himself. "I will," he whispered. "I will."
--
And now he was leaving. That sleeping boy was a grown man, now. He could take care of himself. He had to. He was a Vampire Hunter, just like his father. He had his mother's heart, though, and her eyes... Every time Dan looked into those eyes, he felt like breaking down. Even at his age of almost thirty, he wanted to curl up into a ball and sob, he wanted to be that smiling 9-year-old boy again, to see his sister, and to see D.
He leaned against the door as he shut it, closing his eyes tightly. He held the tears in, though. As he turned to the fireplace, he saw a picture... It was Doris. She was in that beautiful white dress with the flowers hemmed at the bottom that their mother had when she was alive. Next to the picture was a hat. D's hat. It sat, half covering up the smiling face of Doris. This is when the tears fell.
Dan walked towards the fireplace, taking both the hat and the picture into his arms. "Be with him," he whispered to D. "Be with your son. Protect him, guide him, and give him the strength to have the spirit, the will to fight like you yourself had so many years ago..." Tears dropped onto the picture and slid down. "You too, Sis. Be with him. Give him the heart to love like you loved so many... And give him your strength, too. You had a heart of steel, Sis. Give him that heart." With that, he set the picture and the hat down as they had been before. He gave a nod and headed to his room. "Be with him," he whispered. "Be with him."
--
Alright, how's this for a first chapter of Agony, the sequel to Between! I got my muse from D's Departing Theme and Promise Part 2, both from the Vampire Hunter D soundtrack of the first movie. Thanks my valued readers for reading the first story, and I hope you enjoy this one as much as you did the other. And if you're a new reader, I suggest you read the other story before this. Thank you very much!
