Hallo all and thank you so much for encouraging reviews! They really made me happy.
This chapter was originally supposed to have Ranma in it, but he didn't show up. He will be in next chapter, not to worry. I'd like to apologize for any fans of Kuno-baby. He is not adorable dimwit in my story.
Thanks for reviewing: Irena, dragonbharg, Oddball1971, Janzo the Ashbringer, jdcocoagirl, My-name-is-foxglove, S., FalseExact, gen x and Ari-AdiAx.
Disclaimers: see previous chapter.
CHAPTER 2
Detective Soun Tendo watched his youngest daughter wearily. It was never a good sign if she would appear to his station. Usually it was because Commander Mogi had something to complain about, like that Akane had broken some HPU member's arm. Akane always had an easily flaring temper and there were lots of guys in HPU wanting to smack her butt. Thankfully after the second broken arm the guys had got the message. He was dreading that such an incident had again occurred, but was surprised by the report she had to offer.
"A vampire killed level 3 in the sewers? Are you sure?" he asked in a slight disbelief.
Akane sighed in frustration. "Of course I am! I wouldn't come all this way here to report on something I made up!"
And there is that temper again, Soun thought. Sometimes he wondered how he could have three daughters with so different personalities. The eldest Kasumi was calm and peaceful, the middle one Nabiki cold as ice and Akane was like fire, sometimes calm but easily storming. Then again their mother, his late wife, had been an extraordinary person herself.
"Alright", Tendo sighed. "Start from the beginning then".
"Well, as I said, we were in the sewers to eradicate level 3s and I moved to the next tunnel alone to chase after some of them…" Akane started.
"Alone? What do you mean alone?" Soun interrupted, startled so much that even his long hair seemed to have stood up.
Akane rubbed the back of her short black hair with a slight embarrassment. "Well, the others are so much slower than me…"
Soun felt like crying. His youngest one was supposed to be his little girl, not a vampire slayer who jumps to danger without a second thought. "Akane…"
"I know, I know. Don't worry, I am not one of those who think too highly of themselves and get killed because of that. I know my limits. Couple level 3s are nothing. I wasn't expecting to meet a higher level vampire there" Akane justified herself.
"And you are completely sure that the vampire was not level 3" Soun stated.
"He didn't attack me in bloodlust and he spoke to me. How many level 3s do that?"
"He spoke to you? What did he say?"
Your helmet is there. Akane nearly said that aloud but then thought against it. Her dad was already tense without finding out that she had lost her helmet in such a critical situation. "I don't recall. I was too shocked then" she muttered, avoiding eye contact.
Soun felt like asking more but decided to move on. "Well, what did he look like?"
"He seemed young, not older than 20. He had a black hair tied to a ponytail. A very boyish face if a bit strong also. He was dressed all in black, except a red Chinese styled shirt" Akane told.
Soun blinked. "That's a rather accurate description of someone you possibly couldn't have seen for more than a few seconds in a dark sewer tunnel".
For some reason Akane felt a slight heath on her face. "Well, I have a good eye".
"Alright then. Do you think he is a level 1 or 2?"
Akane raised an eyebrow. "Dad, a level 1 in sewers?" she asked with a disbelieving voice.
Soun smiled. "Right. Never in a million years would one of those stuck-up noble vampires venture to a sewer" he laughed.
"Surely we're not all that bad" said a new voice.
Both Akane and her father nearly jumped out of their chairs when they noticed the sudden presence in the office. At the door stood a tall man, who seemed to be in his mid twenties, but who was in fact a lot older. His eyes seemed blue but in dark they glowed red. He was tall and well build, with short dark hair and dressed in an expensive suit and a gentleman's cane in his hand. This was Tatewaki Kuno, a level 1 vampire and one of the most powerful persons in Nerima City.
"Mr. Kuno. What brings you here?" Soun asked, trying to hide how startled he was.
"I was merely having a short meeting with some of your superiors, Detective Tendo, and decided to see what was wrong with our fair-lady" Kuno said in a manner that might have sounded pleasant to some.
It didn't have such an effect on Akane. The fair-lady might have sounded like an old fashioned compliment but she knew the real purpose behind it. It was mocking title Kuno had started to use when she had become the youngest member of HPU. Akane didn't care much about Kuno either. She had to endure the vampire, because he was one of the most powerful men in Nerima and her sister worked for him. However, she could see behind Kuno's façade. He might appear as a noble vampire who strives for peace between humans and vampires, but the way he spoke and sometimes looked upon humans, and even some vampires, revealed how little he thought of them. He considered himself better than others.
"I am doing fine. I was just giving my report" she said while keeping her desire to punch vampire straight to his nose down.
"Ah yes, I heard about it. What a strange thing. Why do you think that this lowly level 2 killed the level 3?" Kuno asked.
"There could be many reasons. Level 2s are known to sometimes go to the path of crime for power or bloodlust. Maybe to him it was just a sport" Akane ventured guessing.
"Did the vampire kill level 3 at once?" Soun asked.
Akane tilted her head a little. "No…actually for a while he just kept the level 3 in his grasp and watched it. Almost like examining it" Akane answered.
"Examining?" Kuno said aloud. "How strange. Well, I shall certainly do my part and contact some of my people to tell me if a level 2 of that description is known. Rest assured, oh fair-lady, that this Tatewaki Kuno will always help the authorities" he said with so high-and-mighty tone. Giving a small bow he left.
Soun changed his position in the chair. "I am not so much against vampires but I do breath easier when he is not around" he muttered.
Akane looked the place where Kuno had been. Was it just her imagination or had Kuno for a moment, when she had mentioned the possible examining, seemed startled?
--
The difference between level 1 and 2 vampires: Like level 3s, level 2 vampires were formerly humans who were turned to vampires. However unlike level 3s, level 2s maintain their memories and intelligence. They gain speed, reflexes and strength far above that of humans. They can see in dark, heal their wounds abnormally fast and they do not age. However, like level 3s, they can't stand sunlight, silver or holy objects. Loosing their head, heart and severe blood loss leads to death. The level 2s cover most of the vampire population.
Level 1s on the other hand are a different story. They never lived as humans, they were born as vampires from the union of two level 1s. Level 1s are the rarest and the strongest of all vampires. They are the so-called "nobility" of vampires, an elite group amongst them. Level 1s have power over the lower class vampires. Level 1s, like all vampires, are at their strongest during the night. However, unlike lower levels, sunlight is not fatal to level 1s. They however also have low tolerance for silver and holy objects, and die if they loose their heads or hearts. It was level 1s who signed the contract of peace with humans in 1945, and they have aimed to keep the peace existing.
--
In Kuno mansion:
Tatewaki Kuno walked through the hallways with hard steps that echoed. A small, funny looking man appeared to take Kuno's cane.
"Sasuke, where is my sister?" Kuno asked with a harsh voice.
"Ah, lady Kodachi is currently entertaining herself in bathroom, master" the servant answered.
Kuno raised an eyebrow, as if he was going to ask for a clarification, but then thought against it. He marched to the mansion's huge bathroom. He could smell the blood before he was anywhere close the door. He pushed the doors open and entered to their bathroom. He stopped to look over for the naked bodies he could see. The huge pool had a crimson color for all the blood that had been spilled. Dark rose petals were also all around the scenery.
"Having a romantic evening, Kodachi?" Kuno said with a look of distaste on his face.
Kuno's sister was called Kodachi Kuno, also known as The Black Rose in some vampire communities, and like him she too was a level 1 vampire. When Kuno entered the bathroom she had just closed her black robes around herself. She eyed her brother, her eyes still red for bloodlust.
"An okay evening I would say. Not the best of my romances" she sighed, licking blood from her long fingers.
"You should think about the mess you make. Getting rid of these bodies is not always easy and we have a reputation to keep up" Kuno said.
"Ah yes, we need to keep the image of being friends of humans, you mean?" Kodachi practically snarled. Then she suddenly smiled. "Not for long anymore when the façade becomes unnecessary".
Kuno didn't say a thing but had a dark look in his eyes.
"Is something wrong, brother-dear?" Kodachi asked.
"It may be nothing, but there is a possibility, a slight one, that someone is on to us" he told.
"What? Who?!" Kodachi shrieked.
"Calm yourself, banshee! If I'd know that there wouldn't be a problem. Some lower vampire killed one of our level 3s in the sewers during the recent HPU mission. Apparently the said vampire 'examined' the level 3 first" Kuno spoke.
"That doesn't prove anything yet" Kodachi said.
"True, but better safe than sorry. Especially since we are so close now. No failure is allowed at this point. SASUKE!" Kuno yelled.
The little man appeared suddenly to the bathroom. "Yes, master?"
"After you have disposed of these bodies contact some of my men in level 2 communities. I want them to search for a vampire who killed a level 3 in sewers while HPU was present".
"It will be done, master" Sasuke said and disappeared in a flash.
"Was this vampire you talked about young looking?" Kodachi asked.
"According the eyewitness he looked to be around 20. Why?" Kuno said.
A wicked smile appeared to Kodachi's face. "If he is handsome can I play with him before we get rid of him?"
To be continued…
Remember to review.