Embarrassment 2: Cold Night

As night fell over the Maaka mansion, the last of the family awoke and came downstairs. Amongst them was Ren Maaka and his entire family. Ever since the vampire war had calmed down Ren's wife and son were finally able to freely visit the rest of the Maakas. Keitaro's first impression on Bridget wasn't exactly the best. She knew all too well of Keitaro, as did all the Brownlick clan. Keitaro was, after all, the vampire hunter that had hunted down Tachibana after she went feral less than a year ago. When she went feral, Glark did all he could to protect her, being her uncle. Keitaro ended up showing up at the Browlick's doorstep and took Tachibana out by force. Bridget may have hated Tachibana and left the Brownlick clan years ago, but she still had a strong dislike for Keitaro and the rest of Cross Organization.

Keitaro didn't think taking out the half-vampire was the worst thing in the world. Glark had locked her up in an attempt calm her down. But once a half-vampire has turned, there is very little that can be done to bring them back. Keitaro could tell that there would be no hope for her when he looked her in her dark red vampire eyes. He brought peace to her life finally. At least that is what he believed.

Keitaro may have never met Bridget before, but this was the first time that anybody had met Tohru Maaka. It was a surprise how much the sixteen year old vampire looked like Henry Maaka. He stood about the same height as Keitaro did and had his hair slicked back. His clothing was a black suit that looked to be worth a lot of money. Even the way that he stood made him look too good for everyone. Karin saw the spitting image of Ren in the boy. That didn't stop her from clinging on to the boy like he was her own child. Anju couldn't even see how she could be attached to him.

"How is it the organization never knew about Tohru or Bridget?" Keitaro wondered, after getting to know Ren's family.

"Because we don't want to be known," Ren said in a cocky attitude. "You think Cross Organization knows everything about us vampires?"

"Yeah, kind of," Keitaro muttered. He turned to Kanon. "Have you ever thought about going back to school, Kanon? I mean, now that the vampires aren't after you anymore."

Kanon shook her head. "I don't think I'd be able to handle school, work, and staying up with my family."

"You should give it some serious thought," he said seriously. "I don't want you to be too lonely."

Kanon was slightly shocked that he would even say that. "Why this so suddenly? I won't be lonely as long as I have you, Kei."

Keitaro gave her a disgusted look. "I told you not to call me that."

Kanon laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I know, but it's always funny seeing your reaction."

Keitaro gave a soft smile. Deep down though, he was feeling down. Keitaro had another reason why he was spending time with Kanon tonight. Even though it was her birthday, he was going to have to tell her the bad news eventually.

"You want to get out of here?" he said in her ear. Seeing the expression on her face he added, "don't worry, we'll be back in time to spend your birthday with your family."

With that, Kanon and Keitaro got up and left the room without anyone so much as looking at them. They were so sucked into their conversations that nobody really cared where Kanon went. But Karin happened to notice her daughter leaving and so did Anju.

"Anju," Karin said, staring at the door, "you think they make a good couple, right? I mean, a vampire hunter and a vampire isn't totally crazy is it?"

"About as crazy as a human and a vampire being together," Anju commented. "Big Sister, are you worried that he might hurt her?"

"I just know that me and Kenta had problems because we were different," Karin said softly, thinking back on her former life. "I just don't want Kanon to go through the same pain I went through just because she wants to be with him."

"Little Niece is in love with him because he lets her be herself. He also saved her life."

"I got a question," Tohru said, butting into their conversation. "If Kanon gave her life at the Ceremony of Blood, why is she still producing blood? Since she has fulfilled her purpose as a Pushuke, shouldn't she be just a normal half-vampire now?"

Karin was surprised. "You seem to know a lot about the Pushuke."

"I know enough to know that the reason you stopped producing blood years ago because the Pushuke was no longer needed." He stood up and stretched. "Something you did prevented a need for you to create blood. So why is my cousin still a Pushuke?"

Karin and Anju were both silent. Tohru, being a fully grown vampire, stunned them with how intelligent he was. He had obviously been doing his homework and knew something about the power of the Pushukes. But Ren could be counted on to take hold of the situation.

"Tohru, stop scaring my little sister," he demanded, getting to his feet. "You don't know any more than they do."

"Tch," Tohru said, walking out of the room. "What ever, Pops."

Ren was obviously embarrassed by his own son's actions, but he refused to show it. Anju just snickered at her older brother. "He's just like you, Big Brother."

"Yeah."

When Kanon and Keitaro left the Maaka Mansion, they stayed near the barrier. Kanon brought Keitaro to her father's grave. There were only two gravestones in the graveyard. One belonged to Kenta Usui and the other belonged to Kanon's great grandfather whom she never met. Keitaro didn't like being anywhere near Kenta's grave because he still felt responsible for the man's death. Kenta Usui was shot down protecting his daughter from Keitaro's half-brother, Yukio Cross.

Tears always came to Kanon's eyes when she saw her father's grave. She missed her papa more than anything in the world and wished he could be alive to see her today. He would be proud of his daughter now. If he were alive today, he would come up to her, hug her, and wish her a happy birthday. She loved her father to death and had a slight father-complex.

Keitaro waited for a few minutes while Kanon said her peace to the grave before walking silently with her to the top of a hill and laying down on the grass. The temperature had dropped at least another fifteen degrees and the ground was freezing cold, but at least the view was beautiful. The sky above was without a single cloud and there were many stars sparkling against the frozen sea of blackness. A full moon was high in the sky, illuminating the darkness.

"Keitaro," Kanon said after a few moments of peace. "You've got something on your mind again don't you?"

"You don't miss much, do you?" Keitaro responded, staring up at the sky. Kanon shook her head. "I guess it can't be helped. I had to tell you soon enough... Kanon... After tonight, I'll be going away for a while."

Kanon immediately sat up and looked at him. "What?"

He expected nothing less from her. "Cross Organization is sending me over the ocean to America to investigate a town half-vampires. I don't know how long I'll be gone."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I didn't want to ruin your birthday. Kanon, I don't want to go, but I have no other choice. The plane leaves in the morning."

"Why..." Kanon started.

"Kanon, for the longest time, I thought all half-vampires go feral once they get to a certain age. But over the sea, there is a town composed of nothing but half-vampires. There are half-bloods there that have lived entire lives without ever going feral. I think that they found a cure."

"Keitaro, you're afraid that you might go feral someday," Kanon wondered.

Keitaro didn't know how to respond at first. He sat up and looked at Kanon. The truth was, he didn't care about himself. He cared about her. She was a half-vampire as well. Which meant the same thing would happen to her.

"I don't know what to fear, Kanon. But I have to go. If I don't, there may be no other hope." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small purple box with a yellow bow on it and handed it to Kanon. "I got you this for your birthday."

With a shaky hand, Kanon reached for the box. Upon opening it, she saw a beautiful silver necklace with a blue diamond in the center. She literally burst into tears when Keitaro lifted the necklace out of the box and helped her put it on.

"It's beautiful, Keitaro," Kanon said, hugging him tightly.

"You're beautiful, Kanon," he said softly, rubbing her back. "Promise you'll be here when I come back."

Through her tears, she nodded. Without another thought she kissed him ever so passionately. Kanon understood what Keitaro was trying to do. If this was something that he fully believed that he needed to do, she wanted to support him the entire way.

"I love you."

Sorry for the wait. I've been working on my novels. But now, I'm back on track. Just hope you enjoy this story as much as the first one.