ALRIGHT! HERE WE GO! I'm posting this even though I should be asleep cause I have to get up at 5AM. I know I already posted the first two paragraphs of this in the Preview..but I really needed to post it again otherwise the next paragraph could be confusing.
Anyway..this is the first chapter of Venus Unguarded. I know the title is..kinda lame-ish but I couldn't think of one when I first posted and now I'm a little fond of it. Anyway, this piece is going to be quite the adventure for you as readers and myself as a writer. I'm still writing it, (though I've got the next couple chapters basically done) and I'm not quite sure where my mind will take me next, meaning I haven't finished it yet..haha. I'm just kinda going with it, yah know. yay adventure! Ok, I'm done rambling before I start telling you stuff that's already written in this chapter. Read&Enjoy! & REVIEW! I love getting feedback and it only takes a few seconds!
It's strange, how we can find ourselves so absorbed in trivial matters and daily dramas. As humans, we allow ourselves to get wrapped up in fighting issues we have no power over, keeping secrets, confining emotions, guarding our hearts. There are greater evils in this world, ones most people aren't even aware of; a plague on this earth that only few can see. Still, there is so much more to life than the pain and suffering, mistrust, lies, danger, death, and sorrow that we always seem to dwell on, if we allow ourselves to accept it. We never seem to see the big picture, the truth about reality. If we stop pitying ourselves, there might be a chance. We must pull back the curtains of darkness we shroud ourselves in, only then can we truly see the light.
A midnight radiance cascaded gently over the decrepit wooden door and glistened on the old steel cross. Etched into it were two simple words, a title not many would recognize until fate forced them to, Venus Vanguard. She stood outside, a cigarette hanging from her lips. The embers on the end smoldered as she inhaled. She let the gray smoke drag out of her mouth slowly, watching it as it curled toward the moon. Her guilty pleasure. Her sapphire eye flashed. Dangerous creatures lingered in the night, she intended to find them. She clutched a gun at her hip and sighed, then breathed in again. This would be a simple exercise; she didn't bother waking up her partner. Besides, it was almost nostalgic working alone again. The cigarette burned slowly, all the way down to the filter before she finally dropped it. She crushed out the cinders with her boot. "Well…let's get this over with.' She muttered in her leisurely voice, sultry in a sense. She tilted the gun, aiming carefully with her one good eye. Bang.
A dozen demons, destroyed in less than 2 minutes. Her skills hadn't faltered, but she didn't praise herself. Just as she thought she killed them all, a more cunning monster emerged from the shadows and lunged at her. She drew her gun quickly and shot it twice, but not before it hit her right shoulder with enough force to knock it out of the socket. Her arm fell limp. She watched the corpse dissipate and groaned, recoiling from the pain. She placed her left hand on the damaged shoulder, closed her eye, and quickly forced it back into place. The pain was excruciating, but she had learned to deal with it. She lifted her right arm and aimed her gun, it would be tender for a few days, but at least she could still use it; no real damage had been done. She was more angry that she had even overlooked the demon, perhaps it was because she was becoming increasingly distracted. She returned her adorned weapon to it's holster, an antique pistol with silver plating; modernized for more practical use. She'd received it as a gift from her adoptive father, not her usual firearm, but effective still. She leaned on the building and lit another cigarette, a personal reward. She'd promised she'd quit, but she didn't really see the point it in anyway. She never intended to live long enough for all the poisons she inhaled to catch up to her. She puffed some smoke out and sighed again, staring at the clouded skies. The moon had disappeared, she was alone again in the night…but she didn't mind. She wondered if she was doomed to an eternity of pursuing such pathetic creatures. If that was the case, she definitely deserved her cigarettes.
"Oh no, I'm gonna be late again!" cried the young girl as she burst out of the classroom and dashed down the hall. The night before, she slept through a virus attack right outside the shop, and now she wasn't going to be on time! How careless. Some sensei yelled at her as she dashed past, a short command along the lines of 'No running' or 'slow down' but the girl didn't listen. Disappointing Lucia was worse than any punishment a teacher could give. Her uniform fluttered in the wind and she tried to hold down her skirt as she ran down the front steps of her school, "Oooh, she's gonna be so mad!" she worried, pushing her short auburn hair out of her green eyes and panting a bit. If she were in 'berserker mode' running to the Antiques shop would be no issue, but she couldn't very well transform now, especially when she still couldn't control her powers very well. She sprinted through the Central Park. She groaned as her feet hit the cobble path below her and she turned a corner, almost taking out a couple as they strolled with her school bag. She apologized to the discontented strangers by calling over her shoulder as she darted down the street. She finally reached the old wooden door, which decorated by a cross the words 'Venus Vanguard' engraved on it and nestled in a small building under a bridge. She tried to catch her breath before she opened it. She reached for the handle, but it jerked and the door swung open.
"You're late." said a low female voice from within, one that made Sumire's face glow scarlet. The young girl stumbled inside to see the other standing beside the door with a displeased expression.
"I'm sorry Lucia-san, I got held after by my sensei.." explained Sumire, looking down. She was out of breath, her face completely red, her hair tousled, and her uniform entirely disheveled. Lucia shook her head, she really couldn't scold the girl for being late, especially when she actually looked ashamed about it. Lucia walked over to her and lifted her chin in one cold hand.
"Welcome Home, Sumire." She said unexpectedly, her voice serene and alluring, but still edged by the strength Lucia carried herself with. Sumire blushed, she hated when Lucia did things like that, after all, it always seemed like she was teasing her when she returned to her distant, unapproachable self.
"T-thank you." mumbled Sumire, "I won't be late again. I promise!" She bowed and made one of the most adorable expressions of relief Lucia had ever seen.
"No problem. Just hurry up and get changed, ok?" brushing one of her long silver-blue tresses of hair off her shoulder, acting aloof as always. Sumire ran downstairs to get changed into the uniform Lucia had given her. Lucia stood in the shop; she caught herself laughing softly at Sumire. How could a girl that sees such monsters be so lighthearted and blithe? Lucia almost wished she could be more like her. She touched her eye patch, one that covered a dark secret, and frowned.
Sumire rushed out of her room after changing into her Vanguard uniform, she headed towards the stairs. "Sumire-chan!" called a sweet voice from the kitchen, "Is that you?"
Sumire stopped running, "Yes, Lola-chan, what is it?" Out of the kitchen skipped a cute blonde haired girl that could be compared to a living doll. This was most likely due to the fact that she was one, created by magic. The doll grinned and hugged Sumire.
"You were late again, weren't you, Sumire-chan?" Lola asked, nibbling on a piece of chocolate pocky, her favorite treat. Sumire frowned and Lola laughed. "You should try to be more punctual, Lucia-oneesama worries about you when you are late…She is always ready to rush off to rescue you or something and it distracts her from her work."
"Oh no! I- I don't mean to cause anymore trouble for Lucia-san. I – I will do my best, I promised her I wouldn't be late again." Replied Sumire, clutching the bow at her chest and looking rather guilt ridden.
"Well good, do your best Sumire-chan!" exclaimed Lola, though Sumire felt more like she was cheering her on for some impossible task by the way she posed as she spoke. Sumire began to go up the stairs, but paused.
"Lola-chan…does Lucia really worry about me?" she asked meekly.
"Oh yes!" Lola chimed in her high voice, "She stares at the door, messes up inventory, and even folds the shirts wrong. Last week she brought a male costumer a dress to try on because she was so distracted when you were gone till sun down! You really need to be more considerate, Sumire-chan." Sumire took a moment to absorb Lola's words. 'Lucia-san really worries that much about me? Why doesn't she ever act like it! Oh gosh, I had no idea..' Lola laughed at Sumire's confusion, "What are you waiting for, get to work!" she ordered, biting down on her pocky again. Sumire was dragged back from her thoughts; she nodded dutifully and rushed up the stairs.
When Sumire returned, Lucia was helping a costumer pick out a new outfit. Sumire watched quietly. Lucia was truly fascinating, around strangers she was confident, warm, and inviting; a character she played to sell her western style clothing and antiques, and to keep costumers coming back. She could even pull off the eye patch she wore over her left eye as if it were regular fashion for a fifteen year old girl, though she was incredibly beautiful despite it. Sumire folded some shirts, 'if only Lucia was like this all the time', she thought. She found a new dress that Lucia had just ordered, it was a short white strapless with elegant blue embroidery, a cross down the center of the chest with wispy trimmings; a beautiful design. Sumire was tempted to try it on, but she knew Lucia would take too pleasure in that and probably start dressing her up again. She giggled when she remembered the first time she tried on clothing at the shop and how Lucia spent the rest of the day making her put on various outfits. Sumire liked it when Lucia stopped being so serious for a bit and allowed herself to be a teenager once in awhile, but times like that were rare. The real Lucia was truly mysterious, Sumire only caught glimpses of her from time to time; usually she wore a façade to hide herself, much like the eye patch that hid her power. Recently it had seemed Lucia was definitely warming up to Sumire. She was kinder, making light conversation during training exercises or giving advice. However, though they lived and worked together, even faced death together, Sumire could feel a distance between them that she couldn't minimize. It was more like a professional association than a friendship. There were so many secrets between them. Nevertheless, and though she didn't quite understand it, something inside her compelled her to be Lucia's friend, she could tell that Lucia needed her. She wondered why Lucia didn't want to trust her, she was constantly reserved and detached. The only personal things Sumire really knew about Lucia she had learned from her adoptive father Sōichirō. She wanted to consider them friends, Lucia was genuinely pleasant to her, aside from the times she had to scold Sumire for being lazy or messing things up. Though she did come off as cruel and harsh when Sumire made errors from time to time, she seemed to look out for the younger girl. In fact, she protected her as if she were Sumire's personal bodyguard. She was only concerned for her safety, and her unsympathetic criticisms were advantageous. Sumire just wished she could see less of the Hunter-Lucia, and more of the 15 yr old girl. She wanted to know what was really going on in her head, behind her composed expression and the decorated eye-patch she wore. 'But how?' She frowned. "Sumire?' said Lucia from across the room, ever observant, "What is it? Are you ill?"
"Oh no, Lucia-san, I'm fine." Sumire replied, quickly smiling again, "I'm just going to..go .. do inventory!" She turned to go downstairs, but Lucia caught her arm and turned her around. For a moment, the older girl just studied Sumire, looking her over suspiciously.
"Don't lie to me…" she warned, she was extremely close to the younger girl, her uncovered eye focused on Sumire's face. Sumire could smell her perfume, roses, mixed with the scent of tobacco. It was a strangely sweet and alluring fragrance.
"I'm perfectly fine!" exclaimed Sumire, blushing furiously.
"You look feverish." replied the hunter, touching her hand to Sumire's forehead. Sumire shook her head, though she certainly felt warm now. Lucia let go of her arm, "Fine then, but don't over work yourself and lay down if you get dizzy. I need you to be healthy, in case we get attacked again tonight." advised Lucia. Sumire nodded and nearly flung herself down the steps and into the basement. She swore that sometimes Lucia could read her mind or something, when in reality one just had to look at Sumire's face to see her emotions plastered all over it. The basement of the shop doubled as Lucia and Sumire's residence, which they also shared with Nahashi Sōichirō, who remained in his study most of the time, and Lola, who designed their weapons. She walked into the room she lived in with Lucia and plopped onto her bed, sighing deeply. Maybe she should lie down for a bit, she did feel light-headed. She checked her phone, hoping Yoshiki had called, but there were no messages. She wanted to see him, and she blushed as she thought about him, her secret crush. She would have to go look for him tomorrow in their usual place; this time she would have to tell Lucia where she was going so she wouldn't be concerned. She glanced over at Lucia's side of the room, neat as always. She got up and walked over to Lucia's vanity and looked in the mirror. She gasped.
"Oh my gosh, no wonder she thought I was sick…I'm a mess!" she cried, quickly fixing her hair. She stared at the mirror for a long time. How long had it been since she met Lucia? Two months? Three perhaps? She thought back to the first day they met, how Lucia had saved her from a particularly revolting Virus. She was almost frightening then, she had tossed Sumire a leaflet with directions to her shop, and threatened to curse Sumire if she didn't go to the Vanguard the following day. Sumire honestly feared she would be cursed, so she went. When she arrived, she had no idea what was in store for her. The mysteriously charming girl didn't only own the Venus Vanguard shop, but she headed the frontlines in a force that fought against a plague of demons on the earth, demons she referred to asViruses; and according to Sōichirō, Sumire had developed a sight that attracted the monsters to her. Initially, Lucia only intended to use Sumire as bait for powerful demons, but during an attack, the hunter accidently shot Sumire with an Anti-Virus vaccine bullet, which didn't normally affect humans. After that, Sumire couldn't remember a thing..but Lucia informed her that she had become a human Anti-virus, as evidenced by the crosses in her eyes, and that she had destroyed the monster with her bare hands before collapsing. Lucia then urged Sumire to join the Vanguard and to hunt Viruses with her, but Sumire was inclined to turn her down. However, after realizing how dangerous it would be without the hunter to teach her how to defend herself from Viruses, Sumire gave in. She even asked to move in with Lucia. She never regretted the decision, though she was still unable to control her 'berserker' mode. She gazed at her reflection, had she become any stronger? Each time she came in contact with the vaccines she transformed into an Anti-virus, but she always ended up attacking Lucia for some reason, trying to "break her". She was getting better, but couldn't quite control it yet. Lucia was strong enough to defend herself, but Sumire hated knowing that she would even try to hurt Lucia. She got up and walked away from the mirror, not wanting to look at herself anymore. 'How can Lucia even look at me? She wondered, Someone who would kill her the first chance I get!' She fell onto her bed again and hugged a pillow. She thought about how nice Lucia had been about her being late even though Sumire had troubled her, and how she had worried about her health too. She should have been working, but thinking so much about Lucia's face so close to her own made her legs weak. She closed her eyes and tried to think of something else. 'Yoshiki.' She smiled and let her mind drift off to a different place, where her face was close to his, not Lucia's…and their lips touched. She drifted further into the sweet dream.
She woke up, sitting up promptly and shaking the images from her head. She thought about her dream, it had started off with Yoshiki, but..his hands got smaller, his lips softer. Eventually , she was dreaming of someone totally different. She blushed, clearly she had been thinking about upsetting Lucia too much and now she was dreaming of her instead. Nothing more. Still, it bothered her that she felt…aroused. She rolled on her stomach and shoved her face in the pillow. Suddenly, she heard noises upstairs. She remembered how she was supposed to be working. 'Oh no! How long was I asleep?!' She jumped out of the bed and ran towards the door.
As she opened the door and dashed out, she ran into Lucia who had been reaching for the handle. They toppled over, both surprised and confused as they lay on the floor. Sumire groaned and didn't move for a moment, until she realized the floor was much softer than it should be. Then she became aware that she had fallen right on Lucia, her face pushed into the older girl's chest. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-, I didn't expect you t-..I-I was just coming up to do inventory." gasped Sumire, rather overwrought. She jumped off Lucia and stood up. Lucia followed, rubbing her right shoulder with a mildly pained expression. However, she laughed as she looked at Sumire. Surprisingly, she still wasn't angry.
"No need, I just closed the shop. I was worried about you, are you feeling better?" said Lucia, rather bluntly as she brushed herself off. Sumire wondered how she could say that so nonchalantly.
"I told you I was ok!" Sumire exclaimed, suddenly feeling extremely at fault, "You didn't have to d-!" Lucia cut the flustered girl off by putting a single finger on her lips.
"-- And we have a job." She stated, shutting Sumire up. Even after she pulled her hand back, Sumire felt the lingering chill of Lucia's finger on her lips. Once in a while, a particular client would enter the store, normally carrying one of the Venus Vanguard leaflets ,and Lucia would close the shop. These special costumers sought services not usually advertised in the city, unique exterminations -of Viruses. Lucia would hunt down the soul devouring monsters and receive some sort of payment or compensation in return. After Lucia's mother died, Sōichirō had raised her with the knowledge training to hunt the viruses; he knew the demons would seek her because of the power she hid behind her eye patch. Normally, the jobs were finished quickly, viruses typically traveled and hunted alone and having a walking anti-virus made it much easier to destroy them. Lately, however, the viruses had been moving differently, travelling in packs and attacking as if they had a strategy. Lucia was certain a very strong Virus was behind it, she hoped it was the one she had been searching for, the one who murdered her mother. Sumire hoped so as well, she wanted Lucia to finally stop her search and live her life, even if it meant Sumire would had to help fight such a dangerous Virus. "Apparently, there is a large group of viruses in a park across town." Said Lucia, "We need to go take care of them. Hopefully we'll get some clues too." Sumire nodded, "Let's go."
Oh Sumire, what are you doing with yourself? I'd like to see her take control of situations later on. wouldn't you? And Lucia..oooooh Lucia, I have the biggest girl crush on her, no joke. Uhmm..yea, I really like this chapter to be honest, it's all full of LuciaXSumire semi-casual/oblivious flirtation. It's a nice hint at what's to come further along in the story after dealing with certain..black haired, gray eyed obstacles.. you'll understand when you get there. I'm done giving hints of what's to come for now. Get Alerted for the next Update! And REVIEW! Pleeeeease? I'll love you forever..or something.