Chapter 2: The Hunt


"Miss, just one more pull and then we're done, please, hold it together,"

"It's too tight, Nanako!" Akane groaned through gritted teeth, whilst the corset around her waist was pulled so tightly, all the air in her lungs was forced out through a single gasp. She was hunched over - or as far as she could hunch over - her desk, sweat dripping down her face.

"I'm sorry Akane-sama, but Souma-sama-,"

"I know, she ordered you to make me the complexion of perfection," She said the last three words in the pretentious voice her mother always spoke in and was pleased to hear that Nanako was chuckling lightly at the way she ridiculed the mistress of the house.

This day was Akane's birthday. She was 16; the exact age to be sold - or wed, as they prefer to say it - to a rich man, so she could make up for the fact that she fucked everything up and her family could still be somewhat proud of her. Of course, Akane wasn't even the least bit pleased with this, but she always knew this would be her faith and she had to accept that, even if she didn't know to whom she was wed to.

Her mother was extatic, of course, but she had the feeling it had everything to do with being rid of such a useless daughter and nothing to do with Akane's happiness whatsoever. But then again; what did she expect?

Akane sighed and - many layers of white cloth and lace later - she looked into the mirror. She wanted to smile at how pretty Nanako had made her, but she didn't. In fact; she'd never felt worse in her life. But then again; she also never felt as good as she looked right then.

"You look so beautiful, your husband is a very lucky man, I can see that," The old maid smiled fondly, placing her hands on Akane's shoulder in a very motherly way, but she could see that Akane's eyes were just empty green jades in her eye sockets.

Nanako was probably the only motherly figure Akane ever had, practically being raised by her, but even she could not bring a smile to that face at that moment. It was nearly time to leave the house, anyway. Akane doubted her family would be there to wish her a farewell, not that she cared much for it.

The only thing that stung her heart a little bit, was that Takuma was nowhere to be found. He was always there for her, yet the only time she needed him the most, he wasn't there. But her suspicions were that he wasn't allowed anywhere near her, after all; it wasn't Akane's job to be happy, right?

The girl sighed again and looked at her suitcases. "Kuran-sama is almost here, we'd better wait downstairs for him,"

"Kuran?"

...

"They still think she's her," Takuma said softly, an urgent tone under his breath. "We have to keep it this way... because if they find about about it... They'll kill her, Kaname,"

"I'm aware of this, Ichijou,"

"Until I keep her save-"

"Ichijou," Kaname interrupted Takuma with a stern voice. "I am aware of the plan,"

The expression on Kaname's face had Takuma say no more. He trusted Kaname a hundred procent, of course, but there was something in the back of his head, deep down in his gut... something that made him think the plan was going to backfire.

"I just have this feeling..."

"I will make sure everything is going to be fine. I have my own reasons why I need this to work, remember?" Kaname said at last, before departing the stopped car without waiting for another reply from Takuma.

Izanagi Souma, Akane's father, was already waiting in front of the house, smiling at the pureblooded vampire as Kaname walked up to him. He could see Izanagi's smile became more of a nervous frown since Kaname didn't smile back.

"Is she ready?"

"Yes, Kaname-sama,"

"If she is not it..."

"She is, Kaname-sama, she is!"

The desperation on Izanagi's face already betrayed that, even if he wasn't so sure anymore that Akane was her, he was set on making Kaname think that she was. Of course, trying to rip off a pureblood was never a good idea, especially when the debt he had already made with Kaname could cost him everything he ever earned.

But Kaname merely presented a cold smile on his face, before turning to the door and, without asking permission to enter, entered the door to see Akane standing in the hallway with her bags packed next to her. She was wearing a beautiful white dress that went to the floor, and her face was distorted into a rather fake smile.

"Kaname-san!" Akane was trying her hardest to sound happy and cheery, but she could already hear by the crack in her voice that it was neither convincing her father nor Kaname. But she didn't look at her father to check, not wanting his dissaproving face to be the last expression she saw on him. She wasn't even sure why she cared so much in the first place though.

A graceful smile played on Kaname's lips as he walked forward towards Akane. "Shall we leave then?" Akane nodded quickly.

"No, I'll carry this for you, I wouldn't want your beautiful dress to be ruined," She was surprised by the courteous gesture of Kaname actually offering to make his hands dirty, but she said nothing, since she could barely walk properly with that corset on in the first place. Wthout looking at her father, she walked through the doorway and towards the car.

As Kaname was putting her luggage into the car, she took a last glance at the house. Seeing the Soumas were rich, it was only fitting that they had an age old mansion. Akane wouldn't particularly miss the house, but something inside her, a feeling of melancholy filled her heart. She would never forget the good times she had with Takuma.

Takuma... Where was he?

"He's in the car," Kaname whispered closely, as if he was saying something sweet into her ear. Akane figured Kaname knew why she had such a sad expression, and she smiled a grateful smile at him, making her way over to get into the car.

"Takuma!" Akane smiled brightly upon seeing her favourite childhood friend already seated in the car and, with much difficulty and pain, took the empty seat next to him as he wrapped his arm around her.

Takuma rested his head on Akane's head and took a wif of her black hair. She always smelled so nice and comforting. He had to admit that, when he saw her get into that car, his heart had lept. He'd never seen Akane this beautiful before. Not to mention the great deal of cleavage the dress gave her was... Clearing his throat, Takuma looked the other way, his cheeks a faint pink.

Akane waited till Kaname got into the front seat, to give her and Takuma some privacy,and the car has started driving before lifting her head from Takuma's shoulder and finally speaking.

"Taku, why are you here... I thought-,"

"Yes, what you thought is right, they did wed you to Kaname. But what they don't know is that..." Takuma paused for a second, he looked a bit uncomfortable before deciding to speak again. "I... originally asked for your hand,"

"You?"

"Yes, yes, I know," He quickly answered, waving away Akane's weirded out and amused expression. "You know I said I would do anything to protect you, Akane, and I'm keeping this promise. I don't want you to be wed to some random guy, it's my job not to let this happen, but your parents wouldn't let me... they said they had someone else they wanted to wed you to. I knew this was bad news, so I talked to Kaname and he promised me to pretend to take you, so that I can take you somewhere else. Somewhere save,"

"Why would he do this for me?"

Takuma hesitated for a minute. He was sure he couldn't tell her... everything. Although, if she would have known about him hiding something, she would definitely be pissed at him for doing so. No, he had to keep her save.

"He has his reasons. The important thing is, Akane, you're save now," He smiled warmly and hugged her again in a warm embrace. He was so relieved with how smoothly it went, he finally saved her from those horrible people they called Akane's family. Finally he could protect Akane like he always swore he would, from when they were little kid.

"I'm just so relieved, I thought I wouldn't see you before leaving the house," Akane smiled brightly, her whole future suddenly seemed a lot more bright than it originally seemed. She never thought Takuma was planning to take her away from all of the chaos she grew up in. He really did mean all that he promised her, not that Takuma wasn't to be trusted.

Though just as Takuma opened his mouth to respond, the car came to an abrupt stop after they heard a loud bang. Takuma, still holding Akane tightly, looked around the car with a panic stricked expression.

"Hunters," He urgently spoke. "Come on we have to get out,"

Before she knew it, Akane was hoisted out of the car. It seemed that they were in the middle of nowhere, although to their advantage this middle of nowhere was in the middle of a very thick forest.

"Go on, run!" Takuma yelled whilst taking out his kanata. Despite her corset squeezing her stomach together, she needn't be told twice and ran as hard as she could, without looking back. She knew Takuma would eventually catch up to her.

Branches were cutting open her cheeks and her bare feet, but she ignored the pain, barely even feeling it. Once at a save distant, she came to a stop. She was afraid anyone could hear her harsh breathing, but the corset cutting of her air didn't make it possible for her to breath a little less loudly.

Akane looked around. The forest was dark and peaceful. The distant battle sounds she'd heard earlier completely vanished and she seemed to be alone. She wanted to yell out Takuma's name, but she wouldn't dare. What if the attackers were still there? What if they were lurking around the woods, just waiting for her to come out?

No, she had to keep moving. She had to get herself to safety, there was no time to be dependent on Takuma. Having made her decision, Akane ripped off some of the heavier fabrics of her dress and struggled to take off her corset. She was now only wearing a very thin, white underdress, so she took the skirt of her whole dress as a cape.

The corset and the other parts of the dress she didn't need, she hid in a hole in a tree and she started running again, now being able to run freely.

"AKANE!"

She came to an instant stop.

"AKANE!"

It sounded like Takuma's voice. Was it Takuma's voice?

"Takuma?" She asked in an uncertain voice.

"TAKUMA!"

The sweet voice of Akane echoed through the woods. "She's save," Takuma smiled relieved, putting his blood stained katana back into the holster. Bodies of hunters and ash of Level E were laying around the sight of the broken car. He couldn't help but wonder why in the world the Level E were working together with the hunters.

But it wasn't of importance now, Akane was the only thing on his mind.

"TAKUMA!"

Her voice echoed through the woods yet again and Takuma started running in the direction of her face.

"AKANE I'M HERE," he screamed as he slashed away branches and jumped up against the occasional tree trunk.

Akane, extatic about hearing the voice of her best friend, also made her move to run in the direction of Takuma's voice. But she was stopped.

"Why the hurry, little girl?"

A shiver went up her spine upon hearing the voice. It was a creepy... very cold kind of voice. Slowly, she turned around. The man in front of her looked very ragged, almost as if he could break any minute, but he didn't. His eyes had a creepy, strong glint in them. The weird thing was that they both has different colours. She remembered the last time she saw someone with these eyes but... no... it wasn't him. This was clearly someone else.

The man looked at her and his grin dropped, "You're not her,"

"What are you talking about?"

"TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!" The man leaped forward, pinning Akane against the nearest tree. She let out a gasp.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" She yelled back, trying to beat the man off her, but he was too strong.

"He deceived me, didn't he? HE DECEIVED ME!"

The man took out a shiny object and before Akane could make up whatever it was, an agonizing pain entered her stomach. He smiled with a sadistic glint in his eyes when Akane felt her own blood fill up her mouth.

She couldn't say a thing, she only stared in horror as the man held up the knife again to jam it right into her skull. So this was how it was supposed to end? She wasn't supposed to have a happy life with Takuma, she wasn't supposed to find true love and live happily ever after?

Almost as if she was accepting her fate, Akane closed her eyes, so she wouldn't have to witness the knife nearing her, but just when she was expecting a pain to hit her, a pang sounded through the woods and she heard something fall in front of her. The attacker was now on the floor.

"Ta...ku...ma...?" She whispered, looking up at the man standing in front of her. But she couldn't make up who it was; her vision had become more blurred. She figured she had lost a lot of blood. But before she lost consciousness, she heard a familliar voice.

"You really know how to get yourself into trouble, don't you?"

She knew this voice... it was warm and low.

...

"She's gone, Ichijou, it's useless,"

"No... No! She's here somewhere, she must be!"

Takuma's eyes filled with tears. He had arrived at Akane's destination too late. She was gone, nowhere to be found. He just found a pool of blood... Akane's blood, and parts of her dress tucked into the hole of a tree.

"Ichijou,"

But Takuma didn't listen. When he saw the sight of this, it was like a huge concrete block was hanging onto his heart, slowly tearing it apart inch by inch. His gut turned over and he couldn't help but play the worst scenarios over in his head.

"Akane... Akane... please be save." He begged to himself, although he could almost be certain... no he couldn't think like this. Not her. Not Akane. Not the only person who made him happy. It was impossible. It was unfair.

"ARGH!" Takuma screamed in agony, slashing the tree down with his katana, his eyes seething with rage.

Even Kaname was taken aback by this sudden show of emotion. Takuma was usually the fun, cheery person, but he honestly looked like a broken man right then. A broken man who had lost any reason to live.

"I will find her, Kaname, she can't be dead... She can't be," He whispered to himself, tears flowing down his cheeks while he spoke.

...

"Yagarii-kuuun, you're so cruel!"

"Get OUT old man!"

"But Yagari-kuuun~

"That's it, I've asked you nicely"

CRASH.

"That old geezer, always on my nerves,"

Akane slowly opened her eyes.A blinding light blinded her before she could look properly She couldn't remember ever being here before. The room was a traditional Japanese room, only the usual futon was now a bed she was lying on. Barely, she managed to turn her head. Why was it throbbing so badly?

Why was she here? Who was that voice?

The girl closed her eyes again, screwing up her face as she thought. She remembered being in a car with Takuma... and then a forest... a man... That man. What happened after that? Had he kidnapped her? A rush of panic made Akane's eyes shoot open, she sat up and managed to get on her feet before immediately falling to the ground next to her bed.

"Ouch..." She groaned, as the stinging pain where she was stabbed returned in her stomach. When her hand shot up to hold the expected open wound, though, she realized that someone had bandaged it quite nicely. Why would a kidnapper try to take care of her? She thought. And what happened to her clothes?

Again Akane started panicking. What did he do to her? Before she could try to drag herself to somewhere save, where no one would see her, though, the sliding door opened and she heard a man sigh.

"You're not strong enough to walk," She heard him say, before a pair of strong arms picked her up and laid her back on the soft bed. While the hunter put the covers back on Akane, she looked at him. It was the exact same hunter she had seen before. The same man with the black hair, bright blue eyes and eyepatch. Only he seemed more relaxed now... maybe a little bit handsome.

"I know you," She said. "You're that man in the garden,"

"And you're the stupid kid who wanted to die and nearly got herself killed,"

Akane ignored this comment, "Where are my clothes?"

"Oh you mean the blood stained, dirty rag you were wearing? I threw it out,"

"So you took off my clothes?"

The man looked at her shocked, almost disgusted expression and raised his eyebrows.

"Trust me, kid, I'm not that kind of man. And also; I didn't do it,"

"Then who did?"

"A nurse. Is that all you're worried about now?" He looked at her with an amused expression and Akane rolled her eyes at him. "What's your name?" The man asked her.

"What's yours?" An amused smile warmed up his face as she shot him an challenging look.

"Yagari Touga,"

"Akane,"

"Got a last name, Akane?"

"None of your business," She knew for certain that if he did know her last name, he could use her as ransom for anything. It was better if she protected the identity of her and her family. Her family... if they knew where she was now. Only they probably wouldn't care.

Again, Touga smiled a bit at the daring way she spoke back to him.

"Are you not scared of me, Akane?" He grinned at her, but her face didn't show any sign of fear.

"Brave girl," He nodded and walked out again, leaving Akane before she could ask anymore questions about him. What did he want from her? Why did her take her in?