The time in the Twilight mansion seemed to pass too slowly. Everybody's wait for Takashiro's decision made time stand still in their eyes. Toko was with her phone, wondering if to call Yuuki even though Takashiro didn't say a thing yet.
As for Takashiro, he heard about a battle between Duras and special kind of humans who wanted to protect humanity from Duras, even if they didn't know a thing about them. That was was useless from the start. These humans didn't have the ability to hurt the Duras. For that reason, Giou clan offered its hand in the matter.
It was never said if they are blood sucking creatures, but there were rumors about them having fangs and power which reminded those of Giou clan's.
The unnatural wasn't new for him. He lived it everyday for so many years, but having another kind of humans, or worse, humans who lost their humanity, was a bit questionable.
In the end, he made up his mind.
He entered to the dining room, where everyone ate dinner at that time, or at least tried to. The stress was unbearable. So when Takashiro went in, all eyes were turned to his direction.
"Well, after a long thought. I made up my mind." he said, and then turned his head to Toko, "Tell them we'll meet in order to discuss the matter."
"Yes!" Toko, who felt relieved, said happily.
Toko left the others and went to call Yuuki.
Yuuki's lessons were over for today. She sat in the room and read a book as she tried to relax. But still she couldn't stand still, as she glanced at the phone in her room from time to time. Suddenly, it rang.
"Hello, who's that?" Yuuki asked.
"Kuran-chan? Hello, Toko's speaking. You gave me your phone number today. Though I was worried someone else is going to answer because it isn't your cellphone."
"I'm the only one using the phone. I convinced Kaname onii-sama we need one, but he never uses it. Just earlier he sent someone instead of just calling, so it's fine. By the way, I won't mind if you call me by my first name. Is it okay for me to call you Toko-chan?"
"Sure. Though having another one called Yuki-chan "is a bit weird."
"So, you know another girl whose name is Yuuki?"
"It's a boy, actually. You saw him yourself. He's the brown-haired guy who was with me."
"So why do you give him the honorific chan?"
"Long story. Anyway, I talked with Takashiro-sama and he said he wanted to hear more details."
"Who is he?"
"Our leader, I guess. Anyway, tell me when the president your brother mentioned will be able to meet with him."
"I will. Goodbye, Toko-chan!"
"Bye, Kuran-chan."
Yuuki hanged up the phone. She felt relived. Kaname wasn't home yet, but Hanabusa just returned.
"Aidou-senpai."
"Good evening, Yuuki-sama."
"What did the chairman say?"
"He said he'll meet Kaname-sama tomorrow right after dusk."
"Great news! I was just told they agree to the cooperate with us."
"Who are you talking about?"
"The people who have the knowledge about the vampire who is nothing like was ever seen before."
"And the reason is?"
"He's half demon."
"Half wh-"
Hanabusa froze in his place. Unlike vampires, who care for humans after all, and had good and bad vampires, he feared that those demons were nothing but dark and devilish.
Everyone in the association were informed about the new time of the meeting.
"So I hurried for nothing." Yagiri sighed "I wonder what is the urgent massage."
"God knows what Kuran's thinking, but I learned something interesting today from somebody else."
"It's hard to believe that something can interest you."
"I think it might even interest you."
"Try me."
"Seems not only vampires threaten humanity."
"That's not new, humanity threatens itself."
"I mean, another kind of creature."
"Another kind of creatures? Are you going to bluff about aliens?"
"Do you know me as a bluffer?"
"No, that's why I'm worried."
"He said he's a Duras, which is kind of demon."
"Oh, then he's a bluffer and you're naïve."
"I don't know. Though he looked like human, something about him was unnatural."
"Let's pretend this conversation never happened." Yagiri said and went away.
Though Yagiri doubted his words, Zero knew time will prove them. He didn't think it would be so soon.
When Kaname got home again, the sun already started to rise. What a surprise it was for him to find Hanabusa sitting on the staircase and shaking.
"Aidou, you look ill. I think it's better for you to go before the sun rises completely." Kaname said with indifferent tone as he took off his coat.
"Kaname-same." Hanabusa said in scared voice "Yuuki-sama... president... phone call... demon..."
"Can you talk clearly, please?"
"Yuuki-sama told me after I came to the president of the association, that she got a phone call from those you met and said the vampire we're after is is half demon."
"So what did the president say?"
"Kaname-sama, you're not even listening! Demons. I tell you, demons!"
"I was there to hear about it myself. There's nothing to panic over, Aidou."
Kaname knew it was something which can be denied, but he knew that leader's uproar brings to an uproar among his underlings. He tried to keep on a calm attitude despite the fears which arose within him.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Along the way we heard about his other half, we also learned there's a way to handle with these demons."
"But still, there are all those purebloods who..."
"I think we need to cooperate with those who can annihilate those demons in order to bring an end to this matter."
Maybe Kaname's words were those which calmed him or maybe something beyond, but Hanabusa finally stood on his feet. Nothing is going happen, right?
Yuki and Luka sat in Yuki's room. They heard from Toko she had spoken to Yuuki and the two girls arranged the meeting.
"It's good we found about the mysterious Duras." said Yuki with a smile.
"It's meaningless if we never find him. Seems like he uses pawns rather showing himself."
"Pawns?"
"A short time before he first appeared, there were some Duras who had said they are acting in the name of their master. I doubt Reiga is the cause of all the incidents which happened in last month,"
"Do you think Kanata-san is innocent?"
"For the most part, yes. Usually Reiga's underlings love to brag about him. Most of those from last month didn't do that. I can't think of them having any other relationship other than rivalry."
"Rivalry?"
"About controlling the Duras. For now, it doesn't seem as Reiga has the upper hand."
"Kanata-san is in danger! We must save him!" Yuki lost him calmness.
"Reiga is also our enemy, he's the one who causes all the troubles we have." Luka said angrily.
"I know it, I know it very well, but..."
Yuki held Luka's hands tightly and looked down. He worried for Kanata's sake, despite the knowledge of all of his deeds. Luka couldn't help but hug him tightly in order to calm him. Even though he hugged him, he didn't really know what he'd do when the time comes. On one hand he wanted to get rid Reiga, the cause of all the suffering of Giou clan and Yuki among them. On the other, it will bring an end to Yuki's reincarnation. He didn't mind if he would turn into a human himself, but living for so many years without a reason to live, was unbearable thought.
"Another case." Takashiro sighed, reading the papers he got from the police "Yet again, another person with marvelous beauty."
"Lately there are a lot of beautiful victims." Mentioned Ibuki as she brought him tea.
"Yes, since his appearance. I wonder if he also has the same mind as Ashley."
"I don't think so. Ashley's victims were all males while the mysterious Duras targets both genders."
"If Luka can love both men and women..."
"You're wrong. Luka loves the same person, despite his beloved one being a male or a female."
"Anyway, maybe when I meet their representative I'll be able to learn if there's any rational reason."
"Do they have any other connection except being good looking?"
"They all were taken from there, but not by doctors. And even if barely, they all were alive."
"Were taken where?"
"Well, no one knows. Before anyone could identify them, they are taken as to hide them."
"So what is written about the cases?"
"Well, witnesses are asked if they knew anything about it and how they were hurt."
"Why don't they look for them?"
"How should I know? Anyway, all said the victims bled a lot, but no one could guess why."
"Well, it's really not understandable. All the facts are weird."
"Call Toko here. She may have some information."
"Right away, Takashirio-sama."
As he waited in his office, he looked again in the papers. There weren't much of them as they were filled with nothing but witnesses' report. He wondered why no one tried to check the blood which was still on the ground. Maybe it solidified until the police and ambulance's arrival. In any case, maybe it will lead to a trace about all these strange cases. Just as he leaned back and sighed deeply, a knock was heard.
"Come in." He said.
"Did you call me, Takashiro-sama?" Toko asked as she entered.
"I did. I wanted to ask you a few questions about what you've told me."
"What did you want to ask?"
"The vampire you met, was he handsome?"
"They both were. And also the one I saw with Luka. May I ask, why?"
"Well, there are reports of beautiful people who were hurt badly and were gone right after."
"Gone?"
"Well, taken. It it said in some legend that vampires are beautiful creatures."
'And in some they are disgusting and gross.' Toko thought to herself.
"If all of them are good-looking, it may explain why the victims were all taken away."
"What do you mean?"
"They try to hide that that victims are vampires, something which may be found easily in hospital."
"It does make sense. Anyway, when will you be able to meet the president I mentioned?"
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to meet him until him before tomorrow night."
"I'll tell her. now." Toko said and left the room.
"Even though Reiga, our main threat is still there," Takshiro said "This one may destroy us much quicker if we don't take care of him"
The phone rang in Kaien's office.
"Hello, Chairmam. I mean, president." A familiar voice was heard.
"Yuuki." Kaien's eyes were wet of tears "When will you call me daddy?"
"I'm sorry, da... The thing is, they say they we'll be able to meet you tomorrow night."
"I thought I was going to hear daddy." He said with teary voice and then changed to a serious one "It is the time I said I'd meet Kaname-kun. Well, maybe it's better if I meet them together,"
"Lord Pyeras," a mid-villain Duras said as he entered the room his master sat in.
His master stood up. He gazed upon him with his green eyes. His almost red hair seemed like a dried blood. In front of him was an unconscious young man with black hair and eyes shut. The man called Pyeras smiled an evil smile like a beast which is about to eat its prey.
"That's the end of 1000 years or ruling over the Duras. Reiga, wait just a bit more. The end near."
His laugher filled the room. The other Duras joined him. Though they were minority, they knew that when Reiga will be no more, Pyeras will take his place. Reiga got his power despite or for the fact he wasn't a whole Duras, but also half human. But unlike Reiga, Pyeras had a stronger second half. Yes, he was half Duras half Vampire. As themselves, the vampires weren't different from humans. But the combination of vampire granted Pyeras a strong and unimaginable power, much stronger than Reiga's, the current leader.
"One is already down, another one to go." his devil animalistic smile was half hidden by darkness in the room.
