I know it may seems short, but hopefully it'll satisfy all of you. I'm sorry that it took me forever to get this updated. I can only promise you that I have no intentions in quitting writing. So, please be patient with me and my further updates.
Chapter Three
Everything was dark when I slowly regained consciousness.
It didn't take long before I felt searing pain tearing through my body and most of it gathered in my head. I remember now. I had put up a hard fight…only to end up being knocked out.
That Fujino Shizuru… in my experience of fighting and killing vampires, I had never came across a vampire with this kind of strength and speed.
She's no ordinary vampire.
Slowly opening my eyes, I groaned in response to the pain and blinked some, trying to clear up my vision. The first thing that came in sight were those red pools. I glared at her threateningly.
"Now, now… take it easy. I'm sorry I didn't take it easy on you, but you wouldn't listen," the countess sighed gently.
"And why the hell should I listen to YOU out of all people!? You murdered them all… and my mother!"
I watched as her eyebrows furrow in confusion. 'Oh hell no… you're not acting dumb with me!'
"Spit it out, Fujino… no use in lying. I know it was you,"
"Ara… I will admit, I have killed my share of pitiful mortals, but I'm afraid you have the wrong person. You don't know me at all, Kuga. If you really have common sense, you should know not to jump to conclusions," the Countess spoke with seriousness.
I couldn't do anything but huff in frustration, yet I held my cold gaze against hers.
"…Tell me, what exactly are you?"
Shizuru merely smirked and winked at me, which agitated me because I knew she'd be evading the question, "I will tell you… but not now. There are more important things I have to explain."
"Yea… I suppose you do… like how the hell am I your future wife?! You can't be serious."
"I am serious. I guess your mother just never told you…" her crimson hues seemed to darken slightly as she looked right into my eyes and I had to hold back a shudder. It felt like she was looking right into my soul.
"Yes, I knew your mother. She was the most kindest woman I've ever met. Too bad that trait was never passed on," offended by the remark, I growled lowly at the vampire.
"How the hell can you be so sure that I'm the daughter of someone you used to know?!"
Shizuru chuckled, "Ara, if that's not your last name on your vest, then I'd like to know what it means."
'…Natsuki, baka!'
"…Your eyes," that Kyoto-accented voice spoke again but softly this time, throwing me off guard, "They're just like hers. They hold a special secret."
I studied the vampire carefully as she gazed back at me. What she just said, I could tell that it meant something more. A secret that I don't know about… yet. Suddenly, I remember the young woman in that picture I saw out in the hall. 'Could it be? Impossible.'
Loud sounds of glass breaking tore me out of my reverie and turned my attention to where it came from. Something or someone had shot through one of the color-stained windows and landed in between of me and the Countess. Recognizing the sword the newcomer wielded, I felt a rush of relief wash over to see Mikoto was still alive.
The young hunter growled lowly as she swiftly unsheathed her katana and charged at the red-eyed temptress.
I started to worry a little. If Shizuru was capable of knocking me out, there's no telling what she could do to Mikoto. In duels, me and Mikoto are pretty much equally skilled and agile. Shizuru defeated me which means Mikoto might have no chance against her.
Shizuru had managed to dodge the swing of Mikoto's katana and knocked the attacking one back with a knee to her stomach forcefully. I noticed that she was only dodging her attacks after. She didn't even want to fight.
"Mikoto! Stop! She won't hurt us. She doesn't want to fight."
Shizuru glanced at me briefly with minor surprise. She was probably shocked by the fact I, a vampire hunter, had trusted her enough. I didn't know how or why, but I just knew I could trust her. Mikoto backed a few feet away and narrowed her eyes at the Countess. I could tell she wanted to get revenge for Mai, but she knew that she could trust me so she had no choice but to obey. A distant yell was heard and Shizuru glanced to the main doors then back at me.
"Your friend will be fine," Shizuru nodded her head towards Mai to emphasize who she was talking about, "I apologize for Haruka-san's brutal behavior towards her. She is quite protective of Yukino."
"Fujino!" the blonde had returned, storming through the main doors, "I can sense him nearby!"
'Him who…?'
As I wondered who the blonde was talking about, I took note of the Countess' expression. I could tell she was now concerned and the look in her eyes made me shiver. They became cold just as the aura surrounding her did.
"Haruka, please take Kuga and her friends to the guest room," I was about to protest, there was no way in hell I'd stay in this manor. However, I still needed to hear Shizuru's explanation about what the hell was going on so I remained silent.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you three leave… yet," the crimson gaze was locked on me.
--
"Sir? Are you sure? I mean, shouldn't we wait…"
"I said return to the Headquarters now," Reito coolly replied, his gaze cold and demanding.
"Y-yes, sir," the pilot of the helicopter proceeded to levitate the aircraft in the air and flew off, leaving everyone else behind.
A small yet sinister grin crept across the young man's lips, 'At last, I've found you, my dear Shizuru.'
--
From a window, on the top floor of the manor, a young girl with red hair and eyes of venom watched silently as the helicopter left.
"Hm… this can't be good."
"A-are you even sure it's him?" a soft and timid voice squeaked.
The other person snorted, "Oh please, Yukino. If it is, let him bring his pretty ass down here so I can send it to hell--"
"You realize that he holds the blood of a superior race, right? He is no normal vampire. He's a monster," a huskier voice interrupted.
"Whatever. Shizuru's one of them too isn't she? Besides, she hates his guts. There's no way in hell she'll be beaten so easily. You should already know, Midori, that the Fujino Shizuru is not to be fucked with. At all."
An older woman chuckled softly as she leaned against the wall and smirked, her olive hues was observing a mark on the nape of the younger girl's neck that appeared a bit too deep, "Yeah, I'd say… that's one hell of a love bite you got there. You piss her off in bed or something?"
The younger girl of the two grinned, reminiscing the sweet moments of the previous night, "You'd like to know, wouldn't you? What's going on with the hunters, by the way? Shizuru's sure taking her time…"
Midori's olive eyes glanced back at the younger one, "Heh, you could say that."
"What do you mean by that?"
"…Apparently, Shizuru's got a new 'pet'."
Jealousy sparked in venom hues as they glared out the window, "Oh, really…"
"Somebody's jealous"
"What?? You're delirious!" the younger girl huffed softly, a soft blush adoring her cheeks.
"Sure, sure… if you say so," Midori laughed as she headed out of the room.
'…Damn it. Shizuru's mine… no one else's! A new pet, eh? We'll see about that.'
TBC
Next chapter: The secret of Natsuki's mother is revealed and Natsuki makes a new rival.
