Blood Reign; Chapter 4; Cold Blood
"Are they still out there?" Mariaz asked as her sister stood watching out the window, "Only a few, some left a while ago" Marla said as her sister joined her in the window. Dow below she could see them standing below, like statues, the one in front…Megumi, glanced upwards with empty eyes that seem to stared right at Mariaz.
"What should we do?" Marla said as she watched her sister give a huff, "Hn, I'm going to bed, do as you wish" she said before leaving her sister. As Marla looked back down, she gave a soft sigh; the front of the house was empty.
The next morning…
Natsuno and the others were woken up to a rather pleasant smell, as they came down the steps they were met with sight of a full spread of food on the table,
"Well good morning!" Marco greeted them as he and his siblings were all seated at the table, "Come one and get some breakfast" he said as the three looked at each other before sitting at the table.
"Hope you guys are hungry, eat as much as you like we have plenty" he said as the others looked at all the food, "Thank you" they said respectively.
"After breakfast Marco will escort you home" Mariaz said suddenly before taking another sip of coffee, the three visitors looked at her before Koari said, "Um, thank you"
"Also…I think it would be best for you to stay out of the forest at night" she said rather sternly as silence fell in the room, "Hm, and what will you do if we don't" Natsuno said rather defiantly as all eyes looked at him, then to Mariaz. She remained silent placing her coffee down on the table, "I going to the library, make sure these kids get back to the village" she said rising from her seat and walking towards the door, sparing no further words she left the others.
After dropping the children back at their homes and explaining their absence to their parents, Marco made his way toward the village. He needed to check into work,
"Sorry I'm late Mr. Ookawa" he apologized, "We had a bit of an emergency at the house" he apologized again as the large man stared down at him, "Don't worry about, you can make it up by doing some packing. We're a little short handed today so prepare to do a lot of lifting" Tomio said looking down as Marco smiled nervously before nodding, "Yes sir!" he said before walking rushing outside.
Outside there was a truck already situated in front of the store, going to the back he opened it up and saw the many crates that lined the inside and gave a passive sigh,
"Oh well time to get to work!" he smiled confidently giving his arm good rotate, "Right!" and he attacked the boxes, lifting a stack of three or more of the smaller crates in one hand, while using the other to carry one of the heavier ones.
'At this rate I should be done in time for lunch" he said as he carried the crates to the back of the store, some of the villagers stopped and watched as the male carried the heavy looking crates inside the shop.
"Wow they guys pretty strong, it's almost scary" a man said standing next to Tomio who gave a grunt and nodded, "Does he work for you Tomio-san?"
"Yes he's a new worker of mine" he said as the man owed watching the man continue to unload the large crates and boxes.
It was almost dusk and Marco had well finished the unloading another truck, after which he said goodnight to Mr. Ookawa and his family before leaving the shop. As he walked down the road, he couldn't help how quiet it was.
"Man it's creepy out here" he looked around, not many people were out; actually there was no one out, as his he passed by the police station he caught the steely gaze of a police officer. He smiled and waved to the officer, but the cut of his eyes made him stop before turning to walk away.
'Man what a grump' he thought as he made his way through the village, he stopped for a moment and now stood under a stop light.
'I thought I heard something' he said looking back down the empty road, 'Guess it was nothing' he shrugged it off before walking back down the road. As he passed by a road that overlooked a large field, he gave a quick glance outwards,
'Huh?' turning to look out into the fields he saw someone walking through the large fields of green, he blinked a bit, looking closer he saw what appeared to be a woman. Normally that wouldn't be weird but she looked abnormal. He had to admit she was rather pretty, but there was something off about her. Silently he stood there as he watched the pink haired girl walk into the forest before seemingly disappearing.
"Freaky" he thought before turning back to walk away, he seemed to remain in mid step, a trembling feeling before making a full 360.
'I'm going to kick myself in the morning for this' he gulped before jumping over the guard rail; landing in the fields he made a sprint towards the forest. He stopped behind a group of trees and bushes, peeking between the branches he gave a breathless gasp at what lied in front of him. In the small clearing was a group of 'people', they were pale, yet he could still see a faint glow coming from them. There were a lot of them too, more than 10 possibly 15, still a lot compared to the one him.
As he watched them from his hiding spot he watch as the group continued to stand there, some were talking, but he couldn't tell what they were saying. Suddenly the group seemed to go completely silent as another presence came into view. He was a rather muscled male, with short spiked light blue hair and what looked like ears sticking out of his head. A goofy, toothy smile adorned his face as his yellow eyes looked down at the group.
"What's up everyone, shouldn't you all be hunting?" he said as the group looked at each other, "We were but Nao-san is upset Tatsumi-san?" a man said as the one called Tatsumi looked at the blue haired woman, "What's wrong?" he inquired as the woman looked down casted, "She wanted to go and turn the rest of her family, but.."
"I can't get to them!" she suddenly said clutching herself in despair, "I can't…I try, but every time I try to get close I'm pushed away!" she cried and sobbed as some of the others tried to comfort her.
"The same thing happened at the Murasako home" another person said, "Whenever we try to get close to them we're repelled back"
'Interesting' Tatsumi thought as he looked at the group from the smell rising, "Alright settle down! You all continue with your hunts" he said with a smirk, "I'll handle this whole repelling business is. With more Shiki rising we can't have something blocking us from villager's"
As the man continued to talk Marco tried to hear what they were saying, from where he was and how loud the blue haired male was talking he could make out a few words like,
'Hunt'
'Villagers'
'Shiki…Shiki?', he heard that word somewhere, but where. He scratched his head trying to remember, before something clicked in his head. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out a small pamphlet he had always carried around with him.
'Guide of the Supernatural', it wasn't anything special or anything, his grandmother had always told him to carry it around. She would always be screaming on and on about demons and creatures, spirits and things that come back from the depths of death. He thought she was a little paranoid, but now he wasn't about to take any chances.
"Okay let's see here, Shiki, Shiki…Shikigome, Shikome…no. See Okiagari" flipping through the pages he found the passage, "Okiagari; see corpse demon…damn it" turning more pages he found the page, "Okay here we go. Corpse demon; a corpse demon or Shiki 'are undead predators who feed and survive on the blood of humans" as he read the passage he felt a bead f sweat roll down the side of his forehead.
"THEY DRINK BLOOD!" he gasped rather loudly, standing up from his spot in the bushes. All eyes fell on the red haired male, who looked back and forth, before giving an embarrassed 'oops'
"Um, sorry to disturb Oki…okia…Shiki" he apologized putting his hands up defensively itching backwards carefully, "I'll just leave you alone and let you get back too…whatever and let's just pretend like this never happened" he laughed rather nervously. As he turned slowly he was met with more pairs of red in a sea of black. The shiki man hissed making Marco jump back creating a distance, though it didn't do much good, looking back and forth he was surrounded.
'Damn' he thought as the others got closer to the large red head male, "Well now what do we have here?" Tatsumi said rather teasingly as he looked at the red head male who stood there, "You!" a voice called as one of the shiki pushed through the group, "What's up Nao?" Tatsumi said as he watched the woman glare daggers at the male.
"You!" she hissed again as Marco blinked pointing to himself, "Um do I know you?"
"That night…you were with that girl, you took my child, my family away from me!" she said as the others gasped looking at the male in mixed forms of anger.
"Interesting, so you're the one interfering with our hunt" Tatsumi pressed as Marco shook his head, "Interfering? With what I just came to this town for a vacation" he said as Tatsumi cocked an eyebrow.
Tatsumi was about to say something when suddenly Nao ran forward, much to the shock of the others who watch some with gasp, others like Tatsumi smiled as he watched the woman pounce of the male.
"You took my family I'll kill you!" as she came closer, teeth and claws bared, Marco looked with wide eyes and suddenly a memory seemed to flash before his eyes…
A small child with red hair sits in a large hut as a small woman with long white hair stands before him as she stands in front of a large burning fire.
"Listen to me carefully boy, I'm about to give you a scared item that you must and will carry with you at all times" the woman said as the boy nodded slightly, "This is a powerful item forged from years of bone and blood…" she read into the fire with her safe and with a flick she pulled out three bands, one large and small that hung from the hook of the staff.
"These are Akuma no chi-tai, also known as the Demon Blood Orbs" she showed lowered the staff and handing the boy the bands. Looking at her she nodded and motioned for him to put them on. The larger one went around his next and the smaller two went on his left wrist and the other on his left ankle, "This item was forged from scared fire and bond with the blood. They are powerful items and must be treated with the up most respect. Use them wisely child" she said bringing the staff down with a loud thump that shocked the boy"
Back in the real world, as Nao grabbed hold to Marco, his bands gave off a reddish glow before Nao was repelled back. Tatsumi and the others watched in shock as Nao flew passed them and landing on the ground.
"Oh crap" Marco said looking at the beads on his wrist, "Thank you grandma you crazy old bat" while all eyes were on the girl he decided to make his escape, "I'm out, see ya!"he said before bolting into the forest.
Tatsumi watched as the male ran into the forest, a smug and twisted smile forming on his face, 'Interesting'
"After him!" he called,
Marco ran through the forest, brushing past tree after tree, "I knew this was a bad idea" he panted as he stopped to catch his breath, "Okay I need to think, I'm in a dark forest, who knows how far from the village and I possibly being chased by undead corpses who want to drink my blood" he said frantically as he began passing back and forth.
"Okay my only options are to get back to the house" he looked around the forest, "I think it's that way" he pointed to another path before bolted down the path. As he raced through the forest he spotted an opening in the brush. He smiled as he saw it, bursting through the opening he found himself in another clearing.
"Well at least I'm out of there" he looked around and noticed he was relatively far from Sotoba, "Okay if the village is there, than his house was…over there!" he said able to see the red roof of his house. "Thank God, I going home and taking a good nap" he sighed and began made a hustle through the field and towards his house.
Back at the Blood Residence, Mariaz, Marla, and Marc were sitting at the table. Mariaz was sipping tea, Marla was reading the newspaper, and Marc was reading a hard cover book when suddenly the door burst open revealing a panting Marco.
"You guys you'll never guess what happened to me!" he said as his siblings continued to their devices, "You got chased by Okiagari" Marc said suddenly as Marc blinked, "Dude seriously stay out of my head. And yes I got chased by a group of them, though the one in the pink hair looked kinda cute" he smiled a bit only to receive a book to the head.
"Hey I was reading that" Marc said, suddenly the book began to shake before flying back to Marc.
"Anyway I managed to lose them in the woods" he said taking a seat at the table, "I'm tired" he said laying his head down on the table.
"There's fresh meat in the fridge of your hungry" Mariaz said taking another sip of her tea, Marco's head suddenly shot up, "Meat! I forgot I was hungry" he laughed before jumping over the table and heading into the kitchen. He came with a plate full of meat setting down on the table, as he set down he already had a steak piece in his mouth and was currently chewing on it.
"Someone's outside" Marc said closing his book with a snap, "Who?" Marco said with his mouth full, with a flick of his head the meat was devoured in one gulp, as Marco licked his lips. Marc rolled his eyes before replaying, "It's them" he said and the siblings looked at each other.
"Right on time" Mariaz said before sipping on her tea.
The next morning was regular to say the least; people were talking and chattering as another person had died from what some were calling an epidemic. The four siblings were currently at the river that streamed up a short distance from the village.
"Man it's nice today, I thought they said Sotoba was usually hot this time of year" Marco said as he looked up at the sun, "It's 94 degrees outside" Marla said as she sat against a rock, "94 huh? Not really what I would call hot, but…" he shrugged his shoulders as he basked in the glow of the sun.
The four siblings sat side by side, each lying under the glow of the warm sun. As they laid there some of the villagers who worked in the fields looked at them.
"Aren't those the siblings who moved here a few weeks ago?" a woman asked as the man beside her nodded, "Yep strange those four"
"I heard from a lady in the next time she's seen the long haired girl walking about the forest at the most peculiar of hours"
"Well what about the male, he inhumanly strong I watched him empty at least 4 trucks yesterday all by himself"
"What about the other sister, never seen much of her except for when she's at the library" the group nodded as they conversed about the siblings.
"There talking about us" Marc said from his spot on the ground, "Ignore them" Marla said as she sat against the rock, "So how are things going at the house" Marco said, eyes closed on the ground.
"Everything's being set up now, though the seals had to be weakened in order for everyone to get situated" she said simply as Marco gave a silent sigh, "Are there a lot" he said
"Not many, just a few" she said, "I'm tired" she said before her eyes drifted off, "Yeah" he looked up again at the sun, "It's so warm" he said before slipping off to sleep with his siblings.
As the siblings sleep by the river, footsteps clattered against the grassy ground, one was dressed in black suit with a red tie and handkerchief. He was of average height and had long light black hair with and orange bang that covered the left side of his face. The other was also dressed in a suite though the end of their jacket was longer; they wore shorts and three long yellow bands around their waist. They had short blue hair with yellow pricks on the ends. The two stopped as they now stood right over the four siblings. The man continued to stand there as the shorter person next to him wasted no time in going next to Mariaz's side. The sat on their knees next to the other, a small smile on their face and as they sleep near the whispering waters of the stream, a man seem to pass them by on his bike. Bringing it to a stop the man, looked down at the siblings below. His eyes settling on one sibling in particular,
'Mariaz Blood'
As he looked at the girl, the one next to them slowly looked at him, one eye was blue and the other was yellow. The doctor looked into their eyes, "Is there something I can help you with?" a voice said, the male looked over to see another male standing over the siblings, "Maybe, and who might I be addressing?" the man said dismounting his bike.
"I am Lawrence Adelaide" he gave a curt bow, "I am the Blood Family head butler" he introduced him -self as the man nodded, "This is Starr, this is Lady Mariaz's 3rd personal attendant" he motioned toward the blue haired teen as they continued to look at him.
"May I ask who you are?" Lawrence asked as the man nodded, "My name is Ozaki Toshio, I'm the village head doctor" he said looking between him and the other teen, "Oh, my apologizes Starr's a bit overprotective of Lady Mariaz" he said as Starr continued to look at the doctor with void eyes.
"Right, anyway I came up here becomes some villagers were worried about these four. Apparently they had been up him for quite some time and people were worried they had gotten heat stroke" he explained as Lawrence nodded, "I see, well I can assure you their fine" he said as the doctors eyes narrowed, "No offense to you but as a doctor I would feel better if I could examine these four" he said this time Lawrence eyes narrowed at the young doctor before suddenly softening.
"I apologize but I don't think it would be sanitary to check them outside" he said as the doctor nodded, "Understandable, we can perform the check up at my clinic back in the village" he said pointing toward the village.
"I will bring them to your clinic " Lawrence bowed as Ozaki stood there looking between the two, before a smirk formed on his face, "Fine bring them over to the clinic. It closes after dark, if that happens I'll be sure to make a house call just in case" he said as he mounted his bike, "Don't be late" he said before taking off leaving the four siblings and the two servants.
At the clinic Ozaki was pacing for what seemed like hours, his mind frantically thinking between trying to come up with a strategy on how to annihilate the Shiki and the mysterious siblings that had moved into the outskirts of the village; what was their purpose? The light outside was beginning to fade into night, and the cool breeze invaded the room.
Ozaki Toshio was about to give up when suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Come in" he said and the door opened revealing one of his nurses, "What can I do for you Ritsuko?"
"Doctor there are some patients here to see you, a Mr. Lawrence" she said as Ozaki composed himself, "Right, where are they?"
"Their waiting in one of the rooms down the hall" she replied as the doctor nodded, "Okay I'll be right there"
As he entered the examination room he found Mariaz sitting on the examination table, her assistant Starr right at her side.
"Thank you for coming in Ms. Blood" he said as he closed the door, "I don't see your siblings around" he said seeing no trace of her siblings. "My apologizes Mr. Ozaki my Lady thought it better if she come by herself"
"I was actually thought I would be checking all four for any health problems" he said as Lawrence nodded, "I understand but the house doctor is tending to the three siblings"
"If you have a house doctor why come here?"
"I thought it would be rude after you offered to check on me" Mariaz said as she caught the eyes of the doctor, "Plus it wouldn't look to good if I refused to see the village doctor" she said as Ozaki just smiled before walking up to her, "If you don't mind I'd like to get started" he said as Mariaz nodded. As he reached out to touch her he was suddenly halted by Starr who got in front of Mariaz.
"Excuse me I have to examine the patient" he said but Starr refused to budge, "Starr" the teen looked back as Mariaz sighed, "You and Lawrence wait outside" she ordered, there was an eerie silence before the two nodded and bowed, "Yes Lady Mariaz" and they left, leaving just him and Mariaz.
"Alright let's begin" he said now standing in front of the girl, taking her right hand he pressed his fingers against her wrist. "Your pulse seems normal" he said. Placing his hand of her forehead, "No fever" he said, as he looked over the girl he noticed that her left arm and right leg were completely bandaged up.
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your arm and leg?" he inquired as Mariaz sat there in silence, "I see a personal matter I understand, anyway you seem to be in good health" he smiled as watched the girl still sat on the table.
"Before you go I wanted to ask you a question" he said as the girl continued to remain silent, "Have you ever heard of something called an Okiagari?" he said as the girl eye slowly opened, "Okiagari, people who rise from the dead. Is that what you're talking about?" she looked as the doctor kept a calm face only nodding.
"I've just heard the old tales" she said with a somber look on her face, Ozaki bowed his head a bit, "Tell me, Doctor Ozaki do you fear death" he suddenly rose his head up at the girls question, "That's a peculiar question for someone to ask out of the blue"
"But to answer your question, not really" he said as Mariaz raised a slim eyebrow, "As a doctor I know of mortality, I've seen it most of my life and have grown quite used to it" he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and a light; placing the stick between his lips lighting the stick and taking a quick and taking a quick drag.
Everything must one day die" he said as smoke escaped his lips, without warning Mariaz took the cigarette from between his lips, Ozaki watched as she looked at it for a second before placing it between her lips rather casually.
"Aren't you a bit young to be smoking?" he said as Mariaz gave a scoff, "Maybe" she said before breathing out o puff of smokes.
"But, like you said we all die" she sighed the cigarette between her lips, "Are you afraid of death?" he asked as he watched the girl take another inhale of the cigarette, tapping the embers off the end, "Like you said I've gotten used to it" she exhaled the smoke.
"Hey would you happen to know the head librarian?" she asked as Ozaki gave a short sigh before replying, "Yes I knew him, briefly. From what I could tell he was a rather awkward young man"
"Was?" she raised an eyebrow as he nodded, "Yes I'm afraid he died just a few days ago, just when I thought this epidemic was beginning to pass" he sighed sadly as Mariaz sat there cigarette in hand as her forehead rested against her palm, "Heh, damn fool" she said as Ozaki looked at her.
"Excuse me?"
"Hn, nothing" she shook her head, "I'm just a little…tired" the cigarette fell from her hand as she leaned over, Ozaki saw this dropping the lighter he was holding just in time to catch Mariaz before she fell off the bed.
"Hey! Can you hear me? Mariaz hey!" he called to the girl in his arms the door suddenly burst open as Ritsuko rushed inside upon hearing the commotion.
"Doctor Ozaki is everything okay?" she asked before her eyes fell on the girl in his arms, "Doctor what happened?" she watched as the doctor felt her pulse, "She just fainted, we need to get her to the emergency room!" he said with urgency as Ritsuko nodded, "I'll get a gurney"
"No time!" he said picking the girl up, Ritsuko moved out of the way as Ozaki rushed the girl out of the room, her butler and assistant close behind him.
Ozaki stood outside of the examination office, he had managed to finally get a pulse from Mariaz and right now she was sleeping in one of the patient beds.
"Doctor?" a voice called, "Yes Ritsuko…" looking over he saw the green haired nurse by she was not alone, "Seishin what brings you here this time of night?" he asked looking at the silver haired young priest. "I just thought I come and pay the clinic a visit" he said, "Your open rather late thought don't you usually close at this time?" he inquired as Ozaki gave a short sigh, "There was an incident, a girl I was examining suddenly fainted" he said as Seishin gave a small gasp, "Is she alright?"
"For now she's resting" he said turning to the girl still asleep in the bed, Seishin seemed relieved at this news. "It's been a long night, why don't you head home" he said
"Are you sure doctor?"
"Yeah I gonna stay in case she wakes up" he pointed to the sleeping patient, "Plus I have Setsuko in the examination room so I need to monitor her too"
"Well okay if you if you'll be alright by yourself"
"Don't worry Ms. Ritsuko I'll be here to keep an eye on him" Seishin said as Ritsuko gave him a nod and smiled, "Okay, good night doctor Ozaki, Seishin" she bowed before walking away leaving the two men. Ozaki turned back to look at Mariaz, "So who is she?" Seishin said looking at the red haired girl, "Here name is Mariaz Blood, she recently moved here with her siblings" he explained as the young monk nodded.
"I need to go check on Setsuko" he said turning abruptly walking away, "Coming Seishin" he said as the priest looked away from Mariaz, "Right" he nodded and soon the girl was left alone. In another room in the clinic the doctor and the monk sat outside of a glass door as another patient, Setsuko Yasumori, lay sleeping inside. She had been there for three days and in that amount of time she was making a miraculous recovery and looked as though she would be the 'first' recovery.
"She finally fell asleep"
"Yes whatever they were using to control her is starting to where off" he said as he stood looking out the window.
"There's one thing I remember from vampire legend, a vampire cannot enter a home unless they are actually invited in. So if no one invites them in their banned from the home in question, but when someone actually invites them in it's open season for any vampire" Seishin explained as Ozaki turned from the window.
"But Nao didn't come in last night because she wasn't invited"
"Right so we're safe for now" Seishin said as the doctor nodded, "Do you think Nao will make an appearance again?" he said as Ozaki made a stern face before releasing a long sigh, "Most defiantly she will, but as long as we don't invite them in were safe for now" he said as Seishin looked at him. Suddenly there was a flicker before the room went completely dark, "What the hell?" Ozaki groaned standing up from his chair, "Could it be a power outage?" Seishin inquired as he watched Ozaki walk quickly towards the window, "No I can see lights on in the village" he said looking at the many lights on in the village.
"There here" he said, "They might be able to see in the dark" Seishin said as he walked toward the door, "There's an old generator downstairs, I'll go turn it on" he offered as Ozaki nodded and said he would stay and watch Setsuko. As he walked out of the room and down the hall he stopped for a second as he passed by the young girl's room. His green eyes quickly glanced inside as the girl still lay sleeping on her bed. He stopped for a second believing he had saw something, but seeing nothing there he quickly made his way downstairs.
As he exited the stairwell that led upstairs he came to stop in the small area that stood in front of the large window that viewed outside. As he stood there a figure like silhouette with the light of the room traced the floor. His breathe caught in his throat he slowly turned to face the large window and his eyes widened as a familiar figure appeared before him.
"It's Megumi" he gasped as he watched the dead girl as she stood their twisting one of her pigtails. Upstairs Ozaki was still in the room with Setsuko, a bad feeling coming over him as he waited for the monk to turn the lights on. Down the hall Mariaz room was silent, suddenly a red glow came around her and as it fully enthralled around her, her eye suddenly snapped open as a red glow circled around her iris.
As Ozaki waited in the room suddenly a voice began echoing through the room, "Mom?" it called, "Mom? It's me Nao" it said rather happily, Ozaki gasped as he watched Setsuko's eyes suddenly snap open and the woman sat up, "Nao? I hear Nao!" she said with a zombie like stare in her eyes.
"Mom! Come outside"
"Setsuko no!" he said stopping Setsuko from going toward the door, "I have to go Nao is waiting for me"
Downstairs Seishin continued to stand their watching the girl outside the window, he suddenly gasped as more of 'them' suddenly appeared. He took a step back as fear etched over his face, "Their not coming in, and their just standing there", he looked as they continued to stand outside.
"Pull it together Setsuko! If you go out there you are going to die!" he said trying to shake the woman out of her trance.
"So I was right they can't come inside" Seishin said as Megumi continued to watch him, suddenly a smile came onto her red painted lips.
"Snap out of it! Do not go out there!"
"Oh we can come in" she smirked as her pupils completely disappeared and pointed teeth descended, "As long as we're invited"
As Ozaki continued to try and snap the woman out of it the lights suddenly turned back on, he gasped at the suddenly illumination. But as soon as he looked up at the window, he saw something made his breathe stop as the reflection showed someone behind him. But before he could turn around he suddenly gasped in pain as his body hit the floor with a load thump.
After the blow he tried getting up but was suddenly forced down by a foot to his back. As he looked up he was met with a wise smile of a familiar blue haired male, "Hi! Nice to finally meet you doctor Ozaki" he greeted him still pushing the other down with his foot. Ozaki glared up at him from his spot on the floor; "You…got him" he scowled when suddenly a sound brought his eyes back to his patient, "Setsuko!" he gasped as he was jerked upwards to come face to face with a smiling blue haired male.
"We haven't been introduce I'm Tatsumi" he introduced himself rather wickedly before delivery a gut crushing kick to the doctors stomach as he released a pained gasp as he fell to the floor on his knees clutching his stomach as Tatsumi stood over his crumpled form laughing.
"Toshio what's happening?" Seishin called, just then he burst through the door just as Tatsumi moved out of the way jumping over the bed in one leap not before kicking Ozaki in the back. The young monk quickly went to Ozaki's side,
"We aren't going to kill you tonight" Tatsumi said with a smirk on his face, "Lucky for you we've been told not to mess with you quite yet" he looked as the two stared at him, "But I am taking her with me" the window was suddenly kicked open as the two gasped as they watched Tatsumi picking up Setsuko.
"No let her be!" Ozaki growled rising from the floor as Tatsumi gave one last smirk before jumping out the window. "No!" Ozaki and Seishin ran towards the window to see Tatsumi on the ground as he let go of Setsuko.
Back inside the hospital in the room down the hall from Ozaki and Seishin more red energy filled the room as Mariaz still sleep on the bed. As the red energy crept up the walls a long black silhouette came onto to the walls and over part of the ceiling. Glowing circles peered down looking at the sleeping form,
'Aloaloa' a voice said seemingly coming from the shadow.
"Alo…aroka, arooroho" the sounds mouth from Mariaz lips as the shadow began to wiggle about, quickly the shadow began moving through the hallway.
Back in the room Ozaki and Seishin watched helplessly as Setsuko was hugged by a happy Nao, who was about to bite down on Setsuko.
"Setsuko!" he yelled, suddenly something zoomed past the two, the shadow slithered down the walls of the clinic before settling under the three. Just as Nao was about to sink her teeth into her mother-in-law something burst from ground sending Tatsumi, Nao, and a few of the Shiki back. As the dust cleared, Ozaki and Seishin stood there completely in shock, eyes wide, mouth a gape at what stood before them.
"What the hell?"
It was long and looked like a giant centipede, but more mutated. It was a fleshy tan collar, adorned with many hands that went up its entire body and down it's back was a set of wide eyes that looked whichever way they wanted. It was huge, some of its body wrapped around the clinic.
"What…what is that thing!?" Seishin gasped as Ozaki gulped in both shock and absolute fear. Tatsumi and the others looked down at the thing. The male gritted his teeth as Nao gave a cry, "Mom!" looking at her then the creature he then noticed what was hanging from one of its many long hands.
"Damn it" the creature looked around with his many eyes at everyone around it, suddenly the empty head began to widened and skin began to stretch forming into a giant mouth. Still holding the unconscious woman, the others watched in horror as the creature held Setsuko like a doll over its mouth.
"Damn it!" Ozaki gasped as he watched what was happening, "We have to do something! That thing is going to kill her!" he growled
"Aloruro aloru!" it said as the two man gasped, "What did…it say?" Seishin inquired as Ozaki stood there. The creature made a low noise wiggling its body around, "Alo! Kuroo Kurooru!"
"Alu Alu Kurooru!" the creature grumbled turning its still open mouthed head toward the window shocking the two men who took a step back as one of the large eyes now looked inside the building right at them.
"Don't be such cowards" it said to the two men, "It's not going to touch you" it said,
"What is that thing?" Ozaki held his breath as the voice gave a scoff.
"I would suggest you think about retreating" the voice said looking directly at Tatsumi who just scoffed and smiled, "And just who are you to be making such demands, huh"
"Oh I'm no one, just someone with a million armed centipede" ,the voice said bluntly, "And by the looks of it, it hasn't had fresh human blood in a long time" they said as Tatsumi's eyes narrowed
"What are you doing!?" Ozaki said from his spot next to Seishin, "Either you move or she becomes its next meal" it said as shock and disbelief fell over the group.
"They wouldn't"
"Your bluffing" Tatsumi challenged to the voice, "We have to stop this" Seishin said when suddenly he was stopped by the doctor.
"So what's it gonna be?" she pressed as Tatsumi growled his eyes flashing red furthering his challenge, both parties remained still waiting to see what would happen.
"No I won't let you take her!" Nao yelled as she ran towards the centipede creature, somehow she had managed to get to the top of the creature and had pulled Setsuko free of the creatures hold. As she jumped down with her mother on the ground the creature let out a high pitched scream.
"ARO KORORORU ALOOO!" its scream shaking the ground and the clinic, "Well this is interesting" Mariaz said, "What's happening?" Ozaki said frantically
"It said, 'Give me back my meal or I'll send you all to hell'" she said calmly
"What!"
"Heh, you damn bitch" he laughed before motioning for the others to retreat and one by one they disappeared, the last being Nao who looked sadly at the old woman before disappearing into the forest.
"Aro arourori…Thank you" she whispered,
The creature slowly moved back before moving to bring Setsuko inside lying on the palm of its hand. The two men rushed over carefully taking Setsuko off the giant hand. It retracted back before the eyes on the creatures back began to close slowly as it mumbled on final thing before disappearing; dissolving into black.
Once it was gone Mariaz lowered her hand, "Finally, I can…get some sleep" she said before falling back against the bed with a thud and everything went black…
Mariaz sat on her bed, etching on a small notepad she had been given by the doctor, "You seem to have made a quick recovery" the doctor said as he finished examining her. Mariaz slowly looked up, "You seem to be a good mood" Mariaz noticed as the doctor just shrugged, "I guess" he said as he watched the girl right.
"What are you working on?" the doctor inquired as the girl continued to jot down on the pad, "Finished" she said. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, "Come in" he said and Ritsuko entered.
"Doctor Mariaz's ride is here" she said as Lawrence stepped in along with Starr, "Your ride is waiting downstairs Lady Mariaz" he said bowing as Mariaz nodded before dismounting from the bed, "Have a good day Ms. Blood" Ozaki said as Mariaz stopped near the door before glancing backwards at the doctor, "Arou" she said before turning and leaving with her servant's.
The doctor's eyes widened at the girls words, "Bye have a nice day" Ritsuko said watching the three leave.
"Doctor Ozaki?" Ritsuko called as she watched the man as he walked over towards the window. Looking through the window the doctor watched as Mariaz was lead into a very expensive looking black car. As the door was opened Mariaz glanced back and off for only a second before entering the car followed by Starr. Lawrence closed the door before going to the passenger side and watched as it drove away.
Turning back he spotted the notepad Mariaz was writing one, walking over to the bed he picked up the notepad, looking at it his eyes widened at the very familiar picture,
"The spirit known as Hyakutake sō mukade bōrei; The Million Armed Ghost Centipede. It enjoys hanging around places with lots of people and tripping them up"
P.S: Give my condolences to the head librarians family,
'Mariaz Blood'
Next time; Meeting Blood