CHAPTER SIX- THE ROSE CLAN
Two weeks had passed since he met that woman, Miko. He had found the woman familiar in a way. The fact that all his ancestors had seen her before him was disturbing and eerie. He sighed. He looked at Hana who was drawing intently on the drawing pad he bought for her. He also had bought new clothes for her. Someone had mistaken him for a young father and tried to sell him more things. It had been a mess.
Hana began to hum under her breath. She smiled as she drew a big tree. "Zewo?"
He looked at her. She was on the ground, drawing with crayons. "When are you going to learn on pronouncing your 'r's?"
She stared at him.
He sighed. "Never mind, what was it you wanted?"
She stood up and tore out the page in which she was drawing on. She started walking to him. He was sitting on the couch watching TV. She gave the drawing to him. He smiled.
"This is good," he said.
Hana smiled and turned back to drawing. Her face had a big smile. Zero put the drawing in a folder. It was where he kept her drawings. That was when the doorbell ran. Zero looked at Hana.
"Come on Hana, it's time to play hide and seek." He picked her up and carried her to the guest room. She clutched her drawing pad and yellow crayon.
"What's going on, Zewo?"
He forced himself to smile. "I need to hide you just in case the bad guys want to harm you."
She nodded and went on the bed. Zero turned to the door and locked it. He went back outside to the living room. He took out his gun. The doorbell was ringing consistently now. He opened the front door and in the doorway stood a fuming Yuki.
He didn't have time to be surprised because she came inside to the living room.
"Honestly, Zero, you've been missing meetings. Where have you been?"
He looked at the guest she brought with her. "Kuran, nice of you to check on me. Will you try to kill me again?"
Kuran sighed. "I apologize for that but I couldn't let you become a Level E and harm Yuki. Better to kill to you before you turn into one."
"At least you're being honest." Zero said stiffly.
Yuki looked at the interaction between them. "Don't fight. We just came here to check up on you. You haven't been attending meetings and you've been hanging out with Aido."
Zero threw the gun down on the couch and he sat down. "And that's suspicious?"
Yuki nodded. "Of course it is. Before, you two couldn't stand being in the same room."
Zero sighed. "We worked on an assignment months back and I saved his life. If I hadn't he would have been dust by now. He feels he owes a debt to me."
Yuki stared at him. "Oh well fine, but you have to come to the meetings."
Zero shook his head. "No, it's a bit boring since nobody is willing to give me a list. It's no use going and listen to stuffy people talk about things."
Yuki frowned and exchanged a glance with her brother.
Zero noticed and said, "Okay, what is it now?"
"We were wondering if you were okay."
"I'm fine." He looked at his watch. "Are you leaving now?"
Kuran looked at Yuki. "Yuki, I think its time we went home."
Yuki stared at Zero. "Okay, go on before me."
Kuran nodded and left. Yuki sat next to Zero. She touched the gun only to be shocked with electricity. She winced and took her hand away from it. Zero took it and put it on the coffee table.
"Are you sure you are all right?" She asked softly.
Zero felt the dull pain in his head. "I'm fine."
Yuki looked at him and grabbed his hand. "You seem a bit distracted. You've been running out on the meetings you do attend and just yesterday, I saw you buying little girl clothes. Who were they for?"
Zero laughed. It startled Yuki to hear him laugh. "It's for Aido's little cousin. She's visiting in a few days. There's going to be a party and that's a present."
"Oh," she said. She kissed him on the cheek and stood up. "Okay then, but if there is something wrong call me okay?"
Zero nodded. She left and Zero closed his eyes. He knew it was foolish to have feeling on Yuki when she was getting married to Kuran in a few months. She probably didn't know what a touch or kiss of hers did to him. He sighed and then he grabbed his blood tablets and swallowed a bunch of them.
He unlocked the guest room door and he found Hana on the ground. She was shaking and she was grabbing her head.
"No no no, it must be done. I'm sowwy. It must be done. Must be done. Must . . . be . . . done." She looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Is he gone? Is he gone?"
Zero kneeled down and reached to touch her. His expression was confused. "What's wrong? Who is 'he'?"
She flinched and closed her eyes. "Is he gone?"
Zero stood back up and he looked at Hana. Her eyes were wild and distraught. He was confused at why she was like that. He heard a knock. It had come from the main door.
Zero.
Now is not a good time, Miko, Zero thought.
Zero, I need you to blow the whistle now.
Please do it.
I'll answer all your questions later.
I can't, he thought, I have to take care of Hana.
Miko stayed silent for two minutes.
The Rose mansion is where she belongs. She was kidnapped from it. Return her to her rightful place.
Zero looked at Hana. She lived at the Rose mansion? His hand slipped into his jean pocket. His hand closed around the whistle. He heard the door get knocked again. He got out of the guest room.
He heard the door open. It was Aido. He was holding a bunch of papers.
"What are you doing here?" Zero said annoyed. "I thought I locked the door."
Aido grinned. "I may have developed a skill or two. Besides, I'm a genius."
Zero rolled his eyes. Aido noticed his hand was around something.
"What's that?" He pointed.
Zero showed him it. Aido's eyes widened. "You're not going to blow it are you?"
Zero had to get Hana home. It wasn't fair to her parents. If she had any? He still wasn't sure what Miko meant when she said that Hana's memories were fake. "I am."
And so, he blew it. He waited for a moment. Nothing happened. That was when the door blew open. It fell on the ground. Satomi was surrounded by smoke and fog. Aido began to cough.
"Stupid girl, this isn't your house." Aido said.
Satomi scowled at him. "Whatever," she looked at Zero, "you called?"
Zero nodded. She entered and her eyes widened. "Mistress Hana. I've been looking for her. Why is she here?"
She ran to where Hana was and brought her out to the living room. She looked at Zero.
"Where was she?"
Zero looked at her confused. "I found her when she was attacked by a vampire."
Aido looked at the little girl. "Zero, I had no idea you were a father."
Zero glared at Aido. "I'm not a dad."
Aido stared closer. "Are you sure? You two have the same eye color. "
Zero sighed. "Satomi, how do you know Hana? Is it true you two live in the same place?"
Satomi looked at him. "Yes, Mistress Hana lives in the Rose mansion. I guess you're coming now."
Satomi pressed her hand on Hana's forehead. Hana stopped shaking and fell asleep.
Zero became alarmed. "What did you do to her?"
Satomi rocked Hana in her arms. "I erased her memories. She's better off without remembering that Level E attack. "
Aido looked at them. "You're going with her?"
Zero nodded. "I am. This is the only way to stop the voice."
Aido bit his lip. "I'm coming with you. I don't trust her."
Satomi glared at him. "I have a name, jerk. It's Satomi and I'll have you know that it means wise beauty."
Aido laughed. "Wise? Beauty? You're hilarious."
Satomi flushed. Zero intervened, sensing a fight. "Cut it out you two."
Satomi sighed. "Here hold on to me. I'm going to teleport there. I can't have you two know the true location. Let's just say, you two won't be in Japan anymore."
Zero touched her arm, Aido did the same. Satomi closed her eyes. There was a loud pop. They appeared in front of the gates of a mansion. There were vines crawling up the wall. The whole place smelled like roses. Zero let go and he took a step forward.
Thank you for coming. Thank you. Now I will tell you everything I can.
Hello, I am extremely sorry about the long wait for this chapter. Things are really going to move now (I hope). I had to change the plot a bit so that's why there was a delay. Either way, I would really appreciate feedback or comments about my story. Thank you in advance.