A Sweet Fanged Smile

Beware my fangs, for I am the crimZonvampire!

I did it! A chapter in two weeks! \^-^/

I have a gmail account with the user name crimZonvampire. If you want to, you can email me directly through that...

Just have to say this now, no I did not take the name Raiden from final fantasy or mortal kombat, or any of those games. *was doing research on the name and...*

When I was trying to think up a number for Raiden, I chose TG-404 for a reason. Raiden, or 雷電 means "Thunder and Lightning". Also, In Japanese mythology, Raiden-sama is an alternate name for Raijin, the god of thunder. TG-404 (in my mind, not the actual story,) stands for "Thunder God" and then 404 because my favorite number is 4 and I felt like it needed a 0 in the middle...
You all encourage me so much just by reading this. It means something to me; it means people actually like what I write. That's huge for someone who want's to become an author. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I MEAN IT!

Please review! I really want to hear what you have to say!
Sorry for making you read my boring commentary, (again,) here's the latest chapter from crimZonvampire!

CHAPTER 7

The beautiful, dark veils

That hide protruding fangs

Blood spilled in the shadows

Covered by that same loving smile

And what protects the beast within?

The bloodline of so many years

The blood of so many humans

Life-giving blood smelled from so far away

That causes the vampire to stir

Eyes turn red, blood boils, heart beats faster

And then,

The vampire awakens.

Five year old Takuma Ichijo zoomed down the hallway with his hands spread out in front of him like he was driving a car. "Vroom vrooom! Eeeee!" he screeched to a halt in front of a large, white door. Asato Ichijo, his grandfather, had told him to stay away from the white door. But exploring was much more enjoyable. Forgetting his grandfather's warning, (actually, he was choosing to ignore it,) he pushed on the door, hard.

Inside the room, Shika froze. She could sense someone outside the door, someone who was not human.

"Hellooo? Anyone in heeere?" Takuma waddled on his stubbly legs into the open spaced room.

"Get away from me!"

Takuma blinked. "Hey, is somebody in here? Where's the light switch?" The little boy felt his way along the wall until he found it and flicked it on.

Shika flinched and fell back onto the bed.

"Hey, who are you?" he said curiously, toddling over to her.

"Do- do not come any closer! Stay back!" Suddenly, Shika's pale, blue eyes turned a bright lavender color and a spinning ball of water was thrown through the air towards Takuma's little, blonde head.

Takuma leapt back just in time to avoid the attack. "What was that for? Why are you scared? I'm not going to hurt you or anything."

"You... You are not here to hurt me?"

"No. Why would I hurt you?"

Shika scooted back farther when he reached out to touch her.

Takuma gave her a quizzical look. "Why aren't you looking at me? Can't you see me?" he said, waving his stubbly little fingers in front of her frozen eyes.

Shika shook her head slowly. "No. I cannot see anything. I am blind."

Takuma's jaw dropped to the floor. "Whaaat? Then you can't read? But reading is the best thing ever!"

"I can read." She picked up her book and traced her finger across it. "See? This reads: 'It was delicious!'"

"Whoa, that's so cool!" He hopped up onto the bed next to her and examined it.

Shika gulped and reached her hand out hesitantly until she felt his soft, golden hair.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I... I want to know what you look like."

He giggled. "But it tickles!"

Shika moved her hand down his cheeks and came to a halt at his mouth. "What is that?"

He laughed. "It's my mouth, stupid!"
Did he just call her stupid? "No, not that. What is it doing?"

"It's smiling, duh!"

"Smiling?"

"Takuma!" A mans voice called.

"Aww, that's grandfather. I wasn't supposed to come here, I better leave. Oh, before I go; what's your name?"

She hesitated again. "Tachibana."

"Not your surname, your given one!"
"Sh... Shika, Shika Tachibana."

"My name's Takuma Ichijo! Bye Shika! I'll come back tomorrow, I promise!"

Shika coughed. "G- goodbye, Takuma."

Takuma crept as silent as a mouse down the carpeted hallway, for some reason, on all fours. Although, being on his hands and knees had proved to be effective in sneaking away from his sleeping tutor.

A black haired woman in a nurses outfit emerged from the room and nearly tripped over the young boy. "Master Takuma!" she gasped. "You gave me quite a fright! What on earth are you doing here?" he said nervously, glancing back to the forbidden room.

He put a finger to his lips. "Shh, grandfather and I are playing hide-and-seek. If you see him, don't tell him I was here." he said smoothly, lying through his fangs.

She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "All right, it's our secret then," she said, reading something on her medical clipboard and winking at him.

He mouthed her a silent thank you and waited until she was out of sight to crawl into the room. He sprang up like a rabbit. "Shika! I told you I'd come back!"

For an answer, he heard a fit of coughs from the occupied bed in the back of the windowless room.

"Shika? Are you sick?"

"Y- yes." she coughed. "I have a weak body, that's why I am kept in this room."

"Hmm..." He mused over what to do, taking the liberty to sit down at the edge of her bed. "I know it's not really a good idea, but wouldn't it make you feel better if you drink my blood?"

"What? I could never do something-" At that point, Shika was overtaken by coughs.

"Well... If it will make you feel better, then I don't mind!" He smiled broadly.

"R... Really? You would do that for me? Why?"

"Because we're friends, silly!" He brushed his long hair off of his shoulder. "Come on, I really don't mind, if it will make you feel better."

Shika felt her lower lip tremble. "Thank you," she whispered. She sat up slowly, pulled Takuma in close, and dug her fangs into his flesh.

"Hey, Shika? I brought you something. Here, It's a locket. It has both of our name's in it, and our pictures, so that way you'll never forget me."

Shika twisted the worn, golden chain around her little finger and sang to the moon.

"Fly away from every harm,

Fly away into my arms,

"Sing sweet little songbird,

Fly and spread your wings."

"Good, you came!" Mizuki said happily.

Takuma smiled back at her, not exactly fond of her plan. "Are you sure about this? What if the Disciplinary Committee catches us?"

"Easy; we run fast and hope they didn't see our faces.

"But it's the middle of the day, Mizuki."
"So? Are you really going to go against Aunty Kana's orders?" she said slyly.
Takuma recalled the last time that had happened and shuddered. "Never."
"Good, then come on. Shika said she'll meet us there." She caught the look on his face and smiled. "If we get in trouble, I'll get Aunty Kana to talk to the Headmaster on our behalf."
He sighed. "All right."
Mizuki grabbed his hand, dragged him out to town, then forced him into a store. "Aunty Kana told me she wants you in a black tuxedo for her wedding. I'm supposing you don't mind not wearing white?" she said, glancing at his cream colored school uniform.
"Not a bit," he chuckled.
She threw a suit over his head. "Go try that on and come show me."
He nodded, slipped into the dressing room, stripped down to his boxers, and put on the suit. Takuma stepped out of the dressing room. "Good?"

"Dashing, 'handsome'," she joked.
He grinned. "I think I can live with that."
A bell on the shop door tolled.
Mizuki whirled around. "Shika!" she squealed, running up to her friend and tossing her arms around her neck like and overly excited puppy whose owner had just come home.
"M- Mizuki!" Shika gasped under her choking hug.
"I'm surprised you're up this early, Shika."
Shika tired to catch her breath. "G- good morning, Takuma."

"Takuma's in a suit," Mizuki teased, sticking her tongue out. "Take my word for it, he looks great. Takuma, meet us over at the dresses, will you?"
He smiled brightly. "All right."

After he had changed, Takuma arrived just in time to see Shika emerging in a soft, baby-blue dress. The dress went up to her knees and waved out a bit at the bottom like the ocean, and she was wearing pale knee socks, clean, white shoes and white gloves that went up to her elbows.

"I like it. Matches your eyes. Don't you think?" Mizuki asked, inclining her head towards Takuma.

He smiled. "Absolutely stunning."

Shika felt a flush creep up her neck and cheeks.

Mizuki swung her legs to get herself up off the couch she had been sitting on and picked up various piles of blue dresses. "Takuma, since Shika..." she trailed off, drawing circles around her eyes. "You're going to have to tell me which one's the best, are you OK with that?"

"Of course. I'm sure you'll look wonderful." He smiled again, but this time it was softer, kinder.

Mizuki slammed the dressing room door before he could see how red she got.

The first dress she tried on was a simple, blue dress similar to Shika's. Takuma shook his head. The second one was a sky blue dress with a puffed out skirt that went to her knees. Again, he shook his head.

Mizuki stepped out shyly with the last dress on, hoping this one would be better. "Any luck?"

A grin spread across Takuma's lips. "Wow, you look beautiful."

Mizuki smiled. The last dress was a deep, midnight blue with onyx flames crawling up the bottom. She had a charcoal ribbon knotted at the waist and a black headband in her hair. The dress covered her toes and was cut off at the shoulders with two thick straps. "Glad you like it." she said, twirling around to her enjoyment and Takuma's laughter. "Not exactly what I'd think of a dress to wear for a wedding. But Kana approved these beforehand, so I guess it's fine."

"Take off your glasses."

Mizuki slid them off and clasp her hands behind her back.

Takuma smiled softly again. "Perfect."

"Are we done then?"

"I suppose we are."
"Let me change back into my uniform and I'll treat the both of you to lunch."

Shika nodded . "That sounds great."
Mizuki switched clothes, paid for their outfits, (actually, Takuma paid for them with the promise she would pay him back tomorrow,) and led them to her favorite restaurant.

"It was so worth skipping school to do this." Mizuki crammed another piece of chicken into her mouth.

Shika took a delicate bite as well and her blank eyes lit up. "This is good."

Mizuki laughed in response. "Told you! Anyway, we should probably get going. I told my roommate I was sick and that I wasn't coming to class, but it will look weird if you two are absent."

"Agreed. Shall we get going then?" Takuma said, pushing his plate toward the center of the table.

Shika nodded. "Sure. Takuma, you said you wanted me to help you with your English homework?"

"You speak English, Shika?"
"Yes. My mother was born in London, England. She taught me how to speak it fluently."

"That's so cool!"
The corners of her mouth slid upward. "Thank you."

"Wow," Mizuki said, awed.

"What is it?"

"It's so pretty. That's the first time I've ever seen your your smile."

Raiden kissed his soon-to-be wife over and over again until he felt her hand against his bare chest.
Kana adjusted her tee-shirt out of habit. "Your scars, do they hurt?"
He looked down at his badly scared chest. "All the time, although, more mentally then physically." He flicked her forehead. "Speaking of mental, what about that mind of yours?"
"Sane for the time being. I had Kaien under my knife the other day and I coulda sworn I was gonna have a relapse."
Raiden laid down in bed beside her and rested his head on her shoulder. He raised his hand and manipulated his fingers so white-hot electricity crackled between them. "You know, were the strangest couple I've ever seen."
Kana laughed. "Exactly, we're perfect for each other."
Raiden closed his eyes. "Yeah, perfect," he mumbled sleepily.
"You tired?"
"Yeah."
She kissed his forehead. "Then go to sleep."

Raiden tossed and turned in his sleep.
"Just do it, they'll kill you if you don't."
Restlessly, he switched positions again.
"Stop! I can't do it! He's my friend!"
The scars that covered his body burned and his fingers crackled with electricity.
"No, no don't! I- I don't like it! It hurts and I can't control my powers!"

And before he could wake, Raiden was sucked into the dream.
The needle, jabbed into his skin over and over, pulses of electricity shot into his body, horrid experiments tried on him until flecks of electricity flew from finger to finger.

The boy with blonde streaks in his brown hair, who's roots had lost their color long ago, was dragged out and chained to the chair in the center of the room.

Fifteen year old Raiden stood as stiff as a pole in front of his roommate, the only friend he ever had.

The man in the white lab coat behind him leaned down close and whispered in his ear, "Shock his eyes out."

Raiden grabbed the man by his collar and shouted, "No! Never! I could never hurt him!"

"You will do it."
"I can't do it! Don't make me; he's my friend!"

A surge of electricity was shot through his body from the instrument in the man's hand. Raiden screamed and his body went limp, then was tossed by the man to the other boy's feet "Shock his eyes out, now," he spat venomously, giving him a poisonous sneer.

Raiden's vision swam, his head spun, his hands buzzed, and he desperately tried to remain conscious while pushing himself back up. "Are you insane? I-"

"Just stop, Raiden."

He whipped around to face the boy in the chair.

His ragged hair hung low over his face, concealing his eyes. "Just do it, they'll kill you if you don't."

"But-"

"My eyesight isn't worth your death."

"Y- you're crazy! I can't- I wont-"

"Raiden." The boy looked up with his deadened eyes, long void of all emotion due to the torturous experimentation. "Please, I would rather lose my eyes then watch you die through them. Please just..." he whispered, closing his deep brown eyes.

Tears cut tracks down Raiden's face as he placed his hands over his friends closed eyes, his own reflecting the horror of the thing he was about to do. He grit his teeth and sent out a surge of white hot electricity.

An ear piercing scream raked the air and the boy slumped down in the chair, unconscious.

The man in the white lab coat clicked his pen and marked something down on his clipboard. "Specimen TG-404, name 'Raiden Natsujina' is ready for transfer to the next station. Experiments have been completed and specimen is stable."

Raiden stood, horrified at himself. His only friend would never see again.

The terrifying memory morphed into a nightmare.

Suddenly, it was the adult Raiden, the nightmare clouded in a veil of fog before his eyes.

The boy pulled his head up and focused his dead eyes on Raiden. "It was you," he said hoarsely.

"No," he whispered in his sleep.

"You did this to me." The boy's voice was distorted, part male, part female, both terrifyingly familiar. "You did this to us." The boy's eyes, Shika's, identical to one another.

His voice transformed into hers and her profile began to take shape. "Why? Why did you do this?"

"No, that's a lie!"

Shika's cold, heartless eyes willed him to keep his gaze. "Is it?"

Then it was like he was standing on glass in the midst of clear water, naked eyes floating around his feet in all shades of blue, brown, and green. "Your fault, your fault," they chanted mercilessly.

The person in the chair went rapidly from the boy, who's laughing eyes would never see again, to his sister, glaring hatefully, to Shika, abandoning the one who had saved her, to Kana, covered in blood and laughing manically, to Mizuki, dead, a spirit with crystalline eyes to haunt him forevermore.

He twitched in his sleep. "No... Stop..."

All of the people he had come close to, turned against him.

"Please... Help me."

Their hands, stretching toward him to gouge his eyes out.

"GYYYAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Raiden shot up and clamped a hand over his eyes, then his mouth. He leaned over the side of the bed and vomited onto the carpet.

Kana stirred blinked sleepily. "You OK, baby?"

Raiden coughed and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "I'm just dandy, what about you, Kana?"

Kana was rather slow to pick up, but literally leapt out of bed at the sight of how pale her fiancee was. "Oh my god, Raiden! Why the hell didnchya say somethin'?"
"So sorry," he muttered sarcastically.

Kana had gotten everything cleaned, helped Raiden onto the couch, and was tying her hair back to inspect him in less then ten minutes.

She pressed the cool stethoscope against his hot skin. "How do you feel?"

Raiden refused to take his arm off of his own eyes. "Like shit."

"Well, as far as I can tell there's nothing physically wrong with you."

"I told you, my scars burn mentally rather than physically."

Kana looked at him sadly. "Let me get something to cool you down with."

Kana stood and took one step before Raiden lunged out and clutched her wrist like a lifeline. "No!... Don't..." Kana could feel him shaking horribly. "Don't leave me alone. To... To tell you the truth, I'm really frightened," he said, gritting his teeth together. His eyes, which evaded hers... They were filled with torment and regret.

Kana eased herself down beside him and reassuringly squeezed his hand. "You OK to get married tomorrow?"

He laughed weakly. "Of course I am. Besides, I didn't expect to get much sleep tonight anyway."

Kana smiled. "Me neither. I was panicking that Kaien Cross is gonna know where I live."

Raiden really laughed this time. Just talking was really calming him down. "I'm still surprised we really are getting married in our backyard.

"I dunno, feels kinda sentimental to me."

"And I'm going to see my sister and her family again."

"Yep. Tomorrow's gonna be the best day of my life," she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Mine too, Kana."

"Do I look all right?" Mizuki said, twirling around in her dark, blue dress.

Takuma smiled. "You've asked me that three times already and the answer is still yes."

"Well, I just want to make sure! I mean, Shika looks gorgeous and Aunty Kana's dress is amazing!"

Kaien Cross approached them, looking very professional in his nice clothes with his hair tied back. "Good morning, Vice President, Miss Natsujina."

Mizuki gave him a cheeky grin. "Wow Headmaster, I've never seen you in a suit before; you look great!"

In return, he flashed her a warm smile. "So do you. Can you believe it? Kanako Aoi getting married. I never thought I'd see the day when the infamous Joker-" Cross dropped off when a flying, high-heeled, white shoe hit him in the back of the head.

"You bastard! Whaddya mean you thought you'd never see the day, old man? And stop with the whole Aoi and Joker thing! I've been going by Natsujina for years, and JOKER? I dropped that title when I quit hunting! Who do you think you are, insulting me on my wedding day? Try that one more time and I'll hitcha with more then just a shoe! I can still kick you off of my property and I'll do it with my heels if I have to!"
Mizuki raced to pick up the shoe and run back to Kana, who's ranting could be heard from where she was getting ready inside the house. "Aunty Kaaannnaaa! You're going to get your shoe dirty!" she yelled, utterly abandoning the sobbing heap that was Kaien Cross.

"Atta girl," Raiden laughed, materializing in a striking black suit and tie. "You all right, Kaien? Even when I first met Kana, she was always as bold as-"

"Mein Bruder! Ich habe dich vermisst!" A woman with black hair and dyed blonde bangs pulled back in a ribbon almost literally jumped on top of Raiden from behind.

"Japanese, sister!" he laughed.

"Right, sorry! Just got off the plane and I still feel like I'm in Germany! That translated into, 'My brother! I missed you!"

"I missed you to, Hitomi. Takuma, could you do me a favor and find Shika?"

He smiled politely. "Of course, I'll be right back," he said, taking the hint and dragging Cross with him.

"Is your husband here?"

"Yeah, Christoph is getting Kai out of the car."

"Who's getting Kai out of the car?" said a blonde man, coming up behind her with a little boy in his arms.

Raiden shook the man's hand, smiled happily, and took his nephew in his own arms. "Good to see you again, Christoph." He boosted the little blonde boy up higher. "And have you had fun at school, Kai?"

Kai grinned happily. "Ja, viele!"

Raiden sighed. "Can't speak Japanese but understands it, huh?"

"Yep. He said 'yes, lots!'"

Takuma returned with Shika and a smile.

Hitomi peered around her brother. "Is this Shika?"

Raiden took Shika's hand and put his nephew in her arms. "Shika, this is my sister, Hitomi, her husband, Christoph, and this is their son, Kai. You three, this is the Shika Tachibana I've told you about, in the flesh."

"Hello," she said softly, shying away a little.

Kai wriggled, twisted a strand of Shika's hair and grinned again. "Hallo, Shika! Ich bin Kai! Wirst du mein Freund sein?"

"What did he say?" she said running a hand through his hair.

"Hello, Shika! I'm Kai! Will you be my friend?"

She felt down his round cheeks and gingerly touched his smile with two fingers. "Yes, I will be your friend. Your smile reminds me of someone I know, Kai."

"Hey, Raiden," Hitomi nudged him with her elbow, "it's time for you to get married, you better go."

"Right," he said, reclaiming Kai and handing him back to Christoph.

"Do you, Raiden Natsujina, take Kanako Aoi to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Kana whispered under her breath, "Ready to be stuck with me for the rest of your life?"

Raiden couldn't keep a grin from breaking out on his face. "I do."

"Do you, Kanako Aoi, take Raiden Natsujina to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"Hell yeah. I- I mean, I do," she said, blushing like crazy.

Cross chucked in rather small audience. "Haven't changed at bit."

"You may now kiss the bride."
Kana threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, like they were the only two in the world. The cheers from the few people in the audience were almost more overwhelming than at a crowded wedding, everyone was joyful and happy to see them married. The whole scene was perfect, serene almost.

That's when the screaming started.

Kana and Raiden broke apart and looked up. Vampires, unstable, fangs protruding, bloodthirsty, insane, eyes gleaming ruby red, and seeking the group of humans enjoying the wedding going on below.

Raiden felt a buzz of electricity sweep through his fingers. "Everyone, get inside!" he shouted.

Cross hurried Raiden's sister and her family in the house while Takuma and Shika pushed past him to assist Kana and Raiden. Mizuki tried to get past him too, but he caught her with his outstretched arm.

"Let me go!" she shouted.

"No."

"Headmaster!" Mizuki grit her teeth and pulled out a disc that was as sharp around the edges as the blade of a sword. She held it tightly in her right hand, so tight the sharp edges caused blood to trickle down her fingertips. "Let me go, I know what to do!"

Cross kept his solemn stare.

"Kana taught me how! Let me go!"
"Kaien!"

Cross let Mizuki run beside her adoptive family and friends and focused on Kana instead.

"My knives, get me my knives!"

His eyes widened and he whispered, "Joker... Kanako..."

"NOW!" she bellowed.

He threw them into her outstretched hands and he ran back to the house.

"Get Raiden's family out of here! And Kaien!"

He whipped around.

"Keep them safe."

Cross nodded and retreaded to the house.

Kana clenched her knives in between her fingers, Mizuki gripped her disc tightly, Raiden felt electricity flow throughout his body to his crackling fingertips, Shika surrounded herself in a stream of water, eyes lavender, Takuma let his vampire instincts take over, eyes red, fangs bared, katana in hand, all of them poised to fight.

The first one leaped from the buildings above and shot straight at Raiden, and in response he raised his hand and shocked it with enough energy to blow out a power plant until it was reduced to nothing more then burnt ashes.

Mizuki hit the second one with her sharp disc before it had even reached her. It beheaded the creature and returned to her hand like a boomerang, drenched in blood. It's hideous head rolled to a halt at her feet before it disintegrated, and she looked down on it distastefully, eyes as cold as ice.

Shika had trapped the third one in a watery tornado, clutching its neck and gasping for air. "Kill it," she instructed Raiden. He stretched out his hand and sent a flash of electricity into the water to electrocute it until nothing remained, not even ashes.

Takuma braced himself for the next, it leaped from the roof tops and dived at him, eyes wild. He sliced into the things innards and felt warm blood splatter his face. His tongue moved on it's own accord, and when it rolled back inside his mouth it grazed his fangs with the scarlet blood of the dead level E.

Kana ripped her breathtaking dress so she could move around in it and turned to Shika. "Get me up there!" she ordered. Shika sent a wave under Kana and moved her up onto the roof where the vampires lay in wait. No more flew down, Kana had gotten to them all first, she tore into them with her knives until they left her divine, white dress stained with blood and left the rooftops covered in ashes.

Raiden squinted and tried to aim his energy accordingly at the vampires when Cross ran past him, attempting to reach the roof. "She's become the Joker again!" he shouted out to the man boiling with electricity. Raiden blanched and shot his eyesight toward his wife.

Kana was grinning manically, eyes wild, slashing out and stabbing every living thing that crossed her path. "No!" he shouted, letting the electricity disappear from his fingers. "Shika, get us up there!"
She nodded and shot him and Cross up onto the top on another huge wave, just in time to witness Kana destroy a vampire with a flick of her wrist. They could hear her laughing now, insanity intertwined in every sound. Her eyes crazy, only seeking to kill, screaming, "Only the strong survive!" She pinned the last one to the ground and stabbed it over and over, adding to the blood on her hands and face.

Raiden and Cross ran up and each grabbed Kana by the arm, desperately trying to pull her knives away from the creature while she laughed in maniacal delight.

"Kanako, let go!"

"Kana, Kana!"
"Kanako, listen, can you hear me?" He avoided one of her lashes toward him.

"Kana, don't make me do this!" Raiden could feel electricity welling up inside of him.
"Drop it, stop! Stop!"

"KANA!"

END OF CHAPTER 7