"What the hell happened to you?" If Dmitri didn't know that vampires can't be hung over, then he would say that Luna looked like she had too much alcohol last night.

"You. Don't. Wanna. Know! Bring the bottle!"

Dima put the small glass bottle containing his blood on the vampire's desk. He just had turned around to look for a glass, when he heard a soft clinking sound. His friend had decided that she didn't need a glass.

"Luna that's gross!"

The vampire placed the bottle on the desk again and closed it. "You don't drink from this bottle anyway!" She buried her face in her arms.

Dima sat beside her and rubbed her back. "Tell me what happened."

"That boy is a brat."

"Who?"

"Mika. I mean," she looked at the human again. "If you have something to protect you need power. And not only does he want to give his power away but he hates himself for having it in the first place. So he wallows around in self-pity and doesn't take care about those around him or himself."

"Sounds just like you."

"Huh?"

"'With great power comes great responsibility,' is what you're always saying. Aren't you also just running away from your responsibilities?" Dima started braiding Luna's long hair.

"I guess we are similar in that regard." Luna took another gulp from the bottle with Dima's blood.

"Did you have him drink your blood?"

"What the hell?! You don't ask something like that!" Luna's face had turned crimson.

The human grinned. "Oh? Why are you blushing? I thought feeding was completely natural?"

The vampire softly boxed the man's shoulder. "You know exactly what feeding feels like, stupid."

"You could have given him some of that," Dima nodded at the bottle.

Luna possessively cradled the bottle. "Mine! Your blood belongs to me!"

"So do my body and soul," Dima replied with a teasing grin.

The vampire boxed his shoulder again. "Nah. Keep that. Your blood is more than enough." She put the flask back on the table and laid down. "I'm gonna sleep for a bit. Ah! You know, Dima …" She looked the other red eyed person in the eye and smiled. "Thank you for being my friend."

The human smiled too and caressed the vampire's cold face. "No. Thank you for being mine."


"So how long are they going to stay?" Dima asked referring to the Japanese kids. Presently Luna and he were walking towards the library. It was getting darker and the fog had not cleared up at all.

"I don't know. As long as it takes I guess. Tomorrow I want to go with them to the city hall and register them as residents. As much as I liked to there is no way my dad and I can support seven additional people," Luna said with a sigh.

"Yeah. You've got a point there." They arrived at the library entrance. "See you tomorrow?"

Luna hugged the taller person. "Yup. Don't freeze yourself."

"Never," Dima replied and they both chuckled. "Well … have fun."

Luna waved shortly after her leaving friend before stepping in the ancient building. She found the visitors where she had left them on their first day. Apparently they had made this table their base of operations. Yesterday it had been filled with books only, but today there were also some papers with theories written on them. Right now they were debating if Teller's law on zombies would apply to vampires too.

"But vampires are undead too," Shiho argued almost shouting.

Before anyone had opened their mouth Luna said: "Vampires have free will. I have never heard of a zombie displaying anything like that."

"That's what I've been telling the telephone pole for the last five minutes," Yu ranted.

"HUH? What did you say?"

"Anyway," Shinoa began not minding the two squabbling boys. "We tried to combine Teller's theories on reanimation with Ovid's metamorphoses, which did not work at all."

"The problem is that there are only few books on reanimation and Teller's was the most comprehensive one," Mitsuba added.

"I see."

"You didn't understand a word we said right?" Mitsuba inquired.

The vampire shrugged. "Just a little bit. I am not a magician. Especially techniques and theories are difficult for me."

"This is so frustrating!" Yu yelled and ran his hands through his hair.

"How about we stop for today? The books will be here tomorrow too," Yoichi suggested and the others agreed and started putting the books away.

Luna decided to help them a bit. Yu's expression caught her eye. His mouth was a frown and his eyes didn't contain any sparkle of happiness or mischief as they normally did. 'It must be hard,' Luna thought. 'Being so close, yet so far from your goal. All you want is for your family to be happy, poor guy.'

When they left the library the streetlights were the only source of light. The fog was so thick that it seemed like someone had put a ceiling over the whole city.

"Ewww," Luna grimaced. "It's like London out here. Let's hurry."


Luna stopped at the door of the bungalow. There was a strange sound in the air. 'A chopper?' she asked herself. 'Since when did we have a chopper? Are some vampire officials stopping by again?'

Mitsuba put a hand on the vampires shoulder and pulled her inside. "Get in here! The cold air is coming in."

The vampire rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry."

"So what did you want to talk about with us?" Shiho asked.

"Well," the vampire began fumbling with her sandals trying to get them off. "There is a little problem. Dad and I are soon going back to the coast and I guess you want to stay here, so …"

"You can't afford to support us anymore," Shiho finished her train of thought.

"Yes. Basically yes. So I was thinking that we could get you registered as temporary residents, which would allow you to live and work here."

The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Of course two people could not support a group of nine forever. That was logical. Still ... While the Japanese probably felt a bit ashamed for receiving only without giving it another thought, Luna felt like she failed as a host.

"This is going to be fun!" Shinoa said smiling. She stretched one of her arms up and posed. "I think I'd be very popular as model, don't you think so too?"

Yu and Shiho shared a look that said 'No comment' and Mitsu whacked her friends head. "Stop fooling around!"

"Oww, Mitsu. No won't ever be a model at all. Unlike me you're not cute enough!"

"Shinoa!"

"Help!" Shinoa hid behind Yoichi and the others laughed.

Suddenly Luna blanched. Her eyes grew wide. "No!" she shouted, turned to the door grabbing her sword that was in the umbrella holder and sped outside towards the port. Dima was draining her magic at an unprecedented speed! Her best friend was in deep trouble!


Like every Wednesday there was a course on water magic at the old port. Formerly it had been one of the busiest ports on the Russian east coast, which meant that now there was a lot of unused space. Like every Wednesday when he was in town Dima went to this course and like every Wednesday it was pretty fun although a bit cold and unlike some other days the man tried not to get wet. After all he had promised not to freeze himself.

Also unlike other Wednesdays a chopper approached the port from southeast. Normally this would have been just a minor note in a diary: "Dear diary, today a chopper landed at the port and two high ranking vampires came to see the mayor. The kids had a lot of fun, but the police had to be there to make sure the progenitors' guards would not harm them."

Apparently it was not a normal Wednesday. Instead of vampires humans stepped out of the machine. They wore a black uniform which made them blend in with the night sky. There were two men and three women.

Dima waved his hand in the air and shouted: "Hey! Over here! Where are you guys from?"

Just when he was able to make out more details of their appearance like their eye colors one of the men shouted out "Vampire!" and they suddenly stepped into a battle formation.

'Maybe they are like Luna's friends,' Dmitri mused and turned around to look for the vampire that startled them to tell him to leave for now. But there was no vampire there!

'What?' Dima had barley time to jump aside when two tigers closed in on him ready to tear him apart. The other citizen started to scream. None of them had ever been in a real battle. They ran away and shouted for the police.

"Hey! I'm hu-," he began but the orange haired woman tried to slash his torso and he just managed to block her with a shield of quartz. The black haired man appeared from the other side and Dima moved away not to get trapped between them closer to the quay's edge, but suddenly a red head appeared behind him. Dima jumped back again into the range of the two sword wielder and narrowly avoided them by creating holes in the cement underneath their feet tripping them.

Suddenly some kunai with strings flew at him from one side and two blue glowing tigers from the other and he knew he would not be able to avoid both.

An arm rammed into his torso and pressed the air out of his lungs. The kunai embedded themselves in the ground and were covered in the tigers' fire.

"You okay?"

Dima tried to catch his breath. "I don't know."

Luna kissed his forehead. "Wait here." She pulled her sword from the scabbard which fell next to her human friend.

The soldiers had reformed their formation. "Now now. Seems like the weaklings stick together." The black haired's voice had an almost teasing quality to it. He would make a great vampire, arrogance and that all.

"Yes," Luna said her red eyes blazing with fury. "Just like you."

They sped away at the same time and when in reach Luna rotated, avoided the demon blade, grabbed the male's arm and threw him with the rotation towards the chopper. The orange haired woman jumped at her but Luna just continued to turn and side stepped her blow. The woman's back was wide open as she lost her balance, but suddenly some kunai and strings were wrapped around the vampire's sword hindering her. The red haired woman tried to punch her but Luna just threw her over her shoulder at the sword wielding girl.

The black haired guy was back again and the vampire barely avoided being stabbed. She blocked his sword with her own and in one fast motion wrapped the katana in the strings that were holding her own blade captive. He clicked his tongue let go of the sword and put a spell on her head, but before he could incantate it the leaf burned up. Shocked the man jumped back and with a mighty heave Luna pulled the short woman holding the kunai strings into her superior. She lost control of her demon weapon and Luna's sword came free just in time to slice two white tigers. Behind the tigers the sword using woman had hid but the vampire easily deflected her blow, brought her to the ground her left hand at the neck and her right holding the sword ready to slice it.

Suddenly the swordsman was there again and went for her head.

"Guren!" "Lieutenant Colonel Ichinose!" "Stop fighting!" The teenagers' scared cries mixed with the sound of steel on steel. The adult soldier was pressing down on the vampire's blade with all his might but it barely budged.

Luna let go of the woman's neck. "Fuck off Itchy-nose." With both her hands on her blade she was able to shove the soldier back a few steps. The short orange haired woman scrambled away.

The teenagers in ran onto the battle field. Mika unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Luna's throat. The female vampire did not impressed at all. "What?" Their gazes met. While Mika almost bared his teeth, Luna's face was devoid of any emotion. Still Mika felt like if anyone was to make an aggressive move against her friends or her she would slay them without mercy.

A few people came running, some jumping over old storage houses. Most of them were vampires. "Stop! Police! Drop your weapons and explain yourself!" The leader shouted, himself not much taller than Shinoa although he had been a grown-up when he had been turned. Luna was the only one to literally drop her weapon the others only sheathed them or turned them back to their key-form.

"Wait! This was just a misunderstanding!" Dmitri placed himself between the police men and the soldiers. "They're from Japan. There vampires are treating humans like animals! They don't know that we're coexisting!"

"They tried to kill you," Luna retorted. "A human!"

The adult soldiers looked slightly shocked at the white haired man and noticed the round ears and the color of his eyes that was red but not the unnatural vampire-red.

"Well, I'm not exactly the most human-looking human," Dima shot back.

The leader of the police force crunched his eyebrows in annoyance. "So who was being attacked?"

"Me!" Dima shouted and his hand went up. Luna added: "I intervened to stop them from killing Dmitri."

A human male next to the police chief started taking notes while the chief inquired: "Who wants to press charges."

"You can't!" Yu interjected. "I won't let you put Guren into prison!"

Dmitri stated: "You're wrong. I could. But I won't." He shrugged. "It was just a misunderstanding."

Luna snorted.

"Do you want to press charges?" the policeman asked her. For a few seconds she just stood there thinking. Then she shook her head and said only one word, quite softly: "Debts." The police vampire nodded once in understanding.

Then he conferred with his partner in a fast Russian chatter. While the Japanese didn't understand a word, they had not doubt that their two local friends understood everything as the Chief asked both of them a question and they replied without noticeable problems.

Then the policeman declared his decision: "Since the affected parties do not want to press any charges and nobody got injured we will let you go under the following conditions: First, you will leave tomorrow at the latest. Second, if there is another incident you will be charged with 'endangering the citizen' which might lead to a prison sentence. Third, while you are here Miss Wang and Mister Ivanov will watch you at all times. Do you understand?"

"Hmph. I don't have a choice, do I?" Guren was slightly smirking and the vampire answered: "No you don't." He turned around and started to shoo the crowd away that had gathered at the pier. The other police officers were helping him, calling out in various languages.

The teenagers, except for Mika and Yoichi, had gathered around Guren's squad and bombarded them with questions.

Yoichi had walked over to Dmitri and gently touched his arm, his eyes wide with worry: "Are you alright?"

The albino laughed shakily. "I guess. It was a bit of a shock, but I have a good guardian angel," he said motioning with his head towards Luna.

"I'm sorry that happened. I'm just glad nobody got hurt," Yoichi replied with an iridescent smile.

"Me too. But now I've got to repair the stupid floor … again," Dima said thinking back to when he accidently froze the quay and water that had gotten into small crevasses damaged it badly. Luna had been quite cross with him.

"Can I help you somehow?" The archer asked, but Dima shook his head. "It's alright. This is child's play."

Luna had grabbed her sword and was walking towards her scabbard when she felt Mika's gaze burning in the back of her head. She whirled around and asked quite crossly: "What?"

"Thank you for not killing them," the blond vampire said evenly, but without great passion.

"Hm? Are they important to you?" She sheathed her sword and used the scabbard's belt to hang it around her waist.

"Not really. But they are important to Yu."

Luna watched the black haired boy. Yes, judging by the way Yu's eyes lighted up and how he gestured when talking it was clear to see that he idolized the older man.

"You're a good brother."

Mika tried to fight the color that rose in his cheeks at Luna's compliment, but it seemed like she wasn't noticing it anyway. Shinoa had walked up to the two vampires with a grim look on her face: "We need to go back to Japan. They've had some problems lately and need all the people they can get."

The fluttery feeling in Mika's chest stopped abruptly. Why now? They had finally a lead on reversing his transformation and now Guren had to barge back into their lives.

Luna looked disappointed took. "Too bad. You can't go against orders, can you?"

Shinoa gave her a wry smile. "Had Kureto sent anyone else than Guren, we probably would have."

"But Guren is important to Yuichiro," Luna finished her thought.

"Come on! Are you going to adopt the whole vampire population now?"

Shinoa turned around. The other had joined them.

Luna stared back into Guren's violet eyes. "I don't need adopting, thank you very much."

"A sharp tongue you have there. Anyway these are my teammates, Shigure, Sayuri, Mito, Shinya and Norito."

Luna bowed stiffly. Then she turned to the woman she had choked, Sayuri, and apologized: "I am sorry for hurting you."

"N-no. It's okay. We attacked first," Sayuri replied.

Suddenly Dmitri appeared behind Luna and threw an arm around her shoulder. "I'm Dmitri Ivanov, the local magician. Nice to meet you!"

A realization dawned on Guren. "You deactivated my spell."

"Yeah."

Shinya whistled and Guren said: "That was quite impressive."

The albino shook his head. "It wasn't too hard. Spells bound to paper can easily be rerouted."

"Is that so?"

Shiho cleared his throat. "Do we have time for this discussion?"

He was supported by Shigure. "Kimizuki is right, Lieutenant Colonel Guren. We need to be back in Japan as soon as possible."

"Tsk. What a shame."


Back at their house Luna went in first calling out: "Dad?"

"Ah you're back," Jiahao exclaimed. "Where did the lot of you go? I've made dinner already."

"And I helped," Mirai added.

Shinoa replied: "Thank you, but we received orders to go back to Japan."

Guren used his most charming smile. "Pardon the intrusion. We are friends of the brats here and we need them back in Japan."

"Ah, I understand. I'll just put the food into boxes then."

"Now, everyone! Let's pack our bags!" Shinoa's cheer only received very soft echoes.

Since the house was quite cramped with everyone inside, Guren's team decided to wait outside. While Dmitri gracefully accepted apologies for their attack and answered all their questions Luna had asked Guren for a word in private.

The soldier had no chance to ask a question before the vampire said: "You shouldn't attack Hiroshima."

Guren played dumb. "I'm sorry? Why should we do that?"

"It's the next logical step for the JIDA. If you get to control Hiroshima you'll have driven the vampires out of Honshu and you'll have the perfect set-up for an attack on the cities in Shikoku." She tilted her head. "People are talking Guren Ichinose."

Guren's expression grew serious. "So why shouldn't we?"

"Because as long as Lady Krul doesn't lose complete control over Japan's biggest island, your war is an internal affair. If you take control of Honshu the rest of the world won't just stand there and watch. Do you really think you can take on the entire vampire race?"

"I don't get why you are telling me this. Is this some sort of bluff?"

Luna chuckled darkly. "I owed your ancestor a favor and I take my debts very seriously. That's why you are still alive; that's why your friends are still alive. It is now repaid."

Guren remained silent. There was nothing left to say.


Finally all the bags were stowed away in the chopper; Guren's team had taken their seats and was waiting for the teenagers to say their good-byes.

Yoichi hugged his two new friends and almost cried. "I'll miss you a lot."

"Us too," Dima replied.

Mirai only hugged the vampire. "I hope we meet again."

Luna gave an agreeing hum. "Only without fighting please."

The small girl laughed and separated from the other girl when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Shiho's.

"Thanks for watching out for us."

"No problem."

The siblings climbed into the vehicle.

Yu and Mika walked up to the pair. They were so similar and yet so different, just like brothers.

Yu tugged on his hair. "I wish we could have stayed longer. Anyway, don't come to Japan! Definitely don't come! I don't want to fight you."

Dmitri lifted his hands up. "Don't worry, I don't like fighting. The one you have to worry about is her."

Luna nodded with the same teasing grin that she wore when they had been training together the first time. "Yeah right! I don't take orders from anyone, especially you, little wizard!"

Yu laughed and turned around with Mika in tow. "See ya around!" The blond vampire only nodded a good-bye.

Dima softly elbowed Luna's side. "The bag," he whispered.

"What ba- Oh-," a curse escaped the vampire's mouth, but luckily in a language no one understood. She grabbed the paper bag and touched it to Mika's shoulder. "This is for you. A book, a good one."

The other vampire was visibly puzzled, but accepted the present. "Thank you."

"Finally we can go too," Mitsuba said with an exasperated sight and Shinoa swayed against her shoulder. "Don't be so mean Mitsu~. Well, then this is good-bye."

Luna smiled. "Save travels. And Shinoa, if you ever get caught by vampires or something, just call for me. I know people, who know people all over the world."

"Will do. Thank you," Shinoa said smiling. And just before she entered the chopper she said: "Yu is right you know. Don't go to Japan. When the fighting breaks out it will be hell there."

Then she got in, closed the door and Shinya, who had been running the pre-flight check's the whole time, took off. The two locals watched them until they disappeared in the foggy night sky.

"I want one of those choppers," Dima said and Luna replied: "I'll get you one for Christmas." And at her friends hopeful face she added: "Fifty centimeters long, with batteries and a remote."

"You are so mean."


On board of the chopper the teenagers started unpacking their dinner and eating. Meanwhile Mika looked into the bag he had received from Luna. There were a book and two letters in there.

"'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu," he mumbled.

Shinoa who sat next to him noted: "That was mandatory reading in Shibuya High school. Oh, but what are those? Love letters?"

Yu perked up at that: "Huh? From who?"

"Whom, you dumb monkey," Shiho chided the black haired man and they started bickering. "Shut up Mister over-correct!"

"They are not love letters," Mika retorted angrily, but Shinoa's teasing grin showed him that she only meant to rile him up anyway.

One of the letters was written in a very ornate kind of handwriting and said 'Tepes', the other one said 'From Luna. Read this first!'.

"I know some people, who know a guy, who knows the First Progenitor of the Tepes clan. I probably shouldn't have written, but I assure you nobody gives a damn about what you do as long as you only interfere with Queen Krul's plans. Still, progeny needs to be known or else the whole world will be swamped with a wave of young vampires and that would be very bad. The Queen will probably get an earful, though, about not revealing your existence, but that is not the point.

Point is that as child of a third Progenitor you have some power, whether you like it or not. And being an official member of the Tepes clan could save your friends' and your head one day. By the way, read the book carefully. Might come in handy sometimes in the future."

"I've expected something more … poetic," Shinoa said.

"Can you not read my letters over my shoulder," Mika hissed and Yu used his brother's distraction to snatch the paper and skim over it.

"And you said there are no good vampires, Mika!"

Finally Mitsu snapped: "Would you just sit down and be quiet! Respect Mika's privacy you little kids!"

Yu handed over the letter to Mika and apologized. Shinoa only smiled and the vampire couldn't tell if she felt apologetic at all.

They wouldn't have been able to read the other letter anyway, Mika thought, because he himself could barely deceiver it. A long time ago it might have been considered a beautiful handwriting, but for him it was just tiring to read.

"To Mikaela Hyakuya, sired by the third Progenitor Krul Tepes,

It has come to Our attention that Our beloved younger sister committed an act of misconduct by not making Us aware of your existence. While We cannot tolerate this sort of behavior from Our third-in-command, We will not take any measures to terminate your existence. Instead We graciously grant you title and authority of a thirteenth progenitor valid outside of Krul's territory, where you answer directly to Us.

We are certain of your gratefulness towards Us and remain

Your Royal Majesty Martina Vladovna Tepes"

When Mika read the letter out loud, because Yu had asked him too and he didn't mind, Goshi laughed. "Seriously who writes like that in this time! Even my grandma wouldn't write like that."

Shinoa, who felt that the topic of Mika's letters had been exhausted and didn't feel like discussing Mika's new position as a progenitor, asked: "Guren, why are we going back to the JIDA? What exactly is happening in Japan?"

"Well, I'll leave that to Kureto to explain. But honestly," he leaned forward as far as the seatbelts would allow. "We might have a chance to finally deal a major blow to Japan's vampire forces, but Hiroshima is heavily defended. My guess is that Kureto needs your power."

Yu's eyes sparkled. "I'm ready! Just give the word!"

On the other hand Mirai looked a bit down. "I don't want to fight anymore."

"Well," Guren got comfortable in his seat again. "Maybe one Seraph will be enough. Now, brats, sleep a bit. You'll want to be well rested."


Longer Author's Note:

Part 1 of probably 4 is done. (That's why it's a longer AN) To be honest I have a rough storyline in my head, but many things are still undecided.

I have to agree with Ryo, that Asuramaru should have recognized Luna even if he does not remember who exactly she is. I thought about having the teens ask Luna about Ferid too, then I read my story again and noticed that 1: Mika asked her and 2: Mika is the one who mostly sees her more Ferid-like part. If I had written a conversation it would have gone something like: "Do you know Ferid?" "Call him Feridiot. Who doesn't know that insane guy anyway? Met him a long time ago. Don't really like him."

Considering what happened in chapter 64 of the manga I now have to write my own backstory (more information about that in the next chapter).

I tried to research how a noble would write a letter but I didn't find anything useful so I had to improvise. It was pretty fun writing Martina Vladovna's letter!

And lastly I want to thank Ryo for your comments. Every time I get a bit depressed and feel like nobody cares about my story I just have to go to the comments and see your name on the four most recent and I'm thinking: "I will finish this story even if it takes me years because there is at least one person reading and liking it!" So thank you!

Since I'm already here I want to answer Ryo's questions:

Q: Did they realize by now that Luna is a Tepes?

A: Difficult to answer. What does it mean to 'be a Tepes'? If it's about the 'family' bonds vampire share they would not be very surprised if Luna said she was the 'cousin', 'niece' or 'granddaughter' of Krul. Familial bonds for vampires are not like human bonds. Most vampires do not consider anyone further away than their sire and their offspring family, some don't consider anyone family and some choose whom to include.

They do not consider the option that Luna is stronger than Krul, because she is holding back a lot so she appears too weak to be someone important and that she doesn't meddle with politics while most (and especially the high ranking) progenitors do that a lot.

Do you think it would be better if I had Luna refer to Krul as Lady or Queen Krul when she is speaking so they wouldn't seem so close?

Q: What progenitor is she, since officially there are only 20 20th progenitors and so on. So why is in your story another 1st progenitor. I do realize that there are unofficial ones, like Crowley and Mika, but wouldn't Luna be an official one?

A: I changed the ranking system a bit. By default there are 7 First Progenitors (Chapter 6; The Origin story) who each have 2 Second Progenitors, 3 Third and so on. That makes 1470 Progenitors in total (default), which is not that much; it is estimated that around the Emergence of Agriculture the world population was about 1-15 million. There has been an increase in the amount of vampires as the human population increased. The progenitors have to keep tabs on how many vampires are sired and by whom (= Population control = the reason why normal vampires are punished for siring).

Not every progenitor position is filled; it depends a bit on the whims of the First. Some clans have more progenitors than others, like some human kingdoms include more dukes or counts than others. The ranking is determined by lineage, how much of the sire's blood was consumed, age and power (political, physical or economical). A vampire can never be more powerful than their sire as long as the sire is 'alive'.

Luna is a First Progenitor by default, but is disguising as someone weaker and lets her Second Progenitor order everyone around. The First not being the leader is quite common because they have to carry most of the Avenger's curse (Chapter 6) and are a bit busy keeping it's violent nature in check. I can't say more because the rest is important for the plot.