Chapter 9: Vlad

Author's Note: I do not own anything in the VHD, Rurouni Kenshin, Harry Potter, Evil Dead, or Final Fantasy universes. They are the property of their respective owners.

The next day the sun shone down gloriously on the Lang farm, preparing its inhabitants for another tough day of life on the Frontier. The party was gathered around the table with lots of food offered up. Ron and Ash dug into their food asking for another helping. D, as was his habit, ate a little and then left to take his real sustenance. After the meal Dan led them to the stables where he had several cyborg horses.

"These horses are custom models and they can achieve speeds of 70 miles an hour." Dan said, handing the reins over to Ash. He instantly got on and took it out on a test run. It was better than Cloud's Fenrir! Soon D came out and chose the only black horse from Dan's stock. Bidding their farewells to Dan, the party left and headed north. Ash rode up to D, who was keeping his eyes on the trail ahead.

"Where are we going?" Ash asked.

"A town called Gray Tower. I have a client there." The hunter responded in his usual cold tone.

"Now hold on a second! I thought we were going to try and find a way back to our world, not help you do your damn job!" Ash yelled, his face turning red.

"Don't worry." D said. Then he stopped and listened attentively. "There's a group of bandits a few miles ahead." Then he dismounted. The rest of the party did the same. A cloud of smoke soon appeared and a group of men on horseback rode into view. There were 12 of them and each one carried a gun. They drew their weapons and started firing. D, Kenshin and Cloud blocked the bullets with their swords, while the teenagers cast a protective bubble around the rest of the party. Before the party could go towards the bandits a cry was heard among them and then their flesh started to sizzle off their bones. Soon each man was a pile of steaming guts and bone. Above them a mighty roar was heard and 4 huge creatures soared into view. Each one had a wingspan of 60 feet and on their beaks they had a large cone shape. Instantly flashes of light raced from above towards the group. D and Kenshin leapt up into the air, dodging the blasts as they went.

Down on the ground, Ash, Tifa, Cloud, Vincent and the Trio had all bunched together under the bubble charm. Kenshin drove his blade hilt deep into the neck of one of the monsters and it started to crash towards the ground. Just before it landed, Kenshin ran vertically up its body towards its tail and leapt in front of another creature. It opened its maw wide to swallow the rurouni when it was struck nine times in an instant. Kenshin landed safely on the ground, using the corpse of the first creature as a cushion. D landed beside him a few moments later. The rest of the group's jaws would have hit the ground if they could have reached it. Ash, as usual was the first one who spoke.

"Hey Kenshin, where in the hell did you learn those moves?" He asked. Kenshin was about to respond when D cut in.

"That was Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, an ancient style that pits one against many. Impressive, just what I'd expect from the former Hitokiri Battosai." D said, cleaning his blade and returning it to its sheath.

"How do you know about me?" Kenshin asked.

"I remember reading about you from my history lessons. What I read said you were the greatest human swordsman, besides your master." D then turned towards the rest of the party. "We'll rest here for a few hours. Don't wander off, if you do you'll die." D then took out a minicomputer from his saddlebags and started poring over the information he had received. Ash was pissed off again.

"Damn pretty boy! Thinks we can't take care of ourselves!" he said indignantly. Kenshin turned towards him.

"Well Ash, it is his world and he knows how to survive in it. This one would listen to what he had to say." Kenshin said. "To pass the time and since you've told me where you came from, I'll tell you my story." Kenshin's hand reached towards the scar on his face as he started to talk.

Several hours later…

The group was silent after Kenshin finished his tale. Hermione and Tifa had tears in their eyes while Cloud, D, and Vincent gave him sympathetic looks. All the men present knew what it was like to lose someone they cared for that deeply. Kenshin smiled sadly at the group.

"Don't worry, this one has moved on. I've found happiness with Kaoru-dono." The rurouni said. D then looked up from his research.

"Leave those ideals of not killing behind here." Then he mounted his horse and rode off. The rest of the party followed. After riding for a few more hours they came upon the town. Grey Tower lived up to its name as the party saw a huge tower rising out of the earth like an enflamed wound. D led the party up to a gate heavily guarded by tough looking men. They glared at the newcomers but their glares turned to ones of confusion when they spied D.

"I'm D, the Hunter. I have some companions with me. Can we proceed?" D said. The guards nodded and let the group pass through. D wound his way though the narrow streets until he came to a massive hotel. Putting their horses in the nearby stables the group went inside for lodging. D turned towards the group after he had secured their rooms. "Don't leave the city and stick to largely populated areas. A vampire is among the populace here, one I've been trying to find for a very long time. And above all, do not go out at night." Then D left to meet with his client. Harry, Ron, Ash, and Hermione went to go see the town. Tifa, Cloud, and Vincent stayed behind. Kenshin was in his room, contemplating what had happened over the past couple of days.

Hermione was very curious about the inhabitants of this town. Every person she met on the street either glared at her or simply ignored her entirely. Ron was hungry, going for several hours without food was not part of his genetic makeup but he could tough it out when he was around Hermione. Harry was just glad that the fighting had ceased for the moment and that he was in the company of his friends. Ash was bored, but he stayed with the teenagers, sure they could get on his nerves sometimes but they really weren't that bad. Stopping the others he pointed towards a saloon.

"I don't know about you guys, but I need something to wet my whistle." Then he went into the saloon, followed by Harry and Ron. Hermione was about to follow them when someone called out to her.

"Excuse me, miss?" The voice said in a friendly tone. Hermione turned towards the source of the melodious voice and saw D. Or at least, he looked like D only a few years older. He had long black hair that shielded his face from the sun and his skin was also pale. His lips were the color of blood and his eyes were dark and spoke of great strength. For an instant Hermione thought the eyes turned red. It wasn't the same shade red as Vincent's eyes; these orbs she saw for a split second were glowing and roiling like a great flame. They seemed to be able to pierce right through the young witch and reveal everything about her. His very glance seemed to stir something deep within her, a primal lust that lay locked within the soul of every human. Shaking her head Hermione addressed the strange figure in black.

"Who are you?" The man bowed deeply in a manner that seemed medieval.

"I'm sorry I haven't told you, allow me to introduce myself I am Vlad, a wandering traveler and I just wanted to know the name of such an angel as yourself." His eyes locked with Hermione's and she felt herself speak her name and invite him to drink with her and her comrades. He bowed again and she led him into the tavern.