'Vlad, it's me, Ren. I have a few friends with me and… you know, the band. Can we come in?'

As they group approached the house, the doors opened for them. A tall was standing in the shadows, away from the sunlight.

'Ren, is that you?' the man asked carefully.

'Hello, Vlad.' The Tao greeted closing the doors behind him and blocking the light. The man was tall and slim, with dark thick hair, thin moustaches and eyes like embers. He looked around thirty.

'It is you! Ren, my boy, you're back!' Dracula shouted, walking towards Ren and hugging him 'Let me take good look at you!' he pulled back a bit 'I'm so glad to see you. I could feel there was something unusual approaching, but hey! I was so used you were no more a real vampire!'

'Please don't remind me!' Ren winced.

'Yes, of course. Oh, where're my manners, please come in!' he then looked at the girls 'Jun, sweetheart, still has the most beautiful smile. And Destiny… My little gorgeous Destiny! Darling, how are you? You look tired.'

'I was driving, uncle Vlad.' She explained. 'But I'm fine, don't worry. How are you doing?'

'Oh, perfectly fine, thank you!' he smiled widely 'Let's go to the living-room and talk!' he then notice Yoh and Horo and raised an eyebrow 'Uh… And what's with the humans? Walking breakfast of some kind?'

'I will appreciate if you eat the blue-haired only.' Ren said a smirk on his face as he saw the Ainu pale.

'Oh! You mean this one? He smells funny.' Dracula walked behind Horo and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. The Ainu paled even more and looked like he was going to faint any minute now. Gladly, Jun interfered.

'They are both not for food. They are our friends.' The older Tao sibling said and carefully led Vlad away from the blue-haired shaman.

'Oh! I see. Very well. I'm Vlad Dracula, it's nice to meet you.' Dracula said, smiling widely as he stretched his hand towards Yoh.

'Nice to meet you too, mister Dracula! I've heard much about you!' Yoh happily took the offered hand and shook it enthusiastically.

'Why, thank you! But I'm nothing much, believe me.' He then turned towards the other shaman offering him his hand as well 'And you are?'

Horo looked at the vampire very suspicious.

'Are you sure he won't eat me?' he asked nobody specifically and after getting many glares finally shook Vlad's hand.

'All right, now let's go! The living-room's waiting for us!' Dracula shouted keen as mustard and led them to a large room with a stone place, beautiful Persian carpets, elegant furniture in "old time" style, a huge bookcase and dark blue curtains, that blocked completely the sunlight.

'Would you like something to drink?' he asked as they sat in comfy coaches and arm-chairs around the table.

'Some tea, if it's not a big trouble.' Yoh grinned.

'Same.' Horo shrugged.

'Coffee.' Destiny asked and the Tao sibling asked for the same.

'Just a sec.' Vlad promised and called a servant that took their orders.

'How long do you know him?' Yoh whispered to Ren.

'For centuries.' Was the answer. 'He's an interesting person.'

'I can see that.' Yoh agreed. 'But he's ok… I guess.'

'He's a very loyal friend. Al least that I can say without hesitation.'

'How old was Dracula?' Yoh asked while examining the ex-ruler.

'Eight hundred plus.'

At that time Vlad finished ordering and turned to Ren.

'So, what's taking you here?' Dracula asked and leaned in his arm-chair.

'Troubles, as always.' Ren shrugged, a half-smile on his face.

'I see.' Vlad nodded and took the cup the servant hand him.

'Oh! And what's going on with…?' the Tao looked like he had just remembered something important.

'Well, we're ok, I guess. Not much trouble. Though you know there's always trouble. He's sleeping right now. I guess he was a bit tired. He doesn't like working.'

'Not a big surprise.' Ren had to admit as he took a sip of his own drink.

Vlad then looked at Ren and Destiny very suspicious over his cup's edge and without too much thinking asked loudly:

'You're not groping each other under the table, are you?'

Ren choked with the coffee and Destiny looked at Dracula dangerously.

'Oh, I'm sorry, did I say something rude?' Vlad looked at them innocently.

'YES!' the couple shouted at the same time.

'I beg a pardon. I just remembered that Ren was quite a lover-boy, slept with almost every girl he met. Well, I don't think they minded at all but… wow! The boy couldn't control his hormones. You invite him on some party and after five minutes his gone and so is some lady. Sometimes more than one.' Vlad shook his head and took a sip from his drink. Ren had covered his red face with his hand, while Destiny and Jun tried to keep themselves from laughing and the boys were exchanging shocked glances.

'But I can't say Jun and Destiny we any better.' Vlad continued 'Affairs here and there with every kind of men. I quite well remember when…'

'That's enough, Vlad, thank you. We got the point.' Jun said trying very hard to sound calm and failing miserably. Vlad though didn't notice.

'I'm very glad.' He nodded to himself 'Now, back to busyness. What's the situation and what help do you need?' he carefully placed his cup on the table.

'All right. So it goes like this…' Jun started. Telling the vampire everything they've experienced. Dracula was listening very seriously to every word she said.

'I see.' He nodded in the end 'So the humans are friends of yours? Right. And did you tell them everything? The whole story?'

'Not really… But we started telling it.' Ren answered.

'Well, then we should continue.' Vlad smiled widely and sat back in his arm-chair. 'It's quite a story so I don't mind listening as well.'

'All right then…' Ren sighed.

Flashback:

That evening Ren was walking down the street thinking of the girl he had to find. He didn't mind searching for her at all. It was a small adventure itself. But he didn't have a clue how she looked like, what she liked, what she wore and so on. All he knew was that she was a thief, some sort of Hao's girlfriend, she made lots of chaos around her and her name was Destiny.

"Destiny? What kind of name is this anyway? It can't be her real name, right? Is she a shaman or human? Or may be even demon?" he thought.

He kicked some sort of stone and looked at the sky for a moment. He had placed a spell on Mei that morning to make her forget she ever met him. He just… couldn't have a long relationship… yet. Well, she wanted to, but she was soooo… soooo… Well, anyway, she wasn't the right one.

"Not that I'm perfect." He had to admit to himself. He then sighed and turned around, planning to go home. He didn't want any affairs tonight. He wanted peace and quiet. And his pajamas on during the night…

Suddenly his senses screamed there was danger, then some really loud noise, the ground started shaking as if there was a big earthquake. Only, it was over very fast. He looked back and saw there was black smoke in the air that cam from… from… the jewel store?

'Wow! Did someone rob it or something?' Ren thought as he scratched the back of his neck, not really interested in what was really happening there.

He then remembered Hao's words. So may be, this Destiny girl was here, after all. So soon…

He shrugged and ran towards the smoking building, hoping to catch the thief.

End of flashback.

Suddenly the door opened and someone went inside.

'Oh, God, that was such a nice nap!' the someone said, stretching his arms. He then noticed the group of people (and vampires) and after a moment of staring at them and them, staring at him, he finally spoke:

'Hi, guys.'

Silence.

'HAO!!!' Horo shouted as he stood up, his mouth wide open.

I haven't read it or checked it... again. but I don't have time now, when I go to school and all. I'm really sorry. And I bet my last chapters, including this one, are much worse than the first chapters. Don't hate me!