Chapter 9.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Princess Miyu or New Vampire Miyu. Never have and probably never will. Unless. . . . .

Cait Sith looked from Miyu and Larva to Miyuki. "I see the resemblance but it is still unbelievable. I mean, come on! A cross between a Western and a Japanese Shinma. It is an abomination! It is unheard of! Besides, the," he paused for a moment searching for the right word, "the thing would have been killed off by one of its parent's kin."

"You would think that wouldn't you," Miyuki mumbled. "Sometimes I wish that were true."

"Oh Miyuki!" Livea exclaimed. "If you wished to be killed all you have to do is hold still and Klaus or I will be more than happy to put you out of your misery." She turned towards Lemunia. "Same goes for you Lemunia."

"You wish," Lemunia said. He turned to Miyuki. "What do you wish to do now?"

"We will not be able to do anything until Livea and Klaus are defeated," Miyuki said. "Until then, I guess we'll just have to put off our plans."

"And if the other westerners should interfere?" Lemunia asked.

"Destroy them," Miyuki replied. "Just make sure you keep an eye on the quarl." She nodded towards Cait Sith. "Make sure he does not try to run away."

Lemunia nodded and disappeared.

"Are you going to try this trick again Lemunia?" Klaus asked disappearing.

"Don't you know Miyuki that your disappearing and reappearing act no longer works against us anymore?" Livea asked.

"It doesn't?" Miyuki asked. "Because the last time I checked it did." Then she too disappeared.

"Damn it Miyuki!" Livea yelled. "Who are you trying to fool?"

Miyuki reappeared in the air above Livea, her sickle raised above her head. "You!" Miyuki called from the sky.

Livea jumped out of the way as the giant sickle came down upon the ground. The whole realm began to shake as a crack formed where the sickle had damaged the earth growing longer as if it would cut the whole Japanese Shinma Realm in half.

Miyu grabbed a hold of Larva's arm to keep herself from falling. "What tremendous power," Miyu said in awe. "If they are all evenly matched then this whole area will be left in ruins before the battle begins."

"It is possible that the whole Japanese Shinma Realm is in danger of being left in ruins," Larva said.

Miyu looked up at Larva. "Should we interfere and try to help them?" she asked.

Larva shook his head. "No. It is evenly matched now, but if we should interfere, then it is possible that the other Western Shinmas will also interfere. We would then be out numbered."

Miyu nodded and just watched.

(-)

"Why don't you get rid of that sickle Miyuki?" Livea asked. "It's an eyesore and besides, the only thing you seem to use it for is overturning dirt. I wonder what would happen if you brought it down hard enough that it caused the whole Japanese Shinma Realm to quake and become unstable."

"I wonder what would happen if I brought this down upon your head," Miyuki said. She brought her sickle down again and once again Livea dodged it. The sickle hit the ground and caused another earthquake.

"Miyuki!" Miyu called. "Please stop it, or you may bring down the whole Japanese Shinma Realm!"

"Oh look Miyuki," Livea said. "Your mother is calling you."

"And death is calling your counterpart," Miyuki said. She grabbed a hold of her sickle with both hands and spun around letting go of it.

The sickle flew past Livea head and continued up in to the sky. Livea whirled around and spotted her brother and Lemunia up in the sky. "Klaus look out!" She cried.

Klaus whirled around to see the sickle flying towards him. "Aw shit!" he cursed. He got out the way but Lemunia appeared behind him and pushed him in the way of the sickle. He caught his balance in the air and tried to get out of the way of the sickle but was not quick enough and the sickle grazed his arm. Blood exploded from the cut on his arm and he pressed his hand against it to try and stop the bleeding.

Lemunia flew up and grabbed a hold of the sickle's handle and swung it around. Then, letting it go, it flew back towards Klaus.

Klaus looked up to see the sickle coming back again and tried to dodge it but the tip of the curved blade bit in to his shoulder. Klaus hissed as blood began to splurt out of a vein in his shoulder.

Miyuki jumped up and caught the sickle in mid-air. She landed back on the ground bringing the sickle back down with her. The sickle's blade stopped millimeters away from touching the ground and even though it had not physically touched the ground Miyu could feel the whole realm tremble as if bracing itself for the next hit.

"That was quite impressive," Livea said, "but in the past you have pulled off moves like that one and you still didn't win the battle."

"Nor did we lose the battle," Miyuki said. "Every time we fight it ends up in a draw, but this time we are fighting on a totally different battle field. The stakes are much higher and losing means you lose everything including your life."

"I understand that Miyuki," Livea said. "You and Lemunia are the ones that have the most lose, but tell me Miyuki. What if you are the one that loses? What will you do?"

"How can I do anything if I am already dead?" Miyuki asked.

"But what if you are on the verge of losing and you know that there is no way that you can win?" Livea asked. "What would you do then?"

Miyuki smiled. "Exactly what you would do."

Livea frowned. "And what is that?"

Miyuki shrugged. "Exactly what you would do."

"I don't like being played a fool Miyuki!" Livea said. She threw her short-sword at Miyuki. Miyuki caught the blade in her hand. She threw it back to Livea and she caught it as it passed her.

"I don't like being played a fool either Livea," Miyuki said. "I guess that is one thing that we have in common. I hope that doesn't offend you."

"Hardly," Livea mumbled. "But yet, we have both shared a past."

"A past that I would like to forget," Miyuki said. "I am sure that you would like to forget it as well."

"I cannot forget the past," Livea said. "I will only forget it once you are erased from this world." She held up her short-sword. "This may be our final battle Miyuki and believe me, I am not going to lose to you."

"You're that sure?" Miyuki asked.

"I am as sure as ever," Livea replied.

(-)

Klaus's hand began to glow and he placed it over his wounded shoulder and it began to heal. Lemunia waited as Klaus placed his hand over the cut on his arm and healed it.

Klaus looked up at him when he was finished healing himself. "Why didn't you attack me while I was healing myself?" he asked.

"You'd find some way to heal yourself either now or while we are fighting," Lemunia replied.

"You're right," Klaus said. He paused. "Lemunia, I have a favor to ask you."

Lemunia frowned. "I don't do favors for people like you," he growled but Klaus ignored him. "Your wings," he said. "I want to see your wings."

Lemunia grasped his cape tightly. "Why do you want to see my wings?" he asked.

"You are from the bird clan just like my father," Klaus said. "Even though you've thrown away your crest you still possess the wings you were given after initiation."

"I not only threw away my crest but also my old self and my past," Lemunia said. "I no longer belong to the western clan."

"Didn't you also throw away your will and your future?" Klaus asked. "You became the servant of a Japanese/Western half ling."

"You have no right calling her that," Lemunia said coldly.

"Oh, excuse me," Klaus said. "What I meant to say was Vampire Princess. How foolish of me." He smirked. "Your brother was very ashamed of you when he heard that you had gone to Japan. We all thought that you were forced against your will. What a surprise we got when we found out that you had gone because you were in like with the daughter of a Japanese Guardian and Western Shinma."

"Doesn't that go the same for you?" Lemunia asked.

"My reasons for coming to Japan are strictly to destroy the abomination that was created between a Japanese and Western Shinma," Klaus said defensively.

"I see," Lemunia said. "And you are quite certain of this?"

Klaus frowned. "Where are you going with this?"

"No where," Lemunia said. "As for my wings, like I said, I don't do favors for people like you." He unsheathed his sword. "I hope you are not disappointed."

Klaus shrugged. "It doesn't really matter," he said. "I will see them soon enough."

"What makes you so sure?" Lemunia asked.

"My own foresight," Klaus replied.

"Like you have any," Lemunia said. "Stupid boy! Did you really think that you could come here and try and stop us! You screwed up everything even your own plans. Thanks to you and your sister's foolishness you might never be born!" He paused. "Which in our case would probably be a good thing."

"It's not over until it's over Lemunia!" Klaus said. "Sure, we may never be born in this time but who cares. This isn't our home. Once this time is destroyed we can just go back home. Even if we destroy Japan's spirit world and Japan's human world in this time it will still be there when we return home."

"We?" Lemunia asked. "We never came here to destroy Japan and if it is true that nothing will change in our time then why did you follow us?"

"To stop you from bringing back something to our time," Klaus replied. "There is only one realm that is kept the same through space and time. You want to retrieve something from oblivion."

"And hope to throw you in it," Lemunia mumbled.

"Klaus!" Livea called. "End your conversation and deal with him!"

Miyuki ran up to her and slammed the flat side of her sickle in to her head knocking Livea heel over head in to the ground.

"Ouch!" Spartoi said.

Carlua turned to him. "Spartoi," she said. "Go bring Pazusu and Lemunia over here we need to leave now."

"Nuh-uh," Spartoi said. "I'm not going up there." He pointed up towards the sky. "Lemunia can come down on his own."

"No! Not that one," Carlua said frustrated. "The one lying on the ground unconscious! Now go get him and Pazusu."

"Why?"

"Because we need to get back to the ship," Carlua explained slowly so Spartoi's brain could register. "They are in both critical condition which makes them easy targets."

Spartoi left her and she turned to Cait Sith and Water Lipper. "Cait Sith, Water Lipper, we must leave now," she said. "We will fight later when we are better organized."

"As you wish Lady Carlua," Cait Sith said.

(-)

Livea jumped up from the ground and swung her leg around grazing the side of Miyuki's cheek with the heel of her boot. Blood slowly began to drip from the cut on her cheek.

Miyuki wiped the blood from her cheek with a black-gloved hand. "You aim is worsening," she said. "Does your head hurt?"

Livea squinted as the pain flowed through her head. "That blow really hurt," she said. "But none the less. I will fight you and win." Livea ran towards her with her short-sword unsheathed and slashed at Miyuki.

Miyuki grabbed her arm and kicked her in the side. Livea fell to the ground holding her side.

"Bitch!" she hissed.

"It's your fault," Miyuki asked. "Didn't your father ever teach you to stay focused on your own battle?"

"Do not forget that it was my father who taught you how to fight," Livea shot back.

The sickle dropped from Miyuki's hands and landed on the ground with a tremendous thump. She stood in place unmoving as if she were frozen in time. "You don't have to remind me of my past," Miyuki whispered. "I already lived through it so I know."

Livea smiled wickedly. "What would your mother think if she only knew. . . . ."

"Shut up!" Miyuki shouted but she did not make a move to attack Livea.

"How unhappy you made her," Livea continued. "In fact you were the one who ruined both hers and your life."

"Shut the hell up!" Like a bolt of lightning, blood exploded from behind Miyuki.

"Oh my," Livea said. "Are you all right Lemunia?"

Miyuki turned around to face Lemunia who pulled Klaus's sword from his shoulder and threw it to the ground.

"Are you. . . . ." Miyuki started.

"I am fine," Lemunia whispered. "It will heal."

Klaus appeared and picked up his sword off the ground. With the edge of his gray coat, he wiped the blood off the blade. "A servant only takes the blow for his mistress."

Miyuki glared at him and spotted Spartoi trudging across the field with Pazusu and Lemunia draped over his shoulders. 'Where does he think he's going?' she thought.

(-)

"Carlua," Spartoi said. "I've got them."

"Good," Carlua said. "We need to go before. . . . . . ."

"Before what?" Miyu asked.

Carlua almost jumped a mile high from the ground. She whirled around to find Miyu standing next to her.

"Do you think I will let you escape?" Miyu asked.

Carlua took a step back as Miyu's flame appeared in her hand. "We were hoping to leave without you noticing." Carlua replied.

Miyu giggled. "How foolish of you to think so," she said. She held her hand out and was about to let go of her flame when something rush past her and cut her wrist. Miyu pulled her arm away and pressed her lips against the cut. She turned and glared at Klaus.

"I will not allow you to return them to the darkness," Klaus said.

Lemunia appeared behind him and struck Klaus on the back of the head with the hilt of his sword sending Klaus head first to the ground.

"Follow me!" Livea said as she grabbed Carlua's arm and pulled her away from the fight. Cait Sith, Water Lipper, and Spartoi turned around and followed them.

Klaus jumped up and ran at Miyu with his sword held up above his head ready to strike. Lemunia quickly followed him and got ready to strike but Larva got in front of Miyu and slashed at Klaus with his long nails leaving a long red gash across his chest.

Klaus pulled away and spat blood on to the ground. "You're Larva right?" he asked. He smirked. "She looks just like you."

Livea ran towards the forest edge with Carlua, Cait Sith, Water Lipper, and Spartoi trailing behind her when Miyuki appeared in front of her. Livea unsheathed her short-sword and turned to Carlua. "Keep going. I can hold her off."

Carlua waited a moment but reluctantly went around them and continued towards the forest.

"You can't go after them Miyuki," Livea said. "I will stop you if you try to."

"Of course I'll try to," Miyuki said. She whirled around and ran after the Westerners and Livea took off after her.

"Western Shinma Klaus I will now return you to the darkness," Miyu said as her flame appeared in her hand. "There is no where to run. You are surrounded."

"Maybe," Klaus said. "Then again, maybe not." Then he disappeared as Miyu threw the flame."

Lemunia turned and disappeared after him.

Larva collapsed to the ground holding his hand to the wound in his side.

"Don't stress yourself," Miyu said kneeling down next to him. "I could have handled it."

Klaus appeared in front of Miyuki and struck her hard across the face sending her backwards on to the ground. "You won't get them that easily Miyuki," he said.

Livea appeared behind Miyuki but Lemunia struck her down with the flat side of his sword.

Miyuki jumped up to her feet but as she did she saw the Westerners disappear through a teleport gate. "Damn it!" she cursed.

Klaus looked behind him. "Well, it seems they got away," he said. "Too bad for you. I think it is about time we take our leave as well don't you think Livea?"

Livea got up off the ground. "We should," she said glaring at Lemunia as she brushed herself off.

"Until next time Miyuki, fare thee well" Klaus said then they both disappeared.

Miyuki took a deep breath then turned to Lemunia. "We should take are leave too," she said. They both turned around to leave.

"Miyuki wait!" Miyu said running up to them. They both stopped and Miyuki slowly turned around. Miyu suddenly felt nervous but kept it hidden. "Do you. . . . ." she stopped but continued. "Do you need blood?"

"No," Miyuki whispered and turned back around, then, she and Lemunia disappeared.

Miyu sighed and sat down on to the ground. So much had happened and it still had not fully sunk in. She and Larva had a daughter or would have a daughter. If the elders ever found out about it, all hell would break loose.

"Larva let's go home," Miyu said and they too disappeared.

(-)

The wind blew softly across the sleeping realm of the second tier. In the distance the sweet sound of a koto could be heard flowing over the long grasses fading in to the darkness.

A dark shadow sprinted across the field towards and small house, the only one located in the heart of the tier.

"Ranka!" Ichiro yelled as he flung the front door open to the small house causing it to shutter. "The whole Japanese Shinma realm is quaking and it's coming from Miyu's tier! The elders want to know what the hell is going on and. . . . . ."

"I know Ichiro," Ranka interrupted. "I sensed it too." She plucked a string on her koto. "There are Westerners in Japan."

"Are we going to go down to the first tier and see what's going on?" Ichiro asked. "The other shinmas are worried that the whole realm might be falling apart."

"I am sure the only reason why you want to go there is to fight the Westerners, isn't that right Ichiro?" Aoi asked coming out from the shadows of a corner.

Ichiro jumped back. "Whoa! You were in here the whole time?" He looked from Ranka to Aoi and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "What were you two doing while I was gone?"

"Nothing of your concern Ichiro," Ranka said standing up and walking towards the door. "We should hurry and get to the first tier."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me," Ichiro said defiantly.

"Come on Ichiro," Ranka said. She grabbed him by his ear and pulled him behind her.

"Ouch! Let go Ranka!" Ichiro yelled. Aoi followed them and they disappeared to the first tier.

To Be Continued. . . . . . . . .

BlueDragonGirl#1: I typed the last half of the story in a hurry so forgive me for any mistakes. I have an e-mail address so you can e-mail me now. R&R!