Noel: Are you ok Ragna?
Ragna: Oh yeah I'm fine. Just thinking about Bullet.
Kagura: Then maybe you should've taken a picture of her.
Ragna: Not like that! Shit…
Rachel: Well we are not here to lose track we have a job to do.
Saya: We know…but everytime we try we always lose track.
Celica: You know she's right. But let's just hurry before that happens.
Jin: Alright. So basically we meet a girl named Bullet and a masked man named Relius Clover.
Tsubaki: Just thinking about him makes my body shiver.
Saya: Yeah…
Relius: You called?
Makoto: What!?
Jin: Why are you here!?
Relius: I was kicked out by Terumi.
Celica: He…
Ragna: Kicked you out…?
Saya: Why?
Relius: He said he had a "booty call". When I went back the last time I found eight dead bodies. He laughed when I said eight.
Jin: He laughed?
Ragna: Why did he—Oh…
Kagura: So he… Impressive…
Makoto: What!? The hell do you mean impressive!?
Kagura: Well he fucked them so hard they died. So can you tell me how?
Relius: Ah yes…he did explain what he did. Apparently he sho—
Tsubaki: Stop STOP!
Rachel: My word…that is sickening. Ah yes speaking of introducing I believe we have a few more additions.
Tsubaki: Yeah. A vigilante named Carl and Litchi right?
Saya: Oh! Speaking of bounty hunters, brother I think you should be a bounty hunter!
Ragna: What…why?
Saya: It would be so perfect for you. I can see it now… You would look so cool!
Kagura: I can show him the ropes. I'm a great influence to show him a good way to get customers.
Makoto: Hell no. I don't want Ragna turning out like you.
Tsubaki: I second that.
Kagura: Damn…am I the least influential of the group?
Ragna: No you're not…
*hangs his head down and goes to the corner*
Ragna: The least influential of the group is the person's opinions who is completely ignored even though the topics based on him…
Jin: Oh…
Saya: Oops sorry brother! Please we didn't mean it!
Noel: We're sorry Ragna!
Celica: Please cheer up!
Kagura: Yeah come on man don't look like that.
*he sighs*
Ragna: Just start the fucking chapter…
Chapter 11: A vampires vendetta
It was a cloudless night, no stars shined in the sky as the only gleam was from the luminous moon shining down from the great empyrean. In the dead of night two people were walking through a bushy path; one was a woman young woman with long blond hair and the other was a small child with blond hair tied in pig tails by two black ribbons.
The child tripped on a branch and fell down, hissing her teeth from the hard collision with he ground. Though she was in pain, the woman didn't seem to care and just clicked her teeth in annoyance. "Hurry up already! Damn it you waste so much time!"
The girl stands up and starts to walk again. They continue until they reach a rather large city, lights and noise from the streets illuminating the darkness. "Amazing… I have never been here before."
"It is because you never deserved to come here and you still don't now." The woman snarled and walked off. The girl remained silent and continued on, the two making it into the city. The two walked through the vibrant city as the girl looked up to their destination; a large castle at the top of a hill.
"So that is where the dukes are?" The pigtail muttered to herself. Her attention turned to the passing people waving to them. The girl smiled back waved to them, but was soon reprimanded by the older woman.
"Rachel." The woman said in a stern voice.
"Yes?"
"Do not wave back at them. They are common folk and we do not associate ourselves with them." The woman grabs her roughly by her arm and pulls her much faster. They make their way to the large castle in the distant and went through the large front doors. Several butlers and maids were at the door forming a sort of walkway, bowing to them as they walk by.
The woman shot Rachel a stern glare as the two made their way up to the top floor. They came to a massive door, even bigger than the front door, as the butlers standing before it opened the doors for them. The two walk into a large room with three old men siting down at the end of the room.
They were wearing many plates of armor, but they each had different crests in the middle and outline colors. The one on the left had emerald green lines on his cloak, the one in the middle had orange lines and the one on the right purple.
"Welcome Rachel Alucard," The one in the middle smiled at her. "We have been expecting you." The two walk up to them as the woman went on a knee and bowed to them. She realized that Rachel didn't bow yet and shot her a glare, Rachel quickly taking notice and following her lead.
"No need to bow, Rachel Alucard. I see you have been doing well yourself Elizabeth."
"Yes I have," The woman looked up to them and bowed. "Thank you very much."
"So you are the daughter of Clavis and Eliana Alucard."
"Yes I am," Rachel raised her head and asked. "You knew my mother and father?"
"Yes I did. We would often have some tea and chat about the good old days… Tis is a shame really that they left us so early."
"Yes," Rachel averted her gaze to the floor and sighed. "It is…"
"Well we have not called you hear to speak of the past, we have matters to discuss with you, Rachel Alucard." The man on the right said.
"Yes I am aware, but is the reason you summoned me involve my family?"
"Yes it does. I am not trying to be insensitive, but I shall be direct. We understand your family situation and how you are the only one left in the main Alucard branch family to inherit the place as it's head."
"I an aware of that." Rachel nodded.
"Now for the reason we called you here is because you might need to take up the mantle a little early and because of your youth and inexperience we have decided to give you a partner." The one on the left said.
"What does that mean?" Rachel asked.
"We have decided to make an arranged marriage so you may inherit not only the Alucard, but the Vaduva as well."
"What!?" Rachel gasped wide eyed. "I'm sorry for the disrespect, but I do not wish too—" The vampire was stopped as the man in the middle put his hand out.
"I expected that answer. Does this stem from the boy that left your household a few days ago. His name was Ragna correct?"
"Ragna, what about him?" Rachel asked.
"Tch…!" Elizabeth clicked her teeth.
"Do you have some affections towards that boy?"
"I could never!" Rachel denied with a hard blush. "There is no way I would fall for—for such a low class dog like him!"
"So why can't you marry into the Vaduva family? The next head of the family is a nice young boy. He is kind and very well mannered. I assure you that you will be happy with him as your mate."
"Please forgive me duke." Rachel shook her head. "But I…"
"It is alright. You are still young, I did not expect you to say yes. Please think about it however. You need a strong mate of honorable stature to help you lead the house of Alucard. That man will help to bring in the next generation and we need them to be strong. Remember that every decision you make from now on will effect not only you, but your family as well." The man in the middle said.
"I am aware. Thank you for your words."
"It was my pleasure. Just looking at you brings back memories of your mother and father. It is quite nostalgic, so I must thank you."
"We shall be on our way," They bow to them. "Thank you." Elizabeth and Rachel walk off, the man in the middle watching Rachel in pity as she left. The man on the right caught his sigh and asked.
"What is it?"
"You all can tell that, that woman has no affections for her. If this keeps up that girl shall…"
"We are aware," The man in the purple said. "But until our suspicions are clear we have no choice."
"I know," The man in the orange sighed and looekd down. "Clavis…Eliana… Please forgive me."
They exit the castle as Elizabeth snaps her fingers. In an instant the two find themselves outside the Alucard manor. The two greet Valkenhayn and head inside the manor as Elizabeth woman dragged Rachel up a flight of stairs. She took her into a room and slammed the door, ready to break it. Elizabeth hosited Rachel by her collar and yelled.
"What do you think your doing!?" Elizabeth tightened her grip and growled. "All because of that boy you rejected that offer!? If you excepted it, you would have been able to get more power in the houses!" She threw Rachel on the bed like a ragdoll and clicked her teeth. "You really are useless! I can see why your mother and father passed so early. They couldn't stand being around you any longer."
"That's not true! How dare you say that!"
"Oh I'm sorry, it was because they were too weak. Yuuki Terumi was it?"
"How dare you! Are you still upset because my mother—"
"You shut your mouth." The woman sent her a venomous glare to cease her. "My sister was lucky that she married Clavis. That man was blind and foolish to choose her over me."
"I'm glad my father married her! My mother was kind and gentle and she would always treat me well! All you ever do is complain because you never got you wanted. You are nothing, but a child!"
"Who do you think you are…?" The woman's fangs began to bare fruit, her eyes shooting daggers at the young vampire. "You useless brat! Who do you think you are speaking too? You are nothing, but a false vampire. A true vampire would be able to own up to their family name. You can't even drink blood. You are a shame to the Alucard name."
"I don't want to drink blood! Just because I don't want too that doesn't make me a false vampire! I believe you're the fake! Calling others peasants even though you're a peasant yourself! The only reason you've set foot in this house is because they decided on you as my caretaker!" Rachel retorted.
"Why do I even waste my breath speaking with you? I have the time nor the patience to deal with you." Elizabeth clicked her teeth and walked out the room, slamming the door and leaving Rachel alone.
"Mother… Father… I miss you…" Rachel leaned back on the wall and pulled her legs into her chest. Tears begin to fall down her cheeks as she hugged her legs and buried her head in between her legs. Slight whimpering echoed in the room as Rachel tried her best to keep it down so Elizabeth couldn't hear her and laugh, but thinking about her parents just made the tears run down quicker and her whimpering louder. "Why…? Why did you have to leave me all alone? Mother… Father... Please…come back to me…"
Her surrounding blurred as Rachel found herself staring up at a white ceiling. All she saw was nothing, but a dream and a terrible one at that. The vampire felt something wet sliding down her cheeks and wiped it off. "It was nothing, but a dream. I can not believe that awful woman is still in my thoughts. She even haunts my dreams…" Rachel heard snoring and turned her gaze to a certain platinum sleeping the other bed.
The idiot just sleeps without a care in the world… So vulnerable and…delicious...
Rachel found herself on auto pilot, walking over to him and standing beside his bed. The vampire mounted herself onto him and glared at him. Something welled up with in her. A surge of superseded emotion and desire lit up within her like a flame. The longer she starred at him, the more compelled she felt to commit her sin. A sin she swore she would never commit…
But she didn't care…
"Ragna…" The vampire panted his name, blood rushing to her cheeks, turning them red. Her crimson eyes filled with lustful and selfish desire, the desire for the man before her. Rachel went to his neck and traced it with her tongue.
His scent… Is so exquisite...!
Before she knew it her tongue raced along his neck, from his ear to his collarbone, moans and pants escaping her lips. Rachel nibbled on his earlobe and then on his outer ear. The vampire nibbled down his neck, her fangs so close in piercing his flesh to get what she desired most: his blood. The aroma that ensnared this man was irresistible, her mind wavering at just a whiff of his scent.
Rachel rose from off him, panting hard with saliva running down from her chin. Her hands rested on his chiseled chest, feeling up his glistening muscles and down to his abs. She went under his shirt to feel his muscles directly, loving his muscular figure.
"I'll make you mine…!" Rachel licked his neck and whispered in his ear. "You'll be mine…all mine Ragna…!" She brought herself up, their noses grazing each other. "Mine and no one else's!" She moved his head to the side to view his neck, a few red spots from her nibbling. The vampire opened her mouth, revealing large fangs and descended closer to his neck.
Before her fangs sank into his flesh she snapped herself back to her senses. "Not again…!" Rachel clenched her teeth as she felt her consciousness starting to waver again. With quick thinking she bit her lip hard and drank the blood running down her mouth, her control starting to return to her. Her breathing got heavy and she ran to the bathroom to wash her face with some ice cold water.
Rachel took a few deep breaths and dried her face. The vampire looked at the mirror at her reflection and chuckled in pity. "This is pathetic. To think one such as I would sink this low." Rachel walked out the bathroom and gazed at the still sleeping Ragna. 'These urges are becoming more and more difficult to control. There must be a solution that does not involve drinking blood.'
The more she looked at the sleeping man the more she felt herself drawn to him. The vampire pressed her right hand on her forehead and shook her head. "I must calm myself… I am an Alucard…" Rachel gave herself a few light slaps on her cheeks and sighed. "But what will I do…?"
"Ugh…" A groan from a waking Ragna filled the room. The platinum sat up and stretched limbs. "Damn…that was a good nap…" Ragna yawned and turned his head to see Rachel up and about. "Oh, you're up." Ragna's eyes turned to slits when he saw a cut on her lip. "What happened to your lip?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself over." Rachel said, trying to keep her composure.
"No seriously, what's wrong? You seen off today, Rabbit." Ragna saw her skin was much paler than usual and their were heavy bags under her eyes, like she didn't get a good night sleep or a bad dream. He got up and walked closer to her, but didn't get far as Rachel quickly went to the door.
"Excuse me, I need to get some fresh air." Rachel quickly turned the handle and walked out.
Ragna watched her leave as a sense of worry washed over him. "What is the matter with that damn, Rabbit? I can never read her…" He went into the bathroom to freshen up for the day, but couldn't help noticing something odd. "My necks…red…? The hell?" He covered it and it felt hot. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him and if that was the case, why was his next so red. And…
"Why in the hell do I smell like roses?"
Rachel stumbled down the hallway, panting and ready to faint. She leaned onto a wall and jumped once hand grips her shoulder. The vampire turned around to see Nine glaring at her. "To have someone see me in this state is beyond pathetic."
"Rachel, your destroying yourself. If you keep this up…" Nine started.
"Don't fret over it. I just felt a bit winded. I shall be fine once I sit down."
"You need to realize what you are," Nine sighed. "I understand you hate it, but if you don't drink blood soon your going to lose control over yourself." Rachel clenched her teeth and walked away without uttering another word. Nine shook her head and sighed once more. "Clavis, you left behind a very stubborn daughter."
Tsubaki laid in her bed in heavy thought, her mind fixated on Relius Clover and not in a good way. That man sent a shiver down her spine, his eyes planted in her subconscious. Everytime she closed her eyes, those 'eyes' appeared.
"Tsubaki, what's wrong?" Makoto shook her, causing the redhead to visibly jump. "You seem kinda down."
"That Relius Clover guy…"
"Oh I see," Makoto giggled teasingly. "He ruined your date."
"No that's not it." Tsubaki sat up. "The vibe I got from him. It was like he was staring right through me…into my soul. Just looking at him I felt something wrong."
"Don't worry Tsubaki! Next time he comes back I'll send his ass packing!" Makoto guaranteed.
"Ok, thanks Makoto." Tsubaki formed a small smile on her lips, but Noel could still see that Tsubaki was still a little spooked.
'I know what she means. Just hearing that name sends a chill down my spine.' Noel clenched her arm tight. 'Relius…Clover…'
"Just try and forget about it for now Tsubaki." Makoto said trying to calm her down, but it was easier said then done. The redhead gets up and walks to the bathroom to wash her face, splashing cold water to cool herself down.
"Relius Clover…"
Rachel roamed the hallways trying to clear her head. 'I must remain calm. I need to find a place where I can just be alone.' Rachel opened a portal and walks through, the vampire now standing in her room. She made her way over to her bed and sat down with a sigh.
The vampire looked out the window at her large rose garden, trying to divert her attention from her rather pitiful state, to the beauty of her garden. But somehow it just made it worse. The crimson red roses, the same ones she'd stare at for hours on end, reminded her of the color of blood as she felt herself feel sick.
"Why must this happen now? How irritating." Rachel laid back on her bed and rested a hand on her forehead. The sheets smell fresh, like they were just washed. "I see Valkenhayn does not know when to take a break." Rachel chuckled a bit. She needed a diversion, something to distract her from her current predicament.
She thought of Nago and Gii, what she was going to eat later on and what she was going to do. It didn't matter how small or meager it was, anything would do. But then…she thought of the wrong thing or in her case: the wrong person.
"I wonder what that idiot Ragna is doing right now?"
Once his name went through her lips she felt something well up inside her. Rachel quickly and covered mouth like she was ready to throw up. The vampire fell to her knees, eyes widened, ready to pop out of her head. Rachel's whole body starts to shake. Her vision became blurry and her mind raced with one thought in mind.
I must…drink his blood…!
Rachel's breathing increased and her mind was foggy, his name echoing in mind as her cheeks became flushed. "Ragna…! Your blood…!" She shook her head frantically. "No… I mustn't!"Her hands fall from her mouth down to the ground. She went on her fours and dug her nails into the floor until they started to bleed. "I wont hurt him! No… Damn it!"
The door flew open with a boom as Valkenhayn rushed into the room, his face was filled with worry. The butler saw his mistress on the ground and ran to her side. "Madam Rachel!" He knelt down to her and rubbed her back. "Madam Rachel! Are you ok!?" Valkenhayn felt her forehead, but quickly retracted it from the heat.
Rachel's body was trembling, her nails dug into the ground aith blood rushing from them. Valkenhayn couldn't bare to see his master like this. He could bare many things, but the pain of his mistress was one thing he couldn't stand. "Madam Rachel, I know you don't want to but please just dr—"
"Don't say anything more!" Rachel quickly cut him off.
"Your destroying your body. You won't last much longer in this state. Soon you'll end up losing control and I don't want to see you like that."
Rachel takes a huge breath and exhales. She tried to rise, but her legs were far to weak. Valkenhayn puts one of her arms over his shoulder and helped her to her bed. The room filled with a long silence before Rachel spoke. "Valkenhayn…you must know by now I will never…" Rachel says between gasps.
"I know… I was a fool to suggest such a thing… Please, forgive my rudeness." Valkenhayn bowed.
"Please raise your head," Rachel smiled weakly. "I shall be alright with a little rest. I just need to be alone for a while to calm myself..."
"As you wish." Valkenhayn bowed once more took his leave. Rachel was left on her bed, breathing heavily for a few short minutes before gathering herself. She took a deep breath and stood up. "I believe it is time I head back."
Everyone besides Nine and Jubei—for obvious reasons that don't need mentioning—were in the lobby. Ragna was the last to come in, but they were a little confused when they didn't see Rachel with him and had to ask.
"Hey, where's Rachel?" Kagura asked.
"I have no idea… She just walked out and I haven't seen her since. I'm sure she's fine."
"Did you guys have a fight or something?" Celica asked.
"A lovers spat?" Makoto teased.
"Shut it." Ragna snarled. "I don't know where she. Stupid Rabbit just walked out without telling me where she was going."
"That doesn't seem like her. Is she ok?" Noel asked.
"I have no damn clue. I can never figure out that stupid rabbit." Ragna sighed "Still I am worried, she seemed off..." 'Can't say I'm not worried though… I wish that stupid Rabbit would just tell me…'
"Don't worry I am alright." A voice said as Rachel walked over them.
"Where the hell did you go?" Ragna asked.
"Like I said, I'm alright." Rachel repeated, causing Ragna's eye twitches.
"That didn't answer my question."
"I have no obligation to tell you where I was. Must I tell you my whereabouts now?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that... Look just…tell me what's wrong with you. And don't tell me there's nothing wrong, I'm not an idiot. You look like your about to pass out."
"Like I said there's nothing—"
"Don't give me that bullshit." Ragna cut her off, silencing her. "You've been acting strange all damn morning… So tell me what's wrong."
"…That is none of your concern." Rachel turned away from him and sighed. "Just leave it alone for now."
"I'm glad I caught you all." A voice broke through the tension as Nine walked in. She couldn't help but notice the odd mood and asked. "Did I miss something?"
"Na… It's nothing." Ragna answered.
"What happened mother?" Celica asked.
"It seems another fractured possibility has appeared and I need you all to go and destroy it."
"Oh come on! Stupid fractured world's," Makoto pouted. "Gotta ruin my vacation…"
"Ok, but we left our weapons at home. I think the only ones who has their weapons is Jin, Kagura, Tsubaki and Noel."
"Yeah so there's no way we can go—aaand you have them don't you…?" Ragna asked with a sigh.
"Always gotta be prepared." The mage snapped her fingers as a small black sphere appears in front of them, the sphere disappearing a second later as all there weapon drop to the ground. "Now there shouldn't be a problem. Now get dressed and hurry up, we can't let Terumi beat us to the punch this time."
"You can think of this, but your dumb enough to get yourself lost on your way from school…" Ragna muttered under his breath.
"You wanna say that again, brat?" Nine summoned a ball of flame in her hand as Ragna sweat dropped.
"N-No, I didn't say anything."
They all disperse to their rooms to get changed, Nine watching Rachel closely as she was ready to drop dead on the floor. 'She goes so far… Talk about stubborn…'
They get changed and come back to the lobby. Ragna sees Makoto in a orange collared jacket with folden sleeves, with black tights and orange boots . He scratches his head and asks "Um Makoto, is that what you'll be fighting in? Never seen you in that before."
"No it's under this. It's something to fight in that's more comfortable than my school uniform."
"Alright… Whatever's comfortable I guess…" Ragna shrugged and turned to Rachel to see her looking away from him and clenching her arm. No matter how many times he asked she never told him. 'What the hell is wrong with this stubborn idiot…'
Rachel felt his gaze, but didn't turn to meet him, figuring she might lose herself. 'I will not follow in that woman's footsteps. No matter what!' She clenched her arm and grit her teeth. 'I will show her what it means to be a true vampire.'
"Alright then. Nine we're ready, but where are we going?"
"You'll be going to the 6th hierarchical city, Yabiko." Nine gets a teleportation circle ready for them and in a blink of an eye they find themselves outside Yabiko's main NOL branch. Now it was time to get to work and search for the distortion, but that didn't take long. Tsubaki saw a part of the gate that was twisting and Ragna's azure started to react.
They walk in and found themselves it what looked like hell itself. Buildings on fire, people laying dead in the street and the stench of blood flows through their noses; it was an apocalypse.
"P-Princess, what is this…" Gii gasped at the sheer amount of bloodshed.
"This is…" Tsubaki started.
"Shit… I swear this is never gonna sink in…" Just looking at the line of corpses Kagura felt like he was gonna throw up.
"I'm gonna take a guess is that whoever we're looking for did this." Kokonoe said. Suddenly they heard footsteps and quickly went on guard, thinking it might've been the one responsible for these wicked acts. They gasp when they see it was none other than Nine, battered and bruised, holding her bleeding side and stumbling turn.
"Mother!?" Celica called out to her.
"Wha…?" The injured mage looked to them. Tears formed in her eyes, soon flowing down her cheeks as she dashed to her daughters and held them tight. "Celica! Kokonoe! Your alive, thank god!" She said between wails.
"Nine?" Kagura raised a brow. His voice got her attention as Nine gave him a confused glare. Taking a look around she saw not only Kagura, but Ragna, Jin, Noel, Tsubaki, Saya and Makoto. "Wait, your all alive?"
"Hold on 'alive'!? The hell is that supposed to mean!?" Ragna asked, his voice in a bit of a panic.
"There's no way…" Nine walked over to him and patted him down. "Is that really you Ragna?" The mage pulled on his cheeks hard as the platinum groaned in pain and slapped her hands away.
"The hell are you doing!?"
"It really is you…"
"Yes it's me! But what do you mean by still alive?"
"What do you mean—?" Nine stopped short at the sight of Rachel. The mages expression turned to that of rage and anguish as she took a step back and readied a fire ball.
"Wha!?" Celica held her arm. "Mom what are you doing!?"
"Are you crazy!? Why wouldn't I kill her right here and now!"
"Now would you care to explain what you mean by that?"
"What do I mean…!? Are you saying you don't remember!? You heartless…!" The flame in her hand grew larger with her burning rage, but was stopped as Celica hugged her and held her tight. With a sigh the ball of flame vanished as Ragna walks up to her, deeming it safe since the massive ball of death was gone.
"So could you tell us what happened here?"
"I guess your memories must have been damaged... Ok." Nine started. "About six months ago on September 6, Rachel Alucard went on a rampage and started to devour everyone in sight. Nobody was safe…"
"What!?" Noel was shocked to hear what just came out of her mouth. "Ms. Rachel wouldn't…!"
"Oh yeah? I don't know how you forgot, but she is labeled an SSS ranked criminal and has destroyed 3 other hierarchical cities."
"Do you know why this happened?" Jin asked.
"Yes I do. Her vampiric urges took over from lack of blood intake. Every person she sees is now just food for her. Ragna, you were the first of her many victims she went after."
"What!? Is that what you meant by you being surprised were 'alive'?"
"I'm mostly surprised that you're alive. When I saw your body it was like I was looking at paper." Nine said bluntly.
"…You know it almost sounds like you don't care…" Ragna sweat dropped.
'I did this…?' Rachel felt like she was ready to throw up, her insides didn't want to be inside of her anymore.
"Afterwards you all tried to stop her, but in the end she defeated you all and I think you know where that leads."
"Holy…shit…" Makoto gasped. "I don't…even wanna think about it… So just leave it at that."
"She caused all this destruction!" Nine glared at Rachel with heavy venom in her eyes and voice. "Jubei and Valkenhayn were defeated and devoured by that monster! Even her own familiars weren't safe from h—Gah!" The mage was stopped by an outburst of blood shot from her mouth.
"Mother!" Celica quickly caught her and gasped at the wound. It was like someone was eating her. "Mother…"
"Do you know where she is?" Ragna asked.
"Just follow the trail of corpses and you'll find her… But…last place I saw her," She weakly pointed forward. "Was in the plaza..." Her eyes started to switch from opened to close and with her final breath she said wearily. "Please…be...careful..." With that her body falls limp and her breathing stops.
"She's… She's dead…" Celica shed a tear and place her fractured mother down. "Mother…"
"I…I…did this…" Rachel said with horror and disgust.
"Rachel…"
"All of this..."
"Rachel!" Ragna yelled, but she doesn't respond. "Damn it, Rabbit!" He started to shake her out of it, but she was in her own little world, mumbling to herself.
"I did this? I really am…"
"Damn it all to hell!" Ragna clenched his teeth and raised his hand. "Rachel you can kill me for this later!" A loud slap echoed through their ears; the sound of Ragna slapping Rachel right across her face.
They stare wide eyed at them and their jaws hung. Rachel slowly put a hand on her reddened cheek and felt the sting. Ragna took her collar so she could look him dead in the eye. "Did that wake you the fuck up or would you like another!?"
"Holy…" Makoto started
"Fucking…" Kokonoe continued.
"Shit…" Kagura finished. "Does he have a death wish or something?"
"Did that wake you up Rachel!? Cause that face your sporting is not what I want to see from you!" Ragna lets her go and says. "We came here to do something here rabbit! I know it's hard to swallow, but this isn't our world and I know you wouldn't do this. You wouldn't go around like some monster eating everyone in sight. You better than this."
"Ragna…"
"You can beat the living crap outta me when we get home for that slap. Hell you can sick the old man on me for all I care." Ragna joked. "But right now…we need to move. If we really are chasing your doppelganger, I can only imagine how much of a pain in the ass she'll…"
"Was that supposed to mean something, Ragna?" Rachel teased.
"…You're an annoying, Rabbit." Ragna groaned.
"I suppose I needed that…" Rachel rubbed her cheek. "My word… You couldn't have shown some restraint? It is not proper to hit a lady."
"I never cared for shit like that. But enough standing around. Let's get this shit done." They nod and run off in the direction of the corpses to a burning square. They see nothing but rubble and deceased bodies lying all over the floor. The scent of blood and decaying corpses flowed through their noses. The scent was strong enough to make them pass out.
They look to see men, women and children of all ages laying lifeless in the streets. Some of them they couldn't even identify if it was a male, female or an animal. Their bodies looked like wringed out rags, derived of color and life, their eyes wide open and blank white with no pupils. The look of fear and horror still present on their expressions.
Finally reaching the source of the massacre, they see her standing tall a top a literal mountain of corpses. She noticed their presence and cocked her head back. "Ragna…" She muttered. A wicked smiles formed on her face as excitement took her over. "Ragna! You're back, oh how I missed you."
"I see you were popular here too, Ragna." Kagura joked.
"If you wanna punch, just say so." Ragna snarled.
The fractured vampire made her way down the steep dead bodies as her murderous intent was felt, even from where they stood. Her eyes glowed a bright red and her lips was smeared with blood. "That smell… It is you Ragna! No matter how hard I looked, I never found anyone's blood to be as delicious as yours!"
Ragna quickly slung his blade from his waist and held it forward. "Sorry, but my blood staying in my body!"
"Still you put up a fight? How noble… I guess that's one of reasons…" Rachel started as a dark aura surrounded her and strange markings appeared on her body "I want you all to myself!"
"Shit! Everyone don't let your guards down!" Jin warned as they all get into a stance and pull out their weapons. Faster than they could blink, lightning descended from above and with no other choice they scatter to avoid it. Jin looked back to their foe, but she was gone and gasped at his fearful realization. "Shit! She's after brother!"
Though it was too late, Rachel was right in front of Ragna, her crimson eyes staring into his mismatched one. The vampire smiled and caressed his cheek, the blood that was on her hand was now smeared on his face. With her gaze fixed on him, he feels himself unable to move. "Such an astounding man…" The imposter giggled and traced her tongue along his cheek. She move to his ear and gently blew into it. "It really is you… I'm glad…" She whispers.
'The hell is…wrong with me…!?' Ragna detected her menacingly dark tone hidden behind her calm voice, but he couldn't move. 'Am I…actually afraid of her?'
"Ah, Ragna. I missed you so much… I was a fool to drink your blood alone… I should have done much more than just drink your blood," The imposter ran her fingers through his hair and whispered in his ear. "I should've claimed that precious virginity of yours…"
"Oh you lucky fuck…" Kagura said.
"…Seriously?" Kokonoe sweat dropped. "Can't keep your dick in your pants can you?"
"But enough talk… Time," Rachel slowly opened her mouth, revealing her sharp fangs. "To partake in this glorious meal.
"Shit!" Ragna but his lip hard and leapt back.
"You still don't listen to your masters orders? You never change do you?" Rachel sighed. "I had so much planned…" A naughty smile came across her lips as her cheeks turned a dark vermillion. "To have you to myself once more," She licked her finger and placed it on her lips. "I'm getting hot just thinking about it~"
"Who do you think your kidding? I ain't your damn lunch!" Ragna growled. The imposter Rachel started to chuckle which turned to giggles then to hysterical laughter.
"This…" Rachel watched in disgust as her body began to shake. "This is…another me…"
"Hehehe…hahahaha…HAHAHAHA…HAHAHAHA!" The fractured vampires laughter grew louder and more erratic. Her eyes were opened wide, hysteria and excitement written across her face. She sometimes took very short breathes in the middle of her laughter. "To think you would still be alive! I haven't felt this happy in so long Ragna! Hehehe…! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Ragna began to back further away from her, bit by bit. grits his teeth as he looks at the sheer pleasure on her face. She was enjoying this. All of this.
"What the hell…" Ragna managed to say after he swallowed a lump down his throat. A drop of sweat trickled down his face as he said through clenched teeth. "This… This is a freaking nightmare…"
The rest of them couldn't help but back away from the imposter. Her voice was filled with bliss and ecstasy. The scent of blood that emanated from her was nauseating, but that smell was blocked by the massive amount of fear that washed over them.
"Ok… This ain't good…" Kagura gripped his sword tighter and clenched his teeth. "Doesn't seem like she'd take my number if I asked…"
The imposter began to calm down and licked her lips. "Just thinking about what I'm going to do to you…makes me so excited… I can't wait anymore…!" Rachel started to walk over to him, but suddenly comes to a halt. The vampire looked down uncaringly to see her feet were frozen in place. "Jin, you were always a pest."
"Like I care what you think."
"Hmph. Fair enough." Rachel snapped her finger as a torrent of wind rammed into Jin, sending him into a building.
"Jin!" Tsubaki clenched her dagger and rushed the imposter. She swung her blade in a downwards arch, Rachel easily dodges it with a summersault in the air. Kagura quickly joined in and swung his massive blade in all different directions. However none of his blows hit as she easily weaved around his attacks.
"Time to get started!" Makoto threw off her orange shirt to reveal a short orange top revealing half of her breast and an orange skirt–like cloth. Ragna gazed at her bug eyed and cleared his throat.
"U-Uh Makoto…I don't think I can concentrate while you look like that…"
"Well deal! I find these clothes easy to move in." Makoto said.
""Daammmnnn! Makoto you are looking good!" Kagura complimented.
"Shut it pervert! Or did you forget about the enemy?" Makoto snarled. Kagura whipped around to see Rachel standing in front of him.
"Shit…"
"Still the pervert I see. I guess I shall devour you first and leave my previous Ragna for last."
"What the hell is so special about that guy…?"
"Sword Iris!" Lightning rained from the sky and with quick thinking, Kagura raised his sword to block it. "George XIII!" Kagura saw a frog on the ground and electricity built around it, shocking him.
"Comet Cannon!" Makoto launched a small ball of blue energy with an orange center at Rachel. The vampire raised a finger as a wall of wind erected and deflected the attack. Kagura took the opportunity to fall back and gather himself.
Ragna leapt in and struck down, his blade slamming into the ground as Rachel was now her to be seen. "Shit! Teleportation!" They looked around for her, but the vampire was nowhere to be seen. "Goddammit!"
"Did she run away!?" Tsubaki asked.
"I doubt that… If she truly is me… Then she must be plotting some kind of ambush." Rachel said.
"How can we draw her out?" Kokonoe asked.
"To be truthful… I do not know. We may be the same… But our personalities couldn't bay farther apart. If I had to guess…she will most likely go after Ragna after her," A tint of pink came across Rachel's cheeks as she coughed. "Rather…inappropriate declaration…"
"Makes sense I guess…" Ragna said.
"So we use Ragna as bait? If she's gone batshit crazy, then this shouldn't be too hard." Kokonoe said.
"I said our personalities differentiate from another, I never said she was stupid… We need to iron out some kind of plan." Rachel place two fingers on her chin and sighed. "To think I do not know how to defeat myself… Funny…"
"Hilarious… Now come on, Rabbit. Isn't there something we could use that doesn't involve me? Because I re~eally don't want to be alone with her…" Ragna said.
"Oh hush you baby… Though…that might be just what we need."
"Please tell me your just fucking with me!" Ragna said in fear.
"No I am not." Rachel said. "If we could get you two alone… You might be able to draw her attention…"
"…Hey, um… A thought just came to me." Saya interjected. "This Rachel can use teleportation magic right?"
"Yeah, so?" Kokonoe asked.
"So what's stopping her from separating us?" Saya asked.
…
...
…
…
…
"…Fuck." Ragna cursed. A second after a large red circle appeared under them as he looked at Saya. "Why didn't you tell us this before!?"
"Don't blame me, brother!" Saya pouted.
"I need SOMEONE to blame!" In a blink of an eye, Ragna's surrounding changed as he found himself in an abandoned building. The platinum cursed and looked around; there was nobody here. He seemed to be alone, but he knew that wasn't the case and held his blade tightly in his hand. "Ok Ragna… Calm down… There's just a psychopath out to kill you… Nothing you haven't dealt with before…"
Ragna made his way out the room and wandered the dark halls, not even a single light flickered. His boots clapped and the hum of his sword were the only things he heard. The man came to a halt when he heard breath and it wasn't his own.
Was it her…? Or…a g-g-ghost!?
To be honest… Ragna hoped it was her…
"Come out now! And if you're a ghost! Stay where you are…"
"Hmph. Still afraid of ghosts are you?"
"!" Ragna whipped around to see Rachel and quickly took a few steps away from her. "There you are! Where the hell is everyone else!?"
"Frankly, I haven't the slightest clue…and I don't care." A smile etched its way onto her lips, stretching from ear to ear. "All I care about…is you…" She took a step to him as he took a shaky step back. There was no way he could fight her here and decided to run for now, looking back to her walking after him.
He whipped past a corner and ran down the hall to try and find an exit. Before he knew what hit him, a heavy gust of wind slammed him through a door and into an empty room. Ragna rolled along the floor until his back hit the wall and he fell down to ground with a thud. With a heavy groan he tried to get up, but couldn't as Rachel was on top of him with his arms pinned.
"There is nowhere to hide now…"
"Shit…! Let go of me you bitch!" Ragna thrashed around to wiggle his way out, but it proved ineffective. "Damn it! Let me go you b—!" His rage was silenced by her lips. Moans ripped her throat as she was thorough, delving her tongue deep into his mouth and twirling it around his wet muscle. The imposter parted with a trail of spit and licked her lips.
"I have waited so long to do that… To think you would come from your world just to be mine… How lucky can I be…?"
"Wait a minute…? So you KNOW your world is fractured!?" Ragna gasped. "How a—!" He was silenced once more by her kiss and tried to wiggle out, but it proved useless. She was viscous, her head moving as wildly as her tongue, saliva running down their chins. After a few more seconds she parted again and said with a pant.
"No more words…" Rachel snapped her fingers as seals appeared around his arms. Ragna tired to move them, but he couldn't.
"Shit! A binding ars!?"
"Now…" Rachel grazed his cheek with her fingernail, making a small cut and liking the blood that came from it with gusto. "This blood is so sweet...! I was such a fool to drink it all in one sitting… I need to savor you..."
"The hell you will…!"
"That is not for you to decide…" Rachel's hands traversed his body, feeling up his chest and abs. "Not only your blood, Ragna… But everything about is…just so…" She snickered and went to his neck, giving it a long licks before biting his earlobe and whispering in his ear. "So sexy… I just want to gobble you up~"
"Not on my watch!"
Rachel quickly jumped off of Ragna as tow flashes of light cut through the air. Now standing before him in a defensive stance was Saya. "Brother, are you ok!?"
"Yeah, besides being cuffed like this I'm good…" Ragna slowly began to undo the seals now that he had a clear mind as the seals broke like glass. He quickly got up, took his blade and got into a stance. "Thanks got the save… How did you know I was here?"
"We weren't as far apart as we thought. I was a few floors above you. Now," Saya turned back to Rachel. "You said you were going to take my brothers virginity! But that won't happen!" She pointed a blade at the imposter. "I won't let you get your hands on him!"
"Saya…"
"His virginity is mine and mine alone!" Saya claimed.
"The fuck Saya!"
"What a nuisance," Electricity danced in the imposter's hands as she shot them both death glares. "It would seem like I need to eliminate you all first…"
"Damn it! Where the hell is Ragna and Saya!?" Kagura looked around with everyone else. They weren't too far apart so finding each other was easy, but Ragna and Saya weren't with them.
"Where could they have—!?" Kokonoe was stopped by several explosions that came from a building as they look to see smoke coming out of a large one in the distance. "Well my questions answered. Let's go!" They all ran over as explosions erupted from every window, it was like bombs were going off.
From one window, a heavily injured Ragna and Saya came flying out and hit the ground with a hard thud. They quickly ran over to the injured two as Celica immediately got to helping them.
"Celi…ca… Perfect…timing…" Ragna panted.
"G'uh…!" Saya clenched her arm and coughed up some blood. They hear footsteps and watch as the fractured Rachel came out with little to no injuries. "Be careful… She's strong…"
"Celica, take care of brother and Saya." Jin drew his sword and took point. "We shall take care of this vile creature."
"Come at your own demise." The fractured Rachel taunted as they all ran to her. Jin, Kagura and Kokonoe brought their weapons down as hard as they could, but were easily deflected by a wind wall the imposter put up. With a snap of her fingers, the wall expanded, sending the three flying through the air.
Three lightning bolts came down, but were nimbly dodged, almost like she was dancing. Makoto came in for a straight punch to the face, but a blast of wind came under her and sent her high in the air. Tsubaki and Noel quickly came in next, keeping the imposter on her toes with quick strikes and gunfire, but none of them hut their mark.
"Annoying." Rachel snapped her fingers as lightning came down and struck the two girls, the screams echoing throughout the region.
"Noel! Tsubaki!" Kagura quickly charged in with Jin in tow.
Jin launched several blades of ice at the bloody thrust vampire, but were all blocked by a wall of wind. Both Kagura and Jin slammed their blades against the wall and tried to pierce through, but ended up being pushed back. They dug their feet into the ground to try to keep the pressure, but it worked little.
"Why will you not see that this is pointless?"
"Shut up already!"
"!?" Rachel gasped as Ragna appeared right next to her and slammed his foot right into her stomach, dispelling the wall of wind. Now was the time to attack and they all took the opportunity.
Kokonoe leapt up and reeled her hammer back like a bat, ready to swing at the flying Rachel. With all her strength and the added thrusters, she swung down and sent Rachel plummeting down to the ground. Jin and Tsubaki had their bow and arrows ready for her and released them, the two arrows striking her at the same time as she yelled.
"We ain't done yet!" Makoto jumped up and delivered a haymaker to her cheek, sending the imposter into a wall, creating a crater upon impact. Blood gushed from her mouth, but her body was soon encased by a massive bolt of lightning and then a purple wave from Kagura and an X shaped light wave from Saya.
The building came crashing down as they finally thought it was over, but they were wrong; she wasn't done yet.
The wind picked up as the smoke from their attacks vanished and the imposter Rachel stood up. "Tempest Daliah!" A strong wind comes in as a bunch of animals came with it.
"Shit!" Jin erected a wall of ice to block the onslaught of not only the animals, but the powerful wind.
"Clownish Calendula!" Storm clouds hovered over them, lightning oulsing thriugh the clouds. Jin cursed under his breath and set the ice all around them as a barrier. The lightning quickly struck down and slammed the top of the ice barrier, soon encasing them all as a massive exposition took them up.
Smoke rose from the spot they stood and once it cleared, they were all on the ground with sparks jolting their bodies. "S-Shit…!" Jin cursed.
"Gah..!" Kokonoe spat up some blood and cursed. "Son of a bitch…! That hurt…"
"We can't take another attack like that…" Noel said with a heavy breath.
"This is what happens when you dare raise a hand at me." The imposter made her way over to them, but halted as Ragna used his sword to get back up. "So you still wish to continue?"
"Yeah I do. We ain't down just yet." Ragna declared. The rest of them soon followed suit as the got back on their feet, ready to go another round.
"Hehe… You never cease to amuse me Ragna." The fake Rachel giggled.
"Jin…" Ragna panted.
"Yes, what is it, brother?"
"I'll…act as a diversion for her attacks…. Once you see an opening…go for it. Not too complicated, right?"
"You must be an idiot if you think I would agree to such a plan… Right now…" Jin clenched his blade and glared the imposter down. She had a wicked smile on her face, blood stained her clothes and her eyes were like that of a predator. "We cant afford to take any chances…"
"I know. That's why I'm doing this. We need to catch her off guard somehow. All of us going in head on we isn't gonna get anywhere."
"Still its too dangerous Ragna!" Saya shook her head. "You can't do it!"
"I'm tougher than you think I am."
"Fine… No matter what I say you will still do it… But I'm coming with you. And I'm not arguing with you." Jin said.
"Jin… Ok, thanks." Without another word or even consulting with the rest of them they took off for the imposter. They were about to run off and join the two brothers, but we're stopped by Kagura.
"Kagura what the hell are you doing!? We aren't just gonna stand here and take a lunch break are we!?" Makoto asked.
"Let them do it…" Kagura's tone was no longer his usually relaxed and carefree tone, now it was stern. "Let's not make their effort go to waste."
"At least let me help them!" Saya said.
"No. If you go in then she'll focus her attacks on us. Right now…I don't think we can handle that. So just leave it to those stubborn idiots for now. I ain't happy about it either but at least we can finish her off."
"But they're just as hurt as we are!" Celica watches them run off as worry washes over her.
"I know, but if this can give us an opening then just do it damn it!" Kagura yelled, starting everyone. "Celica please give us some first aid, but don't strain yourself. All we need to be able to do is move and we can handle the rest."
"OK!" Celica nods as a healing circle appears around them. They watch as Ragna fights as they look at him struggle.
"Damn idiots…"
"Haaah!" Ragna took to the air and struck down, but was easily deflected by Rachel's wind and thrown back like a ragdoll. He did several flips in the air before coming down and rushing her once more, going for a headspitting downward slash.
Rachel used the wind and quickly dodged, rotating behind him in an instant. Ragna quickly whipped around and swung his massive blade with all his strength. The vampire leapt over him and summoned wind under his feet, sending him flying in the air. Another blast of air quickly brought him back down to earth with immense force.
Ragna strained himself to get back up as she summoned lightning down at him. The platinum clicked his teeth and dashed to the side to avoid it. He spun his sword a few times and held it backhanded before rushing her again. He swung his blade sideways, but was blocked by yet another wall of wind.
"Damn…you…!"
"Far to simple of a creature…" Lightning came down on Ragna and engulfed him in a cloud of smoke. The wall of wind came down and from that cloud, several multiple blades of ice came towards her.
Not having enough to even set up some wind for defense, she jump back and blocked with her hands. She managed to avoid some, while others scraped her body. Rachel clicked her teeth and turned to see Jin right behind her.
He slammed his foot into her stomach and then slashed downwards, leaving a large gash going down her chest. "Tch! You're such a pest even now!"
"Wha!?" Jin gasped as a vortex of wind rose from the ground and sent him up. Trapped in the vortex, he felt the air slowly being taken from him. Rachel swung her hand down as the whirlwind slammed him to the ground.
"You're wide open!"
"What!?" The vampire whipped around to see Ragna right behind her. He surrounded his foot in seither and raised his foot up for a roundhouse kick.
"Gauntlet Hades!" His foot smashed into her side and sent her into the air.
"Now!" They charge towards her as Noel jumps up.
"Bullet Storm Zero-Gun: Thor!" Noel shoots a volley of bullet at the fake Rachel. The vampire had no time to block and took the full brunt of onslaught of bullets. Noel then launches a giant missile, Rachel having no choice, but to take it full force.
Tsubaki created a bow and arrow of light and fired, the arrow of light splitting into many and going in opposite ways before reconvening and striking her all at once. The imposter's body was pierced by these rays of light, her eyes widening in shock as blood spewed from her mouth.
"Baden Baden Lily!" A massive lightning bolt struck the fake Rachel, her blood curdling screams echoing throughout the burning streets. The imposter began to descend to the ground with Makoto waiting below.
"Big Bang Smash" Makoto swings her fist, a giant fist made of energy strikes her in her stomach sending her flying, but is pulled back by Kokonoe and her gravity magnets. As they surround her Kokonoe takes out a huge cannon, a massive fireball erupts from it and struck her, exploding on contact.
Kagura and Saya jumped up and held their blades high. Saya joined her two blades as they create a massive light sword. Kagura's blade emits a black and purple flame like aura which quickly sprouted into a pillar of darkness.
"Divine Conqueror!"
"Black Dragon's Sky Rending Blade!"
They both struck down, their two connecting with the imposter. A large explosion from the impact engulfed the vampire as she was no longer visble. They all watch the smoke from the attack clear and the imposter was down, but still conscious.
Tsubaki goes to Jin and throws an arm on his shoulder to help him over to everyone else. "You ok Jin?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine…" Jin said, his voice was a bit weak but he wasn't too bad. Ragna turned to Rachel, a bit of worry and unease in his voice.
"Rachel…what about you. How are you holding up?"
"I would like to say I'm ok, but I am still a bit shaken up..." They hear the imposter groaning from down below as Rachel looked at her other self and sighed. "Finish this… I believe that we have seen enough of this nightmare. Don't you agree…"
Ragna nodded and slowly made his way to her. He stopped right next to her and just stared at her for a bit. Ragna raised his blade over the black gaseous orb in her chest, ready to strike down. 'This just doesn't…feel right.' There was a bit of remorse and pity in his eyes as he looked at her. "This…is a possibility…"
"Go ahead Ragna…do it…"
"What…?" Ragna gasped.
The fractured vampire coughed up some blood and opened her eyes. "I guess I must reap what I sow and pay for my transgressions. I couldn't control myself and look what I've done. You have every right to strike me down… I was…rather unlady like."
"Damn it…! No matter which Rachel you always have to make me feel like the fucking bad guy…!" Ragna's hand began to tremble as he couldn't do it; he couldn't strike her down. Even after all this, she was still Rachel in his eyes. "Son of a…!"
"Even now, you won't strike me?" A smile formed on her lips as she giggled. "You're still so soft... You really are an idiot, Ragna."
"What?"
"Such an idiot…" Rachel slowly stood up as Ragna took a step back. She walked up to him and drove his sword through her chest.
"Wha!? Rachel!" He gasped as she slid out from his blade. Ragna quickly dropped his sword and caught her before she hit the earth. Blood poured from her mouth and ran down her chin.
"Hopeless… Idiot…" The fractured Rachel smiled and said with her last breath. "But you could say…that's one of the things I truly admired about you…Ragna…"
The space began to bend and after a couple seconds they found themselves back in Yabiko. Ragna picked up his sword and looked at the crimson liquid that coated his blade, dripping from the tip like raindrops.
"Don't fuck with me...!" Ragna stabbed his sword into the ground goes and yelled. "Don't fuck with me goddammit!"
'Ragna…' Makoto clenched her arm and bit her lip. They should be happy that they came back unscathed, but that didn't feel like a victory.
"So you guys are back." A voice broke through the tense silence as Nine appeared. The mood wasn't the greatest and neither was their faces. Not wanting to pry in unmarked territory she sighed. "Well, how about we continue this chat back at the hotel." A teleportation circle appears underneath them and in an instant they were all in Nine's room.
After a long silence, they explained in full detail of what happened in there, every part of it receiving a disgust look from Nine; especially the part where she apparently died. Not something she wanted to hear.
"Are you serious?"
"You're damn right we are! Your telling me something like that could actually fucking happen! All that destruction and bloodshed! That's just crazy!" Ragna swung his arm in frustration.
"Yes, it's quite possible…" Rachel clenched her arm. "Let us just hope that never comes to pass…"
"…Alright, I'm gonna go soak myself I need to relax after what just happened." Ragna took a look at his sword as an image of Rachel on his blade flashed in his mind. 'Damn it!' He left the room first, everyone else following afterward. Rachel was about to leave, but was stopped by Nine.
"Rachel, you know what your going to have to do at some point to stop this."
"Yes, I do." Nine released her grasp as she walled out the room with her familiars close behind her.
"Princess, are you alright?" Nago asks concerned.
"…Go back to the castle and I will call you when needed." Rachel commanded. A portal opened for them as the two walked in and vanished. The vampire stood alone in the hallway heavy in thought. The way her fractured self acted was so disgusting, yet she couldn't deny the possibility. 'That could be me… Ragna I…'
The blood, the corpses of innocent people lying dead in the street and all because of her. Fear coursed through her veins, bringing reality down hard on the young vampire; she didn't have much time left. "I am trying to prevent a massacre, yet I might cause one myself..." She clenched her right arm as her body started to shiver. "Is that…what my future holds?"
Ragna, now naked with a white towel around his lower region, stood before a massive hotspring. The steam rose up from the boiling hot water and with nobody in the bath, he had it all too himself. The platinum sat inside the hot water and sighed in satisfaction. "Now this is a nice hotspring. Shit maybe I should've stopped here first." He leaned his head back as his thoughts go to Rachel. 'Can that really happen?' The platinum sighed and shook his head. "Now is not the damn time to worry. I'm soaking in a freaking hotspring! I should be relaxed not stressing my ass out."
Ragna mellowed himself out and submerged his body deeper in the water. He closed his eyes, but they opened back as an odd subject came to mind. "I wonder what the hell Jin and Kagura up to right now?"
"Holy crap! It's freaking huge!" Makoto looked at the massive bath and smiled. "Amazing!"
"So you gonna just stare or are you gonna get in the damn water?" Kokonoe asked and went into the water first, leaning back and enjoying the hot bath. The rest follow her lead, sitting down into the water and enjoying the steaming hot bath.
"Now THIS is heaven on earth." Makoto stretched.
"No arguments there! The water is at the perfect temperature." Noel agreed.
Unknown to them Kagura was looking through a hole in the wall. "Oh yeah! It's sexy time!"
Celica laughed with the girls and turned to Rachel. There was a sad look on her face and she could guess what it was. The auburn haired girl moved closer to her and asked softlt. "Ms. Rachel, is everything ok?"
"Yes everything is alright."
"Ms. Rachel, are you thinking about Ragna?" Celica asked and received a sigh in response, taking it as a yes. "I thought so."
"It's the fractured world… I cannot get it out my head."
"Ms. Rachel, I have a question…"
"What is it?"
"Do you hate drinking blood?" Celica asked.
"Yes… To be honest, I'm not as strong as I should be right now. I hate my vampiric urges, I hate drinking blood, it takes everything I have just to drink blood transfusions at times. When I gave Ragna some of my blood I tasted some of his; right there I swear I was going to lose my mind." Celica heard something in her voice she's never heard before. Her voice was trembling almost; her face full of fear and anxiety.
"Ms. Rachel…" Celica says.
"But if I don't drink blood… I will keep getting weaker and weaker… Like now…" Rachel chuckled to herself. "It's quite pathetic isn't it? I'm a vampire who hates drinking blood and is about to lose her mind because of it."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Celica asked in worry.
"No, it's something that I need to deal with on my own."
"Alright Ms. Rachel. But please let me know if there is anything I can do." Celica told her with a smile.
"Ok." The two turn to see Makoto, Noel and Tsubaki chatting it up, the whole hotspring was surrounded by their voices.
"Makoto, your body is amazing! I wish I had what you had…" Noel looks to her breasts as Makoto pats her shoulder.
"Come on Noel, don't worry they'll get bigger. Eventually…" A thought came to mind as Makoto said. "I know! Have the person you love massage them for you!"
"Wha!?' Noel's face became a bright red as she shook her head frantically "I-I don't like anyone right now! Even if I did that's so…"
"Don't you like, Ragna?"
Steam came out of the boiling blond's ears as she said. "No I don't! I think of him as a close friend and that's all!"
"Really? Well then I guess that ideas out the window…" Makoto sighed.
"Noel, the size of your breasts don't matter. You're still cute so I'm sure you'll be fine." Tsubaki said.
Kokonoe groaned as she watched Makoto's breasts giggle. Her eye twitched a bit as she got up and walked over to the beastkin. She grabbed one of Makoto's breasts as the squire gasped.
"K-Kokonoe!? What are you doing!?"
"These are way to big! They can't be this big and at your age! I wont believe that these are fucking real!" Kokonoe started to grope them as Noel and Tsubaki try to pry her off.
Kagura covers his nose as blood started running down from his nostrils "This is the best fucking thing that has ever happened! Jin your missing the best life has to offer."
"So have the boy you like massage them huh..." Saya muttered to herself. 'I wonder if Ragna is busy later…?'
The two girls managed to pry her off as Kagura clicked his teeth. "Oh come on! It was just getting good!" Makoto ears tingle as she heard a familiar voice. The beastkin looked towards the wall to see a hole and quickly told the other girls. "Oh shit! I've gotta go!" Before he could get up the wall was blasted down as he fell with a thud.
Kagura rubbed his head and looked up to see the girls standing over him. He saw a dark presence surround them as he started to sweat. All their face had one thing in mind: murder.
"H-Hey there ladies. Fancy meeting you here!" Kagura forced a laugh.
"Oh," Makoto cracks her knuckles. "Your about to wish you hadn't."
Kagura started to yell as the girls began to beat him senseless. Jin walked by and heared Kagura's cries. "You never learn do you?" Jin sighed. He could go in there and provide assistance, but he wasn't dumb and he liked living a bit too much to risk his life for him, so he just walked away and left Kagura to his fate.
The girls drag the beaten Kagura out the room as Saya said with a callous tone. "How about we teach him what happens to peeping toms!?" Makoto and Kokonoe nod as they take him away. Celica, Tsubaki and Noel follow them as Rachel stayed behind.
"I'm sure they do not need my help. They have enough assistance." Rachel changed back into her clothes and walked out the door. As she walked her thoughts run back to that fractured world. "That really could be me."
Ragna walked out, lost in his own little world. He was worried about her, the fractured Rachel's body impaled on his sword still fresh in his mind. 'I wonder if that will happen to her?'
To lost in their own little worlds, they bump into each other and fall down on the floor hard as they groan. "What the hell is your problem!? Watch where your—!" Ragna said as he shook his head looked to see it was Rachel.
"I could say the same to you!" Rachel said as she sits up to see Ragna. The hallway filled with an awkward silence as the two just stared at each other.
"Oh, uh…hey there, Rabbit…"
"Um…" Rachel couldn't find anything to say as they both get up and dust themselves off.
"Look I've been meaning to say," Ragna scratched the back of his head. "I'm um…sorry about earlier." Rachel took a second to get what he meant; it was when Ragna slapped her. She placed a hand on her cheek and rubbed it.
"No it's fine. I deserved it. I probably deserve a hundred more."
"Deserve?" Ragna echoed.
"It's nothing."
"So you just got out of the bath?" Ragna asked.
"Yes I did. It was quite relaxing." Rachel said as they start to walk in the same direction.
'So she's going to bed too?'
'I guess he's going to bed as well.' Rachel sighed.
Their walk turns to awkward silence as none of them had the will to speak and to top it all off, they were in the same room. Now laying in their beds, this awkward silence became unbearable, Ragna just couldn't stand this atmosphere. The platinum looked over his shoulders to Rachel as he asked.
"Hey, you still awake?" He waited for her answer, but received none. "I guess not." Ragna turned back around.
Rachel wasn't asleep however, she couldn't sleep as her thoughts ran too deep. "Is it safe to stay here?' The vampire turned to Ragna to hear him snoring. "Ragna…is it really safe for me to be around you?" She flipped back around and closed her eyes "Oh, Ragna…"
Well another fractured world kicks the bucket and um…some of Rachel's pride. Well anyway hope you all liked this chapter. Like always criticism is highly recommended and appreciated. Oh and I'm think of writing a separate story that deals with the past of Ragna, Rachel and the Murakumo units. Not sure if I'm actually gonna follow through with it thought but it's something I thought might be a bit informative for this story. Well I'm not gonna talk for too long here, just hope you all enjoy this story. See ya later. Here's a preview for the next chapter.
Celica: But Ms. Rachel, after that you haven't tried to drink any blood.
Rachel: I almost did it to Ragna…
Jin: Hey, what's going on between Rachel and brother? Do you have any clue?
Ragna: Damn it! Where the hell did she go!?
Valkenhayn: You are searching for Madam Rachel, are you not?
Ragna: Rachel, I don't want to see you like this.
Relius: I just wish to…converse as you would say. We are old friends aren't we?
Hakumen: I will say this. If you lay a hand on Ragna the Bloodedge, Jin Kisaragi or Tsubaki Yayoi…I promise you will not live to see the next day.
Rachel: It's not safe for me to stay here any longer.
Next Chapter 12: Those you cherish
Revised on 6/30/17