2046 A.D.
Hiro knelt next to the human, a fresh kill by a fledgling vampire. He shook his head. This was the doing of Marcus and William. Such fools the Daimyo were. He pressed in between two dumpsters as several men passed carrying a body before callously dumping it in a dumpster. " And they said the demure ones are incapable of being monsters," One said to the other. " This one nearly took Noboru's head,"
Waiting them out as they walked back to the building, Hiro knew he was in enemy territory. The last thing he expected to see was Calypso wrapped up in a constricting plastic sheet, zip ties keeping her wrists and ankles. In a groggy state she couldn't do much more than moan and loll her head. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his knife and cut the plastic off as quickly as he dared. The zip ties cut more easily and then he hoisted her over his shoulder until he could carry her bride style.
Dead weight weighed him down. Truly he wondered who'd she snap on. It never occurred to him that perhaps he deserved some of a tongue lashing himself. Apparently the humans got to her first, which meant Daimyo Shino either lived or lay in human hands.
He met up with Tanis halfway. With Viktor gone, Selene on their side, the historian came out of hiding. He escaped to meet up with the clans, only for several years later for their peaceful existence to come a bloody end as a new extermination effort started. Tanis gave the drugged personal servant a second glance. " What happened to her?" He asked while adjusting his overcoat.
" Have you seen either Daimyo?" Hiro demanded.
Tanis's brow furrowed. " I thought they'd be dead after the attack on the living base,"
Pointing to Calypso, Hiro held her even tighter. If anyone understood Shino better than him, it would be her. She witnessed more of Shino's personal side than Hiro ever would. He needed to protect that memory, regardless of Shino's possible death. " Did the humans take prisoners?" He ducked behind a corner as more police passed by.
" Was she taken prisoner?"
" It would seem so," He placed her on the ground temporarily, kneeling next to her. Inconveniently at the next moment an officer passed by them. He came to a full stop. " The curfew is in effect, what are you doing out at this hour?" His eyes passed over the ethnically diverse group.
Tanis stepped in. " Someone drugged her, we helped her get out of there before they could take advantage," He let the implications soak in. The lie came easy to the vampire, not the first one he told.
Hiro traced his hand around Calypso's cheek in the most tender fashion. Surprisingly it came easier to him than he believed possible. In her drugged up state, she offered no resistance. " My wife was almost taken advantage of. I need to get her home, where she'll be safe," He added to Tanis's lie, a hint of emotion thick in his throat. Did she sacrifice herself for their Lord? Was she the only person to survive the humans?
The officer debated hauling them into the police station and letting them go. Tanis stepped forward. " Please, Officer. He's a doctor. He can help her better than any officer can, and when she comes out of it in a familiar place, she won't react negatively. It is for her better health," He may be a weasel, but he knew what was best for them all.
Taking advantage of the indecisiveness, Hiro lifted Calypso once more into his arms and carried her toward a tower apartment in the distance. The officer didn't press and Tanis hurried after Hiro, needing to make himself scarce. " How will she react when she comes out of it?" He asked admiring the limited view the black scrubs offered. On closer inspection, blood stains barely indistinguishable now became obvious. He made to pull back the neckline of the top when Hiro's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. " It's not as if-"
" She's married, and she's not one to let the likes of you prod," He did not know where Riku lived, if the man even still lived. Furthermore, if this 'demure vampire' nearly took off someone's head, he doubted she'd be in the mood for Tanis's prodding. She might even tempt his head too.
Withering under the hard gaze, Tanis shrunk away.
Under the night's streetlights, they walked quickly. The guard at the apartment tower gave Calypso a questioning look. Hiro put in his entrance code and kept walking in silence to the elevator. Not much changed since the days they lived in peace except a change of décor and more guards as conspiracies rose among the common populace. A few even nailed the truth in one – vampires and werewolves existed. Of course, such incredible claims dismissed under even the lightest of scrutiny.
No elevator music followed them up to the top floor. Hiro stepped off the elevator and approached the door guarded by another mortal guard. One of the loyal guardians, this man recognized Calypso. He opened the door for the three undead. Entering the luxurious apartment, Hiro carried her to the spare bedroom and placed her on the bed. Wiping away sweat that smelled of the drugs, he leaned in close. " I know you're in there, listening. I know you know what is happening. You are safe," Whether they were enemies or not, she was still a clan member and he owed a responsibility to her.
Heavy eyelids blinked open and shut.
Stepping out of the room, he closed the door and found Tanis perusing the few paintings Hiro saved from the looting mortals. " Don't become too attached. It's only a matter of time before they find this place too," The fatalistic thinking deserved its place in his forethoughts.
Tanis smirked. " I know a place that can be of use, a monastery,"
" Where you escaped? I doubt it could house so many," Hiro shook his head. " I am tired of your attempts to flee this war. This is not local to Japan. This is spreading between the governments. We are no longer legends or ghosts," Even Calypso understood that, and she'd been a ghost her entire life.
Hours passed as Hiro returned to the one place in the apartment he rarely vacated. The computer and the internet provided mountains of information and no open doors for him to take advantage of. Tanis lingered in his library, reading what he could and using the laptop to translate what he could not. Calypso emerged from the bedroom rubbing her eyes. " Next time you rescue me you could try to provide me a change of clothes," She admonished Hiro. " Thanks for saving me from the sun,"
" Odd that they'd throw you in a public garbage container," He remarked.
She nodded, dropping to one knee next to him to see what he worked on. " They ran out of room in the other dumpster. Figured with the police hunting us down and all I'd be dead soon enough…"
" But a public garbage container unguarded?" He insisted incredulously. " Someone wanted you to live,"
" I'd be dead if you hadn't arrived, Hiro. No one wanting me to live would have left me the way they did, and if it weren't for you-"
He looked away from the glaring computer screen. " You're a clan member,"
" Yes, I suppose I am," She accepted this answer as the only reason he saved her. Desperately hoping for a different answer, the woman rose to her full height once more. " I'm going to shower and then raid the closet for clothes I can wear." Resting her hand on his shoulder, she stood behind him on the verge of admitting her own weakness. " Thanks for being a pain in the ass,"
A short laugh and a smile later, he watched her receding form disappear into the bathroom. Tanis wandered that way, spotting Hiro casually ensuring the door remained shut. " Any answers?" He questioned the Japanese male like a nervous ferret, able to slink in and out at will.
In the shower, Calypso shivered despite the scalding hot water cascading against her porcelain skin. She couldn't dismiss Ayaki's face, forget the way he seemed to become more vicious in his line of questioning, accusing her of things she never committed. She pleaded with him to see reason, tried to explain the gravity of his actions, and when that failed, lashed out at him with a viciousness borne of decades of frustration of her inability to take personal revenge. Fear in his eyes sparked something primal within her. She possessed the ability to take a life without her conscience yelling at her.
Unfortunately for her, it came with a price – immense pain.
Snuggled in a large robe meant for a man, she found herself wishing she had Riku to make fun of her. Makoto telling her she missed a step and pointing it out in an arguably annoying superior manner. Hell, even a stern talking to from Hiro might've helped. Instead she selected an oversized white chunky knit sweater and a belt. She'd be wearing something similar to a mini dress but that mattered little.
At least she lived.
" When you last saw Daimyo Shino,"
" He lives, and so does Kyosuke, but I don't know if they still live. Selene is most likely their guardian now," She turned to face him. " They looted everything, Hiro. The portraits, the statues, the books, the scrolls….everything. They seized the jewelry Makoto and Riku gave me. My family photo. Grave robbers. The lot of them,"
He nodded. " It hit the papers yesterday, a new cache of historical artifacts to be donated to the museums across Japan and other areas of the world. I had to…keep from going out and claiming lives," The anger at the violation shared between the supernaturals lingered moments longer before being shoved aside by greater concerns. " We have to recover the possessions another time. There are a few waystations the humans don't know about,"
" They raided the living base,"
" I long suspected Marcus and William would lead us to a disastrous end. It's why I colluded with other concerned individuals to build a waystation closer to where you hailed from," He shared. " We filtered people to that location, two or three at a time from the different waystations."
She sat down on the bed, resting her hands on her lap. He didn't blindly follow. How incredible. Of all the people who conspired, she least suspected him. " You said waystations…not waystation," Of all the people, him! The shock of it lingered.
He nodded. " United Kingdom, Canada, and an island capable of sustaining life with a supporting lifeline," The elaboration grabbed Tanis's attention. HIro disliked the European. Not an ounce of genuine character to him.
Calypso rose to her feet. " How many can these waystations support? What about finances?" Hiro cleared his throat and glanced toward Tanis. She pulled the chunky knit down to her knees. " On second thought, I should order new clothing-"
Tanis blocked her exit. " What of the finances? With the corporations revenue seized, there is no inflowing funds," He pointed out to both of them. " And Viktor is dead. Marcus and William have retreated into hiding while employing guerilla tactics. Your elders are gods know where with Viktor's precious pet death dealer," He delighted in the pained expression that swiftly crossed Calypso's face and the annoyance briefly conveyed on the death dealer's visage.
Both clan members faced Tanis. Hiro placed a hand on Calypso's arm. She stepped back. Tanis squared off with Hiro. " Our finances are well under control. The only assistance we need is for you record history, as you did before with your coven. We'll make it easier for you, just record the truth," He held out his hand to Calypso. " Go order your clothing, and I'll schedule the flight to the U.S,"
Calypso nodded and moved past both of them. She needed to remember to be more careful from this point on out.
2010 A.D.
Kyosuke claimed Calypso's arm as he seated himself next to her at the night restaurant. " You really should find yourself a consort," She insisted with a smile. " It would save me a great deal of trouble as posing as your significant other,"
Shino chuckled at the obvious embarrassment not so obvious to Calypso. He ordered several drinks for them from the waitress. The special wine flavored blood stayed a secret among the elders. " Remember your manners, Calypso," He scolded lightly.
Placing her hand higher on Kyosuke's arm, she nodded briefly. " Oh by my heart doth beat so quickly, how do I remember my manners? The elusive Kyosuke does pay me great compliment," She announced in such playful mockery that even the former Ronin could not resist joining in the jest.
He placed a chaste kiss to her knuckles. " I will take a consort when I am ready," He assured her warmly, finding her mixture of time developed dialects a Calypso-type behavior. " What do you think our future will be, Calypso? Do you think it will be as fruitful and pleasing as it is now? Will personal traditions like this endure?" His thumb stroked her knuckle attentively, his gaze so focused on her.
Welcoming the glasses placed before them, she suffered under the waitresses envious glance before the woman dismissed herself from the company of elders. Calypso traced her finger along the rim of the glass. Shino leaned back into the leather bound both, the dim lighting of the back of the restaurant designed specifically for customers like them. People probably thought her an escort, nothing could be further from the truth.
She angled herself equally between the two men. " I believe the future will play out as it does. We are caught in the sands helpless against its pull. It is not Nirvana I seek," She nodded to Shino. " Nor is it being thought important and special, as the Abrahamic religions like to believe. I like to believe in a variety of beliefs. Guardian angels and reincarnation. Fatalism is my belief structure, hence making it obvious that the future is already planned," She waved her hand about noncommittedly.
" Your prediction for the future is positive then," Kyosuke pressed.
She shrugged. " It is and it isn't. Our technologies advance, it becomes harder to hide who we are. No doubt someone will use our kind as lab rats if we're ever captured and discovered. The cleaners clean up after us now, but the reality is inevitable. When is too much too much ? We are peaceful as clans, but the covens are not so innocent. Viktor's clan bought slaves for orgies and then bled them dry. No doubt the New World clan did the same. Such activities easier to hide with such a world in chaos may not be so easy to hide when technology is more alert,"
Understanding the caution and seeing his training so effortlessly exercised by the woman, Shino enjoyed his drink.
Kyosuke nodded. " So you believe then we will not be in a position to manipulate anything," He leaned in.
" Possibly, or we will be the government and them our cattle, but it will not be us who lead the enslavement of humans for a food source," She lowered her voice, the topic far more personal and far less suitable for any common ears. " I like to believe we'd be victims than dictators. At least as victims we keep our saintly position and become martyrs. As victors, we…lose our right to speak as supporters of justice. Either way we will always be the enemy, then, now, and in the future. I have accepted that, more now than ever,"
The din of conversation washed over them, a comforting reminder they hadn't reached that point yet. Nor did they desire to reach it anytime soon.
*** Immortality is such a boon. *Cackles like a mad witch*
