Suki: HELLOOOOO!
Yuuki: Okay, what we just found out, is that Word has completely disappeared from our laptop. SOOOO, since we kept the last chapter on the fanfiction document manager, we just erased what was there and wrote this. That means that there will be even more spelling and grammer mistakes than usual and that we can't tell how many pages it is. (usually we make the minimum four pages OR 1500 words)
Suki: So, yeah...and the word count on this thing isn't accurate at all T_T' Meh, we're just gonna get it as long as we can...nyan...
Chapter 14: Contract
She stepped out of the shadows, white hair swaying around her, "Hello, Tsukiyomi Ikuto." She looked around 14 or 15 years old, crimson eyes nearly glowing in the dark, "My name is Chika Etsuko."
XXXAMU'S POV
A wail escaped my lips as Nagehiko fell into my arms, blood gushing from his head. Matt lowered his arm, pocketing the gun. Now the area reeked of blood and sirens screamed in the background. Yuuki still lay on the ground nearby, completely still.
"I have never killed before."
"I have."
I forced myself to raise my head, staring at Matt. He stared back, eyes blank and glassy.
"Y-you..." I glanced back at Nagehiko with dread, tears begining to fall down my cheeks. He kneeled down, pulling him away from me. Brushing some hair from the other's face, Matt continued staring at me. I gulped, afraid to look away, "You...k-killed him?" To my utter horror, he started laughing, "Killed him? Hardly. You can't kill Fujisaki-sama so easily." The laughter died, to a soft chuckle, mocking me, "I found out what your boyfriend's little secret is."
"S-secret?" My voice squeaked.
"The lake." He whispered. The smile he wore now reminded me of the sick and twisted one Amulet always had on. He placed his hand over Nagehiko's eyes, "The lake...Is like a portal to the pits of Hell."
"Th-the lake?" I felt myself start to tremble. Memories of sitting next to the Black Cat-san while he watched black water came flashing through my mind. Matt nodded, "Kuro-san was right, not to let us too close to the water. But that's the problem with secrecy and power. You're either seen as a devil or a god. Tsukiyomi is probably somewhere in between." I looked back to Nagihiko's face, "A-and...what about Amulet?"
"The Merciless Angel of Mercy."
The words didn't make sense to me. But I never got a chance to ask him about it again.
A police car pulled up next to us. The officers piled out of the cars, circling around our group. One of them asked us something that I couldn't understand. Oh, how come I could never pay any attention in English Class?
"Atashi...I-I...have no pencil?" I would have blushed, but nausea started to roll over me in waves.
What if they took us to jail? And my parents decided to watch the American news? Or, worse, we were taken to a hospital and they gave us blood? Or tested our blood? What if they pronounce Yuuki and Nagihiko dead, but they magically live? And find the bullet in Nagihiko and the bite marks on Yuuki? So many "what ifs" ran in my head, I thought I would burst into hysteria from panic.
"T-there was a man," Matt started speaking to them in English, with a fake shocked and frightened voice, "He had a gun...He ran in that direction." He pointed towards the trees. All of them turned to look. In that split second, Matt pulled out the gun again and shot off each and everyone of them. He walked past the bodies, pulling a bag out from the trees. Bringing it back, I felt the nausea increase.
Shooting the last bullet into the corpse's forehead, he placed the pistol into the dead man's hand. For the first time, I noticed he was wearing gloves. So they won't find his fingerprints. Don't tell me he planned this from the begining...
"You think you could manage to carry her back to the suite?" Matt nodded towards Yuuki, already picking Nagihiko off the dusty ground. I nodded weakly, stumbling onto my feet and over to the limp body. I reached out to grab her arm just as the nausea completely overwhelmed me. Turning away, I felt like I would have vomited if I had eaten anything. Gratefully, I slipped into blissful unconciousness and unawareness.
This time, I didn't open my eyes to see flowers around me. I dreamed I was running. Running down the stairs of an unknown house. Yet I knew this way very well.
I ran down to the basement, panicing when I found I couldn't get the door open. I had to get it open. I had to. But it wouldn't budge. Pressing my ear, against the cold metal, I could head the murmur of someone talking. A wind-chime laugh. My face drained completely of color.
They had been right...they had been right! I shouldn't have trusted her!
I shouldn't have trusted them! I shouldn't have-
I was jolted onto my feet. Sinking back down to my knees, I tried to regain my breath.
The flowers, swaying slightly in the breeze, tickled my legs. Aruto's meadow didn't look any different than the last time I'd been here. Then why hadn't I waken up here in the first place? Yet, at the same time, it was different. Behind that metal door, I was losing someone very important to me. Someone I wouldn't be able to go on without. I rested my head on my hands, feeling tears moisten my palms.
Now, I found myself missing everyone's constant visits. When I had been human, there had always been someone there to greet me when I arrived to Aruto's meadow. But not anymore. I was alone, with only the occasional company of the Black Cat.
But I didn't know where to find them, all the trees looked the same to me. I couldn't even find my way to the river again. The only path I knew now was the one to the lake. Nobody ever explained how this place worked to me. Maybe we weren't as close I thought we were.
Standing, I ran into the shadows, not even pausing when I took my kitten form. Racing down the familiar path, I skidded to a halt at the edge of the trees. I peeked at the lake, leaves and grass poking at my nose. The Black Cat was crouched in front of the water, tail lashing and ears pulled back. He hissed, sharp teeth glinting dangerously. Blood ran down his face, dripping to the dead grass and matting in his fur. A fox stood in front of him, trying to find an opening to attack.
My blood ran cold as he jumped forward, swiping with a paw and hopping a few steps back. Streaks of scarlet appeared across the cat's shoulders. At the same time, the two lunged at each other, clawing and biting while tumbling around in a furry ball.
The growling and hissing stopped abruptly.
Black Cat-san towered above Matt, claws held securly at his neck. The fox took deep breaths, completely winded. After moment of me hesitating to step out, he flipped onto his back, catching the cat by surprise. Now the tables turned as Matt pressed the cat into the dead grass, blood gushing from his neck.
I leaped out from my hiding place, "What the hell are you doing?!"
He looked up at me, caught off guard. Black Cat-san whipped his head back, sinking his teeth into Matt's paw.
"Stop it!" I ran closer to them, trying to get them to stop fighting, "Stop-"
I yelped as the cat was slammed into me, causing us both to go flying back. He barely seemed to notice his injuries as he charged back at the fox, leaving behind a bloody trail.
Going as fast as my short legs would go, I raised my paw above the black water, standing at the lake's edge. The noise stopped again. They stared at me, fur covered with blood and grass. Well, the cat stared at me, Matt stared right over my shoulder. "Explain, or I'm going for a swim." I threatened, still out of breath from slamming into the ground so hard.
"Amu dear," Matt spoke slowly, cautiously, "You do know that right now, you have one foot in your grave, on out, right?"
"Answer my question, then." I demanded. I wasn't sure if I'd actually step into the water. Heck, I wasn't even sure they would care. Sadness spread through me, I wasn't sure I even knew Matt anymore. Said fox now slinked away from Black Cat-san, guilt covering his features.
The world started spinning and blurring together.
My eyes flashed open, taking in the white ceiling above me. Matt's face filled my line of vision suddenly, "Amu...?"
My breath hitched, eyes widening. Somehow, he seemed so different now. He was no longer our dear friend. No longer like a little brother. No longer our Matt.
I noticed, now, for the first time, that his eyes didn't seem like the glassy pools of a blind person. They were livid yet dead looking, eyes that had seen too much even though they saw nothing, as if that made any sense.
A frown was etched on soft, pink lips.
They say the eyes are like windows to a person's soul.
Then your soul must be very hollow and empty at the moment. A small, sad smile played on his mouth, "Gold is for fools. A fool takes so much, that they can't see right from want and wrong from need."
"Are you a fool, then?" I answered evenly.
"You certainly aren't." He whisered, cool breath brushing my forehead. Pulling away, Matt settled in a nearby chair, watching the shallow rise and fall of Nagihiko's chest. I choked back a sob, realization coming to me. I really had lost my little brother. Sure, we weren't blood related and he was older than me by decades, but it was the only way I found to describe our bond.
All of us, we were always as close as a family. But now we were falling apart. I wonderedong it would be until we seperated completely.
Though I knew he could hear me, Matt didn't answer. He didn't show the slightest sign sign of acknowledging my presence, of my very existance.
I think that hurt even more than the throbbing headache that pounded at my skull.
The door creaked open, Tadase and Ikuto quietly walking in and shutting it behind them. Sapphire eyes locked with mine as he rushed over to my side. I forced a smile to my face, "Hey..." The word barely left my lips when I broke down in his arms, sobs racking my body.
XXXKUKAI'S POV
Yoru and Ikuto had rushed out of the house this morning, the sun had brealy even gone up. Again.
They would come back later, and then they would explain, they say. Again.
They were going to go hand out with Hinamori and the Council Regects. What's the next word? Go ahead, guess! Yeah, that's right: Again.
That left me with Utau and Miki. Both of which had resumed their liking to gossip and other girly stuff. Aruto-san and Souko-san were off doing their own thing. What, where, and how, I did not know nor care about.
Nobody cares if dear, dear Kukai dies of boredom. Nope, not at all.
So, what do I do? Watch TV? Eat ice cream? Go out and save the world? Nope. I follow the girls around, complaining, and trying to make sense of what they were saying.
"Can you believe," Miki slammed her sketchbook onto the table, "how annoying she can be? All day at school it was 'I have cramps' and 'Oh, Aoi-chan, be a dear and come with me to the bathroom'."
Utau nodded, sipping at the Blood Tablet Drink, "Can't sympathsize, haven't gone through that since forever ago."
"What is 'that'?" - Air quotes on that - "And why did she want you to go with her to the bathroom?" I pouted slightly as they exchanged glances. I pushed away from the table, "Nevermind, I'd rather not know."
"Why don't you do something useful, if you're so bored?" Blondie suggested, gulping down the rest of her drink.
And that's how I ended up sitting in front of the computer screen. "The wonders of Google." I muttered, reading over all the websites that had information on Energy Vampires. I clicked on a random one.
Ways To Protect Yourself From An Attack.
Looked promising enough, I guess.
The only way to protect yourself 100% is simple: Stay AWAY!
Yeah, like I could possibly get an isolation cell for Ikuto. I'm not that cruel. Clicking back, I waited for the computer to load oh so slowly. To any human, this was probably one of the fastest computers in the world, to me it was about as fast as Utau in the bathroom every morning. Ah, a girl will be a girl no matter what species she's from.
I scrolled down the list again, reading through countless articles and videos. Finally, something caught my eye.
One's aura tells a lot about a person. This is what an Energy Vampire feeds on. The following are simple ways to protect and use your aura efficiently.
Now we were getting somewhere.
XXXAMU'S POV
"Open up this door right now!" I demanded, pounding on said door ruthlessly. I didn't expect a reply of any sort and I certainly didn't get one. In the last few hours, everything had taken a sudden turn. And now I started wondering what would be on the other side when we got there.
Matt had locked himself in his and Tadase's room, without warning nor a reason why. Ignoring the two strangers in the main room, I stomped into my own temporary bedroom. Ikuto lay on the bed, casually flipping through one of the magazines, "Hey."
"Hey yourself." I grabbed the magazine and tossed it onto the desk. He pouted, "I was reading that, you know, love." I smirked, so unlike myself that his eyes actually widened, mouth becoming a little O. I pounced on him, snuggling my cheek in the crook of his neck. I didn't want to think about the others for a while. I just wanted to spend some time with Ikuto. Just us. He wrapped his long, comforting arms around my waist, "Tch, my smirk has been stolen once again." I giggled, "Hmm...I love you." I tilted my head up, just as he looked down.
We stared at each other as our noses got smushed together, then started laughing. Ikuto chuckled, "We...we laugh at the dumbest things." I nodded, grinning like an idiot, "Eh? Remember, you're my idiot. You've said so yourself." He raised an eyebrow, "Eh yourself. That was random."
"Can we have pancakes for lunch?"
"Random perverted little kid." Ikuto teased, poking my forehead affectionatly. We stayed like that for quite a while, in comfortable silence. But it seems we can't ever have our moment without something happening. I was just about to doze off when I heard voices coming from the room next door.
I took this as a chance to test out just what I could do with my vampire ability. It had been on my mind for a while, so I might as well test out some of my ideas. Closing my eyes, I felt my own aura swirl around my body. I closed it off, focusing the energy on my eyes. Then I allowed the light to expand, spreading through the walls.
I opened my eyes without actually opening my eyes.
Suddenly, I was floating near the window of the guys' room. My sight focused on the figure sitting on one of the beds. I recognized him. He had black hair with the red tips and scarlet eyes. He had left with Amulet from the roof after she had attacked me. His name, I remembered, was Shii. I shivered, somehow. Seeing as at the moment I was out of my body. Shii and Matt were talking quietly, though from this distance I should have been able to hear them. I realized I couldn't had anything. I must have forgotten my other senses in my body.
And that sentance wasn't weird at all, right? Riiight.
After concentrating for a bit, sound gradually came back to me. Slowly.
Shii beckoned for the other to come closer. After a moment of hesitation, Matt obeyed, carefully kneeling in front of him. He placed his hand over sightless golden eyes, "...-contract." The noise finally sounded clearly in my ears. I frowned, contract...?
With his other hand, Shii tilted his chin up, leaning down to whisper something in his ear. I didn't catch the words, but, whatever it was, it made him stiffen, back going rigid. Shii chuckled darkly, nibbling on the other's neck.
I floated closer, seeing the trembling in my ex-little brother.
The words still made my heart ache.
He lifted an eyebrow, "Hmm? Why are you saying that like I'm a little brother or something?"
"Huh?"
"You used that tone with Ami." He murmured, holding out his hand as snow began to fall again.
I reached out as the older vampire sank glinting fangs into Matt's pale neck, earning a whimper. Then another though struck me - what was this guy doing here anyway? My fingers brushed his cheek and somehow I heard his thoughts. ...-for her. It's always her fault, that I have to fix things by making her hate me-
I pulled back my hand. Who had he meant by 'her'? Before I could touch Matt again, I was roughly yanked back into my body.
Yawning, I sleepily looking into worried saphire eyes. Relief spread across Ikuto's face, "You really freaked me out there. You...looked like you were dead..." For a few moments, I simply stared at him, organizing my thoughts. Then I bolted out the door, leaving a startled Ikuto to resume banging on the door.
XXXTADASE'S POV
A sigh escaped my lips as the sound of Amu banging on the door reached our ears again.
"Open up or I'm kicking in the door!" She shouted, and we heard the clear intention of doing so. "Amu," Keiko leaned back, peering into the hall, "Don't forget we're broke. We'd have to pay for that."
"Get out, now, Shii!"
ShikiTi and Chika looked at each other for a brief second before jumping over our heads. I whirled around, arriving beside them just as the blonde sliced the door in half with her katana. Amu shouldered past her, barging into the room. Ikuto joined us, raising an eyebrow at the broken door. I duckd beneath the upper half of the door, nearly bumping into Amu. She spun in a slow circle, examining the room. Matt was asleep on the floor, shivering uncontrolably.
"Amu-chan..." I reached out to put my hand on her shoulder, but she moved forward, crouching beside at the prone figure.
XXXAMU'S POV
Finding proof I hadn't just imagined it all, my hands balled up into fists as I angrily stared at his neck. Two little wounds adorned the pale flesh, scabbing over instead of healing like it should have. I looked around the room in frusteration. He must still be in the room. "What contract? Answer me! What the hell did you mean by contract?!"
Ikuto pulled me to my feet, "Amu, calm down. You're not thinking rationally." I shook my head vigirously, "But-"
"Hinamori Amu." The girl with the katana pulled my attention to them, "We have something to ask of you and The Tsukiyomi Child." Rima appeared beside them, a little blond kid at her side. I tensed, add the appearance of Rima and the mention of The Tsukiyomi Child and you get trouble, trouble, trouble. Rima stared at us evenly, then dropped to her knees, bowing at mine and Ikuto's feet. My eyes widened as the other two girls did the same, leaving only the small boy to stare up at us. Thought somehow it felt like I was the one staring up at him.
Rima looked at us with pleading eyes, voice desperate, "Please! Help us save Gozen-sama! We beg of you!"
TBC...
Suki: Mwahaha! No proofreading!
Yuuki:...
Suki: people, if you haven't already, go vote on our pole! The most popular OC shall get a pageful of drawing that will be posted on our DeviantArt account for all to see!
Yuuki: ... *bangs head on table* I think I'm wearing invisible slash goggles that won't come off
Suki: neheheh~ Anyways~ I have a sudden want of watching that Alice In Wonderland movie~ Eep, Mad Hatter and Cheshire Caaat~ *thinking about Pandora Hearts now* Breaku~
Yuuki: ahem, to the point
Suki: oh, right~ okay, folks, Kyuuketsuki Ichigo is barely starting and yet we're already thinking about the next Kyuuketsuki project~
Yuuki: of course, we're not gonna do another serious one, with a big plot...probably
Suki: Kyuuketsuki Drabbles is the title we're currently calling it ourselves! XD We have so many ideas, and we're gonna actually start writing the rough draft of the first chapter after we finish typing this chapter. More on that later~ Review please~
Everyone: ARIGATOU!