New Beginning

Screaming, Taka awoke in a desperate sweat. "Zero!" Her hands pressed either side of her head as the dream slowly faded. She looked around. Yes… she was still here…here in the mountains in most Northern part of ancient Japan. It had only been a two months since she'd left Cross Academy that fateful night. Two months since she'd held Zero in her arms that last night…though he'd never possessed her fully that night nor she him, she still felt as if every fiber of her body held the traces of his touch.

Ever since that early morning when she'd arisen before dawn, careful as to not arouse anyone. She'd taken care that not a single trace of her was left behind that would give any slight indication as to where she'd gone…but then, just at the window…she'd hesitated for a moment and though against her better judgment…she'd turned taking one final look at Zero who still lay sleeping, undisturbed and at peace. She'd had to bite her fist to keep the sobs subdued then without looking back, she'd escaped out the window, to the ground and all the way to the gate where Kaname awaited her.

They'd taken the long journey in silence. The black car's windows were tinted…no doubt for assurance for Kaname that she would not attempt to return. She never knew what roads they'd taken, how long the journey was or even if they were still in the same province. The latter she doubted however, for Kaname surely would not risk leaving her in the same province no matter how remote. For then, it would be much too easy for those searching for her-for no doubt, Akatsuki, Ruka and Zero would be looking for her-to discover her. After many hours…and days of traveling, they'd arrived to the secluded mountain sanctuary that Kaname had spoken of. The brethren and elders of the small village had welcomed them and at Kaname's specific instructions, she was given a modest place to stay and sufficient provisions for her comfort and need. Slowly, she was introduced to the simple life of the mountain people. Their lives were primitive but by no means lacking. Each day was devoted to the perfection of every task they pursued. And after perceiving Taka's natural ability with children, the town council assigned the village orphanage to her care. There she ministered to the young orphaned children, cared for there physical and emotional needs as well as instructing them in the tasks of daily life as well as a modest education that she volunteered to provide. This was Taka's only source of comfort; her solace and satisfaction were invested in her ministering to the children of the orphanage as well as to the people of the village. She took it upon herself to become a tool of service and wherever Taka went, comfort, encouragement and compassion were meted out at her hand. She took great pleasure in easing the pain and discomforts of those around her and in this, she also felt the ease of her own pain and sorrow.

But even in this mission of selfless mercy, her demons were not silenced. For every night when she closed her eyes, her dreams were troubled by the faces of those she'd left behind. Cross Kaien, Akatsuki, Ruka…and the rest of the Academy students; friends she'd made…dear ones whom she'd come to love and cherish as her own family. Each night these faces and voices of the familiar past plagued her dreams and though the dreams in and of themselves were pleasant, they were nightmares as they soon faded from view, awakening her and only leaving her with the torturous reality that dreams were all they were; past memories that had long since been torn from her…forever lost. She longed for inner peace…she even talked to the village priests…monks devoted to the service of Budda…but even there wise council brought her no of relief.

…There is no rest for my troubled soul… I must live with the inevitable pain and anguish…yes, even the ugliness of what I am…one cannot escape there destiny…for destiny is set on the day they are born…and there is no escaping the divine hand of fate.

Raising herself from her floor mat, she wrapped the thick rough woolen blanket about her shoulders to keep out the cold. Taking a brief perusal of the hut to check on the children (for she resided in the orphan housing along with the children and other orphanage staff), she walked out on the front veranda and looked up at the stars. The mountain sky was clear and the air refreshing and crisp. The Eastern sky was a tinted faded gold as sunrise approached. Taka's eyes gazed out to the summits of the snowcapped mountains; she sighed. The cool morning breeze whipped around her face, loosening strands of ebony curl from the secure twisted bun. She felt a light tug on her dress and looked down to see the little girl, Notti, standing at her feet. The tiny five year-old had just come to the orphanage a week before, after her parents had been killed by mountain gorilla's who'd raided their village. Notti was found hidden in a whicker chest shoved inside a small closet; no doubt her mother's first and only thought was to keep her daughter safe from the ruthless raiders. Often times they were known to raid villages, taking the women and the children…no matter how young, and raping them mercilessly. Taka shivered at the thought of how this mother must have felt. She couldn't imagine having her own child ravaged by ruthless men and now, as she gazed down at the tiny girl, rubbing her sleepy black eyes, her heart warmed. Notti had immediately taken to Taka and often times the villagers would see Taka moving about, attending to her tasks with little Notti riding on her hip. "What is it, Notti?"

"What are you doing?"

"Oh I'm just getting some fresh air, sweetheart…but you should be in bed…"

"I can't sleep…bad dreams…"

Taka's eyes filled with compassion. "Aw…well here, come sit with me." She pulled Notti up on her lap and the two sat contentedly on the veranda steps, watching the sunrise. Slowly, the village came to life as people began to move quietly about, preparing for the day. Soon after, Taka had all the children up, dressed and sitting down for breakfast. Just then, one of the Orphanage mothers came hurrying into the kitchen where Taka was presently serving up the porridge. "Taka! As soon as you are finished serving the children, I need you to come with me at once!"

Taka looked over her shoulder at the older woman. Nika was about five years older than she was, slender and willowy she stood nearly as tall as Zero and had long fine black hair that hung past her waist….but she always kept it tide back away from her face with a piece of cotton cloth. Her features were sharp and chiseled and her eyes were set widely apart. There was no particular physical beauty to this woman except her kind smile which always seemed to put everyone at ease. She took care of the younger orphanage mothers and staff and was often referred to as "Den Mother." All the younger women loved and appreciated her dearly and Taka learned a lot from observing her and working at her side. The older woman had grown particularly dependent on Taka and looked at her almost like a sister.

"Of course! What is it?"

"There are some visitors in the town, just arrived this morning….I believe they are from a southern province.

Taka's breath caught and her face paled. Had they found her? Despite Kaname's assurances that she would never be discovered, Taka always lived in slight fear that one day, Zero would come waltzing into the village in search of her. "Oh? Who are they, do you know?"

"Some foreign dignitaries I think…One of them calls himself Chang…he appears to be the head of the group. There are three others with him, two men and a younger woman. They say they are here to discuss the resent raids that have been taking place in this area of the province. Apparently, we aren't the only ones who've been hit; three other villages suffered worse than we did; all the men were killed and the villages burned to the ground."

Taka gasped. "How…terrible!"

"Yes, well it seems that four villages being attacked sequentially is finally enough to get their attention. The authorities have sent out four delegations to the various villages in an attempt to evaluate the damages and what can be done to equip the village people with means to prevent future attacks and defend themselves if need be."

"You don't seem that pleased…?"

Nika sighed frustratingly. "It's not that…it's just that….I've been here ten years, I've seen my fair share of delegations. They all come through with the same story; that they're here to help and provide the means of preventing such vicious attacks. But it never seems to have done any good…they've taken the people's petition before the board and it never goes anywhere…I'm just skeptical I suppose; I don't feel the need to hope for something that I know from experience is not very likely to come about. It's just best not to set yourself up for disappointment."

Taka nodded. "Well perhaps this time will be different…there's been talk that these raids were all conducted by the same group. Perhaps the authorities will consider that more than just a misdemeanor; the crime's been repeated by the same offender…they should be able to pick up some kind of pattern in this gorilla group's movement that will enable them to pick up a trail…"

Nika laughed. "You sound more like you know what you're talking about than they do!"

Taka shrugged mildly. "Perhaps its from when I lived in the South for nearly three years; there was much disturbance and unrest in the surrounding villages. Vicious attacks were always so prevalent. And the authorities took great care in the petitions that were brought before them…it assisted them greatly in discovering the offenders and dealing with them swiftly."

"Hmm yes…I've heard many stories about the Southern provinces…they say that there's a race of Japanese that are…different from the rest…they don't appear to act any different but there's tales of how there appearance, they way they speak…some people say its somewhat supernatural in a way…"

Taka hid a smile. She knew of whom Nika spoke of. It was her very own dear friends who were a part of this 'supernatural' race. She wondered momentarily if anyone else besides her knew that there was such a people…but then she decided that perhaps even if there were some people who knew…outside of the Hunter Association and the Vampire Order, it would seem to spectacular to believe without any proof and soon, would be dismissed as nothing more than a mere myth of ancient times. She saddened. Despite her growing affection for the people of the mountain village, she was still homesick for Cross Academy; for the students, the faculty…Cross Kaien who had invested his entire life into the ministering and direction of the school…she missed them all….but the one she missed more than anyone else…. Zero. She'd never spoken of him to anyone, not even to Nika who was her closest friend. Though most knew at least of where she'd come from, very few people knew of her reasons for leaving, or of the people she'd resided with before now. She'd kept it all a secret, holding no desire to share her innermost thoughts and feelings with anyone…for no one could truly understand her as Akatsuki, Ruka, Zero and all the rest of them had…they were her family.

"Well we must hurry and prepare the guest rooms; I believe the delegates will be abiding with us for a period of time… until they've discussed the 'terms' of the 'intervention project.'

Taka laughed at her friends over-emphasis on sarcasm. Despite her optimism, she could sympathize with Nika's doubts…for so long she herself had felt neglected, misunderstood; though her family had loved her all they could, she'd always felt like she didn't belong and that no one fully heard her cries of need…and she had all but given up hope of ever belonging to anyone or anyplace…until that day when Cross Kaien took her in. The old man had treated her with such genuine familiarity, such gentleness of spirit; she'd never imagined that she could've belonged anywhere else.