Hakumei as she was brought into Karl's room with him. She was pulled into the room forcefully and into his chest. Blushing, she closed her eyes as he closed and locked the door. With an evil smile, he pushed her up against the door and kissed her passionately. He pulled away slowly and stared down into her eyes lovingly. Taking her hands, he led her to the bed and sat down before pulling her into his lap. He stared into her eyes lustfully and smirked as he removed the rose pins from her hair; tossing them carelessly to the ground and combing his fingers through her hair.
"You look so radiant in that dress, koibito," he purred against her neck.
Hakumei shivered and placed her hands on his shoulders. She gasped as he pushed her back onto the bed and as he hovered over her menacingly.
"However," he continued, tugging at the short sleeve, "I'd much prefer seeing you without it."
A dark blush spilled over Hakumei's cheeks and she tried to push him away again.
"Iie!" she gasped, "You said if I sang with you, you wouldn't do this?"
"Iya," he retorted, "I said I wouldn't hurt our children if you sang with me. I said nothing about our lovemaking."
He moved in to kiss her again, but she pushed him away again.
"Iie!!" she fought, "I won't!! I'd rather kill myself than make love to you!!"
Karl stopped. He knew that Amshel would murder him if any harm came to her and…well, what fun would it be if his plaything was gone from his bed? With a sigh he merely bent low to kiss her and provide teasing touches to torture her. He pulled her dress down farther and tauntingly kissed her neck, thoroughly enjoying the moans and cries he received. He smirked as he pulled the dress farther down her body and left bruises that healed quickly along her pale skin. Hakumei sobbed quietly as he continued his cruel caresses. Why did he hate her so? This couldn't really be love…What had she ever done to deserve this torture? He moved back to her lips and kissed her warmly. She could still somehow remember when she dreamt of this. That time seemed so long ago now. Now, she just wanted to get away; away from this place, these people…from him. She gasped audibly as he dragged his hand up her thigh and to her hip. Her eyes shut tight as he removed the rest of the dress and tossed it to the floor. He licked his lips as he gazed down at her.
"Oh koibito," he breathed, "so beautiful…Much more so than those girls I killed back at Lycée."
He kissed her neck near her ear as he continued.
"I can't help but think back to the night when you first saw me kill," he purred, sending chills down her spine, "How heartwarming it was to watch you take blood from the masterpiece I created that night."
Hakumei wanted to speak and tell him to stop, but feared the consequences as he continued down her body; whispering such horrible and teasing words. His caresses soon became soft and almost nonexistent as her sleep deprived mind began to shut down. She didn't want to, but after a moment, her body forced her to succumb to sleep soon after.
Hakumei blearily opened her eyes as she stretched the sleep out of her limbs. Momentarily, she forgot where she was and lay completely lax. Her eyes shot open when she recalled the night before and she bolted upright, looking around the room frantically as she held the covers over her bare chest. No one was around? She felt uneasy at Karl's absence, but took the opportunity to quickly dress. She cried alone as she pulled on her handkerchief dress and slip-on shoes before Karl could return. With a sigh, she made her way downstairs to the kitchen and prepared herself a breakfast of a few rice balls, fishcakes, and California rolls—opting for sweet foods she so craved at the moment. She ate quickly, hunger driving her, as she thought back on her days at school. Talking to Diva about it really made her want to revisit the place—even if it did mean seeing Anna Marie and Ms. Lee again. Smiling, she made a silent promise to give the old bat a big hug if she ever saw her again. Standing, she walked over to the sink and began cleaning the dishes she'd used. Diva walked in, having been looking for her and smiled at the sight.
"Imoutosan!" she cried as she walked in, "I slept so well last night after you sang me to sleep. We must do that every night now!"
"Sounds great," Hakumei forced a smile.
'Yeah, 'great',' she growled internally, 'What would be 'great' is if I could shove these chopsticks up you—'
"So Imoutosan," Diva continued, interrupting her train of though, "Aren't you ready yet?"
"Ready?" Hakumei asked, "For what?"
"Nani?" Diva asked, "Karl didn't tell you?"
Hakumei shook her head.
"Amshel wants to see us at the labs," Diva explained, causing Hakumei's heart to plummet, "Oh! And he wants us to sing and he's going to record it onto a video tape! So I want you to wear one of your pretty new dresses!"
Hakumei sighed. "Alright," she shrugged, following Diva upstairs.
Diva picked out the white gown with a spilt down the middle of the skirt and the veil underneath. Hakumei shrugged at her choice and walked into the bathroom to change. She dressed quickly—she had no desire of angering Amshel—and then walked out to find Nathan again. Sighing again, she walked over to the vanity to let him style her hair again.
"Just like last night," Diva instructed before adding, "Please."
She wanted Nathan to do a good job just like the night before and using such manners was a good way to get to him. So Nathan set to work, but instead of using rose pins in her hair, he used actual blue roses so that the stem would curl along with her hair style.
"Oh you look just like a doll!" Diva exclaimed, "And after we get back, I'll have a tape of my pretty doll singing! How fun!!"
Hakumei blushed and rolled her eyes. She stood and followed them out of Diva's room. Nathan bade them a fond farewell and waved them off. Hakumei vaguely wondered where Karl was, but left it from her mind as she sat next to Diva across from Amshel. She stared out the window to avoid glaring at him and watched as the mansion shrank into the distance as she was taken away again.
"Diva," Hakumei heard Amshel begin, "Why exactly is she dressed that way?"
"Well you're filming this ne?" Diva asked.
Amshel nodded.
"Well, it's because I want her to look her best when she sings in front of an audience and so she can look like a doll when I watch the tape," Diva explains.
"Excellent idea, Diva," Amshel nodded with a smile.
'Lap dog…' Hakumei hissed in her mind as she rolled her eyes and looked away.
"So Amshel," Diva spoke up, "When will we get back?"
"It will be much later tonight," Amshel replied, "It will take a long time to finish up the tests we're planning to perform."
Hakumei shivered at the word 'tests', but otherwise stared out the window; hoping the day would pass quickly.
"I don't believe I understand, Amshel," Van shook his head, "Why exactly are we performing zeese tests?"
He watched with Amshel as Hakumei sang Diva's song. He was truthfully bored to pieces, but had held his tongue until now.
"I've discovered how to make Diva's voice control Chiropterans and trigger mutation once humans have been introduced to the D67 substance," he explained, "We are having her sing Diva's song to everyone in the lab to see if her voice has the same effect."
"Does it?" Van asked.
Amshel glared as he stared at the human who was in the room with her. The human there had ingested the D67 substance and, had his calculations been correct, they'd have transformed by now…
"Iie," he reached forward and pressed a button to turn on the intercom, "Stop."
Hakumei did as he ordered and stared down, waiting for further instructions. She started when she heard a door swish open and watched Amshel and Diva walk in. They stopped in front of her.
"I'm afraid that," Amshel began, "For these next few tests we'll need you to drink some of Diva's blood. It will help combine your voice with Diva's."
He turned to his queen and held out his hand. In the other, he held a sharp knife.
"Would you rather do the honors, my queen?" he asked with a bow.
Diva shrugged and took the knife. She held it threateningly over her hand before slicing a deep cut into her palm. She held her hand up to Hakumei.
"Quickly imoutosan," she giggled, "before it heals up."
Hakumei shuddered, but sighed and took Diva's hand. She latched her lips around the healing wound and lapped at the blood before pulling away and swallowing with a grimace.
"Will that do?" Diva asked, turning to Amshel.
Amshel nodded and led Diva out again.
"I will let you know when to start singing again," he instructed before closing the door again and leaving her alone with the human.
"And vat will zis do?" Van asked as Amshel returned.
"We're going to see if we can duplicate Diva's voice," Amshel replied before pressing the button on the intercom, "Go on and sing again. However, this time, use Diva's vocal cords."
With difficulty, Hakumei did as he asked, but, again, it had no effect on the person with D67 in them. Amshel sighed as he saw that it was Diva's song and blood alone that can control and mutate humans into Chiropterans. With a sigh, he turned on the intercom again.
"You are free to go," he sighed, "Diva will meet you outside the room you're in and one of the employees will escort you to the helicopter to take you both home…"
Hakumei nodded and ran off. Amshel had already given Diva the first taped recording—not that he even needed the second—and was content with continuing his research while they went home.
Hakumei stared at the mansion in wonder. She'd never seen the outside of it at night, nor had she ever seen the moon so bright and brilliant in the sky.
"Imoutosan!" Diva giggled, taking her hands, "Since the moon's making it so bright out, why don't we play hide-n-seek?"
"Demu…" Hakumei held up her dress a little, "I might ruin the dress Nathan bought me…
"Just hold it up as you walk through the trees," Diva retorted, "You'll be fine."
Hakumei lamented; there was no way she was getting out of it anyway—why fight a losing battle?—and began counting to ten as Diva ran off to hide. After she reached 'ten', Hakumei started looking. The snapping of a twig behind her sent panic striking through her body—was someone behind her? Picking up her skirt, she started running. Her hair fell loose from the style Nathan had it at and the roses fell to the ground; forgotten.
"Diva!!" she cried, "I give up!! Where are you?!"
"Oh Imoutosan!!" Diva laughed, "That's no fun!! You must find me!!"
"Onegai!" Hakumei cried, "Please just come out!"
'Ohohhohhohhoh
ahhahahahah
Ahhahahahhahahahohahahahh
Bahllah tiise oh rekaih ahlemolmo
Eamoe strohhoh al me ato
Eamoe stravaying boltu
Bahhllah tiise ahh rekaih al demore ma
Ah mi so-ahhahhahahahahahahh bahllah demore ma la'
Diva began singing instead of answering again. Hakumei followed blindly through the dark. As the song grew dark and tormenting, she slowed and warily turned to see if anyone was following her. Her eyes widened considerably when she saw Karl down the path, smirking sinisterly at her. Hakumei ran as fast as she could, only to have him appear before her. She stepped back in fear; the horrid thought that he might rape her flashing through her tortured mind as he approached.
"Karl!" Diva scoffed as she wandered out from her hiding spot, "How could you ruin our fun like that?"
"Summimasen, Diva," Karl replied with a bow, "I simply desired to hear you both sing.
"That's a wonderful idea!" Diva clapped her hands together and walked up to Hakumei, "We've never sang in the moonlight. Please!"
"I-Iie!" Hakumei shook her head.
"Please?!" Diva gave her a pitiful look.
'Come on stupid—think!' Hakumei yelled in her mind.
"I-Iie, Diva," she replied, shaking her hands in front of her before holding her stomach, "I'm really hungry. I haven't eaten since this morning and you know how bad that is for my—" she stopped herself and knew she'd slit her throat for this later, but added as leverage, "mine and…Karl-chan's babies…"
Diva pouted, but agreed with a sigh.
"I suppose that would be bad…" she shrugged, "Alright then. I'll see you later then for when you sing me to sleep and sing my song when you do okay?"
Hakumei rolled her eyes and glared after her before walking away. Karl followed close behind, taunting her.
"I'm glad to see you're finally embracing our love, koibito," he laughed as he stopped her and pulled her to him for a kiss.
Hakumei wriggled in his grasp and pushed away forcefully, finally succeeding in escaping, before picking up her skirt and racing to the house. As she ran in, she nearly bowled over Nathan, who was waiting to prepare her a meal. She glanced back after hugging Nathan tight to find that Karl had gone; possibly having receded into the shadows of the night.
A/N: Japanese translations;
Summimasen: Sorry/ I apologize.
