Chapter Thirty-Four – The Final Fight

"John? John!" A new voice called. John's eyes snapped open and he stumbled forwards, a strong pair of arms catching him from the front. A familiar woody scent filled his senses as he looked up into a set of concerned chocolate eyes. John shuddered, feeling sick to his stomach as he regained his balance. "John! What happened?" Ichijou's concerned voice asked, the taller boy flinching at the gentle touch on his shoulder.

"I…" John stammered, unsure what he should say. He really had no explanation. They were in the corridor, exactly where he'd thought they were before. The door to the classroom was open, exactly as he'd imagined, only now Lin was standing before him supporting his weight against his tall lithe body. John stood straight and stepped out of Lin's grasp, his mouth suddenly feeling very dry. "I was…" John tried again, unable to get the words out. Did that…really happen?

"You just froze…I was calling to you." Ichijou said worriedly as he stepped to John's side, watching the younger teen's eyes widen. It was all in my head? He wondered as he looked down at his hands. The red burns were fading, but still present. So I was here the whole time? It seemed so real…

"Come inside." Lin instructed as he watched John's expression darken. He led the boy inside by the wrist and sat him on a chair behind one of the front desks. His eyes were going glassy. "John. What did you see?" Lin asked firmly, examining John with gentle hands. He didn't seem to be physically injured, but something had clearly happened to unsettle the teen.

"I was outside the door, and then…I was…" John trailed off, unable to bring himself to confess it. If it was real in some way then I really…He thought shamefully, sickened by the desire that flooded him with the memory. Ichijou laid a gentle hand on his back as he watched John double over and cover his mouth with both hands. I don't feel so good…John thought as bile rose in his throat. It felt like everything was wrong and nothing was wrong at the same time. Farringdon was a sickening being. He'd hunted John's family for generations, and was responsible for countless deaths, including John's wife. On the other hand, the silver haired man was his sire. A large part of John ached to be close to him and satisfy his every whim. I really want to cut that part out!

"Farringdon? What did he do?" Ichijou asked gently, picking up the name from John's scattered thoughts. He started as John clutched his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Stop it! Don't look at it! Get out of my head! He shrieked inwardly, trying to think of anything else as he realised Ichijou was trying to pry his mind open. Lin held an arm out and shook his head as Ichijou made to step forward. John's eyes snapped open as he felt two warm fingers rest on his forehead.

"Don't worry, I just want to examine you." The older man murmured as he leaned a little closer. John tried not to flinch as the tall man drew nearer. He wasn't used to being this close to the stoic man. He gasped as he felt something brush his cheek like fuzzy static. He realised quickly it was one of Lin's Shiki. Lin hummed lightly as he drew back and looked at Ichijou. "His mind was definitely assaulted, I can feel the energy left behind." He reported, not missing the way John's cheeks paled at the news. "You had contact with him?" Lin asked as he turned his attention back to John, cradling his cheeks and looking deep into his blue eyes. John tried to avert his gaze, but with Lin's face so close that wasn't really an option. He nodded silently, biting his lip.

"It was so real…I was in the corridor one moment and then I was suddenly…s-somewhere else." John murmured, almost flinching as Lin asked for more details about the location. "I-It was a…bed room…" The blonde trailed off, looking down at his knees as Lin released him. He could feel Ichijou's gentle eyes boring into him. "I haven't seen it before. It was a large room with a high ceiling, minimal furniture, a four poster bed…It could have been a hotel room I suppose." He murmured quietly.

"Why do you say that?" Lin asked curiously.

"I don't know…It just didn't feel lived in." The blonde replied as he chanced a glance at Lin. The ebony haired man looked stoic as ever, his expression almost thoughtful as he listened to John without reproach. He didn't seemed to notice the exorcist's vulnerable gaze as he thought.

"It would make sense. There are rooms available to rent in town." Ichijou added, knowing a few possibilities. He sighed lightly, troubled by this transgression. He knew purebloods were powerful, but to use powers over such a distance was surely difficult. He chanced laying a hand on John's shoulder, squeezing assuringly as the teen didn't shrug him off. He was grateful for that.

"I'll place a protective barrier in your mind…It should be enough to block any future invasion." Lin decided, pressing his long fingers to John's temples as he focused. John didn't feel a thing as Lin focused, though he knew something must be happening as the older man's breathing became a little uneven. He reached out as Lin almost stumbled back. "I'm alright. The barrier is in place." He added as he tried not to seem too fatigued.

"You shouldn't push your body so much…You have limits." Ichijou chided lightly, his perceptive gaze and senses reading the human's increasing weakness. The Shiki were slowly feeding on his life force, and he was using a lot of energy with his different protective spells and experiments. On top of that he was working long hours with little sleep or food. He was also suffering a lot of emotional strain, seeing so many of his friends suffer. "You'll be no use to anyone if you collapse." The blonde added.

"Ah! Lin! We were actually looking for you." John recalled, telling the warlock about his problem. Lin agreed to look into it, though he'd never really dabbled in Christianity before. He was unsure whether his spells would have an effect on relics of faith. If Takigawa was able to make a difference as John said then perhaps a more powerful spell would strengthen that…

"Are you ready?" Naru asked quietly as they waited on the wide field on the edge of the school grounds. Mai shivered lightly, wishing she'd thought to bring a jacket, though she was likely more nervous than cold. She could sense the others, who were waiting in the dorm for now. Lin and Cross were in the main building, where Ayako and Masako were waiting in the event of any casualties.

"Not really…" Mai trailed off nervously, watching Naru's expression soften at the confession. He was doing a good job of hiding his own nerves. He had to be feeling it. It was no small thing, coming face to face with the man who'd murdered his brother. He didn't even know why. Did Gene get in the way of one of his plans? Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time? Was he helping one of his enemies? The psychic wondered. There'd clearly been some dislike there.

He's coming. Kaname reported, the voice sounding in his head. Naru took a breath and looked across at Mai, who had turned a shade paler at the news. Within moments Naru could sense it too, the overwhelming presence of a pureblood heading their way. He was moving faster than a human, but at the same time he didn't seem hurried. Does he know? Has he sensed it?

"Good evening." Farringdon's voice greeted with its usual cool tone. He was dressed in his usual velvet frockcoat, cane in hand as he strolled the last few feet towards them. Mai shivered as she watched him, unable to quash the rush of adoration she felt for the silver haired man. Part of her yearned to run into his arms while the other part was frozen solid with fear. "I came to collect my children." He added as he held a hand out to Mai, who could barely stop her feet from moving.

"You can't have her!" Naru objected as he stepped in front of Mai, though he didn't release his powers yet. Mai's legs shook with the effort to remain where she was. She could feel her heart pounding, waves of longing crashing through her as Farringdon looked at her. She was only able to resist due to Kaname's influence and whatever protection Lin had placed in her mind earlier. "I'll fight you." The ebony haired teen added, watching Farringdon's lips quirk in amusement.

"I see…Young Kuran made a good choice in turning you…Your powers are much stronger now, but I wonder…" The noble trailed off, watching the teens edging back. Naru and Mai slowly backed off in opposite directions. The noble took a step forward for each one they retreated until they formed a neat triangle. Naru summoned his powers as Farringdon stepped exactly where he wanted him.

"Now!" Naru shouted, both he and Mai lighting the ground at his feet with green energy. The noble was surprised but unconcerned as the green light flared within the grass and lit up a circle of Chinese symbols around his feet. His eyes widened a fraction as he felt some sort of static bubble form around his body. He raised a hand, flinching back from the barrier. What is this? He wondered as he felt his energy being sapped. Within the school Lin began his chants, closing his eyes to focus his energy. Naru focused his powers and launched them, green energy slamming the pure blood's chest.

"I should have killed you on the roof." The lord murmured resentfully as he caught the energy with his hand and held it back. His eyes widened as he felt a second wave of energy hit him from behind, turning to find that Mai had sneaked around. He held her energy back, gritting his teeth as he focused on breaking through her mind. Her powers weakened as he focused.

"I won't let you!" A new voice objected, the lord's eyes widening as Mai's body was obscured from view by a second presence. Gene took over, focusing his powers and forcing Farringdon to retreat. The noble scowled in displeasure as he threw off the waves of green. Naru dropped to one knee, a hand resting on his chest as he gasped for breath. He flinched and closed his eyes as a wave of dark red energy flew towards him.

"Hey! Where are you looking?" Aido's voice cried, the ebony haired teen covering his face with his arm as a wall of fire erupted from the ground in front of him. The strawberry blonde dove over his head and sent a stream of fire coiling around the noble, who would have moved if it weren't for the binding spell and the ice that currently clamped his feet to the ground. Naru stood as a firm hand landed on his shoulder.

"You're still thinking like a human." Kaname chided as Naru got to his feet, though he wasn't reproachful. Naru nodded his agreement as he evened out his breathing. He's right, I'm letting my human instincts take over. A gunshot ran out. Farringdon clutched his shoulder as blood poured from the wound. Zero dodged behind Kain as a coil of red swatted his side.

"All of you! Freeze!" Farringdon ordered, though it was difficult to make himself heard through Lin's spell. Zero, Kain and Aido froze, but Kaname was still free to do as he pleased. The lord roared as Ichijou landed a solid kick from behind. He blocked Shiki's blood vine, and tossed Rima aside as she fell upon him from above. Kaname sent a wave of red that tangled with his own powers. Kaname's attack surged forward as Seiren's kick distracted the noble. She was swiftly tossed aside as Farringdon returned his attention to Kaname.

"Kazuya!" Kaname ordered, the ebony haired teen nodding as he focused. Mai and Naru both used their powers, the two waves of green keeping the noble trapped in place. Kaname bit his lip as he looked up. John gritted his teeth as he fell towards the noble, tossing three of his silver daggers as he did so. Farringdon couldn't stop the silver blades as they impale him, one in the top of his spine and two in his shoulders. John turned his body, his heel landing on one of Farringdon's shoulders, pushing the short blade deeper.

"John!" The noble roared as he turned to the blonde, who had landed in a crouch. John cried out as he pushed himself up, punching the pure blood's jaw and leaving cross shaped burns on his pale skin. "Stop!" The noble ordered, barely able to hold back the green energy with his powers. His words were stronger for John since he was closer, and the hunter froze, his fist trapped mid swing.

"Bastard!" John cursed, unable to push or pull his fist free from Farringdon's orders. He shivered in need and disgust as Farringdon reached up and stroked his pale cheek. He crimson eyes were almost soft as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around John's smaller frame. John's blue eyes widened as he felt the noble lean down to his throat. I can't…

"John! Now!" Kaname ordered, his voice cutting through John's panic. John cried out as he used his free hand to draw a new blade from his belt and thrust upwards. Farringdon cried out as the sharp tip broke the skin of his chest and sank in. The blonde forced him back, pushing the knife as he walked a few steps and fell upon the pureblood's chest. He ended up straddling the noble on the ground, watching with wide eyes as blood began to pool around the taller man's body.

John froze, his hands shaking as he held the blade. I-I…did it…He thought, his heart racing as he stared down. Farringdon choked as he stared up at John with startled eyes, which were slowly losing their crimson hue. His hand shook as he raised it and pressed it to John's pale cheek, the teen's blue eyes wide as his other hand rose to rest on John's.

"Drink from me." The noble rasped weakly. John was unable to stop himself from obeying. He released the dagger and raised the noble's hand to his lips. Farringdon's blood was like nothing he'd ever tasted. It was as thick and rich as Kaname's, but there was something else, something more emotional. John felt complete as he drank, opening his eyes to find Mai drinking from the noble's throat.

"Why did you…" John trailed off as he drew back, the noble's life force slowly fading. If you hadn't let us drink, if you'd turned to dust before we could…John shuddered at the thought of what would have happened. Within the next couple of months he and Mai would have dropped to level E and gone mad with blood lust. They would have died horrible deaths at the hands of their friends.

"I waited…so long…My love…" Farringdon choked as he reach up, his eyes unfocused as he cupped John's cheek. John's cobalt eyes widened before softening. He could already feel the body beneath him shrinking as it faded. "Waited…for me…" The noble rasped, his eyes filled with a love and adoration John hadn't known he was capable of. He took the hand tightly.

"Of course I waited." John replied, unable to stop the sob rising in his throat. Farringdon looked so content as he smiled warmly. "Rest now…We'll go together…" He added softly, watching as Farringdon's eyes slid shut. The hand he was holding slowly faded in his grasp, ash slipping through his fingers and drifting on the breeze.

"John!" Ichijou cried, the blonde unable to move as the gentle vampire dove against his chest and held him tightly. Is it…over? John wondered, feeling strangely hollow as Ichijou clung to him tightly. It seemed so easy. Almost too easy. "John?" Ichijou murmured as he drew back to look at John's still stunned expression. He cupped John's cheeks and looked into his dark blue eyes.

"I…I…" John trailed off hopelessly, looking down at the pile of dust and the remains of Farringdon's fine suit. How can it be so simple? After all those years, all those scrapes with death, and now…"I don't know…" He added, letting himself succumb to Ichijou's warm lips on his. Even that seemed strangely hollow and distant. Ichijou drew back, seeming troubled.

"John, it's over now. He's gone." Ichijou assured, watching as the blonde nodded his acknowledgement. Without a word John reached into his jacket and pulled out a vial, bottling some of the grey ash they were kneeling in. Despite everything, or perhaps because of everything, he'd be sure to return that vial to its rightful place. I can finally go home…