Tokyo, Japan, 2010.
I kept staring at the girl who was smirking at me. She started speaking.
"Damn...you certainly don't talk much, do you," the girl stated calmly.
"Identify yourself or I will consider you hostile," I demanded coldly and the girl held up her hands mockingly.
"Very well then, tall, dark, and mysterious...my name is Mei Rei and may I inquire the name of the one who eliminated dozens of vampires?" Mei inquired curiously.
"It's David Temple...why are you watching us? I caught your scent the other day when we were escaping those Student Council Executives so why are you watching us?" I interrogated.
"Heh...I guess you could say you caught my interest, Temple-san. You show up out of nowhere in this country and wound up in the employment of the Princess but I can't find any records on you...you are such an enigma and it interests me," Mei admitted with a feline grin but I stared back stoically.
"Why are you here?" I questioned.
"Tell me something...you are the Princess' new personal guard...HUNK, am I right?" Mei asked and I tensed up.
"That's classified information so you're not supposed to know that. Who are you and who do you work for?" I interrogated with a sharp glare while I itched to change form and eliminate Mei for knowing classified information.
"I'm a servant of the royal family who's been sworn to protect the true blood lineage of vampires," Mei explained.
"The Princess didn't notify me about you and you're not with the Earth Clan...you smell similar but you're feline in nature so what are you?" I inquired.
"You're sharp, cold, calculated, ruthless, and a highly trained elite soldier who always puts the mission above everything else? It's no wonder why the Princess chose you...for your information, I'm a werecat and as for the Princess not notifying you about me, what do you really know about the Princess? She's got you fooled. Remember that first day when she hired you? All of that chaos was a part of her plan. She was attempting to lure out the people who were trying to kill her and test your loyalty to her...she mobilized an entire battalion of troops just to make sure you three were protected. Crazy, huh? I thought it was sweet how you and Akira fought so desperately to keep her safe, thinking you two were the only ones who could protect her from harm. Sorry kiddo, but you and Akira don't know anything. Not about the Vampire Bund, or about your beloved Princess...she isn't the sweet, innocent girl Akira think she is," Mei stated as she took out a piece of candy and crunched it with her sharp teeth.
"Whatever the Princess' reasons are is her business. It's not my duty to question her," I stated stoically and Mei threw her head back so that she could laugh.
"Oh, Kami...you are still so damn loyal even when the cold hard facts are thrown in your face...you're like a dog doing whatever your master wants you to do so that you can get a bone. Why don't you ask the Princess what your purpose really is," Mei challenged me as a helicopter flew nearby.
Mei winked at me and she used her inhuman speed to vanish from the desk she was crouched on, leaving me to my thoughts. Soon, I caught Akira's scent nearby.
"You can come out, Akira," I announced and Akira hesitantly came out with a look of uncertainty on his face.
"Is it true? The Princess wouldn't lie to us, would she?" Akira wondered thoughtfully.
"It's not our job to question the Princess, Akira. Let's move out," I ordered and we started to head back home, but I caught a look of doubt on Akira's face as we headed back to the Bund.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you see her. She refusing visitors...the Princess is very tired and she needs her rest. I can't allow anyone inside, not even you two," Vera refused as we stood in front of Mina's room.
"I have to talk to her. Please, it's really important," Akira insisted but Vera shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but you have to leave now," Vera repeated stubbornly.
"Understood, Ma'am," I said calmly and I nudged Akira in the opposite direction so that we could leave.
While we were walking, I saw the look of frustration on Akira's face. We stopped when we heard the maids chatting nearby. While we listened in, Akira's eyes narrowed in confusion and he wondered, "A little boy?"
Once we were done listening, we headed to the elevator and used it to find this little boy that was mentioned. We arrived on the floor we were looking for and found the guestroom that supposedly held the kid inside. Akira opened the doors and we spotted a boy that was sitting on the bed and crying, prompting us to approach. Akira knelt down in front of him.
"What's wrong?" Akira asked in concern.
"That strange lady took me and brought me here," the kid gasped while he was sobbing.
"Can you tell me what your name is?" Akira inquired gently while I stood nearby.
"Shinya Mizoguchi," Shinya whimpered and Akira widened his eyes.
"Mizoguchi?" Akira muttered in surprise.
"My Tou-chan is Koichi Mizoguchi and my Jiji is Katsuichi Mizoguchi," Shinya informed us.
"The Prime Minister?" Akira wondered in shock.
"My neck hurts bad," Shinya complained and I noticed a bandage that was on his neck.
"Would it be alright if I took a look at it?" Akira asked and the kid nodded.
Akira went over to gently peel the bandage off and he looked in horror when he saw two puncture wounds that were on Shinya's neck.
"I want to go home," Shinya begged and Akira hugged him gently while I started to think about what had changed me into the cold and ruthless mercenary I am now. I was briefly flooded with memories of me as a child, begging and pleading for anyone to help me after being left to die in that Godforsaken basement for days and covered in the blood of two people I loved.
Time passed until it was daylight and Akira and I went to school to try and take our minds off what we had seen, but Akira wanted to interrogate Mina once we had free time. As we walked to the classroom, and I heard the sounds of desks crashing around which prompted us to rush inside to see Yuki about to be attacked by the kid that thanked Mina yesterday. I caught a whiff that his scent had changed into a vampire as Akira and I rushed forward with our inhuman speed. I restrained him in a chokehold and Akira grabbed the kid's wrist before he could shred Yuki apart with his new claws.
"Oh Kami...Hiko," Akira breathed out in a combination of shock, horror, and disbelief.
"You and your American friend should let go Akira...I really don't want to have to hurt you both. You've always been so nice to me and David-san never bullied me," Hiko warned menacingly.
"Fucking hell! Why did you do this, Hiko?! Don't you realize what it means to become a vampire?!" Akira questioned incredulously and Hiko freed his wrist while slamming the back of his head into my face, forcing me to let go.
"It means I'm more powerful than you and your American friend!" Hiko declared insanely as he charged at Akira with the intention of impaling his side.
Akira weaved out of the way and smashed his elbow into Hiko's face, breaking a fang and grabbing him so that he could pin him down, face first on a desk which caused Hiko to yelp in pain.
"My fang...I lost my fang!" Hiko screamed in agony while he struggled.
"Why Hiko? Why did you become a vampire?" Akira asked softly.
"Akira..." Hiko whimpered brokenly as Akira let him go.
"I know you had a hard time with bullies so I can understand why you wanted power...but still, this wasn't the way to go about it. Who turned you into a vampire, Hiko? It's very important that you tell me. Who is your master?" Akira inquired firmly.
"Master...sorry!" Hiko apologized and suddenly bolted out of the classroom before I could stop him.
"Hiko!" Akira called out as we went to pursue him but Mina's limo pulling up outside caught our attention.
After looking for Hiko, we couldn't track him down and decided to go see Mina. Akira and I entered the office and saw Mina adjusting her hair.
"You sure seem happy," Akira pointed out as we entered and Mina perked up when she noticed us.
"Akira, David, good news! We finally struck a deal with the Prime Minister. We're going to be making the announcement later tonight," Mina informed us cheerfully but Akira scowled.
"Well...good for you," Akira said lowly with a hard glare, causing Mina to look at him in confusion.
"Is there something wrong? You seem awfully cranky today," Mina wondered.
"There are vampires in the school. They were able to sneak in somehow and now they are feeding on the human students. Did you know about this?" Akira interrogated and he scoffed when he saw Mina looking hesitant.
"Of course you did...so then you know what happened to Nanami too," Akira said bitterly.
"While I received a report about it, I suppose I should've been on top of the matter but I had pressing business matters to be attended to," Mina stated as she stopped admiring herself in the mirror.
"You had pressing business matters, huh? You mean like using a kid to blackmail the entire country?" Akira accused and Mina stopped heading to her desk as the temperature in the room became cold from tension.
"How do you know about that?" Mina inquired stoically.
"Because David and I met him," Akira stated.
"The future of the Bund is in jeopardy because of Mizoguchi...I have to use any means necessary," Mina said coldly and Akira looked pissed at that statement.
"But he's just a kid! Don't you think you are taking this a bit too far by crossing a line, Princess?!" Akira protested and Mina whipped her head around to shoot him a vicious glare.
"How dare you question my motives! You wouldn't understand, Akira! The fate of the Vampire Kingdom rests on my shoulders...I will use whatever tactics I see fit to achieve my goal! That is the duty of a policy maker! You are a child who is unable to understand the intricacies of politics so stay out of it!" Mina reprimanded harshly which caused Akira to flinch.
"Princess...at least tell me one thing. That day? The day you came to the school to find me? It wasn't because you wanted to see me, was it?" Akira accused darkly.
"Why should I answer since you won't believe me anyway," Mina stated lowly and Akira huffed.
"You are a kid...you are an entitled brat. I'll bet that promise we made doesn't mean a thing to you...I should've known," Akira scoffed bitterly and I caught a hint of hurt cross Mina's eyes for a second.
"I'm finished talking to you, Akira. Would you and David please leave?" Mina suggested stoically.
"If I may Princess...is it alright if I talk to you about something? With your permission, of course," I asked calmly and Mina sighed in irritation.
"Very well David...I might as well hear what you have to say," Mina reluctantly agreed and Akira stormed out of the office while I clasped my hands together on my belt and stood at attention.
"So, have you decided to give me a lecture or are you going to question my motives too?" Mina inquired bitterly.
"Negative Ma'am...I just wanted to ask you something if it was alright with you," I stated and Mina huffed.
"Fine. What do you wish to know?" Mina asked as she sat down at her desk.
"The day you hired me...why did you make me your personal guard? And I'm only asking out of curiosity," I wondered as Mei's words ran through my mind.
"David...I'm tired. I'm tired of a lot of things...and I guess the reason why I hired you is that I saw potential in you that could be molded into something extraordinary. You are the last of your breed in the Earth Clan and I'll admit I wanted to use you for my own ambitions at first...but now I see you as someone who's irreplaceable and it would be a great shame if something were to happen to you under my employment...is that what you wanted to hear?" Mina inquired.
"Yes Ma'am...my apologizes if I was questioning your motives. I just wanted to know where I stand in your employment...I'll leave you to your thoughts," I said crisply as I nodded and I left the office.
I tracked Akira down outside in the pouring rain and saw him looking angry while he was staring up at the sky.
"I can't trust her...I wanted to believe you, Princess!" Akira shouted and when he saw me, a sour expression appeared.
"What the hell do you want? Did the Princess send you to make sure I behave like some lowly dog? Sounds like her," Akira spat out.
"You were being out of line in there...the Princess has her reasons and it is not our duty to question her motives," I lectured firmly and Akira chuckled bitterly.
"Yeah...that's what I expected from you David..."putting the mission before everything"...how do you live with yourself, following orders and not caring if people die?" Akira inquired lowly.
"I follow orders and do my job with utmost efficiency...I can't afford to get attached to anyone in my unit if they won't be strong enough to survive. The strong survive and the weak die...that's how things are in this world and it's how it always will be," I stated coldly and Akira looked at me in anger.
"So you don't give a shit about what had happened to that kid?! You know what I think...I think there is something so broken inside of you that you don't care about anyone but yourself," Akira retorted and I reacted by grabbing him by his neck and slamming him to the ground, making him choke as my eyes started glowing gold and I formed fur, claws, and paw-pads on my arms and hands.
Akira retaliated by kicking me off and he stood up to show dominance with a glare, his hands and arms also changing as we circled each other with soft inhuman growls and baring our sharp teeth. I rushed forward and started performing rapid strikes and slashes which forced Akira to go on the defensive by barely dodging and getting hit a few times. Akira threw a punch and I blocked it, clocking him hard across the face with a haymaker and jumping up to knock him to the ground with a mid-air kick. Akira snarled ferally as he took off his clothes and shifted into his wolf-man form, prompting me to do the same and we used our inhuman speed to try and gain an advantage over each other. I blocked and deflected punches, swipes, and kicks as I hit Akira with many combat techniques, one sending him smashing into a wall which caused a crater to form and Akira roared in frustration as he shifted into his full wolf form to charge at me with rage. I also changed into my full wolf form as we lunged and tackled each other to the ground, rolling around while everything turned into a frenzy of sharp teeth and claws as we swiped and bit at each other. I eventually pinned Akira to the ground with a paw on his side.
I clamped my jaws on his throat and he snarled at me defiantly, but a little pressure made him yelp in pain and he showed submission by lowering his ears and his tail went between his hind legs while he started whimpering and rolling onto his back to accept defeat. Satisfied, I let go and padded over to my now soaking clothes, shifting back to my human form and putting them back on as Akira did the same thing.
"There's one thing you need to learn, Akira. People like me...we don't have luxuries like you do...we live in a world full of blood, death, darkness, and despair, and we are sometimes so deep in that world of darkness and pain that taking lives for chump change is all we are ever good for..." I trailed off quietly with a dark expression.
Akira didn't say anything as we went back inside and headed to the classroom, opening the door to see Yuki, Ryohei, and that long-haired kid as they looked at us.
"Akira, David," Yuki greeted in surprise while Ryohei glared at us unpleasantly.
"What the fuck do you two want?" Ryohei inquired with a sour expression.
"We need you to help us," Akira stated.
"Help you do what?" the long-haired kid asked.
"Find and kill every vampire who's hiding in our school," Akira clarified coldly as thunder sounded out.
The plan was simple...Akira would go out and get as many weapons as he could carry while I made sure the humans stayed inside the chapel that was near the school. At first, the other students were completely against having me with them since in their eyes, I was nothing more than an American that caused too much trouble, but a look from me shut them up pretty quick and they reluctantly agreed.
"Before she went missing, Nanami wanted to make sure that the students of our school were able to protect themselves. That's why we've gathered here this afternoon," the long-haired kid announced while the small crowd looked at us.
"We'd like to thank you for your help with this, Sister Laura," Ryohei complimented the Nun who was standing nearby.
"It's my duty to protect you not only as your Sensei but also as a servant of our Lord," Sister Laura stated humbly and Ryohei nodded in gratitude.
"Okay, so here's the plan. Our first step is figuring out which students at our school have become vampires. We can't fight until we know what we are dealing with," the long-haired kid stated.
"But how are going to be able to tell who's a vampire?" a female student inquired.
"Yeah...it's not like we will be able to tell by looking at them," another female student agreed.
"There is one way to find out," Ryohei said which caused the crowd to mutter.
"Tomorrow, we're going to hold a schoolwide assembly out on the lawn. As most of you know, vampires and sunlight don't mix so anyone who's a vampire won't be able to come to the assembly," the long-haired kid informed the crowd.
"But isn't there some kind of lotion they can put on?" a female student asked in confusion.
"We already got that covered...David," Ryohei gave me the go ahead.
"The shade gel the enemy uses to protect themselves from the sun loses its effects after fifteen minutes of direct exposure. In this case, it won't help them. One more thing...the enemy has inhuman strength so don't let them grab you, or your ass is grass. Make sure to kill them either by decapitation or perforation of the heart," I warned stoically as I walked forward and people whispered.
"Akira and David came to us asking for help in fighting the vampires...they are on our side. Don't worry," the kid with long-hair reassured as he put a hand on my shoulder.
"A vampire's blood has a distinct scent and I have a fierce sense of smell...I can identify the enemy easily," I notified and the students looked at me in surprise and wonder.
"And there you have it. While we are on the subject, you don't smell any vampires in here, do you?" the kid with long-hair asked.
"No...I haven't caught a whiff of any enemy contact so we're good. The best tactical option is to stay here tonight and hold position at all costs...and the first thing that needs to happen is that no one opens the front door for any reason until Akira comes back," I instructed calmly.
"Why?" Ryohei asked in confusion.
"The enemy is very clever and they will use every dirty tactic to either get us to open the doors or try and smoke us out...even using humans as bait. So when I say those doors stay closed no matter what, I mean it because the last thing anyone in here needs is someone doing something stupid and compromising the building. Sister Laura, this building is defensible, correct?" I asked.
"Oh...well, the chapel's windows have shutters and there is an emergency generator. Yes, I think so," Sister Laura agreed.
"Copy that. Everyone set up defenses because it could be a long wait until Akira gets back," I instructed and everyone nodded.
"So, anyone who doesn't show up tomorrow is a vampire. Once we identify them, we'll take action. We won't let these vampires take over our school. You with me?!" Ryohei inquired.
"Hai!" the crowd agreed and we got started on making the building more secure by blocking places the vampires could get in but also planning for an escape if things turn into a FUBAR situation.
I was instructing people on making the building more defensible when Yuki approached me.
"You took charge pretty quickly," Yuki commented and I looked at her.
"They need someone right now to lead them or they won't survive tonight," I stated fatalistically.
"True...y'know David, you've changed somehow. You seem...different since I last saw you and I mean that in a good way," Yuki pointed out.
"I'm the same as I've always been and nothing will change that," I replied while I helped set up the barricade that was blocking the front doors.
"I don't think that's true...if you didn't care about these people, you wouldn't be helping them right now," Yuki refused.
"You don't know anything about me Yuki, and it's better that you don't know. Whoever you see me as, get rid of those thoughts because I'm not the good person you think I am," I stated coldly and Yuki put a hand on my shoulder.
"David...I don't know what had happened to you before you transferred to this country, but I have faith that some part of you does care about other people and that you will do the right thing in the end," Yuki told me kindly, and I felt a slight warm feeling I couldn't explain while my lips twitched slightly.
I shook it off since I had a mission and I couldn't afford to be distracted right now.
I didn't know how long time had passed, but I kept my eyes on my watch while also keeping my other senses open.
"So, what's up?" I heard Ryohei ask, and I looked up to see him speaking with a group of other students.
"Junior High ended about an hour ago and the High School should-" a female student started to say, but thunder rang out which caused most students to jump with a yelp.
"It's just thunder, so remain calm," I said and most students looked at me.
"Are you sure that it's gonna be sunny tomorrow?" a female student asked no one in particular.
"Well...it's what the forecast predicted," another female student answered.
I kept scanning the perimeter and after a while, the lights suddenly shut off which caused panic to break out.
"Oh Kami, what's happening?! A blackout?!" a student cried out in fear.
"Everybody remain calm! The storm knocked out the power, so do not panic. Sister Laura, go turn on the emergency generator so that we can have visual of the perimeter," I instructed.
"Of course," Sister Laura agreed as Ryohei approached me.
"David...you don't think the vampires are responsible for this, do you?" Ryohei inquired.
"Chances are that they are responsible for cutting the power so that they can render us blind, but telling everybody that we think they may be responsible when we don't actually know, is going to cause panic and problems. So unless we know that the enemy is responsible, the last thing we need is to cause an unnecessary panic so don't jump to conclusions unless we have actual intel of enemy contact," I said and Ryohei looked at me strangely.
"I really don't understand you, David. The way you're talking makes it sound like you're American military. Is there something you're keeping from everyone?" Ryohei wondered in confusion.
"I can neither confirm nor deny," I said simply and Ryohei sighed irritably.
"I don't know why I even bothered asking...you're just too different from the rest of us David, and I'm not talking about the fact that you are an American that talks like a soldier. There is something predatory about you and I have been unable to figure it out ever since we first encountered each other," Ryohei stated just as there was a bang on the front doors, causing the other students to jump from the sudden noise.
"You guys...let me in," a familiar voice sounded out from right outside.
"Who's there?!" Yuki called out while I stood up from the bench I was sitting on.
"It's me...please let me in. I need help," the voice begged and everyone started whispering in surprise.
"Is that...that sounds like Nanami," Ryohei said in shock.
"N-no way...I thought she was dead!" A male student exclaimed in disbelief.
"I escaped from the vampires but...I'm injured. Please let me in...I-I need to see a doctor," Nanami whimpered and Ryohei looked uncertain.
"What the hell should we do?" Ryohei wondered hesitantly and the kid with long-hair looked at him.
"We have no choice," the kid said and they started to run to the doors but I stepped in their path which forced them to stop.
"I gave explicit instructions that these doors are not to be opened for any reason. Step back, now," I commanded coldly.
"Fuck you man! Our friend is out there and she needs help!" Ryohei protested incredulously but I was unmoved.
"Your friend is quite possibly being used as bait to get you to open the doors or she might've been turned into a vampire to lure you outside. I'm not about to let this area get compromised so my orders still stand. No one is to open these doors for any reason, so step back or I'll use force," I warned coldly but I heard something behind me and I looked back to see that a female student had removed the barricade and was about to open the door.
"Hang on Nanami, I'll let you in!" the kid declared and I felt my professional front drop.
"What the fuck are you doing?! Get away from those damn doors!" I shouted as I tried to stop the girl by rushing over to grab her, but it was too late.
The doors opened and Nanami was standing on the other side, her scent now that of a vampire. I moved everyone behind me as Nanami stared at us with bloodlust.
"It's...you!" Yuki cried out behind me in disbelief as Nanami shot a fanged grin at her.
"Hello there, Yuki. I'm so sorry," Nanami stated mockingly as her eyes glowed red and I spotted many other vampires standing behind her with sadistic grins.
"Everybody stay behind me right now!" I ordered urgently as I got ready to defend myself and the humans behind me.
The vampires charged us and I got myself in a combat stance to fight back against the enemy that wanted us dead.