Tokyo, Japan, 2010.
It had been an entire month since the events in the chapel that night and though many people had gotten therapy to try and recover from the mentally scarring events that had happened, it was still a struggle for the humans as they tried to continue their daily lives as normally as possible. As for me, I kept doing my job as one of Mina's greatest soldiers and led missions in my Spectre unit against rogue vampires or human groups that wanted Mina dead. But as the month went by, I felt different every time I see Yuki...I didn't know what it was but it felt like a warmth that was inside me and my wolf felt drawn to her ever since that night.
I was sitting at my school desk and paying attention to Sister Laura's lecture, when I felt someone looking at me. I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see Yuki looking at me and Akira. Ever since the events in the chapel, Akira and Yuki had become distant and they could barely stay in a room without looking awkward or keeping quiet...everyone knew that something had changed between them and that they were no longer in a relationship with each other which was putting everyone on edge.
"Temple-san," Sister Laura called to me.
"Yes, Sister?" I inquired calmly.
"Will you please come up to write down the answer to this problem?" Sister Laura suggested and I nodded as I stood up with my hands in my pockets.
"Of course, Sister Laura," I agreed while I walked forward and ignored people staring at me and whispering to each other.
I wrote down the answer and went back to my seat, thinking about how something in me had changed subtlety over the past month and I couldn't figure it out what it was. Eventually, class ended and Akira and I were still inside the classroom, Akira yawning and I saw Mei approaching us.
"You two sunbathing? Hang around with vampires for too long and you start to go nocturnal...you start to miss the sun, don't you?" Mei wondered calmly and I looked at her in response.
"Mei," I greeted quietly and Mei smiled.
"David...I see you have adjusted to your new rank, so how have you been? It's been a while," Mei pointed out but I stayed quiet and she rolled her eyes at my cold attitude.
"Fine...don't say anything to me since you don't speak unless it's for interrogating someone or receiving orders," Mei said sarcastically as she sat on Mina's desk, causing Akira to shoot a hard glare at her.
"That seat belongs to someone else," Akira warned as Mei ate a piece of candy.
"Ah, your beloved Princess, Akira? Well, I'm not moving so you'll have to make me...if you dare," Mei goaded with a smirk as Akira stood up and went to throw her off, but Mei leaned back and grabbed Akira's tie in order to yank him to her.
"Nice try," Mei stated as I stood up to separate them but Mei tripped and grabbed my jacket collar, the two of us falling and I wound up on top of her as Mei shot me a feline grin.
"Why David...I didn't know you were so forward but I think you are supposed to take me on a few dates before we get to first base," Mei teased as we stood up and I noticed something hanging around her neck.
"What is that around your neck?" Akira asked.
"You mean this? It's very precious to me...it's just a replica, but the person most important to me has one just like it..." Mei trailed off quietly as she went to leave the classroom, looking back and saying, "I'll see you two around."
Mei vanished outside and Yuki came in suddenly.
"Oh...Akira, David, I wasn't expecting you two to still be here. Are you waiting for the Princess?" Yuki asked us.
"You got it. So, is she finished up with her work yet," Akira inquired as Yuki went to her desk and took out a school draft.
"Not quite...I think she might be a little bit longer," Yuki said quietly as she went to the door without making eye contact.
Yuki looked back with an expression of longing just as she was about to leave and then suddenly ran out, causing Akira to look disheartened.
"Was it something I said?" Akira wondered to himself as we left the classroom and went to Mina's office, Vera letting us in as we saw Yuki blushing furiously and Mina looking confused.
"Is there something wrong?" Akira wondered in confusion and Yuki shook her head frantically.
"Ahh...everything's just fine, right Princess!?" Yuki asked quickly as she put her hands on Mina's shoulders and whispered into her ear, causing Akira to look at them strangely.
"What's going on? If the Princess is being rude to you, just say so," Akira stated and Mina pouted.
"Akira, I was not being rude to her! How could you say that to a pretty girl like me?" Mina teased and Akira looked at her dryly.
"Yeah yeah, you're cute...Princess," Akira sighed and looked confused when Mina and Yuki giggled, causing him to add, "Okay...this is seriously creeping me out. I thought you two were fighting."
"Of course we're not, right Princess?" Yuki asked with a smile and Mina nodded.
"We're confidants now," Mina declared and they started giggling again.
"I don't get it," Akira muttered in slight irritation just as Vera spoke up.
"Nice, isn't it? Finding a friend to share common feelings," Vera stated softly and I looked at Yuki as she and Mina smiled, feeling that warmth again.
After a while, we went home and I slept to be combat ready for tomorrow but I was suddenly woken up by my phone ringing, and I answered to inquire what was going on. I received orders that Mina needed me immediately and I suited up in my USS uniform, loading up with my gear, gas mask, and helmet as I went to Mina's office and arrived to see Yuki and Akira in the room with Mina and Vera. I was immediately brought up to speed and now the air in the room became thick with tension.
"Nanami Shinonome?" Akira wondered in recognition.
"You mean the Council Student President?" Yuki inquired in surprise.
"Any students who were attacked and bitten at the church a month ago were given the vaccine afterward, but it seems Shinonome-chan has been a vampire for some time now so the vaccine was useless...there is a record of her entering the Special Zone. However, there have been no signs of her at her assigned residence," Vera informed us as she typed on her laptop.
"So then...what does that mean with the only surviving students who had been sent there with her?" Akira asked and Vera looked at him.
"We can't find them. There are dozens of vampires who had been sent to the island but have since gone missing," Vera stated.
"As far as we know, they're not even in the Special Zone...it's shocking to think that we lost newborn vampires from the Bund without even knowing about it. Whoever is behind this had a well thought out plan," Mina said thoughtfully with a pensive expression.
"Do you think it's...Telomere?" Akira inquired hesitantly.
"Possibly, but they're too proud to keep quiet for long. If it was them, they will reveal themselves," Mina stated.
"But Nanami doesn't have a master now, 'cause Jean Marais' dead," Akira pointed out.
"Well, if she isn't roaming free, then she may be serving a new master now," Mina deduced quietly.
"You think she would do that?" Yuki wondered.
"At this point, I wouldn't put anything past her...she isn't heartless, she's plagued with worries and delusions we cannot begin to even imagine. Someone may be using that against her," Mina muttered the last part as she looked at the human kid who was sleeping on the couch.
"Delusions..." Yuki trailed off in worry, causing Mina to look at her with a reassuring smile.
"Do not worry, for I will be Nanami Shinonome's savor. Yuki, I want you to wait here and look after Yuzuru...Akira, HUNK, let's go," Mina told us and we followed Mina outside.
Eventually, Akira, my unit and I had set up near Yuzuru's house while Mina would give us the order to move in once the time was right. I spotted Nanami zipping up to the roof of a house and Mina confronted her, Mina accusing Nanami which caused her to hiss and she tried to bolt.
"So, someone else had gotten to her! Spectre, Akira, now!" Mina gave us the go ahead and I contacted my unit.
"Spectre, move in and secure the target! Nonlethal shots or takedowns only!" I ordered and we all came out of the shadows as we surrounded Nanami, aiming our MP5s and ordering her to get on her stomach with her hands behind her head.
Suddenly, large needles came out of nowhere and hit all of us which forced my unit, Akira, and I to stumble as our wounds burned from the silver.
"Akira, HUNK, Specter!" Mina cried out in worry.
"We're okay!" Akira assured while we pulled out the needles and Mina went in pursuit after Nanami.
"It's an ambush! Specter, cover your sectors!" I ordered just as we were suddenly taking heavy fire from rapid gunfire, my unit and I quickly taking cover. I contacted Vera, "Alpha leader to Nest 1! Specter unit is taking heavy fire from unknown tangos! Need back up at our location, ASAP!"
"Copy Alpha leader, sending Fang leader to your location," Vera responded while my unit and I fired back in single shots at the direction of where the sniper fire was coming from.
I leaned out and focused my powerful sight, seeing a few glints on nearby rooftops and I shot at them, causing bodies to drop from the rooftops.
"Tangos down! Spectre, form up on me and rendezvous with the Princess!" I ordered and my unit formed up as we used our inhuman speed to catch up with Mina and Akira.
We found ourselves in a forest and aimed at Nanami, who was kneeling as Mina approached her.
"Cease your running, Nanami! I will do whatever I must...please allow me to save you," Mina tried to reason as we approached cautiously.
"Well Princess...you're so generous," a female voice sounded suddenly, and my unit and I aimed at the figure who was approaching.
The unknown woman came out of the shadows to reveal that she was in her thirties, had red hair tied into a ponytail, and wearing a black leather jumpsuit.
"The Ruler of all the creatures of the night, feeling indebted to a helpless vampire of the lowest social order? Disappointing to say the least. Let me introduce myself...you may call me Hysterica. A pleasure," Hysterica introduced while doing a bow.
"I take it you are Nanami's new master then? Hysterica, was it? What is your scheme...gathering vampires like this?" Mina interrogated and Hysterica chuckled menacingly, prompting me, Akira, and my unit to move in front of Mina in order to protect her.
"Stay on our six, Princess," I urged as Akira and I stayed in front of Mina and my unit.
"So...you two must be the wolf-boys I heard about. Two knights in furry armor...I wonder if either of you can handle fighting my entire army," Hysterica declared as the area lit up to show an unknown amount of vampires surrounding us, causing my unit to get into a diamond formation around the Princess.
"Hiko?!" Akira cried out in horror and I spotted the kid in question inside the crowd.
"Hear me now! Surely some among you were never given a choice in becoming vampires! I'm giving you one now! Come join me...do so and I promise to nurture and protect you to the utmost of my ability!" Mina tried to reason to the entire crowd of newborns.
"I had no idea that you were such a fool, Princess! And you call yourself the Ruler of the Vampires!" Hysterica scoffed.
"The throne is mine by right of the noble true blood that flows within my veins, but your true nature is showing...watch what you say or you might give yourself away," Mina taunted and Hysterica huffed angrily.
"Destroy them!" Hysterica commanded and the entire crowd charged at us.
"Spectre, take them out!" I ordered and we all opened fire, killing many newborns in alternating single shots with our MP5s.
Just when I thought it would never end, eight figures came out of the shadows and landed in front of us which caused a shockwave to send many vampires flying. The eight people were dressed in casual clothing and they were carrying knives and guns.
"We are the Elite Eight...we have been sent by Wolfgang-Dono to serve and protect our beloved Princess Mina. Awaiting your orders, Ma'am," the leader of the Beowulf unit stated as he went to stand next to Mina.
"Leave Hysterica and the girl unharmed...as for the others, you all may return them to the dust of the Earth! Go now and prove your allegiance to me! Show them your power, wolf-boys, Spectre!" Mina demanded and we all made war cries as we charged in with blades slashing and bullets flying.
I shot one attacker and slung my MP5, taking out my combat knife and Desert Eagle as I moved quickly to shoot and slash my way through the crowd and the vampires frantically tried to kill me and the other werewolves as the ground became stained with blood and dust.
"Dammit! As I expected from the Princess' fucking guard dogs...you all mean business!" Hysterica snapped in irritation just as Mina went to attack her.
Hysterica dodged and was about to shoot Mina with a bizarre looking gun, but Mina quickly rushed in and smashed the weapon with a single punch which caused Hysterica to widen her eyes in disbelief.
"Now, reveal your plan to me, Hysterica!" Mina demanded as she went to kill her, but Nanami tackled her and Mina went flying into Akira's arms.
"Don't be so reckless, Princess!" Akira scolded as Nanami ran away.
"Don't go, Nanami!" Mina called out just as Hysterica knocked Akira to the ground with a roundhouse kick.
"Are you so worried about her that you would ignore me?! I will not be mocked!" Hysterica roared as she went to kill them but I quickly moved in and kicked her away, moving into a combat stance with my knife in a reverse grip and my Desert Eagle aimed at her just as Vera rushed into view.
"Vera..." Mina trailed off in relief while Vera glared intensely at our enemy.
"Allow me to take care of her," Vera suggested coldly and Mina nodded.
"Very well," Mina agreed and I signaled my unit to form up as I holstered my knife and second sidearm, unslinging my MP5 and getting ready to extract.
We all left so that we could locate Nanami and we found her in the middle of the park, leaning against a lamppost and breathing heavily just as my unit and I surrounded her to make sure that she couldn't escape.
"Nanami...I take it that you resent me?" Mina inquired stoically.
"Yes, I do...I resent you but not because of what you did to me...I don't care about that. I tried to act like it was nothing! I tried to fight it!" Nanami cried out in frustration.
"You mean how you feel about the boy?" Mina asked and Nanami gripped her head.
"Don't say it! By Kami...if Yuzuru ever found out I have such shameful feelings for him! But, I'm obsessed and I just can't fucking help myself! Even as we speak, I want him so bad that it feels like my heart is going to burst! Kill me! Do it now before I'm forced to defile him!" Nanami screamed and begged in distress, tears running down her cheeks and Mina softened her eyes.
"Nanami..." Mina trailed off sympathetically while she looked at the broken woman.
"Just do it! Help me before I make him hate me, please!" Nanami pleaded as she slumped to the ground and broke out sobbing.
"Nanami!" a voice called out and everyone looked to see that it was Yuzuru, causing me to curse under my breath at how the situation is turning south quickly.
"Yuzuru! Please don't look at me!" Nanami begged as she hid her face and Yuzuru went to go to her.
"Fuck...somebody get that kid back!" I ordered and Takashi went to grab Yuzuru, forcing him back as the kid struggled against the firm grip.
"Let me go! Nanami!" Yuzuru cried out as he kicked the man in the shin, causing Takashi to yelp in pain as he let go and Yuzuru ran to Nanami.
"Stay away from me!" Nanami begged as she ran and Hysterica came out of nowhere with a sadistic grin.
"She said to stay away, little shit," Hysterica declared as she slapped him to the ground, Yuzuru flying into Vera's arms while Nanami pleaded desperately.
"Vera!" Mina said in shock as she saw the woman looking worse for wear.
"Princess...forgive me for underestimating her," Vera apologized and Hysterica chuckled in amusement.
"Just my damn luck...I step away for a moment and things finally start to get interesting. I think it's about time for me to get going since we had enough fun for the evening...you'll find out about my plan soon enough," Hysterica commented nonchalantly.
"Hysterica, what the hell are you planning?!" Mina demanded harshly.
"A magnificent event...to teach all of the cowardly humans a lesson about the true terror of vampires," Hysterica stated cryptically as she turned to leave, prompting Akira to charge at her.
"Don't move!" Akira exclaimed as he charged and Hysterica looked back in amusement.
"Persistent little wolf cub, aren't you?" Hysterica scoffed as a few vampires came out of the bushes.
Hysterica took out a cellphone and pushed a button, causing the vampires to bubble and swell up.
"Take cover!" Vera cried out in alarm just as me, Akira, and my unit shifted into our wolf-men forms to cover Mina from the blast.
I growled in pain as the shrapnel cut my back, but I healed from the damage and the smoke cleared up to show that me and my unit's helmets and masks were gone but our uniforms and tactical vests have grown in size while our gloves have become fingerless and our boots have formed into coverings on our canine paws and digitigrade legs.
"I'm okay Vera...Akira, HUNK, and Spectre was able to protect me. Self-destruction...damn you, Telomere. As if stuffing yourselves full of explosives weren't bad enough...you had to come up with something worse," Mina muttered darkly as me and my unit stood at attention.
"Ma'am, we need to escort you to safety before the situation turns completely FUBAR," I pointed out and I looked at my unit, their fur colors grey, brown, red, and gold.
"Very well...let us return to the Bund and see if we can find a way to crush these bastards that have the gall to undermine everything I've worked for...Spectre, your primary mission is to eliminate Telomere from the face of the planet...search and destroy them until there is nothing left, understood?" Mina asked us as we shifted back into our human forms.
"Understood, Ma'am," I agreed coldly and we all left the park to plan for our retaliation.