Vampire Bund, Tokyo, Japan, 2011.
I kept hitting the punching bag, my mind running on auto-pilot as I took out my anger and frustrations on the punching bag. After nearly a week went by, I closed myself off from the others and mostly focused on training drills, missions, and working on gathering intel about Telomere's whereabouts along with their members.
The others tried to get me to open up but I wasn't interested and Yuki was confused and worried about how I was being distant since I closed myself off with the excuse that I was going to be okay. As I kept hitting the punching bag, my worst memories kept running through my mind and my hits got more vicious as my grunts turned into yells of anger until I let out a roar of fury when I sent the punching bag clean into the wall with a heavy strike that broke the chain.
"I think you killed it, David," I heard someone say and I looked behind me to see the one person I didn't want to see.
"What the hell are you doing here, Inspector?" I questioned as Seiji entered the Training Room in a muscle shirt, workout shorts and sneakers.
"Eh, just wanted to blow off some steam...though I can already see that you are most definitely doing just that," Seiji remarked and I ignored him as I went to grab my bottle of water.
"And you are ignoring me again...you know, I don't even know why I keep bothering to chat with you if you keep giving me the cold shoulder," Seiji groaned in exasperation and I shot him a glare.
"I'm not interested with having a conversation right now, especially with you so how about you leave me to my business," I suggested coldly as I started shadow boxing, causing Seiji to sigh in irritation.
"Okay...you know what, let's do it, you and me in the ring, right now," Seiji challenged and I looked at him.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I interrogated suspiciously.
"Quite frankly, I'm getting sick of this macho act you are putting on while the others are trying to talk to you...I know what happened two days ago and this lone wolf thing is getting old so let's have a little match to see if you can keep up," Seiji stated as he went to put on boxing gloves and a mouth protector.
"I'm not interested in having a boxing match, and definitely not with the one person who stabbed me in the damn back so fuck off," I warned as I went to leave.
"So, whatever happened to not running away from your problems?" I heard Seiji question and I shot a look at him.
"What the hell did you just say?" I asked softly with a look of anger.
"You heard me because you are doing just that...running away like a coward so I guess the Grim Reaper is nothing but a coward who only looks after himself," Seiji goaded and soft inhuman growls rose up out of me as I went right into his face.
"You don't know anything about me..." I snarled menacingly with sharp teeth and glowing eyes.
"You're right...I guess I don't because you've barely spent time with Yuki ever since you tore apart that poor kid, though I don't blame you since God only knows what that drug did to you," Seiji said and I looked away to try and calm myself down.
"I don't need pity from you...what the hell do you know? You just show up months ago, pretend to be everyone's friend and stab us in the fucking back...if the Princess didn't need you, I would kill you in a second since who would miss you? I sure as hell wouldn't," I stated as I left the Training Room and took a shower.
Once I was done, I put on a black bodysuit with the Beowulf insignia on the shoulders and I went to a different section of the area. I heard the sounds of training staffs hitting together as I entered a room to see Akira practicing with Leeroy while the other members of the Elite Eight and Beowulf were watching.
"Hey David," Goto greeted as I leaned against the wall with my arms crossed.
"Goto...how's he progressing?" I inquired while watching Akira.
"He's doing very well and it looks like he's giving Leeroy trouble," Goto answered just as Leeroy dodged a strike and knocked Akira to the ground with a nasty hit.
"Shit, sorry man, instincts got the better of me. You okay?" Leeroy asked in concern while Akira stood up.
"Let's go again," Akira said as he did a few stretches.
"Again? Fuck man, you're really on fire today, huh?" Leeroy muttered while looking impressed.
"Mind if I spar with you this time, Akira?" Heinrich inquired eagerly and he started swiping at Akira, who was blocking the strikes.
"I've gotta admit, I was kinda worried about how that whole thing with Sanin was going to affect him. Looks like I was wrong since the kid's come through tougher than ever, in both mind and body. It's really encouraging," Leeroy commented to Romulus with a wolfish grin.
"Is that what you see?" Romulus inquired after a small silence, and I knew that Akira was not the same person from before after Sanin was killed.
I saw Mina entering the room as Akira was done practicing and she approached us while members of Beowulf, the Elite Eight, and I saluted her.
"Akira, David!" Mina greeted as she went over to us.
"Hime-san," Akira said as he looked at her.
"Ma'am," I said with a stoic expression and a nod, causing Mina to look hesitant as she struggled to say something.
"Um...hi...uh...how are you two doing?" Mina questioned with an awkward grin and started grumbling while blushing, "Argh...of all the...this is horrible!"
Akira simply patted her head playfully and assured, "We're doing okay, so you don't need to worry about us so much. We're fine...I promise."
"Ma'am, I'll be escorting you to school so I'll get dressed and rendezvous with you once I'm combat ready," I stated just as Akira and I were leaving the room.
"There's no need David...you can go on ahead without me," I heard Mina mutter just as Akira and I left the room.
We changed into our school uniforms and headed to school, entering the building when we saw Yuki and Ryohei approaching us with looks of concern.
"Akira-kun, David-kun," Yuki announced as she and Ryohei got closer.
"Yuki, Ryohei," Akira muttered in surprise as the two people in question stopped in front of us, and I was slightly taken aback when Yuki started tearing up.
"Yuki, what's wrong?" I asked while she was struggling to regain her composure and I placed a hand on one of her shoulders.
"It's just that...I..." Yuki whimpered and I held her close in concern.
"Are you guys going to be okay?!" Ryohei questioned and I looked away with a dark expression.
"You know what had happened, don't you?" Akira questioned quietly, but it wasn't a question.
"Hime-sama told me and I heard it from Angie...I was worried sick," Yuki explained.
"I see...it's going to be a moment before class starts so how about we go out for a little walk," Akira suggested while I stayed quiet and let Yuki go.
We left the building and headed over to the soccer field, staring at the kids as they made their way to the school building.
"Sanin...so, that's what he was called, huh?" Ryohei muttered.
"We never spent any more time than a month together, but it might as well have been a decade...he was a really decent person. He kinda reminded me of you," Akira stated as he looked at Ryohei with a smile.
"You mean...you mean that he was a close friend and you along with David-san...like, you two had to do this for Hime-san's protection or something?" Ryohei questioned in horror.
"As my old man told me, I've made my choice. Time is like a river and it can only flow in one direction...the moment you step in, your fate is no longer yours to decide...whatever the outcome might be. I think I can finally understand now," Akira responded.
"Akira-kun..." Yuki breathed in uncertainty.
"To be in the Princess' position means that she'll always have to give the order to shed blood, or let her soldiers take the flack for her...that's the burden she bears, that's the burden we all bear when we put on the uniform and pick up a rifle every day...so, we should be those people who'll risk everything for her.
That's our conclusion because that's the only thing we could do for her," I told Yuki and Ryohei and they stared at us in shock.
"Why do either of you have to go so far?" Ryohei questioned in disbelief, only for Akira to smile softly at them which caused Yuki and Ryohei to wince.
"Class is about to start soon, so we should probably head inside," Akira informed them as he went back to the school building.
"Come on, Yuki," I said as I placed a hand on her shoulder and we went inside.
As time went by, I clenched my fists slightly while I listened to Sister Laura's lecture, visions of Sanin's bloody and gory form appearing in my mind and I tensed up as memories of my blood-soaked days as an Umbrella mercenary flashed by just as a hand brushed my shoulder.
I instantly reacted by grabbing the person's wrist and hip tossing them to the ground, grabbing the kid's collar and raising a fist as noises of alarm rang out, which snapped me out of it and I could see the students, Akira, Yuki, Ryohei, and Sister Laura keeping their distance with looks of shock and panic while the male student on the floor yelped in terror.
"Shit man, I'm sorry I startled you! Please don't hurt me!" the kid exclaimed frantically while he whimpered.
I let out small uneven breaths as I looked around and let the kid go, standing up and quickly leaving the classroom while muttering apologies under my breath. I found myself in a nearby bathroom and used one of the sinks to splash water on my face, then I looked up and flinched slightly when I saw that my refection had changed into my shadow form and it showed a twisted grin as it rippled and formed into my were-form.
I shook my head and gently rubbed my eyes, seeing my reflection back to normal after a few seconds and I concluded that the stress was starting to get to me. I sighed while running a hand through my hair and heard the school bell going off along with the sounds of many footsteps in the hallway, prompting me to leave the bathroom just as I spotted Akira standing outside the bathroom.
"Are you okay? I've never seen you react like that before...hell, nobody had ever seen you react like that before and everyone's worried that something's seriously wrong," Akira stated in concern.
"I'm fine...let's find the Princess and get to our next class," I evaded and headed down the hallway before Akira could say anything.
We kept walking until I spotted Mina with Yuki, Nanami, Anna, Clara, and Jiji but I arched a brow in confusion when I saw Yuki gushing over a little blond-haired kid that held a resemblance to Akira.
"Hime-san, you're late..." Akira trailed off when he spotted the kid and the kid instantly ran over to leap into his arms.
"Oni-chan?! Oni-chan!" the kid exclaimed in joy as he teared up, and Akira looked stunned while the others were shocked.
"Yuuhi...you, how are you..." Akira sputtered in disbelief.
"A...Akira, wait a minute. You can't possibly be saying that he's..." Mina trailed off as Akira looked at us.
"This is Yuuhi...my younger brother," Akira introduced awkwardly.
"So, that's his younger brother? I never knew that he is so cheery," I thought in surprise while Yuki and Mina were speechless.
"Yuuhi, what are you doing here?" Akira asked in confusion and Yuuhi looked down shyly.
"Umm...Father sent me. He said I should attend school here and now we can always be together," Yuuhi explained with a beaming grin, but Akira frowned as Yuuhi kept hugging him.
"Tou-san...what are you thinking?" I heard Akira mumble as he put Yuuhi down and we all went to our next class.
After school was over and we went back to the Bund, Akira practically stormed to his father's office with me and Yuuhi right behind him and now I could hear Akira getting into a heated argument with his father while Yuuhi and I were waiting outside. I looked at Yuuhi and saw him sitting on a chair next to the double door with his legs swinging back and forth as he stared up at me curiously.
"Um...are you friends with Oni-chan?" Yuuhi asked me while I was leaning against the wall with my arms crossed.
"Calling us friends...is a bit complicated, kid. It's a little hard to explain but your brother and I are colleagues while we protect Princess Tepes," I explained awkwardly since I have never interacted with children before and it made me feel a little uncomfortable.
"Oh...Oni-chan and Tou-chan are so busy most of the time that Kaa-chan is the only one who's been there for me whenever I'm alone," Yuuhi explained and I looked away with a thoughtful expression.
Suddenly, the doors to Wolfgang's office slammed open and Akira stormed out with a look of anger and frustration as Yuuhi perked up and got off the chair.
"Oni-cha-" Yuuhi was about to say but he was cut off when Akira whipped around with a glare.
"Stay away from me! This is no place for you so go back to Kaa-san, now!" Akira yelled harshly, and I was stunned while Yuuhi looked like he was about to cry.
"Is something going on here? What is all this shouting that I'm hearing?" I heard someone question and I looked to see Mina approaching us.
"Ma'am," I greeted as I snapped to a salute and Mina nodded.
"At ease, Captain," Mina acknowledged as Yuuhi ran into her arms and she hugged him as he started crying.
"What's the matter, hm? Is your big brother angry at you?" Mina questioned gently with a soft smile and Akira turned away.
"It's nothing..." Akira muttered as he went to leave.
"Um..." Mina trailed off hesitantly and Akira looked back at her.
"Yes?" Akira asked in confusion and Mina shook her head.
"Forget it, it can wait," Mina said and Akira huffed slightly as he went down the hallway.
I followed after him and Akira shot a look at me, but I said nothing as we left the building and headed to the graveyard where Sanin and Mei were buried. Eventually, we arrived at the graveyard and I spotted Angel waiting with flowers as we approached him.
"You're already clear to be moving around?" Akira inquired as we started heading to Sanin's grave.
"Yeah...the doctor said that it was about time I got some exercise and something was bothering me...I haven't even said goodbye to Sanin yet," Angel replied quietly and Akira looked down to stare at the ground.
"I see..." Akira trailed off and I grimaced while Angel chuckled bitterly.
"Funny...until a few days ago, we thought he was dead and things merely went back to the way they were after we found out he was alive...but this time around, it's a lot more painful," Angel stated sorrowfully and Akira tensed up slightly while I moved ahead of them with an expression of guilt.
As we were arriving at Sanin's grave, I saw a woman with blond hair and a black dress as she was staring at Sanin's gravestone with a look of grief, and I approached her with the others right behind me.
"Excuse me, what's your business with this grave?" I questioned, catching her attention as she looked at me and the others.
"And you are?" the woman inquired and I could tell that she not only had the scent of a werewolf, but it was similar to Sanin.
"My name is David Temple and...I just wanted to come here to show my respects," I clarified and I was suddenly slapped across the face, and I didn't react out of shock while I held my cheek.
"Murderer...you murderer!" the woman shouted viciously while the others were completely stunned by what had happened.
I didn't say anything and turned around to walk away, ignoring the others calling for me as I headed to Mei's grave. I arrived at Mei's grave and sat down in front of it, staring at the headstone with a blank look.
"Hey...it's been a while so I'm sorry, I've just been busy a lot lately. I don't know if you're listening or if I'm just talking to nobody but I just wanted to say something...nearly a week ago, Akira and I had found someone who had been presumed dead for two years but he...he was completely fucked up after an incident that had occurred two years ago.
His mind was completely scrambled and was reduced to nothing but a vegetable who was on a powerful narcotic that makes you highly aggressive and immune to pain...he escaped and went on a rampage that killed a lot of people...I-I killed him...no, I ripped him open and tore him apart...that person was just a kid who was no older than Akira and I tore him apart while I was hopped up on the same drug.
I killed a kid and before that, I told Akira that we should put him out of his misery because he was in so much pain from his horrific injuries...the worst part, this woman who was at that kid's grave hit me and called me a murderer...I truly don't know what to do anymore because I've been asking myself if this is who I am now, a killer who'll always have blood on his hands and will never find peace in this cold and dark world," I rambled while I stared at my hands with a haunting expression.
I shook my head and stood up, resting a hand on the gravestone for a few moments before I turned around and left the graveyard where the others were waiting for me at the entrance.
After we headed back to the main building, Angel took the woman named Tatiana to be questioned and now Akira and I were in Mina's office while we were looking out the window.
"So, tell me...have you two moved on from Sanin's death?" Mina asked.
"I can't tell you if we got over it but I have accepted it," Akira replied and Mina looked at me.
"What about you Captain, how are you feeling right now?" Mina questioned, gaining my attention.
"I don't know what I'm feeling right now...I suppose that the only thing I feel right now is hollow, like a part of me had died after what I did to Sanin," I answered quietly.
"It sounds like a Zen dialogue but better yet, have either of you abandoned it? You two once said that for my sake, you would become warriors but whether or not your Highness desires it...you don't think about it?" Mina asked us and I frowned slightly as I stared out the window.
"Regarding your speculation, there is no relation to it," Akira stated just as the door opened and we looked to see Yuuhi, who was tearing up and I knew that he heard everything due to his sharp senses.
"Yuuhi..." Akira trailed off in shock while Yuuhi sniffled.
"Oni-chan, is it true? Do you and your friend kill...people, friends? That's not true, right?" Yuuhi questioned and I recoiled slightly since a kid shouldn't talk like that.
"That's none of your business and you never talk like that! You keep wandering to places you should never go, which is why you overheard that! Leave, now!" Akira demanded and Yuuhi cried as he dropped the bag he was holding and ran away while the vampire kids and Mina called out to him.
"Gigi, I'm sorry but would you mind?" Mina suggested and Gigi nodded.
"Of course," Gigi agreed and he took off after Yuuhi with the other kids right behind him.
"Akira, if you were so prepared to be my warrior then where are your senses in that sorry state? Look," Mina said stoically as she picked up the bag and opened it to show the contents to us.
"A bag of cookies," Akira muttered while I felt sympathy for Yuuhi.
"I think it was a gift for you so that you two would share them together..." Mina trailed off and Akira flinched.
"He shouldn't have done something like that because he...that's why..." Akira sputtered and Mina stared at him.
"You know, before this whole thing with Sanin happened, we were all acting like a happy family until he died and you started treating Yuuhi the same way your father does to you! Ask yourself this, how are you any different than him? I'm going to look after Yuuhi, so go find a place to cool off," Mina lectured as she left the office.
"We are different...me and my father, we're not the same. What the fuck is wrong with me?" Akira wondered uneasily while I was silent, just knowing that we all were changing into something ugly and I thought about Yuki as I hoped that things wouldn't change between us.
A/N This chapter is finally done! Good grief, I had to take a short hiatus from this story since I didn't know how to continue and I promise that I will complete this story, I just need to take a break once and a while in order to not burn myself out so expect updates to come slower than before since I'm not Superman and only human like the rest of you.
This chapter was a tricky one since I read a few manga issues of the events that were happening in this chapter and saw that the English grammar was not all that great, so please let me know if I made any mistakes and I'll try to correct them.
Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think about David's dilemma by putting down a review and stay tuned.