The Gathering of the Gods
Side Story 6- Rowen Hashiba
An embittered young man made his way through the streets of his home, France, ignoring the passing of other people. Gods, he hated his life. This hell that had been thrust onto him for his eternity to sleep through the day and lie awake and hungry during the night. He shuddered, the day she had stripped him of his humanity and left him to fend this hunger for himself.
"Hello Blue." Touma gasped as his face turned to face a delicate woman, with high cheekbones and glossy crimson lips.
"Are your lips so flushed from the cold, or the blood?" He asked bitterly, as she smiled.
"Both actually." Touma shook his head in disgust.
"You know, there's nothing disgusting at all about eating to live."
"But killing to live?"
"Humans kill animals, isn't it the same monstrosity?"
"There is a difference. Animals don't have emotions."
"Then why do hounds howl when they're sad?" Touma said nothing to the woman, who simply smiled in victory.
"You know, eventually you will have to kill." She stated as he turned away.
"Never. I'll wither away and die before I allow the curse that you've set on me to claim another's life."
"Easier said then done. You won't overcome the cravings. No immortal has."
"Then I shall be the first." He stated, ignoring the pangs in his useless internal organs. Since she had changed him, these body parts no longer mattered.
"Believe that if you wish, but it shall never happen." Touma shook his head.
"I do not believe a word you say."
"Well you didn't believe me when I told you that you were dead, and obviously I was right."
"Well this time you are wrong!" Touma cried as she lifted her head in the air.
"Hmmm… Interesting, Young, virginal blood. Very young. I am hungry."
"But you just ate! And now you wish to feast on a child?" She shrugged.
"I'm in the mood for some dessert." Touma gagged in disgust.
"You're so petty! Murdering a young child with their entire life ahead of them because you want dessert? You sicken me!"
"I always have." Touma said nothing as he followed his Master down an alley, and right into the tiny figure of a child that had seen far more then one so small should have.
"So young. Yet full of power and wisdom." The tiny little blonde looked up at her, his violet eyes meeting the beady ones of his soon to be killer. He remained expressionless as he bravely faced her without fear. Touma gasped as he watched the scene play out. Was his Master really going to murder a child so young?
"Child, why aren't you afraid to die?" She asked as she knelt next to the tiny child. It was then a soft rustling sound emitted from the pile of trash, as Touma's head jerked to the side and he noted another boy with a dirty face and long brown hair, but the same violet eyes as the other one. His brother, Touma deducted, as the little brunette watched his brother in fear.
"Brother…" He murmured, tears forming at the edge of his long, sad eyes. Touma glanced at the child and reacted in a way he shouldn't have.
"Stop it!" He screamed as the vampire dropped the boy, who landed with a hard thud on the ground, dazed for a moment.
"What did you say Touma?" She demanded as the brunette took the opportunity to rush over to his brother. Touma glanced at them and waited for them to run away, before turning back to his Master.
"I told you to stop. I told you to stop because he didn't deserve to die! He was but a child! And his brother was watching! He didn't deserve to have to watch his brother die. No one deserves that!" The woman growled as he slammed her fish into his face.
"Never screw with my dinner Touma." Touma coughed, wiping the blood from the side of his mouth.
"I thought he was going to be your dessert." Touma muttered as a boot slammed into his gut. He groaned in pain. If only he had eaten, he could fight back. Yet he was weak, oh so weak…
"Stop that!" Someone's voice distantly shouted as the abuse of his body paused.
"Leave him alone." A definite masculine voice demanded as the vampire woman laughed.
"Stupid mortal, thinking that you can hurt me." The man rolled his eyes, as he pulled out a blade carved from wood.
"Don't think I haven't done my research. You've killed many girl, including my lover! And now, for that, you must die!" Touma watched with blurry vision as the platinum-haired man plunged the stake into her chest. Touma gasped in shock as her body withered away into nothing, before everything went black.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What happened?" Touma asked himself as he glanced around and realized that he remained in the alley that he had been in when he had lost consciousness. Glancing around, he realized that he was not alone.
"Huh?" He muttered as he realized that there was a metallic liquid that tasted bittersweet dripping into his mouth.
"What?" He muttered as his eyes cracked open and he again say the two brothers, and realized that it was the blonde ones blood that was dripping into his mouth.
"What are you doing?" He asked, pulling away. The blonde shrugged.
"You saved me, and you needed blood to live." The other little boy watched impatiently, his small, shoeless foot tapping on the floor.
"Can I ask him now? Please!" The blonde sighed as he covered his torn wrist with the hem of his shirt.
"What's your name?" The boy asked as Touma sighed.
"Its…" He paused. No, his name wasn't Touma. That was what she had told him name would be, when he could not remember his real one. No longer would he be tied to his deceased Master. No, he was on his own now.
"Its…Rowen. Rowen Hashiba." The boy nodded as he reached out to hug the vampire.
"Thank you Mr. Hashiba for saving my brother. Mommy always told us we were joined at the hip, and I couldn't lose him!"
"Where is your mommy?" Rowen asked as the boy hung his head.
"She died 'cause daddy killed her… and then himself."
"Shh!" His brother warned as his eyes widened and he shut his lips. Rowen shook his head. These poor kids.
"Well, anyways, thank you." The blonde stated as he rose, reaching out with his ok hand and grabbing his brother.
"He's older then me, but he's SO immature."
"I'm only older by 2 minutes!"
"So?"
"Nevermind…" The blonde muttered as he tugged on his brother's wrist.
"Come on!" He exclaimed as he dragged his brother off.
"Thank you again Mr. Hashiba!" He cried out, as Rowen turned to them.
"Wait, I can take care of yo…" He sighed as he realized they were already gone. Rising awkwardly to his feet, he headed off, to begin his new life.
End of Side Story 6…
A/N: For anyone wondering, yes, that WAS little Sage and Duo, before they became gods, when they were first mortals. And for anyone really smart, the man that killed Touma's Master was Zechs. It was the deed that got him into godhood. He stopped her and she would have killed millions. Well, ja!
~Angel