Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Hunter D
The sky was still dark due to the increasing smoke and steam from the large masses of water that was being thrown on it. D looked toward the forest he had been traveling from and kicked his horse into motion.
"Let's go with him Jandel" Leila said, "D wants us to talk about Kurai Ichi away from the crowd"
"Alright, but not too far, you do realize that you are not long off" concern was written all over Jandal's face. He put his arm around Leila to help support her, "He's a happy one" Jandel commented on D's behavior, I can tell that you know him...who is he?"
"Long story pal" Leila shrugged, "But we met during a competition for the head of a vampire, I guess we where not what you would call 'friends' but we certainly weren't enemies either" Leila gently smiled and recalled the conversation she an D had in the shelter of the old tree during the rain storm.
"What are you smiling about?" Jandel asked with a raised eyebrow
"Oh nothing!" Leila shook her head, "Let's just keep going, D is waiting"
"What is up with you D?!" Left hand barked, "you could have at least told them to come here!"
"They know where I went, that's all they need to know" D answered in his usual cold tone.
"Oh I know what's going on! Its that Jandel guy huh!? There is something about him you don't like isn't there! I know it!"
"Quiet! They're here" D hushed and watched the couple walk toward him. D couldn't help but notice the hand around Leila's shoulder. He quickly slapped himself mentally and paid more attention to who Jandal is...we was certain that he heard the name before...but not sure where.
"D..." Leila walked ahead of Jandel and toward D, "I would like you to meet Jandel, not long after you left I met up with him while he was on a vampire hunt"
"Your a hunter? I think I have heard of you before" D admitted, "Your the man who killed the fifty vampires in that raid five years ago?"
"That's me!" Jandel walked toward D and extended his hand, "and I have heard much about you! I'm honored to meet a hunter such as yourself!"
D looked at the hand and did nothing more than dismount his horse, "Yes...now I know you"
"Anyway..." Leila pulled Jandel away from the taller man, "D, Jandel is the one who I partnered up with to killed the vampire he was hunting, we succeeded, but only three nights after...Kurai Ichi came and..." Leila could not finish and walked to a nearby rock to sit on, "anyway, that's how it is"
"Not quite" D raised his head and looked at Leila, "The vampire you and Jandel killed was Kurai Ichi's father"
"What!? Are you serious!" Jandel nearly yelled, "When did you learn this!?"
"Just before Leila arrived" D said simply
"But the sun was up! A vampire can't exist in the day!" Leila pointed out,
"He can if he's not a full vampire" D said coolly, knowing what Leila's reaction would be,
"Then Kurai Ichi is..." Leila concluded, "He must be a dunpeal! Like you!"
"This makes thing worse!" Jandel sighed "this means that he can terrorize people during the day!". Leila looked at Jandal angrily for she thought that the fact that being a dunpeal was worse than a vampire. "Oh sorry" Jandal began get the idea.
"So...dose this mean that there could be a chance that this child could lie a normal life? If not then a close to normal?" Leila asked,
"Perhaps" D answered, "It may age, or it just may not have appearances of a vampire, it is hard to say, but the fact remains that Kurai Ichi is after you, for aiding Jandel in the death of his father"
"So that's why he burned down Sington! Kurai Ichi must have thought that you'd be there! He must have only heard of his father's death only now!" Jandel concluded, "I suppose he is taking his father's side...he kills humans!" Jandel began to run back toward Sington.
"Where are you going?" Leila asked,
"D just fought with Kurai Ichi! I'm going to ask the survivors if they have seen anyone fitting a dunpeal's description!" Jandel quickly ran off before the tail got cold.
Leila notice D turn to his horse, "Where are you headed?"
"To find Kurai Ichi...who else?" D answered
"I'm sorry I didn't mention anything about Jandel before...I suppose this will cause another competition for the prey, unless you where to take my offer of the money... I still have it if you are willing to take it." Leila said
"No..." D put his hand his horse's saddle in preparation to mount, but he wasn't prepared for the sudden warmth he felt upon it. Leila grabbed his hand and had the 'i'm not letting go until you answer me'look on her face.
"What is up with you D!" Leila demanded, "While hunting Mirer Link you where very determined to kill him! I know the amount of money that was on the shelf! But now there is no money on the shelf and yet you are still just as determined! What is going on!?"
D paused for a moment, but then pulled his hand away and mounted his horse.
"I know what it is! You pity me don't you!? DON"T YOU!?" Leila yelled
D did not say anything, he only closed his eyes.
"I don't need any pity! You understand! Once this baby is born I'm going back to the hunting field! I'll be your biggest competitor! I don't care wither you get that dunpeal or not...its not like you are doing it for money or anything!" Leila stormed off out of the forest to follow Jandel, and left D alone.
Jandel had no luck finding Kurai Ichi. He knew that it was safe to assume that he was long gone by now.
"Any luck?" Leila walked behind him,
"Nahh" Jandel admitted his defeat, "But i'm sure I can get him, he can't be all that different than any other vampire"
"I guess..." Leila seemed to drift off somewhere
"Hey! You ok! Where is that other hunter now?" Jandel asked
"Not sure" Leila folded her arms, "he could be anywhere now"
"You look angry...did something happen?" Jandel could tell that some happened between her and D.
"Nothing! Really!" Leila covered her anger with a smile, "Your a great hunter too aren't ya? I know I can rely on you!"
Jandel blushed, "Is that a complement?"
"It can be" Leila walked ahead, "Lets go find a place to say, i'm getting tired"
"Well that was something you don't see everyday!" Left hand laughed "D! The great dunpeal hunter gets told off by a woman! You are just full of surprises!"
D just continued to ride silently "What is wrong with me! I am a hunter, it is all I am good for!"
"Ha ha ha...so D! You still going to go after this Kurai Ichi?" Left hand continued to laugh, but received no answer, "C'mon D! Seriously! What will you get! You refused the money! And Leila is pissed at you! Did you really pity her?"
"That's none of your concern!" D nearly yelled
Left hand never heard D talk like that before, even in the most intensive battles. Something was going on in D's mind, and it was something that was totally new and strange to him.
Author's note: So what's happened here! Poor D was told off by Leila, and she seems to be relying on Jandal now. Is he really a good hunter that D calims him to be? Will D continue to hunt Kurai Ichi? And if he dose... for what reason? Thanks for the kind words!
Chibi Neko
http://www.geocities.com/gundam_girl2001/