(Note: Riho will be replaced with my own character, Hiromi Takabe, because
I don't really like Riho's totally innocent maiden attitude. Hiro is a
little bit more real. Also I often switch character prospective from Hiromi
to Shido: three stars indicate this)
Disclaimer: Okay! I'm sure this time! I don't own Shido per say... *Muffled shout from behind closet door* Crescent! I'm serious now! Take that cross off the door and let me out! I mean it! *Sweat drop* What? I didn't hear anything....that wasn't Shido shouting... Shido: CRESCENT!! Author: Umm....yeah...ON WITH THE FIC!!
An hour before dusk, the group piled into Yayoi's car, Shido ridding shotgun, and Hiromi ridding in the back. Though Hiromi tried to keep up a conversation, Yayoi stared stubbornly ahead, eyes fixed on the road, refusing to acknowledge anyone. Shido didn't seem to mind the silence, and soon Hiromi gave up, and let herself drift. What was Yayoi so upset? After finishing their earlier conversation, she had refused to speak to Shido, and had only looked at him when he needed to "grab a bite," as he put it. During the shopping adventure, Yayoi had spoken at length about Shido, explaining to Hiromi that she volunteered as a blood donor for the vampire.
"Somehow," she had said, "I'm immune to a vampire's bite. While others would, I can never become a vampire, from Shido's fangs..."
But ever since this afternoon, Yayoi had been furious about something....
"Hiromi, could you go see if Mr. Shirikaba is home?" Yayoi asked, pulling up in front of a small, well-kept house.
Frowning up at the woman though the rear-view mirror, Hiromi unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the car door.
"And take Guni with you. I think Yayoi would like to have a talk with me," Shido finished.
"No way! I want to see the slug-fest!"
"Guni, would you ever like to take part in a slug-fest with me?" Yayoi asked, still staring into the distance.
"Um...on second thought, it'd be a shame not to enjoy such a nice night while you can..." Guni said, rising out of her place in the cup holder and flitting to Hiromi's shoulder.
"Make sure Shirikaba knows what you are, Guni; you know the drill."
"Yeah, yeah!" Guni called back as Hiromi left the car.
"Why does Mr. Shirikaba need to know you're not a Barbie?"
"He may see things tonight that could threaten Shido and mine's existence." Guni stated primly, sitting down on Hiromi's shoulder. "We need him to promise not to repeat tonight's events to anyone, otherwise Shido takes his services elsewhere."
"Ah," Hiromi said, looking back at the car's occupants. Yayoi was gripping the steering wheel so hard her hands were molted. Shido was just sitting there and talking to her, accenting whatever he was saying with shrugs, and shakes of his head. Yayoi whipped her head around to him, her face flushed with fury, and leaned toward him, a finger poking roughly into his chest.
"Can you hear what there saying?" Hiromi asked the fairy.
"Yep."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Nope."
"Its about me, isn't it?"
"I'm not getting into that. Ask Shido later."
Hiromi sighed and turned back to the house. Her mind turning over itself, she reached over and rang the bell. The door opened almost immediately; Mr. Shirikaba must have been waiting for them.
"Hello, Mr. Shirikaba," Hiromi said, bowing.
"Ms. Takabe," he bowed back, and then looked around, "where are your seniors?"
"In the car...uh...discussing some minor differences."
Mr. Shirikaba glanced behind her to the car, and Hiromi followed his lead. Yayoi had her hands back on the steering wheel, listening to Shido. Suddenly, she whipped her hand up and caught the vampire on his cheek with the flat of her hand. Shoving open her door, Hiromi could hear the woman shouting, "Its wrong and you know it, Shido!"
"I see," Mr. Shirikaba replied. "Maybe we should wait inside."
Hiromi bit her lip a little as she followed him inside, "Would you please leave the door open?"
The man nodded and went into the living room, "Would you like something to drink?"
"No thank you, Hiromi said, following him, remembering to take her shoes off first.
"May I ask you something, Ms. Takabe?"
"Yes sir?"
"Why do you still have your sister's doll with you?"
"I'm no doll buddy," Guni snapped, finally flying from her perch to float in front of Shirikaba face.
The man paled slightly. "Is this a Nightbreed?" he asked quietly.
"WHAT?! How dare you say something like that? How could anyone mistake me for a Nightbreed?"
While the fairy continued her ratings in the background, Hiromi tried to explain her to Mr. Shirikaba.
".So you see, our company demands that whatever you see tonight, you carry to your grave, or we will not take your case."
"Very well," he said, still eyeing Guni. The fairy stuck her tongue out at him.
"Guni mind your manners," cam a masculine voice from the hall. Hiromi and Shido turned to see Shido and a red-faced Yayoi standing in the hallway. The hunt was on.
***
Shido fought the urge to rub at his stinging cheek. Yayoi had to be pretty upset before she came to blows, and tonight, Shido couldn't blame her. If the Breed didn't show, and his plan had to be put into effect, thing would have to proceed flawlessly, or....
"Do you agree to my terms, Mr. Shirikaba?" Shido asked, trying to project a calm demeanor.
"Yes I do."
"Then let's get this show on the road. If you would be do kind as to sit on the porch and wait for Minako? Shout before she comes near, and remember that it is only a shell of your daughter that you will see. Yayoi will go with you a provide cover from the bushes."
Still frowning, Yayoi turned and followed Shirikaba outside, drawing her gun as she walked.
"You too Guni," and before she could protest, Shido finished, "fly above the residences and look for the Breed."
Guni floated for a moment, looking between Hiromi and Shido before nodding and leaving via an open window.
Shido looked at Hiromi, watching tension travel from her spine to her shoulders. She was frightened of him. Shido had long ago come to terms with having people fear him, because he was a monster. But this time, he was feared because he was a man, and that unnerved him. Shido sat, unsure of how to proceed, and noticed Hiromi relax a little. Inadvertently, he had just given Hiromi an advantage over him.
Oh he could move faster than she, when he called on his vampiritic powers, but still, Hiromi felt safer if she was ready to bolt at anytime, while he would have to rise to touch her...
"Hiromi, I'd like to apologize for this afternoon."
"No, it was my fault for running into you."
"Be that as it may, after we fell, I acted out of...inexperience. Instead of joking like I did, I should have moved away. I'm sorry."
Hiromi looked as Shido for a long moment, studying him, before she gingerly took a seat across for him, "I'm the one who should apologize, Shido. I'm acting as if you're a dangerous man, because of a past experience that never involved you. There is no excuse for that."
Shido smiled slightly, "Perhaps the one we *should* be upset with is Guni..." to his relief, Hiromi laughed a little, and Shido joined her.
"Let's start fresh," Shido said, as the laughter faded. Hiromi nodded.
"Then may I ask you a question, Shido?"
"Anything."
Why did Yayoi slap you? What was she so upset about? I know its something about me."
Shido blinked. "Quick girl," he thought to himself. Aloud he said, "Your right, it does involve you, but if I told you, you'd probably slap me as well..."
"Shido!" came Yayoi's voice. The both stood as the woman ran in, "Guni said she saw a blonde girl in a blue dress heading to the city, from a local graveyard."
"Get Shirikaba back in here; the Breed's taken control!" the vampire shouted, rushing out, Hiromi following.
The man safely inside, Shido turned to the girl, allowing his eyes to flash yellow, "You remember my plan from earlier?"
"Yes..." Hiromi said in a small voice, totally in awe of even such a small display of power.
"You're the bait."
Disclaimer: Okay! I'm sure this time! I don't own Shido per say... *Muffled shout from behind closet door* Crescent! I'm serious now! Take that cross off the door and let me out! I mean it! *Sweat drop* What? I didn't hear anything....that wasn't Shido shouting... Shido: CRESCENT!! Author: Umm....yeah...ON WITH THE FIC!!
An hour before dusk, the group piled into Yayoi's car, Shido ridding shotgun, and Hiromi ridding in the back. Though Hiromi tried to keep up a conversation, Yayoi stared stubbornly ahead, eyes fixed on the road, refusing to acknowledge anyone. Shido didn't seem to mind the silence, and soon Hiromi gave up, and let herself drift. What was Yayoi so upset? After finishing their earlier conversation, she had refused to speak to Shido, and had only looked at him when he needed to "grab a bite," as he put it. During the shopping adventure, Yayoi had spoken at length about Shido, explaining to Hiromi that she volunteered as a blood donor for the vampire.
"Somehow," she had said, "I'm immune to a vampire's bite. While others would, I can never become a vampire, from Shido's fangs..."
But ever since this afternoon, Yayoi had been furious about something....
"Hiromi, could you go see if Mr. Shirikaba is home?" Yayoi asked, pulling up in front of a small, well-kept house.
Frowning up at the woman though the rear-view mirror, Hiromi unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the car door.
"And take Guni with you. I think Yayoi would like to have a talk with me," Shido finished.
"No way! I want to see the slug-fest!"
"Guni, would you ever like to take part in a slug-fest with me?" Yayoi asked, still staring into the distance.
"Um...on second thought, it'd be a shame not to enjoy such a nice night while you can..." Guni said, rising out of her place in the cup holder and flitting to Hiromi's shoulder.
"Make sure Shirikaba knows what you are, Guni; you know the drill."
"Yeah, yeah!" Guni called back as Hiromi left the car.
"Why does Mr. Shirikaba need to know you're not a Barbie?"
"He may see things tonight that could threaten Shido and mine's existence." Guni stated primly, sitting down on Hiromi's shoulder. "We need him to promise not to repeat tonight's events to anyone, otherwise Shido takes his services elsewhere."
"Ah," Hiromi said, looking back at the car's occupants. Yayoi was gripping the steering wheel so hard her hands were molted. Shido was just sitting there and talking to her, accenting whatever he was saying with shrugs, and shakes of his head. Yayoi whipped her head around to him, her face flushed with fury, and leaned toward him, a finger poking roughly into his chest.
"Can you hear what there saying?" Hiromi asked the fairy.
"Yep."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Nope."
"Its about me, isn't it?"
"I'm not getting into that. Ask Shido later."
Hiromi sighed and turned back to the house. Her mind turning over itself, she reached over and rang the bell. The door opened almost immediately; Mr. Shirikaba must have been waiting for them.
"Hello, Mr. Shirikaba," Hiromi said, bowing.
"Ms. Takabe," he bowed back, and then looked around, "where are your seniors?"
"In the car...uh...discussing some minor differences."
Mr. Shirikaba glanced behind her to the car, and Hiromi followed his lead. Yayoi had her hands back on the steering wheel, listening to Shido. Suddenly, she whipped her hand up and caught the vampire on his cheek with the flat of her hand. Shoving open her door, Hiromi could hear the woman shouting, "Its wrong and you know it, Shido!"
"I see," Mr. Shirikaba replied. "Maybe we should wait inside."
Hiromi bit her lip a little as she followed him inside, "Would you please leave the door open?"
The man nodded and went into the living room, "Would you like something to drink?"
"No thank you, Hiromi said, following him, remembering to take her shoes off first.
"May I ask you something, Ms. Takabe?"
"Yes sir?"
"Why do you still have your sister's doll with you?"
"I'm no doll buddy," Guni snapped, finally flying from her perch to float in front of Shirikaba face.
The man paled slightly. "Is this a Nightbreed?" he asked quietly.
"WHAT?! How dare you say something like that? How could anyone mistake me for a Nightbreed?"
While the fairy continued her ratings in the background, Hiromi tried to explain her to Mr. Shirikaba.
".So you see, our company demands that whatever you see tonight, you carry to your grave, or we will not take your case."
"Very well," he said, still eyeing Guni. The fairy stuck her tongue out at him.
"Guni mind your manners," cam a masculine voice from the hall. Hiromi and Shido turned to see Shido and a red-faced Yayoi standing in the hallway. The hunt was on.
***
Shido fought the urge to rub at his stinging cheek. Yayoi had to be pretty upset before she came to blows, and tonight, Shido couldn't blame her. If the Breed didn't show, and his plan had to be put into effect, thing would have to proceed flawlessly, or....
"Do you agree to my terms, Mr. Shirikaba?" Shido asked, trying to project a calm demeanor.
"Yes I do."
"Then let's get this show on the road. If you would be do kind as to sit on the porch and wait for Minako? Shout before she comes near, and remember that it is only a shell of your daughter that you will see. Yayoi will go with you a provide cover from the bushes."
Still frowning, Yayoi turned and followed Shirikaba outside, drawing her gun as she walked.
"You too Guni," and before she could protest, Shido finished, "fly above the residences and look for the Breed."
Guni floated for a moment, looking between Hiromi and Shido before nodding and leaving via an open window.
Shido looked at Hiromi, watching tension travel from her spine to her shoulders. She was frightened of him. Shido had long ago come to terms with having people fear him, because he was a monster. But this time, he was feared because he was a man, and that unnerved him. Shido sat, unsure of how to proceed, and noticed Hiromi relax a little. Inadvertently, he had just given Hiromi an advantage over him.
Oh he could move faster than she, when he called on his vampiritic powers, but still, Hiromi felt safer if she was ready to bolt at anytime, while he would have to rise to touch her...
"Hiromi, I'd like to apologize for this afternoon."
"No, it was my fault for running into you."
"Be that as it may, after we fell, I acted out of...inexperience. Instead of joking like I did, I should have moved away. I'm sorry."
Hiromi looked as Shido for a long moment, studying him, before she gingerly took a seat across for him, "I'm the one who should apologize, Shido. I'm acting as if you're a dangerous man, because of a past experience that never involved you. There is no excuse for that."
Shido smiled slightly, "Perhaps the one we *should* be upset with is Guni..." to his relief, Hiromi laughed a little, and Shido joined her.
"Let's start fresh," Shido said, as the laughter faded. Hiromi nodded.
"Then may I ask you a question, Shido?"
"Anything."
Why did Yayoi slap you? What was she so upset about? I know its something about me."
Shido blinked. "Quick girl," he thought to himself. Aloud he said, "Your right, it does involve you, but if I told you, you'd probably slap me as well..."
"Shido!" came Yayoi's voice. The both stood as the woman ran in, "Guni said she saw a blonde girl in a blue dress heading to the city, from a local graveyard."
"Get Shirikaba back in here; the Breed's taken control!" the vampire shouted, rushing out, Hiromi following.
The man safely inside, Shido turned to the girl, allowing his eyes to flash yellow, "You remember my plan from earlier?"
"Yes..." Hiromi said in a small voice, totally in awe of even such a small display of power.
"You're the bait."