Chapter 2: Vague Vampires and Clues







Hello again. So, here's the second chapter. As usual the same warnings apply to this chapter that came with the last one. I think I'm really starting to enjoy writing to this series so I don't know if after Answer to the Call if I'll do more that involves these characters with this storyline. Anyway, I think I've already been babbling for too long (lack of sleep is not good for anyone that's wondering) so now in with the story and please review!!!! Thanks. ^_^;;





Chapter 2: Vague Vampires and Clues

"When is this thing supposed to start?" Rai shouted over the extremely loud noise.

Duo shrugged and glanced down at his watch. He opened his mouth to tell Rai but just then a loud strand of music flowed powerfully through the stadium and what the violet-eyed pilot said was lost to the crowd.

/Oh well, I guess I got the answer anyway./ Turning his gaze to the stage, Rai tried desperately to understand why his brother liked this type of music. Punk was not his thing and it always gave him a headache. /Yeah but I love Duo too much to refuse his offer. After all, now he has to repay a favor./ Snickering, the wintry-eyed man sighed and hoped that he had enough Tylenol in his medicine cabinet when he got home.

"Rai." A voice called close to his ear and the brunette turned to find Wufei next to him. The Chinese man motioned for him to follow him and led him away from most of the crowd and into the mostly empty hallway.

"What is it Wufei?"

Wufei smiled faintly. "I just wanted to get to the restroom but I don't think I want to wander this place by myself and I was starting to get the feeling that you wanted to take a break from that music."

Rai laughed and nodded. "True. True. And thanks for that." He followed his partner down the corridor and leaned against the wall outside of the one person bathroom, waiting for Wufei.

His silver-blue eyes were closed in thought when they suddenly snapped open as a noise further down the empty hall echoed loudly in his sensitive ears. Moving slowly away from the wall and trusting his instinct that whatever was at the other end was not friendly, Rai drew his gun and a parchment from his belt.

Knocking lightly on the bathroom door, the American hushedly warned his partner before darting off down the hall, melting into the shadows. The change was immediately and so natural that Rai hardly noticed when his eyes shifted completely silver and the tops of his ears sharpened off into soft points. Fortunately, the necromancer found his control before his clothing also transformed but left what appearances had already altered.

Rai paused at the corner as his keen elven ears caught the sound of two quietly speaking voices. /Lamia? Vampires? What are they doing here so openly?/

"Rai?" A voice called softly.

Said necromancer rounded on the person behind him gun trained at the other's heart before he realized that it was only Wufei.

"Do not do that." Rai demanded equally silent.

Wufei motioned his apology, shifting the sword in his hands. "What's happening?"

"Vampires. They are searching for someone and I am beginning to believe that that someone is myself." The brunette glimpsed around the corner again and sighed silently.

Raising an eyebrow, Wufei then frowned. "Then we should get out of here."

"No." The elven lord cocked his gun. "If we do not fight them here then they shall surely try to get to me through other people and I will not risk anyone's life needlessly."

Studying the other's serious features for a brief moment, Wufei shook his head and smirked. "What are we waiting for then? Let's get them."

Rai grinned and nodded. Holding up the scroll before his eyes, a gentle wind played around the necromancer and his companion before a silver shield fell into place. Satisfied that they were at least protected against any type of magic attack, the elf signaled for them to attack.

The brunette snarled angrily as he managed to shoot the first vampire in the shoulder. /Thank the heavens these bullets are silver./ Rai thought, knowing that now his foe would be at a disadvantage since the vampire couldn't heal over the wound now. Concentrating, his firearm vanished from his hand and in its place were two silver and ivory daggers. "Would you care to explain this before I kill you?"

Surprisingly the monster smirked and opened her mouth to speak. "First I shall like to point out that you and your companion will be the ones to die in this fight, trust me. Second, I don't think that I should tell you. It would be sweeter knowing that you died without giving you the reason why."

Rai snorted indignantly. "Bitch. Are you not a bit confident for being the injured one here?" Lunging forward in one graceful movement, Rai twirled and slashed, managing to knick his opponent several times before dodging and moving out of range. "So what is your reason for bothering me unnecessarily? I had thought that your race would have learned by now to avoid me."

The vampire's eyes narrowed at the insult. "You and your lover will pay for this. Know that before I kill you." With the last word, she leapt forward and Rai barely able to block the flurry of claws and the flashing metal of the other's dagger.

Although, as the fight went on Rai slowly took the offensive and with a few precise and mastered moves, slashed a perfect X into the vampire's throat. For a moment, his foe didn't register the life taking gash until she tried to draw breath and there only came a gurgling sucking sound of air. Clutching at her throat, the vampire gave the wintry-eyed elf one last spiteful look and fell into the oblivion of death.

Bending down, Rai checked that his opponent was truly dead before wiping the blood that smeared his daggers onto the vampire's shirt. The elf sighed and glanced over just to see Wufei finish off the other monster and smiled. "You handled that quite well."

"As did you. I never thought you could use a blade." Wufei sheathed his own sword and strode over to Rai.

Rai smiled, his silver-blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "My first and choice weapon besides a firearm."

"Are you implying something Maxwell?" The Chinese man answered in good humor.

"Well, I do not know. Do you think I am?" The necromancer winked and laughed joyfully as he cast a small spell with the flick of his wrist. In the blink of an eye, the two bodies vanished along with any signs of battle.

Wufei suddenly turned a serious eye to Rai. "Do you by chance know what they wanted with you?"

"I am not too sure. I had only obtained vague clues from the female but what I do know tells me that it will most likely result in the death of Derek and I." Rai announced grimly. "As I am also to suspect that Derek's previous actions of separating with me is his way to attempt to protect me."

"Are you sure Rai?"

Rai took one glance at where the corpses had lain and nodded confidently. "I am beyond doubt."

Eyeing his partner, Wufei trusted in the other's insight and did not question the possibility, rather he set to concocting plans to assist Rai.

The two pilots trailed back to the concert and came to the entrance right as the rest of their friends came rushing out. One look at Rai's and Wufei's disheveled state and their comrades knew something had gone wrong.

"Rai? Wufei? Are you alright?" Quatre asked, concern most prominent on his features.

"We are fine Quatre. Twas just an unexpected fight but we took care of it." Rai answered smoothly. He noted that the blonde tilted his head slightly at his strange speech patterns and the elf suddenly remembered that he had not reverted fully back to his human form. /I hope that none of them noticed./ Quickly, Rai willed himself to change and sighed when no one seemed to pay mind to the small show of magic.

Unnoticed by Rai, one of the pilots did see the shift. Heero's cobalt eyes widened slight before he called on his control and hid his shock. /What is he? I know he is a necromancer but there is something that he is hiding from us./ The Japanese man thought back to the hint of pointed ears from Rai's veil of brunette locks and recognition hit him. /He couldn't be an elf! They're only legend./ Heero almost smacked himself at the thought. /And so were vampires and all of that shit before Rai told us about it. I guess I should have a talk with him when we get back to the apartments/ Sighing, Heero resigned himself to watching his friends and remaining content that Wufei and Rai were safe.

* * * * *

"May I speak with you Rai?" Heero asked quietly as the group stepped out of the elevator.

"Sure." Rai told Wufei that he would return shortly and followed Heero as the Asian led him the opposite way of their apartments. "What is it onii- chan?"

Heero looked to the younger man, which he thought of as a little brother and sighed. "Who are you really Rai? Tell me the whole truth this time. I know that you are a necromancer but there is something else, isn't there?"

The American seemed startled, moving back one step. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"I saw you when you came back with Wufei. You're not human are you?"

Staring into the blue depths for confirmation of Heero's statement, Rai slumped when he read the obvious knowledge in his long-time friend's eyes. Breathing deeply, Rai set to explaining his position and everything about his life as a Light Elf. "It is true that I am not human, rather I am an elf. You see, the necromancy society has gone as far back as the age of my people before they left these lands and even though it was not popular, some of my kin did become necromancers. I had no plans to become one for I was content with my life as an elven lord and a mage but eventually there came a call for my services. My first reaction was to turn down the request but. . .well, let's just say that I saw what happens first hand to vampire victims so I joined. There I learned that they had not only hired me because they needed new members but because their necromancers, even if they could return to life, did not retain much of their memory. Therefore, since my people are immortal, they knew that they would have a permanent agent until I was killed." He paused to gauge Heero's reaction so far and was relieved to find no anger in the cobalt depths. "At first I fought openly as an elf but as the ages passed, my people slowly began to leave until I was the lone remainder."

"So you're alone now? With none of your original family left?" The Japanese man asked quietly, feeling a hint of sorrow for Rai.

Rai shook his head. "I was alone until I found Duo. He had been dying from the plague when I first found him and seeing that we were both without family I cured him and used magic to disguise me as a young child. From there on I was his brother younger brother and over the years I did grow to be very fond of him like I did when I met you."

Heero sighed. "Then how long have you been disguised as a human?"

"Since before the building of the space colonies. I found that there was no place for an elf in this world and if news ever reached the press about my heritage I would be facing much unwanted attention so I kept it a secret. I had truly not meant for myself to shift tonight while I was fighting and I had forgotten to return back to this form before I ran into you." The brunette released a weary breath and leaned against the wall beside Heero.

Meanwhile, said man was studying Rai carefully out of the corner of his eyes. He was silent as he weighed the information that his friend had given him before finally turning so that he was facing Rai. "I can't say that I'm not surprised but I guess I do understand your reasoning of concealing yourself." Heero tilted his head slightly. "And I am not angry with you but could I just ask to see how you really look like?"

If anything, Rai had not expected that request and with a small, grateful smile, nodded. He concentrated for a brief second and opened his eyes when the transformation was complete. The elf watched as his companion curiously swept his gaze over him before Heero's eyes landed on the beautiful weapons on Rai's back. Rai grinned as he unsheathed one of his daggers and handed it carefully to the other.

"It's so light." The ex-pilot said as he held the delicate looking blade in his hands.

"Elven made. All our weapons are light to the feel but very strong and durable. Most are enchanted as well." He held out a hand for the dagger and lovingly resheathed it. "So what do you think?"

Heero shook his head and allowed a small smirk to play on his lips. "You surely do look quite different but, as Duo would put it, this is kind of cool."

Rai chuckled at his friend's antics and grinned before changing back to the pilot that everyone knew. "Well, now that we have that out of the way, you won't tell anyone about this will you?"

"I won't but when do you plan to tell Duo? I think that at least he deserves to know."

"I know." The wintry-eyed brunette sighed. "I promise that I shall find a time soon."

"Alright." Heero nodded as he pushed away from the wall and Rai did the same. "We should be heading back to our apartments now. I suspect Duo and Wufei may be a little worried by now."

"Yeah." Rai turned to go but halted in his tracks. "Thank you Heero. You really are a great friend."

Eyes softening slightly, Heero stared at the younger man's back. "As are you. Good night Rai."

"Night Heero." With that he walked off down the hall, secure in his feelings that Heero would not give away his secret.

* * * * *

Derek trembled as he emerged from the shadows. He had witnessed the entire fight and had tailed his former lover back to his apartments but he couldn't bring himself to face Rai. /It was all in vain. I hurt him for no reason. How will I fix this? How can I protect him?/ Despair in his heart, the blonde watched as Rai bid his friend goodnight and hurried back to his own room.





T.B.C.





So, how's that for the second chapter? I'm trying to make this last longer than Call of the Night but I don't know if it will. Oh well, we'll see won't we? As usual, I would like some reviews if everyone would be kind enough and I guess I'm off to work on some other stories.