Chap. 9 Maelforce
A/N: This is the last chap. Well I have nothing to say but there's violence and of course some hints of what they did….
Disclaimers: I don't own them so don't sue me. ^___________^
My own love for Kaede grew as the years have passed.
We talked, play, do naughty stuff, and of course follow Dracula, who in turn I
now call Mitsui. I can't remember when I called him like that or when I even
became so casual about my current predicament. Dracula or Mitsui have known
about our relationship, and every time I open my eyes, I drown my self to fear
and close my eyes to hide them again. Yet every time I once again open my eyes,
there's like heaven my world's at peace. I was expecting him to punish us, but
no not even his own presence claims the room to stillness. I wonder if he
didn't mind it or he was just waiting for the appropriate time.
I'm writing another entry in this diary, this diary
has been there since the beginning. I brought my quill and write legibly in the
old parchment. I carefully use my delicate brush strokes so as the ink will not
blot on the purest white paper that I could ever find. As I leave it dry I
reminisce all the events that happened in my life.
Today's my new birth. I'm already a century old.
Time flies by and yet I myself am not a part of the world's busy existence of
life outside this castle I now call home. I look at the people trying to get
close at this infamous castle. I on the other hand look at their clothes, the
way they speak, and the way they act. Things change, I remember before that
it's French we're using, now they speak like they're Englishmen all accessorize
with satin and lace, brooches that are big, women now are showing what they're
bragging. Simplicity isn't the idea today. Inventions and other stuff have
claimed man to be the genius of God's creation.
But to all these stuff I'm still here, waiting
patiently for my lover. He told me we're going to celebrate my 100th
year of existence. I wonder why I didn't age. Why I didn't got those ugly
wrinkles, white hairs, and sag skin. It seems that I can't age, like Kaede. I
ask Kaede over and over before, but he won't tell me. Those men I known in my
life before I'm stuck here are all dead, have grandsons and daughters to tell
about the story of this frightening castle and it's owner of course. How I
terribly miss my family, did they still remember me? Or they have buried me
along the ages of time? I can't help but think about those, only me, Dracula,
the others, and Kaede will now that I still exist… but not as a living one… but
as a dead one to be immortal trapped in the frozen hour glass of life.
I'm so tired of being here, suppressed by all my
childish fears.
Why can't I just leave this place?
Cause your presence still lingers here and it won't
leave me alone.
My own soul tormented as time pass by.
Without you, Kaede my life cannot go on.
So why am I still afraid of Mitsui?
Cause he's powerful than you are, and you're scarred
of what will happen to you and him if you both escaped this so-called prison.
And I'll breakdown…
Drop to my knees.
Cry in anguish…
Because for once in my life I have found what I'm
willing to fight for, and yet I cannot bear to loose that person cause in this
not-so perfect world, I found the perfect world within it. My mind cannot erase
that thought… even for almost 80 years I stayed here in this prison… prison of
time and souls.
I wanted to kill myself before, so that I cannot
feel this pain, the pain of loneliness in this immortality. I found the reason
behind Dracula's need. It's the same need as what I can feel now. But no…
there's still lacking in me. How I tainted my hands with blood before. I killed
some of them in the dungeon; those who really wanted to end their suffering.
Maki, Fujima, and Hanagata. Three men died because they wanted peace, the peace
they cannot find here. I knew that they all love each other, and so I killed
them. Before Kaede and Mitsui ever found out.
"Blood can be washed away but people bleed in order
to live…"
This quote I believed in even to that faithful day
that I became soulless.
I don't know for how many nights I yearn to die. Yet
every time I see his face, I can't help but erase the thought that bugs my till
today.
Have you ever heard of this line... In happiness there's
equal unhappiness? Maybe not. But in reality it's the truth. I envy those men
and women walking and casually doing their work, or just walk in the streets. I
envy them for what they can call life. Yes I like to go back to that mundane
life they call. And yet as time goes by I walk to their streets, I feel so lost
and so afraid. My clothes they are so out of date. They must have pitied me
cause one time someone, a tailor I presume, gave me a new set of clothes. I
just thanked him for the offer not bothering to ask what the tailor questions
me.
Sometimes, people will give me strange looks, as if
I'm a monster. Well technically I can be called one cause I'm immortal. Some
even tried to make a conversation out of me. Women would try and show off their
fronts with low bodice enough to be called indecent during my time. Some would
even give me food, as if I'm a beggar. Strange but I like this. It's so
unnatural to me over the years I've stayed in the castle. All I know is a loose
shirt, with pants. That's all, simplicity in my times. This village isn't a
village anymore. It's a town complete with all the latest trends of Britain.
What do they call this place? Oh yeah, tourists spot. All men and women knew
Transilvania, from young and old, and from rich to poor.
In my times relationships of men to men or girl to
girl is accepted. For some odd reasons having those now isn't accepted. I don't
know why, so Kaede and I don't get to hold hands while walking or kiss in the
public. Whoever did that law surely changed the minds of these people and he or
she is surely popular.
I found out about the folk tales of the old ones
about Dracula. I laugh cause he surely isn't like the ones they describe.
Combed, gelled hair with white streaks on both sides, very pale face, with cape
that has a red silk inside and a jet-black silk outside, a man with a cape and
white shirt. Well they are all wrong about this vampire. I never said it out
loud, of course so as not to raise any questions about my self.
So far the tour around this place is far exiting. As
if I'm a little boy ready for adventures in life, full of vibrant colors they
say. I found myself looking over the window of the shop. I wonder what kind of
stories in those books. So I enter and read some of them. I was lost to the
world of each book I read. Surprisingly I have read whole 10 books in the store
not one of them I paid. The gild in the counter just let me read and read and
sigh and sometimes laugh at the stories and mischiefs of the characters. I
decided to write about myself in my diary, so I fill up the pages of my diary
full of ideas about a prince who beat his opponents with his mighty sword, or a
dragon that protect the kingdom from the evil witch. Or my love story with… of
course with him.
Kaede on the other hand was dumbfounded with what
I'm doing. More so Kogure who in turn became a friend to me, was shock as every
night I made a story for him. I read to him what I put in my notebook, and
somehow I can feel that they are happy that I could give them back all those
little precious things in life.
I got shocked all the more when Mitsui came and was
convinced by Kogure to go with him so they could both hear my next story. Years
have passed and traditionally we exchange stories. Must be like a family that gathers
around the fireplace. I realize that Mitsui didn't really intent to hurt me or
Kaede, he just want to tell us that he's still the boss in this place and that
we are to follow him. He's not that bad, actually those stories really make him
all look like a bad guy, like a gangster in the alley.
I thought I could give my heart out that if you had
heart it would all be there for you. That everything would come together in
little sparkling pieces. Shining that dream back out to you, me or whoever was
that stupid to get trapped in such a lie.
But no it was all a lie. All those happy moments
turn into dust. And when I woke up everything is back to normal. The nightmares
just turn into reality, and I'm a part of it.
All the evil things came and haunt me. From one lost
soul to another I tried to be still and not listen to what they say. I got so
confused and eventually gave me my own downfall.
And what did I do? Akira of the 17th
century so lost in the fast pace of time and life? What are you going to do?
I don't know what I'm supposed to do… but to cry
till I spill out to the very last drop of tears and eventually cry out blood
instead of salty water.
So there's my nightmare, one lost soul sometime just
walked near the pillar while we are having dinner. I could see her, but they
couldn't. I was with Kogure and Kaede when this all happened. Both didn't know
what to do but look at me while I face my inner battle. I can see her tongue
grew longer and longer till the tip of her tongue can reach out the foods on
the table. I can see her licking at it one by one even those that they eat, I
felt so disgusted to the point I throw what I have and let my self starve to
death that night. Kaede even brought me some cookies, but I refused. He told me
the story of that girl I saw. But even so I starve my self to death for a week.
Did I succeed in killing my self? No. For Kaede
again brought me back to the reality that everything will be ok and its just
spirits. But aren't we but spirits too? Only that we have bodies that can make
us look more human? We are souls that are trapped. We are prisoners but we
don't feel like it. But I know that I'm a prisoner…. Prisoner of this body.
So I again am contemplating on my life here in this
castle.
I don't like to be manipulated,
even by my own heart. My own naïve views of trust and courage. I thought I did.
I thought I was strong, but it was all false and all a lie.
Yes it was all just a shit. But I don't really mind
it. Again I'm being pulled into the depths of anger. I somehow blamed my
parents for agreeing to put me in this mess. Put me in all of these nightmares
that I somehow manage to live with. Those memories of being tortured, and even
raped by some of the slaves, they are all too painful. Where was my salvation?
In all those times that I asked God for some enlightenment, he didn't give me
one. I even bother asking Satan since he's what they call the God of vampires.
But lo and behold I wasn't given any of that divine intervention. I even bother
to believe at one time that there's no God, angels, Satan, and all those
religious beliefs. Why? Cause, take a look at me, and take a look at Kaede,
even to Dracula. I wonder if Mitsui even bother to pray of go to the chapel of
this castle.
From what I heard before, the chapel isn't a chapel
before. It was a stable, stable for all the stallions of the Count. I could
hear the heartbeat and steady pounding of hoofs on the ground inside the
chapel. It gives me the shivers when I feel like going inside.
I feel like telling you all a virtual tour inside
the castle. The place is really big, however there are a lot, and I mean a lot
of those traps, I can't even manage the door has razor blades at any side
making it a deadly weapon. I saw once and I really didn't want to enter there.
I remember all the tours Kaede gave me, those pictures that was tainted with
blood, blood clots, cobwebs that's really thick. Those antique vases that must
have dated eons ago, are still there only filled with dust. And rooms that are
so stuffed that you can't possibly breathe cause you'll only breathe in dirt.
But needless to say I have grown accustomed with
this place. As I said earlier this is my home. I like this.
But what about Kaede?
He's still there doing all the things that he
normally do. Except for one major thing. I know now that he sleeps beside me
and more so taking advantage of me while I'm sleeping, he said that but he said
it's sometimes not everyday. I thank God for that or I'll be dead sore just
like the last time we did it… Well maybe he came from a kitsune clan or so that
really have such metabolism or should we say a craving. But I do like the way
he cares for me. Hell we wouldn't survive 80 years of relationship. I'm really
that old…
I do remember those times when I told him I wanted
out. Out from this, out from vampires and slaves… He cried. I felt bad about it
and hug him tightly to me. He just pounds his fists to my chest and I can't
feel the pain of it, but I do feel how he's feeling. I told him I'm sorry and
that's enough to bring back that cute little smile he only gives to me.
He's what I call my perfect world. He's everything
to me. He said to me that "I'm your friend till the end, whatever path you
take…I'm right beside you. If one day I got lost beside you, don't worry just
look back… I just tripped that's all."
It's seems funny yet I treasure those words.
Simplicity in life is what I'm looking for. I haven't told Kaede why I do like
taking care of those fish. It's not that I can't catch one fish every time we
go to the pond. It's just that they give me tranquility in life. They look so
peaceful down there and yes I do eat some of them when we don't have food.
I wonder do you ever feel the same as me? Do you
want to try to leave the memory behind of these things? I wonder if you do ever
really understand what Dracula's trying to make us to do. Are you still stuck
from the debt you owe him? I know it's past but do you consider this life stuck
in this castle for God knows how long. To serve him even you know that serving
him will cause you your freedom in human necessities? But you now what? Despite
all these doubts, despite all the things that happened to me and you… I like
you.
Every tear I shed will bring me one step closer to
you...
Time fades slowly when your arms wrap around me...
Immortality cannot make me all happy unless there's
one bright light that will lead me to eternal peace.
Every smile on your face Kaede, gives me another day
to hope.
Cause I finally found you…
Cause I like you that much…
Cause I changed the word like to love in my heart…
only for you.
So I wait till the evenings gone, so I could see
your face again light up by the radiant sun. So that I know there's another day
with you… and I can go on living.
Dramatic yes but it's true… from all my past amours
I only grow so in love with one. Yet I can't help bring myself to tell you
those three words you long to hear from me. Cause I'm scarred… so scarred to
the point that I may kill myself and erase my supposed to be non-existence
life.
There was one time, when I had enough of him,
Mitsui. I trashed him. When he pushed me to the wall and placed those two hot
shafts driven hard through my neck and down to my soul.
I know what he was doing. He was draining me so I
can't fight him much longer. I knew he was going to kill me… He drains my own
soul making it lifeless, and hollow. Kaede and Kogure at the background telling
us to stop this insane madness, but no you held tight, feeding upon me… he was
draining me.
And I fall on both knees, him still holding me, the
blood that came out of me pours non-stop and I can't control it!
I shouted "Devil" to him more than once… and I
couldn't count more. I was in fury, for I found my self, holding him in my bare
hands, dragging him to one of those doors.
His heels were scrapping the loose tiles on the
floor, his face full of fury like mine. Eyes glowing with madness, and I know
it wasn't just an ordinary one; it's a shrill reprisal. I sung him using my
right arm that clutch tightly to his shoulder blade, sung him from side to
side, so that his head would snap back. I used my other hand to beat him,
punching his face, his body so that he could feel the pain and fury of mine. I
beat him till the blood run out of his eyes, mouth, and nose.
He held tightly to one of my hand, he slowly trying
to revive himself from the punches I gave him. Maddened, I clutched at his neck
tightly, I warned both Kogure and Kaede to stay away from me and Mitsui. I
pushed his head down and pinned him down. I strangled him until the blood in
great gushes poured out of his open mouth.
I beat him again, I love the way he feels so
vulnerable. Who would think that the
invisible Dracula, Mitsui would fall like this? I look at his making sure he's
already limp and weak, and then I stood up. Beating him again with my foot,
turning him this way and that. I pulled out my dagger and was about to stab him
but I stopped.
It was Kogure who protected him. Kogure who covered
Mitsui with his body and was crying, begging me to stop. I let my hand loose
it's grip in the dagger's handle and let the dagger fall with a clinking sound.
I felt myself weaken and I fall down to my knees, and a single tear fell from
my eye. Kogure picked Mitsui and off they went to Mitsui's quarters so he could
nurse the vampire. I still am there, with Kaede. For a few minutes we are in
our position, silence creeping our insides. I sighed, and close my eyes. Kaede
wrapped his arms around me; he was there in front of me. I look into his eyes
and I saw pain. Was it because of me? He talked telling me that it's all right
and it's over. He didn't blame me or anything just hugs me till I came back to
my peaceful self.
Well among all these things we still manage to be
together. I remember one time when we
where in the kitchen I made my move on him. It was the first time I manage to
be the one on top. Funny as it seems he wants the kitchen clean and orderly.
"Do you have anything to do today?" I asked.
"Nope."
I hoist him onto the table…
"Ak…i…"
"Akira!!!!!!!"
Ok so that really did make me paralyze for a few
seconds…
"What Kaede?"
"We're not supposed to do this here."
"Why so?"
"Cause this table is where we eat food…"
"So what do you think I'm going to be eating from
here on?"
"Ea…ting……"
"me…????" He said.
And so is our little feast started…. Oh well isn't
he so cute when he said that. Hahaha tough luck to the others I got this one
for myself.
Yeah those passions filled days when we get to have
our naughty things on the green light, are the happy moments that…. Of course
am not going to say the rest… they're for my daydreams.
And so it was like that…
Kaede was knocking on my door when I snapped out of
my reverie. Weird but hey he really is in good timing… he opens the door and
wraps his arms around me. Valentines Day huh… well why don't we get some love
and win some hearts in my case his heart I'm trying to win. So a 100th
birthday. I didn't expect him to make me a cake more so it's a Coffee Crumble
Cake that I so love. I have a sweet tooth that's why… Kaede was making fun of
me when he told me, why Mitsui like my blood… it's so sweet enough to be filled
with ants. I snickered of course it's all a joke, and it's my birthday so I can
get to wish what I want.
"So what's your wish Akira?"
"Um… how about you and my fantasies come alive?"
"You mean sexual fantasies."
"er… Well… um… errrr…"
"Stammering again…"
I blush at that remark. "Well yeah… no it's not what
you think!"
But we did it eventually well of course we have me
stammering all the way. He can only make me blab like an idiot. He's so cute I
just can't help but stare at him… and no not to the point where he'll melt. I
don't want that to happen to my Kaede.
So I turn into a vampire but I don't crave blood, I
just crave like normal human being. I think this immortality is like Kaede's
but we don't care. We left that castle after I turn into my 100th
birthday. A gift from Mitsui. Somehow they wanted to stay there forever, so we
just thanked them both, and left together. Somewhere along the road we get to
meet people, these people helped us one way or another to get clothes, food,
and even a house of ours.
**********************
I shacked myself out from my reverie, how long am I standing in front of this shop? My old name have been popular for making novels and, of course this infamous vampire novel. I smiled, well at least people get to experience what I have been through, and so as the others. I wonder if there's something that bonds as all, cause like those other men in the dungeon, they are here alive and still acting the same. Weird, must be faith tricking us again. But oh well; only 4 of us can remember those things now. I'll just keep it a secret, if I can keep one that is.
Sendoh recalls all of those, and then look at Kaede. "Of course that's just half of my story." I smiled and walk to catch up with my lover who nearly will bump to the light post. Somehow he looks funny but of course he'll mutter a few words he chose. Might as well save him, before he got an ugly bump on his forehead.
And so I walk along with Kaede in the busy streets of Kanagawa. Helping him if he did fell asleep again. The people, they are ok with our relationship. Kinda strange but they told me that we look cute together. I smiled at them and still help my koi walk up till he enters his own class. The bike was in the repair shop AGAIN. I was exasperated with it…telling him to take care of the cars; especially it's not like him who's immortal so he can only get few bumps and scratches. He just ignore me again… talk about my lover. Well he did change a little… it turns out that I became what he is before and he the exact opposite of me now.
Here lies also both of our sempais. How ironic, that the four of us will meet in one place. And to top it all, I was the one left all alone in Ryonan. I regretted that but it doesn't matter, I know that my lover will wait for me patiently in our house. My own perfect world is in reality now. I'm leaving peacefully with him and of course with our friends. They still don't know about our situation as immortals, but we have a way to escape it. But that's in the future, I don't mind staying like this young… I'll just tell them I don't age like Michel Fox, or Keanu Reeves. Hehehehe… nice plan.
********
Here lies the two basketball players… and here lies the two creatures that is known to mankind… But of course that's another story… till then when we have time to open up again this book, try to understand the consequences and the thankfulness of these two men to immortality. Who found love amidst the trials, the frightening story, and of course the pain they have to suffer as time goes by.
Now this book will be closed, like the past it self have closed to us. Now all we need to do is to follow what we want, grab that opportunity, and walk towards the future. Just like their story, Akira and Kaede.
End.
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Author's notes: ok I know you all are confused in the turn of events…
The first one is he's writing an entry in his diary… then he thinks of what happened in his life…. While these things happen there's this future of him thinking the same thing. Then I mixed it up making it the present (where Akira is in front of the shop and thinks about the novel he made before… and Kaede walking and is near to his designated target… the lamp post.) I do hope the turn of events didn't confused you… Especially when there's another one who's talking in the end…. Well you know who's talking in the end… it's me… anyway this is something I'll never ever do again unless my brain caught up with another horror plot and twisted-ness for all…
I promised myself that I wouldn't make all those alternate versions it made me have a writers block… gee…. Anyway that's all thanks for reading this reviews are greatly appreciated. Oh pls. Go to our site… www.geocities.com/rusen_0hour/ you can find other fics and pics in there… don't forget to sign in our guestbook!