Last time:

That was when I felt the hostile nonhuman force at the door of my room.

I tensed and my eyes snapped open as I twisted in my bed to stare at the doorway.

"I think you have some explaining to do, Hidaka," the figure said.

Aya.

Dream of Crimson – Part IX

By Vikki

Disclaimer: ::puts down sticker reading 'Property of Takehito Koyasu'::

Flame Policy:  I've come to suck your blood ….

*   *   *

                I didn't know how to react.  I stared at Aya as he stepped menacingly into the room.  My sense of alarm increased as he approached and the invisible warning bells of my sixth sense went off.  I sat upright and scooted backwards on the bed until I was against the wall, my cast digging painfully into my back.  My heart thudded wildly.

                Aya's mouth was set in a thin line; his violet eyes flashed.  He stopped at the foot of my bed and glared at me.  His glare could have melted stone.  I swallowed hard and opened my mouth to speak; no sound came out.  I gave it another try.  "A-Aya … w-what d-d-did you n-need e-explained?"

                It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for my sixth sense, I thought.  Aya never set off warning bells like this in me before because he never presented himself as a threat.  He was just – well – not human.  But now I knew he was a vampire; now something was fundamentally different about his attitude towards me.  I was worse than scared; I was terrified.

                Aya's hand clamped down on my jaw as he forced me to face him and he leaned down until our faces were inches apart.  "What is that witch doing here?" he snarled, baring his teeth.

                "Y-You mean Yumi?" I gasped stupidly. I fancied that I could see the sharp little vein-piercing canines in his perfect mouth.

                Aya's fingers tightened.  "No matter how you may act, Hidaka, you are not stupid!  Yes, Yumi!"

                Pain lanced my jawbone as I managed, "M-mission business … n-not your problem, you d-didn't take the job …"

                Aya snarled silently and the pressure on my jaw and temples increased.  I winced, gasping for breath.  "When it comes to the supernatural it is always my business," he said quietly.  "Do you want to revise your answer before I break your jaw?"

                What would I tell him? I wondered as I screwed my eyes shut with the pain.  Ah, yes, Yumi stopped by to tell me that you're actually a psi-vampire, and did you know, Bethany committed fourteen murders in the last ten days?  Instead I just groaned, putting my good hand over his own and kicking feebly at him.  "I … gods, Aya, I don't know, just let me go, please!" I whined.

                "Liar," Aya breathed.  He squeezed.

                "Aya-kun!"

                That suddenly, Aya dropped me.  I collapsed against the bedclothes, massaging my jaw and grimacing.  "What?" Aya snapped, spinning to face the doorway.

                Omi was there, white as a sheet and clutching his baseball cap in his hands so tightly his knuckles were changing color.  "I … I …" he trailed off uncertainly, staring at Aya with wide eyes.

                How much did he see? Was of course the standard question; he couldn't have heard a thing, as he was outside the warded room until just now.  I stared at the seventeen-year-old, wordless, until suddenly Aya snorted and stalked out of the room, pushing past Omi rudely.

                Omi looked at me blankly; the color was slowly returning to his face, but he was still obviously very worried.  "Ken-kun …" he said slowly.

                I opened my mouth, but it took me a moment to say anything.  "… Aya just …" What, am I going to apologize for him? I thought angrily.  That bastard traitor covering for that creature Bel'uah – probably gathering information for her so she can kill Yumi—

                And then it hit me.

                Aya was my enemy.

                And as long as he was under Bethany's influence, he would continue to be an enemy.

                I felt hollow.  It was Kase all over again.

                "Ken-kun?"  Omi sounded nearly hysterical – naturally, I thought, as he'd just seen one 'friend' nearly crack another 'friend's' jaw.

                "I … Aya …" I tried again, tongue-tied.  "He's …"

                "Special?"  Youji asked from the doorway.  I looked up, relieved; Omi sighed, placing his hand over his heart.  Youji walked in and sat down.  "Yumi-san said she had some business to attend to, so she left.  What's the matter, Omi, you look like you've seen a ghost!  Sheesh."  Without waiting for an answer, Youji produced a big bag full of takeout sushi.  "Never mind, I've heard enough weird shit to get me through a whole year.  You like salmon, right, Kenken?" he handed me a nine-piece sushi set.

                Omi seemed as glad as me to just brush over the incident for now; I think we both needed the mental rest.  The teenager rolled his eyes.  "Youji-kun, you take everything too lightly!" he accused.

                "Well, you take everything seriously enough for the both of us," Youji pointed out amiably.

                "That's because you're so careless you'll get us all killed!"

                "Ha!  If you die young, Omicchi, it'll be of a heart attack."

                "Youji-kun!"

                I broke my chopsticks and smiled for small blessings.  "Itadakimasu," I laughed, digging in.

*   *   *

                The next day the stitches in my stomach were removed during the morning, leaving a long pink scar, but when Youji came in the afternoon I wouldn't let him leave the hospital room.  He teased me about it mercilessly, but I was too frightened of Aya to let it get to me.  When I just stared at Youji for a while after one of his worse wisecracks, he sobered and produced a book to read – Erotica.  I blushed when I saw the cover.  "Youji, you actually went through with it!" I accused.

                "Through with what?" Youji asked innocently.

                "Well – getting that book!"  I pointed.  "You were going to get it from the Tokyo University Library when-" I cut off ungracefully, thinking that maybe bringing up what had happened that day wasn't the best idea.

                Youji, however, just smirked.  "I always carry through on my plans," he informed me.

                I rolled my eyes at him and looked for something to do.

                Aya didn't even come by that day.  However, some of the kids I played soccer with showed up around five o'clock in the evening, delivering a huge load of 'get well soon' cards and enough candy to turn even Youji into a bloated blimp.  It was a pleasant hour with them – it reminded me that the world wasn't only populated by freaks and blood-sucking creatures of the night.

                However, I'd have to say the highlight of my day was when the Necromancer came.

                A nurse came by at about 6:30 PM and let him in.  He wore casual clothes that sagged on his frame, reinforcing in my mind the idea that he was no older than Omi, and carried a small paper bag.  "Kon'ban wa," he greeted both Youji and me.  He hoisted the bag in his hand, facing me.  "I brought the shuriken you ordered, Hidaka-san.  I hope you are feeling better."

                Either I was getting a little better at 'wielding' my sixth sense or it was getting stronger.  Regardless, it was getting easier and easier to establish the difference between a hostile being, a neutral being, and a friendly being.  The sense I had from the Necromancer was so friendly that it completely erased the wary edge that usually came to me with a non- or super-human.  "I am, thanks.  Sit down.  Oh, uh, this is Youji Kudou, by the way," I introduced my friend, causing Youji to wave with a little smirk, "And Youji, this is – er—"

                "Kenji Yamamoto," the boy smiled.

"Yeah.  He's the one that sold me the silver bullets for your gun, Youji."

Youji raised his eyebrows, nodding once.  "Good to meet you."

"It is my pleasure," Kenji bowed slightly.  He took the seat I indicated.  "Where would you like me to put the shuriken?"

                "Oh, wherever," I waved it off.  "They're for another partner of mine, so I'll give them to him later.  How did you know I was in the hospital?  You'd think somebody broadcast the news across Tokyo with the number of people who know."

                At that Kenji snorted.  "Well, that may be pretty accurate, Hidaka-san."

                I raised my eyebrows.  "Oh?  And where did you hear my name – I don't think I ever told you at the shop."

                "You didn't," the Necromancer hastened to assure me.  "Just let me tell you how I found you – it all ties together, and it also has to do with why I came in person."  He glanced at Youji and then leveled his gaze on me.  "Can he—"

                "Youji can hear anything I hear, Yamamoto-san," I assured him before he could finish

                "Yeah, I keep Kenken here sane and alive," Youji added, making me glare at him before I pondered the truth of that statement.  He sorta does …

                "Well, er, go on," I encouraged.

                Kenji nodded, giving Youji a look that suggested incredulity before he looked at me again, leaning forward and putting his elbows on his knees.  "All right.

                "When you didn't come in to pick up the shuriken order six days ago, I was sort of relieved – the order hadn't come in, and usually things like that are rush jobs.  But when you didn't come the next day, or the next, I got a little worried, so I … I researched you, as it were.  Not on the computer, at least at first – I didn't have your name yet – but, er … it wasn't hard to find you once I started asking around about a Hunter.

                "Well, Hidaka-san, in the last week and a half you've made a big name for yourself in the Underground.  You're the deadliest Hunter in Tokyo and you stood up to a witch coven to boot.  Besides which, rumors are going around that you've seen Bethany several times, yet you're not only alive, but you still have a free will." Kenji frowned at me.  "You told me you were new to all this!"

                "I am," I protested, awed by the information.  The idea of me being famous was frightening and exhilarating at the same time (if not novel).  "No one told me that a Hunter's not supposed to kill five vampires in a week, and I did it mostly by accident anyway, with a lot of help!  As to Bethany …" I couldn't suppress a shudder. "I don't know what's with her.  I can tell you that I have no idea why she hasn't killed me – I'm sure she could do it whenever she wanted."

                "Then you know who she is?"

                "My impression," I grumbled, "is that it's nearly impossible to get involved with the Underground and not know who she is."  Youji didn't look very surprised, though, so I could only assume that Yumi had told him about Bethany.

                Kenji smirked slightly.  "That's true enough."  He sat back.  "Anyway, it took a little digging, but I got wind of your name from one of my contacts, so I took my search to the 'net."  Again he looked at me curiously.  "What I found was interesting.  The name Ken Hidaka isn't on official Tokyo records anywhere – not even on the motorcycle license registry.  You don't exist, legally."

                I shrugged.  "Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I'm dead."  The Necromancer raised his eyebrows at me, and I saw Youji smirk out of the corner of my eye.  "Anyway, so you didn't find me officially.  Where did you find me?"

                Kenji half-smiled.  "The coaching roster for the district junior soccer league," he answered, "which made me think that your name was sort of familiar.  You're the goalie that got kicked out of the J-League a couple of years ago, aren't you?  I followed your team for years."

                It was odd; I'd thought I'd put the pain of being kicked out of the League behind me, but something in me cringed at Kenji's words.  "That was a lifetime or two ago," I said quietly.

                Seeming to sense my mood, Kenji moved on hurriedly.  "Today I called the head coach, and he said that you worked at the Koneko no Sumu Ie.  It took me a while, but I found it.  There were an awful lot of junior high school girls there," he observed astutely.

                I rolled my eyes, and Youji interjected, "They're all looking for me, you know, but I don't date anyone under eighteen.  They'll just have to wait a few years."

                I shoved Youji with my good arm.  "You wish they were all looking for you!"  I turned back to Kenji.  "They were probably Omi's fangirls, actually.  So I guess you found Omi there?"

                "Tsukiyono-san?  Yes, and he was good enough to point me here."  Kenji's smile was slightly predatory.  "You work in a flower shop?  After everything that I heard, it was almost unreal to walk into that colorful place …"

                I snorted.  Persia probably was laughing when he picked our cover job.  "It's a long story - not all that important."

                Kenji seemed willing to let it go.  He shrugged, sobering.  "Hidaka-san, I came because I'm concerned.  I understand that you have agreed to work with Yumi Ryuuki - a witch--"

                I shook my head, interrupting him.  "I know what you said about witches, Yamamoto-san, but I don't have a choice at the moment, anyway.  She … she has brought to my attention something vitally important."

                "That's not what worries me," Kenji said patiently.  "It's Bethany."

                "Damn, she's just causing everyone problems," Youji put in.  "What the hell is she?  Yumi-san claimed she didn't know."

                Kenji frowned.  "I can't tell you that I'm sure, either.  I've never met her - very few living people have.  However, she's … she's not human."

                "Gomen nasai, Yamamoto-san, but duh she's not human," I said flatly.  "I know what she's not, but not what she is."

                Kenji smiled wanly.  "Wakarimashita."  He paused.  "Supposedly, she's a high-level vampire, but I doubt that.  Personally, I think - you're going to say I'm crazy."

                "Try me," I said.

                "All right," Kenji conceded slowly.  "Very few people agree with me, Hidaka-san, but I think Bel'uah is a demon."

                "A … demon?  As in, minion from hell?" asked Youji when I just gaped at the Necromancer.

                "I don't know where she comes from, Kudou-san, but her sphere of influence suggests nothing else!" Kenji vehemently defended himself.

                I held up my hand.  "Okay, okay.  I don't know if I can believe that, Yamamoto-san, but I don't think it really matters what she is.  She's obviously in control of a lot of creatures, superhumans, whatever."  I looked at Kenji intently.  "She said that she has uses for me.  What could that mean?"

                Kenji shook his head slowly.  "I don't know …" His eyebrows crinkled as he puzzled over something.  "I wonder if it all ties together …"

                "Huh?"

                "Bel'uah has been more … active, as of late.  Like you said, Hidaka-san, she controls a vast majority of creatures in the Underground, but those that she doesn't control have been dying more often in the past year or so."  He seemed to mull things over a bit before continuing.  "Rogue vampire covens, for instance."

                I thought back to when I had gotten Aya's blood rites returned.  In fact, I would be grateful …

                Kenji was still talking.  "… reconstructed souls … some Reapers …" he shuddered.

                "What the hell is a Reaper?" I demanded.

                Kenji winced.  "It's actually short for Grim Reaper.  They're spirits, but the only substantial part of their being is their weapon - a scythe.  You have to disarm them to kill them.  Trust me, it sounds easier than it is," he said when Youji and I exchanged glances.  "You'd think they're uncontrollable, but Bethany has a few under her thumb."

                "Right," I nodded, willing to accept just about anything now.  "You were saying something about Bel'uah being more active?"

                "Yeah."  Kenji rubbed his chin, frowning slightly.  "I think she's staging a takeover."

                "A what?" I asked dully.

                "Bel'uah is trying to - er - take over the Underground.  Wipe out all her opponents so she rules Tokyo."

                "Why?  Doesn't seem like much of a domain to rule," Youji said.

                "You'd be amazed by how much the everyday world is effected by the Underground," Kenji said dryly.  "It's only the struggle for power that keeps the strongest creatures of the Underground from really impacting the ordinary person's life.  If Bethany destroyed all opponents in Tokyo, the city would be at her mercy.  She'd be able to do whatever she pleased, and no one who had the ability and will to oppose her would be alive to do so."

                An involuntary shiver at the thought of the creature Bel'uah ruling Tokyo crept down my spine.  "I've never thought of it that way before."

                "Not everyone does."  Kenji snorted.  "That's the real reason you should avoid the witches.  Lately they seem to be inclined to think handing themselves over to Bethany and the like would be worth the power they'd gain.  They're deluding themselves - that monster will kill them all, good riddance."

                "So why haven't they joined her, then?" I couldn't help asking.

                Kenji's smile was self-depreciating and ironic.  "Because the most powerful witch in Tokyo refuses to give in, and ultimately, everyone follows her orders."  He barely sighed, looking as if he wanted to laugh bitterly.

                "Who's the most powerful witch, then?  Yumi?" I asked.

                The Necromancer did laugh then.  "Haha! No, no … Yumi's a candle next to a forest fire compared to that witch."  He shook his head slowly.  "Oh, no.  The most powerful witch in Tokyo is Kaori Yamamoto - and before you ask, yes, we're related.  Kaori Yamamoto is my grandmother."

                That took a moment to sink in.  "Oh," I finally said.

                "Yeah.  Imagine my surprise when I found out," Kenji said flatly.

                "Then your grandmother is pretty much the only one standing between Bethany and all of Tokyo?" Youji asked.

                "That's about right."

I was silent for a moment.  "Er … should we be encouraged?"

Kenji shrugged.  "I don't pretend to know what Babaa thinks.  But she's stubborn as hell and rather attached to the power of her position, so I don't see her handing over anything to Bethany anytime soon."

"That's good, I guess."

There was an awkward silence while Kenji frowned at his lap and I fidgeted with the blanket and Youji scrutinized Kenji.  I wondered if Youji could sense any of the Necromancer's thoughts.

Kenji finally spoke up again.  "Okay, though, here's the main reason I'm particularly concerned about Bethany.  The first one is that apparently she's rumored to be behind the death of fourteen or fifteen witches this last week and a half, and they're all part of the coven that you had contact with."

"I know about that already," I said.

Kenji nodded.  "I guessed as much.  The second reason, however, is Bethany's sudden interest in a living Hunter.  There are and have been other Vampire Slayers besides you, Hidaka-san, and Bethany has either not taken notice of them or killed them promptly."

"Hey, don't look to me for answers on that one," I said, ice creeping down my backbone.  "I don't know what she wants with me!"

"Well, you might want to find out.  It sounds like she wants you to do something for her."

"And maybe she's trying to turn me into one of her zombie followers in the process," I snapped.  "She's tried to screw with my head before."

"And you're okay?" Kenji asked incredulously.

I looked at him warily.  "You don't have to sound so surprised."

"Sorry.  That's just … I've never heard of it happening before.  Either you're very lucky, very strong, or …" he trailed off.  "Maybe it's because you're a Hunter.  I don't know of any time Bethany has tried to make a Hunter her servant."

I shrugged.

Kenji glanced at his watch.  "I probably better be going, Hidaka-san."  He stood.  "Get well soon.  You'll probably need that arm."

"I'm sure I will," I said dryly.  "Ja ne, Yamamoto-san."

Kenji bowed.  "Ja ne, Hidaka-san, Kudou-san."  He smiled slightly.  "And watch out for werewolves – tonight's the full moon."   With those chilling words, he left.

Werewolves … I winced, my hand going to my neck where the one werewolf had bitten me.  Full moon.  Tonight's the night of truth, I guess …  "Youji, you should probably go home."

"I thought you didn't want to be left alone," Youji snapped out of what looked like a private reverie to tease me.

"Trust me, Youji," I said.  If Aya comes by tonight, it'll probably be him who suffers.

Youji stood and stretched.  "Need time to think?"

"Sort of.  You have any questions?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Lots of 'em, but none you could answer.  I'm going to do some sniffing of my own tonight," the playboy informed me, throwing a light jacket over his shoulders.

"Don't get yourself killed," I said, only half-joking.  "Miki's still out there."

"That's why I'm packing the .38," Youji smirked.  "Worry about yourself, Kenken – you've got the most powerful creature on the block after you."  He picked up the paper bag full of shuriken.  "I'll deliver these to Omicchi.  See you tomorrow?"

"And hopefully not in this room?" I put in.  The next day was supposedly my hospital release date.

"Aa," Youji laughed.  "Ja ne, Kenken!"

"Don't call me that!" I protested as the door shut behind the playboy.

Now there was nothing to do but wait.

And wait … and wait …

*   *   *

It was a barren clearing in a forest.  I was in my assassin gear.  Wolves surrounded me.  I brandished my claws and bared my teeth at them, determined not to lose.  For some reason, I never even thought of the gun tucked in my inner pocket.

The first wolf leapt, and I killed him in a shower of hot, sticky blood.  Gasping for breath, I took on the next one, and the next, and then three at once, and then four, and I was overwhelmed.  I could feel their bites burning and their claws tearing at my skin as I was dragged to my knees before finally a set of jaws closed on my throat and ripped it out in a moment of pure agony.

My eyes flew open.  I saw the all-too-familiar white ceiling of the recovery room and I tried to sit up only to find that my arms were both strapped to the bed.  "Oi!  Nurse!" I cried, a little hysterical.  Did I black out and become a werewolf, or was it just a bad dream?  Why would I be strapped to the bed if it was just a dream!?  "Oi!" I tried again.

Just then a nurse came scuttling in, bowing to me.  "Gomen nasai, Hidaka-san!"  She began to untie the bonds.  "You had a night terror.  The nurse on the night shift came in to wake you, but you very nearly attacked him, shouting about wolves!  He had to restrain you so you wouldn't hurt yourself."

My heart was still wildly thudding in my chest.  "Then … that was it?  I was just dreaming?"

The nurse looked up at me curiously.  "Of course, Hidaka-san.  Did you think the wolves were real?"

I shook my head quickly, not particularly interested in becoming an experiment for some psychologist.  I was messed up enough without one of those cracks poking around my brain.  "No, ojou-san.  It was just a very vivid dream.  Tell the night shift that I'm grateful for his efforts on my behalf."

The nurse smiled reassuringly.  "I will.  I'll have breakfast brought up immediately.  You're going home today!"  She bustled out of the room.

I smiled.  "Yeah …" Back to my crazy life.  At least no one in Weiss could force me to take the painkillers that the docs had shoved on me this last week, and I hated hospitals enough to be glad I was going despite the increased risks.  Besides, I had a lot of work to do.

Well, that shot down one concern.  I obviously wasn't a werewolf.  I wondered how I had avoided being poisoned by the bite briefly before a young woman in a white lab coat came in – a doctor, by the look of her.  She was flipping through papers on a clipboard, and she just stood next to my bed for several moments, absorbed in the contents of the papers, before she finally looked up at me.  "Hidaka-san, you're looking well today."  She smiled.

"Thank you," I nodded.

She flipped the papers on the clipboard again.  "Since today is your release date, we need to do some preliminary testing – give you a regular checkup, take an x-ray of your shoulder and ribs, check the damage to your torso and wrenched ankle, and a do few blood tests.  Unless we find something particularly disturbing, you should be free to go home."  She handed the board to me, along with a pen.  "Sign here, please.  We've been instructed to forward all bills to a Miss Kasumi, so you needn't worry about the cost.  You have quite a generous benefactor, Hidaka-san!"

I signed with a flourish.  'Miss Kasumi' was, of course, Persia (working through Manx).  The cost of my treatment wasn't on the sheet, but I didn't particularly want to know how much I had just cost my boss.  "Thank you for your time and concern," I said courteously.

"It's our pleasure."  She took back the clipboard, tucked it under her arm, and drew the wheelchair away from its place by the door.  For the last half of my imprisonment I had insisted on going for rides around the hospital daily (although I felt I could probably walk just fine, the docs refused to let me try).  "If you please, Hidaka-san?"

"Anywhere is better than this room," I told the doctor honestly.  She laughed.

*   *   *

The tests revealed that I was healing at a remarkable rate.  The doctors seemed very impressed by the results of my x-rays, which showed my ribs were only bruised now and my formerly shattered shoulder no longer needed a cast.  I was glad to be rid of it; they gave me a sling and insisted I keep my arm in it for a week or two.  My ankle, which had been just short of sprained, was fully healed.  My torso was still tender, but the doctors said that unless I did something crazy (like chasing around demon lords and killing vampires, I thought wryly), the internal stitches would hold.  My white blood cell count was a bit high, but I was told that was to be expected – who knew how many infections I had nearly incurred from my injuries?  Also, they warned me, I was still making for the amount of blood I had lost.  I should watch out for vertigo and loss of consciousness – signs that I was suffering from too little blood.

All in all, the docs were force to concede, I was in good health considering what I had suffered.  I could go home.  I managed to refrain from shouting with joy, but I grinned like a maniac as I changed into my own clothes in the bathroom (kindly left with me last night by Youji).  Finally, I could stop just worrying about everything and do something about it.

I was ushered off to a waiting room while the doctors debated some obscure detail of my health and the bill for restoring it to me.  I took the opportunity to pore over what Youji, Kenji and I had discussed the night before.

So, Bethany is a creature with a lot of power, poised to take over the entirety of Tokyo.  There's only one thing standing between her and that takeover – and that's Kenji's grandmother.  The logical thing for Bethany to do, then, is eliminate Kaori Yamamoto.

Where the hell do I come into this, then?  Why does she want me alive?  Bethany's killed off the majority of a coven of witches that I've associated with.  Is that because of me?  If so, why?  And the vampire coven – obviously they must be a 'rogue vampire coven', or she wouldn't have wanted me to kill them.  Is that why Stacey wanted Pierre to kill Bel'uah?

And Aya … what does Aya have to do with all this?  He's a psi-vampire for sure; if what Stacey said was true, Aya drank her blood, too!  How much does he know about what Bel'uah is up to?  Does he have any free will left?

Three pieces to a very dangerous puzzle, and I knew they fit together – if only I could figure out how!  I cursed my IQ and complete inability to use logic.  All I knew to do was to follow my instincts, and my instincts told me that Bethany Gramm was the most dangerous thing I'd ever come up against – far more dangerous than the witches or Aya, although the danger of my teammate and Bel'uah were connected.

That's when the doctors finally came back and told me I could go.

*   *   *

                "Hidaka-san, we can't let you walk home."

                "Why not?  My ankle's fine, my apartment is only a few blocks from here, and I've already got all the prescriptions you want me to take."  I hoisted the bags of drugs they wanted me to take.  (I planned to dump most of them; drugs are useful to kill pain to a point, but it was easy to get addicted – an experience I didn't want to repeat, as it had been hard enough to come off the pills after treatment when I 'died' at the warehouse.)

                The docs and I were standing at the door of the lobby of the hospital.  I was prepared to go home – I didn't have much to carry, so I could walk back to the Koneko carrying my stuff without even using my left arm.  Still, the doctors were being picky, and they were blocking my way to the door.  I almost mimed along with one bald-headed man as he said, "We don't want you to strain yourself, Hidaka-san."

I sighed in exasperation.  "I'm not going to strain myself.  I'm going to walk home in the middle of the day where there are no hidden obstacles and the traffic is at its lightest."

"Please, Hidaka-san, just call someone to pick you up," begged a nurse.

"Look, everyone I know should be at work.  I have to help out, anyway, so please just—"

"Ken-kun!"

I jerked my head up at the urgent shout.  Omi stood just inside the doorway, chest heaving, eyes wild.  "Ken-kun, come with me, right now!"

"Coming, Omi!" I called back, catching his nervousness.  My heart sped up.  I pushed though the doctors.  "Got a ride," I said flatly as I hustled out the doors with Omi.

"What is it?" I asked as soon as we were out the door.  "Did Miki show up?"

Omi looked physically sick.  "No – I mean, yes – she came last night – but that's not what's happening—" He began to gasp for breath – he was hyperventilating.

"What?" I demanded, taking my arm out of its sling and grabbing Omi by the shoulders, squatting to his eye level.  He was hysterical; I was amazed he'd managed to get his motorbike over here safely.  I shook him to help him speak coherently.  "Stop hyperventilating, calm down!  What is happening, Omi?  It's okay, we'll handle it – we can handle anything now," I assured him.

But Omi wasn't reassured.  He took breaths in huge gulps, nodding frantically.  "A-Aya-kun – Aya-kun, he—" he shuddered in my hands.  "H-h-he a-attacked Youji-kun!"  He stared at me.  "K-Ken-kun, A-Aya-kun can't b-be human!"

Dread washed over me and poured down my spine and my brain spent a few moments cranking wildly before my thoughts ordered themselves a little.  Miki had come, but that wasn't important.  Aya was attacking Youji.  Obviously he wasn't trying to hide that he was capable of things no human could do.  He did this in front of Omi.  Why!? I wondered fiercely, but there was no time for a question like that.  "We've got to hurry," I said, trying as hard as I could to stay calm.  "Omi, it's okay.  Let me ride your bike home so I can take care of it."  I was sure I was better equipped to deal with the psi-vampire.  "Did you bring any guns?"

Omi was still breathing hard, but he wasn't hyperventilating and his eyes were a little less wild.  "I-I brought your gun … I have the Beretta …" he trailed off, eyes going out of focus.  I shook him again and Omi focused on me again.  "I d-drove your motorcycle because it's faster – it's right over there—" he pointed, and I followed his finger to my mode of transportation.

"Okay, all the better," I said, grabbing Omi's arm and dragging him to my motorcycle.  First I found my .44 and put it in my jacket pocket.  I flung my only helmet onto Omi's head, made him sit behind me and wrap his arms around my waist, and gunned the engine.  In a moment we were roaring towards the Koneko.  "They're at the shop, right?" I shouted against the wind.

"Y-yes."  I could barely hear Omi's voice.  "Ken-kun, I'm sorry I didn't – I mean, I panicked – I tried throwing shuriken at him – not to kill him, but to get him off Youji-kun, but Aya-kun just pulled them out and the wounds healed right away!"  Omi was panicky again.

"Maa, maa, Omi," I said as soothingly as I could on a motorcycle, riding towards one of the most screwed up situations I'd ever heard of.  "Everything will be fine—" I hope, oh gods I hope so badly, I added mentally.

We weaved through traffic – I drove unsafely, ignoring yellow lights and cutting between stopped vehicles.  I made record time reaching the flower shop and skidded to a stop in the back garage.

Ignoring Omi now, I freed the Beretta from the strap on my motorcycle that it hung from and flipped off its safety.  I couldn't think of Aya as my partner; he was my enemy, my target, the agent of Bethany.  I might have to kill him, I thought.

I couldn't think about it.

It was eerily quiet except for Omi fumbling with my helmet.  I barreled into the storage room, pointing the shotgun ahead of me, ready to mortally wound Aya (I couldn't make myself believe I could kill Aya) if need be.

I was not at all ready for the scene before me.  The shotgun clattered from my suddenly slack hand as I stared and by some miracle it didn't go off.

Youji lay on the table, eyes blank and unseeing, staring at the ceiling.  His right arm was at an odd angle and I couldn't bear the look of it A long gash across his chest was still soaking his shirt with blood.  His chest rose and fell at irregular intervals; he was barely breathing.

And Aya was bent over him, his sharp little fangs buried in the playboy's neck.

So … Aya has a blood fetish …

Those were my last coherent thoughts before anger overtook me.

"Aya!!" I screamed, tearing forward and driving my fist towards his upturned cheek.  I was filled with an unholy rage; I could hardly see for the red mist before my eyes.

A violet eye opened and rolled up to look at me.  Suddenly Aya's fingers found their way to the wound in Youji's chest.  Faster than I could see, he dislodged his teeth from Youji's throat and whipped his blood-covered fingers through the air, speaking vaguely familiar words.  "Fuuka no ken!"  Like blades the air around me sliced my skin, cutting me shallowly along the arms, legs, and chest.  I barely felt the pain as I continued forward, crashing my fist into the taller assassin's jaw.  I hoped he bit his tongue off.  I hoped his jaw broke.  I hoped he died.  I honest-to-heaven hoped that Aya died.

He didn't die, but he did stagger.  He stood back for a moment and I just stood there, chest heaving, fists still clenched, trying to decide what to do next.  "You – you—" I began.  There were no words to describe what Aya was.

Then Aya straightened almost regally, rubbing his chin and seeming to consider me.  It was an entirely too Bel'uah-like look, and I shuddered involuntarily, fear nudging in to join anger.

He spoke.  "Bethany-sama wants to speak with you again," he said.

"She can wait," I growled, my rage springing back to life.  "You fucking psi, you goddamn fucking psi, I could give a shit if you drink some damn vampire's blood, but Youji's!?  I'll send you to whatever hell is reserved for creatures like you!"

Aya closed his eyes, a small smirk coming to his mouth.  It looked horribly unnatural.  "If you value Youji and Omi's lives, you will not."  He paused.  "I can heal Youji in part, but only if you go to Bethany-sama.  He's too close to death right now to make it to the hospital."

I grit my teeth so hard I swear I must have cracked a tooth.  I shook with rage.  "I – I – damn you!" I finally screamed.  "Damn you!  I'll go!  Heal him or I'll kill you, dammit!" I spat, turning away, not even noticing that my wounds were beginning to drip blood or that Omi was gaping, white as a ghost, at the scene before him.  I tore out the door, remembering the shotgun at the last moment and packing it.  I mounted my motorcycle and whipped down the road.

Bel'uah!  This time there won't be any of your goddamn games!  I'm going to kill you, whatever the hell you are!

*   *   *

Author's notes: ::insert evil laughter here::

Ah me, this will be fun!  ^^x;;;;

You know, bastardization of Aya is really very fun!  I know he's a little OOC – that's on purpose, so don't harass me about it.  As to Omi, well – he's pretty shaken up by Aya's behavior, so that's why he's hysterical.  Ken would probably be hysterical if he hadn't already known that Aya was a psi-vampire.

However, I'm going to pat myself on the back here – I think that Ken is marvelously IC in the last scene.  Reacting without thought – that's our Kenken!  ::nuzzle:: It's part of the reason I love him.

Um, um … I hope you all liked Kenji … more on him later … the plot thickens!  We near the climax – here we come!  ^^x;;;

Oh, and of course – thank you soooo much for all the reviews!  I'm always hoping for more, so keep 'em coming – it's an awesome motivator!  ^^x

~~Vikki