Creatures of the Light

**LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I don't own any part Vampire Hunter D or any songs marked with an asterisk.**

By the time the sun came up the next day, the Barbarois loomed in the distance. Reen woke slowly and yawned, then looked at the towering building. She shuddered.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" she asked softly as they reached the huge wooden doors. D slowed his mount to a halt and called, "I am D, the Dunpeal Hunter. I have new business with the Barbaroi."

After a few moments the doors started to open with a horrendous screech of rusty chains. Reen flinched and D nudged his horse forward. Reen shuddered again as she flicked her gaze between the beasts lurking in the morning shadows.

"Young Hunter!" the old man on the unicycle cackled with an insane grin as he rode up to meet them. His gaze flitted to Reen for a second, then returned to D. "How good to see you! What is it can I do for you this fine morn?"

"I need to stay here a few days, along with my companion Reen. Three days at most."

"Yes yes, and how much money did you bring? You know our services don't come cheaply. Remember Meier? He paid quite a bit for his protection..."

D nodded and dismounted, reaching under his cloak and pulling forth a pouch heavy gold. He tossed the pouch to the old Barbaroi, who, with great enthusiasm, caught it and tucked it into a pocket hidden from sight. He cackled as he did a few circles.

"Aahhh, yes, that would be payment enough I believe! Now then, what sort of protection would you like? Guards and the like, or just the basic aide of all who live here?"

"Just keep us safe. I don't care how," D said as he turned away and helped the exhausted Reen down from the saddle. Nightmare gave a soft whicker as he was led away by a somewhat humanoid-looking beast. Reen sighed tiredly as the Barbaroi nodded.

"Righty then, let's get your lady-friend a room, she seems most tired," he said, leading them away from the eyes of the hundreds of other creatures. Soon they came to a large doorway, whose doors opened eerily with no evidence of anyone doing it. The Barbaroi was chuckling to himself as they went down the dimly-lit hallway. Soon they reached a large wooden door, and the Barbaroi waved to it as he turned.

"You and your young friend may rest here until you take your leave," he said with a sick smile, and, still chuckling, left them alone.

Without a word, Reen reached out and shoved the door open, heading inside and collapsing onto the bed as D shut the door softly. After a moment Reen was asleep, and D watched her for a moment before looking around the large room.

Despite its size, there was hardly any furniture. The large bed Reen slept on, a few chairs, and a ragged-looking couch were the only things in the room. D removed his cloak and sword and headed to the couch, laying down on the uncomfortable furnishing, feeling quite exhausted himself now. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fall asleep. He turned onto his side, facing the door, and then faced the bed as Reen sat up groggily. She smiled a bit when she saw D lying on the couch.

"There's more than enough room here you know. That couch looks uncomfortable."

"It's...I'm..." D muttered, somewhat startled by the sudden offer, and Reen shrugged.

"Well if you change your mind there's enough room for three more people here," she said as she lay back down, and was soon asleep again. D said nothing as he slowly sat up, watching Reen. The symbiot laughed.

"Those wheels a-turning, eh D? Go on, take her offer. You do need the rest and this couch won't be giving it to you anytime soon," it added as D growled. After a moment's silence, D stood uncertainly, and, without a word, went and lay down behind Reen.

Soon, he too, was asleep.

***

"Breakfast!" the old Barbaroi called outside the door, giving a few hard knocks that echoed loudly in the large hallway.

Reen woke with a moan and sat up slowly. D was already up and heading for the door. He turned back to Reen.

"Come on, let's go."

"Right," Reen said as she stood and stretched. The two of them followed the Barbaroi to a large dark room, where hundreds of tables it seemed lined the floor. Each was weighted heavily with various plates and platters of fodder. Reen wandered over to the closest one, and D saw her eyes light up with delight. She took a plate and began to take this and that, and soon she had more food than D thought possible for her to eat.

Reen sat at an empty table and waved for D to join her. He sat on the opposite side of the table and studied the various foods she had. Potatoes, leeks, beef, pork, chicken, three different kinds of rice, bluegill, two kinds of pepper, and a few things D couldn't identify had found their way to Reen's plate. The Dracolye grinned happily.

"This place has normal food!" she said happily. "I thought with all these odd creatures and things that they wouldn't have anything like this here!"

"Many of these beasts prefer normal foods," D said simply. "As well as their own...unique tastes."

"Aren't you hungry? You can have some of mine," Reen said, scooting her plate towards D as she speared a large piece of leek, and D realized he actually was quite famished. He reached out a took a piece of pork.

They ate for a while, Reen watching the various habitants of the Barbarois with keen interest, and D keeping an eye out for trouble. He knew many of these beings remembered him from the last time he had come to this place. And most probably didn't think too kindly to him, considering he was going to kill them all because of his demands for them to revoke their protection of Meier. As it was, none gave them trouble as they ate.

Finally, the plate became empty, and Reen sighed as she sat back.

"Well, I feel much better now. Last night was the first night of real sleep I've gotten the past week or so." She stretched as D watched the Barbaroi approach. Discretely he tensed, expecting the worst.

"I would presume the young Miss would like a bath?"

"That does sound nice," Reen said thoughtfully. She then nodded and stood. D narrowed his eyes a bit as he watched them leaving.

~Watch your back here Reen, Don't trust anyone, him least of all,~ he said mentally, and saw Reen's slight nod.

~Already ahead of you there, thanks,~ she replied, and D smiled a bit as she and the Barbaroi disappeared out of the room.

***

"Here is the bathing chamber," the Barbaroi said as he stood by a long, thin metal door. Reen nodded thankfully and watched as the little old man wheeled off on his unicycle.

Reen entered the spacious room to find a lot of steam and even more heat. She quickly grew uncomfortably toasty and slipped from her clothes.

As her eyes adjusted to the steamy gloom, she saw that there were no showers, but many small ponds that were filled with hot water. Reen sank into the nearest one, unawares she was being watched...

"Never seen you 'round before," said a soft voice that made Reen jump. The Dracolye looked around and saw another in the bathing chamber as well. She could only see the other's back. "You new?"

"Um...yes actually...my friend and I arrived early this morning." She shivered a bit despite the heat. "My...name is Reen. You would be?"

"Czaz. Nice to meet you," the other said as she turned to face Reen. She was quite comely, with green-blue waist-length hair and gold eyes. Her skin was a deep cream color. She smiled at Reen. "You said you came with a friend?"

"Yes, he was the one who bought me here. To rest for a few days," Reen answered. Czaz gave a little chuckle.

"A man eh? What's his name?"

"His name is..." Reen paused, then, "His name is D."

"D?! The legendary Dunpeal D?!? You're kidding!" Czaz said loudly, her eyes widening in shock. Reen shook her head. "Wow! I mean, D? Wow! You think I could meet him?! I always heard tales of him when I was younger. I never thought I would meet someone who knows him..."

"Well, I'm not sure to tell the truth. I would have to talk to him. We're both somewhat weary after the past few days."

"Ah, understandable. Well, ask for me. I can wait a few more days! How long will you be staying?"

"Three days at most."

"Well now! Not very long that. What kind of protection did you request of the Barbaroi?"

"Well...D didn't really specify. He just said to keep us safe."

"Well...that's it then. I'll be your bodyguard then, when D can't be. Like now. We have strict rules here, no men in the women's bathing chambers and vice-versa. If D were caught in here...he would most likely not see another day. So I will watch your back for you in times when he can't! Maybe I'll get a chance to meet him! Is that fine with you?"

"Sure! Sounds like a deal. Thanks."

"No problem. This place is a lot worse than you think. Freaks of all sorts live here. Psychos and the like. And the Barbaroi...let's not even go into detail about HIM."

"That bad?"

"Yes. This place is a safe haven for the monsters of both the day and the night. But...the one thing I will say in favor of the old man is he is true to his word. If anyone tries to hurt you and he finds out, he will more than see to them...I have seen it happen and it's not pretty."

"Wow..."

They fell silent and Reen took the time to wash herself. About half an hour later she stood, and Czaz followed, grabbing them both a towel and robes to put on. Then, grabbing their clothing, they departed the chamber.

***

"Uh..." Czaz stated a bit dumbly as she watched D and Reen greet each other. She waited anxiously, shuffling from foot to foot, eyes wide.

"Who is that?" D muttered as he shot Czaz a look. Reen chuckled a bit.

"Her name is Czaz. Met her in the bathing chambers. She offered to be my bodyguard while we stay here. She's a bit obsessed with meeting you."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. Watch her over there. She looks ready to burst."

"Let's hope she doesn't want to meet me so badly as to kill me the first chance she gets."

"I doubt that."

They went to join Czaz, who gave D a look as though he were some sort of miracle. D felt slightly uncomfortable, never having received this sort of attention from someone before.

"Czaz, this is D," Reen said, and Czaz gave the tiniest squeak. Reen placed a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing, and D just tried to look like he could care less.

"Uh...right...." Czaz said as she stared at him. She was acting as though she didn't believe he existed until now. Like he really was just a legend.

"Anyways...I think maybe I should go and see how much of my powers have returned," Reen said with a suppressed chuckle. "You know."

D nodded and gave her a look as she started to leave.

~You're going to leave me with her?~

~You'll be fine. Like I said I doubt she wants to kill you.~

~That's not what I'm worried about all of a sudden...~

~Hehe...I'm sure you'll think of something.~

A moment later, Reen disappeared and D looked back to Czaz. At a complete loss of what to say or do around this odd woman, he decided to bring up the subject Reen mentioned earlier.

"Why did you offer to be Reen's bodyguard?"

"Because there are times when you won't be around to watch her back. You can't go everywhere with her. She's a woman, remember? What would happen if she were attacked by something stronger than she in the bathing chamber? You wouldn't be able to help her. Strict laws about that sort of thing. But me? I'm a woman too so I could help her."

"It's not like the habitants here to be so kind to newcomers."

"I'm not like most of the freaks here. I try and consider myself somewhat normal."

"And that means?"

"I'm a Wecon. I can meld with the earth, speak with animals, shapeshift, that sort of thing. Not normal by a long shot in most people's eyes. But I try and act normal. Hardly anyone knows what I am here. In fact, you and the Barbaroi are the only ones."

D said nothing as he studied her. Czaz certainly seemed to be over her initial shock now. She stared right back.

"And when we leave?"

"I'll stay here most likely. Why?"

"I believe we may need more help than we have been receiving on our journey so far."

"And what journey would that be?"

"That is none of my business to say. Ask Reen when you see her next. I'm sure she'll tell you."

"Speaking of which, where exactly did she go off to...?"

That question was answered nearly a second later, when a huge explosion rocked the old building. D and Czaz hurried in the direction it came from and soon found Reen standing there, laughing stupidly at a large crater in the floor. Some of the habitants also joined them in seeing what the commotion was. And a moment later, the Barbaroi appeared.

When he saw the damage to the floor, he turned to Reen.

"You did this?!"

"Eheheheee...yeah...sorry about your floor."

"But...this floor my dear is made from some of the strongest material in the world! Hoe could you damage it?!"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Reen answered, and D caught the confusion in her voice, and the slight fear in her eyes. She caught his gaze.

~D...I really didn't mean to...I was just practicing my Fire techniques when all of a sudden one got too big...I don't know how but then it exploded...~

~Don't worry...we'll work this out...~

Reen looked scared as the Barbaroi shooed away everyone else. Czaz looked impressed before sensing Reen's worry. She stayed put as the Barbaroi tired to shoo her away as well.

"Leave her be," D said flatly, and the Barbaroi shrugged. He then turned to Reen.

"So...you don't know what happened?"

"I swear, I didn't mean to-"

"I believe you young lady. I just don't get how you could destroy something so strong without meaning to."

Reen said nothing as she looked to the crater. She shuddered.

'Is what Mushin said true? Am I really....a Creature of the Light?'

"Well, no matter. I'll send someone to fix it. Not like we haven't had damages done before!" he added cheerily, giving D a look. He then turned and wheeled off, leaving the three of them alone. Reen shuddered again.

"I just don't know..." she muttered. "Is it true?" She gave D a desperate look, and he merely shook his head. Reen looked down to the floor, her body cold. Finally, Czaz broke the weary silence.

"Well...as unexpected as that was, I usually go out for a walk through the woods nearby around this time. You two are welcome to come along..."

"I think that would be best," D said as he watched Reen. She looked up and nodded weakly.

"Yes. I do too. Let's go."

**Yes again sorry for the short chapter. Remember to review! I need to know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong!!!**