A Sequel to ReCreating Hell
Chapter Five: Parental 'Love'
By PasifikStar
Author's Note: I am SO sorry! I am SO SO sorry!! I swear, I didn't mean to have such a long period between updates. I feel REALLY bad for making everyone wait. I'm SO SORRY! And Happy New Year. ^_^
* All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters."Ah! Hyne...shit..." Hunter bit his lower lip to keep from yelling out as he looked over his shoulder. RJ was still sleeping, hugging one of her many stuffed animals.
Grumbling he continued to change his clothes, switching from pajamas to his worn jeans and shirt. The subtle shuffling of cloth hadn't woken RJ, as she has already been awake. She had awoken before him and laid in bed, looking down at him from the edge of her bed.
She cracked one blue eye opened and struggled to contain her grin as she watched the blond haired pretty boy put his belt on with his back to her. *He has such a nice butt...*
RJ closed her eyes immediately and continued to pretending being asleep as Hunter looked back at her and slowly crept to the door. He put his hand on the handle and winced as it creaked slightly. He looked over his shoulder once more before sneaking out of the room. The door closed behind him.
RJ opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She let out a heavy sigh as she looked down at the sleeping bag that had been folded up against the wall. Hunter's pillow rested on top of it. She tossed her bed sheets over the her legs and began to crawl out of bed.
The tall blond walked down the hall way, tying his layered blond hair into a pony tail at the nape of his neck. Less than two inches of hair stuck out from the hair tie and most of the hairs that framed his face escaped it's hold.
"Good evening, Hunter," a warm voice said. He looked up and smiled back warmly. "Did you get enough sleep?"
"Yes, Miss Loire," he nodded, smiling at the female vampiress who was crossing his path. "I had plenty of sleep."
Ellone raised an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes. "Hunter, why don't you go wash your face?"
"Is there something on it?" he asked, rubbing his cheeks slightly. Ellone chuckled.
"It seems to look like you were electrocuted last night." Ellone laughed. Hunter smiled weakly.
"Actually..." he sighed. He lifted up the radioactive bracelets that Squall had put on his wrists the night before.
Ellone's eyes went wide and she shook her head. She let out a heavy sigh. "I'm going to have a talk with Squall..."
Hunter chuckled. "Thank you, Miss Loire. But that's okay."
"If I were you, Hunter, I'd be quite angry," Ellone told him. "I swear, that Squall. He and Uncle Laguna are more alike than they think."
To their left, they heard giggling and turned their heads. Rinoa was walking towards them, a smile on her face as she approached them dressed in a black sweater and a long, dark blue skirt. "Just don't tell him that," Rinoa said. She walked over to Hunter. "Let me see your wrists."
Slightly embarrassed, Hunter pulled up the sleeves of his shirt and revealed the glowing bracelets. "I got shocked a few times last night."
"What were you trying with my daughter that caused you to be shocked?" Rinoa asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hunter blushed slightly. "Nothing! I just..." he trailed off, looking away.
"You just...?" Ellone and Rinoa smiled encouragingly.
"You know! I should go see if my parents are still here!" Hunter shouted suddenly. Rinoa and Ellone gave each other knowing looks and smiled.
Rinoa shook her head. "Your mother and father are having a meal downstairs. Seifer told me to tell me to go down with your gunblade if I saw you up here."
Hunter nodded. "Did he say why?"
"He probably just wants to spar," Rinoa shrugged. "Now, I have some work to deal with. I'll see you both in a bit."
Ellone nodded and told them that she had to work on something as well. As the two vampires walked off, Hunter rounded the corner and walked down the flight of stairs. In the foyer, the old vampires had already congregated, drinking their evening blood wine while playing card games and chess.
He had grown used to them being there, ever since he could remember. And the elder vampires merely smiled, whispering things amongst themselves. Hunter could barely hear them as he walked through the room.
He turned the corner and down the hall, heading towards the dining room. From the inside, he could hear his parents' voices.
"Seifer, don't be such a baby. He didn't mean anything by it."
"Oh yes he did!" Seifer nearly shouted. "Look at me, Quistis! Am slouched over with gray hairs and a walking cane? No! I'm just as fit, if not more so, than that ungrateful son of yours!"
"How many times must I tell you that he is YOUR son as well." Quistis sighed heavily just as Hunter walked in.
"It's okay mom," Hunter said as he walked in. "I like to down play being his offspring."
"Hunter!" Quistis said with a warm smile. "Good evening! How did you sleep-"
"I hope those bracelets kept your hormones in check," Seifer snapped as he looked up from his breakfast to his son. He held a fork in one hand as he looked over his son's face and smirked. "Looks like Kiros and Ward's modifications worked."
"Did you have something to do with this old man?" Hunter grumbled as he took his seat across from his mother.
"Hunter, will you please stop calling your father old man?" Quistis sighed, tiredly. "You have no idea how much that hurts him."
"It does not 'hurt' me!" Seifer shouted, sending a glare to his wife.
"You spent two hours yesterday morning complaining about. I thought you were about to cry." Quistis stated.
Hunter smirked and snickered as one of the servants brought him food. He picked up his fork and began to eat. "He almost cried, mom?"
"It's very emotionally devastating to him-"
"Quistis!" Seifer shouted.
"Mid life crisis-" Quistis continued casually.
"I am not old!" Seifer shouted.
"Buy a new car-" Quistis blabbered on.
Hunter snickered in his chair. "Oh, shut up, Hunter," Seifer said. "And where is your gun blade?"
"At home."
"Go ask Squall for one and then meet me outside."
"Why?" Hunter sighed. "Do you need to prove yourself?"
"I don't need to prove myself to anyone!" Seifer announced. Quistis rolled her eyes.
*Right...*
"But when I'm through with you, boy, you're going to regret calling me 'old man'."
"Sure thing, old man."
*I haven't seen him yet...I thought for sure he'd be at the library...* RJ sighed tiredly. She walked down the stairs and greeted the elder vampires good evening.
"Raine Julia!" A familiar voice shouted behind her as she passed the tea room. She turned around and smiled as she saw her grandfather running towards her.
"Good evening, grandpa!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "Busy morning?"
"No, no, everything is just fine." Laguna smiled warmly. He seemed to be studying his granddaughter.
"Grandpa...?" RJ asked, slightly suspicious. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" he piped, his voice was slightly higher than normal and RJ narrowed her eyes.
"Are you checking to see if Hunter did anything to me?" RJ asked, obviously not happy as she put her hands on her waist and locked eyes with grandfather, who was trying to look away. "GRANDPA?"
"No...!" he lied. His eyes went over to meet hers and he faltered. "Yes..." he admitted weakly.
"Grandpa, I can't believe you!" RJ exclaimed as she threw her arms in the air tiredly. "You've known Hunter since he was a baby! How could you think he would do something like that to me?"
"Well..." Laguna trailed off. "He's a good boy but...he's still a boy."
"I can't believe this!" RJ gasped. "That's not fair, grandpa! He'd never hurt me!"
"I know..." Laguna mumbled, ashamed of himself. "But still, I can't help it. You're my little girl."
"You're going to scare him away!" RJ frowned. "First dad and now you! Did you know he took those negating bracelets and had Grandpa Kiros and Grandpa Ward modify them? He put them on Hunter as some sort of way to prevent him from 'doing certain things'." she said.
"He...did?" Laguna asked, silently happy with the idea. RJ whirled around.
"I'm going to talk to him right now about getting them off Hunter!" RJ announced.
As she marched off, seemingly determined to find her father and demand that the bracelets be removed from Hunter's wrists, Laguna smiled. *Little does she know... they were MY idea.*
RJ wandered off towards the kitchen to get something small to eat when she noticed several of the younger maids looking out the glass windows of the dining room. The brunette tilted her head to the side. "What are you guys looking at?" she asked innocently.
"Master Hunter is practicing his gun blade with his father outside!" one of the maids said. She turned around and her eyes went wide, realizing that the person who had asked was RJ herself. "Miss RJ!"
Suddenly, the entire group of a dozen or so maids by the window whirled around and saw the blue eyed brunette standing there. "Miss RJ! Excuse us!" they gasped. "We're sorry!"
RJ raised an eyebrow. "For what?" she asked casually. They parted for her as she walked towards the tall arched window on the far wall. She looked outside and laid eyes on the two blondes. The first one was wearing a sweater and seemed to be letting out arrogant laughs as the one with the pulled back blond hair yelled something back.
Immediately, Seifer froze in mid laugh. He whirled around and gripped Hyperion tightly. He seemed to yell something in return, which made the younger blond throw back his head and scoff. A split second later, the lycan-witch father attacked.
"Immature, isn't it?" a voice said behind her. RJ turned around and saw Quistis walking towards her. "Hunter makes ONE little remark and now Seifer sets out to make his son eat his words."
RJ giggled. "Good evening, Mrs. Almasy."
"Good evening, dear," Quistis said. "I hope Hunter's snoring didn't both you much."
"He wasn't snoring," RJ said. *Actually...I fell asleep before him. But when I woke up he was still asleep.* "But he does talk in his sleep."
"He's been doing that since he was a child," Quistis said. As she stood by the window, looking down at her husband and son in the yard below, she crossed her arms over her chest. "You know, RJ, you can't really see from inside. Why don't you go out on the veranda and watch them."
"I'm not watching them!" RJ nearly screamed. *Okay...that was a little too loud...*
The maids giggled as they dispersed around them. "I didn't mean it that way," Quistis said in her defense. "But how often would you see this? I'll even join you. Besides, knowing them, they'll wound each other."
RJ nodded and followed Quistis to the veranda just outside the dining hall. From where they were standing, Seifer and Hunter were a few paces away, going at it. "Damn you, old man! Why don't you just quit!?"
"I'm not old, you puny brat!" Seifer shouted. "Ungrateful!" *Clang!* "Little!" *Clang!* "BRAT!"
Hunter narrowed his eyes as he jumped back, holding his gun blade to his side as he assessed his father. The man had one thing over him - experience. But what Hunter lacked in experience, he made up with speed. "Ungrateful little brat, huh?" Hunter said. He stabbed his gun blade on the ground and began to remove his shirt. "Now you're asking for it, you old foggie!"
Seifer glared at his son. "You're going to regret those words..." he hissed. Hunter tossed his shirt on the ground, revealing lean, well cultivated muscles underneath smooth, taunt skin.
Back in the veranda, Quistis glanced down to her left at RJ. The young vampiress had a dull look on her face as her mouth stood agape, her eyes pasted on Hunter. *So...creamy...no wonder he tasted so good...*
"RJ..." Quistis said, sounding amused as she turned her head back to the fight between father and son. "You're drooling, dear."
RJ snapped her mouth shut and quickly ran her hand over her chin and mouth. Quistis was chuckling next to her.
In front of them, Hunter slammed his gun blade against his father's. Seifer caught something in the corner of his eye and smirked as his eyes locked back on with his son's. "The pressure is on!"
"What are you talking about now?" Hunter hissed as he pulled back to prepare for another attack.
"Your GIRLFRIEND is watching you, pretty boy." Seifer taunted.
"Girlfriend?" Hunter asked, sounding confused. He made the mistake of looking over to the veranda and Seifer sprung forward. Hunter saw the reflection of moonlight from Seifer's blade and let out a yelp of surprise as he raised his gun blade. "What the hell are you doing!?" Hunter shouted. "Playing dirty?"
"Whose playing dirty?" Seifer snorted. "I didn't TELL you to look away!
"You knew I would!"
"It's your fault for getting distracted!" Seifer said as he pulled back and raised his gun blade. "Don't blame me for your lack of discipline!"
"I'll show you lack of discipline!" Hunter shouted as he brought down his gun blade against his father. "Stop holding back!"
"Whose holding back?" Seifer taunted.
"You are, DAD," Hunter hissed. "Either you're holding back," he smirked. "Or you really do suck."
Seifer smirked and raised his gun blade. "You want to see me fight? Sure thing!" The older blond decided it was time for his son to see just how good he was. "There is only one other man in the world whose up to my level with a gun blade!" Seifer said as his hits suddenly got stronger, knocking Hunter back with each hit. "And guess what!" Seifer raised his gun blade. "YOU'RE NOT HIM!"
The blade flew down and RJ let out a yelp and covered her mouth as Hyperion cut through Hunter's gun blade, pushing him back and on the grass. "Hunter!" she gasped. Seifer's gun blade was swift and everything happened so fast.
Quistis let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her forehead. Hunter was breathing deeply as a few strands of blond hair fell before his eyes. His eyes were wide was he sat there in disbelief. Had his cocky father actually beaten him?
He felt something warm tricking down his forehead as his deep emerald eyes faced the glimmering black tip of Hyperion's blade. Seifer stood above him, breathing deeply, but not as deeply as Hunter. He wore a superior smirk on his face as sweat slid down his head. He pulled Hyperion back.
"You're not up to my level yet," Seifer said casually as he lifted Hyperion over his shoulder and headed back towards the veranda were a frowning Quistis was standing with an open mouthed RJ. "You got arrogant. You keep that attitude up and you'll keep loosing, got it?"
Hunter sat on the ground, dumbfounded at what just happened. He looked down at the two inches of blond hair that had been cut from his head by his father's blade. "Hunter!" a voice gasped. "Hunter, are you okay!?"
*RJ!* His mind screamed. He looked up and saw the brunette running towards him, looking worried. She was dressed in black pants and a dark red tank top under a black, hooded sweat shirt with it's zipper half way down.
She ran to his side and knelt down. Her pale hand rose and brushed back his hair. "Wow...your dad got you good."
Hunter frowned. "Glad to see you care," he grumbled as he gently pushed her hand away. He grumbled as he stood up. "I can't believe he BEAT me!" Hunter exclaimed. "That arrogant old man actually got me! And what's worse...he won't let me live this down!"
He looked past RJ to the veranda where his mother's back was turned to him. Quistis was facing Seifer and seemed to be scolding him. He could hear her words vaguely, but knew she wasn't happy. Seifer looked over his wife's shoulder and smirked at his son. He gave Hunter a look that said 'hahaha...you're a loser!'.
"Seifer, are you listening to me!?" Quistis growled.
Seifer looked back down and nodded. "Yes! I would even if I was deaf, woman!" he snapped.
"I'm going to go take a shower." Hunter grumbled. He walked over to where he had tossed his shirt and grabbed it with one hand. RJ watched him silently. She admired the way his muscles moved with each motion he did. As he reached down, his arms stretched forward. When he stood back up, she could see the defined lines of his upper body in the moon light.
*Great bone structure...check out those abs...okay, don't stare...* RJ shook her head as Hunter walked back up to her. Sweat was dripping down his body, making him shine almost divinely in the subtle moonlight. He reached back with his right hand to remove the hair tie that held his layered hair back. It fell down, damp with sweat, around his face and he ran his hand through it.
"Hey, do me-"
"Uh-huh..." RJ nodded, absently, her eyes lost in thought. Hunter froze and raised an eyebrow.
"RJ...?" Hunter asked as he stood in front of her. She didn't seem to be responding and her eyes went down his body. He suddenly felt very self conscious. "RJ?" he called out again.
"What? I'm listening!" RJ snapped suddenly as his voice cut through her day dreams of a shirtless, sweaty Hunter under the moonlight. *Gack! I'm becoming some sort of pervert!* At the realization, she blushed and took a deep breath. She lifted her head up to look at him, almost defiantly. Hunter narrowed her eyes, wondering if she even knew what she had said earlier. He shook his head.
*She probably just zoned off. Dad says that's a common Heartilly trait,* he thought to himself. He lifted up the gun blade. "Can you do me a favor and bring the gun blade back to your dad? He let me borrow it."
RJ looked over at the broken gun blade. "How am I going to explain to him why half the blade is gone?" she asked. "I'm not taking the blame for it."
"He's not going to blame you. It's not like YOU were using it," Hunter snorted. He walked past her. RJ grabbed the handle of the broken gun blade and then walked over to pick up the broken piece off the lawn gingerly. She followed behind Hunter. "Besides, it's not like you can actually USE it." he chuckled as he walked up two steps to the veranda.
Suddenly, he sensed something flying towards him and he ducked to the left. He whirled around and saw the main half of the gun blade imbedded, broken blade first, into a concrete column that lined the edge of the veranda.
"Yeah..." RJ said casually as she past him. She grabbed the handle of the gun blade and pulled it out of the column with ease. "I really have to learn to USE it."
Hunter's mouth dropped slightly as she slinked into the palace, holding the gun blade parts in both hands. He smirked. "I knew you were a tom boy!" he shouted as he walked in after her. "But I never realized you were 'THAT BUTCH'!"
Squall grumbled as he looked at the spare gun blade he had lent Hunter. It was laid out in his desk. *Great...just great.*
"Daddy, PLEASE?" RJ pleaded as she leaned forward, over her father's desk.
"No." Squall replied for the hundredth time.
"Why not?" RJ asked desperately. "It's not fair! He won't do anything to me!"
"RJ, Hunter may be your knight, but that doesn't mean that he's completely safe."
"We're not going to do ANYTHING!!" RJ pleaded. "Daddy, you're being unreasonable."
"I am not being unreasonable. I'm being a father." Squall stated simply.
The door to Squall's office opened and Rinoa walked in. "I'm glad you both are here," she said as she opened the door wider. She stepped aside and Quistis walked in, holding a heavy book with ease. Hunter was behind her, fresh from a shower. "Quistis found something you might want to hear."
"I hope it's good news," Squall sighed. He leaned back against his chair. "And Hunter, you'll be paying for the broken gun blade."
"Yes, sir..." Hunter sighed heavily.
"Don't make him pay for it," Quistis frowned. "Seifer's the one who broke it."
"Really?" Squall smirked. "Even better."
RJ sat back down on the large chair. "Can we just get this over with?" she asked tiredly.
"RJ, you were talking about sacred blood the other evening and so I spent quite a great deal of time looking into it," Quistis said. She put the book on the edge of Squall's desk and opened it to a book marked page. There was a page of ancient script on one side and a wood block print on the other. "As a vampire, you are aware of the importance of blood and blood lines."
"Of course," RJ said. "It's been drilled into my head since I was little."
"Then you know that since your mother is a sorceress and you have pure sorceress blood in you."
"Yes."
Quistis smiled. "Now, what USUALLY happens when a vampire and a sorcerer have off spring?"
"One blood line is diluted, usually the magic blood line." RJ stated.
"This is my theory," Quistis stated. She pointed to the page with the wood block print. There was a young woman holding a baby. To her left was fire, to her right were clouds. "This picture is symbolic of a child born on the edge of life and death. According to the scripts, a child of vampire and sorcerer born on the edge will maintain an equal amount of both blood lines resulting in a hybrid which, theoretically, should have the blood combination of ancient vampires."
"Ancient vampires are supposed to be able to use magic," Rinoa added. "Baby...we think that because you were born in Hell's Gates, where the worlds of the dead and the living meet, you're that hybrid."
"Meaning...Sephiroth was right?" RJ asked. "I have sacred blood?"
"I have yet to cross reference this, but yes, RJ, that's what we think," Quistis stated. "As for what Sephiroth wants with you, we have no idea."
"All we know is that he's after your blood." Rinoa added.
RJ's eyes squinted as she looked at her mother and Quistis. "So...what should I do?"
"You should stay within the palace compound and never leave unescorted until we figure out what Sephiroth wants with you," Squall stated. RJ turned and saw her father sitting there with a concerned expression on his face. "I'll make sure security is put on high alert."
"Rinoa and I will continue with the research," Quistis said as she snapped closed the book and put it under her arm. "Seifer, Irvine, Selphie, and Zell are still at the main library. Fujin and Raijin said they're ready at a moment's notice, as well."
"I'll go with you." Hunter said from where he had been leaning against a book shelf.
"Oh no you don't," Rinoa stated. She stood in front of him and put her right hand on her hip and pointed her left hand at RJ. "YOU are to stay here with RJ."
"But I can help with the research." he assured them. Rinoa shook her head and Quistis let out a heavy sigh.
"WE can handle the research," his mother told him. "We've done this before. You stay with RJ. You're her knight."
"That's only a theory." Squall mumbled. Rinoa shot him an annoyed glare before she looked back at the young man.
"We're counting on you, Hunter." she told him as she turned and left.
"Don't leave her alone!" his mother shouted over her shoulder. The two women left the room and Hunter slowly turned to look at a foreboding Squall. He swallowed.
Steel blue eyes settled on his green ones. "If RJ is hurt...in ANY way..." Squall threatened.
"Dad..." RJ grumbled. She stood up and walked around the chair. She grabbed Hunter's hand on her way to the door. "Come on, Hunter!"
"Wait...where are we going?" he stammered as he was dragged out of the room.
"There's something I want to check out!"
"Don't leave the palace!" Squall shouted.
"I KNOW, DAD!"
The room was dark and cold. RJ ran her hand along the wall and flicked on a switch. Immediately, dim lights filled the room. Hunter stood behind her in the door way and looked around. The room was partially under ground and filled with tools. "Where are we?"
"Grandpa Ward's workshop..." RJ said deviously as she casually walked into the spacious room and headed straight for the work desk. Hunter narrowed his eyes and remained where he was standing.
"WHY?" he demanded.
RJ turned around and frowned as she lifted up a wrench. "Do you want those things off or not?" she asked, pointing the wrench at his hands.
The blond looked down and paused. *I do want them off...but this is breaking and entering...*
"Don't worry," RJ told him casually. "Grandpa Ward went with Grandpa Kiros to run an errand for Grandpa in Fisherman's Horizon. They shouldn't be back until tomorrow morning."
"Are you SURE?" Hunter asked. RJ nodded. "Fine...I'll go along with your scheme-"
"It's not a 'scheme'," she assured him. "It's a 'plan'."
"Right...whatever," Hunter rolled his eyes. "I'll go along with your 'plan'," she smiled. "But I swear, if we get caught-"
"We won't get caught."
"Forgive me if I don't believe you." Hunter scoffed. RJ rolled her eyes and lifted up her hand.
She held her finger and thumb a centimeter from each other. "I am THIS close to leaving those things on you."
Hunter grumbled. "What are we looking for?" he succumbed. RJ smiled brightly.
"Okay!" she said as she looked around. "I heard them talking about how the bracelets need a code to be taken off. Grandpa Ward has a bad memory, so he must've written it down somewhere."
"So we're looking for the code?" Hunter he asserted. RJ nodded as she walked to the far shelf and began to look around.
"Look for a note book or something," she said. "He's not usually one to use a computer, so he must've written it down on a piece of paper."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Will you stop questioning me and look around?!" she snapped. "Hyne, Hunter..." The brunette ran her fingers along the shelve, looking past jars of nuts, bolts, and chemicals in search of a notebook.
Hunter casually looked around, not really believing he would find what they were looking for. RJ had always been quite optimistic and willing to go out on a limb, even if the chances of her succeeding was little. She was risky, where as he was stable. She would take a dare, where as he would casually decline. He had gotten his sense from his mother. She had gotten her sense from hers.
He walked across the room and found an old note book leaning against a tin of old screws. He pulled it out and flipped through the pages. His eyes went wide. They were filled with calculations on how to modify the bracelets. "I think I found it!" he exclaimed.
RJ turned around and happily skipped back to where Hunter was. "See! And you doubted me," she said. She took the note book from his hands and scanned it for a code. "Here we go... give me your wrists."
"I'll read out the code," Hunter said as he held his wrists up. "Okay...the left one is 3-3-18. The right one is 8-21-18."
"3...14...that's my mom's birthday!" RJ said as she turned the numerical locks on Hunter's wrists. "8...23...that's my dad's birthday..."
"What about 18?" Hunter asked. RJ's warm fingers held on to his right wrist as she began to decode it.
"That I don't know," she said. There was a click and the bracelets came off. "Yay! I told you." She held them in her hands and locked them with each other.
"Now let's test it." Hunter said as he took the bracelet's from her smaller hands and put them in his pocket.
"Test them for what?" RJ asked with an amused chuckle as Hunter stood in front of her. "They're off your-" Her blue eyes went wide as the blond leaned forward and pinned her to the work bench she was standing in front of.
His lips pressed against hers as his arms stayed on either side of her, keeping her confined against him. His body pressed against hers as her hands were placed on his chest, modestly keeping him at bay. She closed her eyes just as he pulled away. "What do you know?" he smirked. "It works."
"You shouldn't do that..." RJ frowned. "We might get caught."
"If I remember correctly, you're the one who said that they shouldn't be back until-"
"What are you two doing in here!?" a voice shrieked from the door way.
Hunter paled and he slowly turned his head. *Why? Why does this keep happening?*
"Gack! Auntie Ellone!" RJ gasped. She practically shoved Hunter back as she straightened her clothes and ran her hand through her hair. "Ahem...I...um...we were just..."
"Hyne, you two," Ellone sighed heavily as she ran her hand through her short hair. "If you're going to make out, do it AWAY from the palace."
"We would," Hunter said daringly, making RJ blushed furiously as she turned to glare at him. "But RJ's not allowed to leave the palace."
"You don't have to tell her..." RJ whispered in a low voice. Hunter merely shrugged.
"Just be a little more discrete," the older vampiress told them. "I swear, if your father or Uncle Laguna found you as I did, they'd rip Hunter to shreds."
"Thank you for the notice, Miss Loire..." Hunter sighed. He ran his hand through his thick blond hair and RJ managed to put some more distance between her and the blond.
"Auntie, what are you doing here?" RJ asked.
Ellone merely raised an eyebrow. "Raine Julia Heartilly-Leonheart, I've known you long enough to know a little bit about how your train of thought works. I figured you'd be here to look for Ward's code to take off Hunter's bracelets."
"Wow..." RJ stated. "You're good."
Ellone shook her head and sighed. "Is there something you needed us for?" Hunter asked as politely as he could, although he was still annoyed.
"Actually, I just wanted to find you before Uncle Laguna did," Ellone explained. She looked back up the hallway. "He's in a mad search for RJ."
"Why? Does he need something?" RJ asked, concerned. Ellone shook her head.
"No, he's just terrified that Hunter is going to take advantage of you when he's not looking," Ellone told her. RJ gave her a look and Ellone held her hands up. "Keep in mind, RJ, that he still sees you as his little girl. I don't think he fully realizes that you'd have to grow up."
"I know..." RJ admitted, her eyes downcast. "But it's still a stupid reason to get all worked up. He's known Hunter longer than he's known me..."
"That may be so, but you're his granddaughter," Ellone reminded her. RJ nodded. "So you two better head upstairs to an open area where he can see you. Make sure you're sitting apart."
"We'll go to the tea room," RJ sighed. She walked ahead of Hunter, slowly going up the stairs past her Aunt. "I'll have Ma Dincht make some cookies."
Ellone chuckled as Hunter began to walk past her. She clamped her hand on his shoulder, stopping him continuing onwards. He turned his head and looked at her. "Yes, mam?"
"Hunter...not many people know this," Ellone said. "But...when a vampire looses their... um...innocence, vampires who are close to them will know."
Hunter's eyebrows furrowed. "I have no idea what that means." he stated. Ellone let out a heavy sigh.
"Vampires who are no longer...er...inexperienced have a slight change in their blood scent that is detected by other vampires." Ellone explained.
Hunter just stared at her. "I'm sorry...one more time?"
Ellone ran her hand down her face. "If you take RJ's virginity, Laguna, Squall, and any other vampire close to RJ will know because they'll detect something in her blood scent!" she exclaimed, exasperated.
Slowly, the blonde's pale face turned red. "Vir...vir...what are you talking about!?" he gasped out as he stumbled for the stairs. "I have no idea what you're...no!" He turned and began to scramble up the stairs on all fours, stumbling over his own feet three times before he even made it half way up.
Ellone looked up the stairs and watched as Hunter stumbled out of entrance. Once the door closed, she turned and headed towards the phone on Ward's work bench. She picked it up and dialed and extension of the palace.
"Did you find them?" Rinoa asked as she picked up from the library.
"Yeah...in Ward's work area tinkering with the bracelets," Ellone explained. She leaned against the side of the table. "Hey, Rin...did you really read that vampires can detect the loss of someone's...um...innocence?"
Rinoa snickered from where she was sitting in the library. Quistis was across from her, engrossed in a book. "No, I made that up," Rinoa shrugged. "You can't smell it...I just wanted you to tell them that."
"Why? I thought you wanted grandchildren."
"I do," Rinoa agreed. "I just think this is a better, more HUMANE, way to stop Hunter than those bracelets."
"Did you tell Squall?"
"He'll figure it out on his own...but just in case, tell him to wear long sleeve shirts." Ellone laughed on the other side of the line.
"All right then. I'll keep an eye on them."
"Thanks, Ellone!" Rinoa hung up the phone and Quistis looked up at her.
"Think it'll work?"
"Of course!" Rinoa said. She smirked slightly. "At least for a few days."
"There you are!" Laguna sighed, full of relief has he stumbled upon the young vampiress and the 'knight' in Ellone's tea room. They were snacking on some fresh baked cookies as they stood on either side of a coffee table.
Hunter was sitting on the edge of the couch as RJ sat on the floor, looking extremely concentrated as she looked down at the board in front of her. Hunter merely sighed and leaned back against the couch. "Hello, sir."
"I was looking all over for you two!" Laguna told them, his eyes large as he walked into the room. He stood over RJ. "Raine Julia, what are you playing?"
"Wait a second, grandpa...I think I have him..." RJ said. She lifted her hand and moved the game piece. "B-24!"
The machine began to flash it's lights. "You sunk my battle ship!" the electronic voice declared as RJ let out a haughty laugh.
"Oh, Hyne..." Hunter rolled his eyes. "This is the lamest game EVER! Why did we even decide on playing it?"
"Because you said all the other games were even more lame!" RJ exclaimed. She tilted her head up and smiled widely as she looked at her grandpa. "Hi, grandpa! I won."
"Good for you, dear," he said, smiling softly. "So what are you two doing next?"
"I'M going to bed," Hunter snorted. "I've been stuck with you way too long."
"Well, it's not like you complain about it." RJ added. The blond narrowed his eyes and turned his head away sharply.
"I'm all complained out," Hunter told her casually. He stood up and stretched, raising his arms up and drawing attention to his perfectly sculpted body as RJ looked up. "Later."
"Later, loser!" RJ shouted as he walked past her quickly.
"So..." Laguna said. RJ raised an eyebrow. Her grandfather was starting to stammer. His eyes were looking away. That always meant that he was going to ask something uncomfortable. "Where is...uh...Hunter sleeping...um...tonight?"
"Down the hall," RJ replied. She shook her head. "Don't worry, grandpa. He's not sleeping with me."
"Oh thank Hyne!" the older vampire exclaimed, filled with relief as he leaned forward and put a lopsided smile on his face.
"Grandpa, really..." RJ said. "I really LIKE Hunter. Don't scare him off."
"Me? Scare him off? I'd never do ANY such thing!" he gasped out, as if shocked. RJ just stared at him. His eyes quickly darted away.
"Grandpa..."
"But you're my baby!" he exploded. His arms flew out and pulled her into a strong hug. "You're my little precious little girl! No man is good enough for you!"
"Oh, for crying out loud, dad!" a voice snapped from the door way. The whimpering vampire grandfather looked up at the disapproving face of Rinoa. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she looked down at him. "You're getting clingy again."
"I don't think he ever stopped being clingy," a voice said behind her. Squall appeared, looking equally annoyed with his father's overly dramatic actions. "RJ, go up to your room and go to bed."
"Okay..." the young brunette sighed as she pried herself from her father's vice like grip and stood up. She dusted her pants and tugged her shirt down to straighten it.
"Are you SURE you don't want Hunter to sleep with you?" Rinoa asked softly as RJ passed between her and Squall.
"YES!" Squall and Laguna shouted simultaneously, earning them both a strange look from RJ.
"It's okay, mom," RJ assured her mother. "He's down the hall. That's close enough."
"Okay, baby," Rinoa said. She kissed her daughter's forehead. "Just be careful. I'll check on you later," RJ nodded and headed down the corridor. Rinoa looked back into the room. "And you two!" she stated strongly. "Dad, stop scaring Hunter and Squall stop...scaring Hunter!"
"Rin, I am not scaring Hunter," Squall told her. "I'm just setting some guidelines."
"You beat him up!"
"You didn't stop me."
"I was grabbing your arm screaming 'stop it' while Quistis grabbed your other one! Irvine had to drag you off the boy!" Rinoa exclaimed.
"I didn't 'beat him up'," Squall stated as he fell back on the couch and put his feet on the coffee table. Laguna frowned and brushed them off with his hand, giving his son a disapproving look as Squall rolled his eyes. "I merely showed him what he's up against if he ever hurts RJ."
"You chased him with a gun blade for twenty minutes before slamming his butt to the floor."
"Hey, Seifer wasn't helping."
"That's because he was too busying having a sparing match with Quistis and telling you to 'give him one for me'." Rinoa added.
"Rinoa, you know we just worry about her." Laguna insisted.
"That's all well and good, but I swear you wouldn't be doing this if RJ was a boy," Rinoa stated. "It's called a double standard."
"It's not a double standard-" Squall began, but Rinoa cut him off.
"Laguna, do you treat RJ the way you treated Squall when he was her age?" Rinoa asked. Laguna shook his head as is looked down. "Just TRY to have a little more faith in her strength. RJ isn't a little girl any more. And as much as we may hate to think about it...we won't always be there to protect her."
The hot water rinsed out the white foam lather in RJ's thick set of hair as she sang along to the music that echoed off the walls of her bathroom. She ran her hands through her hair to make sure the shampoo was all gone before turning the knobs to shut the water off.
She grabbed her robe and put it on. She wrapped a thick towel around her hair and stepped out of the tub. *Nothing's as refreshing as a hot shower before bed...* she thought to herself. Humming the song, she took a used wash cloth and wiped the steam off of the fogged up mirror.
Her blue eyes lifted and were met with glowing green ones.
"You're just like me," a deep voice resonated around her as her heart sped up in her chest. Her eyes went wide as all the blood drained from her face. A pale hand extended from the smooth surface of the mirror and placed themselves against RJ's cold cheek. "I won't let you go so easily."
Hunter was laying on his stomach across his bed. His reading glasses danced on the tip of his nose as his green eyes were pasted on a book his mother had given him on sorceresses and their knights.
As he lifted his hand to turn the page, he froze. His heart seemed to freeze in his chest as all his senses went into over drive. His eyes lifted from the page and all of a sudden, all he could see were terrified blue eyes.
The book dropped from his hands. "RJ...!"