Henceforth notes-
translated Japanese
Note Some japanese left in for clarity, check the bottom of the page for a dictionary
:: = thoughts
The train ride to Yokohama would have been very dull for Van Helsing if he did not still have the feeling of being watched by the same thing that had been observing him on the pier. His "guide," Himura-san, had been jabbering at him nonstop since the introductions... the monk was probably pleased to have a captive audience.
"...And father Caman was telling me you would be able to help us wuth our ryu problem and that you specialize in hunting monsters it really is remarkable how one man can specialize in that field and live for more than a year how can you do it I mean they are horrendous demons with fangs and claws and you are stuck with having to use what a wooden stake or something as small as that you could nevr kill a ryu with it it would take gold to at least wound it after all they live in the dragon mountains and noone has been reported to see one and not admire its beauty and..."
He had begun to tune the monk out hours ago. As his gaze wandered, he discovered something he should have noticed a long time ago. The little girl sitting across the hallway from him had not turned a page in her book in a long while. She was looking at him- or rather, the monk beside him.
"Can I help you," he inquired.
She shook her head.
"No, sir... it;s just that not everyone knows the legends of the Dragon Mountains... and the people who do don;t usually talk about it."
He blinked, his confusion evident.
"Weren't you listening?"
Van Helsing raised an eyebrow and pointed his thumb at the monk beside him- Himura was still unaware he had lost his audience's attention. The girl giggled, drawing the attention of the older girl who shared a bench with her. Slate-grey eyes left the window and turned to reguard the raven hair of her seat-partner. The former spoke in a fluid Japanese that gave Gabriel goosebumps. It was... too smoth, too beautiful... and somewhere in the back of his mind that remarked on things he did not remember... too familiar. There was a depth to the silken tones that did not belong to someone that young.
::Familiar... but why would the voice of someone who I am certain I have never met before be familiar?::
"What has you laughing, Haname-chan?"
The girl nodded in Van Helsing's direction, and the grey gaze settled first (unsettlingly) on him, then on the monk beside him, who had yet to stop talking about obscure myths. She nodded, and her gaze returned to the window and the passcing scenery.
"It is impolite to state, little sister. Leave them be and enjoy your book. When we get back, you are welcome to stay for tea, if your parents will permit."
The little girl shook her head. Gabriel, an unwitting evesdropper, tried to tune them out, but instead found himself intrigued by the familiar but not voice of the apparently eighteen-year-old elder.
"Mother won't let me. You know that."
A soft chuckle.
"Then you are always welcome to visit, you know your company is enjoyed greatly."
Another headshake.
"Father says mother believes too much in the myths surrounding your house. Why does mother not like you very much?"
"Do not worry about it, little one. Your mother is overly superstitious, even when there is evidence contrary to her beliefs."
The grey-eyed older... girl... looked fondly down at the younger one beside her, then with a soft sigh, she looked back out the window.
Van Helsing;s eyebrow rose in curiosity before he finally managed to drag his attention to what the monk was talking about. IT was a unique phrase that drew his attention.
"...they say the ryu is older than even Dracula and twice as hard to kill, some of the legends claim it tangled with the left hand of god or something like that some two hundred years or so ago-"
"How do you kill it?"
The monk blinked, as if surprised to have elicited a question.
"I just told you, we don;t know. We do know that Holy water has some kind of effect on it, and that gold can at least wound it."
"What does it look like?"
::Ah yes, my two favorite questions. Go figure. Even a vacation is not a vacation.::
Himura blinked.
"One of our recent patients drew a sketch of it to show us. He said it was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Like a figure directly from the myths dating back to the Warring States Era. A thousand years ago. If there is one thing that holds true, particularly in this country, the more beautiful a monster is, the more deadly. This particular one is odd because unlike the rest, it actually has wings. Feathered ones at that."
Van Helsing again nodded and let his gaze wander, once again he felt eyes on him when nobody was looking.
He was distracted from his search by a young voice singing a rather sad song quietly, but clearly. It was the little girl, singing to the older one, in an obvious attemt to stop the other from brooding out the wondow.
"Forever watching time go by is lonely
because of all the ones who come and go...
Sleepily gazing out the nearby woindow
despite the calm serenity is no way to live...
As I learned this song'ed legend
the maker of it lives on in the mists...
Life in every breath every cup of tea
every perfect cherry-blossom is as precious to the Dragons of lore...
The Beloved of the dragons are left behind in time-
For they are yet young as we grow old."
The older girl smiled at the younger one, drawn out of whatever mood she had been in, her eyes going distant as her voice softly replied in a beautifully done lullaby-tune, the low alto richh with a quiet unplaceable emotion. The younger girl curled up on the seat, snuggling against the older one like a little sister to an older one.
"...Sleep, little sister, sleep
You are safe and sound
Dream, little sister, dream
As the world turns around..."
The older trailed off, her spoken song turning to a hummed melody as she let an arm curl protectively around the little raven-haired girl by her side. The younger girl had drifted to sleep during the song, leaning trustingly against the grey-eyed brunette, the older one Van Hellsing did not think was truly human.
The train came to a halt a few hours later.
Yokohama.
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It was sunset as she gently handed her precious burden to another who valued it just as much. With a grateful smile, she turned to leave- but stopped, halted by the other's deep voice.
"You've changed."
"One must if one is to not go insane over the passing years."
"That is not what I mean. What happened, my friend? You carry a sadness in your eyes..."
A long pause, and a preeze blew feathers of her hair back, revealing one eye in profile as she turned her head.
"Sessha has seen the one they will send after her next. A good person. this time. Perhaps... perhaps this one will not fight quite so hard to survive the attacks. This is the seventh time over the past ten years... perhaps, now that the one sent for sessha is a man of good intent with a good heart, this one will let him hit his mark."
"But Kaori-san...-"
"Stop. Kaori is no more. You have seen the dangers of close association with this one when she is hunted. Is it not hwo we met, with you injured from simply being in the hunter's way? It is not a mistake that bears repeating. Keep the flute- it is a parting gift to your daughter. There is a small chest buried one pace out from the west side of the sakura tree in your backyard. In it is sessha's parting gift to you."
She began to walk away, a breeze blowing her loose-fitting long-sleeved kimono.
"...matte..."
She halted again at the plea in his voice. The woman bowed her head.
"What would you ask of me?"
He sighed.
"Don't dissappear. I do not want you walking out of our lives faster than you walked into them. You're too kind a person to survive alone. Stay.... please?"
Her shoulders slumped as if a great weight had just fallen on them.
"Goodbye. I'm sorry."
His eyes went wide.
"No! Wait, please! Stay-"
She finally turned and smiled sadly, a melencholy, acceptance, and a world-weariness in her silver eyes that glimmered softly in the now-twilight.
"This one will never forget your kindness."
A few minutes passed, and it got darker. Stars appeared overhead. He had trouble seeing her, now.
"Sayonara. Sumimasen."
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Van Helsing sighed as he entered his room at the monastary. He was to meet Father Kaman and get his first "training" class underway in the morning. Dawn, no less.
Well, at least for once he would get a decent night;s sleep.
IF he could sleep.
He sighed, and re-read the note he had discovered in one of the pockets in his duster earlier that evening.
Unknown Hunter-
Can you kill an unarmed woman? I fear it is the only way to slay the dragon who lives in the lost temple you are sure to be sent to find. Her friends will not help you- but upon her request, they also will not stop you. You are welcome to try and kill the dragon that lives in what the locals will call the Temple of the Mists. Consider this a formal challangem if you have need of it. Good luck-
You'll need it.
Notes:
Full text of the lullaby-
Rest my friend, I am here
Sleep peacefully
Dream the plesant dreams of life
You are safe now
Little one don't cry
Everything is all right
I will always remember you
You are in good care
Count the lambs and sleep
Let your dreams take you far
Rest in peace my friend
Your dreams are guarded now
Sleep, little sister, sleep
You are safe and sound
Dream, little sister, dream
As the world turns around
Rest my friend, I am here
Everything is all right
Rest in peace, my friend
As the world turns around
Dictionary:
Matte- wait!
Sayonara- Goodbye with the connotation of "I'll never see you again"
Sumimaisen- I'm very sorry, to someone in a higher station
Sessha- a third person for of "I", effectively places the world on a pedestal above the speaker. Archaic and little-used.