A/N: Well, another chappie again, eh? This'll be the 3rd time I've updated this month, which is actually a new record for me...o.o... Am here with a new chappie, and it'll be a long while until I update this one again b/c I'll be working on Preschool (I apologize for not updating it yet...very sorry...) and I'm planning to start a new YYH soon...I'm wondering how it'll turn out though...It's going to be another AU type of fic...starring Kurama and Botan...right now it's in the works...but I'm deciding if it should be a Hiei/Botan or a Kurama/Botan pairing....shrugs either which, I guess. Anyway back to here...yup, we've got the Elementals after such a long time..., this is going to be a long fic, don't you think so too? Kagome as Hi (Fire), Botan as Kaze (Wind), Sango as Chi (Earth) and Yukina as Mizu (Water)...I had a hard time deciding a long time ago between Keiko and Yukina, but then who would get kidnapped? Err, one of the most frequent ones, Keiko....okay, not really...but hey, might as well kidnap her and put her in this difficult situation....; There might be some surprises in this chapter, if you can call it surprises...if not, then that's how it'll go from then on. And also in this chapter, there will be a nightclub involved (not really though) and just by that, some people would immediately think Atwater-Rhodes' books! .; I'm not copying her btw...but w/it, doesn't it make a bit...oh how should I say...a "feel" to it or something? So I added in a nightclub...and you'll read later...Let's see...what else...anou...hmm....this chappie might become confusing! Then again, the song that I'm listening to right now is confusing! (Dir en Grey... "[KR] Cube" ...has been listening to Dir en Grey for the past hour now....-.-;) And so, we shall begin!
PS: Ever since ff.net took away the asterisks and etc, this might be a bit confusing...
Disclaimer: What if I did own YYH and IY? What will you do? Sue me?! Nyahaha! Okay, I'm don't own them...meep....;
CHAPTER 12: HITORI NO YORU
Yukina held the phone near her ear. After so many hours of being dead, the phone lines are finally working. "Mom?"
"Yukina! Where are you? Are you okay? You're not hurt are you?" asked the voice on the other end of the phone connection.
"Yes, mom, I'm okay – just soaked with water," Yukina answered.
"Good...Where are you though? Why didn't you come home?"
"I was coming home, with Botan and Keiko, but the rain was too strong; so we're staying for the night in the temple that's on the hill, about one block away from the school."
"The one that's cared for by the old woman?"
"Yes, that one," said Yukina. "Botan and I are going to be here for the night. We'll be home by tomorrow."
"Okay, be safe, Yukina. And come home soon."
"Good night, Mother..."
"Good night..."
Yukina hanged up the phone and looked at Botan. She was standing near the doorway, leaning against the wall. "How's your mother?" she asked.
"Worried..."
"Guess that's how all mothers are when their child isn't around them for such a long time..."
"She's not my real mother..."
"I know that, Yukina. But still...Ruri feels like a mother. She felt like one ever since she first adopted you from the orphanage...She took care of you, nurtured you to good health and had watched you grow up into what you are now...a great friend..." She looked at Yukina as she said this to her; while saying this, thoughts of her own mother came into her mind. A long time ago, while she and Koenma were younger, their mother had died from a car accident...the rest of the family were in grief over Ayame's sudden death...but she will always remain in their hearts...
"I guess...you're right about that, Botan," Yukina smiled. "Thank you for saying that."
"It's okay. Just remember that we'll always be here to help you..." Botan hugged Yukina tightly.
"How're we going to get Keiko and Kuwabara back?"
"That...is something we all need to figure out together..."
Botan and Yukina then went to their room. The girls all stayed in one large room, while Koenma and Miroku stayed in Inuyasha's own large room. When the girls entered their room, Kagome and Sango were wide awake.
"We need to rescue Keiko and Kuwabara as soon as possible," said Botan. "We're the Elemental Witches and we need to work together." "But we need to work on our magic first... To get a hang of it so that we'll be prepared to save ourselves or someone else," said Sango.
"Yeah..." the girls agreed.
"Let's all think this up tomorrow," Kagome added. "I think we've already suffered enough for tonight."
The girls agreed again and got under their own bed. The lights were then turned off. Everyone fell asleep quickly, but Botan was wide awake still. She looked out the window and stared at the full moon – it was no longer covered with clouds; the storm had passed and now...it's calm weather...
A tear drop escaped from Botan's eye began to slowly drip down; more tears had soon followed. Keiko...I hope you're alright...Please be safe...and Kuwabara...Please be alive...We'll be there son for the both of you...
Botan slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.
###
For a moment, Inuyasha was gazing out at the same moon as Botan. He was thinking...back there, when it was still raining hard and painful, Inuyasha was looking for that dead body, the body that was stabbed by his own dagger...
{A couple hours ago...during the storm}
Inuyasha cursed when he couldn't find the body; he cursed at the fact that he had somehow escaped without leaving a trail, and he cursed himself for not being able to smell his scent...He looked around the area, trying to find where the body went since there was no trail to follow. Only the Kurokibas are the only creatures in the world that he cannot sense...Other than that, he would've found him by now...but no...
He looked and searched, retracing where he last saw the body. "Damn..." he cursed. "If only it wasn't raining...this would've been a bit better."
"You always did have a knack for cursing at everything you can't solve."
Inuyasha froze; chills ran down his spine as he heard that deep voice speak to him. "I thought you were dead; you were killed by a demon slayer," Inuyasha said slowly. "How are you still alive after all these centuries?"
"I should be asking you that same question," the man responded. "I wonder how you've been able to survive after being shot with that arrow...Little brother."
"Sesshoumaru..." Inuyasha turned around and became face-to-face with his brother. Inuyasha looked at Sesshoumaru's face; his face structure hadn't changed one bit. He was still beautiful – almost as beautiful as how he looked over three centuries ago, before the time they went to war together...His skin was flawless and perfect, but his eyes tell of a different story...a slightly darker one...And he didn't have the outfit he wore so long ago, now it was different...He wore a black suit this time. (a/n: O.o...eh?)
"What happened to you, Sesshoumaru? I heard that you were hunted down and killed by a demon slayer. What happened to Rin?"
Sesshoumaru smirked. "Those were just rumors...Don't always believe them. As for Rin...Rin, Rin, Rin," he said over and over. "She's still with me, living happily as ever..."
"She should be dead, you should be dead!"
"In truth," Sesshoumaru said as he began to walk towards Inuyasha. "I was never hunted down – but I am dead." Inuyasha kept a keen watch on him as he paced forward. "A couple years after you've 'died' and your grave was robbed, I met a man. He said that he can help me...to become more powerful than ever, if only I would join him to search for the Elemental Witches."
"That's not possible, you're a pure-blooded demon; you just can't turn into a -"
"A vampire?"
Inuyasha stopped.
"It's actually incredibly possible to happen when you turn into a Kurokiba." Sesshoumaru touched Inuyasha's face lightly with a finger. Inuyasha could feel his nails touching his skin. "The transformation was painful however," Sesshoumaru continued, "from turning into a demon to a vampire...not much change had happened, only that I'm stronger than ever...and that...I now lust for the taste of fresh blood...especially from young women..."
Inuyasha pulled back, away from Sesshoumaru's touch. "What did you do to Rin?"
"I've already said that she's with me, living happily as ever."
"What did you do to her?!"
"After a couple of years of being a Kurokiba, I've tried to not go after Rin. Throughout those years of being with her, she began to grow into a beautiful young woman. She was almost sixteen when I started to think of turning her into my mate – her face was beautiful and her skin was smooth and flawless. When the day of her sixteenth birthday came, I wanted her, I needed her more than ever and my urge for her blood became great. I wanted to be with her as long as I can, even if it meant changing her into what I am now..."
"You bast –"
Sesshoumaru placed a finger upon Inuyasha's mouth, silencing him. "Hush now, brother. She's happy."
"You think she's happy with drinking innocent people's blood?!"
"Yes, she is," Sesshoumaru responded simply.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and brought out his Tetsusaiga. How could he do this to Rin? She's just an innocent young girl who doesn't deserve to suffer by feeding on other people. He remembered how her innocence was and how it radiated, how happy she was whenever he sees her. "DIE!!"
Inuyasha was about to strike but wasn't able to, for Sesshoumaru grabbed him by the throat.
"Nah-ah-ah, I don't think so," said Sesshoumaru.
The hanyou began to struggle, hoping to loosen Sesshoumaru's grip around his throat. He tried to kick him, but that was of no use.
"What's wrong, Inuyasha? Can't get away?" The Kurokiba freed Inuyasha from his grip; the half-demon fell to the ground, coughing. Sesshoumaru grinned.
"Damn you!" Inuyasha yelled. He got up quickly and tried to attack Sesshoumaru with his sword. But Sesshoumaru pushed him hard, causing Inuyasha to fly back and crash into a tree.
Sesshoumaru walked towards him. He leaned down and looked at him – he was slightly unconscious though he was still awake. Sesshoumaru knows that he can hear him well. "Inuyasha," he began to say, "We will meet soon again. If you want to bring back Rin, come prepared for taking her away from me will be difficult."
"Ugh...."
Sesshoumaru smiled an unseen smirk and held Inuyasha's face with his hand. The hanyou groaned from the pain he felt. "Until we meet again, little brother..."
Inuyasha slowly opened his eyes, but Sesshoumaru had already disappeared. His ear twitched, someone had screamed. "Let me GO! Let me GO!" Another scream filled his ears.
Inuyasha tried to get up, but his head was spinning and blood began to drip from the back of his head. "Damn..." he cursed.
###
When he finally got back into the temple after killing Kagura and talking a bit with Kagome and the others, he saw Kaede lying down, exhausted and wounded. He smelled human blood within the room and saw a pool of blood on the wooden floor. He sniffed the blood a bit more closely. It was that human, Koenma...And he was bit by no other than Sesshoumaru. He smelled the scent of the other two that were previously here; of course he couldn't sense Sesshoumaru's scent since he was the only Kurokiba that came. The other two were demons...Kagura the wind demon and the other...he do not know.
Inuyasha walked around had heard a crying sound. He followed the small sound until it lead him to Yukina.
Yukina heard him sit down beside her, only close to the open door. She looked up and saw him. Tears were coming down her eyes. "What happened in here?" Inuyasha asked quietly.
The girl looked down and fresh new tears came down her cheeks. Inuyasha looked at her face; he almost blushed, but quickly looked away. She looked so pretty at that moment, how her eyes glistened with tears...
"They took Keiko and Kuwabara...and they wounded Koenma..."
"Oh..."
Yukina wiped her eyes. "I hope they'll be okay...I just wished that I could've been there to help them...but I ran after Botan instead..."
"It's okay..."
Yukina became puzzled. "How is that okay?"
"We'll get them....soon...Is what I meant..."
The girl nodded; a small bit of hope had finally returned to her.
Inuyasha looked around again and saw Kagome and her friends with Kaede, helping her. He didn't see Botan or Koenma in the room; they must be upstairs...resting...
###
Inuyasha sighed as he watched the full moon...He can't forgive Sesshoumaru for what he had done to Rin. She's so innocent...and now she's a Kurokiba, a bloodsucker; she became one against her will (or so he thinks)...He made a fist as an image of Sesshoumaru drinking Rin's blood came into his mind. He will never forgive him...He'll have his head...
"Ugh..."
Inuyasha heard Koenma moan. The bit on his neck was beginning to hurt. "Ugh...!" Koenma tossed and turned, unable to lie comfortably in one spot.
The demon watched and began to hope that Koenma didn't drink any blood when he was bit by Sesshoumaru. "Botan!" Koenma cried out. He was sitting up and panting hard. He was sweating hard and looked restless. "Botan? Botan?!"
"Calm down...She's still safe."
Koenma looked at Inuyasha; he was still panting hard, out of breath.
"Go to sleep now, you need to rest..."
The boy nodded and lied back down. He was unable to fall back asleep; the nightmare he just had was frightening...He became one of them, those things! He had changed into a vampire and his first prey was his only sister, Botan...
Koenma touched his neck, it began to hurt and he winced from the pain.
The pain didn't last long...after a few seconds had gone by, he stared at the ceiling. He mouthed the name 'Botan' silently and tried to sleep.
"Sango, will you bare my child?" Miroku asked in his sleep. "Sango, will you me the honors of bearing my child?"
"Oi, shut the hell up will ya?" Inuyasha yelled. "Stupid human." But Miroku went at it again. The hanyou threw a rock that he got from outside, at Miroku. The boy instantly became quiet and quickly fell asleep. "Hmph...Humans..." Inuyasha snorted.
###
"Kurama, how long are you going to lie down there?"
Kurama slowly opened his eyes. "When I'm done with my nap," he said. "Now leave me alone, Hiei."
Hiei raised an eyebrow. "You've been asleep for more than five hours! The storm had already calmed down; we have to find those witches now and quick!"
"Fine, then," Kurama yelled back. "I'm up!" (a/n: err...don't they sound like a nagging couple or what? XD)
During the storm, Kurama, Hiei and Yuusuke stayed inside the main headquarters or hangout for the Kurokiba. They stayed in the popular nightclub called "Hitori no Yoru". It was originally a nightclub for the Kurokiba but humans, demons and other vampire races started to hang out in it almost every night. But only the Kurokiba know of this place as the main headquarter for their kind as well as some humans and demons that were trusted.
Kurama went ahead and fell asleep in one of the vacant rooms upstairs during the storm; Hiei and Yuusuke were downstairs in the club, sitting down and waiting for Kurama to wake up (by which he hadn't for over five hours...).
When the storm had passed, Hiei went up to wake Kurama up from his sleep. Yuusuke had stayed behind to get another drink. Since the storm had finished, it's better to find the witches now.
###
Kurama and Hiei walked down the stairs, it was dim and music pounded against the walls. Kurama wore a loose, sleeveless white shirt and black pants; Hiei wore a black sleeveless top and black "ninja" pants as well.
Young girls smiled seductively at the two as they were walking down the stairs. A girl caressed Kurama's as she went up the stairs, flashing a fang at him as she smiled at him.
Kurama smiled back uneasily.
The girl winked at him and flipped her hair to the side. She then left.
Kurama and Hiei continued down the stairs until they met up with Yuusuke.
"Ready to go?" asked Yuusuke.
Hiei nodded but Kurama stood still.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Kurama said while he went back up the stairs.
"Kurama?"
"I need to speak to him for a few minutes," Kurama responded to Yuusuke.
"Wait up a bit, we're coming too!"
Yuusuke and Hiei followed Kurama.
###
"Let me GO! Please let me GO!!"
"Shut up, wench!"
"My name is not 'wench'! It's Keiko!" yelled the girl as she was being dragged down a large hallway by the hand. She was blindfolded and she was trying to stop where she was, but Hiten just dragged her along, not releasing her wrist at all. "Let me GO!!"
Hiten opened a door and went inside (still holding onto Keiko's wrist) into a large room. He then walked over to a king-sized bed, covered with black covers. He pushed Keiko towards the bed, causing her to lie down, stomach facing the mattress. She turned around and took off the blindfold. She saw Hiten standing in front of her with arms folded across his chest. Keiko closed her eyes, not wanting to know what would happen to her next.
Hiten walked away; she opened her eyes.
"You're going to be staying here for a while until he comes to see you," said Hiten as he was walking towards the door. "He's dying to meet you after such a long time. If you need anything, feel free to ask by calling the room service here. But, if you're trying to call your friends and such, it won't work. All phone lines here are only connected to this building. Trying to reach outside will be of no use to you." He paused at the doorway. Hiten smirked. "Have a nice night," he said as he closed the door shut.
"Wait!" Keiko yelled as she reached the door. The door was shut tight, she tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Please open the door!" She banged the door with her hands. "Please, please, please open the door!!" Hot tears began to roll down her face.
She walked backed towards the large bed and sat down. The bed covers were black yet soft to the touch. She looked around the room; the room was beautifully designed and large. She saw the drawers and walked over to them; she then opened it and saw clothes within the shelves – all of the clothes were of her size, beautifully designed clothes that she has never seen before, even Western clothes!
The girl went over to the closet; there were high-fashioned shoes in it, high-heels and etcetera. All were of her size; she looked up and saw dresses that must have cost over a million yen!
She went into the bathroom. The bathtub was well designed...this isn't just an ordinary room – it was so beautiful....but why? Is this really all for her?
Keiko went over to the telephone; she dialed Botan's phone number but the call was never pulled through; it sounded as though it was busy. She dialed again and someone answered. "Sorry, but your number cannot be carried through."
She hanged up the phone and redialed the number – again the message was repeated. The girl slammed the phone, frustrated and defeated. She lied back down upon the bed, facing the pillow she then began to cry...Here she is, in an unknown area, probably somewhere else other than Tokyo.
"Um, excuse me?" a quiet voice asked from the doorway.
Keiko sat up and looked at the doorway. In the open doorway, there stood a young girl – probably around the age of fourteen or so – Keiko's age in other words. "Um...yes?"
"Would it mind you if I stay here with you for a while?" she asked.
"Uh, sure, I guess," Keiko replied. She kept looking at the girl as the girl walked over to the bed. The young girl was beautiful; her skin looked flawless and pale and smooth, her eyes were of a deep chocolate-brown color and her hair was of a dark and rich raven-black color. Her body was finely- shaped and when she walked, it was as though she was walking on air. She wore a long white gown, making her look like an angel coming down to Earth to help Keiko get away from this place.
"Hi, my name is Rin," said the girl. "What's your name?" she asked as she sat down at the foot of the bed. Keiko was amazed, the girl's voice sounded sweet and angelic to her ears. She asked herself if this girl was really human or not.
"My name is...Keiko..."
"I heard you coming in through the hallway while I was in my room upstairs. I was curious to see who it was and I saw Hiten walk out of this room."
"You live here?"
"Yes," Rin answered. "I've lived here for almost two years with my - " She became quiet
"With your?"
"Oh, never mind what I said," Rin said cheerfully. "You'll be living here for a while, so might as well make you feel like as though you're home, right?"
"Anou..."
"You don't know why you're here, don't you?"
Keiko shook her head sadly.
Rin got off from the bed and sat right next to Keiko. "How old are you?"
"I'm 15..." Keiko answered quietly. "You?"
"Over 16."
Keiko looked up quickly. "Over 16? You look so much younger than that! Are you really over sixteen?"
"Yes."
The phone began to ring. Rin got up and answered the phone. "Hello?" Rin nodded her head as she listened to the speaker on the other end of the phone line. "Yes, I'll tell her." She hanged up the phone and walked over to the closet. She looked through the dresses, searching for something. "Ha, this will do great," she said as she chose out an outfit. She brought it out a long, sleeveless silk-black dress. "Time for shoes," said Rin. She looked at the shoes and picked out a pair of black high-heels with straps that go around the ankles. "These would do great."
"Um, excuse me, Rin?"
"Hmm?" Rin asked as she placed the shoes on the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm picking out an outfit for you to wear tonight."
"Why?"
"It appears as though he wants to meet you tonight for dinner in person."
"Who wants to meet me?"
"He's our leader. Others call him our 'king' – our creator and such. He was watching you for a long time."
"Watching me? As in how exactly?"
"I don't know; the kid that watches whatever you do or something like that."
Keiko remained quiet. The word 'stalker' echoed over and over in her mind.
"Don't put in that sort of way," said Rin. "He doesn't mean that much harm, I think. Now try these on and come back out so we'll see how it looks on you."
Rin grabbed Keiko's hand and lead her to the bathroom with the clothes and shoes in her other arm. "Don't come out until you're ready and done, okay?" She closed the door and sat back down on the bed, waiting.
"Anou..." Keiko stared at the closed door. She sighed and took a shower. When she was done, she dressed up in the silk-black dress – she was surprised however, a bit of cleavage was shown and her back was totally exposed. But the outfit looked wonderful on her, she blushed. Never in her life had she wore anything this revealing – except for that one swimsuit that she wore two summers ago, but it was only a one piece swimsuit, then and that was a different story to learn of. Anyway, she began to love the dress. Next were the shoes; they were difficult to put on, with the straps and all.
When she was finally done, she looked at herself at the full-length mirror that was before her. If only Yuusuke could see her now...What would he think of her? Would he like it or no? She placed her hand upon the door handle and hesitated. She opened the door slowly and stepped out.
"Um, I'm done, Rin," she said meekly.
Rin came over and smiled. "You look amazing! He'll be happy to see you in this outfit!"
Keiko blushed and smiled nervously. "Thank you, I guess..."
"Let's see, no make-up is necessary and our hair is nice and long – so no much is needed to be done." Rin was about to mention something else until a loud knock was coming from outside.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in," Rin called.
The door opened and Hiten appeared. "He wants to meet her now," he said.
"Tell him just a few more minutes; she'll be ready by then."
Hiten nodded and before he could close the door, he saw Keiko, standing right beside Rin. He blushed and quickly closed the door.
"He really has good taste in what he likes, it seems," said Rin. "Now, let's go, he's waiting in the dining hall for you."
Rin grabbed a hold of Keiko's hand and both left the room.
###
"Kurama, what are you going to do?" asked Hiei.
"I just have this feeling...that I need to go see him..." Kurama responded, with the hint of a serious tone in his voice.
They continued up the stairs until they reached one of the entrances to the dining hall. Kurama opened the door and found him sitting on the end of the long dining table, sipping a cup of what seems to be fresh blood.
"Itsuki!" yelled Kurama.
Itsuki placed the glass down upon the table and licked his lips. "Yes, Kurama?"
Kurama froze, he couldn't utter out a simple word. "I..."
"Yes?"
"Is there a human around here?" Kurama asked.
"Yes, there is. A couple actually – being prepared to be fed to our newest members," Itsuki said simply with no emotion.
"You say that as though it means nothing to you, to see innocents die..." Kurama said quietly.
"Of course," Itsuki began. "I've lived for over a millennium and have even killed my own father when I was brought into this world. Throughout this millennium, I've killed more people and not once have I felt a bit of remorse for whom I've killed. Do you think that I will feel any emotion for those humans in this building?" he asked coldly.
Kurama hesitated and said no.
"Will that be all now?"
"Yes..."
"Now, if you would, please leave me to myself. I am expecting company in a few minutes."
Kurama left the hall and closed the doorway.
"What in the world was that for, Kurama?" asked Yuusuke. "You were in a hurry to get up here and now you don't look as though you didn't succeed in what you wanted to do."
"Why is it that whenever you're in the same room with him, you act like you just did back there?" asked Hiei. "Every single time, ever since you've first met him, you acted like that."
"I...I don't know...Why I become like this," Kurama replied.
"I've heard that you were one of the strongest Kurokiba – is this true?" asked Yuusuke.
"He was," said Hiei. "Neither a slayer nor a demon has been able to kill him. He showed no mercy to whoever he killed. But now he does, ever since she died." Hiei emphasized that word when he said that.
"She?"
"Her name was Kikyou. She's the one who changed me over three hundred years ago," Kurama added in. "I was in love with her – she taught me so much. However, all of a sudden, she stopped feeding on blood – our main source of survival...When she stopped, she became weak...The village that we lived in had discovered what we really were one day. They began to burn down the home that we lived in and they started a hunt." Kurama paused. "We escaped, but Kikyou was shot in the heart by a bullet, causing her to die as I held her in my arms. Tears were coming down her eyes – but it was as though she was happy about dying at that moment...She told me that she was sorry...Sorry for leaving me in this world all by myself and making me suffer now..."
"When did she die?"
"Almost two centuries ago..."
"And how long have you and Hiei known each other?"
"We met in the village that Kikyou and I have moved to a few months after she had first changed me...I didn't know how to control anything about my new life...I had uncontrollable bloodlusts every now and then and I wasn't able to handle my new abilities...Kikyou tried to help me, but she was always busy and meeting with other people. Then I met Hiei and he helped me a lot...He was like my trainer."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Hiei interrupted. "Let's go now and find those witches." Hiei walked on and Yuusuke and Kurama followed behind.
"Thanks, Hiei," Kurama said silently.
As the group was walking, Yuusuke looked around. He looked through one hallway and kept walking on, but stopped. He walked back to look through the hallway again. For a moment there, he thought he saw Keiko walking past that hallway on the other end of the hall. She was wearing a black dress and black high-heels; she was walking with another young woman who wore white. "Keiko?" he wondered. He shook his head at the thought about that woman being Keiko; it can't be Keiko...she looked depressed, not happy with where she currently was...And why would Keiko be here in the first place?
"Yuusuke, anything wrong?" asked Kurama.
"Uh, nothing!" he called back. "Keiko..." He continued and walked downstairs to catch up with Hiei and Kurama.
###
"What?" Keiko paused and turned around.
"Keiko?"
"I thought...I thought I heard him...I thought I heard him call my name..." Keiko said quietly, almost to a whisper.
"Heard who, dear?" asked Rin.
"Yuusuke..."
"Hmm? Yuusuke?"
Keiko touched the side of her neck, where Yuusuke bit her in that daydream she had during class. Her neck was smooth and the bump that was once there, was gone.
"Keiko?"
The girl blinked and turned around to face Rin. "Huh?"
"You were, for some reason, dazing off just now and saying the name 'Yuusuke'."
"Oh..."
"Is there someone?"
Keiko nodded...Tears were sliding down her face.
Rin looked at the Keiko and felt sorry for the girl that stood in front of her. She wanted to help her out...but...
"We must go now, he's waiting for you," said Rin.
Keiko nodded her head again.
The two girls approached one of the entrances to the dining hall. Rin opened the door and they walked through. Keiko looked around – the dining room was large and beautiful that you could even have a grand ball in the room and have so many guests. There was a fine-crafted chandelier hanging above the dining table. Keiko looked at the long dining table. Rin showed her where to sit down. Keiko didn't see anyone on the other end of the table, it would only be her sitting by herself it seems.
"I'll just leave you here for now," said Rin. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay...But can't you please stay with me?"
"As much as I'd like to, I can't. He wants to be here with you and only you." Rin patted Keiko's head. "Ja ne."
"Ja..."
Rin then left.
When Rin was gone, Keiko looked around – no one else was in the room. It was only her. The seat across the table from her was still empty. She looked at one of the entrances.
"What are you thinking of right now, at this moment?"
"Huh?" Keiko asked as she returned her gaze back to the empty seat. Still, no one was there.
"You still look as stunning as ever, even after all of these years," someone whispered into her ear.
The girl turned to her side; again, no one was there.
"What wrong, my dear? You seem frightened."
Keiko's heart began to beat like a drum that was coming to a crescendo and reaching to an allegro pace. "Who's there?" she asked trying to sound brave, but no luck.
"It's only me, my love."
"What?"
"You've finally returned to me...It's been so long..."
Keiko looked back at the vacant seat. She gasped; someone was sitting in the chair, sipping a glass of red-colored liquid. The man smirked as he watched Keiko with his finely-shaped eyes. He set the glass down and stood up. Keiko watched him and blushed a slight bit at the same time. The man that was walking towards her was handsome, he had a well-built body and his skin was beautifully pale.
"It has been such a long time, my love. I have waited many centuries to finally see your radiant face again...my dearest, Kirei..." he said smoothly.
"Kirei?" Keiko asked, confused. The man gently took a hold of Keiko's hand and kissed her hand like a gentleman. "Umm....Excuse me...but who are you and who is this Kirei?"
While holding onto her hand, the man smiled. "My name is Itsuki, welcome to my home."
"You're the owner of this place?"
"Yes, I am the owner – and had been for the past few hundred years."
"A few hundred years?" Keiko pulled back her hand from Itsuki's touch. "What are you? No one can live that long."
Itsuki touched Keiko's face and he saw a bit of fear within her eyes. "It's true...no one can live for that long. But whoever said that I was alive?"
The girl tried to stand up but Itsuki looked at her with a commanding glare in his eyes. "Please, sit down," he said. Keiko sat back down. "Kirei...It has been so long..."
"Who is this Kirei?"
"She is you," was the reply. Itsuki walked over to a large window and gazed site. "The storm has finally passed, but its luminous clouds are still covering the full moon..."
"How is she, me?"
"The way you two look, the sound of your voice, and the innocence that shines within your eyes whenever I look at you...You two resemble one another so closely, it's remarkable," he answered.
"Where is she? You sound as though you loved her very much..."
"I do...and I still do as well, but she died so many centuries ago..."
Keiko felt sad for him; he's still in love with the woman who had died so long ago...wait, how long ago? "What are you?"
Itsuki turned around. Keiko still watched him but he had disappeared instantly. "Huh?"
"I am the first of my kind to amongst this Earth," a voice came from beside Keiko. Keiko turned around to her side and almost screamed. "I have been alive for over one thousand years; I am one of the living dead, I am the king of my race." He watched her eyes become terrified with his presence. "I am the creator of my own creation, the leader of the Kurokiba."
"Kurokiba?"
"You've never heard that vampires existed, have you?"
Keiko paused, and had remembered about what Kaede had said before...that everything we all thought that never existed exists...
"Umm..."
"Demons, vampires, ghosts or witches, any of them?"
"Uh...yes..."
Itsuki raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
The girl nodded.
"Care to test that theory of yours?" He got closer to Keiko's neck and revealed his fangs. Keiko shut her eyes tight and a tear slid down her cheek; her heart began to beat wildly once more. Itsuki stopped before touching the frightened girl's skin. He grinned and stood up straight. "Well, we'll start dinner now, shall we?" he asked her calmly.
Keiko opened her eyes. Itsuki was already on the other end, smiling wickedly at her.
###
A foreign dish lied upon the plate in front of her. She stared at the food; it didn't exactly ease her hunger. Who would want to eat a fish head that still looked like it was still trying to breathe? She looked at Itsuki, he was drinking his glass of...something...but he too wasn't eating his dinner; instead, he was looking at her with an intense gaze as he drank.
Keiko began to wonder what he was drinking. It must be good for him to be drinking it a lot...
"You're wondering what I am drinking, are you not?" he asked.
The girl's eyes widened. How did he know what I was thinking? she asked herself.
"Have a drink, if you want. I'm sure you'll like the liquid that is in your glass."
Keiko looked at the glass that was near her plate. It had the same red liquid that appeared to be similar to Itsuki's. She picked it up and took a small sip. Surprisingly, it tasted good, sweet, it was almost addicting. And so, she drank until there was none left in her glass.
During the time she drank the liquid, Itsuki had a slight grin written upon his face. He continued to drink the rest of the liquid that remained in his glass.
Keiko placed the glass upon the table after finishing the drink. She felt as though she wanted to have more.
"You even drink like her when you crave for it."
"What?"
"Kirei was beautiful – as well as you, my dear – she was quick, clever and strong-minded and I've loved her so much. She accepted me for who I was. For so many years of us being together, I was happy and I wanted to make her my queen of the Underworld. And so I did, but the blood that I gave to her during her transformation wasn't able to save her and soon she had died...It was too much for her own body..."
"I'm so sorry about that Mr. Itsuki..."
"Don't be. She's here with me, right now..."
"I don't...understand..."
"You will...in time..."
Keiko rubbed her forehead, she felt her head about to spin...She was becoming dizzy. "Umm...Please excuse me..." she said as she got up from her seat and left the room.
Itsuki nodded and smiled. "It's beginning to work it seems," he said. "Wonderful."
###
Keiko ran to her room while trying to not fall over. Why is she feeling like this all of a sudden? She didn't eat anything that looked suspicious...It must've been that drink...What was in it? It tasted so good, she wanted more of it...It was so addicting...
She opened the door to her room and lied down on the soft bed. Her mind still felt dizzy and soon she fell into a deep sleep...
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A/N: Finally done with this one!! I've been listening to a lot of songs while typing this up...A lot from Dir en Grey, Malice Mizer, X-Japan (kept replaying "The Last Song" a couple of times), Hyde, Flame, Morning Musume, Utada Hikaru and a lot from Gackt...especially Vanilla and Secret Garden....okay, Vanilla mostly b/c well....the lyrics to that song...is....err.....anou........really good XD..Aheh ; a lot of songs...can't help it, that's how I work easily [listening to Vanilla again now]
Anyhow, I thank all of those who reviewed again... and aznbunny, I'm not going to call you that now even tho you're a year older than me...you're just lucky that you live way far away from me!! And NO, I will not write a Yuri fic for you ...u.u heh Oh and darkphoenixlord, maraming maraming salamat po for your review and yeah, bwisit na ff.net for all their traffic lately and for taking away our asterisks and swiggly lines!! ; but anywho, salamat po! As well as for my other reviewers...thank you so much! now, don't forget to review this chappie when you're done here and tell me what you think!
Okies, so far, there as been a lot of OOC-ness here, don't you think so too? I mean, Rin was being all like that towards Keiko, Ayame being Botan and Koenma's mother!? Itsuki is the Kurokiba leader (O.O....I had a hard time picking characters...and I wanted a character who looked like a bishounen...and ta-da! Itsuki got the part! XD) nyahaha...heh...heh....ahem...and what else...and Sesshoumaru being a Kurokiba as well!! and then Rin...and what's with the suit?! Anou...more will be explained in future chapters sooner or later and as I've said before after this chappie, I'll be taking a small break from NDCT for a while until I get the new YYH fic I'm working on called "Crimson Demeanor"...and hopefully I'll update Preschool sooner or later, but right now it's on Hiatus...it's hard coming up with humorous fics for me...thinking up humor....hmm...
Welps, I'm done here for now and hope to see ya soon in a while