Earth.
She's so beautiful.
Odaiba, the beautiful town with its beautiful people, he could leave it in peace knowing Daisuke would be there to protect the beautiful lands.
He knew...he could leave Earth in the hands of the future king.
His innocent green eyes were turning soulless...
"Come on. Guys. Just a little bi..." Koushiro stopped in his tracks and looked toward Mimi.
"I smell it too," she stated.
"Smell what? What do you guys smell?" Hikari asked impatiently.
"Blood." Koushiro simply said.
Both Iori and Hikari gasped. Koushiro and Mimi ran off but Mimi didn't get very far before she ran into a tree. "That's it! I'm burning every tree down!" Koushiro rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm before she DID burn all the trees down.
Iori and Hikari finally realized their party was departing, "Hey! Wait for us!" they yelled in unison.
"Hurry up!"
All four emerged from the bushes right into the commotion. Koushiro's eyes widened. 'How? How could this have happened?'
Taichi looked over and gave a sigh of relief; his baby sister was all right. Now he just had to wait and hope for the other one to return safely.
Daisuke's brown eyes had widened as he witnessed what just happened. He fell to his hands and knees. At first he couldn't believe it but when hot liquid came to his eyes, he knew it was reality. His best friend and mentor had taken the hit.
"Ma...Mar...Marth!!!" he yelled, the tears blurring his vision, "no..." he whimpered. "No!" he said with more force, "Don't leave...Don't leave me alone!" He ran to grab Marth but Koushiro pounced on him to stop him.
Marth blinked; the flames started showering over his body. "Who'd 've thought I wouldn't die by wood, huh?" he said to no one in particular as if nothing was happening. He looked back at Daisuke and smiled, "I'm glad I saved you!" The flames got hotter and hotter and devoured his body more and more. And with each lick of the flames, Daisuke screamed for him. Marth, however, didn't scream. He smiled and looked upon Daisuke for the last time. "Remember your promise, Davis. And remember: Family is always loving and nice. One member will not harm another nor let another get harmed..." The flames had completely scorched his body...all that was left was a silent "love you" and a pile of ashes.
"NO!" Daisuke struggled to get out of Koushiro's grip but found it was no use and finally just rested in his friend's arms. Tears streamed down Koushiro's face but he felt he had to hang in strong for Daisuke. He lightly cradled him in his arms trying to sooth him.
Onkó looked down at the ashes. "Well, I guess he can join his son in hell."
That triggered Daisuke's anger. He shoved Koushiro out of his way so he could get to Onkó. "That's it Onkó! No more! We'll make a final date for a final battle, a fight to the death, winner goes on being titled king!"
Koushiro tried to call Daisuke back, "Davis, don't be an idiot!"
"Hmm..." Onkó placed his index finger on his chin. "In two weeks then, same spot just you and me but my crew will be surrounding the area...all of them...so sadly your friends won't get to see you die." He leapt straight up then he looked down and said, "In two weeks, I'll claim Hikari as mine." His eyes scanned the group and saw Mimi cowering behind Hikari and Iori, "Oh and before then, whore, you'll be dead." He then disappeared from sight and was not seen again for two weeks.
Daisuke stumbled over to Marth's ashes. "It was all my fault! I'll keep my promise, Marth, and I promise that!" He dug a hole, placed Marth's ashes in it, closed it over and took the only article of clothing that wasn't burnt, a royal blue cape, and covered the mound. He took sticks, welded them together and embedded the name, 'MARTH.'
Everybody gathered around the cross. Miyako even placed a flower onto the cape. After ten minutes had passed, everyone except Daisuke moved to sit under trees and wait for their king to finally leave the spot where his knees had dug impressions in the earth. He finally made a movement, which caught everyone's eye. He took a gold chain locket from around his neck. "It's time I gave this back to you," he murmured. Then he hung it on the cross. Daisuke rose to his feet and looked around. His gaze stopped at Hikari. "I'm sorry," he whispered and then took off into the black night, which would soon turn bright. Koushiro stood up and followed him. Taichi and Yamato also stood up.
Sora had finally returned with Jeffery in her arms. "Tai, he's only unconscious, he's not dead at all!"
Taichi gave her a brief smile and nod of the head and leapt off toward his king. Yamato followed suit.
Ken sighed, "Well, we know where they're heading. Let's get going." He looked over at Iori, "Um, where's Joe?"
"Um, he's at the hospital."
Miyako stared in amazement, "And you're not? Wow!" She slowed down a bit. "And was it you who sent him there?"
"I am not sure," Iori turned his head and stared at the ground. He walked away from her following the path the four vampires had just taken. Miyako was about to protest but Ken stopped her. Soon, they all had taken the route Iori had followed.
Daybreak arrived. All humans were sleeping, as were some of the elders after the upset from the news about Marth. Daisuke lay on his bed staring at the metal ceiling. Yamato came in and took a seat next to him. "You know you can write him a letter."
Daisuke stared at him like he was insane. "And I suppose I'm going to give it to the mailman?" he asked sarcastically.
Yamato laughed. "When my parents split up I was so upset, I wouldn't do anything. I missed my mom and my little brother. So one day I wrote them both a letter telling them how I felt and everything. I never gave it to them. Instead, I burned it, but it = made me feel a lot better. You should try it. You don't have to burn it if you don't want to though."
Daisuke smiled, "Thanks, Matt. I appreciate it. Oh, can I ask...in two weeks, will you fight? You know you can back down. You can just leave. Maybe go home or stay with Takeru."
"Davis," Yamato stood up and stared down at Daisuke with intense eyes, "I will fight and I will die if I have to. I will see to it that you become king and I will follow you all the way, even to death. I'm prepared."
Daisuke's smile grew. He got up off the bed and gave Yamato a hug, letting his tears fall. Voices came from the door. "So will I. I'll follow you all the way down into hell," Koushiro said as he leaned against the metal doorframe.
"And wherever your soul goes, so do I, my king." Taichi leaned against the opposite side of the doorframe.
Griffin came in through the door, "All of us will, Daisuke."
Daisuke smiled his brightest smile, "I promise, Marth, your death won't be in vain!"
"I'll be sure of that..." Cale came from behind Griffin, "I won't let my king die and I won't let my good friend's life be wasted."
Daisuke stared in shock, "...Cale... " Tears fell down his face like waterfalls but he cracked a smile. "Thank you." Cale came over and embraced Daisuke in a tight hug.
"You know, I forgive you for scorching my back...and almost killing me."
Daisuke's smile couldn't widen any further, "Yeah. Sorry about that."
"I've been waiting for ten years," Griffin smiled.
Yamato came up to him. "For what old man?" Yamato took the last cigarette out of his pocket.
"For this. Cale and Daisuke...you don't know how much this would mean to Marth to see these two get along." Yamato put the cigarette to his lips and searched for a lighter while nodding at Griffin who watched the two foes turn allies. "You know, I've also been waiting for ten years for you to quit," Griffin took the cigarette out of Yamato's mouth and broke it with his thumb.
Yamato found the lighter, "Yeah, me too... " He threw the lighter to the ground and watched Griffin throw the broken cigarette with it. "...Say! You didn't know me ten years ago!"
Griffin turned to Yamato, "How would you know?"
"Stalker!" Yamato laughed.
Two days had slid by. Koushiro had been a busybody working on a certain machine that Daisuke wanted.
Daisuke had been training hard and writing the letter to Marth. Since he didn't know where to start, it had taken him a while.
Sora and Taichi had been training together and getting better "acquainted." Taichi seemed to be falling for her.
Yamato sat back and watched most of the action, either Taichi and Sora's humorous relationship or Daisuke's daily ass-kicking's from Griffin.
Iori had decided to stay with the vampires and spent his time talking to Koushiro and helping him with his machine.
The hunters replenished their equipment while waiting for Jyou. They also hadn't found out about Iori...yet.
Hikari and Jeffery had gone home to their father but came back to the sewer every night without their father's permission.
"So you're telling me that you were as good as dead and then your mom, dad, and grandpa sent you back 'cause you.... Wrench."
Iori handed over the wrench. "I didn't prove myself worthy of heaven or hell."
Koushiro lifted his dirty face to look at Iori. "Weird," he said. He tightened up a bolt.
"Yeah, you're telling me."
"Did you want to go?"
Koushiro's question took Iori by surprise. Did he? "I'm not sure. I did, now...I don't know. The big fight is coming up. And how do I prove myself worthy anyway?"
"No clue. Maybe by not killing?" Koushiro pressed some buttons on his machine.
"But I haven't been killing lately. Besides, all I've killed is evil vampires just like Ken, Yolei, Joe, and T.K. do," Iori sighed.
"Well, how about when I'm finished with this damn contraption, we'll both head to the hospital to visit Joe and um, maybe check out your medical charts."
"That would be great, Izzy, but how are you going to finish this in two weeks?" Iori called Koushiro by his nickname, the name only his closest friends used.
"Well, you know I'm done when I do a dance!" Koushiro jumped up and started doing a dance that scared the hell out of Iori. "And then I yell: I'M DONE!!!" Koushiro dropped to his knees and raised his hands in the air. "And I call her: Izz-a-meister!" He jumped over to the door, "DAISUKE, SHE'S DONE!!!!"
Iori almost choked, "You mean you're actually done!?"
"Yep!" Koushiro wiped the sweat off his brow. Daisuke came running to see the machine.
"Wow! Koushiro, you did great!" He narrowed his eyes, "Does it work this time? I can't die from it, right?"
Koushiro laughed nervously. "Well, I haven't fully tested it, if that's what you mean, but it shouldn't kill you unless you somehow get killed on the other side...really, death is all in your hands!" He scratched the back of his head.
"Good enough, let's go." Daisuke started pushing buttons. "Oh, what's the big red button?"
"NO! DAVIS! DON'T PRESS THAT!!"
Too late ...
He was gone...where? Who knew? Griffin had entered the room just as Daisuke vanished. "Koushiro, where is he?"
"Past, future, Hawaii, outside, in his room, anywhere, anytime."
"Oh yeah?"
Koushiro nodded.
"So what is it?"
"A transportation device. Which is what Daisuke asked for."
"Hey, Koushiro, you know I'm going to kill you for granting him that wish, right?"
"I figured that." Koushiro took off like lightning out of the room and away from Griffin.
Griffin found a crowbar and ran out of the room after Koushiro. "Weird people!" Iori turned his attention to the machine. "Where did he go?"
"What the fuck? Where the hell am I?" Daisuke looked around. "Toto, we're not in a sewer anymore!" He scanned the area – dirt road, women in dresses, men in tunics or suits. "Toto, we're not in the 21st century anymore either."
Daisuke gave a small whiff of the air. He smelled blood. He followed his nose right to a small house. Daisuke went to open the door but his hand slid right through it. "Weird." He walked right through the door into the house. The first room was the hall which led to a kitchen. Daisuke almost gagged at the strong smell of blood. As he walked closer, he saw blood dripping from the walls. When he walked behind the counter, he quickly covered his mouth to keep from throwing up. "What am I doing? I'm a vampire and I've dealt with many deaths. But none were like this." It was a woman. Her beautiful blond locks had been ripped from her skull. And her body had been torn apart. Daisuke tried to look away but something gleamed from around the woman's neck. A locket. The locket. "Zelina?"
"When Onkó took control everything changed. Zelina, Roy, Bucky, and Lena were all killed. I remember coming home from work to find my wife's blood all over the kitchen. Her body had been cut up. Her hair had been ripped out of her head. I went into the playroom. Lena's limbs were in each corner of the playroom. Her head was in the center. Bucky was sleeping when I left. He was still in his bed but his skull had been cracked against the wall and knives were in his chest. Roy. Roy was the worst. He was my pride and joy, strong. I could tell he had tried fighting with the vampire half of himself. He was so much like me. He fought to protect the family and maybe he could have won but they got sick of him and they, they ... "
Daisuke had heard Marth's story ten years ago ...
"That's right. Lena would be in the playroom." Daisuke ran to find the playroom. When he did, he found Marth hadn't exaggerated, the child's head lay in the middle of the room with her body scattered to the four corners. Daisuke exited the room and rested his head on the wall, careful not to fall through. His eyes wandered up towards another room. Daisuke smelled blood in that room as well. "Maybe it's Roy. I never did find out how he died."
Wrong. The small four-year-old child's skull was split in two. Blood had poured out congealing on the pillow. Knives marked the child's whole body. "Bucky..." He slowly backed out of the room and headed back down the stairs. He heard a loud noise. It sounded like Marth. Daisuke didn't want to be there when his best friend found his family dead. But curiosity got the best of Daisuke, how did Roy die? Daisuke stood behind a door when Marth ran upstairs calling Roy, Lena and Bucky's names.
Daisuke shakily took a seat on the ground near the kitchen cabinets. Tears hit the floor. He could not remember ever crying as much as he had in the past three days. His tears seemed like waterfalls. He heard Marth crying and screaming. It hurt Daisuke even more.
Marth nearly fell down the stairs, clutching his stomach, so he wouldn't throw up...again. "Roy?" he called frantically, "Roy!?"
"I'm in here, Father."
The small voice startled both Daisuke and Marth. A smile crept onto Marth's face along with rivers of tears. Marth staggered to the room Roy's voice had come from. Daisuke followed.
Roy's back was to Marth; he was sitting in a dark corner. Daisuke noted that both Lena and Bucky looked like their mother but Roy had flaming red hair, unlike Marth who had deep sea black.
"Roy, what happened?"
"Me, Father."
"What? What do you mean Roy? You're not making sense."
One of Roy's hands came up to reveal a wooden stake. Then Roy turned around. Marth gasped at what he saw. All he knew was that it wasn't his son. Roy's eyes were black and evil. Daisuke remembered Griffin saying that vampires never looked evil the way that Onkó and his crew do. Seeing his son like this must have been a big shock to Marth, Daisuke thought.
"Join me Father, with my lord, Onkó. He's giving us a rebirth, another chance, but we have to get rid of those with poisoned blood, the blood of mortals."
"Roy, you're only five years old. What are you doing?"
"I killed them! I proved my worth to my lord and you should join us father. You're strong!"
"I will not join any who'd poison my son's mind to murder his own family!" Marth yelled.
"You know, Father, I really thought you'd come with me. Guess I was wrong. You'll have to go just like mother!" Roy charged his father, the wooden stake jutting forward. Marth quickly leaped out of the way of each blow but Roy had improved in strength as well as speed. Marth dodged all the hits he could but took a few hits from his own five-year-old son. Roy finally threw the wooden stake as hard as he could. It was aimed to land right in Marth's heart but he sidestepped and grabbed it while it whizzed by. Marth looked at Roy. They had destroyed everything in the room during their fight. Tears welled up in Marth's eyes. He hated to fight with his son. In fact, he rarely ever fought at all. But now was a time to take action! He threw the wooden stake right at Roy.
The boy's eyes widened when he saw the stake come for him. He tried to get out of the way but he was too late. He was pinned to the wall. His eyes suddenly converted back to innocent green ones "Father..." he said with his last breaths as the flames started to eat him. "I love you." The boy screamed from the pain and then vanished.
Daisuke stumbled from the room and again took a seat next to Zelina in the kitchen. Marth had killed Roy. The worst death of all, father kills son. Daisuke looked at Zelina's necklace, her locket. He picked it up and opened it. Zelina's picture was not in the locket instead he saw the engraving: "Family is always loving and nice. One member will not harm another nor let another be harmed." "It's what Marth said before he died." Daisuke heard breathing behind him. He dropped the locket and turned to see Marth staring down at him. 'Can he see me?' Daisuke didn't take any chances. He kicked up his feet and ran off out the door.
Marth stared down at his wife's body. He had seen something or someone, like a ghost, invisible, seen yet not seen. Marth watched him run off. He knew it was a him. When his face had come in clear, it had definitely been a male. He stared at a folded white piece of paper the figure had left behind. Marth picked it up and unfolded it, being careful not to rip it.
It was addressed to him:
"Dear Marth,
What can I say? I was blind and you tried to snap me out of it...I wish I could go back and save you from your death. The death you chose, all because of me...I wish I were ten again and you and me would be running and skipping. You taught me all about life, how it works, what people need to do to improve it, what I need to do... 'When the vampire king began a plan to destroy humankind, there would be a young boy named Daisuke and he would over-throw the king and take his place. He would make a better world for vampires and humans alike.' Remember? That's what was told to me over a thousand times. I think Griffin wanted it embedded in my head before I die...How does a legend start anyway? I don't know how that legend started off with me...sigh...well. Yamato said to get all my feelings out but...what can I say? I've known you longer then my real family...you were my family. Of all the elders, oh, Cale and I are on the okay side...I think. I finally said I'm sorry for lighting him on fire...and placing the snake in his breakfast...and the dead mouse in his pillow...and well you know the rest but the weird thing is after that he doesn't seem to want to talk to me. What did I do wrong? Well...I told you I would keep my promise to become the vampire king. In two weeks is the final battle...yeah...you always knew I wasn't good with writing letters from the heart. Too many emotions get in the way...I just wish...that you never left. I miss you and I want to see you again...I just hope I don't have to wait three hundred years like you did until you hopefully were reunited with your real family. I hope you're happy...wherever you are...I know you deserve to go to heaven though! I love you...
-Daisuke-"
Marth looked over the letter again, "Daisuke?"
"Alrighty then, you ready to go to the hospital?" Koushiro limped to Iori who waited patiently by the "Izz-a-meister."
"Um, are we going for you?" Iori scanned Koushiro's scratches and bruises. "You look like you need one!"
"Nah! These? They'll heal." Koushiro brushed it off with a wave of his hand.
"What about Daisuke?"
"Arthur is coming in here to watch over the machine in case he comes back."
"Arthur?"
"One of the elders."
Iori walked over to the door and then waited impatiently for Koushiro to slowly limp toward him, "Maybe we should go to the hospital for you."
"I don't trust them."
"Whatever."
"Koushiro, how do I get out of this?" Daisuke yelled to the sky in the middle of an empty street. "Koushiro? Come on! This isn't funny anymore. Get me out. Sunrise is coming!" He looked around and up at the mountaintops where the sun was just peeking over the edge. "KOUSHIRO, GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
Arthur entered Koushiro's room and took a seat near the strange contraption. He opened a book and mumbled to himself, "Instead of dilly dallying someplace else, Daisuke really should think about reading a book!"
The Izz-a-meister started beeping very loudly and then vanished. Arthur looked shocked, "I swear I'm not paying for that!"
"IZZY!" Daisuke screamed as long and loud as he could. Suddenly Koushiro's invention turned up next to him. "Very nice..." he looked over the buttons. "Now how did I do this?" Daisuke glanced over his shoulder. "No time. Sun is coming up fast and hot. Got to go!" He started pressing button after button.
Arthur blinked a few times when he started seeing flashing lights and then – Boop! – Daisuke had appeared.
"Where were you?"
"Let me ask you, do you ever put a book down, Arthur?
"Don't tell me? You went to the past?"
"Ding, Ding, ding!" Daisuke motioned ringing a bell with his hands. "Say? Where's Izzy?"
"He and Iori went to the hospital for something."
"Hmmm...all right, back to training then," Daisuke smiled and skipped out of the room.
"I wonder what he saw? Maybe Marth? Or maybe he wasn't joking about me and my books!" Arthur looked down at his novel and threw it across the room, "I need a new hobby!"
Daisuke sat on Marth's bed rummaging through his stuff. As far as Griffin knew, Daisuke was still gone, so why train just yet?
When Daisuke opened Marth's nightstand and started looking through the drawer, a piece of paper caught his attention. It looked to be over three hundred years old. Daisuke's eyes widened when he realized that it was HIS letter to Marth. He checked his back pocket where he had last put the letter...gone.
"How did this happen?" Daisuke turned the letter over and found writing in Marth's hand:
"Daisuke,
Looks like there are many years to come. I will stick it out for 300 more years...for you. You asked how a legend starts. Well, little one, you just started it...and I am your messenger to spread it, like a virus to infect Onkó's happiness. Remember your promise. You must defeat Onkó in two weeks. You have to...you have to restore peace in the world..."
In another paragraph,
"...I'm sorry I left Davis. I watched you grow up and it's made me proud. But I won't sit back and watch my surrogate son die by the hands of Onkó. I know you watched Jun die and soon you're going to watch me die as well, but stay strong...for me. I love you...
-Marth-"
Daisuke folded the piece of paper up again. He sighed and let silent tears stream down him face once again. He was sick of crying. No more. He would cry no more! He had to stay strong for Marth. After placing the letter back in its rightful place, Daisuke got up and walked out the door. These two weeks were going to be long!
Iori walked into the hospital with Koushiro in tow. "Where do we start?"
"Room 108," a voice came from behind them.
Iori and Koushiro turned their heads to see Ken walking up to them. "Hey guys. Cody hasn't seen you in a while!" He smiled.
"Hey, Ken. What are you in for?"
"Joe and Sam," Ken said. "I also noticed something interesting about, you, Cody."
Iori perked up, "Oh yeah, what's that?"
Koushiro's eyes wandered while Iori and Ken conversed. He was getting weird looks from the nurses and doctors. He saw a little boy pointing at him and telling his mother, "That's the man from T.V." Suddenly, the hospital doors opened and an entire S.W.A.T team came in. Koushiro noticed two figures were with them.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Halt! Stay right where you are and no one will get hurt!" someone yelled.
So how many people want to ring my neck? I thought so...Hey, sorry for the MONTHS you guys waited. Cobra finally gave me a kick in the ass and said get going, so I thank you! Actually, funny story – I had already written chapter 10 in February while I was down in Florida. But when poor fireblade reviewed my OTHER stories to try and get me going, I was inspired to write and I did...on another new story! THEN, when Cobra finally kicked my ass, I loaded up the disk The Vampire King 10 was on and it broke! So I had to RE WRITE chapter ten but it's longer and better now!
Also I was kind of going through a depression, 'cause only Anthony1 was reviewing. So in order for the next chapter to come out, I want at LEAST three reviews!
So 'nuff said, my adorable TAICHI is going to take us out today.
Taichi: Finally! Geez I'm your favorite and only Davis and Izzy get to do the cool stuff!! ./. SO!! We finally got to the whole cop thing BUT that'll be a bigger story in the next chapter. And what's this? Griffin will find out someone's a spy. And they'll be hunting none other than – ME!!
Marth: I died so I do disclaimers from now on. YEAH!!! Tai does not own anything except her imagination! And her dictionary that she named Bus (who has made an evil appearance). HA!
Please review!
Tai
She's so beautiful.
Odaiba, the beautiful town with its beautiful people, he could leave it in peace knowing Daisuke would be there to protect the beautiful lands.
He knew...he could leave Earth in the hands of the future king.
His innocent green eyes were turning soulless...
"Come on. Guys. Just a little bi..." Koushiro stopped in his tracks and looked toward Mimi.
"I smell it too," she stated.
"Smell what? What do you guys smell?" Hikari asked impatiently.
"Blood." Koushiro simply said.
Both Iori and Hikari gasped. Koushiro and Mimi ran off but Mimi didn't get very far before she ran into a tree. "That's it! I'm burning every tree down!" Koushiro rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm before she DID burn all the trees down.
Iori and Hikari finally realized their party was departing, "Hey! Wait for us!" they yelled in unison.
"Hurry up!"
All four emerged from the bushes right into the commotion. Koushiro's eyes widened. 'How? How could this have happened?'
Taichi looked over and gave a sigh of relief; his baby sister was all right. Now he just had to wait and hope for the other one to return safely.
Daisuke's brown eyes had widened as he witnessed what just happened. He fell to his hands and knees. At first he couldn't believe it but when hot liquid came to his eyes, he knew it was reality. His best friend and mentor had taken the hit.
"Ma...Mar...Marth!!!" he yelled, the tears blurring his vision, "no..." he whimpered. "No!" he said with more force, "Don't leave...Don't leave me alone!" He ran to grab Marth but Koushiro pounced on him to stop him.
Marth blinked; the flames started showering over his body. "Who'd 've thought I wouldn't die by wood, huh?" he said to no one in particular as if nothing was happening. He looked back at Daisuke and smiled, "I'm glad I saved you!" The flames got hotter and hotter and devoured his body more and more. And with each lick of the flames, Daisuke screamed for him. Marth, however, didn't scream. He smiled and looked upon Daisuke for the last time. "Remember your promise, Davis. And remember: Family is always loving and nice. One member will not harm another nor let another get harmed..." The flames had completely scorched his body...all that was left was a silent "love you" and a pile of ashes.
"NO!" Daisuke struggled to get out of Koushiro's grip but found it was no use and finally just rested in his friend's arms. Tears streamed down Koushiro's face but he felt he had to hang in strong for Daisuke. He lightly cradled him in his arms trying to sooth him.
Onkó looked down at the ashes. "Well, I guess he can join his son in hell."
That triggered Daisuke's anger. He shoved Koushiro out of his way so he could get to Onkó. "That's it Onkó! No more! We'll make a final date for a final battle, a fight to the death, winner goes on being titled king!"
Koushiro tried to call Daisuke back, "Davis, don't be an idiot!"
"Hmm..." Onkó placed his index finger on his chin. "In two weeks then, same spot just you and me but my crew will be surrounding the area...all of them...so sadly your friends won't get to see you die." He leapt straight up then he looked down and said, "In two weeks, I'll claim Hikari as mine." His eyes scanned the group and saw Mimi cowering behind Hikari and Iori, "Oh and before then, whore, you'll be dead." He then disappeared from sight and was not seen again for two weeks.
Daisuke stumbled over to Marth's ashes. "It was all my fault! I'll keep my promise, Marth, and I promise that!" He dug a hole, placed Marth's ashes in it, closed it over and took the only article of clothing that wasn't burnt, a royal blue cape, and covered the mound. He took sticks, welded them together and embedded the name, 'MARTH.'
Everybody gathered around the cross. Miyako even placed a flower onto the cape. After ten minutes had passed, everyone except Daisuke moved to sit under trees and wait for their king to finally leave the spot where his knees had dug impressions in the earth. He finally made a movement, which caught everyone's eye. He took a gold chain locket from around his neck. "It's time I gave this back to you," he murmured. Then he hung it on the cross. Daisuke rose to his feet and looked around. His gaze stopped at Hikari. "I'm sorry," he whispered and then took off into the black night, which would soon turn bright. Koushiro stood up and followed him. Taichi and Yamato also stood up.
Sora had finally returned with Jeffery in her arms. "Tai, he's only unconscious, he's not dead at all!"
Taichi gave her a brief smile and nod of the head and leapt off toward his king. Yamato followed suit.
Ken sighed, "Well, we know where they're heading. Let's get going." He looked over at Iori, "Um, where's Joe?"
"Um, he's at the hospital."
Miyako stared in amazement, "And you're not? Wow!" She slowed down a bit. "And was it you who sent him there?"
"I am not sure," Iori turned his head and stared at the ground. He walked away from her following the path the four vampires had just taken. Miyako was about to protest but Ken stopped her. Soon, they all had taken the route Iori had followed.
Daybreak arrived. All humans were sleeping, as were some of the elders after the upset from the news about Marth. Daisuke lay on his bed staring at the metal ceiling. Yamato came in and took a seat next to him. "You know you can write him a letter."
Daisuke stared at him like he was insane. "And I suppose I'm going to give it to the mailman?" he asked sarcastically.
Yamato laughed. "When my parents split up I was so upset, I wouldn't do anything. I missed my mom and my little brother. So one day I wrote them both a letter telling them how I felt and everything. I never gave it to them. Instead, I burned it, but it = made me feel a lot better. You should try it. You don't have to burn it if you don't want to though."
Daisuke smiled, "Thanks, Matt. I appreciate it. Oh, can I ask...in two weeks, will you fight? You know you can back down. You can just leave. Maybe go home or stay with Takeru."
"Davis," Yamato stood up and stared down at Daisuke with intense eyes, "I will fight and I will die if I have to. I will see to it that you become king and I will follow you all the way, even to death. I'm prepared."
Daisuke's smile grew. He got up off the bed and gave Yamato a hug, letting his tears fall. Voices came from the door. "So will I. I'll follow you all the way down into hell," Koushiro said as he leaned against the metal doorframe.
"And wherever your soul goes, so do I, my king." Taichi leaned against the opposite side of the doorframe.
Griffin came in through the door, "All of us will, Daisuke."
Daisuke smiled his brightest smile, "I promise, Marth, your death won't be in vain!"
"I'll be sure of that..." Cale came from behind Griffin, "I won't let my king die and I won't let my good friend's life be wasted."
Daisuke stared in shock, "...Cale... " Tears fell down his face like waterfalls but he cracked a smile. "Thank you." Cale came over and embraced Daisuke in a tight hug.
"You know, I forgive you for scorching my back...and almost killing me."
Daisuke's smile couldn't widen any further, "Yeah. Sorry about that."
"I've been waiting for ten years," Griffin smiled.
Yamato came up to him. "For what old man?" Yamato took the last cigarette out of his pocket.
"For this. Cale and Daisuke...you don't know how much this would mean to Marth to see these two get along." Yamato put the cigarette to his lips and searched for a lighter while nodding at Griffin who watched the two foes turn allies. "You know, I've also been waiting for ten years for you to quit," Griffin took the cigarette out of Yamato's mouth and broke it with his thumb.
Yamato found the lighter, "Yeah, me too... " He threw the lighter to the ground and watched Griffin throw the broken cigarette with it. "...Say! You didn't know me ten years ago!"
Griffin turned to Yamato, "How would you know?"
"Stalker!" Yamato laughed.
Two days had slid by. Koushiro had been a busybody working on a certain machine that Daisuke wanted.
Daisuke had been training hard and writing the letter to Marth. Since he didn't know where to start, it had taken him a while.
Sora and Taichi had been training together and getting better "acquainted." Taichi seemed to be falling for her.
Yamato sat back and watched most of the action, either Taichi and Sora's humorous relationship or Daisuke's daily ass-kicking's from Griffin.
Iori had decided to stay with the vampires and spent his time talking to Koushiro and helping him with his machine.
The hunters replenished their equipment while waiting for Jyou. They also hadn't found out about Iori...yet.
Hikari and Jeffery had gone home to their father but came back to the sewer every night without their father's permission.
"So you're telling me that you were as good as dead and then your mom, dad, and grandpa sent you back 'cause you.... Wrench."
Iori handed over the wrench. "I didn't prove myself worthy of heaven or hell."
Koushiro lifted his dirty face to look at Iori. "Weird," he said. He tightened up a bolt.
"Yeah, you're telling me."
"Did you want to go?"
Koushiro's question took Iori by surprise. Did he? "I'm not sure. I did, now...I don't know. The big fight is coming up. And how do I prove myself worthy anyway?"
"No clue. Maybe by not killing?" Koushiro pressed some buttons on his machine.
"But I haven't been killing lately. Besides, all I've killed is evil vampires just like Ken, Yolei, Joe, and T.K. do," Iori sighed.
"Well, how about when I'm finished with this damn contraption, we'll both head to the hospital to visit Joe and um, maybe check out your medical charts."
"That would be great, Izzy, but how are you going to finish this in two weeks?" Iori called Koushiro by his nickname, the name only his closest friends used.
"Well, you know I'm done when I do a dance!" Koushiro jumped up and started doing a dance that scared the hell out of Iori. "And then I yell: I'M DONE!!!" Koushiro dropped to his knees and raised his hands in the air. "And I call her: Izz-a-meister!" He jumped over to the door, "DAISUKE, SHE'S DONE!!!!"
Iori almost choked, "You mean you're actually done!?"
"Yep!" Koushiro wiped the sweat off his brow. Daisuke came running to see the machine.
"Wow! Koushiro, you did great!" He narrowed his eyes, "Does it work this time? I can't die from it, right?"
Koushiro laughed nervously. "Well, I haven't fully tested it, if that's what you mean, but it shouldn't kill you unless you somehow get killed on the other side...really, death is all in your hands!" He scratched the back of his head.
"Good enough, let's go." Daisuke started pushing buttons. "Oh, what's the big red button?"
"NO! DAVIS! DON'T PRESS THAT!!"
Too late ...
He was gone...where? Who knew? Griffin had entered the room just as Daisuke vanished. "Koushiro, where is he?"
"Past, future, Hawaii, outside, in his room, anywhere, anytime."
"Oh yeah?"
Koushiro nodded.
"So what is it?"
"A transportation device. Which is what Daisuke asked for."
"Hey, Koushiro, you know I'm going to kill you for granting him that wish, right?"
"I figured that." Koushiro took off like lightning out of the room and away from Griffin.
Griffin found a crowbar and ran out of the room after Koushiro. "Weird people!" Iori turned his attention to the machine. "Where did he go?"
"What the fuck? Where the hell am I?" Daisuke looked around. "Toto, we're not in a sewer anymore!" He scanned the area – dirt road, women in dresses, men in tunics or suits. "Toto, we're not in the 21st century anymore either."
Daisuke gave a small whiff of the air. He smelled blood. He followed his nose right to a small house. Daisuke went to open the door but his hand slid right through it. "Weird." He walked right through the door into the house. The first room was the hall which led to a kitchen. Daisuke almost gagged at the strong smell of blood. As he walked closer, he saw blood dripping from the walls. When he walked behind the counter, he quickly covered his mouth to keep from throwing up. "What am I doing? I'm a vampire and I've dealt with many deaths. But none were like this." It was a woman. Her beautiful blond locks had been ripped from her skull. And her body had been torn apart. Daisuke tried to look away but something gleamed from around the woman's neck. A locket. The locket. "Zelina?"
"When Onkó took control everything changed. Zelina, Roy, Bucky, and Lena were all killed. I remember coming home from work to find my wife's blood all over the kitchen. Her body had been cut up. Her hair had been ripped out of her head. I went into the playroom. Lena's limbs were in each corner of the playroom. Her head was in the center. Bucky was sleeping when I left. He was still in his bed but his skull had been cracked against the wall and knives were in his chest. Roy. Roy was the worst. He was my pride and joy, strong. I could tell he had tried fighting with the vampire half of himself. He was so much like me. He fought to protect the family and maybe he could have won but they got sick of him and they, they ... "
Daisuke had heard Marth's story ten years ago ...
"That's right. Lena would be in the playroom." Daisuke ran to find the playroom. When he did, he found Marth hadn't exaggerated, the child's head lay in the middle of the room with her body scattered to the four corners. Daisuke exited the room and rested his head on the wall, careful not to fall through. His eyes wandered up towards another room. Daisuke smelled blood in that room as well. "Maybe it's Roy. I never did find out how he died."
Wrong. The small four-year-old child's skull was split in two. Blood had poured out congealing on the pillow. Knives marked the child's whole body. "Bucky..." He slowly backed out of the room and headed back down the stairs. He heard a loud noise. It sounded like Marth. Daisuke didn't want to be there when his best friend found his family dead. But curiosity got the best of Daisuke, how did Roy die? Daisuke stood behind a door when Marth ran upstairs calling Roy, Lena and Bucky's names.
Daisuke shakily took a seat on the ground near the kitchen cabinets. Tears hit the floor. He could not remember ever crying as much as he had in the past three days. His tears seemed like waterfalls. He heard Marth crying and screaming. It hurt Daisuke even more.
Marth nearly fell down the stairs, clutching his stomach, so he wouldn't throw up...again. "Roy?" he called frantically, "Roy!?"
"I'm in here, Father."
The small voice startled both Daisuke and Marth. A smile crept onto Marth's face along with rivers of tears. Marth staggered to the room Roy's voice had come from. Daisuke followed.
Roy's back was to Marth; he was sitting in a dark corner. Daisuke noted that both Lena and Bucky looked like their mother but Roy had flaming red hair, unlike Marth who had deep sea black.
"Roy, what happened?"
"Me, Father."
"What? What do you mean Roy? You're not making sense."
One of Roy's hands came up to reveal a wooden stake. Then Roy turned around. Marth gasped at what he saw. All he knew was that it wasn't his son. Roy's eyes were black and evil. Daisuke remembered Griffin saying that vampires never looked evil the way that Onkó and his crew do. Seeing his son like this must have been a big shock to Marth, Daisuke thought.
"Join me Father, with my lord, Onkó. He's giving us a rebirth, another chance, but we have to get rid of those with poisoned blood, the blood of mortals."
"Roy, you're only five years old. What are you doing?"
"I killed them! I proved my worth to my lord and you should join us father. You're strong!"
"I will not join any who'd poison my son's mind to murder his own family!" Marth yelled.
"You know, Father, I really thought you'd come with me. Guess I was wrong. You'll have to go just like mother!" Roy charged his father, the wooden stake jutting forward. Marth quickly leaped out of the way of each blow but Roy had improved in strength as well as speed. Marth dodged all the hits he could but took a few hits from his own five-year-old son. Roy finally threw the wooden stake as hard as he could. It was aimed to land right in Marth's heart but he sidestepped and grabbed it while it whizzed by. Marth looked at Roy. They had destroyed everything in the room during their fight. Tears welled up in Marth's eyes. He hated to fight with his son. In fact, he rarely ever fought at all. But now was a time to take action! He threw the wooden stake right at Roy.
The boy's eyes widened when he saw the stake come for him. He tried to get out of the way but he was too late. He was pinned to the wall. His eyes suddenly converted back to innocent green ones "Father..." he said with his last breaths as the flames started to eat him. "I love you." The boy screamed from the pain and then vanished.
Daisuke stumbled from the room and again took a seat next to Zelina in the kitchen. Marth had killed Roy. The worst death of all, father kills son. Daisuke looked at Zelina's necklace, her locket. He picked it up and opened it. Zelina's picture was not in the locket instead he saw the engraving: "Family is always loving and nice. One member will not harm another nor let another be harmed." "It's what Marth said before he died." Daisuke heard breathing behind him. He dropped the locket and turned to see Marth staring down at him. 'Can he see me?' Daisuke didn't take any chances. He kicked up his feet and ran off out the door.
Marth stared down at his wife's body. He had seen something or someone, like a ghost, invisible, seen yet not seen. Marth watched him run off. He knew it was a him. When his face had come in clear, it had definitely been a male. He stared at a folded white piece of paper the figure had left behind. Marth picked it up and unfolded it, being careful not to rip it.
It was addressed to him:
"Dear Marth,
What can I say? I was blind and you tried to snap me out of it...I wish I could go back and save you from your death. The death you chose, all because of me...I wish I were ten again and you and me would be running and skipping. You taught me all about life, how it works, what people need to do to improve it, what I need to do... 'When the vampire king began a plan to destroy humankind, there would be a young boy named Daisuke and he would over-throw the king and take his place. He would make a better world for vampires and humans alike.' Remember? That's what was told to me over a thousand times. I think Griffin wanted it embedded in my head before I die...How does a legend start anyway? I don't know how that legend started off with me...sigh...well. Yamato said to get all my feelings out but...what can I say? I've known you longer then my real family...you were my family. Of all the elders, oh, Cale and I are on the okay side...I think. I finally said I'm sorry for lighting him on fire...and placing the snake in his breakfast...and the dead mouse in his pillow...and well you know the rest but the weird thing is after that he doesn't seem to want to talk to me. What did I do wrong? Well...I told you I would keep my promise to become the vampire king. In two weeks is the final battle...yeah...you always knew I wasn't good with writing letters from the heart. Too many emotions get in the way...I just wish...that you never left. I miss you and I want to see you again...I just hope I don't have to wait three hundred years like you did until you hopefully were reunited with your real family. I hope you're happy...wherever you are...I know you deserve to go to heaven though! I love you...
-Daisuke-"
Marth looked over the letter again, "Daisuke?"
"Alrighty then, you ready to go to the hospital?" Koushiro limped to Iori who waited patiently by the "Izz-a-meister."
"Um, are we going for you?" Iori scanned Koushiro's scratches and bruises. "You look like you need one!"
"Nah! These? They'll heal." Koushiro brushed it off with a wave of his hand.
"What about Daisuke?"
"Arthur is coming in here to watch over the machine in case he comes back."
"Arthur?"
"One of the elders."
Iori walked over to the door and then waited impatiently for Koushiro to slowly limp toward him, "Maybe we should go to the hospital for you."
"I don't trust them."
"Whatever."
"Koushiro, how do I get out of this?" Daisuke yelled to the sky in the middle of an empty street. "Koushiro? Come on! This isn't funny anymore. Get me out. Sunrise is coming!" He looked around and up at the mountaintops where the sun was just peeking over the edge. "KOUSHIRO, GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
Arthur entered Koushiro's room and took a seat near the strange contraption. He opened a book and mumbled to himself, "Instead of dilly dallying someplace else, Daisuke really should think about reading a book!"
The Izz-a-meister started beeping very loudly and then vanished. Arthur looked shocked, "I swear I'm not paying for that!"
"IZZY!" Daisuke screamed as long and loud as he could. Suddenly Koushiro's invention turned up next to him. "Very nice..." he looked over the buttons. "Now how did I do this?" Daisuke glanced over his shoulder. "No time. Sun is coming up fast and hot. Got to go!" He started pressing button after button.
Arthur blinked a few times when he started seeing flashing lights and then – Boop! – Daisuke had appeared.
"Where were you?"
"Let me ask you, do you ever put a book down, Arthur?
"Don't tell me? You went to the past?"
"Ding, Ding, ding!" Daisuke motioned ringing a bell with his hands. "Say? Where's Izzy?"
"He and Iori went to the hospital for something."
"Hmmm...all right, back to training then," Daisuke smiled and skipped out of the room.
"I wonder what he saw? Maybe Marth? Or maybe he wasn't joking about me and my books!" Arthur looked down at his novel and threw it across the room, "I need a new hobby!"
Daisuke sat on Marth's bed rummaging through his stuff. As far as Griffin knew, Daisuke was still gone, so why train just yet?
When Daisuke opened Marth's nightstand and started looking through the drawer, a piece of paper caught his attention. It looked to be over three hundred years old. Daisuke's eyes widened when he realized that it was HIS letter to Marth. He checked his back pocket where he had last put the letter...gone.
"How did this happen?" Daisuke turned the letter over and found writing in Marth's hand:
"Daisuke,
Looks like there are many years to come. I will stick it out for 300 more years...for you. You asked how a legend starts. Well, little one, you just started it...and I am your messenger to spread it, like a virus to infect Onkó's happiness. Remember your promise. You must defeat Onkó in two weeks. You have to...you have to restore peace in the world..."
In another paragraph,
"...I'm sorry I left Davis. I watched you grow up and it's made me proud. But I won't sit back and watch my surrogate son die by the hands of Onkó. I know you watched Jun die and soon you're going to watch me die as well, but stay strong...for me. I love you...
-Marth-"
Daisuke folded the piece of paper up again. He sighed and let silent tears stream down him face once again. He was sick of crying. No more. He would cry no more! He had to stay strong for Marth. After placing the letter back in its rightful place, Daisuke got up and walked out the door. These two weeks were going to be long!
Iori walked into the hospital with Koushiro in tow. "Where do we start?"
"Room 108," a voice came from behind them.
Iori and Koushiro turned their heads to see Ken walking up to them. "Hey guys. Cody hasn't seen you in a while!" He smiled.
"Hey, Ken. What are you in for?"
"Joe and Sam," Ken said. "I also noticed something interesting about, you, Cody."
Iori perked up, "Oh yeah, what's that?"
Koushiro's eyes wandered while Iori and Ken conversed. He was getting weird looks from the nurses and doctors. He saw a little boy pointing at him and telling his mother, "That's the man from T.V." Suddenly, the hospital doors opened and an entire S.W.A.T team came in. Koushiro noticed two figures were with them.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Halt! Stay right where you are and no one will get hurt!" someone yelled.
So how many people want to ring my neck? I thought so...Hey, sorry for the MONTHS you guys waited. Cobra finally gave me a kick in the ass and said get going, so I thank you! Actually, funny story – I had already written chapter 10 in February while I was down in Florida. But when poor fireblade reviewed my OTHER stories to try and get me going, I was inspired to write and I did...on another new story! THEN, when Cobra finally kicked my ass, I loaded up the disk The Vampire King 10 was on and it broke! So I had to RE WRITE chapter ten but it's longer and better now!
Also I was kind of going through a depression, 'cause only Anthony1 was reviewing. So in order for the next chapter to come out, I want at LEAST three reviews!
So 'nuff said, my adorable TAICHI is going to take us out today.
Taichi: Finally! Geez I'm your favorite and only Davis and Izzy get to do the cool stuff!! ./. SO!! We finally got to the whole cop thing BUT that'll be a bigger story in the next chapter. And what's this? Griffin will find out someone's a spy. And they'll be hunting none other than – ME!!
Marth: I died so I do disclaimers from now on. YEAH!!! Tai does not own anything except her imagination! And her dictionary that she named Bus (who has made an evil appearance). HA!
Please review!
Tai