What did you guys think of chapter two? Bad? Good? Did Epiphany seem Mary-Sue? Well, I'm still working on the plot and such, plus I thought up a sequel :D Wow, I only typed up two chapters and I'm already planning a sequel? Yes, I am that insane, and maybe a sequel to the sequel so we can all have a trilogy fic. I don't know yet, I'd like to hear what you guys think though. I'm sorry this took so long to update, school and so much other crap. Also, this is actaully the first time (other than my Lupin fic which is also update-lacking) that I post a fic before I actually finish writing it, so I'm updating each chapter as I go along, which is a first for me. I'm hopeing not to get writers block. Enjoy the chapter, also, I wrote this chapter while I was very low on Snapple (two instead of the usual five or six) so it might seem . . . weird. Yep. -Invader Nicole

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Hunter D/ Bloodlust, not really sure who owns it.

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Chapter Three: The Promise of Fever

By Invader Nicole

The bright rays on sunlight were spread over everything in the valleys and meadows, the air was a nice breeze, adding to the blades of green grass that gave the area the 'spring' look. The sunlight casted what would be a wonderful day, if you weren't a Dunpeal or Vampire. The sun was high in the sky, the rays were striking directly over the meadows that held the two Dunpeals, still asleep, unaware of what was like the hand of death upon them. D was lost in his unconscious mind, not yet noticing the searing pain that was already started to build in his skin. Left Hand, already knowing this would happen, scolded D as he always did.

"D! Wake up already! You know what happens when your in the sun too long!"

D's eyes snapped open, fully understanding the pain that had awaken him along with Left Hand's yelling. His skin felt as if someone had set it on fire, the burning sensation coarsed through his body, sending even more pain with every second he stayed in the sun. Burn marks were already appearing on his hands, small bursts of flames, signaling that if he didn't get out of the sun now he would surely burn to death. He tried to move but his body wasn't obeying him, saying it wanted to die in the sun, for all the misery to just end.

"I need to get out of the sun . . ." D whispered to himself.

Just as he was slowly regaining control over his body he remembered something he had almost forgotten. Epiphany. He turned, hopeing she had gotten out of the sun, but to his horror he saw one of her arms was already on fire. She could hear her whimper in pain, whispering what sounded like 'Please, let it come quickly, just let it end.' D whistled and in seconds his black horse came towards him, bending its neck downward, already knowing what to do. D grabbed at the reign and used all his strength to pull himself onto the saddle of the horse, trying his best to get a firm grip so as not to fall off. He pulled one side of the reign, telling the horse to go towards Epiphany. When they were near enough, D used his right hand to grab Epiphany around the waist and pull her onto the saddle, holding onto her, covering her from the sun.

He pulled on the horse's reigns and it began to move towards the trees', under the shade that had saved them. D limply got off the horse and dragged himself and Epiphany under the roots of a giant oak tree. D used his sword and hands to dig a hole, first burrying Epiphany to her neck, trying his best to help her. When he was done with her he started on his own hole, afterwards filling it up with the cool earth. He knew he needed to rest, trying to ignore the urge to scream in pain.

Before he left consciousness he heard Left Hand mutter something to him, "Now you know not to wear so much black and dark blue, try something a little lighter next time to deflect sunlight."

"Shut up" D said weakly before the darkness absorbed his sight and his head fell against the dirt.

- - -

D woke up the see the last rays of sunlight fade over the mountains, burning his eyes from sleep. The sun was gone, it was safe for them to go out in the open now, shadows soon fell over everything around him. He wondered how long he and Epiphany had been out for until the sun had finally caught them. He slowly lifted himself from the ground, wincing at the pain that befell his body. Being a vampire wasn't easy, sunlight being one of their few killers.

"Heat syndrome, D?" asked Left Hand.

"It was a mistake, I didn't realize we'd be in that field past sunrise." D brushed the clumped of dirt that hung to his armor, trying to ignore the pain in his arms. He knew he should rest until he fully healed, but he knew the dangers, far worse than sunlight, that lurked around.

"How's the girl?"

"I'm not sure," D said as he turned to the still sleeping Epiphany. If possible, her skin was even paler than before, a light blue color as beads of sweat dripped down her face.

"You might want to wake her up and ask, if that helps."

D nodded, deciding to try Left Hand's advice. He walked over towards Epiphany, kneeling next to the dirt that rested over her. His right hand reached out and brushed the few strands of hair that covered her eyes, tucking them behind her ears. He gently shook her while whispering 'wake up' with as much compassion he could. He usually would've been more aggressive, but they had been through enough, and he couldn't find himself to muster the energy. She made a groaning noise, mumbling 'five more minutes,' but D continued to try to wake her. After a few seconds her lilac eyes fluttered open, accustoming to the change in light, D's image clearing after a minute. He was kneeling next to her, his right hand still holding her shoulder, staring into his amber-colored eyes.

"D?"

"Yes, it's me."

"What happened?" Epiphany asked wearily, trying to get up but then realizing she couldn't.

"Rest for a few minutes and let me explain." D sighed, he would've thought she'd known about heat syndrome by now. "Do yo remember us falling asleep in the meadow?"

"Yes."

"Well, we stayed there too long, 'til after the sun rose. I'm sure you're aware that the sunlight can kill vampires and dunpeals?"

"Yes."

"The sunlight got to us and when we awoke, by then we were in such pain. if we stayed any longer we would've surely gone into a coma or even death."

Epiphany eyes widened as she tried to process this. D wondered if she had lied to him about not knowing the sunlight was a weakness to vampires. 'That's impossible, she must've known. Otherwise, where would she have lived before where there is no sun?'

"Antartica," came the reply from Left Hand.

D quickly stuck the palm left hand in the grass, almost forgetting that Epiphany knew nothing about the parasite.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," D replied. "I should be leaving now, I have a long way to go to get to the next town." D noticed when he said that she looked quite sad. "Something wrong?"

"No . . . yes, I don't have anywhere to go. Last night, when you rescued me, I was actually expecting to die. I have nowhere to go."

D stood up from the ground and walked towards his horse, climbing onto the saddle as he did. He comtemplated on what to do. 'Should I bring her with me? Or should I leave her?' He didn't really owe her anything, if anything she owed him. He had saved her, not once, but twice, from those men and from the sun. He looked out otwards the mountains, a light was beginnign to surround hem, the moon would be up soon. He had to make up his mind quick. He noticed Left Hand spitting out a few blades of grass from his mouth, sounding much like a cat trying to hack up a hairball. Left Hand gave his host an evil stare, "I'm not a vegetarian, D!" he whispered. "And anyway, I think we should leave her, she brought this on herself."

"Well in that case," D said as he looked back towards Epiphany, who was still sitting on the ground. "Would you like to come with me then, as far as the next town atleast?"

"What?!" Epiphany and Left Hand cried at the same time, not hearing the other. Epiphany blinked in surprise, could he truly help her with her real problem? "I'd love to, thanks, D."

D's horse walked over towards Epiphany and stopped a few inches from her, D bent down and gently picked Epiphany up. He set her in behind him as he directed the black horse, holding his grip around the reigns. He nodded and the horse began to slowly ride away to where D directed. The sun was gone now and the moon was already halfway in the sky, making everything around him look like a beautiful, average night scene, hiding vampires, werewolves, and other horrors. D was glad for this, he preferred the night over day, even if the same dangers lurked in the night. Epipany slid her arms around D's waist and held onto him as they rode on, letting her head rest slightly on his upper back. D was shocked by this, but refrained from stopping the horse, he wasn't use to so much contact all at once. A few minutes of silence passed between the two before Epiphany finally asked him the question the had wanted to ask from the beginning.

"D? Can you promise me something? Something that you'll help me with out of friendship?"

D didn't know what to say, he had known this woman for such a short time and already she thought they had a friendship. He hadn't known anyone like that before. Could he truly trust her and help her with what she needed?

"Yes, I will. What do you need help with?" D ignored the mumbles only he could hear coming from Left hand.

Epiphany sighed and leaned into D, still holding onto him as she prepared to tell him. "It started with Meier . . . "