DISCLAIMER: None of the characters except for the villain and extra personalities belongs to me.
WARNING: This fanfic includes: Saitou x Sanosuke pairing;a vampire character; random silliness and unedited words.PART 5: Of Love and Kin
Sano wasn't as happy as he was this morning by the time noon came. In fact, he wasn't surprised when an old man remarked that he was "raving mad" or when people he passed by avoided him as if he's "furious as hell". He didn't mind them at all.
Because that is exactly what he is, at this very moment.
"And who wouldn't be," he muttered harshly to himself. "Who in this whole city wouldn't be fuckin' mad?"
He recalled how he wore that goofy smile of his on the way to work today. How he had planned to work one last time, and finally settle his plans for Saitou's surprise birthday party. How he, a self-confessed freeloader, had finally felt proud of all he'd done so far for the man of his life.
And how he, wearing that silly grin, had gawked in outrage as he read the wooden sign hung in front of the rice factory. A wooden sign with one anger-inducing, roosterhead-killing word.
CLOSED.
And as the hot rays of the sun touched his contorted forehead, Sano couldn't help but clench his fists, itching to hit something, anything, just to release all his wrath and disappointment.
For even an "ahou" like him knows that the money he had saved isn't enough to make his plan work. No more work means no more money. And no more money means no more party for his psycho cop.
Inside his dark and covered lair, the vampire Alkira continued to dream.
The drained rat fell into the ground with a dull thud. Wiping his mouth absent-mindedly, he continued to watch the strange boy he had met earlier from behind a clump of trees.
The pale lunar light highlighted the beautiful profile of the youth as he walked towards a forest clearing. Even from a distance, he could see the boy's brown orbs searching his surroundings. As if waiting for something…or someone.
The answer came in the form of a tall, slender man with dark hair appearing in the clearing. Alkira's eyesight was sharp enough to note the peculiar golden eyes of the new stranger.
Those eyes. He had seen those eyes before.
"You're late," the man said, breaking the night silence and causing the young man to stiffen in surprise.
Recovering quickly, the youth replied, "Hmn, how grumpy. Did you miss me already?"
The man simply ignored the question by lighting a cigarette with the grace of someone who had done it all his life. The vampire in the shadows caught a whiff of the nicotine-tinted air and frowned. The man's action was vaguely familiar, and he was confused at the new onslaught of frustration.
He was genuinely surprised when the boy muttered an oath and tried to slap the lit cigarette away from the man's lips. Somehow he couldn't picture the formal and polite boy earlier to the youth standing there in the clearing.
"Senko," the tall man warned. "I thought you wouldn't say foul things with that mouth of yours today."
Senko. The name flowed smoothly on his tongue, and Alkhyra savored its soft sound on his lips.
The boy named Senko snorted, crossing his arms defensively. "It's past midnight, so the deal's over. I can say whatever I want."
As if to prove his point he added, "Asshole."
"Hn. Perhaps you'll be wiser the next time and not say stupid things in the future."
"I was drunk!" Senko retorted. "Nobody should take my words seriously when I'm stone drunk!"
Such spirit. He marveled at the warm hearted boy.
The man chuckled, his golden eyes flashing momentarily in amusement. "Ah, don't be such a baby. A few hours of proper language didn't kill you, did it?"
For a while, Alkira thought the kid will make another comeback, but he was surprised to hear Senko mutter softly, "Actually, it did me pretty good. I even helped a guy in town tonight."
He had to smile at those words. So the kid remembered him. The thought brought a wave of pleasure in his body.
"Really." The still nameless man replied sarcastically.
"Really," Senko affirmed. Sighing, he added, "Listen, can we go home already? I'm tired from holding back all those bad words."
His eyebrows drew together at the mention of home. Does it mean that they are living together?
He awaited the golden-eyed man's reply, but he simply nodded and walked away, prompting Senko to follow. Left without much choice, and his interest more piqued than ever, he started to do the same.
He heard the duo's footsteps as they walked. He heard Senko happily whistling as he followed the dark haired man.
He also heard Senko's shout. "Hey Akira, wait up, will you?"
Those words, though casually spoken, seemed like a threat. Alkira froze as his precious find repeated the name of his younger brother, its sound echoing in the forest air.
The cigarette glowed red as Saitou threw the used matchstick away. He leaned back on his chair, silently pondering his new case amidst the thin mist around him. Half-lidded golden eyes gazed scornfully at the files spread on top of his desk, all containing reports of drained bodies dumped in alleys.
He scowled, as he had done all morning. Three more bodies had been found. All, like the first victim, were drained almost to the bone and left dead by the gutter. Similarly, no signs of struggle were evident, only a tied red cloth served as a mark that it was done by the same person. Or persons, as Saitou himself wasn't sure if the it was an individual or group killing spree. What he can be sure of, based from the photographs of the poor victims, was that they didn't die in the most comfortable way. The horrified expressions forever etched on their faces were enough proof of that.
Saitou nodded vaguely as a subordinate informed him that so far, no other corpses have been found. So far, the force has been able to keep the situation under control. Most people weren't really bothered or threatened by the number of deaths on the streets in one night. They figured that it was just a renegade, a mercenary taking the law in his own hands.
But he knew better. For one, the town people didn't know yet of the disappearance of the grand master monk. Chou, after grumbling about skipping lunch, went out immediately to locate the missing man. Saitou knew there was a link between the monk's sudden vanishing and the street deaths. He just had to find that out.
Because he knew that these weren't random deaths. By instinct, he can tell that these were well-planned murders designed to taunt him.
Make him feel responsible…
Blasted letter.
… and worried. Not because he was the intended target, but due to an entirely different reason.
All the four street victims were his roosterhead's age. All, like his ahou, were gamblers and heavy drinkers of sake. Lastly, all were considered, during their lifetime, as "pretty" by most people.
Just like his roosterhead.
Sanosuke, he thought suddenly, a lurch of panic twisting his gut.
Without a word, Officer Fujita left his office; his still glowing cigarette perched on his ashtray.
"The Legend of Alkira! Grab a copy now!"
"I want some of those fishes."
"Hey, get away if you aren't buying anything!"
Sano continued to walk, ignoring the noise around him. He still couldn't believe that the factory, his only legal source of income, was closed. I only needed three more days! he thought grumpily, gritting his teeth in frustration.
It really sucks that all his efforts will not push through as planned. And Sano rarely planned anything in his life.
A flash of silver caught his eye, and he turned to see an array of fine jewelry displayed under the sun. Curious, he went closer and inspected some of the pieces.
"Like anything kid?" said the merchant, grinning crookedly. "I bet my ass your girl would love it."
He snorted in mirth. I bet my ass that it isn't for a girl.
An interesting necklace caught his eye. Or, to be specific, the pendant of the necklace claimed his interest. Slowly, he touched the well sculpted metal, eyeing it critically. Perfect.
"How much is this?" Sano asked, hoping he could afford it.
The merchant eyed the piece he was holding. "Ah, interesting choice. That one is quite expensive. What made you like the sculpted wolf?"
A deep, familiar voice answered before Sano can even open his mouth.
"Maybe it reminds him of someone."
Gasping, the roosterhead dropped the pendant on the display. Standing behind him, was a police officer.