By: Lazeralk
Dragon Ball Z/Nightwalker/Vampire Hunter D/Vampire Princess Miyu/Hellsing
Standard Disclaimers apply
Part 4
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Trunks Briefs, a towel slung over his shoulders to keep his wet hair off his neck, walked into the War Room with a stack of papers in his calloused hands. He found Gohan hunched over the table, his feet kicking slowly as he scribbled on a sheet of paper.
"Hey Gohan. What's up?" said Trunks, setting his own pile down.
"I got a lead." Gohan said with a smug grim.
"A lead? Really? That's great Gohan!" Trunks said with a smile.
"I know, check it out." replied the brunette as he handed a copy of Sarah's letter to his friend.
"What's this?" the lavender haired warrior asked as he snatched the paper. His eyes scanned the writing quickly, then widened as he read it over a second time.
"Is this real?"
"Uh-huh." Answered the brunette from the table.
"Wow. I mean, wow Gohan. We can so nail this guy now. We have a written confession and everything."
"I know. Told you he was out there."
Trunks had the decency to look ashamed, knowing that he had been his friend's biggest doubter when it came to the purple haired mystery man.
"Hey, about that Gohan…"
"Don't worry about Trunks, it's ok."
"No man, it's not. I'm really sorry." Said Trunks, placing a hesitant hand on the younger boy's shoulder.
"Trunks, give it a rest. I forgive you." Said Gohan, giving his best friend a big smile.
Trunks offered one of his own and then set to work on his growing stack of papers.
"So, you're gunna help me find him right?" asked Gohan, eyeing his friend across the table.
"Yeah, sure Gohan. Tonight?"
"Yeah."
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Shidou sighed, absently stroking Riho's hair as they lounged on the sofa in their shared rooms. His little charge was fast asleep on his chest, while he was propped up on a stack of pillows, facing the huge windows in their sitting room. The night air was filled with wisps of fog; slowing drifting in an intricate dance, lead by the breeze. Arucard himself was out in the streets tonight, looking for a kill to bring home to the kiss. The purple haired vampire shivered at the thought. The King was not known for compassion, as he was, or even indifference as D was. Arucard was insane, psychotic to the point of cruelty.
Shidou offered a silent prayer to whoever was listening that Arucard be quick about his kill. Quick, and therefore merciful, to whichever poor soul stumbled across his path this night.
A loud bang echoed though the castle, though it probably wasn't so loud when he considered his vampiric hearing.
"Riho." He called softly, shaking his little charge awake.
"Wha-?" she asked groggily as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Stay here, I heard something." He said, lifting her easily and then standing. He deposited her gently back on the sofa and draped his long coat over her shoulders as she settled back into the pillows. With one last glance at her innocent face, he vanished as if he'd never been.
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Goku, who'd kept his promise to Bulma and was exploring the northern most reaches of the city, stared up in absolute shock. A castle, a really huge and impressive castle, was sitting upon the side of the mountain as if it had been there all along. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, not sure if it was really there. How could they have possibly missed it? He'd flown over this area a hundred times before and never noticed it.
On a whim, he lifted himself up into the sky and looked down on the castle, watching in amazement, as the massive building seemed to disappear right before his eyes. The higher he flew, the less of the castle he saw.
Utterly confused and astounded with his recent discovery, he set himself back on the ground and began to jog up the long drive, ducking under the many wicked looking portcullises. He passed statues of mean looking dogs with many eyes and winged gargoyles that leered down at him.
Feeling slightly creeped out, he quickened his pace and stared straight at the looming front doors as he approached, not wanting to linger too long on the demonic looking ornaments. The doors were hooded by an impressive sweeping alcove made of what looked like black marble. The doors themselves were carved out of some sort of polished stone with inlays of precious metals and gems.
The image of a great dragon, snarling evilly, looked back at him from the doors. A banner floated above the beast, something in Latin carved in flowing calligraphy on it. Goku studied it for a moment but was unable to discern its meaning.
He put one hand to the door and pushed lightly, mindful of his Saiyajin strength.
The door didn't budge.
Confused, he pushed a little harder, but the door still refused to move. Frowning in concentration, he pushed with both hands, putting his full strength behind it. This time the door swung open on silent hinges and slammed against the wall. Cringing at the sound, the warrior crept into the hall, his eyes darting wildly from one thing to another as he struggled to take it all in.
There were huge oil paintings, thick drapes of velvet, beautifully embroidered tapestries, and ornaments of gold, silver and jewels scattered around the room. It was like walking into a movie about the old King Arthur legends for Goku, who'd never seen anything like it before in his life.
He kept walking, turning this way and that, trying to see everything. A huge carpeted staircase invited him upward, blood red against the black stone of the steps. A chill passed over him as he gazed at the portrait that hung at the top of the stairs. A man sat in a high backed chair, a red coat and matching hat adorned his body, thick yellow glasses obscured his eyes, but he looked relaxed. With one long leg crossed over the other, his hands folded casually in his lap and an unnerving smirk on his pale face, the man dared anyone to oppose him. Goku didn't want to find out if the man was still in the castle or not.
"You should go back." Said a voice from behind him, a soft almost supple whisper in the dark.
Goku whirled on the spot, his eyes comically wide as he looked at the strikingly beautiful man who had just snuck up on him. Confused and somewhat fascinated, he tried desperately to get a grip on the man's life force, to see him with his minds eye for power. There was nothing, a faint wisp of something, just barely brushing his senses, but nothing more.
"Who are you?" asked the Saiyajin, his eyes drinking in every detail of the slender youth before him.
"That's not important right now. You have to go back, I don't want you to die." Said the stranger, taking a step forward into the dim candlelight.
Goku gasped when he saw him, fully and in the revealing light.
"You're him! The one Gohan is chasing! The man with the purple hair." Said Goku, pointing incredulously, mouth hanging open in shock. He couldn't wait to tell his son! He'd found the mystery man; Gohan would be so happy.
"I am. I'm sorry Gohan had to see what he did, but I have my reasons. Please, you must go. The King will return soon and you can't be here when he does. Please, I beg of you, go!" the purple haired man pleased.
"But, wait, I don't understand! I have so many questions for you!" said Goku, hastily approaching his newfound companion.
"What's your name? Why did you kill those people? Was what Gohan said true? That you can make spears out of blood? Do you know Trunks? He had hair like you…" said Goku trailing off when the man laughed aloud, a truly joyful sound.
"My name is Shidou." He said, taking Goku by the hand and leading him out of the main hall and back to the alcove above the door.
"I'm a vampire. My child is also a vampire and very weak. She was young when she was laid to rest and so she doesn't have the strength she used to. She needs blood every night just to keep her going. I killed, because I had to, because I will not let her die. What Gohan said was true; I can make spears out of blood, though I use my own to do it. I have never met Trunks, but after hearing so much about him, I am curious. Now please, you have to get back to the city and promise me that you will never come back to Noxsang Castle." Shidou guided the bulkier man down the walkway as he spoke, amused with the way Goku kept his face turned towards his while he walked, trusting Shidou not to run him into a wall or anything.
"Are you really a vampire?" asked Goku skeptically, eyeing him critically.
Shidou gave an exasperated sigh and looked the Saiyajin directly in the eyes. He called on his power and felt his pupils shift to cat like slits; his irises turn from a soft aqua to a burning gold. Goku jumped when he realized what had happened, but didn't give Shidou the reaction he'd been looking for.
"Whoa! That's so neat!"
Shidou growled at him, flashing fang, but Goku only poked his teeth to see if they were real or not.
Shidou's left eye twitched, earning a giggle out of the brunette.
"Just go. Please go now." Said the vampire, exasperation touching his voice. He pushed the other man's back gently, steering him towards the last few sets of portcullises.
Goku frowned but nodded, not wanting to upset his new friend.
"I'll go for now, but I still want answers to all the questions bouncing around my head. Is there any way you could come back with me sometime?" he asked, turning around to face the lavender haired gentleman.
"You are implying that you will return to this castle, something I have forbidden. This place is dangerous. It was by pure luck that I am here and not one of the others. They would not hesitate to slay you. Perhaps, when it is my turn to hunt, I will seek you out and we can talk. I cannot promise to answer all of your questions, but I will try to satisfy your curiosity." He said, still gently guiding the Saiyajin towards the exit.
"Alright, I'll see you soon then?"
"In about a week. Now please, go."
"Ok then, see you later!" said Goku with a jaunty wave as he took to the sky and flew away. He didn't notice how Shidou's eyes widened with shock, or that the vampire was now racing towards the castle like the hounds of hell were on his heels. And perhaps they were, for Arucard had just returned.
End Part 4