Standard Disclaimer: I don't own FruBa. This plot and original characters are mine, but not Fruba itself. Any twisted, enhanced psychotic tendency, morbid reactions, deep and well deserved brooding and/or beating ones self up that happen to appear in the story are mine and I stake full claims with some help and idea's. Please review, and any flame will be laughed if not ignored. This has been inspired by many people works and I give credit to all of them and in no way am I claming that all of these idea's are mine. There is no harm meant in borrowing these names and I only use them for the porpoise of creating a interesting story.
AN: Alright, it's been a while. I fell out of writing for a while, but i managed to wrap myself back into it for another chapter. It felt good, actualley...love to my beta. love...And thank anyone who's still reading this...
Italics language change -English mostly - OR if it's in paragraph form, it's a flashback. You'll understand when it comes...
The Collector
By: SAL-Chan
Chapter Five: The Attack
I stepped into the darkness of the coming morning and took a breath of the smoke-free air. No offence to Noel's, but it always smelled like burning cigars and incense — really, really bad vanilla-lavender incense that made the inside of my nose itch. The air outside was light and cold, but not too cold. It was slowly becoming spring. It's weird to think to think that it's snowing on the other side of the world.
I had finished two Mai Tais all together, and my stomach was full of warmth that was seeping into the rest of my body. It was nearly 5: 30 in the morning, and Shigure finally said that my shift was over and that he'd see me in 6 hours. I could actually go home to my little apartment and sleep in my bed. It was a blessing from the gods. I was going home. I was waiting for the full-blown chorus of angels to fly out of the clouds and sing all the verse of 'Glory Hallelujah'.
Next to me, Haru sighed and stared down the steps of Noel's red doorway. The two of us lived in the same apartment complex; he's six doors down from me. Sometimes it's annoying living so close, but other times it's nice. I'll give you an example: I drive him to work almost everyday because Hatsuharu doesn't own a car - And one time Haru rushed in with his semi-auto while I was being attacked by a vampire. Family has its quirks.
"You okay to drive home?" he mumbled back towards me, and I debated saying no. I wanted to close my eyes and sleep for a million years.
"I'm good. You can crash in the back if you want."
I heard him sigh heavily and I watched his shoulders fall forward. "God, please."
Apartment block 7-2, 1289 Shukumie and Hakai, Mita, Japan.
Thursday 5: 37
Our modest little apartment complex was one out of seven in Mita, and all of them looked the same. They were all a cream-colored stucco exterior, and their interiors were all designed the same. They weren't ugly, but they weren't pretty either.
I pulled into my parking spot and shut my car off. I checked in the back, and the sight made me smile. Haru was sprawled across the back seat, sound asleep. A blanket was wrapped around him, a pillow propped his head up on the tire rim, and he looked as comfortable as you can get in the back seat of a jeep. It wasn't rare that one of my family members or my friends fell asleep in the back of my jeep while I was driving them to and fro. It's normal enough that I kept an extra blanket and pillow in the back – along with bandages, syringes full of morphine, needles, and thread. Anything for emergencies.
I slipped out as quietly as could, locking the door behind me. It's better if you leave your sleeping comrade in the back than attempt to wake them. Things tend to get messy when the person you're waking is paranoid, trigger happy, or both. Haru happened to be both. Anyway, it would get cold in the jeep soon enough, and that would wake my white-topped cousin faster (and easier) then anything I could do.
As you can tell, this is quite a routine. I would probably find him sleeping on my couch in the morning.
The parking lot was still coated in darkness, but I could feel the morning coming. Tension let go of my shoulders and I let out a quick breath. In case you didn't know, vampires don't like the light. The only thing I really had to worry about attacking in the day was a rogue shifter, and that was rare in itself. The air around me was still cold, and I pulled my jacket as tightly around me as I could. My gun pressed into my side, reassuringly so.
I was halfway across the parking lot when I noticed something. I turned slowly back towards my jeep, unease tingling at the base of my spine. The light posts in my wake were blackened out, completely dark. The ones in front of me were still lit. Odd wasn't the word for it...
A wind flew past my body, cold and hollow. I didn't even have time to pull my gun as something smashed into me.
Whatever it was rode me to the ground and smacked my head into the pavement so hard the shock coiled down my entire spine and gray spots fluttered behind my eyelids. I felt the previous wounds of the night open on the back of my head and my temple, and the echoing pain from before when that blond vampire had smacked me into the pavement seemed to blow up behind my eyes. I threw my arm at whatever was on top of me, connecting to flesh.
The person - it felt fairly human - was struggling to tear at my chest or my face or my neck. It was hissing away and screaming in a high octave that went straight through my head. I didn't need my eyes to tell that it was a vampire.
But my eyes did tell me things I wouldn't have known if I didn't have sight. The vampire in question was so pale she was almost see-through, her eyes a wide incandescent blue. Her hair, long and a striking blond color, hung knotted and greasy around her crazed face. Her eyes were wide and the look in them wasn't all there. Her fists were covered in blood, and gray fell from her mouth. Had she bitten me?
I managed to put my arm up in time to catch her across the throat, and -- in essence -- saving my ass. She struggled like mad, trying to bite at my neck. I didn't feel myself bleeding, so I didn't panic yet. My White Place came instantly.
I managed to grab the vamp's hair tightly, yanking to the side of me as hard as I could. She just screeched and latched her fingers onto my bad wrist. It took me a second to realize the hand I had grabbed her with was the left one, and currently she was digging her nails into the scars she managed to find there. I didn't have time for it to hurt.
I pulled at my Tracking power and let myself taste her scent. I yanked at her hair again and managed to fling her struggling body off me. She let out a high-pitch scream as her head slammed into the pavement and she struggled to get up again. Doing that gave me just enough time to get to my feet. As soon as I was steady, I was reaching for my weapon and another cold wind rushed my back. I turned in time to catch sight of whatever it was, but it slammed into my side before I pivoted all the way.
I was on the ground again, rolling this time. I managed to smack into a lamppost and still myself enough to get my bearings. Not a very painless way to do so, but very effective. There were two of them. Two more vampires tonight. That's eight total. Holy crap, I just couldn't get away.
They were being too sloppy. They both were trying to just get to me as quickly as they could. True, it was too close to dawn for them to be out without direct orders from their master. They were coming for a simple and quick kill. Great...
I looked up in time to see Vampire Two rush me. I didn't have time to do anything else but shut my eyes - damn these human tendencies that linger still. I waited a moment, expecting to feel nails rip at my face, but instead...
I opened one eyes slowly, then blinked at the sight. Vamp Two's nails were inches away from my face, twitching. I looked up the arm and found the brown-haired vamp's bright blue eyes wide. He was floating in mid-air in a flying position. His skin was thin and stretched, his nose pointy and his lips thin. That's two blond vamps tonight and three with blue eyes. Something was very wrong with that.
"Kyo!" Haru shouted as I sat up slowly. The brown haired vampire was struggling to move - to flee, I guess. I bet he didn't expect this. I looked toward my cousin who was standing next to the jeep, arms outstretched, eyes pitch black and grinning like a mad man.
"I'm alright! I'm okay..." I said, drawing my gun and smiling. "Sometimes that little power of your is very helpful, cuz."
Haru smiled and dropped his hands. At the same moment, the brown haired vamp fell to the ground with a thud, paralyzed. I stood slowly, aches springing up all over my body, and cracked my neck. Then, slowly, I aimed my gun at the vamp's head.
"No!" I looked out of the corner of my eyes and saw the blond vamp fell from the sky. She began to rush forward, and I pulled the hammer back on the gun. Not that that would really do anything, but I was aiming more for effect then anything else. She stopped instantly.
"I can't hold her too, Kyo," I heard Haru say, and I nodded - waiting. The girl walked around the lamppost, as close as she could get without making my finger twitch. She looked cautiously at me, putting both her hands up. She then looked at Haru, with question in her eyes.
"E's a Tella-ka-netik," she said, heavily accented and matter-of-factly. Slowly she stood up straight, and finally I saw her in full. Her dress was a lightly blue that matched the brown-haired vamp's eyes. Her skin was pale compared to the opening morning. Her feet were bare, and her tank-top dress left her arms free to the sky. She would have been pretty if lines of blood weren't falling from her mouth. She stared with her dark blue eyes at me, and I somehow managed to stare straight back.
"That he is," I said, my gun still aimed at the guy on the ground. "Now, who are you, and what do ya want with me?"
She tilted her chin to the air and let her lips go thin. "I am Alastra, ond that is my brotha Haine. Ve vant not'ing to do wit you, Kyo Sohma. Now let my brotha go."
She was confident and sure. She also dodged my last question.
"Why are you out to kill me?" I asked, and she just smiled, showing all the fangs she could.
"I om just doin v'at my mistress vished me, Kyo Sohma. Not'ing more. Ond now you vill let 'im go."
"I damn well won't do a thing. Who's your mistress?" I was glaring, venom plain in my voice. No one tells me what to do. Alastra's eyes thinned.
"Be vise not to ask, Sohma. You do not vant to be involved in this." She took a step forward, and the boy on the ground screamed. I looked down, surprised, then looked at Haru. The telekinetic was holding up his fist, squeezing his hands together loosely. His black eyes were fierce. I turned back to her and smiled a smile that really didn't belong to me.
"Who is your mistress?" I asked again, grinning. I knew my eyes were angry and fierce. I let that into my voice. She just stared back, brushing her hair away from her face, and smiled.
"On collector of tha stranger things," she said, letting her hands fall to her sides. Her smile was as wide and fierce as mine. "Of corpses that move as if pulled by strings. From 'om that change from being to beast, to those 'ho considered blood a feast. That is my master, Sohma. One 'om you offer no challenge."
I stared at her for a second, and then blinked. "What?"
She smiled and nodded toward the horizon. Blue sparkled in the distance, chasing away the black. I let my eyes peek at the sunrise, and then looked back. Her smile grew and quicker then I could pull the trigger - she flung her hand out toward Haru and I. My gun flew out of my hand, and Haru was pushed backwards, loosing concentration. I pulled my knife as I stumbled back, ready to be attacked again, but nothing came.
Alastra stood in the same spot when I planted my feet firmly on the ground again, but her bother was gone. The smile had left her face, and she suddenly looked serious. " I ow'd you, Sohma, for not pulling tha trigger sooner. Tonight I will spare you life, but this is The Sighting. A heart shall be mine before the rising of the sun. You have no mor' warning's."
I watched as she turned away, and then evaporated into thin air. A chilly morning wind pushed my hair around, and I felt the first morning ray touch the back of my neck.
I turned toward the jeep and found Haru sitting against it, cradling the back of his head and not moving. Sudden fear ran up my spine, and I rushed to my fallen cousin-cum-savior.
Apartment 14, 1289 Shukumie and Hakai, Mita, Japan.
Thursday 17: 28
I walked out of the shower, feeling 100 better then I had when I entered the bathroom. My cuts stung like acid on my skin, but I felt good nevertheless. The rug was soft under my feet. For once I felt okay about waking up in the afternoon.
My apartment was simple and clean and very white - for the moment. I was still in the painting mood, after all. The hallway has a cream color, and the full floor carpet was mocha. My bathroom was hues of blue, the tile floor a striking white. Across from the bathroom was my walk in closet slash office. The walls were a deep red, and I knew that if I had my full range of color I could have appreciated this room a lot more. A closet was strung across one wall, and a second closet sat against the wall next to the door and it held my 'supplies'. There was my only window above my mahogany desk. The desk itself was huge and worn, and it made the entire room whole. Papers, my laptop, a desk lamp, my mail, and my Magnum sat on the desk. A giant desk chair sat swiveled toward the doorway.
Next to my bedroom, this room was the most inviting. It also held most of the stuff that I would attempt to get if there was a fire. My mother-
I stepped into my office and swung my closet open, searching for a good working shirt. I caught my image in the mirror and smiled.
As I've mentioned, I have claw scars running from my shoulder blade to halfway down my bicep. They're fading now, but the healing tissue is still a shiny pink. The cut across my abdomen was a lot older and darker and smaller, but it still had to be one of my favorites. With only a towel wrapped around my waist, I could see the claw marks left by Hiro from years ago. My left arm was such a mess I didn't even bother looking at it again.
Upon closer inspection I noticed the new cut on my right arm was healing already, so I decided to leave it open for a wile. I reapplied a butterfly to the (new) cut across my temple and grinned at myself, running a hand through my hair.
I snatched another blood red t-shirt out of my closet and picked out my favorite pair of black jeans. The gray fabric fit tightly around my chest, but it was worn in cotton, so I didn't mind that much. My pants hugged my thighs tightly enough to know that I wasn't wearing my box-...okay, in order not to incriminate myself, I will tell you that I was wearing something under the jeans. Though I think I already incriminated myself by saying that. Sorry, that was a bit too much information for me to share.
I rubbed my hair with the towel once more before I threw it into the hamper in the corner, and then grabbed a pair of socks - the black ones. I slipped my holster over my shirt and slid the Mag into its second favorite place - its first being in my hands. My knives were strapped to both my arms, and my cross hung - still cold and damp - on my chest. I slipped my wallet into my back pocket, checking for my ID card and my LIVE badge first.
Are you dying to know what happened to my cousin yet? I'm laughing at you, ya know...
Fine, fine, fine. I dragged Haru up to my apartment as the sun peaked over the horizon. He had smacked his head against the step on the jeep and was cursing the entire walk from the parking lot to my apartment. He was fine, really. I just wrapped up the back of his head that was bleeding a bit and after that...well, I don't remember much after that. I know I got him set up in a guest bedroom - the blue one I think (I have three bedrooms in my apartment and that's not counting my office. This was meant to be a family's apartment. Right...), and after that I fell onto my bed and right into dreamland.
Well, I really don't dream, so I guess that doesn't count. Man, I'm really mentally messed up. I can't see red, can't dream. Ever since-
I stood up so fast my office chair slammed into my desk. I really need to stop thinking. I clutched my socks in my hand and stormed out into my living room.
The room was narrow but long, and it was painted a dark forest green - my favorite color. The living room and the kitchen connected in my 'dining area' that was never used. An entertainment center sat on the longest wall in my apartment. The mammoth piece of gray do-it-yourself furniture held my 32-inch TV, my DVD and VCR players, some old videos and DVDs. I had four entire shelves full of CD cases in alphabetical order, none of which any other family member could read. That thought made me smile again - it was the second Thursday of the month--and that meant Sean got packages from home. That meant American goodies all around the office today. The second Thursday is always my favorite day.
A couch sat under my front window to the right of my front door and took up the entire wall space till where the carpet hit the kitchen tile. On top of the window ledges sat my three green ferns/cactus, bringing more green into the room. The fabric was black as ink, and it matched the marble coffee table that sat in the L of the couch. Some magazines in different languages sat on it, along with a half a cup of coffee. Haru must have drinking some before he left.
He was gone before I woke up. His shift started before mine today, so he probably took the bus. I would have to ask him how his head was when I got to work.
I stepped into the kitchen and the chill of the black and white tile under my foot made me shiver. I put my socks on the buffet-counter thing and grabbed a To-Go coffee cup and pored the chilling liquid into it. Black as the night was the best kind of coffee in the world. I sighed into my cup.
The hallway opened into the living room, but a side door let you into the white kitchen. A wall blocked the dinning room and most of the kitchen from the hallway. Across from the door was the black fridge, then some counter space away from that was the oven/stove. My barely-used microwave sat on the small buffet next to the coffee maker, and random black containers of sugar, coffee, and other condiments were scattered in-between the microwave and the sink. Three chairs sat under the buffet - a solid black chrome color - and were comfy to have breakfast and dinner on. I could just see the TV from the chairs there, which was a bonus. Cabinets sat above all my counters space. Even more counter space was on the open wall with cabinets above it - it was obvious this apartment was made for a family with all this damn cooking space.
Over the buffet was the equally white dining room with my small 4-person dining room table. The table could be pulled out and leaves could be put in to make it longer, but incase you couldn't tell, I didn't normally have company. A small chandelier hung from the ceiling over the table.
My corner apartment was way too big for a guy like me. Haru's little one bedroom apartment would have been perfect for me but this was the same price, plus I had an extra window in my bedroom and office. How could I pass it up?
As I was sipping my coffee and pulling on my socks, the clock on top of my fridge dinged 4 on the dot. I grabbed my cup of coffee, shoved my feet into my favorite black Nikes, and snatched my keys off the key hook next to the door. With one last scan of my empty apartment, I sighed and shut the door with a click.
How could I pass it up? Well...the walls echoed your nightmares, and there was no one in the giant apartment to come home to after work. I had a king sized bed that I got lost in. I could fit an entire other person lying down on my couch. No one fought with me about what movie we would watch. There was one pair of keys on the key hooks. One pair of shoes at the front door. One umbrella, one toothbrush, one bottle of shampoo, one laundry basket...
I didn't need to be reminded how alone I was outside of work. Making myself more depressed wasn't on top of my list.
The Sohma Company, 643 Shinwa, Mita, Japan.
Thursday 18: 16
It had been exactly 15 hours since I stepped foot in the office. That was a very nice thought. That meant that I had actually slept for few hours last...morning, was it? That didn't mean I was happy to go back to work, but it meant I walked in with a smile on my face.
"I'm guessing that smile meant you slept?" Yukari said form the front desk beside the swinging doors that led to the back. Behind him in gold letters was 'SCO'. The desk was made from a wood-like substance, and it was sturdy enough to hold a computer and a lamp. That was about it.
I just smile at him. "Seven hours, give or take. Who's in?"
"Gure is in the kitchen, and Sean is in his office with the package. He said that his parents sent something for you to." He was smiling at my grin as I hurried passed. A second before I passed through the swinging door I stopped and remember what I was thinking during my shower. I took a back step.
"Yukari, could you do me a favor?" I continued when he looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "Search the criminal data base for Honda Tohru and Kyoko, as well as Alastra. See what comes up."
He nodded and simply said. "Will do."
I nodded back, worry eating at my heart. Haru didn't come in today-
"Kyon!" Sean stepped out of his office - eyes almost glowing with anticipation and happiness - holding four CD cases. "Ma sent me 60 more CD's. 60! Half of them are mine from before, but a shit load are totally new."
I snatched one of the cases out of his hands and read it. I grinned. His mother sent more of The Starting Line. Burnt, but The Starting Line never the less. I guess she got/understood my letter. I'll send another one saying thanks. This was so sweet.
I smile up at him. "What else did'ya get?"
"More Aerosmith, more Darkness, some more SoCo, and..." He held up a broken and scratched CD case, his eyes getting wider and aw in his voice. "Oh my god...she found my old Rolling Stones CD..."
I was about to laugh when someone grabbed onto the back of my holster and pulled. A moment later, I was face to face with my eldest cousin's level brown eyes. I almost laughed in his face, but I bit my cheek and held it. Kudos for me.
"You're late again," he said, sounding bored. I shrugged him off and adjusted my holster to fit under my arms again, grinning at his bored tone.
"I'm sorry, I try not to live here twenty-four seven."
"You're so lucky you're family. I would've fired your ass so long ago-"
"That's why Sean is in 10 minuets early every day."
"Hey!"
Shigure smacked me on top of the head and grinned, his brown eyes coming to life again. I grinned back. Sean glared.
"You have a client in your office," the were said, the sudden glint fading. I blinked.
"I just got in."
Shigure shrugged and turned away from me. "He was asking for you specifically. Sorry, Kyon."
"Sorry?" I parroted, wondering what brought that on. Shaking my head, I took a step toward him, mentioning the biggest weight on my mind. "Wait, did Haru call in sick?"
"No." Shigure didn't even stop to say it. He shut his door with an echoing slam, and I knew something was very, very wrong. I had a sinking feeling that whoever it was in my office was the cause of the disturbance. Great, just frickin' great...
I handed the CD case back to Sean with a serious look on my face. The American took it without question, patting me once on the back before he stepped back into his office. I sighed. I did hope this day would be better...
I hesitated outside my office and just touched the doorknob. Cold rushed up my arm and the spongy-brain feeling came back. I took sudden in a breath without realizing it, cold death-power vibrating up my arm.
Another one! Damnit! I can't get away from damn vampires today!
The knob turned under my hand, and the door opened with a slightly vacuum effect that pulled my hair forward to sit on top of my eyes. I almost took a step back in surprise, but stood my ground. I stared at my next employer and marked the tally down in my head: That's three blond vamps.
His hair was canary yellow - a bright blond that hadn't seen the sun in... well, a few hundred years, I would guess. His skin wasn't as sickly pale as some of the other vamps I saw today - yesterday, whatever - he was by far the darkest. He was also the most casually dressed next to Alastra, but so far he didn't launch himself at me with nails raised. It was still early, though.
A cotton candy pink long sleeved shirt covered his thin torso and made him look too young. A pair of black jeans covered his legs - I was debating whether or not to ask him if he had to pour his legs into those jeans, they looked so tight. Small dress shoes held his feet, and I noticed they were taping before I pulled my eyes up to meet his.
I couldn't stop myself. I looked up to his thin face and stared at his honey eyes. I think that messed both of us up. He took a step back, but didn't break eye contact. I didn't move.
"How...how can ya do that?" It was childlike. The vampire didn't look much older then Hiro. But I could tell the difference between the two instantly. This vamp was smiling as he said it, and that smile actually lit his eyes. Either he was way young, or he didn't care if he showed emotion.
I blinked back at him. "I...don't know." Yeah, great, Kyo. I'm so skilled with words. The vampire swung the door to my office open all the way and took a step back and out of the doorway. I stepped in - finding it a bit odd to have someone open the door for me - still staring at his eyes. He stared back and swung the door closed, then put his hands on his hips. His face showed pride and excitement - for me. Way odd...
"Who...who the hell are you?" I finally managed to ask, not breaking eye contact. We stayed still for another moment, then the vampire blinked and bowed.
"My name is Momiji." There was a smile in his voice and on his face as he stood up straight again. "And you're exactly what my master expected you to be."
That made me blink and take a step back, my brain truly realizing that this little boy was a vampire. I snapped back, "What?"
Momiji sighed and rolled his eyes, then sat in the chair across from mine. An invitation to sit. I looked at my chair, and then looked at the mirror above it. There was no one sitting in the chair across from the desk. I looked again and the little blond head in my cliental chair, then walked around my desk and sat.
"My master sent me to you to ask for your help." He was still smiling as he said it.
Alarm bells went off in my head. I crossed my arms and glared.
"Who's the hell's your master?" It sounded very nasty. Momiji's face sobered instantly, and I pushed my guess of his age back another two hundred years or so.
"I'm sorry about that. My master was hoping to get someone here before Kazuma -" No hesitation on the name. I made a mental note; Kazuma wasn't his master. Point for him. "- got to you, be we were...tied up last night. I'm here to offer you a real hand in helping find the missing Talents."
I blinked, and my mind stopped for a second. Wait, did he just say-
"Talents? As in...more then one?" I blinked. Must keep track of where that tough's trail is heading. The blond vampire nodded and grabbed a folder off the floor. A regular Five Star red folder with the bottom pockets... Hell, it was better then a manila folder. He put it on my desk and sat back again, gesturing for me to open it. I did so and found that - indeed- there were more then one.
"We think somewhere between 13 and 15. All powerful Talent users assigned or in contact with Japan's crack LIVE and LVE task force." He said it all with a straight face then leaned forward and pulled a sheet out of the back and placed it on the top of the pile. Forest green eyes sounded by dark brown hair, pale skin and cherry red lips. Her face was more round, and her nose was small and petite. It was a similar picture of Tohru Honda. I still had the 9 by 11 headshot of her in my jeep. Well, well...
"All of them but her." He finished, stapling his fingers. "I have no idea why she was kidnapped. My master knows next to nothing about her or her important power. We think she's going to be used for something. I'm not sure what yet, but you can call it an inevitable hunch."
I read down her sheet, noting the information I already knew. I blinked at it, and then looked up at him.
"I still don't understand why vampires are coming to me for help. I'm not involved in any of this-" The vampire put his hand up and cut me of abruptly. His face was very serious and closed off. No life what so ever. Nine hundred years, at best.
"Before now you weren't. But flip the sheet over."
Needless to say, I didn't want to flip the sheet over. I did it anyway, and regretted it instantly. I was staring down at the paper for a few good minutes attempting to fill myself up with hollowness. It wouldn't happen. There was too much emotion to deal with. I couldn't tell if I was scared, devastated, worried, or pissed. Mostly the last one, I think.
"I got news of it when I woke up today." Momiji said, breaking me from the trance. I slowly looked up at the small vampire who was now standing at the foot of my desk. He had a solemn look on his face like he actually felt bad for me. Whoa, too much bitterness there.
The vampire firmly planted both his hands on the desk and leaned toward me, making eye contact again. I was still shell shocked. If I let any emotion out I would start throwing things. That would be bad.
"Listen to me, Sohma," I could even see his fangs wall he spoke. "If you want to save him before they move to another country, I suggest you work with us, at least a little bit. For his sake, at least."
I blinked at him, then looked back down at the offending peace of white oxford paper and stared into my cousin's dark brown eyes and couldn't help but blame myself for this. Someone took my cousin out of my house last night, and I didn't even hear a sound. I didn't even stir.
Hatsuharu Sohma was MIA somewhere chained up with Tohru Honda, and 12 other people.
Suddenly, this became my problem.
"What do you need?" I looked up, eyes dead. I had reached my white place, but the walls were going to crumble. I saw Momiji's eyes light up with hope. True hope.
"You need to meet my master."
"Besides that."
He blinked back at me. I guess he wasn't expecting that. "Nothing. I don't know the plans. I'm just the messenger. He's the master, after all."
Zing. He got me there. I sighed and leaned back, closing my eyes. I did not want to do this, but I didn't have a choice. If I wanted to find Haru, I needed to find someone who knew what the hell was going on. Hell, there was a lot I didn't know at the moment. I needed answers, and the only ones who had them was our alleged Gabriel of Japan, or Momiji's master. I didn't want to tango with Kazuma again any time soon, so I-
"-guess I don't have a choice," I said out loud. Must watch that thought trail. Momiji's eyes glistened
"You always have a choice. You just have to pick the right one," he said with a smile and tugged on the ends of his sleeves, then brushed the shirt and took a step towards the door. "And if you choose to trust me, I'll meet you outside. If you choose to do this by yourself with the written information I gave you, stay. I'll be waiting for 10 minutes. Then I'll leave and you won't ever have to see me again."
And with that he stepped out of my office and walked down the hallway.
I had a choice. To either do it myself or get help. Normally I would of asked Haru, but - for obvious reasons - that was impossible. I looked at the phone in my office and fought with myself for a moment before I picked the receiver up and dialed a number I knew by heart. When in a crisis, you call your best friend. In my case, it was my partner.
He picked up on the third ring. "Lo?"
"Set?"
There was quiet for a moment, and then I heard him smile. "I'm hunting, man. You got less then two minutes."
I looked at the clock. I had 9. "So you'll be late."
He laughed. "Like hell. It's my first case back. Three vamps running amuck in suburban Tokyo. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. They're not killing anything, just busting into homes and leaving."
I shrugs and leaned back in my chair, my brow furrowing. A thought just crept into my mind - a very dark and altering thought. " Did you spot any of them?"
"All of them, actually," was the reply. I heard him shut the radio off and sigh. He would be late, no doubt about that. But he owed me.
"What they look like?"
"Pale. Gangly."
"All vamps are pale and gangly." I snapped back.
"One was blond with really long hair. She was with a brunet and a redhead. You don't see something like that running amuck in suburban Japan every day," he said, and I thought for a second I that I had said something like that before. I couldn't remember. I was distracted by my hunch. I had 6 minuets to get outside.
"No kidding. Listen, stop over later on tonight. I have a shit load of stuff to tell ya. I need your help." There, I said it. The fatal 4 words. I need your help. He must have known that it took a lot to get me to ask for help. But if my hunch was correct, we would have a lot of papers to go through.
"Sure. Oh, and I have souvenirs from Bangkok ta give to you and Haru- " I flinched. Damn, the guilt was eating at me already. "-and I could go for a chat. Work or play?"
"Work." I said sharply. 4 minutes, and I needed to tell Shigure I was going. "I gotta go. Luck."
"Luck." he said back and snapped the phone shut. See, no goodbye or nothin'. I hesitated taking the phone off my ear, then slowly put the receiver down. I forced myself to stand up and snatch my car keys off my desk and step out of my office.
Shigure was leaning on the wall across from my office. I stepped out and blinked at him. The were didn't even blink. He just said, "Go."
Shigure knew. What am I thinking; of course Shigure knew. He knows everything. So, I went. I snatched the new Starting Line CD off Sean's desk without him noticing, but I went.
"Kyon."
I was at the door when Yukari called my name. I turned, ready to tell him not now, but he was handing a paper out towards me. I blinked at it, and then looked at him.
"The search you asked me for," Yukari said flatly, brushing hair from his eyes and pushing his glasses up in one fluid movement. "These are the matches and the histories."
My smile was a little apprehensive, but it was there nevertheless. I took the paper and tucked it into my back pocket, regretful that I hadn't brought my jacket. Not that it was cold; it was spring, for gods' sakes. My gun and knives would be out in the open for all vampires to see. As if summoned by my thoughts, Yukari handed me one of Sean's soft leather brown jackets, shaking his head. I found the strength to smile at my older cousin, then pulled the jacket on and dashed out the door.
Just as the door closed behind me I heard Momiji's small voice say "-one...You have very good timing."
I climbed out of our office and took a breath of the sweet night air. It tasted like cherry blossoms. I wondered for a moment if Tohru and Haru could taste it too, then shook the taught off and stared toward my jeep.
"I can understand if you really don't trust us." Momiji said, trailing behind me. Did I forget to close the back of my head tonight? Everyone was reading my mind.
"Whatever." I said back, unlocking my door. Once open, I climbed in and popped the lock on the passenger door. Momiji pulled it open and slid in, a smile on his face.
"But don't worry. Master said that you could keep your weapons if you wanted. No harm is to come to you when in our hands tonight, Kyon." I relaxed slightly, trusting this little vampire. For some reason, don't ask me to name it but it was there, I trusted him. Then I blinked.
"Who said you could call my Kyon?" I glared at the blond. He shrugged.
"Who said I couldn't?" He came back. I glared harder.
"Me."
"And who are you?" He raised an eyebrow at me, his honey eyes glassing. For the first time that night I felt the pull of a vampire gaze. It wasn't much at all, like a fly buzzing around your head. But it was there and that checked me. He was a child with a vampire in him after all - and I don't know what made me think that sentence exactly in that order with those words, but it was right. A kid with the vamp in him.
It took me a second to realize I had nothing to shoot back with. What the hell's up with me tonight!
I growled under my breath and flipped the engine on, ejecting the CD and putting the new one in.
"Hope you care for music," I said to him. He smiled.
"Love it."
I blinked as I pulled out of my parking space. "Where exactly am I going?"
"The Docks," he said, turning the music up. I sighed and felt a distinct knot in-between my shoulder blades like it does every night. I was going to meet a master vampire and attempt to work with him to find my cousin while I'm supposed ta be working on finding Tohru for the alleged Gabriel of Japan. And I was going to The Docks, of all places.
For a moment I remember that I was a LIVE, and that the vampires were the bad guys. I shook my head and turned the car in the direction of the Tokyo Bay and its ports. Not tonight, I remained myself; I'm a Tracker for SCO tonight. I kill the furry, not the fanged. Tonight.
I prayed that I wouldn't have to kill anyone tonight altogether - furry or fanged. I also hope that no one would try to kill me again. Please please please let me walk around without blood spots on my clothes for one night, whether mine or anyone else's.
You know what sucks about hope? That's all it is. Hope. No certainty. But it sure is comforting sometimes. You can always hope.
(Chapter End)
8: 43 p.m.