Disclaimer: I am not the creator of the following Charactors. D and The parasite on his hand was created by Novelist Hideyuki Kikuchi.

3

D stood up carefully. His body ached from Delron throwing him into the tree. D was completely unprepared when he faced Delron. Arron hadn't mentioned how Delron took Marianna from the castle and D didn't give much thought to the wax on Marianna's floor. Now he knew and with the knowledge from this battle he would better prepare himself for the next one. D limped to the road expecting to see his horse waiting for him. Reaching the center, D looks down the road only to find a pile of parts not to far from him.

"It looks like Shade made sure you couldn't follow him, so much for our mission, but you tried." The parasite said.

"No. This is far from the end. I will complete this mission." D replied with an astounding determination in his voice.

"How did I know you were going to say that." The parsite asked with a groan.

D starts to walk down the road in hopes that a town is near by. Any damage D recieved from the fight was begining to heal as he progressed down the road. After walking a few miles a cart came down the road behind D. As it came closer the carriage began to slow. The cart was old with peeling red paint, the left wheel was loose, and a large tan cloth covered the holding space.

"D, we have company." the parasite stated with a worried tone.

There driver was a short overweight man with a shaggy brown beard. His eyes were a light hazel brown above his large jolly smile. The man wore a white short sleeve button up shirt, brown pants, worn down black boots and a western style hat.

His cart stop next to D. "Hey there. Need a lift?" The Man asked in a hearty voice.

D looked at the man curiously and asks, "Isn't it dangerous to pick up strangers?"

The man laughed loudly, "Don't let my looks fool ya sir." The man pats a rifle next to him. "I can be a lot more trouble than I look."

D nodded and climbed on.

"Names Murphy." Murphy said slapping D on the back. "Whats your name."

"D." D answered annoyed.

"D huh? Strange name, but hey who am I to say that eh?" Murphy let out another hearty laugh then put the cart in motion. "So what is your occupation? Judging by the sword I say ya were a vampire hunter eh?"

"Yes." D answered giving Murphy a suspicious look.

"I knew it. I've seen many hunters in my profession. Vampire, werewolf, goblin, You name it, I've seen what hunts it. I'm a trader ya see, I go around every three years seeing the sights and trying to make deals. My wife is always afraid I'm gonna end up dead one these years but I take care of myself. Come to think about it I knew a vampire hunter a while back. Saved my life once thirty years ago. Before I got married I was a permanent trader. Riding down a road at night a vampire leaped out and almost killed me. Next thing I knew, the vampire lost his head and the hunter stood over me. We traveled for awhile though he didn't talk much." D sat back and relaxed a little after hearing Murphy's tale. "I did feel sorry for him. He never let anyone get close to him. A shame many hunters live such secluded lives because the're afraid to find love. I tell ya when I got married it was the best day of my life. Love can be wonderful if people give it a chance." Murphy let a happy sigh then look over at D. "You don't talk much do ya?"

"No."

"Well as you can tell I love to talk."

The two travelers made there way into a small town where Murphy bought D a new horse.

"You didn't have to do this." D said staightening the saddle.

"Nah. It's the least I could do after what happened thirty years ago." Muphy said carefully. D turned slowly towards Murphy who stared at him smiling. "Don't be surprised. After all I am a trader and I hear plenty on road." Murphy then giving him a serious look. "Especially about you. Take my advice as repayment... let someone in. It dosen't matter what you are, It matters who you are." With that said Murphy tipped his hat and rode on.

"Sound advice D." The Parasite spoke up after Murphy was about a yard down the road. "I say you should take it."

D ignored his friend's comment. His mind was on what Murphy said. D knew that they were words that he could not take. D remebered the only woman he got close to, Doris. But D even kept his distance of a romantic relationship with her. She grew old and eventually passed away. D was a loner because he could never grow old with someone, and he could not have childeren that would not have his abilities. D was a Vampeal and no amount of advice was going to change that. D bought a small airmask that covered his mouth and nose to block the scent of the candle. D then mounted his horse and took off to catch Delron.