Chapter Eighteen – Hunter Brown

"Please, take good care of him." John instructed with a smile as he handed James over to the Father. It was his first night as a fully-fledged hunter, and the road was no place for a child. Besides, he couldn't sense Lord Farringdon anywhere nearby, so perhaps he could leave his son here anonymously. And if anything happens to me before I get hold of that monster perhaps he can grow up and live in happiness…John prayed silently as he drew back, stroking the baby's soft forehead as he slept soundly.

"Of course Father Brown, but are you sure you want to leave him like this? With no knowledge of who you are or where you come from?" The old man asked, though it wasn't unusual for parents to leave their children in his care. Many abandoned them for good.

"Yes. You must promise me! I may come back…someday, but until then please!" John replied urgently, the older man nodding, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening as he looked down at the child gravely. John smiled in response, leaning down to place one final kiss on James' cheek, the small bundle wriggling as he awoke and tried to reach through the white blanket to grab his father.

"Not this time little one…You be good, okay?" John said with forced cheer as he drew back, the baby crying as he tried to reach for John again. "I'll be going now." The blonde said as he nodded to the old father, who nodded back and watched from the worn stone doorway of the old church as John walked away. As he left many of the children playing outside called and waved goodbye to the young Father, who put on a façade of false cheer as he waved back.

"Your business is concluded?" Toga asked as John climbed into the truck, the blonde nodding his response silently as the older man pulled away. He was unable to both look at the young Father and watch the road at the same time, but he knew it had been a hard goodbye. Perhaps this boy's tragedy and determination were the things that first drew him. He was bitterer than Zero had been. And with good reason…It's a loss we both share…

"Where are we going?" John asked finally as his eyes drifted across the farmland, knowing they would end once they reached the landing strip.

"You're going to meet your new partner." Toga announced, cursing his missing eye. He wanted to see John's reaction to the news that they wouldn't be travelling together. It wasn't something they'd discussed, so it would be logical for John to assume they'd be working together.

"Who will that be Mr Yagari?" John asked, sounding almost disinterested. The older man wondered if he should say anything. After all, John was still raw from his encounter with Lord Farringdon. He didn't want the younger boy flying off the handle about his new partner being a vampire. If anyone can calm him it'll be that Ichijou boy. Toga thought with an inward shiver, picturing the eerily kind blonde vampire boy.

They drove silently, Toga noticing that John had fallen asleep in the passenger seat from the light sound of his breathing. He had worked with John for months, and only recalled having seen him sleep once or twice. It was a rare thing to be able to sleep on the job, and off it in John's case. It was a horrific thing to lose someone like that, and still so young too.

"Hey, sleepyhead, wake up." Toga ordered as he shoved John's shoulder, the blonde boy opening his eyes groggily. The sapphire orbs still looked slightly dead. It'll be a long time before that look will leave his face…Looking outside John found that he was indeed at the landing strip, and a private plane was waiting to take him to Japan. "Your partner's inside, and remember he's been chosen for you with good reason. Don't judge him straight off." The black haired man cautioned as he pulled a packet of cigarettes from his inside pocket.

John nodded cluelessly and climbed out, grabbing his bag from the back seat before walking towards the plane without a backwards glance. He had never been in a plane before. When he'd travelled to Italy he'd gone by ship and train. He was already wary as he climbed the steps up to the aircraft, curious to find all the window shades pulled down.

"You must be Mr Brown." A kind voice greeted, just a hint of Japanese accent in his English speaking tone. John turned with a start as the young teen spoke, at least he looked like a young teen. John had no way of knowing how old the creature really was. He'd noticed that sickening smell straight away, his jaw tightening as he all but glared at the vampire. "I'm your partner, Ichijou…" The vampire trailed off, looking almost sheepishly apologetic.

"What?" John demanded, hoping that he'd misheard as he turned to look back outside, but the truck was already gone. Not one for explanations that one…He thought, feeling slightly betrayed by his trainer. He had never dreamed that the hunters would keep pet vampires.

"Toga said you may react in this way…" Ichijou added sheepishly as the hatch was closed by the pilot. A human John noted in relief. He remained standing a few feet from the vampire, who sat elegantly with his legs crossed. "Please take a seat. We'll be taking off soon." He added with a charming smile, John noticing the increased pheromones in the air. He's trying to charm me! John thought as he held a sleeve over his nose and mouth,

"Stop that." John ordered, Ichijou looking sheepish as he drew back apologetically.

"I only meant to calm you." He added defensively as John sat in the seat across from him and slumped close to the window, his hand reaching to raise the shutter. "I would really rather you didn't…" Ichijou trailed off awkwardly, almost hissing as John raised the shutter to look outside. He really is quite beautiful…but then I suppose all vampires are in human form…John thought as he watched Ichijou rubbing his now sore eyes, desperately squinting against the blinding light. John lowered the blind slightly in compromise, leaving it half open so that he could look out, but the light was no longer in Ichijou's face. "Thank you…" The vampire murmured lightly.

"Why a vampire?" John demanded, hoping that Ichijou would have the answer to his question. The blonde boy shrugged innocently as he re-crossed his legs, his blue eyes shifting slightly.

"They thought it best…We don't want your only impression of us to come from Lord Farringdon…Needless to say he doesn't represent all of us." Ichijou replied earnestly, his eyes reddening slightly as he thought of that Lord. They had hunted him for years, ever since his wife had been killed. Her death had driven him mad. Ichijou couldn't blame him for feeling that grief. Noble vampires were bonded for life, and one rarely outlived their mate, but the way he had handled it was…Shameful.

"And why you?" John added suspiciously, the younger looking boy almost grinning at that.

"It was our abilities and temperaments actually. They believed we would complement each other." Ichijou replied with a beaming smile, John flushing slightly. Surely males of any species shouldn't look that pretty!


John stepped back into nothingness and fell, the rope slipping through his hand as he zipped through the air. He looked above expectantly as the crazed being came into view and dove after him, swiftly overtaking him to fall on the ground four storeys below, but it didn't die. It landed on its feet. John watched its red eyes glow as it looked up triumphantly with its teeth bared. I'm not through yet! John thought, his blue eyes narrowing as he slowed his descent with a squeeze of the line.

John unclipped the harness as he approached the ground and fell into a roll, spinning up to his feet while reaching for one of the silver cross daggers on his belt. The creature was already bounding towards him on all fours, more like a cat than something that had once been human. John crouched slightly and waited, twisting as it reached him to let it fall across his left side. Sharp teeth snapped beside his ear with a clack. John raised his leg and kicked the creature forward, watching it stumble and fall before clawing its way up again.

"Come on…That's it…" John encouraged quietly as he waited for it to make its second, and fatal, leap. The creature leapt, fully expecting John to dodge, but the boy stood firm. The creature watched with wide eyes as John leaned backwards, barely keeping his balance as the creature flew overhead. With a slight grin, John forced his dagger upwards into the torso above him, falling to his back as the creature's legs went over his head.

From his place on the ground, John stared back at the twitching body, knowing that he hadn't caught the heart. The body would already be dissolving into dust if he'd struck it. Rolling to his side John started pushing himself up, reaching for a second dagger as he watched the creature try to force itself up. The wound was bad. It would need a lot of blood to heal it, but that wasn't going to happen. John pushed his exhausted legs into a sprint and dove onto the creature's back with a roar, forcing a second dagger through its spine. Blood poured out as a black stain appeared on the dark khaki shirt the human had been wearing when he'd turned.

"Dear Lord, please guide this lost soul home." John prayed as he closed his eyes, opening them again as the body disintegrated to dust. It was different every time. This time the boy disintegrated with the hair first, the dark brown locks shimmering slightly as they turned into a fine almost silver powder. The head followed, then the torso and legs. The clothes were left behind, John gathering them wordlessly as he got to his feet. "Were you successful Ichijou?" John asked, smelling the vampire before he saw it.

"Indeed, and I see you were too." The blonde replied with a small smile as he watched John wordlessly throw the clothes into a dumpster. He then watched curiously as John gathered some of the dust into a vial and stowed it in his bag. "I don't understand why you do this." Ichijou stated as he handed John the vial he'd collected. John took it and held it up to the moon, looking at the pale silver dust. All that was left of a once human life.

"I plan to take them to a church and have them cleansed…It's the least I can do for them." John replied, the blonde making no comment. Many of the vampires were Japanese, and therefore likely Buddhist or agnostic, perhaps even atheist. Best let him do as he pleases though…It helps him cope…Ichijou thought worriedly as he looked at the boy's drawn face. It was hard to believe that he was only sixteen, approaching seventeen. He would probably regain his looks with rest, but after three months on the road John looked positively drawn.

"Please rest tonight." Ichijou said softly as he laid a hand on John's shoulder, the boy all but slumping into the touch. "You're exhausted." The blonde added as he gathered John into his arms, despite the boy being very slightly larger in build. John said nothing in response as he leaned his head on Ichijou's shoulder, his energy gone now the fight was over. Ichijou carried him back to the van and put him in the back, climbing in after him to sit down and rest before they moved on. "We're getting closer." He said finally.

"Not close enough." John replied from his place on the mattress in the back, his head resting on the pillow with a blanket tossed at his feet. Ichijou said nothing as he watched John stare at the roof of the van, trying not to fall to sleep. He did it every night, and usually succeeded. Closing his eyes, Ichijou released some of his power, as subtly as possible, like two soft caressing hands reaching out to stroke John's cheek and soothe him. "Bastard." John breathed as his eyes began to close, Ichijou smiling softly as he crawled closer to look down at the boy.

Ichijou leaned down and nuzzled John's neck, letting his hand run down John's cheek, his throat and then his slightly curved waist. He could feel strong muscles beneath his tight bloodied black top. He felt one of John's hands pushing his shoulder back weakly and grabbed it in a soft caress. He raised it to his lips and kissed it very softly, his tongue licking off a small trail of blood. It wasn't John's blood. It was tainted by vampirism, but it was still blood.

"Stop it." John sighed as he tried to pull back at the sensation of Ichijou's tongue running further up his arm. At John's words Ichijou paused, leaning in to lick a spot of the hunter's cheek. The boy stared up at him, tired and wary.

"Just cleaning up." Ichijou excused, his blue eyes tinted with red as he reached for the edge of John's top, gently pulling it up until he had it over the boy's head. His hands were extraordinarily gentle as he eased John down again. John fell asleep as Ichijou reached down and unbuckled his belt, pulling off the heavy leather with great care. The silver daggers would burn his skin if he touched them. He'd learned that the hard way.

"Jemima…" John muttered in his sleep, Ichijou lowering the belt to the metal floor before lying down beside the human boy. He leaned down to place a small kiss on the boy's pale cheek. His hand caressed the innocent skin of his throat, his lips brushing John's ear as he leaned closer.

"Right here…I'm right here…" Ichijou lied in a gentle whisper, feeling John relax slightly beside him. It was a trick he'd used more than once. He wasn't sure whether it melded into John's dreams or whether the boy convinced himself Jemima was there. Whatever the case John looked peaceful for the time being. Ichijou settled down with a sigh and stared at John's tired but peaceful face. "What am I going to do with you?" He sighed fondly, getting no form of response.


"I will find your son, and when I do I will make sure his demise is much more painful than yours." Lord Farringdon swore gleefully as he looked down at John. The blonde clutched the wound in his stomach tightly, a trickle of blood running down from the corner of his mouth. John shook with desperation at those words, knowing he had to climb to his feet.

"Wrong." John said shakily as he forced himself up, hearing the blood from his wound splash on the stone floor with a sickening sound. Lord Farringdon looked on in amusement as John stared up at him with pure hatred. "This ends with the two of us. I won't let it continue!" He added in determination as he reached for the holy water in a small silver flask at his hip. His hand shook as he gripped it with a bloodied hand.

"Funny, that's precisely what your grandfather said as I killed him…It must run in the family." The pure blood joked to himself as he walked calmly towards John, pulling the sword out of his fine walking cane. There wasn't a speck of blood on his dark velvet clothing, something he prided himself on. John roared as he threw his arm out, watching the water splash towards the surprised Lord. The vampire screamed in pain as the water caught his cheek and started burning his skin.

"John!" Ichijou cried as he pushed the Lord aside, the stronger vampire turning in fury as the blonde vampire shielded the human boy from harm. The Lord straightened himself, keeping one hand over the burnt side of his face. It was still burning, and would continue to eat away at him until he washed it off.

"I will retreat for now…I won't risk angering your grandfather by killing you." He added to Ichijou, who looked up in surprise. He knew Lord Farringdon had once been part of their society, but not that he'd been in contact with his grandfather and the other council members. Perhaps he should have. The man was a pureblood after all. "John Brown I promise you this, when next we meet one of us shall die!" The Lord swore, John nodding his agreement with a curt nod. I'll look forward to it…

The Lord vanished from sight, taking his huge presence with him. John fell to his knees immediately afterwards. Ichijou cried out as he knelt beside his friend, clutching John's shoulders as he looked him over, noticing the bleeding wound in his torso. Laying John back on the floor of the gallery Ichijou ripped the tight top open. John cried out in agony as the vampire probed the deep wound. It had been a thrust from the cane, not wide, but deep.

"I knew I should have kept an eye on you!" Ichijou cursed as he bit the inside of his mouth and leaned forward. John tried to push him back as he lowered his mouth towards the wound. "My blood won't turn you, and he didn't bite you…This will only heal your wound." He assured lightly. John's struggles lessened, though whether from trust or blood loss Ichijou couldn't say. He ran his tongue along the deep wound, his eyes glowing red as he swirled his tongue in the gash, hearing John grimace at the burning pain.

As Ichijou cleaned the wound his own blood flowed into it, knitting the damaged cells back together both inside and out. John passed out at some point, Ichijou only pulling back once the skin had fully sealed on the outside, though the damage inside would take longer to repair. Ichijou cradled John to his chest protectively, determined that when they did meet again it wouldn't be John who died.