Yugi: We are now done with 'Hunted'.
This was fun to write despite a few times where I lost inspiration and motivation.
Heba: *Peeks from behind Yugi* Please forgive me for anything that I did to to the others. I wasn't myself.
You're fine, Heba.
Yugi looked at the pile of papers that Atem put in front of him, "What's all this for?"
"You were the party responsible for capturing Dartz," his brother answered. "Since the A.C.T.s are currently still under investigation, the Arctic Recovery Team is backlogged with their records. We need to fill this all out properly to ensure that Dartz is taken and properly 'filed' away in one of the Arctic Facilities for Dangerous Supernaturals."
"What about Heba," Yugi asked with concern.
"Since we have documented proof that he was being controlled by his captor and apparent sire, Heba will have to undergo a series of observations to prove that he's no longer under the control of Dartz and that he's acting of his own will."
"Can we at least introduce him to modern stuff slowly?"
Atem nodded as he remembered Heba's reaction to the television set.
***Flashback***
"What is this contraption for," Heba asked, pointing to the television set.
Joey looked, "That's the TV. We watch stuff on it when we're not on missions."
Heba watched in shock as the first thing on the set was a scene that was well familiar to Yugi. The ancient boy didn't know what to think as he watched the male fighting another person wearing all black. The black-clad figure sliced through the young man's arm, severing his hand. "Somebody help that man before the fiend kills him," Heba cried out. "We must find him!"
"It's not real Heba," Yugi said as he tried to calm him. "It's what we call a science fiction movie. It's kind of like the shows that were performed before your father. The only difference is that where the actors were different whenever it was done at a different time, the people are the same because someone else saved it for others to watch whenever they want."
***End of Flashback***
"Yeah, we should slowly ease him into modern life," Atem agreed.
Heba lay curled up on the mattress that was given to him by Atem's request. The youth was facing some serious culture shock. All he really wanted in his room at the moment was a simple mattress, some blankets, and a couple of pillows. Being held a prisoner of Dartz for so long had robbed him of experiencing all that the world had to offer. Heba was afraid of technology, didn't how to decipher the books that the library had to offer, and had a hard time dressing in much more than what he grew up wearing.
He had to ask Yugi to help him dress, much to both boys' embarrassment. Deciding that it was safer to remain in one room, Heba hid in the room closest to Yugi's own. He felt a rapport with the smallest Hikari.
A knock from the inside of his closet door pulled Heba from his thoughts. Yugi had opened the secret door and peeked in, "You alright?"
"Everything is so strange to me," Heba sighed sadly. "I barely remember being taken from Father and Brother on a visit to a foreign land. The bandits were attacked shortly after and then I was taken again. Everything afterwards, at least until I woke up next to you, is a blur."
"At least you're with family again. You know, Ryou, Malik, and I were also kidnapped from our homes?"
"What!?"
Yugi nodded sadly, "It's true. The Vampire Lord, Raiden Takeshi, had us stolen from our families nearly twelve years ago. He created us using a combination of his, Angel, and fairy blood. We weren't even completely Human then either. Turns out that we'd already been given Angel blood not long after we were born in an effort to save our lives. Yami's guessing that that's what saved our lives."
"That's terrible," Heba gasped. He looked at Yugi, "So if Raiden was your creator, and not your sire, who are you loyal to?"
"Nobody. Yami and his friends don't require such ties. We are free to do as we please within reason. We stay because alone we are weak, but together we are strong."
Heba nodded. "Did you know that with the capture of Dartz and the destruction of Raiden, there is a slight issue?"
"What's that?"
"You three are the last of Raiden's creations. After his failures to create a breed of superior vampires, he ordered the experiments to stop until you three were captured. Vampire Law states that in the event of the demise of the Vampire Lord and his next in line, the last of his sired or created line is next to rule over the vampires of the land in which the two resided in," Heba explained.
Yugi's eyes went wide in shock, "So what does that mean?"
"Ryou, Malik, and yourself are now the rulers of the vampires of this land."
Everyone was stunned to learn that the Hikaris were the ones in charge of the country's vampire population despite their conditions. With everyone present, the Hikaris drew up a proposal for any and all vampires within their borders. They had even pulled the leader of their country in on the plan.
The declaration was for any vampires to relocate to the mountain regions where monthly deliveries of donated blood would be made to a specific location. Any vampire who refused to peacefully relocate would be captured and taken to the A.R.T facilities for a set period of time before being relocated to an area with little to no human activity. All would be monitored remotely.
If they were caught hunting Humans in that region, the vampire(s) in question would be put down upon capture.
Atemu, Akefia, and Mariku were each granted a seat upon the Supernatural Council as representatives under the Hikaris. There was much argument on the Council's part as they were Daywalkers and the Hikaris were a separate classification of their race. Malik ended that disagreement easily as he threatened to leave their race's place empty thereby leaving a void in the unity of the Sentient Supernaturals.
Ryou offered to make a bi-annual appearance together in order to uphold a balance. The Elvin King announced their acceptance of the terms. Yugi had spread the balance of power between the three branches of vampire the nine of them represented. Atemu was chosen to be the ruler of the Daywalkers with Akefia and Mariku as his council and co-rulers. Heba was picked for the Night-dwellers with Mahaad and Isis by his side. Nobody could designate a single ruler of the Hikaris as they were too unique with there being only three of them in all existence.
Yugi, Atemu, and Heba nominated Angel to be king of the Demonic Vampires with Spike as his second. They were researching for any other sentient vampiric branches.
With so many of the newly-dubbed Supernatural royalty under one roof with a bunch of Human Hunters, their group was given a higher status among other Hunters.
Thank you to all my readers/followers/reviewers! I hope you all enjoyed my birthday gift to you guys. I'm working on an AU for this story too!
Yugi: *Looks at list of things to do* PhantomBrat, don't forget that you have a chapter of 'Haunted' and 'Please Accept Me' to work on for posting today as well as updating 'Free Flight'.
Ryou: Not to mention researching Ghost Towns and checking for birthday freebies in your emails.
Darn! I guess this is the last time we do this for 'Hunted'.
Mokuba: *Watches as Yugi, Ryou, and Malik drag PhantomBrat away* Don't forget to check out her other fanfics! *Turns out light as he leaves* BYE!