Just so you know there's going to be a flashbacks and they will be italicized.
-Chapter 11-
-Ryu's point of view-
Damn!
Damn it all while I'm at it!
-Flashback-
"How could you do this! How could you kill all those innocent girls? Why? Why did you do it? Why are you here?" Tsuzuki said, nearly in tears.
"I already said we have a job to do." Kuri replied slightly annoyed.
"What kind of job? What's happened to you?" Ryu asked desperately.
"Poor Ryu, so confused. You must realize by now that things have changed. I'm not the Kuri you thought you knew."
"What do you mean?" Ryu asked.
Muraki laughed. "Why don't you tell him everything my dear?" he said to Kuri with a smile.
"Of course. You see I never really loved you. No, you were merely someone I could cling to, to use to replace the man I lost all those years ago. Do you want to know why I would vanish for days at a time? Because I was out looking for Kiyoshi. I wanted to get my revenge more than be with you. Did you ever consider that? Or that you were hurting me when you took my blood?"
Ryu froze.
"What's she talking about Ryu?" Tsuzuki asked.
"I'm..." Ryu started.
"Oh, he hasn't told you. He's a vampire just like the rest of them. He's been one ever since he was changed by Damian on that fateful day. It's an incomplete transformation since he's already dead, but he still needs blood once a month, my blood." Kuri replied.
-End Flashback-
I can't believe all of this is happening. It's true that I take Kuri's blood, but that was her choice. She could have left me that day, but she offered me her blood instead. She could have left me at anytime, I wasn't forcing her to stay, so then why? Why did she say all those things?
She must have been lying.
"Of course. You see I never really loved you. No, you were merely someone I could cling to, to use to replace the man I lost all those years ago. Do you want to know why I would vanish for days at a time? Because I was out looking for Kiyoshi. I wanted to get my revenge more than be with you. Did you ever consider that?"
Yes I considered that. In the back of my mind I always had doubts from when you told me about your first love, but I thought I moved past them, that we moved past them… I thought that maybe you were able to let go enough, not all the way but enough. I thought that you had come to love me instead, that I had filled that place in your heart. Maybe I was wrong…
"Or that you were hurting me when you took my blood?"
I knew I was hurting her when I took her blood but it was still her choice. I never wanted to hurt her and did my best, but I was never taught how to feed so that the experience wasn't completely pain free. But I did my best! I never meant to hurt her.
How did things come to this?
And now she's one of us. The one person that I never wanted to live this life has become a true vampire. And not only that but she was changed by Kiyoshi- the person we are fighting against. She's fighting against us, against me.
Why did all this have to happen?
Why?
Why?
-End Ryu's point of view-
-Nariko's living room-
"How long has he been in there?" Tatsumi asked, motioning towards Nariko's bedroom door.
"I have no idea. The only time he left was when Nariko through him out. After that he went back in once she left. I don't think he has spoken since then." Damian replied.
"Should someone go and talk to him?" Tatsumi asked.
"He needs to be alone right now to think things through. Kuri said a lot of things that must be plaguing his mind." Nariko replied.
"Besides out of sorrow comes anger, and that will cause him to focus on his vampire blood. He'll need to be as powerful as possible for the battle. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise." Damian said.
"How can you say that!?! The man has been hurt and all you can say is maybe it was for the best! Don't you have any feelings at all!" Tatsumi said enraged.
"Think about this logically Tatsumi-san. We all would like to live to see the end of this battle. And inorder for that to happen we must be at our maximum potential." Damian replied calmly.
"What the hell!" Tatsumi started when the door opened and Watari and Tsuzuki came out.
"Well?" Nariko asked.
"I need you to see something Nariko." Watari said as Tsuzuki went over to join the group.
Nariko stood up to follow Watari into the lab, as Tsuzuki tried to calm the still angry Tatsumi.
-The Lab-
"What did you want me to see?" Nariko asked, following the strangely quiet scientist through a maze of equipment.
"You'll see." was the reply as he continued walking.
Watari came to a stop in front of a microscope. "Look at this" he said.
Nariko looked down in the microscope and saw a cluster of cells. "So… what's the problem?" she asked.
Watari produced a dropper and began to explain.
"This is Tsuzuki's blood you are seeing. When I introduce your blood into his this happens." he said as he squirted Nariko's blood onto the plate.
Nariko was still confused until Watari began to speak again. "When your blood comes in contact with Tsuzuki's his blood cells at first change and adapt, but then they begin to destroy your blood cells, but it's a slow process, it would take about a day."
"So your saying that Tsuzuki will only be a vampire for a day if I change him?" Nariko asked, shifting so she was standing upright.
"Exactly" was the reply.
"So everyday I will have to give him more of my blood to maintain the transformation?" she asked.
"I suppose but then again I've never even met a vampire before, let alone know exactly how their blood reacts." Watari replied.
"Thanks. Can you go and send Tsuzuki in for me?" she asked.
"Sure" was the reply as Watari left the room.
Tsuzuki entered a moment later and walked over so her was standing in front of Nariko.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked.
"Yes Tsuzuki. I wanted to ask you one last time- Do you still want me to change you? According to Watari I can but it's still your decision. Think about it." she said.
Tsuzuki thought and Thought… and thought…
Finally he replied "Yes. I want you to change me."
No other words were said. Nariko rose and moved swiftly over so she was behind Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki didn't flinch as he felt her lips on his skin and her teeth as they slowly bit down on his soft flesh. He wouldn't flinch, he would do this without regret, this was for Hisoka.
Nariko pulled at Tsuzuki's mind, slowly relaxing him as she began to drain him. She was confused for a moment. Tsuzuki's blood tasted different than other guardians, granted everyone has their own taste, but this was different. She couldn't quite figure it out, but something was different. But now was not the time to think about that, she had work to do.
She continued to suck at Tsuzuki's life essence until she reached the point between life and death. The line is very narrow and she had to be careful so that she didn't kill Tsuzuki. She pulled away, hoping that Tsuzuki was still conscious, luckily he was.
She brought her wrist up to her mouth and tore open the soft flesh with her teeth. She brought her wrist up to Tsuzuki's mouth and pushed it against his lips. Tsuzuki seemed to understand as his lips latched onto her wrist and he drank. Instinct took over as Tsuzuki's began to drain Nariko.
Mariko held on as Tsuzuki continued to drink. Of course there are risks for the person being changed but there are also risks for the changer. If Tsuzuki drank too much she could die, once again it was a fine line. Nariko focused, waiting to reach that line.
The time was fast approaching when she'd have to separate from Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki was lost in his blood lust, as most new vampires are, and had no control over himself as he drank. He all of a sudden felt hands on his shoulders but he fought them.
Nariko tried to push Tsuzuki away but the man was rather big, and her strength was drained. She quickly mentally called out to Damian as she began to loose consciousness.
Damian sprinted into the room and rushed over to Tsuzuki and Nariko. He pried Tsuzuki off of Nariko as Nariko collapsed. Tsuzuki looked stunned, horrified even as Nariko went limp in Damian's arms. He began to tremble…
"I didn't mean to… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." Tsuzuki whimpered, afraid he had seriously hurt Nariko.
"Don't worry about it Tsuzuki. She just lost a little more blood than normal. She'll be fine after a short rest. Now lets get her out of here and get you cleaned up." Damian said standing up, cradling the uncurious Nariko in his arms.
Tsuzuki followed Damian out of the lab and into the living room. Damian laid Nariko on the bed, giving her a kiss before showing Tsuzuki to the bathroom. Tatsumi and Watari watched the whole thing.
Once Tsuzuki came out with Damian Watari asked "So… how is it?"
"I don't really feel any different." Tsuzuki replied.
"You won't yet, first you have to actually change." Damian said.
"What do you mean?" Tsuzuki asked.
"Nariko's blood hasn't taken effect yet it should anytime now and you'll probably pass out as well." Damian replied.
"Seriously?" Watari asked.
"Yes. Actually right… about… now."
THUMP!!!
"Told you."
"You're good." Watari said.
"Someone want to help me move him?" Damian said trying to lift the now unconscious Tsuzuki.
Tatsumi went over to help and together they put Tsuzuki into one of the guest rooms. Once they came back they noticed Nariko was awake.
"Is he out yet?" she asked.
"You just missed him." Damian replied.
"Since that's the case I better get going." she said standing up.
"You just woke up and you need some more rest. And where are you going?" Damian asked.
"I'm going to go and see Kisho Shijo." she replied.
"Who's that?" Watari asked confused.
"That's my other brother. I need to see if he'll be willing to help us in the upcoming battle." she replied.
"You still shouldn't go right now. You're still to weak." Damian pointed out.
"That's why Tatsumi will come with me." she replied.
"WHAT!!!" was the collective response.
"Yep." was all she said.
"Me? Why?" Tatsumi asked.
"Well… I need Damian here to watch Tsuzuki while I'm gone and for Watari to monitor Tsuzuki for me, Ryu is of no use yet and you're free. So will you come with me?" was her response.
"Ummm…"
"Go one Tatsumi. We can take of things here." Watari said confidently.
"It would be good for you to go. Nariko will have time to explain anything you want to know. And you two can bond. So how bout it?" Damian asked.
Tatsumi hesitated for a moment be fore saying "Fine I'll go."
"Yea! Now lets get going." Nariko said walking towards the front door. "Come on Tatsumi."
Tatsumi stood and followed Nariko, wondering what he's gotten himself into.
-End chapter 11-
Thanks for reading. Sorry that things are taking a while but a lot has to happen before the battle. The next chapter is going to focus on Tatsumi and Nariko and Kisho. Please review! I will love you if you do! Please!!!!