I'm back! And here's a long chapter!
Disclaimer: I still don't own Yami No Matsuei no matter how much I wish I did...
-Chapter 12-
-Nariko's car-
"Remind me why we're riding in a car." Tatsumi said.
"Because I can't remember where Kisho's house is exactly." Nariko replied.
"So you're not sure where we're going."
"I have a good idea, but I'd rather not teleport and end up stuck in some wall."
"Great…" Tatsumi sighed.
The car got quiet.
"Now would be a good time for me to answer any questions you may have about all of this. I believe Damian filled you in on some things, but now's your chance." Nariko said.
At this point Nariko was driving Tatsumi up some mountain. She thought driving would be better, and that way she could talk to Tatsumi, not that she would tell him that last part. The guy seemed too uptight.
"Why are you helping us? It's seems strange for you to get involved in a war that you weren't originally a part of."
"I was a part of the war, all vampires are. I just decided not to participate. The result of the battle directly impacts me and my fledglings, so in a way I'm still I the war." Nariko replied.
"But why are you helping us?"
Nariko sighed. "It's complicated. Damian changed Ryu, who feeds off of Kuri. I changed Damian, not to mention he's my favorite fledgling. Ryu needed Damian's help, so he brought them to me. From there I made a deal with them- if each of them made a promise to me I would help them and they all held up their end so I'm doing the same."
"Alright… But why do so much, as to enter the battle?"
"Because of Kuri's powers, they could make it so Kiyoshi won and if that were to happen the vampire race would be doomed."
"Sorry if that doesn't seem that horrible to me." Tatsumi said.
"That's the way most people think, but in reality society wouldn't be able to function without us." Nariko said with a smirk.
"How so?" Tatsumi asked confused.
"Once you've been around as long as we have you learn a few business tricks. Most of our kind are involved in business, a few in politics, and some do smaller jobs. After a few decades, cycles begin to show and we ride them rather well."
"How have you been able to stay hidden for so long? It seems impossible that we haven't heard about you."
"You get very good at hiding and sorry but I'm not going to tell you about how we do it. Remember we aren't exactly allies in most cases."
"Except this one."
"Yes, except this one."
The car fell silent.
"What do you think of our kind Tatsumi-san?" Nariko asked after a while.
"I'm not sure what to say. You seem to be rather powerful, even though I have yet to see this power of yours, but it's there. That and I'm not suppose to piss you off." Tatsumi replied.
Nariko let out a small laugh. "You definitely talked to Damian. Don't worry though. If I ask you then I just want an honest answer."
"That your some sort of monster." Tatsumi replied.
Nariko visibly flinched.
"What is it?" Tatsumi asked.
"I just can't stand that word." Nariko said, staring out the front window.
"Why? You must be use to hearing it."
"I am, it just has a certain meaning to me, that's all. Now tell me…"
"What kind of meaning?" Tatsumi interrupted.
Nariko sighed, "I guess I can tell you, there's no reason to hide it. Actually, maybe you'll understand our kind a little better, at least mine. It was about four hundred years ago…I had just changed Damian, and it was first kill. You have to take a huge amount of blood after you're changed in order to survive, normally killing the person. Well, it was Damian's first kill. It didn't seem to upset him that much but he was really quiet afterwards. We went back to my apartment and I needed to go out and get a few things, so left him alone…"
-Flashback-
-Nariko's point of view-
'I can't believe that neighbor of mine! So what if I get home late! I'm not a kid!'
I get to the door of my apartment and open it, holding my bag of umm… female things… The first thing I notice is that the place is dark. It's strange since Damian normally reads when I'm gone, which brings me to my next question- where's Damian?
I begin to search the house, calling out his name, but there was no answer. I finally reach our bedroom and there's still no sign of him. It's then that I notice a light coming from the bathroom.
'That's where he is.'
I open the door and am greeted by a horrid sight. Damian is lying there, holding one of the kitchen knives. There's blood everywhere, so much that its scares me. It takes a lot to kill a vampire but blood loss can if it's bad enough.
I run over and begin inspecting him, noticing the gaping wounds in his chest and neck. I reach for it but his hand stops me.
"Damian what are you doing?"
He sits up and brings up the knife again. His eyes are glazed over as he raises the knife above his head, about to bring it down. I grab hold of his hand, keeping him from doing it.
"Let go of me!" he says.
"Damian stop this! Don't you know what you're doing!" I yell.
"Trying to die!"
"You can't!"
"Why not! All I have to do is stab myself a few more times."
"Why Damian? Why are you doing this?"
"Because I'm a monster!"
"No you're not!"
"I am! I'm a monster and deserve to die!"
"You can't Damian! I won't let you!" I cry as I pry the knife out of his hands. I finally get it away from him and toss it across the floor.
"Why won't you let me die?" he asks.
I pull him to my chest as he begins to cry.
"I killed that girl! I took her blood and her life!" he cries as he clings to my shirt.
"You had to in order to survive." I tell him, running my hand though his hair.
"That's not a good reason. I should be dead! I should have died instead! I want to die Nariko! Please kill me!" he pleads.
I just shake my head. Maybe I am truly selfish but I can't let him go.
"I can't do that Damian. I love you too much." I say, trying to calm him.
"I'm a monster. A monster… a monster…"
-End Nariko's point of view-
-End flashback-
"There was nothing I could say to convince him other wise. He cried that day, for I don't know how long. We never spoke of the incident again, but it was always there. I knew that Damian wanted to die, and I know he still does, but I can't let go of him yet. I know I'm selfish for it, but I truly love the man. Is that wrong?" she asked Tatsumi.
Tatsumi looked at her- this powerful vampire- as a few tears escaped her eyes.
"There's nothing wrong for wanting to keep someone with you that you love. A similar incident happened in my department not to long ago." Tatsumi replied.
Tatsumi remembered Kyoto - the flames, Touda, and Tsuzuki…- he pulled himself out of his thoughts. He looked over at Nariko, who seemed to be lost in thought.
"So why did you want me to come with you?" Tatsumi asked, trying to change the subject.
Nariko let out a small smile at Tatsumi's attempt and replied "Actually, I wanted you to come because I could sense you're powerful. I'm not up to par, and I needed a powerful presence to help intimidate my brother. That, and I didn't want you to feel left out from everything that's going on."
Tatsumi was confused.
"Everyone is going to have their role to play in this Tatsumi-san. You'll find out yours soon enough." she said.
Tatsumi was about to ask another question when the car came to a stop.
"We're here." Nariko announced, getting out of the car.
Tatsumi got out and noticed a rather large cabin, built into the side of the mountain. It was massive, with two chimneys letting out wave after wave of smoke. The windows covered more of the house than the wood. Tatsumi was suspicious.
"You knew exactly where this was didn't you?" he said accusingly.
"Yes I did." Nariko replied.
"Then why didn't we just teleport and save time?"
"Because we wouldn't have had time to talk." was the simple reply.
Tatsumi stood there in shock. This girl wanted to talk with him and that's why they didn't teleport? Strange girl.
"You coming Tatsumi-san?" he heard. He looked up and noticed that Nariko was at the door to the place, he quickly went to join her.
Nariko knocked on the door and waited. The door opened to reveal a woman with long black hair. She must have been around thirty, but her green eyes held such youth in them, they were left wondering.
"Who are you and what's your business here?" she asked.
"I'm Nariko and this is Tatsumi. We're here to see Kisho." Nariko said to the woman.
"The master is very busy." she replied.
"Tell him if he doesn't get his ass out here that I'm coming in whether he likes it or not." Nariko replied sternly.
Tatsumi was confused by this. One minute Nariko was this nice and calm person, the next she was the vampire she truly was, strong and forceful.
"I'll go and tell him. Have a seat while you wait please." the woman said as she opened the door for them.
"Thank you" Nariko replied.
The woman led them into a lavish room. There was a enormous fire place, with a embroidered rug in front of it. The walls were covered with animal heads. Nariko sat down on one of the couches and motioned for Tatsumi to join her. Tatsumi sat down, keeping a small distance between them.
"The master is on his way." The woman said as she entered the room.
"Thank you." Nariko replied. They waited in silence.
All of a sudden a door opened on the other side of the room. Out of it came a man, who appeared to be about thirty. He had long blonde hair, that was pulled back. His face was sharp and rigid, accenting his stern blue eyes. The man walked with confidence, wearing a simple black suit that seemed to stick to his well toned body. He seemed to posses an air of arigance.
"Nariko, it's been a while." he said.
"Same to you Kisho." she replied standing up.
"I take it this isn't a social call." Kisho said.
"Of course. You honestly think I'd be here if I didn't have to be." was Nariko's reply.
"So what brings you to my home?"
"I'm here to ask for your help in the upcoming battle." Nariko said.
"I thought that you weren't going to be participating." Kisho stated haughtingly.
"Things change. So will you help me or not?" Nariko asked, getting right to the point.
"In a moment. Who is this you've brought with you?" Kisho asked, moving so he was standing in front of Tatsumi.
"My name is Tatsumi." Tatsumi said.
"Tatsumi hu? Why are you here?" he asked, circling around him.
"I'm here to provide Nariko-san with any assistance that she may want." Tatsumi replied, choosing his words carefully.
"Good answer, but still why would I help either of you with a battle that doesn't concern me." Kisho said walking away to stand in front of the fireplace.
"I was under the impression that all vampires were impacted by the war." Tatsumi said.
"That's true to some degree, but it doesn't matter to me who wins. I'll be fine in the end."
"Even if Kiyoshi has an incredibly powerful empath and telepath working for him. Not to mention all the people he's been changing." Nariko said harshly.
Kisho stopped for a moment before turning and looking at Nariko. "What did you say?"
"You heard me. And I think you know what I'm inferring. " Nariko replied.
"And what would that be?" Tatsumi asked.
"A battle between humans and vampires." Kisho replied.
"Exactly." Nariko confirmed.
"What?" Tatsumi stuttered out.
"Just what Kisho said. Kiyoshi believes that vampires are the dominant species and that we shouldn't have to hide ourselves from the rest of the world. If he wins there will be a war between humans and vampires, and believe me the vampires will win." Nariko replied.
"There's no way. That can't happen." Tatsumi managed to get out.
"It can and will happen if Kiyoshi gets control of all the vampires. That and everyone who opposes him will die as well." Nariko said. "So will you help us Kisho?"
"I don't know. If Kiyoshi wins and finds out I was helping you I'd be killed. What do you have to offer to ensure that you'll win?" Kisho asked.
"I will use all of my fledglings, you know that they are older and more powerful than any of Kiyoshi's younglings. With that I will be fighting along with Tatsumi here." Nariko answered.
"Anything else?"
"I have just turned the most powerful guardian of death into a vampire. Is that sufficient for you?" Nariko said.
"No way! You were able to do that! You haven't changed anyone in years. Your blood in combination would be incredible, if the person knew how to use it." Kisho said.
"Give me three days and we'll be ready. Can you have your men at my home in three days?" Nariko asked.
Kisho thought for a moment, and Nariko and Tatsumi actually thought he would turn them down, but Tatsumi spoke.
"I know that I may not know everything that's going on here but I can say this much - I know people on both sides, friends who were changed by Kiyoshi by force. I will do anything I can to get them back and to defeat Kiyoshi. Tsuzuki- the most powerful guardian of death- his lover has been captured by Kiyoshi and he will fight with all his heart to win this battle. I just needed to ensure you that we will all be fighting our hardest to defeat Kiyoshi." Tatsumi said.
"Nice…" was Nariko response to Tatsumi's words.
"So what do you say?" Tatsumi asked Kisho.
"Fine. My men will ne there in three days. I'll send my strongest and tell them to fight with you. I may be a bit of a coward, but I'm not stupid. Kiyoshi winning would be disastrous. If that is all you require you may leave as I now have work to do." Kisho said.
"Thank you Kisho, I mean it." Nariko said bowing to him before turning to leave.
Tatsumi bowed as well, and together they left the house.
"That coward... He could fight with us, you know. Arg! Oh well... at least he's going to give us some of his men." Nariko said.
They reached the car. Tatsumi was about to get in when he felt a hand on his shoulder
"Let's teleport back." Nariko said.
"What about the car?" Tatsumi asked, staring at the red sports car.
"It's coming with us." Nariko replied, placing her other hand on the car.
Tatsumi was confused until he felt himself teleporting. He reappeared in Nariko's living room, and Nariko appeared a moment later.
"So how'd it go?" Damian asked.
"Kisho's going to help us." Nariko replied. "Where's Tsuzuki?"
"Still sleeping, you better go and have a look." Watari said.
Nariko decided to go and head into the lab to take a look at Tsuzuki and see if he was now a vampire.
-End chapter 12-
Wow… that took forever… This is defiantly one of my longer chapters. Thanks for reading and please review! The next chapter Tsuzuki wakens and begins his training, but hey he has three days… Please review!