Author's Note: Yay, another chapter! School's starting soon, so I won't be able to post as much. Hao is going to be a little OOC, but its cute. This chapter goes out to l2ruly, who has reviewed each of my chapters!

PS: Someone has recently pointed out that it was mean of me to throw in that Jehova's witness comment in the prologue. To anyone who finds that statment offensive, I apologize, but there really are people afraid or freaked out by them.

Disclaimer: Lalala, I can't hear you! (Don't own)

Chapter Four

Mari sunk into the hot spring. Earlier, when she first came to the clan house, she had been adamant against bathing outside. After two weeks, she was less stubborn, but still refused taking a bath in the hotspring. Now, after relentless training (who knew Kanna was such a slave-driver?), she welcomed the chance to relax.

Mm...Mari thinks she likes hotsprings now...Very relaxing...

"Mari? Is that you?"

Mari's head snapped towards the voice, and she relaxed, seeing Opacho.

"Yes, this is Mari."

Opacho eased herself the hotspring (gracefully, unlike Mari) and sighed.

"Man, I've been helping Hao-sama all day! It feels so great to relax!"

Mari nodded, exaiming the rumored favorite of Hao-sama. Opacho had chocolate colored skin, and curly, sproingy (is that even a word? Mari wondered) hair. She appeared to be fourteen.

"Mari has been training," she said, running her fingers through her blonde hair.

"Oh? Oh, that's right! You started training today! How was it?"

"It was easy. Kanna said tommorow, Mari can try 'manipulating humans with words.'"

Opacho nodded. "Ah. You must be very talented."

Mari shook her head. "No, Mari is just lucky."

"Modest, aren't you!" Opacho laughed.

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Why is Opacho-san up so...early?"

"Mm, well, Hao-sama needed my help."

"With what?" Mari asked, curious (against her own wishes).

Opacho froze. "Uh, research and stuff. Nothing else." She laughed nervously.

Why is she nervous?

"Opacho-san..."

"Y-yes?" the other vampire nearly squeaked.

"Why is Opacho-san so mean to Nichrome?"

"What? Why am I so mean to...I'm not mean!" Opacho protested.

Mari shook her head. "Opacho-san is very mean to Nichrome. She yells him, makes him hold all her library books, and throws food at him."

"Oh, that? I only do that because he's like an older brother to me."

"But it's mean. Nichrome can't refuse to help Opacho-san, or stop her from throwing food at him, because Opacho-san is Hao-sama's favorite. Mari must go now," Mari added, grabbing her towl. "Have a good...night?"

"Sorry for leaving you behind, Chuck," Mari said, falling onto her bed. The doll didn't respond (not that Mari expected it to; though after what she's been through, it wouldn't surprise her), and she hugged it tightly. "Mari didn't want to, but Kanna said you had no place in the training area. And Mari couldn't have you getting wet in her bath!"

Mari took the oppurtunity of being alone to examine the room (Kanna and Macchi had decided to go on a walk; they claimed they needed to discuss her training, Mari thought they wanted to figure out the problem of her 'speed-sickness'). The walls were stone (Like everything else in this place, Mari thought), and the window was about seven feet tall, and five feet across. There were three beds (one-person sized, of course), and surrounding the three, over the stone, was a red plush carpet. Next to each bed was a night stand; on Kanna's there was a thick novel, on Macchi's was a pumpkin, and Mari's was empty (that's where Chuck went). Kanna's bed was next to the window, and had a large blue quilt. Macchi's was against the wall, near the door, and Mari's was against the wall farthest from the window. Macchi's bed had orange blankets, with pumpkin patterns on them (Macchi is obssessed with pumpkins!), while Mari's bed had black sheets, and a purple comforter.

"Hmm. Mari is bored. Not even tired," she declared. Quickly tying her hair into pigtails (she hated leaving her hair down; who wanted itchy hair on the back of their neck?), she made sure she had Chuck, and left her room. Walking down the curved staircase (Mari, Macchi, and Kanna lived in a tower) she thought about what she wanted to do.

Mari could go to the kitchen, and get soem food...but she's not very hungry...she could ask Nichrome about that scorpion army...but where is he? Mari could find and annoy Hao, but that would take an effort...That's it! Mari will go to the courtyard and pick flowers! And then she'll make a bouquet, and hang it next to her bed!

Pausing once she got to the main hall, she scanned the doors.

That one goes to the kitchen...that one goes to the training area...ack! Mari forgot how to get to the courtyard! Mari mentally smacked herself (couldn't do it in real life, that would make her seem to have emotions) and sighed.

"What's wrong?" a deep voice asked. Mari turned, and had to force herself not to roll her eyes.

Borris, the man who looked like he came straight out of a 'Dracula' novel (makes sense, Dracula is his ancestor) stood behind her, smirking.

"Mari can't find the courtyard," she finally answered, deciding it would be okay.

"Ah. Would you like me to show you the way?" Borris asked, amused.

"Mari would like that." As much as she'd like you to stop looking stuck up!

"Follow me," he ordered, walking towards a door. Mari ran after him (why do vampires like walking so fast?).

They walked through a few more doors, then they were in the courtyard. There were flowers everywhere. Near the back was a large weeping willow, under which was a stone bench. There was a cherry blossom tree in the left corner, with a large pond underneath.

"It's beautiful," Mari breathed, wandering near the rosebushes.

"Indeed it is. Hao-sama has a deep respect for nature. In fact, he was the one who started this garden, back when there was only him, Opacho-san, and Luchist." Borris explained.

Mari stopped, a shocked look on her face.

The one who attacked Mari, the who turned Mari into a vampire, did all this? She was amazed. Mari had thought Hao was a pompous, cocky bastard (he took her away from her home, what else could she think?), but could there really be more to him?

So? Mari hates him! He took her from her home, against her will! And he wants Mari to respect him! He deserves her hate!

"Th...That's nice," she eventually said. Bending over, she inhaled the scent of roses, and smiled. "Would Mari be able to pick some flowers, for her room?"

"I don't see why not," Borris answered. "You can find your way back, right?" Without waiting for an answer, he spun around, and left.

Mari ignored the Dracula-wanna-be's rudeness, and began choosing her flowers.

Hao sighed. He had been preparing for his fellow clan-leaders visit, and on top of that, making sure Mari progressed in her training. For the girl's first day, she definately showed promise. He paused, noticing Borris walking nearby.

"Borris. What are you doing up so early?" he asked.

"Ah, Hao-sama! I just woke up awhile ago, and when I entered the main hall, I saw the new girl, Mari. She wanted to go to the courtyard, but couldn't find the way, so I helped her."

Hao nodded, and waved the other vampire to continue what he was doing.

Oh, so she let's Borris help her, but she won't let me? That brat! Hao mentally fumed, trying to pretend that it didn't hurt his feelings. He didn't have feelings, and besides, why should Mari letting Borris help her, but ignoring him hurt him? She was just another member of his family. One he was planning on bending to his will (she would respect him!).

The courtyard, huh? Hao switched his course, and walked in the direction Borris came from.

When he came to his destinaton, he scowled. He couldn't see Mari anywhere.

Did she already leave? No, I would have passed her!

He scanned the courtyard, and paused when he looked under the cherry blossom tree. Hao walked over, and shook his head. Leaning against the trunk, holding serveral flowers, was Mari. Her eyes were closed, and her face had a rather sweet expression, much different than her emotionless stare. Unbeknownst to Hao, his motuh had formed a small smile.

He sat down, and started toying with the flowers she had gathered. There were several roses, in various colors, some daffodils, primroses amd tulips. It looked like she had at least one of every flower near her.

"Ma...ma...papa"

Mari's voice startled Hao. He had been so intent on his surroundings that he didn't notice that the girl had started stirring. She moved about, as if caught in a nightmare.

Hao was about to wake her, but her next words surprised him.

"I'll behave, I promise...no...don't...WAIT!" she screamed, waking up. Hao stared at her, shocked that a) she spoke in first person (even if it was a dream) and b) she screamed.

"H-Hao!" she said when she noticed him. Hao decided to ignore her slip. "W-why are you here?"

"No reason. I felt like seeing the flowers." He raised an eyebrow, and looked at the ones surrounding Mari. "Though it seems most of them are here."

"Borris said it'd be okay if Mari picked flowers, so she did!" she snapped, her face turning red.

"It's okay. I was just commenting on the amount you picked."

"O-oh." She looked around, and asked, "Where's Chuck?" She began searching the piles of flowers next to her.

Hao watched her, smirking.

"Where are you?" she moaned.

"Why is that thing so important to you?" he asked. "I remember you held onto it the whole time I attacked you."

"It's Mari's most important possession!" Mari wailed.

"Why? It's old and falling apart. You can always get a better one," Hao froze when Mari turned to glare at him.

She's crying? Why?

"Don't say that! Chuck is Mari's most important thing, the only thing she has to remember her parents with!" she hissed.

Oh. Feeling guilty (he only inuslted the stupid thing! No reason to get so mad!) Hao started rummaging around the flowers. After a few minutes, he found the doll.

"Chuck!" Mari sobbed, hugging the doll as if her life depended on it.

Uhh...Hao thought, wondering what he should do.

"T-thank-you, Hao-sama," she whispered, burying her face in the doll.

Hao ignored the heat rising in his face, and said, "N-no problem."

I will not apologize for insulting her doll, I will not apologize fr insulting her doll, I, Hao-sama, do not apologize!

"Sorry for insulting your doll," he blurted. Damn.

Mai froze. "I-it's okay."

"Do...do you want me to help you carry those flowers back to your room?" Hao asked, ready for Mari to refuse.

"That'd...be nice. Thank-you," she replied.