Chapter 5: Love and Uncertainty

Mikhols POV

He couldn't believe he'd actually just done that. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he would have the courage to kiss her, let alone claim her as his own. Some how he knew she understod and felt the same way as he did, and his heart lept with joy that they could finally be the way they wanted to be around each other. There would be no more hiding their true feelings.

A faint cry filled their ears as they seperated. He looked down at her and couldn't help but think she was beautiful as a light blush crept its way across her cheeks. She let out a tinkling laugh as he said, " That must be Maey. " He saw her roll her eyes at they obious statement and he laughed with her. The heat of her body left him then, and he was dissapointed, but he followed after her to help attend Maey.

His eyes roamed over her figure once more as she gathered the basket that held the fish. " Lauron, you may wear my shirt if you like, its more than enough to cover you. " She shrugged at him, as she replied, " Whats the point, we've both seen it all now. " She was blushing and smiling slightly as she looked at him. He had to admit she was right.

As they walked back to camp together, she opened her mouth to speak, but he saw her close it a moment later, seemingly rethinking. Soon enough though he heard the question he knew she would be asking. " Mikhol... does this mean...umm...? " she trailed off, obviously afraid now. He smiled down at her and reached for her hand, stopping her. He pulled her closer to him, resting his chin on her head as she laid it on his shoulder. Then he pulled back, and lovingly kissed the scars that made their way across her forehead. He smiled down at her, gazing into her uncertain eyes, and nodded. She smiled softly at him, accepting his unspoken answer.

In the distance they heard Maey wail louder. He felt her break away, beginning to sprint up ahead, but turned and smiled back at him before continuing ahead. The same smile, he thought to himself, she had given him when they began their journey together. He would miss her human form tomorrow, but perhaps there was a way to make it last longer. He did after all come from a very magically inclined family. His uncle, a very powerful magic user, lived in Japan. He was actually the reason they were heading east. When it had been realised that Maey was a psychic, and a powerful one at that, they had contacted him asking for advice. They had been instucted to travel to his home so that he could examine her properly. They would be entering Osaka soon, within a weeks walk. From there would make their way to Tokyo, where his uncle had taken up residence.

As he caught up with Lauron and entered the campsite, she had already began soothing the distressing Meay. He smiled, this was his family, a makeshift one, but a family none the less. He loved the woman before him with all his heart, and had raised the infant girl since birth. To him they were his wife and daughter, nothing would ever change that. He cherished the feeling of having a family because he had never really had one in his early life, and that made these bonds all the more special. But something was bothering him.

Meay, he had noticed, was changing. Though it wasn't a normal baby growth kind of change, no it was more drastic. Her once relatively tan skin had become a stunning alabaster. Her eyes once a calming shade of ocean blue, were slowly bleeding into the color of quicksilver. The once dark hair atop her head was fading into a paler cream. These changes, he knew, were not normal. Compared to what she had looked like as a newborn, one would think she was entirely diffirent child. Whether Lauron had noticed or not was still a mystery to him. She probably had though, she very observant.

The days passed uneventfully, neither mentioned what had transpired that fateful morning, but they didn't have to. The glances they gave each other told them that they both remembered it and did not regret it. He could never regret it, he had done it out of love and he could never regret love.

But despite these glances, Lauron had been becoming more and more distanced from him. He could tell that she was worried about something. There was also a new scent in the air. Being a vampire granted him an extra strong sense of smell, ideal for searching out living prey. The scent seemed like he should know it, tickling the darkest recesses of his mind. Despite feeling so ancient and primal it seemed new as well, unique with no other example. He pushed it out of his mind, however, when the lights of Osaka came into view.

Meay began to fret as they neared the city. So shifting her into a better postion to see, he gently soothed her. Lauron was a bit agitated today, whatever was bothering her had intensified and she wanted to be left alone with her thoughs, so he let her. Taking complete responsibility of Meay the entire day, not that he minded.

Japan had always held a special place in his heart. He loved the music, the style, and food, everything! Lauron, however seemed uncomfortable in all the noise and crowds. No worres, they would be gone as soon as they bought her a new outfit. She had been in her human form the entire week. He was surprised but glad, and he suspected that it was part of the reason she was fretting so much lately.

When they entered the large mall, she headed straight for " Gothica ", a store that specialized in dark combatant clothing. Repostioning Meay again he grabbed for her hand, and shook his head in a gentle no. He tugged on her wrists and lead her to a store apptly named " Summer Style ". He saw her cringe as he led her to the dresses lined up against one wall, but he smiled reassuringly and took one off the hook for her. She glared at him, but he simply smiled at her.

When she stepped out of the changing room, he was nearly floored by the dramatic transformation one dress could bring. Gone were her usual dusty black pants and T-shirt, replaced with a sunshine yellow halter top dress with a shining silver buckle around the waist. It contrasted beautifully with her pale skin and dark eyes and hair. She looked at him shyly, asking, he knew, for approval. He smiled and nodded vigorously as he exclaimed, " You look absolutely beautiful! ". She smiled again and went to pay for the dress and a matching pair of stilettoes.

As they made their way down the aisles of other stores, he was noticing that it wasn't only his attention she was drawing. Many men, young and old, were noticing her too. This drew out his possessive side, and to ward them off, he wrapped an arm around her waist. He heard her giggle at this gesture, he was glad, maybe she would cheer up a little now.

They stopped in a baby store as well. Meay needed some new clothes, he knew. After a few minutes of looking, she had picked out a small outfit for her, consisting of a pair of red checkered shorts and a small button up shirt decorated with ladybugs. He had picked up a small dress for her. It was a soft pink, with vines winding up the sides sporting a blue flower every now and then along its length. He also saw her slip a small patel green onesie and a pair of tiny booties of matching color to the cashier. He thought they looked much to small for Meay, almost newborn sized, but she knew Meays size better than he did so he didn't mention it.

Soon after finishing in the baby store he snuck off, to do his own shopping. He entered a jewelry store first. First he needed to find her a necklace to match her new dress. He knew that she secretly loved jewelry. Not that she'd ever admit it, but he'd seen her staring longingly at the jewlery cases in any stores they visited. After a few minutes of looking he found the perfect piece. It was a small heart shaped yellow stone surrounded by smaller clear stones, threaded on a delicate silver chain. Now that he had found that, he was onto his next task. A set of rings.

Later, as he was signing them into their hotel, she noticed Meays changes. When they were in their room she began her fretting. " Mikhol, when did you first notice this? Why didn't you tell me? ". He sighed, but said, " Because I didn't want to worry you more, I know how you get. " She glared as she stalked over to his side of the room. " Of course I would! This isn't normal and I've never delt with an infant psychic, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do! ". It was with that, that she began to break down and cry.

Never before had she cried infront of him, he had no idea what to do. " Hey! Its ok, I don't either, don't feel bad. Meay will be fine, I'm sure my uncle knows whats happening. " She continued to sob before she finally whispered, " Thats not the only thing I'm worried about." Despite his questioning further, she would say no more.