Happy new year everyone !
Troubles for vampire are not finished yet. And the old vampires aren't what they used to be, according to a certain young one.
Enjoy ^^
During the following days, Ferid remained invisible. Confined in his manor. And when Yuuichiro wanted to visit him, he was repulsed with some aggressiveness. He did not insist and left the noble in peace. Yuu sighed. Akane had left with Mika, Ferid refused to see him, Crowley had left for Nagoya ... he felt suddenly alone. Krul, on her part, should report the airport case. The Queen knew that the Council would not fail to blame her, and even to discover that she had failed in her mission. What to do ? To blame Ferid for everything ? Miscalculation. Killing the Hyakuyas had been her task. Besides, since they had lived here she was necessarily aware. Krul saw no escape. She knew the risks. Yuu suddenly crossed the throne room, coming to meet her. The queen narrowed her eyes. If the High Council deposed her, Yuu would probably try to defend her. But she would never allow anyone to lay hands on him.
« Hi mom. You seem preoccupied. » he noticed.
« Yes my son. This seraph case worries me. I'm afraid we're not safe anymore. » she responded.
Yuuichiro advanced to the throne, then paused in front of his mother.
« I know. Just as I know that some people won't appreciate at all. » answered the young vampire.
« Really. »
« Yes really. I know perfectly well that no Hyakuya should have lived until now. So the High Progenitors will inevitably ask you for accounts. » continued the dark-haired one.
So he knew. It really did not really help Krul.
« What do you intend to do ? » resumed her son.
« I don't know. » sighed Krul.
« Maybe you don't have to tell them they're still alive. Humans could simply have repeat their experiments, without it being a person coming from this sect. » suggested Yuu.
« Hmmm maybe. It is true that they can do without it. But Ferid risks contradicting me. » objected Krul.
« I don't think so. He is ... indisposed at the moment. You should take advantage of this to contact the Council, in order to be the first to give your version. Pretend that you can not know everything. Regarding the JIDA it was even predictable. I will survey Ferid meanwhile. » offered Yuu.
« I believe you are right. I'm not sure about convincing them, but anyway I have no choice. I thank you my son. »
« You're welcome mommy. »
Krul and Yuu exchanged a smile, before the young vampire turned his heels. He had now another problem to solve, namely the 7th progenitor. Yuu went quietly to the Bathory mansion. No windows were open this time. The young boy stopped, pensive. Nevermind. He advanced towards the door, which he kicked as he shoots in a can.
« Oi the old the thing ! Get the hell here ! » yelled Yuuichiro.
Suddenly he heard a racing noise, not stifled by the floor. As a precaution, the prince fell backward, a single hand restraining his body. He saw Ferid's one passing over his face. In response, Yuu sent his foot that reached the noble's belly. Transformed by Krul, the strength of Yuuichiro will be equivalent to that of an eighth progenitor. He had a chance against Ferid. Especially since being smaller and agile he was difficult to capture. Bathory folded in half under the impact and backed away. Yuu took advantage of it to get back straight and then jumped on him, a knee on his chest. He then blocked his opponent's hands.
« So, are you done playing asshole ? » asked Yuu.
« I thought I told you not to come back here. » said Ferid, between his teeth.
« And I thought you knew I wouldn't care about it at all. We need to talk. »
« I have nothing to say to you, Yuichiro. » retorted Ferid.
« That's not the impression I have. So go ahead, say what you need to, elder. » resumed calmly the young one.
« Why do you ... » begun Ferid.
The little vampire smiled.
« According to you ? No way my family get torn apart. You don't need that Ferid. You do not need any more, you just have to understand it. »
Ferid gritted his teeth. He wanted to tell him that the kid had ruined a plan at least as old as him. Of course, the nobleman had thought of failure, but was unable to react in this situation. But above all, it was the cause of this failure that disrupted him. That one, he would never have imagined it. That a child could succeed in the feat to make him change his mind. The vampires grew tired very quickly, however Yuu had been the exception that confirms the rule. And that made him crazy. Ferid finally dropped his head to the ground.
« Aaaah I have enough ! » he exclaimed.
Yuu gently released the hands of the nobleman, who was staring at the ceiling. Ferid sighed deeply, his arms crossed.
« Well, pull yourself together a little now. Go back to painting, it will help you to exteriorize all that. I'll come back tomorrow morning. And if you do not move, I will tick you off until you do it. » warned the young one, straightening up.
« You have a curious conception of affection, my dear Yuuichiro. » responded Ferid with a tired voice.
« As long as you stop whining like an old maid. »
« WHAT ? »
« Ah, here it is he's reacting. Good, see you tomorrow old piece of meat. »
« I'm going to kill him. »
Yuuichiro kept his word and returned every day of the week, night and day. He scold Ferid to get busy, the latter protested bluntly before finally resigned each time. Everything could have gone on for a while, if humans had not decided to go on the offensive. They came thus one fine morning, the saber in the light and their seraph flying over them. They launched devastating attacks on the capital.
« YUUICHIRO ! » yelled Krul running through the palace.
« Yeah I saw, I'm here. » answered the vampire child.
« We have to flee right now, come with me. » she said, taking his hand.
Other vampires were escaping everywhere.
« What ? Are you kidding ? » exlaimed Yuuichiro, freeing himself.
« I'm not in the mood for a joke my son ! We're leaving now, that's all. » resumed Krul.
« No ! It's our home here, our home ! We are not going to be dislodged by human jerks ! »
And Yuu ran away. Krul uttered a cry of rage before running after him. The queen thought of catching him easily, but she underestimated the agility of her son. He passed over the walls, swayed to a lamppost and slipped on a roof.
« Krul ! » she heard.
Crowley came to her accompanied by Ferid and his helpers.
« Ah there you are ! I'm trying to catch our son, he doesn't want to leave. » informed Krul.
« What ? Where'd he go ? » exclaimed Crowley.
« Over there. »
The group of vampires made their way through the oncoming crowd, mixing vampires and humans. Eventually, they discovered the young vampire hidden behind rubble. The adults joined him discreetly.
« You're all here, that's great. We'll be able to counter attack. » he said, low voice.
« Crowley, knock some sense in him before I knock him out. » whispered Krul.
« Yuuichiro, we can't stay we must leave now. Men are too strong with this creature at their side. » begun Eusford.
« Huh ? So you're just giving up right away ? You're not even trying to defend what is yours ? Are you scared or what ?! » exclaimed Yuu in a furious whisper.
« Yuu, be realistic : of course we are not happy, but as your father said… » intervened Ferid.
« Nothing ! You're just a bunch of old shattered sissies ! It's my home here, and I will make them understand even if I go alone ! »
And he slipped away again. Everyone rolled their eyes and sighed in a perfectly synchronized sigh.
« On the other hand, he's right. We could at least try to defend ourselves. » said Ferid.
« Yeah. But we risk very big I think. » responded Eusford.
« Well. I'm gonna get that squirt. » decided Krul.
« Be careful your Highness. He can shout. » warned Chess Bell.
« That, I know. »
Krul fled after Yuu. The young was establishing an angle of attack. He was directly attacking the seraph. He rushed at the moment when the queen thought she was holding him again. She pested in silence. Yuu landed on Mirai's back who lost a bit of altitude. The creature flapped its wings to recover, and also tried to get rid of its passenger.
« Whoah ! How is this thing being piloted ?! » exclaimed Yuu.
Farther, the vampires struck their foreheads. It was no time to hide anymore. So they all sprang from their hiding place, attacking to distract the men.
« What the ! » said Kureto, noticing the vampire perched on his seraph.
He did not have time to linger. Krul stepped over and kicked him. Crowley found himself fighting again with Guren, Chess with Aoi and Horn with another.
« Woh ! Okay calm down you damn bird ! » said Yuu.
He straightened up and bit the angel on the neck. Immediately afterwards he spat with a grimace. But what an horror ! Suddenly noticing that she was pricking, Yuu pulled her hair. The seraph came up. Yuu decided to direct her in this way. He made a gap to avoid an attack by a soldier. Mirai almost hit a house, executed a barrel roll then a looping ...
«You spin my head right round right round ! When you go down when you go down down !» sang the prince, passing above the melee.
He leaned on his arms, and kicked the soldier behind Krul. Then the wings of Mirai fell on Kureto's head. A close call for Ferid to impale him. On the air, Yuu turned edge and returned to the confrontation. Crowley seemed to be having a good time with Guren. The soldier was indeed stronger than during their first meeting. Yuu then seized a soldier and carried him with him. He let it fall on Horn Skuld's opponent who smiled at him.
« WOOPS ! » said Yuu, avoiding barely some lightnings.
Krul waved her hand into the air, the attack digging the ground and overturning the officer. The latter retaliated by lightning, which the queen avoided without problems. Kureto rolled to prevent her heel from falling on him.
« Come here you ! » said Yuu, catching Aoi by her collar.
The blonde found herself in the air. She threw her blade in order to cut off the vampire's hand. Yuu lifted her up, and caught her by the wrist. He then squeezed so hard that he broke it. The saber fell. While he was at it, he bit her. Aoi grimaced, unable to free herself from the bite. When the blonde lost consciousness, Yuu spun her for a moment before throwing her at the invaders. Sanguu collapsed not far from Kureto. The latter, occupied by the queen of vampires, could only grit his teeth.
The balance seemed to lean in favor of the vampires. Yuu had aimed right by directly assaulting the seraph of the end. Humans began to fall like flies under the assault of the most powerful vampires of Sanguinem. Especially since the latters were provided with an air strike force : Yuu indeed captured blocks of stone and statues with which he bombed the army. Kureto tried again to recover his seraph. Using his demon, he made a speed point and then rushed from a rubble straight towards the prince. The latter smiled back at him, then tilted his head down as the golden blade whistled. Hooked by the legs to the waist of Mirai, he managed to catch the officer at the ankle by the pants.
Kureto dropped, his head down. Yuu sneered :
« You're too slow pal ! »
Mirai went downstairs. Yuu lightened his load by lifting the man a little. The angel straightened up. Kureto thought about cutting off the young vampire's hand, but he was in danger of crashing head first on the ground. Not sure that his demon can repair the damage.
« Come on boy, order the retreat. » advised Yuu.
« Never ! We'll come back victorious today ! » answered Kureto.
« Or not. Because if I let go of the feathered stuff we fall. I'll be alright, but I doubt you will. How about we give it a try ? » retorted the vampire.
Yuu then swung him from left to right quite strongly, so that the soldier was sometimes horizontal.
« Weeeeh-heeeee ! » Yuu yelled, turning him faster and faster.
Kureto was soon to be sick at this rate. Yuu was thinking of getting back in the right direction, because his feathered stuff was starting to get more and more weird. Yuu then had an idea : he threw his captive high, got bestride and took the man by the pants in no time. He drew the red hair so that the angel avoided a statue.
« OUCH ! » exclaimed Kureto, hitting it.
« Well, that gives me an idea. Hey the human, how about a slalom ? » interpellated Yuu.
« What ? »
« Look ! »
Mirai turned back, then turned towards a row of statues. Understanding what awaited him, Kureto preferred to destroy them with a sword.
« Ah you're not funny ! » commented Yuu, shaking him like a carpet.
Kureto closed his eyes during the jolt. Then he planted his saber in a statue, hoping to destabilize his opponent. Wasted effort.
« Let go of this, you naughty ! »
Yuu drew him with a blow, and this time Kureto could not help but let go of his weapon. The young vampire smiled. He shook him again, almost bringing his eyes out of his head.
« So about this retreat ? »
Looking down, he saw his men in a bad state. The vampires had almost killed them all. Without the action of Mirai, they had lost their advantage. Guren was about to face another defeat against Crowley.
« Nnnng ! »
« What ? » asked Yuu.
« RETREAT ! » screamed Kureto.
He didn't need to say it twice. Yuuichiro smiled. The victory was theirs. He pressed Mirai's head to make her go down. And once close to the ground, the young vampire hit her at the back of her neck. The angel collapsed to the ground. Yuu walked to his parents, still holding his captive. The officer wanted to free himself, when he realized he was surrounded by the vampires. They gave him a carnivorous smile. The man whistled.
« Excellent work, my son.» said Krul proudly.
Yuu addressed her his famous childish smile. His mother was more than satisfied : not only was the capital saved, but she recovered the Seraph of the end as well as the leader of the human. Beautiful cards to negotiate with the High Council. She ordered that the man and the creature be tied up. The latter tried to protest, when Chess Belle knocked him down. Yuu for his part, checked that Mirai was still out. Ferid observed without a word, pensively. This little fight had been entertaining, and he was now curious to see the rest of the events. Krul had Mirai installed in an armchair beside the soldier. Then she called out to the others progenitors. The screen showed the two prisoners, of whom only the human was awake and gagged. Krul smiled at the surprise of her fellow vampires.
« Members of the Council ! I call you on this day to give you an account of the battle of Nagoya. As you can see, humans have managed to create a Seraph, which they have used against us. They even had the audacity to attack us here in our capital. But we managed to capture the angel and the head of men ! » she said.
« We must eliminate this creature ! How could they conceive it, I thought all the subjects had been eliminated ? » said Gabel Farte.
« They simply chose another one. The important thing is that we were able to regain control of the situation. Better than that, we can decapitate the command of humans. »
« So be it. The human and the angel must perish. You'll have to take advantage of it to attack humans while they're weak. » said Urd Geales.
« Very well. » approved Krul.
She could not help casting a sneering look at Lest Karr. He gave her a cold look. The queen switched off the contact screens with pleasure. In the end, everything went much better than she had hoped. And all this thanks to her son, who had refused the defeat. She came to him and hugged him tightly.
« Thank you my baby, you just saved your mother and all the vampires of Japan. I'm so proud of you. » she said, stroking his head.
« You're … welcome. » articulated Yuu.
Krul left him. She imprisoned the angel in a stone prison. The execution of Kureto would take place later.
« Well played, little scamp. » said Crowley, approaching his son.
« Thanks, big scamp. But darn, it's still unfortunate that I had to shake the elders. » replied Yuu.
Crowley giggled. Everyone left the council chamber. Yuuichiro went to his room to reflect. Until now, he had succeeded : his mother had not been attacked, neither Ferid nor his father had betrayed and the capital was safe. Even better, Krul had in her possession the seraph, and the prince knew that she would use it for her plans. The question was : what consequences would this have on the vampire world ? And then there was this human there. The chief of men. There was a bet they would try to get him back. Who would strike first ? Humans or vampires ? Yuu thought of his friends. He strongly hoped that Akane and Mika were far from it.
« On the other hand, the rest of their family is still in the human headquarters. They will necessarily go to retrieve them. » thought the dark-haired one.
Then he should be there that day. He knew to be the only one that the Hyakuyas would follow, and to be able to prevent them from being killed. Akane being no longer there to be his ears, he would have to arrange to be kept informed. Which with hismother won't be easy. In the meantime, he decided to look into this angel question. Krul had little time to get what she wanted. The young prince leapt from the bed where he had gone to reflect. He immediately went to the place where the seraph had been imprisoned. As he had thought, his mother had preceded him by little. Feeling his presence, Krul turned around, questioning.
« Yuu ? »
« I will go straight to the point mom. I know you want to find the first progenitor and your big brother. Are you sure of yourself ? » said the young one.
« Decidedly you will never cease to astonish me my son. You're well informed. This is indeed my project, and yes I am sure. » smiled Krul.
« But how do you plan to do it ? This seraph has never been in heaven, or I don't know where. How could he know where they are hiding ? » questionned Yuu.
Krul stared at him for a moment. Usually, she had not given her secret to anyone, so nobody else knew about it. But Yuu was her son, and so far had not ceased to act in the interest of his own. So, she decided to explain.
« It is here that Arukanu enters the scene. It was entrusted to me by the first progenitor, with the secret of how to find it. He gave it to me because I was the most worthy of his trust. For my brother Ashera ... I don't know yet. » she said, her pet in her hands.
So that was it. Yuu still didn't see how all this would reveal to her what she was looking for. Krul opened the door of the stone prison. She entered, then invited her son to come with a nod. The brown smiled, happy that his mother reveals to him such a secret. Mirai was firmly maintained by heavy chains. She watched the vampires come to her. Yuu stopped a few meters from the entrance. Krul walked to Mirai. There she handed Arukanu. The cyclops bat flew away, then bit the creature around the neck. The latter remained perfectly stoic. Arukanu on his side turned. His only eye shone, then suddenly began to project images. Symbols first. Then a silhouette.
« Krul, my dear. If you have this message, you have a seraph in your possession. The blood of this creature and the knowledge contained in Arukanu, will enable you to open the prison in which humans have thrown me. But after that, you will have to destroy the seraph. Follow the directions on this map. You will be able to find it at any time as long as Arukanu drinks seraph blood. Good luck. » announced a voice.
A map was displayed, then everything disappeared at the end of the message. Arukanu came to perch on Krul's shoulder as usual.
« Hmmm. » said Yuu.
« What is it my baby ? » interrogated Krul.
« The map we just saw. We will have to cross it with current ones, otherwise it will be difficult to find him. » he explained.
«You are right. And that's her. The first progenitor is a woman named Mikaela. » revealed Krul.
« Eh ? Just like my friend ? » noticed Yuu, surprised.
« Absolutely. The Mikaela, as they are called, are in fact descendants of our first progenitor. They possess exceptionally good blood, and above all that reacts very well to magic. They are extremely rare, one in ten millions. » explained his mother.
« Ah yeah indeed. But I still don't understand why seraph blood is necessary. I mean, there was no other way to convey that message ? »
« No, because it was thanks to a seraph that Mikaela was imprisoned. She had only time to conceive Arukanu and to inject the magic of these beings before being captured, and to entrust it to me by assuring that this would be the key to her liberation. I still remember that day ... Mikaela knew that an attack of men was preparing. They had succeeded their experience just like today and came for her. So she used their techniques she had learned to ensure her deliverance. Only the magic of a seraph can break her chains. Arukanu also serves as a reservoir. » confided more in details Krul.
Now, Yuu understood better. What could be considered a betrayal was actually a mission entrusted by the highest vampire authority. This was a relief to the brown : his mother was not a traitor. He then asked when the Queen intended to leave. Krul thought as soon as possible. The time to build up a supply of blood and she would set out. She also had to find a regent and she did not know who to name. The queen was not sure of Ferid, in spite of the intervention of the prince to prevent him from committing the irreparable. Perhaps the father of the child ? Krul opened herself to him.
« No problem mom, I would make sure everything goes well in your absence, you can count on me. » assured Yuuichiro.
« Thank you my baby, you are a great help. All right, let's go. » decided the sovereign.
They both left the room. The queen immediately ordered blood to be collected, and an empty bottle. Yuu, on his part, informed her that he was going to look for his father for his new appointment. The young vampire went into the drawing-room, where he found no one. He understood that his father was to be with his great forever comrade. Yuuichiro arrived at Ferid's, where the nobles were : Crowley of course, but also Chess Bell and Horn Skuld.
« Here is the hero of the day ! We hoped that you came to drink with us. » said Ferid.
« Just a glass. Daddy we must talk, order of the queen. » answered the prince.
Crowley nodded. A glass of excellent blood was served at Yuuichiro. Once he had done, he made a sign to his father to follow him. They left the manor. The prince took the road to the palace.
« Well ? What is this order of your mother, son ? » interrogated Crowley.
« Mother must go on a mission, and she entrusts you with the management of the kingdom in her absence. » announced the young one.
« WHAT ?! » exclaimed the ginger.
« You understood perfectly. She'll explain everything you need to know. » continued Yuu.
« No wait a sec … why me ? » resumed the redhead.
« Try to guess ? Because you're the one she trust the most. »
After reflexion it was logical. He was the father of her son after all, just that Krul accepted this showed her confidence in him. They both crossed the gates of the royal residence. Krul waited on her throne. Yuu walked up to her, while Crowley was kneeling on the ground. Their son sat down at her right side.
« Crowley Eusford. As our son explained to you, I have an unexpected absence but nevertheless capital. So I entrust to you the keys of Sanguinem, try to govern in good intelligence. » announced Krul.
« I thank you for this honor, but may I know the reasons for this absence ? » Crowley asked, rising his head.
« No. I'll make a public announcement at the time of my departure. »
« Very well. »
She dismissed him with a wave of her hand, asking him to keep the news to himself. Krul announced that she had obtained her reserve of ten bottles, plus an empty one that she would fill with Mirai's blood. Yuuichiro nodded. A few hours later, as the night covered the country, Krul gathered the subjects of Sanguinem. She declared her absence, and that the father of her son would be charged with watching over the good efficiency of the kingdom in her absence. Ferid rounded his eyes to the news. He understood perfectly that she had not chosen him, but what was the object of her absence ? It had to do with the seraph. Still, the sovereign left the capital loaded with her bottles. Ferid darted a glance at Yuuichiro. A little bird told him that he knew what was all about. On the other hand, the kid was not stupid. As formerly when he was a child, the 7th progenitor could have extracted information from him, now it would be difficult if not impossible.
For his part, Crowley had set to work, checking the tasks in progress and those to come.
« So, what is it like being the king of Japan ? » asked Ferid, approaching.
« I don't know yet. » responded the vampire.
« Yeah. Wonder what may necessitate the queen's absence, apart from an order of the council. » said Ferid again.
« No idea, if you want to know everything, she did not tell me. » revealed Crowley.
« And does your little one stay there ? Curious, I thought he would follow his mother. » continued Bathory.
« Why ? Is it bad that he stays with his father ? » replied Eusford.
« Of course no. But I don't like to be left in the dark. »
« That, I would have bet on it. But I'm afraid you'll have to stay in it this time. »
Ferid winced. Now he no longer had control of the situation. Ordinarily he knew all there was to know. Yuu joined them quietly.
« Oh, our little prince. So what's up ? » asked Ferid.
« Well, nothing and you ? »
« Except the departure of your mother, nothing either. This is frankly unusual. »
« What do you want me to say, let's say that it's part of the feminine mysteries. » responded Yuu, shrugging.
Crowley laughed, and Ferid giggled. But as he had foreseen, the prince would not say a word. Yuu returned whistling. He suspected that Bathory wished to know everything, but he would dream if he thought the brown one would reveal what he knew. Yuuichiro hoped his mother's trip was going well. He made a crochet through the dungeons to make sure the human was still there. Kureto was chained to a post, crossed arms. The little vampire had found water and brought him a bottle. The officer raised his head as he approached. Yuu stepped quietly, poured the water into a glass and brought it closer to Kureto's lips after hanging on the chains that held him. Thirsty, the latter didn't hesitate.
« Want some more pal ? » asked Yuu.
« Could you not be that familiar ? » responded Hiiragi.
« Ooooh a barrier between us after all that we've been through ? I'm disappointed. » retorted the prince with a mocking smile.
Kureto hissed.
« What do you intend to do with the seraph ? » he interrogated.
« We thought we were going to stuff it. Such a rare creature deserves to be preserved after all. »
Yuu gave more water to the human being. The latter thought that the child would reveal nothing to him. On the other hand, why the hell did he relieve his sufferings ?
« You're not supposed to die yet. » said Yuu, with a carnivorous smile this time.
Of course. Kureto sighed. He kept wondering how his operation could fail. Everything had been planned for success to be there. Except perhaps that a vampire kid could reach the seraph and distract him from his task. Yuu went downstairs.
« But frankly, why in hell did you made this thing ? Did you not realize the first time it was too risky ? » wanted to know the prince.
Kureto looked away. Yuu stared at him for a moment before sighing and going away. The door of the prison brought darkness and silence.