Dracula X
Chapter 3
Author's Note: Okay, about one third longer than the other chapters, but who cares +lol+ Chapter 3 is finally finished!
Thanks to all of you for reading so far and writing those nice reviews:-)
About Fuuma being a vampire: Come on, just look at him!!! All that blood-licking and stuff... He already is a vampire in X! It fitted so well!
Now, enjoy that next chapter! Would be great if you left a little review for me:-)
PS: And yes, Subaru and Seishiro are going to meet in the next chapter, of course, so look forward:-)
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to CLAMP. The story is based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula".
It was a cold and stormy night when Yuuto sat at his desk and listened to the sound of the winds howling outside. The candle next to him flickered. 'It'll soon be over now…', he thought and put the pen away.
Slowly, he stood up and walked across the room. The floor underneath his feet see-sawed, but he was used to it. Quickly, he took one glance outside the window, but all the could see was darkness. The storm grew stronger and dashed the rain against the glass.
Damped voices reached his ears from the corridor. There was a sudden hustle outside.
His gaze rested on the door.
A knock.
"Yes?"
"Captain!" The wooden door opened. "Captain, something horrible has happened." It was the Petty Officer Second Class, Shiyu Kusanagi, followed by a group of other seamen. His face was unusual pale and made a strange contrast to his gigantic figure.
"What's wrong?", Yuuto asked and came towards them.
"A man of our crew is dead", Kusanagi said and swallowed.
"What?!" Yuuto's eyes widened. "What do you mean by dead? Did something happen?!"
"No, he was simply found below", Kusanagi explained. "No trace of anything which could have caused his death."
"Who was the one who found him?" Yuuto turned around to face the other men.
"It was me, Sir." One of the seamen stepped forward. The young boy was trembling. "It was so terrible! There was another man next to him! I could see him vanish into the darkness of the corridor! That guy wasn't one of our crew! He wore a long black coat and his skin was as pale as… as the skin of a ghost."
There was sudden unease among the sailors.
"Nataku!", Kusanagi hissed angrily. "Stop telling stories like that!"
"But I swear it's true! That guy was the one who killed him!" Nataku clenched his fist while his eyes filled with fear and shock. "I… I don't…"
"Enough." Yuuto shook his head. "Obviously we have a stowaway down there. I want you to go and find him."
The seamen nodded and left.
"Kusanagi." Yuuto grabbed Kusanagi's arm and waited until the others were gone.
"What is it, Captain?"
"The least thing I want is a panic on my ship. The death of this man needs to be cleared up."
Kusanagi's eyes were firm. "Yes. I know that."
"One, two, three… Ow, I really can't decide…" Hokuto put the letters down. "Subaru!" She turned around to face her brother who was just opening the door to her room. "Come in!"
"Good morning, Hokuto-chan", he said and came towards her. "Oh, you're already busy?"
"Look at that!" She threw the letters at Subaru.
"What is this?" Subaru eyed the sheets curiously. "'To my beloved Hokuto-san…'"
"Those are love letters, you moron!", Hokuto yelled and sighed. "Tough I'm not surprised at all that you didn't realize that."
"Love letters?" Subaru looked at her. "To you?"
"Noooo, to you, Subaru! Jeez, what do you think? Of course they are for me!" She grabbed the sheets again. "Who should ever send you a love letter except for your missing Kamui-san, when you don't ever go out and meet other people?"
"Hokuto-chan! Not that again!"
"But it's true. How do you know Kamui-san is the right one for you, when you've never ever tried anyone else?"
Subaru smiled. "I can't think of anyone else who could make me happier than he does."
"It's because you don't know anyone else who could make you happier than he does." Hokuto rolled her eyes.
But Subaru only chuckled. "I'm sure there isn't any living person on this Earth who could make me happier."
"Well, well, you've always been so stubborn, Subaru. You really can't be helped." Gently, she touched his cheek and smiled. "Moron."
Subaru leaned in to her touch until a few seconds later Hokuto turned to the letters again. "So, now that you are already here, maybe you can help me decide? Which one should I choose?"
Subaru sat down next to his sister. "Who are the letters from?"
Hokuto smiled as she cleared her throat. "The first one, my beloved brother, was sent to me by our dear Dr. Daisuke Seward."
"The one I met last night?" Subaru looked at her.
"Exactly. Actually, all the letters were sent to me by men you met last night." She chuckled. "But don't worry. They are three and I'm only one, so there'll be still one for you."
"Hokuto-chan!!"
The girl winked and laughed merrily. "Joke! The second letter was written by Kakyou Holmwood and the third one by his American friend Sorata P. Morris."
"That American?" Subaru's expression became sceptic. "But you don't know him at all! Why should you marry him?"
"Oh, Subaru, cut it out! Didn't you notice his charm? That guy has spirit! I'm sure a man like him would be a lot of fun."
"But still…"
Hokuto put the letter away. "Yeah, alright, I know what you're trying to say and I understand. It's true that I know him the least of all three. Daisuke-san, on the other hand, is a very nice and reliable person. I guess I'd choose him, but there is that asylum… I don't wanna end up there either." She sighed. "So I guess this would leave only Kakyou."
Subaru lowered his head. "But is it really okay to choose him, just because the others are even worse?"
"Oh, no, Kakyou isn't a makeshift at all! I've known him for quite a while and he is a loyal friend as well as a real gentleman. I really like him a lot."
"If it's like that, then I'm relieved."
Hokuto jumped to her feet. "Alright, so it's decided then! Your sister is going to become engaged. Thanks for your help, Subaru."
Subaru smiled. "Actually, I didn't do anything. You made that decision yourself. But I'm happy for you." His gaze became a bit melancholic.
Seeing that, Hokuto turned to face him and hugged him deeply. "Don't worry, Subaru. I'll still be your sister. I won't be taken away. I'll always be there for you."
Subaru hugged her back. "I know that, Hokuto-chan. I wish you all the happiness on Earth."
During the next week the storm got even stronger and huge waves submerges the deck with violent force.
"Four nights, four dead men." Yuuto took off his huge hat and sighed. "I'm truly at a loss."
"I've never undergone a situation like that before either, Captain", Seiichiro Aoki, the steersman, replied and tried to hold the wheel against the force of the storm.
Yuuto shook his head. "There is a murderer among our men. But I don't see a purpose in killing our crew. The men are getting disturbed. Everyone is afraid and I can't blame any of them."
"Yes, no wonders. I, myself, have a wife and a little daughter and I wish to see them again alive." Seiichiro looked at the Captain who just nodded slightly.
"I understand how you all feel. There is a girl who's waiting for me with a cup of tea in London. But I am powerless. There is nothing I can do. That mysterious stowaway is nowhere to be found."
Seiichiro adjusted his glasses. "He was seen last night again, Captain. But obviously he didn't kill this time. He appears and disappears as he pleases. Like a ghost."
"Oh, come on, not you as well! Stop all that talk about ghosts. Ghosts don't exist and it's not an undead creature that is committing those crimes. It's a man of flesh and blood."
There was a huge wave flooding the deck again, as Kusanagi approached them slowly.
"How is it?" Yuuto poured the water out of his head again.
"Bad", Kusanagi replied short-spoken. "The men are in panic, the crew is about to mutiny. They demand to call at the next port."
"Impossible!" Yuuto shook his head definitively. "We'll see this through till the very end."
The day of Hokuto and Kakyou's engagement soon arrived. Their garden was decorated celebratory and a lot of guests had gathered to express their best wishes to the couple.
It was also a very happy day for Subaru. As soon as he saw his sister's smile, her joy filled his heart as well.
In the afternoon, tea and cakes were served. Subaru sat down at the edge of the beautiful fountain in the centre of the garden.
At first, he didn't realize the person who sat down next to him soon after.
"Subaru."
"Hokuto-chan!" Subaru turned around. "Shouldn't you be with the guests?"
The girl leaned against his shoulder. "You're one of my guests as well."
Subaru smiled at her.
"Are you sad?"
"Sad? No, I'm very happy for you."
"You're thinking of Kamui-san again."
Subaru's expression became serious. "It's been such a long time since his last letter. I wonder if he forgot about me."
Hokuto shook her head. "You have to be patient. If he really loves you, then he'll do anything in order to come back to you."
Subaru looked at her, then nodded slightly. "Yes, I guess you're right. Thank you, Hokuto-chan."
"Subaru, I want you to know this: Even though I'm engaged to Kakyou now, you'll always be my number one, got that?"
"Sure. Thank you, Hokuto-chan."
Hokuto smiled and winked. "But don't tell Kakyou!" Suddenly she grabbed Subaru's arm and pulled him with her. "Come on, I'll give you my first dance!"
Subaru's eyes widened. "B-But you know that I don't…!!"
Monday, 26th. Our ship is going to reach the port of London by two days. Our crew is dead. There are only three people left. The steersman, the Petty Officer Second Class and myself. I'm not sure whether we'll reach the mainland alive or dead. I'm scared, but there is nothing I can do. This ship is going to become our grave.
Yuuto's hand trembled as he drove then pen across the white paper.
"Captain!!!" Suddenly, there was Kusanagi's voice from the deck.
Yuuto let the pen drop in panic and rushed up.
In the darkness of the night lay Seiichiro Aoki next to the wheel, covered in blood.
"Oh my God, Aoki-san!! No!!!" It was Karen, who suddenly appeared between him and Kusanagi.
Seishiro walked out of the shadows and rolled his eyes. "Hey, you're still in Romania with Kanoe-san and Fuuma-kun, forgot that?!"
Yuuto grabbed his hat and threw it on the floor. "Jeez, could you please stop behaving like your X-selves and interrupt the story all the time?!"
Subaru nodded. "That's right. The story loses its entire atmosphere by being interrupted all the time."
Karen lowered her head and stepped back. "I know… I'm sorry. I just couldn't see such a wonderful husband and father being killed…"
"Yeah right." Seishiro went back to his proper position. "Let's do this scene again and no more X-related interruption from now on, okay?! Please stick to the Dracula-story as long as we're doing this."
The others nodded, but Yuuto lifted his finger. "Right, but please, there is something special I need to say as my dying words! May I, please? I promise, this'll be my last X reference! Come on, Seishiro-san, you above all people, should know how important one's last words are! 'Boku wa kimi wo…', remember?!"
Seishiro sighed. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead, then. It'll be your last scene anyway."
"Thanks! Be sure to look forward to it, everyone!" Yuuto winked. "And now back to business! Don't ruin the atmosphere by interruptions anymore, okay?"
"Yes, please!" Kamui pleaded. "I need to enjoy this as long as I'm engaged to Subaru in this story! Engaged!! In X we never got further than the scene where Subaru helped me with the tie."
Seishiro scared up. "What tie?! Is there something I should know?!" He threw an evil glance at Subaru.
"I'd like to know that as well!", Fuuma crossed his arms. "I really hope 'helping with the tie' was about dressing and not about undressing."
Seishiro looked at him. "What difference would that make?!"
"It really wasn't anything like that!", Subaru reassured them.
"Unfortunately not…", Kamui murmured to himself.
"Alright then. I believe you", Seishiro finally said.
Fuuma, however, shook his head. "You're one credulous guy, aren't you? Your 'Subaru-kun' could tell you anything, couldn't he?"
"No", Seishiro replied firmly. "Subaru simply never lies. Okay, except maybe when it comes to his birthplace." He winked at Subaru.
"Now, now!" Sorata waved at them. "Could you please stop this conversation that - after all - doesn't interest anyone who is not into yaoi!"
"Like… you?" Kamui looked at the other boy and lifted one of his eyebrows.
Sorata crossed his arms. "Well, as you all know, my heart only belongs to Nee-chan and she is obviously a girl, not a guy."
"Oh, really?" Kamui didn't intend to let him get away with that. "Then how about taking a little look at X Volume 4 page 70 to refresh your memory? And what about Volume 16, page 154…"
"Oh, cut it out, will you!", Sorata blushed slightly. "Let's stop all this and get back to Dracula! No more interruptions from now on! Yuuto-san, pick up your hat! Kusanagi-san, come back! We'll do the entire scene once again to get back the tragic! And this time, without interruption!!"
"Yes." Subaru nodded. "I just hope no one will interrupt the scene where Seishiro-san and I are making out."
Silence.
Everyone stared back at Subaru, eyes opened widely.
"Subaru…", Kamui whispered in shock. "That was REALLY out of character!!"
Meanwhile, Yuuto sat down at the desk in his cabin again. "Ready, everyone?", he asked and added sheepishly: "And don't forget to pay attention to my dying words!"
Monday, 6th. Our ship is going to reach the port of London by two days. Our crew is dead. There are only three people left. The steersman, the Petty Officer Second Class and myself. I'm not sure whether we'll reach the mainland alive or dead. I'm scared, but there is nothing I can do. This ship is going to become our grave.
Yuuto's hand trembled as he drove then pen across the white paper.
"Captain!!!" Suddenly, there was Kusanagi's voice from the deck.
Yuuto let the pen drop in panic and rushed up.
In the darkness of the night lay Seiichiro Aoki next to the wheel, covered in blood.
Kusanagi looked at Yuuto, his face all pale. "He's dead."
Yuuto's hand started trembling. This would leave Kusanagi and him as the last ones alive on the ship.
And never having seen the stowaway before as well as knowing that he wasn't the murderer himself, Yuuto took out his gun and pointed it at Kusanagi.
Kusanagi's eyes opened in shock. "What are you doing!?"
Yuuto breathed hard. "I'm not to be killed", he hissed tremblingly.
"Stop it!", Kusanagi cried. "I'm not the murderer!! I swear it!!"
"You're the only one left!!", Yuuto yelled.
A shot.
And Yuuto was the only person left alive.
Eyes opened widely, he let the gun drop. The rain gathered on top of his hat. Exhausted, he sank to his knees and started to cry.
"Yes, tragic, indeed. You killed your friend who was nothing but innocent."
Yuuto scared up.
The figure of a man wrapped in long black robes materialized from the shadows.
"Impossible…", Yuuto gasped. "Who or what are you?!"
The man only smiled, revealing long, sharp teeth.
Yuuto tumbled to his feet again. "You're not going to get me!! Not me!!" He took out his crucifix, turned around and tied his hands to the wheel. "You're not going to take me away from here!!", he screamed, his eyes piercing with fear and insanity.
Seishiro smirked and appeared the Captain slowly.
Yuuto sank to his knees in front of the wheel. "Kusanagi…", he whimpered. "Forgive me…" Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain at his neck. His eyes watered as his body started to become numb.
An eternity later, the creature let go of him.
Yuuto closed his eyes, his hand still fastened to the wheel, as he awaited death. The icy rain soaked his blood-stained cloths and mixed with the red liquid all over his body. "Satsuki-chan…", he whispered with his last ounce of strength. "We can't kill human beings… because it makes other human beings sad… Was I right? Well, not as if that mattered anymore. I wanted to come back… for tea… But I don't think I can join you tonight… What a shame…"
The sun rose high above the horizon as a huge ship arrived at the port of London.
They found the Captain tied to the wheel, a crucifix clutched with his hand, covered by blood as a huge wolf rushed past them and disappeared somewhere in the streets of London.