Satoshi had just pushed open the door, glancing around inside and using his aura to make sure that there were no magical traps. Not sensing or seeing anything that could be a possible threat, the blue haired hunter tread lightly into the room, confident that there was no danger.
He found himself to be in a bedroom.
Everything was aged, but still in rather good condition. The curtains and bedspread seemed to be a little moth eaten and had long since lost their original color, and there was a bit of dust flying about, but other than that there was nothing wrong with the room.
Even with all of this, Satoshi could tell that there was a great seal of care taken by whoever had stayed here, small puffs of dust sifting through the air as he stepped on the old but luxurious rugs. Looking at the little knick knacks and various furnishings as well as various old dresses and jewelry, the hunter determined that this room had belonged to a woman.
Curious, and with nothing better to do, Satoshi decided that there would be a little bit of interest in snooping around. It was, after all, better than waiting.
Spying a ornate desk next to a bookshelf of gargantuan stature, right under a window, Satoshi tread over and deposited himself on the old leather chair sitting in front of it.
Several minutes of snooping and there wasn't anything worth while. Old mushy love letters, various logs of crops and herbs, some un-used parchment and various other files littered the desk and it's little drawers.
Sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose, Satoshi quickly rose from the chair and started to turn away, completely unaware of the rug that seemed to have a vendetta against him.
The sorcerer/hunter let out a gasp of surprise as he felt himself begin to propel forward. Quickly thinking, he shot out his hand to the desk to steady himself, his hand meeting the aged wood.
Thunk!
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Satoshi turned to examine the desk with a more calculating eye.
"That sounded hallow." he said to himself
Removing the papers that he had stirred up from the surface, he notice that there was a small but ornate engraving of a sun.
"The road to salvation will burn you." he read from the letters engraved under the little picture. Curious, the hunter knocked on the wood, only cementing his theory that the surface was indeed hallow.
Looking around, Satoshi grabbed one of the iron candle holders from it's perch on the wall. Raising it above his head, he brought it down with force against the wood, only to be thrown back by a flash of blue light.
Groaning, Satoshi picked himself up off the floor to see that the surface of the desk was now glowing blue.
"A high level barrier, only activated when under an attack of malicious nature." Satoshi stated with a , that would explain why he hadn't sensed anything.
Still, even with just a glance he could tell that he would not be able to break this barrier by himself. The mastery of the magical arts in this single small barrier was enough to make any sorcerer envious.
"Which mean that whatever it's hiding is important."
He spent a deal of time trying to figure out what to do about the barrier and how to get inside.
"The road to salvation will burn you." he said to himself, pacing back and forth across the floor, unknowingly creating a little path through the dust.
Sighing, he examined the desk again. "The road to salvation will burn you." he thought. "What could that mean? Hmm, this almost looks like something should fit into it. A sort of key?" Sighing again, Satoshi prepared to leave. They didn't have the time to look for a key, so it really didn't matter in the long run. Turning opposite of the desk, he was surprised to see a tapestry of the sun engraving.
They were in perfect symmetry to each other in the room, and if you connected the invisible line the another wall…looking around to try and figure things out, he spotted the fire place.
"The road to salvation will burn you." he said with a smirk. "That has to be it."
Spending a bit of time looking around the fireplace, and nearly having a heart attack when the wood in it suddenly caught fire, Satoshi had found a hallow stone. Inside it was a small pendant of a an ornate sun, a mirror image of the engraving on the desk.
Smiling at his victory, the hunter set the little pendant in it's resting place. Immediately the barrier deactivated, and a soft click echoed through the room.
Opening the hidden compartment, the hunter saw a beautiful golden dagger resting in an equally beautiful sheath, as well as a letter. Taking the dagger and setting it aside, Satoshi pulled out the envelope, surprise showing on his features as he read the name out loud.
"Rika."
-x-
"Krad!" Satoshi yelled, beginning to run towards the main entrance. Knowing Krad he would have found the way out before he found anything else. After all, Krad seemed to have luck finding things that he didn't want to find in the first place.
This letter would be the key to everything!
"Krad!" Satoshi yelled again, a little impatience bleeding into his tone.
"Satoshi! We have a-"
"In a minute, read this." The blue haired hunter cut off, shoving the letter into his partners face.
Krad angrily snatched the letter, beginning to read.
To my beloved.
By the time that you read this, I will already be on the other side, waiting for you. I know that my passing will hurt you, but I know that you will endure, because you are strong.
I will tell you that the reason for my passing will have been unclean. Your master and sire, Argentine, will have been the one to slay me.
I only hope that I had been able to pass in your loving arms.
But now is no longer the time to show you my eternal love, we shall have time when you join me beyond the darkness.
Argentine plans to use your blood to open the gates of Hell, gaining the control of countless demons once a ritual has been complete. I do not know all of the details, but I know that you will be in danger if you stay any longer.
The dagger that I have hidden is Argentines' one and only weakness. Argentine is different from any other vampire in existence. His weakness is not the metal of the moon, but the metal of fire and sun.
This golden dagger has been blessed with special hunter magic, use it to protect yourself and escape from that devils clutches.
One day, you and I will be together again, take comfort in that.
With all my love,
Rika
"This is great! Now we have an idea on how to get this guy." Krad stated, looking to the blue haired hunter.
"Yes, we need to tell Dark immediately, has he woken yet?"
Krad suddenly looked sheepish. "Well…you see…"
Satoshi could feel his eyebrow twich. "Yes?"
Krad just handed him a piece of paper.
Kokuyoku,
I seemed to have found a red haired stray. You may want to come and retrieve him before he has any unfortunate…mishaps.
After all, with you gone my patience has worn thin, and I am rather hungry these days.
Do hurry, after all, eternity will not wait for us.
Argentine
"You mean he's…"
"Yep, our vampire bat has flown the coop."
Satoshi angrily smacked Krad on the back of the head.
"You couldn't have said that earlier?!?!"
"When was I suppose to?!?! When you were trying to turn my mouth into a mailbox?!?!"
Satoshi didn't reply, just let out a frustrated sigh, cursing under his breath as he rubbed his temples.
"I feel a headache coming on." Satoshi thought huffily.
Well, so much for that hunch.
-x-
"How good of you to come, Kokuyoku." Argentine stated as soon as Dark came into the clearing bathed in moonlight, a white water fall roaring not too far from them.
"Don't call me that!"
"But that is what I've always called you, ever since I saved you that rainy day."
"Saved? Don't you mean damned?" Dark inquired, scoffing lightly.
"Damned? I gave you a new fate, one where we will rule over everything, you by my side." Argentine countered his tone slight but his eyes cold and unfeeling.
"I don't want anything to do with you. Just give back Daisuke! He has nothing to do with this, he's innocent!"
"How innocent are the damned?"
"I thought it was just a new fate?"
"I never said that it would be a fate without a bloody path." Argentine stated, his silvery locks swaying gently in the wind. "Now, surrender yourself, and I shall release the boy."
"Why should I believe a word that you say? When I confronted you about Rika, you looked completely innocent. I would have believed you if she hadn't told me on her dying breath! Then you ripped off my wings with a smile on your face!!! Why! Why should I believe you?!" Dark yelled with passion, hurt clearly shown within his amethyst orbs.
"Tell me, what other choice could you possibly have?" Argentine inquired, a smile on his lips and his voice like black silk.
Dark sighed. There really wasn't a choice, then?
"You promise to let him go?" He murmured in defeat.
"I give you my word, Kokuyoku." Stated the silver haired sorcerer. Dark blanched at the name.
"Alright then, I relinquish myself to you."
Argentine smirked cruelly. "Excellent."
Then Dark knew no more.
-x-
"Hey! What's going on?! Let me out! LET ME OUT!!!" Daisuke yelled out of the little barred opening in his cell door.
Last he remembered he was 'hunting' Wiz with Riku in the forest, then next he's here?!
"Dark, this isn't funny! Let me OUT already!" He yelled again, trying to yank open the door, but it wouldn't budge.
Finally, he let himself flop on the bed in the corner of the small cell. Looking around, it seemed like someone had tried to make it comfortable.
A small round wooden table in the middle of the room, along with a small bookshelf in the corner opposite of the bed line with a few novels. There was even a little fire pit with a stack of wood and kindling in case things got too chilly.
"Come on! When is he going to let me out of here?" Daisuke thought sourly.
Then he heard footsteps, and the lock on his door being undone.
"Finally!"
Dark stepped into the cell, looking at Daisuke.
"Dark! This isn't very funny, how on earth did you get me in here anyway?"
Dark didn't reply. His eyes were glossy.
"Dark?"
Still no reply.
Before Daisuke could say anything else, a pair of robed arms wound themselves around Dark's waist, hands trailing up and down the clothed chest.
"I'm afraid that he is unable to hear you." The arms retracted, and a silvery haired figure stepped into the room, Dark following mindlessly behind.
"Who are you?! What have you done to him?!" Daisuke yelled, wanting to run to the other vampire but deciding that wouldn't be wise.
"I am Argentine." The sorcerer stated, giving a mockingly low bow. "And this," he said, weaving his arms around Dark and kissing his neck, "Is MY Kokuyoku."
"Get you hands off of him!" Daisuke yelled, blindly charging towards the silver haired vampire.
Before Daisuke even knew what happened, he was flung across the room, striking the stone wall with enough force to break human bones.
Looking up, Daisuke saw Dark holding out his hand, having used his powers to protect his sire.
"What did you do to him?!"
"Oh, nothing he didn't allow. It seems he cares for you quite a bit, and he has given himself to me to do whatever I desire. All in exchange for your freedom."
Daisuke felt a chill of dread speed through his body.
"But...I lied."The grin on the sorcerers face was ruthless.
"Yes, I can do Absolutely." Argentine said slowly, his hands beginning to wonder into Dark's shirt.
"Whatever." He kissed Darks neck, grazing the porcelain flesh with his fangs.
"I." Argentine nibbled Darks ear.
"WANT." The sorcerers suddenly buried his fangs into his offspring's neck, drinking the blood greedily.
Daisuke smelled Darks blood, the scent thick in the air. Without thinking he tried to attack the silver haired vampire again, but it ended with the same result, only this time Argentine had dealt the blow himself.
Still, Argentine ruthlessly drank from Dark, and it was showing. The blank amethyst eyes had closed, and his body was beginning to become limp.
"Stop it! You're KILLING him! Stop! Please just STOP!" Daisuke yelled, tears pricking his eyes. "No! He's so pale! He isn't moving!"
Surprisingly, Argentine did stopped, holding up the unconscious vampire in his arms and gripping him tightly.
"He's mine." The sorcerer stated fiercely, his eyes glowing red, crimson dripping down his chin. "Not YOU or ANYONE else will take him from me."
With that, the sorcerer swept out of the room, the door closing and locking behind him of it's own volition.
Daisuke curled up into a ball, letting his tears fall.
"Dark…" The redhead thought, all of his hope beginning to die.