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Disclaimer: Blood+ is not mine

Chapter Five

My heartbeat hammered through my veins as I ran down the darkened street. Only when a piercing howl was heard just yards away did I freeze. What was I doing? I didn't have my sword! But it was too late. The creature came tumbling from the alleyway with a series of growls and howls and huffs, and had obviously caught onto my scent. But it wasn't a chiropteran. It was….something else entirely.

I turned to make a run for it, but decided against putting the others in danger if I returned home. So instead I stood, still, and waiting for the beast…

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"Hagi…when did the headaches start?" Julia asked, placing a cool rag on his forehead.

"It was when that young woman…Saya…she grabbed my hand and suddenly the pain shot through my skull…" he said quietly, struggling to understand. "I feel like I should be remembering something."

Julia gave an encouraging smile. "I'm sure you will," she said, adding on to herself only. "She always has."

Hagi closed his eyes but didn't sleep, seeing as his body didn't really need it. Julia walked back downstairs to the nervous Kai. "Saya left," he said.

"She'll be back, I'm sure," Julia replied, not meaning to sound cold but always managing to. "As for Hagi, I'm quite certain that he lost his memory when the roof collapsed on his head thirty years ago. Saya is triggering his memories when they touch, and that's what causes the severe headache. His brain is trying to remember but he's too confused to let it."

"Thirty years of confusion…I'm surprised he isn't mad," Kai muttered, staring out the window.

"He learned a lot of patience from being with Saya," Julia smiled.

But her smile quickly turned to a frown when she heard a loud yell from upstairs. They both ran up the stairs and stopped in their tracks. Door ajar, window open, empty bed. Hagi was gone.

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The beast sauntered forward, great lobs of drool dripping from it's fangs. It was large like a grizzly bear with scales, and it was standing upright. Claws like daggers and violet eyes turned on Saya. What do I do what do I do what do I do? I was trying to keep my breathing calm as I dodged each of its slashes. Why was it after me, anyway? Was it the same corporation that stole Diva's twins?

My thoughts distracted me just enough and the beast landed a hit in me side, sending me to the ground with a scream. Blood oozed between my fingers as I clutched my hand over the wound. It stepped closer, it's fangs gleaming enough to look like a twisted, sick smile. I closed my eyes as it's claws rose to strike once more…this was it…

"Saya!" the voice I so longed to hear forced my eyes open, and I could have cried for joy to see him here.

He was before me, cello case slamming into the belly of the beast and sending it flying backwards into a brick wall. Then he turned with a calm expression. "Take it, Saya," he said in his soft voice, and only then did I notice my sword was in his outstretched hand.

I gripped it and smiled at him, cutting my finger on the edge and letting the blood dribble down onto the blade. My eyes glazed to red, and I lunged for the monster rising from the rubble of bricks and dust. One clean swipe and I had lopped off the creature's head, sighing in relief when it crumbled on the spot. I had been afraid since it didn't appear to be a chiropteran that my blood might not work. I was never more glad to be wrong.

Hagi approached me and gently took the sword from my hands, removing the blood with one quick swipe to the air. Then he returned the sword to its sheath and fell to his knees. I stepped closer to him, hugging him around the shoulders. "What is it Hagi?"

He just groaned and looked up at me, shock across his face. "What am I doing?"

AN: As usual, review pleaseeeee! Thanks to those that have.