Hello! Sorry it took so long! But I'm back!

Blood Love by Boogermeister

Chapter 17

Later the next day, Anzu checked out of the hospital. She and Ryuuji went to the park where everything was alive and green with lots of flowers. "What are you going to do now, Ryuuji?" asked Anzu, glancing at him. "They took away your gun and everything, so what is left to do?"

"Don't know, Anzu," Ryuuji replied quietly. "Maybe I can become some vigilante; that way, I can help you." Anzu sighed slightly.

"You know Atem doesn't trust you," she said quietly. "He said that once a human becomes a hunter, he stays a hunter, no matter what."

"But I helped him, didn't I?" questioned Ryuuji.

"I know, But . . . . a couple of nights before, I heard Atem threatened you if you anything happen to me," Anzu said quietly, slightly fidgeting. "Maybe if you weren't a vampire hunter in the first place, he would have trusted you, Ryuuji."

"I'm not a hunter anymore," said Ryuuji. "Let me talk to him; I'm sure he can trust me if you helped me out."

"Okay, Ryuuji, let's go," smiled Anzu.

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Mai watched in amusement as Atem attempted to change Momoya's clothes. "Be careful of her head, leader," she mused. Atem gently pulled Momoya's arms out of the tiny sleeves of the shirt. He then covered her with the blanket and picked her up from the couch. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" asked Mai, smiling.

"No, but it made me nervous to be careful of my fragile Doll," Atem replied, cradling his now sleeping daughter. "Everytime I see Momoya's face, she looks more and more like Anzu."

"How is Anzu doing, anyway?" asked Mai.

"She's finally feeling better, Mai," smiled Atem. "Anzu said she's getting out of the hospital today. Isn't that right, my Doll?" He caressed through her dark hair and chuckled softly.

Just then, there was a knock on the metal doors. "Who is it?" Atem called out. The doors opened and Anzu walked in with a delightful look on her face. "Anzu!" Atem exclaimed happily as she walked up to him. Anzu kissed his lips as she hugged him.

"I missed her so, Atem," she smiled as she took Momoya into her arms. She then turned to Mai. "Thank you, Mai, for helping taking care of her." Mai smiled in response.

"Anzu, are you sure you're well enough to walk around?" Atem asked.

"Yeah, I'm better now," replied Anzu.

"Good, from now on, I'll protect you and Momoya from anything or anyone I considered threatening," Atem smiled as he kissed her lips softly.

"Uh, Atem there's something I have to tell you, Anzu said quietly. Suddenly, Ryuuji walked inside, catching Atem's and Mai's attentions. "why are you here?" Atem asked indifferently.

"Atem, Ryuuji wants to help us," Anzu said quietly.

"But he's a hunter, I can't trust him, even with my life," Atem scoffed.

"He's not a hunter anymore, Atem," Anzu said quickly. "He wants to help you to protect me and Momoya."

"I'm strong enough to my own family," atem argued. "My followers will look after you whenever I go out--"

"Except during the day, Atem," Anzu reassured. "You can't go out in the daytime. That's why Ryuuji will protect me. He's my friend and I trust him." Atem glanced at Ryuuji before he scoffed in defeat.

"All right, fine," he said finally. "He'll protect you and our daughter." He then walked up to Ryuuji and whispered something to him. "If you harm my family or failed to protect them, I will kill you in a horrific way possible," Atem whispered dangerously. " I'll dismember your limbs and head, rip out your organs, and scatter your body all over Domino City. Do you understand?"

Now paled in fear, Ryuuji shakily nodded in response. Atem mentally smirked as he left. "He . . . . he still doesn't trust me," Ryuuji said quietly, breathing heavily.

"Well, he doesn't open up to people he just met sometimes," said Mai. "Give it some times. I'm sure he'll like you sooner or later."

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Staring at the sunset, Atem grimaced at the thought of an ex-vampire hunter protecting his family. "He's not trustworthy, I know it," he muttered. "He'll turn against us." Just then, the metal doors opened behind him and Ryuuji stepped out.

"Oh, I thought you left," he said quietly.

"What do you mean by that?" Atem questioned sternly.

"Nothing," Ryuuji answered quickly. "I just thought you went out . . . . doing what you usually do."

"I see . . . ." Atem said, narrowing his eyes. "Even if I did went out, it's far too early. That would make me an easy target for hunters like yourself."

"I tod you, I'm not a hunter anymore," Ryuuji saidas he took a step closer towards Atem. Suddenly, the vampire leader growled lowly as his crimson eyes flashed dangerously.

"You think I would let you protect my family?" he growled lowly. "I won't trust you, even if you beg. Next time, don't come here, or I won't be resposible for what my followers would do to you."

"All right, fine," sighed Ryuuji. "but you have to explain this to Anzu." He then walked away. Atem scoffed softly as he turned around, only to meet face-to-face with infuriated Anzu, who was still cradling Momoya.

"You promised, Atem," she said angrily. "Why can't you trust my friend? Why do you hate him so much?"

"He's a hunter, Anzu," argued Atem. "He would endanger our daughter, me, and m kind."

"You just don't get it, do you?" Anzu muttered as she ran back inside. Mai walked out, slightly shaking her head as she walked past Atem. "What? What did I do wrong?" he questioned, glancing at her.

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Later that night, Atem glanced down at the streets below before turning to jonouchi and Mahad. "What did I do wrong?" he asked qiuetly. "I'm not sure why Anzu is angry at me just because that hunter could be dangerous to my family."

"He don't seem so dangerous," said Jonouchi. "I think it's because he try to respect you or something."

"A human respecting me?" scoffed Atem. "That's ridiculous."

"Anzu respects you," Jonouchi muttered. Atem fell quiet for a few minutes. "That's different," he said quietly. "Besides, that human isn't trustworthy."

"If you don't trust him, then how come he made us escape from the hospital without getting any other hunters?"

"For once, Jonouchi is right, Atem," said Mahad. "Also, I think Anzu needs other protection besides our own. That ex-hunter could stop other humans from harassing her."

". . . . I don't know," muttered Atem. "It's hard to trust anyone, especially after what I've been through since I became a leader."

"Then talk to the guy," smiled Jonouchi as he walked up to the edge of the roof. "See? There he is." He pointed down unmistakenly at Ryuuji, who was walking slowly past them. Atem stared at him. He then scanned the area for any other human, which there was none, before he leaped down in front of Ryuuji.

"Whoa! Why'd you do that for!?" yelled startled Ryuuji as he took a step back.

"I came to . . . . uh, apologize for my . . . . rude behavior," Atem said quietly,scratching his head uncomfortably. "I . . . . didn't mean what I said. I should thank you for looking after Anzu for the past several months."

"I appreciate that," Ryuuji replied quietly. "How's Anzu doing?"

"She's doing well," replied Atem. "Tell me, does Anzu have any friends besides you?"

"No, she didn't have any during her pregnancy to help her out.You never ask her about that?"

"I didn't want to be involved with her private life, I didn't really know," Atem said. "That must have explain why she was angry at me earlier."

"I see . . . ." muttered Ryuuji.

"If you are her only friend, then you can protect her and my daughter," said Atem. "From now on, I trust you. Do we have a deal?" He then held out his hand.

"Deal," smiled Ryuuji as he shook his hand. "I know you can count on me."

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Gomen nasai on the update. I have too much to do (winter homework all week long)

I promise you I will keep it up during the holidays.

I'll update ASAP!! Merri Kurisumasu!