Authors Note: Hey all! I am so in love with how this progressing. Now, I suck at writing mushy stuff but I am learning so bear with me...I will give fair warning now, the next couple of chapters give a preview into D's early life as told by me. Just cause it works. Plus, he even talks about a memory of his...hehe, oh the giddyness. Do read and review...Don't leave me hangin!

Chapter 11

Trip into Darkness

D found a knapsack hanging from Crystal's bed. He filled it with what he hoped would be enough food to hold her over until the job was done. He filled the canteen that was on her counter with water and put it in with the food. He wasn't able to find any kind of storage areas when he looked around so assumed she didn't have any blankets to sleep under.

(Looks like she's bunkin' with you tonight big fella) D's hand said with a chuckle.

"Quiet."

His horse was standing by the cave entrance waiting for him. D walked over and took the reins in his left hand while carrying Crystals bag in his right and walked outside to where Crystal was waiting.

"Here" D said quietly as he handed Crystal her travel bag.

"Thank you D" she replied taking the bag from him. She hadn't expected him to do that. D walked over to where the sheriff was still laying unconscious and put his left hand to his cheek, putting him in a deep sleep.

(Should be good enough till we get back) his hand said.

Standing he walked back over to Crystal who eyed him with curiosity.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"I put him in a heavy sleep. He will still be here when we return." D answered quietly. She wondered if he has ever raised his voice to anyone before. She stood there pondering this when D turned to face her. She blinked rapidly for a moment then turned her focus on his chest. The blood was gone and it looked like it had already healed. Only puncture marks from the blades remained.

"Does that bother you? I mean, does it still hurt?" Crystal asked bringing her eyes up to meet his.

"No, its healed." He replied and turned to get on his horse.

"I mean did it hurt? That poison is some strong stuff."

D said nothing as he pulled his black clad body on his horse effortlessly. Crystal walked over to him and looked up at the pale beauty that now looked down at her. She wanted an answer from him, one thing she has always wondered about. She just hoped he would answer her.

"D, I want to know if you feel pain. You know, like the rest of us."

Looking up D sat on his horse in silence. He wanted to know why she wondered about this.

"D?" Crystal asked again as she brought her hand up and touched his steely calf. He shifted his gaze back down to the white haired beauty. He sighed inwardly knowing she wouldn't leave him alone until he answered her. Normally he didn't care, but there was something about this girl that made him feel different.

"I feel pain like anyone else" he replied in his usual cold tone.

Crystal smiled. That was all she wanted to know and was glad he answered her. D removed his left foot from the stirrup and held out his left hand. She took them both and climbed on to settle herself behind D. She wrapped her arms around his waist and felt every muscle in his back coiled beneath flesh. D kicked his horse into a gallop headed for the castle. She couldn't help but to blush as she squeezed tighter to the hunters waist with the side of her face buried in his raven locks. She really hated how soft his hair was and wondered how he kept it that way. As they rode through the forest she could feel every muscle in his back and shoulders move in time with the horse and couldn't believe how tight his abs were. OH NO! What the hell am I doing? I can't be thinking like this! She thought to herself. They made a small turn and her hands slid down on his waist a little bit and she couldn't stop her mind from going down the dirty path it was already on. She was on the back of a horse with the famous Vampire Hunter D and was holding on to him, who wouldn't have those thoughts? She was so deep into thought that she loosened her grip on his waist; she forgot they were on horseback. It was then that D took a sharp turn at full speed that dislodged her.

Crystal yelped as she tried to grip tighter. He brought his left hand around and grabbed her thigh to keep her from falling as he slowed his horse. Damn he is strong she thought to herself as they slowed to a walk.

(She has a nice ass) his hand piped up as he removed it from her thigh.

"Sorry about that, can we stop for a few minutes? My backside is killing me." She asked as she relaxed her death grip on D's waist. D reined his horse to a stop. Hearing no reply from him she assumed that stopping his horse was his answer so she slid off the back of his horse and almost fell on her butt in the process. She made it look like she was stretching so his hand wouldn't make fun of her. She turned around and walked away to stretch her legs.

D got off his horse as well and reached under the shoulder compartment to flip the cooling fans on while he waited for Crystal.

(She really does have a nice ass. Nice and firm. Not to round and it doesn't jiggle either, perfect) his hand laughed.

"That's enough" D growled

(Come on, you can't say you wouldn't tap that if she offered)

"I said enough."

(Well I hate to say it there buddy but she saved your keister. You owe her something.)

"I know"

(Holy shit D! Did I just sense some emotion in your voice?)

"Quiet" D snapped.

(Ha! I knew you weren't totally heartless) his hand said with excitement. D squeezed his fist closed to silence his parasite.

Meanwhile Crystal made her way back to D where she found him leaning against a tree.

"How long have we been riding?" she asked fanning herself with her hand.

"4 hours." D replied.

"Geez, no wonder its so hot. The sun came up 3 hours ago." She walked over to D's horse and petted it on its muzzle then climbed aboard.

"Well, we still have a ways to go I would imagine." She smiled as D walked over to his horse, switched off the fans and got on behind her. His arms made their way around her waist as he took hold of the reins and kicked his horse into a gallop. His arms were amazingly strong. She could feel his biceps bulge out as he handled his horse, though she noticed it wasn't too much of a difference when they were relaxed. She could feel his hard chest on her back and his thighs touching the back of hers. There wasn't apart of him that wasn't strong and chiseled. Here was the greatest vampire hunter in the frontier and she was riding with him. She felt like the luckiest girl in the whole frontier and a smile danced across her face at the thought. The leaned her head back on his massive chest and heart his heartbeat. It made her glad to know that he had one. She was focused so intently on listening to it beat so strong and steady that she fell asleep wrapped in D's strong arms. She forgot how tired she was until then. D felt her go to sleep in his arms. He kept riding. She wasn't going anywhere.

Crystal woke suddenly as she was set down on the forest floor. D had walked away to get some wood for the fire. She laughed; did he forget she was a witch? She didn't do anything though; he probably wasn't used having someone around. She wondered how close the castle they were now. Shivering slightly she drew her knees to her chest and crossed her arms rubbing them vigorously to get the blood flowing again. The forest got cold at night and she was amused at the fact that D would go get wood for a fire. She still didn't start one though. Being out in the dark normally wouldn't scare her, but she knew that the Countess knew what they were up to and was a little surprised that nothing had happened yet. The forest itself seemed too quiet for her comfort levels.

D returned to where Crystal was sitting but she didn't hear him arrive until he dropped the armload of wood on the ground beside her. She let out a yelp as she jumped grabbing for her shuriken.

"Damn it D, you could have at least let me know you were there." Crystal told him looking rather annoyed.

"I did" he replied kneeling down to build the fire.

"Yea, I meant before that." She crossed her arms again watching the hunter build the fire. She decided to clear a spot big enough for her to sleep in without getting jabbed by anything and sat down. She pulled her knapsack off her back and pulled out some of the fruit that D had put in it. D finished the fire and began unsaddling his horse. Digging around in her bag she curled her lip back in a snarl when she realized that all he had packed her was fruit. How the hell am I supposed to keep my energy up with just this? Sighing loudly she stood and walked over to D.

"I am going to get us some meat." She told him. He just nodded his reply.

"I won't be gone long." She walked slowly into the impeding forest.

(D, you gonna follow her?)

"No"

D laid his saddle on the ground and sat down with his back against a tree crossing his arms across his chest.

(Why not D? She saved your ass and your just gonna let her go into the woods without protection?)

"She has protection. They won't go after her anyways." D answered.

(What won't, D what the hell am I missing)

"What do you think?"

(Guard hounds? D are you serious?)

"Yes." D replied closing his eyes.

Crystal didn't have to go far before she found what she was looking for, Wormongers. They were rabbits with fangs like a vampire and carnivorous. They were deadly if they bit you but they themselves made for great eating. The lived in colonies so if she could pick off a couple stragglers she would have it made. They had an innate sense of smell for fresh blood. Sure enough as she crouched down in the shadows they causght the scent of blood and headed towards it. She drew her bow and quietly knocked 2 arrows, she whispered an enchantment to them and the tips glowed a faint red. The very last 2 wormongers were nice and fat but slow, She drew the string back and released, she nailed them both. She put on a blood frenzy enchantment, similar to what she did with D, except this one was to kill and D's wasn't. She stood up putting her bow back in place and grabber her dinner. She had to move quick before the rest of the colony smelled the blook and came back. When she returned to camp she saw D sitting against a tree with his arms crossed and head bowed. She walked over to the fire and faced the hunter. She pulled a skinning knife from her boot and got to work.

D sat there in the darkening forest and watched. Clearly this wasn't the first time she had to catch her own dinner. He got the feeling with the way she was acting there would come a barrage of questions all aimed at him. She was being too quiet. He did owe her something; maybe he owed her enough to at least answer them or most of them at least. Sure enough it wasn't long after this thought crossed his mind the first question came.

"Would you like some?" she asked as she built a spit from some of the wood D brought back.

"No" he replied.

"I really hate not knowing the time; we are so deep in the woods I can barely tell the difference between night and day. With the exception of the temperature change of course." She stuck the rabbit's limbs on the part that she would rotate.

"Its 45 minutes to sunset."

"How do you know? Oh, it because you are half vampire, you can sense it huh?" she said slowly turning the stick with the meat on it.

(Damn right!) his hand replied for him.

Crystal chuckled. She sat in silence and waited for her food to cook. I can't believe I asked him if he wanted any. She thought. I wonder if he even eats? Before she could stop it the question came to her lips.

"Do you ever eat?" she slapped her hand to her mouth when she realized she said it out loud.

"When I need to" he answered quietly.

Holy shit! Did he really just answer me! Just when she thought she had him all figured out he pulled a new surprise out of that massive hat.