Chapter 4: Tyki's Torture
Airi let out a humorless laugh.
"What," she said jeeringly, causing Lavi to wince at the venom in her voice, "you don't count as one of those Donors? Or do you consider yourself dead?"
"I might as well be," he said harshly. "This life…is worse than being dead."
Airi smirked and covered the distance between the two of them in a split second; almost instantaneously, her leg shot up and kicked Lavi with such force that he was sent flying back into a tree, causing it to crack.
"This life is worse than being dead?" she said mockingly. "You want to die, Lavi? Then by all means, stay still." Her red eyes gleamed with malice as her right hand suddenly glowed, then lengthening out into claws. "I'll rip your heart out."
She sped forward, her speed so fast that Kanda could hardly register it, if he could at all, and within another split second, there was a loud cracking sound; the next thing Kanda saw was a bloody Lavi skipping out of the collision, gripping his shoulder tightly.
"What the hell?!" Kanda said, starting forward to help his vice captain, only to meet Airi's threatening outstretched hand. He caught a glimpse of her crimson eyes as she turned around slightly, warning him to stay out of it; she then turned back to Lavi.
"Ooh," sighed Airi, licking the blood off her sharpened hand. "I missed. Looks like you've gotten a bit better. But this is sad, Lavi; a vampire that I've created should be strong…and you can hardly match up to me when I'm thirsty. It's because you drink such poor quality blood…"
"If it comes between me being weak," spat Lavi, "and me being a total bitch and draining someone all the time, then I'd rather be weak."
"Why do you want to die so badly?" Airi asked coldly. "You're a vampire…you're supreme to other humans."
"Just because you don't know what it's like to be human doesn't mean you can assume that you're better than them," said Lavi harshly, struggling to stand. "Airi, you were always like this…even though your family fell from power, you never got over that fall from glory…and so you've turned into—"
Lavi's sentence was left uncompleted, for Airi's leg went slamming into his side, once again forcing him to fly into another tree.
"Don't talk trash, Lavi Bookman," she said with incomparable coldness. "Don't you dare try to analyze me…"
"Ha," Lavi said, breathing raggedly. "Touch a nerve? I'm not like you, Airi, I was human to begin with, and—"
"Are you trying to blame me for your being a vampire?" she questioned. "Because if you are, let me remind you, that was your choice."
"Humans can turn into vampires?" said Kanda, bewildered.
"It's very easy," said Airi in reply. "When a vampire is drinking the blood of a human, all that it takes is for the human to wish that he or she was a vampire; if his or her willpower is strong enough, the blood will react to the will, and the transformation will take place."
"That sounds…too easy," said Kanda icily. "Why isn't this whole world full of vampires then?"
"Because we don't allow it to happen most of the time," said Airi. "Which is why all my Donors are dead. They're idiots."
"What?"
"They all wished they were a vampire at some point when I was taking blood from them," said Airi. "I noticed, of course, and before they could change…" Her incarnadine eyes glittered. "I killed them."
"Then why didn't you kill me as well?" demanded Lavi.
"Because you're a Bookman," she said calmly. "And because you were my first Donor."
"Wait, he was your Donor?" sputtered Kanda.
"Jeez, you catch on slowly," sighed Airi. "Yes, he was. And then he turned into a vampire, which made him an unsustainable Donor…so I moved on. Besides, Lavi, don't blame me—your will to become a vampire was strong enough to let it take place, so that was your fault."
"You know that Bookmen can never be vampires," he snarled.
"Ah, well, what's the harm of having an immortal Bookman?" she smirked. "This way, you can forever record the royal family's history…"
"Give me a break."
Airi let out a breath, her right hand glowing once more.
"Well, if you really want to die, I'll do it," she said. "You ready, Lavi?"
Kanda saw his vice captain tense up.
"Or were your words all…what they were? Just words?"
Lavi gritted his teeth. "Don't fuck with me. Do it. If your conscience can bear it."
Airi smiled. "My conscience? No, Lavi, you'll just be one of those twenty some Donors that I've had before. No big deal." Her hand glowed red. "Good bye."
She whirled away; Kanda let out a shout, running forward to where Lavi was; he was not about to let someone get murdered right in front of him, even if he was a vampire, even if he was an annoying rabbit who liked calling Kanda by his first name—
Kanda's intervention was unnecessary, for someone else was able to stop Airi in time. Kanda blinked, and Tyki Mikk was there, holding Airi's arm almost lazily in one of his.
"Now, now," Tyki said amiably, though his eyes did not reflect his gentle tone, "we don't want to cause a problem here, do we now, Airi?"
Kanda took a step back.
"Shit…you're one of them too," he said weakly.
Tyki seemed to notice that he was there only when he spoke.
"Tsk, Airi, you weren't really going to murder Kanda-san's best friend right in front of him, would you? How traumatizing."
"Lavi wanted it," she said stubbornly. "Let me go, Tyki."
"I think we all can calm down a bit, no?" Tyki said, his voice growing with warning.
"Sonofabitch—"
Tyki snapped his hand back and stabbed it through Airi, who immediately stopped speaking. There was no blood, but the effect was still immediate.
"If you don't want to listen to me, keep speaking," he said with insane coldness. "I will rip your heart out in a moment's flash."
Airi breathed slowly, and Kanda could only stare at the tan hand that was protruding from her back. Crazy shit, crazy vampires…
"Get out of me," she said calmly. "I'll stop."
"Very well," said Tyki, agreeing.
Kanda saw Airi's shoulders relax as Tyki's hand moved through her body, leaving it…then…
There was a flash of red, a splattering of the red color, an agonized cry as Airi suddenly fell, doubled over. Tyki caught her, holding her up as he licked his bloody hand, grinning.
"I'm a bit thirsty," he said, lifting Airi up and opening her blouse, which was now blossoming with red. He raised her high enough so that his lips touched her bleeding chest. "And…well…I thought I'd teach you a lesson…"
He gave another sadistic grin and began licking up the blood, his golden eyes closing as he enjoyed himself. Kanda found that he could not say, nor do anything, momentarily transfixed on the sight in front of him. It became very clear what the hierarchy of the vampires was…
Lavi stood up and approached Kanda cautiously, his European features stricken with disgust and anxiety.
"Lavi," said Tyki suddenly, though the teacher did not turn around to actually address him. He seemed to absorbed with studying Airi's panting face.
Lavi stopped.
"Yeah?"
"Take Kanda back to the school and make sure no one comes here."
"…Yes."
"And Kanda."
The human did not answer, but Tyki continued anyway.
"Don't bother telling anyone about us," Tyki said, burying his head at Airi's chest. "And don't deny Airi blood tomorrow…she'll be thirsty."
Kanda's sapphire eyes met Airi's ruby ones for a fleeting second; in that moment, he felt a sense of desperation, frustration, and exhaustion coming from her, disappearing as soon as the eye contact was broken. Lavi took Kanda by the shoulder and led him quickly out of the clearing, leaving the prince to feast.
"…Crazy," was all Kanda could say the moment the two kendo officers were alone.
"I know," said Lavi sympathetically. "It's a lot to take in…"
"Explain."
Lavi looked at him quizzically.
"Explain what?"
"Everything. You were her Donor…what Mikk is, what you are, explain everything."
"Yuu-chan, you're not making much sense."
Kanda took Lavi by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"Make it make sense," he said in a deadly tone.
Lavi took his wrist and twisted it effortlessly, causing Kanda to drop him.
"You just saw Airi beat me up," said Lavi, "but that isn't to say I'm exactly weak. Airi's one of the stronger vampires. I'm at least better than the best human, Kanda." He gave a wry smile at Kanda's fury. "So…to explain things. Well, that's a bit difficult, isn't it? And it's not like you need to know."
"I'm not just going to blindly give her blood—"
"But that's what you offered just now, didn't you?"
Kanda looked at him, scandalized.
"That was not blindly," he said stubbornly. "That was payback."
"For what?"
"She gave me blood back before the start of the second and third matches."
"I see,' said Lavi, understanding. "That's why you won…well, it was your blood to begin with. No need to give it back to her."
"So how were you her Donor before?" persisted Kanda. "And what did you mean about the whole fall from glory thing, and—"
"Calm down," said Lavi lightly, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not going to tell you everything, Kanda. It's better if you remained…in the dark about this."
"I want to know."
"Kanda, you don't understand,' sighed Lavi. "You've seen both Airi and Tyki's personalities—they're freaking sadistic. Tyki even more so than Airi, really. If you get involved with us too much, you'll get killed."
Kanda fell silent.
"Not knowing is best for you," continued Lavi. "Just don't keep asking. If Airi wants blood, try not to give it to her, though I doubt she'll let you…I'll try to stay around more and make sure she doesn't drain you, but just avoid her as much as you can—"
"But then, won't she target other students?"
"I dunno…usually, Airi's really controlled about feeding. But that was back when Tyki wasn't with her constantly, wasn't drinking her blood. She's better than most, believe me—you saw her eye color, she was parched—but it's still pretty incredible not leaping up at you…which is good for you, Kanda, because that means you'll see her around less."
"Mikk…is he like…"
"Her fiancé?" suggested Lavi. "More like her master…he's really controlling…"
Kanda did not voice that he almost felt…sorry for Airi, after seeing her lose so badly to Tyki. They continued walking in silence, Kanda debating whether or not he should keep asking questions, when Lavi abruptly stopped.
"Damn," he cursed.
"What?"
"My shoulder's not popping back into place…hang on a sec…"
Lavi rammed his shoulder into the wall of the dojo, causing a few boards of wood to splinter. There was another loud cracking sound, and Lavi emerged from the collision looking better.
"All better!" he said cheerily, swinging his arm around. "Damn girl, dislocating it…"
"You seem much more cheerful than before…two minutes ago, you were all for dying," said Kanda drily.
"This life…can be tiring," said Lavi seriously. "But if I'm not going to die…might as well be happy…or at least…try…"
"Now you're the one not making any sense…"
Lavi let out a chuckle, but almost immediately grew somber, his green eye darting around.
"What is it?" said Kanda warily.
"Stay here," Lavi said tersely.
"What's going on?"
But Kanda could not elicit any further answer from Lavi because his redheaded classmate disappeared the moment he turned around. Kanda was left alone on the empty street.
Tyki was having fun. Airi was leaning against a tree trunk in front of him, her blouse bloody and open, a profusely bleeding wound at her chest. Having propped her legs up on either side of him, one of Tyki's hands was buried up her skirt, the other under her back, forcing it to arch and for her wound to be more accessible to his lips. Airi's eyes were closed, her lips parted as she panted from the effort it took to stay conscious. A thin veneer of sweat covered her face, though there was a delicate but definite flush at her otherwise pale cheeks. Occasionally she would let out a moan or a cry as Tyki grew rougher with her, and the sound of her discomfort only made him grin further.
"You always said you hate it whenever I touch you," he said softly, lapping up the blood over her heart. "But whenever I do this—" She suddenly let out a loud cry. "—your emotions get so high that it's all I can do not to rip you apart…do you really hate me, Airi? Because if you do, it's a bit sad that I can get you aroused to this degree…"
Airi seemed to want to reply with a scathing retort, but Tyki made it so that his actions kept her lightheaded and too weak to respond verbally. Her blood was smelling absolutely delicious—Tyki collected as much of it as he could.
"S-something like this," she said, breathing ragged, "at school—"
"Don't complain…you're obviously enjoying it…"
Another scent appeared behind them, one that was less pleasing to Tyki's nose than Airi's, but quite familiar.
"What is it?" Tyki said, not bothering to look up from his activities. Airi was positively writhing in pain and discomfort, and he wanted to commit her face to memory. "I thought I told you to leave."
"You'd better stop," Lavi said behind him. The tone of absolute disgust was evident in his voice. "We have a few problems."
"Problems?" repeated Tyki, drinking more blood. "Damn, Airi, your wound's closing up already…looks like I'll just have to make another one…" He brought his lips to Airi's neck, his fangs lengthening.
"Stop it," Lavi said sharply. "There's no way you need that much blood—she's closer to collapsing than you'll ever get her to be."
"And why would you care, Bookman?" Tyki said deprecatingly. "I thought you hated her."
"Just stop."
Tyki sighed, retracting his hands from Airi's body and standing up. She collapsed on the ground, limp and breathing harshly. Her eyes were more of a bloody color than Tyki had ever seen before.
"What's this with the problems?" said Tyki, finally tearing his eyes away from the delightful sight of a suffering Airi and turning to Lavi. He noticed the British student watching Airi with an expression of mixed pity and rejection.
"Vampire hunters," Lavi replied slowly, looking up at Tyki. "Three of them. They're here on campus."
"I see…know who they are?"
"No need to say," said a voice from above them. "We can explain ourselves."
Tyki's eyes flickered in amusement as three figures appeared in front of him. Two males and a female.
"Well, what a nostalgic face," sneered Tyki. "And what must we owe your presence to, Cross Marian?"
A tall, well-built redhead stepped forward, his dark eyes flashing from behind his spectacles. A cocked gun was in his gloved hand, and he looked at Tyki in disdain.
"We'd heard that Totsuka Airi would be coming to this school," Cross said coldly. "A gathering of three vampires…a prince, an ex-princess, and a Bookman…not a good combination."
"You know that I'm no threat," Lavi said coolly.
"You're not," agreed a figure from behind Cross. "But we had to check."
"Shut up, Allen," said Cross. "I'm talking."
The white-haired apprentice looked apprehensively up at his teacher.
"Yes, Shishou," he said meekly, exchanging glances with his fellow pupil, who simply shook her head and smiled.
"So what's the problem?" inquired Tyki, his golden eyes gleaming.
"Having you three in one place is a bad idea," Cross replied. "We're asking Totsuka Airi to leave this city."
"You're just prejudiced against her because when she was royalty, you never landed a blow on her," snorted Tyki. "But there's absolutely no need to worry, Marian. I assure you that while Airi is here, she'll be kept at a drained and…unhealthy level. Absolutely without any strength."
"You're…kidding me," breathed Airi.
All of them turned to look at her as she stood up shakily, leaning heavily on the tree behind her. Cross's eyes flickered.
"Looks like Mikk's been treating you badly, Totsuka Airi," he remarked.
"If…you don't want me to stay here…then by all means," she panted, "I'll leave…I have no desire…to stay where he is."
"You're staying here on the vampire monarchy's orders," reminded Tyki. "You listen to us, not them."
Allen looked genuinely alarmed at the state that Airi was in, her blood splattered across her front, her face waxy and weakened.
"…This kind of treatment," the white-haired boy said slowly, "this is unacceptable, even for a vampire…"
"Allen, shut up," said Cross sternly.
"But Shishou, Allen-kun's right," said the girl at Allen's side. She was also surveying Airi with a look of anxiety.
"Lenalee, be quiet."
Allen sputtered. "How come she gets a nice 'be quiet' and I get a 'shut up?' That's favoritism, Shishou!"
"Shut up, Allen," Cross said with a roll of his eyes. "Tyki Mikk, did you just finish feeding?"
"Yes, I did," Tyki said smoothly. "How much I take and how I take it is none of your business, hunters. After all…" Tyki reached out to Airi and grabbed her by the shoulder, pressing her tightly against his chest and trailing a finger up her neck. "Totsuka Airi is my properly. Kindly stay out of our affairs."
"Property," Lenalee spat. "That's what you think of the last remaining member of the Totsuka family?"
"Ara?" said Tyki. "I wasn't aware that you hunters thought so kindly of the Totsuka family?"
"We weren't, but they were a hell lot better than you Noah," said Allen icily.
"Both of you," Cross said impatiently, "SHUT UP. Mikk's right—how he treats Totsuka Airi is none of our business. However, I do have a problem with your theory. If she's kept at a drained level, isn't she going to cause trouble if she attacks someone?"
"Airi always has a Donor."
"Has she found one already?"
"Yes."
"Name."
"Kanda Yuu."
"HA!" sniggered Allen quite loudly. Everyone turned to him, perplexed. "Sorry," he added hastily, "but man…good choice, Totsuka…"
"Is he a willing Donor?" questioned Cross.
"No way in hell," answered another new voice.
Kanda had answered the question for himself and was currently stepping over a few branches and bushes to join the crowd. His eyes trailed from Airi to Tyki to Lavi, then to the hunter side, finally landing on Allen.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" he shouted, literally jumping a few feet back.
"What?" smirked Allen.
"HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED TOO?!"
"We're the vamp hunters," grinned Allen. "Jealous? I pity your ignorance, Ba-Kanda."
"Moyashi, I will seriously—"
"If all you children do not shut up immediately, I will rip you all apart, limb from limb," said Cross lethally. "Or I will make you pay off my debts. Whichever one strikes your fancy. Either way, death is inevitable."
Kanda seemed to be contemplating whether or not he should reply, but after another glare from Cross, he held his tongue. Tyki stroked Airi's cheek gently, noting her constant trembling.
"Gentlemen…lady," he added, nodding toward Lenalee, who glared at him, "Airi is…tired right now. I'd rather not expose any of you to danger…so we will depart."
"Don't think you're getting away that easily," warned Cross. "We'll be staying around."
"Then by all means, do. I've already assured you, and I will do so again, that Airi will not attack anyone in this city." A smirk crawled to his lips as he addressed her. "Isn't that right, dear? After all, if you do…there will be hell to pay."
Allen opened his mouth to indignantly argue back, but Cross's fist connected with the side of his apprentice's face, causing him to hold his tongue.
"Bookman, take Kanda," Tyki ordered.
"What?!" said Kanda incredulously.
"You don't think I can leave Airi in this state, do you?" said Tyki condescendingly. "My place, Bookman. Now."
With a curt nod of farewell to his archenemies, Tyki wrapped his arms around Airi's thin body and disappeared into the settling darkness.
"In here," Airi heard Tyki say in the back of her mind.
She could feel herself be carried through another door; the air tasted of nighttime and drawn curtains. Evening must have fallen, and she was probably in a bedroom. She felt herself being set down on a mattress. Her consciousness had been slipping in and out the entire time, and she knew that if she actually woke up, she would be driven to attack the nearest person.
"So what now?" Kanda's voice snarled. "I'm just supposed to stay here and let her drink my blood?"
"That's the plan, yes," Tyki answered.
"I'm not going to—"
"Do it or I'll kill you."
"She's going to end up killing me—"
"She won't," said Lavi. "She's got good control."
"I still won't—"
"Until Airi's fed properly, neither of you will leave this room," said Tyki smoothly. "Bookman, let's go."
"This is ridiculous!" said Kanda angrily.
"Too bad."
Airi felt the air suddenly grow stagnant as the door closed with a clack. A tense silence ensued.
"…Are you awake?" Kanda finally inquired.
Airi stirred slightly. She smelled Kanda's presence draw closer, and hesitatingly, their fingers touched as he sat down on the bed.
"…Are you going to attack?" he asked hoarsely.
"…There's no window…" she murmured, eyes still closed.
He seemed startled with her not-on-topic response, but answered accordingly.
"No…there's not…"
"…He's torturing me…"
"I…I can see that." Kanda's voice was uneasy.
No windows meant no fresh scents. The moment Kanda's blood was spilled, Airi's control would be tested, for that smell would be all that flooded her senses.
Kanda spoke again. "…Is he…always like that?"
He must've meant Tyki and his sadism. Again, Airi did not answer on topic.
"You will have to give me your blood," she said, finally sitting up. The moment she did, all the scents of Kanda and his flowing blood hit her like a storm, and it took all the self-control she could muster not to pounce.
"…I won't."
"It is the only way you are going to get out of here…" she said, her breathing growing faster with the effort it took not to take Kanda and rip him open. "And Tyki will not be scared to kill you, Kanda…he's not a remorseful person…"
"Why are you…and him…"
"Not now…" Her crimson eyes were growing larger, and Kanda no longer seemed to be a person, but a food, a delicious looking meal right in front of her…
"Totsuka," he said warily, standing up.
Airi caught him by the wrist and pulled him back down to her.
"I will not take a lot," she promised. When he did not reply, Airi continued. "Are you…scared, Kanda Yuu?"
"No," was the automatic answer.
"A courageous response…you needn't worry, Kanda…I'll protect you, like I said before…from all vampires, from the hunters…as long as you don't wish to become a vampire yourself, you will stay alive. I swear."
She brought a hand up to his cheek and caressed his lovely face.
"Come," she said. "I'm thirsty."
Kanda stared at her for a long moment, then finally…a nod. Her control broke, and she leapt forward, fangs outstretched. Time to feed.
Free Talk:
Has anyone ever realized the striking resemblance between Yagari from Vampire Knight and Cross from DGM? Let me enumerate their similarities:
They're both the teacher. They both have "stupid apprentices." They both have guns. They both have a hat. They both have eye patches. They both smoke. They both have long hair.
Okay, the last one didn't really count, but seriously! This is a STRIKING resemblance! I don't want to accuse anyone of plagiarism--they're both fantastic manga--but man, the moment I saw Yagari, I thought of Cross.
So thus, Cross is vampire hunter. Very accordingly.
Anyone OOC? Confused? Tired of Tyki's sadism? (If it's the later, sorry, but ya gotta admit, it's in his nature.) Please tell me!
I'm currently writing a part in Diamonds in Wine where Tyki is quite sensitive and gentle--contrasting so much with this one is an interesting juxtaposition.
I shall prattle no longer. Please REVIEW!!! I'll love you for it! :)
Love, -m.n.-