Hello dear friends...here is the newest chapter.
I do not own sailor moon or blue seed.
The sun touched her skin with warmth, it had been so long since she had felt its rays. She looked up into the bright blue sky and tipped backwards falling into the grass. The wild grass towered over her and she allowed herself to be swallowed by the breeze and the smell of flowers. She signed and closed her eyes.
Suddenly around her the entire sky went black, she held out her hand and a red rain droplet fell from the sky onto her hand. She stared down at the droplet and then touched it to her lips. It was blood, strong, intoxicating, and old blood. "Darien," she whispered. As soon as the words had left her mouth the clouds opened and the bloody downpour began. Serena was soaked in seconds. She began running, looking for anywhere to get shelter. The field however stretched for miles and there was nothing in sight. Looking frantically she felt something behind her, as she turned around she saw the long metal stake plunge into her heart.
She gasped and looked at her attacker. Momiji's green eyes shone out in the darkness, "Pity, pity," she whispered. Serena fell backwards blood filling her mouth and choking her. She tried to call out to Momiji, who stood silent and emotionless above her.
"Mo…..momi….." Serena tried to reach out to her. Momiji looked down at her friend, staring into Serena's eyes. Finally she opened her mouth as if to speak to her, but instead of words a blood curdling scream tore from her mouth.
Serena bolted upright in bed, trying to catch her breath, sweat dripping down her face. She glanced around the room half waiting to see Momiji standing in the shadows with a gleaming metal stake in hand, but she was alone. She turned to Darien's side of the bed, he was gone. She touched the bed sheets, they were cold. Looking at the clock she read 10:44 pm. He had been awake for almost two hours already.
She got out of bed and went into the bathroom. Her dream had left her with a raging headache. She turned on the shower and let it get hot; staring into the mirror she noticed how tired she looked. Ever since her fight with her mother two weeks ago she had been severely stressed. She hadn't spoken to the woman since, but having her constantly around was taxing, and it made her want to scream. She ran her hand over her face tried to massage her cheeks to give her move color. It worked but it only made her look like she had a fever.
After showering and dressing she left her bedroom in search of Hermione. She found her in the basement laboratory looking through a microscope at several slides. Before she could open her mouth Hermione spoke.
"Zoicite asked me to look at these blood samples from the latest batch of infected vampires," she said. Serena sat down next to her on another stool, "The virus has mutated again."
"What?"
Hermione pulled back and looked at Serena; she took off her glasses and laid them down on the table. "The time table has accelerated, the degeneration of cells is almost twice as fast now. Instead of months it's down to several weeks, and in a few more months, if there hasn't been any vaccine to combat it. The time table will be down to a few days."
"Damn," Serena whispered. "What the hell did Abby create?"
Hermione was silent for several moments and then ran her hand through her hair, "Serena I have to tell you something and you have to promise not to tell anyone."
Serena looked up suspicious of Hermione's tone, "Alright."
"This virus…this disease…..this is too complex for Abby," Hermione said.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been trying to analyze it for months, ever since it first showed up and we got large enough sample, it's been none stop testing. The computers have been working overtime and every scientist associated with it is stumped," Hermione told her. "This is one of the most complex diseases ever created, human or vampire it's beyond anything that we've seen before."
"Yeah we know that, that's why it's been so damn hard to find the cure to it," Serena said.
"Serena Abby couldn't have made this, this is beyond her…."
" But Abby is really good when it comes to…."
"I know how good Abby is Serena, but this, this is too good. I trained with Abby for years, she taught me every potion, herb, and mixture she knew. And even though Abby had extensive knowledge as a chemist she didn't have the talent to create a disease like this." She looked down at the papers on the desk in front of them.
"Something like this would have taken years to develop, and then to actually make a model of the disease molecularly, and to create it. The resources needed to create something like this.…" Hermione paused. "Abby couldn't have done it" she looked back at the stack of papers in front of her and shifted through them. "I'm positive that someone else manufactured this and then put it in Abby's hands."
Serena sighed, "Who? I mean who would create a virus like this?"
"Someone who knows vampires pretty well, and someone who hates them, a lot."
"Why do you say that?"
"This Virus was created for one purpose, to kill Vampires. There's no way of surviving once it's contracted, there's no known cure, and it's one of the most painful ways to die. Whoever made this not only wanted to eradicate vampires, they wanted them to suffer as much as possible," Hermione looked up at Serena.
Serena brushed her bangs back from her fore head, "Oh God, what are gonna do? If it keep mutating like it is Vampires will be practically become endangered."
Hermione shook her head, "I don't even know where to start, we've been working for months, looking for a cure, for a vaccine and almost every outlet has been exhausted. There's nothing left for us to go on, and nowhere else to look."
Hermione turned to face Serena. "Hermione we have to tell the King and Queen they need to be told that there is someone else behind this helping Abby." She stood and turned towards the door.
"Do you really think that's a good idea?"
Serena stopped and looked over her shoulder back at Hermione. "Why not?"
"Think Serena, whoever made this has extensive knowledge of Vampires. Which means that they have been exposed to Vampires for a really long time. Whoever this is they could be close enough to the royal family politically to be watching their progress. And whoever it was used a lot of resources and a lot of money to make this. Money and resources that could only be accessed with….."
"Power, power someone could only get from being pretty high up in the Vampire world." Serena looked at Hermione realization dawning on her, "It could be someone in this house."
"Or it's someone very close to this family," Hermione said. "That's why you cannot say anything to anyone about this, if they were to find out what we had realized then more than our lives could be at stake."
"We have to keep this under wraps," Serena repeated looking towards the ground.
"We have to bury it deep Serena, Daniel nor Darien can know about it," Hermione said.
"What?"
"Think, if they started inquiring, if they took their focus off of finding Kusanagi this person may be tipped off and they may try to cover their tracks before we could find them," Hermione said.
Serena was silent, she didn't like the idea of keeping things from Darien but she knew Hermione was right. If everyone starting acting differently whoever was watching could alter the virus again and then they would be even more in the dark. "Alright, but how do we find out who it is?" Serena asked.
"We try our hardest to look without being seen," Hermione said.
Sophia sat at her desk staring at the large computer monitor, Kusanagi was crouched in a corner of his cell holding his arms and rocking back and forth.
"He's probably ready now" Fei said, he was leaning against the back of her chair, watching over her shoulder.
"Yes it's almost time," Sophia said.
"What does dear old hubby have to say about our plan?" Fei asked as he reached up and stretched his arms.
"He isn't to know," she said.
Fei stilled and looked down at his Aunt. "You sure you want to do that?" he asked.
"If he were to know then he would try to stop me. But this is the only way to get Momiji to comprehend what Kusanagi really is," Sophia said.
"Maybe but it's a pretty big risk I mean I can only do so much once she's in there," he said.
"You'll have me backing you up, there will be no risk to her life," Sophia said.
"What if he's infected? She could catch it too," Fei said.
"No, she'll be fine," Sophia said her eyes never leaving the monitor in front of her.
Fei glanced over at his aunt, there was no guarantee what Momiji would be fine and he wondered if his aunt has considered what could happen. "Have you really thought about this Aunt Sophia? I mean if it all goes as planned do you realized that you're going to be declaring out right war against them."
"I thought I had already done that when I attacked Serena and Hermione," she said.
"I don't mean just the Ambrose coven… I mean the others as well," he said. "The Hunt…."
"Be silent you fool," she said turning around in her chair, her eyes piercing him. "These walls have ears and eyes."
Fei looked around, "Oh…" he said realizing who she meant. "She's off with Master."
"Just because she's not here doesn't mean that she's not listening, her father trained her well," Sophia said. She stood and walked out of the office to the outside porch. "You're infatuation with her is making you sloppy," she said.
"I do not have an infatuation with her!" he said following her.
"Don't place me in the same category as Yoshiki, for years I've known about your relationship," Sophia said. "I know all about it." Fei swallowed and glanced away nervously from his aunt, "Don't worry I won't tell her father."
"I'm not letting it cloud my judgment," he said.
"Of course you are you idiot, you're allowing her to cloud your feelings," she said. Fei didn't respond, "I don't care what you do with her Fei, just don't let it affect my plans. I've come too far for your feelings to get in my way, and if it becomes necessary I'll remove you and her."
"Aunt…"
"You may be my brother's only son, but Momiji is my only daughter and everything I have done has been for her, if you and Saya compromise my plans I'll burry you right next to your parents," she said. She reached out and touched her nephews chin and smiled darkly, then she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I love you Fei." Then she turned and disappeared inside of the house.
Fei inhaled a breath, he felt his legs shaking. Never in his life had he ever felt like his life was in danger from his aunt before, but now….
"You're lucky, the last time anyone talked to her like that she almost ripped their heart out." Fei jumped at the sound of Rin's voice. He turned as she stepped around the corner. She was dressed in a simple red summer dress with a black sweater over top, and her her long brown hair was loose around her shoulders.
"Damn it Rin!" Fei said.
She looked at him, "Scared of your own sister?"
"Right now I'd be scared of a furry little bunny," he said. When Rin didn't react to his joke he shook his head, "Never mind. It's been a while how are you?"
"Fine The Mistress is taking care of me and Nia," she said. "She's trained us well."
"Yeah I haven't seen little Nia in a while," he said.
"She is not so little anymore." Rin took a few steps closer to him, "You've been gone quite a while," Rin said. There was a long silence between them, "She used to ask a lot of questions, about mom, dad, you, and….."
"I'm sure, probably because…she feels like only half of a whole," Fei said. "You know with her twin gone and all," he took a cigarette out of his pocket. He was about to lit it when Rin spoke.
"Don't do that here," she said her voice low and emotionless.
"Come on Rin," he said rolling his eyes, he moved to light the cigarette. Before he could, however, Rin moved like lightning and smacked the lighter out of his hand. It bounced on the ground and then disappeared into the yard. "What the hell!"
"I told you not to do that here," she said.
"Fine fine," he said. He thrust his hands into his pockets and leaned against the housed. "So did she brief you on the plan?" he asked.
"The Mistress gave me the final briefing this morning," Rin said.
"And your thoughts?"
"The Mistress has decided that this is the right plan and that it will benefit Momiji," Rin said.
"Not what I asked," Fei said.
"I don't have a right to question The Mistresses decisions when it comes to her daughter," Rin said.
"Rin stop! Stop with the whole The Mistress crap, do you hear yourself? You're acting like her brainwashed little puppet."
"Forgive me for trying to show our Aunt some respect," Rin said, he noticed how her voice changed and was tinted with anger. "She has taken care of us ever since we were young."
"I took care of you…."
"Until you were old enough to run off," Rin said. "If you remember I was only 16 and Nia 13 when we were abandoned by our older brother."
"I didn't abandon you," he said.
"Forgive me, what do prefer to call it?" Rin asked.
"God you're just like mom always pointing out my shortcomings and reminding me of duty," he said.
Rin glared at her brother, her voice was almost empty but Fei could feel the chill in her words. "Well someone had to be a grown up after you left."
"I had to train…."
"Don't give me excuses I know what you were doing while you were training, and I'm not talking about pushups," Rin said.
Fei looked over at his sister, "Just like Aunt."
"What's wrong Fei don't you like hearing about your conquests?"
"Rin…"
"Rin," Nia's voice interrupted them.
Rin looked over at her shoulder, Nia was standing behind her, "What is it?"
"The Mistress would like us to prepare the prisoner," Nia told her. Fei saw Nia glance in his direction and he wondered how much she had heard.
"Fine, I'll be there in a moment," Rin said. Nia nodded and then looked her brother once more and disappeared into the house. Rin waited until Nia was gone, she glared once more at him then turned away from Fei.
"You see it in her eyes too, don't you?" Fei said. Rin stopped and didn't move. "You see that slight madness inside her, always slightly present. Even behind all that calculating and planning, with all those decisions you see that hint of insanity, don't you."
Rin's turned slightly, "No matter what I see…."
"Mother taught us always to do what was right and even though I didn't always listen to her lessons you did. You know that sooner or later you're going to have to make a decision, will you follow her into her madness and stain your hands or will you break away and do what you know is right."
"I owe Aunt Sophia my life, and the lives of my sisters, I will follow her until her death," Rin said. She turned around and locked eyes with her brother, "Until her death." And without another word she turned and followed Nia.
"Let's hope it's before the end of the world," he said taking out a cigarette and another lighter.
Serena inhaled deeply, the air had a faint mixture of sea salt and flowers. She leaned forward against the banister of the balcony. She stared up into the dark sky looking at the small pin pricks of light and attempted to count the stars, hoping it would take her mind off of her earlier conversation. She heard the door open and she instantly walled her mind against Darien. She felt his strong arms wrap around her waist, "Perche il mio amore?"
"I have things that I need to think about without you in my head," she said leaning back into him.
"I should always be in your head Serena, that's what it is to be mates," he said kissing her neck. He licked the spot on her neck where he loved to bite her and the touch sent shivers through her body.
"Darien, when is she leaving?" Serena changed the topic hoping to divert his attention.
He stilled in his actions, he leaned his chin on her shoulder, "My parents believe that your mother had valuable information that could help us."
"I see, and why haven't they gotten that information out of her in the last two weeks?"
"She is being cautious, your mother knows once she is no longer useful she will no longer be protected," he said. He buried his face into her neck inhaling the smell of her skin. He liked her smell now, not that he hadn't before, but now it was stronger more primal. The spells that had been hiding her Vampiric blood were gone and her body was reverting back to its true nature, she smelled natural compared to how she used to.
"I don't understand why we have to stay here though," Serena said.
"My mother and father have forbid any members of the royal family to leave, with these rogue Hunters running around and Kusanagi missing they're being extra cautious. They can't afford to lose another son," he said.
"Darien, what are the chances, that Kusanagi is still alive?" she asked cautiously. She felt him stiffen against her.
"He's alive, we would have felt if he had been killed."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," his voice was a deadly whisper.
She knew that his tone meant the subject was closed. She sighed and a silence lapsed between them. Finally she detangled herself from his arms and went back into their bedroom. She collapsed face down onto their bed, a few seconds later she felt Darien do the same. He stretched out next to her and began twirling her blonde hair between her fingers.
Finally Darien broke the silence, "Daniel is going to ask Hermione to marry him."
Serena looked up at him her eyes wide, she was speechless for a few moments and then she finally found her voice. "When?"
"I'm not sure but I expect it will be soon," Darien twirled another piece of her hair between his fingers. "We were talking with Nephrite and Zoicite about the plans for Jadeite and Rei's wedding, and Daniel started asking Nephrite all these questions about when he married Lita."
"What kind of questions?"
Darien sighed and stared at Serena for a few seconds before continuing, "He was asking about how Nephrite turned her, Daniel's never turned a human before and…."
Serena pushed herself off of the bed, "Wait! Daniel's planning to marry Hermione, and then to turn her?"
"Technically he would have to turn her first and then marry her."
Serena shook her head, shock written all over her face. Finally after several tense seconds she spoke, "Did you know about this?"
"Did I know that he would have to turn her first….."
"No did you know that he was considering turning her?" Darien turned away from her and was silent. "Darien?"
"Would you have him marry her as a human?"
"What's so wrong with them being married if she's human?"
"She'll die." Serena felt his words hit her like a ton of bricks. "Not now or anytime soon but eventually she would age and die, and with her death Daniel would either be driven insane with the grief or he too would be pulled into death."
"What do you mean?"
"Hermione and Daniel, like you and I, are not only physical mates but mates in mind body and soul, they are two pieces of a complete being. Once they are married the bond will only grow stronger, and if one were to die the toll on the other is incomprehensible. The grief of losing part of your soul, of constantly being alone in your mind after always having another presence, it's maddening."
"That doesn't make any sense, Mina is dying and Malachite is holding up pretty well."
"As much as Mina and Malachite love each other they are not bonded mates like you and I, or like Daniel and Hermione." Darien paused and moved so he was sitting on the edge of the bed. "A bond like ours is not something that every couple has, it's rare in the vampire world, and before the three of you there had never been a bond like this between a human and a vampire."
"So she doesn't have to become a vampire to marry him!"
"Serena Hermione already has Vampire blood inside of her, the transformation wouldn't be as hard as it is for regular humans."
"But she doesn't have to be a vampire," Serena said.
"Would you wish such pain upon them? The pain of knowing that one day she will die and he will be left behind in misery, or that he would follow her into death," Darien asked her. He stood in front of her "Would you wish the pain upon anyone?"
Serena looked up into his dark midnight blue eyes, she knew he wasn't just talking about Hermione and Daniel anymore. She looked down trying to think of a way to explain her reservations without upsetting him. "Darien the transformation….on a human….we both know that a large percentage of humans don't survive…and those who do….the percentage of new vampires that survive the first year is even less."
"In the past those with Vampire blood inside of them have been able to make the change with less difficulty and less risk then a regular human," he told her. "Serena…" He put his fingers under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Would you leave me alone?"
Serena felt his emotions swirling around inside of her, the despair of losing her. The emptiness that he knew he would feel with her gone, the insanity he feared from her loss. She felt hot tears gather in her eyes, she attempted to blink them away.
"Mio amore…." He whispered to her. She felt her tears break through and she leaned forward and let him embrace her. They remained silent until she heard him sigh. She pulled away from him and look into his blue eyes. "I know you're afraid of your Vampiric side of yourself Serena, I can feel your apprehension and anxiety. But there is nothing to fear," he kissed her forehead. "I would not allow anything to take you from me, not even death."
"Darien….." she began.
"The decision is yours and yours alone but please, consider a life together where we can be together for longer than 50 years," He looked down at her. "Consider what you could do with your time as Queen."
Serena's body tensed, "Queen?"
Darien looked down at her, he didn't understand her confusion, "Yes Queen, I am next in line after my father. When I marry you you to will become and heir to the throne."
"Would your people even accept a human as their Queen?"
"You mean a half human." Serena looked away from him, once again he put his fingers to her chin. "You are half vampire Serena, no matter what you are, and when I marry you you would be Queen."
"Me….Queen?"
Darien smiled, he could tell that even though she found it unbelievable the idea wasn't displeasing. He pressed his lips to her soft ones, "Yes when we are married you will be Queen."
"How do you know I'm going to say yes," Serena mumbled.
Darien's grip tightened around and his eyes grew dark. "I will never allow you to be with anyone else. You are mine and I am yours, we belong to each other and no one else."
Serena smiled up at him coyly, "Well as long as it's equal." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. She hadn't made a decisions but the subject had been discussed, immortality with her soul mate, or a slave to time as other humans. Nothing had been decided and she inwardly smiled at the knowing that she still had a while to decide. Even if she already suspected what she would chose.
Yoshiki watched as Saya did an almost perfect back flip off of the swinging balance beam and onto the ground below. She began her work out routine without any instruction, she had always been a natural born warrior, and he had never struggled with her training. She had been easy to train, unlike Momiji. Where Saya took direction and didn't ask any questions Momiji had constantly questioned his logic, his reasoning, and sometimes even his techniques. Both of his daughters were more like their mothers then like him. As he watched Saya he noticed all of the similarities in her stances, all of her natural reflexes and stances were almost identical to her mothers.
Yoshiki sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Kiyaka." He whispered her name knowing that he shouldn't say it took loud, the walls had eye and ears after all.
Before he had met Sophia, Yoshiki had been one of the Hunters in the Hunters Association and had worked under the Yashimaru family. Being half vampire gave him the ability to track other vampires better than his human counterparts. His enhanced abilities also made it easier for him and his partner, Kiyaka Yashimaru, to effectively kill the creatures of the night. They had been partners since childhood, his master had chosen her to be his partner because they had the most compatibility. "The same ambition in your eyes, the same lust for power," his master had said.
For years they had been together, training, researching, killing, hunting, and it wasn't a shock to anyone when their relationship moved past platonic. No one had disapproved of their relationship and some had even encouraged it. For Yoshiki it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up, Kiyaka was part of the Yashimaru family and marrying her would bring him into the family. So when Kiyaka's father came to him and offered Kiyaka's hand Yoshiki had accepted.
However a two months before their wedding Yoshiki had a change of heat. He was suddenly and secretly sent on a mission by his master. He was to eliminate three targets from a rival family; Ethan Roderick, Seth Roderick, and Sophia Roderick. All three were in Japan and the Yashimaru family felt that there was no better time than to eliminate three powerful enemies.
Ethan and Seth had been easy enough to kill, they weren't prepared for an attack and had let their guard down. After disposing of their bodies Yoshiki went to Kyoto, where his last target was living. He had been prepared to kill her, she wasn't anything to him and who she was didn't concern him. He had easily located her office at the University, her secretary told him that she spent her lunch hours and breaks between classes in a park a short walk away from the school. He had found her right where her secretary had told him she would be, sitting under the cherry trees reading. She was sitting with her back to him and didn't see him approach. He had just been about to pull his gun from its holster when someone from behind him called her name.
Sophia had turned around and looked right at him, their eyes locked, and for three seconds time stood still as he was lost in her gaze. Then she had looked past him to the woman who had called her name. She stood and gathered her things, as she past she gave him a subtle and warm smile. As she passed he could smell her faint perfume, Vanilla that had mixed with the smell of the cherry blossoms. As soon as she was gone he was able to breathe again.
And for the next three days no matter what he did he couldn't get her smile, her eyes, her face, or the smell of her out of his mind. He had followed her for two more days before he had finally approached her, she smiled the moment she saw him recognizing him instantly. The first night they had talked for hours, never once was there an awkward silence between them, everything was comfortable.
He had told her then that he had to leave, not understanding her eyes had filled with tears, but she had not allowed them to fall. He had kissed her, fiercely making his mark on her, and promised that he would return. He returned to Hokkaido and told his master that he was leaving. Though his master was sad he had only sighed and said, "I see….fate has given you a great gift….take care of it." Yoshiki had an suspicion that his master had known what would be waiting for him in Kyoto. He apologized to Kiyaka's father and had gone to apologize to Kiyaka, but she had refused to see him. So he had apologized to her through the door and then disappeared from her life.
Her had returned to Kyoto and to Sophia, they had moved into his family home and together they had made it their own. They had planted cherry trees in their back garden in honor of their meeting, and they were married underneath them. Not long after Momiji was bon Kiyaka walked back into his life carrying a child in her arms. Kiyaka had been pregnant when he had left for Kyoto, she had given birth to a girl a few months after his disappearance, and it had taken her a while to track him down.
Yoshiki remembered her words when she showed him his child, "This is my daughter Yoshiki. And I will raise her to hate you as much as I hate you. I will raise her to be a warrior so that she will finish what you couldn't," Kiyaka had glanced to Sophia and then back to Yoshiki.
"Kiyaka.."
"Her name is Saya, she will be a warrior, she will destroy her father and everything that he loves," Kiyaka had said then she had left.
Yoshiki had known that if he didn't do something then Kiyaka would pour all of her hatred into their child. Hoping to protect Saya and his family from Kiyaka's wrath he went to Hokkaido and made a deal with the Yashimaru family. Kiyaka would be taken away to live in the mountains, without Saya, and Yoshiki would stay and work for Yashimarus. Knowing how important and powerful Yoshiki was, Kiyaka's father agreed. He exiled his daughter far away and put his granddaughter in the hands of her grandmother.
Yoshiki vowed his allegiance to the Yashimaru family and remained in Hokkaido, despite Sophia's protests. Because of this he missed most of Momiji's life, but being close to Saya meant that he was easily able to train her to be a hunter. Then the summer Momiji was 8, Abby had come to him and given him an ultimatum. Either he gave her guardianship over Momiji or she would revel to Sophia that he had killed her brother and father.
Yoshiki tried everything he could but eventually he had been forced to agree. He would never forget that day, the day that Abby and he had arrived at his house to take Momiji away. The look of realization upon Sophia's face, the anger and pain as he had drugged Momiji and took her from her mother's arms. Her screams still haunted him, her curses still stung him, and her tears still pained him.
"I will never forgive you Yoshiki, never!" she had screamed at him as he had left the house. When he returned only hours later to try and explain to her that he had no choice she had been gone and their house had been empty. Knowing that Sophia was gone for good he had taken Saya and left Japan.
He didn't see Sophia again until she came to him and told him that their daughter was in trouble. After she had told him what was happening he had promised her that he would help her. He had also tried to explain to Sophia what had really happened, but no matter what he had said she refused to listen and refused to forgive him.
"Sir?" Saya's voice cut through his thoughts.
Yoshiki looked up at her, she was staring at the entrance of the gym. Yoshiki followed her eyes and saw Sophia standing in the doorway. She wore a black knee length dress, that had a gold sash around the middle, and half of her hair was pinned up. She glanced at Saya, "Leave."
Saya looked at Yoshiki, he nodded at her once and she glanced back to Sophia. Saya gathered her equipment and quickly let the room. Sophia turned her back to Yoshiki then closed the door. She didn't turn around to face Yoshiki, instead she just continued stare at the door.
After several minutes she turned around and walked towards her husband. "I have something I need you and Saya to take care of," her shoes clicked against the gym floor as she closed the gap between them.
"I want you to go to Hong Kong Yoshiki, I need you to pay a visit to someone," Sophia told him.
"Who?"
"You'll known when you get there," Sophia said. "I need you and Saya to go your flight leaves at 10:30 tonight. You have three hours to pack." From a pocket in her dress she pulled out a piece of paper, "this is the address of the place you will need to go." She handed it to him and then handed him a tall thin yellow envelope, on the front was the Roderick family seal. "You will not be able to open this until you get to that location. Your instructions are inside." She turned away from him and began to walk towards the door.
"Sophia we have to discuss something," Yoshiki said as he stared down at the envelope in his hand. She stopped but did not turn around to look at him. "You have yet to tell me what you intend to do about the Hunters Association."
Sophia raised her head a little and turned around the face him, "My intention is to eradicate that traitorous organization and begin anew. Those who are now running the Association are weak and because they are weak they have turned to the Vampires and intend to create a treaty with them."
"How do you know this?" Sophia did not answer him. "Sophia have you ever considered that maybe a treaty with the Vampires isn't a bad idea. If we implement laws to regulate them and negotiate peace with the Ambrose family perhaps some kind of agreement can be made."
Sophia stared at her husband, "Have you gone soft in the head over the years Yoshiki? Do you not remember the stories you used to tell me, of the villages massacred by Vampires. Or the tortured and mutilated bodies of their victims, and am I right in assuming that you have forgotten the incident in Alaska."
"Sophia those were…"
"Different times? Well these are different times, we finally have the weapon that we need to destroy these creatures and you have decided to go soft."
"Sophia not all Vampires are evil, those who abide by the laws and who work towards peace. Those like me, those who help us, there is no reason for them to suffer for the sins of others." Yoshiki took a few steps towards her. "Sophia what's made you so hard? What is this hatred inside of you? You were never like this before." Tentatively he reached out to touch her cheek, when she didn't pull away he was slightly surprised she had not allowed him to touch her since he last saw her.
Sophia closed her eyes and savored the feeling of his warm hand on her cool skin. "If the Hunters Association makes a treaty we could have our old life back. We could take Momiji and Saya away from all of this and start to fix our family. We can pretend like all this never happened."
Sophia's eyes snapped open and she smacked Yoshiki's hand away, "pretend like it never happened? Pretend that you didn't take my child from my arms? Pretend like you didn't abandon your family! Pretend!" She turned away from him, "Pretending is for the weak." She whipped around to face him her eyes cold and full of anger, "I live in the real world where we can't pretend like there aren't monsters. Where we can't just walk away from those blood thirsty beasts, I can't, I won't pretend to forget."
Yoshiki knew that the topic was closed and his hope was dashed. Sophia turned from him and walked towards the doors. "The Hunters Sophia?"
She stopped at the door, "If you play with monsters you're going to be incinerated." She pushed her way through the door and left him alone.