Of Angels and Vampires
Chapter Three
The Homecoming
And
The Love
By Fallon
Suzumi and the two men passed the gates and entered the palace grounds. She watched the other two young men; Satoshi and Kenji, being dragged off after the man with auburn-brown hair turned them over to a group of karyuudo.
The man with brown hair followed her into the palace where she began to notice the palace was still the same. Nothing had changed except it looked like it was abandoned. 'How could father leave our home to the humans?' She thought, staring at the mess that was still being cleared up by servants and others.
She looked around at the people that were moving swiftly; they would stop and suddenly recognize who she was. "Suzumi-san!" One woman shouted, dropping the pile of debris she had in her arms and quickly fell to the floor in a bowing position. "Welcome home, Suzumi-san!" She yelled, her head stuck to the ground. Suzumi stared down at the woman, others that were near by stopped and gazed at her in awe and they, too, fell to the ground bowing.
"Has she returned to us at last?"
"She has come to save us!"
Suzumi seen the people gather around her, coming close to her and reaching out to touch her, grabbing the garments of her clothes. "Thank you, yes, I have returned, but…" Suzumi felt the many hands around her touch her arms, hands and shoulders. She looked at the many faces of her people and she sighed. They bowed to her, saying thank you and welcoming her home. She began to feel a sense of guilt dip in.
She moved along the crowd and seen the man waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.
"Enough! Let her through!" He barked, motioning for the crowd to move. Suzumi looked back at them, not saying anything. She was shocked at how happy they were for her return. She followed the man up another flight of stairs and she could still hear them talking about her as she went up.
Once when Suzumi caught up with the man, they hung a left around the corner from the stairs entering a long hallway. They approached two doubled-doors with slanted handles; the man pulled the door open and let Suzumi go in first.
Suzumi sighed; she wasn't looking forward to seeing her father. They walked down a short hallway before reaching a door that was slid half-way open. The man stopped her and entered as she waited outside.
"My lord," the man spoke as Yukinari was leaning on the balcony. He turned his head and quickly moved away from the railing, "Do you have her, Sakaki?" Yukinari asked anxiously.
Sakaki nodded, "Yes sir, she is here."
"Bring her in!"
Sakaki stepped out and opened the door wider for Suzumi to enter. She entered the room as she had a look of anger on her face, seeing her father there. Yukinari rushed to her, his arms spread out to embrace her.
"Suzumi!" He cried, wrapping his arms around her. Suzumi stood motionless, not returning her affection.
Yukinari looked at Sakaki, "Thank you Sakaki, you may leave us."
Sakaki bowed, "Yes sir." He left and slid the door shut.
"Father…" Suzumi spoke, Yukinari pulled away from her, his brow furrowing. "I would strike you across the face, Suzumi, but I'm glad to see that you're still alive!"
Suzumi glared, her eyes glowing light blue, "I never wanted to return here and I never wanted to see you!" She shouted, moving away from him.
"I have been searching for you for centuries, Suzumi! I never gave up hope of finding you!"
"You never gave up hope of finding me so you can use me! You'd hope of using own daughter!"
Yukinari went silent for a moment, he moved over to his bed to sit down. "I am not using you, Suzumi," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice. Suzumi crossed her arms, "Bullshit, father," she spat. "Your only intention of finding me was to use me so we could save our race…are you going to throw me away after I'm finished with my duty?"
Yukinari shook his head, rising from the bed, "No, Suzumi, I would never hurt you."
"Then what are your intentions? What are you planning to do with me?"
Yukinari moved closer to his daughter, looking into her blue eyes and placing his hands on her shoulders. "My intentions of having you come back are not only to save our race, but I will turn my throne over to you." He spoke as a smile formed on his lips.
She gasped, "Father, are you sure you want to do that?" She couldn't imagine having to lead her people shortly after her return.
He nodded his head slightly, "Yes, since I have no son to bear the throne, then my daughter will become the first empress of the Japanese Vampires."
"Then, that would mean I would have to fight against the Angels—to protect our people."
"I have protected our people for centuries, Suzumi. I assume you will have no trouble of carrying out the same duties."
Suzumi moved away from her father, turning her body towards the balcony, starring at the distance of the city. "I cannot refuse what destiny has in store for me, can I?"
"I'm afraid not, though you must embrace your duties as nigousan and soon-to-be empress."
'There's no way out of this,' Suzumi thought bitterly, 'How can he do this?' She clenched her fists, biting down on her tongue. She inhaled, closing her eyes, "As much as I don't want to accept this new role, I will take the lead as nigousan and empress." Yukinari's lips formed a smirk, "You will be a great leader, my daughter, and I will be there to guide your every step."
She turned towards him, "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"Is it possible for us to join forces with the Angels? Can we set a peace treaty?"
Satoshi and Kenji sat on the cold stone floor of the dungeon, sitting beside each other and bounded by chains.
Kenji sighed, looking at Satoshi, "What the hell just happened?"
Satoshi had his gaze locked to the floor, "What do you think just happened? Kasumi changed and we were kidnapped by monsters."
"I hope they won't eat us."
"That's what they're probably planning to do right now."
Kenji jumped up, fumbling with his chains, "To hell with this, I'm not dying here!"
Satoshi remained rooted to his spot, "What's the use? We're probably going to die either way—escape or not."
Kenji threw down his chains, "How can you say that? Don't you want to get out of here?"
"We don't know what happened to Kasumi and there's something definitely going on. I always knew she was a different kind of girl."
"You can sit here and mope all you want, but I want to live! I got a career to look forward to and there's no way I'm missing out on it!"
Thunk, thunk
"Hey, you two shut up! I don't want to hear a peep outta either of you!" A karyuudo barked, his eyes piercing at Kenji through the barred window door.
Kenji sank back down to the floor in a sitting position, cursing under his breath.
"If you wanna get out of here, I have a plan." Satoshi whispered.
"Alright, tell me your plan then."
"We need to come up with a distraction, say, I'm hurt and you need someone to help me. If one of those guards come over, and let's hope there's one, you can distract him while I take part of my chain and choke him. I'm going to need your help of holding him down, got it?"
Kenji nodded, "Good idea, glad you figured that out fast."
Satoshi stood up, looking around the dungeon. He began to think that he would stand behind the door, once when Kenji caught the guard's attention; he would quickly wrap the chain around the guard's neck. With the help from Kenji, they would undo their chains and look for Kasumi to find out what's going on. 'I hope she's okay.'
"Okay, you ready Kenji?" Satoshi stood against the wall so he would be behind the door.
"Ready when you are!" Kenji whispered.
"Let's do this and get the hell out of here!"
Kenji walked towards the door, grabbing the barred window, "Hey! I need your help! Come quick! Something happened to my friend!"
The karyuudo sighed, "What the hell is going on?" He opened the door, peering in. "Hey, where is your—"
Satoshi quickly wrapped the chain around the vampire's neck, while the vampire pushed him against the wall. "Help me Kenji!" He yelled. Kenji threw a punch at the vampire's jaw. Satoshi scrambled to get the chain around his neck again and Kenji grabbed Satoshi and helped him hold the vampire down.
The karyuudo gasped for air, "You little fuckers—you're gonna die!" He managed to breathe those last words, before going limp.
Satoshi quickly grabbed the keys from the vampire and undid Kenji's chains and then his own. He looked down at the dead vampire, finally realizing what he was. "So, we're in a kingdom full of Vampires, great!"
"Does that mean Kasumi is one, too?"
"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Let's get out of here!"
Hanako placed her staff in front of her, looking at the red orb. 'I can't let them down,' she thought, thinking of the council and her army. She heard soft footsteps and a flutter of wings and she turned around and seen Leiko approaching her. "My lady, when shall we depart for Gaia?" She asked, bowing her head. Her light blue hair shined in the sunlight.
Hanako's eyes narrowed, "We will leave tomorrow at sunset, when the ceremony begins for Suzumi's return."
"Do you think they will try to revive her body since she is reincarnated in the girl?"
"They have preserved her bones, then yes."
Leiko placed a hand on Hanako's shoulder, "My lady, whatever may happen during our battle, I will do my best to protect you."
"Thank you, Leiko, I appreciate our friendship. Although this is a fight between myself and the Vampire Lord—this I must do alone."
"I am afraid of your safety, my lady,"
"Don't worry about me; I have the Gods on my side. You cannot always protect me, Leiko. I, as your general, must give orders and protect my army."
Hanako held her staff in front of her and formed it into a sword.
"I may not have the authority to do this, but I will appoint you as General if I die in battle."
Leiko was taken aback. "My lady, are you sure?"
"Absolutely, now let us prepare for tomorrow."
The sun slowly rose over the horizon, the light dipping in the windows and into Suzumi's chambers. She sat at the end of her bed, watching the orange-red sun rise. It was blinding, but beautiful. She began to think back on why she had left in the first place, for various reasons, but a certain person came to her mind, one of which she had began to love deeply before she died.
Suzumi remembered getting angry with her father, when he was going to appoint her as nigousan.
"No! I won't do it!" She shouted, throwing her make-up box at the mirror.
"My time has come to an end, Suzumi, now you must take my place!" Yukinari yelled back.
"You only want me to take your place because of her!" She spat and her eyes began to glow a light azure. She spoke of a woman that her father aimlessly married after her mother's death. She hated her step mother with a fiery passion: Aya.
"No, it is not because of Aya, Suzumi, it is because the time has come to lead your people and accept your responsibility!"
"What if I am not ready for it, father?"
"You are!" Yukinari grabbed her shoulders. "You are ready to accept your role as mistress and empress!"
A woman with glowing red eyes and flowing blonde hair stood outside Suzumi's chambers. She formed a smirk on her mouth, laughing quietly.
"Father—"
"Enough, Suzumi, you will accept your role and that is final. We will begin your ceremony tonight,"
He quickly turned and stormed out of her room in rage, slamming her door shut.
Suzumi pierced her narrowing eyes at the broken mirror, how could she possibly take this chance now of leading her people at being seventeen? She was already in an arranged marriage thanks to her wonderful step mother. Aya had chosen Shigeru as her suitable husband and emperor, Yukinari had blindly agreed. She didn't love him, she loved someone else.
Suddenly she felt a hand touch her own, she gasped in surprised and turned to see it was who she was waiting for. "Takeshi," she whispered.
He smiled at her, "My love, I was waiting for your father to leave so I may see you." He put his hand on her left cheek, brushing his lips against hers. "Father wants to begin my ceremony tonight to crown me as empress. He does not know that he's doing all of this for that evil woman."
Takeshi nodded, "She brings nothing to this kingdom and she's controlling your father."
"Exactly, she wants to control him so she may control our nation and I knew she was evil to begin with."
"Your ceremony is going to be tonight is that what I heard?" Takeshi said.
"Yes," Suzumi replied, sighing. "But I don't think I will be there tonight."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to kill myself."
Suzumi had escaped from the palace, jumping off of a cliff and drowning in the ocean. She did it to get back at her father and his foolish decision of making her empress so quickly. She didn't want to leave her love Takeshi, but she needed to get away from the evil woman and her father.
Centuries had passed and she went from one reincarnation to the next until she finally found the right woman to reawaken herself: Kasumi. She was a college student and falling in love with her friend Satoshi. Now Suzumi had returned home and was ready to accept her duties. She needed to convince her father that forming a peace treaty with the Angels would be good for the people. The Vampires were only a threat to the Angels because they were a threat to the human race.
Suzumi did not crave for blood, though the only thing she craved for was Takeshi. She could feel his presence close by and she felt his hand touch hers once again.
"Glad to see you made it back, my love." He said smiling.
She smiled back, "Of course, one always finds their way back home to where they belong."
"I missed you." Takeshi whispered, pulling Suzumi close to his body.
She blushed and the scent of his skin swept over her. "I missed you too." She replied, looking at his face while brushing her lips against his.
His strong hands explored her body and he knew this wasn't her actual body. There was countless times he had wanted to take her and make her his. Takeshi knew he couldn't do that just yet.
"I've wanted to tell you something," He said as he grabbed both of her hands. "I have known this for a long time and I have waited for you to return." Suzumi stood rooted to her spot, seemingly holding her breath. "I love you, Suzumi."
"I have always loved you too, Takeshi."
Takeshi kissed her lips once more, squeezing her shoulders.
"I want to tell father that I want to marry you—arranged or not."
"When?"
"Tonight at the ceremony."
"When they resurrect your body from your reincarnation?"
"Yes, then I can be all yours, my love."
Takeshi grabbed Suzumi and threw her on the bed. She laughed as she lied down on her back. She needed this, she longed for this—just as much as he did. They loved one another, no matter who was watching or judging them. Takeshi was a vampire like Suzumi, only he came from another town centuries ago.
Takeshi buried his face in her neck, planting kisses all over and brushing his fangs on her skin. He could smell her sweet royal blood, how he wished he could have a taste.
"Takeshi," Suzumi whispered, he quickly looked up at her. "Make me your mate, make me yours."
"But before the ceremony—"
"Just do it."
She grabbed his face and kissed him hard on the mouth. She moaned under her breath, feeling his strong body harden with passion. Takeshi tore open her kimono, her chest heaving as her breasts fell out. He nuzzled his face on her chest, kissing her and licking her nipples. "Suzumi," he groaned, pulling down his pants.
"I want you, Takeshi, I want you." She whispered in his ear. Her hands trailed down his chest, feeling his abs. They kissed and Takeshi grabbed Suzumi, turning her on her stomach.
She felt his manhood on her rear and she turned sideways to kiss his mouth. Takeshi positioned himself and entered Suzumi. She gasped as she felt the pressure settle in and she tried to ignore the pain. She could feel him pull in and out of her, panting and groaning quietly so no one could hear them. "I love you so much," he whispered, pushing harder into her. "Oh," She let out, "T-takeshi," she said, grabbing his shoulders trying to maneuver him to lie on his back. He did so as Suzumi got on top.
Satoshi crept quietly across the hall, Kenji following right behind him.
"This is just a bad dream," Kenji whispered. "What if Kasumi's already dead?"
"No, she couldn't be, if anything they'd turn her into a vampire." Satoshi replied.
They walked by a closed door and heard a woman moaning.
"Did you hear that?" Satoshi asked, stopping.
"Hear what?"
"I thought that sounded like Kasumi."
Satoshi cracked the door open and seen a red head bobbing up and down on a figure lying on the bed. He watched carefully as he seen the girl throws her head back and her long red hair glistened in the morning sunlight.
"What is it?" Kenji asked.
"Um, it's Kasumi having sex with a vampire?"
"What? Let me see!"
Kenji's mouth hung open as he watched the redhead move up and down, "I always knew Kasumi had big boobs," he said as his eyes widen.
"You're such a pervert, Kenji."
"What? I can dream can't I?"
Suddenly everything went quiet and both men heard a scream, "GET OUT!" with a pillow being thrown at them.
"Oh shit," Satoshi said, grabbing Kenji by the arm and running away.
Hanako stood in front of the council, calm. She wasn't afraid of the council and their remarks; she respected their wishes and did as she was ordered.
A man with blue hair stood up, "General, by order of the Council, we grant your departure for Gaia. We order you to put a stop to the ceremony of the Vampire Lord's daughter."
Hanako nodded, "Yes, I will carry out the Council's order with my staff and army."
"We have faith that you will successfully carry out this mission, General." Mayura said, also standing up.
The rest of the Council rose from their seats and spoke in unison, "We, the Council of Terra, order you to kill the Vampire Lord."
Hanako was shocked, she knew it was her duty to kill him, but could she really do it?
She bowed, "Yes, as you wish."