Of Angels and Vampires

Chapter Five

The Reason
And
The Return

By Fallon

Kasumi and the two young men followed Suzumi's assistant through the woods as the rain dripped large droplets on the group from the trees above.

"What is your name?" Kasumi asked the young girl.

"My name is Asashi, ma'am. I have been Lady Suzumi's assistant since the time of her birth until her death.

"She died?" Satoshi asked.

"Yes, she drowned after she found out her father wanted her to become empress and nigousan."

"She didn't want to accept her responsibility?" Kasumi asked.

"She did, but she didn't want to do it because of her step-mother Aya." Asashi replied.

"Who's Aya?" Kenji asked.

"Aya married Lord Yukinari shortly after his previous wife died. At the time, we called it an

unknown sickness, but now we know that his first wife was poisoned."

"How was she poisoned?" Kasumi asked.

"Lady Suzumi suspected it was Aya, but Lord Yukinari didn't think it was her," Asashi said.

"What happened to Aya?"

"Aya left Lord Yukinari after Lady Suzumi died. She was hungry for power, and Lord Yukinari would not give it to her."

Aya flipped her blonde hair out of her face, sighing. "My love, do not be so discouraged, I'm sure they'll find Suzumi," she said sweetly as she snaked her arms around Yukinari's chest.

"If they don't find her, I must continue to lead my people, Aya," Yukinari said, gazing out the window.

"While they search for her, why don't we make another heir to the throne?" Aya asked, planting kisses on Yukinari's neck.

Yukinari shifted his attention to his wife. He felt shivers go down his spine as she kissed his neck.

He grabbed her and led her to the bed, throwing her down and staring at her intently. He lowered himself to kiss her as their bodies pressed together. He loved her, but not like he had loved his first wife, Satomi. Aya groaned, feeling his body with her hands.

Yukinari kissed her once more, pulling her obi of her kimono open. Aya kissed Yuknari on the lips, touching his face. She grabbed his hand and interlaced her fingers with his over her head.
Suddenly, the door slid open and Shurii quickly covered his eyes. "My lord, I bring news!" he said quickly.

Yukinari sighed. "Can't you see I'm busy, Shurii?"

"It's about Lady Suzumi, sir."

Yukinari stood up, as did Aya, covering herself with her kimono.

"Is she all right? Is she safe?" Yukinari asked, his ruby red eyes lighting with hope.

"I am sorry, my lord, she's dead."

"NO! She's not dead!"

Aya was shocked; Yukinari flipped over a table, sending everything falling on the floor and shattering.

"No, no, no!" Yukinari screamed, sitting on the bed with his head in his hands.

"My love, I'm so sorry—" Aya touched his shoulder, but Yukinari quickly smacked her hand away.

"This is YOUR fault! She's dead because of you!" he shouted.

"My fault? You were the last to talk to her!" Aya shouted back.

"My lord and lady, this is not necessary! Right now we must plan the funeral," Shurii cut in.

Yukinari nodded. "You're right, Shurii."

"Although we must keep in mind that we can bring Suzumi back if we can find her incarnation. This may take centuries," Shurii said.
A few days passed, until finally the day came to lay Suzumi's body to rest. Her listless body was displayed in the open where everyone could view her body and say their goodbyes. Yukinari was grief-stricken, while Aya seemed emotionally detached.
Takeshi stood outside the palace, looking up at the sky. "I hope you come back, Suzumi, your people need you. I need you."

"So what happened to Aya?" Kasumi asked.
"She left Yukinari after Suzumi's funeral. This sent him into a deeper depression," Asashi replied.

Yukinari locked himself in his room, not coming out for weeks. Shurii tried to get him to come out, but he wouldn't. Finally, Shurii brought him blood to drink. He was pleased to see Yukinari took to it quickly. After he had not fed for a few months, Yukinari had begun to look gaunt.
"My dear friend Shurii, thank you for your generosity," he said.
"Of course, my lord." Shurii bowed. "I am forever loyal to you as your companion and faithful servant."

"Do you think Suzumi will return?" Yukinari asked.
"I pray she will, my lord. Please don't lose hope."

Asashi led the three young people to the city and stopped. "This is as far as I go with you," she said, bowing.

"Can't we go back with you?" Kasumi asked.

Asashi shook her head. "I'm afraid not. No humans are to know of the war between Angels and Vampires."

"Kasumi isn't human anymore. What can she do?" Satoshi asked.

"I will return for her, though this may be the last time you see her." Asashi replied.

"What's going to happen to her?" Kenji asked.

"Kasumi was an incarnation. She will become her own person as she was, and that will be decided by Lady Suzumi herself. Now, please go back home and I will be back for Lady Kasumi."

"The hell you're not! If she goes, I go!" Satoshi yelled.

"Stop, Satoshi! You don't know what you're doing!" Kasumi shouted.

"I'm sorry. Since Lady Suzumi chose Lady Kasumi, we cannot accept anyone else." Asashi bowed and disappeared into the darkness.

Satoshi turned to Kasumi and grabbed her shoulders. "Kasumi, whatever happens, I won't let them take you!"
"You don't know what they're going to do, so please let me go!" Kasumi said.

"No! What if you die, Kasumi? I will protect you whether you want me to or not."

Asashi quietly tapped on the door. After she heard a quick shuffling of feet, the door slid open. She bowed at the red-haired woman. "My lady, I sent Lady Kasumi and her friends to the city as you have commanded."

"Good, she'll be safe with her friends. Now we wait to see if she'll return. She won't be able to handle her new powers alone," Suzumi said.

"What is your plan with her, my lady?" Asashi asked.

"My plan is to use her as the peace maker between the Angels and Vampires; she's my key to forming a peace treaty."

"Why do you want to form a peace treaty with the Angels, even though we have been their enemy for centuries?"

"Father won't listen to me, so I must take matters into my own hands. I will send a message to the leader of the Gaian council, asking for her presence."

"Won't they know about the General and her army being kept prisoner here?" Asashi asked.

"Yes and I will command as Empress for their release," Suzumi replied. "I must go speak with my father immediately."

Yukinari lied on his back, groaning in pain as his wound was being sewn shut by Shurii. "Your internal bleeding should stop as long as your wound is closed, my lord."

"So this means I shouldn't do much moving, right?" Yukinari asked.

"I'm afraid so, my lord."

The door slid open and a guard bowed. "Lord Yukinari, Lady Suzumi is here."

"Bring her in," he commanded.

Suzumi entered. "Father, please hear me out."

"If this about the peace treaty and the Angels, I will hear none of it," Yukinari snapped.

"You can't keep them locked up! Gaia will come after us!"

"Then let them come!"

"I'm sorry to intrude, my lord, but Lady Suzumi has a point," Shurii said.

"How do you think this peace treaty will work?" Yukinari asked.

"It's simple. We form a peace treaty with the Angels, vowing to not prey on humans for sacrificial purposes nor killing them, therefore forming a peace with them."

"How is it possible to form a peace? We are Beings of Darkness, and they are Beings of Light. It cannot work!" Yukinari yelled.

"It can work, Father!" Suzumi yelled back.

"Explain to me what your plan was with that girl. Why didn't you want us to use her friends?"

"I used Kasumi to give her some of my powers. I didn't want to use her friends because I had a plan to use her as my peace maker between Angels and Vampires."

"Then why did you let her go?"

"To get her away from the battle field!"

Yukinari sat up in the bed, prompting a pillow behind his back. He looked at Suzumi and sighed.

"I appoint you as Empress, and this is your plan, a peace treaty?"

"Someone had to do it, Father, and that was me," she said. "I'm tired of the fighting, I'm tired of the killing—the next thing I may know they'll kill you because you've been the threat for centuries."

"Well, then," Yukinari began, "let's hope your plan works."

Mayura stood in front of the window, looking at the Earth.

Azar approached her from behind. "My lady, we haven't heard any news from General Hanako and her army."

"I wonder if Yukinari captured them as prisoners. If he did, he'll pay." Mayura glared. "Gather the Council and Tsukasa—we are going after them ourselves."

I will kill Yukinari if he lays a hand on Hanako,she thought bitterly.

The council of three men and two women and Tsukasa stood in front of Mayura, bowing.

"General Hanako and her army have not returned. It is my deepest fear that Yukinari has captured them as prisoners. I feel it best we go after them and slay the Vampire Lord," Mayura said.

"Yes ma'am," they said in agreement. Tsukasa stepped forward. "My Lady Mayura," he said,

"Why do you request my attendance?"

"Because you are a loyal friend to Hanako. I want to make sure you escort her safely back home."

Tsukasa bowed. "Understood, ma'am."

"Now, let's go get them," Mayura said as she waved her hand. A purple-colored portal appeared before them, and the group walked forward.

Hanako sat in the dungeon, wondering when she was going to be freed.

Leiko sat across her cell, her arms folded towards her chest. "I'm sure the Council has noticed our absence by now, General," she said.

"There's not a doubt in my mind that they won't come, because Lady Mayura won't stand any longer with Yukinari being alive," Hanako replied.

Suddenly there was a loud crash above the dungeon. Stones and parts of rubble fell from the ceiling. A purple portal opened up, and Mayura and the Council entered Hanako's dungeon.

Odin kicked the door open with his foot, and they exited, Hanako following behind.

"How could you let this happen, General?" Odin barked.

"Enough Odin!" Mayura shouted. "This isn't her fault; the one who we should blame is Yukinari."

"Madam, I almost had him killed—"

"Enough of your excuses, General. We the Council are here to take matters into our own hands."

The rest of the council broke open the doors with their weapons, releasing the army of Angels.

"Now, let's go after Yukinari and his hellspawn," Mayura said as she led the army and the Council towards the main hall.

Suzumi left her father's chambers and walked out towards the main hall. She heard a sudden clanking of swords and yells coming from the main hall of palace.

Her eyes glowed a light blue. Suddenly, there appeared Hanako with her sword in her hand and shoving a karyuudo away.

"General Hanako," she whispered, and then a bigger group came into her view. A red-headed woman with three wings sprouted from her back, lunged at another karyuudo, and jabbed her sword at his throat.

Suzumi stood at the top of the stairs and froze, seeing the Angels of Gaia and the Council approach.

"Out of the way, Suzumi," Mayura spat, "I'm here to kill your father."

"Wait!" Suzumi shouted, as Mayura brushed past her. "I want to form a peace treaty with the Angels!"

Mayura stopped in her tracks. "What?" she said, looking shocked.

"I know it sounds crazy, but I'm tired of this fighting and I want all of our people at peace! I don't want to hurt the humans. I have seen too much of it!"

"Child, the only thing we are here for is to kill Lord Yukinari. He has done too much damage to be saved—he killed General Ria!" Mayura said.

"I know he did, but please spare his life!" Suzumi pleaded.

"He didn't even give Ria a chance!" Odin shouted.

"Stop!" Yukinari yelled while he leaned on Shurii for support.

"You!" Mayura shouted, positioning her sword in front of her.

"Enough of this, Angels! I command you to leave!" Yukinari said.

"You're injured, so you make an easier target, Yukinari," Xavira said, aiming her bow at him.

"Please stop this!" Suzumi said, standing in between Mayura and Yukinari. "Listen to me, all of you."

"No! We're here to kill Yukinari, and afterwards we can talk about a peace treaty!" Odin shouted.

"I'm not dying without a fight!" Yukinari said.

"No! No fighting, stand down!" Suzumi said, looking at her father. "As I was saying, this peace treaty can work if we work together to form peace between the Beings of Light and Darkness—of Angels and Vampires."

Everyone was quiet as Suzumi continued, "We can form an alliance and an allegiance against those who oppose us. Doing so would make us unstoppable!"

"Unstoppable against what?" Odin asked.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and the palace entrance came crashing down. A blond woman stood on top of the rubble and gave an evil smile.

"Against me and my army!" she shouted.

"Aya!" Yukinari said as he pulled away from Shurii's side.