Chapter 3: Dreamer's Hideaway
The rest of the car ride was spent mostly in silence. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the tent. Aki helped Claus out of the car and to her trailer while Li and Momi ran off at their inhuman speed to get Claus some blood from the freezer trailer where they stored the boxes of plastic bags. "Here we are, home sweet home," Aki greeted her trailer as she opened its door.
Aki brought Claus to her bed where he sat and took in his surroundings. The bed, pushed into the left corner closest to the door, was a simple queen sized bed with a dark denim comforter with matching denim pillowcases on the two pillows that sat at the head of the bed. On the bed was a Vampire Teddy much like the one from the Nightmare Before Christmas Beside the bed was a black bedside table. On the table was an Elvis lamp which had an Elvis figure on the oval stand, and a Sailor Moon clock that was shaped like a chibi Tuxedo Mask. The walls were baby blue and covered in various posters from movies, anime, and etcetera.
In the opposite corner was a black vanity with light bulbs around the mirror like one you would find in a dressing room. In the corner across from the vanity, pushed against the wall across from the door, was a matching dresser. In the wall adjacent to the vanity, in between the vanity and the dresser was a closet door, closed. In the corner, across from the bed, against the wall across from the one with the door was a black desk with a rolling chair sitting in front of it and a closed laptop on it. Finally, the carpet was midnight blue.
Aki pushed the rolling chair by the bed and sat in it. "So, how do you like my room?" Aki asked, sitting cross legged in the chair.
"I think it's nice. It's definitely not boring," Claus responded, taking another look at all the posters.
Aki grinned. "Thanks. I like being not normal."
Claus chuckled. "I noticed." Aki pouted, crossing her arms in front of her chest. At this, Claus laughed. "I didn't mean it poorly. I like the way you are." In reaction, Aki smirked, mussing up Claus's hair. "Aw, thanks, Kid."
Moments later, Momi and Li rushed in with a couple pizza boxes and a few water bottles filled with a dark, crimson liquid. Trailing behind them was a teenage boy with black, almost shoulder length hair holding a few bottles of various drinks such as soda and water. Aki stood as they entered, taking one of the pizza boxes. "These pizzas are dinner. Apparently everyone ordered pizza while we were gone," explained Li as she sat next to Claus on the bed with the other pizza box.
Momi put the bottles on the floor before handing one to Claus and taking one herself. The guy put the drinks in his arms on the floor beside the bottles of blood. Momi smiled, walking over to the guy. "Aki, this is Diego," Momi introduced him. "Diego, this is my very dear friend, Aki," She introduced him to Aki, as well. Aki shook Diego's hand, smiling. "It's nice to meet you."
xXx
Eventually, they found themselves sitting in a circle on the floor around the pizza and drinks. Everyone but Aki partook of the bottles of blood. In a few hours, the pizza was gone and Claus was asleep on the floor. Diego put him in Aki's bed with her consent. Once he did so, he took the pizza boxes and empty bottles out to the trash. The girls thanked him as he walked out the door.
"Okay, Aki," spoke Li, "spill it. What happened to this kid?" she asked. Momi nodded, also eager to hear the story.
Aki sighed. "Fine." Just before she started, Diego ran in and sat next to Momi. Aki told them about how she met Claus and how he was being chased. She told them about how she tricked them into leaving and then Aki got into Claus's past.
Once she was finished, Aki saw that Momi had a hand over her mouth which was open wide, her free arm wrapped around one of Diego's. "Oh my—Aki, that's horrible."
Li nodded, her expression equally pained. "I…I can't believe someone would be that cruel."
Aki sighed. "That's why we have to put a stop to this "Master." We're the only ones who can do it."
Li shook her head, giving Aki a look like she was crazy. "Are you kidding? It's way too dangerous."
"But we're the only ones who can help," retorted Momi.
Li groaned. "Why am I always the minority?!"
Diego shook his head. "You're not. I agree with you, Li-san. It is too dangerous." He wrapped his arm around Momi's shoulder. "If something happened to Momi, I don't know what I'd do."
Momi smiled up at Diego. "Aw…" She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "That's so sweet." Aki and Li made a face at each other, making them both laugh.
"If we do this right," continued Aki, "no one has to get hurt. We could even get L's help." She gasped. "I almost forgot. I have to call him." Aki grabbed her phone from her purse on the floor.
"Go ahead. We'll watch Claus for you," assured Li. Aki thanked them and walked out of the trailer.
xXx
The two large men had combed the streets for Claus. After hours of searching, they had no results. Reluctantly, they returned to their master in his Japan hideout. "M-Master?" They walked into the dimly lit library. In fact, the only light was of a lamp on a small table beside a large, leather chair where the Master sat, reading a book with a black cover with gold print on the front that read Interview with the Vampire.
The Master looked up from his book, hearing his name called. "Ah, you two are back. You retrieved the boy, yes?"
The pair of vampires looked at each other warily. "A-actually, M-Master…"
The Master frowned, placing his book on the table with the lamp. "I should have known better than to trust you to be so competent to catch a mere boy." The Master's words were filled with venom, despite his calm demeanor. He stood and began walking towards the pair. "I will find him."
The Master walked in between them as he walked out, shoving them out of his way as he did so. They made brutal contact with the doorframe before scrambling to their feet and following their master.
xXx
Aki walked back in from her call to find Momi and Diego asleep on the floor. Aki shook her head and looked at Li. "They've been training all week," the red head whispered. "The show is, after all, less than a week away." Li and Aki woke the pair up and sent them off to go to their trailers for bed. Closing the door behind them, Aki sighed.
"So, what did L say?" Li questioned Aki as she shut the door behind Diego and Momi.
"We need to get to England as soon as possible."
Li arched an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Aki grinned. "L wants us to come to England. He thought it would be safer for Claus, for us. He wants to help bring this "Master" guy down," Aki answered.
Li sighed. "As long as L gave you the okay, I don't see why not, and I suppose he's right. It's safest if we get out of the country quickly. However, we won't be able to leave until after the show next week. You know how my father is."
Aki nodded and yawned. Li put a hand on her shoulder. "Get some sleep. I'll convince my dad to move the circus to England next. I don't think he'll mind."
Aki smiled. "Thanks, Li." Li shook her head and said her goodbyes before walking out of Aki's trailer. Once Li was gone, Aki turned to look at Claus who was sleeping soundly on her bed and smiled. She eased the boy under the comforter before patting his head gently. "Sweet dreams, Claus," she whispered before going to her closet and pulling out a denim sleeping bag much like her comforter.
Aki placed the sleeping bag on the floor by the bed. As she pulled out her pajamas from her dresser and got changed, Aki thought of the conversation on the phone.
xxx
"This is truly disturbing, Aki-chan," L said as Aki finished her story.
"I know. I can't help but fear for you guys, L. I have no idea where this "Master" guy plans on going next."
L paused. "Aki-chan, I'm not sure this guy will even move at all unless you do, if he knows where you are."
Aki cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
L sighed. "I don't mean to frighten you but I'm afraid that this man might not just let his "property" get away from him. He might come after the boy. There are those out there that just cannot let things go." He was thinking of Kira, but Aki didn't know that.
Aki fell silent. "That makes sense…What if we get away? After the show at the end of the week, we could come over there to England before he has a chance to find us. Maybe that would be safer than just staying her in Japan like sitting ducks. Besides, there's safety in numbers. Right?"
L was quiet for a while before responding. "I think you might be right, Aki-chan. It could also give us more time to figure out where this man's hideouts are and it would be easier for us to work together if we were closer. We might be able to bring him down, all of us."
Aki squealed. "I knew you'd feel that way. I'll ask Mr. Watanabe first thing in the morning. I'm so excited, L!"
L chuckled. "I'm excited, too. I'm sure Beyond will looking forward to your return."
Aki giggled. "Oh, I'm sure he will. Bye, L."
"See you soon, Aki-chan." With that, Aki hung up her phone, a grin on her face.
xxx
Aki grinned again as she curled up in her sleeping bag, in her pajamas. Another trip to England? Oh, it would be so much fun. Even more so since she was bringing her friends, but Aki knew that this trip wasn't all fun and games. This was serious. She hoped that Li could convince Mr. Watanabe. It could be a matter of life and death. With that thought, Aki drifted off to sleep.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Yay, England! X3 I can't wait until we get to England!
Anyway, there isn't much to this chapter. This chapter is named after a line in the Nightwish song "The Poet and the Pendulum." I thought "Dreamer's Hideaway" described the circus pretty well.
I wonder if the Master will have any fans. If I drew him they probably would…That reminds me! Please check out my Sheezyart page. My user name is Luna Mysteriosa. I only have one piece Sleepless Beauty art up. It is a collab between me and Li. I drew it. She took a picture of it with her digital camera and colored it. ^_^ I'm not sure how much more art I can get done from now and until I have to give up my school laptop, so I can't promise anything.
That's all I have to say for now. Feel free to ask any questions and leave a lot of reviews! Until the next chapter, ja ne. X3