ZK Chromedragozoid: Rider VS Rider, that's all I'm saying.

Fang was the one to throw the first punch, only for Slayer to use an upper forearm block before countering with a powerful jab to Fang's chest. Fang retaliated with a roundhouse but Slayer caught his foot before twisting the ankle swiftly, sending Fang reeling to the ground. Slayer then sent Fang flying with a kick. Fang slammed against a container before falling to the ground, groaning in pain.

"It's useless to fight me, Fang," Slayer said as he approached the vampiric Rider. "I know all your fight moves. I've watched you, studied you, and learnt how to counter you. Face it, you can't stop me."

"But I know who can," Fang said as he pulled out one of his whistles. "Savage Saber!" He placed the whistle in Fangula's mouth and his partner blew it.

Back in Fang Manor, Lobo heard the whistle calling and stood up quickly. "Yes, finally something fun to do!" he grinned ferally. A blue aura formed around his body, looking like a ghostly werewolf, before he was enveloped in a blue light and flew out of the mansion through the open window.

Everyone witnessing this just blinked in confusion. Only Miriam, Richard, Walter and Danielle were unfazed, as were Gillian and Francis.

"What just happened?" Danny asked Danielle.

"Oh, I guess Devlin needed the help," Danielle shrugged. However, inside, she was worried. If Devlin needed Lobo's help, then the Fangire had to be powerful.

Fang leapt up and grabbed the Savage Saber. Slayer watched the transformation occur as chains wrapped around Fang's upper torso and left arm before shattering, forming the new armor as his eyes turned from red to blue. It didn't matter much to the white armored Rider. It just made things more interesting.

Meanwhile, one of the GIW agents was asking his superior, "Sir, what should we do?"

"Let's just wait for them to tire each other out," the superior GIW agent said. "Then we can dissect them both."

Fang let out a howl as he dashed at Slayer. He slashed at the armored vampire hunter who blocked the sword slashed with his forearms before throwing an open palm strike into Fang's face. Fang was pushed onto his back but was able to flip back onto his feet.

"If it's a swordfight you want, then so be it," Slayer said, summoning his two swords. Fang remembered those swords. One of them had been used to give him his scar. With another feral howl, Fang went on the attack once more.

Seras had a feeling of dread well up inside of her. Sooner or later Tamashii would eventually figure out Devlin was Fang and she knew Tamashii seriously wanted to kill Fang since Fang could very well be a threat in the future, based on his words at least. Tamashii had let Fang live before but it was only a matter of time before…

Seras' cell phone rang. She dug into her purse and took it out. She pressed the 'OK' button and pressed it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Seras?" that was Chiaki's voice. She sounded panicked.

"What's wrong, Chiaki?"

"Tamashii came back and then took something from his room," Chiaki informed her best friend. From the tone of her voice, it didn't sound good.

"What did he take?" Seras asked. The tone of her voice was drawing the attention of the others, Danielle's especially.

"He took the belt!"

"The belt?" Seras questioned, unsure what Chiaki meant. "What belt?"

"The belt!" Chiaki stressed on.

Seras eyes widened. She knew what Chiaki was talking about, "That belt!? Why!?"

"I heard him whispering something about Fang," Chiaki replied. "Seras? Hello? Are you there?"

However, Seras was stunned speechless and dropped her phone. "Oh no!"

"Seras, what's wrong?" Danielle asked. "What's this about a belt?"

"Tamashii…he took…the Slayer system…" Seras said in a quivering voice.

Fang narrowly managed to escape a precise sword slash from Slayer, which resulted in one of the containers in getting sliced clean through. Fang gulped a little as he saw the clean cut made. Turning his blue visor towards his opponent, he knew he had to do something. Tamashii was not going to willingly listen to reason, especially from a 'vampire'. He knew Tamashii was dead set on killing him if his aura was any indication. The vampire hunter was radiating powerful killer intent. It was so powerful that the GIW dare not move from their spots. Whether that was a good or bad thing was debatable at best.

The two armored warriors fought seemingly wildly with each other. Sparks flew as the weapons made contact with each other. At first it looked like Fang was just wildly swinging at Slayer, but those who knew swordsmanship would be able to tell otherwise. Slayer was fighting gracefully, but there was a lot of aggression in his strikes.

Slayer's twin blades reverberated against the Savage Saber as the energies within collided with each other. Lobo could feel the power within the blades he was being used against. It was times like this that he was thankful that his body was made of steel rather than flesh or else the twin swords would have sliced him to ribbons.

Fang parried a slash from Slayer with the Savage Saber and leapt backwards and did a flip to avoid the second sword slash. Landing on the top of another container, Fang then aimed the wolf's head on his sword hilt at Slayer before activating the 'Howling Shock' attack. The howl from the wolf's head sent out a powerful shockwave which would've sent Slayer flying, but it didn't do that. Of course, it did disrupt the GIW's weaponry and sent a number of them flying backwards. Slayer, however, stood firm on the floor and didn't even budge.

"Boy, he's not affected, you better-" Fangula began to suggest but was cut off.

"I'm not going to kill him!" Fang snapped.

"But if you don't, he'll kill you!"

"Then it's a risk I'll have to take!" Fang shouted before jumping off the container, with the Savage Saber raised high above his head.

"The Slayer system is a hi-tech belt sent to us by the organization funding our group," Seras began to explain. "Its primary function is to fight the Fangires."

"Of course Tamashii decided another use for it, right?" Richard asked. Richard could sense the guy's hatred for vampires the moment he'd refused to join the Slayers.

"Tamashii thinks that Fang may turn into an even bigger threat in the future," Seras sighed. "I guess after seeing the power Fang, I mean Devlin has, he feels that since Devlin is a vampire, he could turn into a threat."

"But Devlin's not evil!" Danielle defended.

"I know that! But Tamashii doesn't care! To him, all vampires are evil," Seras replied.

"Kinda reminds us of ourselves when we believed all ghosts were bad," Jack said, rubbing the back of his head guiltily.

"It does sound a tad extreme," Maddie admitted, still feeling guilty over the things she had said and done to her son while hunting his Phantom alter-ego.

"I just hope Tamashii…" Seras then saw Danielle leaving. "Danielle?"

"Devlin needs me, and I'm going to lend a hand," Danielle spoke.

"But how?" Seras asked. "I don't think anyone can stop Tamashii when he gets like this."

"But maybe a halfa can," Danielle smiled back.

"A halfa?" Seras questioned. Everyone knew what would happen next.

"You know Devlin's secret, so here's mine!" Danielle announced, "Going Ghost!" A pair of glowing white rings appeared over her body, one sweeping upwards while the other swept downwards. Seras' jaw dropped as she watched her friend change, clothing and all, into…

"You're Danni Phantom!" Seras screamed out as she saw Danielle's ghost mode.

"That's right," Danielle winked.

Seras blinked, "Wait, then that means…" The gears in her head began to spin as she started to make a connection. Her eyes turned towards Danny who gulped. "Oh my God!!"

"I guess she figures it out," Sam spoke to Danny who nodded.

"OK, now that that's out of the way, we should try to find Fang," Danielle suggested.

"OK, but how?" Danny asked. "I mean, it's not like we can track Devlin. None of us have a vampire tracker or anything."

"I think I can take care of that," Tucker said, taking out his PDA.

"Tucker, now is not the time to play with that," Sam growled.

"No," Tucker said as he pressed few buttons with the pointer stick. "Devlin told me that nearly all of Smart Brain's products have a tracking chip in them. It doesn't matter if it's a watch or an oven, they all have the chip. It's built under the emblem." He tapped a few more buttons. "And this baby can track anyone I want."

"Devlin does use Smart Brain's products," Danielle said, "It is his family's company."

Seras blinked, "Wait, Smart Brain?"

"What's the matter?" Danielle asked.

"Would the emblem look like a silver S and a black B inside a half black and half silver hexagon?"

"That's right," Danielle nodded.

"Um…I may not have mentioned this. But the Slayer system came in a box with that emblem on it."

Fang was sent flying with sparks spraying from his chest. He smashed against the far wall, hard, creating a crater on the surface. On his chest armor were two deep gashes from when Slayer had slashed him. He looked up to see Slayer advancing on him. He had dropped the Savage Saber and when he did, his armor changed back into its default Blood Form.

"Looks like this is it," Fang said as he tried to push himself to his feet. His entire body was hurting. Must be the mystical property of those swords.

"Oh no! Not this time!" Fangula shouted as he flew off Fang's belt. He flapped his wings frantically and charged straight towards Slayer. Slayer had not expected the belt to be sentient and this stunned moment of shock was just what Fangula needed. He began to fly around Slayer, acting like a pesky fly as Slayer attempted to swat at him. Fang also slashed his armor a few times before giving him a powerful kick in the faceplate. He shouted at Fang, "Now! Do it now!"

Fang nodded and called out, "Release the Chains!" He kicked his right leg up as the chains around the armored boot loosened and then shattered, freeing the demonic wings. Targeting Slayer, Fang leapt high into the air before dropping down to perform his finisher.

"DARK MOON BREAK!!"

Slayer saw the attack coming and his wings spread out before he folded them in front of him like a shield. There was no way a simple kick could defeat him.

"Smart Brain Corporation MADE the Slayer system!?" Danielle shouted out in shock. "No way!"

"Actually," Danny spoke up, "Ichijyo did say something about a few special projects. I guess it's not too far of a stretch to believe that they could make something like this from what I've seen."

Danielle now grew even more worried. Smart Brain's technology was top of the line. If they could create something like the Slayer system, then it had to have the power…the power to destroy Fang.

Fang's Dark Moon Break kick impacted against Slayer's Wing Shield. Fang continued to push as Slayer stood his ground. The white warrior had felt the power behind the kick and his body vibrated from the contact. It just proved that Fang was a powerful threat and needed to be neutralized.

The Savage Saber, lying discarded, witnessed the entire thing. Despite being a weapon, it was still sentient. It was still Lobo!

"Damn it! If I wasn't stuck in this form, I could lend a hand!" Lobo shouted from the Savage Saber. "It's not fair!" He then felt himself being picked up. "What?"

"Hello, Wolfy," Topper grinned. Lobo groaned.

The disguised dragon had followed Lobo in hopes of getting another Fangire soul to add to his master's payment. He had found it on the ground since Fang had dropped it while fighting Slayer. The white warrior had actually hit him hard enough to jar the stone out of where he kept them on his belt.

When he saw Fang fighting against Slayer, he knew that there was a business opportunity here. Sure enough, it came when he saw that Fang had dropped Lobo. It seemed time for a little transaction to take place.

"Anyone but you," Lobo groaned.

Topper frowned, "Aw, don't be like that." He watched the fight, "I see that the New Lord is having trouble."

"And I can't help!" Lobo growled.

"Maybe you can," Topper smiled, "But it is going to cost you."

"Name your price."

Topper grinned.

The Fenton RV, also known as the Ghost Assault Vehicle, was well on its way towards Devlin's location. They were following Tucker's PDA who was tracking Devlin based on his wristwatch, which had been made by his family's company. All products contained a tracking chip and the device that Tucker held in his hands had the software that could track them.

Danielle just hoped they weren't too late and Seras just hoped that Tamashii wouldn't be making the biggest mistake of his life.

With a shout of, "HAH!" the wings pushed Fang backwards and once again the vampiric Rider found himself smashed against another container. Actually, he had smashed through several wooden crates covered by a sheet. He struggled his way out of the broken wood, groaning. Fang flapped next to his head.

"This can't get any worse," Fang grumbled.

"BEWARE! I am the Box Ghost! You have destroyed my beautiful boxes so now you must pay! BEWARE!" hollered the bothersome Box Ghost as he appeared above Fang.

"Alright, I should really watch what I say."

Slayer looked at the Box Ghost and dismissed the weak ghost. His target was Fang and Fang was going to die today. He started walking towards his enemy, swords drawn and ready to finish him off.

Suddenly, there was a loud howling sound. Slayer, and even Fang, was caught off guard.

"Fangula?" Fang asked. Fangula chuckled. "What's going on?"

"A friend has come to help."

A blue blur then rushed at Slayer and slashed him across the chest, sending the vampire hunter reeling. When the blur stopped moving, Fang finally got a good look at it.

It was a werewolf.

The werewolf was covered in blue fur. On top of its head was a golden horn. Its eyes were blood red and its claws and teeth were razor sharp. The teeth were forming a grin as the werewolf looked at Fang, "Hello, kid."

If his face wasn't covered by a mask, you would've seen his jaw drop. "Lobo!"

Savage…the Wolf Fangire.

"Great, a Fangire," Slayer muttered with disdain. "So, you even work with the race that you fight," this statement was directed towards Fang.

Fang leapt off the broken crates and landed next to Savage. "Unlike you," Fang began to retort, "I don't discriminate."

"Well, that just means I get to kill both of you."

"Let's see you try!" Savage challenged before unleashing a howl. His claws were ready to rip out Tamashii's soul.

"Before we finish this, tell me… why do you fight? You must have a reason. So why?"

"I fight because it is my destiny. I fight so I can protect the people precious to me," as Fang said this with pure conviction, he pictured the faces of Danielle, Richard, Miriam, Walter and even Seras in his mind. "Now tell me, why do you fight?"

"I fight so that no one will lose what I had to." He entered a stance with his swords. "So no one will have to suffer like I did…" His blades began to glow. Fang and Savage could see something forming behind Slayer. "So that no 15 year old will lose everything to you god damn abominations!" Slayer slashed his blades. "Iron Dragon Strike!" a blast of energy shot at Fang in the form of a powerful and vicious dragon. Fang and Savage had no time to react as the blast tore through them. The two warriors fell to the ground. The vampiric Rider and wolfish Fangire struggled to get to their feet. Slayer charged at the two. "Now die!"

"FREEZE!"

The GIW, who hadn't acted since the fight began, suddenly surrounded Slayer, Fang and Savage with their backup weaponry drawn on the two.

"You freaks are coming with us!" one agent commanded, "So don't you try anything funny!"

"And we'll taking that belt too," another agent stated, referring to the Slayer system. He was imagining the weapons they could create based on the technology.

"And then we'll perform very painful experiments on you," one more agent spoke.

Fang and Slayer exchanged looks. The Guys in White were starting to become a nuisance, something they could both agree on.

"Truce?" Slayer suggested, surprising Fang. "Until these fools are dealt with?"

"Truce then," Fang agreed. Savage grinned gleefully. "No killing," Fang warned causing Savage to grumble.

Now targeting a mutual foe, Slayer and Fang charged at the Guys in White who began to open fire on them.

As soon as Danny, Danielle, Sam, Tucker, Seras, Richard and the Fentons arrived at the warehouse, they were greeted with something coming out from a warzone. Jack, of course, had one of his Fenton-Bazookas ready to fight, despite its ineffectiveness against Fang or anything similar.

"Woah," Richard whistled. "It seemed like they had a party."

GIW agents were all sprawled on the ground, either unconscious and a few of them were groaning in pain. They had multiple wounds on them, mainly ugly bruises or even bloody gashes. Most of them had their clothes torn apart. Their weaponry, however, was in an irreparable state of damage.

"They were vicious," Tucker said. "Man, these guys looked like they went through a blender."

"But where's Devlin and Tamashii?" Sam asked.

Seras could see one GIW agent, barely conscious. Stomping over to him, she kneeled down and picked him up by his tie, forcing him to look at her. "Where did they go?"

"They're…monsters…" the GIW agent spoke in pain. Seras shook him violently.

"Tell me where they are!" Seras shouted, "Now!" She looked absolutely frightening when angry. The GIW agent's eyes rolled back and then he passed out. Seras roughly dropped him. "Great."

"Can you track him, Tuck?" Danny asked.

"The signal is kinda fuzzy," Tucker said as he looked at his PDA. The image of the screen was a radar. "But Devlin is close by. At least I hope he is. I mean, we're tracking his watch and-" he saw the blue wisp coming out of Danny's mouth.

"BEWARE! I AM THE BOX GHOST!" the Box Ghost wailed as he appeared in front of them.

"GHOST!!" Jack shouted, taking aim. "Eat Fenton Bazooka, Ecto-scum!" Of course, Danny decided to intervene.

"DAD!" Danny shouted and then turned towards the Box Ghost. "Did you see two armored guys brawling here?" he asked. The Box Ghost nodded. "OK…so, where are they?" The Box Ghost pointed to the ceiling.

Suddenly, something fell right through the roof, making a hole in it, and crashing to the ground not too far from the others. There was Fang, Slayer and Savage, in a battle, trading blows with one another. Well, Slayer and Fang were trading blows with one another, using their fists instead of weapons, while Savage was assisting Fang. Seras and Danielle decided it was time to put an end to this.

"TAMASHII AKASHI! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!!" Seras shouted at the top of her lungs. Everyone had to cover their ears from the loud yell. Slayer heard her and turned to look at his friend.

"Seras?" Slayer questioned. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask the same thing, Akashi!" Seras fumed, approaching her armored leader.

"What does it look like I'm doing?!" Slayer cried incredulously. He pointed at Fang accusingly. "I'm ending this threat right now!"

"He is not a threat!" Seras shot back.

"Yeah! Danni nodded. "So keep your bigoted hands off him!"

"He's a vampire, Seras!" Slayer growled. "The enemy! Are you forgetting what his kind did to your family?!"

"No I haven't!" Seras snapped. "But I'm not going to blame Devlin when he wasn't the one responsible for it!"

"Besides, he's not even a full vampire," Richard added.

"Huh?" Slayer froze.

"The term is dhampir," Fang answered. "My mother Is human while my father is a vampire. Before you dare say he raped her, they are happily married to this day."

"Like I'd believe a word you say!" Slayer shot at Fang. "I saw you last summer, Devlin! I saw you going for that unconscious girl! I saved her life from you!"

The audience was silent at the proclamation. Seras remembered how Tamashii came in one night saying he found a vampire and managed to get it in the eye before it got away. When she thought about it, Devlin kept his hair covered over part of his face all the time.

"You really are an idiot," Fang growled. "I had saved that girl and was going to try and find a safe place for her! Instead, you come around and assume I was going to kill her and you attacked me!"

"You attacked my boyfriend?!" Danni cried in shock and anger. Slayer turned back to face her. "I ought to blast you right now!"

Slayer was now incredibly confused. How could so many humans be going against him? Even Seras was against him! Couldn't they see what kind of threat he was? Vampires were abominations and had to be destroyed. He pondered with the thought that they were under mind control since some of the older vampires could do it, but his Ryuugan was telling him they were all in their right minds. They were convinced that Fang was not a threat to humanity. They even knew who and what he was!

Savage growled. He could feel that his time was up. He wouldn't be able to assume his true form for a while after this, but it was worth it. Being able to wield the power he once had was totally worth the price he had to pay. Taking a leap, he went through the hole and vanished into the night, intending to return to Fang Manor and hoping a steaming cup of coffee would be waiting for him.

Fang, in the meantime, was staggering. He had gashes in his armor and probably suffering from internal injuries. How he manages to stand was a miracle in itself. Staggering forwards, the chains reappeared over his body and stripped him of his armor. Fangula flew off before Devlin hit the ground.

"Devlin!" Danni cried as she flew towards her boyfriend. She turned his body over and gasped. There were bruises and several deep gashes in his chest that were bleeding. He didn't look too well either and appeared weakened.

"Oh man this is bad!" Tucker cried.

"Speak to us, Devlin!" Sam shouted loudly.

Devlin wanted to answer them, he really did, but he was too busy concentrating on trying to heal his own wounds. Whatever those swords were powered by, they were filled to the brim with it. They had to be if they could wound him as deeply as they had.

"Devlin!" Danny shouted. "Don't you dare die on me! You promised you wouldn't hurt Danni and I'd say this qualifies if you die!"

Seras knew what had caused this and turned to look at Slayer, "You didn't…" She knew only one weapon that could do that kind of damage on a vampire. It was Tamashii's twin swords.

Slayer reached down to his belt and removed the Slayer knuckle from the belt before he removed the belt itself. The armor vanished in a golden glow of energy.

Seras confronted the boy she cared for and pointed towards Danielle and Devlin, "Does that even look like a vampire to you?" Tamashii remained silent. "All I see is a boy fighting for his life."

Everyone had relocated to Fang Manor to tend to Devlin's injuries. Tamashii was reluctant, but Seras was sending glares at him and with the weaponry that the elder Fentons were packing would hurt on some level. She eventually manages to convince him to come along.

Entering the mansion was tense enough because Tamashii could tell the three of the servants were Fangires. He wanted to attack, but he knew that he would be in for a huge fight he probably wouldn't get away from intact, if at all.

While almost everyone was getting supplies to tend to Devlin, Tamashii was placed in a chair by the fire and Jazz was sitting across from him.

"So you're the one who did that to Devlin?" she asked coldly.

Tamashii remained silent.

"You know, my little sister loves him very much," she continued. "And then you try to kill him just because he's part vampire."

"Vampires are unnatural monsters," Tamashii retorted. "I'm just making sure they can't do to anyone else what they did to me."

"And just what did they do to you?" Jazz frowned. "What did they do that made you go out to kill every single vampire even if they aren't hurting anyone?"

"Vampires exist to kill people," Tamashii hissed. "It's in the way they feed. Killing others to feed. How can you defend that?"

"We do what we can to survive," Jazz replied. "Now answer my question."

Tamashii was tempted to brush her off, but she was the type that wasn't going to go away. Still, he knew he wasn't going to be able to go anywhere until they heard about Devlin's fate. Resigning himself, he decided to talk.

"My entire family was killed by vampires," Tamashii answered. "Everyone I loved was killed right before my eyes. I kill them to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else."

"And in the process you kill vampires who aren't a threat to anyone just for good measure," Jazz frowned. "I've heard a lot of reasons for genocide, but yours is one of the weakest arguments I've heard."

"I'm in the right!" Tamashii snapped.

"No, you're just angry because you couldn't stop them!" Jazz shot back. "You feel guilty about your family's death but you don't know who did it do you? You don't kill all vampires to prevent pain to others; you kill them in the small hope that you'll get the ones that killed your family!"

"That's not true!" Tamashii shouted.

"Isn't it?" Jazz asked. "You're so full of hate you can't tell good from bad anymore! I bet if Seras stood up to you alone tonight you would have attacked her just to get to Devlin, wouldn't you?"

Tamashii mumbled, "I know who killed my family…"

"Huh?"

"I said I know who killed my family," Tamashii repeated. "A group of four Fangires led those vampires. A Chameleon, a Snake, a Salamander, a Komodo Dragon and a Dragon." He gripped his fists. "I was left for dead after my family was massacred before my eyes. I lost all the people I loved because of those monsters!" He stared her in the eye, "Wouldn't you be angry if you weren't able to do anything for your own family?"

Jazz fell silent at his words.

"Vampires, whatever shape or form, are still dangerous monsters," Tamashii said, but somehow his tone was uncertain.

"But Devlin has been protecting the people here, as Fang," Jazz spoke. "Seras told me you saw it for yourself. So, why do you still think Devlin could be a threat? He's only part vampire. His human half…" Jazz trailed. 'Actually, Devlin's an Orphenoch. Could he still be considered human?'

Inside the master bedroom, Devlin was wrapped up in bandages. His wounds had been treated but a lot of damage had been done to his body during his fight with Tamashii. He looked like he was on the verge of death. Danielle sat at his bedside, grasping his hand desperately.

"Why won't he wake up?" Danielle asked.

Miriam answered, "He's in a healing trance. Right now, he's focusing all his energy into healing his wounds." While transporting him here, blue flames due to his status as an Orphenoch were licking his wounds, as if trying to cleanse and heal them with limited effect.

Fangula flapped down and perched on Danielle's shoulder, "The boy will be alright. He won't die so easily."

Danielle cringed. She didn't want to hear about the possibility of Devlin dying. He'd died before, only to return as the Bat Orphenoch. She just wished that he would open his eye.

Danielle brushed aside his fringe to see the hidden scar underneath. No wonder he always kept it hidden under his hair. His right eye was scarred shut, all because of Tamashii. Her eyes narrowed crossly as she imagined the punishment she would deal on the hunter.

"His condition is still stable," Maddie said, placing a comforting hand on Danielle's shoulder, "But I feel that he needs a more qualified doctor. He needs to be taken to the hospital."

"Not a good idea," Walter stated. "They would ask too many questions and we cannot have that. Besides, Master Devlin's healing abilities are enough."

Maddie frowned uncertainly, "Well, if you're sure."

Seras, Danny, Tucker, Sam and Richard were listening in on Jazz and Tamashii's discussion. They had heard everything.

"Woah, that guy had it tough," Tucker spoke.

"No doubt," Sam agreed. To have your whole family killed before your eyes could change some people. More or less, it could change them into psychopaths or worse.

"Did you know about this?" Richard asked Seras.

"Tamashii doesn't talk much about his past, but he does tell us why he hunts vampires," Seras answered. "I always thought he was right, but…but ever since Devlin saved me, I've been having doubts." She paused. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Well, I've seen Devlin take a lot worse," Danny said. Hearing Tamashii's story made the male halfa think of Valerie and how obsessed she had been at hunting him down. Luckily, after the Hollow invasion a few years back, she had come to understand him better and became a member of their team. Of course, she had moved away with her dad. He hoped she had a happy life now. "He's not someone who can die so easily." Of course, he doubted his words.

"So, how do you know about Smart Brain?" Seras asked.

Danny was not sure how to answer this, but he didn't have to. Seras was the one who did it.

"Devlin's father owns it," Sam stated bluntly.

Seras's eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

And she wasn't the only one who found this out.

"WHAT!?" Tamashii shouted out, "My Slayer system was…"

"Developed by the same company owned by Devlin's father," Jazz confirmed, nodding.

"But, that's impossible!" Tamashii shouted, not believing her words. "I mean, why would a vampire make something like that and give it to me!? Why would a vampire provide my group with the financial backing!?" It just didn't make sense to Tamashii.

"Well, I guess this shows that vampires are more complex than you think," Jazz smiled triumphantly.

Tamashii stood up to leave. Before he left he turned to Jazz and said, "Tell Devlin I apologize. I won't be bothering him anymore. However, he should also know that the Salamander is mine to deal with. If he does not with any further harm, he'll leave him to me."

"There is just one more thing I'm wondering. How is it that you are up and walking while Devlin lies in his room half dead? You don't even look like you're in pain."

"Pain is nothing to me," answered Tamashii. "The dead feel no pain." He then walked away, leaving Jazz to decipher the meaning behind his words.

Tamashii walked past Seras, Danny, Tucker, Sam and Richard. He didn't say a word to the group. In stead he walked right to the master bedroom. Everyone ran after him, afraid he would do something to Devlin. Tamashii stood at the entrance to the master bedroom, everyone gave cold glares at the vampire slayer.

"You said you wanted to blast me," said Tamashii, speaking to Danielle. "Meet me outside and I'll give you the chance."

Danielle's face seemed to turn close to stone before she nodded. She and Tamashii walked out to the front yard. Everyone not tending to Devlin followed. The vampire hunter just calmly walked out a fair distance before he turned to look at Danielle. It hadn't quite occurred to him, but he had almost done to her boyfriend what the vampires did to his own love. She was entirely in the right to pay him back.

"Well?" he asked expectantly. "Come at me."

Danielle didn't need anymore provocation than that. With a cry of 'going ghost', she became Danni Phantom and launched herself at Tamashii. Her speed was impressive before she lay a forward punch into his face with a loud crack.

The blow itself wasn't what actually stunned Tamashii, but the fact that it actually hurt!

For a very long time, Tamashii had forgotten what pain, really physical pain, felt like. He could no longer remember the sensation but now he got a very clear reminder, on account of a very pissed off ghost girl.

Danni hovered towards Tamashii, her hands glowing with ectoplasmic energy. "This is for Devlin's eye!" she shouted, sending a blast at his body. Tamashii was sent flying into the air. Danielle grabbed his ankle and shouted, "And this is for calling him a monster!" She hurled him towards the ground. Tamashii didn't feel that, fortunately, but he wondered how she could hurt him before. Was it because she was using ectoplasm to fuel her punches?

With a furious roar, Danni rushed at Tamashii and pummeled him with ecto-powered fists. She didn't seem to stop as Tamashii didn't even make an effort to dodge or block her blows. Right now, she was entirely in the right, and he deserved this for what he had tried to do.

Another fist slammed into his chin, knocking him backwards onto the ground. Danni stood over him, eyes glowing with hate and anger, but also wet with tears. She leaned down, grabbed him by the front of his shirt, and said, "If he dies, I'm coming after you," angrily before dropping him and walking away.

Tamashii lay still on the grass of the front yard, contemplating several thoughts. The look on the ghost girl's face was one filled with rage. Rage fueled by intense emotions. It was the kind of rage felt by someone who had everything taken from them.

And, in Danielle's eyes, he was the monster.

Everyone backed away in fear of the ghost girl who slowly started to ascend the stairs. She was still radiating anger and it didn't seem to want to go away anytime soon. For now, until Devlin woke up, they would give her space.

Fangula gazed down on his partner. Despite being a part vampire and an Orphenoch, the boy appeared quite frail at the moment. The bandages were wrapped around his torso to cover his injuries and who knows how many new scars would form. Of course, being part vampire, Devlin could heal fast.

Maybe Fangula could make it faster.

The small vampire landed close to Devlin's neck and bit down, taking some blood while at the same time transferring something into Devlin. What appeared to be chains started to slither under the unconscious boy's skin. Either he didn't feel it or Fangula's bite had numbed the pain. Either way, it was a good thing that Devlin didn't feel the power coursing through his veins.

Fangula removed himself from his partner's neck and watched as the wound closed.

Danielle had changed back as she reached the top of the stairs. Her anger was boiling, but she had managed to get a lot of it out of her system. All she wanted was to be with her other half and make sure he was still alive.

She quietly slipped into his room and watched him sleep. She felt very helpless at the moment, but knowing he was still alive helped soothe her mind a little. Of course, if he woke up and smiled at her then it would make her feel even better.

She walked over to his bed and lay her head down on his chest. The sound of his heart beating strongly brought a small smile to her face. The sounds were strong and healthy. The sound definitely belonged to someone who was far from the brink of death.

Tamashii was still lying on the ground with his eyes closed while thinking. He felt a poking sensation in his belly and opened his eyes to see that it was Seras.

"How long was I out?" Tamashii asked, referring to his state of immobility.

"For a good half hour," Seras said, squatting down. He sat up. "You took quite a beating."

"Well, can't say that I felt nothing. Those punches actually hurt," he said, groaning out of discomfort rather than pain. "So, are you still mad at me?" She flicked his forehead.

"You're still my friend, you idiot," Seras smiled but then frowned, "Of course…"

"So is Devlin," Tamashii finished. She nodded. "Well, you know why we do what we do, right?"

"To protect people from vampires, I know," Seras answered. "But, right now, I have my doubts."

'You aren't the only one,' Tamashii thought.

"I mean, when we got money to back us up, we never knew who it was but they allowed us to fight vampires," Seras spoke, "Finding out that the source is really Devlin's own dad, well…it's a bit confusing."

"I don't understand it either," Tamashii sighed. The Slayer system had been delivered to them as soon as they arrived here in Amity Park. It was a 'gift' to help them with the Fangire menace. "But, maybe, his father wanted me to help him instead of fighting him."

"So, what do you think about Devlin?" Seras asked her friend and leader. Tamashii lay back down on the soft grass. "Tamashii?"

"When I asked him why he fought, he told me it was to protect his precious people," Tamashii spoke, repeating Devlin's words. "Because I thought him only as an evil vampire, I didn't really listen. Maybe…maybe he is good." Seras smiled. "But his powers…they feel…" He wasn't sure how to word it. Were they dark, evil, malevolent, vile? He could find a word for it. Evil was still evil, yet Devlin was using dark powers for good. Of course, he wasn't really the only one. Tamashii gazed at his hand. The hand had shed a lot of vampire blood.

"Well, when he wakes up, I don't think he'll be happy to see you," spoke Seras. "You did give him his scar."

"True," Tamashii nodded. "But he was standing over that girl with silver hair and elongated fangs. What was I supposed to think?"

"That alone might get Devlin to forgive you," Seras nodded. "You did what a good person would do when he thought someone was in danger. The problem is that you gouged out his eye and Danielle probably won't forgive you for a long time. I can tell she likes his eyes."

Tamashii nodded. He recognized the worry and affection in Danielle's eyes. He had it himself a very long time ago. A small part of him envied them for still having it.

Devlin's left eye began to open as he groaned a little. His entire body still felt sore from all his injuries. Thankfully, they were already healed. He just hoped he didn't develop any scars.

He felt a gentle weight pressed against his chest and looked down to see Danielle on the bed with him, lying on the blanket with her head rested on his chest. She was sleeping quite peacefully and Devlin found himself gazing at her, running one hand through her black hair.

"Mine," he said, almost possessively. He could hear flapping and saw Fangula flapping down from his perch on the ceiling. "Fangula."

"It's good to see you awake, boy," Fangula said, flying around his partner. "You took quite a beating."

"I sure did," Devlin said, remembering the fight he had with Slayer/Tamashii. His hand went up to his fringe. Actually, it went under his fringe as he rubbed the scar. "Is he still here?"

"He's just outside," Fangula informed him. "Your beloved gave him quite the beating."

Devlin wasn't sure how to react. He asked, "She beat him up?"

"And was righteously angry when doing so," Fangula added. "She has quite a strong spirit."

Devlin gazed down at his girlfriend. Her eyes started to open. When she managed to focus her vision, she could see Devlin, well awake and looking at her.

"Had a pleasant sleep, luv?" he asked, smiling.

"DEV!" she shouted, hugging him. "You're awake!"

"Danielle, I'm still in pain!" Devlin spoke with pain in his voice from the crushing hug. Danielle let go of him, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry."

Devlin brushed it off, "It's alright. You were just happy." He sat up in bed. "So, I heard you got even with Tamashii."

The ghost girl blushed, "Yeah…he did hurt you…" She felt his palm touching her cheek and she leaned against it. It felt pleasant. She then asked, "Why didn't you tell me about your scar?"

Devlin hesitated for a few seconds before answering, "I didn't want you to see how ugly it is." That was the reason why he'd grown his hair to cover it. "Before I grew my hair out, I had to wear an eye patch."

"You wore an eye patch?" Danielle asked while at the same time picturing Devlin wearing an eye patch. She giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing," she said. "So, what are you going to do now?"

Devlin narrowed his eye.

Danny approached Tamashii. He had decided that maybe Tamashii deserved some words from him. He sat down on the grass with Seras and the leading Slayer and spoke, "So, how are you feeling?"

"Pretty good for a person who just got himself beaten up by a girl," Tamashii retorted, a slightly cynical tone in his voice.

"Tamashii, be nice," Seras warned.

"Well, anyway…" Danny began, "You really don't like Devlin, do you?"

Tamashii didn't know how to answer. He hated vampires, but Devlin proved that he was different since he was half vampire. Also, the revelation of finding out who was funding them and gave him his Slayer system was still overwhelming and shocking. "Well, I can't say I totally hate him, but I don't see us being friends, not since what happened before."

Danny nodded. "Well, that's something we have in common." Danny explained, "Devlin and I have this little feud going on, with Danielle in the centre."

"You're the overprotective brother type, aren't you?" Tamashii asked. Danny flinched. He was right.

"Well, I don't really hate the guy, but he's so smug and arrogant and I'm afraid he might hurt my little sister."

"It's natural," Tamashii agreed.

"I actually threatened to hurt him if he did anything to hurt Danielle."

"And has he?"

Danny nodded. "Though, they weren't intentional. He apologized. He never harmed her and he can be as vicious as me if anyone hurt the people I love."

"So, what are you saying?" Tamashii asked.

"Devlin is a lot of things, but he's not evil. Hell, I'm friends with his brother and his family is cool. Let's just say that Devlin is a lot more complicated than he lets on, but what I know is that despite being part vampire, he's still a good guy."

"I guess I can agree to that," Tamashii nodded. "He has saved a bunch of people since I came to town."

"Haven't I been telling you that?" asked Seras.

"Yeah, you have," Tamashii sighed. "Still, the fact that he was exuding the strongest vampiric aura that I've felt in a long time stuck out more."

"Well, I can't say him being part vampire hadn't bothered me for a while," Danny admitted sheepishly.

"Oh?" Tamashii asked.

"Yeah," Danny nodded. "I suppose it has to do with all that I know about vampires. I couldn't get it out of my head that he could bite her and stuff. Every time I walked in on them kissing and him kissing her neck I would freak about him drinking her blood. I'd chase him with a baseball bat until Danni would hit me for being stupid."

"Ouch," Seras flinched. "A girl does not like having her romantic time being interrupted."

"I learned that pretty quick," Danny nodded. "It just figures that she seems to like getting kissed on the neck."

"I take it you've spied on them numerous times," Tamashii smirked.

"Once or twice," Danny shrugged, trying to play it down.

"Try every time I came over," Devlin spoke as he walked over towards the front yard with Danielle by his side. He was fully clothed and his eye was focused on Tamashii. "You, get off my property," Devlin commanded firmly.

Tamashii sighed, "I guess I don't get a chance to explain."

"Actions speak louder than words, Akashi," Devlin spoke coldly, eyes narrowed. "Despite all the good I've done, you still see me as an evil vampire. I cannot forgive you for that."

Standing up to his feet, Tamashii sighed, "Fair enough."

"I don't ever want to see your face again," Devlin finished before turning around and went up the stairs towards the front door. He stopped and turned to look at Danielle, "Are you coming, luv?"

"I need to tell Danny something," Danielle spoke.

Devlin nodded, accepting her answer, before walking up the stairs. Sam and Tucker, who'd been standing close, moved a few feet away from the dhampir. He was radiating a lot of anger, despite his clam demeanor.

"I guess you should really leave," Danny said to Tamashii. He'd seen Devlin angry, very angry.

"Well, I am a vampire hunter so I guess I'm not welcomed," Tamashii replied.

"But what about me?" Seras asked. She really didn't want to lose her friendship with Devlin.

"Oh, Devlin likes you," Danielle answered but then trained her eyes, which were glowing green, at Tamashii, "It's him he has a problem with."

Tamashii didn't need anymore provocation. He wasn't welcomed to Fang Manor, ever. "Of course, he'd be seeing me a lot. We do go to the same school."

"I hope you don't cross paths then," Danielle spoke angrily.

"Let's go, Seras," Tamashi said. "We're leaving." He then walked towards the open gates.

"OK, Tamashii," Seras nodded before following after her friend. Danny and Danielle watched the two leave.

"So, what is it you wanted to tell me?" Danny asked.

"Can I stay over here for the night?" Danielle asked.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT?!" Danny's voice came from outside and tore through Fang Manor. It may have been his Ghostly Wail, judging from the volume.

Devlin, who had entered the mansion after telling Tamashii to leave, heard Danny's indignant cry. As much pain as he was in at the moment, he could still take pleasure in how Danny would get riled up over his relationship with Danielle. The adults all had been informed about the arrangement and were okay with it, but Danielle still needed to inform Danny.

Still, things were going to be tense with Tamashii, for a long time if not forever. A misunderstanding that led to minor injuries that were recoverable was okay. He and Danny had done the same thing ever since they met. His older brother, Ryuki, and Takada still did that to each other when they got in one of their fights. However, Tamashii had taken his sight in one eye.

And that was something he could NOT forgive.

ZK Chromedragozoid: Well, we all know this was going to happen. Two Riders, enemies. Let's see if they can work together next time on MASKED RIDER FANG!