Captured Hearts

Chapter Twenty-three: The Distant

~This chapter to introduce the Italian branch of the Science Center~

Bianchi sighed as her mate dropped a rabbit at her side, then laced her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a kiss. Only moments into the embrace of their lips did another enter, and, this female being Bianchi's close friend, the magenta-haired werewolf gently pushed Romeo out to call out, "Lal!"

The stealthier werewolf stalked up to Bianchi and Romeo, and sat down beside them. "He is the most gorgeous werewolf in the kingdom, I swear it," she sighed, leaning back. "But... we have trouble."

"What is it?" Bianchi asked, offering her friend a portion of her mate's catch. Lal Mirch turned down the meal, and rubbed her blue, white-tipped wolf ears as she collected herself.

"Along with the members from our center... the prince intends to send Rasiel to Japan."

"Ah, what a complication," Bianchi hummed. "Well, I hate to have to tell you this, Lal. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and the werewolf you have taken as your first mate is... well... royalty. I'd advise you to let that relationship fade, and look for another."

Lal Mirch's ears fell to the sides of her head, and she sighed. "How many werewolves will be leaving for Japan?"

"Well, we three are safe. I know for sure that Colonello's going."

"Pity, I kind of liked Colonello," Lal sighed, before lying down on the ground. "I'm going to sleep... night."

"Good night," Bianchi returned, glancing back at Romeo and grinning. The two ate together, and soon after, they curled up to sleep as well.

Meanwhile...

"All right, vampires, you can go out and hunt now!" Shamal called. "And if anyone runs off, may it only be the males!"

"Now, now, Professer, if just one ran away...," Verde chuckled darkly.

The vampires raced free from their enclosure into the night, and disappeared into the shadows, all but Fon, who remained, walking slowly and enticingly as he entered the free outdoors. He was graceful and smooth, the opposite of his fellow vampire, Skull. The enclosure in which all creatures could roam was a indeed a large place, but everyone knew better than to be fooled. They all wore collars that would shock them painfully should they cross out of the invisible borders, and the hunters' metal that was embedded within those collars made them impossible to destroy.

Fon was a vampire distantly linked to the Hibari clan, and he certainly did resemble the part. This vampire had long, dark black hair that was weaved into a long braid that reached his waist, and was often dressed in robes when he wasn't fighting. As Fon glided throughout the grasses, he seeked out his closest fellow vampire, a young female named I-Pin Chi Gyoza Kempo the first. She was of Chinese decent, just as he, and she knew many of the same fighting techniques as Fon did, for I-Pin was his apprentice.

"Greetings, Master," I-Pin said as Fon approached. The other vampire adopted a martial arts pose and sighed, before bowing.

"I-Pin, I'm afraid that I've been summoned to the Japan branch. I will not see you anymore."

I-Pin paused, then bowed back to her master, her eyes sad. "That's a shame...," she sighed. "You're the nicest vampire here, Master."

"Ah, this may be so, but... I'm afraid that this is... inevitable."

"... I'm off to hunt, then," I-Pin sighed. "Good luck, Master."

The two bowed to each other, and parted ways, leaving Fon to hunt on his own once more.

Centaur Enclosure...

"Hey, cow, get over here!" ordered Zakuro, rearing up before smashing his dark red hooves into the soil. "C'mon, wimp!"

The bull-centaur halfbreed quivered with fear, then gasped in shock and pain when another centaur smacked his side. "Go on, cow boy," Ginger cackled, his star-filled eyes twinkling with mischief. Hurt, Lambo tried to back away, when Zakuro lunged forward and grabbed him by the horns.

"Hey, weakling, why don't you man up and get yourself a mate sometime?" he laughed, yanking the bull forward. Lambo teared up as he was jerked around by the horns on his head, then stumbled back, and galloped away as fast as he could, his hooves drumming against the ground as he went.

Lambo was about fifteen years old, and all of the others were both older and stronger than him. Because of this, he was often harassed, jerked around like some sort of plaything. The scientists didn't care, either, even though they would get infuriated should other creatures get into scuffles amongst themselves. The only one who ever had any compassion for the bull-centaur was a merman named Fuuta, who was about the same age as Lambo, and often gave him comfort when no one else would. Fuuta, too, was a bit of a misfit in his enclosure, for he was kind, and often displayed a very odd fascination with ranking things. Fuuta was like his brother. Lambo glanced over his shoulder, and, seeing that the older centaurs hadn't given chase, he slowed, and lied down in the shade. He had been told that he and Fuuta were both going to be sent to the Japan branch, and he hoped desperately that the centaurs there were nicer.

Meanwhile, in the palace...

"I'm sorry, Rasiel, but you can't mate with her anyway. She's one of the mutts that got scrounged up by the Science Center," the prince finalized. "And since my father no longer wishes for me to house you... I'm afraid you'll be joining some of your fellows in the Japan branch." The werewolf pouted, his ears lying flat as he tried to understand, and he sighed, sitting down on the ground and curling his tail close. "Calm down, boy, you might see your brother there!" the prince coaxed, placing a hand on the werewolf's shoulder. "You'll be fine, I promise."

Rasiel stood upright, and glared at his master. "You promised," he spat.

"I promised, yes, as a boy. As a fool. I no longer have it in my power to keep you. I'm sorry," the prince repeated.

The blonde werewolf sighed, lying down and closing his eyes. He did want to see Belphegor again, but at the same time, he knew that he was going to miss his mate, Lal Mirch.

Japan branch... 9:18 PM (Just after Hibari returned to his enclosure)

Basil uncertainly sat up, then blinked when he saw Hibari, obviously confused. "Lord... Hibarin...?" he murmured. "Thou art covered in the blood of the hunter. Why is this?"

Hibari gulped, then sat down in front of the younger vampire, and bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Basil," he apologized. "I'm so sorry."

"What happened?" Basil asked, reaching forward and brushing his hand over Hibari's cheek. Then, enlightened, Basil paused, before baring his fangs. "Heartsickness may be a limitation to thee, my Lord, but it isn't to me. I wilt get sick with thee, if this is the one way we can love one another. I shall bite thee, and thy blood shall enter my system, making me sick. But I care not. True love is not to be restrained by such a pathetic barrier. Thou and I art one and the same, Lord Hibarin. In sickness, in death, I vow to be thine..."

With that, Basil came in and sank his fangs into the other's throat, and Hibari shuddered, for the gentle pinch suddenly felt rather soothing. He assumed it was becaused his last fanged bite was on himself, and Basil's hardly-used fangs made for great acupuncture-like soothing. "Basil...," the older vampire whispered. "What if you die of Heartsickness?" Basil didn't respond, only began to suck harder, gulping down the older's blood so recklessly that Hibari silently worried that he was going to be cured of Heartsickness due to the other's excessive drinking.

"I am thy mate," Basil panted, parting for a moment. "I am thy one and only mate, and thou dost always dare to forget me for Mukuro... why? What do I need to do for thee to love me?"

Hibari sighed. "I do love you, Basil... but..."

The older vampire quieted when Basil suddenly started coughing, and his eyes widened, suprised that the Heartsickness had kicked in so quickly. But when he quickly settled, it was clear that the cough hadn't been a serious bout. "Ah, Lord Hibarin... thy taste be tainted by Heartsickness. 'Tis a high shame, but I still love thee..."

Hibari frowned, angry at himself.

Because deep down, he knew that he loved Basil, too.

-End Chapter

XD And here's ANOTHER chapter.

Fanart update: The main scenes that no one seems to be currenty working on are:

1. Hibari bowing to Mukuro when his full name is given.

2. Hibari wiping tomato juice off of his lips, blushing in embarrassment.

3. Basil/Hibari kissing. (With Hibari looking suprised about it, of course.)

Important Story Notice: For the pairings that involve the Italy branch, there's a route that would be very easy to resolve the B26 versus Bel-Mammon issue, as well as include more touching stories. Pairings that come from this path follow: RebornxLambo, RasielxMammon, ColonelloxFon, and POSSIBLY FuutaxDino. I already have a good layout for this route, but if there are pairings that many reviewers strongly disapprove of will be taken into consideration. If you're uncertain about the ColonelloxFon, read the ficlets I wrote for them in 'Love of the Vongola, and Beyond,' chapters 1 and 2. :)

Please Review!