Captured Hearts

Chapter Forty-seven: The Insolent

Science Center for Supernatural Beings- The Tamers' Bedroom- 5:08 AM

Dino was wrapping bandages about Lal Mirch's wounds, worry clouding his eyes as he worked. Seeing the blood that soaked into the white bandages made him feel sick. He knew that he was going to punish the one who did this to her harshly, but he didn't quite know why. He just sat on the bed, uncertain, and hurt. Who would do such a thing to this pretty werewolf? He couldn't help but let the worry block out everything else. He wanted to protect Lal from this other creature, at any cost.

The door to the bathroom opened, and Lussuria stepped out, only wearing a towel around his waist and one about his shoulders - clearly just out of the shower. "Hmm? Dino? Hun, what's...?"

"She's hurt bad," the blonde whispered.

Lussuria solemnly sat on the other side of the bed, and sighed, "She looks awful; any clue who might've done this?"

Dino thought for a while, before an idea emerged, and his eyebrows creased as he muttered, "I bet it was Xanxus."

"Xanxus?" the older man repeated. "But I thought he'd changed since Squalo..."

"We'd all like to think that," Dino replied in a bitter tone. "Unfortunately, he's started to come after me. I suppose he just decided to take out the rage on poor Lal here."

Lussuria watched as the other tamer's expression became angry, and worried all the same. Sighing, the one with the shaved head took the blonde's hand, and softly massaged the back of his palm. "It's okay, hun," he whispered. "She'll be all right. Now, why didn't you take her to the infirmary?"

"That wouldn't help," the younger muttered. Lussuria gave a gentle smile, and patted his co-worker on the head, before starting out of the room.

"I'll take your shift for you, hun, so go ahead and care for her." The older man left, and Dino looked back at the injured werewolf which lay on his bed. Only moments later did she begin to open her eyes and sit up.

"Ugh... tamer? Where...?"

"Lal... you're okay," Dino sighed, relieved. "I'm so glad..." The werewolf blushed as the tamer took her into a gentle embrace, holding her wounded body in a cradling hug.

The female weakly pushed the blonde back, and muttered, "Tamer... what's up with you?" Dino smiled at her, his eyes watery, and he gave her another soft squeeze.

"Call me Dino, 'kay, Lal? Would you do that?" he cooed, starting to stroke her ears. The werewolf blushed, and, noting how much the blonde hair reminded her of her former mate's, she nuzzled against him. The pain of the wounds inflicted on her didn't really hurt any more when held in the arms of the tamer. He was warm, gentle, and kind. Even though the werewolf had never been intrested in a joyful fellow such as him, Lal found her indifferent, tsundere heart growing just a bit excited within his hands. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, shuddering at the electric pain from her wounds.

"All right, then," she rasped. "Dino."

And he smiled.

Crimson Forest- Japan- Murky Pond- 6:00 AM

Phantom Knight was resting in his small pool, looking back at the young merpeople that swam about beneath the surface. The pretty, young faces, the songs - both happy and sad, the laughter, and the graceful tails; those were all things that the older, black-haired swordsman treasured. These weren't his children; they lived at the pond long before he came up to it- as hatchlings. As PK spent his time wallowing in his emotions at the muddy bottom of the water, they grew without him, and they welcomed him into their tiny clan, as family.

Unfortunately, since the vampires were so close, those little ones were destined to die. Phantom Knight watched them go, plagued by his cowardly personality and regret, and he let the vampire society pick them off one at a time, subconciously aware of the fact that a part of his soul died with each of them. Now, only three remained in the pond other than himself. And while he was aware of this fact, he knew that he would not be able to save them. PK looked down at the four swords that were held by his belt, and he frowned. Those swords were as much of a lie as his own veneer. He was not strong. He wasn't courageous. He was built on lies, and, at heart, he knew it. The older merman sighed, and drew one of the foursome of blades out of its wooden sheath, before holding it at the ready, and cringing.

Lies.

Dark, twisted wrath circled his mind like convection currents: growing hot, rising painfully, before cooling and settling, only to grow to a burning temperature later on. Self loathing and repulsion forced him to be trapped, eternally punishing himself for his own fear. Ever since that day- the day when he couldn't summon the will to save the one he loved, he had made himself into a coward.

How do you escape the web of lies?

Another merperson would soon be plucked fresh from the pond by the lustful fangs of a vampire, and Phantom Knight would still watch, plagued by his fear. There was no escape.

Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- Old Centaur Enclosure- 12:00 AM

Reborn sighed, stroking the short mane his lover bore. The bull-centaur leaned against him, his bovine tail swishing about happily as a blush emerged in his cheeks. "Reborn... Hayato will occasionally ride on Takeshi's back... I was wondering if you ever wanted to do that with me..."

"Oh, Lambo," Reborn sighed, "you're so young. How can you possibly carry me?" Lambo flushed a bit red, wringing his hands together.

"Well...," he began, closing more than one eye for a change, "since I was little, I've always had a really weird condition... I can only age at will."

"What? Then... you could still be five? Or forty, if you wanted?"

"I can only age up to ten years in a year," the bull-centaur said. "Likewise, when I go ten years without aging, I age one year. When I was five, I wanted to be tall and handsome. But when I got to this point... it was so scary that I didn't use it again. So now, I'm sixteen."

"Oh?" Reborn mused. "Come now, I've been concerned about our age difference so needlessly! Don't be afraid, all right, Lambo? Give yourself those ten years so that you can catch up to me." The boss took the hybrid's hand, and Lambo gulped, before closing his eyes. He willed himself to age ten years, and he could feel his bones thickening, his muscle widening, his intelligence getting a decent boost. As he stopped, he had reached twenty-six years of physical age.

He opened his eyes, and said, his voice shockingly deep, "Well?" Reborn took a step back, letting go of the halfbreed's hands. Lambo quickly realized that it was because they had become the same height. His facial features had matured, his legs had grown sleek and bright, his tail had elongated, and his coat now had a smoother transition from human waist to horse chest where the fur had thickened. His horns, even, gained a few ivory inches. The change was obvious.

"Wow...," the boss rasped, feeling an unusual increase in his heartbeat. "Lambo, you look..."

"How do I look?" Lambo urged.

Reborn wanted to tell the hybrid how beautiful he was, but he was still paralyzed by shock. As such, instead of appealing to the emotions Lambo could feel, he embraced the halfbreed, instead satisfying the physical need that would later lead to heartbreak. He leaned in, intending to deepen the affection with a kiss, when...

"Oh, boss~!"

Startled by the feminine voice that broke the peaceful silence, Reborn stumbled backwards, and looked to the gate. Lussuria stood there, his arms over the fence, grinning cheerfully. "What do you want?" Reborn snapped. The tamer giggled, then hopped the fence, causing Lambo to shamefully trot away as he walked over.

"I just wanted to say hello to dear Lambo- he really is a cutie. But never mind that, I have a more important question."

"Hm?"

"Dino recovered quickly from the vampire attack lately, however, Mukuro is less fortunate. He's still shut up in his room, the poor darling!" he announced.

"Hm," the boss sighed. "If it's the physical trauma, let him sleep. If he's getting emotional, wake him up and get him back on duty. Let Dino rest for a bit, though, I don't want him up and about yet. Mukuro's stronger."

"All right." Thankfully, the older tamer decided to hold his tongue about Dino and Lal Mirch. "I'll go check in on Mukuro, I suppose." The tamer left, and moved up to Mukuro's room, before knocking on the door, and from behind it, a weak 'come in' was soon heard. Lussuria walked inside, to find the hunter all comfortable on his bed, his face pale. The tamer sat down on Mukuro's bed, and cooed, "Are you okay, honey?"

Mukuro shook his head, closing his eyes. "I want him back so bad," he rasped. "I want Hibarin back."

The tamer's eyes became clouded with sympathy, and, inevitably, his motherly instincts kicked in. He reached up to the hunter, and began to soothingly rub his side, murmuring, "It's all right, dear. If he loves you - and he quite obviously does - he will return to your side."

"No one can be sure of that," the hunter replied.

"Yes, hun, it's obvious," Lussuria stressed. "I watched them, too. Hibarin never looked at Basil the same way he looked at you. Not even during the send off." Mukuro looked up into the tamer's eyes, revealing the moist within his own, and he reached up, almost as if he... No. There was no way he wanted a hug, but the tamer couldn't resist. Open arms were much too tempting. He came in, and embraced the hunter, murmuring, "It's okay, hun. You're going to be with him again soon, all right? I'll look for him with you."

"All right," Mukuro mumbled, hugging back. "Thanks, Lussuria."

"Mukuro," the tamer began, his voice somewhat threatening. "What do you call me?"

The hunter chuckled to himself, and whispered, "Thank you, mother Luss."

"That's right, hun, and don't forget it."

Meanwhile...

Byakuran stood, and stretched his wings, his breath slowly calming. He and Kikyo had at last expressed physical love for each other, and his entire body was still hot from it. He smiled, looking back at the centaur who was asleep in the grasses. "You made a wise choice, Kikyo," he cooed. "I'll take care of you."

He trotted away, tail swishing with satisfaction, when he noticed Dino speaking to Xanxus a distamnce away, or rather, yelling at him. "You don't hurt women, all right? You just don't! There's a certain code of honor that all men follow, and the first and foremost rule is that things like this just don't happen!"

Xanxus stretched, and leaned back. "That's extremely old fashioned," he muttered. "Either way, it doesn't matter. As long as your throwing a fit, things have gone as planned."

"What?" Dino snarled. He gulped as the older vampire glared at him, and he sighed, "You're both going back into the underground cavern, all right? Don't try to get out of it."

"We won't," Squalo sighed, "sorry about Xanxus, tamer."

Dino glanced at him. "Don't talk to me." With that, the tamer stood and left, leaving behind a triumphant Xanxus, as well as a somewhat hurt Squalo.

"There he goes!" Xanxus laughed. "And with that, I'm free of rivals."

"Boss," Squalo sighed. "You really shouldn't have."

The vampire simply chuckled off the merman's frustration, smirking. Squalo was his, and his alone.

Dino, of course, was less amused. He returned to his room, to find Lal Mirch on the bed, rubbing her long, fluffed up tail and wincing to see the matted fur where blood had wetted it. "Well?" she asked as the tamer walked in.

"Yes, it was Xanxus," Dino sighed. "I'll return him and his mate to the underground cave as soon as I can."

"All right," she sighed, "well, thanks for your hospitality, Dino. I really appreciate it."

I'm glad you're not too badly wounded," Dino replied, reaching up and rubbing her ears. "You know, my adopted mother was a werewolf, so I suppose I sort of feel a natural kinship to you."

"Well, I served as an assassin for humans for a brief period of time, so I know what you're feeling," the female answered. Dino slowly flushed red, leaned in, and as he smiled, he was allowed to kiss the werewolf.

-End Chapter

Video Update: Seriously need to get those voice acting roles in, otherwise I won't be able to include them. I've been talking about this video for too long- things need to start happening, yeah? PM me a link to any files, or ask me for my e-mail so that you can send them.

Please Review!

THANK YOU EVERYONE! THIS STORY HAS BROKE 100,000 WORDS!