Chapter 61: Huntress?
Hiro was just waking up, and she was surprised to see her Dad on the ground next to her bed, sleeping.
She looked out of her window, and out was early afternoon. It was sunny out, amnd the grass was growing green again.
Hiro smiled. "Well it's about time..."
Kuhn stretched, and rubbed his neck painfully.
"Uggghnn... Morning..." He said sleepily.
She looked at him, and shook her head, laughing softly.
"You know you didn't have to stay here... My floor is wooden... Ouch."
He laughed. "I might have left, if you would have let go... You have quite the grip young lady! I had to sleep there, because you wouldn't give up my hand."
He sighed happily. "Oh well, I've done all kinds of weird things in my sleep..."
He stood. "Well, I'd better get this fixed."
Hiro saw his hand as he tried to leave.
"Dad! Your hand!... Did I do that? I am so sorry!"
He sighed. "Don't worry about it, I just hope I helped some..."
He walked away, and thought for a moment.
He had done the same thing when his mother died.
Kahn was fairly devastated, and even Kaihn showed having issues with it, because he was silent.
Kuhn had been extremely devastated, because between himself and Kahn, Kahn had started shutting down, and training more. Kuhn spent some of his time training, but most of his time taking care of his mother.
He remembered before she died, and she expressed her sorrow for his brothers.
She would have never died willingly, and tried hard to stay around for them... Kuhn was convinced she had died of a broken heart. He remembered not moving when he saw her disappear, her sheets still warm from where she had been...
He shut down for a few days, and just didn't move...
Kahn found him in this state, and had figured out the rest. It was the first time Kuhn had seen him cry in years...
And the last he'd see anything from him in a while.
They were almost seventeen then...
Kuhn had been sleeping on the ground, and Kahn tried to get him to move. Kuhn grabbed his hand, and didn't let go the whole night... Kahn, unable to escape, slept there with him...
"Are you okay?" Linn asked.
Kuhn jumped. He had been standing there for a while.
He sighed. "Yeah... Just going over old memories..."
Linn gave a look of concern.
"I'm sure you were... You just looked so sad. I mean, you space off a lot, but this looked different."
He nodded. "It was."
She gave him a hug.
"This is hard for you, because I know it's hard for me... It hasn't been an easy patch of months... Or years."
Kuhn leaned into her.
"It's been rough... But we're parents, it's always rough in some way."
Linn smiled sadly. "Yeah, but this has been hard. There's always a chance we'll lose someone, even ourselves... It's horrifying."
He kissed her softly.
"It won't be you as long as I'm around... You have three little lives to worry about."
He continued to kiss her.
"You're dress looks beautiful by the way."
She laughed. "I wore this because nothing else fits!"
He smiled. "You'll grow a lot earlier of course, because of there being more than one..."
She sighed. "Yeah... It's been five months now. Chihiro is convinced they're girls..."
He laughed. "You know the curse of girls though... They'll all look like me."
She scoffed. "You just wait, they'll all be boys, and look just like me dammit!"
He nibbled at her ear.
"That's fine... Maybe they'll be more polite like me... And not swear so much."
She gave him a half playful shove.
"You're such an ass!" She yelled.
He burst out laughing.
"That was awesome!"
She rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Kuhn, sometimes you really make me wonder... You damn fool."
She was about to walk away, when she tripped on a loosened floorboard.
Kuhn caught her, and stifled a scream as she landed on his hand. It was a minor break before...
Now it really hurt.
"I am so sorry!" She exclaimed.
"That looks really broken Kuhn..."
He breathed slowly.
"It's fine..." He cringed.
Linn and Kuhn got over to Kahn so that hand could be healed.
Kuhn sighed. "Linn, you need to be more careful... I don't want you hurting yourself."
She looked down. "It's hard getting used to walking like this again... Not to mention I got so big so fast..."
They were in the upper halls next to a window. Linn looked at her reflection and sighed...
"I'm so huge... Kuhn? What am I going to be like at seven or eight months...? I'll be a mammoth."
Kuhn laughed. "No you won't! Well... You'll be bigger."
He gave her a soft and lingering kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I think you're stunning... And I don't mind."
She gave him a soft kiss.
"You always were a gentleman."
He leaned her against a wall, brushing his lips against her neck.
She hardly noticed as they entered the vacant room, and Kuhn had already unhooked her bra.
"Yeah, and a good gentleman always knows how to please his lover..." He whispered.
Kuhn loved her just like he did when he first loved her...
If anything he loved her more.
Linn was always hopelessly falling for him, every day, as he was for her...
Embracing the warmth and pleasure of their bodies pressed together...
Like a mutual merging of souls.
Linn was relaxed, and Kuhn was pressing gentle kisses to her stomach.
He held his hand over where the little ones had settled, and stroked the spot with his thumb.
She smiled warmly. "You know they kick sometimes... They just started moving more recently."
He smiled. "I bet it's awful crowded, huh little one's?"
He felt a small hand press to his...
It stayed there for a moment, so Kuhn traced his fingers over it...
Linn smiled. "There they go again..."
He let his hand rest over the spot where the hand was.
He felt two more little hands, and possibly a foot, try to push against his hand.
He laughed softly. "They're definitely curious... You think they're already fighting over me?"
Linn laughed. "Yeah, I'm sure that's it..."
Kuhn pressed a soft kiss there, and sighed happily.
"You know? I don't think I'd mind more girls... Or boys. It will be interesting to see how they grow with each other..."
His mind drifted.
"I just hope they get along... I know this might sound incredibly crazy, but Kaihn wasn't always completely horrible. He was a coward, and a liar... He cheated a lot, and he was always hot tempered... He just seemed to get worse somewhere along the way."
Linn sighed. "No one comes out of the womb hating people... It just evolves it seems."
Kuhn felt a pang of worry.
"We really should talk to Hiro more about... Well, anything. Kaihn acted up a lot. Sure, it was at an earlier age, but we didn't exactly have the best of role models. Our Mom tried, but never seemed very firm. She was always lonely, and only really paid attention when we made the effort. Our Father? Well, I wouldn't know..."
Linn smiled sadly. "Yeah... I knew both of my parents, but my mother never spoke to me... Or my sisters. It was only my father and Junichi... Even my father had a strained tie to me at best. Most of my sisters were being married off... When the business shut down, and my older sister Gina jacked the family savings and eloped with her lover... Things were tight. My own dad sold me to the bathhouse to be worked as a slave, so he could reap the profits I earned. I never knew they were sending back Junichi's letters from me, or that he came back for me."
She felt a tear slip. "You know it's funny... I always hated men for a while, but I never got along with women. They all seemed so petty and shallow..."
Kuhn could see she was disturbed.
He kissed away the tears that fell, and wrapped her in a hug.
"You are not shallow. You will never be shallow. Most of the women working there were greedy and had lost on an overbearing bet of one kind or another. Not all, but most. Even the men were like that..."
For a moment, Linn was surprised than he'd seen through her words.
But only for a moment... Kuhn had this way of reading her like an open book.
Kuhn smiled. "From the moment I met you, I knew you weren't like them... You were definitely feistier!"
Linn laughed. "You were such a bonehead! 'We're on official business.' While on break... Damn loveable fool."
Kuhn blushed. "Oh... So you remember that? Not one of my finest moments."
She sighed. "I thought you were a complete ass... Until that one time when we were flying, and you noticed how scared I was. I was surprised to find someone who would consider that important... I was really rude to you."
Kuhn grinned. "That's okay, our debates are always a turn on. I kind of like you fiesty anyway..."
He gave her a soft kiss.
She smiled warmly. "How can you know me so well, and look at me like you've never seen me before...? It's really amazing..."
He kissed her again, and smiled.
"It's not that... You just become a little more beautiful every day. I don't know as much as you'd think... Because I see more of you every day I'm with you, and I love every piece of it."
She leaned into him. "That was wonderful... Now be quiet. If you say something else, the moment will be ruined."
He laughed. "Well that couldn't have helped it!"
They both laughed.
Linn looked down, remembering Kuhn's comment concerning Hiro.
"Do you think we should all do something together? With Hiro I mean... What you said kind of worried me."
Kuhn nodded. "I think that it would be nice to all do something together for a change... And about that, I'm not overly worried. I just see some of the same patterns, that's all. She was never cruel, and never a coward or a cheater... She's lied a lot in the past, and acted up some. What I really noticed was that same lost look... You know, sometimes I wonder if we were partially to blame, Kahn and I. We never really tried to understand him, even when we were younger... He wasn't really evil. In fact? I remember a brief time when he was fairly timid... It was never really looked at or talked about. Those timid expressions didn't take long to turn bitter..."
Linn shook her head.
"You can't blame yourself for something that had started when you were a child... What could you have done that you would have understood? As far as I'm concerned, you were just as confused, and Kahn too. That's why you all acted the way you did, because you were children who were just as lost... It's horrible what Kaihn must have gone through, and I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for him... In the end, we make the choice to become who we are. Kaihn made his decision, and lost what little respect I may have had, by hurting my children and my family."
Kuhn thought back to how Hiro was when they'd found her...
She couldn't have recovered from that yet.
He sighed. "You're right... Linn, I can't help but mourn some over Kaihn, but you're right... Hiro... And Eiji too. She said that he hadn't hurt her, but she had seen him hurt Eiji... I've seen his tactics, and that was off. He hurts all victims he has... He's never picked favorites."
Kuhn looked away.
"Now I'm worried. What could he possibly want with Hiro? She never really told us much..."
Linn looked at him.
"Then we'd better ask her. I don't like the sound of Kaihn favoring our daughter in any way... If I know anything about things like that, it's that they always come back. Guys as twisted as that would have no problems with obsessing over they're favored prize... The last thing I want, is for Hiro to be too afraid to come to us about some damn stalker. Especially him."
Kuhn nodded. "That's a good point. We should probably get dressed again, and talk to her soon..."
Linn felt her stomach growl.
"Let's do that... And also, I'm hungry."
Kuhn laughed, and gave her stomach another kiss.
"I think I'll do the cooking... Four mouths to feed is a big task, and I know your strange cravings."
Linn sighed. "Yeah... I just hope I can get the dress back on."
They got dressed, and Kuhn made her a chocolate Sunday with lettuce. Why did she want lettuce? He had no clue... He learned from the first time, to never ask.
He couldn't seem to shake that feeling with Hiro...
Kaihn...
I have no idea what you want with Hiro.
What you've done to this family is absolutely unforgivable...
However, I can't help but wonder why you've spared my daughter just now?
What about those dreams? Those must have been endless amounts of torture.
But maybe not...
She has never seemed so scarred as she is now.
Why would you hold back on her, or anyone else...
It's just not like you.
(Wow... It seems your not completely clueless.)
Kuhn froze, but kept his composure on the outside.
Kaihn! What the hell do you want with Hiro!? She has nothing to do with you... If I ever see you again, I will show you what real pain is!
He laughed. (I don't think you have that capacity... Your lovely little daughter? Now... She could make something worthwhile. Such potential...)
So that's your game... You want her as an apprentice.
(When did you decide to use that brain of yours? I'm shocked...)
Shut up. Do you really think Hiro will buy any of this!? Believe it or not, she has a brain too. A good one.
(Good? Well, I wouldn't go that far. I would go far enough to say that she has a brilliant curiosity... Do you want to know what she thought when I revived the fallen angel, after cutting out his tongue... Drowning him in his own blood?)
No. That's horrible. She was probably horrified... That's sick...
(Yes... It was an almost horrified curiosity. She wanted to know why there was still blood in his lungs after I had restored him. She was examining my tactics... A good mind, even the most brilliant and anylitical, would have reached for a fallen friend. I've seen it many a time, and with Hiro? This was not the case...)
She may have some problems when facing death, but... Wait, did you say blood?
He laughed maniacally.
(NOW YOU GET IT! Yes, Hiro is supposedly afraid of blood... But why then, was she so fascinated when she dropped her guard, allowing herself to be exposed to it? I can tell you why, in all honesty... The answer may not be what you expect...)
Damn you... You have my attention. What I believe is my choice.
(A well placed answer. Why do you think she falls into fit's of madness, using that club to bloody rooms? Why the Leviathan's favor both her and Eiji as Master and Mistress? That Leviathan who had imprinted on her had the right idea... They draw from similar powers.)
Similar powers? You make no sense whatsoever.
(Hold on, I'm getting there... She seems afraid of blood. No... She's afraid of what of does to her. The only escape she allows herself is that boy, with blood mastery.)
Eiji!? What does he have to do with this!?
Kaihn tsked at him
(So impatient brother...)
You're no brother... You lost that right when you hurt my family!
(That's fine... I'm going to finish what you so rudely interrupted now. She draws her power from this blood, and it's life force makes her stronger... Fits of madness only provide an escape for that thirsty mind that she's so foolishly neglected.)
That doesn't make her a killer. At least she shows some self control. Even if what you're saying is true, she's stronger than someone like you can comprehend!
(How long can this stubborn strength last... Even the most stubborn bull gives in to the slaughter eventually. She will break, this is inevitable. Even this so called love will cease to exist... She hungers for it every day, and so do I... Even the smallest pinprick can set me off, because even that can be enough to drain someone.)
He laughed darkly.
(But what's the fun in that...? It was boring the first time. They don't squirm when they're weeping in bed.)
Mother... You killed her? You...
You were silent, ONLY TO ESCAPE SUSPICION!?
Let me say that no one would have guessed! I don't know how someone could find PLEASURE IN KILLING THEIR OWN MOTHER!
(I'm impressed you caught that... Not so oblivious any-)
Shut the FUCK UP!
(Would you rather me not finish my explanation, and just take her now? I'm sure she'd see reason when her mind is unclouded with your worthless morals... Eiji, that foolish boy. He hasn't even realized the extent of his problems... The further she breaks, the more she will hunger... A blood master is quite a satisfying fix. I took half of it myself! Then again... I tend to over indulge at times... I find it very ironic, that such a bond would form, when she is his natural predator.)
Natural predator?
(Such a young and supple meal... So inexperienced. I'm surprised no others have tried... Such power in such a reckless body and mind... Do not be fooled. As she grows more established in this thirst, she will find that she craves to be around him... Needs his presence... It means that she's getting hungry, for a taste that only a blood master can satisfy.)
She is nothing like you!
(She's EVERYTHING LIKE ME! Don't you understand!? I am very surprised she has taken this long to fall... It's quite liberating actually.)
So you're accusing her of being a Vampire or something? I'm not sure if that's possible, sorry.
(Not a Vampire you idiot, a blood mage. The kind that seeks the power of the blood of others, instead drawing magic from their own... But yes, that is the dumbed down version you would understand. Much like the futile myths of these Vampire's, it's only a matter of time before she 'Turns', if we're really lowering this to such a level...)
There's something you're not saying Kaihn! I know it...
He sighed.
(Well don't expect me to point it out... I do want her as an apprentice after all.)
Don't hold your breath... It's not going to happen.
Kuhn snapped back into attention, and jumped when he saw the others surrounding him.
"What the hell just happened!?" He exclaimed.
"Why is everyone here?"
Chihiro looked at him.
"You were frozen in a trance, and began talking. No one could shake you out of it, so I tapped into the conversation."
He sighed. "So I take it you heard most of it."
She nodded. "Yeah, I did..."
Eiji shifted nervously.
"I heard him say something about me... Where am I in this?"
Chihiro shook her head.
"No, not now... I'll tell you..."
He sighed. "You're not going to tell me."
"I'll tell you when I figure out how to tell you." She finished.
She looked at Kuhn.
"As for you? I'm afraid we have a lot to discuss."