Weeks later; Florida
"Wow, Sir Isaya really pulled out the stops huh?" Anju blinked.
"He is quite influential even among humans." Akira nodded. "Though I'm certain him speaking of Mortis's threat was a bit of an encouragement."
"But seriously, to get a whole navy fleet from the Americans?" Anju blinked as she saw the ships docking and troops now boarding them.
In the time since, an entire naval force had been built up with contributions from human governments worldwide and the Hunter's Association. Weapons outfitted for fighting Paragon beasts had been arranged for even the helicopters contributed by the Association. There were even troops supplied by the American military to assist in operating them. All in all, a massive operation.
"I just hope things go well." Anju said. "I saw Mortis's Avatar of Death and the destruction it could bring." She recalled now the destruction the apparition had wrought, how it was even able to overpower both Queen Ai and Lady Ren. The thought of facing it wasn't an encouraging one.
"Well, mother believes he won't unleash his power on us immediately." Akira said. "I am inclined to believe her; he likely wants to conserve his strength till he knows he can finish us off."
Anju watched as many men boarded the ships and the numerous aircraft also getting ready. A knot formed in her stomach as she realized many of these men would not make it back home. "I know I should be used to this, but I can't help but realise what this battle will cost us. I don't want to think about it, but the fact is that people are going to die." She gripped her vest tightly. "You've been through many battles Akira. How do you get used to this?"
Akira frowned, thinking deeply to all the lives he had taken, and those whom he had seen die in all his years as a Knight. "You never get used to it Anju." Akira replied. "No matter what, war will always mean loss of life. It was why humans always sought peace before, because they know how much pain and destruction it will cause. And yet, there are still those that desire it. Such is the truth of this world."
"I don't get it." Anju frowned. "Why would anyone want something so terrible?"
"Who knows?" Akira answered. "In the end, the horrid truth is that some people care not for the consequences so long as they acquire what they want. I believe the only reason for this is due to lacking hearts and minds. Greed, Hatred, so many things can warp a person in the worst ways possible."
"And some go worse than that." Anju lamented, unsure of how to process these facts.
"And when I remember this, I also remember that there are innocent and pure hearts in this world." Akira said as he moved to hug her from behind. "Like you."
"You're not just saying that to flatter me, are you?" Anju half smiled.
"It's the truth." Akira now leaned his chin on her shoulder, taking a whiff of her hair. "It's one of the reasons I fell for you."
Anju smiled as she reached up and stroked his head. "Sometimes, I wish that we didn't have to be here. I want to spend my time with you, without all this thought of death and destruction about to take place. I want us to be like a normal couple, spending time with each other, talking about pointless things and what we'd do with our lives. Maybe even… marriage and what comes after."
Akira saw images flash through his mind. He imagined now the things she spoke of, her in a pure white wedding dress, with an enlarged tummy that she rubbed so soothingly, him and her together with a smaller being cradled in her arms. In truth, he too desired those things. But as of now, he knew what was needed to be done, for there was no way he could shy away from this. For now, they had to focus on the battle ahead.
"I know what you're thinking." Anju nodded. "We have to finish this fight first. So until then, please don't die."
"Same goes for you." Akira affirmed.
Emi released her lips from Shinji's shoulder, licking his blood off her lips. Or maybe it was actually her blood, she couldn't really tell with how long they've been at it.
She felt Shinji remove his fangs from her neck as well, the slight prick of pain incomparable to the sheer bliss of the moment. Emi now buried her face into his shoulder, taking a whiff. "How long has it been already?"
"Who knows?" Shinji asked. "All I know is we probably need help after this."
"I dunno." Emi smirked. "I know there have been Purebloods in our history who did waaaay worse."
"Huh…" Shinji blinked. "When you put it that way…"
"So I don't think we need to worry about this." Emi smiled as she turned and faced him, blood smeared upon her lips. "Besides, I may never get a chance like this again."
Shinji stared at her, looking into those blue eyes. It was one thing he never tired of. Slowly he raised his hand and ran his fingers through her blonde locks, caressing each strand carefully. Taking a handful of hair, he lifted it up to his nose and sniffed it. He never told her this, but her scent was always of the sweetest sugar. He couldn't be sure why, only the theory that her love of sweets has affected her in more ways than one.
Emi giggled. "Do I smell good? You seem to be enjoying it a great deal."
"Of course you do." Shinji smiled. "And you know what? I have no intention of enjoying it for the last time." With this, Shinji now leaned forward and pushed Emi down onto the bed. Emi gasped, and suddenly felt her heart quicken.
"Y-you're being really forceful today huh?" Emi gulped.
"I just want you to know how determined I am to live through this." Shinji said as he positioned himself above her. "And I want you to know that you need to live through this as well."
Emi breathed, listening intently to every word. "So, is that what you've decided?"
"Yes." Shinji nodded. "I have no intention of getting killed out there."
"You know how much of a stretch that is going to be right?" Emi frowned. "I'm definitely going to be in Celestine's crosshairs, and who knows who you'll be fighting with."
"Perhaps." Shinji nodded. "But all the same, I want to come back to this. I want to go back and enjoy what remains of our school days with you. I want to survive this, even if it kills me."
"Sounds dangerously counter-productive." Emi frowned, though it was immediately replaced with a smile. "Still, I find myself wanting to do the same."
Shinji now moved his hands to the button upon her shirt. Slowly, Emi watched as he unfastened them one at a time, soon enough removing her clothing. Once he was done with his shirt, he reached for the bra she wore, slowly removing it as well.
"You know, my dad might kill me for this…" Emi replied. "And you as well, now that I think about it."
"I don't care." Shinji said as he removed his own shirt. "As far as I'm concerned, this only makes me want to survive even more." Shinji now lowered his head toward Emi's bare breast, baring his fangs and sinking them into Emi's flesh once more.
On a separate area of the ship, Gabriella and Ganju cuddled each other on a bench. "How is your body?" Ganju asked as he rubbed her arm.
"Alright." Gabriella nodded. "The medics did a good job at putting me back together."
"I really don't like how you see yourself as a jigsaw puzzle." Ganju frowned.
"Well, I feel the same about you smashing your bones to pieces." Gabriella retorted. "I saw it all as part of my massive surveillance during the assault. Mortis's monstrous construct would destroy you, completely."
"Hey, don't look down on me like that!" Ganju exclaimed. "Though, I guess you have a point. The last time that thing hit me, it was like ten trucks running me down."
Gabriella chuckled. "Remember the time you trained yourself to be able to carry me while I had to be confined to the hospital? You were just a child then…"
"I remember trying to use the dumbbells I found in the rehabilitation gym." Ganju groaned, remembering the embarrassing past. "Everyone wondered why a kid was even trying to lift 80lbs all on his own… I can't remember the last time I was so embarrassed."
"And yet you continued going and lifting weights there. Soon enough, you could bench more than any vampire out there." Gabriella reminded. "I think you once remarked that I felt like a feather?"
"That was a really embarrassing method of flirting with you okay?" Ganju buried his face in his hands. "Please don't remind me!"
Gabriella laughed. "How funny, that I'd remember these things as we head toward a battle that could end with us dead. I suppose that's my way of coping."
Ganju now fell silent, a brooding expression crossing his features. Gabriella looked up, curious at his silence. "Ganju?" She asked, tilting her head. Suddenly, without warning, Ganju leaned over and lifted her up. Gabriella couldn't help but squeak in surprise as he cradled her like a bride.
"Gabriella, if we survive this, will you marry me?" Ganju asked.
Gabriella blinked for a few moments before her eyes widened in shock. "H-Huh? Huuuuuh!?"
"Look, I know it's a lot of work…" Ganju pursed his lips, as if thinking on his next line. "Obviously we need to let our parents know, we have to set a date and then think about all the logistics and…"
"No no no no!" Gabriella protested. "T-That's not it! Isn't this too out of place! We are about to get into the battle of a lifetime and you talk about marriage!?"
"There's no better time." Ganju said. "Gabriella…" He began, but stopped halfway to lift Gabriella up and kiss her on the lips. Gabriella's eyes widened even more at the contact, remaining stock still even after he pulled away to then bite down at her pale neck. Gabriella didn't even wince at the pain; she simply remained still till he had finished.
"Will you say yes?" Ganju now asked as he pulled away, her blood fresh upon his lips. Gabriella remained silent for a time, still trying to think up her answer. "Um, Gabriella?" Ganju frowned. "Hellooooo? Earth to Gabriella?"
Gabriella now exhaled as she reached up to him and bit his own neck. Unlike the usual gentle sips Gabriella would normally take however, Ganju could clearly hear her sucking down on his blood greedily. Ganju remained still as she finished, lifting her head away from his neck. He watched as a small trickle ran down his neck, an unusually messy job from the Kurenai heiress. Gabriella herself now had a droplet of blood leak out of her mouth as her tongue snaked out to lick the red fluid from her lips.
"Does that mean yes?" Ganju asked her, ignoring the mess she had made on herself.
"Only on one condition…" Gabriella said, half-pouting.
"And what would that be?" Ganju asked.
Gabriella now buried her face into his shirt, gripping him tightly. "Stay alive, okay?" Came her muffled voice.
Ganju slowly broke a smile. "Alright, if that's what you want."
"And hold me like this a bit longer." Gabriella continued.
"Whatever you say." Ganju nodded.
Henry sighed as he paced the deck. He had nothing much left to do and as taking a walk when he finally smelled the odor of blood in the air. No doubt it was the signs of Gabriella and Emi partaking of their own loved ones.
Granted, Henry wasn't jealous. In fact, he wasn't too overly concerned about getting a significant other as of yet. Others would definitely pressure him into getting engaged, but for now Henry didn't feel ready for that.
Henry now rested his hands on the railing, gazing out toward the ocean, mulling over the solitude that surrounded him.
"So it seems I am not the only one craving solitude." Henry turned to see Katarina Kraven now walk up to him, her sword hanging by her belt.
"Lady Katarina. Quite the surprise." Henry greeted.
"Just call me Katarina." The Pureblood huffed. "I'm in no mood to be reminded of my standing as either a Pureblood or a Kraven clan vampire."
"Very well then Katarina." Henry nodded. "So, how are the odds?"
"I'm certain you've heard it by now. Not good." Katarina admitted.
"Just trying to keep that in my head for processing." Henry said. "Did you know, I was quite interested in the tale of Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans."
"Who is that?" Katarina asked.
"An ancient king of Sparta, one of the many states of ancient Greece. It is said he held off a force of almost ten-thousand men with just three hundred of his finest troops." Henry explained.
"Wasn't that mainly because of the effectiveness of the Greek phalanx and their use of the narrow chokepoints?" Katarina frowned.
"So you do know a bit of human history." Henry smirked.
"Only when it comes to the art of warfare." Katarina retorted. "And while such a lesson is quite useful, I don't quite see how that will help us against my grandfather's monstrosities."
"Don't forget that we have these." Henry said as he showed Katarina his katanas.
"Still don't see how they will give an advantage against what they have." Katarina frowned.
"But that is the point of a general, correct?" Henry smiled. "To find out exactly how to use our advantage in the best way?"
"Cheeky." Katarina growled. "But I suppose you make a fair point. Still, even a general has limits."
"Well then, best we rack our brains long and hard for whatever advantage we need." Henry spoke.
"Hmm, considering it's either that or we die, I suppose there isn't much of a choice." Katarina nodded. "So, what advantages do we have?"
"For one, a rather foul-mouthed smith who is about to make a very nice weapon for you." Henry replied.
"Already knew that.' Katarina huffed.
"Hmm, the fact that we have Blood Drive to be able to fend off a whole lot of monstrosities." Henry said again.
"We are saving those for bigger fights, such as Helsing's Executors." Katarina countered.
"We have a whole fleet of human soldiers equipped with the best equipment to fight vampires that all the world's governments could offer." Henry said once more.
"Still, quite a slim advantage." Katarina countered again.
Henry remained silent for a long while, frowning as he did so. "Well, there isn't a lot we have going for us now is there?"
"Not at all, no." Katarina said plainly, resting over the railings of the ship.
"Well, that's a shame." Henry said. "And here I thought we'd have something to give him the slip besides the new weapons."
"Still, that hasn't stopped any of the people who have come along." Katarina remarked.
"Yeah. We are rather crazy, aren't we?" Henry nodded.
"Well, that does make sense, what you did back at Kraven Castle." Katarina nodded. "And I suppose I have grown to admire that madness, even if only slightly."
"Human history is filled with people who are just as mad, perhaps more." Henry answered. "And they have instituted great changes in the world, good or bad."
"So, what change shall we make?" Katarina asked.
"I suppose that is up to us." Henry straightened. "But I'm more than certain should Mortis have his way, the changes will not be good for anyone, especially Cassandra."
Katarina gripped her sword tightly. "Yes. You speak the truth."
"Which is why no matter what, we cannot simply allow ourselves to be defeated." Henry said. "And that, is the simplest truth of all."
Katarina stared into the night sky. "Indeed. Which is why defeat cannot be an option. That, I swear right now."
Misaki sighed. It didn't take a trained eye to feel the apprehension throughout the ship. She had already seen Emi and some of the other vampires partaking of their lovers' blood. She wondered now how many more lives would be lost today.
"Hopefully, this will be the last." Misaki said to herself as she watched another ship cruise by, spotting the watchmen on the deck whilst the rest of the crew got their needed rest.
"Hopefully." Rodin said as he walked up.
"Mr Rodin." Misaki greeted. "Aren't you going to get some rest? I hear you especially need to take great care considering the arm."
"I have my arrangements." Rodin said. "But what about you guys? Hunting down vamps is one thing, going to war with them is quite another…"
Misaki huffed. "Well, it doesn't really change much. I'm still a Hunter, and I've got to do the mission of the Hunter Association. A war is just another hunt, in a way."
"Yeah, a way that is more violent, chaotic and dangerous." Rodin mentioned. "You may have some of Serenity's toys, but that doesn't mean you should take this lightly, understand? In the end, you aren't like a vampire, so you will have limitations."
"I know." Misaki nodded. "But I'm not going to stand aside while my friends fight out there. If there is something I can do, I'm doing it."
"I never thought I'd meet someone like you though." Rodin smiled. "You talk to vampires like a bunch of girls going out for movies and ice cream after. It's actually pretty relaxing."
"Vampires are just like us." Misaki answered. "They agonize over things, they can get stressed. They even have the weirdest quirks. Other than the fact that they live longer than us, and that they need to feed on blood, they appear almost human to me."
"If only the idiots at Helsing could see it that way." Rodin said. "I really hope you live through this kid. Something tells me you are going to head this world in the right direction when this is over."
"Not just me." Misaki said. "Anju, Akira, Emi, Cassandra, Queen Ai, all of us will be responsible for getting this world to where it needs to be. A great change like this can only come when all of us do it together."
"Heh, spoken like a true idealist, not that I mind. I think this is a welcome thing." Rodin chuckled. "I wish you guys all the best there."
"You know, when she said all of us, she included you." Misaki and Rodin turned to see Ichigo walk up to them.
"Wow kid, almost didn't notice you." Rodin commented. "Not bad. Looks like training paid off."
Ichigo rested his hands on the railing, looking out toward the ocean. "Quit changing the subject. And remember what I just said."
"I heard." Rodin nodded. "And honestly, I'm not sure how to believe that." Rodin now looked to his blackened hand. "Believe me kid, I've killed and murdered people. Maybe those people weren't monsters like Mortis, but if you think about all the people I've killed, I'm no different. I'm just a monster, wearing another skin."
The two hunters remained silent at these words, with only the splash of the waves and the sea breeze breaking the quiet.
"You know, I have been thinking that I might have become like the guys in Helsing." Ichigo said at last, causing the two to turn to him. "It's been in my head since I fought Arthur. But it's like, they are what I could have been if I didn't learn to let go of my own hatred and anger."
"Kid…" Rodin blinked, but Ichigo continued without giving him another chance to speak.
"I saw how Giselle fought, and she was indiscriminate." Ichigo said. "Anyone who was a vampire and anyone who sided with vampires she killed without conscience or mercy. She was a hell of a monster to fight." He now looked up at Rodin, a stern look upon his face.
"You though? You're different. Maybe you've killed, and maybe it wasn't for the right reasons. But in the end, you decided to say 'no' to the feelings of rage, to murdering innocents. You decided to protect others instead from vampires, or murderers. So are you a monster? No, at least not to me, not to Misaki, and not to the rest of us." At this, Ichigo stretched out his hand.
Rodin eyed him for a few seconds. "A bit of a stretch there, ain't it? I haven't begun to tell you how many I've killed so far…"
"I'm just telling it how I see it." Ichigo said. "Besides, even Serenity feels that way. She doesn't think you are a monster, just some no-brained idiot who doesn't know the first thing about staying sensible."
"Ha!" Rodin laughed. "That's possibly the nicest thing she can say to anyone." Rodin chuckled for a while before he reached out and grabbed Ichigo's hand. "Ah well, I guess I am getting tired of all this fighting. And if this world you guys want to build is willing to welcome this guy, then I look forward to seeing it firsthand. Who knows, maybe I could take a cruise around the world after all this. I could use a holiday."
"Wow, you sound like an old man with nothing better to do." Ichigo smirked.
"Oh come on, I'm not that old!" Rodin groaned. "And for your information, taking a holiday doesn't mean I have nothing better to do! You know how hard it is to find some relaxation nowadays?! Trust me, it's tough!"
Misaki smiled. "Well, like you said, if you want to get there, we have to survive what happens next."
Rodin and Ichigo now stopped, their eyes drifting to the distant ocean, looking to where the horizon likely was. "Yeah. We will." They both answered.
"So, they are coming at last…" Ridley smiled as he hovered in the air. He breathed in the salty air of the ocean all around, collecting his thoughts. Since all those years ago that he left the Vampire Knights, since he decided to no longer subscribe to the stupid ideology of coexistence. After all, history in his view repeated itself plenty. Humans would continue to fear vampires, and vampires would simply treat humans as prey.
Still, he had seen truly incredible things from the queen's side, especially with Anju Cross. The girl apparently was something akin to a Pureblood now. He wondered if indeed, the path of coexistence had borne some merit from its centuries of struggle…
"Well, at the very least, this will be interesting." James concluded as he flew back to the spire, anticipating the battle to come.
Author's Note:
I know this chapter was very delayed. I didn't think it would be this hard to write. Also, add to the fact I have driving lessons and plenty of CHurch things to handle left extremely little time to dedicated in fleshing out this chapter.
I still have every intention of finishing this story, hopefully by this year. So all I ask is for your kind patience as I bring this final arc to its conclusion
Jdbl00d
