Felicia emerged from the bedroom with an empty glass and a half-eaten plate
of noodles. She solemnly closed the door behind her and made her way into
the kitchen. Akira grabbed her skirt and looked at her, shamed slightly.
"Is she okay?"
Felicia shrugged and didn't reply, the silence was replaced by the tinkling
of silverware in the sink. Akira followed her, hesitantly.
"Is she okay?" He repeated, the nerves showing in his voice. Felicia looked
at him briefly, but continued to clean the cutlery.
"She's awake now, if that's what you mean. I wouldn't say she's okay,
though."
Akira looked towards the door.
"I did what needed to be done."
Felicia dried her hands on her apron and began to pull bottles of pills out
from the medicine cabinet.
"Yet you didn't kill her."
He sniffed, thinking deeply. Felicia watched him struggle for the answer. He
turned away, adjusting his shirt. He watched his reflection in the mirror,
the grey morning light reflecting his red hair back at him.
"That weakling...could...be useful. Against Demitri, I mean." Felicia
spooned out two pills into a little plastic cup.
"Oh?"
Akira continued, watching Felicia's actions in the reflection in the window.
"When I attacked her...she was...already prepared." In his mind, the girl
flashed before him, the gun gripped tightly in her hand. He gritted his
teeth, the hatred bubbling in his stomach. He caught Felicia looking at him,
so he relaxed out of the tension.
"And what does that mean to you?" With the pill-laden cup in her hand, she
walked up behind Akira. They looked at each others reflections coldly. Akira
turned around and ran his eyes along the ceiling. They came to rest on an
empty spider's web, silvery and delicate.
"Nothing, I was just thinking that if she prepared like that for the battle
with Demitri...we could win." His eyes flicked back to Felicia, judging her
response. She cocked her head, eyes narrowed.
"Is that all?"
Akira gritted his teeth again, frowning angrily while bringing his face
closer to hers.
"I don't know what you're thinking but I've decided to take her along. I
will warn you now. If she gets in my way, I'll kill her as soon as look at
her!"
Felicia's eyes softened, a fraction of relief shining in them. She fingered
the cup in her claws.
"So...have you accepted the way things are?"
Akira looked towards the bedroom door, a frown still etched in his handsome
features.
"...No. But I can deal with it."
Felicia smiled to herself. In her mind she thanked John Talbain for the way
he taught Akira. He made the boy into a fierce and overly-selfish warrior.
Yet, in the darkest moment, The boy's startling, and mostly hidden, sense of
chivalry shone through. Though she would never say this to Akira, she was
impressed. Both with his strength and the way he coped with his dark soul
being torn towards the light. She sighed and held out her hand. Akira looked
at it blankly.
"Here...take these cure-alls to her, and tell her what you told me."
He accepted the pills and looked down at them.
"You two should be ready to leave in a few hours."
Akira jolted in slight shock.
"Why me?"
Felicia didn't answer, just smiled slightly. On his face he looked angry and
annoyed, but in his eyes, she saw warmth. But whether it was only concern
for himself, she couldn't tell. She cocked her head to one side.
"What happened out there? You bang on my door first thing in the morning,
carrying the severely wounded girl that you hate so much. You blame yourself
and beg for assistance." Akira huffed and turned away angrily. Felicia
placed a hand tenderly on his shoulder. "The Akira I know...or thought I
knew would never do that. What made you change your mind so radically?"
"NOTHING!" Akira yelled, spinning around to stare at her. The warmth in his
eyes had died. They pierced her, cold and enraged.
"Okay, okay. No need to shout."
She let go of his shoulder and held out her hand to take back the pills.
Akira held on to them and hid them behind his back, out of view.
"I just...thought she might be...useful in the fight, is all. Nothing else.
The black book's never been wrong before, so maybe...my chance at gaining
the power orb will be increased if I take her with me."
He turned towards the door, grasping the pills. Felicia whispered after him.
"What if she wants the power?"
He looked at her over his shoulder and spoke coldly.
"Then I'll kill her and take it myself."
Felicia groaned and let her arms flop to her sides.
"One step forwards, two steps back."
"What?"
She folded her arms, her stance like that of a mother, mock-accusing her
child of having a crush on the next door neighbour.
"Is it not possible that you long for her friendship?" He shivered, his brow
creasing. Felicia softened her voice. "We're all lonely Akira, you're no
different."
Akira's voice became low and steady, soaked in danger and well-controlled
rage. His bottomless green eyes shimmered against his pale skin, tinged blue
in the dawn light.
"It is not possible to put into words how disgusting I find her. So weak and
pathetic. She'll be killed in the end."
Felicia moved her mouth slightly.
"Why?"
"Because I'll be the one to do it. Nowhere in the book does it say that two
Darkstalkers can share the orb. It is mine, not hers."
Felicia laughed disdainfully, switching the electric kettle on.
"I was wrong. You still are the selfish little boy I knew."
Akira's voice seemed to mature, becoming gentler and explanatory.
"You knew that power was what I wanted from the beginning, Felicia. And it
sickens me to think that you believe that I will be swayed by a fragile
female who has kindness lead her rather than her head."
Felicia looked at him, her claws placed on her lips, pressing against the
pinkness. Her eyes probed him imploringly.
"Tell me what happened..." She whispered as the kettle finished boiling.
Akira looked down at the lilac and blue tablets in the cup he held in his
hand. A strange sense of guilt twisted in his gut like a knife. He closed
his eyes and sighed, placing a hand across his face as if in thought. His
face was perfectly still, his body, a shell hiding secrets within.
"What is her name?"
Felicia pointed to the door.
"To know that..." She whispered, pushing him gently by the small of his
back. "You must ask her."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hanako coughed, a hand flying to her mouth. A glob of bloody mucus slipped
into her palm. She wiped it away into a tissue, groaning to herself.
Oh dear, Han-chan! Felicia had said I'll get you some medicine that'll stop
all that.
Hanako eased herself onto her back, a searing white-hot pain ripping through
her torso. She sobbed loudly, freezing until the hurt subsided. She lowered
herself back down, sighing jerkily.
She guessed that Akira crushed some bones or battered some organs. That
would explain the agony, or, at least, the coughing of blood.
Don't cry, Han-chan! You're a Darkstalker now! You'll heal when the night
arrives.
Even so, Hanako urged Felicia to hurry back with the painkillers and sleep
aids.
She stared at the shadowy ceiling, then out of the window, hoping to spot
anything to distract her from her current position. The sky was grey with
watery light and the backdrop of the city loomed in front of her eyes. She
touched her face lightly. It felt puffy and torn, just like her body,
cracked and busted. How had this happened? Akira attacked her. Intent to
kill. That was right. Intent to kill. But why hadn't she been killed?
The door creaked open, sending a brighter shaft of light over the rumpled
bed spread. Hanako turned her head slightly, smiling gingerly.
"Thank god, Felicia. You took forever."
There came no response and a figure entered the room, closing the door
silently. Hanako caught sight of a chestnut-red sheen and called out in a
panic. Akira raised his hands defensively and stared at her until she
stopped yelling. Her voice dropped to a soft moan and she gripped the
sheets, tears dripping down the blood-spattered material. Akira felt a twist
of panic in his gut. The blood obviously came from internal organ damage as
it was darker and thicker, coming from her mouth. He guessed this was the
origin as she had thin streams of shining blood around her mouth. He walked
towards her cautiously, frowning at the weakening figure shivering before
him. She gazed at him from tear-filled eyes and gasped, pulling the sheets
up until they covered her mouth. Akira stood next to the bed and tossed the
pill cup next to her.
"Here."
She looked at it warily and, with some hesitancy, exposed a hand and picked
it up.
"What-?" Her voice emerged shaky and fragile as she looked at him, tipping
the pills into her palm.
"Felicia said you should take them."
She placed them in her mouth and dry-swallowed them. Despite the absence of
water, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and averted her eyes.
"...Thank you." Suddenly, her face curled in confusion. She pulled back the
covers and eased aside a bandage on her lower leg. She ran her fingers over
a small area and smiled.
"Darkstalker cure-all. Pain-remover, injury healer. Felicia knows some
witches who...specialise in this stuff." His voice was laced in disgust and
he turned away from her, pulling out a chair to sit down. Hanako glanced at
him sideways, stiff in anxiousness. He sniffed at her, his condescending
attitude making Hanako become more angry than frightened. A welcome change.
"I did what I had to, you know. Don't think I let you off because I couldn't
handle it." He flicked his head sideways angrily, his fists clenching in his
lap.
"Why did you...?" Hanako's voice trailed off as his gaze slid onto her,
emerald and icy. He snarled at her in annoyance.
"Look in the mirror sometime, moron. You'll see why." Hanako frowned at him,
sitting up on the edge of the bed, ignoring the fact that all pain and
discomfort had melted away.
"I didn't do anything!" she yelled, jerking forwards angrily.
"Exactly!!" Akira jumped up, slamming a fist heavily into the nearby desk.
"And by doing that you have become simply a pathetic waste of space!!" He
groaned and ran a hand over his forehead, turning away from her and leaning
on the table.
Hanako shrugged.
"I'd care more if it mattered what you think about me." She sniffed calmly,
flicking a piece of hair over her shoulder.
"Listen to me..." Akira turned around, his words becoming low and rumbling,
like thunder threatening to explode. Hanako couldn't hold back on her anger.
Akira's obnoxious behaviour had pushed her too far.
"No Akira! You listen to me! It's you who's the pathetic one, attacking
young girls because you're to much of a coward to find a decent fight!!" She
stood up, and barged over to him, poking her finger out in an attempt to
scold him. His face flicked with shock and he stumbled backwards. Hanako
continued her rant. "You come here, acting tough, oh yeah, a real lone
wolf.!!  But what you really wanna do is apologise to me!" She huffed at him
and crossed her arms, eyes blazing with anger. Akira laughed boastfully,
matching her stance.
"If you think that I would regret harming a waste like you, you are dumber
than I thought!!"
"Well then, explain!" she yelled, thrusting out her arms. "Why are you
here?! And bringing me medicine no less? Doesn't sound like something a
killer would do!" She laughed in return, smiling fiercely at him. She
shrugged at him and Akira fell silent. His eyes glazed over in thought and
he sat slowly back on the chair.
"Because..."
Hanako's voice turned to a baby-talk, teasing and annoying. She leaned
forwards from the hips, crooning at him.
"What? Guilt maybe? Or are you just a sheep in wolf's clothing?!"
Akira heaved himself up and pushed his face into hers, snarling angrily.
Hanako gasped and backed off slowly, one hand to her mouth. Akira fell
silent, looking as if he had seen a ghost. He resumed his place on the
chair, staring into space.
"It's because I need you."
His eyes regained their spark and he ran another hand over his face. He
leaned forwards into his palm, the elbow resting on his knees, eyes
downcast.
"God it makes me sick to say that." He whispered. "We all need you. I didn't
realise until later that even by hating you...I was carrying out what
destiny had pre-planned."
He shook his head, tilted forwards in despair.
"The book was right. It was always right."
Hanako sat on the edge of the bed, her voice softer and calmer.
"What are you saying?"
Akira looked up, anger plastered to his face, he pointed at her desperately.
"You must come with me! To Demitri! To take his power!!"
Hanako cocked her head, her face cold and emotionless.
"And if I don't want to?"
Akira got up and paced the room. He turned to her, his face struggling not
to appear pained.
"We'll all die."
Hanako's flesh drained of it's colour and she covered her mouth with a hand,
the fingers extending over her nose as triangular flesh pierced her pink
hair. She looked at him, her tone warning him and becoming deadly serious.
"Just one thing." She stood up, walking to her clothes placed over a rack.
"I'm fighting for the world. Not just for you."
Akira smiled to himself, heading for the door while she got changed.
"Didn't expect anything but." He placed a hand on the door knob, but halted.
  "About last night..."
Hanako, with her back facing him, shrugged lightly.
"Say no more. You did what had to be done." Akira frowned, trying to decide
whether her matter-of-factly tone was sarcasm or just seriousness. He opened
the door and watched her pick up a pair of jeans.
"I need to ask you." He said, concern wobbling in his voice. "What's you're
name?"
Hanako stood up straight, but kept her back to him.
"Hanako. Call me Hanako."
He nodded to himself and walked out of the room, closing the door. He glided
past Felicia, who was leaning back on the wall, arms crossed and tail
swishing at her sides.
"So... I take it the cure-alls worked?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Now listen!!" Akira huffed, picking up the pace through the forest, his
pack bouncing on his back. "I'm in charge here. And I swear to god...if you
make things difficult, I'll kill you here and now!"
Hanako looked up from the flower she was inspecting and smiled at him,
ignoring his dangerous remarks.
"Why don't you just relax? It's a beautiful evening, and we're all healthy!"
she beamed, closing her eyes as a thing ray of dying sunlight warmed her
face through the thick leaves of the trees.
Akira halted and stared at her, mouth twisted in disbelief.
"Jeez! You really are a moron! We'll be dead in two days if you don't shut
up and hurry up!"
Hanako stretched nonchalantly and skipped up to Akira, dodging past him and
up ahead through the ground, uneven and deep brown, disturbed by tree root
and mud.
"Sure thing, Akira-baby!" She giggled. Akira yelled a wordless warning at
Hanako who sighed and halted, leaning casually upon a mossy tree trunk.
"I don't know why you're so uptight."
Akira shot her a dirty look.
"How stupid can one girl be?! We are facing Demitri Maximoff! The goddamn
leader of the nightworld!"
Hanako shrugged.
"Ah well, may as well live our last days happy!"
Akira growled and Hanako watched him, a nervous smile playing on her lips.
Akira caught up with her and shoved her up on the tree by her shoulder. She
cried out as the rough bark dug into her flesh through her top.
"If we fail, we die!! If we fail, the world dies!! Do you understand?!"
Hanako nodded silently.
"No you don't!" he pushed her harder. "Because if you did, you'd be a lot
more serious and would stop acting like a stupid bimbo!!" He gave her a
final push and she slid down the trunk, tears pricking at her eyes. She
opened her mouth to say something, but shut it as Akira narrowed his eyes.
"Good idea."
He walked on ahead, muttering under his breath. Hanako blinked back the
remaining tears and followed silently.
"I don't know why I agreed to this abuse." She whispered as her mind reeled
back to the scene in Felicia's apartment.
"Oh You guys! I'm so pleased!" the catwoman had said, clapping her large,
claw-laden hands. She beamed, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Finally!
The human world can protect itself!" she noticed the sour expression on
Akira's face and lowered her voice. "Or at least attempt to..."
Akira grumbled and stood up and brushed past her to lean on the edge of the
table, next to Hanako.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... What is it that you expect us two suckers to do?" he
gestured with his thumb, pointing it towards the pink-haired girl and then
to himself. Felicia's face became pale and slightly sad. She swallowed
loudly.
"To put it bluntly....take Demitri down."
Hanako moaned, a small cry escaping her lips, and stood up quickly.
"How? That's impossible!!" the angst in her voice was clear and Felicia
placed an arm around Hanako's shoulders. Felicia smiled, her voice filling
with enthusiasm and hope.
"Nothings impossible Hanako! Especially when you two work together!"
"And how do you know that?" Hanako looked into Felicia's eyes, desperation
sparkling in them, as well as the tears. Felicia glanced at Akira, silently
asking for help. He responded by growling and grabbing Hanako's shoulder
away from Felicia. He pulled her around and jabbed his finger a fraction
away from her face.
"Lets get this straight! I'm not working with you because I want to! That
power is mine and no ones getting their hands on it!!"
Felicia's face crumpled. "What the hell has that go to do with anything?"
Hanako slapped Akira's hand away from her.
"Jeez Akira! Shut up! There's more at stake than your stupid power
obsession!"
Akira pushed his face close to hers, shouting loudly.
"Shut your mouth, moron! Before I shut it for you!"
Hanako pushed her face into his. Their foreheads touching, she laughed
scornfully.
"Oh! What you gonna do? Chew on my slippers, puppy dog?"
He grabbed a fistful of her hair and bellowed, his voice ringing in rage.
"I SHOULD OF KILLED YOU WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE!"
Hanako latched onto his ear and screamed, her voice matching the same
loudness, though lacking the hatred.
"JUST TRY IT!!"
Felicia barged in between them and pushed them away from each other.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE! BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!!"
All three stood there, heaving with the wane of the rage. Felicia lowered
her voice, it became pleading and Hanako turned away from Akira, her heart
still beating rapidly.
"We won't get anywhere unless you two get over yourselves and start acting
like the partners you're meant to be." Akira sat down, his breath becoming
less ragged.
"Fine." He sighed. "Tell us what we need to know."
"There's not much I can tell you... except where to go." Felicia placed her
hands in a prayer-like gesture over her mouth, biting her lip.
"Don't worry, Felicia. I'm sure we can figure out what to do when we get
there." Hanako smiled and Akira grumbled, pushing some supplies into a back
pack.
Hanako hoped she was right. She did admit to feeling a little relief when
Akira took charge.
"Listen!" he stormed, grabbing her sleeve and dragging her down the street.
People began to stare and they dodged down the back alleys. "I'll read the
map. We'll just get lost if I let a moron like you handle it!"
Hanako heaved her sleeve away from him.
"You... will be screaming an apology by the end of this."
Akira forced a laugh, yet the tension was easily identified.
"And just why is that?" He cocked his head, his eyes narrowed, the emerald
shimmer becoming more intense.
"Because I'll of took the orb of power and left you in the dust!" Hanako
walked on ahead. Akira bolted in front of her and pushed her up against the
wall.
"WHAT?!"
Hanako smiled politely, yet her eyes were steeped in coldness.
"You have spent too much time thinking that I'm just a little bimbo with no
scope of things." She pushed Akira back and continued to walk away. "When in
fact...I plan on taking that orb for myself." She stopped and looked at him.
"YOU'LL NEVER GET PAST ME!!" He stormed up to her growling in her face. She
looked at him calmly.
"Then I suppose the final battle won't be between us and Demitri." She shook
her head and gazed at him. "It'll just be between us."
"FINE!!" he snarled. The sadness in her gaze shocked him and he whispered
harshly at her.  "I'll spill your blood as soon as Demitri's hits the
ground."
Hanako briefly touched his cheek. He froze, almost hypnotised by the new
warmth. He came to his senses and heaved away from her fingers. She shook
her head again.
"Akira...that power is mine. But, I'm afraid, until then, I'll trust you
with my life."
He walked on silently, as if lost in his own mind. He nodded at her, his
frown softening
"...Lets go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Lets go!" Akira's harsh voice broke Hanako's thoughts. "Jeez, Come on!! We
need to get out of the forest by sun down!"
Hanako sniffed and picked up the pace silently.
"Oh for...you're not in another mood are you?! Grow up Hanako!" The sound of
her name being spoken by Akira caused her heart to flutter in her chest. She
frowned and shook the feeling away. He sighed, almost happily.
"Now that's a gorgeous sound! Silence!"
Hanako caught up with him. He glanced at her, rolling his eyes.
"C'mon. What's wrong?"
She coughed and snubbed him. He growled.
"Oh fine! It's not like I care. We need to set up camp soon, anyway."
They walked on in a heavy silence. Hanako could see the end of the forest.
The view was eerie. Before them, through the arc of the trees, a wide river,
flowing gold in the setting sun rippled in the evening breeze. Just beyond
that, a jagged mountain range cut the sky like knives.
"Okay...once you get out of the woodland forest, you're halfway there, just
look a the map. You need to cross the River Hiruchime. You wont need to
swim, I've had Talbain set up a boat for you. You'll have to row yourself,
mind. After that you should reach the Minicha range. They may look a little
ragged, but there is a stone pathway that curls to the peak...where Demitri
Moximoff's castle is. Then...its up to you."
Hanako was brought back to the present as she walked into Akira's arm.
"Huh?"
He had halted in place, his face drained of colour. He held his arms out
like a barrier.
"Akira...what is it?"
"Shhh!" he hissed at her, turning his head slightly to look behind him. "do
you hear that?"
Hanako allowed the transformation to take over her. Her cat-like ears
twitched.
"It sounds like...screaming."
Akira shivered and grabbed her hand.
"Run!!"
Hanako smiled confusedly.
"What?"
"RUN!!!!" He pulled her forwards and they bolted off into the distance.
Hanako heard the screaming intensify, as if the voices were gaining on them.
She glanced over her shoulder and screamed herself.
They emerged from the foliage, floating skeletons of rags and rotting flesh.
>From their hanging tatters of flesh, maggots fells in a fountain of eggs and
puss. They seemed to be mere starved corpses, with their bones, exposed
through layers of flesh peeling back, glinting in the dying light, stained
with blood and exposed brain, cobwebs hanging from their heads like tendons.
The waif-like bodies were wrapped in torn material, forming a decomposing
cape, mercifully covering the rest of the hellish body. Each one carried a
scythe, the curving blade, chipped and steeped in blood.
They screamed and howled, a sound similar to ones a torture victim would
make when being stabbed or burnt. Akira and Hanako pumped their limbs and
charged through the forest.
"Oh my god!! Akira! What are they?!!" Hanako cried, feeling the tip of a
blade sweep by her buttocks.
"Banshees!! God damn lost souls, serving Demitri!" Akira hurled himself into
the air, crashing down upon a creature, who was about to decapitate Hanako,
crushing it's skull beneath his boots.
"Those poor things!!" Hanako pulled Akira towards her, allowing him to dodge
the maggot-ridden attack of a screaming banshee.
"Don't be stupid!" he huffed, holding her hand as they ran, pulling her into
a faster sprint.
"There's no hope for them now! Don't waste your time worrying!"
"But...!"
"But nothing! Demitri has absorbed their souls! That means he's started to
master the orb! We need to hurry!" Hanako nodded, frowning in determination.
They emerged from the forest, sweating and breathing heavily.
"C-can we t-take them o-out?" Hanako heaved
"T-take one out...t-two m-more replace th-them..."
Hanako wiped her brow as they continued to run.
"There's...the boat!!"
Akira pulled her harder.
"We have to swim...for it. They can't get us....underwater..."
Hanako cried out, narrowly avoiding a banshees rotting bite.
"Akira...I'm so...tired..."
Akira pushed her ahead, hands on her back
"Rest when you're dead, Hanako!!"
Together they dived into the water, the cold, dark liquid filling their
senses. Bubbles of oxygen escaped as Hanako hovered in the fluid. Her body
felt like lead and she felt the pressure press on her chest, as she slipped
into the darkness.
Akira saw Hanako lose the battle with her energy and sink downwards. Without
thinking he swam forwards and grabbed her. She held on to his body, her head
placed on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. They glided through the
water silently. Akira's muscles screamed with fatigue, but he couldn't risk
stopping, lest Hanako drown.
This is why I didn't want another life on my hands! He thought, pulling
himself onwards. He felt Hanako's finger grip him and he continued, relief
niggling at him.
He could see the land of the opposite side of the river close in on him, and
he craned his face out of the water. The banshees where disappearing back
into the forest, screaming as the faded away.
"Uurrggg!"
He pushed himself and Hanako onto the bank. They lay there, Hanako still
holding on to him, her pink hair falling in soaked tendrils down her back.
He shivered and she looked at him, her pink face tender.
"Thank...you. You saved my life." He went to touch her face, then pulled
away. Pushing her to the ground.
"I told you! You couldn't handle this! If you mess up again, I'll leave you
here!"
Hanako's eyes lit up in desperation.
"I'll do better! I know I will!"
Akira shrugged, his annoyed frown morphing into a sneer of indifference.
"Whatever. I'll believe it when I see it."
Hanako coughed and stood up. The mountain range loomed up into the
star-clustered sky, ancient and treacherous. Akira followed her gaze and
opened the back pack.
"We're over half way there. Let's set up camp. This could be our last night
of life so lets just..."
His voice trailed off as Hanako pushed her hand into the bag, the warm skin
colliding with his. He pulled away and snarled.
"Don't touch me!"
Hanako pulled out her sleeping bag and waved it at him slightly.
"Sorry. I didn't know I was that...disgusting."
Akira blinked solidly.
"You're not...disgusting, as such. More...annoying."
Hanako giggled, rolling out her sleeping bag, pressing it down with her
palms.
"Well....that's better than nothing."
"Yeah whatever. I'm going to get firewood."
Hanako shot up, mouth open.
"But...but...the banshees, Akira!"
He looked at her coldly and walked over to a cluster of dry wood to the side
of him. Hanako smiled.
"What? I'm not going too far. And anyways, we showed them what we're made
of. They won't come back."
Hanako pulled some flint out of the back pack.
"How do you know that?"
He placed the wood in front of them and took the flints from Hanako. He
clicked them together and the wood ignited in a swirl of heat. The flames
licked the air, separating the two Darkstalkers.
"I don't" he replied. "but I saw them leaving."
"I'm scared, Akira"
He looked at her through the orange flames, her face pale and innocent.
"Coward." He huffed, holding her gaze.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Akira?"
"Hmph?"
"I was thinking..."
"That makes a change."
"I just realised I don't know anything about you."
Akira rolled over in his sleeping bag and sat up, rubbing his hands over his
eyes.
"What are you on about now, woman?"
Hanako was already sitting up, her covers peeled back. Her hair was
dishevelled and had caught a blonde glow from the fire. She was looking at
him worriedly, playing with her toes absently as she sat, cross-legged.
"I was just...oh it doesn't matter." She looked away and sighed. "Sorry to
disturb you."
Akira ran his eyes over her and smiled inwardly. It had been a long time
since anyone had cared about anything to do with him. It was an unusual
feeling of self worth. He feared that friendship was weakness, exposing
yourself to another was pure folly in this era. Yet for once, he felt a
stirring, and he couldn't hold back.
"You disturb me anyways. What did you want to know?"
Hanako sighed.
"I just want to know about you, Akira. Where did you come from? Why are
you...what you are?"
Her face looked pained and Akira had to look away. He closed his eyes,
melancholia biting at his heart.
"There's no point me...telling you."
He swallowed loudly.
"Please, Akira. I wont bring it up again."
He eased himself into a sitting position and rolled a rock round in his
hands. He sniffed and raised his eyes to meet hers.
"I was born in a rural village. I was one child in three. I had one brother
and one sister, but she died from illness at two months. My mother and
father fell in a pit of despair and lost all...life. Of course the blood was
still pumping and the heart was still beating, yet they lost that charisma
that people tend to have. The were just...shadows."
Hanako placed a hand on her lips, listening. Her cat-ears had protruded, yet
they lay flat across her head, saddened.
"I lived under the same roof as them, yet they were so distant. I became my
own parents and spent my days cleaning and looking after my little brother.
We became very close, Tsuga and I. I loved him very much..."
Akira blinked back tears and swallowed, pausing until his voice ceased to
wobble. Hanako wanted to place a hand on Akira's shoulder and tell him it
was all right. But he would not appreciate that, thinking tears were
weakness. He coughed and continued.
"I always knew that I belonged in a different situation. That's why I
was...drawn to you. When you were talking with Felicia, I over heard you say
the same thing as I felt."
Hanako smiled weakly, yet remained silent.
"Anyway... I was running into the woods..."
Akira's eyes glazed over as in wonderment.
"The moon...so bright and full...I could see the trees...the rocks..." His
eyes switched back to Hanako. "The he came..."
Hanako already knew who he meant.
"John Talbain...the devil's werewolf. I knew that he existed...he was the
star of many folktales and horror stories in my village. And as his fangs
sunk into my throat...I knew I was right... I was destined for something
else."
He smiled, his grin looking absent in the light of the fire.
"I wandered back to the village, blood-soaked and mangled. Tsuga came to my
aid. I had taught him to deal with wounds and his nursing skills were
something to be proud of."
He watched the expression of hope play across Hanako's face and he laughed
scornfully.
"Sounds like a happy ending doesn't it? Well it's far from it, Hanako."
His voice became low and angry.
"My parents found me injured and examined my wounds. They knew I was the victim of a werewolf...and they knew...I would become one, become a danger to them all."
He stared into the fire. "I saw the light come back into their eyes. I saw
their spirits return. They were united once again...united in their hatred
for me...their first son."
Hanako opened her mouth but the words failed her.
"I was exiled from my village. I never even got the chance to say goodbye to
Tsuga."
Hanako wiped a tear from her eye.
So that's why he's so cold and angry...so untrusting...
"Why didn't you sneak back to say goodbye?"
Akira shrugged.
"I wanted too. With all my heart I wanted too...But should I of been
caught...I'd of been killed. I wanted the memory of me to be one of strength
and nobility to Tsuga, not an unwanted outcast. So I watched over him from
afar. I was still his big brother, no matter what."
Hanako clapped her hands together.
"Why don't we go to your village, once we win? I could fetch Tsuga for
you...and..."
Akira laughed.
"The last fight's between us remember... and besides, that plan is useless."
Hanako looked crestfallen and stared at him, her eyes probing.
"Tsuga's dead." He stated coldly. "As is the rest of my family."
Hanako cried out.
"I'm so sorry...was it illness?"
Akira shook his head, gazing into the fire.
"No...old age."
Hanako jolted, her ears pricking up.
"What?! How old was he?" Akira scratched his head.
"About 97."
Hanako jumped up.
"That's impossible! That means..."
"I'm old. 154 to be exact."
Hanako flopped down staring at him. She opened her mouth, but, once again,
no words came out.
"We stop ageing once we come into our powers. How do you like that? You get
to stay young and beautiful forever."
He rolled over as the fire went out and closed his eyes, feeling sleep
overtake him.
Hanako stared, dumbfounded into the gloom, but snapped back to her senses.
"...Beautiful?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Catch up girl!" Akira yelled, watching her struggle up the stone steps. "I
can see the goddamn castle entrance from here!"
Hanako reached Akira and silently walked past him, gazing at the magnificent
gothic castle. Upon reaching the final step, they sat down together. Looking
back the way they came. Hanako coughed nervously.
"Akira...now's the time... I can feel Demitri watching us."
Akira nodded.
"He knows what's coming. We'll be ambushed as soon as we enter."
Hanako sighed.
"Before we go in...I want to say...thank you."
Akira snarled.
"Shut up. We'll get out of this. Thinking of failure leads to failure."
Hanako wiped away a tear as Akira rolled his eyes. "If you go soft on me
now, so help me, I'll throw you down these stairs!"
Hanako laughed gently.
"...Lets go, Akira."
He watched her transform into a full catwoman. Hair billowing, he noticed
how her muscles had strengthened. She seemed prepared. But nothing is as it
seems.
They walked to the entrance and each placed their hands upon the door. As a
final glance passed between them, the hurled open the door and ran into the
darkness.
"YAAAAAAA!!"
The castle was pitch black and cold. Akira felt marble under his feet.
"Akira!" Hanako called. "I can't see a thing!"
He sighed condescendingly.
"Yes, Hanako. I gathered that by the fact that you are standing on my
FOOT!!"
Hanako yelped and jumped away from the area she was standing on. As her
claws clicked against the marble, a harsh yellow light spread through the
room.
At first glance, the area looked like an immense dining room, except for the
lack of furniture. The marble was black with smoke-like streaks of cream
running through it, Hanako looked down at her reflection staring back at her
in the shiny marble. Above her shone gleaming chandeliers, crystalline and
beautiful.
"Akira? Where are we?"
They looked at each other silently.
"Castle of the Maximoffs, my lady." The voice came cool and exotic from the
ceiling. A figure dressed in black floated weightlessly down to the floor a
few metres away from them.
"Demitri..."
Akira stepped back, growling in anger. His hands had formed fists so tight
that they appeared white as the blood ran out from them.
"Ahh! If it isn't the frightened little puppy." The vampire laughed,
drinking from a wine glass. Akira doubted very much that the red liquid was
actually wine.
"You...!"
"I do so hope you have bladder control. I would hate to see my glorious
floor stained from a base creature such as yourself." He drained the glass
and let it drop to the floor, smashing on impact.
"It was you...!"
Demitri nodded, smiling. His face was beautiful and extremely immaculate,
his hair slicked back and pearly fangs curving over his lips.
"Who entered you dreams? Why yes, my boy! I just thought you would...
appreciate a little sample of the humiliation I will show you when I bring
you to your knees."
He rocked his head back laughing. Hanako had heard enough.
"Demitri! We have come to stop you and your evil!! Surrender the orb!!"
She yelled at him, her voice stronger and braver than she felt.
"Silly little kitty...you have no idea how the pain and suffering of the
human world pleases me...I will not give up so easily."
He glided up to her smoothly, his eyes boring into her.
"Then we will take it by force!!" She felt her nerves buckling, yet remained
stationary as Demitri advanced upon her.
"So pretty...perhaps I shall make you a part of the nosferatu. A woman such
as yourself deserves the power of the vampire..." he purred at her, opening
his mouth slightly so that the fangs were easily seen, sparkling in the
light.
"You leave her out of this, bloodsucker!"
Akira jumped in front of Hanako, wooden stakes in his hands.
"So the guard dog, untransformed, wishes to have me to himself."
Akira bellowed and shielded Hanako protectively.
"I'll be damned before you lay a finger on this woman!"
Hanako felt her chest tighten as her heartbeat increased. Akira passed her a
stake stealthily.
"You, My boy are no more than a puppy. All bark and no bite...I shall show
you a true bite, as I suck your little princess dry!!"
He dived for Hanako, who was dragged out of the way by Akira. The red-headed
boy hurled himself at Demitri, his kick narrowly missing his target.
"Is that the best you can do? I expected more from you, Akira the outcast!"
Demitri's laugh was silenced as Akira slammed his foot in to his jaw.
"MY FACE!!!!!!!!!" the vampire screamed. His hands shot to his face as if
her were scalded. "I'LL RIP YOU APART FOR THIS!!!!"
Demitri's aura seemed to engulf the whole room with shadow. He screamed as
his skin melted to a black pallor. Leathery and arching wings folded out
from his back. His face was no longer beauteous, but ugly and gargoyle-like.
"DEMON CRADLE!!!!"
Demitri span around, wings outstretched and sliced into Akira, gore spilling
through the air. The boy flew backwards and landed with a sickening crunch
upon the marble. He lay there, still and silent.
"AKIRAAAAA!" Hanako screamed, tears streaming down her face. She hurtled
forwards to get to his body, but was stopped by Demitri. He had returned to
his normal form. His eyes paralysed Hanako's body and she could not move no
matter how hard she tried. The vampire stroked her hair and smiled.
"My lady...Welcome to the Dark."
Akira looked up to see Demitri looming over Hanako.
Move, Hanako...You have to!
He crept onto his feet, willing the dizziness away. He listened to the sound
of voices waiting for a critical moment at when to strike.
"We will become one you and I. Leave this dog and join the night. Our powers
united...will be unstoppable."
Akira felt the pain in his gut, the pain of desperation.
"Hanako!! No!!!"
"Silence you dog!!" Demitri spat.
Akira rushed forwards, blood spilling from his sides.
"Hanako! You are the catalyst!"
Demitri removed his vision from Hanako and she fell to the floor,
open-mouthed.
"That is why we need to be together! You are the key! You have the ability
to uncover people's hidden powers! You need to escape!"
Demitri silenced Akira with a stamp into his sides, the blood spurting in
jets from his flesh. Hanako shook, her whole body convulsing.
"Leave...him.....ALONE!!!"
She hurled herself at Demitri, the wooden stake in her hand slicing his
cheek. Crimson blood ebbed down his face. He roared in fury, seizing her
around her throat. With his free hand he wiped at his cheek and licked his
own blood.
"You have shed my blood...I have lost all hunger for you. You will unlock
the orb, then I shall brake your body into tiny pieces and feed them to my
devil dogs."
He turned Hanako's face with his fingers and she saw an alter. It was a
marble pillar, twisted images of victimised humans carved into it. On top
lay a pillow of red velvet, and, in the centre, lay a crystal ball, entirely
black and murky.
"You will unlock this, child. Or I will kill your puppy..."
Hanako shivered through the tears.
"I...I d-don't know wh-what to do!! I'm not the key! I'm just a...girl."
Akira spat a rain of blood out of his mouth, staring coldly at Hanako.
"Yes...you...are.."
Demitri twisted his foot into Akira's wound, causing him to scream. His
dream flashed into his mind and he gazed at Hanako, the pain clouding his
vision. Hanako cried out as Demitri squeezed her throat.
"If you want her, come and take her!"
He dragged Hanako towards the orb. He hissed at her angrily.
"Listen Hanako!" Akira yelled, his voice faltering, "You are the...key...the
book...it says so...that's why I... needed you..."
Demitri laughed, drawing a knife. The smooth blade glimmered in the light as
it was raised to Hanako's throat. It dug into the tender flesh and she
whimpered, clamping her eyes shut.
"Either she unlocks this orb or I'll kill her now!"
He yanked Hanako's head back, exposing her throat. She gasped, but didn't
struggle.
"NOOOOOOOO!!" Akira yelled, drowning out Demitri's laughter.
The blade slipped and Hanako's blood trickled out of her in slow droplets.
She howled, falling away from the vampire's grasp. The blood spattered the
orb, tingeing it crimson.
Demitri stretched back, arms spread wide in euphoria, laughing hysterically.
The orb seemed to shiver, rising into the air as if it were a bubble. Purple
streams of liquid ran down the sides and it shook as if it were going to
explode.
"THE CATALYST HAS BEEN ACTIVATED!!!! THE POWER IS MINE!!!"
Demitri's snapped around and picked up Hanako, his finger cutting her skin,
allowing the warm blood to emerge.
"You have no use now...I shall drink from you and gain the power of the
catalyst. That is why you were brought here...for me too gain the
power...destiny is meaningless to the immortal."
Akira wiped the blood from his eyes and stared on helplessly. He called out
to Hanako, but his voice was turned to a mere croak.
I knew it. I couldn't protect the catalyst. I failed to destroy her so I
failed to save the world. I failed to guard her so I failed to gain the
power.
He moaned weakly, scorning himself about how foolish he was. To allow his
emotions to be stirred, to allow his mind to be clouded by the fragile
woman, to fail to receive the power...to fail to save her...his only friend.
I need power! I need to be a werewolf...but there is no moon...
He growled and eased himself up, focusing upon the helpless catwoman.
I need to call the power up myself. To save Hanako!
>From his dry mouth erupted a terrible scream. He felt the heat over take
him, purge the impurities. There was no pain with this transformation, it
seemed purer.
Hanako screamed as Demitri lowered his fangs to her already-bloodied neck.
"You...are...mine..."
Hanako closed her eyes, tears burning her cheek. Her breath seemed to catch
in her chest and she could feel her energy drain away.
"NO!! YOU ARE MINE!!!"
Hanako was snapped to attention by Akira's roaring voice. She gaped at
Demetri. His mouth hung open in a silent scream. His fangs retracted and his
skin sagged. He seemed to be ageing before her eyes. His skull-face tilted
forwards to look at the long wooden stake protruding through his chest. He
looked at Hanako imploringly and wilted into a rotting corpse. Hanako fell
to the floor and watched the body disintegrate into ancient dust.
Akira gazed down at Hanako over his long snout. She gasped and backed off
pushing off with her feet and hands.
"Akira..."
He smiled and de-transformed.
"It's okay. I'm here..." His voice was strangely soft. They both looked
towards the orb, spinning on it's axis, like a small, perfect planet.
"You didn't need the moon..." Hanako whispered, tears streaking her face.
Akira held out his hand. Hanako took it and got to her feet. Akira smiled at
her, his eyes warm, and his aura glowing.
"I didn't need it. I have you here...."
Hanako wiped a tear away with a blood-spattered hand.
"B-because...I'm t-the catalyst..?"
He placed his hand over hers on her face.
"No...because you gave me the means to fight for someone other than myself."
Hanako burst into tears, fat salty drops rolling down her cheeks. Akira ran
his hand down her face, feeling the warmth. "You can invoke... master any
dark power...but to me you are not just a catalyst...you are my...friend."
Hanako shivered, eyes glistening.
"B-but now...we...we...have t-to fight..."
She placed a hand over her mouth, stemming the sobs. Akira let her go and
got to his feet. I grasped the orb. It felt warm and moist, like a beating
heart. He placed it before Hanako, who looked at it, and then to Akira, fear
swirling in her aura.
Akira looked at it also, and pushed it towards the girl.
"If...I have to fight you for it...I don't want the power..."
Hanako let out a cry.
"But it's all you ever wanted!! I can't...."
"Nothing...in this world, or the next...is worth killing you for..."
Hanako gasped and stared at him, quivering.
"But why...?"
He leaned towards her, his breath hot on her face. He smiled, the pain of
his injuries, and of his loss, melting away.
"Because...I love you."
He kissed her, his lips softly pressing into hers. His hand eased over her
damp face and through her hair. She felt warm against him and he pulled away
before the intensity became to strong. Hanako heaved, tears falling once
again. She grasped him roughly and stood to her feet, teetering slightly.
Akira had already felt the tightening in his heart.
"Hanako...?"
She cried, painful and desperate, hugging the orb to her, mirroring the
statue in the centre of the park in the city.
"I can't do this...not with you." She ran for the door, blood dripping in
her wake. "Goodbye, Akira."
Akira couldn't move. He sat there, the pain of his loss twisting and cutting
his chest. He heard the door slam and he tilted his head back. The salt in
his tears burning his face like lava.
"HANAKOOOOOOOO!"