Episode 5: ‘The Warriors’ [NOT COMPLETED]

“Onii-san, I miss you…” Nanako said as he held Yuuki in his arms, holding up Yuuki’s chin with his hands forcing him to see the flames in his eyes. Nanako wanted to kiss him so bad now that his entire memories had come back to him and he had left that weak, selfish, and alone life. As their lips almost met, someone open the door.

“Ah!” Takashi is shocked to see that he is interrupting an intimate session between Nanako and Yuuki. “I’m sorry…” He said and as he about to leave, Nanako called after him.

“Takashi-kun, it’s okay.” Nanako said. “Stay…”

“What are you saying?” Yuuki asked, paranoid. “Get out, Takashi!” He said angrily.

“No. Stay…” Nanako said. “I want him to watch us.” Nanako said, looking excited.

“What do you mean?” Yuuki asked, wanted to yell like hell to Nanako. But, he could never do that. Even when he’s angry, he never raised his voice to his sweet Ako-chan.

“I want someone to witness my love for you. I want the whole world to know how much I love you. It’s just a kiss, anyway…” Nanako said.

“But you know I didn’t like it.”

“Yes. And that’s why I wanted to do it so badly… Please…” Nanako said and he kisses Yuuki deeply without waiting for his reply. Yuuki resisted at first but then he just let himself drifted away in a kiss that he had longed for a long time.

Takashi is sweating severely. He is forced to see something he didn’t want to see. Now that he saw them, he just misses someone so badly. I wonder where is that person right now. Suddenly, he realizes that someone is standing behind him. It is a tall man, taller than Yuuki. He had a blond hair and blue eyes. His eyes were on Takashi with his expressionless face. “My love…” He said in a deep voice and Takashi places his palm on the guy’s cheek, smiling happily. “Welcome back…” Takashi said.

And then, two women, one with long brown hair and brown eyes, the other with short red hair and green eyes. The read-head then said, “Owh well, look at those love-birds…”

Yuuki realizes now that he had been drifted away in Nanako’s kiss and he quickly broke the kiss. His face turns completely red, embarrassed by his own act of clinging on to Nanako, his lover. He clears his throat and yet, didn’t have a clue of what to say as he wipes his mouth. Nanako only smiles happily to see them. He did not feel any shame at all by what they had seen. He then just said naturally, “True love needs to have witnesses…” and he laughs at himself.

Yuuki just looked at Nanako angrily but could never project his anger. That’s just the way Nanako is; a fire that could not be tamed and yet, it warms you enough to make you feel better and places a deep sense of tranquility in you. No matter how much I’m annoyed by this, it is still what I love most about him…

***

I still remember our first kiss. I never knew that I would ever felt that way…

His cold hands touching my face…

His eyes looking down on me…

His long dark hair blown by the wind…

The scents of blood that chills me to my bones…

I thought that he had just had his meal before that. I can still taste traces of blood from his tongue. And what I would remember the most was his words that time; “I really wanted to die for you, Ako-chan. So that you’ll remember me as whom I am now, not of who I would become. So, treasure this kiss…”

Nanako is still lying on his bed. He would always treasure that kiss. Earlier that morning, all of ‘The Warriors’ had been re-united. Just like old times…

Akizawa Ai is the one who turned Takashi Yoake into a vampire. He is Takashi’s lover. He was well-known with his anti-social attitude and that expressionless face of his. He had a pair of blue eyes and blond hair.

Then, there goes the girl with long brown hair and brown eyes, Eiko Misami. She is a cold person but a loyal fighter. The girl that came with her is Hana Kinichiro. She was turned by Eiko and very popular due to her talkative attitude and easy to get along with.

The only person who wasn’t there is Zu Tetsu. He was the first to exist among them. He had white eyes and white hair. He looks like a ghost. Yet, his characteristics are totally in contrast to the way he looked. He is very childish and always excited on unnecessary things.

When will he be back? Kaoru thought…He then can hear footsteps coming to his room. Someone knocks the door. It’s Yuuki, for sure….

***

“Zu’s here…” Yuuki said.
“Really?” Nanako asked looking all so excited. “How is he?”
“Oh well, he’s been feeding on human lately and he told me to keep it a secret from you. He’s scared if you’ll get angry…”
There, Nanako ‘really’ is angry right now. “How… could… he?” Nanako said angrily.
“You know, Ako-chan…” Yuuki said calmly.”Humans… They deserve it sometimes. They never appreciate their life or the life of others. They deserve to be ended with something other than human instead of them killing each other. Which they do…”
Nanako looked down, saddens by the awful truth. “I know… But it’s in their nature… There’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Then, it is also in our nature to live by feeding on them. It can’t be helped…”
Nanako sighed. It is the truth. “But those people, they could be someone’s mothers or fathers or sisters. Someone is probably waiting for them at home.”
“How could you be so naïve, Ako-chan?” Yuuki asked, smiling and patting his head. “We read minds… we would know right away if someone’s waiting for them…” Yuuki said.
“Aa... I forgot about that.” Nanako said.
“How long is it since you last feed?”
“Too long… I can survive without blood… you are well aware of that.”
“Yes. But it will strengthen your power. You need to be powerful. We’re going to fight a real strong warrior soon…”
“I know…” Nanako said sadly. “But I can’t do it. I’ll be strong, don’t worry about me. But I won’t feed on humans. It’s like killing myself.”
Yuuki startled hearing it. Yes, he is a half-blood vampire anyway. “Then, you can have some of my blood…” Yuuki offered him, slitting his own wrist with a knife.
“Thanks…” Nanako said. He couldn’t resist it. So he drinks Yuuki’s blood. While he is sucking the delicious red liquid out of Yuuki’s wound, Yuuki smiled and pat his head lightly.
“If I wasn’t born as a vampire, if we both were just normal human beings, we could live happily together without having to carry this burden. We might grow old together and die together. Yet, we might turn out to be more evil than we already are ‘cause humans, though as perfect as they are, they never had enough…”
Nanako felt tears streaming down his cheek hearing those words. “No. I would have enough because I have you by my side.”
Yuuki smiled. “Such a naïve thought, my love…”
***
“So, it’s Naoki, huh?” Zu asked. “No wonder why…” He said knowingly.

Blood + Tears: The Characters

I thought that since in the next episode you will get to see more new characters coming, I'd like my readers to get ready to know a bit about all of those characters. And here they are...

HEROES

1. Kaoru Kaowa= Loner, confused, selfish, weak

+

Nanako Minamoto= Naughty, sacrificial, merciful (!! turns merciless when fire of the sun took over him)

Full potential: ‘Fire of the Sun’ (Aware) / ‘Raging Firewall’ (Unaware)

Hair: Short Brown, Eyes: Green

2. Yuuki Minamoto= Heartless, fearless, ego, short-tempered (except to Ako-chan)

Full potential: ‘Venomous Soul’

Hair: Long Black, Eyes: Blue

3. Takashi Yoake= Patience, wise, protective

Full potential: ‘Obliterating Storm’

Hair: Short Black, Eyes: Black

4. Akizawa Ai= Expressionless, In control, anti-social

Full potential: ‘Power Theft’

Hair: Short Blond, Eyes: Blue

5. Eiko Misami= Cold, loyal fighter

Full potential: ‘Healing Water’

Hair: Long Brown, Eyes: Brown

6. Hana Kinichiro= Talkative, loyal fighter

Full potential: ‘Protective Field’

Hair: Short Red, Eyes: Green

7. Zu Testsu= Excited, childish, dedicated

Full potential: ‘Creator/ Destroying of Life’

Hair: Short White, Eyes: White

8. Kenji Minamoto= More of Nanako’s characteristics

Full potential: ‘Poisonous Fire’

Hair: Brown, Eyes: Green

9. Satou Kaowa= Good-hearted, joyful

10. Naoki Minamoto= Lust for power, hated humans, revengeful, protective

Full potential: ‘Frozen Snow’

Hair: Brown, Eyes: Blue

VILLIAN

1. Crest= Unknown

Potential: ‘Chained-lock’, ‘Power Block’, ‘Against all elements’

2. Crest Army (Victrous)= Unknown creatures, only can be killed by sunlight or ‘Fire of the Sun’, wore red cloak, shape-shifter (bat), have no face, skillful in sword-fighting

Episode 4: Fire of the Sun

If anything I would want to do in this world, is to die for Ako-chan, my love. The years felt longer separated from him than being alive for 608 years. If I die for him, then my heart and my love would be pure. The only reason that I am still alive even now is for him, waiting for the day that I’d die for him…

***

Yuuki lies still on his bed that night. Tomorrow he’s going to bring them all to the world behind this shielded castle, the castle that he had loved so much other than Nanako. There’s not much in his life that he loved. He loves Nanako, this castle, and the sweet embraced of death. He had always been the strange one ever since his first existence. He is the only vampire that was brought to life with existing memories of his past life and a little resemblance of himself from it.

In his past existence, he puts an end to his own life. He slit his wrists that night and watched the world fades and pool of blood swam his entire room. It was a beautiful death… He tried to commit suicide several times in his vampire life but he never died. But it was that time when he saw the innocent, beautiful Nanako, he thought he saw a reason to live. No matter how much he wanted to kill himself or others, when Nanako stands in his way, he will stop and yet, never knowing why…

***

Finally, I can get out of this castle! Kaoru thought to himself. He never wanted to endanger himself by going to save that particular family from being burn alive. He already could feel the heat and he can’t take it. There’s no way in hell he is going to put his own life at risk over some insignificant people! Nobody lives forever. They’re going to die if their times had come anyway! It doesn’t matter as long as I’m alive and the world is good… He thought again. I’m going to escape from this nightmare soon…

***

They’re now out of the castle. They left the castle as soon as the darkness filled the sky. Takashi and Yuuki can’t face direct sunlight unlike Kaoru. It’s just another one of his specialties. They can face sunlight when they’re in the castle because the castle was protected by a mystical shield built by one of ‘The Warrior’ whom Kaoru haven’t met or remembered yet. Kaoru felt so happy to be out of the castle because it’s his chance to escape. He can smells freedom now from far away. And it smells good…

There are four major clans in the vampire’s society. The first one consists of the strong and loyal vampires to the royal blood, the Vyvia clan. They are the great allies with ‘The Warriors’. The second one is the Lostsoul clan. They are the armies of the Royal Blood (‘The Warriors’) and are very skillful in handling various kinds of weapons. The third clan would be the Frost clan. This is the most vicious clan and the hardest to be controlled. They had strayed from the right path. The last one is the Arielz clan who lives in harmony, in hiding, and some pretends to live as normal human beings.

Based on Kaoru’s descriptions from his vision, the one’s in trouble is the Lostsoul clan. They arrived at a park where there’s a lake nearby. The place was still and everyone there suddenly stopped moving as if the time had stopped by itself. Kaoru looked at Takashi and he only smiles, “we can’t afford people seeing us, right?” Takashi said.

“You’re the one who did this?” Kaoru asked looking all over the place of hindered time. Takashi only nodded and smiles warmly.

They went near to the lake and Yuuki said, “Open!” o the thin air.

Out of nowhere, an invisible door appeared slowly. The three of them went inside.

“So how many invisible castles there are actually?” Kaoru asked as they entered through the darkness.

“Many…” Takashi answered shortly.

“Oh well, it’s ‘The Warriors’… You’re not welcomed here.” A voice echoed out of a sudden.

“Since when ‘The Warriors’ are not welcome?!” Yuuki asked angrily.

“Since now…” The voice said and light begins to shine revealing the sight of the Lostsoul Clan’s leader’s family being tied in the middle of the castle’s hall.

“That’s them! They’re the one that’s going to be burn!” Kaoru said in panic.

“How would you know we are going to burn them?” The voice asked and now they can see the owner of the voice. It belongs to an evil-looking man, a vampire from the clan.

“Um… Guessing?” Kaoru said.

He smirks at him and then verbalizes an order, “Kill them!”

And then there appeared a number of Victrous ready to attack them. No way in hell they’re going to be able to fight that many of Victrous. Kaoru turn around and started to run away. How scary! They have no face at all. No way! I want to live for all that I care. Then, one of the Victrous appeared in front of him trying to grab his arms. “No!!!” Kaoru screamed. Yuuki step ahead and fight the creature away but when it’s dead, it came back to live again.

Takashi and Yuuki fight with all their might the battle that they know they can’t win. “Minamoto-san, go! Run away from here!” Takashi said, concerned of Kaoru’s safety.

Kaoru stumbled and went numb. I… I just wanted to run away and leave them to die there. But they just… Kaoru can feel his hand is shaking. I was being so selfish and yet, they still wanted to safe me… He can feel tears streaming down his eyes. I can’t let this happen. I gotta save them. They’re dying for me now. I need to be strong. And reddish fire lights up around both of his hands as if they were caught by fire from an invisible force. Yet, he didn’t feel any pain of burning. He felt stronger. I must save them. I won’t let anyone hurt them… He cries… I remember who I am now. I’m Nanako Minamoto, a royal blood, one of ‘The Warriors’ and am the most powerful vampire! Now, his eyes narrow into vertical slits as he screamed and the fire from his hands consumed his entire body as if he is on fire.

“Onii-san! Takashi-kun!” He shouts at them. They turn their heads around and are astounded by the sight of him using his full potential. Something that they had never seen before. “Stand back” he ordered them.

Takashi and Yuuki followed his order as Nanako moves forward on his own. The Victrous tried to attack him but with one single touch on his body, the Victrous turned to ashes. Then, with only one stare, without even touching them, those armies of Victrous are all consumed by Nanako’s reddish fire and they all burn and turn to ashes…

When it’s over, the fireon his body went out and he looked at Yuuki and Takashi calmly. “Onii-san, Takshi-kun, I’m back…” Nanako said.

Suddenly, an evil laughter echoed the air in the castle’s hall. A man wearing red robe and cloak appeared. The cloak was a bit different from the Victrous’ cloak. He is not faceless. He wore a mask. He’s a vampire…

“Crest…” Yuuki said silently.

“Such great powers, Nanako.” He said. He walks a step closer to them.

Nanako flamed his hands warning the guy that he’s ready to attack him.

He only smiles cynically. “I’ve been waiting for you… Don’t worry. I’m not in a mood for a fight today. I just wanted to see how threatening my opponent would be. And you did not let me down.” He said.

“Why are you doing all this evil?” Takashi asked.

“You are way below my status to talk to me like that, Takashi!” He said. He then opened his mask slowly.

Takashi and Yuuki are now shocked to death learning that the person whom they had known as Crest and who had tried to kill his own kind was their formal vampire’s Royal leader, Naoki Minamoto, Yuuki’s own father.

“Now tell me, how should I punish you for your disrespect?” Naoki said.

“H-How could you do this?... H-How can this be possible?” Takashi asked trembling with sense of betrayal poking his heart.

He only smiled and turn his stare to Nanako. “You are the problem here.” He said. "Parts of you belong to a person that was so dear to me, my very own brother, Kenji. But the other parts of you belong to a person, whom I despised most, the one who took Kenji away from me, that human Satou!” he said ending his words angrily. “I don’t know whether I should kill you or keep you…” he continued looking at Nanako with his sharp eyes. Then, he smiles an evil smile. “But I think I should keep you. You remind me a lot of Kenji. I can’t wait to touch you…”

Yuuki clenched his fist at the sound of those words. Naoki is aware of it. “Don’t worry, Yuuki. I’ll have you with me too. You both will be mine.” And he laughed wickedly. “But it won’t be that easy, isn’t it?” He asked, reminding himself of their rivalry situation.

“That’s why I’m here to challenge you all to a duel. Not really a duel… I challenge all six of you, ‘The Warriors’ to a fight against me.” He said. “If you win, I shall suspend my intentions and act of destroying all human beings and you can choose whether or not if you’re going to kill me…again. However, if I win, you will have no right of stopping me from destroying them and I will keep both of my precious Yuuki and Nanako as my prisoner in order to remind you of my victory for until there’s no single human living in this world.” He explained his rules. “You need not to agree on it now. You have time to think about it. Until then, we shall meet again…” And he disappeared.

Blood + Tears: Letter from author 02

Pardon me, I know my grammar is not that good and I’m sorry but, it’ll gets better. Don’t worry about it. Hehehehehehe! Well, in the next episode, Kaoru will turn to Nanako completely. He’ll no longer be the confused, weak child. You’ll also get to see their ‘full potential’ (powers) and abilities. I hope you all do enjoy it.

Episode 3: Shattered memories

This is my room. It looks pretty much the same as before I left except that it had worn out of age. I’m tired of being alone… I’m a hundred years old and for being this old, maybe it’s time for me to really have someone by my side.

***

Kaoru walks around the castle. He looked at every detail. Wow, this place does look familiar… Maybe what Yoake-san said is true anyway… He felt that his heart begin to stray from the right path. He begins to believe…

“What the…?” Kaoru stumble as he saw an extremely familiar spot in the distance. It’s a garden filled with red-roses and clear blue sky above them. He runs as fst as he could towards the destination. He will only want to look at one place; Behind those bushes of thorn red-roses… he stopped tunning and walk slowly there. He then saw the person behind them, “Yuuki-san…” Kaoru said, and he remembers…

***

~Year: 1928~

Kaoru was bleeding heavily. He can’t heal. Yuuki was fighting them with all his might. He’s getting weaker and Kaoru’s dying. They were attacked off-guard and there’s too many of them.

“Onii-chan, you cannot defeat them. There’s too many of them.” Kaoru said bering his pain.

“I know. But I just wanted to protect you, even if I die…” Yuuki said hardly breathing.

As yuuki chop-off their heads, more come to finish him and those that were dead got back to life. Yuuki never seen anything like it. Such creatures…

“I will protect you, Ako-chan.” Yuuki said confidently, sadly smiling to Kaoru.

***

~Present time~

“Are you okay?” Yuuki asked Kaouru impatiently, looking all worried.

“Y-Yes… I’m okay. Just remembering some things.” Kaoru said.

“What is it that you remember?”

“Nothing. Just some insignificant memories…”

“Oh…” Yuuki nodded. “So that’s what I am to you now, is it? Insignificant?” Yuuki asked.

“What-?” Kaoru was shocked to learn that Yuuki seem to know of what he remembered.

“Just now when your eyes went out, I thought I heard you call me ‘Onii-san’. That’s all. So I thought it must be me that you remembered. Maybe it’s just my imagination after all…”

They both went silent for a while.

“Um… about that time when I said ‘I hate you’, I didn’t really mean it… I mean, I just had the shock of my life, you know? Waking up knowing a guy is kissing me…”

Yuuki smiled. “It’s not the first time, you know? In the human world, there’ll be relationships between girls and boys. But here, there’s no such thing as ‘opposite attracts’. Every vampires only involved in relationships within the same gender.”

Kaoru’s face went all-red, “…”

“I visited you everynight in your dreams, you know?… I will never just leave you alone. I just wanted to protect you, that’s all…” Yuuki said honestly.

“So you just sent me away?”

“Yes. I nearly lost you during that fight. I wasn’t prepared. I don’t even know how to use my full potential at that time. I blamed myself for all of my ignorance. You can’t heal like me so it’s dangerous for you to be fighting. And knowing you, you always wanted to save others, you’ll never let anyone fight alone. I can’t let that happen…(looking down) I’m sorry to have left you feeling so alone…”

“No. That’s okay. I shouldn’t have blame you. You’re just protecting me. I mean, you’re my step brother after all.”

“We are more than just brothers… Perhaps I should remind you something, though you can’t recall those moments, we have had more intimate times together other than just kissing…” Yuuki said and he walked away.

Kaoru lost his words and his face gone to a color of pink out of shame. What does that guy mean having had more intimate times?Kaoru then looked up at the sky. But that guy, he was gambling his own life for me… and this smells of roses were just all so peaceful. I never wanted to be home again. I just wanted to be here…

Suddenly, his eyes were blinded by a bright light and he saw vision. He saw several people wearing red robes and cloaks were torturing a family and they burn down their house while those people are being tied inside. Kaoru scream out loud due to the pain of being burn alive. He can feel as if he were those whose on fire. Then, his completely white eyes turn back green. What’s that? Why did I saw all that? That wasn’t one of my mising memories.

“Minamoto-san!” Takashi approaches him and Yuuki come along soon after that.

“What’s the matter, Ako-chan?” Yuuki asked.

In fear, Kaoru said, “I saw something. It’s like a vision. They’re burning them! They’re burning them!” He freaks out, “Why did I saw all that?!” And tears fall down his cheek. “I can feel it. The heat, the fear, helpless!” He can’t stop crying. “I can’t do anything to save them…”

***

“One of my vampire’s abilities? You gotta be kidding me…” Kaoru said.

“It’s true.” Yuuki said. “You’re able to predict short distance’s future or things that are happening elsewhere.” Yuuki explained.

“What?” Kaoru was amazed.

“You can do more.” Takashi said. “You’re abilities are a bit different from ordinary vampires. It’s more… special.”

“Like…?” Kaoru asked getting all confused.

Takashi continued, “Ordinary vampires like us can of course, read people’s thought, control mind, jump higher, sharp physical senses like hearing people’s heartbeats in a certain distance and also able to heal, or in other word regenesis. We can also enter people’s dream inserting nightmares, memories, or pleasures. That’s just the basic abilities of being a vampire. But for those who possess royal blood or turn by a royal blood will wear this (holding his necklace) chained-butterfly necklace, we have additive abilities called ‘full potential’, it is certain inner energy and hidden powers. We are called ‘The Warriors’. You are one of us…”

Kaoru realizes that everyone’s there were actually wearing the same necklace as what he himself had wore for as long as he remembers.

Takashi continued more of his lengthy explanation. “You do not have any of those ordinary abilities. Yours are more special. You can enter people’s feelings and feels their emotions as the same. You can also insert emotions to others. You have sharp senses in emotional factors rather than physical. You’ll sense immediately fears, lies, or happiness. And also, you can teleport yourself anywhere in short distances and you can predict future… But as a consequence for having such special abilities, you can’t heal.”

In Kaoru’s thought; I don’t know if being special is a bless or a curse. But it felt more like a curse. I can sense loneliness and lost is going to visit me.

Episode 2: Sacred love…

I can feel something on my lips. Who’s there? As darkness turns to light, he sees clearly a guy with long dark hair and blue eyes is kissing him.

“Argh!!!” Kaoru pushes him away. “What the hell? Who are you?!” he touches his own lips, “Argh! My lips! My virgin lips are violated by… a guy! No!!! This cannot be happening.” He felt slightly dizzy. Touching his forehead, “I’m dying…” and darkness folded his sight once again.

***

What a drama-queen for a guy! I can’t believe that he just fainted like that…that wasn’t the first time anyway. What a scum! Maybe he had found himself another guy along those 80 years apart from me. Yuuki thought to himself angrily. But wait…the memory lost. That must be it…he thought as he watches Takashi shaking Kaoru trying to wake him up.

When Kaoru finally woken up, he looks at Yuuki in shock and points a finger at him, “Argh! That guy! He’s a pervert! Beware!” he shouted and warning them.

Yuuki only sigh and looks at him maintaining his cool, “stop being such a drama-queen, Ako-chan…”

“But you… You kissed me! You pervert Yuuki!” Kaoru said but then went completely silent and immobile. Takashi and Yuuki were also surprised by Kaoru’s sudden recollections of his memories. Yuuki? I know him? Yes, I do know him I guess…He remembered the soft lips against his own behind those bushes of thorn red roses (it matches his!) and his words, “I will protect you, Ako-chan” from his nightly dreams.

Kaoru got up from his bed and walk straight up to Yuuki. He then slaps him hard on his cheek, “Hey you! Stupid Yuuki-san! What a scum! Liar! You said you’ll protect me… Protect me; my ass! You left me all-alone you stupid Yuuki-san. I hate you!!!” he shouted at him and let go all of the anger buried inside him. Yet, he still feels so confused and guilty for saying it all. Yuuki looked down and just went out of the room in silence. Kaoru can’t see his reactions because it was covered by his long hair. I’ve gone crazy…He thought.

***

“This is my room, right?” Kaoru asked the guy whom he met before the first blackout.

“Yes…” He said softly and flashes him a warn smile.

“I’m sorry, but… who are you?” Kaoru asked.

“I’m Takashi Yoake. It’s me whom have erased your memories over these 80 years and let you lead a normal life as a 20-year-old human with no memories of your past…” He said calmly.

Kaoru’s jaw dropped. “What? 80 years? Erase memories?” He asked in shock and then laughs out loud. “What kind of joke is this? Hahahaha! Are we role-playing for a movie? If it’s 80 years then I’ll probably look like a granny right now. And nobody erases my memories. I had amnesia. That’s all.”

“This is no joke, Minamoto-san. You are 100-years-old and you won’t look like grannies ‘cause you’re never going to get old physically. (sighed) Anyway, I’ve already returned to you your memories the time I touch your forehead during our meeting at the streets. I took you back to this castle; your castle so that you can be trained to use your full potential to defeat Crest.”

Just when I thought I’ve gone crazy, I just realize that the crazy people are actually them. Kaoru thought. “I don’t believe you… Just where are we anyway? This castle?”

“In a hidden place. It cannot be seen by humans nor can be found by the Crest.”

“Hurm… Is this another one of you fairy tales, Yoake-san?”

Takashi sighs, “Stop being skeptical, Minamoto-san. Well then, explain to me, how can you know Yuuki and that this room is yours?” he asked and Kaoru went numb. “Let me tell you your origin and as I speak, I would appreciate it if you could stay silence for a while…” Kaoru is ready to know the truth that he had longed for and he never felt as comfortable as this before in his entire memory-lost days. Thus, he only nods his head.

“You would be the strongest among us all. You came from the blood and tears of sacred love. Sacred love is the love between human and vampire without turning that human into a vampire as well.”

“Vampire?! What are you talking about?” Kaoru asked, petrified by what he heard.

“Didn’t you agree that you should be silence and listening?”

“Um… Yes… I mean… Explain thoroughly…please…”

“Yes, of course. Your memory lost; they’ll take time to recover. You’ll soon gradually remember. Anyway, we are all vampires here. Except for you. You are half-blood from the sacred love. Yuuki Minamoto-sama is your step brother. You both had the same vampire father; Kenji Minamoto. And your vampire name is Nanako Minamoto.”

“Nanako?! Hey! That’s girls’ name!” Kaouru shouted.

Takashi sighs and irritated since Kaoru just won’t stay quiet and let him finish what he’s saying. “Listen first… we all here knew you by the name Nanako.”

Yeah…no wonder why that Yuuki guy kept calling me Ako-chan. It makes sense…

Takashi continues, “Kaoru Kaowa is only your human name suitable to that of your father’s partner’s name; Satou Kaowa.”

“Satou Kaowa? Is she my mother?”

“Mother: sort of… but it’s actually a ‘he’.”

“‘He’?! A man? A man and a man? How does ‘that’ supposed to have born me?”

“Like I’ve said, blood and tears. It was brought to the grave of the newly dead and the rituals will bring up the dead to life as a newborn vampires.” That’s how you are born. Our doctor specialized in this, Zu Testu is a professional and he always chose the beautiful and suitable candidates to be the newborns. You came from blood of Kenji Minamoto and tears of Satou Kaowa.”

In Kaoru’s head= seems like a rather illogical process to produce newborns…

“We took you away from here until you reach a hundred years old so that we can save you from being taken away by Crest.”

“Why would Crest want me?”

“You’re the strongest so he desires offspring from you.”

“Offspring? Then he could just take my blood sample or make me cry and took it to the grave waking up some dead people, right?”

“No. He can’t. The blood and tears needed to woke up a corpse should be the ones that were produced during H between them.”

“What? So you’re saying that this Crest is going to rape me?!” Kaoru asked feeling so confused and irritated by what he have heard. In his head= Somehow, this place proved to be such a dangerous place to live in. I’m going to be further more violated. I need to escape from here…

“You’re going to remember soon. When you have more questions, you can ask me again, okay?” Takashi said as he pats Kaoru’s shoulder.

When Takashi is about to leave, Kaoru went up to him, “Wait. I’m not sure if I’m going to believe everything that you have told me but I’m sure going to figure it out though… it all sounds so… illogical. Anyway, Yuuki-san’s mother, I mean his father’s partner, who is it?”

“Naoki Minamoto. Kenji Minamoto’s older brother…”

“Older brother? A guy too? Incest? What the…?” He saw nothing but black clouds covering his head. I’m going crazy… This cannot be happening!!

Episode 1: Someone is waiting for me…

Behind those bushes of thorn red-roses, someone is waiting or me…

Soft lips pressed against mine await me, someone there who would always protect me, someone who will always love me. A man’s voice echoed in my head, “I will protect you, Ako-chan.” And I saw his long-dark hair swing by as he turned away. “I will find you…” and I remembered the last sight of his shadow as strong painful light hits my eyes.

***

Kaoru opens his eyes slowly. He could still feel the coldness of that place in his dream. Red roses blooming everywhere… He always had that same dream and of that same person with those sharp blue eyes of his and long dark hair. “Who is he?” Kaoru asked himself quietly. He got up from his bed and look at himself at the mirror. His dark brown hair is a mess now and his tired green eyes seem so restless, “Kaoru Kaowa, happy birthday!” he said to himself while smiling sheepishly. Another day of feeling so alone... It felt like I’ve only been alive for a year with no sign of memories of my past ever hits the space of my remaining days. Nobody’s going to celebrate his birthday with him today. No one will even congratulate him. No one knew. No one’s there… he’s so alone… All he knows and held faith in is that behind those thorn bushes of red roses, someone is waiting for him…

Let’s see, his first memory would be the day that he woke up in a hospital with pain in his head and no memories of himself at all. He wore a necklace in a shape of ‘chained-butterfly’, which he held sp close today. A lawyer came to him and told him about the sums of money he owned. Well, let’s say tons of money he owned. That money will never runs out his entire life for sure. Nevertheless, the lawyer was not informed of any details about Kaoru’s family and of whom involved in the procedure.

Kaoru sigh, I’m Kaoru Kaowa; A big nobody. I have no friends, probably no families and I’m 21 year old today…okay, now that sounds rather pathetic!, Kaoru thought to himself.

Well, he won’t let his day be a waste. No matter what and how lonely he is, he always looks on the brighter side of life. He never really wants to think about his loneliness. He ate those feelings all up. He rarely mingles with people and he stays that way. He gets weird feelings whenever he’s around them. It’s like he can see through their soul or something. It’s horrible whenever he felt it.

***

He walks through windows of shops that morning after having his breakfast at home. He wants to look for something to buy for himself as a birthday present.

Suddenly, a man approaches him. That tall man just comes in front of him and smiles at him warmly. “Happy birthday, Minamoto-san…”

Kaoru never felt so shock in his entire life! He knew me! Somehow, he knew that this is my birthday! At last, someone do know me!!! “You are…?”

He only smiles and then put his hand on Kaoru’s head and everything went black from Kaoru’s sight.