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The Bewitching Hour 04
15:14 May 13 2009
Times Read: 550


Welcome to the fourth installment of The Bewitching Hour! Please do enjoy!



The beginning of this chapter is a flashback. To represent it, I used italicsWhen the text returns to normal, it's the present once more.



Disclaimer: I do not own Suzume, Sora, Sakuhime, Nashi, Aki, Hiro, Jieman, Takai, or Naomi. They all rightfully belong to octopus-head. I merely use them with permission (most of the time). I also do not own Wikipedia.



Warning: The profanity gets worse.



Ch 4: Mark My Words



“Shit, backup! Where's the fucking – gah!” Suzume fell as a furry hand wrapped about his ankle. He twisted as his body hit the ground and aimed his gun.



Three silver bullets embedded themselves into the furry face inches from his foot. The grip on his ankle slackened, and he scrambled back up onto his feet.



“Get down!”



He threw himself forward and landed in a crouch on his knees. Several shots were fired over him; his hands came up to cover his head. He could hear retreating footsteps, thudding heavily against the ground.



“Damn it... Sora-chan! Go after them, both of you! Go for capture before kill!”



The voice was unfamiliar – and female to boot. He raised his head as combat boots entered his vision. His eyes trailed up over black cargo pants, past a black tank top over an unusually flat chest, up a soft jawline, over pink lips, up a distractingly cute, button nose to meet with startling amber eyes.



“You all right, dude?”



His mouth had gone impossibly dry as she knelt beside him. Her hair – a dark brown that appeared black, he couldn't accurately tell in the current light – was braided, brushing against her waist, and dirt was smudged over her cheeks and arms.



“Dude...?”



He cleared his throat, flushing lightly at being caught staring. “I-I'm fine.”



She grabbed the belt about her waist and twisted it around to reveal a canteen. “Here. Have some of this.” She handed over the canteen.



Gratefully, he took it, downing more than half in one gulp. He flushed as she laughed, placing her gun on her knees, facing away from either of them. He handed the canteen back, onyx eyes caught by hers and asked, “Who are you?”



She grinned, snapping the canteen back into place. “I'm the 'fucking backup'. Name's Taisho Arashi; you the one in charge of this area?”



Suzume nodded, mentally repeating her name in his mind. “Hayai Suzume, commander-in-chief of Unit Sixty-nine.” He paused as she laughed.



“Hah, sixty-nine...”



He smiled as her laugh lowered to giggles. He was glad that she appeared to share his wavelength. It would make things far easier.



“Arashi-kun!”



He turned as her gaze instantly flitted away from his as she stood. “Report.”



The female before them had interestingly violet hair with indigo eyes to match. She was dressed similarly to Arashi, forgoing the tank top in favor of a long-sleeve, shoulder-less, gray shirt. “We managed to capture one of the werewolves. Sakuhime-chan administered the tranquilizer and is restraining it. We brought down the rest.”



Arashi smiled and walked towards her as Suzume pulled himself up. “Excellent, Sora-chan! We'll take it to the Boss when we report in. Any injuries?” She took the other woman's hand.



“Only a few scratches.” Sora gestured to her arm. Suzume felt the air in his lungs congeal as Arashi turned towards him, affectionately rubbing Sora's shoulder. “Sir, this is my wife, Mayonaka Sora.”



-.-.-.-.-



'A wife... She has a fucking WIFE!' Suzume paced furiously in the small room he'd been given, wringing his hands anxiously.



It had been well over an hour since he'd last seen Arashi. She had gone off to another room, Sora in tow. The thought made his blood race – whether in jealousy or something else, he wasn't sure.



Quickly dispelling the thoughts, he focused upon the current situation. His earlier partners – both deceased now – had been replaced with three new women. He had not heard of them before; the Boss had not mentioned what sort of reinforcements he would send.



'But they're good...' Suzume admitted, at last sitting upon the small bed. 'They eliminated the werewolves in no time flat and even captured one!'



To say he was impressed would be an understatement. This was his first time meeting any women in the ceux qui cherchen, besides one of his very best friends.



He jerked as knocks emanated from the door. “Who is it?” He called, hand heading towards his hip holster.



“The werewolf, genius.” Arashi's voice responded. He hastened to the door and pulled it open. He was greeted with a wide grin from the dark-haired female. “Sorry for the intrusion, sir.”



Suzume shook his head, standing aside with a smile as she entered. “It's fine. You don't have to call me sir. Suzume's fine.”



She laughed as she seated herself at the foot of his bed. “I know.” It took him all of a second to get the hidden meaning. A pleased blush erupted over his cheeks as he went towards her.



“What did you need, Arashi?”



She leaned back and propped herself on her hands. “I was curious as to how you were faring. Sora-chan told me to come check up on you. I think she's worried over how you're taking it.”



Suzume lightly frowned at the mention of her spouse. “No, I'm all right. I didn't know them very well.” He felt his breath hitch as she smiled at him. “Oh, okay! I was worried I'd have to try and comfort you.”



“Well, a death is still...” Suzume closed his mouth, guiltily watching as she stared down at her lap, waiting for him to continue. He hastily looked away as she turned curious, amber eyes towards him.



“Unwanted?” She finished for him. She didn't wait for a reply as she straightened up, hands shifting to her knees. “I can understand that. We all see and face death on a daily basis at the least. It's not something you get used to easily, especially when it's happened on your side.”



She stood; Suzume took a half-step back. “We're due back soon, Suzume. Let me know if you need anything. You're the boss...for now.” She threw him a wink and sauntered out of the room.



Her words resonated within his mind after her departure.



-.-.-.-.-



The Boss had been pleased, beyond pleased, with their work. Suzume felt a margin of guilt when the Boss concluded it was due to him they had managed to capture one of the werewolves. Neither Arashi, nor Sora, nor Sakuhime – another blond, shy to a fault – objected to the Boss' assumption.



They were given a new assignment in Chicago, Illinois. Mysterious disappearances, masses of bodies found drained of blood... Vampires on the loose.



Again, Suzume was placed as the head of the team. Arashi was assigned as his second-in-command.



It was in Chicago where he'd made the biggest mistake that won him a victory.



-.-.-.-.-



“Jesus Christ, Suzume, we warned you about the fucking drinking.”



Suzume let out a laugh, leaning heavily against Arashi as she led him to his hotel room. “You guys are...are pussies. I'm fine.” He stumbled and she crashed into the wall, cursing him as he burst into a fit of giggles against her neck.



“Fuck, move. You're really heavy. You are SO lucky you're my damn boss right now, or you'd have a fucking bullet in your ass.” She pushed him forward, hand against the wall for leverage as they neared his room.



He groaned. “Fuck, I love when you talk dirty...”



Arashi rolled her eyes, fumbling with the lock as he continued. “You get me so hard, babe.”



“Right,” Arashi replied, turning the knob. The door swung open as Suzume's hand closed over hers. “What –?”



“Seriously...” He guided her hand to his crotch, groaning at the light pressure against his groin.



“You fucking drunkard!” Arashi pulled her hand away, rubbing her palm against her pants' leg. She regretted volunteering to put Suzume to bed. The idiot was insane.



“God, you're hot. You're like a really, really, really pretty guy...without a dick.” Suzume chuckled to himself as he was led to his bed, swaying against her.



Arashi pushed him onto his bed, scowling as he sat up. “Damn it, Suzume. Go to bed.” She yelped as she was pulled into his lap, clumsy fingers fighting with her belt buckle. “What the – Suzume!”



She pushed his hands away, only to have him pull her forward. Her taste buds were hit with the taste of bitter alcohol. She attempted to pull back, but Suzume pressed a hand to the back of her head, keeping her in place. She struggled in his lap, arms trapped between their chests.



The second he'd succeeded in prying her lips apart – a result of his sudden grinding up against her – she bit at his tongue viciously. He pulled back, wincing at the sting on his tongue. “God, you're an animal.”



Arashi scowled, tilting her head back. Had Suzume been sober, he would have realized what was coming. His world tilted and he found himself on his back as the door slammed shut.



-.-.-.-.-



In the morning, Suzume awoke to an indescribable, throbbing headache. He released a pained groan, resisting the urge to move. Moving would only aggravate the ache.



He could barely make out voices through the door. He wondered if he could ask one of the girls to get him something for the pain...



A brief image of the night before flashed in his mind. He frowned, slowly opening his eyes and squinting in the dim light. He'd kissed someone... He winced at the dull ache within his mouth. Was that his tongue that hurt?



Okay, he'd kissed someone who must have bitten his tongue in retaliation. He must have been utterly inebriated if he could barely remember anything.



A gentle knock – or at least, he was sure it was meant to be one – came from his door.



“Come in.” He managed to croak out, carefully adjusting himself so he lay properly on the bed. Was that a stain on his pants?



He drew the blankets over his waist as the door opened. Sakuhime shyly peeked in. “Suzume-san, how are you?” She left the door open a crack, nervously holding a glass of water and three pills in one hand.



“S-Sora-san said I should bring you these.”



Suzume cracked a smile, thanking her as he took the objects and swallowed the pills at once. “I'll be fine by this evening.”



Sakuhime nodded, fidgeting as nervously as a cornered squirrel. “Would you like something to eat? Sora-san made us pancakes.”



“That sounds good.” Suzume smiled at the blond as she retreated. The smile faded as he returned to trying to decipher what had happened the night before.



He shifted and was reminded of his soiled pants. He grimaced. This meant he needed a good shower.



He stood, holding a hand to his head as it pulsed while he sluggishly grabbed a change of clothes from his drawer. He trudged out to the hallway and headed for the bathroom.



He could hear the girls talking in the kitchen; Arashi's angered voice far more prominent than the other two's. He wondered vaguely what had happened to get her riled up so early.



He showered quickly, stomach rumbling at the thought of Sora's wonderful cooking that awaited him. He dressed, folding his soiled clothes into a bundle to hide the stain on his pants.



As he walked out, he met Sakuhime once more. She carried a tray with a plate laden with pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a single carnation lain next to the plate.



“What's with the flower?” Suzume asked, taking the tray from her despite her protests.



Sakuhime fidgeted, lowering her eyes. “I-It's from Arashi-san.” Suzume smiled cheerily at the gesture. Sakuhime noted this and quickly intervened.



“Please know that Arashi-san is part French, Suzume-san.” At the confused look she received, she blushed and scurried to the kitchen without further explanation.



Suzume frowned, turning his gaze to the carnation. Did the flower have a meaning in the French culture? He headed back to his bed, intent upon using his laptop to do a search.



He propped the tray on his bed and knelt over to pull out his laptop from underneath. He let it boot up, taking a few slices from his pancakes, before he brought up Google and typed: carnation French culture.



The page was quick to load and Suzume spied the first link. Wikipedia loaded and he scrolled down to where he spied the words “French culture”.



“In some cultures, however, – especially the French culture – the carnation symbolizes misfortune and bad luck.” He read; he blinked, lifting his gaze to turn to the carnation lying innocently beside him.



His eyes moved to the door. 'What the hell did I do?'



He closed his laptop and pushed it aside, halfheartedly eating his pancakes. His hand paused in midair as a thought struck him. Had she been the one who'd bitten his tongue?



Images of the night before erupted clearly in his mind. She'd head-butted him... She'd fucking head-butted him! He cursed, holding a hand to his head. He was such an idiot.



He'd ruined any chance he had now...



-.-.-.-.-



The remainder of the week had been hectic. Each night they came upon a horde of vampires, he'd narrowly brushed death – sans the vampires' faults. Bullets narrowly avoided him – a courtesy of his second-in-command – with the pretense of saving his life.



Sora was more discreet in her anger. She had pulled him aside one night to give him a piece of her mind. He had never seen her quite so enraged. He'd been scared of eating for the next two days – who knew if she'd poison his food?



Sakuhime, unlike her teammates, remained mostly the same towards him. Perhaps a bit more cautious and her blushes were easier to provoke, but her behavior hardly changed.



Arashi's behavior, however, was the one most drastically changed. She spoke to him in compendious sentences and absolutely refused to meet his gaze. She avoided him at all costs unless absolutely necessary and, as aforementioned, showed her hostility through their nightly excursions.



He deserved it, yes, but nonetheless, he didn't think it was fair. He needed to talk to her – if anything for the sake of their teamwork. That last bullet had come a little too close to his crotch.



It was a Monday afternoon when he asked Sakuhime to call for her, under the pretense of determining their next stakeout.



When she came in, he closed the door after her, noticing the instant tensing of her body. “Arashi, we have to talk.” He began, leaning against the door.



She crossed her arms over her chest as she turned to him. “I have nothing I wish to discuss with you, sir.” She snapped in response.



Suzume pressed a hand to his eyes. “Look, I know I did something wrong. I can't remember exactly what, but –.”



“If you can't remember, then don't fucking try to bring it up!” She cut him off. His fingers curled into his fists at his sides.



“I'm trying to fucking apologize! I never meant to do that! I can't help how fucking attracted I am to you! I KNOW I have no chance! But I can't help it! I love you!” The words left his mouth before he even had a chance to process them.



Arashi had gone rigid, amber eyes round with surprise. Her arms dropped from her chest as she asked, “What?”



Suzume swallowed, palms sweating as he lowered his gaze. He'd fucked it up pretty bad now. There was no way he could take it back. He licked his lips and lifted his eyes to meet hers. “I love you.” He repeated gently. No use sugarcoating it.



Arashi shook her head, taking several steps back. “You can't love me.” She spat back violently. “You can't love me. I don't... I can't...”



Suzume flinched as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Was his loving her so bad? “It's...okay if you don't –.”



“You don't fucking understand, Suzume!” She yelled back. Suzume's eyes flickered to the door in alarm. “I have my life partner, but you... You had to fuck around! I don't want to like you...” Her words ended in a whisper as she covered her face and fell to her knees.



The words made Suzume's head spin with the presumption that...perhaps that was truly why she was angry. Not for what he'd done precisely, but for perhaps having strengthened any budding feelings she'd had. It was a rage filled with confusion and guilt over what he'd provoked for who knows how long.



He knelt beside her, reaching out a hand. “Arashi...”



She smacked his hand aside. “Fuck you; don't talk to me.” She snapped, wiping messily at her nose and eyes. He waited as she sobbed into her palms, before he leaned forward and gently pulled her to his chest.



Her hands pressed against his torso and he tensed in preparation, expecting to be shoved away. Instead, she gripped his shirt and sobbed into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms cautiously around her and leaned his head against hers.



-.-.-.-.-



Things had gotten better after that night. At least, with Arashi and him... Sora's hostility towards him had increased however. He figured Arashi had confessed what happened to her. No secrets were kept between them, he surmised.



One night, Arashi came to him, dressed only in the shirt she wore to bed. He had paused to look at her curiously, before she had pushed him back and closed the door.



“Suzume,” she had begun. “Sleep with me.”



He laughed, sure this was a dream. What else could it be? She scowled at him as she sat on his bed. “I'm serious, Suzume... I've talked this over with Sora-chan. We... We want a baby.”



He froze then. 'A baby?' He repeated in his mind. He had never given a thought as to ever having kids – his job put him into an impossible position for children.



Arashi could instantly read his hesitation. She stood. “Suzume, it’s fine if you don't. We just thought...” She bit her lip as the words died on her tongue. “Just... Just think about it, okay?”



She took her leave, glancing towards him briefly before shutting the door.



Suzume was unable to sleep that night. His thoughts were rampant with images, both of the action it would take to create the child...and the child itself.



In the morning, he had yet to come close to a decision. Neither Arashi nor Sora brought it up for the rest of that week.



In that same week, news arrived that the Boss had been murdered. Suzume had been named his successor.



It was Thursday night of that next week that he decided, yes, he would do it. Sex was nothing new to him. He'd had his fair share of women – and men – up until he joined the ceux qui cherchent. Since then, his love life had gone on a stand-still.



Now it was being put back into motion. He had until Monday – for he had to meet with others over his new position. He was confident that he would be successful. There was no way he couldn't be.



That Monday morning, he left with his replacement, Midori Nashi, assigned. The girls had bid him farewell. All that was left to do was wait.



Two weeks later, he got the call. She was pregnant. He'd conferred with his best teammates (subordinates, he preferred to call them) for three days before they came to an agreement.



She had to be protected.



He'd called the only two people he could trust to do so – he needed his subordinates with him, after all. He could rest easy entrusting the two – three lives he held so dear to those two...



-.-.-.-.-



“A day and seventeen hours,” came Jieman's response.



“Naomi, get Aki and Hiro in here. Jieman, Sakuhime, get your things together.” Suzume pushed past the women to his wardrobe and pulled on his coat as Sakuhime followed Naomi out.



Jieman calmly closed the lid of his laptop and stood back up. “We're not finished.” He commented, putting his laptop into his pack.



Suzume scowled as he strapped his holster about his waist. “Aki and Hiro will take care of it. There's only the last four left to find. Contact Nashi and tell him to make his way to the hospital. Washington's closer.”



Jieman pulled out his cell phone and called as Suzume pulled his own out to contact another ceux qui cherchent. “Takai,” he prompted as the call connected. “You and your partner get to New York with Aki and Hiro.” He ended the call before the other had a chance to protest or respond.



He gripped his phone. He would cut the time in half. There was no way he would wait all forty-one hours on the road. He nearly felt sorry for the passengers that would be with him.



-.-.-.-.-



“SLOW DOWN! Suzume, you're gonna fucking kill us!” Naomi screeched as their car swerved to the shoulder lane and bypassed several cars.



“Shut up! YOUR child wasn't kidnapped!”



“If you weren't such a womanizer, you wouldn't have it in the first place!” She let out a cry as their car wobbled over the grass back onto the lanes as Suzume turned to face her.



“I'm not a womanizer!”



“Oh, that's right! You do men just as often!”



“The truck!” Sakuhime interjected. Suzume turned back to swerve out onto the far left lane just in time to avoid rear-ending a truck. Cars honked angrily behind them.



“Fuck you, Naomi! You KNOW my love life was over the minute I joined the organization!”



Naomi scoffed, holding Sakuhime closely as the car swerved haphazardly onto another lane. “It obviously revived enough for you to have a kid! How could you–?”



“It wasn't a mistake! I've told you a million times before! We wanted it!” Suzume yelled back. They had had this conversation many times beforehand. Naomi had been against the idea the moment she heard of it. He didn't understand why the hostility was there.



“Well, you LOST it! You're obviously not meant to have a damn kid!”



Jieman stopped Suzume's hand before it found his gun. “Let her be.”



Suzume scowled and accelerated further.



-TBC-





-.-.-.-.-



Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

The Bewitching Hour 03
15:13 May 13 2009
Times Read: 551


Welcome to the third installment of The Bewitching Hour! Please enjoy.



Disclaimer: I do not own Ashi. He rightfully belongs to my beloved friend. I merely use him with permission (most of the time).



Ch 3: Howl for the Moon



“Ashi, keep that child silent!”



The hybrid awoke from his nap with a jerk. The baby was wailing in his arms, red-faced and putting her little lungs to good use.



“Forgive me, my Lady!” Ashi got to his feet, ears erect as he hurried out of the room. “Hush, baby, please don't cry!”



He gasped as he nearly crashed into his mistress' chest, stopping only centimeters away. “M-My Lady...” Fingers closed over his throat, effectively stopping any and all conversation.



His ears flattened against his head as Ami's dark brown eyes bore into his, flashing dangerously in irritation. His arms tightened around the still shrieking baby, fearful she would fall.



“Shut it up.” She growled, nails digging into Ashi's neck, just above his collar. He gasped for breath and fell to his knees as she released him with a heavy scowl.



“Sh-she's hungry, m-my Lady...” Ashi rasped, gasping for breath as he held the child to his chest. Ami curled her lip, glowering at the infant as her fingers twitched.



“Go, fetch something for her. Be quick.”



Ashi flinched before hastening to place the baby back into his room. He slipped out, grabbing his discarded, ragged cloak and pulling it on with the hood up to cover his ears.



Ami turned as he left, eyes landing upon the writhing infant laying on the worn bed. “Quiet,” she hissed, and the baby's cries ceased. Satisfied, she turned and headed back to her chambers.



-.-.-.-.-



“Milk for a baby?”



Ashi flushed, fidgeting nervously as the scent of the human before him wafted into his nostrils, tantalizing his senses. “Y-Yes. Th-The mother was lost and we don't - ”



The pharmacist heaved a sigh, pressing her fingertips to her temples. “No need to say more. I can give you a formula. Is the baby a newborn or - ?”



“Newborn,” Ashi replied, breathing shallowly. The gnawing hunger in his stomach was increasing dangerously. “Please hurry.” He turned away as the pharmacist went into her shelves, drawing his cloak closer to his bare chest. He'd have to ask his mistress for a chance to hunt if he was to be near the infant again.



“You stir this in – are you all right?” The pharmacist had returned. Ashi quickly composed himself, panting lightly as her scent burned his nostrils. He could clearly hear her heartbeat, pumping that delicious substance through her veins...



“Kid?”



Ashi shook his head. “S-Sorry, what were you saying?”



The pharmacist eyed him warily, two cans sat upon the counter before her. “Uh, as I was saying, put two teaspoons into a bottle of water for the baby.” She motioned to the cans, before her eyes flickered over him.



Ashi took them, quickly pulling out a few bills from his pants. The pharmacist watched him, her face turning a light pink as she realized his state of undress.



“Ah, any reason as to why you...aren't wearing a shirt?” Ashi blinked at the question, looking down at his bare chest. “Is that a problem?” He paused, hand holding a wad of money.



The pharmacist flushed, waving her hands. “N-no, no! I was merely curious! Ah, please consider the cans on the house. The eye candy is enough payment.”



Ashi warily pocketed his money, tucking both cans under one arm. He didn’t understand what she was talking about, but he may as well play along. “Thank you.”



The pharmacist smiled. “Oh no, thank you.” She waved as he left.



Once outside, Ashi gulped in as much air as he could. His stomach was rumbling insistently. He hurried back to their base.



He was panting heavily by the time he was inside, crimson spreading over his eyes in response to his hunger. “M-My Lady?” He called, stopping outside his doorway. The sweet scent of the infant teased his nostrils and further pushed the crimson through his eyes.



“My, my.” Ami was rounding the corner at the end of the hall. She drifted over, watching his struggle. “You need to hunt.”



Ashi released a pleading whine, dropping the two cans as his body convulsed. Ami watched him a moment longer. “Go, Ashi.” He was gone within a heartbeat.



Her eyes drifted to his room. “The child can wait.”



-.-.-.-.-



A grimace marred Ashi’s face as he pushed away the body of a young woman. His stomach rumbled, demanding more sustenance.



He abhorred killing. It meant a disgusting corpse to hide for burning. Yet he was still hungry. How long since he had last fed? ‘Too long.’ He surmised, wiping his mouth on his arm.



He pulled the corpse behind some trash cans in the alley in which he was in, for disposing of later. He needed more blood. Disposal would have to wait.



He hunted for no less than thirty minutes. Three more humans to add. He was back in the alley fat too soon, nose wrinkled against the odor of the dead bodies before him.



He hefted them, one by one, onto his shoulders, not even flinching at the weight. He walked, doing his utmost to avoid any eyes. It would cause problems were he to be seen, with his mouth and torso drenched in drying blood as he carried four dead humans.



He arrived back at quarters, a light sweat upon his body. It had been a while since he’d last killed so many.



Ami met him at the entrance, studying the corpses with fascination. “So many?” She came forward, eyes alight with awe and unrestrained curiosity. “How are you feeling?” She flicked her hand at the load he carried.



The bodies were lifted from his shoulders immediately, relieving the bothersome weight. “Fine, my Lady.” He replied, watching the corpses spontaneously combust above his head. He turned and went towards her, eyes now a clear, inky onyx.



He met her intense gaze. “The baby awaits.” She reminded. Ashi gasped, lurching forward only to stop and glance towards her. Her lips parted into a saccharine smile before she nodded.



Ashi swept past her, ears erect and quivering with anxiety. He made for their makeshift kitchen, forced to pass by the hall of cells that held the imprisoned creatures Ami refused to release.



Snarls erupted as he passed, naked and clothed bodies alike slamming against their magical barriers, eyes crimson and feverish golden glowering. Ashi hated walking past the imprisoned vampires and werewolves. They were always riled up at the sight or smell of his approach. They loathed and feared him. Both creatures knew not what he was, for he was a vampire and a werewolf, yet neither at once.



His ears lowered at the thought as he approached their kitchen. That was right. He was a freak..



He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time for that. The baby needed him. He grabbed up the closest thing he could to a long cup. They had nothing that would allow the baby a few sips at a time.



Ashi’s panic grew. It wouldn’t be right to force the baby to drink from an open cup. His fingers twitched; a sudden idea erupted in his mind.



He cleansed himself the best he could, using his cloak to dry his torso, face, and arms. It pooled at his feet when he untied it. He’d clean it after feeding the baby.



He hurried back, the cup filled with water at a tepid temperature. He slowed as he arrived at the door, peeking in.



The baby was red-faced, mouth open in a silent wail. The moment Ashi entered the room however, the sorcery was dispelled, and the baby’s cries burst at their proper volume.



Ashi’s ears flattened at the shrill wail. He made a cooing noise, coming forward. He noted that the two cans he’d dropped earlier were stacked neatly at the foot of his bed.



Gratefully, he quickly opened the first, ripping the paper off with ease. He used the small measurer inside to scoop two spoonfuls of the powder into the cup. He stirred quickly with the end, fumbling slightly as the baby continued wailing.



“I’m coming, baby. I’m coming.” He soothed, coming up beside the infant and gingerly picking her up and onto his lap. Her cries decreased only slightly at his touch.



He pulled her close, taking the cup up and placing two fingers over the top. He slowly tilted the cup until the milk began to drip from his fingers and into the baby’s open mouth.



Ashi trembled as the baby closed its mouth, and he tilted the cup up to cease the drip. When she reopened her mouth, he continued.



The pattern continued for well over a half hour, until the cup was finally empty. With weary arms, Ashi took her up, laying her on his chest so her head was level with his shoulder. He pat her back, gently bouncing her.



After several pats, the baby burped. Ashi giggled as the infant yawned against his shoulder. “That’s better, ne?” He asked, sitting more comfortable upon his makeshift bed.



“You need a name.” Ashi murmured, moving the baby down to rest between his arms. Sleepy, hazel eyes looked up at him. He smiled, tenderly caressing the baby’s head. “For now, you can be my Usagi-chan.” He giggled as another yawn answered him.



He began to hum softly, rocking as best he could on the bed. Usagi was asleep within minutes, her breathing soft and sweet as it hit his chest. Ashi moved back carefully, laying himself down before turning and laying Usagi beside him.



He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the soft fuzz of blonde hair on her head. She shifted at his touch; he pulled away before he could disturb her sleep completely. He watched her sleep, marveling at the complete peace she held and feeling the light burn of hunger from her sweet scent.



Had he looked so sweet when he was born as a human? Had his own parents, whoever they may be, taken care of him so lovingly? Had his mother loved him, held him, in her arms? Had she ever guessed he would one day forget her?



“Ashi.” Ami called. He obediently stood, being sure he hadn’t jostled Usagi. Once sure, he made his way towards the hall, looking for her.



Remembering he’d just come back from hunting, he quickly made his way down the hall, turning the corner and stepping into the first open door.



The room was pitch-black, save for the green, luminescent goo in the middle. Ashi cringed at the sight of it, knowing what it meant.



“Ready, Ashi?” Ami had appeared behind him, her arms glowing a bright green, a mirror reflection of the goo ahead of him. The hybrid nodded, removing the ragged pants he wore.



He walked to the goo, hesitating once before lowering himself into it. The instant his skin touched the substance an indescribable burning erupted over him.



He jerked within the goo, eyes flickering between a brilliant golden glow and a luminous crimson hue. Ami came toward him, removing her own clothes as she kneeled just outside the pool of goo.



Her fingers closed over his head, forcing it to tilt back as his eyes stopped flickering and his body stilled. His left eye glowed crimson as though bathed in blood, whilst his right eye shimmered a brilliant gold.



She slowly inspected him, glowing, green fingers moving down his face and leaving behind patches that burned where they touched. She opened his mouth, inspecting the usually only slightly-sharper-than-normal canines. At the moment, his left canines, top and bottom, were thin and an inch-and-a-half long. His right canines were thicker, a half inch at least, and only three-fourths-of-an-inch long.



“Huh, fangs still uneven.” She commented, allowing him to close his mouth as her fingers ventured up to touch his ears. They flinched beneath her touch, flattening against his head at the burn. “Sensitive to the touch; can you hear the child?”



His ears raised, becoming erect. “Yes,” he replied. “Her breathing, her heartbeat…”



“The blood rushing through her veins?” Ami prompted. “And the hall of prisoners?” He nodded, ears flattening once more. “Hearing possibly increasing.” She concluded approvingly, moving her hands lower down to his chest.



“Muscles strong,” she observed, lowering herself as her arms went under the goo. Ashi held the rim of the pool, raising himself as her hands gripped at his thighs and calves. He bit back a giggle as her fingers pressed underneath his foot.



“Legs and feet feel fine.” Her fingers ghosted over his privates, eliciting a slight jerk from him. “Slightly longer, perhaps thicker.” She murmured under her breath as she straightened herself up.



“My Lady, may I bathe?” Ashi waited as she conjured up a cloak to cover herself with. Her clothes had piled themselves atop his pants.



“Yes, Ashi. Be sure to cleanse well, and take the clothes, too.” Ami replied before she left the room to take a bath herself.



Ashi waited for her footsteps to fade from his hearing before immediately pulling himself from the goo. His skin felt numb and raw, aftereffects of the disgusting slime.



He shivered, willing the feeling back inside into his body. His tail hung limply between his legs, soggy and numbed. His ears clung to his head, heavy to lift and allowing him only muffled sounds to hear.



He allowed himself time to wait for his body to get most of its feeling back. He grimaced at the luminescent puddle that grew beneath him. He’d forgotten his ‘check-up’, something Ami did after each and every one of his feedings.



Another shiver passed his body as he forced himself to stand. He had to hurry and bathe before Usagi awoke again. ‘I should probably buy a bottle for her, too.’ It would greatly help with feeding her.



He shook his head further to help get rid of the clingy goo upon his ears. He picked up the discarded clothing and took his leave. His bunny could not be left alone for too long.



-TBC-



-.-.-.-.-



Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

The Bewitching Hour 02
15:11 May 13 2009
Times Read: 552


Here is the next installment of The Bewitching Hour! If anyone’s wondering, I use the Japanese arrangement of names (last name, followed by first).



Disclaimer: I do not own Daisuke, Suzume, Naomi, Sakuhime, or Jieman. They rightfully belong to my beloved friend!



Ch 2: To Grieve For You



“Yukio, calm down! You’re being unreasonable!” Daisuke tightened his hold and dug his heels into the sidewalk, slowing Yukio’s pace further. “You don’t know where she went! We have to tell the boss about this first!”



That made the man halt; Daisuke grunted at the soft impact between his head and Yukio’s back at the abrupt stop. “Yukio?” He asked cautiously, slowly loosening his hold around him. He was ready to take hold of him again if needed.



“Daisuke,” the silver haired man began. “They lost their firstborn because of me.”



“But they – ”



“It’s my obligation to make this right.” Yukio interrupted, refusing to turn to face Daisuke. He was having enough trouble as it was keeping his emotions controlled.



Daisuke frowned and stalked around his partner to face him; Yukio tilted his head away and denied him the chance to gauge his expression.



“Yukio,” Daisuke began, pausing to be sure he had his lover’s attention. “It’s not your fault.” He emphasized each word and scowled when Yukio lightly scoffed at him.



“Ok, fine. Believe what you want. It doesn’t change the fact that you’ve got no idea where she went! It’s better to contact the boss first, before we try anything stupid.” Daisuke reasoned, hoping this would dissuade his lover from leaving. “We have to hear what happened from Sora-chan and Arashi-kun, too.” He added, knowing this would certainly dissuade him for sure.



Yukio abhorred admitting that Daisuke was correct; diving blindly into a lion’s den would hardly solve anything. “All right..” He acquiesced. Daisuke smiled, relieved, and strode forward to hug his lover.



“They don’t hate you, Yukio,” the blond murmured quietly into his shoulder. Yukio halfheartedly returned the gesture, sighing against Daisuke’s blond hair. “…yet…” He replied in a dull whisper that Daisuke failed to catch.



Daisuke pulled back and smiled, hoping to invoke the same response. Yukio managed a weak mimic of a smile in reply. “Come on. Sora-chan is still inside. We can’t leave her alone… She needs us.” Daisuke reached down and intertwined their fingers, squeezing lightly before leading Yukio back into the hospital.



-.-.-.-.-



“I-Is this dinner, my Lady?”



Ami turned to watch her subordinate prod at the slumbering baby. A smirk lifted her lips at the hungry look in the werewolf-vampire hybrid’s eyes. “No, Ashi. That is not dinner.” She drew close, laying a hand upon the shaggy, obsidian hair of his.



“This little...human is the key to obtain Yukio-kun.” She explained, lightly scratching at his protruding ears. Ashi shivered in delight and watched the infant through half-mast, black eyes. “You’ll be in charge of it, Ashi,” she finished, watching the infant.



He stiffened at the command, turning his head up to her. “My lady..?” She smiled and hooked her other hand through the collar at his neck.



Ashi was her fourth experiment. She’d found him at the brink of death, his body crumpled beneath a bridge. She’d taken his nearly lifeless body and gave him a new life. She’d taken it upon herself to completely erase the memories of his past, to save him from any past hurts.



She had already begun experiments of different kinds upon vampires and werewolves she’d captured. She wanted to create a perfect, stable specimen that had both monsters’ powerful DNA.



Three past attempts had failed her. Her victims’ body could not handle the stress of both merged transformations. She had been fortunate to chance upon Ashi. His transformation had been a full success.



“Yes, Ashi?” She mused, drawn from her thoughts at his whine.



“How will I feed it, my Lady?”



The question threw her off. She thought for a few moments, idly fingering Ashi’s collar. He quietly waited for her to speak. “I suppose that poses a problem...”



Ashi quickly brightened, his tail beat excitedly at the ground. “Let me get her, my Lady! She will be useful! We can keep her restrained!” Ami had no need for elaboration on whom Ashi meant. Her face scrunched into a frown, speculating carefully.



The mother was a ceux qui cherchent herself. It would certainly be risky to capture her, but it would prompt Yukio to act. The woman was his childhood friend. Seeing her after so many years would have reignited and strengthened their earlier bond.



Ami’s frown deepened to a scowl, straightening herself and glowering at the infant. “No... We will find an alternate.. Ashi, you are in charge of it. You find a solution.”



Ashi smiled and obediently nodded. “Yes, my Lady,” he acquiesced, turning back to the baby as Ami left. His black eyes darkened as he lifted the infant into his arms. “Don’t worry, little one. Ashi will take good care of you.”



-.-.-.-.-



“They had to sedate her earlier. She was a little...hysterical when I told her what happened.” Sora explained quickly as she sat near her slumbering spouse. Yukio and Daisuke sat across from her, patiently waiting for her to begin.



Sora reached up and brushed aside hair from Arashi’s face as the silence stretched. She was in no hurry to begin now that she was more or less calm.



“She was a girl, you know.” The break in silence nearly startled the two men. It took them a few moments to process what she’d said.



Daisuke was the first to react, turning to Yukio with a smug grin. “See? I told you so!” The following silence after his outburst lingered as his wide grin faded to a sheepish smile. Sora weakly smiled as Yukio raised an eyebrow at his partner.



“S-Sorry...” Daisuke laughed nervously, turning back to face Sora. The woman nodded to acknowledge his apology before taking a breath. The men stiffened in response, leaning forward slightly.



“It was after Arashi-kun gave birth. The doctor had given Yukari-chan to a nurse. Right after Arashi-kun fell asleep, I tried to get the nurse to give her to me... But the nurse told me to wait.” Sora paused then, staring down at the hand she held, gently rubbing her thumb over the back.



“I tried approaching her, but she hit me.” She lifted her free hand to pull her shirt off her left shoulder. Fresh bandages were wrapped about it, a few splotches of red beginning to appear. She didn’t wait for any outbursts and continued as she fixed her shirt. “The medics in the room tried to stop her, but she easily subdued them.



“When they were down, she turned to me and reverted to her original form. I tried getting back up to face her, but her sorcery prevented any movement from my legs. Before she left,” Sora turned her gaze up to lock with Yukio’s. “She told me to hate Yukio-kun, for it’s his fault we lost Yukari-chan.” She did not miss the flinch he tried to cover up.



“Sora-chan,” Daisuke quickly spoke up, eyes flicking nervously between them. “It’s not - ”



“I know,” Sora interrupted, keeping her gaze locked with Yukio’s. “Neither of us blames Yukio-kun.” She smiled; Yukio turned away then. It was unbearable to continue the eye contact. Daisuke released a relieved breath, slouching against his plastic chair.



“Thank you,” Yukio muttered, still doubtful of their forgiveness. Sora waved away his answer. “There is but one person to blame, and that is the witch.”



“Have you called him?” Daisuke asked instead, breaking the tension. Sora shifted uneasily in her seat, turning her head away. “I have not.”



The blond frowned and stood, bringing out his cell phone. “He needs to know.” He pressed the phone to his ear and walked a few steps away.



Yukio turned his gaze up to Sora. “I wouldn’t have been surprised if you hated me... It’s only natural after what she said and did.” He spoke quietly, not wanting Daisuke to hear.



Sora turned her gaze to meet his and smiled; a smile, Yukio noted, that did not reach her eyes. “Yukio-kun, we have known you since we were mere teenagers. Arashi-kun knew you as a child. She, more so than I, understands that something like this was not in your control. It was only a...cruel twist of fate, I suppose.”



She raised a hand when he opened his mouth. “I won’t deny that I, against my better judgment, hold a bit of...rancor against you for what happened. But I shall bear no grudge. The feeling will vanish the moment she dies.” She clenched her free hand into a fist, scowling heavily. The intensity of her sudden fury startled Yukio.



From across the room, Daisuke flinched and pulled his cell phone away from his ear. “Hold on, no, just, just,” he made a frustrated sound. “Listen, dammit!”



Noting the sudden silence, Daisuke threw a strained smile to the two occupants before continuing what he was saying. Sora sighed and shook her head, aggression forgotten. “That’s why I didn’t want him to know. I bet he’ll come here to fix it on his own.”



Daisuke hung up, putting up his cell. “Hah, on his own, my ass! His lackeys are coming.” He grimaced, taking his seat again. Sora mimicked his expression, squeezing Arashi’s limp hand in hers. “Great...”



As far as Yukio knew, Naomi and Jieman Tsuyoi, their boss’ two closest friends and subordinates, were fairly kind people. Granted, Naomi’s attitude closely resembled Daisuke’s and their boss’, if not because she was more of a jerk than both of them combined and worse. Jieman was an incredible contrast. Where the boss and Naomi were loud, Jieman was taciturn, nearly to the point of a mute. True, he had only met them once, and briefly at that, so he really could not form a solid opinion on them.



“Is Sakuhime-chan coming, too?”



Daisuke blinked at her as Yukio frowned at the mention of the name. Prior to their relationship, Sakuhime had been deeply infatuated with Daisuke. She had chosen to confess her love a week after they began dating. Yukio had not taken kindly to that knowledge, despite Daisuke’s gentle rebuttal of it.



“Why would she..?” Sora smiled at Daisuke’s expression. She guessed they wouldn’t know the news. “She’s dating Naomi-san.”



Daisuke gaped at her. “Really?” Yukio’s lips broke into a smug smile. Maybe he could drop the grudge now that there was no competition any longer.



“Since when, Sora-chan?” Daisuke pressed, appearing to be a little offended. Sora’s smile widened; she clearly saw where his offense cam from. “After your...rejection, Naomi-san was the one to help her get over you.”



“In more ways than one..” He grumbled. “Stupid Naomi...corrupting Sakuhime-chan.”



Twin bursts of laughter greeted his mumbling. He scowled as they laughed and waited until their mirth subsided. They settled into a comfortable silence, none willing to voice anything lest they break the nice atmosphere.



“When will he arrive?”



Daisuke looked up at Sora, watching her silently regard her spouse after her question. “He said he’d be here as soon as he cleared up the problem in New York. So, I’m not sure. I give it a few days.”



Sora relaxed slightly and brought up a hand to rub her eyes. A soft groan from between them instantly brought them to their feet. They waited with bated breath as Arashi stirred.



Sora leaned close, anxiously touching Arashi’s cheek. “Arashi-kun?”



She stirred again; her eyelids flickered for a moment before finally opening. Her gaze met Sora’s first, and she offered a weak smile. She turned her head and peered curiously up at Yukio and Daisuke.



“Yukio, Daisuke,” she greeted in a raspy murmur. Sora quickly hovered closer. “Are you thirsty? We have some water for you.”



Arashi waved her back. “I’m fine..” She turned back to the men beside her. She studied them quietly, glancing between the two. “Yukio, you’re really tense...”



Yukio stiffened further at the statement. “It’s good to see you’re awake.” He replied as evenly as he could manage. Arashi frowned at his expression; Daisuke took his hand and squeezed gently.



“I’m not angry with you, Yukio.” She spoke quietly, her amber eyes darkening in her somber mood. The silver haired man caught her gaze; his eyes begged for a true sign of forgiveness.



She smiled at him. Her eyes scrunched up at the corners in that way he’d always seen as a child. And it hurt.



That heartfelt smile, being the one it was directed to, and knowing what had happened because of him, it made the smile so much more painfully relieving than Yukio had imagined.



Beside him, Daisuke watched anxiously, feeling Yukio subconsciously squeeze his hand in response to his feelings. Sora watched both, jealous at the smile her spouse gave Yukio. Those were reserved for her... Her hands clenched at her sides.



“Thank you…” Arashi’s smile faltered at his tone. “Yukio... No, don’t...” Her eyes were instantly covered with a shiny sheen, a film of tears ready to burst at the slightest provocation.



“C-Come on, guys!” Daisuke quickly intervened; he hated such an atmosphere. “We’ll get her back! The boss is coming, so he can help!”



“Say what!?” Arashi immediately lifted herself up in bed, her eyes lost the sheen in favor of such panic that startled the other three. “No! Tell me you didn’t call him! No, no, no!”



Daisuke stepped back, milky eyes wide at the outburst. “I-I... S-Sorry. I-I didn’t...”



Sora quickly took Arashi and held her close. “Hush,” she soothed, stroking her raven hair. “He would’ve found out anyway.”



The woman trembled in her embrace, shaking her head. “He’s going to be so mad...” She murmured, biting her lip.



-.-.-.-.-



“Oi, Suzume,” a blonde haired woman scowled impatiently as she waited outside the office. She flicked her head, her one-sided bang falling right back over her right eye as she knocked again, rapping her knuckles insistently. “Suzume, open up! God, you freaking blond! It doesn’t take a genius to say come in!”



A dainty hand landed on her shoulder, lightly trembling. “Um, Naomi-chan, he may be - ”



“Naomi! Get your ass in here! Jieman had better be with you! Fucking shit!”



Naomi frowned disapprovingly, but she opened the door nonetheless and led the two beside her in. “Suzume, what the - ”



“Shut up!” The blond was pacing, a hand gripping his sandy hair as a scowl marred his features. The trio paused, watching their boss pace back and forth. Unable to resist, Naomi spoke up once more. “What - ”



He whirled, black eyes blazing. “Naomi, if you value your life, shut the fuck up for now.” A snarl was his response as he turned and paced some more.



Naomi’s hand twitched toward the weapon in her hip holster; the blonde haired woman beside her quickly took her hand and gave her a pleading look with her green eyes.



They turned back, waiting for Suzume to speak. They didn’t have long to wait. He whirled to face them not even two minutes later.



“Jieman, how fast can we be out of here?”



The tall, muscular man blinked before he raised an eyebrow questioningly. Suzume scowled and elaborated. “How fast can we be done here and leave for Cali?”



Naomi gaped as Jieman took his pack and promptly sat down, taking out his laptop. “California? Suzume, what the hell is going on?” Naomi demanded, pushing away the restraining hand upon her shoulder.



The blond promptly faced both women, face perfectly expressionless except for the burning fury within his black eyes.



“My child was stolen.”



-TBC-



Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

The Bewitching Hour 01
15:09 May 13 2009
Times Read: 555


Warning: Yaoi (boyxboy), Yuri (girlxgirl), sexual themes



Disclaimer: I do not own Daisuke nor 'boss'. They rightfully belong to my beloved friend.



Ch 1: Those Who Seek



A woman's shrill scream broke the still silence of the hospital. She prostrated upon her hospital bed, panting heavily as she squeezed the hand within hers. She'd been laying there for hours already.



The woman beside her winced at the pressure placed upon her hand. She lifted the hand, kissing the back soothingly, hoping to give some comfort to her spouse. “Just a little longer, hun. You can do it.” She stroked the black hair of the tired woman on the bed.



“Fuck! You try giving birth next time and see how you like it!” The raven yelled back, crying out at another contraction.



“Begin pushing when the next contraction comes. You're doing great so far.” The doctor encouraged, positioning himself at her spread legs. Anxious, orchid eyes were fixed upon the onyx-haired woman panting on the bed. She leaned closer, stroking the hand she held as she wiped the other's face. “Almost, Arashi-kun, almost..” she murmured soothingly, tearing up at the pained golden eyes she was presented with.



The contractions arose again; it was another hour of pained labor before a shrill cry was finally heard.



“It's a girl.” The doctor announced, handing the baby to the nurse nearest to him.



Arashi fell back; her spouse easing her onto her pillows carefully. “Sora-chan,” she murmured, on the brink of sleep. “Her name is Yukari.. Like my mom..”



Sora smiled, caressing the tired woman's face lovingly. “Whatever you say, Arashi-kun.”



“I want to see her..” Came the soft reply, before sleep claimed the new mother. Gently, Sora released the hands she held and turned to the nurse. “May I see her?”



The nurse did not turn, muttering under her breath as she held the newborn. “One moment, ma'am.” Sora frowned at the reply; was something wrong with Yukari?



“Nurse,” Sora tried once more, taking a step forward. The nurse lashed out at her approach; Sora shrieked as she fell back and held her shoulder. Blood was spreading over her lavender night shirt.



The other three medics rushed towards the nurse as she erupted into cruel laughter. “What a beautiful baby girl, Mayonaka-san.” She easily brought down the oncoming attacks of the medics.



Sora suppressed a whimper of pain as the nurse turned towards her. Gleaming, silver eyes locked onto hers as the nurse's appearance began to distort.



Once short, gray hair lengthened to ankle-length, darkening into a dark onyx. Her ears slanted up into points; her height shot up dramatically as her clothes dimmed to a midnight blue and seperated into a bra-like shirt and shorts.



Sora grit her teeth as she watched the changes happening before her. “You're... You're a...”



“An enchantress, Mayonaka-san. Unless you prefer a different term; witch, sorceress, take your pick. They all mean the same after all.” The woman replied, stroking Yukari's cheeks with a slender finger. Sora bristled and struggled in an attempt to stand.



“Ah, ah, ah, Mayonaka-san, can't have you trying to be a hero.” The sorceress flicked a hand; Sora immediately lost all feeling in her legs.



As the orchid-haired woman struggled before her, the sorceress turned towards Arashi.



“Leave her be, witch!” Sora cried out in a panic, falling sideways in her attempt to keep watch of the sorceress' movements.



“Ah, how utterly rude of me,” the witch replied, pressing a hand to her pale cheeks. “I forgot to introduce myself. You may call me Ami, Mayonaka-san.” She turned to the struggling woman. “I come to settle something with a...friend of yours.” Her lips curled into a mocking sneer. “You and Taisho-san know him fairly well. It's only natural I come after you to hurt him.”



Sora's retort was cut off by the baby's cry; Ami flinched and held the baby at arm's length. The baby continued to wail, as if sensing something wasn't right. Growing tired of the wailing child, Ami yelled, “Silence!” and Yukari's wails were instantly cut off.



“Much better...” Ami slowly returned the baby to her breast; she raised a finger and tapped the baby's forehead. Yukari's eyes immediately closed and she lay still.



“Please, leave her be!” Once more, Ami turned to the sobbing woman behind her. She was silentl, watching Sora's futile struggles. “He brought it upon you. Hate Yukio-kun; it's his fault you've lost your daughter.”



Just like that, she was gone, leaving her words to echo after her.



-.-.-.-.-.-



“Yukio...aspirin...”



An amused chuckle reached the blond's ears. Were he to have the strength, he would've thrown the very comfortable pillow he was resting upon at his silver-haired partner. However, Hyuuga Daisuke knew better; he would be denied his aspirin if he did.



“Daisuke, here,” Yukio murmured beside him, handing several pills and a glass of water to the blond, watching as said blond rolled onto his stomach to take them. “We're going to see Arashi's baby today.”



Daisuke grunted at the reminder, handing back the half-empty glass. It was obvious he was in no mood to talk with his lover.



Yukio sighed delicately, standing and heading for their kitchen. “I'll wake you up when we're to leave, if you'd like.” He called back over his shoulder.



At the absence of a reply, Yukio figured it was all right and began washing the dishes from the night before.



Many mornings were spent similarly, most often the days they had off from work. Yukio was used to it; they had been together for many years now, after all.



Yukio worked as a kindergarten teacher; the current school he was assigned to allowed him to get home early enough to have dinner ready by the time Daisuke came home.



Daisuke, for his part, was the manager of a Japanese restaurant. He loved the place, despite the often inflexible hours.



However, if there was one thing they most loved to do together, aside from the sex of course, it had to be their nightly occupation. They worked for the organization, ceux qui cherchent, translated to those who seek. It was a thrill to be part of the organization... And the occasional reward wasn't too bad either. After all, it was hard work tracking down monsters in a city, as well as exterminating them.



Ceux qui cherchent were usually full-time operatives; Yukio and Daisuke happened to be an exception. Not long ago, Yukio had brushed death after a particularly violent encounter with a werewolf. Daisuke had demanded, begged, threatened, done all in his power possible to convince their boss into allowing them more time in a city to exterminate, as well as a promise to never be separated from one another.



Daisuke had been successful, to an extent. They could 'settle', yes, in each overly-infested city at a time. Yet, because their boss loved to ruffle their feathers, they were given the duty of guarding two other ceux qui cherchent after Yukio recuperated.



It wasn't for too long, a year and a half at most. It helped that they knew their charges as well, one having been impregnated by their boss.



Needless to say, Daisuke got an earful when Yukio had finally awakened at the hospital. The silver-haired man did not like what Daisuke had compromised; he believed it to be unfair to the other ceux qui cherchent. Daisuke argued that it didn't matter; they deserved it for the many years they'd been with the organization and done exceedingly well.



The argument had been forgotten in favor of meeting their charges. It had been odd to reunite with old friends that they had not seen in months, years perhaps. They could never remember the last time they met.



Seven months had passed since that day, and now the boss' baby was born. Their charge had already been about two months into her pregnancy when they'd been assigned as her protection.



In all honesty, Yukio had liked spending the past seven months with the girls. They had proved to be reliable partners; he would miss them after the eleven months they would still spend together.



A smile crossed Yukio's lips. It had certainly been entertaining to have a pregnant woman stop by so often. He had never known how vastly different a woman became from the surging hormones that affected her moods from the pregnancy.



He glanced at the clock; there were still three hours left before they had to leave. Daisuke would be unwilling for a third round, and he was pretty sure they needed some food again. However, Yukio knew better than to venture out alone. After all, there was always time to get groceries later, and he'd rather not be attacked out of nowhere without back-up once again.



Only two hours had passed when Daisuke wandered sleepily into the living room, a horror flick flashing on their T.V. Yukio looked up from laying on the couch, hand pausing over his mouth with buttered popcorn. “Afternoon, princess,” he greeted, popping the corn into his mouth and watching as Daisuke came around and pulled his legs apart. He smiled as the blond settled himself between them and lay his head on his chest.



“What time is it?” Daisuke asked, moving so he could reach the bowl of popcorn as well. Yukio checked quickly. “Two forty-seven,” he replied, moving his legs into a more comfortable position.



Daisuke yawned before cramming his mouth with popcorn. “Mm'kay.” He cuddled closer, content with laying with Yukio and watching the horror flick.



After another thirty minutes of the horror movie, Yukio gently pushed at Daisuke, who complied with the silent command and sat up. Yukio stood and stretched. “We should get going,” he paused to yawn. “It takes twenty minutes to get there.”



Daisuke nodded, standing and wrapping his arms around Yukio's waist. “Can I drive the car? You drove last time.”



Yukio laughed gently, lifting a hand to caress Daisuke's cheek behind him. “Sure; try not to crash.” The blond grinned brightly and pulled him to the hallway. As they pulled their shoes and coats on, Daisuke turned to Yukio with a soft smile.



“I hope it's a girl.” Yukio shook his head, buttoning his coat. “I hope it's a boy. Girls suffer more than boys do.”



Daisuke pouted, opening the door. “We wouldn't have to wonder if they'd decided to have the damn sonogram person TELL them the gender. But noo, they wanted it to be a 'surprise'!” He huffed, leading the way out of the apartment buildings and to the parking lot.



“It was their choice, Daisuke,” Yukio replied, chuckling softly at the amusing expression on Daisuke's face. They entered the Volkswagen, a gift from Yukio's deceased mother to her son before her death.



“All right, Bessy, let's ride!” Daisuke grinned at the frown that appeared on Yukio's face as he revved the car up. “Her name is Amaya, Daisuke, not Bessy.” Yukio scowled at the 'term of endearment' Daisuke had named his precious car.



The blond laughed as he reversed out of the parking lot; Yukio quickly held on to what he could as the blond hit the streets.



They arrived at the hospital in record time, after several red lights had been run, cars had been swerved around, and little kids had nearly been run over. Daisuke was only second to their boss in Yukio’s ‘Worst Drivers’ list.



“You are never driving my car again, Daisuke.” Yukio got out to inspect any damage done to his precious Volkswagen. The blond laughed sheepishly, watching his lover inspect his car. “Sorry, but you know me, I just love the fast lane.”



Yukio sighed, satisfied that nothing was wrong with Amaya, and turned back to Daisuke, walking over and past the blond. “You know how much she means to me.”



Daisuke’s smile drooped as he followed Yukio. “I know... I’m sorry, Yukio.” He received no response to his apology. A little worried that he’d upset his lover, Daisuke sped up to walk beside the silver-haired man.



Stormy eyes glanced his way; Daisuke pouted as Yukio turned his head. They were entering the hospital now. “Yukio - ”



“Daisuke-kun! Yukio-kun!”



Both men jumped at the sudden yell. They turned only to just barely catch the sobbing woman that had lunged at them. “S-Sora-chan! What’s wrong?” Daisuke panicked, helping her stand properly; Sora took the blond’s arm and buried her face against his sleeve.



Worried, Yukio tentatively touched Sora’s back. “Sora?” He called quietly, worry gnawing at his core. Had something happened to Arashi? Or worse, had something happened to the baby?



Daisuke wrapped his arm around Sora’s waist and led her to a chair at the waiting room. Yukio helped the blond sit the woman in a chair. “Sora-chan, please, tell us what happened.” Daisuke pleaded, taking one of the woman’s hands in his. Both men sat on either side of her as they waited for her to speak.



“She took her!” Sora choked out, sobbing harder against the hand she held to her face. Daisuke’s gaze flicked to Yukio’s, mirroring his panicked expression. “Who, Sora-chan? Who took what?”



“That witch!” Sora wailed, shaking her head as though to try and dislodge the memory. “She took our baby!”



Yukio immediately stood, eyes wide. “What witch?” His fingers clenched to a fist, already knowing the answer, yet needing confirmation. Daisuke’s eyes lit up in understanding before Sora hissed, “Ami.”



-TBC-



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