Sigh... fanfiction dot net is being stupid again. I've tried four times now to center the titles, and every time I do, they come back not centered after I hit "Save".

Chapter Twelve

March 27, 2015 - Ten Miles Outside of Tokyo, Japan

Kei stirred slightly from her position. She didn't even notice that the moment she did, fields were lowered around her. Suspensions vanished, and her body was slowly lowered down to the ground. A powerful field kept her body suspended until it was slowly lowered to the ground, and was it seemlessly transitioned to the floor once she rested. She turned her head slightly and took in a deep breath. As she did, her consciousness returned. She became self aware of her body and her status. She soon noticed that her body was free from pain. Her brain felt regular again, and her body felt regular. She wasn't tired anymore. In fact, she felt refreshed and rejuvenated. She hadn't felt this good in a long time. For a moment, it felt as if all the events that had happened...the group...the Budapest mission...the Panama encounter...the rig...all of it was a dream. She turned a bit more, and then opened her eyes.

A smooth gleaming metal surface was overheard. There was a glow of light shining into the room she was in, which Kei recognized as sunlight. So there was a window or an opening here. She paused a moment, taking this in. She realized that she was on the ground, laying on her back... And this was the Ryo-Ohki. She remembered its ceiling and surroundings. That meant...it wasn't a dream. But then, she realized something else, which was far more shocking. If it wasn't a dream...how could she see? Her eyes were intact, weren't they? As if to confirm it, she raised her hands up to her own face, until to find no trace of the grotesque scars or drills that had been made into it. Her eyes were both there.

Immediately, the woman leaned up and looked down. She soon received another pleasant surprise. Both of her legs were there. There wasn't even a trace of a scar. She blinked in astonishment, amazed at the sight. She reached over and felt them, again unable to believe that they were real. But they were solid and there, and she could feel them as she touched them. Soon, however, she heard footsteps. She turned and looked to the source, and saw the familiar small figure of Washu walking across the deck and moving to her. Her arms were folded behind her, and she had a big smile on her face.

"Feeling better?" She asked her. "Legs and eyes are easy to regenerate, at least in a human species...or even a Jurai/human for that matter. I did that with a friend of mine a while back. So this is nothing new."

Kei shook her head, and then raised it up. A bit of confusion was on her face, but that soon vanished and turned to concern. "What happened? Is the Colonel dead?"

"...And Akira with him."

Both Kei and Washu turned to see who had spoken. Their eyes soon rested on D. He looked much better now. He was cool and calm again, and his movements were smooth and controlled. His clothing had been repaired, and he didn't have a scratch on him. Washu smiled on seeing him enter.

"Ah! Looks like you're up and running again too!" She greeted. "How'd you like the taste of that cloned blood I made for you?"

D was silent in response. It did have the taste of something...artificial...and as such it was loathesome to a vampire's appetite. But it did do the job of healing him. And only real human blood would have revitalized him at that point, which was a tragedy. Dhampires only remained dhampires until the day they fed on genuine human blood. Then they turned completely. But there was no way around it then. He had lost far too much over the past few days. And he had needed it. Getting Washu to "make" him some was the only way to do it safely. That still didn't mean he wanted to talk about it.

Abruptly, something caught Kei's eye. She turned her head around to the viewing area, which was the source of the sunlight in the chamber. She soon gaped in surprise at what she saw. Dancing through the sky gracefully and waving a strange course right for the ship was a long, white, serpentine being. To her surprise, it appeared to be a white Chinese dragon, if such things were even supposed to exist. She was overwhelmed at the sight, as she saw it turn and move beneath the craft, and then vanish from view. Still stunned, she turned her head back to Washu and gestured outside. "There's...there's..." She began to remark.

Washu merely smiled again. "Oh, I see you've spotted the latest member of our little group. I think he fills out Genma's old position of immortal rather nicely...although he's technically only immortal to death by age..."

Kei abruptly felt the ship shake slightly. She looked around in surprise at this, and quickly got to her feet. It felt as if something had landed on it...obviously that white dragon. She turned and looked back to the way that D and Washu had come in, and watched and waited. A few minutes went by, as she heard a deal of rumaging and movement down below. However, in the end, more figures came out and walked into the chamber where she stood. Lupin strolled in like he was God's gift to women, as usual, looking carefree and grinning in a new suit. Miyu quietly followed behind him, hands folded in front of her and carrying her usual dark aura around her. Lastly, a boy with stunning, wise-looking blue eyes and a sort of "Prince Valiant" type of brown haircut walked in behind the others. He had dressed himself in white and blue now, in attire that was distinctly from a much earlier time in Japanese history. However, he seemed simple and mannerly enough...and Kei never realized that this boy was the same one who had assaulted her not long ago.

"The last of the children have been returned to their proper cities." Kohaku announced as he walked into the room.

Kei looked around at the group for a moment. In the end, however, she looked a little sad. "...So, Inuyasha didn't make it?"

Lupin merely grinned and tsked at her. "Hardly. The furry oaf bailed out the moment we finished at the rig. Said something about being tired of running around with us freaks. You know, coming from a guy with ears on top of his head instead of on the side who has fleas and carries a giant monster tooth for a sword, that really hurts my feelings..."

"Oh well. He helped us out, anyway." Washu responded with a shrug. "I do wish I could have given him a Milk Bone for being such a good doggie, but whatever. It probably isn't good for the space-time continuum for him to be gone out of his time for that long anyway. I've got to get a look at those 'time trees' though... All my current time machines are bulky and energy inefficient."

D didn't answer after hearing this. When no one else spoke up, however, Lupin took in a deep breath. He let the silence hang a moment longer, and let them all look around and get a good look at one another. Finally, he spoke again.

"Well, guess we go our separate ways now."

The others looked around a bit more uneasily at that. Another silence lasted in the room. So...it was really it. The journey was over, and they realized that what Lupin had said was right. It was time for all of them to go. After all that had happened, it finally came to this moment. Strangely, it didn't feel that good. For all their bickering and complaining, they had helped each other out. They had worked together, and they had managed to succeed in spite of everything else. And though there may not have been any prize or award for any of this...they had managed to do a great thing. There was no denying that. And also, despite all of their fighting...they had come out of it with friends.

D believed even Inuyasha felt that same way, despite running off the moment that the job was done. So much, in fact...that he almost regretted not telling Inuyasha about his own disastrous future. He had helped him on the highway, after all. Yet in the end, he supposed it was better that he found out for himself. As for the others, he supposed he would just have to sever his mental ties once again. In his line of work, and considering the fact that he was immortal...he didn't allow himself to make friends with anyone. He and Miyu shared that common bond. Eventually, anyone that they tried to attach themselves to would die. He couldn't afford that kind of bond, and long ago he had sworn off any such bonds. To him...this would just be one more parting.

...But it would be harder than others.

"Well, I suppose I'll leave here." Kohaku spoke up at last. With that, he began to turn back the way he came. "I have an old friend I need to find. This place is just as good as any to start looking."

Washu turned to him immediately with a smile, and gave him a wave. "Hey, thanks a lot for all your help again."

Kohaku turned back, smiled a bit, and snorted a laugh. "My help? Thanks again for all of your help. If it wasn't for you, I'd be a slave again." He paused for a moment after that, and looked to the ground. But then he looked up and back and spoke again. "...And if you ever see that Inuyasha guy again...tell him thanks. He did the right thing attacking me like that."

The scientist grinned in reply. "Oh, I'll find some way to get him the message."

The boy spirit smiled and nodded again, giving the group one last look from his strange blue eyes. But then, he turned and walked away, back the way he had come. Soon, he turned a corner, and vanished from sight.

Kei sighed a bit. She raised a hand to her brow and rubbed it. "Well...guess I might as well get out here."

Lupin turned to Kei in surprise at that. "Really? Aren't you a fugitive of the Japanese government?"

The woman sighed again in response and shrugged. "I'm an international fugitive. Besides, I need to get my husband."

Lupin paused for a moment in response to that. But then, he raised a hand and adjusted his tie slightly. He grinned a bit and stepped forward. "You know...I could help you out with that. I've broken into and out of prison several times now, including every maximum security facility. It'll be a cinch if we work together."

Kei turned and gave him another sour look. She glared hard at him for a moment, while he innocently grinned in response. "...You are as bad as him. You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

The thief could only grin and shrug in response. "I'm just persistent. Besides, after I help you out, maybe you can scratch my back by helping me break my gang out."

Kei crossed her arms and leveled a glare at him.

"Hey..." Lupin pressed further, with a tone that exuded "come on". "If it doesn't work, I'll buy you dinner."

The woman only glared harder and more icily at Lupin in response to that. Still not getting the hint, the rogue merely kept grinning and waiting for her answer. She looked for a few moments more, but finally sighed and rolled her eyes. "...Alright. But you better come through this time. And if I have to act like some floozy this time around..."

Lupin quickly put his hands up, his crafy grin growing, and shook his head. "Oh no...no, we'll do the laundry bit this time. No problem."

Kei sighed again at this. It seemed she couldn't believe what she was doing. But in the end, she merely shook her head and lowered it again. Lupin looked as eager as a little kid, and he immediately began to head for the rear exit. As for Kei, she paused for a moment longer, and then turned and looked back to who was left in the chamber. Her eyes looked around a bit, before looking up to D. The dhampire said nothing in response. He simply looked back at her with his normal cold glare, his eyes peering out from beneath his wide brimmed hat.

"...I guess this is it."

"...Yes." D responded after a brief pause. The two stood a bit longer and looked to one another.

"So what will you do?"

"Same thing I always do." D simply replied. "Look for the next target. I actually thought you'd be going after Gendo."

Kei shook her head. "No. I don't want to risk getting caught again. They did it once. Besides...they're probably waiting for me to make a move on Kaneda, assuming they know I'm still alive."

D paused in response to this. "...I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."

Kei hesitated, but then shrugged. "Same here."

The two paused one more time, looking at each other. Neither of them said a word, or betrayed any emotion. They merely looked into each other's eyes and focused for a long while. Lupin stopped and turned to look. Miyu sighed and thought something about chivalry, but said nothing else. At last, Kei held up a hand and waved. "...Later." With that, she turned and began to walk out, not looking back again. Lupin looked to her, however, and then looked back to D. He seemed to be wondering if something was going on. But after looking between the two for a moment, he finally turned and began to walk out. However, he stopped on the way out, and turned and looked back to the vampire hunter. He smiled at him and gave him a wave as well.

"Lots of luck on those bloodsuckers, Dee-Dee. Let's do this again some time, but don't call me. I'll call you."

With that, the rogue turned and walked away as well, tagging along...perhaps too closely...behind Kei. They soon turned the corner, and their footsteps faded to signify that they were gone as well.

The remaining members turned and looked to each other. All that were left was Washu, D, and Miyu now. The vampire princess readily turned to D, and did not look away from him. The vampire hunter didn't look back right away, but he could feel her gaze focusing on him. Without turning, and still standing straight and tall, he finally spoke out to her again.

"...You're not as talkative as normal today."

The girl paused for a moment, but then spoke coldly and firmly. "...I'd like to see you privately."

D turned and looked back to her for a moment. After staring a second, however, he gave a nod. He turned and looked up to Washu. The little scientist looked back with a frown in reply, but then merely sighed and threw up her arms in an exaggerated sigh. She muttered something about this being her ship and threatening to force them out, but she said nothing aloud. She turned to a different hallway and walked away. Soon, he heard her footsteps fade as well. Only the two vampires were left in the room. They both stood silently for a moment more. Miyu continued to stare at D. D continued to look out and didn't meet her gaze. However, once things were quiet, he looked back and stared back in her eyes.

"How's your weapon?" She asked at length, turning and beginning to walk in front of the hunter.

D responded by brushing away his coat and pulling out his sword...or what was left of it. Half of the blade had been melted and vaporized. Apparently, D had dropped it when the blast threw him back, and he had been unable to salvage it all together. Miyu chuckled a bit at the sight, but gave only a weak smile. She pointed to the ruined nodachi. "You should talk to that scientist. She says she can fix it."

"Thanks, but no thanks." D calmly answered. "I'd rather have it hand-repaired. I know just the place in Tokyo."

Miyu smiled at last. "You are old fashioned." She gave a pause for a moment, but then her smile faltered. She gave pause for a few moments before looking down to the ground and speaking again.

"...How much do you typically charge, hunter?"

D hesitated before answering that, but showed no change of emotion. "...Depends on the job and how my client can pay."

Miyu didn't answer. She paused for a moment longer. Then she took a few steps forward. On doing so, she lowered her hand down into her kimono. Moment later, she emerged clenching something in her fist. She extended her hand out to D, who hesitated a moment but then reached out, realizing she was giving him something. He opened his gloved hand, and she promptly dumped her contents into his. When she pulled her hand back, he looked over and saw that she had laid a handful of diamonds into his hand.

"That's all I have." The vampire princess simply stated.

"Wow...this is strange, D. I never thought she'd be one who'd hire you. Heh...you must have made some kind of impression."

D didn't voice any of these questions from his hand. Instead, he simply looked back to Miyu. "...Who?"

Miyu glared back at him, and turned back into her old cold self a moment. Her mouth tightened into a half frown...but her eyes remained steadfast. "...Isn't it obvious?" She finally asked. He detected a quiver on her voice as she said it.

"...Whoa...hold on a moment..."

D clenched his fist hard to shut up the face. He didn't want his comments at this time. It looked back to Miyu, but she didn't change. A sadness was in her eyes. She breathed in slow and deep, and shook a little. But she stayed standing and didn't back down. Now she struggled to look as fierce and strong as she always had.

D looked back at her in silence for a while, but finally spoke. "...I don't assist suicide. I never have."

"This isn't suicide. It's another job." Miyu responded, nearly snapping back. "You've been hired to kill a vampire. Here's your target. You said you only kill targets that you're hired for. Consider yourself hired. Here I am."

"Why?" D responded, just as quickly.

"Because my job was to destroy the Shinma, and now my job is complete." She simply answered. "And now, after this mission, I have nothing. I have no family. No friends. No purpose in life. But I will continue to linger on, and I will continue to feed for the rest of eternity. I don't want that. I don't want to be here from one century to the next, never dying, but always needing to feed. I may not like humans, but I do defend them. I've destroyed their enemies and those that prey on them. Now only I remain. But I will not destroy myself. That is why I hired you."

"Do you truly hate this world so much?" D simply answered. "Is there nothing here you'd like to stay for?"

"Don't give me that sentimental prevention patter." Miyu harshly retorted, her voice growing sharper and stronger. "You know full well that you would do the same thing if our roles were reversed. If all vampires were dead, what would you have? What do you have? That thing in your hand? Your nodachi? Vampires don't just create their own kind because they want to propagate their species and feed. They do it because they want companionship. They create this society around themselves because they have no one else. The last of those I loved died yesterday like everyone else I've ever loved...dying for my sake. Now I desperately want to see them again. I want to see my mother again after countless lifetimes."

"And you truly think you can see her again, with the life that you had?"

Miyu paused at this. Her throat tightened, and she softened a little. "I don't know." She stated. She hesitated again, and her voice softened once more. Again...for a moment, she seemed not like an ancient creature or a foul monster...but again like a small child. Once more, she seemed innocent and pure. What was left of her humanity arose once more as she bowed her head. Her voice became soft, no longer demanding but quiet. "But I know that as I am...I have a long life of preying on many more humans that I don't want. I have an eternity of destroying lives ahead of me to sustain my own purposeless existence. I will never meld with either the vampires or men, and there is nothing more for me."

D didn't respond. He looked down on Miyu and did not move. He gave no inclination one way or another. Miyu's face turned down more. She stepped forward toward the dhampire, and looked up to him again. Her eyes had changed now, turning to pleading instead.

"I never asked anything from anyone, D. But I'll ask this." She spoke up, her voice starting to slip into a beg. "And I'm asking you for one simple reason: I respect you. I respect who you are and what you stand for. You're the only one who I want to do this. You're the only one I would ask for this. I want it to be you rather than any other. I want it to be you...because you can respect this. You know."

D again stayed silent. However, something within him did change. In truth, he didn't want to do this. It was against his principles. And he had potential victims beg him for death before. Each time he had refused. Even though he was being hired now, he didn't want to do it. It was wrong. For him to think of Miyu as a simple killer, as she wanted him to, would be to acknowledge his own dark side. It didn't matter whether or not she was. What was in her was in him. They were closer than he would admit to himself. He was close to all those he hunted even if he didn't even know their names. He didn't want to acknowledge that now or ever.

And yet...what she said was true. The right thing might be to do this now. She would only continue to feed. And she was right. There was nothing else for her, just as one day when the last vampire died there would be nothing left for him. She would never bond to humanity. She envied what she could not have from them and so she made them suffer...and yet she admired so much what they had that she could not kill them. She had defended them for so long as a result. But now, that time was over. Now she would bring more empty lives and joyless times to all she encountered. She would become a plague on the world just as the other Shinma had been. There was nothing left to balance out her jealousy now. One day, she might be ruled by it. She might one day hate humanity so much that she decided to intentionally prey on them. Then she would destroy many lives and lose what little humanity that she had left. He knew full well she couldn't have that. He knew that her mother never wanted that. If that came to pass, then she would truly lose become a monster. She saw this...and feared it. But both she and D knew it was inevitable. Yet she had come to him...which meant this was the only way she could see to die with dignity.

Finally, D did react. He bowed his head slightly as well, and then reached back inside his coat. Slowly, he reached in and grasped the handle of the nodachi, and then drew it out. It was broken, but against one who wasn't going to struggle, it was still potent and lethal. He drew it out and held it before him, pausing again for a moment. Stabbing through the heart would be too painful. It would be better to go for the head. The edge of the blade was still intact and more than sharp enough. He looked up again, and looked to the vampire princess. Strangely...he felt a small hint of dismay inside him...to see that she was standing straight, tall, and staring right at him. She showed no fear, but rather accepted her fate with wide open eyes and an unchanging expression.

"...Until we meet again, D."

The hunter paused in response to this, but then gave a small nod. "...Until we meet again."

With that, he brought the sword down, never changing his expression.

March 27, 2015 - Back Alley, Downtown Tokyo, Japan

It was late night when D got to this part of the city. It was quite a long walk, even for a dhampire. And he had stopped frequently during the day to get out of the sun, which he had spent far too much time with, and to look for a new motorcycle. It was a little strange getting back into the swing of things, after all that had gone on. This morning had been difficult as well. Much of what had happened still dwelled on his mind. He was having a hard time stilling himself and focusing. However, as night came on, he had to admit that he could think much more clearly. He felt more at ease and focused. So it was a fitting time that at this hour he should find himself here.

Not many people came to this back part of town. The roads were actually in disrepair here, cracked and bulging somewhat. The buildings were old, many of them boarded up and closed down. One was actually tilting and leaning a bit from an old earthquake, but none had bothered to correct its damage. There were few people on this side of town as well. There was little light. All but one or two street lights were out, and the only real illumination came from what few windows that weren't boarded up gave off a soft glow. The few residents that were on this side of town were ragged and old looking, keeping themselves concealed in lots of clothing, and wandered in and out of the dim lights. But around here, it was best not to get too friendly...for one couldn't guarantee that all of the people in the area were in fact human. It was in areas like this that the dhampire was no longer an outcast or freak...but among the regular members of society. This was one of the last refuges for his kind...at least in this point in history. There was no guarantee that things might not turn bad once again.

What struck D in particular as he slowly walked along the street was one particular building. It was old and broken down like the rest, but it was functional. Red neon light shone through the other side of a barred and reinforced window. It was sandwiched in with the other buildings, looking like a worn out old store. But there was no indication of what they were selling here. All that was there was a small neon sign that read "open" in the window, despite being past midnight, and a large crucifix hanging from the doorway. A cross had less of an effect on a dhampire, and so D walked right up to the entrance of the door.

Once he was there, however, he sensed something. The alley was silent...seeming unnaturally silent even for this quiet part of town...and an unnaturally cool breeze was moving through it. He turned his head to either side at this, seeing if anyone...or anything...was following him. But he saw nothing. Only a bum was leaning against a wall on his right, wallowing in his own filth and drinking from a paper bag. He didn't even seem conscious of D. On his left, there was someone staggering down on alley...but he, she, or it didn't seem to be that interested in him. And so, he turned to the door, reached for the handle, and opened it up. Soon after, he strolled in himself, making sure to shut the door securely behind him.

D was greeted with a smell of must, age, and strange other scents on entering. The hairs on his own neck prickled, and his blood seemed to run faster and shallower than normal. A cold chill came over him, and he felt stiff. No doubt, that had to be something in here. There were plenty of anti-vampire charms in this building, and some were potent enough to effect him as well. However, being a hunter, it went with the job. He had been here before, and as he looked around he noticed it hadn't changed much. It looked like a step back in time to an old alchemy shop. Strange relics, plants, and bits of animals were hanging from ropes by the ceiling in long chains. Shelves and glass counters were stuffed to the point of overflowing with all manner of old items, some metal, some leather, some cloth, and some made of other body parts. They were stuffed so much and pushed so much in that they cramped out much of the room, pushing things in until one could be cramped if a crowd of people were to enter. D's hat struck several items hanging from the ceiling as he walked in. He had to push through two shelves loaded with foul smelling herbs as he entered. Against the wall, gleaming pieces of metal were hanging, mostly crosses and other sacred symbols. There were also bookshelves that were overflowing not only with old leather-bound books, but with scrolls and tomes and all sorts of other materials that looked ready to fall apart at the slightest touch. A few dim lights were slowly flickering in the one-room store. Red neon ones were near the entrance, but deeper into the shop there were green ones that were concealed behind piles of material that were all the way up to the ceiling, blocking them out. It was very dark in the chamber. Shadows were long and filled the walls and sides. One couldn't move around without passing in and out of shadow.

D stopped once he was far enough inside, and looked around the area. He felt an odd sensation in here, despite all the charms boggling his senses. He could feel something here...and it troubled him. It was strong...very strong. No regular run-of-the-mill creature gave off this kind of signature, especially if he could sense it through everything in the room. He gave a look around the room for signs of anything. He soon saw two people. One was the clerk behind the counter. He was a Japanese man himself, although quite old looking. Most of his teeth were rotted out. His skin was withered and yellow, barely stretching over his bony skull. And yet his body was large and obese, almost to the point of looking deformed. He wore old clothing as well, which was covered with dirt and grime. They consisted of a greasy wife beater, and a heavy heat apron. The other person was far more pleasant. Her clothing looked reasonably new, and had a blue and armored appearance to it. In fact, on looking a bit more closely, D recognized that it was the uniform of a police officer. And no run of the mill patrol cop either. It was for a more advanced branch. She had a sort of reddish blonde colored hair. However, that was all that D bothered to look at. After that, he turned and looked to the man at the counter. He walked forward to him, pushing the feeling out of his head for the moment. Once he reached the counter, he readily reached into his coat and pulled out the remains of his nodachi.

"...I need this reforged." He stated as he put the giant weapon on the table. "Blessed silver."

The man grinned wide at this, showing his rotten teeth and large gaps in his mouth. This seemed to please him. "Thirty-five million yen."

In response, D reached into his pocket silently. Moments later, his glove emerged and spread out handful of diamonds on the counter.

The man's grin intensified, but his tone turned critical. "Do I look like a pawn broker?"

"...If you don't want the job..." D simply responded, beginning to turn his hand over to take up the diamonds again.

However, the large man's hand shot out and seized D's, halting him from doing so. He grinned again at the dhampire, and then began to laugh. It was dry and booming, rather like some old fat human. But he did it anyway. As he was still laughing in D's face, he released his hand and took up the broken nodachi instead. Still laughing, he turned around and walked away from him, back to one of the shadows in the shop. When he got there, he pulled up a black curtain and walked inside. He soon vanished, and his laugh was first cut much softer, and then vanished as well.

D heard a sneeze behind him. The moment he did, he turned and looked. He was alone now with the police woman...or girl, it seemed more accurate. However, she had just sneezed. In fact, from her movements, it seemed as if she was having a bad allergic reaction to the material in the shop. She sniffled, and she raised a fist to her nose and rubbed it, obviously dealing with an itch. She raised her hand to her face next, rubbing her eyes. But as she finished itching and rubbing them, and lowered her hand back to her side to resume looking at the materials...D caught something. He caught a glimpse of her eyes.

They were bright red.

She was a vampire.

The hunter stood still a moment longer, and looked her over. She didn't seem to notice, but went back to her work. He wasn't sure who this person was, but he knew something clearly now. She was a vampire. Now that he knew it, he could smell her scent more strongly than ever. But she couldn't have been a vampire long. She wasn't aware of what this room was doing to her. If any of these charms were actually out and in front of her, she'd probably be dead or seriously hurt. And she wasn't a common ghoul either. She was acting rather like a regular full-fledged vampire. But she was young. He could tell. She smelled as if she was not much older than how she appeared now. That was odd. Obviously, an older vampire had made her recently. But he fully made her one of his kind, rather than a mildless slave. That meant this vampire either felt an attraction to her, or he had a conscience. He opted for the former...which was true in 99.9 of the cases. But in this particular situation...he wondered if the latter was true. One thing was certain. The strength he was sensing wasn't from her. Killing her wouldn't even be difficult. He guessed that her master was nearby...and that he was the one he sensed.

Well...there was one way to get him to show himself.

Quickly, D shot out a hand silently to the counter, over to one of the wooden stakes engraved with a sacred symbol that rested on it. He quickly took it down, and in a flash it vanished into his coat. The police girl never looked around, never even noticed. No one seemed to, and no one would unless they were more skilled than D. He had moved too fast. After a few moments more, he turned toward her, and then made her way to her. Her back stayed turned the whole time as he did so. And he moved so silently that she didn't even hear him coming behind her. His movements were slow enough to look like regular walking, and yet not so slow that it appeared blatant that he was sneaking up on her. She didn't react at all as he continued to move closer and closer to her. When he was only a few feet away, he reached back into his coat again. His hand grasped the stake, and he began to pull it out as he closed the last bit of distance...

Click.

"I wouldn't like to have to kill you, D."

The vampire hunter looked slightly to his left. Out of his peripheral vision, he saw that an arm had suddenly emerged from the shadows...seeming to grow out of them rather than be connected to anything. The arm wore a blood red, old style suit, but more importantly it held a massive pistol in its hand, one that held more destructive power than five .45 Magnums in each shot. And right now, it was clicked and aimed at his head. The police girl turned, and was shocked to see what had happened. The first she heard was the stranger talking from out of the shadows. But now, she saw what had nearly happened. D himself held without showing the slightest bit of fear for a brief moment. But then, he opened his hand and let the stake fall to the ground.

"...This is the best way to contact you when you insist on sneaking around me." He simply answered.

The voice gave out a small laugh from the shadows. The gun stayed leveled at D's head, but its owner soon stepped out. He revealed the rest of the old style suit, looking straight out of a western. It came complete with a long, striped, blood red coat that forked in the back and waved around behind him. He wore no regular tie, but rather a huge, loosely tied bow around his neck that hung down and dangled imperfectly. On top of that was a silver crucifix hanging around this man's neck as well. A old western suit hat was balanced on his head, also blood red, and despite being night and a dark room the man had a pair of small sunglasses on, with circular orange lenses. From behind the lenses, D could see that the eyes were blazing red...far more fierce and ferocious and animal than any other vampire alive. A cold feeling like ice dripped off the man as he entered, and a dark wind moved around him as he came into the light. He had long black hair tied back and under the hat, and as he grinned, he made no secret that his incisors were extra long.

"You haven't changed a bit since the day you were born, D." The man spoke up as he exited the shadows. "You always were a very cold, straight-to-the-point child. You're the same way now. You didn't get that from me, I assure you." He looked away from him for a moment, toward the counter, and then back to the dhampire. "You're still using the old type of weaponry, I see."

"You're still dressing in those old suits, I see." D calmly responded. He paused for a moment, looking over to the police girl. She stared back in some astonishment at this. As far as vampires went...she was rather timid. She had to be his. He was the only one he knew who would let her keep this much of her personality and independence. Of course, that no doubt changed whenever she was subjected to the bloodlust. He believed fully she could become a full fledged sadist if given proper opportunity without a shred of humanity left in her. Vampires that came from humans always did in the end. One of these days, she'd be a ravenous, grinning animal without the slightest desire to return to what she once was. When that happened...D would expect someone would put out a call for him on her.

"So many consider me a traitor to my race," D continued. "While they worship you as a god. If they only knew the truth...Herr Dracula."

The vampire said nothing in reply, but uncocked his gun and drew it back. He replaced it down at his side again. "I prefer Alucard now."

The police girl turned to the vampire in red, her face full of confusion. "Master...do you know...?"

"It's alright." He calmly assured. "He's like me...at least half way." With that, he turned fully to D and folded his hands in front of him. "I don't usually strike up conversation, but I'm intrigued to know how you managed to break your weapon."

D stared back at Alucard expressionlessly. "...I'm not one for stories."

The vampire king grinned, showing off his massive canines again. "Please...entertain my assistant."

D thought about protesting in response to this. He really wasn't in the mood.

"Oh, come on D. She is a nice lady...for the moment." An old voice croaked. "Too bad she's already been drained..."

D paused. He didn't move for a few moments, and thought about this. The truth was, he didn't think much of Alucard. He was one of the few people who knew him, but that was all he thought of him. He didn't ever think much of the fact of their kinship. However...he did think of Miyu...and thought about how, when the last of her kind was dead, she had nothing left but to die herself. And he thought of himself. Was his fate going to be the same? Would that one day be him, asking the same of another in similiar circumstances to finish him? And what friend would he have then to ask for the courtesy? Was he really willing to spend the rest of his life alone? Having only the hunt?

Perhaps...just killing time until the sword was done...

"...Well...I'll start by saying one of the more powerful vampires is now gone..."

The End

FINAL NOTE: What do you know? Alucard did make it into the story! He even brought Seras! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my crossover fanfiction. I hope it was entertaining enough at any rate, and I hope that you'll check out my other stories. If you enjoyed Inuyasha, then perhaps you'd like to check out "Blade of Imprisoned Souls". Anyway, see you again!