Chou Haru's Story

Chou dressed and pinned up her hair. She chose a glossy purple comb to secure the black strands. She turned and grabbed her cloak. There was something to do before this meeting of worlds. Despite her ability to take care of herself it was decided that she should have someone to watch over her, preferably a neutral party. Numerous members of the council had offered their own people but all were denied. Chou was given a name and a description. Her first task as the vampire's representative was to find this man.

Her goal was the monastery. It was long abandoned by the monks but there resided there a man she needed to find. Chou slipped her cloak over her shoulders, pulled up her hood and stepped out into the darkness.

She did not notice the length of time it took to travel there, in truth time meant very little to the vampire. She had passed through so many changes in history and forgotten so much of it that time was of very little consequence. Her senses were alert, listening and watching for danger.

Chou arrived at the monastery and she paused in the shadows for a moment and simply observed. She could hear him, slight footsteps in the dusty rooms. He was not vampire but not human either. This was the man she sought. She silently approached the door and slipped inside.

It was dark within the halls of the former house of the clergy but her eyes had no trouble seeing. Her steps made no sound as she navigated her way.

She sensed him before she saw him. Chou stopped where she was in the shadows, hood still drawn to cover her features.

"I was told you would have his hair but you would look like her. I see I was not misled. I have come to speak with you Jonathan."

The small woman stepped out of the shadows. She raised her hands and lowered her hood. "I do not come to fight or argue. I come to make a request of you." Her voice was soft and steady.

Dark eyes met his. "Will you speak with me?"

She stood, hands folded in front of her, back straight. She showed no signs of agression and given her petite nature appeared to be very little threat. Chou could smell the human side of him. She knew she had the right person, it was just a matter of whether or not he would talk to her.

Raven saw the oncoming fighting done by the strange man in a black cloak fight against several assassins. She smiled as she observed his skill and pondered about how his abilities in combat would best suit her needs. She observed the unconscious human females on the ground and noted that one of them had a more serious injury and may not survive but she didn't care.

For the moment her attention was on the man who unwittingly took the seat next to her. She slowly drank her drink and looked at the mirror that was behind a shelf behind the bartender and prepared herself accordingly through make up and smiled when it was what she thought would be her liking.

She then turned to face this interesting individual who may be just what she was looking for. "Well. A man with strong arms and good mobility skills would be able to take down three highly skilled assassins." She said, letting the last word come out in a purr. "I could use someone like you."

"You see," Raven stated. "I am on my way to a very important meeting. Even though I can fully take care of myself, I feel the need of an extra person to look behind me to make sure there's no trouble." As she said this she pulled a sack from one of her pouches. "This is a small down payment for a much, much larger reward which will be given to you, provided we reach the meeting place and leave there very much alive. What do you say tough guy, interested?"

-----

When Jonathan was finished ringing the bell and was walking back to the chapel, he heard the main doors closing. He walked steadily towards the room and walked down the large walkway towards the door. He was certain he wasn't alone, his long peace had at long last been disturbed.

It was then he saw her. She wasn't human that much was for certain. He also heard her mention something about looking like a woman she once knew. Could she mean his mother? Impossible, he never heard of any of his mother's peers from his father. Although, his father didn't want the vampire influence to cloud his judgement of the world.

He didn't answer right away at whether or not he would speak to her. He simply turned to the side, so that his left shoulder would show her the mark of the dhampir tattooed upon it. He then turned to look at the small woman yet again as he slowly sighed. "Who are you, and what do you want from me?" he asked. "Why have you come here to disturb my silent and lonely existence? More importantly, how did you know my name?"

Chou stood, patiently and quietly as he looked her over. She could almost hear the wheels of his mind turning as he tried to figure out who she was and why she was there.

She did not react as he showed her the tattoo on his shoulder. She already knew what he was. Chou's face was completely emotionless as she waited for the obvious questions. She could see the uncertainty in his face.

Chou's eyes grew slightly sad as he asked why she was disturbing his lonely existence. "She would not like knowing you have isolated yourself like this. I know what you are Jonathan."

She looked around. "May I?" The woman moved across the room, the only noise the slight swish of her cloak on the floor. Chou sat lightly on an old chair.

"My name is Chou. What I want from you I wil explain in a moment, you have other questions that should be answered first."

Her head tilted to the side as she looked him over. "I was sent to find you. I was told to find you specifically. I am sure you have figured out what I am. Perhaps you can piece together how I might know your name?"

Dark eyes stared at him. "Think Jonathan. You are half human. Half vampire. I am a vampire. Who might have told me about you? She never feared you but she feared what would happen to you. I was there you know, there when she returned to the council. I was there when she told us how she left you with your father but how they both knew what would happen."

Chou paused, letting him think on her words. "Your mother told me your name. You were watched, feared by the council for what you represent but you know that. They could not have you in their society no more than the humans can. Now you have hidden yourself away much like she feared you might."

Her small hands folded in her lap. "I am here because of precisely what you represent. You are neither human nor vampire. You have great skill and I have need of it."

She straightened her head, no longer observing him. "There will be a meeting. On neutral ground. The humans are sending a representative, likewise the demons. The council has asked me to go to represent the vampires. Each it is recommended has someone to protect them. Nothing will sour negotiations quicker than an assination. I was told to find you. To ask you to travel with me, to protect me. There are those in the council who are against me going, they want blood and power. I wish for nothing but to find an outcome that will benefit all."

Chou went quiet again. She waited, knowing he would have questions. The human side of him may very well lash out or grow angry. She knew this was a very real possibility but she had a great deal of patience.

"I never said I was a demon, you have sharp skills indeed sir." Raven stated to the cloaked man as she saw him wrap up a final bit of business. It was not until he was starting to walk out that she realized her offer was initially denied. "Hey wait a minute you little pain in the butt! The Down payment may not be good to you now! But- Oh now he's got me to chase after him." She angrily mutters as she got up and tipped the bartender and follow him.

"The mission is a very serious one, it'll delegate the future of the world as we know it! Please just hear me out!" She said in an almost angry shouting voice before slowly trying to calm herself down and lower her voice to a whisper. "Besides, the total payment is around five million dollars in gold if you help me out. All you gotta do is help me with this vital mission, travel with me and watch my back, and ensure I get there, go through the meeting, and then back home alive, and you get your gold. Understand?"

---

Jonathan watched as the Vampire called Chou sat down on an old chair and explain thoroughly how she knew his name and more importantly how she knew he was a dhampir. He had thought his mother left because she was afraid of what he may become in the future, what she's saying sounded like she was afraid for the consequences of being what he is and how it would affect him. Chou even stated that his mother wouldn't have wanted him to live isolated from the rest of the world.

He didn't change his expression, but inside his heart was beating fast as all his restrained emotions bubbled up. Chou then spoke of a mission, a mission that seemed like a hotly debatable one. One that would bring peace to this world, or destruction. It was then that Chou stated that's why she needed him. Apparently some members of this council she said that kept tabs on him disapproved of the whole thing and may send killers after her.

Jonathan's hands tightened to clenched fists, he wanted to yell at her, to tell her to find someone else, to make her leave him alone. But for some reason he couldn't. There was something about her that seemed to draw him towards her, like an invisible thread that pulled against him. He had no way of fighting against this pull for long.

"If you want me to come, then I will come. But I'm doing this because it seems my mother asked you to ask me. Also," He said as he looked at the Vampire directly at her. "I'm doing it for them." He finished, his meaning obvious, he'd do it to fulfill his father's promise to ensure humanity survives a little longer.

"When do we leave?"

Chou watched him, her eyes carefully marking his reactions. She could hear the sound of his heart, the increase in they rhythm. She did not move or react, simply let him process everything.

She noted the clenching of his hands and readied herself for his reaction. Her face remained a mask of apathy.

"We leave tomorrow night. I have things to prepare."

He was staring at her and Chou simply blinked in response to the gaze. "You will find me quite steady in th face of anger Jonathan. You will do this for your reasons and that is fine. Do what is asked of you and many will benefit."

She stood and moved past him to the door. "I must feed and prepare for the journey. I will come to you tommorrow as the sun sets."

Chou pulled the hood of her cloak back up. Instantly her features were hidden in its shadow. "Do you have a message you wish me to relay to her? Do I have your permission to tell her I have found you and you are well?"

Her nose twitched and she felt an itch at the back of her throat. She needed to feed and soon. She was too focused on the council, the debates and now this task. With it complete there were new concerns.

A small pink tongue ran along her lips as she awaited his answer.

He accepted. That was good enough for Raven for the time being. her face however turned to a very angry one when he said he'd kill her if this was all a plot to kill the humans. "Kill humans? Me? I'm not the kind of demon you know sir. I come from a part of the world where demons understand humanity's place in the world and are scared of what'll happen if they all ended up killed off or something."

Raven sighed, knowing that it might not get through his brain completely. "My Society is kind of dwindling in the numbers, why else would they stay in Japan and hold the fort down?" she thought to herself before sighing again. "Anyway, we'll each get our seperate supplies we need for the journey and meet on the outskirts of town at dusk tonight. We got a long journey ahead of us and so little time to get there, I assume."

---

Jonathan froze as Chou asked if she should let his mother know how he is. He only sighed and simply stated. "As you wish." He then waited for her to leave. He had preparations to do before the morrow's journey, he had to get right on it immediately.

Next day, at dusk

Jonathan rang the Bell for the last time. He knew that when the sun started to set, he'd leave the safety of the monastery forever. It frightened him, yet it also relieved him. His father gave him a sword for a reason, and staying here wouldn't make it much use. He smiled silently as he knew this would be an ample opportunity.

He finished the ringing of the bell and picked up a bag that contained several things he carried with him when he left home, a bedroll, essential supplies, etc. He then made his way towards the main doors of the monastery to go through them. Before he opened the doors, however, he turned his head towards the altar of the monastery, and muttered a silent prayer of guidance and wisdom, before finally opening the doors, and exiting the building, hoping that Chou would meet him outside.

Chou left him. His answer about his mother left her wondering what he was told of his past. Jonathan seemed slightly shaken at the idea of her knowing his mother, of her concern for her son. Chou shook her head as she walked. Her pace quickened the urge to feed growing stronger.

Once in her own room, her hunger satiated Chou began to prepare for the journey. She packed a bag with a few belongings as well as documents and things the council had drawn up.

"Did you find the little pet? Will he protect you with his sword?" The vampire's voice taunted her and Chou turned to face the figure in the doorway.

"I found the man I was told to seek out. Thank you for asking Malachi. I have much to do, is there something I can help you with?" Chou was the picture of calm and composure.

Malachi sneered, "Help? You can help me by letting someone competent go. You will not serve the vampire's needs, you will let them walk all over us." He took a step towards the small woman. "They are cattle and the demons should understand their place!" He hissed at her.

Chou did not flinch. Her dark eyes looked up at the man. "There must be a balance Malachi. If you slaughter all your cattle you will no longer be able to eat. The demons will not simply let us rule over them. There must be diplomacy." Her voice was like a soft breeze.

Malachi huffed. "We shall see. You have to get to the meeting little Chou and there are many who would try and stop you. Cattle and demon alike."

Chou didn't blink, "And of course those of my own kind."

Malachi laughed and turned. "Safe travels to you and the pup." He left her room and Chou went back to packing.

Darkness began to fall the next day and Chou donned her cloak once more. Her pack was on her back under the heavy material.

"You are ready then?"

Chou turned and smiled. "Yes. I am to meet him."

"Is he.." The woman paused. "Did he say anything?"

Chou nodded slightly, "He is well, though on his own. He gave me no message for you but I can tell you that he is going to go with me." She approached the other woman. "Do you have a message for him?"

"Tell him" Again she paused. "Tell him that he was always on my mind and I thought I did what was best for him."

Chou nodded and left the room.

She walked in the dark, her eyes and ears again keen for any sign of danger. Malachi's taunting made it all the clearer to Chou that she needed to be careful.

She found Jonathan waiting outside the monastery. "I hope I did not keep you waiting. I had some last business to finish. Shall we depart?"

Chou stepped closer to him. Her voice was lowered. "There are going to be those bent on stopping us. Be very alert."

Raven sighed as she walked back to the Inn to get her personal items, mainly her weapons and supplies given to her before she left her home in Japan. She knew that any human would laugh off the fact there are demons who want humanity to survive. What can she do but take it? She can't convince them so she just ignores them. But she decided that one day, she'll learn something about her new companion and ridicule him for it, just for payback.

After getting her personal items she went to the market to get at least three weeks worth of food and supplies. That should cover them until they needed to hunt any local creatures on the way. She then made her way towards her newfound companion who was waiting at the gate. "Let's go, If we stay too long it's only a matter of time before those idiots who serve that so called 'demon lord' find me." She stated before looking at her bodyguard straight in the face. "This isn't the part where you ask questions or make snide remarks about this all being some sort of set up, you watch my back, I watch yours. Because if I don't make it, and I hope the other representatives make it too, the future that those children will see will be the imaginary game they're playing. Only worse."

Raven started walking away from the gate and out onto the open road. "Let's go Mr. Wanted Man."

---

Jonathan nodded his head in understanding of the dangers involved and started to walk in front of Chou, and that's the way their travel together started.

---

After a few hours of walking, Jonathan turned to Chou with a questioned look and sighed before asking very plainly, "So," he said, "What is my mother like? I haven't seen her since I was, what, a child or something, barely a year old. Is she still the kind woman I imagine her to be?" It wasn't a random question, it was a question in an effort to get to know his mother from another's perspective, and through that question, he'd learn a bit more about Chou if she said anything about her life and if his mother affected it.

Chou fell into step behind Jonathan. Her hood was up, covering her face in shadow. Her eyes and ears were listening for any sign that they were being followed.

It was hours of quiet walking. Chou didn’t mind silence. In silence one could clearly think over and consider many things. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts on Malachi and trying to work out what he might be planning to stop her. She knew an assassin was not out of the question. Malachi had the means and the contacts to do it. She also considered that he might have outside agents who might attempt to stop the meeting. Once they reached neutral territory anything that might occur would be seen as a possible act of war. This worried Chou.

They would have to be extremely vigilant. The issue of what she would eat was second on her mind. Chou could go for a day without food, perhaps longer but it was not ideal. She didn’t think bringing one of her willing servants was ideal. The chance of them being killed was too high. Animals were her clearest choice. Her tongue ran over her teeth slowly. Chou was grateful she had fed before she departed.

Chou’s face remained unchanged though internally his question startled her. The sound of his voice in the darkness, after so much time in silence and the nature of his question surprised her. She remained quiet for a long time as they walked.

“She is a fair woman. Not easily pushed around by some of the others. She does not sit on the council. though her knowledge of the human settlements has proved useful. I cannot say if she is kind or not but I have not seen anything that would suggest that she has changed from the woman you remember. I knew her when she first met your father and I have known her since return. Some call her soft but there are those that say the same thing of me. She certainly is not bloodthirsty or cruel.”

Chou smiled just a little. “She has been a friend for a long time. I value her opinion.” It was odd for her to be open with another person. Chou valued her privacy but in this instance it seemed fitting to share just a little.

“What do you wish to know of her? I do not know your memories specifically so I cannot comment for sure that she is as you imagine or remember her. I can tell you that she speaks of you though mostly in private. It was she that told me to seek you out and the council agreed.”

She looked at his back and wondered what was going through his mind.

"Wow. It's rare enough to see a half breed." Raven complimented, hand at her sword and remaining slightly alert. "I always wondered how many Cambion wander the earth thanks to that faction of barbarians near Budapest and Moscow."

She chuckled at her own joke as she followed this man further down the road. "I should probably introduce myself. I am Raven Michealis. The fact of this mission is crucial because of this meeting. One of each major civilization on this world today will meet and discuss boundaries across all lands to give humans some stability and not make the Vampires and the Demons squabble over territories." She stated. "It's a few steps closer to peace, if all goes well. But the other demons of my society think I'd be slain before I get there... along with the other two. That's why each of us had to get bodyguards. Dunno the other guys but I could handle some situations myself. You're just someone to watch my back in a scrap. But now that I know what you are makes me, intrigued, tell me, what demon spread your mother's legs to spawn you?"

---

Jonathan pondered about the things that were said to him. Chou describing his mother to him, almost sounded just about the same as his father told him in the past except for one detail that bugged him constantly. He kept walking down throughout the dark night lit path that seemed to lead to an abandoned cabin. The cabin seemed remote with another path leading to a village. "Is it true she freed my father from slavery? I saw a remnant of a chain hiding in his bedroom closet the day he gave me my sword. When I asked him about it he just said that was the action that made him fall for her." he said.

He approached the cabin and approached the door, he opened it and inspected the insides of it very carefully. It's one window still had it's curtains, which made it easy for when the sun came up to close them. a suitable place for Chou to rest for the day. "I think it's safe to pass the daytime here for the night." He stated.

Again Chou was silent as she thought over his question. She noticed that he was heading towards a cabin and followed along behind him. She noted the other path. A village, people but too risky to feed there I imagine. Her eyes scanned the trees. Some small creature will do when I awake. The thought of living solely on animal blood did not appeal to her but without a willing human it was what she would do. Chou found that willing blood was always better than the unwilling, though when one gets desperate...She was glad she had fed well before she left.

“That is not my story to tell. I only know parts of it as it is and it would not be fair to you to give you only glimpses of what occurred. Better to ask you mother. Perhaps when this is over, if you approve I will bring her to you. She wanted to see you but knew that it would not be a good time. It was hard enough for you to accept that I was sent to find you, to ask you to accompany me, she did not think it wise to visit you herself.”

Chou remained outside as Jonathan entered the cabin and inspected it. She turned to look at the shadows. She sensed nothing but that didn’t mean that they were on being watched. I am sure Malachi has spies everywhere. Best to assume they are here.

Jonathan seemed to have completed his look around and Chou entered the cabin. “Yes this is suitable, thank you.”

She crossed to a far corner, the furthest from the one window and dropped her pack. She removed her cloak and laid it on floor. “Tell me of your life Jonathan. I do not mean about your parents, I mean tell me of you and how you found yourself alone and living in an old monastery.”

Chou sat on her cloak. Her legs were tucked under her and with her small stature she looked almost childlike. Slender hands reached up and withdrew the comb from her hair. Long, sleek black fibres fell smoothly down her back. The ends of her hair were on the floor. She tucked the comb into her pack and looked up at him.

Raven stopped in her tracks when Caleb said that the mission won't even work, the meeting wouldn't be good at all. The insults he gave on demons and vampires, whilst he left out the humans entirely. It both hurt and insulted her to think that her companion feels that humans are not flawed people.

"Humans are flawed too, we all are." She stated in a soft, yet forced emotionless tone, she would not allow herself to cry in front of him. Until he earned her respect and also she with him, she won't let the burden of the whole mission she has in store entirely on her shoulders show. Besides, she knew that most likely the other two representatives have it rough as well.

She continued to follow him to whatever town the road ends up in.

---

Jonathan stiffened at the fact he was asked about his life. He watched as Chou took off her cloak and loosed her hair from it's state, watching it fall down her back and onto the floor in a flood of black. She looked almost like a beautiful statue of a woman. He closed the door and sighed. Where should he begin, or even say to her about his life? He remembers most of the first few years of his life, but the parts she was interested in were more painful.

"I lived with my father till I was eighteen years of age. Then he gave me a sword, and told me to go out into the world to live my life the way I wanted to be." He stated. "Then, until I was twenty nine, I wandered the world aimlessly, not knowing my purpose for existing. Why? Because I am a dhampir, I can't have a normal human life. Not allowed. For a time I was a bounty hunter killing wanted people for money. Also during that time I tried to find and experience love every chance I got, but every woman I encountered, once they saw my true nature, ran."

He sighed. "I found the monastery at twenty nine. I decided that, if neither human or vampire, even a loving and caring woman on either side of those spectrum, would not accept me for what and who I was," Jonathan closed his eyes whilst shaking his head. "Then I would isolate myself and be left alone. I've been living there till now."

Jonathan opened his eyes again and stretched his arms. "When it gets to daytime I'll see about trying to get some nourishment for the both of us."

Dark eyes watched him as his body tensed at her question. She found it a little sad that the topic caused him so much discomfort. It wasn’t like someone who led a life deemed evil or wrong but almost the reaction of someone who regretted that he lived at all.

Chou nodded, “Nourishment would be appreciated, thank you.”

Her head tilted to the side, “What do you feel your purpose is? Have you figured that out in your time alone?”

Chou could tell that while he had accepted what he thought was his life that he was not happy about it.

“To live alone, stuck behind stone walls until you fade from existence? That is not a life. You may be dhampir but there must be a reason you live. It was not to wander aimlessly nor to hunt others. Perhaps you will learn something of your purpose on these travels. Perhaps there is more than one reason for this meeting of negotiations and for our meeting.”

Chou grew thoughtful again, her face a calm and peaceful. She remembered the concept of love from a time before her life as a vampire began. It was vague memories, like looking into a pond when something has disturbed the surface and the reflection is hazy and distorted.

“Perhaps in order to find love and acceptance from another you must first learn to accept yourself.”

Dark eyes looked up at him. Her eyes scanned his features and she found herself casting her eyes downward from him, almost demurely.

“I am tired. I think I should rest.”

Chou laid down on her side on her cloak. Her arm went under her head while the other reached to pull the cloak slightly over her. It didn’t completely cover but she hoped it would be enough.

Before closing her eyes Chou looked at him once more. “Sleep well and know that not all in the world judge you as harshly as you think.”

She closed her eyes.

Raven took the key she was given by the innkeeper of the place she and Caleb were going to rest in for the night, she was about to go upstairs until she stopped, hearing the Old Man speaking about demons stealing children from their beds at the dead of night. Her face turned into one of immediate rage and anger. How can she not afford to ignore such a heinous deed that seems to repeat itself?

When Caleb told her that they were going to rest she gripped his shoulder hard. "How can you ignore that? Huh? It's a despicable act!" She stated sharply. "I don't care if you want to go and sleep for all I care, but whether or not you come with me, I'm looking in on this village's demon trouble! I won't sit by whilst innocent lives are just stolen from their families noses!"

She felt like saying more in her rage, but she looked around to see a lot of people staring at the two of them, fully realizing that further anger might bring out her demonic traits, which would lead to an even bigger problem. "They'd think I'm the one stealing the children if I go all out." She thought as she shook her head at her companion.

She let go of his shoulder as her seething rage faded. "But, if you don't care that's fine too. But I won't let the demons have their way." As she said this she slowly walked to the door leading outside the inn, slowly drawing out her ninjato sword as she walked out through the door.

---

Jonathan sighed as he thought over what Chou said. He only walked to the window and closed the curtains and rested near the door and sleep for the few hours in the night that were left.

....

Jonathan awoke to the sound of birds chirping. He got up and walked out the door closing it as he got out and headed towards the town to pick up food for him and then hunt several large animals to drain for blood, he had several empty bottles to store it in. He had to hurry and be quick about most of it too. If Chou had enemies they'd probably want to attack her whilst she rested during the daytime.

He walked through the streets of the town quietly, without talking to a lot of people, and went into the store and bought several supplies needed to make a month's worth of food, along with several more empty bottles. He paid and left the village as he took the supplies meant for his satisfaction of hunger and walked into the woods and performed his hunting skills.

...

He managed to kill a large moose and a bear, and got as much blood in several bottles as he could before heading back to the cabin. Right as he was about to go in there, he felt a large pull on the back of his shirt sending him towards the ground and seeing a human as the source of it with a wicked looking sword with several runes upon it.

"It's been awhile hasn't it, Son of Death?" The human stated. "I heard you took on an interesting job. I also heard that the employer I have now hates your client at the moment and wishes for her immediate demise. Why not move outta the way Jonny-boy?"

"Get out of here now Blade of the Seeker." Jonathan stated to the human fully, "My bounty hunting days are over, you saw to that the last job I had."

"Oh yes didn't I?" The bounty hunter snickered, before he sliced through the air at Jonathan's face. The Dhampir dodged and pulled out his own sword to combat this former comrade in the Hunt. The two fought each other for several minutes, through slices and parries and thrusts that almost hit their marks, one of the cuts managed to hit Jonathan in the side of his stomach.

"This almost feels similar to what happened when I killed her I think." The Blade stated in an amused chuckle. "I remember that's what set you off Jonny-boy. But I doubt you even loved her. For a Dhampir, your wishes to be a human will never come to light. You're no warrior. So just give it u-ggh!" The statement was interrupted as Jonathan sliced into his abdomen and then a well aimed stab in the shoulder.

"You always talked too much Blade. Maybe the next time we meet, your employer might have turned you in order to help get you back on our trail. Now leave." He watched as the Blade of the Seeker walked away, gripping his side as he sheathed his sword and picked up the bags of food and the sack of bottles filled with blood before walking back into the Cabin.

"Chou, Im back." He stated, closing the door behind him.

Chou had fallen asleep or rather she had lain down, closed her eyes and that was all there was. Her eyes opened as the sun was setting. She was instantly aware and alert. Her ears immediately picked up the sound of voices outside the door. Dark eyes found the small cabin empty. Chou recognized one of the voices as Jonathan’s, the other was a stranger’s. Perhaps a guard was not such a bad idea.

She stood and crossed to the door. Not wishing to cause distraction by opening the door, Chou pressed her back to the wall and listened.

Son of Death. Chou sigh and shook her head. She had a sense of why Jonathan had chosen to remove himself from the copany of others.

”I also heard that the employer I have now hates your client at the moment and wishes for her immediate demise.”

This statement made Chou square her shoulders a little and again she sighed, though this time out of annoyance rather than sadness. Malachi, sending bounty hunters after me. I expected slightly better of you. She took a big breath. Human at that. Is this just the beginning of the things you will throw in my way? It seemed too that Jonathan knew this human, calling him by a name just as he had called him Son of Death.

She heard the sound of swords being drawn and swung. Her body tensed and she waited. Chou could hear the sounds of the men’s breathing with the effort of their fight.

Her expression did not change though she made a mental note of the other man’s remarks about a woman. She disliked the taunting and amused tone but knew that in battle it was the banter that at times helped to best your opponent. This man was hoping to throw Jonathan off, make him react in emotions rather than with skill. Chou heard his words get cut off and assumed Jonathan had landed a blow.

The scent of blood was in the air and it made her gums itch. Chou ran her tongue along her teeth and moved away from the door to sit back on her cloak on the floor. She was cross legged when Jonathan entered the cabin. Her eyes immediately fell to where he was holding his side.

He closed the door and she stood. “Yes, you are.” Chou took his bag from him. “You seem to have run into a ‘friend’. Is the wound deep?”

She placed the bag down and turned to look at him. Chou crossed the room again and stood in front of Jonathan. “May I see? Do not worry, I can control myself around the sight and scent of blood.” The corners of her mouth turned up just a little. She did not think he would be worried about her losing control and attacking him and he clearly would be capable of fighting her off but it seemed an amusing comment to her nonetheless. Her hand reached for his shirt but hovered there waiting for his response.

"Not too deep." Jonathan stated as he took of his vest and then his shirt to let Chou have a better look at the wound. "And he's not a friend. Competitor, yes. Bounty hunters never acknowledge friends."

He then went for one of his packs to get medicine out of it. "He's not even a friend to me. He took something precious away from me." He said calmly, his voice thick with emotional restraint. "It was the day I gave up on bounty hunting. It was also the day I isolated myself from the world." He sighed as he pulled out some type of medicine bag as he started to administer it on his wound, which seemed to be nothing compared to some of the wounds on his back that have now faded away to mere scars.

"It was an occupational hazard to get battle scars." He stated with a soft chuckle.

----

"Good." Raven said. "I know where they might roost in an area such as this. Just follow my lead." as she stated this she wandered through the empty streets and alleys.

"We probably will find them soon if we work fast and work hard." She stated as she started to pick up the scent of one of a demon. "Hmm, it seems to be a hunter type. Best stick together."

Chou clasped her hands behind her back and waited as Jonathan removed the clothing from his upper body. Her eyes noted old scars and the fresh wound. He was right that it was not too deep but it would need some looking after.

Before she could move or ask if he had anything with which to treat it Jonathan moved to his pack and pulled out what he needed. She turned her head, her eyes following him. His back was laced with old scars.

“Competitor. I see. You two seemed to know each other very well.” She turned her whole body to face him. She caught the strong scent of the blood he had collected though she made no move to acquire it. Chou stood, hands behind her back and face an unreadable mask.

She watched him as he began to tend to the wound. He laughed it off. Chou moved over to him and took the ointment and bandages from him. “Lift your arm please.” Her eyes focused on the wound. With deft fingers and a delicate touch she tended the wound.

“Who was she? Why did he kill her? He seemed intent on using the memory to anger you.”

Chou began to bandage the wound. Dark eyes glanced up at him briefly before looking back to where her hands worked. When she was done she stood beside him and looked over her work. With a curt nod of her head she deemed the task done and waited to see if he would answer her question or simply ignore it.

"Who she was no longer matters. She's dead and it was my fault. I was too lost in my own pursuit of love," Jonathan stated with a sigh. "I forgot to warn her of my bounty hunting ways."

He waited for Chou to be finished before putting on his black shirt with the dhampir mark on the back of it laced in white. "The Blade of the seeker found out that little affair and used it to blackmail me to not get important bounties on my list. Sooner or later, she found out about the whole thing and confronted the Blade. You don't confront him on anything, unless you want to die."

He closed his eyes bitterly. "He killed her with one strike. I was a fool. I swore then and there to not let my actions affect humanity or the world anymore. That's when I found the church, the monastery. A place where no being, whether vampire or human or demon fight upon."

"Now you know. I isolated myself because I can't find joy in the world." He stated to Chou. "I never will."

---

Raven shook her head at Caleb's question. She never hunted demons, only smelled them and followed her nose and instincts like the demon she was. "Alright, we'll do it your way. You track the demon so that we'll help the people with their problem." She stated, her black ponytail swishing in the winds as it played with said hair.

She just wanted to get the demon and end the village's suffering, she'd seen enough of that in Japan to last her a thousand years.

Chou was silent as Jonathan pulled his shirt back on. “You cared for her so who she was matters to you. Her memory is an important thing. When you walk the earth as long as I have you know how important memories are. You start to lose them after many generations. Keep her memory close though not with so much bitterness or sadness.”

She stepped away and sat on the floor once again. Hunger was beginning to gnaw at her, her stomach beginning to ache slightly. Chou ignored it though, her mind focused on what Jonathan had told her of the girl’s death.

“She fell at the hands of a vindictive man. This was not your fault. Yes, mistakes were made and things left unsaid that could have helped but I think in the end he would have targeted her anyway. If not for blackmail than in pure vengeance. Such is the way of many men. When they know themselves to be the weaker in a situation they will do whatever they can."

The black haired vampire frowned, “Why did she confront him? Surely she was smart enough to know that she would hold no sway over a bounty hunter. Any man willing to kill or maim for a living, let alone blackmail would not be above attacking a woman. She should not have gone to him and her own foolishness contributed to her death.”

Her tone was level and matter of fact. Her eyes moved upward to look at Jonathan. “You carry too much guilt and punish yourself unnecessarily. You could find joy if you had been taught to look for it. It was not a lesson you learned and now you must pull yourself out of this dark place where you force yourself to dwell if you ever wish to learn to find it.”

Chou stood, hunger making her ansty. She crossed to Jonathan. She swallowed, the motion slightly painful as her throat grew dry. She could smell the blood. Her heart was pounding though her face gave nothing away.

“You can still learn to feel joy, to find it in the world around you. It is not too late.”

Chou reached up and brushed a piece of Jonathan’s hair from his eyes. Her dark eyes focused on his. “We should make preparations to leave once it is a bit darker. Our journey will be long and already someone knows we are here. There will be others.”

Her eyes moved to his pack. She knew there were bottles of blood there and the longer they waited, the colder it would grow and she would then be unable to eat.

Raven observed Caleb quietly as he listened for any signs of the demons that were plaguing the town. She sighed knowing that once one of these demons saw her then something bad will happen. She pushed the idea from her head as she saw Caleb bolt off and had to quickly follow after him before she lost sight of him.

Raven saw the women comforting the one who lost her child. She tried to not look but every ounce of pity welled up in her to simply give a small glance before rushing onto Caleb's trail into the woods. She knew that once there, it'd be a different type of hunting altogether. "Wait for me you crazy boy! You're fast..." She muttered to herself.

---

Jonathan opened the pack and pulled out a bottle of blood and gave it to Chou. "Drink up. It's still fresh. I filled about three bottles worth of blood. The bottles I used are treated for the consumption of blood as to maintain it's freshness for several days. It'll do till I have to hunt again." He stated as he pulled out a bit of meat and chewing on that, wincing from the pain of his wound every now and again.

He mulled over Chou's words and slowly formulated a plan of the next move. "Knowing the Blade, He'll be pondering whether whoever hired him or no should get a report on his first attempt on us. He's a stickler for details on how things can affect his pay. The next town over is several miles and would take us up to three to four hours on horseback if we had horses. doubled that if on foot. if we leave exactly thirty or so minutes after the sun sets, we should get there before dawn and into a hotel."

All the while he pondered about how and where he would try to find joy in the world.