Although Ataru and Lum were past their high school days, Mr. and Mrs. Moroboshi could not help but stay up worrying about their son and his fianc�, especially when there was a killer lose about Tokyo. However, they did not expect the surprise guest Ataru brought home with him. They stared up at this tall American man and woman, partially listening to their son�s explanation. When he was done, the couple remained motionless for a moment as their shock passed. Finally, Mr. Moroboshi blinked his eyes and looked over at Ataru.
�They are going to teach you and your friends how to dance?�
�Yes, dad.�
He looked back up at Blade. �Free?�
�Well it�s the least we can do since Ataru has been so kind enough to put us up for a few days.�
Mr. Moroboshi blinked again. �I see,� he finally said. �Well, I guess we can accommodate you. It will be tight with Lum and Benten occupying the guest room.�
�Oh we�ll be fine,� said Grace.
Mr. Moroboshi nodded then smiled. �We welcome you to our modest home, Mister Blade and Miss Kimball. My wife will� Honey?�
Mrs. Moroboshi�s gaze remained fixed up at Eric.
�Dear, dear!� said Mr. Moroboshi. He shook her, but she continued staring at him. �Hah, hah� she�s not used to seeing men of your, uh, background.�
�I understand.�
Grace gave Eric a light nudge, signaling that they should get upstairs.
�We�ll make ourselves at home,� continued Eric, picking up his bag.
Ataru grabbed the other one as Lum and Benten led Grace up the steps to the guest room.
�Here we are, Mister Blade,� said Ataru, pushing open his door.
Eric looked around the room noting that for such a character as Ataru, his room was very clean and orderly. On the floor in one of the futon beds, a small figure lay snoring lightly.
�I didn�t know you had a brother?� he whispered, not wanting to wake the boy.
�Nah, that�s just Jariten; Lum�s cousin. Normally he�d be in her room, but since Benten is also staying with us, he�s in here with me.�
Ataru reached down and much to Eric�s surprise, grabbed the mat dumping Jariten roughly out from under the covers.
�Hey! Wake up!� shouted Ataru.
Jariten came to a stop against the wall, panting and frantically looking around in surprise. He spotted Ataru, and immediately drew a bead on him. Before a burst of flame could escape, Ataru stuffed a pillow into his open mouth.
�We got a guest,� said Ataru, pointing over at Eric.
Jariten looked, drawing in a slow gasp as he stared up at this monster of a man, and quickly scurried behind Ataru�s leg.
�Who is that!� he cried out.
Ataru smiled sinisterly. �That is Mister Eric Blade from America. I�ll give you a guess why he�s here?�
Jariten looked back and forth between them. �You�ve hired a hitman to kill me!�
�Ha, ha, ha, I wish.�
Cute, thought Eric. He placed his bag on the floor and sat down next to it. �Come here, Jariten.�
Jariten shuddered, glancing up fearfully at Ataru. When he could see that there would be no help from him, slowly Jariten walked over to stand before Blade.
�Can you keep a secret?� asked Eric.
Jariten nodded.
�I�m here to protect your cousin and Ataru.�
A gasp, Jariten�s eyes growing wide. �Lum�s in trouble? Tell me who it is and I�ll burn�em to a crisp!�
Blade leaned back wondering about the young child�s comment. I�ll give him kudos� for wanting to protect his cousin, but by burning them?
Ataru noticed the look quickly answering his question. He snatched Jariten up by the scruff of the neck, opened the bedroom window, and rapped him hard on his head. A jet of flame shot out of Jariten�s mouth and Eric shot too his feet.
�What the hell!�
Ataru closed Jariten�s mouth. �He�s Oni, just like Lum,� he said, giving him a quick nuggie. �And a brat to go along with it.�
�Why you, I�ll�.�
Ataru dropped him, throwing a pillow over his face muffling any protest.
�Can Lum do that?�
�No,� answered Ataru, patting out the flames licking up the sides of the pillow. �She does something worse.�
Just then, the door opened and Lum flew in followed by Grace and Benten. She came to a hover in the air upon seeing what Ataru was doing to Jariten.
�Darling! Stop picking on Jariten!�
�I�m not picking on him. I�m just� helping him get back to sleep that�s all!�
�Darling!�
Meanwhile, Eric stood speechless staring up at Lum. He snatched off his shades and rubbed his eyes for a moment. The girl was still in the air, pulling on Ataru�s arms to get him off Jariten.
�Now that�s something else, isn�t it?� said Grace, humored by his response. �I was stunned too.�
Lum dragged Ataru away and Jariten flew up into the air, face beet red. His chest heaved and he drew in a large breath ready to cook Ataru into cinders.
�Jariten, don�t you do it!� cried Lum.
The blast faded away, but Jariten�s furious stare remained locked on Ataru.
�Great, now we have children that can fly too,� said Blade.
Grace leaned back to Benten. �I take it those two don�t have any love lost between them?�
�Not a drop.�
Hearing Grace�s voice, Jariten turned and immediately stars filled his eyes. �Aaaaaah,� he let out in a hushed voice, hands held up to his chin, grinning.
Grace smiled back. �He�s cute!� she said.
Jariten put on the most innocent face he could make, giggling as he flew over into her arms. Ataru let out a disgusted moan, rolling his eyes up to the sky.
�Aw, give me a break!�
�Stop it, Darling,� Lum told him with a swat on the shoulder.
Grace cuddled the boy in her arms. �And I�m a good boy too,� he said, nesting his head against her chest.
Benten laughed. �Don�t let him fool you. He�s a micronism of Ataru.� She leaned closer to Jariten. �I wonder how good you�ll be when you find out she a vampire.�
Jariten�s eyes snapped open. He looked up and Grace grinned exposing her teeth. In a flash, he shot out of her arms, zipping behind Eric.
�Mister Blade, protect me! She a-a-a vampire!�
�Really. Well I guess that makes two of us,� he replied, barring his teeth.
Lum staggered back from the impact, Jariten latched tightly around her neck.
�Lum, vampires! What�s going on?�
�It�s all right, Jariten. They�re friends.�
He leaned back. �Friends?� She nodded and he looked back at them. �I think I�m going to go back to bed. This is all a bad dream.� Jariten flew back down to the floor and started remaking his futon.
�Hey! If you�re going to do that, move to the corner so Mister Blade can have some room!� shouted Ataru.
Jariten obeyed without a comment.
�Moroboshi, you better stop picking on him,� Grace said.
�Ah, he�s used to it.�
Eric looked at his watch. �That�s not a bad idea. We should all get some rest after tonight. We�re going to need to be on our toes come this evening.�
Ataru let out a yawn. �Good idea. I can sure use it. Not every night you go out and make the menu of Vampires Gourmet Weekly.�
�Goodnight, guys,� said Grace. �What�s left of it.�
�See�ya in the morning� oops, sorry,� said Ataru.
As Kimball started to leave, Blade suddenly called to her in their audible voice. �Meet me outside,� he said.
She gave him a light nod, closing the door behind her.
* * * * *
Half an hour later, the Moroboshi home was silent. Blade, now clad in his dark fighting gear, sat cross-legged on the floor with his sword across his lap. Bathed in the glow of the moon, Eric meditated waiting for the right time to depart.
He relaxed, allowing his inner senses to stretch out absorbing the natural energy flowing through the environment around him. So much to do and so little time to do it in, he thought, breathing deeply in. Rimialdi has to be stopped before he spreads his control throughout Japan.
He drew in another deep breath, and then turned his head slightly towards Ataru�s futon.
�Moroboshi, why are you still awake?�
Ataru shifted, turning onto his stomach and looked at him.
�How did you know I was awake?�
�I�m capable of sensing things like that. Now what�s on your mind?�
A sad expression came to Ataru and he pressed his lips tight thinking a moment before answering.
�Just a little worried.�
�About Lum?�
�Yeah. That and what to do about keeping her safe.�
Eric took off his shades. �Don�t tell me the Great Ataru Moroboshi is in love now?�
�Always have been,� he replied, rolling back over. He placed his arms behind his head and sighed. �I don�t mean to be such a lousy boyfriend.�
�Could have fooled me?�
�Thanks. Anyway, I just don�t think I�m ready to settle down right now.�
Eric laughed quietly. �Sow your oats, eh?�
�Yeah, kind�a.� Ataru flipped onto his stomach again. �But I don�t want to loose Lum. The thought of this� what�d you say his name was? Ricotta?�
Blade found it hard to hold down his laughs. �Rimialdi.�
�Him. If he harms her even by one millimillisecond of a meter, I�ll tear him apart.�
�Is that so?�
�Yep. When those vampires came to get her, I felt a fear I could not even begin to imagine, and I know my fears.�
�You really got worked up that much?�
Ataru cut his eyes from side to side, rising up to check and see if Jariten was still asleep. �Don�t tell her this, but I really do care about her.�
Eric glanced at his watch. �Don�t think you should be keeping that from her, but we�ll talk about that later. Now go to sleep.�
�I�m not�.�
�Sleep.�
Ataru turned over and pulled the covers up around him. Blade put his shades back on and it was quiet again.
�Blade�.�
�Sssit!�
Ataru went silent and in a mater of minutes, he finally drifted off into sleep.
Time to go, thought Blade and he stood up opening the patio door. Making one last quick look down at Ataru, he gently closed it shut vaulting effortlessly over the railing.
�Kimball,� he whispered.
�It�s about time you got down here,� she called from the shadows of the tree in the yard.
Grace walked out, clad in a black jumpsuit and boots. The shoulder holster set on her left side held a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum, and there were several knives tucked into sheaths around her legs.
�You expecting a fight?� joked Eric.
�Never underestimate your opponents,� she replied. �So what�s up, and what�s on the agenda?�
�I�m going back down to the Red Moon and do a little browsing.�
�And me?�
�We need to check out the docks. It�s a little after two; you got four and a half hours before sunrise begins. You want to take a chance on getting down there and see what you can dig up?�
�It�s a haul, but I�ll do it. If I get caught I�ll just hit a box or jump into the sewer.�
They both laughed. Suddenly, Grace stopped and peered out towards the bushes running along the fence. Blade also turned, frowning as he scanned the area.
�Mendou, is that you?� he called out lightly.
Shu slowly stood up. Dressed in ninja attire, he leaped over the fence and joined them.
�How did you know I was there?�
�You�re noisy,� replied Eric.
�What are you doing here, and what�s with the getup?� asked Grace.
�Miss Lum is in danger, and I suspected you two were not going to sit idle while that rogue Rimialdi is loose on the city.�
�I like your thinking, Mendou,� said Blade. �Smart. I can use a guy like you.�
Grace tapped him on the shoulder, pointing across the lawn at another patch of bushes. Blade smirked, crossing his arms.
�Megane!� he called in a rough whisper. �You guys can come out now.�
Out of the brush came Megane followed by the Parma, Chibi, and Kakaguri.
�I know we weren�t that loud,� said Megane.
�Who was scratching their head?� answered Grace.
�What are you guys doing here?� asked Blade.
Megane snapped briskly to attention. �We are here to protect Lum from harm,� he said.
Shu let out a chuckle. �Grace, Eric, meet Lum�s Stormtroopers,� he said.
�Stormtroopers?� said Grace.
Mendou held up a hand. �It�s a long story and not really worth it.�
�Our Goddess from space must not be brought to harm in any way,� continued Megane.
Trading humored looks, Grace and Eric eyed the four men in disbelief. At least they were devoted enough to stand watch.
�Okay, you guys can help out by going up too Ataru�s room and keep an eye on things,� Blade instructed them.
�In the meantime,� continued Shu. �I heard part of your plan, Blade. I have a car and I think I can get you back to the Red Moon quicker than if you were on foot.�
�You�d do better getting Grace down to the docks. I�ll manage by myself.�
�Let me take her,� came a voice from above them all.
Everyone jumped, as Benten appeared coming down from over the trees on her hoverbike. The sleek, red and silver alien machine hummed low and Benten swung herself around facing them.
The two vampires were speechless for a moment.
�Are there anymore surprises we should know about?� asked Grace to the others.
�Caught you off guard, eh?� said Benten. �Good, now we�re even.�
�You�re an Oni also?� Blade said.
�Nah, I�m an alien but not like Lum.�
�Well doesn�t that just beat everything.�
Grace walked around the machine looking it over. She nodded, pleased but what she saw.
�Looks fast,� she said.
�Is fast,� replied Benten. �And it�s armed, so there�s no chance of any vampires taking us out without a fight.� Reaching back behind her, Benten drew her blaster from its holster. �Let�em try!�
Grace smiled. �I�m with her,� she said, hopping onto the back seat.
�Okay. Megane, you and your (heh, heh, heh) Stormtroopers get up inside and keep watch on the balconies.�
�What if the vampires do show up?� asked Parma.
�The best thing you can do is make some noise. I don�t think they want any attention, especially this early in the morning.�
�And if that doesn�t work?�
�Run.�
The four men swallowed sharply, trading looks, and then climbed up the trellis.
�Let�s plan on meeting back here at five,� continued Blade. �Don�t want Grace to get a permanent sunburn.�
Benten remounted her bike. �Five it is. Hang on, Grace.�
They shot up into the air, streaking away across the sky.
�Amazing,� said Blade.
�It is, isn�t it?� replied Shu. �Shall we go?�
�Let�s. I�m kind of anxious to meet Rimialdi��
* * * * *
Port of Tokyo;
The inner portions of Tokyo Harbor had slowly over the decades been reclaimed and converted into a series of man-made islands inter-connected by several bridges, with both commercial and semi-residential areas dotting the landscape. After setting down in a secluded portion of the industrial section of Harumi, Benten and Grace made their way over to the wharf landings. In one of the terminals, they stopped looking over a map brought along marked with all the recent murders in the area.
�Hm,� sounded Grace, tapping a pen on her chin in thought. �You know Benten, all of these killings have been centered on this island.�
Benten looked over the map, arching a brow. �You think our vamp is from around here?�
�It looks that way.�
Taking the pen, Grace drew a line from a dot marking the first murder to the one marking the second, connecting them all ending up in a rough circle.
�Doesn�t stray too far with plenty of food nearby. All we need is a home.�
Her finger traced an imaginary X through the circle and it centered on the northeast corner of Harumi Island. The area depicted marked both a high school and a junior college, and it was the college that sent Grace into thought once again.
�Benten, there was a murder not to long ago concerning four college students. I wonder.�
�About what?�
�I wonder if this vampire is one of them. When I was turned, I woke up in the city morgue. Had to kick open the door and waylay an intern for his clothes.�
�Ew.�
�Wait a minute.� Grace closed her eyes concentrating, trying to recall all the facts about the murder. �If I�m not mistaken, all of the blood from those students had been drained from their bodies.�
�So if there�s no blood left in the body�.�
�There�s no vampire. The vamporiis virus needs blood to replicate and spread.�
�Huh. You�re a doctor too.�
�Just say I have a great teacher.�
Standing up, Benten went to the end of the terminal and peered out across the island in the direction of the college. �It�s a good walk from here,� she said. �Grace, this is a long shot, but what if this vamp was part of that group and for some reason was allowed to be turned?�
Grace came up next to Benten, gazing out across the city skyline. She finally looked down at Benten giving her a nod.
�Possible. Only way we�re going to find out is by asking our vampire.�
�Where do we start to look?�
The time on Grace�s watch read two-thirty five. �If I were a vampire, as close to morning as it is, I�d be making my way back home right now.�
�The college?�
She nodded.
�Okay. Let�s get back to the bike and swing on over there.�
�Why don�t we walk.�
�Because we�re short on time?�
�It�s about fifteen minutes there and back. Besides, I don�t want to draw any unwanted attention.�
Benten shrugged. �Okay, you�re in charge. Let�s go before we lose more time.�
Grace pocketed the map, and they set out down the road.
* * * * *
Shu guided his sports car; a jet-black Lamborghini imported from America, into a side ally not far from the Club Red Moon and shut it off. He watched as Blade checked the various weapons held in holders or slots about him, and then buckled up his overcoat.
�You know that�s a snappy outfit,� he said. �But why the breastplates?�
�Vampires can shoot too, and there are humans that also work for them.�
Blade got out and Shu followed suit.
�Humans?� he said as he closed his door.
�Yep. Slaves. You can identify them by a small tattoo right at the base of the neck. Kind of a fad in today�s world, most of the times they�re hidden from view.�
�And it could be anyone around us?�
Blade leaned on the top of the car setting a serious gaze on Shu.
�Anyone. A Cop, a Banker, a Student, it could even be a Mendou employee. You just don�t know.�
Shu grimaced, dreading the thought that even his people could be harboring ill against the family. He made a mental note to have all employees physically checked once this was over.
�Oh, and there�s one more thing,� said Blade.
�What�s that?�
�If we get into a scuffle in there, you might have to kill a human.�
Shu swallowed hard. �Kill� kill a human?�
�Yes. Don�t hesitate. Man or woman, don�t hesitate. Otherwise, you�re going to end up dead, or worse get turned. Then you will be seeing me, and I won�t be there to exchange pleasantries.�
�I�ll, uh, keep that in mind.�
Blade drew in a breath. �You ready to go?�
Shu pulled up his hood and mask. �Yes.�
Eric gave him an approving nod. �Stay close and follow my lead,� he said.
�Whatever that is,� muttered Shu nervously, falling in step behind Eric as he headed down the alley towards the Red Moon�
* * * * *
Picking locks was not something Grace liked to brag about, but she had to admit it came in handy at times. She and Benten entered the vacant campus of the Commercial Junior College, breaking into the main building and began their search for any sign of the vampire terrorizing this part of the city.
They were in the lower levels of the building knowing that any vampire would want too be as far away from the threat of sunlight, and any unwanted disturbances by the staff or students. Most of the underground area was nothing more than storage rooms and closets, musty and dank from the moist earth surrounding the foundation. Grace and Benten looked up and down the long corridor running the length of the building.
�Do we split up?� asked Benten, panning her light across several of the doors.
�Yes. I�ll take the right.�
�Left it is.�
�Benten, don�t go into any rooms. Look in, and if you think you find anything of importance, call me. Understand?�
�So I can�t blast�em, eh?�
�We want to talk to them.�
�Right. No fun, I understand.�
Benten moved off down the left side of the corridor, Grace sighing briefly before going the opposite way. She drew her pistol and grabbed the first doorknob, slowly turning it. Locked, she decided to pass, moving on to the next one.
Meanwhile, Benten was having no better luck coming upon locked door after door. She was starting to get frustrated, the daughter of the god of war always looking for action in any form. Finally, she came upon a double set of doors and stopped. There, in white letters on a black background read the words �Boiler Room�.
�Hm. Freddie I hope you�re home,� she mused, grabbing the knob.
It turned and she stepped to the side.
�Grace,� called Benten in a whisper.
Grace�s light panned around on her and she pointed back towards the room. She immediately joined her and stood on the other side of the door. Holding up three fingers, Grace counted down and stepped back, kicking the door open. Benten leaned around the corner her blaster at the ready, but there was no one around.
Carefully they walked in, lights panning across the machinery.
�Yuck,� said Benten, her nose wrinkling as she sniffed the musty air. �Great combination. Kerosene, Lube Oil, and (sniff, sniff) rat shit.�
Grace inhaled; noting something else lingered in the air. Something she found familiar.
�Blood,� she said.
�What?�
�I smell blood. It�s stale, rotting, but it�s blood that�s for sure.�
The scent led them to a small back room. Opening it up, they were greeted by a strong pungent odor that made them choke for a second as the vapors passed.
�Do we have to go in there?� Benten asked, trying to hold back the urge to puke.
�Yes, now come on.�
Carefully, Grace stepped in and panned her light around. The place was filthy, piles of overused rags lying about the floor. Over in one corner somebody had made a bed for themselves, a stack of papers as a makeshift nightstand.
�Grace,� called Benten and she turned around.
Benten was holding up a blue pullover sweater, soiled and torn. There was an ominously dark stain on the front and around the collar, and she instantly knew what it was from.
�It�s a woman�s sweater,� Benten said. �And fairly new too.�
�But that blood isn�t. Is there anything else over there?�
Benten shined her light down and suddenly smirked. With the barrel of her pistol, she held up a pair of soiled panties, also caked with blood.
�This vampire need a lesson in personal hygiene,� she said, letting them drop to the floor.
This was not right, Grace thought. With all of the vampires in Tokyo, why was this particular one living in such disgusting conditions? Surely the one who turned her would have seen to it that she was taken care of.
�Let�s go,� said Benten. �I�m starting to get sick, and our vamp is not home.�
�Then we�ll wait for her outside. She�s has got to�.�
Grace�s sensitive hearing picked up a step from out in the hallway. �Benten, shut off your light!�
�But it will be dark!�
There was no time to argue. Grace rushed over and shut off her light, pulling Benten with her into the corner. It was pitch back, but for vampires darkness was merely a cover, their senses capable of detecting even the tiniest trace of heat and movement.
The steps grew closer, short and oddly staggered. A figure ambled through the door, stumbling up against the wall then down to their knees. They could hear sobbing, pitiful moans of distress as the vampire clawed its way over to the makeshift bed. Before crawling in, the vampire paused then slowly turned towards them.
Grace turned on her light. Immediately, the vampire let out a hiss, shielding her eyes with her arms. The young woman standing in the light was a mess. Her clothes resembled the rags around the room, hair matted with dirt and grime, and badly in need of a bath.
�We�re not going to hurt you,� Grace said, taking a few steps forward.
Gradually, the woman�s arms came down. Benten gasped as she caught sight of her face. There was blood all around her mouth and chin; fresh blood stained her once white blouse mixing with the dried remains from previous victims. Her eyes darted madly about, pupils nothing but small pinpoints. A crazed look that told Grace this woman was teetering on the edge of insanity.
�It�s okay. We�re not going to harm you,� she said again, inching closer.
�Bullshit! Shoot this bitch!� yelled Benten.
�Benten!� Grace shouted, but it was too late.
The young woman bolted through the doorway. Grace let out a curse and went after her. She was in much better shape and with a few steps pounced on the girl, bringing her to the floor. They struggled, but the girl was pinned firmly in a tight arm lock.
�Stop it!� shouted Grace as she struggled to escape.
Benten came out. �Grace! Grace are you all right?�
�Yes, no thanks to you!�
The struggles increased and Grace finally had enough. Taking a handful of hair, she roughly pulled back forcing her to look around.
�Stop it, damn it! We�re not going to hurt you!�
The girl�s hissing and gnashing turned into a long sob as she finally admitted defeat. Grace felt the fight leave her body and let her go, standing up. They watched as the vampire cried then Benten looked at Grace.
�Should I offer her a hanky?� she asked.
Grace just frowned�
* * * * *
Shu and Blade made their way carefully across the top of the Red Moon watching for any signs of guards or alarms. Obviously, the vampires did not fear intrusion, maybe even inviting it to make hunting that much easier. The skylights were near the center of the roof, and a dim glow of lights danced around the panes.
�I thought this would be closed by now?� whispered Shu.
�It is,� replied Blade. �My guess is that the usual post party is still going on.�
Post party, wondered Shu?
They inched up to the edge of the nearest one and looked inside.
Below was a view of the main dance floor, but it had been turned into a mass mosh pit, men and women engaged in a deviant orgy of sex and groping, their moans and cries echoing loudly about the room. Shu drew in a breath, eyes wide as he gazed upon the scene in shock.
�That�s one of the unfortunate side affects of infection,� Blade told him. �Vampire�s have an insatiable craving not only for blood, but sex as well.�
Mendou was speechless, his stare locked on the writhing mass below.
Blade in the meantime looked around the rest of the room hoping to gain sight of the vampire he talked to back in the park. His vision was limited and he knew it was time to move on and continue their search.
�Shu, let�s go,� he said.
Shu remained fixed at the pane.
�Shu,� Blade said again, giving the man a sharp slap to the back of the head.
�Huh, what?� stammered Mendou.
�We�re leaving. Indulge in your fantasies some other time.�
�Uh, yeah� okay.�
They made their way over to the door leading down into the club. Eric checked it for alarms and found none. He griped the handle and turned opening the door with a dull scrape. Down the steps they went coming out into a long hallway. The beat from the music being played vibrated through the walls, throbbing with a steady pulse giving the darkness an eerie feeling.
Blade motioned towards the first door and they went to it, taking up positions on either side. A careful turn; Eric peeked in. He suddenly sneered.
�Oh my god,� he said pushing the door open.
At the center of the room, four people sat bound tightly to chairs, their heads drooped forwards. Blood stained their necks and chest, oozing from the various puncture wounds on their throats. Shutaro retched and spun around doubling over as he fought to control himself.
�Damn,� muttered Blade.
He walked over; kicking aside the blood soaked drop cloths on the floor, and tipped one of the victims head back. No doubt a fresh kill, the body was still warm. Shu staggered in behind him.
�They�re being turned,� Eric told him.
Shu could barely keep his fear down, sickened at the sight. He�d never seen a real dead person before, especially in such gore as this. Suddenly, he started and smirked at one of the victims. With a shaky hand he pushed the head back and let out a surprised gasp.
�I know him,� he said.
�You do?�
�He�s the son of a well known banker. Very influential around the political circles.�
Shu tipped the head back of the woman seated next to him, letting out another gasp. �And, and she�s the daughter of the district judge,� he said.
�I�ll bet all of them are related to someone important.�
Something clicked in Shu�s mind and he stepped back. �That means I too was meant to be converted. That explains why that vampire knew my name!�
�Also explains what Rimialdi is up too,� added Blade.
�It does?�
�Yep. No doubt he�ll send them back to their parents. Once there, they�ll�.�
�Turn them,� Shu assumed.
�That, or bring them under control.�
Shu stared at the four again, thinking hard. �But what does Lum have to do with all of this? She may be an alien princess, but I was the one who the tickets were sent to. Rimialdi could not have known about her, or her connection with Moroboshi.�
�He did sound surprised when he marked her.�
They both looked back down at the four.
�So what about them?� asked Shu.
Blade drew his sword the sheath on his back. �You better wait by the door,� he told him.
�Is there no other way?�
Eric stood motionless, jaw set tight. �You want them to live as vampires, Shu?� he finally said.
Shu shook his head, swallowing the pain he felt inside. �If you must,� he replied, heading for the door.
Blade called to him and he stopped. �It�s a war, Shu. Wars are never pretty.�
Mendou could say nothing, keeping his back turned as Eric commenced his executions�
* * * * *
�My, my name is� Miko.�
The vampire calling herself Miko sat huddled in the corner of the boiler room; Grace and Benten standing before her. She shivered, legs pulled tight to her chest, a desperate expression on her face. Miko drew in several haggard breaths, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes and cheeks with the back of her sleeve.
Grace took a step closer, but Miko let out a yelp and winced, pressing further back. She knelt down before the terrified woman.
�Miko. What happened?� asked Grace.
Miko began crying again, harder now blubbering incoherently.
�Aw, geesh will you stop it!� shouted Benten. �You�re a vampire. You�re not supposed to cry!�
Grace�s head snapped around, furious eyes locking on her. �We still have emotions, Benten. That�s something this virus can�t take from us.� She looked back at Miko. �Can�t you see she terrified?�
�I�m sorry, Grace, but we don�t have time to wait for her to settle down.�
Grace did not reply. She waited until finally Miko found the nerve to peek over at her.
�Leave me alone,� she whined.
�We can�t. We need to know who turned you and why you�re here hiding like some homeless waif.�
The tears increased. �I didn�t want to be a vampire. Really I didn�t!�
�I didn�t either, but I can�t change it. Neither can you.�
Grace moved closer and reached out taking Miko�s trembling hands in hers. �Who did this to you?�
Miko hesitated. �He took me. He, he, took me from my friends� told me� told me he�d give me eternal life!�
�Who?�
�They called him the Masters Favorite.�
�The Master?� asked Benten.
�M-Master Rimialdi� He�s here to enslave us all!�
Grace frowned. �Who is this �Favorite�, Miko?�
Miko�s let her hands drop, staring listlessly at the floor. �I-I only know him as Lord Motoabe.�
The name was not familiar to Grace. She looked back at Benten, but she could only shrug just as lost. Suddenly Miko shot to her feet and pressed her face against the wall. Benten started to move, but Kimball held up a hand stopping her. They watched as Miko sobbed fitfully into the wall.
�He took me! He took me from my friends� raped me� killed me!�
She began dragging her face along the rough stone surface ignoring the deep scrapes to her skin. Grace carefully followed along behind her.
�When I awoke� I-I was expected to serve� expected to, to, to kill, but I couldn�t!�
�So you ran away.�
Miko looked back at her. �Yes,� she whined. �After a few days, I could not take it anymore!�
�And you came back here to familiar ground, but the blood cravings forced you to kill, didn�t it?�
Miko nodded, sobbing into her hands.
It was an all to familiar situation. Grace could remember her first days as a vampire. The desire for blood, the insane craving and lust that nearly drove her insane. She felt helpless watching this young woman crying before her, sympathies going out wishing there was some way to relieve her sorrows.
�Miko, I�.�
Miko dropped suddenly to her knees, clutching Grace�s legs tight. �Please!� she pleaded. �Please, kill me!�
The request came unexpectedly, and normally Grace would eagerly comply, but she found herself hesitating.
�I can�t,� she finally said.
�What do you mean you can�t?� questioned Benten. �This is what you do for a living?�
�Stop it, Benten!� snapped Grace with a snarl. She looked deep into Miko�s eyes. �There�s no need for you to die, Miko. We can help you.�
�But I don�t want to be a vampire. I-I don�t like killing people. I miss the sun, my family! I want too die!�
�No, I�m not going to do it!�
Miko�s eyes cut over at the knives strapped around Grace�s thigh.
�Then I�ll do it myself!� she cried, snatching one from its sheath.
The blade flashed in the light, Miko jumping back ready to plunge it into her heart. Kimball quickly grabbed her wrist, forcing the woman up against the wall. She thrashed about, fighting to free her hand but it was futile.
�Let me, go, please!� cried Miko.
Grace grabbed her by the front of her blouse, pulling her close. �Miko, there are other ways. I�ll help you!�
They stared at each other then Miko let the knife fall from her hand, bursting into tears, pressing her face into Grace�s chest. Kimball hugged her tight fighting back tears of her own. Benten came up beside them.
�So how do you expect to help her?� she asked.
�We�ll take her with us. After she�s fed and calmed down, she can tell us more about Rimialdi and this Motoabe.�
�I think the first thing we need to do is give her a bath,� replied Benten.
�That too.�
* * * * *
Taking the back steps to the main floor, Blade stopped at the threshold of the door leading into the club. He cracked the door and looked in, sneering contemptuously at the orgy still in full swing. No guards, at least that much was in their favor, Eric stepped back.
�Well?� said Shu.
�Can�t go that way.�
�So what now?�
Blade peered at the steps leading to the basement. �Let�s check down there,� he said, moving on.
They went down, coming out into a wide large room. Several boxes were stacked against the far wall, extra chairs and tables in a caged bin to the left. Shu pointed across the room to a door marked �Managers Office� and they went to it.
�Manager doesn�t like the upper floors?� aid Shu as Blade picked the lock.
�Tells me he�s a vampire,� answered Blade.
Entering the office, Shu pulled out a flashlight and panned its beam around. There was nothing out of the ordinary, a desk, couch, and several chairs making up the furniture in the room. Eric went to the desk and turned the lamp on. Spotting some files on the desk, Blade picking up a few and began flipping through them.
�This guy has more than just a club on his agenda,� he said.
Shu picked up one. �Hm. He�s got a hand in the fashion industry,� he said, holding up a portfolio of pictures.
�There a name in there?�
Shu flipped through more of the pages. �Hiroki Motoabe,� he finally said, pulling out a business card from one. �Name�s familiar. Is find anything?�
�A few invoices for supplies. Stuff for this club.�
�Let�s check the desk.�
Shu pulled on one of the drawers, finding it locked. �Uh, Blade.�
Eric drew his sword and pried it open. They began shuffling through the contents, but nothing immediately stood out.
�Maybe we�re looking for the wrong thing?� said Shu.
Blade sat down in the chair to think for a moment. �If this Motoabe is supporting Rimialdi, where would you think he would hide him?�
There was a small end table at the far side of the couch. Shu went over and picked up one of the magazines on it.
�This club is a great place to draw victims into,� he replied. �Keeping a vampire like this Rimialdi guy here? Feasible, but I�d prefer to keep away from the hunting grounds, if you know what I mean.�
�Yeah, not a good thing to get caught at the scene of the crime if it came to that.�
Eric turned slightly, peering back into one of the drawers. He pulled a business card from a pile, examining the embossed logo on the front. This is not a moon, he thought running a finger over the image of a red moon rising from behind Mount Fuji. And this hiragana on the front, it�s not standard glyph either. Looks more like a gateway with the rays of the sun emanating over the top. Don�t remember seeing anything like that. A personal symbol maybe?
Blade swiveled around. �Shu, do you think you can�, Shu, look out!�
The book in Shu�s hand dropped, the hiss of his blade following the streak as it came over then back in a graceful move to his left side. He heard a gurgle of pain and looked back over his shoulder straight into the surprised expression of a man holding a knife in one hand.
�Finish him!� said Blade, rushing for the door.
�W-What!� exclaimed Shu.
Eric took a quick look outside then closed the door. �Finish him!� he said again.
�But, but!�
Blade slapped the knife out of the intruder�s hand. He drew up into Mendou�s face, clearly angered by his hesitation.
�Remember what I told you outside? If the situation were different, you�d be dead right now! Finish him!�
Shu trembled then gulped. His sword finished its cut, a merciful slice killing the man instantly. As the body collapsed, Shu stepped back stunned by what he just did. He shook the blood from the blade and walked away. Eric understood what he was going through. He allowed Shu a moment to recompose himself, kneeling down to examine the body.
The first thing he searched for was the telltale tattoo on the base of the neck marking him as a slave. There it was, just as he expected, and the glyph matched the one on the card in his hand.
�Just as I thought,� he said, standing up.
Mendou leaned on the back of a chair, shoulders heaving with each breath he made. He let out a long sigh and turned around.
�Okay, so now I�ve entered your ranks,� he said. �It�s not fun at all.�
�Get over it.�
Shu re-sheathed his sword. �What now?�
�We got to get out of here. This guy probably came down here for something, and he�ll be missed.�
�But we didn�t find anything?�
�Not exactly.� Blade held up the card in his hand, looking it over again. �We know Motoabe is a vampire. Now all we need to do is find him, and two to one we�ll find Rimialdi.�
Shu nodded. His eyes drifted back down to the body on the floor, and the slowly growing pool of blood.
�I gott�a get out of here,� he said, heading for the door.
Blade watched him go and looked down at the body. He went back to the desk and shut off the lamp hurrying to catch up with Mendou.
* * * * *
It was a quarter to four when the three women returned to the wharves. Benten took the lead, Grace pulling a lifeless Miko by the hand, entering the compound where Benten�s bike was concealed. Coming around one of the rows, Grace listened close as Miko told her more about the vampires involved with Rimialdi.
�There�s hundreds of them,� she said. �They�ve come from all over the country, summoned by Master Rimialdi and Lord Motoabe.�
�He�s that strong?�
Miko stopped dead in her tracks as the horrifying memories returned. �His eyes, they�re like fire, cutting through your soul.�
�Nah!� yelled Benten, waving of the idea. �Nobody can be that powerful!�
�You haven�t seen him! He�s frightening I tell you!�
�Come on,� said Grace, beckoning her to keep walking. �We need to go before sunrise traps us here.�
The woman started shuffling forward, but then Grace suddenly spun around. Benten noticed the change immediately drawing her blaster. The Desert Eagle came out of its holster, and Kimball scanned the containers around them.
�What is it, Grace?� whispered Benten.
She did not answer at first, senses tingling. �Miko! Get out of the open!�
But the woman stood petrified, also picking up what Grace felt.
�It�s them!� she said fearfully.
Benten moved up against the side of the aisle �Miko, move!� she shouted.
�Miko, get over here!� yelled Grace.
A shot rang out, Miko�s chest exploding as a bullet ripped through her heart. She went to her knees then another shot hit her square in the forehead pitching Miko back. Grace scrambled, crawling over to an adjoining aisle with bullets chirping at her heels. She pressed up against the side and slowly peered around the corner.
�Benten!� she called out.
�Grace, did you see the shooter?�
�No!�
Benten stayed low staring at Miko�s inert form. �Well, there goes our lead.�
The sight of Miko lying dead angered Grace. She moved back.
�Benten, can you get to the bike?�
�I don�t know! How many of them are there?�
�We can�t sit here and do nothing!� She could hear footsteps echoing around the containers. �This isn�t good, girl!�
�Tell me about it. Grace we�ve got to do something fast, it�s starting to get light outside.�
The edge of the horizon was starting to get bright. Grace muttered a curse inching back a bit more.
�If they�re also vampires, they have the same problem as I do.�
�But they�ve got the advantage on us!�
Something shifted on top of the stack just above Benten�s head. She reacted, rolling to the other side, snapping off several shots. They heard a cry, and Benten shot to her feet dashing down the aisle. She could hear the sounds of pursuit, and then a blast from a shotgun peppered the container behind her. Benten dived avoiding another blast, rolling onto her back and fired hitting a man scurrying around a corner. Another vampire jumped out wielding a pair of pistols ready to shoot her dead. Benten grimaced but the loud boom from Grace�s gun picked the vampire up from the floor and sent him sprawling back.
�Benten, get up!� she said from her perch atop a stack of containers.
She did, continuing her run with Grace following right along. The Desert Eagle spoke again dropping one then another vampire. She leaped down at the next intersection, shifting into a crouch. Benten paused at the corner.
�Grace!�
�Keep moving,� Kimball replied. Benten ran on.
Grace backed down the aisle waiting for any sign of their assailants. She could feel their presence, the primeval thrill of the hunt and lust for a kill strong in the air. Benten disappeared around the far corner and she decided it was time to beat a hasty retreat. Kimball bolted, running low praying that she could stay out of the sights of any shooters.
What she did not expect though was the powerful blow from a large Japanese warclub that swung out hitting her right in the face. Grace cried out tumbling onto her back. The Desert Eagle flew from her grip and she lay sprawled out on the floor in a very uncompromising position. She squeezed her eyes tight and shook her head trying to clear the ring out in her ears. Somebody started laughing and out from around the corner stepped the owner of the war club, a tall man clad in dark leather biker clothes, wearing a black motorcyclist helmet, its visor down preventing her from seeing his features.
He laughed again, then several more vampires moved into view, standing over her.
�Pick her up,� ordered the biker, and Grace was roughly pulled to her feet and thrust against the side of a container.
She tried to struggle, but the hold of the vampires was too strong. The barrel of a shotgun was pressed up beneath her chin and she stopped fighting.
�Well, well, well,� said the helmeted man as he walked up to her. Handing his weapon to one of his companions, he pulled the helmet off allowing Grace to see his face.
�Oh shit,� muttered Grace recognizing Abe Nashimaru.
�What�s wrong? Not expecting to see me again so soon?� said Abe.
�No, I�m pissed off at the fact that I missed you back in the park. I don�t do that very often.�
�Cute.� He moved up closer, running his fingers slowly across the tips of her breast. �So you want to tell me why you�re here?�
�Looking for a place to sleep.�
Abe paused then laughed at her remark. �Oh we are funny today.�
Grabbing Grace by the back of the hair, Abe jerked her head back, snarling angrily. �I don�t have much time, Blondie, so if you want to stay healthy, cease with the jokes, okay?�
�Aw, no sense of humor. Too bad,� replied Grace.
Her head was thrust aside, Abe stepping back. �Did you get her friend?� he asked one of the other vampires.
�No, she got away.�
�Hm. At least we completed our primary task.�
�You Bastard!� shouted Grace, struggling to get at Abe. �You didn�t have to kill Miko!�
�Oh yes I did. From what I was hearing, she was flapping those gums too much.�
�I�ll kill you!�
�Wrong,� answered Abe, punching her hard in the stomach. An uppercut drew blood from her nose, and then Abe grabbed her by the hair again.
�You want to tell me where Blade is?� he asked.
�Blade who?�
�Don�t play with me, bitch!� Abe backhanded her several times across the face. �You and Blade took those kids from me. Now I want to know where he is, and where is Lum and Ataru Moroboshi?�
Grace looked slowly up at him. �I�m not telling you anything, pal!�
Abe arched a brow. He grunted lightly and crossed his arms. �Look, uh� is it too much to ask you your name?�
�Kimball. Grace Kimball.�
�Yeah, Gracie. We�re on a tight time schedule right now, so if you don�t want me to place you where you can watch the sun rise, tell me where they are?�
Grace remained silent.
�Stubborn,� Abe finally said. His eyes looked over at the Desert Eagle held by one of his men and he told him to hand it over.
Admiring its powerful look and feel, Abe smiled.
�Nice gun, very deadly,� he said, running the barrel along the side of Grace�s face.
�Works wonders on assholes like you,� she replied. �Give it back and I�ll demonstrate.�
�No need. I think I can do that on my own.�
He stepped back and pointed the gun down at her right leg, pulling the trigger. The deafening roar echoed off the walls joined by Kimball�s pain filled wail. The vampires holding her let go and she dropped clutching the wound.
�You bastard! You fuck, you asshole! You shot me! You shot me with my own gun!� she screamed.
Abe laughed, kneeling down. �Yeah. I like this thing. I�ll have to get one.� The humored expression went away. �Blade?�
�Go to hell!�
�Wrong answer.�
PBoom!
Grace writhed on the floor clutching what was left of her left kneecap.
�Damn it, will you stop that!� she cried, gaining a laugh from the vampires around her.
Abe stood up. �Pick Super Woman up boys,� he ordered. They yanked Kimball to her feet.
�Tch, tch, tch, tch. Oh dear, Miss Kimball. It looks like you won�t be running any long distances for a while.�
Grace�s chest heaved seething with rage as she glared at him.
�Oh, oh I�m going to enjoy killing you, pal.�
�Not likely, Kimball. Well I�d love to continue torturing you, but dawns quickly approaching. Tell you what. I�ll stake you out so you can get a nice view of the sun rising up over the horizon. Would you like that?�
It was a vampire�s worst fear, being literally cooked alive beneath the rays of the sun. Grace did not want to experience that sort of pain, but she was helpless to stop them.
�Why don�t you just shoot me, okay?�
�Nope. I am not giving you an easy way out, Gracie Girl. You�re going to fry.�
He turned motioning for them to bring her along heading for the nearest bay doors. The sky had gotten lighter, and the dim glow of the sun could be faintly seen on the horizon.
�We�ll find Blade, Kimball,� said Abe. �It�s just a matter of�.�
A bright light caught them as they came out into the open. The high-pitched whine of Benten�s hoverbike pierced the air as it shot through the air smacking Nashimaru with the front pylon. He flew across the floor, Benten banking the rear sharply around hitting more of the vampires before they could react. Grace reached up and thrust her sharp nails into the eyes of her captors and they let her go screaming in pain. She hit the floor and rolled as the rest of the vampires scattered.
Benten stopped, drawing her blaster.
�Come on, Grace!� she shouted, snapping off several shots.
Grace rose up on her arms. She spotted Abe laying across the room, her Desert Eagle a short reach away. Crawling quickly over, she took it up and grinned an evil grin as she drew a bead on him.
�Grace!� cried Benten again.
One of the vampires fired a shot hitting the side of the hoverbike. Grace turned her sights on him and fired hitting him in the chest. A hand reached down, Benten yanking the woman up across the back of the seat. She gunned the engine and they sped off out of the compound and across the harbor.
Kimball pulled herself upright and wrapped an arm tight around Benten�s waist. Her skin was beginning to smoke as the first rays of light cut across the morning sky.
�Hang on, Grace,� Benten yelled back above the rushing wind. �We�ll be back in Tomobiki in a few minutes!�
�Better be quick. Otherwise I�m going to be nothing but ashes fluttering in the breeze.�
�Don�t you die on me, Kimball! We need you, damn it! We need you.�
Grace smiled. �Then step on it.�
Benten opened the throttle as wide as it could go, streaking across the sky back to the Moroboshi home and safety�