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Chapter 7

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They returned in silence then, through the city, with their struggling cargo. The only point of interest being when Drake got tried of holding a squirming man and switched to holding a limp man by knocking him out.

On their arrival the man was simply shoved into the same lower level room that Chichi had been locked in with her first kill, the sight of the room and the memories it held made a strange twisting feeling constrict her heart, no doubt Drake noticed her discomfort but the elder vampyre did not feel inclined to comment or react to this. As the moved together through the hallways of the great house Drake addressed her without turning to look at her, "Would you like to tell me what all that was about, back then?" obviously referring to her behaviour in the alley.

"What was what all about?" she pretended to not understand almost out of habit; talking about herself or her background had never been something that was pressed into back in her hunter team, apparently she had forgotten that things were different, his hand moved almost distractedly back and hit her across the face.

"I told you not to lie till you could do it well, that includes feigning ignorance, such juvenile antics are suited for children and YOU are not a child." He said, stressing the word. Chichi was shocked and a little hurt, aside from when they trained he had never struck her, not even before when she had been leader of the hunter team and fought him, or when she struggled against him when he chased her across the city as his prey. "I asked you an honest question, if you had a problem with answering you could have indicated it or simply held your silence. I respect you enough not to ask false questions, respect me enough to answer with real answers." She was a little ashamed of herself, already knowing of his dislike for meaningless deceptions she had still answered as though she were still back in her squad, as though she were challenging him to pry into her motives, it was true what he said, if she didn't want to answer she could have just said so. All that was no more, this was a new life with new rules and where there was a new world of things to discover and learn, he was not her subordinate to know his place, who would not question his leaders past and motives, this was her mentor, her guide and the master of this house. She had never been good at taking orders from anyone, not since she had had to survive on her own, but this man did not require perfect obedience of her, simply respect; something else she had never developed beyond a certain point. There had always been a certain mutual respect in the old team but everyone had always known that she was in charge at the end of the day, no matter how informal the chain of command.

"Sorry..." She paused before continuing, "It's a bit of a long story and it's quite personal."

"I told you that if you do not wish to answer you do not have to." he returned as he continued to lead the way without pause.

Chichi felt a little foolish that it seemed everything had to be repeated to her twice. She was living in his house, taking advantage of his knowledge and skills, really she was under his hospitality and she just kept acting as though this was all expected of him, when she thought about it she was being more than a little rude, he could have easily thrown her out after making sure she changed; she might not have become a bloodthirsty animal but she certainly would have had a much harder time of it then she was as things stood now. She had a roof over her head (a very nice roof at that), free food, free clean clothing (something that was not easy to come by when your job is a vampyre hunter). She had the company of Michael, who she was beginning to like and Drake, who though she didn't exactly like appeared be looking out for her best interests (she hoped) and being very patient with her.

She also realised that this needed to be dealt with, she had never talked about her past and rarely thought about it, if she kept hiding from it, it would surely find a way to bite her when she’d least expect it in the future. While she'd been pondering this Drake had led the way to the lounge, which was now starting to become a more and more frequently used room.

'Well," she began, "I guess I should start at the beginning: I was really young when it happened so I didn't really understand everything that was going on, I'd heard some noises downstairs and went to look, some people had come in to the house, off course I didn't know they weren't really people at the time, anyway they acted rude and arrogant and pretty much like there was nothing we'd ever be able to do to stop them (which was true but again I didn't know that), it got so bad that my dad had to threaten them to leave and that’s about where it all went to hell..." Chichi continued to tell her story as she and Drake sat comfortably by the fire, Michael brought drinks and, sensing this was private, left quickly.

Drake sat in his chair and listened intently, almost no expression on his face to indicate one thing or another as she told her story. The only time he shifted was when she mentioned the names of the vampyres she knew; he seemed to shift briefly as though trying to place a memory before giving up and refocusing on her story.

"...And then she dragged me back into the house and they shoved me in a corner in the kitchen and made me watch as they each drank her dry, one of them would hit me if I stopped watching. And... And she was in such a state... tha... that she didn't even try to fight them off..." Chichi now had tears running down her face as she finished her story, "She was all bruised and beaten and her clothes were in shreds and... And he broke her, that thing broke her so she didn't have any will left at all to fight them off and then the just dragged me out and burned the whole place down, then they just left." she paused as a sob escaped. "I don't even know why they left me alive! When that thing, the one they called Lutious dragged off my sister Sara and... And how she looked afterwards, God I was too small to understand what he must have done. Since then I guess I just didn't want to remember, to look at it again, why would I want to? And I think, to be honest... I think I was too afraid of what I'd realise if I ever had to really look back... back on-" another choked sob "On what they did, on Sara..." that was the last of what she could take, Chichi just dissolved into tears, at some point she felt like she was being held, it felt warmer than she expected because they had been sitting near the fire. Chichi just allowed herself to snuggle into the warm embrace as she cried at last for what she had hidden from since she was 10. *Mmm, this feels nice, to be held...* she thought as she slowly got herself together again, "Thank you" she said simply as Drake got up and went to leave, he just nodded and turned to go, "I need to go sort a few things out; I feel I should know those names from somewhere and something else to do with your training."

"Drake." she called softly and he paused at the doorway without turning. "Why did you hold me?" she asked curious, she didn't know what else she expected of him but she would never have expected him to comfort her in a thousand years.

He did not answer for a moment as if considering the question himself, then softly: "Because you needed to be held." and he was gone before she could even register his words properly.

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He walked down the hallways of his mansion lost in thought, he recognised those names but he was not certain, if he was right then he knew who the fourth member was as well and, if he was right, it would mean trouble. Chichi was not even remotely ready to take them on. Maybe if she could finish her training in the use of the power she would be a little better off but he was still doubtful, he would not think of finding her revenge for her until she was stronger. For now he would make sure of his suspicions, Please let me be wrong, this one time, please.

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Chichi was a little surprised at Drakes actions, when she thought about it, it seemed strange; he taught her what she needed to know, answered her questions about things she was curious about. He scolded or punished her when she deliberately did something bad or forgot to control her bad habits... It was almost like he was trying to raise a child, this latest event made it seem even more so; she may be centuries younger than him but by human standards she was an adult and didn't necessarily need to be comforted like that, though she admitted to herself that it had felt nice, she had not been held or comforted for a very long time. Never the less he hadn't needed to do it and she had not thought him the kind to volunteer, though she didn't know why she felt that way. I guess I really don't know him all that well, maybe it's because he's a vampyre, that I figured he wouldn't be nicer than he had to be, she thought. God, I really haven't learned have I? I should really just think of him as a really old fashioned person but it's tough to ignore what he is, specially when you still sometimes dream of the night you died...Chichi continued to think about these things as she made her way to her room and prepared to sleep for the day.

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Having checked and re-checked Drake was now certain that the ones that had killed Chichi's family were who he had feared they would be. He had decided to go out and let some of his outside contacts keep track of them for later and so he would know if they should get too near the city for one reason of another; it would be very bad if Chichi ran across one of them by accident before she was ready. The young thing would probably challenge them there and then with no idea of how permanently dead she would become.

He was now in the sewers and tunnels that he regularly used to get around during the day, they stretched all through the city and beyond, well past the suburbs to where the wealthy estates like his were located, after so much time and use he had grown accustomed to their use and could navigate their maze with almost no thought at all and knew the way to do so without soiling his clothes in any way. It would not be much of a transport system if it left you dirty and reeking after each use. He took a few paths he used less and climbed a ladder that left him in a dark subway tunnel, he made his way down a tunnel with security gates with hardly a pause to bypass them; private tracks were such a bother. Well he rarely contacted this person so it was tolerable as an infrequent inconvenience, he moved silently passed the security guards at the private underground station and into the elevator of the corporate building, smirking at the guards confused expressions when the seemingly empty lift opened and then closed itself before rising.

As he made his way past the offices on his target floor he was glad for the mirrored windows these buildings had or he would have been a moving invisible smoke machine with the days bright weather. He finally came to his intended office and without even knocking entered.

"Afternoon Drake, be with you in a sec." said the other occupant of the large, well furnished office without looking round, "No, Douglas this contract cannot be handled by someone else! I need it done by the 30th and Anders & Sons is the only company that can do the job in time... I don't care if they say I'm a suspicious bastard, it just means they're not oblivious lemmings, now go back and tell them that you're not leaving without a signed contract. Go up to 500 Gs if you have to, they won't push for more they're smart enough not to push their luck, you got all that.... good, if you screw this up your hide will be occupying one of my wardrobes while the rest of you is in ER. You know I'm not being metaphorical, now get lost."

Drake watched the other, fascinated, as he moved about the room with a cordless phone closing blinds on the window, arranging comfortable chairs and a coffee table for their use. Drake sat, still curious, when his companion nodded meaningfully at one of the chairs with a smile without breaking his dialog. Then the other man finished and turned with a smile to greet his now mildly amused guest.

"Great seeing you again Drake, it's been too long. I see you still use those sewers..." he said wrinkling his nose, "Why won't you let me convince you into letting me construct a cleaner more direct route around the city for you?"

"Thank you Douglas but you know how I like to keep my home private, I would hate all those builders nosing about near it."

"I suppose I knew you'd say that but I had to ask anyway, truth be told you've gotten way better at keeping the smell off since last time, I didn't even know you were here till you opened the door. Unlike last time when I knew you where here when the lift doors opened." said Douglas

Drake gave a slight chuckle at that, "Well we cannot, but improve ourselves. I see you are still on top in this dog eat dog business..."

"Dogs are stupid animals, that's why they would ever be considered capable of such things, the Pack would always force its enemies into submission and assimilate them into itself so as to make use of their abilities and strengthen the Pack..." Douglas saw the grin on Drakes face and saw he had been played, "I guess we're not that much smarter if we get baited that easily." Douglas said with an embarrassed grin. He turned and pressed a button on a nearby remote, the wall to the side of them slid aside to reveal a huge television screen, which clicked on to show a full moon in the night sky with clouds gently drifting past it.

Drake looked a bit surprised then laughed as his companion sighed contentedly and seated himself, "You never change; you are a great soft puppy at heart and always will be."

"Maybe," Douglas agreed, "But what brings you to me this time, and during the day no less." he asked turning back to face Drake with a worried frown, his long, bony fingers gripping tightly to the armrest where his hands lay.

Drake paused as if considering if he should tell his old friend after all, this was much more dangerous than anything he had asked before, his friend was old though you would never tell from looking at his smooth, clean shaven face or his thick light brown hair that was pulled back into a short, loose ponytail at the nape of this neck. Though he wore a business suit now, without the jacket, if you were to see his body, it would look like that of a very fit 30 to 35 year old male. The only sign of age that he showed was his eyes, they once had been a startling blue, edged with a light yellow tint; now they were fading more to grey and the yellow tint was gone completely. Most people would not know this as Douglas wore coloured contacts whenever he went out, it would bring him unnecessary attention otherwise. Drake had known him since he had taken this name: a very, very long time, only one other friend had known him longer and she was so much of a drifter that she would make dry autumn leaves jealous.

"Drake. You know I'm not going to let you go without telling me what's bothering you, I can tell it must be pretty dangerous for you to be hesitating like this." Douglas pressed, "I've known you too long for you to get anything by me. If you don't tell me I'll look for it myself and it'll be that much more dangerous because I won't know what I'm trying to guard against."

"You are as manipulative and sneaky as ever, I see." Drake conceded with a sigh, "Well I guess that will be a great help here then. Alright I shall tell you..." and with that he proceed to explain what he needed and who he was talking about.

"Ah, those four." Douglas said when Drake was done, "I see why you didn't want to drag me into this. Well, old friend, you're not going to like this; some of my people have heard reports that they're heading here. The earliest should be 3 months from now according to the reports."

Drake shifted in the chair, this was bad, very bad. Chichi would not be ready for even the weakest of them in that time, there was also the question of why they were heading this way to begin with. "You are right; I do not like this one bit. However the plan still stands, I need to know when they get here, I think I can handle events well enough before anything untoward happens to my charge." Drake rose and the two shared a warm handshake before he made to leave, Drake found himself smiling again as he looked up at the currently half shrouded full moon that took up nearly a whole wall.

His friend saw this and said, "Sorry, I know you prefer the city night from the heights of tall buildings, I'll have a vid ready by next time." He paused, "I know you won't tell me how you're involved with those four but, just be careful you old blood sucker."

"I shall, old dog, I shall." Drake replied and once again faded from the sight of unwelcome eyes.

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He had spent more time than he had wanted to with his friend; it was dusk already. Drake used the rooftops and alleyways, the fading light had once been uncomfortable but only actual direct sunlight burned now and now he was accustomed to the feeling of being in fading or dawning light as well.

Chichi should go out again tonight, he would keep an eye on her from a distance, it was time she started to have a life beyond training and hunting... Which was something that, from the sounds of it, she had never decided to try for herself.

Drake moved across a deep gap in the buildings and then made use of a window ledge to jump up to the top, he spotted a gargoyle (one of his favourite perches) and after hopping upon it looked out across the city just once to view the pastel painted skyline visible to the west. He seemed to shift slightly, as if some sound or thought had just soured the feeling that the view had generated and then sighed and moved on. He moved across the roof and was just about to leap to the next building when suddenly the building edge in front of him seemed to explode in smoke and dust. He continued through with hardly a pause, landing on the paved roof of the condo across the gap in a turning skid that left him facing the still smoke shrouded roof top he had just left, his cloak billowing around him with the momentum of his turn, he spared a quick glance down at the two sharp edged metal projectiles he had caught on the way through. Hmm, these are undoubtedly shuriken he thought and then threw them back into what seemed like a random part of the cloud, less than a second later four small balls, which he recognised as smoke bombs, flew out onto the rooftop he was on. However, the thrower must have been somehow distracted or jolted as the bombs which should have landed closely around him, landed various different distances from him making it possible to move into a central clear spot only a step or two to Drakes right. He seems somewhat skilled, not skilled enough but still worthy of a good fight thought Drake as he effortlessly turned unerringly to face the assassin hiding in the smoke, to an ordinary or less experienced watcher it would appear as though he was looking at nothing more than mild shifts in the movement of the billowing smoke.

"Why do you not come forward warrior?" Drake said into what seemed like empty smoke, "You must know that it is pointless to hide by this time, let me face my opponent honourably." He said as he sidestepped a couple more throwing stars.

"Honourably?" Came the query as a human figure became outlined in the smoke in front of him, "What do YOUR kind know of honour?"

"My kind is just as varied in mind and disposition as your own." Drake replied, "I know that you know that, so stop pretending and stop treating me like one of your standard, pre-centennial pond scum that you call vampyres."

The figure moved forward and the smoke seemed to reveal him like water flowing off some great emerging fish, pulling back in streamers that seemed to pull at his form as though loathe to leave him revealed before his enemy. "Very well," said the warrior "Let us battle in a fitting manner, as equals." The warrior that had emerged was tall, about 5' 11". He had long, wavy black hair that swayed in the slight breeze that was blowing and if still would reach a little past his shoulders and occasionally strands waved in front of the red patterned, white animal mask covering his face. He wore a slightly loose grey top that folded closed at the front making a deep 'V' shape neckline that showed a meshed fabric beneath it. The lower half of the warrior was clad in loose earth brown trousers that appeared to get wider as they went down his legs; they stopped just above the ankle. On his feet he seemed to wear traditional Japanese slippers and footcloth. The man had a samurai sword and a kodatchi (something between a long knife and a full katana, about two thirds the size of a katana) tied to his waist in the manner of a true samurai. Drakes overall impression was that someone had sliced a ninja and a samurai in half and then attached the top of the ninja to the bottom of a samurai with enough colour co-ordination to not make it look ridiculous.

"Do you have a weapon, vampyre?" The warrior asked.

"I do." answered Drake evenly and still made no move to obtain or draw one.

"Ok, I can live with it like this, lets go!" Said the warrior and charged, he moved to within half a meter of Drake before drawing his sword in a lightning fast sweeping slash at Drakes neck, Drake leaned back out of way, more than he should be able to do without falling or stepping backwards, then sprung back forward and moved in to punch with a left. The warrior, however, had already been moving and the second drawing swipe with the faster kodatchi would have decapitated Drake nicely had he not blocked with his right hand, sacrificing his Rolex watch in the process. Drake had expected that such a warrior would have something to back up the initial strike, specially as it was such a direct attack, it would be almost impossible to defend for most humans and even he could not have blocked it the way he had the second strike or he would he a hand short. As it was Drakes hit sent the warrior flying back into the smoke, when he reappeared an instant later, there wasa forked crack on his animal mask. This time the warrior was more cautious, he attacked with the sword in one hand; quick slashes and stabs, and defended with the less powerful but much faster kodatchi, Drake had little trouble dodging the katana’s strikes but could not get past the defence of the kodatchi at the same time. Clever lad Thought Drake as he tried to break past his opponents defense without being cut, this was becoming tiresome though, the fight had lasted a while now and it was night already, the half full moon lit up the night sky above them and he was getting no closer to landing a second hit. Drake suddenly changed tactics, he dodged back from the mid level sweep and batted down on the sword to unbalance the swing then leapt back several meters as the assassin abandoned the return swing he had been planning to focus on guarding with his kodatchi while he retrieved his balance. Drake watched carefully as the assassin recovered and approached warily... so that was what it was, Drake smirked to himself.

"Time is up lad, this game ends now." Drake said and charged, the warrior seemed to hesitate only an instant before taking the same tactic as before. This time, however, when the man stabbed out Drake caught it between both hands and instead of trying to counter attack deliberately shoved the blade forwards, back towards his opponent who allowed the move to flow in to a turn, if somewhat jerkily, and countered with a swipe of the kodatchi. The swipe bit cleanly into Drakes right arm as he had intended, the swipe had almost no power behind it, it had been intended to make Drake avoid the attack and be unable to strike. Drake hit dead centre of the forked crack in the mask and somehow the warrior managed to still stay standing and attack with his sword, Drakes left arm shot straight out to the side and hit the warriors fore arm generating a muted gasp from behind the mask. As the warrior staggered back a step from the two blows Drake brought his left fist into the man's right side, causing yet another gasp of pain. Amazingly the warrior had kept up the pressure on Drakes right arm with his kodatchi all this time, Drake was impressed but that did not mean he was about to stop just because of that, this was going to end and end NOW.

The warrior, it seemed, had other plans and flipped back suddenly, further slicing Drakes right arm as he did so. Drake moved in like a predator sensing a kill, the tactics were now a little different; though the kodatchi was still used to defend, it was now also used to make quick slashes and stabs as well Damn this brat for being a survivor, thought Drake as he applied Power to heal his arm faster, he was getting tired of this repetitive battle and annoyed at how quickly the other adapted to any new stance or tactic he used. Drake increased the pace and the pressure, moving so fast that now the warrior was forced to use both weapons for defence and had not time to rest. Apparently the two blows to the head were starting to take effect, as Drake made a particularly hard attack on the warriors guard, the man stumbled back as though his balance was slipping, as Drake got tougher the warrior stumbled more often and took an instant longer to recover from each. The battle was coming to a close, after another stumble, Drake moved in and lightly hit the warrior on the side of the head. The man fell and the kodatchi slipped from is hands, he immediately recovered, using what must have been pure will to regain his feet again, and faced Drake firmly holding his sword. This time it was Drakes time to be knocked off balance as the warrior suddenly charged with a shout, he pulled off a series of lightning fast slashes from almost every direction in only a fraction of a second and Drake was forced back by the suddenness and ferocity of the assault. It might have been a chance to continue the fight had it not been for the fact that the battle was wearing on Drakes attacker and he had to pause in his onslaught. Drake, now steady, attacked almost immediately and somehow the warrior was able to muster a charge of his own, but Drake easily parried aside the thrust with his now healed right arm and firmly gripped the forearm of his attacker, gripped so hard that there was an audible crack. The man screamed and collapsed to his knees as Drake pulled down on his arm, the sword dropping from fingers paralysed with pain.

Drake inspected his defeated enemy, he had been right; when he had broke off for a moment to observe his opponent he had noticed that the man favoured his right side and the sword swing that he had batted down to get back should not have been so quickly aborted. The man had been fighting wounded since before he emerged from the smoke, it seemed that when Drake had thrown back the shuriken they had hit, one had sheared through his side and the other had chipped the bone in the mans right forearm.

Drake pulled of the mask to look at his enemy, "I thought I should at least look you in the eye before I kill you." he said as he looked down on him, the warrior had, as he had expected, some mild features that marked him as being from the far east. He had brown eyes and their shape gave away his heritage, his nose was straight which, considering how hard he had been hit, must be a miracle and his mouth was locked in a thin-lipped line masking the extreme pain he was in. The strong cheekbones seemed to add more character to his otherwise unremarkable and unscarred face. As he lifted the warrior by the throat something caught his eye and he, tore away the man's right sleeve at the shoulder to reveal there, just past the neckline and down his shoulder a tattoo. It was that of a silver shield with a serpentine dragon curling up around it and a long sword thrust through the serpents head and sinking behind the shield and out underneath. It was the crest of the Order.

"The Black Order of St. Thomas!" Drake almost spat, he was just going to rip the man apart when he sensed Chichi moving in across the rooftops, she must have become bored and come out to find him. "The only things stopping me from tearing you to pieces extremely slowly right now is that my charge is approaching and that you had enough honour left in your black little heart to fight me honourably without using your cheap tricks." He said, "Now die!" he snarled and tossed the man over the edge of building. Chichi arrived a few seconds later, when she asked why he had taken so long he said that there had been some complications in his errand (this was strictly speaking, the truth so it did not worry him that he may be misleading her). Drake made a mental note to tell Chichi about the Order sometime soon and then maybe later he could give a more detailed explanation for tonight.

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Chichi had gone out when sunset had come and past and there had still been no sign of Drake, feeling like she could think better of him after his latest behaviour and a little worried that he had not returned. She had gone into the city and then started looking at random, for some reason she felt drawn to one part of the city rather than another. This continued as she searched and so she was mildly surprised when she could suddenly feel his presence some distance in front of her like a pull in her blood, but when she finally found him, he was dusty and a little tattered and absolutely refused to give her detailed explanation. He wasn't lying to her, she could see that there obviously had been SOME complications but he simply refused to tell her more, which annoyed her greatly. The good will she had felt towards him earlier evaporated like a water puddle on the sun, "What do you mean 'Complications'? Look at you, you're all tattered and dirty and..." Chichi gasped when she saw the slice in his clothing where he must have been cut, "You were in a fight!" she exclaimed

"Fights happen everyday." He said, "If I told you about every fight I have had, even this month alone, we would be sitting around for a very long time."

"I'm sure that you don't get injured in every fight Drake. I can hardly lay a hand on you when you fight properly and I'm not what you might call weak"

"Actually dear, you are very weak. If you were strong then I would have finished your training." Drake returned with all the tact and finesse of a brick. Before Chichi could loose it completely he continued, "You seem extremely sure of yourself considering you have, so far, only fought a group of weak willed, unskilled, street rats. The truth is that you could have beaten THEM while you were still human, though it would have surely taken you longer."

Chichi didn't really know what to say to that, it was true that the gang members where not exactly combat experts but she didn't think that what she was now could be considered weak, was use of the Power that important for a vampyre? Was it so great that no matter what your physical strength and skill were, you'd always be considered weak until you learned to use it? Drake broke in to her musing by talking...

"There is not much time left us this night, I shall return to the mansion and get myself straightened out. I cannot even think about doing any training with you like this, go spend the night socialising and return by dawn." He instructed and sighed when he saw the confusion on her face, "As impressed as I am by your progress in combat skills, you seem to be lacking somewhat in sociability. You do not have anything to do besides train and contemplate your vengeance; that is not good in the least. So go, find something else to do for half a night, I have had enough for this one and am going to rest for a while." With that parting explanation, Drake turned and left without a backward glance.

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