"I still think we should have asked some of Utena's followers for help," Kozue said softly, the blue haired girl following the others across the campus. "Most of them are trying to stay on Utena's sleep schedule," Wakaba yawned unconsciously as the almost unconsciously cheerful brown haired girl added, "besides, they may be more vulnerable if we encounter a vampire." "Because they were enslaved by Touga," Anthy noted thoughtfully, "or maybe less, because they now serve Utena." "Hmm," Kozue nodded. She smiled wryly, "And who gets to tell Nanami that we sneaked off without her?" "Not me," Wakaba quickly said as they reached their objective. They all stood hesitantly in front of the burnt shell of the old science building, studying the wreck dubiously. “The fire did a lot of damage,” Anthy noted as she looked up at the blackened exterior, “is there even enough of the roof left to give a vampire shelter?” “There's always the basement,” Wakaba said dryly. A bit more crossly, “Besides, we've checked almost every other abandoned building in Ohtori.” “You're right,” Anthy admitted. A bit more quietly she said, “I guess I just don't like the feel of this, is all.” “But,” Wakaba looked in surprise at Anthy, “you're a vampire hunter.” “That doesn't mean I still don't get nervous,” Anthy defended herself, “or even a bit scared at times. It's just that you get used to it.” “I hadn't thought of it that way,” Kozue admitted, carefully pushing the door open. It didn't creak, which struck both of them as odd. “Someone's oiled the hinge,” Anthy murmured. She pulled a stake from her clothing, her eyes narrowing as she looked around cautiously. “Let's look around,” Wakaba suggested. “We really should wait until tonight,” Anthy quickly answered, “and then come back better prepared with Utena.” "It's daylight," Kozue frowned, "if a vampire is here shouldn't it be sleeping?" "Not always," Anthy warned. Wakaba didn't listen to her, venturing farther into the building. A door was on the other side of the room, and Wakaba tried the door knob. “Hey, it's unlocked,” she smiled. Wakaba turned the knob and pulled even as Anthy cried, “Don't!” Out of the pitch darkness of the other room a bone white hand struck out, grabbing Wakaba firmly by the throat. “You.. shouldn't even be.. awake,” a stunned Wakaba managed to get out as the hand began to cut off her air. "Wakaba!" Kozue raced forward to help. “Not all vampires are the same,” the woman's smooth voice said even as the hand that was extended into the sunlight began to smoke, the skin blistering. Wakaba stopped her struggling, going limp in the grip of unearthly strength. Kozue reached them and grabbed desperately at that bone pale arm, but was unable to budge it. “Let her go,” Anthy hissed, stake ready. “You're not strong enough, little hunters,” the woman said, and Anthy could see other figures moving behind the first vampire. With a wave of her still smoking arm she sent Kozue flying, but Anthy didn't dare move to check on her. “I know you,” the vampiress said, “you, Kozue and Wakaba. You all serve Tenjou Utena, don't you?” Anthy would have said that she worked with Utena, but this wasn't the time to debate. “Yes, and?” she asked. “Bring her to me,” the vampire woman said, drawing the unconscious Wakaba into the darkness, “or her friend dies.” The door closed, leaving only silence. Utena awoke as the sunset came, her eyes opening to a sight of gentle beauty. The young women lay close around her, hands caressing her body, lingering as they stroked at pale flesh. One girl kissed her neck, another pressed her full breasts against her back, and a third was draped across her leg. The girls and Utena made a warm, comfortable jumble on the bed, each taking comfort in the presence of the others. “Good evening,” Utena smiled, and they began to rouse themselves as well. “Do you need to feed, Utena-sama?” a redhead asked her with a sweet smile. “No, thank you,” Utena smiled back, “I just did last night.” “Darn,” she chuckled, “it's my turn next.” Utena laughed quietly. She pulled a uniform from her dresser and began to dress. She felt their hungry gazes upon her back and tried not to let her bother her. Still, it stirred her hungers, not the hunger for blood but for other pleasures. She had never known the joy that another's smooth form could grant, teasing and taming the raging hunger in others until quite recently. Occasionally, she wondered how it might feel to receive such pleasures, but the feeding was enough for her. At least, that was what she kept telling herself. A hammering at the door jarred Utena from such thoughts, and she felt a tiny bit or relief. A step, and she opened the door, recognizing the heartbeats of those who waited. `But why is it running so fast?' Utena wondered, moving to the door with a catlike grace. Anthy's clothes were messy, her hair out of it's bun and curling down her shoulders as she helped support a bleeding Kozue. Wide eyed, she gasped, “They've got her.” Utena felt a chill seize her, realizing that someone hadn't been there to greet her when she awoke. “Wakaba?” Utena whispered. Anthy saw the pain in her eyes and had to look away. “Yes,” she whispered. “How could you let this happen?” Utena demanded angrily, grabbing Anthy by the shoulders and shaking her, one of her followers grabbing Kozue before the badly dazed girl could fall to the ground. Her fangs gleamed in the dim light, and the other girls began to gather around, disturbed by their mistress' rage. "Wsn't her flt," Kozue slurred weakly. “The vampire was awake during the day,” Anthy answered, trying to stay as calm as possible. She drew the stake from her clothes, just in case. Utena was clearly startled by that. “But that isn't possible,” she said quietly, feeling a flash of shame at her rage. She released Anthy, stepping away from her in the hope of preventing such rough treatment again. “Possible or no, it happened,” Anthy answered. More quietly, “And she has other vampires in there with her, but I'm not sure how many.” “Was it Kanae?” Utena asked quietly. “I don't know for certain,” Anthy answered, “but her arm was burned in the sunlight, and she didn't even flinch.” "Mistress, I've stopped the bleeding," Hitomi said, one of the other girls kneeling beside her as they tended to the injured Kozue. "Thank you," Utena closed her eyes, lost in her thoughts a moment. “Stay here, I'll be back soon,” she finally said quietly to the room at large. “But, what about Wakaba? We have to go after her as soon as possible,” Anthy softly protested, feeling more than a bit guilty at leaving her with the vampire. “Stay here!” Utena barked, the command rolling across them all like a wave. Wakaba groaned softly, her entire body aching. She unsteadily pushed herself up from the floor, the world spinning wildly all around her. It was dark, pitch blackness all around her, and she fought to try and remember how she had gotten there. “Good evening, little one,” the emotionless voice said from nearby. Wakaba felt her heart skip a beat in fear as the memories began to slowly come back to her. `I know that voice,' she thought, turning her head to gaze up at where the sound had come from. The green haired woman sat comfortably, looking at her much the way a cat might watch an particularly interesting mouse. Her skin was bleached, as white as the finest parchment except for a red scar on her arm, and her eyes were pools of night. Wakaba could almost feel herself falling into those eyes, and had to look away to try to save her mind and soul. “Well done,” Kanae said with a tiny bit of amusement in her voice, “most people lack the wisdom to do that.” She got up to stand at Wakaba's side, pulling her to her feet in a single smooth motion. “Oww!” Wakaba yelped as Kanae tugged too hard. “Did that hurt?” Kanae asked her curiously. There was no real feeling in the question, no trace of concern. From her tone of voice it was like she was simply asking about the weather, if it would be sunny or not. Kanae let her go, and Wakaba barely managed to stay on her feet. “Yes,” she hissed, reaching up to rub at her sore shoulder. “I'm sorry,” the stone faced Kanae said. “I'm not interested in hurting you,” she said quietly, “that isn't the reason I'm doing this at all.” Behind her Wakaba could make out shapes moving slowly and she realized that there were vampires lining the walls, watching them with eyes filled with nameless longings. Wakaba looked at Kanae, her eyes wide. “But why...?” “Do you know what it's like, to be a vampire?” Kanae asked her dully. “We awaken each night, and the first thought is blood. I rest, and all I see is the faces of those that I have killed to survive. And my Akio-sama...” “I'm sorry,” Wakaba said softly. “Uhg,” she choked, a hand moving with inhuman speed to clamp on her throat. “All you are is a bag of hot blood to me,” a suddenly feral Kanae hissed at her, “so do not speak. Your very life depends on it.” Wakaba nodded, silently, and Kanae let her go. Wakaba fell backwards on her butt, and forcibly silenced her cry of pain, biting down on her lower lip. 'She really is insane,' Wakaba thought, biting her lip till it bled. “Akio-sama was made for me, made to be my eternal companion, but he is gone,” Kanae said softly. “I don't want to go on, but the vampire part of me is too strong. It wants to live, whatever the cost,” she murmured. Kanae closed her eyes fora moment, then opened them wide to stare at Wakaba. 'Not again,' Wakaba thought, trying desperately to look away. Casually Kanae looked away, ignoring the girl's sigh of relief. “None of the ones Akio created were strong enough, all of them fell under my will,” she said softly. “Please, let Utena be strong enough to resist, to free me from this damned existence,” much more softly, so Wakaba could barely hear, “free me from my Mother's curse.” "Oh Juri-sama," the little girl mewled softly in pleasure, shuddering as Juri drank deeply. Her nightie was thrust up to reveal wet thighs, her triangle of golden hair soaked by expert caresses. She sighed happily as Juri drew back fingers wet with her dew, sliding free of the girl's shuddering body. "Rest, little one," Juri ordered as she straightened her uniform, moving off into the night. "Yes m'lady," she managed before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep. Walking away from the building Juri felt the disturbance the new arrival made, but other than that she barely registered on her other senses. `Utena is really getting quite good at this,' she though, even as she said, “Good evening, Utena.” The wind blew across the roof they were standing on, the crescent moon rising slowly above them. “I need your help,” Utena said simply, nose twitching as she caught the scent of a sated female coming of Juri, fighting back her disapproval. Juri studied Utena, her lips curling up into a smile. “Help with what, I wonder?” Juri asked teasingly, only to be cut off by a soft snarl. “Don't play games with me, not now,” Utena said intensely. “That crazy bitch has my best friend,” she finished coldly. “Wakaba?” Juri asked, and Utena nodded grimly. “She has other vampires serving her,” Utena said softly, “and I'm going to need more than just Anthy's help to stop her.” After studying her a moment Juri looked away from Utena, softly answering her, “No, it's not my fight.” Utena clenched her hands, distress radiating off her as her thoughts raced. “I'll make you a deal,” Utena said softly, “I'll give you what you want, an equal.” “Yes?” Juri looked up, an intrigued expression on her face. “I will transform Shiori into a vampire,” Utena said quietly, “that way she'll be resistant to your control, free to love you if she so wishes.” “But she'll be under your control,” Juri frowned. Utena met Juri's eyes, “If I change her, I'll leave Ohtori soon afterward.” She looked away sadly, “I know I can't stay here, a barely tame killer.” Juri met her eyes silently, weighing the truth of her words. Finally, she nodded, “All right, I'll help you against Kanae.” They slid across the rooftops to Utena's dorm room, seeing Anthy pacing the small room like some caged lioness. Over on the bed Kozue slept, looking pale an ill in the dim light. Anthy frowned as she saw Juri follow Utena inside exclaiming, “You?” Anthy glared at Utena and demanded, “What is she doing here?” “She's here to help,” Utena answered crisply, not in any mood to debate. Juri smiled as she looked over at Anthy. Addressing Utena she purred, “She's quite attractive. Another member of your loyal harem, maybe?” “Loyal, yes,” Anthy answered her coldly, “but I am not one of her harem.” She looked over at Utena and asked plaintively, “Do we really need her?” Utena looked like she was getting a headache, “Yes.” Crossly, she added, “Let's go, please, before it's too late to try and save Wakaba.” Juri nodded, “You're right.” She looked over at Anthy, “Truce?” Anthy still didn't look terribly pleased, but she managed to say, “A truce, for Utena's sake.” She paused, "We have another problem, however." "What?" Utena demanded irritably. "That would be me," Nanami answered, the blonde emerging from the other room.
Back to Blood Soaked and Honor Bound: Reloaded Index - Back to Revolutionary Girl Utena Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction