Chapter 33

As we listened to the church bells toll, Vlad asked me if I could tend to his wounds, so we went back to his castle.

Kira

"Sorry I took so long. I had to borrow the first-aid kit from Carlos." "Also, Flynn gave me some suspicious medicine... Let me see."

Vlad

"Go ahead."

Vlad sat on the bed as I unbuttoned his shirt. I touched his skin, but I didn't see any wounds anywhere. They're all healed...He lied because he didn't want me to leave…

Kira

"You're so unfair."

Vlad

"I know."

Vlad chuckled that I'd fallen into his sweet trap and tugged me towards him. He pinned me down onto the bed, my back pressing against the soft sheets. As he looked down at me, he caressed my cheek as if he were touching something precious.

Vlad

"Kira…" "I want you to know this is the kind of man you fell in love with."

He took off his shirt and I saw a painful looking scar right over his heart. That's where he got stabbed by the spear… He noticed my gaze and guided my fingertips to the scar--the only scar on his entire body.

Vlad

"The man you fell in love with has a body like this. He's a different creature from you. But…"

He murmured, smiling as beautifully as a freshly bloomed rose. His smile stole my heart, like it had so many times.

Vlad

"Kira, I can't let you go ever again. Because I waited for you for so long."

Kira

"Mm…"

He kissed me passionately, over and over again. Our bodies melted together--I was so caught up in the moment I didn't even care about being shy.

Kira

"Ahh!"

I wrapped my arms around his neck with pleasure and he said in a voice as sweet as sugar…

Vlad

"Kira, look at me."

I slowly turned my gaze towards him. Soft moonlight lit up his face. He looked so happy and sad at the same time. So many bittersweet emotions were on his face my heart thumped like mad. This is love. If this wasn't love, I didn't know what was. We had so much love in our eyes there were no words to describe it. Our bodies pressed against each other tightly.

Kira

"Mm, ahh...!""

I felt like I was drowning in pleasure, but Vlad held me tightly so I didn't get lost.

Vlad

"Kira…"

And he let me know with his whole body that he was the only one who could both break me and protect me. I felt bliss like I'd never experienced before. And all I could think about was him.

~~~~

When I woke up, I realized it was still nighttime. Vlad wasn't in bed. I looked around and saw him sitting in a chair gazing at something. He was staring at that faceless portrait-of me, from that snowy day. As the pale moonlight shone on his face, he looked so peaceful. I wondered if he was thinking about how long he'd searched for me. Hey, Vlad? I know that the dangerous side of you hasn't disappeared. I might lose sight of you again someday. But...He suddenly glanced over at me, his crimson eyes softening with affection. I'll find you, over and over again. No matter what. I'll find your heart.

~~~~~

The day after Christmas, the snow stopped falling and things went back to normal. Or at least... I hoped they would.

Carlos

"How can we steal Kira away, Docteur?"

Flynn

"I don't want any trouble. Maybe we can just lock her up in the castle?"

When I woke up this morning, I went to go back home to mansion when Vlad gave me a puzzled look, and then this happened. I have work to do at the mansion, I need to repay them for everything they've done to me. So I told them I have to go home. But before I knew it, the three of them were plotting how they could kidnap me. Normally you can't get them to agree on anything, but they're on the same page for this?!

Vlad

"Kira won't like it if we do anything forceful."

Kira

"What?"

Vlad

"Oh, I know! Let's all go to the mansion. We can talk it over and I'm sure they'll understand."

Before I knew what was happening, I was being dragged into a carriage. And the vampires from the castle faced off with the vampires from the mansion… I was very nervous and found myself gulping. This doesn't feel like it'll be a peaceful discussion at all! Nicholas broke the silence.

Nicholas

"What you had planned may be one way of solving it. But just because I understand it doesn't mean agree with it." "...But you've changed because of Kira, haven't you?"

Vlad

"Yes." "And I need her by my side to watch over me."

Vlad and Nicholas stared at each other. Suddenly I heard footsteps.

Gabriel

"I've heard what you have to say, but I have a responsibility to her for bringing her here."

Kira

"Comte…"

Gabriel

"I just got back, Kira. I heard everything from Sebastian."

Le Comte had returned from negotiations to help the less fortunate, and got the debate rolling again.

Vlad & Gabriel

"We'll have to talk about it."

And talk about it they did…The sun had gone down a long time ago and everyone was exhausted.

Finally, things were wrapping up.

Sebastian

"All right, let me summarize our meeting. Kira will live here in this mansion for a while and go visit Vlad." "She will notify le Comte when she will be staying over at Vlad's. Does everyone agree?"

Gabriel

"I have no objections."

Vlad

"..."

Flynn

"Heheh. It was worth coming here to see the old geezer's frustrated face."

Carlos

"Docteur, was that your real reason for coming here? Honestly…"

Everyone smiled at each other. Just then, the door to the dining room swung open.

Sander

"..."

Kira

"Sander…!"

Theo

"What do you want, Sander?"

Kira

"Theo! I called him here."

Theo

"You did?"

Sander

"Calm down. 'Tis true that Kira called me here, but fear not, I shan't be staying long."

Gabriel

"..."

Sander's mismatched eyes wavered for a split second and then he turned his gaze on le Comte.

Sander

"Comte... I have committed unforgivable sins in the name of my craft." "I was almost too ashamed to come here…"

Gabriel

"Will, I was just thinking about opening another bottle of wine. Will you come choose one with me?"

Sander

"...Pardon?"

Gabriel

"You're very good at choosing wines, right? And there are so many bottles in the cellar, I can't possibly pick by

myself." "Also... Welcome home."

Sander suddenly looked at Vlad. Vlad stared back at him and said in a voice so casual you'd think he was asking about the weather.

Vlad

"Live and suffer, so that you may write more plays that will touch the hearts of humans, Will."

Sander

"My…lord..."

Vlad

"I truly do love your plays. Also…"

Vlad didn't speak it out loud, but he was smiling gratefully at Sander. Gabriel stole away from the gathering and stared at the door he'd made so long ago. Just then, Vlad walked up--with whom he'd made the door--and silently stood there.

Gabriel

'I'm sure you know, but the space beyond the door is still warped. It cycles from being stable to being unstable, over and over."

Vlad

"...Yes, I know."

Gabriel

"I tried to find out why it was doing this, but I couldn't. But…" "I think that every time we revive someone who has died before, the path through time-space becomes more and more unstable." "All because we tried to make a flower that would never wither."

Vlad

"..." "Comte. I've been thinking."

~~~

Hm? Where did Vlad and le Comte go? We just opened the wine. I walked down the hallway searching for them when I heard familiar voices.

Vlad

"Comte, I've been thinking. I can't change the things I've done, just like we can't change the past." 'I interfered with people's lives and took them, because of my self-righteousness. I can't change that fact."

Vlad stared down at his hands which had shed so much blood, then clenched them into fists.

Vlad

"But...I can't abandon my dream to save the world. I'll protect this beautiful world no matter what." "So if it looks like things are falling apart, I'm going to do whatever I can to stop it."

I know just how determined Vlad is. Because that day…

Flashback

Vlad

"Kira, I…" "I love this world...to the point of madness." "So I want to do everything I can to change the future and protect it."

Flashback Ends

I only felt a fragment of the loneliness and sadness he'd felt for an eternity from his trembling fingertips. What can I do to ease that deep sadness? What can I do to help Vlad protect the world? Just then, Vlad noticed me. Perhaps he hadn't wanted me to hear his conversation. So l pretended I hadn't heard, and ran up to them.

Kira

"We opened up the wine but couldn't find you guys. What were you talking about?"

Vlad

"Hm? That there's no telling what I'll do if you let me out of your sight."

Vlad gave me an innocent, yet mischievous grin.

Vlad

"So what'll you do?"

He had searched for me for an eternity. What could I do for him?