The Jaws of Loneliness

Disclaimer: Yes, yes , yes, I know. Nether D nor Myel Link belong to me, as sad as it makes me. But the content is all my own accept anything referring to the actual plotline of Hideyui Kikuchi’s ‘Demon Deathchase’. Characters Merian and Belton are mine as well.

Again I tried to stick to Hideyuki Kikuchi’s style of writing, though, because I’m making this chapter a bit more romantic, I’m forced to stray a bit from that style. I hope you all enjoy this as much as the first chapter, perhaps even more.

Enjoy!

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In no Mood for Drama

Chapter 2

I

The two dark riders traveled side by side, traveling in no particular direction. The man all in black sat atop his horse, walking at an easy pace beside the drivers’ seat of the carriage. The man on the carriage leaned back against his seat, the springs creaking slightly with age. They rode in silence, the chill night air wrapped about them.

Any other person would look at the two and think them crazy to ride unprotected at night. Perhaps they would be too frightened to think about them though, for if you weren’t stupid, or extremely sure of yourself, you must surly be one to be feared. It wasn’t at all uncommon to see a vampire riding alone a night. Although to see a pair was rare, with the vampire race slowly disappearing, it was becoming uncommon to see two together, especially two who seemed to be so free of will.

With the lake far behind them along with all that transpired there, there seemed to be nothing to say between the two. The dark hunter, unaccustomed to company had nothing to say, and the Noble had already said what he needed to. If it wasn’t for the serene air of peace about them, you would have expected tension.

“Why did you stay D?” the vampire asked at length. “I wouldn’t have perused you if you had gone.”

The beautiful youth said nothing at first, leading the noble to think he would get no reply, but he was surprised when D’s soft voice reached his ears.

“Your horses needed tending, and I needed proof that the girl was dead. I fell asleep, that’s all.”

Myel Link chuckled softly and smiled to himself.

“I amuse you.” D said in a very, mater-of-fact tone.

“I’m just thinking about the look on your face when I found you asleep, I could have sworn you where smiling.”

D was didn’t reply, and they rode on in silence once more.

†

They stopped along a little brook in the forest to let their horses rest. Link stood with the horses, making sure they didn’t wander as D walked down the stream alone. The dark hunter bent down to the water and reached his hands in, feeling the water flow through his fingers before splashing it on his face.

“What do you think you doing?” came a very disgruntled and wet sounding voice from somewhere around D’s person. “Don’t tell me you’re going soft on me, aren’t you supposed to be killing him right about now? I mean c’mon, fraternizing with the enemy here, I’m surprised you didn’t stake his heart the first chance you got.”

“I’m not going to kill him.” D said calmly, still hunched over and staring at his reflection in the clear water.

“What do you mean your not gonna kill him, it’s kind of a part of being a vampire hunter you know, it’s in the job description.”

“I said, I will not kill him,” the tone of D’s voice left no room for further comment, not that that had ever stopped the obnoxious cancer from voicing it’s opinion.

“I just don’t know what’s with you anymore, if I didn’t know better I’d think you where going a little strange on me here.” The voice could still be heard as D stood and turned to walk back to the carriage. “I’m right, right D? You’re not getting all funny on me right?” D didn’t even acknowledge the comment. “Right D?” still no answer. “D?”

When D approached the chariot the vampire turned from the horses and looked at him, smiling. The beautiful hunter appeared not to notice as he hauled himself up onto is mount and took up the reigns. Spurring his horse on at a slow walk he turned and continued along the stream. The vampire climbed into the drivers’ seat of the carriage and stuck the reigns catching up to D before matching his pace.

“I will not be able to continue on much longer,” Myel Link said. “The sun will soon be rising.” He expected the silence he got from the hunter and was satisfied that he had just heard.

He knew that the hunter would eventually grow bored with him and either disappear or kill him. Whichever happened, the vampire wouldn’t be surprised.

“What will you do now, D?” he said looking up at the clear starry sky.

“I’m going to collect my reward, then look for work elsewhere.”

Link nodded to the simple reply. While he felt no guilt for the deaths he caused, he was ashamed for the charade to lure D to him. He hadn’t known what would come of their meeting, and he still didn’t know what was in the youths mind, but he had lived for centuries, and he has the patience to wait it out. He didn’t expect the hunter to travel with him much longer.

“We’d best stop here,” D said at last when the sun had begun to brighten the eastern sky.

“I suppose you’re right,” Myel confirmed reigning in and pulling his team to a halt.

He was surprised when the hunter stopped his own beast and dismounted. “Aren’t you going to go?” he asked in bewilderment.

“No,” was all that D said loosening one of the packs on his horse.

The vampire would have liked to have said more, but nothing would come to mind, and the sun was rising. At long last he retired to his carriage and lie down in his coffin, shutting the lid securely before letting his heavy, deathlike sleep fall over him.

†

D seemed to be off in his own world as he opened the bag he had taken from his horse. Looking inside he scrutinized the dwindling supplies before closing it back up and moving on to the next bundle to take inventory. He finally strapped his belongings back into place and looked to the sky which had already begun to brighten with the rising of the sun. Mind made up, he scanned the horizon best he could through the trees he settled on a direction and mounted his cyborg horse nudging it into motion.

He glanced back once at the obsidian coach before melting into the trees.

“That it, buddy, now you’ve got the right idea,” came the familiar voice from D’s left hand. “I knew you’d do the right thing in the end. Though, I still don’t know why you didn’t just kill him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The dark hunter said quietly.

The voice laughed. “Ah back to the dry humor, just like old times.”

Despite the continuing banter from the strange cancer, in D’s mind he road on in silence, listening to the birds waking chatter as the daytime world came back to life.

†

“What are you thinking, Belton?” came a harsh high pitched voice from the bushes. The sun was high in the sky by now and shining freely without a cloud to veil its light.

“I’m think’in on how good that dragon was last week,” said Belton in the general vicinity of the other voice.

“No, what are you thinking on that right there?” the other voice asked, general frustration in his tone.

“I’m wondrin why that shiny box be hav’in weel’s an things,” came the slow reply.

“Yes, and do you know what may be inside that box, Belton?”

“Some’tin that tasets good I’m hopin, Merian,” The lower voice said.

“Oh yes, quite delicious!” said Merian. “That’s a nobles cart, and unless I’m wrong—

“You’s never wrong, Merian,” Belton interrupted, crouched down in the shadows of the underbrush, his hulking form clearly visible to anyone who may have been in the area, whether they where paying attention or not.

The smaller form, hidden in the shadow of the other sighed in an irritated way before continuing. “Now, unless I’m wrong, there must be a noble in there.”

“And nobles be good tasting you think, Merian?”

“Oh yes, nobles be some of the best, Belton, but the trick is getting them out of their boxes.”

The larger body suddenly stood and barged into the clearing. “I can be get’in ‘im out of his box I can,” he said walking up to the black stagecoach.

The horses nickered uneasily and pawed the earth and shied away when the brutish form approached. The frightened team attempted to bolt from the creature approaching, round shoulders hunched around a large square head with a severely sloped brow. His torso was two thirds his height, supported by two stumpy legs as big around as tree trunks. A pair of small beady eyes peered our from under the dirty brow, over a flat nose, and a wide mouth that was grinning to reveal two rows of a broken yellow teeth.

As the coach moved away the creature reach out one arm almost as long as he was and grabbed a corner of the carriage, stopping it and the team dead in their tracks.

“Good work you old brute,” came the high voice approaching now from behind. The second character, quite the opposite from his brutish companion, was small and slight, having a very weasel like disposition and appearance. His wide black eyes darted around the clearing as he made his way to the carriage door and tried the handle.

“Belton, the door, please,” he said when the handle didn’t turn.

“Yes’er.” Said Belton letting go of the coach to reach for the door, but as soon as his grip lessened the horses sprang into motion to escape.

The hulking man opened his mouth in surprise, his eyebrows hooking up in disappointment as the vehicle escaped his grasp, but the carriage jerked and slowed suddenly to a stop as the horses ran off into the forest trail. There was a metallic clank as the bolt holding the team in place fell to the ground and Merian jumped down off of the coach, dusting off his tattered cloths.

“Some times I just can’t understand how you can even breath, Belton,” he said angrily walking over to the door.

It was impossible to know just when the slight man had moved, but his giant companion didn’t seem phased in the least. He just walked over to the door as he had been told and put his hand on the handle.

†


“What exactly is it that you’re looking for anyways?” asked the obnoxious carbuncle, spitting a second mouthful of gravel. Its next complaint was muffled as D reached up and grabbed another rock in the stone wall.

“I just want to get my bearings, I need to find a town to restock some supplies, besides the fact that I need to claim my dues from Charlotte’s sister before too long.

“I’ve never known you to forget where you where headed,” the voice said gruffly, spitting out another pebble.

“I’ve been distracted,” was all the beautiful you offered. “There,” he said catching sight of a familiar landmark in the distance. He looked down to the ground to make sure his path was clear and dropped the thirty feet easily to the ground. Straightening his cloak he remounted his stead and turned it around to head back the way he had come.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” said D’s left hand in protest, what are you doing, that’s the way we came.

“I am quite aware of that,” said D evenly.

“But, that’s back to…ah forget it.” It was probably the only time the strange growth had ever given up and silenced itself. “Do what you like, not like I can stop you, or talk any sense into you.”

After that last ignored comment everything became silent, and this time D road back towards the little clearing in real silence. He looked up once to note the suns progress toward noon, before setting his pace and making his way back.

†

“Come on you big brute, don’t tell me one little door is going to keep you out of a good meal,” said Merian standing by as his companion pulled on the stubborn door handle.

“It stuck good,” Belton said, the strain evident in his voice.

“Well don’t be afraid to get a little rough with it, bash it in.”

Belton stopped and looked down at his companion. He drew his great fist back and punched the door hard, though doubtfully with all of his strength. The coach skidded away a good twenty feet, almost tipping over before falling back down on all four wheels. The two approached the vehicle to inspect the damage. The door was dented brutally so that it bowed away from the jam at the top and bottom. The giant wrapped his massive fingers around the top half and pealed the door away like one would to an orange. He dropped the door with a loud clang and they both peered into the darkness.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, now was it, Belton?” asked Merian with a wicked grin as he looked into the darkness.

“Nope,” said Bolton proudly, already having forgotten the struggle before.

“Well what are you wait’in for? Reach in and pull out the coffin.”

With a grunt the larger creature reached into the rich confines of the carriage and grabbed hold of one side of the coffin and dragged it out into the light.

“Merian, why is there another box in the shiny box. There not more boxes in this one are there?” the larger creature asked his tiny companion.

“No, Bolton, dinner is in there, we just have to get it open.”

“Like clam fishes?”

“Yes, like clam fishes.” The smaller fellow said humoring his friend.

A bright smile spread over his companions face. “I like the clam fishes,” he said happily griping the coffin with both hands and trying to pry it open. “This is big clam fish.”

“CLAM!” Merian yelled at his companion. “It’s clam, no fish, just clam you stupid oaf. And give me that, you won’t be able to get it open, this takes actual skill!”

Belton looked genuinely hurt as he relinquished his grip on the coffin and let it fall to the ground. “Am not stupid oaf,” he said quietly frowning. “I likes the clam fishes.”

The scrawny man ignored the giant and began inspecting the lid of the coffin, taking his time, running his slender hands over the seam. The process was tedious and took time. Bolton eventually sat himself down in the dirt and pushed at the bent door, rocking it back and fourth absently.

A good hour passed before a loud click sounded and the lid released. With a triumphant whoop Merian stepped back and motioned for his companion to come over. Bolton, who had been trying to balance the broken door on his head, let it fall once more to the ground as he walked over.

“Okay, now open the lid fast and be ready, nobles can be nasty.”

Belton griped the coffin lid and heaved it off the box to fall some yards away with a loud clatter. Immediately a scream of pure agony erupted from the open coffin and the air was filled with smoke that smelled of burning flesh. A clawed hand reached out of smoke and caught hold of the giants arm, gripping hard, fingers digging deep into the hardened flesh. The large beast started and flung his attacker away to the dirt where it writhed horribly.

“Quick, Bolton, We have to get it fast or it will be no good,” said Merian, baring his sharpened teeth and nails and leaping for the struggling vampire that fought to regain some composure.

“I hope nobles is as good as you says they are,” said the giant lumbering toward his prey.

Myel Link gained his footing and faced the two characters that approached. He squinted his eyes through the agonizing sunlight, peering through the clouds of smoke that billowed out from the fold of his clothing. Clenching his sharp teeth through the pain he rushed the larger of the two driving his claws at the brute’s heart.

He came to a brain rattling stop when he came into contact with his enemy, his steeling nails stopped by what must have been diamond hard skin. He staggered back miserably, greatly weakened by the cruel sun overhead. The giant only chuckled and came on with a grin.

“D!” he cried out in pain. “Where are you, D!?” Glancing around the clearing, however, he saw no sign of the hunter or his horse. He must have thought better of the situation and left, he thought wretchedly.

Before he knew it, a new pain races up his arm and stabbed at his accursed heart. Looking down he saw the smaller of the two latched onto his arm, digging in his teeth and tearing a larch chunk of flesh from his arm.

The vampire cried out and fell back, tripping over the lid of his coffin. The two came on and he scrambled to his feet, fighting down the urge to gag on the smell of his own smoldering corpse. He turned and tried to flee into the trees but the giant caught him around the neck and lifted him from the ground. His crimson eyes widened in horror as his face was brought in close to that of his captor, the large monstrosities mouth opening wide enough to fit his head.

Link fought furiously against the vice like grip of the giant, but to no avail as its shadow fell over him, the only thing he could see was down the throat of the brute as his jaws began to close about him. Somewhere between his panic and the searing pain of his body being burned away by the sun his vision flared white and all went silent in his mind. The last thing he felt was something hard fall on his back before everything went dark around him. For a brief moment before he lost consciousness for the final time he felt no pain, he almost felt cool, like a wet blanket had just been thrown over him, and then there was nothing more.

†

Belton’s face contorted into a confused frown as he looked down at the familiar limb lying on the ground in front of him, stubby fingers still clutched around the prone form of the noble. He looked at his companion in bewilderment, hoping to find some clue as to what had just happened.

Something stung along his spine and he reached back to scratch his neck, opening his mouth as he did so to speak words that wouldn’t come. The eyes of his scrawny companion widened in shock as they watched the giants body slant oddly before peeling apart, directly down the middle and falling in two perfect halves on the ground.

D tore his heavy cloak from his shoulders and hurriedly threw it over the smoking form of the collapsed noble before turning to the thin man. Standing defensively between the two, the hunter lowered his sword and crouched down to strike.

In one fluid and invisible motion D’s sword swung in a practiced ark slicing through the center of Merian’s slight build. Or what looked to be the strange mans figure. D’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked around the clearing for a sign of his target.

A cool breeze swept the area, kicking up dust and stirring the leaves. D’s eyes sweeping the area once again he saw nothing until he herd a high pitched chuckling from the trees.

“It really is a shame that you killed Bolton there, the poor fellow didn’t seem to have a chance.” The beautiful youths eyes focused on a point where the voice was emanating from. “But you have killed him, which means that you must be incredibly strong, but will you have the strength to match it?”

D said nothing, his eyes trained on the exact spot he knew the odd fellow to be. “Normally, I wouldn’t bother with personally vendettas, but Bolton was a particularly good companion and it is a shame to lose him, though now I suppose not that he’s gone, more for me, so it’s not all bad I guess.”

D twitched slightly and dashed away towards the voice, but before reaching the tree his senses where focused on he disappeared from view completely, reappearing moments later in the center of the clearing facing the opposite direction.

“But, how did—

A heavy form fell from the branches of the tree D was facing, landing with an audible crack.

“I am in no mood and have no time for drama,” D said coldly, slipping his long sword easily into its sheath and bending down over the still form of the unconscious vampire. Myel Links sun stricken body was as light and felt as brittle as autumn leaves as D gently picked him up and carried him into the carriage setting him down on the luxurious bed that had been previously used by the young girl.

Turning up a lantern to shed light on the tiny room D went about securing the door by propping the lid of Links coffin against the opening and tearing apart a discarded dress to fill in the gaps. Silently satisfied he walked over to the vampire and sat down on the bed next to him, slowly peeling his cloak away to reveal the nobles stretched and horribly blistered skin.

Links face contorted momentarily as his eyes fluttered open. At first all he could see what white surrounding him, and a silence so complete he could feel it against his tingling skin. He figured he was dead, trapped in some endless detention without time, but slowly his senses began to come back to him. First was a blinding pain that started in his core and worked its way to his extremities. Next was the ringing that began to build in his ears, and last was the world beginning to dim around him and reveal his surroundings.

Slowly he was able to make out the familiar setting of his stagecoach, though a bit blurry, he recognized it easily. Then he noticed the dark silhouette hanging above him slowly becoming clearer to reveal a pale face and cold scrutinizing gaze.

The vampire’s voice came shallow and rasping like his breathing. “D?”

“I am here.” The dark hunter replied smoothly.

Link forced a thin smile that cracked the skin around his lips. “You came back,” he said weakly.

“I never intended to leave.”

The vampire nodded slightly and closed his eyes against the pain.

“Will you heal?” asked D stoically.

“In time,” was all the reply the noble could muster.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No,” Link took a deep rattling breath. “Once night falls I will be almost mended, and the night air will help then. All I need now is rest.”

D nodded as Links eyes blinked open before closing one more time, he waited for the labored breathing to stop before standing and reaching for his cloak. Stretching it once more over the vampire, D moved to the exit, making ready to go back outside, but was caught mid step.

The hunter stopped and looked down at the emaciated ivory hand that clutched at his arm, extending out from under the inky folds of his cloak.

“Please stay with me,” came the weak voice from under the cover.

D stood in silence for a long time, as if weighing his options before at last turning and pulling up a chair next to the plush bed. He tossed his hat on a small table beside a single shuttered window before pulling his cloak down from the nobles face. Taking Links hand delicately in is own he gently returned it to the vampire’s site.

“I will stay,” he said in his cool tone, there was no reply from the corpse in front of him.

He sat quietly for a long time, listening to the silence of the carriage as he felt the sun beginning to sink lower in the sky. What he did next, however, not even he had expected as he reached a pale hand down and placed it on Myel Links blistered temple and smoothed back his silver hair. Leaning down slowly he placed his smooth ivory lips against the feted skin where his hand had just been and gently kissed the vampire before leaning back in his seat.

He didn’t know when he had dozed off, but when he woke, his chin resting on his chest as he slouched in his chair, he found the nobles crimson eyes peering up at him through layers of flaking burnt skin.

Looking at his own reflection in the hunters dark eyes he reached up and pulled a large flake of skin from his face, holding it before his eyes.

“I suppose I could use a bath,” he said, his usual humor returning to his eyes.

“Feeling better I see.” D said dryly, rising up from his chair and retrieving his hat.

“Where are you going?” the vampire asked sitting up stiffly from his bed, leaving behind a trail of skin that drifted down to the satin cover like snow.

“We need to recover your team.”

“Ah,” the noble replied. “I believe my joints could use some movement, is it alright if I join you?”

“Suit yourself,” D said mildly, pulling the makeshift door away and walking out into the night air.

Link hefted himself up and followed, feeling much better as soon as the moonlight touched his face.

“I doubt they’ve gone far,” the hunter said bending down to inspect the tracks of the frightened animals.

Myel wasn’t listening as he stared down at the body of the giant that had had him by the throat. He shuddered noticeable at the memory of looking down the creature’s gullet and thinking about what would have happened if the beautiful youth had been only a moment later. Looking across the clearing he saw the body of the other smaller adversary lying on the ground severed from one shoulder to the opposite hip.

“Are you coming?”

The vampire jumped and looked back at D who stood at the head of the path that marked the passage of the carriage team. The vampire nodded and walked over to the hunter who turned and began to follow the tracks of the runaway horses.

†

It had been two hours since they had found the team grazing contently a mile down the little forest road. Once they returned to the coach they did their best to repair the door and placed the heavy coffin back inside. After they where ready they traveled on down the road until they smelt a faint sent of sulfur on the wind and stopping at a group of hot water springs just off the trail. Letting the horses wander freely D assisted the vampire as he removed his armor and clothing.

The burnt skin was turning black and falling away revealing fresh ivory like skin underneath. D tended the animals as Myel Link lowered himself into the steaming water with a hiss of pleasure.

Finishing his task the hunter approached the pool behind Link and stared down at the vampire, his face an expressionless mask. D watched in a kind of silent daze and Link scrubbed the last bits of burnt flesh from his skin. His new skin so pale and flawless that he seemed to glow in the moonlight.

Myel link stared down at his hands, fingertips just above the water, unaware of the gaze on his back. He seemed lost in himself, perhaps still reeling from a near ‘death’ experience, or perhaps from the fact that someone had actually saved him. It would have been so easy for the hunter to have stood by and let the monsters finish him off.

The noble, lost in thought, jumped suddenly as he was unexpectedly pushed forwards as something hard and cold slid down his back. Two strong arms draped around him and strong yet delicate hands wrapped around his and pulled them to his chest. Twisting around in the hard grip he found his face only inches away from the hunters.

They stared at each other for a long time, the same look of shock and fascination spread over both there faces until the smallest smile broke out from D’s soft lips and a grin came over Myel’s vampiric visage.

At long last the noble allowed himself to relax in the arms of the hunter, leaning his head back against the other man’s shoulder. He felt cold lips press against his adams apple and shivered in spite of the hot water.

Twisting himself around to face the hunter, Myel Link folded his arms around D’s narrow shoulders and pulled himself close, burying his face in the hunter’s neck, neither of them even thinking of what the gesture could possibly implement.

“I think I am in love with you, D,” the vampire said quietly, holding on tightly to the hunter’s strong frame.

D didn’t saw anything, but the way his arms tightened noticeably about the noble’s shoulders was answer enough.

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Once more I say that I hope you liked it. I would love to continue this, and if I get enough people wanting more, I just might. But I am afraid that my well of ideas is getting a little tired in this. These characters are just hard for me to write for.

Anyone can feel free to make suggestions to help me get going; otherwise I’m afraid this may be the end.

Thank you for reading!!

Valicetra