Colour Me Blood Red

I use both spelling of Faerie in this, so I think I better clarify. To me "Faerie" is the actual creature, "Fairy" is Akaya using the Hollywood term to be sarcastic.

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CHAPTER 29

The wind had picked up, forcing people deeper into their jackets as they made their way to vehicles and bus stops. Chitose went back to the parking lot where he knew his car and a certain little blond were waiting for him. When Kenya was trying to follow an energy trail he preferred to stay away from all other sources so as not to confuse himself.

His dark car was parked smack dab in the middle of the parking lot, surrounded by pools of light from the surrounding spot lights. The interior light was on in the car as Kenya flipped through a magazine, he had leaned the drivers seat as far back as it would go and propped his knee up against the steering wheel.

“Yo,” Chitose opened the driver side door to let the other male out.

Kenya nodded as he slipped out, “have fun?” He flipped the drivers seat back up and threw his magazine onto the passenger seat.

Chitose grinned, “I met your little friend.”

“Friend?” Kenya frowned.

“Kirihara Akaya,” Chitose fought to keep his grin casual but failed brilliantly.

Kenya snorted, “ah, him.” He slammed the car door.

“He’s getting stronger Kenya, he actually threw off my suggestion.” Chitose turned so he was leaning against the door.

Kenya’s dark eyebrows rose into his hair line, he whistled lowly, “there aren’t too many that can do that!”

Chitose crossed his arms and frowned slightly, “I know, only you, Shiraishi, and Gin can throw it off, I’ve never met a non-psychic that can do it. He’s getting more powerful, but I don’t think that’s a good thing.”

Kenya shook his head, “neither do I, but look, we can talk to Shiraishi about this later, I need to find that energy signature before it fades.”

Chitose unfolded his arms and held them out at his sides, stepping away from the car enough to let Kenya slip behind him if he needed to. Kenya closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, centering himself. He stepped close to Chitose, face mere inches from the other male’s exposed neck. He didn’t really need to be that close, but with the other strong strings Chitose had attracted it was easier for his concentration to be so close to them. He ghosted his hands over Chitose’s arms, feeling the energy that was stuck there. It was like he was covered in different coloured strings, all glowing with an internal brightness. The darker ones were the Vampires; dark didn’t mean evil, it just meant stronger. He found the strongest threads and brushed them off with a wash of his own energy.

Chitose’s head fell back when he felt Kenya start to clear away the energy he didn’t need. It was like a warm hand brushing along his skin, gentle enough to only lift the hair on his arms. Kenya’s breath drifted down his neck as he turned his head, all his senses working to locate the right energy. His eyelids fluttered as he concentrated, lashes rubbing the tops of his cheeks.

After peeling away the Vampires energy like layers of clothing he was able to identify the Hunters. He recognized Kirihara’s energy instantly; the vibrant red string took a large pulse of his own energy to dislodge. A tremor went through Chitose’s shoulders and a moan was ripped from his throat.

“Don’t enjoy it too much,” Kenya scoffed.

Chitose chuckled, a deeper masculine sound from his normal light tone. “Same to you.”

Kenya rolled his eyes and slowly moved down Chitose’s chest, hands trailing down his sides. The normal human energy was easy to find and easy to remove, it was thin and wispy like cobwebs or pieces of silk. A few light psychics were in the crowd, their energy a bit brighter than the average.

When he got to Chitose’s waist he clicked his tongue, it was a little hard to miss the bulge in the front of the male’s jeans. “You’ve got to be kidding me, ‘cause this isn’t awkward enough as is!”

Chitose chuckled again, “come on man, you know I like blonds.”

“And brunets, and red-heads, and-“

“I like blonds the MOST! You know, you can always give me a hand …or another pretty little piece of your anatomy,” Chitose grinned and shrugged.

“How about, no?” Kenya rocked back onto his heels, using mostly his hands to feel the energy around Chitose’s hips and upper legs.

“You’re no fun.”

“That’s the point.” Using only his hands was a little more difficult, but it worked in a pinch. Down the one side of Chitose’s leg he found something weird. The energy was dark, evil dark, but it felt like two different signatures had been twisted together. He reached out with his mind for the energy, and as soon as it met a jolt of power went through him.

Chitose cried out in pain and fell back against the side of the car. “What the hell was that!?”

Kenya picked himself up from where he had fallen back, dusting off the seat of his pants. He shook his head, “fuck if I know. I’ve never felt anything like that.”

Chitose brushed nervously at his pants, “did you get it off?” He found out the hard way that if Kenya didn’t get the energy off and his own body couldn’t cycle it through it started affecting his own moods. Some made him more depressed, some made him hyper active; but mood-swings weren’t always the worst side effects.

Kenya shook his head, “not yet, knocked me on my ass before I could.” He shook his hands at his sides, not really keen on going another round with that piece of energy.

Chitose bit his lip and braced himself on the car, “get it off.”

Kenya leaned in again, both hands hovering over Chitose’s leg. His limbs still tingled from the first time, but he leaned in close anyway, searching out the energy again. The energy was pulsing and rolling, almost like it was agitated. He reached out with his own powers again and grabbed it with his metaphysical hands. A jolt ran through both of them but he didn’t let go. Using every gift he was born with he pushed his energy through the link he had built to it and forced it from Chitose’s body. The male screamed and collapsed to his knees, panting.

“It’s off.” Kenya panted heavily, vision wavering. He had never felt anything like that. He eased himself back to sit on the ground; he didn't have as far to fall that way incase he passed out.

“Yeah, I noticed that, it felt like the worlds biggest leach being pulled off my leg.” Chitose rubbed his leg. “The question is now, can you use it?”

Kenya leaned back on his hands, trying to catch his breath, “oh yeah, I would recognize that power anywhere now.”


“He’s a mother fucking fairy!?” Kirihara broke into peals of laughter, he couldn’t help it! The image of Tinkerbell floated around his head and he broke into a whole new round of hysterical giggles.

Tezuka cleared his throat, “yes, but he refuses to tell anyone which Court. I doubt even Shiraishi knows.”

“Oh that’s rich,” Kirihara snickered. He’s a fairy, a freaking fairy!

“His family has a long history of breeding with super natural beings.”

“So is the Fairy Princess right from the mound, or is he like, one hundredth generation kind of thing?”

Tezuka sighed, maybe he shouldn’t have told him, “sixth I believe.” It was a little too late now.

“So his Faerie powers are still pretty strong?” He was trying really hard to take it seriously, really, really hard.

Tezuka hummed in agreement, “strong enough that I trust him to find whomever’s energy he’s picked up.”

“I don’t know a lot about Fae, but is it common for them to be readers like that?” The humor slowly drained from Kirihara’s voice out of sheer curiosity.

“Fae abilities range so much that it’s hard to know what they are able to do, especially with the Oshitari family. There are so many witches and psychics in it, it’s hard to tell where he gets his ability from,” Tezuka explained.

“Please tell me he doesn’t have wings,” Kirihara snickered; he could only handle being serious for so long. A freaking Fairy!

“…No.” Tezuka was contemplating hanging up when Kirihara’s quiet voice came back, sobered.

“What do we do now Tezuka-san?”

Tezuka sighed, “I don’t know Akaya, I really don’t.” He hung up the phone after the little Hunter said good-bye. It was true; he didn’t know what to do. He rested his elbows on the desk and ran his fingers through his hair.

They were following leads that were slowly drying up, or going too deep. Only so much was known about the Witch, and he couldn’t keep putting Shinji on the front lines. He had to live in that world; they didn’t, so he couldn’t be forced to stir too much up. Without asking other Witches there was no way to find the one they were looking for. Ancient Vampires were appearing and disappearing, yet Sanada and Atobe couldn’t find them. They had their own problems to look after, and their own jobs. Atobe’s clubs couldn’t run themselves, and Sanada’s business didn’t represent itself. They wanted to keep Yagyuu as far out of it as possible, afraid that their enemies had deemed him the weakest link. It was almost impossible to curse a Vampire, unless he was young in the blood. That also meant that he was weak as far as Vampires go. He was put on guard duty to keep Kirihara safe, but to also keep him out of the deeper circuits of their world.

Tezuka sighed, for a while he thought he had been onto something. He had seen a file in Sanada’s books about a Vampire from before even Sanada’s time that had tried to gather the strongest humans and Vampires for her collection. He thought it could be a lead, until he spoke with Sanada and found out she had been put to death. Burned and the ashes were scattered.

Dead end. No pun intended.

Would sending his Hunters into the underworld really help them? He didn’t know. Shiraishi had always been able to scratch up some information from his sources, but lately he had been too busy helping Tezuka. They needed more man-power to work the underworld thoroughly.

His Hunters were strong, they could handle themselves.

He shook his head; he knew they were strong, but he was scared for them. What if they weren’t strong enough?

Next time his Hunters went out he was going with them. Instead of chaining himself to his desk and pouring over stacks and stacks of papers he was going to put in the foot work too. He couldn’t handle sitting back while they put their lives on the line! What if they weren’t strong enough and it was only his abilities that saved them? He didn’t want to be on the sidelines any longer and deal with the guilt of what if.

The phone rang and Tezuka jumped in shock. Fumbling with the phone he managed to answer it on the fourth ring.

“Tezuka speaking.”

“You sound breathless, did I catch you at a bad time?”

Tezuka rolled his eyes, “no you didn’t Atobe, the phone just startled me.”

The Master chuckled, “I received your message, you wished to speak to me?”

“Is now a good time?” Tezuka leaned back in his chair.

“Of course, but something tells me this conversation may take a while. Why don’t you come up to my summer home? I’m staying there while they repair the building for my new lair,” Atobe purred.

Tezuka leaned forward again, Atobe was being awfully friendly, “a phone call will be fine.”

He heard Atobe snort, “if that is what you wish. What is it that you needed to speak to me about?” His tone was suddenly less friendly.

“I need your cooperation and Sanada’s cooperation for this. You know everything that has happened to my Hunters, we’re running out of leads so I need to get them into your underworld to-“

“No.”

“I beg your pardon?” Tezuka was taken aback.

“You are asking me to let your murderer’s into our sanctuary?” Atobe hissed.

Tezuka’s temper flared, he really wasn’t in the mood for one of Atobe’s hissy fits, “Murderer’s? That’s funny coming from a creature who feeds on humans …” An animalistic growl leaked out of the phone and Tezuka chuckled, “growling now? I thought a reaction so human was below you.”

“Watch your tongue Tezuka. If you want the entrances, I want something in return.”

Tezuka paused, “and what is it that you want?” Now was the time to play cautiously, knowing Atobe, it could be anything.

“Come to my home and let us bargain there.” Dial tone.

Tezuka cursed and hung up the phone. He only hoped Sanada would be more agreeable. He didn’t like dealing with Atobe, but there were times where he had no choice. Now was one of those times.


Yohei crouched down and hissed at the dark figures circling him, he scampered back when they tried to close in on him and pressed his back to a wall. The little home he had found was abandoned, but it was clean and nothing was broken. The ‘For Sale’ sign outside swung in the breeze; it meant he had to be careful about where he hid during the day because humans sometimes showed up to look around.

A dark figure lunged at Yohei and he leapt over a stack of boxes and scurried to the other end of the room. He tried to make for the door but another cloaked figure stood in his way.

“What do you want?!” He shrieked.

Kite Eishirou flipped down his hood, “you’ve been very naughty, the Mistress isn’t pleased with you.”

“It’s none of your business!” He bared his teeth and skittered backwards again, trying to get a wall behind him.

Akutsu rolled his eyes and took a drag off his cigarette. He was perched in the stairwell, back against the wall and a knee braced on the railing. “You’re right, it’s not our business, but I’d rather not piss Her off, I don't know about you.”

“You don’t understand!” Yohei shook his head frantically, “he killed my brother!” He thumped his chest, “my brother!”

Kite stepped closer, hands held out to try to sooth the agitated Fledgling, “we understand that Yohei-kun, but you know She doesn’t. You’ve almost ruined Her plans, and you know She’s waited a long time for this.”

“I never killed anyone She was interested in!” Yohei yelled in defense.

“She wants the young one …”

Yohei shook his head, eyes wide and crazed, “no! No! He’s mine! Mine!”

“Tanaka …” Akutsu drawled, stretching out his long legs to come off the steps. The little Fledgling spun to face him.

Kite waved Akutsu off, “Yohei-kun, please, until She completes her plans, we need you to stop murdering those families.”

Yohei nodded, “fine, I won’t hurt anyone else. But I want the one that killed my brother!”

Kite bowed his head, “all in due time.”

“What does She want him for anyway?” Yohei growled.

Kite’s lip curled up in a smirk, “you know She never shares Her master plans with us, we are but mere pieces for Her to play with.”

Yohei hissed at a cloaked Vampire getting too close to him, “She’s been shielding a lot of you, how many did you bring into the city?” He eyed the Vampire beside him and sank to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees.

Kite tilted his head as he thought, “a few.”

Sengoku Kiyosumi flipped down his hood, stepping out of the doorway he had blocked Yohei from leaving through. “Kite, are your guys gathering more Vamps?”

Kite nodded, “and you are gathering humans?”

Akutsu snorted in disgust, “I still don’t get why She wants us to gather those useless humans, are we not enough?”

Kite hissed at him, “you question Her? You know very well why She wants the humans!”

Muromachi Toji winked at Yohei before flipping down his own hood, “day time attackers. Test the Masters to see if they are weak during the day. If they're weak she doesn't want them,” he shrugged. They all knew little snippets of her plans, but not enough that if they were caught her ideals would be endangered.

“What about the Witch and the Shape Shifter?” Akutsu pointed his cigarette at Muromachi.

“Humans are expendable, that is why she has chosen ones that no one will notice if they go missing. The Witch is too important to her plans,” Kite explained.

“She seems awfully damn interested in those human Hunters for something so expendable,” Akutsu snorted.

“Her servants are expendable, not Her Hunters. She has seen what Atobe has done, and wants Her own army of powerful Humans."

Akutsu took a threatening step towards Kite, “you seem awfully informed for someone who She doesn’t share plans with!”

Kite took a step back, hands at his sides, “She does not share her complete plans with anyone, you know that, but if one is there to listen, She will share small details.”

Akutsu snorted and shook his head, walking back to the steps to slump down on them again. “Fucking bullshit.”

“So we’re just going to follow Her instructions without knowing what She’s really up to?” Muromachi looked between Akutsu and Kite. He was only with Akutsu because of Sengoku, but he knew that Kite was stronger than Akutsu and had Her ear. He wasn’t sure what he would do if Akutsu wanted to go against Her; was his loyalty to Sengoku enough to risk his life for?

Akutsu shrugged, “might as well, even I'm not stupid enough to go against Her.”

Muromachi sighed in relief.

“I don’t truly believe Sanada-san was stupid enough to believe my story, but he does not know why I’m here. I’m going to have to stay in hiding as much as possible, that way if they send someone to find me, it will not lead them to you,” Kite said.

Everyone nodded.

“My group has been moving through the underworld, they are finding young ones with the characteristics She wants. We are building Her a small army,” Kite continued.

“Is she going to over throw Sanada?” Yohei spoke up again, sitting up on his knees.

Kite shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“So the Assassin gets to hide in the shadows while the rest of us do the work?”

Kite hissed at Akutsu, “I’d trade places with you in an instant, but she wanted me in here with Sanada’s knowledge!”

Akutsu frowned, “why?”

“To bring his attention to me while everyone else gets their jobs done. Make him put all his effort into finding out who I am and what I'm really here for.” Kite said pointedly, reminding everyone that they had something better to be doing.

“Watch the magic trick going on over here while I pull a switch off stage,” Muromachi waved his hands like he was casting a spell over a hat.

“Will it work?” Akutsu frowned and glanced between the Vampires.

“You’re still alive are you not?” Kite raised an eyebrow.

“She let one of Sanada’s Vamp’s get one of your Fledglings, Tanaka here was just lucky he’s not powerful enough to be followed.” Akutsu crushed the filter of his cigarette under his heel.

Kite glanced at the child Vampire on the floor and glared, “they went against her plans, they forfeit her protection.”

Yohei scrambled back, shaking his head frantically, “no! I’ll be good!”

Kite’s expression softened, “I’m not here to punish you, that is up to her. As long as you don’t cause any more problems you’ll be fine.”

Yohei bowed low, almost groveling, his revenge was more important than his pride, “what do you want me to do?”