M.A.I.

She leaned heavily on his arm, a hand held to her mouth to hide the soft giggle. It was the start of the 1600's and Maria had decided to settle in Japan for a while. The only factor that made her change her roaming ways was Daniel. Here his name was Hiroshi Kumiko, and she was his newly acquired wife as far as society was concerned. Obviously they could not have a ceremony but they had bonded in the most intimate way that a vampyre could. To all other outward appearances, they were a happy wealthy couple that had moved from a less prosperous part of the world. Well, a correction to that also. Maria, know in this time as Amaya Kumiko, was from another part of the world. Daniel was one of their own.

He was of Asian decent, his features fitting in with the many others that lived in this part of the world. He only had a slight difference, both he and his wife were more beautiful then any other around. The masses seemed drawn to them, wanting only to please them when they stepped out of their home. This night was no different. A fine sheen of water covered everything as it had rained right before dusk. Tonight Amaya wore a long silk kimono with sleeves that fell past her hands and her waist was cinched tightly with an obi. They had just entered what was known as the “Edo Period” and she loved it. Never had a dress been so comfortable. The only thing she hated was having to do her hair up. She had no need of makeup for her face was pale, her lips dark, and her eyes large. She was everything a man idolized in those days. Men wanted to be with her, women wanted to be her. Amaya was on top of the world, yet still she was not totally happy.


Hiroshi patted her hand and looked her over out of the corner of his eye. He remembered their first meeting as if it had happened only a few days ago when in fact, it had been about ten years. That was long for mortals but it may as well been yesterday for them. She was beautiful and stubborn and he knew that he had to have her affections. He wanted her as who she was, not what she looked like. The best part was that she was one of his kind so he had no fear of losing her as he did with mortal women. He paused in the street and cupped her face with his free hand. She looked up at him with surprise and happiness in her eyes. Hiroshi had kissed her then, feeling her return his kiss with pleasure as his mind wandered back to their first meeting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a hot night in late June and Hiroshi was on the hunt for a victim. He had wandered into the poorer section of town because nobody seemed to care should a worker go missing. It did not take him long ti find his victim that night, the smell of freshly spilt blood had drawn him to it. A darkened ally was full of the pungent smell of vomit and piss, the light smell of human blood drifted in it as well. He was dressed sharply, a new yukata covered his body, it’s pattern a simple leaf pattern. Hiroshi worked his way past a few piles of trash, a few sleeping homeless and then finally he found it. A body lay in the middle of the ally, drained of most of it’s blood. The skull was crushed in and he could see that a small blade lay dangling in outstretched fingers.

The man was dead obviously but what had killed him? A loud crashing sound could be heard around a darker corner and he ran after it. No mear human could have done this. Was it one of the pack he had living in his home? If so then why had Louis not informed him of the need for his family to hunt this night? It was not yet the full moon. If he found this to be killing out of pure fun, he would have the head of the perpetrator, pact with Louis be damned. His feet almost slid out from under him as he rounded the corner and had to stop.

She was curled in the darkness like a panther ready to strike out should any venture too close. He could smell her already. Not one of Louis’ clan, in fact, not one of his kind at all. He smelled Vampyre on her and that could only mean one thing. Someone was making new vampyres and letting them run wild on his territory. Hiroshi’s eyes grew red and he went to reach for the poor ragged thing, wanting to end her suffering quickly. Imagine his surprise when she fought back. She fought hard and caught him off guard completely. Here he had been expecting this poor weak thing to snap at his whim and she had nearly taken off his arm. Hiroshi hardly had time to think before she was after him again.

Her slender fingers went for his eyes and face while her feet kicked outward to try and knock him over. He caught her hands easily and then pulled her against him, meaning to crush her into darkness with his arms. Something made him look down as his arms tightened. Could it be that she was sobbing? No, there was no way that an insane hell cat such as this one was able to feel anything. Regardless, he looked down at that was his undoing. Red hair was tangled about her face and shoulders, mats and knots all over. She had tipped her face up to him, large violet eyes made him draw in a breath.

Even though her hair was dirty along with her body, her mouth was still rimmed with her nights feed, and her eyes showed him that she was near her breaking point, he was captivated with her. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for something. Hiroshi stroked her hair softly and held her close. Looking at her deep red lips, he bent and dared to kiss them gently. He whispered to her, reassuring her, wanting her to be at peace. “Don’t worry, I will protect you.” He pulled back at her sharp intake of breath as she gazed up at him in awe. One word left her lips before she passed out. Iram.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hiroshi? What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face?” Her voice pulled him out of his musings and back to reality. He shook his head and then caressed her cheek once more. “I was simply thinking of the past my love....and the future.” He had added that last part in so as to calm the apprehensive look on his loves face. God he loved her, he only wished that she shared the depth of what he had to give her. They kept walking, a vendor selling sweet ice offered one to Amaya and she took it gladly. Hiroshi paid the vendor and got a great thank you in return. Turning around, he saw Amaya handing her treat to a young couple sitting close by. They looked a bit shocked but in the end, they took it with a smile and not a few longing gazes at the generous beauty. They both knew that she could not eat it but it was still nice to help out the locals. It kept them safe when they got along with everyone.

The couple engaged her in some conversation and Hiroshi just watched her. Every movement she made was graceful without her even realizing it. He knew that he fell more and more in love with her every day and that may be a dangerous thing for one that did not get the same amount of affection in return. He let his mind wander back to that day once more, his eyes never leaving Amaya.