~My Beloved, Fang~

It was the dead of night when everyone slept peacefully in their beds, unknowing of the fight going on outside. I pushed my knives deeper into his stomach; the sound of flesh being cut open turning deaf to my ears. To someone like me, this was nothing compared to what else I had 343seen. This one was going to die peacefully.  I’ll admit this one had guts. He didn’t scream or writher in pain, he took it like a man. Pulling out my knives, I pushed his body back. Before he could hit the ground; his entire body turned to ash, scattering throughout the street. I took out my handkerchief from my pocket, proceeded to clean my knives when someone grabbed me from behind. Swiftly I swung my arms back, pointing the knife toward my assailant. My opponent must have seen my intention for he quickly threw his arms up in defeat.

“Whoa, girl, it’s just me, no need to be so defensive you know.” Fang said as I lowered my weapon; scowling at him I sunk my knives back into their pouches. I began walking toward the railroad when he grabbed my shoulders. “Hey, wait, ok ok I know that was a dick move of me I’m sorry.”

Strange to hear HIM say that. He almost never apologized, even when he broke my arm during practice. “It’s fine, just focus. I think there’s more.” I said pushing his hand off of me. “Can you sense them nearby?”

The question didn’t linger for more than a second when my ears twitched. Without hesitating I jumped back instantly switching to battle mode. A shadowed figure was standing in the middle of the track, in its hands seemed to be a small child roughly my age. “Dammit...” I whispered under my breath, there was no way I can fight or use my usual techniques or else I might hit the kid. From the corner of my eye I caught several shadows move closer towards us. Somewhere behind me I can hear Fang howling. Great, wake the whole dam neighborhood, it’s not like it takes hours to wipe memories.

I roughly estimated 5 shadows against 1 twenty year old human girl and 1 century old demon who happens to be caught in a choke hold. Ok, I’ve had worse odds, not bad, not bad.

This was definitely going to be an interesting night.

~Faded Memories~

“If I have to listen to his damn stories of ‘when I was younger we did things differently’ I swear I’m going to take my katana and run it through me myself. Isn’t he supposed to teach us something useful in school?” I complained throwing my arms behind my neck. Stretching, I grabbed my bag from our locker and slammed the old thing shut. Fang chuckled from under his hood. “Oh, it can’t be that bad.”

“Easy for you to say, you don’t spend 6 hours in classes!”

“What use would I have for your measly human knowledge?”

“Yeah but unlike you, I have to go to school otherwise I wouldn’t go anywhere in life.”

“Still, the classes don’t seem that bad.”

“I’d rather be fighting a bunch of Inferiors then be in his class.”

“Maybe I should sign up and suffer with you.”

Giving him an innocent look I crooned “Oh you would do that for me?”

He looked me straight in the eyes, without emotion he said “No.”

Scowling, Fang grinned at me, sending chills all over my body. Talk about a rare sight. A group of popular girls smiled and waved at him, but of course he took no notice. Why would he? A demon like him wouldn’t be interested in normal girls. Especially dumb blondes who couldn’t even speak more than 3 syllables.

“Hey, Carol?”

His whisper startled me.

“Hmm?”

“Are you by any chance angry with me?”

Giving him a confused look, I asked him “Why should I be mad at you?”

“Well…ever since I have been coming for you after school, people seem to stray away from you.”  He raised his head to look me in the eyes, his bangs almost covering his deep red eyes. Way to be subtle about my lack in popularity. “Do you want me to stop coming for you?”

It was true that people avoided me, in fact everyone thinks that Fang is some kind of bodyguard of mine and that I’m somehow in the mafia hence the bodyguard. It’s funny how rumors start and what they become, I’ve heard some crazy stories they made up of me.

 “Since when do you care if I fit in with normal people or not.”

“I don’t care.”

“Then why are you asking?”

“Don’t normal human beings crave to be accepted by one another?”

“Well….they do but frankly I don’t care. I rather be alone than be friends with anyone from my school.”

He tilted his head to the side, something that would have made the blonde girls swoon and ask him if they could bear his children. Not like he can have children anyways. Or can he? I’ll make sure to ask him one day.

“Why?”

Stopping, I thought about it before answering him. “Well, for one, I’m different. Anyone who is different is automatically left out of groups and stuff. Frankly I can careless about other people. They don’t care about me and I don’t care about them.”

“You are a strange person you know?”

“Not as weird as you and your obsession with cute stuff. For a tough guy, you turn into such a softy when you see a cute puppy. Who could ever be scared of you?”

He gently smacked me upside the head. “You smartass, I will not have you calling me a ‘softy’, you got that?”

Giggling, I ran ahead of him turning my head to look back. “Bet you I will beat you home—”

Unexpectedly, Fang picked me up in his arms and ran to the sidewalk across the street. My eyes widened as a truck dashed past us blaring its horn. Speechless I looked up to Fang who was looking down at me with concern.

Frowning he asked, “How many times do I have to save you?” Pursing my lips, I shoved him with my hands, demanding to be put down.

I straightened myself out, making sure my hidden daggers where still in place. “I didn’t ask for you to save me.”

“Would you have preferred to have let you get your body mangled and tore to shreds underneath that truck?” His response instantly sent chills down my spine. Of course he was right, when isn’t he right? I’d kill to have his reflexes which sadly only come from years in hell and such. Which I am not quiet fond of doing in exchange for his bonuses.

Static, so much static. The crackling noises seem to surround me. Thoughts are scattered, my heart racing without pausing.

“Did you ever have ice cream before?”

“You’d be surprise on the lack of food in hell, mainly because no one has the hunger or craving for such things.”

“Why can’t you just say no or yes? Jeez you’re boring me to death again with your ‘was in hell for almost an eternity’ speeches. You’re like a broken record or something, jeez.” His hand shot out, causing me to lose my balance. Toppling over the cemented wall, I fell head first with my knees on the cement floor. Straightening myself out, I glared at Fang. He sat perfectly still, giving me that smug grin of his. What was happening?

The monster in my chest rose its head up, sniffing the air for a single ray of hope. Maybe one day…we…

Air passed through my ears. The cold night air whipping me across the face. “FANG?!?! What are you doing?!” I yelled over the screaming wind. He had me over his shoulder and was sprinting across the buildings toward my safe house. Afraid I hadn’t protested thinking someone was chasing us. After minutes of scoping the area, I concluded that no one was even remotely chasing us. So what was the danger?

Receiving no response from him, I swung my legs back and forth in a feeble attempt to escape his grasp. With no luck I resorted to interrogating him till he gave in. Minutes passed and he still didn’t say a single word, his entire concentration put in escaping. But what exactly is he running from?

“FANG!! What’s going on?” I tried one last time as we came to a halt above a house complex. Without warning my feet met the pavement with a thud. The pale moonlight shone across the ocean, our bodies reflected on its surface. His eyes were the color of a burning flame, the amount of determination outshining his demonic red eyes. It scared me, he was never this alert. What’s wrong?

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.

Without losing a beat he said “What’s wrong honey? This guy giving you trouble?” He turned to face the guy, putting his free hand into his pocket. From this angle I could see how someone normal would be scared of him. He wore black jeans with chains on either side of him, had a black shirt with a guitar and skulls on front, black bracelets on his wrists, and combat boots with belts, chains, and crosses on them. Anyone in their right mind would run from him. To make things better, his cold dark red eyes would send people running. The boy must have gotten the message because he turned and was walking away.

I grabbed Fangs hand and threw it off my shoulder. Scowling at him I scolded him. “What the hell was that about?”

His eyes starred back at me, uncertainty in them. Scratching his head, he began to walk down the hill in silence with me trailing behind him. “I just didn’t like the look of the guy, he was suspicious. Anyways we have to get home; I have something to tell you.”

“Okaayyyy, first off the guy was as normal as an average joe. Second what where those girls talking to you about?”

For most of my time spent with Fang I have never seen him blush or even slightly lose his composure. However, he tripped and began coughing hysterically. I gave him a minute to compose himself when he finally came to; he ran his hand through his hair.

“They were wondering if I had a girlfriend.”

Oh….. Oh??.... OH?!?!?! Cursing in my head I asked him what he said.

“Well I said the truth, I don’t. Then one of them asked if I was interested in a date. I said no, since such things don’t interest me. It’s a human past time that I simply find no use for so I rather avoid it.” He closed his eyes stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Anyways, it would take up valuable time. And we need to start training more often to keep up with all these missions we’re getting.”

My eyes looked toward the sky as I began to question what his words meant to me. When he said that he declined their offer, something in me stirred. It was as if this monster had awaked and was prowling for an opportunity to strike. But what did it want?

Shaking my head, I put the thought aside for later.

“Plus you’re getting a little fat.”

Snapping my head toward Fang I saw him running, already halfway down the hill, grinning ear to ear with wicked delight. Oh wait till I get my hands on you, you little…..

I promise I won’t forget you, I will find you again!

It was in the middle of homeroom when I heard the door open. Usually, on days like these I didn’t bother looking up. However, today my head snapped up and sure enough there standing beneath the doorway was Fang. He smiled toward me with a fluffy teddy bear in his arms. Oh no….

“Sorry I’m late; as you can see I had to go out and buy a gift.” He said to the homeroom teacher, who in turn simply nodded to him. Of course he wouldn’t get in trouble, with those devilish charms of his. No seriously he has charms since he’s a devil. Ya…that’s why everything’s happening…

The room seemed to have grown quiet, everyone watching his every move. The pit of my stomach began churning as he stopped in front of my desk.

“Hey, I can’t go to practice later, sorry, Britney wants to go to the movies, I’ll catch you later, ok?” he whispered to me. Rolling my eyes I looked away from him afraid to show my emotions through my eyes. He continued to walk toward his girlfriend, Britney, who was squealing in her chair like a stupid Chihuahua.

Before he could kiss her, I threw my chair back and ran out the room as quick as my trembling feet would take me. As I hopped over a table, the teacher started to scream at me. At the moment I didn’t care, I had to get out of there. This couldn’t be happening, how? I burst into the bathroom, not caring who was watching and began to throw up in one of the toilets. Tears began to stream down my face as I began to sob. What the flying hell?!

It just hurt so much….why?

I’m sorry.

Those words echoed in my head, my heart jumped at the sound of the voice. It was Fangs, only he sounded scared.

I have to leave you for a while, try to stay home and be safe ok? I promise I’ll come back for you.

Promise? Promise you won’t forget?

I promise. I could never forget you~

I promise I won’t forget you, I will find you again!

My eyes flew open as my heart skipped a beat.  Passing my hand through my wet hair, I sat up taking deep breathes. The same stupid dream over and over again. Reaching up I searched for the light cord with my left hand. Pulling, light surrounded me giving me some comfort from the nightmare I just had. Looking at the clock I groaned as I realized it was again 2:30 in the morning. It always wakes me up at this time; frankly it’s getting to be annoying. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep I made my way downstairs to get something to eat. Halfway down the stairs I heard a something hit the floor and shatter. Freezing I gasped as I saw someone running up the stairs toward me. Running back to my room, I slammed the door behind me and grabbed for my katana.

At least I’ll be armed and not totally defenseless. Even though I have no idea how to use the sword it would at least scare the person a little. Right? I’ll be fine, just got to stop shaking. The floor creaked outside of my room. Looking at the bottom of my door I saw a pair of feet right outside. All I could hear now was my heartbeat accelerating and my blood pumping into my veins. Something in me woke up; something in me was ready to fight.

But how do I fight? I never fought in my life? Am I strong enough to fight this person off? What if he has a gun?

The doorknob began to turn, stupid me forgot to fix the lock that afternoon. Cursing under my breath I readied myself to fight. The door gradually creaked open, the silence made it feel like an eternity, until I saw who was behind the door. Time stopped for what seemed hours in the next few seconds.

He stood there covered in blood, smiling from ear to ear. His crimson red eyes starred back into mine, my eyes widened with surprise. Not only did he look familiar, but I unconsciously lowered my sword. Everything about him dazed me into a never ending trance. Everything from his raven black hair, to his punkish clothing covered in blood seemed so familiar to me. It was as if a truck slammed into me from behind as I fell to the floor. My ears rang as the sound of glass shattered, falling to the floor I saw the glass shards break and bounce in all directions. Someone flew in through my window and had tackled me to the ground. All the while I heard screaming, the psycho at the door reached his hand toward me, his expression full of worry and a strange feeling overcame me.

Almost on instinct I reached for his hand, only to have my body stop. Someone from behind me stood, walked to him and it was then that my vision began to get blurry. With all the strength that I could muster up, I held my eyes open for a few more seconds watching the shadowed figure hold back the psycho from getting close to me. A few words reached me as the blood drenched lunatic reached frantically for me. The words repeated into my mind until I fell into an unconscious bliss.

Sei, come back. Sei, remember me!

There was an annoying beeping noise near my ear when I opened my eyes. The light in my room began to pour in through my window and the birds where singing frantically near my porch. Looking over to my alarm clock, my heart jumped and I raced out of bed for a change of clothes. It was 7:30 in the morning; I was running late to school. God dammit, I must have been up all night studying if I didn’t hear the stupid alarm go off. When I had everything ready, I hesitated at my door. Looking back I checked my window for any signs of damage to the glass. There was nothing neither new nor broken about it, with that I put the dream aside and rushed off to school.

Hopefully I will get there in time so I won’t have detention with Mr. Herten.

The day passed in such a slow paste that I was more than ready to leave the room when the bell rang. He definitely needed to shut up about his good old days when kids didn’t do this and that. His stories made me wish for a bullet in the head. As everyone gathered their stuff to leave, I jumped over my desk and ran for the door. At my locker I noticed my notebook was missing, who the hell went through my stuff? Looking around the hall, I saw no sign of a culprit or my notebook. I gave up the thought of seeing it again when I saw a sticky note at the bottom of my locker. It had a single word written across it in cursive writing.

Fang.

Fang? Confused I scrunched the paper up stuffing it into my pocket as I made my way down the school stairs. Outside was full of kids hanging around, talking and socializing as always. And as always I began to walk when I stopped at the center of the schools walkway. Starring at one of the columns supporting the school, I wondered again why I stood there. Every day, I stopped at this one column as if expecting to see someone there waiting for me. And every day, I was disappointed with the fact that no one was there and that no one would ever be there waiting for me.

With music blaring into my headphones, I began to walk home. Of course, it was no secret how I ended up in the hospital hours later. I got hit by a speeding truck that didn’t see me crossing the crosswalk. For once, I wasn’t at fault but if didn’t have my music as high as possible I could have avoided the stupid accident and not have my mom come in. Not only was she pissed for being pulled out of her work but I also had to endure a speech from my doctor about safety and looking both ways while crossing the street. Yeah, like I wanted to get run over in the first place.

My mom had all my paperwork done so I could leave and as happy as I was to leave, I found that I couldn’t. No, seriously, it wasn’t an emotional thing, I physically could not get my legs to swing over the table and jump off. Panicking, I began to cry. This is it, I can’t freaking walk anymore!

“What’s wrong? Come on, I have to drop you home and go to work.” Mom said impatiently as she stopped to look back to me. My face must have said everything because as soon as we made eye contact, she dropped to her knees and began to cry hysterically. “What’s wrong with her?! Why can’t she get up?!”

The doctor called for more nurses who then supported me when I tried to get up, still it was no use. My legs where numb from my thigh to my toes, couldn’t even feel anything when the doctor stabbed the bottom of my foot. Somewhere in this whole mess, I heard my mom asking for them to do everything to help me. Hypocrite. Only reason she wants me to be fine is so she doesn’t have to tell everyone she has a crippled daughter. Only bad mothers have crippled daughters.

After hours of being probed here and there, getting countless X-rays and examinations from ‘experts’ they confirmed my worst fears. I was crippled from the waist down. How they didn’t realize it earlier baffled them even more. Personally, I think they didn’t see anything broken thus I am in the clear, a bunch of idiots if you ask me. That’s how I ended up in intensive care for a week, enduring needles here and there. And countless hours of physical rehabilitation in hopes that one day, I would be able to walk again.

For the most part being in the hospital was a pain in the ass. Not only was I expected to train my legs for hours, I was expected to keep up with my schoolwork in bed. Between doing those two things, I was ready to drag myself outside and let a car run over my head. The misery was just too much to bear. That and having to lay there awake trying to hold in pee until someone came to help was crossing the line. Little by little I began to accept the truth.

I was never walking again. No matter how hard I tried to wiggle my toes, weeks passed and nothing changed. I still couldn’t feel nor move anything. Mom doesn’t visit me often, frankly, no one visited me. If I was lucky, some survey people would stop by and ask me a few questions for their research studies. Some even gave me money for it! Still, on nights when I laid my head back on the pillow, I would feel it. The depression taking hold of me. On some days, I would stare out the window and wonder, why? Why did this have to happen to me?

It wasn’t till I fell asleep one day, that I received some kind of answer. It was in the middle of the night when I felt a hand brush my face. For a moment, I forgot where I was and thought it was one of my dogs licking my face so without thinking I smacked the hand away. Instantly I heard a gasp, it was then that my eyes fluttered open only to stare directly into a pair of dark red eyes. My gut told me to scream for help while my head told me to stay quiet because it was a simple dream I was having. However, as the shadowed figure raise its hand to brush a hair from my face, I knew, it was no simple dream.

“Sei?” it whispered. Its head moved to the side as if waiting for something.

When I came to my senses I realized it was waiting for my response. Sei…the name rang a bell in my head…oh yeah! It’s my name, duh. How did it know my name?

“Oh, god, your death aren’t you? Uhhh fuck, just take me now then. Get it over with.” Closing my eyes tight, I waited for a pair of knives or something to stab me to death. I was waiting for death when I heard a low chuckle in front of me. Peeking a bit through my eyelids, I saw that the figure was laughing at me.

“You’re as funny as ever, Sei! It’s good to see you again too.”

As my eyes adjusted themselves to the dark, the figure slowly became clearer and clearer to me. After a few seconds I realized, IT was a HE. It was a guy. Panicking I reached for my emergency button but he beat me to it. He swung it around in his hand, taunting me with a smirk. “Now, now, don’t tell me you’re still mad at me! I told you I would come back and I did so why are you mad?”

Confused I stared at him until his face went pale and his eyes widened in shock.

A single word escaped his lips. “No.”

Suddenly, he lunged at me, grabbing me into a big hug. “No…this can’t be! You…you don’t remember me do you?” his grip on me tightened as if I was going to turn to dust on him anytime soon. Though I can’t say I didn’t wish for it since it was getting hard to breath. Letting go of me, he looked into my eyes. Finally, I could clearly see his face and might I add I might have wanted to ask for his digits. Just putting that out there. Not only was he drop dead gorgeous (at least to me) with his bangs covering one eye, his hair spiking out in the back (naturally may I add!) and his shoulders showing muscle that some guys would die for, his eyes showed genuine worry that made me feel guilty. For what, I have no idea.

As he let go of both my shoulders, he walked toward the window then hung his head in shame as he got to his knees. “I’m so sorry...” he sobbed. “I….I was supposed to protect you….I’m so sorry...”

Literally, I had no idea what to do; I never really interacted with people my age. So it was no surprise I tried to get out of bed to comfort him when suddenly I found myself flying over the side almost landing on my head. The crash must have gotten the attention of my nurses because they came in running almost instantly.

“My goodness, child! What are you doing?!”

Scared I looked toward my late night guest when my eyes widened on shock. No one was there. Did I dream it up? “I...I wanted some water. I thought I could do it by myself.”

Shaking their heads they carried me back to my bed and handed me a cup of water. “Please, don’t do that again! The doctor said you need rest and can’t be pushing yourself so much.”

The other nurse looked me over for bruises or cuts. After finding none she glared at me and said “Next time you need anything, call us. We can’t have you injuring yourself, ok?”

“Yeah...I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” They both starred me down until I gave it. “Promise, won’t happen again. Alright?”

Nodding they both left, when the lights where finally out I did my best to scan the room. Nothing, maybe I did dream it all up. Before I could close my eyes and sleep I felt the side of my bed groan under his weight. He leaned into my face, again searching for something in my eyes.

Scared I yelped. “What are you doing here?!” I hissed at him.

“So you do remember me?”

Shaking my head, I said “No, I don’t. I don’t know who you are or how you got here but you can’t be in my room. Now get out!”

His hand covered my mouth as we heard a few nurses pass by talking about college and such. Leaning in he whispered in my ear, sending chills all over my body. “It’s time to go home. Come.”

He was half way across the room when he realized I didn’t follow him. “We don’t have all day.”

“Well that’s a shame because even if we did, I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. Now if we had a few years then maybe...” crossing my arms over my chest, I cursed myself for talking to him. He was just a lunatic. How in the world did he get into my room?

“What do you mean—?” It was as if my legs had neon signs attached to them saying ‘Crippled from the waist down’ since his eyes instantly fell on them. “How..?”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

Without a word, he crossed over to me, snatched my medical chart from the front of my bed and began to read it out loud.

“On October 21^st, patient, Sei Ibarra, was transported to Kitoari Hospital after being found in the middle of the street, unconscious. Semi-truck transporting furniture was speeding when patient crossed on a legal crosswalk. Police reports say the driver was intoxicated and was detained. On October 22^nd, Sei Ibarra was diagnosed with paralysis from the waist down, X-rays show the muscle tissues have been damaged beyond surgical repair. October 25, Ms. Ibarra has started physical treatments and psychological treatment. On November 11^th, still no progress after receiving treatment, no signs of muscle movement from the waist down.”

Hearing my medical report brought back memories of long hours in training just to be told I didn’t make any progress. Hearing my mother yelling at me about being a no good daughter, having my therapist judge me every evening, even having the nurses giving me pity for how I am now. Tears streamed down my face, I hid behind my hair hoping he would disappear.

“Sei?”

His hand brushed away my hair, revealing my face to him. He leaned over my bed to look into my eyes once more; it was this little thing he did that made me feel at ease with him. Fear didn’t exist in my heart when he said my name. Nothing could hurt me when he was around. Before I could question my feelings, he whispered to me.

“I’m sorry. I failed you….I promised I would come back for you but…I never thought this would be the way I’d see you again.”

“Don’t be sorry. I don’t understand why you keep saying that. It isn’t your fault.”

“It is…because I should have been protecting you all this time. But they wouldn’t let me.”

“Who’s they? Who are you? What’s going on, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Standing, he dug his arms under me and lifted me up. Usually I would hate to be picked up bridal style by anyone. I loved my personal space. With him, it was different. Everything was different, even the way the room felt. Curling up to his chest, I let myself drift into a deep sleep. The smell of him filling my head with peaceful bliss.

“We’re going home now. I’ll make sure you get your life back. I won’t let anything happen to you again.”