"What?!"
The sound of the restaurant seemed to mute.
"You did what?" She repeated, the noise slowly rising back to normal in her ears. She leaned forward, eyes blazing a bright gold. "Go ahead and repeat what you just said to me. Go on."
"I...was the one who released her, Maya. I did it to help fulfill my plan."
Maya was trembling, she clenched her hands in her lap to try and stop the tremors. "PLAN?" She stated, louder than necessary, drawing the attention of several nearby tables. On the verge of crying, she leaped up from the table, grabbing her jacket and marched out the door. Her heels clicked fiercely along the sidewalk as she left Kaname behind, finding herself in a nearby desolate park that would have been filled with families if it were the daytime.
She stopped near a park bench and began pacing, staring up at the star-filled sky, breath coming in pained gasped as she tried to stop a sob that threatened to build up inside her.
"Maya."
Maya whipped around, seeing Kaname standing there.
"Why did you release her!" She demanded. "How could you do such a thing when you knew that she was mentally insane!"
"I did it to ensure that she would kill the head of the Kiryuu family. To use the twins as hateful weapons to destroy every pureblood, fulfilling Naomi's wish to eradicate them all."
"My family, Kuran. My family was also murdered because of your selfish desires." She snarled.
"I did not anticipate your parents to go-"
"Shut up! Shut your mouth!" Maya spat, tears finally escaping her eyes. "I spent years trying to uncover the truth behind my parents and Zero's parent's murder. And all this time, it was some 10,000-year-old prick whose selfish desires ruined peoples lives. Living right underneath my goddamn nose."
She was ready for his attack, yanking out Bloody Fang from inside her coat pocket just as he grabbed her throat. She had the barrel of her gun pressed against the underside of his chin, the bullet would take a direct path to his brain.
"Go ahead, pull that trigger, Takamiya. You won't be able to."
Maya's finger trembled on the trigger, but she found that she couldn't despite how badly she wanted to. "What..."
"I gave you my blood. I woke up Amara's essence and memory inside you, therefore I am your master. A slave cannot kill a master." He snarled, blazing red eyes staring at her gold ones. "Do not think of going against me, or I will kill you, blood relation and history be damned."
Maya jerked away from his grasp, keeping her gun trained on him. "Get...get the hell out of my sight, bloodsucker." She managed to say, despite stuttering from heightened shock. Kaname disappeared in a flurry of bats, leaving her alone. Maya lowered her gun, putting it back in the inside pocket of her pea-coat. A sob escaped her lips, gripping her head in her hands and let out a strangled yell of grief, falling back onto the bench. She hunched over, breathing heavily.
Kuran had killed her parents, all because of some stupid vendetta. He had ruined her life forever, and she was now his pawn, another piece in the game. One that would probably be used up and thrown away just like Zero's parents. In the light of the nearby streetlamp, she could see wet dots on the pavement from the tears that had fallen off her cheeks. This hurt, it hurt so bad. The pain was worse than when she had found out Daisuke had died. It stretched her heartstrings dangerously close to the breaking point.
A pureblood presence brushed her heightened senses, the said person was too close for comfort.
"Kuran, I swear I will rip your throat out! I told you to leave me alone!" Maya snarled loudly.
"Well, then I'm glad I'm not Kuran-sama." said a voice not six feet away.
Maya leaped up from the cold metal bench, gun drawn, pointed straight at the pureblood who stood there. She was careless and stupid for letting a vampire get so close without realizing their presence sooner. Maya cursed herself, her Hunter side was slipping. It had been months since she had done any training, all because she had punched the Association President in the face. It may have had a good reason behind it at first, but the consequences had been more than she had expected.
Maya blinked, staring at the man in a light gray suit and black pea-coat. "Taro?" The name slipped out before she could stop herself. The man was a spitting image of him, slightly older, probably in his early to mid-twenties. Ginger hair, dark blue eyes.
"...Tanaka, Heisuke." He replied hesitantly, though his demeanor on the outside was calm. So it wasn't Taro, this man's name was Heisuke. Maya slowly lowered her gun, wiping the tears quickly from her face.
"What do you want, vampire?" She hissed, looking away. She felt pathetic, crying in front of a pureblood vampire and hated how rough her voice had become. "I've already had enough of your kind for one day."
"I want nothing. I was taking a walk and happened to run into you." He replied. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I did hear the end of your confrontation with Kuran-sama."
"Fantastic." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Are you going to reprimand me and teach me my place for mistreating his majesty, like the arrogant species you are?"
Heisuke raised a delicate eyebrow, rather perplexed than angered at her attitude. "Were you expecting it?"
"Everyone falls at his feet. I just assumed..." Maya stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, shifting her weight onto one foot, silently cursing the heels she had chosen. The banter between them had calmed her shaking. She could feel the wolf inside of her slowly slink back into its cage.
"Not all of us purebloods are alike."
Maya snorted out loud, pocketing her gun. "Yeah, and pigs will fly."
"You don't believe me?"
"No." Her body tensed when he walked closer. He was tall, her head coming up to his shoulder. She growled slightly, causing him to stop walking when he entered the three-foot radius.
A small, but friendly smile crossed his lips. "Is there any way I can change your mind?"
"By walking away?" She asked, slightly hopeful.
"How about a drink then, Ms. Hunter?" He offered, ignoring her attempt to get rid of him.
Maya hesitated, glancing at her watch. It was close to 4 a.m., and she was anything but tired. Besides, it was Saturday, so no classes in a few hours. Zero and Yuuki could handle change over, it was a blessing. The last thing she wanted was to be anywhere in Kaname's presence.
She could not believe she was about to agree with this. "Lead the way."
Heisuke seemed surprised when she accepted but gestured for her to follow him. They walked back the way he had come from, which was further into the downtown area than she had expected. Maya followed him, staying behind him as they walked. She stared at the back of his head, wondering how on earth she was acting so normal around a pureblood vampires just after wanting to shoot another in the face the same night. Something about him made her want to let her guard down, but suspicion grew, allowing her to stay sharp. A part of him reminded her of Takuma, with his friendly demeanor and non-threatening disposition. A pin pricked the back of her mind, maybe he wasn't like other vampires. All vampires were different.
Heisuke turned his head to look back at her. "I can feel the daggers from here. I promise I'm harmless."
Maya's gaze softened just a bit, but her voice stayed sharp. "That's what they all say..." There was a soft chuckle that escaped him as he turned to face the way they were heading. The sound seemed to float through the air, sending a spike of warmth through her chest. She shoved the feeling violently away. No.
They came to a small, but well-interiored restaurant, and were seated inside in a booth that was secluded, good for serious or private conversation.
"You're a regular here, aren't you?" She asked, having seen the way the manager acted as soon as he stepped into the room.
"What gave you that idea?"
"Mr. Tanaka! What a lovely surprise to see you here again. I trust your meetings went well?" asked a server that stopped at their table. Maya raised a knowing eyebrow at him and he coughed a laughed before turning to speak with the Level C vampire server. Maya saw that she was giving him the doe eyes and had to resister rolling her own. Vampires.
Author's Note:
There will be a Part 2 of this chapter. I wouldn't dare leave you guys on a cliffhanger like that. (The title will make sense soon, I promise.)
Heisuke is minnnee, mwahaha.
Disclaimer: All rights go to the wonderful Matsuri Hino!