Chapter Text
In the earliest of times, it is said that Dhampirs, or those who were half human, half vampire, were foul creatures; beings that belonged to neither human nor world. It was a cruel time to be born a half-breed as we Vampires refused to recognize them as one of our own while humans simply despised the very existence of all monsters. Secrecy or death were all the halflings knew, with death being the most common of the two.
However, things changed. Hearts changed, and people began seeing things in a new light.
After much carnage and loss, an agreement was made. Bloody wars, unnecessary deaths, and endless fighting were traded in for cooperation, kindness, and peace. Now, both humans and monsters live peacefully in coexistence. Granted, not everyone feels content with this situation, but most do. It is true that we both still have our own worlds, but we monsters no longer try to wipe out the human race, and humans do not try to persecute us for being different.
The same goes for the Dhampirs as well. They were accepted by their vampire kind, and laws were even made to protect them, laws that used to only apply to those of pure vampiric heritage. To this day, they are to be treated as any other vampire would in the monster world. Peace was formed for everyone, and all, it seemed, was well.
At least, that is what everybody thought. Little did we know that there was one specific vampire family willing to go against the Dhampiric Law; one family who refused to accept the peace. To them, Dhampirs were too different. To them, they didn't deserve to live, and they were prepared to defend this belief no matter what the cost.
They were even prepared to kill.
"Do you mean to say she has no memory of the incident or of anything prior to it?"
In a house that smelled of cedar and spices, a small, old woman of seventy-five sat erect in her black leather chair, her grey hair uncharacteristically disheveled due to the unexpected late-night events and the two guests that joined her. The first guest was a friend, a dark blue-haired woman who may have looked young, but was quite older than she. As usual, she bore a black suit, a white under shirt and a black tie. Though their age differed vastly, they were close, and had known each other for many years. The second guest, however, was a mere child she had never met before and only knew by name, a child who currently lay asleep on her couch.
"That is correct, Chiho,” the visitor answered. “She knows nothing at all. Quite tragic, yes, but a blessing in disguise."
"A blessing?"
Chiho gripped her lavender shawl in thought. She looked at the speaker curiously, unable to see how the victim's loss of memory was a good thing.
"Yes, a blessing."
The red eyes of the visiting female fell upon the sleeping child.
"She's better off not remembering, for now, anyway. It works for our plan."
"What do you mean plan?" Chiho asked. “Isn't the plan to return the girl to her mother and father?"
The crimson gaze rose to meet that of her green one.
"No, it's not. Not anymore."
Chiho could only stare.
"What do you mean not anymore? She needs her family, and her family is looking for her as we speak."
"I know this," the visitor replied, her gaze sharpening. "Believe me, I know. Let me ask you something, friend. Are you aware of the laws made that protect those like this child?"
"The laws to protect Dhampirs?" Chiho queried. "Of course."
"Then you are also aware that any attack on the life of a Dhampir without proper reasoning is considered a terrible crime," the blunette continued. “And the punishment for said crime is the stripping of the attacker's title and any lands they hold, time in the high-security prison, and, depending on the situation, even death."
"I know all of this."
"Then, if you do, you also know that we vampires take these laws very seriously. Halflings or not, they are still vampires. We no longer live in the ancient times."
"And I agree with that sentiment,” Chiho responded a bit impatiently. She couldn’t see where this was going. "Truly, I do, but what does that have to do with not returning this young one home now?"
"Everything. At this moment in time, we don’t know who was behind the attempted kidnapping and assassination of this child. The Akashiya's have their suspicions, and so does the council, but there is no solid proof to back these beliefs. Therefore, we must go about and make the traitors expose themselves."
Chiho cocked a brow.
"Really? And how do you plan to do that?"
"With time,” her friend replied. “If I bring this child back to her family, she’ll be extremely protected. They’ll be on guard. The traitor family would know this and wouldn't be dumb enough to strike again, at least not right away. However, if they believe that their target is gone for good, they will no longer be on high alert, and only then can we bring her back to our world. When news of her living comes to be, they will no doubt plot and try to attack again. That's when we’ll catch them. Bring her back now during all this, and we’ll lose the chance to expose and punish the criminals."
"So you mean to tell me that you’re willing to keep this child away from her mother and father in order to catch those who tried to kill her?" Chiho asked, a bit dumbfounded.
"Yes."
"And the Akashiya's are okay with this?"
There was no quick answer, causing Chiho to shift uncomfortably.
“The Akashiya’s are okay with this, correct?” she asked again.
"They would most likely not be,” the other replied, speaking slowly as if she were choosing her words carefully. “I’m positive they’d hate it, hence why they don’t need to know until the proper moment. It’s best they believe she has passed."
Chiho’s mouth dropped.
"What!? Are you kidding me? You’re going to let them believe she’s dead? That's…that's just…how could you? They’re already devastated. You told me yourself! She’s their only child!"
"It's necessary,” the woman replied calmly. “The council sees no other way. Whoever is behind the kidnapping won’t come out willingly, and we want to get to the root of this incident, even if it takes time. The best way to do this is to keep the girl in hiding long enough to make everyone believe she's dead. If she can’t be found, they’ll be no choice but to believe.”
"But that's just cruel!” Chiho felt her eyes well up at the thought. "They love their child! And Moka, she’ll be heart broken. I may hardly know them, but the world knows how much Moka loves this little girl."
"I know,” her friend replied, eye gaze conflicted. “For I know Moka very well, but this must be done. The council wills it."
She rubbed her temple in frustration. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"All right, fine. Say you go through with this,” Chiho continued. Where exactly is she going to stay?"
The vampire’s eyes narrowed slightly, Chiho instantly picking up on what was being implied.
"Here?! You mean to keep her with me? In the human world?"
"Yes,” the visitor replied. “It's the safest place for her. No one will suspect it."
"For how long?" Chiho asked.
"I want her to stay until she’s old enough to go to Yokai."
"Five years?!” The more the visitor spoke, the more insane she sounded. “You want her in the dark that long?"
"Yokai accepts middle school students now,” her friend pointed out. “So be glad it isn't longer."
"But that's still a long time, regardless, “ Chiho replied. “Especially for the parents who’ll believe she’s dead. You don't want to return her sooner?"
"Unless her memory comes back, which is the only way we would allow her to return early, then no. We’ll wait till her first year at middle school. At that time, she’ll be a lot stronger than she is now and should be able to defend herself well enough. Pureblood vampires around that age have a power spurt. Their gifts grow immensely. She may not be a pureblood, but she has already shown that she takes more after her mother than anything. She's developing the way a full one would. "
Chiho leaned back in her chair and let out a sigh.
“You know, I thought I was dealing with a man who recklessly hit a child with his car without stopping, but then you came along, and now the mess is bigger. Much bigger.”
"Please.”
Chiho felt her friend's hand slip into her own, the gesture accompanied by a pleading gaze.
“I know this is a lot to ask, and I know it’s sudden, but it needs to be done. It is fate that you witnessed the accident for I would trust no one but you to handle this with care. We do not need vampires who will willingly break the laws and attempt to take another's life for no reason, especially that of a child, in our midst. As far as we know, she’s the only Dhampir, so she’ll be the only one they go after. Let time play itself out, and we will return her when the time is right. Please.”
Chiho let out another sigh. To her, this was all crazy, but in a way, it made sense, though it killed her to think that the parents would believe the child to be dead. She couldn’t say no, however, for she knew she could keep the girl safe enough, even with her old age. She never could say no to her friend either, especially when she looked at her like that.
"I’m not a fan of this idea,” she told the blunette. “I don’t like that the family will be crushed by this, and I don’t like the fact that she’ll be kept from them for so long, but all right. I will do this. However, something more needs to be done if she’s to live here. She’s in the human world, after all, and if Moka takes one step into this realm, the girl's smell will attract her almost instantly."
"We’ll do to her what was once done to her mother,” her friend said. “We'll seal her powers. She’ll still require blood, which she can get from transfusions, but her smell will lessen greatly, so much to the point that they could stand next to each other, and the mother wouldn’t know. Her strength will be hidden, as well as her looks."
"A seal,” Chiho muttered in thought. “That would work.”
"As a high-status witch,” her friend continued, “I assumed you could make one, though I don’t recall if you’ve ever had to.”
"I’ve never needed to, no,” Chiho replied. “It’ll be complicated, and it’ll require quite a few things, but I can do it."
"Good. Then we are in agreement? You will keep her for now?"
Her friend’s words held the same amount of desperation her eyes crimson eyes did. Again, a face Chiho could never say no to.
“I shall.”
The visitor breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you. As a council member, your cooperation is greatly appreciated, but as your truest friend, I am deeply grateful and in your debt. Truly. I promise, when the time comes, the people behind this will be brought to justice. And do not think I am disappearing either. I will help look out for her. I will provide the blood she needs as well, for it will be easier for me to get than you."
“That I would appreciate,” Chiho told her. “Thank you.”
"No.”
The woman, who hadn’t let go of her hand, squeezed it again and offered a grateful smile. Even after all these years, nothing warmed Chiho’s heart more than seeing that grin.
“The thanks is all to you.”
The blunette then stood up and slipped off her jacket.
"Come. A seal must be made tonight. I will help you any way I can.”
Chiho nodded and stood up.
"It will be a long night then. Come, let’s get started.”