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Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlines	By : devilsdoormat Category: +S to Z > Vampire Hunter D Views: 1732 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Vampire Hunter D is obviously not my original property. I will make no money and benefit only emotionally from sharing. The title character, D, is pulled from both animated movies and not from the manga.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
"Storm's coming." Gencho commented as he looked toward the coming horizon, "Doesn't look good. That's a dust storm. Probably silicate and stone. If that gets into the Bella, she's gonna lock up."

"Ah shit." Renshen muttered, coming up to look at the sandy plains before them. There was indeed a dark cloud extending from one end of the earth to the next, inescapable.

"Any sign of the Dhampir hunter?" Tengen asked, "Can he ride through that?"

"He'd live through it, but his horse would be locked up just like the Bella." Gencho replied, "We wouldn't live through it though. Not us. Meredith, maybe. But that kinda sand gets into the lungs and sticks. We'd suffocate."

"So what's the plan?" Val crossed her legs, sitting in a bench seat.

"Find shelter. It's the only way." Gencho shrugged, "Unless you wanna wait it out in the Bella and walk the rest of the way to Thanos Castle."

"Fuck that." Val muttered.

"Where would shelter be out here?" Meredith stared out the front window.

"I gotta put out some feelers." Gencho was typing at the monitor on the dashboard, "In areas like this, sometimes you'll find man made shelters. Sometimes. I saw a radio station sign back a few miles ago. Looked old and shredded, but I'll bet some damn idiot tried to do something out here."

"What would a shelter look like?" Meredith asked.

"Like a garage. A big house. A metal barn." Gencho saw a dot appear on the screen and a soft 'ping' sounded. It sounded again, "I've locked in on somethin' that could be a shelter. We're goin' for it."

Gencho continued to drive for many minutes before they crested a hill and saw the metallic barn sitting there far off in the distance.

"Bingo." Gencho said, grinning, "Found a shelter."

"Huh.. Hey, uh.. What's that?" Meredith was pointing out the far left window.

***

"Not here. You've got to make it a little further."

His legs wouldn't carry him.

"Get up. Get up. Don't lie down and die right here!"

It was all heat and haze, the darkness creeping in from the corners of his eyes. D forced himself back up, his muscles screaming at him. He'd fallen off of his horse and the metallic beast followed after him before stopping to paw at the sand.

D turned and tried to remount the horse but failed, falling back down again.

"What did I tell you? You did it again. Let it get too far. Bury yourself. Somewhere. I don't know. Under the sand? Dying in a burning hot desert wasn't high on my list of things to do this year!"

Heat syndrome. He'd been out in the sun for far too long. It could be months or years, but eventually it would happen. He'd been ignoring it, pushing it back.

Now he was in the sand, on his side, his cloaks wrapped around him.

"And there's a storm coming. What luck." The voice sounded despondent.

D again tried to stand, forcing himself up. It was useless. He was on the ground again in seconds.

His fingers dug through the sand for a moment before he went limp.

***

The huge doors to the shelter were opened fairly easily and Tengen helped guide the Bella into the parking garage. Gencho drove her in, put the brakes on and Tengen gave him the thumbs up. The door was still hanging wide open.

"Do a quick search of the place. I want to make sure we're the only ones here." Renshen exited the Bella alongside Val.

"And our guest?" Gencho was lingering in the hatch doorway.

Meredith lead the black, cybernetic horse through the bar doors. D had been unceremoniously draped over the back of the beast and she rushed to get them out of the harsh sun.

"He dead?" Tengen asked as he pulled the barn doors closed.

"I don't think so. But I don't think he's doing so good either." Meredith told Tengen and frowned.

"Tengen, Gencho, take a look around." Renshen ordered them, "I'll help Meredith find a spot to put the Dhampir hunter."

Tengen and Gencho nodded before parting to take a quick walk around.

The barn was huge, the parking area a separate room from the rest of the structure. In the next room there was a large open area, hay all over the floor, and a series of empty stables filled with piles of more hay. There was a second floor, a loft, with yet again, more hay.

The building was made from metal and wood, the plating on the outside meant to keep the sand out. The glass of the windows was extra thick, the surface scratched so badly that it looked foggy.

Meredith urged the horse along by its reigns to one of the stables in the other room as soon as Meredith realized they were there.

"Com'on, Midnight! Good boy!" Meredith said.

"Hm?" Renshen seemed curious.

"That's his name. I, uh, I named his horse because he didn't." Meredith smiled.

Renshen shook his head, exhaling while attempting a weak smile.

"There's a pond in one of the rooms back here!" Tengen called out from somewhere in the back, "Underground water source out this far?"

"Is it drinkable?" Renshen yelled back.

"Testing it now." Gencho replied.

Meredith didn't require Renshen's help when it came to pulling D down and setting him in some hay. She stared at the taller, stronger Dhampir all in black and frowned. He looked dead.

Renshen was taking the horse, leading it to a stable nearby.

"Water is good!" Gencho suddenly stated.

Meredith knelt down by the Dhampir and studied his face. He was pale, his eyes closed and his lips parted. She'd removed his hat before they'd placed him on the horse and she now set it on the hay pile by his head. His long, dark hair flowed around his shoulders, his limp body sinking into the hay.

"I'm gonna see if this works.." Meredith spoke, "It worked before, for my brother Gabe."

Meredith carefully slid her hand to his and took a firm grasp.

"What're you doin', Meredith?" Gencho was leaning against the side of the stall door, looking down at her with his arms crossed at his chest.

"One time, my brother Gabe wanted to see the sun." Meredith replied, staring at D's passive face, "I asked my mother how I could show it to him, and she told me if we were touching he could share my abilities. So I held his hand and I showed him the sunrise. It worked."

Gencho tilted his head at her.

"So you're, eh, sharing yourself with the Dhampir?" Gencho licked the front of his teeth in an uncomfortable, not very pleased sort of way, his brows lowered, "You sure that's safe?"

"I have to try. He did help us, didn't he?" Meredith sat down, still holding the Dhampir's hand, "I'd like to do the same if I can."

"Is it working?" Gencho's eyes narrowed.

"I don't know yet." Meredith moved closer to the other Dhampir, "It might take a bit. He was really bad off."

"I don't like this." Tengen muttered, looking in at Meredith from the stall door.

"It'll be fine." Meredith said, shaking her head, "Just.. give it a little bit."

"That's not what I meant. I'm more worried for us." Tengen snorted and walked off to sit in some hay in the larger, more central area of the room.

Gencho grunted and sauntered off to one of the windows.

"It's going to be at least a few hours until the storm passes." Gencho saw the darkening skies through the foggy glass, "I can hear it coming."

Meredith could hear it too. It sounded like tiny hail. The wind was picking up and the barn shuddered ever so slightly.

She squeezed the Dhampir's hand and felt a tiny reflexive twinge in his fingers.

***

She had decided to lay against him because the barn floor wasn't comfortable enough for her. In the moment it hadn't seemed like such a bad idea. Their hands were still clasped together. She'd fallen asleep like that, curled up against the Dhampir as the storm raged outside. It had been hours and it was pitch black, the night and the storm combining to drain all light from the world outside. It was dim within the barn as well, only a few lamps set down by Val offering any illumination.

D felt her touch. She had one hand in his and the other upon his stomach. D became aware of being there, waking up slowly as if he were drifting in and out of dark water, laying on the shore and nearly drowned. His senses felt dulled, causing him to take a moment to look at his free hand. In the darkness, his vision was betraying him. Something was wrong. His skin felt warmer somehow. His limbs were weaker. The girl was there, her hand in his. Her touch was pleasant but a surprise to awake to. He could hear the storm outside, but it sounded muted compared to what he'd have expected. There was an almost painful churning in his stomach that he recognized as hunger, usually not so aggressively twisting his insides. He touched Meredith's shoulder, waking her.

She stirred slowly.

"Hi." Meredith looked up at him. Her eyes were tired.

D merely studied her for a moment.

"You can share your mark?" D asked. He was whispering.

"I'm glad it worked." Meredith said to him, smiling, "You might have died, I think. Are you feeling Ok now?"

"Yes." D replied.

He became aware of the fact that his face felt warm, Meredith so close to him. With his free hand, D touched his own face, feeling the heat in his skin. Expression still cool and calm, he was having physiological reactions to her proximity. It was a flush.

Meredith didn't notice, it was too dark for her eyes to see the shade, but she sensed his discomfort. She slid away from him and back to the floor of the barn. She released his hand, moving over to sit a foot away in a pile of hay. Her hands went into her pockets.

D lay on his back, looking up as he felt the flush in his face trickle back out and the sensation of his senses heightening ever so gradually. It was passing. Whatever she had shared was wearing off and allowing his senses to return. The fatigue wasn't passing though, and neither was the ache in his stomach. It was aggravating, feeling the empty tug of hunger for something substantial.

"You brought me here?" D asked her.

"I couldn't let you die." Meredith was chewing on something as she spoke and D smelled the scent of salted meat wafting from her direction, "We'll be here until the storm passes anyway."

She turned to look at him, seeing his eyes on her.

"Want some?" Meredith offered him a healthy portion of venison jerky, "I found it in my pocket. It's still good."

Against D's better judgment he reached out and took it.

"I guess it takes a lot of energy to keep me going." Meredith whispered to him.

"Your touch also took from me, Meredith." D spoke, pondering over the venison jerky he hadn't even begun to eat yet, "That which protects you, took my defenses."

"We're safe in here." Meredith shrugged.

D frowned. He then ate the offering.

A few minutes passed. His hearing was focusing in on the sounds both inside and outside of the barn. He felt the familiar tingle of magic in the air.

"A magical barrier." D said.

"Yeah, Val set up this magical perimeter that will wake us if anything breaks it." Meredith said to him quietly, "It must be cool to be able to use magic like that."

"You could, if you tried." D told her. His eyes searched her face, his expression unreadable.

"Because my mother is a witch?" Meredith smiled at him, "It's in my blood, I guess. But I never really tried. I wanted to fight with my hands. And a sword."

"That sword you carry, it has your father's crest on it." D stated.

"I know." Meredith shrugged, "But it's mine. M is for Meredith, that's the way I see it."

Meredith offered him another chunk of venison jerky and D reluctantly accepted.

"I didn't think an adventure would be like this." Meredith told him, "Sleeping in an old barn, traveling to places where people who never even met me hate me. I thought it'd be different. I wanted to be a hero, you know? Help people. I don't want to kill my own brother either."

"Raziel chose this fate for himself." D ran his fingers over the grain of the meat, "He made the choice to become a monster. There are things that you do not know, and cannot understand yet. There will be things that you never understand, because you are shielded from them. The desire of monsters, for one."

"My entire life I've been shielded. In a bubble." Meredith said, "Like a pet in a glass bowl. I just never saw how thick the glass was until I was sitting on the rim. I'm surprised they even let me out."

"You are needed." D looked at her again. His night vision was clearer again, bringing Meredith into sharp focus. Her light red hair, her freckled cheeks. Those big blue eyes that met his.

"After a lifetime of keeping me hidden away, I don't get why she's fine with me doing this." Meredith shook her head, "Because my father and siblings wouldn't? Is that why?"

"Maybe she wants you to experience freedom." D suggested.

"Some freedom this is." Meredith smiled at him, "Sitting in a stinky barn and getting attacked by big worms. But it's better than being stuck in Morrow Valley. Better than being the Princess."

D smiled at her, the expression subtle. It felt so strange when he smiled. His lips felt awkward.

"You are not a very convincing princess anyway." D said, his tone rather matter-of-fact.

"Hah." Meredith grinned and whispered back, "You met a lot of princesses?"

D nodded a bit but was silent, still smiling softly. It was barely perceptible. The real smile was in his eyes and Meredith could see that much in the shadows.

"How old are you, D?" Meredith asked him.

"Old." He responded.

"So, again, is D short for something?" She asked him.

"Yes." He responded.

"You're too vague, but I'll figure you out. That's what I'm good at." Meredith nodded with a sage wisdom.

D saw his hat by his head, reached for it and brought it to his face. He pulled the brim down over his eyes. The fatigue was getting to be a little too much to handle and actually sleeping didn't seem so hard a concept to stomach.

"You are also good at sharing your weaknesses, like making me feel hungry and tired." D pointed out.

"Yeah, m'sorry about that." Meredith shrugged, looking genuinely apologetic. He didn't see the expression but he heard it in her voice, "You'll be over it in the morning. And I only sleep as often as a human does."

"Which is still much more often than I do." D said, voice lower.

"Is one of my weaknesses being talkative? Because I think you got that too." Meredith chided him, "You might be becoming a conversationalist."

"Maybe." D said, tone flat but warmer. He leaned further into the hay.

"I've never met another Dhampir before." Meredith said and then flopped into the hay, trying to get comfortable, "But I don't count really, do I? I don't know. I am, but I'm not."

He didn't respond and she heard him breathing quietly.

"Did you fall asleep, D?" Meredith asked.

Still nothing but his breathing.

"At least you can sleep on hay and wooden floors. I've barely gotten any rest this whole time because we've been camping. I miss my bed." Meredith mused to herself, "Maybe I am a princess. I don't know how I'm going to sleep on the floor. Maybe I should try to sleep in the Bella, but they want to be ready if we're attacked or something during the night. Do you sleep on the ground when you do sleep? How can you do that all of the time? I guess you get used to-"

"Here." D's voice was soft but stern and he slid an arm out, dove under her middle and pulled her up against him in a very fluid, smooth motion, "Quiet now. Sleep."

Nestled up against his larger, stronger body and feeling his armor, Meredith wasn't sure if this were any better. But his cloaks were soft and his arm was more supportive than hay and less abrasive than the wooden planks. She placed her cheek to his chest and smiled. He'd been very careful not to allow their skin to touch. D was no fool.

He smelled nice. She took the time to observe his face in the shadows. Her night vision wasn't terrific, not like his probably was, but Meredith could still see him fairly well. D was handsome. Cuddled up to a tall, strong handsome fellow made sleeping in a barn much more acceptable. His long, wavy dark hair was hanging down his shoulders. His lips were slightly parted. They were rather kissable, she thought, but imagined he'd probably be one of those robotic, unsure kissers who pressed their face against hers and hoped for the best. Or maybe, maybe he was actually super passionate and masking it with that cool, calm exterior. There might be a warm and juicy center to this statue. She'd already gotten a few sneak peaks around his stone veil and tonight he'd definitely opened up more to her. He was likable, definitely, and she felt the butterflies in her belly that she often experienced when a person struck her as desirable.

Meredith liked the butterflies, and accepted them with open arms. She wasn't quite tired enough for sleep just yet and was enjoying the opportunity she'd been afforded. She could study his face, look at his body and allow her imagination to run away completely unabashed and unrestrained. Being sleepy actually accentuated the strength of her visions. She tried to think of what he looked like under his black armor. He'd be fit, that was for sure. He'd probably be one of those smooth, muscular figures with just the right amount of lean to them. He had a nice hip to chest ratio. She felt an excited prickling within her lower belly, the butterflies descending.

And what harm was there in it? She was no stranger to a man's touch. She was no stranger to a woman's touch. There was no shame in it. Damn it, Aatrak! Meredith thought, I'm not a child any longer! I haven't been in a long time! I have desires and needs.. I'm a woman.

Meredith imagined the Dhampir waking, looking at her with heated, hungry eyes and deciding that right then, right there would be the best time and place for their union. Maybe he'd show her some fangs or something. She wondered if he would, and shivered a little. Then, she pictured a bit more of him. It would have to be as pretty as he was, she was sure.

Regret for her thoughts sank in as Meredith realized she'd worked herself up far too much. Her skin was warm and her insides were tugging at her for satisfaction. Maybe she could sneak off and take care of it and then come back. She should have reigned herself in. Her libido was a beast.

Very faintly, she could smell her own arousal. It was barely perceptible, which relieved her greatly. Mostly she smelled hay and rotten wood, and the other Dhampir.

Meredith felt a deep concern. His senses were much stronger than hers. Let him just sleep. Unless, of course, it meant he'd wake up and roll over onto her and-

She cursed silently.

Even if he did, the other hunters were in the room outside of their little stable hideaway!

D's scent had begun to bother her more, and she felt as though her own body were warping his smell to make him more desirable. Meredith decided she could no longer take it and very carefully undid herself from him. His arm released her and he made no sound at all.

She crept through the barn, looking for a corner to turn around. The hunters were all sleeping soundly and despite their well honed senses were unable to detect her sneaking through the main portion of the barn floor. She found a corner after stepping carefully across the hay which lead down to another row of stables.

Meredith made a quick and silent dash to the last stable, went in and found a comfortable spot to take care of her business. It was overly within a few minutes and she bit her own jacket to muffle her exclamations.

She found a bathroom and cringed when the sink gurgled when she turned the spigot. The water ran softly. When Meredith was done she was glad to see that she hadn't woken anyone. She sneaked back to the stable she was sharing with D.

Meredith felt safe curling up beside him again and was surprised when his arm slid around her once more and pulled her close. Had she woken him? He still smelled like he had before. Spicy and alluring. It was easier to be so close and feel herself grow sleepy rather than excited. She'd taken care of her need. Still, he did smell rather good. She could enjoy it and still fade off to sleep.

He had smelled her. He'd smelled her for the entire hour she'd been beside him, on him. D had woken to the scent, been slowly introduced to the smell of her arousal. Meredith hadn't done anything to act on it. She hadn't moved at all, save for her shiver and her head movements. D was relieved that she hadn't attempted anything, but he'd also been somewhat disappointed. He'd have stopped her anyway, but it would have felt better than laying beside her and trying to cool the gears grinding inside of him for an hour. He'd lost the battle but remained motionless, unbearably aware of her. Perhaps..

No.

Her scent had been driving him wild. If she hadn't have gotten up, he would have started to consider moving her or finding another spot to sleep. Or moving her with him, and finding a better spot for both of them. He wouldn't really have done that, but it was a fleeting desire.

She'd gone off and come back. He'd taken her right back against himself. Meredith smelled like satisfaction. D wouldn't get that. He was envious in a tangible way. It was a distraction, his blood so hot that even with her having calmed her own he was fighting the impulse to take his frustration out on her body. D didn't want to wake her, and pushed the thought of isolating himself for a period of time out of his mind. It was aggravating but he'd overcome it. It would pass. The desires that sometimes ravaged his body were all controllable. He pondered over the fact that she'd touched him for so long earlier. Had she also temporarily affected his ability to pull back? He was still a little hungry and he was still tired, though sleeping wasn't an option anymore.

Frustration was no stranger to him, but it was still a mighty foe. It took no small amount of self control not to shiver like she had earlier.

No sleep would come, but he would feign it. In the morning, it wouldn't matter. By then her touch would have worn off and he'd have regained his composure. He just had to wait.

The amused little "tsk tsk" sound he heard was met with D clenching his left fist. He'd almost said "Quiet", but maintained his silence. She was practically deaf compared to him, but it wasn't worth the effort.

Morning took too long to arrive. However, D had been correct. An hour before morning, he'd felt himself returning to normal, or whatever he'd accepted as normal. The residual heat still lingered in his blood like the day after being poisoned, but it felt tamed. He'd looked at her face, saw she was still sleeping, before the others were even stirring yet and he'd felt something else. Not desire. Not lust.

She really was beautiful. She was sweet, but she wasn't all innocent. There was something endearing in that fact. She wasn't so naive, despite being young and inexperienced. She rolled with the punches. She had empathy. Meredith had a soft heart. D's brows lowered as he realized they would be parting soon, and that unsettled him. He wasn't unsettled because they'd be parting, but because he felt something within him shift at the thought. It had been so long since he'd felt a pang of regret, small as it was. He'd appreciated her brightness for a time. There was more to her than he'd originally believed. D would have liked to have spent longer getting to know the girl. Perhaps he'd have even entertained being momentary lovers, flying close and then inevitably parting. Her youth didn't perturb him but actually made her more desirable. She hadn't been ruined yet by reality. D had a soft spot for humans and though Meredith certainly was not one, she might as well have been.

Those hunters weren't prepared enough to get her to where she needed to go, and that also bothered D. Getting her to the maze and having her open the doors within it wasn't going to be as simple as it sounded, he was sure. This was a magic maze, newly constructed by an unknown witch. There could be dangers inside that the hunters were unable to counter. Raziel wanted Meredith dead, and he might have his way. But the Dhampir knew there was little that he could do. Not without making an old and very painful mistake. He knew better. He slid his arm from her and she flopped to the ground, unaware as she continued to sleep. D stood and looked down at her. Then, he got his sword and attached it to his back. This woke her.

"Hm.. D?" Meredith looked up at him.

"I have to go now, Meredith." D said to her, "Thank you for your help."

"Wait.. wait.." Meredith rubbed her eyes, "I had.. I had an idea, Ok? Don't go yet."

"What is that?" D asked her.

"Are the others up?" Meredith was pushing herself to her feet, "I have a plan."

"They are waking up now, I believe." D said, hearing some groans, grunts and rustling. Their raised voices had woken the others, "A plan?"

"Yeah, but we all need to stick together." Meredith said.

"I work alone." D told her.

"Sure, you still get to do that. But.. wait, just hear me out. Let me wake them up, Ok?" Meredith jumped up and swung around him, entering the main barn floor, "Guys!"

"Ah! What is it?!" Tengen was on his feet, flailing for his sword, "What's going on?!"

"Oh, that guy's not dead. Ok." Gencho was sitting up, rubbing the side of his own face and looking at D with narrowed eyes, "What the hell, Meredith?"

Renshen sat up, putting his cap back on.

Val was halfway to her feet, both pistols drawn.

"Whoa!" Meredith held her hands up, "Val, it's cool!"

"There's better ways to wake people up, Meredith." Renshen was squeezing the bridge of his nose, shaking his head, "What is it?"

"So, um, hear me out.." Meredith dropped her palms to her sides, "It sounds like the storm is over, so we can all head our own ways, but.. I was thinkin'.."

"No." Gencho was shaking his head.

D went to the stable his horse had been placed in and was taking the reigns.

"Guys, listen." Meredith put her palms out toward them, "I think it'd be better if we kinda stuck close. I'm not saying team up. No way. No. I'm saying we travel in sort of the same direction at the same pace, in roughly the same location. Not too close. But.. near."

She gesticulated with her hands, illustrating both distant objects and closer ones.

"Meredith." Gencho was pulling himself to his feet, "That's not really how it works. Y'see, we're tryin' to do a job here. So is he. But he's doin' that job himself, so he can collect a bounty. Oddly enough, so are we! We've both got the same goal, but it's not a mutual goal. Do you understand that?"

"Totally." Meredith nodded, "And I've given it a lot of thought. So.. um.."

She took in a deep breath.

"I have seventeen gold pieces left in my bag. You said that was worth a lot in your currency, right? So, I'll add that to your bounty." Meredith grinned, her expression hopeful but anxious, "That's like over forty million, right?"

Tengen's jaw dropped.

"You're adding to the reward money?" D asked her, seeming slightly taken aback himself. She'd somehow managed to throw him off too. It was almost amusing to D to feel that sort of emotion, not because of the amount she'd offered but because she was so determined to have things her own way that she was trying to appeal to the hunter's love of wealth. She was smart. He found himself mildly impressed.

"Princess does have the funds." Tengen grinned. He'd been swayed.

"Fine." D said, his tone flat.

"What? We're not teaming up with him, are we?" Val asked, surprised.

"No, not teaming up. Banding together. For safety." Meredith stated, "Besides, you're all going to need me to get into the maze. Who knows what's down there? We're gonna need him too."

"And if a party dies?" Gencho asked.

"Then they get it all." Meredith nodded, "The gold is in my bag, in the Bella."

"You drive a hard bargain, sweetie." Renshen chuckled and shook his head, still sitting in the hay, "I can't believe this is really what we're doin', but I guess I'll accept it. With that kind of money, maybe I can retire and let the kids do all the work."

"You're too young to retire, old man!" Gencho smirked.

Meredith accepted her victory with a clenched fist, bringing her bent elbow down as she nodded her head. She turned away, not wanting to share the big grin on her face which accompanied the soft grunt of approval which escaped her throat.

Gencho and Tengen had gone off to the larger room where the Bella was parked and Meredith passed a glance back at the other Dhampir. He was checking the saddle of his horse again, looking in some of the compartments. Meredith considered the possibility that he was checking to make sure nothing had been touched. She didn't blame him for it, though she knew no one had gotten that curious.

She was particularly enamored with that long sword on his back. She'd seen him use and gawked at the length. Meredith couldn't imagine trying to unsheathe that beast in a pinch.

The doors to the barn were opened, she could hear the squealing, and Tengen was cursing loudly.

"Sand everywhere. Fuck!" Tengen yelled back.

Gencho was trying to start the Bella and it was whining at him.

"Sand must'a gotten in her anyway. Easy fix though. Half an hour, tops." Gencho called out.

Meredith saw Renshen stepping over to the large inner door so he could supervise. After glancing back to the hunter, D, a second time and finding that he was meeting her eyes, Meredith offered him a smile and then walked past Renshen into the larger room the Bella was parked in.

She saw the front hood was being opened and Gencho was going to work. Tengen stood next to him, arms folded across his chest, and his one eye widened at her. Tengen's smile was pleasant, expectant, though he was happy to see her.

"Whatcha doin', doll?" Tengen asked her.

"Since we've got a little time, I'm gonna go outside and practice a little." Meredith entered the Bella, grabbed her sword from the rack and came back out, "There's plenty of space outside, so why not?"

"Practice?" Tengen asked her, head tilted, "What? Practice swingin' that thing around?"

"Yeah, I wasn't fast enough before." Meredith answered him, "There were too many gaps in my defenses and too many pauses in my strikes. I've got to work on that."

"Battle Princess." Gencho said from within the hood.

Meredith feigned an insulted scoff, grinning, swung the sword in its sheath across her shoulder and walked outside into the early morning air.

It was oddly cool outside in the sand. Some of the sand was dark and gray, but most was tan. The sun was peering over the far horizon, but night had left the desert without heat. The sand had allowed the warmth of the day to evaporate upward and the temperature had dropped more drastically during the sand storm.

The winds had hidden the Bella's tracks. It all looked fresh and new out there.

Meredith unsheathed her sword, placing the case and the belt it was attached to on the ground by the door. Her sword was not quite as tall as she was, but it was thick. A broadsword, long and tapered near the sharpest end, it was a well crafted blade, the hilt white and silver with the 'M' placed in the center on one side. Gallicker had told her it was heavy, though she didn't feel it herself.

Meredith took many steps out into the sand before she began to feign swings. She would throw the blade out, stop suddenly and then turn to swing it around again. In front of her, the imaginary foe swung at her with a ferocity Meredith felt would be appropriate for such an enemy.

When she spun around, blade out, it clashed against actual metal and she was forced to snap out of her daydream.

D was standing there, his sword pointed down, and he'd halted her swing.

"You swing too wide. That leaves an area of opportunity for someone to strike you." D told her.

"Nyuh?" Meredith twisted her brow but then smiled, "I'll have you know that I was trained by a very infamous and respected warrior."

"They failed to instruct you on how to hone your attacks." D's tone was almost flat, but he could have been attempting mild sarcasm too, "In your battle with the worm, you charged at it without a clear line of sight. You weren't sure of the strike zone and it was clear that you had no recourse."

"I had an idea of what I was doing." Meredith said and then swung away from him again. She was surprised when he moved, quickly, and met her blade once more with his own. He'd barely moved his wrist, his sword still held in the downward position.

"Having an idea of what you might do only works when you don't have all of the information. Everything you needed to know was right there in front of you. You saw how it moved and you could have predicted its actions. You could have chosen where to strike. Accuracy should come naturally to you, but you chose to hack and slash after a show of acrobatics. You've got to be better than that." D actually did sound a little harsh that time. He observed her and nodded, "I've agreed to your terms, but I'd rather not drag a liability into the fray with me."

"Liability?" Meredith scowled and then smirked, "Ok, Ok. I get it. So I didn't fight a big worm the way you would have. Gimme a break, it was my first time. I bet you weren't the best your first time in actual battle either."

"I was better than that." D said to her and allowed a barely perceptible smirk to grace his lips.

"Ppft." Meredith swung her sword and D met it again.

She eyed him and then smiled. If that's how it was going to be, she would play along. Meredith swung her sword again at a lower angle and he tilted his blade, catching it. He wasn't putting forth much effort and Meredith did a sidestep before changing the speed and direction of her next swing. D met her sword again. He'd moved just enough, but she'd only seen a blur of motion. He could have been humoring her but becoming bored, the look on his face too passive for their current activity.

She felt a surge of heat inside of her, but it wasn't anger or frustration. It was a sincere rush of excitement, her eyes alight, as she lay down a barrage of blows on him. Now, she was attacking. With very little effort he caught each strike.

"Ok, so I guess you're good or something." Meredith said to him, her sword held before her as she stepped back a few feet in the sand. She felt her heart beating in her chest. It had been a long time since her pulse had risen enough to get her attention, "Attack me, though. Go on. I'm actually pretty awesome at defense during a one on one fi-"

"Tell me when." D cut her off.

"Huh? If I tell you, that'd be cheating. I'd just be ready for you." Meredith said to him.

D lowered his sword but did not allow it to touch the ground.

"Tell me when." He repeated.

"Fine. Ok." Meredith smirked, "You're gonna feel silly, underestimating me. Right.. about.. now!"

She prepared to dodge, or to raise her sword but she was on the ground so quickly that she'd only had half a heartbeat to reflect on the black movement before her. With a very audible impact to the sand, Meredith's feet flew into the air as her back slammed into the earth and sent dust flying out around her.

He had a palm pressed to her chest, near her throat, his sword held outward in his other hand and away from her. D was above her, crouching, and regarded her coolly. He hadn't attacked with the blade, but with his own hand. The dust was still settling and Meredith's brains were swimming.

"If I were an enemy, you'd be dead." D said. He still looked so calm, but his top lip was raised.

Meredith blinked, looking up at him. She'd dropped her sword and it was in the sand next to her. He'd hurt her pride more than her body, though her chest ached where his palm had met her. Even with a hurt pride, Meredith smiled up at him with the same fire she'd always brought the training ground with Aatrak. She showed teeth as she laughed.

"That was awesome! Teach me to do that!" Meredith tried to sit up and he pushed her back down.

"If we had time, I would." D said to her. He'd held her down long enough to say those words before he began to stand. He was letting her up and offering her a hand. She took his hand and he helped her to her feet. To touch her skin for any longer would have been foolish, but he wouldn't have felt right not to at least offer her the assistance. She'd taken it and D was pleasantly surprised, having been sure she'd decline and get herself back to her feet all on her own.

"Ok, maybe later then." Meredith said, brushing herself off and then reaching down for her sword. She held it at her side.

D watched her and tilted his head. The words 'maybe later then' sounded more sure than not. There was the distinct 'maybe', but Meredith was indeed expecting it to happen at some point.

"Hey, if you guys are done screwin' around out there, we're ready to go!" Gencho yelled from the open barn door.

"Sweet!" Meredith ran to the barn, leaving D to follow after her, and grabbed for the sheath to her sword. She was attaching it to her hip, "Good job, Gencho!"

"Eh, I am pretty great." Gencho said and went to the open hatch to the Bella.

"I'm glad we could work something out." Meredith said as she saw Renshen boarding the car. Val was waiting outside, standing near Tengen.

"Money talks." Val smirked, "Com'on, Meredith."

"I only have one request." Meredith turned to D, "I want to ride the horse!"

D eyed her blankly. What?

"What? You're not riding with us?" Tengen sounded deflated.

"I wanna ride with D for awhile. I think it'd be fun." Meredith stated, smiling, "Please, D?"

D looked at Meredith and saw that she was clasping her hands together, smiling at him expectantly.

What could he say?
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Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlines