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The Scarlet Hunter	By : naturechild02 Category: +S to Z > Vampire Hunter D Views: 2103 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own rights to Vampire Hunter D or any of Hideyuki Kikuchi's works. I do not make any profit/monies from this story. This a fanfic written merely for the enjoyment of myself and others.

Chapter List
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Katherine was quite a sight dressed in black riding a white horse, her dark red hair whipping in the wind. The contrast was startling and D couldn’t help stealing glances at her. Tomo must have missed D a little because he ran beside him and tried to leap unto his horse’s back, but the black gelding would have nothing to do with the oversized cat.
“With every death comes new life, that is the way of the world,” Katie said. She was still excited about Dathan’s news and D was glad. Her mood before had been very morbid and not at all like the girl so full of happiness and sunshine that he admired. She was indeed the light to his dark, the sun to his night. The thought brought a small smirk to his lips.
“To the mountains, then?” she asked.
“Yes, I believe we are expected.”
“Ha,” her confidence had returned. “We will show that lowlife. The only sort of murder that should be enjoyed is the murder of murderers. Thinking of all those poor people he victimized will make ripping his heart out a pleasure.”
“Yes, but if you really come to enjoy murder for what it is, then you are no better.”
“When I rid the world of their kind then I will be satisfied and retire to my estate in Carrillo. That is what Margaret left me and I will not let such a grand old house sit unoccupied forever. If I survive until then.”

They rode for two days without saying much. One evening Katie sat down on a hill to watch the sun sink below the horizon. She leaned back on her hands and gazed at the stars coming out of hiding. D sat beside her. He was troubled.
“Katie, you keep saying, ‘If I survive.’ Do you really think you will not return to your brother?”
She looked at him funny. “Why do you ask?”
“There’s something hiding behind your smile. Something depressing. Too much like what I would see in a mirror.”
Katie looked back at the stars, her face solemn. “I have a bad feeling. Like I will be seeing father soon. Sometimes I wonder why I even try to keep away from death; it is obviously calling for me. Perhaps I should answer?”
D grabbed her arm so hard she thought it might break. He had never touched her so roughly before and it made her gasp in surprise. “I don’t want to hear you talk like that. Not you. Everyone I have ever given a damn about is in a grave somewhere. Let’s not add you to the list.” He let go and walked away. Katie was stunned. She had never seen D so angry before.
“Because you are the sunshine to his night.”
Perhaps Dathan was right; maybe she was needed. Maybe above killing vampires and monsters and being there for her brother, maybe she was there to make D smile. To make him look around and see the joys in a life so full of bloodshed.
“It is enough for me to be near him.” That was what she had said. But was it true? Was it really enough? She knew she was strong-willed but could she really only be a companion for the rest of her life?
“I will be what he needs me to be. A friend,” she whispered to herself.

Ray was walking home just after the sun had set. He had had a bit too much at the bar but he wasn’t staggering that badly. At least, he didn’t think so. The bar was where he hung out lately, it took him away from the jeering and ridicule of his sisters. It had been a mistake on his part to tell them that Katherine had refused his advances. He had a bad feeling suddenly and he noticed a man in the tree he was passing. It was too dark to make out his features.
“Hey, boy,” the man called out.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Ray was afraid but too intoxicated to have the sense to run. The man didn’t move but continued to stare at Ray from the safety of the tree branches.
“I’m looking for a Hunter who passed through here recently. Perhaps you know where he went? You couldn’t miss him, he’s a dhampir.”
At the mention of the word dhampir Ray’s face contorted in anger and he blurted out, “Yes, he came through! That bastard stole my girl and made off to the mountains.”
“Stole your girl… what a shame,” the stranger tsked and shook his head in sympathy, “Was she a little red-haired girl sporting a bow?”
Ray was astonished, “You know her?”
“Aye, I saw her with that Hunter myself. I think perhaps he had her under some sort of spell. No girl in her right mind would leave a handsome guy like you to run off with that half-breed. Sure, he’s good looking but it’s just not logical. And that pretty little thing didn’t look so stupid.”
“Yes, yes that must be it.” Ray was convincing himself. “She must be hypnotized or something.”
“Perhaps if you give me some information about her, I can find that dhampir if he comes around again. Then you can get your girl back.”
“What would you get out of it?”
The man shrugged his massive shoulders. “My master wants him dead. The girl is no concern to us, but perhaps she can lead us to him. Is this her hometown? Does she live nearby?”
Ray thought about it. Even though warning signals were going off in the back of his mind, he pictured Katherine and knew that she must still love him. That damn dhampir must have her under his control! All that insane talk about wanting to be a Hunter was something he had made her say so her brother wouldn’t follow. Yes, it all made sense. He had to get her back, and if this fellow knew how, and if he killed the dhampir, then Ray could live with telling a stranger a few things about Katherine. His drunken mind was made up and when he looked back at the stranger, the dark face was smiling as if he already knew the answer.

“Something is not right about this place. I’m getting a feeling of déjà vu.”
The mountains were desolate, no birds chirping or deer leaping away at the sight of them. There was no wildlife to be seen. Even the air seemed stale and still and to Katherine, that was a bad sign.
“Doesn’t smell right.”
“The last time you said that, I ended up with a crushed leg and bruised forehead. Hanging out with you is bad for my health.” She tried to joke to lighten the mood, but even she was growing increasingly uneasy.
“We are definitely expected. Be prepared for an attack at all times.” D was alert as always; eyes taking in every tree and rock; body stiff in anticipation. Katie’s face was calm but her insides were knotted up. It was hard to be her confident self when something in her screamed there was a trap waiting for them. They were in a small valley when it came.
Katie heard howls, far away at first but growing closer and from all directions. Then she heard moans and the sound of people approaching, crashing through the brush around them. But these people weren’t alive, not anymore. The Hunters dismounted and shoed their horses away. They were surrounded with no hope but to fight. Suddenly a flock of crows flew through the trees at them and attacked their faces trying to claw out their eyes. The Hunters were cutting them to pieces when the first werewolves appeared. There were people riding some of them and they jumped off and charged them right beside the hungry beasts. Behind them were the vampire zombies moving a little slower but with purpose.

It was like a nightmare. Katie began to suspect she would not see another morning as dozens of monsters flew at her. She stood back to back with D and shot down as many as she could with her arrows until they were too close. Then she drew her sword and fought for her life. The next half hour was a blur of movement. Katie’s sword was moving so fast cutting off so many heads, that she had to keep an eye on D so she wouldn’t accidentally kill him.
D himself was a blur of black flying between the enemies; killing them so quickly he had moved on before they realized their own defeat. The werewolves and vampires were strong but ignorant of the fighting techniques these two possessed, and were therefore easy to kill. Then, the dark man from their last encounter appeared from nowhere and began to cast spells against them.
He was muttering under his breath as they fought the lesser creatures. Then he threw his arms out and a gale force wind crashed against them. They staggered and Katie was almost swept away but D grabbed her arm and plunged his sword into the ground. They held on the to blade for dear life. The vampire zombies near them were not so lucky. Bodies were flying through the air and crashing into trees, the trees themselves were snapping and debris was everywhere. As the wind died down, the dark man came after them with a sword and the Hunters met him.
The other men who had ridden the werewolves were intelligent enough to stand clear at the casting of the spell, but they now ran back into the fight. The odds should be a little better since now their foes were for the most part human. Except, these were skilled fighters brandishing deadly weapons of all kinds.
D found himself cut off from Katie and completely surrounded. He witnessed Tomo cut down beside him by an axe to his gut. The oversized feline ripped a man’s arm off with the last of his strength. The cat had fought bravely to the end.
D soon met the sorcerer and clashed swords with him. “Your magic will not work on me. Give up or I will cut you to pieces,” D’s voice was calm but chilling.
The dark man grinned in his face. “Whether I survive this night or not, he will kill you in the end. He has grand plans, he does. And you are both part of them. If you survive.” He flipped backwards away from D and threw a ball of fire at him. D dodged it and as he moved he saw a horrible sight out of the corner of his eye.
Katie was stabbing a man in the gut and as she pulled her sword out, another man leaped behind her and threw a spear through her torso. Her eyes widened in shock and a strange, short yelp escaped her lips before she staggered and fell. At the smell of her blood, D was overwhelmed with fury and vengeance. His eyes glowed red and a black miasma surrounded him. He slew the remaining men ruthlessly in a matter of seconds until only he and the sorcerer remained.
The dark man danced about, flinging spells at D in a playful way. But D was quite serious, the games were over and all bets were off. He flew through the air and sliced the man in half in the time it took to blink. Then, the dhampir came back to himself and rushed over to his friend. She lay where she had fallen: still conscious.
“I should by all accounts be dead already, but not before I look upon that beautiful visage once more,” she mumbled. The pool of blood around her was slowly growing and with the last of her strength she yanked the spear out of her abdomen with a scream of pain. D knelt down and raised her head with his left hand, attempting to slow the bleeding with the other.
“Not like this Katie, not now…”
Blood ran freely from her lips and nose. “It is too late, my friend. I am glad we met. I will remain with you, in here.” She touched his forehead; her hand already growing cold. She gazed at him so affectionately, so innocently, he subconsciously put more pressure on her wound, his heart doing a mad dance in his chest.
“D, I…” her face suddenly twisted into a snarl. Her eyes turned as red as the blood leaving her body and the hand by his face grabbed his throat. Then, just as quickly, her body collapsed as she fainted.
“I won’t let you die, Katherine. I need you here, with me.” As he said the words, the truth of them filling his head completely for the first time, he realized he had been denying his love for this girl. She had somehow filled the void in his soul. She made him happy: something he had always thought impossible. She couldn’t be gone now before he had the chance to tell her.
“Sorry kid, you were a great fighter. Brave to the very end,” his left hand muttered in genuine sorrow.
“No!” D said with feeling, slashing his wrist with his teeth in desperation.
“What are you doing? She’s a goner, just forget it! You don’t know what will happen!”
“I’m willing to find out.”
He put his bleeding wrist to her mouth. Her eyes shot open, the red eyes of the vampire blood within. She sucked his wrist hard but after two mouthfuls she let go. Her body began to convulse and she moaned loudly. D grabbed her and held her close, all the while becoming more and more afraid with every passing minute of what he had done. Perhaps he had truly killed her? Or turned her into a lunatic vampire? Would he have to destroy her anyway and live with the guilt?
“Come back to me Katie,” he whispered into her hair. After a few minutes, her body stopped shaking, her heartbeat becoming stronger. As she lay unconscious in his arms, he began to wonder if his blood had done the trick. When he tried to inspect her wound, she was so covered in her own blood he could hardly tell if the opening was shrinking at all.
He picked her up and carried her to the lake. Wading out waist deep, he pulled off her shirt and laid her in the water. Her breast wrappings were soaked in blood but he could see the wound now. And right before his eyes it was slowly healing itself. D breathed a sigh of relief.
He brought his face close to hers and listened to her breathing. She looked so peaceful in her slumber. D was struck anew by her beauty. He leaned closer…
Her hand shot out quicker than the eye could see and squeezed his throat until he couldn’t breathe. The blood red eyes were regarding him with scorn.
“DO NOT TOUCH THIS BODY!” The voice full of fury that bellowed these words was not Katherine’s at all. D only stared at her without moving. Suddenly she closed her eyes and released him. He fell back in the water, spluttering. When he finally glanced up, she was standing there watching him. Her wound was gone. Her eyes were blue. She was herself again.
“Did I hurt you?” she moved to help him but he was already on his feet.
“I’m fine.”
“I am sorry, that is a sort of defense system my body has. Once, when we were kids, Dathan tried to sneak up on me while I was sleeping and I almost strangled him to death. Father had to slap me in the face for me to wake up and let go.”
“That actually explains a lot.”
Katie whistled for Star and, grabbing her torn shirt, waded to the shore. D followed and called his own horse. “I’ll make a fire for you,” D said and walked into the trees.
“Perhaps she’s not a vampire. She was fine in the water and she has no fangs. Maybe she hasn’t changed much from what she already was.”
“She’s changed, I just hope not for the worse.”
“So what now?”
“Take a hike.”
“He, he,” the face in his palm disappeared.
When he returned she was in dry clothes. She picked her way through the field of dead bodies until she found her cat. “Oh poor Tomo, you were a dear friend to the end.” She brushed away her tears and set to work burying him. When she concluded praying over his body she slowly returned to where D stood. She ignored him and settled under a tree: deep in thought. Katherine would not look at him as he made a fire and settled down across from her. Finally, “What happened?”
“I gave you my blood.”
“What? Would that not kill me?”
“Apparently, it mixed well with the vampire blood you already possess. You do not thirst, do you?”
“No, I feel about the same only… I don’t know, different somehow. But not in a monstrous way, I suppose.” She looked at him in sudden horror. “I could have become a vampire! Why would you do such a thing?”
“You were dying.”
“It was an honorable death!”
Silence for a moment. “I could not bear to lose you,” he said quietly, his voice like a whisper on the breeze.
Katie was completely taken aback by these words and the shock showed plainly on her face. It was the sweetest thing she had ever heard but coming from D it was nothing short of miraculous. Her look of total confusion stifled D’s hope.
“I’m sorry if you regret my actions Katie, but I don’t. You are alive and so I am satisfied.” He got up and walked towards the lake. Katherine staggered to her feet to follow and stood behind him looking at her bare feet.
“Does this make me, immortal?”
“I don’t know.”
Staring at his back, studying the lines of his shoulders, she felt more confident in herself than she ever had. He had saved her. This dhampir had risked much in saving her, but he had done it because he cared. Didn’t he? She slipped her arms around his chest and hugged him from behind.
“Why would you risk such a thing for me, D? I thought I was more a burden to you than anything. You could have been free of me.”
“You know damn well that isn’t true.” He took her hand and brought her around to face him. The eyes that had terrified hundreds by their emptiness were soft and beautiful as they looked at her. She was thrilled to see emotion in those black eyes, even more so knowing that she had put it there.
“Tell me you hate me. Tell me you can’t stand my presence any longer and I will leave you alone. But if you feel even a little of what I feel for you,” - he touched her cheek and she shivered, - “then let me stand beside you for as long as you live. I won’t care if you never really love me, I won’t mind if you grow old and feeble and can hardly get around; I want to be there. With you, Katie.”
“D…” This had to be a dream! He couldn’t be saying such things to her, her, of all people! She felt like her heart might explode from her chest. She couldn’t think of a thing to say so she threw her arms around his neck and held him. He too, put his arms around her and they stood that way while the moon moved overhead and their horses grazed nearby. His body was cold and firm. The feel of his arms around her, his smell, it was so intoxicating. Feelings she had never really known began to burn in the pit of her stomach. Desire. Lust. Need. She wanted him. Finally, Katie pulled away, flushed.
“You say this to all the girls you meet?” she joked.
“I’ve never said such words before in my life. And I don’t intend to say them to any other woman. Katie, I’ve never allowed myself to care this way for anyone. But as much as I resisted, I just could not help it with you. I can no longer hide away or deny how you make me feel.”
She leaned up and kissed him softly, the brush of her lips against his making him close his eyes in pleasure. “I have been your woman since we first met. I just never thought you cared for me. Here we have been dancing around the truth all along, both of us too proud to say anything.”
“Or too foolish.”
“Are you still afraid of hurting me; that you will not be able to control the urge to bite me?”
“I could not hurt you, my dear one.”
“Good, because I can think of better things you can do with your mouth.” She kissed him deeply, molding her body to his.

She awoke to a pain in her heart and a fear. Fear of what? She was lying in the arms of the man she loved and the terrifying dreams were already becoming hazy. She gazed at his perfect body and felt a shiver of delight run through her. Last night he had been so gentle, so loving, she could hardly believe it was the same man. He took his time and treasured her body, always asking if she was sure this was what she wanted. She had smiled at him.
“I never intended for anyone to have this body but you. And if you would never have me, I would die never knowing a man’s touch.”
“Katie, my love,” he whispered over and over as he kissed her.
Now, in the early light of dawn, she could hardly believe that it was true. He was hers. His skin was so smooth and pale in the low light. Running her fingers lightly down his naked arm, she sighed to herself. Katherine had never felt so content, so complete, in her life. She wanted to sing her joy to the world. But suddenly the fear came again and flashes of her dream flitted across her mind.
Dathan.
Something was wrong. She wasn’t guessing; she felt the truth in her heart. A horrible feeling of dread filled her and she knew that her brother was dead. She knew it, but she would not believe it. She looked at D resting peacefully beside her. She could not bother him with this. How many times had they gotten so close to their target, so close to meeting Psuedo face to face again, only to have to turn back because of her? Gently untangling herself from his arms, she tried to slip away and started to get dressed but as soon as she moved, he awoke.
“Katherine,” he murmured. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I need to go. I will be back soon.”
“Having regrets?” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“Of course not,” she chuckled, but she wouldn’t look at him as she pulled her shoes on and something in her tone made him sit up and look at her more closely.
“What happened?”
“I need to check on Dathan. Something happened, last night I think. You do not have to come with me.”
He stood behind her and touched her arm. “I want to go, unless you would rather I didn’t.”
She turned and hugged him, realizing that she wanted him to go as well. She would need all the moral support she could get. “It is bad, I feel it. I am afraid.”
D gazed into her eyes and saw the truth of her words. He may not have shared her dream, but he had his own premonition of a horror awaiting her at home.

So once again they found themselves racing to Lichen Valley. Katie led the way, her hair whipping out behind her like a red flag. Meanwhile, his parasite wanted to lecture him.
“You’ve never been reckless before. You have always weighed out the consequences of your actions before your every action. What are you doing with this girl? You can’t promise her a happy life…”
“I never made any promises. She knows what I am and she has asked nothing from me. Just stay out of it.”
“You’re only going to make her an outcast, like yourself.”
“She chose self-exile, remember? Leave it alone.”

He could sense the dread in her heart as they neared her hometown. Smoke, thick and black rose in the sky and D could guess its origin. Katie urged her horse faster. A crowd was gathered around the burnt-out shell of her brother’s house. She flew from Star’s back screaming for her brother. The crowd backed away but she grabbed the arm of the closest man.
“What happened here? Why did no one put out the fire?”
The man was alarmed. “Listen, we could not do anything! A man stood guard outside and proclaimed if anyone entered he would kill them. He was huge and terrifying with the biggest sword… Then he left and a Noble showed up. They were all still inside when the fire started but…”
She had raced to the house before he could finish.
“Dathan! Lindsay!” She ran inside, the smoke and fumes blinding her. The ceiling was gone in places, the second story in heaps on the first story floor. Most of the walls and furniture were still slowly burning. Cinders and bits of wood fell on her head as she climber over and around rubble. She thought she might just choke to death in here, when suddenly she spotted bodies in what was once the parlor. She was imagining this, it could not be real! But there gleamed the wedding band Dathan had given Lindsay on one of the bodies’ charred fingers. Her horrified scream echoed across the valley.

D hung his head in silence. He wished there was something he could do or say but he knew nothing would suffice. Five minutes later she stormed out again with two singed-black bodies over her shoulders. Her face was sooty and streaked with tears. She placed them on the front walk and surveyed the land. The barn and gardens were untouched; she could hear the horses neighing to be fed. Suddenly, it all clicked in her mind and rage took the place of grief.
“That bastard! That fucking lunatic monster!” Her eyes were glowing red. D had never heard her use such language before, though he couldn’t blame her. But he was afraid she would lose it. He was afraid this might be the last straw for her. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and cradle her like a child but instead he grasped her forearm as she tried to leave.
“Where are you going? This is a time for mourning and seeing to the dead. Vengeance will come later.”
“Do not touch me!” she threw him off with force, then added in a quieter tone, “Not now, D. There are things that must be done.”
She ran down the street and people parted when they saw her coming: her red hair streaming behind her and her eyes a matching color with their murderous intent. She never slowed until she reached the mayor’s house. He stood on his porch smoking a crooked cigarette, waiting nervously. She did not hesitate but jumped right up in his face.
“You coward! How dare you let this happen to my family!” His eyes showed his fear, but he didn’t step back.
“There was nothing we could do. They threatened to drain every person in town if we interfered. A couple men tried to stop the first guy and he killed them in a flash. After that, there was nothing we could do, Katherine.”
She struggled to control her urge to strangle him. Instead she hissed through clenched teeth, “Then continue to keep your hands tied while I punish the turncoat.”
“What turncoat?”
“Someone betrayed my brother. Someone had to have told the vampire which house was his. And who is the one person who calls himself my friend but is nowhere to be found?”
The mayor’s eyes closed in sudden realization. “Ray skid out of town last night after the first guy showed. He gave no explanation to his sisters. According to them, he just grabbed his shit and left. Would he really do that to you?”
“Do I have permission to punish him at my own leisure in whichever fashion I choose?” She wasn’t really asking. He knew she would kill him and no amount of manpower would stop her.
The mayor gave a resigned sigh, “Do as you see fit, but tend to your loved ones first, child. I respected your brother, he was a fine man.”
She spat at his feet. “If you really gave a damn you would have acted. Were you even aware that Lindsay was pregnant?” She turned on her heel and followed the smoke cloud to where the last of her family lay dead.
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The Scarlet Hunter