Finding Peace

Cain watched Jiro’s reactions to the limo ride. What indeed was he going to do with the Silver Blade? Everything that Sei stated seemed just too easy. Jiro was not that easy going of a person and in truth Jiro may prefer death over what they had planned. His love was long gone even if Eve’s blood resided in Kotaro. He was a widower, there was no other way at looking at things and Jiro was far to mellow in his somber personality to not take things personally although the darkness would reside so deep that to pull him out would be nearly impossible.

“So Lord Cain, we can travel like this all the time now that we are part of Sei’s coven?”

Cain looked at Kotaro who was one of the few that could call the Lord Dragon by his given name. They were in some ways very similar in age although Sei had all of his memories after his rebirth unlike Kotaro. It would almost be horrible to change the innocent Sage who was indeed a charming young fellow.

“Yes, but it is not the Lord Dragon who offers this luxury for you both. It is the Company. The Lord Dragon wishes to be a rather anonymous party in your stay here so it is best you keep that to yourselves as much as possible. It would do no good to spread such things outside of our meetings together since there are many under the protection of Lord Sei we cannot be certain if they will be attacked by the Kowloon children again or by Cassa herself to get to you both. Since Cassa was able to enter the Special Zone she may do so again and she may also have spies that are working for her here. The Black Snake can change her appearance and fool people like she did with Mimiko. No offense young lady, but you are no match for what we face although your powers of persuasion with Jiro and the Sage are appreciated.”

Mimiko nodded. She did not take offense. It would have been foolish to say so when she had indeed been fooled by Cassa and in fact kind of liked her in a grudging kind of fashion. Had the woman not been a threat they may have been friends. It had been good however that Zelman came when he did and saved her from a fate that could have meant the end of her existence.

“May I ask a strange question Mr. Warlock?”

Kotaro stated still unsure about some things with the Kowloon bloodline.

“Yes my Lord Sage.”

Cain stated and Kotaro wanted to laugh at the title Lord. He never thought of himself as a Lord and enjoyed just being a child.

“You can call me Kotaro Mr. Cain. We are all friends here.’
“Anyway, what I want to know is why is it that Cassa and her brother can make humans into crazy feral monsters, but they being of Kowloon bloodlines are not like that. They are, well kind of normal. In fact I kind of feel bad for them.”

Cain and Jiro looked at each other. Neither was quite certain why that was either. They just knew that they could not allow that bloodline to spread. It would destroy all the peace they had and the attack on the blood packs that kept their people alive being tampered with only insured that now the vampire houses had to become more stringent in checking everything that came through.

Zelman of course was furious with this mainly because his coven had agreed to finally follow the rules only to have a large portion of his own coven have to be exterminated due to the contamination of the blood packs. He had tried to point out that was why it was better to have willing victims agree to share blood, but the Company did not wish for this when willing donors were plentiful. Zelman muttered that he didn’t have a problem with willing donors only to shut his mouth when the Lord Dragon ordered him to be silent.

Eventually it was agreed that for the time being willing donors would be screened and allowed for the time being. However, it was against Company policy to allow their compromisers to become willing donors. It may deter client compromiser relationship. Mimiko of course was a rare exception because of whom she was working with.

“None of us are certain of why Kotaro, but what we do know is that it happens and that alone makes their bloodline one we must end. It indeed is unfortunate, but to destroy one bloodline to save the bloodlines of many others is what must be sacrificed. It is a necessity and think of the world Kotaro. Do you wish for those outside of the Zone or the Special Zone to be infected to where there is no peace at all?’
“This little piece of paradise as we vampires like to call the home we are given here in the Special Zone is only so because we maintain a semblance of peace amongst the population we reside with. I cannot imagine another incident arising as it had while you were here. We destroyed innocent humans and the peace we consistently fight to maintain. Our lifestyle depends on the choices we make and the choices we make in life effect everything around us.”

Cain looked at Jiro who took these words in knowing what Cain was saying. Indeed Jiro was a threat to their way of peace if he could not destroy Cassa and her bloodline. The Silver Blade was worthless if he could not keep the peace so he had to do his job even if that meant leaving Kotaro to others. It would never be that he was alone in his battle, but some things he had to do on his own. Cassandra Jill Warlock was one of those things.

“Why did you not succeed in destroying her? You had her right there Jiro. Only you can do this and you failed yet again. How can we count on you if you cannot do what you are born to do Silver Blade?”

Jiro sighed. He felt defeated and Cain of course was no help in making him feel better about his failure to defeat the Black Snake.

“We were equally matched and still are. If Mimiko had not given me……..had I not needed…. I have no excuses Cain……”

Jiro couldn’t finish the sentence as he bowed his head in failure, to ask for help and to admit he had failed was like a slap in the face. He had been an officer, a poor protector of the first Sage whom he loved more than his life, and now he had to protect Kotaro. He had done that. He may not have done anything else right in his life, but he did protect Kotaro except……when he ran from him. That had frightened Jiro more than anything in his life. Kotaro was best kept with Sei until his job was done.

“No you do not. You will finish the job and we will assist on destroying the bloodline since it is obvious you are too young, too brash, and too inexperienced to do this on your own.”

Cain stated firmly.

“What do you mean!!!? I can do this without………….”

Kotaro sighed. It was going to be another heated argument between the Blue Wolf and the Sliver Blade as always.

“No you cannot do it without help! Damn it Jiro, you are part of a coven now and it has already been decided! You will not sway the Lord Dragon’s demands to become as incapacitated as you were when we found you. Mimiko cannot give all her life’s blood to save your sorry ass! You will do as you are told young man and you will like it!”

Jiro and Cain argued over these points until Mimi placed a gentle hand on Jiro’s shoulder.

“Jiro, enough please. There is no point in fighting it when people want to help you although I do think you are strong enough to defeat Cassa on your own. I believe in you.”

Mimi stated with a smile and Kotaro perked up smiling.

“We both believe in you and even Mr. Warlock here does. He is just saying we got help now and we won’t have to be alone so much.”

Jiro sighed since he was not going to win so there was no point in arguing with them all. Fact was he was not about to put the covens, not even Zelman’s in to danger again. Cassa was his problem. His alone since it was quite personal. Cassa owed him an explanation of her betrayal before she died by his blade. Cassa betrayed them both so she owed him that much. Then he would remove her bloodline once and for all watching her ashes for the last time just as she had watched over the Sage’s. His plan was flawless as far as Jiro was concerned. Let the covens take care of the left over Kowloon children, destroying the weak ones that he could not.

After Kotaro came of age Jiro would give over the Sage’s bloodline and the memories that haunted him daily of his beloved Alice Eve. His vampire wife that he had loved more than anything had been taken from him too soon. Alice gave him life and soon afterwards it was taken away. It was not fair and it was even worse to have the reminder constantly of who had betrayed them. He cared for Cassandra Jill Warlock at one point. Alice trusted her best friend and they had a good relationship. Once upon a time they had traveled together, happy like a small family. Life had been like Cain described the Special Zone to be. Alice had made Jiro’s life a place of peace and insurmountable joy. But, those days were over now other than Kotaro whom he loved like a brother or in many ways for Jiro like a Father as he watched the child grow from a small infant into a 12 year old young boy.

No matter what anyone said to Jiro he could never find peace again even after Cassa died. He saw Alice in little pieces of his heart. He saw his beloved in things Mimiko and Kotaro said. In things others stated as though her spirit rather than just her reincarnation was surrounding him. Jiro swore he could feel Alice’s soft kisses from the salty breeze. They both stung and clung to his soul.

Jiro looked out the window watching the water wondering if he would spend an eternal slumber once again or be reborn as Kotaro was once the bloodline was transferred. He almost preferred the thought of being in that eternal slumber.

Memories of her floated in his mind. Alice, beautiful, eternally young Alice…The woman of his heart that made him into the man he was today. Jiro day dreamed in his mind of the times they made love, holding each other in the night. Knowing she lied about things to gain what she wanted, but also loving the innocence of her childish ways. He knew that the Sage did not just kill to survive, but to gain what she desired. In truth what vampire did not? Even in partaking in a small amount of blood from a willing source you took part of them with you and gave little in return. It was part of the curse and gift of their existence.

“Big brother we are home now.”

Kotaro stated getting Jiro out of his stupor.

“I see this.”

Mimiko got out first as the others followed except for Cain who remained behind in the limo. Jiro was smoking a bit again in the sunlight. Such a strange trait from the Sage, but then again when Kotaro received his bloodline he would have similar difficulties even with an umbrella. Each bloodline was certainly unique. With this thought Cain departed.