Finding Peace

Hibari fell asleep again after eating. It wasn’t unusual after all the blood Zelman took from her. Zelman had lifted her from the couch placing her into his bed again. At that moment he received a phone call from Cain.

“Lord Zelman do you still have that girl from the Company with you?”

Zelman smirked.

“A fine hello to you too Cain Warlock. Of course I have her here. The Company allows it so I have a compromiser as well as a donor. She was getting…..too loud mouthed for her position. We cannot have rumors spread unless they are true.”

Cain was frustrated with this arrangement. After all, the girl was friends with Mimiko which put a strain on having the compromiser for Jiro associate with Hibari Kusunogi since Mimiko was in charge of her junior partner. The child seemed too obnoxious to be trained, but apparently was the only one able to keep Mimiko from running behind in her duties to the Company. Without her around though Mimiko seemed to be doing well except for the fact that both the Company and Jiro believed that it was best for Mimiko Katsuragi to have ‘human’ friends of her own outside of her duty to the Company.

“I see. Well do not get too attached Lord Zelman. Miss. Kusunogi will be due for some time off with benefits to spend time with her human counterparts. Therefore her vacation with you has become overtime as far as the Company is concerned and she is due for a real vacation. I am afraid to say that means a vacation from you as is necessary for any of these company people.”

Zelman frowned.

“I was not informed of this. When was this to occur? Are you now my point of contact since I spoke with a Mr. Jinnai Shōgo? I thought he was Miss. Kusunogi’s boss.”

Cain smirked a bit at Zelman’s distress. He knew that the Crimson Eyed Prince was trying to find a way to trick his path into gaining the Sage as well as the Silver Blade as quickly as possible. The man was a tricky and intelligent creature. Any discomfort to Zelman was a plus to Cain and it made his day after arguing with Jiro. He hated becoming so parental with the young vampire who was indeed the youngest of the old bloods.

“This news comes from the OCC President, Mr. Jinnai Shōgo, and the Lord Dragon since they were under the impression that Miss. Kusunogi was actually on vacation and not still residing with you. We are not allowed to take advantage of our donor’s hospitality Lord Zelman.”

Zelman looked at the sleeping girl on his bed. He had planned a few weeks of seduction before he let her on her own, but perhaps this was a good thing. Zelman liked the childish innocence so there was no point in destroying the charming parts of his newest toy yet. Hibari’s fear was an adrenaline rush and amusing.

“So I am assuming that this ‘vacation’ is immediate is it Cain? So be it.”

Cain huffed as he hung up after Zelman knowing Crimson Eyed Prince Zelman well enough to know that he would not go against the word of the Lord Dragon even if he would ignore the Company itself. Humans to a man like Zelman were nothing more than toys so there was no real purpose in stating that the humans also had a say so in Zelman’s time with his newest acquisition, however this change of females in Zelman’s life did complicate Cain’s. Mimiko would have to be watched and watch what she said around her dear friend and colleague.

Zelman looked at the lump of soft female flesh on his bed that was draped in his finest silk comforter, pillows, and sheets obviously tucked in by Eliza. Why couldn’t his little toy make her own choice for her vacation? Oh, because he forced her to stay with him. It figured his plans wouldn’t go exactly to snuff, but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t alter his time around the little tart if he decided to share said vacation time with him could it? Of course he would keep his distance, but he could follow to see what occurred. After all, he had nothing else to do.

With an amused grin on his face Zelman lit another cigarette and sat on the edge of the bed watching his pet sleep. With her hair down Hibari was in fact quite lovely. Perhaps he would convince her to keep it that way. Getting up he walked out to get Eliza to explain things since he abhorred having to do anything so tediously below him.

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Mimiko reached her apartment which was across from Jiro’s and Kotaro’s. It was strange since the two vampires had stayed in her apartment and even in the living quarters that were arranged for her from the Company. It was taboo, but the two had been gentleman save Jiro’s comments on occasion about her virginity since it was prized by vampires since such blood was rare. On occasion she would catch him sniffing about her neck circling her like a rather good looking vulture waiting to take a bite out of her. Hadn’t he drunk enough of her blood yet?

“Are you certain that you will be fine on your own Mimi?”

Jiro asked in that low voice as he always did. After he last apartment blew up into flames Jiro feared for her safety.

“Why do you ask? You are right across from me Jiro Mochizuki it isn’t like before. You always ask me this why when you can break down the door any second if you have to save me.”

Jiro just shrugged. He had this chivalrous side that insisted he ask even if it was redundant. He didn’t want a bomb, Cassa, or anything threatening in Mimiko’s room if he could prevent it. It was easier to watch out for those he cared for if he was close enough to be there when they needed him. It was apparent he had caused much pain and chaos in Mimi’s life even if she was too nice to say anything about it. He was the Silver Blade, the Sage was with him, and they were both wanted by both friend and foe. She chose her company rather dangerously and was too naïve to see the foreboding future that faced her if Mimiko continued on this path.

“It would be easier if we are all in the same room for me to protect you. It is not like I sleep anyway and Kotaro feels much more secure when we are all together. We just worry for you.”

Mimiko sighed and put a hand to her head.

“Look Jiro, I am going to be on vacation for a couple of days. You guys can’t come with me when I go. You are going to have to try to make friends around here until a threat comes up. For two years now there has been no threat of Cassa or the Kowloon children. You need to meet people besides me. It is something in our rules. We cannot have client and compromiser relations fractured because of too much close contact. It isn’t that I don’t’ like you, but you know I have to go out to meet people too. I have friends out there and humans who I need to meet. Hell, I haven’t been on a date for years now and I was asked out by one of my coworkers, Hibari, to go see if we can find any human males to spend time with now that she is a fully fledged compromiser with Zelman Clock.”

Jiro growled a bit. He hadn’t felt jealous in years, but something bugged him about Mimi going out on a date with a male. It was one thing for her to find female friends, associate with them, but another to lose her virginity to some idiot. With Mimiko’s naïve nature her virtue was as stake. Even if she thought she was on her own perhaps he could follow behind with Kotaro remaining with Sei for a while. The Lord Dragon had wanted some time alone with the Sage so this was perfect timing.

“When do you plan on departing us?”

Mimiko saw that look in Jiro’s eyes.

“Oh no you don’t! You are not going to follow me around like a lurking dog Jiro Mochizuki! I am getting a vacation from vampires which means no you or Kotaro! I am a grown woman and I can handle lecherous men all by myself so if I want to go on a date you are not going to mess it all up! I have to deal with you bringing my virginity up often enough you pervert without adding to my problems in the mortal world plus I am going outside the Special Zone for this vacation so you can’t come. If you do I will have Lord Sei lock you out for a week maybe longer! I have a right to meet new people too!”

Mimi stated as she jabbed Jiro in the chest with her index finger for good measure.

Jiro lifted his hands up.

“I wasn’t indicating that I was going to stop you. I would like to at least be around though considering Cassa knows about you and if you go outside of the Special Zone…….”

Mimiko sighed. She couldn’t win. Jiro was right.

“Ok fine, I will stay in the Special Zone, but I want you to keep a major distance from me. Not go into the same club or store…..or whatever! I need time to myself too and no you are not sleeping in my apartment. Goodnight Kotaro and Jiro. I will see you both in the morning and then I will start my vacation for two whole weeks.”

Jiro bowed only to have Mimi slam the door in his face. He winced a bit at that knowing that he was probably going to get in trouble with Mimi during these times. One of these nights she was going to wake up to the two vampires sitting on her couch and find out they rarely used their own apartment other than to dust, walk around a bit, than depart pretending they lived there. Of course with the garbage from all of Kotaro’s eating habits it did look lived in.

“Why would Mimi look for a boyfriend Jiro? You are a single………..”

Jiro looked down at Kotaro bopping him on top of the head.

“Do not even think of finishing that sentence Kotaro.”

Kotaro rubbed the top of his head, but he was rather resilient. It wasn’t the first time Jiro disciplined him and it most definitely not be the last.

“But………….”

Jiro growled.

“It won’t happen Kotaro so just forget it. I don’t want to be her boyfriend just because I happen to enjoy virgin blood. That part of my life is over and you know that. Mimiko is just our friend and I want to make sure she is safe that is all. We watched as her apartment was blown up and Cassa put her in danger. If it had not been for Zelman you both may have been lost from me forever. In many ways I owe him for his help just as much as you owe him for lunch and his helping you out. I just fear what he may ask of us. We cannot be a part of his coven no matter what he wants though. I am certain of that.”

Kotaro sighed since he kind of hoped for Jiro to do something to make himself happy instead of just being a grumpy old man.

“Well, Mimi did say we can come on vacation with her as long as we stay far back so at least we can have kind of a vacation.”

Jiro watched Kotaro’s hopeful look that he was coming too.

“Actually Sei asked to spend some time alone with you for a couple of weeks. Do you mind? I mean you will be safe with him and you are both around the same age.”

Kotaro grinned.

“Really? He wants me to stay with him for a while. Cool!”

Than Kotaro looked at Jiro with a frown not wanting his big brother to be alone.

“But, you will have no one to hang out with if Mimi is spending time on her vacation with Miss. Hibari. Won’t you be lonely?”

Jiro smiled a bit.

“No it will give me some time to think and perhaps meet people. Maybe I too will make new friends Kotaro. Do not worry little brother. You should just have fun with Sei. Don’t worry so much about me. I am indeed old enough to care for myself.”

Kotaro only doubted that due to his serious wounds that he received from Cassa during the last battle. The silver blade ran right through him and Cassa. How did they both survive that?

Jiro and Kotaro waited until Mimiko fell asleep hearing the familiar breathing pattern and the slowing of the heartbeat in rest.

Slowly opening the door using his powers Jiro was surprised to see Zelman Clock in the room of Mimiko as he smiled at the two vampires who should have noticed him as his cigarette smoke lingered in the air.

“Ah, I see I am not the only one with an addiction and that your little human too is going to leave you for a few days.”

Jiro bowed to Lord Zelman and with a rather angry look on his face stood up with a glare.

“You were not invited in here Lord Zelman.”

The Crimson Eyed Prince laughed.

“Oh contraire, my Silver Blade friend, I was indeed invited a while ago by Miss. Mimiko and her friend Hibari who is now my compromiser so I am welcome any time. I did indeed save her and Kotaro from Cassa and her plans to use Mimiko here to get to you Jiro. Being a savior must get tedious although it does get you invited into the most interesting places amongst these humans. However, this one bores me to tears so why not go outside to discuss these matters alone where our ‘friend’ will not hear us.”

With that Zelman disappeared from the open windows from which he came and was down at the sidewalk in less than a blink of the eye. Jiro jumped down telling Kotaro to stay with Mimiko. If he had to mix words with Zelman he did not wish for Kotaro to listen in since some words were for adult ears only.