A Foolish first

[Shang Li]

This is an account of what went through my mind on my first encounter with a kyuuketsuki, a vampire. I hope that you can all learn from my mistake

Darkness, all I can see is darkness. I know they came in here, I saw them. I can feel it, somewhere near, in the darkness. The child, I must save the child. No light, no spirits to work with. Can’t see, they could be anywhere in here. Must center, mind body and spirit must become one. He has taken at least 6 children from the Tokyo subway stations. He has his latest meal with him now. Must not fail, the girl must live. “Remember young one; without light there is no darkness, without darkness there is no light. Even in the brightest place there is always a shadow. Even in the deepest darkness there is always a flicker of light.” The memory is true, who was it? All dark? No, there is light, blended with the shadows. “Come out kyuuketsuki – come out or I will come in after you.” “Then I shall feed well tonight hunter, I can feel your fear, your despair, your stupidity” I close my eyes again that the unnatural darkness no longer disorients me as I prepare to enter the warehouse. I can feel the chi flowing into this place, dark and draining, not natural at all. Can’t see him, he has nothing but dark energies in him. There she is, her chi as easy to track as the moon in a clear night sky. A noise off to my right, I freeze to see what the source is. The blades my senpai gave me slide clear of the scabbards with a soft sound. I feel a sudden clarity and focus as I feel the connection with the blades forms, my chi flowing into the blades. Now I can see through the darkness. The kyuuketsuki is holding the girl on the far side of the room. The girl crumples like a rag doll as he lets her go, his mouth rimmed with red. Failed, I have failed, she id dead and it is my fault. My mind begins to spin wildly as my focus shatters like a pane of glass. Red, the whole world goes red as blood. There is a roaring in my ears as I attack. Both blades whip through a tight arc where the vampire stood a mere moment ago. “I will play with you for a bit and then you will know a fate worse than death hunter. Prepare for the embrace.” I start with another series of attacks – again finding only air. I begin to fear that I am over matched. Death does not frighten me, the prospect of an eternal night however does. In desperation I cross the room, my blades carving great glittering arcs through the air, promising death to whatever they meet. The kyuuketsuki effortlessly avoids my blades while laughing lowly. “You are over matched child – and you have failed – prepare for an eternity of servitude as one of my childer, hunter.” A blow comes out of nowhere as the kyuuketsuki appears at my side. I fly through the air, unable to breath, landing in an undignified heap on the floor. I struggle to my feet only to meet another blow I never saw coming. The world swims as I struggle to rise. “You are beaten hunter – I have fed on the girl – you have failed.” As my wakazashi drops from my hand he approaches, fangs bared. I stab with the katana as soon as he is in range. As the kyuuketsuki nimbly sidesteps the thrust, he grabs my collar and hurls me across the room and into the wall. As I slide down the wall I notice the girls chi, she is alive – barely. As I drag myself to my feet I see a fox enter through the window. I feel the fear and apprehension leave me. If I lose my soul to darkness so be it – as long as the girl survives. “I cannot fight him, silly, if he sees me he will stop me.” a musical voice whispers in my mind. The kyuuketsuki approaches watching me struggle back to my feet. “I will not fail in my task kyuuketsuki.” I say as I feel a new wave of confidence come over me as I feel the rage and fear fade. Centering myself I prepare to be united with my ancestors. Saying a prayer for Amaterasu to guide my strikes I prepare myself for another blow. The world seems to slow as the vampire attacks. I am surprised to be able to see the blow coming this time. I pivot myself to the side, just barely avoiding a blow that knocks chips of concrete from the wall I stand before. My katana arcs upward, a silver arc, blood spraying for just an instant as his arm from the elbow down spins to the floor. I see rage in his eyes and know that I have won. “Drop the sword hunter” he says with a growl, his eyes glowing like coals. For just a moment my mind’s eye sees the katana drop to the floor as the vampire sinks his fangs into my neck. “No kyuuketsuki, I think not” I reply my resolve stronger than it has ever been in my life. Again the katana arcs outward this time the arc is scarlet and silver as my foe jumps backward, a line rent through both shirt and chest. As my blade arcs through the finishing blow - a clean decapitation, the vampire vanishes as the room fills with fog. As the room clears I hurry over to see if Okikan managed to get the girl out of the room. “you could not have beaten him that way silly” I hear in my mind as I pick up the girl and begin to make my way to the temple, glad to see that dawn will come soon. “We will dance again hunter – and your soul will be mine” I hear softly whispered from the shadows. “I look forward to it kyuuketsuki.” I lie.

Although I spent many years trying to find the demon I have not encountered him again. If I do meet him again I only hope to see him undone before my days end.

[Ron Caliburn]

I won't say I have all that great a success rate with vampires either. The things fear death so much they generally disappear the momment they sense that it might be coming.

Other than a few special cases here and there, I've had to rely on surprise and getting them to underestimate the danger they were in.