No Warmth

Chapter 35- Goodbye

Takuma heard footsteps approach. He opened his eyes but closed them again when sunlight touched his face.

"You're finally awake." Sara stood beside the window. "I know Ichio hurt you, but you slept for a long time. I was expecting you to be more robust."

Takuma looked in Sara's direction and winced. "Lady Sara, I don't mean to be rude but..."

"I'll close the curtain after you answer my question." Sara said.

Takuma shielded his eyes with his hand.

"Just kidding. I won't be harsh with you yet. I need you to recover from your injury first." Sara closed the curtain and darkness enveloped the room. "I planned to speak with Ichio, but I changed my mind when I saw both of you draw your swords against each other...I saved you and brought you to my mansion."

"What happened to my grandfather?" Takuma sat up on the bed.

"He's dead...you would have died if I hadn't stepped in, Takuma." Sara explained.

Takuma furrowed his brow. "Why did you help me?"

"You're valuable to me since you're close to Kaname." Sara turned to face him. "I haven't been able to find out much about Kaname, so I was hoping you could answer my questions about him."

Takuma placed his hand on the wound on his chest. He thought back to his grandfather's words.

We're not following Lord Rido because we support him. We're going to use him to destroy all the other Purebloods. Those eternal beings can control us all and we are powerless against them...Purebloods are the enemies of our society.

"I hate being ignored you know." Sara walked towards the bed. "You'll tell me what you know about Kaname, won't you?"

"I'm very grateful to you for taking me under your wing, Lady Sara. However, I can't tell you everything because Kaname would get angry with me." Takuma smiled. "Why don't you ask him questions yourself?"

"I asked, but I didn't receive any answers." Sara placed a hand on Takuma's chest. "I thought you were grateful that I saved your life."

Takuma smiled wryly. "I am grateful, but..."

"...but you won't answer my questions?" Sara asked.

Takuma stayed silent.

"How foolish." Sara frowned and dug her nails into Takuma's wound. "One day you're going to regret protecting him."

Takuma groaned and slumped against the bed. "You really are short-tempered...you should learn how to be patient like Kaname."

***

A few days later, Akari and Maria rode a carriage to the cemetery.

When they arrived, the girls thanked the driver and got off the carriage.

Akari walked towards the cemetery gate and stopped. "Maria, other vampire hunters will be present...we can leave if you feel uncomfortable and visit Ichiru's grave another time."

"I appreciate your concern, but I want to see Ichiru one last time." Maria looked at the bouquet of white lilies in her hands.

"Alright. Just don't forget that we can leave at any time." Akari reminded.

Maria and Akari walked through the gate and followed a dirt path deeper into the cemetery.

Then, they noticed that a young man with messy brown hair and hazel eyes walked towards them.

He stopped a few feet away and blocked their path. "I thought I sensed something foul. What brings you to this place, vampires?"

"We were given permission to attend a friend's burial rite." Maria explained. "We'll leave after we can say goodbye to Ichiru."