Rare Species

Chapter Twenty One

"I choose..."

He slowly took the knife out that I gave him and held it firmly against his palm.

"You." He pointed to the Youkai. He simply laughed out loud. I looked over at Louis who looked at me frantically. My eyes shut in a long blink before turning my gaze back to Harry.

"Alright, I'll choose then!" The Youkai laughed as if it was nothing but a game. "I choose her." He pulled the knife from my back ask gasped and arched my back. He brought the blood covered knife to my throat as Harry physically paled. "I wish I could give you a proper goodbye but watching this agony of losing each other will be more exquisite to watch." Pointing the knife at my throat, I simply closed my eyes waiting for death to take over me.

"NO!" Harry screamed before the Youkai was suddenly forced away from me. My eyes opened as I felt myself fall to the ground. Harry ran to my side and pulled me forward and into his chest. "Natasha." He put a hand in my hair before looking over my shoulder. I followed his gaze and looked back to see Alex had lodged his knife into Youkai against the tree. He had blood splattered across his face as he glared at the Youkai.

"Don't you ever touch them. Filthy mutt." He pushed the knife on further and let the Youkai fall to the ground. He slowly turned and gave us a glance before looking over towards Louis. He took out his gun and began stalking towards them as the first Youkai began to slightly panic.

"I-I'll kill him!" He threatened holding a shaky knife against Louis' throat. Harry carefully pulled me up and looked away as he held his arms around my head. His palms lay against my ears keeping them flat against my hair.

"I'm sorry." He whispered as I closed my eyes. A gun shot was heard and then a body falling to the ground.

"Harry..." I muttered and lightly panted in his neck. He leant back and picked me up as he kissed my forehead. Alex took Louis and looked back at us. "W-where's..." I breathed as he grunted and turned his head. "Ashley?" Alex shook his head and looked at Louis.

"How'd you get here?"

"C-car-

"Take us to it." My eyes closed and I whimpered a bit.

"I've got you." Harry said pulling me closer as my eyes closed again from the lack of energy. Ashley. Where could have possibly gone?

{Harry's POV}

We arrived back to the van and Alex immediately crawled into the drivers side. Louis was still a bit shocked from his near death and just stood at the car door.

"Go." I whispered as he nodded and crawled into the car. I followed him last and shut the door before adjusting Natasha on my lap. Blood had covered my arm from carrying. Leaning her forward, I saw her shirt had a large stain of blood in the middle of her back. Her head fell onto my shoulder as I wrapped her tail into her lap. "I've got you." I whispered again before pulling her against my chest. Placing another kiss to her forehead, I stared down at her and her unconscious figure. The car started and Alex then began to drive us back.

"Where's A-Ashley?" Louis stuttered looking over at Alex as he kept silent. The blood splattered over himself did smell of Youkai. I could smell their stench any distance away.

"Dead." He said as I looked at him shocked. "I ran after them. Chasing them down to get her back. And then I lost them. But by the time I had found them again..." He didn't need to say anymore.

"Oh my god..." Louis whispered as he pulled his knees up to his chest. My arms tightened around Natasha as I buried my face in her neck. Let this nightmare be over.

~*~*~*~*~

Here I was. Inside Natasha's room beside her bed. Waiting for her to wake up. Waiting so I could hold her close to me. To tell her I'd never leave her. That she'd never go on another near death mission again. To try and provide us a normal life as much as possible. I just want to live undisturbed here with her and the others.

A light knock came to the door and I caressed the back of her hand with my thumbs. The door opened and somebody slipped into the room before slowly walking over to me.

"H-Harry..." Looking up, Louis looked at me with slight fear in his eyes as I narrowed mine. "I-I..." He choked out and took a step back. I glanced at Natasha before letting go of her hand and standing up on front of Louis.

"Louis..." He looked up at me desperately as my eyes widened. Not giving it a second thought, I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into my chest just as his sobs started. He crumpled into my embrace as I held him close. Not moving. Not saying anything. Just standing here, embracing him. That's all I could do.

I stared blankly over at the slightly opened door as Louis came undone. This was to much for him. For all of us. Especially since Ashely was dead. They were getting along quiet well. Alex was training and I was with Natasha so he had nobody else except her. She did quiet enjoy his company. I knew she did.

"I-I don't want this!" Louis cried as he gripped my shirt. I leant back as he looked up at me with red eyes, running nose and a red face.

"I know." I said as he blinked up at me.

"H-how can you be so unaffected?" He asked stepping back. I looked down at my feet before shrugging.

"It's how I grieve." Looking back up at him, he shook his head and wiped his face.

"It's like you don't c-care."

"My top priority now is Natasha. Ashley is dead and Alex is distant. There is no one else." Louis went wide eyed and looked like he had just been shot.

"T-there's me." He breathed as I sat back down and took Natasha's hand again.

"Sooner or later you will leave. I knew that at the orphanage and I know that now. This is not your life Louis. This is mine and I've dragged you into it." Staring at Natasha, everything was quiet before I heard a door slam. Louis had left the room and I shook my head. I'm not going after him. I'll cause more trouble if I do. Kissing the back of Natasha's hand, I watched her chest rise and fall softly and looked at the bandage around her torso. All I'm going to focus on now is her. Protect her. Keep her out of danger. Keep her with me. Because when I don't... this happens.

~ NouisHoransons_child