BLOOD STAINED ROSES

Blood Stained Roses

Chapter 9

"Now, what is it you want from me?" asked Kurai, very business-like.

She and Ryou had returned to her house and now sat comfortably in her simply decorated living room. Unlike her brother, Kurai preferred simplicity over complexity when it came to design. There were dark blue drapes on her window to block out the sun during the day, a black sofa and armchair surrounding a dark wood coffee table, and a television that she rarely watched. She did not have any desire to watch over-paid people perform on a small electronic box. It was only a waste of time.

"I was hoping you could call a ghost for me," said Ryou who sat in the armchair. It was not as squishy as the one at home, but it would do for the time being.

"I should have known," sighed Kurai. "It always has to be something complicated."

"Hey, how complicated can it be? I’ve seen you do it before and it only took seconds to get it here!"

"It’s exhausting," explained Kurai, "especially if the spirit doesn’t want to talk."

"I... don’t really want to talk to the spirit... I just want to make sure that he’s dead."

He stared at the table just so he was not looking at Kurai. It sounded stupid and he knew it. Nobody could be alive after two hundred years unless he was a vampire. This was not possible.

The thing was that he did not want to summon him for that reason. He was just using it as an excuse. And he was lying when he said that he did not want to talk to the spirit. That was exactly what he wanted to do. The only reason he was lying was because Kurai would never help him if she knew the truth about it. He wanted to summon this ghost for one reason. Well, two reasons really. The first, and foremost, was because wanted to make sure that it’s after-life was miserable. The other, very minor one, was because he had a question or two to ask.

"You want to make sure that someone is dead?" Kurai said skeptically. "Who?"

"Sorahito Izumi," said Ryou in a low voice.

Kurai looked at her brother. Her surprise was obvious by her expression. She had not known what to expect, but she did know that that name was the last name she had expected to hear.

"Are you crazy?" she asked, her voice had risen in her shock. "He’s been dead for-"

"Well over a hundred years, I know!" finished Ryou, getting up, "but... Chuu is so much like him that..."

Drama, drama, drama! He told himself. He told himself to act like himself. Acting strange or giving away his intentions would mean no Izumi. It was not that not talking to the long dead man would cause anything major to happen -- it would not cause any difference at all in anyone’s life, just a small annoyance in one’s after-life -- but he wanted it so bad. Ryou wanted to see Izumi’s reaction to all that he had done for the simple reason that he loathed that man.

"Ryou, listen to me," said Kurai, reasonably, not catching on to Ryou’s acting. "It’s not possible. He died; you made sure of it, remember. People don’t just come back from the dead, either. I promise there is not real Izumi haunting you. No matter how much Chuu looks like him, he’s not. This whole haunting thing is only in your head. Anyway, how would you explain the fact that he doesn’t know anything about Izumi? From what you said, it doesn’t seem like he had any idea who you or Kisaki were before you kidnapped him."

"I know... I guess I’m just being paranoid, though it would really make things interesting if it really was Izumi... although it would also be kind of creepy..."

Hey, that was... kind of true. At least it was the truest thing he had said so far. It really would be interesting if Chuu really was Izumi. As glad as he was that Izumi was dead, he had to admit that he would not mind him being alive just for this... he could always kill the man again, anyway... or finally. If Izumi was indeed, miraculously alive, he could not have been dead at all, so he would not be killing him again.

Looking down, as if in shame, Ryou waited for Kurai to say what he wanted to hear.

"Fine, I’ll do it, but only to prove that Izumi is dead. Not tonight, though. I’m way too tired. I’ll do it tomorrow night. I’ll even take off work so we can do it early."

She could not believe that she was doing this. Izumi was not going to want to see Ryou that was for sure. If she was able to get him to come at all, he was going to be angry. That was why she was going to take off work completely instead of just going in a little bit later than usual: She knew that she would be too tired to do anything after pulling Izumi from whatever afterlife he had.

"Now, is there anything else I can do for you tonight?" she asked, her voice was business-like and polite.

"As a matter of fact, there is," said Ryou, switching back to his normal self with astonishing speed. "I was wondering if you know anything about suppressed memories."

Kurai crossed her arms. A frown showed that she was pretty sure that she would not like what she was about to hear. Ever since Ryou had arrived, she had heard so many ridiculous stories that she was not sure whether or not to believe a word he said anymore.

"What is this some sort of messed up theory about Chuu and Izumi being the same person? I know I was the one who brought up the whole ’no memories of being Izumi’ thing, but this is just getting stupid. Anyway, that would more likely be amnesia," she said.

"Oh, no!" insisted Ryou. "Didn’t I tell you about Kisaki? He’s forgotten all about Izumi!"

"So that’s it," muttered Kurai. "What I know is that sometimes, when something really horrible happens to someone, they block out the memory. They can’t really forget in entirely, but... it’s kind of hard to explain. They just don’t think about it so to them it’s like it never really happened... and it wouldn’t surprise me if Kisaki has suppressed memories after everything you put him through."

"Yes, well, what’s done is done. I can’t undo something that happened almost two-hundred years ago now... or even back then. Of course, I’m not saying that I would if I could."

"I wouldn’t expect you to want to change your life."

"Anyway, I was wondering if certain things... people for instance... trigger people with suppressed memories to ’remember’ whatever it is that they forgot... or suppressed?"

"Well, yeah. I’m sure Kisaki is having flashbacks from being around Chuu. Also, I think that if he was he was told what happened, he may actually remember what he is told... but I can’t be sure," explained Kurai. "I suggest, though, that you don’t tell him. Let him find out on his own. If he doesn’t remember, then it’s probably for the better. If he remembers, who knows what will happen."

After listening to Kurai’s explanation, Ryou just smiled, making no move to agree to her request. He had already figured that Chuu was reminding Kisaki of Izumi -- though Kisaki did not realize this. Everything Kurai had just said only supported that theory. He had also thought about ’reminding’ Kisaki, but was not sure he was ready to give up that information just yet... though he would love to see the look on Kisaki’s face if -- more like when-- he did tell him. It was only a matter of time.

"Thank you, Kurai, that was all I needed," he said almost gleefully, arousing more suspicion in Kurai.

"I don’t even want to know what you’re planning," mumbled Kurai, shaking her head.

"Whatever would make you think that I would be planning something?" asked Ryou.

"That stupid smile on your face."

She got up and looked at the old clock she had hanging on the wall. There were only fifteen minutes left until sunrise. The shades were drawn to block the sun, but she wanted to go to bed as soon as possible. Tomorrow was going to be a long night.

"There’s a room down that hall that you can stay in," she said, pointing down the hall behind her. "We’ll both need our rest if we’re going to do this tomorrow. You should be prepared for what you’re going to see and hear. I’m sure Izumi’s going to have a lot to say... or yell."

Ryou nodded, though he did not see a reason for actually ’preparing.’ He was counting on Izumi to yell at him. Not that he could tell her that.

He told her good night before going down the hall she had pointed out to him. He opened the first door on his right and stepped into the bedroom. It was just as plain -- if not plainer -- as the rest of the house. The walls were white and the only furniture in there was a bed with plain white sheets and violet comforter and a dresser, undoubtedly made from the same wood as the table in the living room. Ryou shook his head. His sister just did not have any sense of style. Although everything was definitely expensive -- he could tell because he had a kind of sixth sense for this kind of thing -- it was just too plain.

He shrugged. He would just have to get used to this dreadful room, for tonight, at least. Ryou changed and lay down on the bed. It was comfortable, he gave her that. Thanks to that, it did not take him long to fall into his dreamless sleep.

***

Ryou emerged from the room he had slept in, to find the front room dark except for a single candle. He walked deeper into the room, expecting to see Kurai, but she was not there. He paused for a minute, wondering if maybe she had gone out to hunt without him. He doubted it.

"Onee-chan?" he called.

He did not get an answer.

"Kurai, where are you?" he yelled.

"I’m in the kitchen!" she answered, "and why are you yelling?"

Ryou joined his sister who was looking at a bookshelf with a bemused expression. Today, she was dressed in normal clothes: dark blue jeans and a deep purple shirt that matched her eyes. She did not bother with fancy clothes like the ones she had worn the night before unless she had work. She only dressed up if she had to.

"I like to yell," Ryou said simply.

"Well, it’s pointless," said Kurai.

She turned around, holding a large, leather-bound book in her arms. It was obviously very old.

"It’s been so long that I’ve almost forgotten how to do this," explained Kurai.

She walked into the living room with Ryou at her heels. Once Kurai reached the couch, she sat down and began paging through the book. It was minutes before anyone spoke. The only sound was the occasional turn of a page.

"Here it is!" she said finally.

"Good! Now, can we get started?" asked Ryou.

"After we eat. I can’t do this without some sort of nourishment. I’m not sure if it’s possible for a vampire to pass out, but if it is I don’t want it to happen to me."

This was the first time in a long time she had decided to break her one meal every other week rule. This was a special case, though. After calling the dead, she would be completely drained and without blood, she might pass out.

"Fine! Then let’s go so we can get back."

He did not even try to hide his impatience. He had already started walking to the door without waiting for his sister to say anything in reply. Excitement was just below the surface and he could barely keep it down. He was almost positive that Izumi would show up there, in that room, tonight and when he did, Ryou was going to tell him all about Kisaki and what he had been up to lately. He could not wait.

They walked through the city as quickly as they could without arousing too much suspicion. This was mostly due to Ryou’s insistence that they get this done. He took the first person he found alone in a dark, deserted street, but had to wait for his fussy sister to find someone that she was willing to kill. When Ryou suggested that she just kill someone and get it over with, she yelled at him, saying that she would not kill an innocent person. The only response Ryou gave was rolling his eyes as he sighed loudly to express his annoyance at his sister.

Finally, after almost an hour, the brother and sister were back in the living room of Kurai’s home. Kurai herself was reading a page in the book she had gotten from the shelf earlier as Ryou sat in the armchair, tapping his foot impatiently and annoying his sister in the process.

"Aren’t you ready yet?" he whined.

"What’s your hurry?" asked Kurai.

"I just hate waiting!"

"Obviously," mumbled Kurai, "and, yes, I am ready. You better be ready for one pissed off ghost."

"Of course I’m ready," said Ryou with a mischievous smile that made Kurai uneasy.

"I really don’t want to know what you find so amusing about this," she sighed.

After putting the book down, she gave Ryou a brief explanation of what would happen and told him to stand next to her before they got started. He did as she said, knowing that she had more experience with calling ghosts than he did.

As Ryou watched his sister, he could not understand what was so difficult about this. All she did was close her eyes and say a few words. When she was silent again, the witch fell back to the couch, not unconscious, but tired.

There was a soft wind blowing through the room. Ryou began to notice a shape forming in the middle of it, just beside the wooden table. The image became sharper until someone who looked almost exactly like Chuu stood in the front room. He was a little less solid than Chuu and his hair was longer as well as black, but the resemblance between the two was uncanny.

"Hello, Izumi, long time no see," said Ryou with a smirk.

"You bastard!" yelled the ghost. "What the hell do you want? You’ve already taken everything I had."

"I just wanted to make sure that you are in hell where you belong," he said, completely unaffected by Izumi’s rage. "Y’know, there’s someone running around who looks almost exactly like you... I mean, he could seriously be your twin."

He studied Izumi’s furious face. Nothing in it changed. He still looked at Ryou with a face filled with hatred that had not been diluted by the years of separation.

"Does the name Atsuhiko Chuu ring a bell? I thought he might be related to you."

"You know very well that that isn’t possible," growled Izumi. "You made sure of that."

An expression of pleasant surprise showed on Ryou’s face. That was good news. And now his question had been answered and he could go on to torturing the poor soul.

"So I really did get all of you? I guess all those years of tracking your family down weren’t for nothing," he said cheerfully. "Anyway, I’m sure you remember Kisaki."

He paused to let what he had said sink in. As it did, Izumi became more infuriated. Obviously, the mere mention of the silver haired beauty was enough to cause more bad emotions toward the raven haired vampire. If only he was a little more solid, he would be killing Ryou at that very moment.

"Well," continued Ryou, "he is very interested in your look alike... the funny thing is that he doesn’t seem to know why. In fact, he’s forgotten all about you!"

"Good. It’s better that he forgets and I’m glad that he found someone new," said Izumi, his voice had become a little calmer, but his eyes still held the same fire of hatred.

"Oh, you aren’t even a little jealous?"

"I have no right to be. I’m dead, remember.

A smile appeared on Ryou’s face. He could not believe that anyone would be so selfless and stupid. This just seemed too ridiculous to be true.

"So you’re telling me that you don’t even mind that Kisaki’s forgotten all about you? You don’t mind that he’s with some other guy?" he prodded, hoping to strike a nerve.

"Like I said: It’s none of my business," said Izumi coldly.

"What if I killed him? The boy, I mean. I would love to see how Kisaki reacts. I wonder if he’d forget about Chuu like he did you..."

"Bastard!" Izumi yelled again, "I swear if you do that I will kill you. I don’t know how, but I’ll do it!"

"Actually, if you do that, I may kill you," said Kurai; it was the first time she had spoken since Izumi’s arrival.

Ryou’s amused attitude faltered. She obviously was not kidding. She really did plan to kill him. The only question was could she? Sure, she had the advantage when it came to strength, but she did not have a cold enough heart to kill her own brother. That was what he convinced himself and what allowed him to recollect himself.

"Don’t worry. I have no plans of actually killing Chuu... well, not at the moment, at least... I’m sure Kisaki wouldn’t let him die anyway," he said lightly, though not entirely truthfully.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" asked Izumi through gritted teeth.

"Nothing."

"Izumi-san, I can see now what it was that Ryou really wanted you for and I’m sorry I brought you here," interjected Kurai. "I will release you now."

"Thank you, Kurai-san."

Izumi gave Ryou one last glare before he faded away. Once the spirit was gone, Ryou collapsed in a fit of laughter as Kurai glared at him in disgust.

"I can’t believe you!" she hissed. "You toy with people’s lives and even their deaths?! You really are twisted!"

"Spare me the lecture," said Ryou, straightening himself up and acting as though he had not been laughing a moment ago.

"Just go to sleep, would you? I’d rather not see you right now," said Kurai.

Ryou did as he was told. He gave a slight bow out of sheer sarcasm before departing. He went to the room he had stayed in the night before, immediately going for the bed. In his head, he planned what he would do next. Part of him wanted to go back at that moment, but it was too early. He had to give Kisaki and Chuu some time alone first.

***

The next night, he walked into the front room and noticed a note on the table. It was from Kurai and read:

Ryou -

I want you out of here before I get home. I’m leaving work at midnight so be out before then. I don’t want to see you back here for at least another fifty years. Maybe by then you’ll finally learn not to mess with people’s lives, though I doubt it. Goodbye, Ryou.

- Kurai

He had expected this and was already ready to leave. After all, he had a couple weeks that he needed to pass by as quickly as possible which was just not going to happen if he stayed in London the entire time. He wanted to go home. Then the real fun would begin.