The life of Yuzu Katusto is never dull, and its always full of surprises... |
The Seeker A cool winter night had crossed the land as a young girl trudged on through the snow fighting the blizzard scared for her life; a creature had hunted down her family and she was the only one left. The creature was only a few miles behind running at the speed of light getting closer and closer. Through the cool night the creature followed fangs out ready to strike at the first site of the young girl. The girl was numb head to toe as she collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Her tiny hands red in her little pink mittens as the creature got closer; it took the shape of a man dressed in simple business suit and loafers. “I found you.” He said getting a mischievous grin on his face. “Hello little girl….” The man said as he got closer and closer to the traumatized little girl. She was frozen with fear as the man’s fangs were bared he got closer to her neck with each second. A figure dressed in all black ripped the man away from the young girl and shoved him against a tree so hard that it broke. “Its scum like you that give our kind a bad name!” He hissed at him as he shoved him hard again against the broken tree. The man hissed at the black figure as he tried to break his iron hold. The view of the man was broken by the mysterious figure as loud crunching and snapping sounds were heard. Then there was large sigh of relief as mysterious figure turned around the former creature no longer amongst their radars. The figure dressed in all black walked slowly toward the petrified figure. He walked toward her, the snow crunching underneath his shoes. The little girl shivered in fear and from the bitter cold as he bent down removing the hood that hid his pale face. “It’s alright little one.” He said looking at her with his pale face fangs showing as he spoke gently to the frightened girl. When he reached for her she scuttled back in fear until she came to the start of a large tree. “It’s alright he assured again as he crept toward her. “You’re safe now.” He said as her little eyes closed. He picked up the cold little girl in his arms and whisked her away. The little girl awoke in a room; she had been changed into some warm pajamas and then wrapped up in a very warm blanket. She snuggled into the blanket before realizing that she was not at home. Hissed outside the “Toshiro you put our whole family in danger because of little human?”A feminine voice asked. “Amira that low life took her family away from her she’s just a young girl!”The masculine voice named Toshiro said back. Listening in with her tiny ears; but not understanding she broke into a state of panic as the large wooden door to what seemed like a private study opened. “She’s awake” the feminine said, she was rather short compared to the male; she had deep red hair almost crimson red, her eyes a deep blood red. The little girl cowered back into the blanket as the two strangers approached the male now having a clearer vision has raven black hair with a navy blue tint to it; his eyes matched the feminine’s blood red eyes. Both of them had pale skin. “Look Amira you have gone and frightened the poor girl!” He hissed to the feminine. “Me what did I do?” She hissed back. The little girl let out a shrill cry that sent both of them into a state of panic. She began wildly sobbing out of sheer fear of the two. “Great now what do we do? She’s woken up Ren, Cora, and mother and father!” The female hissed as four more bodies appeared in the room. “What on earth is going on here?!” the older female wanted to know her crimson red hair streaking grey. “Look what Toshiro brought us.” The male that looked slightly older than the one called Toshiro; he had snow white hair and shared the same eye color. “A snack.” He added and grinned. “Ren!” The oldest masculine hissed. The smallest female had snow white hair and blood red eyes she looked on at the terrified girl with humbleness and mothering look. She startled everyone as she walked toward the young girl and squatted down to look at her. “Hello there.” She said to the little girl. The little girl’s mouth clamped shut as she looked at her, her eyes still watering. “My name is Cora.” She said smiling at the little girl gently. “Can you tell me your name little one?” She asked the little girl. “Yuzu.” She said her little voice quiet and like a bell as she quivered in fear. “Yuzu, that’s a nice name.” She said smiling warmly to the little girl. “Can you tell me how old you are?” She asked. “Four.” She said back to her. “Why are you crying Yuzu?” She asked the little girl. There was no reply from the little girl called Yuzu. Her big brown eyes still full of tears, her short brown hair all ruffled because of the blanket. “Do you want to come out?”Cora asked Yuzu. The little girl shook her head no. “They won’t hurt you Yuzu; do you want to come with me?” Cora asked. Yuzu gave a stiff nod. Cora reached out for Yuzu and swept her up rapidly in one sweeping motion. The girl sat still in Cora’s cold arms. She walked back to the gaping open mouthed clan who had gathered to watch Cora work her magic. “Yuzu this is my family.” She said smiling to the shy little girl who looked at them with concerned and scared eyes. Still gaping at the situation at hand Cora went through the line and introduced her family. “Big brother Ren” She said pointing at the male with slightly lighter hair than Toshiro. “Big brother Toshiro” She pointed to the male who had rescued her; he gave a short smile as then she continued on. “Big Sister Amira” she pointed to the female who owned the female voice from earlier. “Mother and father” She said finally. “What do we do now?” Toshiro asked. “We can’t just give her away…” Amira and Toshiro whispered. “That’s enough she will stay here with us, we will raise her like she was our daughter.”The oldest male said. “Agreed.” The mother of the four said. “But mother we know nothing about raising human children!” Amira protested. “Amira life is full of new challenges.” She said to Amira as she reached for Yuzu. Yuzu clamped herself to Cora refusing to be taken from her. “She’s already attached to you; see look at that.” Toshiro said in disbelief as his mouth dropped open. “Carmella it’s alright.”The oldest male said as she got an insulted expression on her face. “William no child has ever rejected me before.” She whispered. “Carmella she has attached herself to Cora their isn’t much we can do.”He said putting her hand on Carmella’s shoulder. “What shall we do with her?”Amira asked looking on at the now quiet little girl who was drifting back to sleep in Cora’s arms. “Let me have her for snack.” Ren prodded again licking his lips. “If you even touch her I will kill you.”Toshiro snarled as Cora surprised them yet again and walked slowly away with Yuzu still clenched tightly to Cora. They followed Cora to the stairs. She climbed the stairs silently disappearing at the top they heard a door open and shut quietly. “What are we going to do with a snack in the house?” Ren asked playfully. “Ren if you so much as….” Toshiro said giving him a hard glare. “Yeah… yeah save it.” Ren said walking toward the front door. “Where do you think you’re going Ren?” Carmella asked raising her brow and tapping her foot. “To have some dinner” Ren said rolling his eyes. “No blood for you tonight back to your coffin.” William said pointing “Dad come on.” Ren whined looking at his father in disbelief. “Serves you right Ren” Toshiro snickered. “Now that we have a bag of blood in the house we have to start hunting more to keep our urges down.”Amira said sarcastically. “See Amira has the right idea.” Ren said squirming at the door. “That is true.” William said looking at Carmella. “What do you think Carmella?”William asked his wife. “With a human child in the house we need to be more cautious. I think it would be best if we all went out hunting tonight.” She said. “But somebody needs to stay behind with her, we can’t just leave her here by herself” Toshiro said as Cora came back down the stairs. “Where is she?” Carmella asked. “In a bed I made for her.”Cora said. “She’s asleep right now.”Cora said leaning up against the wall. “I second the motion that we all go out hunting tonight.” Ren said raising his hand. “Yes that is rather troublesome.” William said scratching his head. “Well I don’t have to go.” Toshiro said his eyes saying otherwise. “We could always take her along.” Amira suggested. “Are you mad?”They all shouted and in various differentiations. “That’s not a bad idea.”Cora said thinking about it. “I mean honestly all she would do is sleep.”Toshiro said pondering the idea. “Are you sure?”Carmella asked concerned raising a brow. “Mother all little ones like her sleep. Besides we will have one person stay with her at all times par say she does wake up.” Amira said rolling her eyes. “I’ll keep her with me….” Ren started before Amira grabbed him by the ear and dragged him out the door. “Oww!! Oww! Amira!” Ren protested as he was dragged along by his older sister.” “I’ll watch over her.” Toshiro offered. “Very well you will watch her until Cora is done.” William said. “Thank you big brother.”Cora said before she vanished from the room. “William lets go she is making me hungry.” Carmella said before they joined hands and vanished from sight. “Me and my big mouth.” He whispered his eyes going red. He walked up the steps slowly. “Yuzu….” He whispered as he opened the door. The girl stirred in her sleep. He walked toward her and scooped her up in his arms, wrapping her in a blanket like a little baby. She smells so good… he thought. “What am I thinking? I am acting like Ren now he’s such a pig I am nothing like Ren.” He said shrugging away the thought. He vanished from the room with Yuzu in his arms. Toshiro sat with Yuzu wrapped in his arms growing impatient. “Come on Cora hurry up….”he mumbled his eyes turning a darker red. His fangs were barred the urge to bite Yuzu growing stronger. “What do you think you’re doing?” Amira asked showing up behind him. “Take her Amira!” He said thrusting Yuzu into his arms. “Cora is still hunting...I just… I….” she said as Toshiro disappeared in haste. “Great now what do I do I am stuck with a bag of blood.” Amira said sitting down with Yuzu. The young girl started to yawn, he chocolate brown eyes shot open and shifted to Amira. Her lower lip started to tremble. “No... No… No… please don’t cry.” Amira said starting to panic. Yuzu’s eyes started to water as she curled up into the blanket. “Oh you’re cold aren’t you?” She asked feeling Yuzu’s cold body. “Well I really don’t need my sweater.” She said as she unwrapped Yuzu who was shivering in the blanket and rewrapped her in her blue sweatshirt and then again in the blanket once more. “Is that better?” Amira asked Yuzu gave no answer as she shivered in the coat and blanket. “I want mama…”Yuzu whimpered as Cora appeared behind her. “Where’s big brother Toshiro?” Cora asked her eyes now a lighter red sense she had been fed. “He took off after I got here; I got here just in time too.” Amira said as she offered up the tiny girl to Cora. “He didn’t…...”She asked inspecting Yuzu’s neck. “No I got here before he lost it.”Amira confirmed. “Very well then.”Cora said. “Yuzu we are going to go home okay?”She asked. Yuzu nodded as she clamped herself onto Cora once more. Yuzu awoke to a bright light. She climbed out of the bed Cora had made for her. “Mama….” She said looking around for Cora; she had hence named Cora her mother. “Mama!” she called getting out of bed, her little feet hitting the hardwood floor. She walked toward the large wooden door and with great difficulty she finally got it open and slid out. She walked along the long carpeted hallway and called out again. “Mama!” She walked down the carpeted stairs and down to where the private study as to where she had been placed before. “Mama….” She said getting freighted nobody answering her calls. “Mama where are you?” She screamed before she threw herself on the chair and started balling her eyes out “I want mama!” she screamed through the tears, the chair muffling the scream. After several minutes of crying she picked her head up and wiped her eyes. “Mama is gone.” She whispered to herself. “Maybe if I make breakfast for Mama she will come back.” Yuzu said as she rubbed her eyes and made her way out of the study to wander the long hallways. “Let’s make Mama some cereal.” Yuzu said as she found the kitchen it was fully stocked none of it touched. With great difficulty she pulled a chair over and began scouring the cupboards. She found a cereal and a bowl. She poured practically the entire box of the cereal into the small bowl. She made a large mess as she climbed down with the large bowl of dry cereal chunks and pieces flying out from the bowl as she staggered to the fridge with the heavy bowl. She opened the fridge and looked for the milk of course it was on the top shelf. She carefully climbed the shelves squishing the bread under her tiny feet. She grabbed the full gallon of milk and made her decent. She knocked over some food it roll in various directions as she opened the milk. She poured the milk into the bowl. The milk overflowed from the jug as it flooded onto the floor. “I did good!!!” Yuzu cheered as she smiled at her creation. As Yuzu fetched a spoon there was some footstep.ps from below as the kitchen door opened to see a very tired and confused Carmella. “Yuzu….” She said as she opened the door. “Grandmamma look I made mama breakfast!” Yuzu said proudly. Carmella’s blood red eyes grew really big and she began twitching. “William!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Carmella yelled the whole house shook. In a flash there were five more bodies in the room. “Look at my… my…. Kitchen!!!” Carmella screamed. William just looked on in shock at the utter mess Yuzu had made Amira, Ren and Toshiro burst out laughing and fell to the floor; and began crying out of sheer laughter “Look at the kitchen!!” Carmella continued as Cora stepped around pools of Milk. “Yuzu why did you make such a big mess?” Cora asked getting down to her level. “I made you breakfast mama.” Yuzu said her eyes in delight as she offered up the bowl of cereal. “Mama????......” She questioned herself. “Thank you Yuzu I don’t think I can eat this all by myself though.” Cora said giving a silent joke as she would not eat it at all. “Mama we can eat it together.” Yuzu said. Cora scooped Yuzu up in her arms along with the bowl of cereal. “Looks yummy.” She said as she sat down with Yuzu at the table she let the little girl eat the entire bowl of cereal. “Wasn’t that good mama?” she asked her little eyes lighting up. “It was but next time let mama help you make breakfast.” Cora said as she got a disgusted look from Carmella who had ordered the others to clean it up while she watched. “Yuzu you’re going to be late for school!”Carmella yelled from the dark basement. “Yes mother!” Yuzu said as she wore a green plaid skirt with a white button up blouse, black knee stockings and flat shoes. “I’m off to school.”Yuzu said as she ran off with her lunch in hand. She ran down the stairs and out the door slamming it on her way out. She ran down the street until she got to the corner. “Hey Yuzu!” Her best friend Renna called smiling as she caught up with Yuzu. “Renna were going to be late.” Yuzu said before her friend could say another world she got a death grip on her arm and pulled her behind her toward the all girls’ school. “Ever sense Yuzu has been going to school we have had nothing to do!” Ren complained as he lay on top of his coffin bored. “We could always follow her to school.” Ren said as he rolled over and fell onto the floor on accident. “We can’t go out in sunlight remember genius?!” Toshiro said shooting him a look as he leaned against the wall. Ren rubbed his head as he sat up. “Geeze you are all helpless.”Amira said as she descended the stairs into the coffin room. “Did it ever occur to you we can go out in sunlight we just will turn into ash.” Amira said smiling as she joined Toshiro. “I wish we were normal like Yuzu!” Ren complained as he returned to his lounging spot on his coffin lid. All of the sudden there were several hisses from up above. “She has lived with us all this time and you choose now to intervene?!” Carmella’s shrill call shook the house as the three made for the stairs. Cora who had been asleep yawned and saw them dash from the room. In no attempt at hastening she prodded along behind them unconcerned this shill scream of her mother’s was a normal occurrence at their home. “The council has been monitoring the situation for quite some time.” One of the vampires said dressed in a formal suit. “She knows too much.” Another inquired as he sat in a chair in the study. “Honestly we have the situation under control!” William said looking at them holding Carmella’s hand. “Again she knows too much “The one who had just said the same thing as before. “We must remove her and place your family under quarantine.” The head vampire said as he smiled. “You can’t do that!” Carmella screamed. “I’m afraid we can.” He said giving a brief smile. “Carmella.” William said giving her a warning snarl as he gave them an unhappy look. “She will be unharmed I assure you.” He said grinning as he looked at them; low snarls came from the direction of Cora, Amira, Toshiro and Ren. “Like heck you will put your hands on her!” Toshiro growled. Carmella gave him a look as time seemed to slow down….. Toshiro charged toward the seated grinning leader. One of the other rival vampires stepped in front of the leader and got Toshiro in a dead lock around the neck holding him down on the floor ready to dispose of him if given the command. “That’s enough Emmett.” The head said as he clapped his hands and Toshiro was released gasping for air. Toshiro stood and backed up his beautiful eyes glowing a stained blood red in anger as his brothers and sisters held her back. We will come and collected her when we are ready. The head vampire said as he stood. “Good-bye my dear friends” He said smiling as in the instant they were gone. “You’re just going to let them take her away?!” Toshiro asked angrily as they were back in the coffin room. “We haven’t got much choice.” William said. “She’s your daughter why don’t you do something?!” he hissed as he punched the brick wall breaking off chunks of the brick as he did so. “If there was something I could do I would, I will try and speak with the council but once they have made up their minds I am afraid there is nothing more we can do.” William said as Carmella looked down at the floor ashamed she couldn’t protect her own daughter. “For now nobody says anything to Yuzu.” He said “Also everybody we are going to stop feeding as much” William said. “It’s becoming too conspicuous, we have to get used to feeding less for quarantine.” he added. Everyone nodded “Do I make myself clear on the matter involving Yuzu?” he asked in a clam voice reverting back to the previous issue; as one by one they nodded until they came to Toshiro and Cora. “She deserves to know.” Toshiro said. “Mother, Father we can’t keep this from her it is about her I think it is best we tell her.” Cora said having spoken for the first time sense the incident earlier. “The vampire council thinks it’s too dangerous she knows too much.” William said. “I will speak to them about this matter and see if we can come to some sort of agreement or compromise.” William said. “Until then please keep this quiet I will talk to her when the time is right.” William said. “You have until tomorrow to tell her or I am telling her myself.”Toshiro said as he stalked off up the stairs at lightning speed. He punched the wall again as he slammed the door behind him. “He’s not making this easy on any of us.” William commented in frustration. “He is kind of right she deserves to know, no offence dad but way not cool.” Amira said as she pushed off from her coffin and was gone just as Toshiro was. “She’s my little sister.” Ren said as then he followed them out the door. Cora nodded in agreement as she left but walking away. “William what are we going to do?” Carmella asked as he held her against him. “I don’t know Carmella.” He said as he just looked up at the candle light chandelier. For once William could not do anything. “William we really should tell her.” Carmella said. “Another day my beautiful.” He said as he swept her off her feet. “Don’t touch me William” Carmella said slapping him hard on the cheek leaving a hand print on him. William rubbed his cheek as Carmella vanished just as the children had done. “Yuzu, I need to talk to you about an issue.” William said when she came home. “It involves the vampire council and our family.” He said as she came into the study and sat down. “”What is it father?” Yuzu asked getting scared they had always feared the vampire council “Darling this is not easy for me to say…” he said. “Yuzu the council has made a decision. They are going to quarantine our family and you darling.” He said. “I am going to talk to them about it; it hasn’t been a problem until now.” He said. “They say you know too much about the vampire world.” He continued. “They have not made the final decision but for now we are under quarantine and they are coming to get you in the near future.” He said. “I am going to go to them and have a hearing with them, see if there is any way we can reason with them.” He said. Yuzu looked at him in shock. “I don’t want you to be frightened, for now we are okay but Yuzu your mother and I and all your brothers and sisters will not be able to feed as much which makes you more venerable.” He said. “You need me to be cautious.” She said pointing out the facts. “Yes if you want to put it that way, Yuzu I love you darling please try…” he said folding his hand then covering his eyes. “I will.” She said. “I love you father.” She said smiling at him as she excused herself. “I can’t let them take her away….” Toshiro said as he entered that room that night. “It’s the only way…” He said as he approached Yuzu “So sweet… so pure… “ he said as pushed her hair away from her neck. Toshiro entered her room that following morning he sat next to her as she awoke. She rolled over and stretched Then the door of her room was forced open and the vampires had returned. “Katsuto, Yuzu.” The leader said as he gave her a glare. “You’re coming with us.” He said. As they all entered her room, her family forming behind them. “I’m sorry Yuzu….” William started his head hung….. As Toshiro stood in front of her protectively. “The girl comes with us.” The leader continued. “Over my dead body….” He said his fangs barred as Yuzu sat up in bed with fear and cowered a crossed her bed against the wall in fear. “That can be arranged.” The leader said and then snapped his fingers. One of the vampires snapped to it and went toward Toshiro, they collided and a bomb of a fight went off. Toshiro threw him across the room, the attacker going through several walls. The attacker got up and went for Toshiro, he pinned Toshiro against the wall and then slammed his head through it retaining his grip and started to pull on Toshiro’s neck. “No!! No!! Stop!!! Stop!!” Yuzu yelled as the head vampire looked at her with curiosity. “Emmett.” The head vampire said. “Take me instead just let them go.” Yuzu said as she scooted toward the end of the bed. “What an intriguing little girl….” He said as he walked toward her and kneeled down, Emmett had stopped his advance and turned Toshiro so he could see what was going on, restraining him from movement. He ran his hand down her neck lightly examining the mark she had on her neck. “Some one has taken her blood.” He announced as he turned around his back to Yuzu. She stared in shock as her family looked at one another in disgust as who would do such a thing then all automatically looked at Ren who gave them a sickening look. “You know what this means now….” He said bringing his hands together. “Someone has claimed her in this house.” He said. “Her soul is eternally theirs.” He said. “The one who claimed her can save her by speaking out now.” He said looking at the family. Nobody made a move as they all shook their heads. “Well now we can’t leave a human in the world of vampires.” He said grinning as he bent down toward her. “It was me!” Toshiro admitted as his family looked at him in shock. “It was me, I did it.” He said. “You’ve taken the innocence of her away….” He said. “The only thing that will return it to her…. The ultimate price.” He said. “I’ll do it.”Toshiro said. “Take him away.” The head vampire said as he snapped his fingers and then left, Toshiro in a moment was gone from sight. “Where are they taking him?!” Yuzu asked frightened as she ran to her father. “Judgment…” Cora whispered as nobody else could answer her. “What is judgment?!” Yuzu cried as tears swelled in her eyes. None answered as they all left the room and down the stairs leaving Yuzu wondering and helpless. “This is all my fault!” she said to herself as she dropped to her knees and began to cry, she curled up into a ball as tears lulled her back to sleep. “Katsuto Toshiro… You have interfered with the council… you know the punishment.” The head of all vampires said as Toshiro was forced on his knees and his head hung low. “I did it out of love…..” he said. |