Nightmare...[Fin]

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain had propped himself against a wall in the great hall. His eyes closed and twitching as he slept, he had just been so tired that walking another step had been impossible. He had basically passed out where he sat. Even in sleep Kain looked angry, he had an intense and defiant look on his face, as if annoyed. He hadn't slept much if at all in the last few weeks and it was beginning to catch up to him.
As Kain slept he found himself in a large open field, the ground was green with grass and the sky was blue save for a few clouds. Kain would look about in his dream world, despite the fact it was a lone field, it wasn't a bad place.
The suddenly a cool air blew in, and storm clouds darkened the area. Disgusting pools of oil would rise up from the ground which slowly formed into a rather grotesque and macabre looking figures. Kain would watch as his field began to change in to a dark and foreboding place which almost appeared to have hellish tendencies.
The macabre figures would ooze there way towards Kain as he drew the sword on his back. Just as one blob lunged at Kain he would strike it down and cut it in half. The blob would spray its ooze everywhere, spatters of black oil would land upon Kain's jacket and shirt. The rest would fall and taint Kain's world.
More of the hideous forms would lunge at Kain and yet more would taint the earth with the foul black ooze. Kain would continue to fight the forms with his all, his world slowly being transformed into a dark and corrupt place,tainted by the slime from the hideous forms of black. The forms just kept coming and Kain just kept slaying in a frenzy until none stood.
By now his field had become lifeless and cold, void of almost any light and scarred by the shadow of the hideous slime.
Finally one last macabre beast would rise up from the ground, Black as any before him, it's eyes like a swirling gold and contrast to it's other features. It would form up slowly with bestial features and a hideous smile.
Kain would look in terror as this form suddenly appeared in from in font of him from no where and then grab Kain by his throat, lifting him up and strangling him. Kain struggled weakly as he gripped the beasts throat and kicked in the air. He could do nothing against this new terror. Kain felt the crushing hand on his neck, killing him slowly. Then he would watch in horror as the beast changed it's appearance to slowly look more like Kain himself, till it was nearly a mirror image.
Kain woke with a scream of horror, gasping in a cold sweat as he leaned forward panting hard. His heart racing at an incredible pace. Only once had he been frightened so much, the day he met Zen. In someways this was far more real and frightening. Kain gasped for air and struck the ground below him as he shuddered, it had felt so real. Kain nearly threw up but managed to withhold and keep it down barely. What had he become in this dream world? Or what had become him?!
Kain knelled there hitting the ground, nearly on all fours, fear had made him scream out in terror.

[··¤ Zen Kamei ¤··]

In a whisp of shadows, his maiden was once again hear him. Zen had heard his cry, and felt the same terror he had, for they were linked. Zen was silent, knowing Kain hadnt noticed her presence yet. She reached out a pale slender hand slowly, touching his hair.
"Kain..." She murmured softly, her golden eyes darkening to near black. She was.. scared, but why? Kain needed to sleep, severely for these small bits and pieces and scraps of rest were doing him absolutely no good, what so ever. She was beginning to become concerned, and the thought of erasing his memory crossed her mind..
He would never know she existed, who she was, nor what she had done to his family.. But she couldnt abandon him like that. It was both cruel and unfair, unriteous even. Zen scowled and in one swift movement, whisked Kain up into her thin, strong arms, carrying him into her Office, where she laid him down on the soft couch there, slipping a pillow beneath his head. She brushed her slim, coold fingers through his hair gently, brushing her lips against his cheek, and the corner of his mouth in a soft cool kiss, murmuring quietly.
"Sleep Kain..." She would stay here, and watch over him, comfort him if his nightmares began to plague him once more. She kept running her fingers through his hair over and over again, trying to be of some form of comfort to him, at least then she'd be able to live with herself..
Kain had her caught this time, and she didnt deny it, either. In fact, she showcased it completely, using her actions, rather than words...

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain's breath was shaky at best, his eyes wide and his stomach was in notts. He shuddered at the memory again. It had felt so real. Zen had a certain magnetism effect on Kain, drawing nearer to her when her fingers touched her hair almost subconsciously. Zen's speed and strength always surprised him, more so when he suddenly found himself on a couch. He inhaled shuttering again. What had been the cause of such a wild and terrifying dream?
Kain lay there calming down from her touch, her gentle caresses, even the small light kiss he had felt at the edge of his mouth. He calmed quite a bit and looked at her for a moment silently, his eyes holding a soft tone for her only. Kain managed to swallow and shift to make himself comfortable on the couch before smiling faintly despite the horrifying experience.
Kain suddenly remembered the bulk in his breasts pocket, it hardly fit there and he had had it for a day or two. "Wait." He whispered and reached inside his jacket only to remove a small box lined with fine satin on the outside, the inside was dark silk.
Kain handed the box to her carefully, it was more rectangular and flat, the corners slightly rounded. Inside was a very elegant golden necklace, in the necklace a series of red and black diamonds which glittered against the gold necklace. It had been what he bought with the winnings from his race, and then some Kain had nearly sold the clothes on his back for it. "It's for you." He would whisper and smile a little again.

[··¤ Zen Kamei ¤··]

Zen glaced at the box, then looked at him, tilting her head slightly. She took the box in her slip, cool fingers and looked down at it with her sparkling, stale gold eyes. What was this.. a gift..? She clicked it open and peered inside. A slight gasp escaped her lips as she dropped the silk lined box, the delicate gold held up in her frail fingers.
"Kain..." She couldnt even speak, and she could stop the emotion that she was feeling, these strange, frustrating emotions that his mortal had stirred within her cold body. Like any other mortal girl, her lower lip trembled slightly as she looked down at the delicate gold, laced with precious stones of red and black. She couldnt hold back, damn that mortal, he was such a pain. Her eyes appeared as if they were bleeding, a tear of crimson blood slipping down her pale cheek, leaving a dark red stain. She tried, but found that she couldnt compose herself. What the hell was he doing to her?! She lowered her head staring down at the fine jewelery.. why? Why would he get her something so.. beautiful. She knew it would cost a pretty penny.. She clenched her jaw, more bloody tears threatening to leave her eyes.

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain looked at her as she opened the box and looked at the jewelry. He had only just began meeting vampires, so he had no clue on how there emotions worked, nor did he understand the physical properties of a vampire. Kain watched her hoping he had done well in this small gift he had given her, he didn't even know if she'd like it, much less wear it.
Kain's eyes widened when he saw the tears of blood, did vampires have a weakness against gold and other precious minerals? He tried to wipe the tear away with his finger gently. "Zen...what's wrong?" He hoped she wasn't hurt, he'd never stop blaming himself. He then watched in a bit of fright as more of that crimson liquid welled up in her eyes. It concerned him and he just looked at her. "Are you hurt?" He asked stirring a little to sit up. "Do you need to feed?!" What could cause a vampire to cry blood, was this natural in someway?

[··¤ Zen Kamei ¤··]

Zen place a hand on his chest and forced him to lay down. She smiled, wiping the blood away in one swift movement, glancing at the blood on his hand. She slipped the necklace around her neck and leaned closer, whispering into his ear, her voice was trembling, how odd.
"Thank you.." She swallowed hard and stared down, running her fingers over the fine lace of gold and jewels. "I.. really like it Kain.." She then stood, and hid her face, turning her back to him. She walked to her desk, and collected herself, speaking again, after a few moments of pure silence.
"Go to sleep Kain." She said simply. She waited for him to fall asleep, but she could wait no longer before slipping out into the shadows, in a bloody rage. Her eyes were wild and golden, she needed to hunt, his blood was too strong for her. She stalked after a young woman, talking on her cell phone to her boyfriend. Once she closed the phone, Zen pulled her into the shadows, covered her mough and dug her fangs into her neck, drinking as much as she felt, eventually draining the woman. She tossed the body aside, and vanished into the darkness. She was on a rampage..

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain was forced to lay down, he was unsure if he liked the way she was acting suddenly. He watched her as she walked over to the corner. Usually her word was good enough, but she seemed so...distant wasn't the right word, maybe something was wrong. Kain gave an uneasy and worried look as Zen disappeared, but he would lay down and try to rest. With a tightly clenched jaw Kain would close his eyes hoping he hadn't done to much harm to her. Why had she left him so suddenly. He was tempted to look around her office for curiosity's sake, but for now he merely rested. Soon falling into a long needed slumber. Despite sleeping, his face held a concerned and defiant look. Other then that he looked extremely peacefull. He couldn't help but wonder what he may have done to her which had caused her to react like that. Had he caused harm or upset her?

[··¤ Zen Kamei ¤··]

In her rage, Zen had seemed to have lost her grace. She was no longer a fluent, lithe vampire, she was a raging beast. A murderous shadow of the night. She swept along the streets, searching for targets and victims, ready for the kill, ready for the blood. She spotted a couple, sneaking into the black abyss, known as the city park, where they would meet their demise. She would sweep along the ground like death itself, her swirling golden yellow eyes lit ablaze, like burning pools of fire. All was numb, everything but her burning rage. She felt nothing, no remorse, no regret, just pure, burning rage. She swept through the darkness, stalking them. Another vampire, who no doubt had their eyes upon the same couple hissed at Zen in a bestial manner. Zen just simply growled in reply, her blood lust filled eyes glinting with pure evil intent. Her oponent backed down, and vanished to hunt elsewhere, leaving the mistress to her work.
Within moments Zen was upon them, claws and teeth ripping through muscle and flesh as if it were paper. The two unsuspecting mortals didnt even have a chance to scream, seeing as she was upon them so quickly, faster than the humans could blink their own eyes. There was a shower of blood, and Zen howled with laughter as she bathed within it, blood splattering her crazed face, dripping from her rich supple lips, which were twisted into a maniacal grin. She laughed and twirled around, splattered in blood. Zen then heard footstops, someone calling into the darkness.
"Hello?! Who's there?!" Zen growled and slipped into the shadows, waiting. Once the man who had pronounced himself found the dead bodies, ripped apart, blood splattered everywhere, Zen would leap upon him, sinking her fangs into his flesh, covering his mouth and drinking his blood hungrily before he had the chance to cry out. She ripped the flesh from his throat and tossed his body aside. She no longer cared for blood flavor, she only wanted blood. Though somewhere in her frenzy she lost it, everything changing, like she was peering into two worlds at once. She shook her head vigorously, trying to forget the nightmare that so hanuted her every waking hour. Playing itself over and over within her head.

Zen found herself in suffocating darkness, in a room, alone. She had no clue where she was, she moved through the darkness, her expression crazed, her eyes flooding with the very essence of insanity. Within her own mind, she was lost.
She moved through the shadows of the park, still lost inside herself, blood dripping from her mouth like a rabid beast.
Within her head, she was walking down a dark hallway, barefoot. There was something warm and wet beneath her, almost slippery. She reached town, and touched the dark pools with her fingers. Blood. She looked up, her white dress soaked in blood and dirt, her pale skin stained forever with unwashable crimson. Her arms hung limp by her sides, the sleeves of her sheer dress reaching the bloody ground, where she let them drag. She felt as if she were to collapse, and become lost in this suffocating darkness. her vision blurred as she looked to the end of the hall, where there was a dim light flickering. She felt weak, like a mortal, the smell of blood and earthy dirt over powering her senses, causing her to gag and wretch with disgust. What was this place?

Mean while, in her consiousness, Zen was a raging murderer, ripping her way through humans by the tens, ripping flesh, feeding from their blood in a frenzied haze and excitement. She was completely out of control. She snarled and ran swiftly through back alleys and empty streets, killing any mortal she came upon. Woman, man, child, she didnt care. They were dead regardless of who they were. But she was lost, elsewhere within her chaotic mind.

She looked up weakly, wet blood matted hair falling over her face, Her vision was pooling and blurring as she looked foreward with tired, stale gold eyes. There was a shadow, a tale thin frame of a man, only a few feet away. She reached out, her limbs weak, numb almost unable to move.
"Wait.." She breathed out, her chest heavy, breathless, exhausted. The figure just turned and walked away, seeming rather familiar, she couldnt think of anything but persue. She cried out, and forced her weak body to move. Why was she so weak?!
"Wait!!" She screamed after the moving figure, willing her body to move, slugish and clumsy. She was so confused, lost. What was going on? The shadowed figure moved faster, leaving her behind in the darkness.
"No, dont leave.." She whispered, dragging her feet along weakly, reaching out. She ran climsily through the puddles of blood and dirt, breathing heavy, hair matted and sticking to face in a sickly manner. She followed, as fast as her body would will her too, following the shadow as it disappeared around a corner. She screamed and burst through the darkness into a dimly lit stone room, like a dungeon. What the hell was going on? She had been lead into a vast dark room. There was dim candle light, and she looked around for the one who had led her here. It wreaked of death.. she glanced around with tired eyes, her vision beginning to blacken faintly. She heard scuffs on the cold hard stone, as the figure turned to greet her. She smiled as she recognized who it was.
"Kain..." She whispered tiredly, almost releived. He looked at her with the most hateful eyes she had ever seen, His lips moved, and the words slipped out, with just as much hatred and resentment.
"You're a monster, a Macabre Beast," He said sharply, his voice cutting at her like razors, his words stinging like lemon juice in a wound.
"I hate you, Zen." He said with a voice like ice. She shook her head, tears of crimson flooding down her pale face, staining her pallid skin.
"Where are you going?" She asked, her voice no longer silky, but hesitant and shaky. "Kain?" He shook his head and turned on his heel, walking away into the darkness, leaving her alone. Her eyes widened as she called for him.
"Kain?... Kain?!" She shook her head, this couldnt be. "KAIN!!!!" She screamed, as if her heart were shattering. "Dont leave me alone!!" She hung herh ead and cried, "Please..." Chains suddenly wrapped around her wrists, pulling her agains the stone wall as she struggled, trying to follow Kain, but then bound her body to the wall with bone crushing strength, not willing her to move. Suddenly, all light disspeared with Kain, and she was left screaming in the darkness, her voice echoing with utter agony and despair.

"KAIN!!!!"

Zen had made her way to the cliff, lost within the darkness within her mind, She looked out upon the city with those crazed, blood lust filled eyes, she knelt down and clenched her head in her hands, a scream; almost like a howl riping through the night, filled with rage, sorrow, agony and fear.

Zen later returned to the Coven, slipping into the shadows silently, drenched in blood. She walked into her study, the blood dripping off her like water, as if she had been bathed in blood, she had taken many lives.. most of which, were so innocent...

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain lay there on the couch trying his damndest to follow through with orders and get some sleep. But he was worried about Zen. He remembered how she had looked before she left, the way the tears of blood ran down her cheek from her eyes. The way she had looked sad and wounded, could his small gift really have caused such a stir in her, could it have really hurt her so much? Just what exactly had happened between the two of them that could cause her to react like she had. Was it him? Had he done some harm by giving her the gift? Or could this be something she did often? Was Kain reading to much into this? Perhaps he was still just a puppet, something to get the work done that she could not be bothered with. Something that could amuse her and entertain her while serving a purpose, Only to be disposed of at a later time. Perhaps he was only a tool and he read far to much in to her emotions, like he thought a normal person would feel.
Surely a god would not care for a meager human, how could he be important to one so powerful as she. How could he even begin to comprehend her thoughts, feelings and motivations. Surely in the world of immortality he could not be but a particle of sand upon a veritable desert, only scooped up by chance or for amusement and then brushed aside later when he had become a nuisance.
Sighing Kain opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, it was so insane to honestly think that a human could even have some worth to one so powerful as Zen. After all she was flawless, perfect, cool, calm, seductive and egnimatic. He was an angry youth who was defiant, young and often getting into serious trouble. Lost in a game of immortals. Nothing he did should matter in the least.
Despite his best logic Kain felt as if he was being pulled, for every reason he could logically think of as to why he was unneeded the was an emotional string reminding him that he was needed. It felt like his very fiber, his entire being was being pulled. As if some needed him desperately and he was just to blind and powerless to assist in there cry for help, he felt that he was unable to heed the cry for something he had.
What was going on! it was driving him batty, as if he could hear the cries and pleadings of someone weak and in need of his help. It hurt him like a thousand razor slashes as he felt his own tears trying to well up in his eyes. How was this pull that magnetic? How could he feel the pain of someone he couldn't see or hear? What was happening? Who was desperately crying out for him? Why did he feel so useless?

Kain sat up, rest would be impossible as long as he felt this pull that he could not heed. Looking around Kain stood and examined the area around him, the office of Zen. He stood and casually peered around the place, it seemed cozy and he felt he could imagine her working her, almost see a ghostly figure behind the desk, working on paper work, or whatever a vampire coven leader would do. Kain would walk up and half tilt his head to examine anything that may just be laying around, he wouldn't go through it. Just idly look, anything to distract him from the pull on his essence. It seemed like an addict who wanted a distraction from his addiction. Somehow, no matter what he would do there would still be that powerful pull on his being.
Kain looked at her weapons and thought curiously as to why she hadn't brought them with her, he carried his sword with him where ever he went, or it was very near by. He was tempted to touch them, to feel whatever alloy they may be crafted out of. He even moved his hand out as if to touch before he brought it back to his side. Somehow it just didn't feel like the right thing to do.

In his mind he kept seeing some poor weak girl bearing a surprising resemblance to Zen. She kept chasing after him, but it felt like no matter what she did she could never catch him. It felt so wrong, so vile. Kain wanted to embrace the dirty, weak and broken women with strong arms and hold her till the pain went away. What was this waking dream he had. Why was he moving away from the one who needed him so much? This almost sickened him, it felt so wrong. Tears would well up again and roll down his face. Kain felt both angry and weak, he wanted desperately to find Zen and make sure she was OK, to hold her and run his hands through her unnaturally soft and silken hair. To tell her it would be OK and that he would never go away. And in away he wanted to become a part of her, and irremovable part of her being, to join with her and be with her for all of eternity.
But that was silly at best, he was human, stupid,weak and pathetic. He could not possibly be good enough for one such as Zen. Kain growled and even snarled at his own bothersome human emotions and whipped the tears away on the back of his hand. This was far worse then sickening. It was annoying to feel so unneeded. Kain cried out for her, pleading her to never leave him for all of eternity. "ZEN NO! I LOVE YOU!" He yelled aloud before strike a near by wall in anger. Kain felt so powerless.

In both rage, sorrow and pain Kain would look at his hand nearly trembling before he saw Zen in the corner of his eyes. For but a moment he looked in disbelief before he would run over to her in long quick strides and then wrap his arms tight around her hard stone body. A tight embrace if ever there was or ever had been one. He kissed her forehead, "Zen! ZEN! ZEN!!" He felt his emotions boiling over. "Zen no, I love you." Death or not he couldn't stop his own weakness. "No Zen" Kain muttered before kissing her lips, "I won't ever leave!" He trembled angry with himself for being so weak in her eyes. "No I won't leave you, ever.." He muttered trying to clean the blood from her face with one hand before holding her again and kissing her. "Never..I promise." He whispered and held onto her tightly. Maybe he could never hope to be strong enough for her, but his heart had left him for her. He belonged to her in a way he could never begin to explane.

[··¤ Zen Kamei ¤··]

Zen looked at Kain, her eyes still wild and frenzied, bright with rage and the macabre killer intent of a madman. But when he rushed over and embraced her stone cold body, the rage was suddenly snuffed out, calming and eventually dying down, her hair returned to its usual silken length, falling over her shoulders like a jet black river of velvet ink. Silken Ink on nearly snow white paper. She felt his warm soft lips touch her forehead, causing her to blink in surprise. She looked at him, and was almost taken aback when his warm lips pressed against her cold dead ones. This wasnt right, there were so many reason why this was so wrong. Kain's words echoed within her mind.

"I love you.."

They almost hurt, stirring up such emotions that she tried so hard to kill, emotions she thought she had so long forgotten about, Things she never wanted to remember about. She felt him kiss her yet again, and knowing that if she were human her heart would be racing, but there was nothing that was such for the vampire woman. Zen places a smooth cold finger to his lips, shushing him. Her eyes dimmed in color, becoming more pale, almost becoming like onyx as she looked at him.
"Dont.." She whispered softly. A single crimson drop ran down her soft, cool pallid cheek, and the vampire leaned forward, granting him one, soft kiss upon his lips.

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain felt her silky black hair between his fingers and around his neck. He looked into her eyes as if searching for something hidden inside her. Maybe he had been crazed and looked to much into it. Mentally he would laugh at his foolishness, his lip would curl in to a soft smooth smile. What more could he expect? Obviously he had become to attached or looked to much into the relationship. He just looked at her for along while. To him it was like little else even existed, the only light in his world had been Zen or that's how it seemed.
Kain would wipe the crimson tear away and nod in acknowledgement. Before he could utter a word in Kain would feel icy cool lips upon his own. His whole body tingled as his heart suddenly jumped a beat, skipping and then racing so madly he wondered if it was even healthy.
It was as if the dark brooding storm was suddenly blown away, leaving only the barren field and himself. Kain would close his eyes as if to seal the feeling and memory away for all eternity. Weather she loved him or not, he would never wish to forget that single moment in time. If he had a soul, it jumped with joy at that moment.

[··¤ Zen Kamei ¤··]

Zen let her fingers wander, across the back of his hand, down his forearm gently, curiously. His skin was s o warm to her, so different, and hers was so cold.. so dead, like stone. Oddly, her breath was cold as well, but sweet smelling and almost intoxicating, like some kind of drug. Her cool pale fingers touched his hair curiously, ran her cold fingers over his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin. She ran a finger over his lips, feeling them as well. She was so curious, she had.. never gotten this close to a human before, never in all her time as a vampire had she ever.. kissed a human..She had never gotten this close to a mortal without killing them, what made him different..?
She simply had t o try it again, and once more pressed her smooth silken lips agianst his, her skin frigid but oh so soft, softer than any kind of silk, but cold to the touch... They were so different, he was a mortal, living, breathing, warm. She was a vampire, cold and dead.

[Kain "Akatsuki" Elric]

Kain stood still as he felt the icy fingers move over his skin, closing his eyes part way. It felt like someone was vanquishing the shadows that had made there home in his heart. Then Kain would inhale deeply the sweet breath from her mouth. It was like an exquisite perfume, Wondrous and exotic. There was no words to explain it, to explain the feeling of being with her.
Her soft silken caresses felt so good, if he hadn't belonged to her before then he surely would be unable to escape the pull of this vampire. The feeling so unreal, so euphoric and uplifting. He had become hooked, addicted, and in love. His heart would race and pound in his chest like he never believed possible. He had thought of being like her, dreamed of being perfect. He knew it was silly, but it had been so tempting and he couldn't resist.

Just when Kain didn't think this paradise could get any better, he would feel her lips against his own. He would kiss her back and tighten his hold around her, embracing her tighter and holding the kiss. He didn't wish it to end.