And when the day has all but ended
And our echo starts to fade
No you will not stand alone then
And we will not be afraid... No we will not be afraid
-Lyrics to 'Now Comes the Night' performed by Rob Thomas [1]

Crimson Bonds Part 29

Flashback

Shannon, Ireland. Late summer, 1693.

Heero sighed to himself when he materialized in the living room of the abandoned shack that he and his family shared. The darkened, rundown interior gave no sign to anyone else being home at the moment.

That came as no surprise since Trowa and Midi tended to carry their walks well past nightfall. Meanwhile, Anna was likely waiting for his return in their room, patiently waiting for their evening dinner and the chance to learn more of the Vampires' ways.

It had been a longer hunt than Yuy first anticipated. But then, he had not only been tracking down the two rabbits that hung lifelessly in his right hand at his side.

He had made it his personal goal to find the two Vampires responsible for raping and nearly killing the lively singer that he had come to turn only a week earlier. If they had struck once, it was only likely that they would find another target... and another and more still until they were finally destroyed.

And the Original would be all to happy to be the one sending them into the great beyond.

Luckily he had a face and now a name to go on thanks to his sister's recollections of that fateful evening when her assailant boasted in her ear as he took her.

Infected like that of Donnie and his loyal, snake-like mutation of a comrade, were the monsters that humans were already beginning to fear and including in their scary ghost stories to their children to keep them safe in their homes at night.

Bad enough the danger that they posed to the humans. Such horrendous acts were only going to endanger the rest of their kind in the long run.

Those dark thoughts were broken by the sound of a sniffle followed by a choked sob. His back turning rigid, Heero picked up his steps to reach the bedroom he and his creation shared. "Anna?" he called with a deep frown. Pushing open the curtain to their doorway at the end of the hall, he froze with a sharp gasp.

Clothed in a floor-length black dress of delicate lace as she sat on the floor huddled in the furthest corner, the redhead had her legs hugged against her chest. With a sniffle, she peered up to reveal her shimmering eyes as they grew at her being caught in such a state and she quickly turned away to wipe at her tears with a whimper.

Instantly dropping the game he had collected for them, Yuy darted across the room to sit at her side facing her. "Anna?" he breathed in panic, brushing back a few stray strands of hair behind her ear to see her eyes better as she reluctantly looked back at him.

All the more concerned to what had upset his normally cheerful sister, the Original urged, "What's wrong?" Only then acknowledging her attire, the he blinked in confusion and asked, "Why are you dressed up like this?"

"It be only fittin' fer a funeral," Anna giggled bitterly with another rough brush of her hand against her cheek at the drop of a large tear. "'Course not many can say they went te der own service. It was an experience, I tell ye."

Heero sat upright at that, his fair skin growing all the more fair as he murmured, "O-oh."

Of course she would have attended after finding a pamphlet hanging at her parish following her disappearance and presumed passing when her body was not discovered around the site of her attack.

Such crimes in the night were not an uncommon thing for young women daring to walk out on their own past nightfall and there had been more than enough evidence discovered for those who had heard her screams to assume the worst.

A memorial had been scheduled followed in the open field behind the church that she frequently attended in her days as a living. The event was something that Yuy had purposely neglected to discuss out of fear that perhaps the reminder of her former existence would make her regret being turned.

Now he had the proof before him that the little performer who had captured his heart was grieving what he had taken from her.

Swallowing roughly, the Japanese Infected whispered, "Sister, I... I am so sorry-"

"No one showed," Anna breathed at the same time he began to apologize, cutting him off short with a sharp gasp.

Completely falling apart before him, she trembled as she sobbed, "Only de priest who noticed me bothered te say a prayer fer me. I always knew I was insignificant, but I thought dat a few people might at least make an appearance. I had hoped I might matter te someone, but I come te find I was every bit de nobody I figured te be."

For the heartbreak that he felt for his adopted 'sibling,' Heero felt as much relief in realizing that she was not mourning what could have been.

Smiling sadly, he told her, "Come here." Easily scooping her up and resting her to sit in his lap, he held her trembling form tightly as she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

Gently rocking her, the Original kissed her temple and hummed softly while she let out her sorrow until she calmed enough for him to loosen his arms and cup her face in his hands.

Resting their foreheads together, he brushed away her fresh tears with the pads of his thumbs. "You are not a nobody, Anna," he insisted quietly, but firmly.

He took a second to consider his next words, but went on confidently, "I cannot speak for those who did not attend your service, but I saw for myself the people you touched with your performances. Even the men that you swindled for their coin instead of taking their offered drink or in card games, left the taverns happier for having had your company for only a few fleeting moments."

"Yer only sain' dat 'cus yer me brother," the newborn Vampire giggled through her hitching breath. "Whatever it is dat has us bound te each oder is talkin' fer ye."

Heero raised an eyebrow as his lip tugged up in a lopsided smirk. "Let us just say you are right," he shrugged, "You made no impact on anyone in your living existence and were nothing more than a passing thought at best to everyone you came to know. And this bond we have is the only reason I turned you and am taking the time to bring you up into our kind's ways."

A lump forming in her throat, Anna bit her lip and nodded shallowly.

Chuckling, Yuy shook his head, "The choice was still mine to make in the end. I was perfectly capable of deciding to not turn you and let you die on that shore. After you became a Vampire, I could have left you to fend for yourself. There is a hell of a lot more to that than this connection we have that swayed me."

He touched the tips of their noses together, declaring in a near whisper, "*You* did that, Anna. Because I could not see my existence without you in it. You were the one who woke me up from what I consider my sleepwalking through this existence since my own turning. That alone is a remarkable feat which only you made happen."

Pausing, Heero cleared the knot that was restricting his voice at the end of his sentiment and murmured, "Though we have not known each other for long, I can say beyond any doubt that my existence is better thanks to your being in it. And I hope that you would be comfortable staying with me because I do not want to lose you. So, you will always be one of the most important creatures to me."

Anna's opening and closing mouth sealed with an audible click of her teeth when she finally gave into finding the right words right then. Her gold-and-blue eyes watering over out of her profound appreciation, she gulped and hugged the Original tightly again. "I do love ye so, brother. Thank you."

Blinking at the recollection of the start to their conversation, she leaned back to frown, "Heero... why did ye start te apologize when ye saw me like dis?"

"Uh..." smiling sheepishly, the Original ducked his head out of embarrassment as he replied, "I thought that you were regretting being turned... that maybe you wished you were not stuck with me."

At the gasp and horrified look on his sister's face at that comment, he frowned deeply and sighed, "I know that it is very wrong of me to think so selfishly, but even with Trowa and Midi, I have felt alone. And I hate to think that my own longing to have someone else to share my own existence with pushed me into an act that robbed you of the path you wish to be on."

Leaning heavily back against the wall behind him as the redhead melted all the more against him, Heero continued softly, "You know my preference in other men... that we do not share the same connection our cousins have and therefore I can never be the soul mate that you deserve. And I know some day you are going to met the one who will treat and love you better than I ever could... the creature who really completes you in every way I cannot... someone who believes the sun rises and sets with you."

His breath catching, the Japanese Infected murmured, "Then you'll leave me to be with him. It is a fate that I will have to come to terms with when the time comes, because more than anything, I want you to be happy. After all of your struggles in your mortal life, I wish that for you more than myself-"

The press of a pair of soft lips against his stopped Yuy short. Closing his wide eyes, he held onto the redhead and returned the innocent kiss and pulled his sister as close as he could manage.

Pulling back, Anna smiled, "I love ye, brother. And I am not about te go anywhere... even if I am lucky 'nough te find companion. Soul mates come en different forms 'n I consider us te be one form 'o dat." Her grin slipping, she peered down at the gold coin hanging from his neck. Lightly running her fingers over it, she said, "I ferget dat ye know what I was feelin' when it came to feelin' I held little value in my former life."

Like so many times over the years in his existence as a Vampire, the pain Yuy endured whenever he saw that Spanish gold coin returned. His parents had sold him to the scientists that had created him for five such pieces when he fell ill with tuberculosis.

It was a bitter souvenir he had taken for himself following the escape from those mad men and their aids to serve as the only thing he had to remember his mother and father by.

"Yer parents were wrong te give ye up fer so little," the performer whispered. Looking up to meet his watery gaze, she smirked, "I would'a held out fer at least ten gold coins."

Heero's head fell back with loud laughter to join with her giggles. Grateful for the break in his sad thoughts, he rubbed at his damp eyes as he snorted, "Thank you, brat." He emphasized the endearment with a swat to her backside. [2]

Kissing his temple with a giggle, Anna sobered once more as she ran a hand through his unruly hair. "In all seriousness," she began, "there is not enough wealth in de world te equal yer worth, Heero Yuy. 'N I am one of de few who has de honor of knowing ye. I would 'ave died on dat shore were it not fer ye 'n I am ferever in yer dept."

She took his hand in hers and placed it over her still heart, vowing, "Ye will never walk dis world nor stand alone tw face it again so long as I am existin'. I swear it."

A new string of tears fell down Yuy's face as he held her fast and buried his face in her shoulder. "I love you, sister," he whispered thickly. Hugging his neck again, the redhead rocked him gently in a role reversal to the start of his return home.

Once they had their bearings, the siblings dried each other's faces with soft snickers. "I best get inte something more appropriate for our outtin' tenight after we eat," Anna announced as she reluctantly pulled herself to her feet.

"That would be advised," Heero chuckled, standing up beside her. "Once you're ready, we'll go over running." Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "I just have to warn you, I am pretty fast, so you will have your work cut out to keep up with me."

Anna grinned, "Good thing I am a quick learner, then. I am up fer the challenge."

Before the end of the evening, she would prove how natural a learner she was when it came to running. And their bond was all the stronger for her diligence.

End Flashback

*   *   *   *   *   *

Heero stared up from wiping down the counter of the bar that he had been stationed at during his extended shift at Midi's for its grand opening. Gazing past the crowded tables and waiting area, he fixed on his sister as she laughed and spoke with the patrons while taking orders for their meals.

Unable to help the wide smile spreading across his lips, the Original shook his head to himself at the wonder of their bond that had kept them together through decades, centuries, the greatest of trials and joys. Now they would share in his starting a family of his own with Anna carrying his baby... a child he had never before dared to hope for.

Anna was right... soul mates came in many forms. And there was not a doubt in Yuy's mind that they were soul mates. Surely few creatures in existence had such unbreakable bonds with another beyond their Chosen.

Making his way through the main seating area, Wufei kept busy by keeping water glasses filled and stopped beside his wife to kiss her cheek. Anna ducked her head shyly and gave him a brilliant, loving smile that only added to the glow that those who knew her secret understood its origin. Their eyes meeting, the little couple melted against each other before they went back to their work.

That was the way of the Siren's Other... her destined... Chang. The one who treated her like the sun rose and set with her, just as her brother had hoped for her.

Caught up in his emotions, Heero cleared his throat and politely returned his attention to the servers and bus aids that he was training. Back in the kitchen, Trowa kept the chefs at a smooth pace of revolving the orders coming in, their jovial conversations coming through the openings in the wall that brought their halves of the restaurant together.

In the meantime, Duo was assisting the hostesses at the cash register and entrance to keep the line of people standing by comfortable. Unknown to the livings around, the Hybrid wore a pair of his contact lenses that concealed the silver rings around his violet irises. Occasionally peeking over at the Siren, he had a contained grin on his own face.

Midi's diner could not have seen a better opening day. There was a steady stream of partakers from the moment that the doors welcomed the breakfast crowd. Happy for the extra assistance in breaking them in, the regular staff was nothing but smiles and willingness to learn the tricks of their trades from the Barton-Yuy clan that had the experience they held.

Once there was finally enough of a break in the day for the 'little mother' to wave her husband and cousins to huddle together in the back of the restaurant, she tearfully kissed their faces and hugged them tightly. "I cannot thank you all enough for your help in making today," she whispered between her sniffles.

"It's only our pleasure to be of assistance, cousin," Wufei smirked with a wink. "No need to thank us for that." Nodding, the remainder of his family backed the sentiment.

Pulling at the ruffled edge of the pink uniform apron she was wearing over her clothes, Anna shrugged, "Hell, I'm even getting used to wearing this girly thing."

When Midi's eyes widened with hope, the redhead was fast to raise a finger and giggle, "That doesn't mean for you to get excited and go making me a bunch of sun dresses to wear around the house, though. I still prefer my tank tops and shorts" Everyone laughed at the mock pout on the Lain beauty's face.

Cheri, one of the younger waitresses, poked her head out of the back door, an apologetic grin on her face. "Sorry to interrupt," she announced, "but there is a pretty big party that jut arrived asking specifically for all of you."

Exchanging confused expressions, the family followed the young woman back inside.

Once they stepped beyond the kitchen, the lot gasped and cheered at the appearance of five faces they had not seen for several months.... The Catalonia-Greyson Clan- Rosshe and Dorothy, Trent and Tricia, Alex, Mueller and Sophia, their Vampire Chosen and their adopted sister, Kristy.

Closing the distance between himself and his long-time friends from his college, Duo moved met the former Hunter of the family first. Greyson laughed with him as they shared a one-armed embrace.

"I can't believe that you all made the trip here," Midi all but whispered as she hugged Dorothy and Rosshe at the same time. "This is such a wonderful surprise."

Leaning back, Catalonia smirked, "Oh, we were not about to miss this for the world. Aside from having an excuse to pay some of our best friends a visit, we get to support you in this endeavor." She gestured to her cousins, teasing, "I am surprised that you could not hear Alex and Mueller's stomachs grumbling from Egypt when we asked them if they wanted to stop over to sample some of your food."

Her brother defended the chagrined Companions by snickering, "Well, it is not their fault that Midi is such a good cook. I didn't exactly hesitate in wanting to make the trip for her restaurant, either." At that, his former classmates grinned and playfully huffed at their chuckling Dorothy.

Rosshe approached Anna, smiling, "Hello, Desert Rose." The endearment was one that had stuck since she had risked herself by offering him to drink from her when the Yuy-Barton Clan had rescued him from the cave and he was close to death after his bond to his Companion had been severed by Solo.

Leaning against him as they embraced, the redhead beamed, "Hello, sweetheart. It's so good to see all of you again." Wufei and the Egyptian Infected shook hands firmly and had their own hug while the rest of their families reunited to the pleased audience sitting throughout the restaurant.

In the wake of a terrible legal battle that had ripped away a great deal of joy when it came to the coexistence mortals and the Vampires, this scene was particularly welcoming... not to mention needed by those who were still coping with the new laws.

Now, this warm picture was a welcomed reminder of how life had been as well as a glimmer of hope that things would return to some semblance of that once again.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Evening was soon falling over the Virginian landscape.

With the majority of the family working the last hours at Midi's and his siblings heading to their beds for the evening, John knew that if he ever had a moment to get away for a while this was it. Biting his lip, he slid a pair of his Uncle Duo's contact lenses in place and appraised his onyx eyes and the whites surrounding them.

Carefully peering out in the hallway, he found no source of light leaking through the cracks of Carol's closed door. Releasing a deep breath, her twin sealed himself away in his own room once more and stared at his open window.

Nerves were beginning to rise as the reality of what he was about to do set in. There were a lot of variables at play that could easily put in him harm's way. That would leave his parents and family to clean up after him, if not have to go as far as to save his existence.

And there was the disappointment of his Mother and Father that still weight heaviest on John's mind.

Everything that they had taught him not only prepared him for what was beyond their protective coven, but rightfully put fear in him so as to keep him in their safety. Having heard Charles's account of what his first real hunt had been like, that was enough to stall the young immortal's mission up to that night.

The light breeze coming in playing with the white drapes came on like a taunt, curling the fabric the way fingers curled in to lure him in.

Rolling his shoulders back, John raised his head and stole away the last bit of courage he needed to carry on with what he had set out to do. In a blur of himself, he darted forth to leap through his window, greeting the great unknown that was the world beyond...

...and as difficult as it was, he never looked back.

TBC...

[1] Ever since using this song in one of my Heero/Anna centric chapters of Crimson Ties, I have linked 'Now Comes the Night' as being their theme song of sorts. I absolutely love this tune and believe it describes their relationship perfectly.

[2] Brat actually was around at this time and has Celtic origins. :) I did my homework on this. It dates back to as early as the 1500s.

 

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