But come 'ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
It's I'll be here in sunlight or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, Oh Danny boy I love you so
-Lyrics to 'Danny Boy' performed by Celtic Woman
Crimson Bonds Part 5
The Shannon River banks, Ireland. 1692.
Ireland was every bit as beautiful as Heero had imagined it before his family of three had moved there early in the spring. There was a serene quiet of the lush green country that he had longed for ever since he had been turned by an experiment gone wrong to cure his inflicted Tuberculosis.
Now that the world had been turned into a wintery realm covered by snow, the land had become even more lovely when the Original had not thought it possible.
Lodged along with Trowa and Midi in a shack along the Shannon River that had been long-abandoned when its previous owners had died during the last stretch of civil wars that had broken out through the nation, Yuy had come the closest to ever feeling a sense of 'home' as he had in his whole existence.
It was with that deeply seeded sense of belonging that he even dared to venture out at night... to be close amongst the livings for the first time in more than a couple lifetimes for most mortal
At the announcement of his wish to visit the nearby pub to 'people watch' later in the evening when the crowd would be its thinnest, Heero was not at all surprised when Barton insisted that he join him for protection if needed. However, the Japanese Infected was also sure that his cousin also wished to be outdoors for a drastic change.
Midi put on a brave smile but insisted that they be careful when she kissed their cheeks as they pulled on their hooded cloaks.
Venturing out into the cold that never truly took hold of them, the Originals set out over the hilly banks while taking in the wonder that was the 'Emerald Isle' blanketed by white that reflected the nearly full moon on that clear evening.
Quietly conversing amongst themselves, they finally they came upon the only source of unnatural light for miles in the form of fireplace and candle flames burning through the windows of the tavern they had sought out.
And upon their cautious approach, Yuy's ears picked the voice of a girl singing a light-hearted tune of the county to the beat of clapping hands and stomping feet.
His feet coming to an abrupt halt when he reached the foggy window at the pub's entrance, he caught the dancing silhouette of a slight young woman with a long fall of vibrant red curls. A bright smile on her face, the performer continued her tune as she moved about gracefully to a pleased audience that filled the space...
...to unknowingly forever change Heero's existence as he knew it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The performance was a riveting one from beginning to end.
Be the song performed a rousing song that got the crowd to its feet or a heartfelt tune that could draw a tear from everyone who paused to sit and listen, the little singer standing on the makeshift stage of emptied beer cases was absolutely captivating...
...and Heero was completely enthralled by her. More so than he had ever been drawn to a living both before and after his turning.
For the two Originals observing the scene provided by the pub, they were fortunate enough that the audience was big enough to allow them a quiet entrance and a slip to the back corners without drawing any interest to them. Their hoods pulled far over their heads to shield their gold-ringed eyes and especially pale complexions, they seated themselves at the last available table where no one paid them any mind.
It was perfect for Yuy to have a the perfect view and space to watch the little performer that had somehow danced and sung into his very being.
At the end of the show just before the closing call, the almost too-thin redhead took hold of her cream colored dress's long skirt to lift it slightly as she curtsied to the cheers and applause of her drunken fans. Beaming when she righted herself, she blew kisses to the men more than twice her mid-to-late teenage years and skipped off the platform so that she could collect her earnings from one of the smiling bartenders.
Hanging back while the patrons filed out, Heero leaned close to his cousin with a small grin on his face. "She is very good," he commented softly. There was an amused smirk on his fellow Original's face as he hummed and nodded in agreement.
The reason for that mirth was all too clear to Yuy as he was well aware that he was openly taken by the lovely singer. Were he able, he imagined his cheeks would have blushed as shockingly red as her hair. Clearing his throat, he noted that only a few people remained by the bar to give them an easy, unnoticed getaway.
"We best get back to Midi before she paces holes in the floor," Trowa suggested. Snorting, he muttered, "If she has not done so already, that is." Snickering, Heero rose to his feet and led the way outside as the closing song of 'The Last Rose of Summer' performed by the entertainer played through his head.
When the pair stepped outside, they paused and peered around at the thick snowflakes falling from the sky that had clouded over while they had been distracted. Once again lost to the world around them, Heero did not pick up on the new scent in the air until its owner bumped into him from behind.
The sounds of a sharp gasp joined by the bright chime of metal clinking together and the feel of a brush up against him had Heero freezing in wide-eyed panic.
But when he looked over his shoulder to find a familiar girl with vibrant red curls peeking out from beneath a knit cap lowering herself to gather up the money she had dropped from her purse, he paused for an entirely different surprise.
"Me apologies, sir," the performer giggled nervously through her thick accent without looking up. Her finger-less gloved hands worked nimbly to scoop up her earning as the pub owners inside locked their doors and doused the lights before going back to their living quarters as the last souls around who could have served as witnesses.
Shaking her head, the living sighed, "I was so busy countin' me wage I did not even bother lookin' up to see ye."
There was any number of ways that Heero could have responded to being so close to a mortal for the first time in decades. What came immediately to him was to do the only natural thing by lowering himself to his knees to aide the beauty in collecting her pay.
A soft, unintelligible sound broke from Trowa in warning but it was too late. Yuy was already scooping up the copper bearings before he remembered his place... before he remembered what he was. It was only then that the scent of the girl's blood that he could practically hear pulsing through her veins flooded his senses.
Suddenly, everything was all too clear... the predicament that he had just put himself and his cousin in... the very real danger that the redhead had unknowingly walked right into... and the look on Barton's face from the corner of his eye made it known that he was prepared to intervene at a moment's notice.
The intention of that interference- be that to protect the girl or to find a merciful end to her at his own hands to spare Yuy the literal blood on his hands- all depended on how the next seconds unfolded.
Before Heero could rationalize it all, he felt the singer's exposed fingers brush against his own when they met to take up the last coin. With another gasp, she pulled her palm back to hold it in the other as she all but cried, "Oi, ye poor thing. Ye are cold as ice!"
Quickly slipping what coin she had back inside the purse at her hip, she removed her gloves and slipped them onto the Vampire's hands, urging, "Ye best get back 'ome before ye catch yer death out 'ere-" The words locked in her throat when she lifted her head enough to have her deep blue eyes lock with cobalt ringed by gold widening as far as they could along with hers.
This was it. Yuy had to act now before the girl alerted the bar keeps that there was an eminent threat on their lives. And he wanted her badly enough... wanted to drink every drop of her blood bad enough that he had to fight his trembling.
And yet... in the same unnecessary breath, every fiber of his being wanted to hold and protect the little performer that had captivated him.
Barton took a step closer, a reminder that if the Japanese Infected did not do something and soon he would. If given the choice, Heero was not sure how he wanted the cards to fall between either of them. His fangs longed to grow in to pierce the flesh at the crook of the mortal's neck as if announcing that they would settle the matter.
Just before a call had to be made, that was when it happened. A warm smile spread across the singer's face and she reached out slowly to take hold of the edge of Heero's hood... and pulled it down further to shield his eyes.
It was a message. His secret was safe with her. There would be no questions, nor would there ever be a mention of their meeting.
Stunned, Trowa blinked widely fell back a half step. Close enough to still be able to spring if needed, but giving the living some reprieve.
His own eyes growing anew, Yuy watched in awe as the Irish girl removed her scarf from around her neck and looped it around the Original's. "There," she grinned, brushing the long ends of the deep purple knitting against his chest. "'Dat is better than nothin'."
Any desire to drink from her had completely vanished from Heero as he remained still and kneeling in disbelief with their gazes locked. Finally, he frowned, "I-I don't..." he tried again with a shake of his head, "What about you?" There was nothing put on when it came to the concern in his voice.
"Plenty other scarves 'n gloves at me home, which is not far from 'ehe. You need 'em far more than I do," the performer smiled. Winking, she added, "B'sides, even if those were me last, I'd find a way te get by. Always 'ave."
Such was the inkling the Vampire had about the girl from the moment he saw her and picked up on a few things....
For one, the girl was far too young to be employed by any bar, but carried herself as of age to pass so that she could earn some kind of living. Between songs, he caught her swindling the drunken patrons out of extra coin at card games. Her dress and long coat covering it were simply made and showing wear of likely coming from the secondhand shops as opposed to new purchases.
All signs of someone scraping through life, but never feeling sorry for herself as she did what she had to for survival. It was one more thing that endeared Heero to her... why he had such an urge to look after her.
Now here she was, the first living since his turning to show him any kindness... in spite of knowing that he was not... normal.
That was quite the far cry from his last close encounter with humans who had tried to kill the 'monsters' that they had created by forcing them out into the sunlight to be destroyed before mutation allowed them to walk outside during the day.
Compelled to speak on the whim of his emotions, Heero nearly blurted out in a rush, "Do you sing here often?" He never bothered to see what his cousin may have been conveying over the inquiry.
As she straightened herself upright once more, the redhead answered, "I make me rounds te de different taverns along de river." Chewing on the inside of her cheek in consideration, she shared, "I will be at Flaherty's temorrow night... if ye know where te find it."
"I do," Yuy nodded firmly, righting himself and keeping their gazes fixed. A rare grin curled his lips as he promised, "Tomorrow, then." Were his heart still beating, he was confident that it would have stopped at the radiant glow of a smile that his vow was rewarded.
Nodding vehemently, the girl replied, "Okay." Her smile faltering, the performer urged softly, "Be careful out 'ere." Be careful of her own kind, she meant... other livings who might not be as accepting of them.
The Vampire swallowed roughly and replied in kind, "You be careful, too." Be careful against others like him... Infected who would not be able to control their urges and would want to harm her.
Neither warning was misunderstood.
At that, the redhead curtsied with a sincere, "Nice meetin' ye both." She made sure to focus on the visible emerald-and-gold eye watching her from beneath the hood of the taller Original when saying that.
Trowa's leery expression melted into shock followed by a sincerely appreciative grin. Draping an arm across his middle, he bowed deeply at the waist. "Very nice meeting you as well," Heero spoke on behalf of the two of them, the grin on his own face brightening again.
Wrapping her coat tighter around her, the redhead gave another wink to match her friendly smile before she tuned and headed off over the snowy hills flanking the river's edge.
Once she vanished beyond the drifting flakes and the shade of the barren trees around, Barton released a deep sigh of relief as his body sagged. "Well, that was fortunate," he commented quietly. Beneath his relieved tone was an admiration for the little performer who had so plainly respected them without hesitation.
"Yes... it was," Heero concurred under his breath, his cobalt-and-gold eyes fixated on the mount that the redhead had disappeared behind. Already, the increasing snowfall was covering the tracks that she had left behind... but the marks that she had left on his soul would forever remain.
It was the first time that he had fallen in love.
No, it was not the same love that soul mates like Trowa and Midi shared. But it was no less profound.
Staring down at the streak of purple against his cloaked chest, Yuy ran his gloved hands over the scarf reverently. Lost as to how he could describe his feelings, he knew that he could not question how real they were.
And he would remain in Ireland to see the girl that had taken him completely every night for another chance to see her.
[End Flashback]
* * * * * *
Heero bit his lip as he lowered the purple scarf that he had retrieved from his chest of most treasured items from his many years of walking the Earth.
Carefully placing it at the bottom of his collections of mementos where a pair of gray, fingerless gloves sat, he closed the top of the trunk and pushed it back into closet where it stayed locked away for safekeeping.
There were so many fond memories of those days spent on the Emerald Isle. True to his word, from that evening on, the Original journeyed out with Trowa to watch the singer who had forever changed him. Staying behind until the end of every performance until the redhead smiled brightly and waved at them when no one else was looking, he was more and more drawn to her even though he never so much as spoke to her again...
...never so much as got her name until the night he heard her pained and terrified screams; the night that she had been attacked by two of the more vile creations of Vampires.
So much had happened since then... so many more experiences between him and the sister that he had brought into his family and care. And like that night of their first meeting, Anna was just as selflessly generous to him and his needs.
Trowa was right, it had been fortunate that they had happened upon her, but for so many more reasons than for having a mortal that they could trust at the time. For Yuy, he had come to find a different kind of soul mate who was every bit as vital as his lover.
"Hey," said counterpart greeted softly when he entered their bedroom. Tilting his braided head, Duo frowned deeply at the thoughtful look on his Infected's face. "Everything alright, 'Ro?" he asked.
Smiling when he turned to meet the violet-and-silver eyes on him, the Original reassured, "More than fine. Just... reminiscing. I suppose that there is going to be a lot more of that considering the new venture we are about to take on."
The Hybrid grinned, "Ah. Yea, I know what you mean. I've been thinking about my parents and family from the Maxwell Church even more than usual these last few days." Straddling his husband, he looped his arms around Yuy's neck as they exchanged a passionate kiss.
When they leaned back to rest their foreheads together, Duo smirked, "Anna is doing an amazing thing for us. When this is over, whether or not we are lucky enough to be able to have children through her, we will have to come up with something really nice to thank her."
Chuckling deeply, Heero shook his head. Of course his Chosen would know where his train of thought had drifted off to. No one understood him better than Maxwell. "Yes, she is," he nodded firmly, "and yes, we should." Sighing, he asked, "Were you able to get a hold of Sally?"
"Yep," the Companion beamed. "Turns out she has a day off from the hospital tomorrow so she'll be stopping over with Victor first thing in the morning. I just came back from telling Wufei and Anna."
His anxiety catching up with him, Yuy was all too aware of the long night it would be before they could sit with the doctor to discuss how possible their dream might be.
Then a thought came to him that had him straightening rigidly. "John, Isabel, Charles and Carol should be wrapping up their vacation any day now," he realized aloud. "We should give them a call after our meeting to suggest they stop over for a surprise stay instead of returning to their home right away. It would only be a start to how we could repay our siblings, but it would be a good start."
Violet-and-silver eyes widening, Duo laughed, "That's a great idea! Anna and Wufei would love that."
Patting his lover's rump, Heero smirked, "I'll make the call to set up the arrangement." He was all too happy over the prospect of speaking to his nephews and nieces anyhow.
That agreed, the couple separated and headed from the room to see to their plan...
...and find other ways of distracting themselves from dwelling over the important gathering to transpire in the morning.
* * * * * *
"So you still believe that a living Hybrid exists out there?"
With a snort, Septum smirked at the lovely face in his laptop monitor. "Are you beginning to think me mad for not giving up the search after all this time, my dear?" he asked in return, raising a dark eyebrow. "You know you're my best Hunter on the team. If you have any doubts, tell me now and I will call this whole thing off."
The brunette on the other end of the call rolled her eyes at her turn to snort in response. "You know full well that I am not about to turn down your paychecks even if it is for a wild goose chase," she chuckled deeply.
Oh, but there was more to it than that. The scientist was not about to be bulldozed there. If Lucie had any inkling that her time was being wasted, she would have pulled out to concentrate her efforts in more purposeful work.
She had studied Inspector H's research to the finest of details and came to the same conclusion that Millers had. There was indeed a Hybrid being protected in the world... most likely by the Yuy-Barton Clan that had disappeared.
And she was Septum's best girl in more ways than one. He could not afford to lose her for both her talents in the field as well as how she was the only thing that he obsessed with aside from his quest.
This was just part of the little hard-to-play game that he was sure she was playing. And two could partake in that.
Shrugging, the scientist grinned, "Then until you have something important to report."
"Yea," Lucie smirked, "until then, sir."
At the blackening of his screen, Septum folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in his leather chair.
Beneath his desk, he ran the heel of his foot over the thick, metal chain stretched across the floor there.
TBC...
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