A Vampire's Lament (Keiko)

[Vlad]

[glow=red,2,300]There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go
I never said thank you for that
'thought I might get one more chance[/glow]
Vladamir sat on the couch as he stared into the fire, the music played in the background. Keiko was gone, for now, off with her 'best friend' supposedly. Vladamir hated the guy, couldn't stand him, never would. The music was coming from something Vladamir had gone out and bought last night, in addition to some other things. One was the stereo, which was just a simple CD player with radio and two 8" tall speakers.

[glow=red,2,300]What would you think of me now?
So lucky, so strong, so proud
I never said thank you for that
Now I'll never have a chance[/glow]
He looked over at the TV he had bought. He had spent almost all of his money for all this. 27" screen, built in DVD and VHS player. He didn't really care, he was just looking for something to liven up this back room of his 'apartment'. He would never alter the front room, never, it wasn't only his bedroom but also the commons area. The song rolled on, a song Vladamir had heard by chance on the radio and went out and got the CD. It was set to single repeat, so this one song would play endlessly. His eyes were still bit red from earlier H had broken down last night after what he had done, it was haunting him in his nightmares and in his dreams.

[glow=red,2,300]May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads, the sleepless go
May angels lead you in[/glow]
He put his back to the couch and wiped his eyes, small bits of junk left the corner of his eyes, sleepers as some people called them. He had slept little recently, without Keiko here. He hadn't had much blood, hadn't shaved, hadn't done much of anything he felt so horrible about what he had done just a few days ago. He was in a depression to boot. God that image kept coming back, just smacking him in the face again and again. His fangs piercing into her skin, the blood trickling down his throat to his stomach, the gun pointed at both of them.

[glow=red,2,300]So what would you think of me now?
So lucky, so strong, so proud
I never said thank you for that
Now I'll never have a chance[/glow]
Vladamir took a drink from a glass of blood sitting on something else he had bought, a small coffee tale to sit in front of the couch. It was simple, elegant, yet at the same time strong and would last a lifetime... a human lifetime. He still didn't know if he'd ever e able to cope with that, watching her age in front of him as he stayed forever young. He would age a bit more to, not much, but he would. He'd get to about 24 before he stopped aging completely and was set into his new appearance.

[glow=red,2,300]May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in[/glow]
He set the glass down as he drained it, he had mixed alcohol in with the blood, whiskey to be specific. He coughed a bit as the warm liquid slid down his throat, burning all the way. He slid sideway onto the couch, his eyes half closed as he tried to fight off the much needed sleep. He would probably loose the battle soon, especially with the alcohol in him. Vampires could get drunk to, not as easily since it had to be well mixed with blood, but since that's EXACTLY what Vladamir was doing their wasn't ouch arguing here.

[glow=red,2,300]And if you were with me tonight
I'd sing to you just one more time
A song for a heart so big
God wouldn't let it live[/glow]
Why the hell was he listening to this song? He didn't know, it had sounded good at the time. He was dead, she was almost dead, he loved her.. yes he loved her. One day, that's all it took for this small girl to melt his heart, at least to the point he could feel again. Maybe it was delusional love... or maybe he was just so desperate for attention he was willing to love any woman who crossed his path and was willing to give into him. Another tear rolled down his eye, he had left her in such a bad way, pissed off and angry. His mind was still fuzzy about the hospital, he had been low on blood, refusing any as he watched over her. Now he was still underfed and feeling like crap. He was sleep deprived, blood deprived, Keiko deprived, and most of all, he was killing himself at this rate.

[glow=red,2,300]May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
Upon sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in[/glow]
His eyes drifted over to yet another thing he had bought, a digital clock that rad on military or standard time. 13:00 hours, great it was 1 in the afternoon and the sun was gonna be out in full force, well their went any chance of a good ol' hunt to take his emotions out on someone. Sadly that would have to wait about ten more hours now. He rolled onto his back and tried to fall asleep, he almost did and then a vision of a bloodless and dead Keiko flashed through his mind. He bolted up screaming her name and tears leaked form his eyes. He clenched his teeth as he whispered her name. He was a murderer, not just for her but for anyone he had ever bitten before. His eyes leaked tears for allot he blood he'd spilled, for the people he'd hurt, for the lives he'd ended.

[glow=red,2,300]May angels lead you in
Hear you me my friends
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in[/glow]
He cried, he cried and cried and cried, for almost ten minutes he cried his eyes out at the loss of not only her blood but of everyones. He realized what a fool he had been, how set in stone he had been. He had been so evil, so mean, such a bad person that didn't deserve the love Keiko had offered him. He slid back down on th couch as his body finally caught up to his punishment. He convulsed slightly as the alcohol was pumped directly into his blood, no bypassing the liver this time. His vision quickly blurred, his hands shook slightly, black tore on the edge of his vision now. He was starting to feel the effects of all this, and it was going to come as one big dose of pain. Speaking of pain, one giant lance had just hit his spine and now he was writhing on the couch. His hands gripped air, soft fabric, even hims own arms. He bit his lip and drew blood, but drank it, even if it was useless. He stopped after a full minute and a half, the alcohol finally taking full effect he was almost in a coma. His eyes were heavy, his body warm, his blood pumped as fast as it could to work the alcohol out. He tried his hardest but couldn't stop it, he wobbled slightly as the last lyrics played, and he fell into a peaceful sleep. The alcohol worked it's way out fast, by the time he woke up he'd be sober and having nightmares again.

[glow=red,2,300]On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in[/glow]

The music ended as he hit actual sleep, the CD set back, and the song started again...

[Keiko Nihara]

It was three in the afternoon as the young redheaded girl headed nervously down the dark corridors of the Lower Academy. Why was she nervous? Well she supposed it had something to do with her best friend trying to kill her boyfriend. Not to mention that he had left and she had woken up with Train only. She had wanted to see him too and he was gone. As soon as the nurses let her go she had jumped out of the bed and after hugging Train and telling him she would see him later and to take care of himself she had run straight here.

She had a gift for him too. Something she had gotten from the women at the nurses station. They had helped her bottle and cork it. It was just for him and even the label said so that she made using her own snazzy paper techniques.

Vampire's Love
High quality blood mixed with the rich flavors of A and B creating a fluid mix of heaven.
Brought to you by:
Keiko Nihara, girlfriend.

It sat in the middle of a white gold tray that had one clear crytaline and chilled ready for him to drink of it. She had even against the will of the nurses placed just a tinge of her own blood to spice it up with the cinnamon flavor he loved so much. And so it was spiced wine to his tastes and she had brought it and made it just for him.

She stood infront of the very large door and she knocked. Her small little hand knocked on the door. Several minutes passed and there was no answer. She knew his sense of smell was fine and so he would know who it was. So either he didn't want to see her or something was wrong. But she had to know. So she pushed open the large door and stepped inside. He wasn't in the main room so she knew exactly where to find him.

Into the side room she went and she froze. Someone had been on a shopping spree while she was sick. She went over to the couch and she could smell the alcohol. She corked the bottle of alcohol and hid it rather well hiding it under paper camoflaged to blend into it's surroundings. She sighed softly as she started a fire for them it lighting up the room and she feeding it with papers. She turned to her vampire and sat down beside him.

Leaning in she kisses him gently on the lips stroking his cheek gently. This was a softer side to Keiko. One few ever saw. She was worried and when she was worried everything went out the window and she settled down. Breaking the kiss she opened the wine bottle of blood and dipped her finger into the thick fluid before she placed it gently into his mouth and on his tonuge.

"Vladamir, please wake up for me." she said softly as she leaned down to his ear to whisper it to him. Her cinnamon scent cascading over his senses as she hoped he would wake for her. "It's Keiko."

[Vlad]

He twisted on the couch as someone opened the door and let in warmer air. He liked this cold feeling. He was feeling bloody freaking terrible since she had been in the hospital. He liked the cold now, liked how what he had done had left him there. Now someone welcoming in and messing all of that up. Who in the world had the right?! No one that's who, no one except Keiko... but she was in the hospital.. she was almost dead because of him. He was th reason she was there.

Suddenly it got warmer and he stirred a bit bit. He turned away from the heat and curled into a ball, protecting his cold body from the heat. No, no one should be here. No one deserved to be here. He deserved to be alone after what he had done... after what he had done to her. A tear streamed from his eye in his sleep and soon more followed. He wasn't making a sound but tears leaked from his eyes as he tried to wrestle between his mind and his heart. H loved her, he knew he did now. He had been willing to die for her, willing to die and not let her go on loving, or he hoped she loved him, a vampire. They couldn't last together, couldn't be together if they wanted to. They were just not going to last, never could, never would.

Something was on his tongue.. it was spicy.. it was food. He sucked softly in his sleep and heard a voice call to him. Someone wanted him back in reality. NO he didn't want to go back. Keiko.. the name rang threw his mind and his eyes slowly opened. He slowly looked up at the woman he loved and lunged forward. His arms wrapped around her waist and his face buried in her neck. Fresh tears leaked out and he tried not to let them show but it was to late. He cried into her neck. He had done a lot of that since he did this to her, cried. He never thought he'd cry so hard but he did, for her, for himself, for anything and everything.

"Oh god Keiko I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry so sos sorry. I tried.. i tried to protect you but.. but he wouldn't let me. Oh god I'm sorry Keiko. I'm sorry I took your blood. Never again, never never again. I can't never. You shouldn't be here why are you here Keiko???"

He cried hard and kissed her neck lightly. He was so sorry, so very sorry for what he had done. What he had done was unforgivable, so unforgivable.

[Keiko Nihara]

Keiko saw him open his eyes and she smiled softly. He was the one that made her heart tingle if only she could get him to understand that. He suddenly sat up pulling her close holding her tightly around the waist. Her arms came up around his neck quickly and she felt him crying into her neck. She sighed softly and ran her hand through his hair gently and lovingly.

"Shhhh, don't. Please don't blame yourself. I wanted you to live and you are much too heavy for me to carry to the other room, silly vampire. So I had blood and gave it to you. I don't mind. it's okay!" she said happily.

Her voice was back to normal and her small pale hand worked through his lockes. She kissed the top of his head gently and nuzzled in slightly. She let him cry. No it wasn't unmanly. In fact in Keiko's opinion the men that showed their emotions were more manly because they weren't afraid of being or looking weak.

"Vlad, I.. I came to say that I care for you. I brought you blood too. I got a special mix from the nurses put together. It's chilled and ready for you." she said softly as she rocked them back and forth gently.

[Vlad]

No, no she couldn't forgive him. He had almost killed her he couldn't forgive himself. It had all started because he was to pissed to let her go. He cried softer now, no chocked sobs or sniffling, just tears running over his cheek to catch on her neck and shoulder. He nipped softly, begging apology in a more primal way. he softly whimpered to her, vampire's were very physical in communication ad this was instinct. He was submitting to her, allowing her control right now. His throat let another whimper loose and he nuzzled in, his tears were drying up now.

She brought blood? No he would refuse, he couldn't take another sip of the stuff. He was already running dangerously low but that didn't matter, he was actually drinking animal blood now, not even human. It was worse for him, being of a different species he wasn't processing it right and his body was rejecting it, the only thing that had kept it down so far was the alcohol. He wouldn't couch human blood again, never, he refused.

"No."

He whispered out softly."

"It's human blood, you're human.. I can't.. never again Keiko... never..."

He nuzzled softly. He wouldn't take that blood, wouldn't accept it unless he forced him to drink it. He was already worried for her, his hungry was tinging at the back of his mind, he wanted to feed, but refused to. She was to valuable to risk feeding on, never again would that happen.

[Keiko Nihara]

Keiko smiled softly when he truly began to calm down. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. She could see the new skin that marked his face and she leaned down kissing it gently over and over again loving the new part of his face as much as the old. She pulled a hankerchief out of her bra and gently wiped the tears off his face. She smiled softly as she looked down into his beautiful green eyes.

He told her that he couldn't drink the blood. Because it was human and so was she. But if he didn't drink he would die which then what did she save him for? She leaned over keeping him in place by straddling him as she poured him a thick cool glass of the thick liquid. She picked it up and held it to his lips looking into his eyes.

"Drink for me. If anything, you need this to live. Please drink, else why did I save your life? Please, it's tasty I promise it is. I didn't taste it or anything but it is I swear! And I bet you'll like it. I.. I don't want you to die." she said softly.

She tilted the glass a bit so that the blood was right against his lips maybe even sleeping in gently down into his mouth where he would taste the intense flavors she had put together for him. She smiled softly nothing but true love in her eyes for him as she stroked his cheek with her thumb.

"Silly stubborn vampire, who will I sleep with tonight if you don't drink?" she asked with a grin.

[Vlad]

He Didn't ant to, didn't want to drink that sweet, delicious liquid that was his life blood. He didn't want to taste a drop of it, but she told him to, SHE told him to, the women whom he was in love with. No, his mind protested back, but his lips said otherwise as they parted slightly allowing a bit of the cool liquid in. The taste was amazing, better than he'd ever had. A small tinge of pain ran threw him but he opened his mouth more and drank, drank for her.

He swallowed down a whole glass before he chocked a bit and fell back onto the couch. He groaned softly as the blood mixed with the animal blood and alcohol still coursing threw his body. He arched his back as more pain lanced threw him, he would endure for her. He sat back up and pressed his lips to hers, he needed it. His hands wrapped around her waist and he let a single tear run down his cheek as he broke the kiss, his right hand came up to stroke her cheek, his thumb working the silky smooth skin there.

"I love you, I'm so sorry, I love you Keiko, god I love you."

He whispered out and nuzzled into her neck. Two small scars marked where he bit her, he hoped they'd go away, he couldn't stand the site of them, they sickened him. He would do anything to get her forgiveness, he needed to hear it though, hear that she forgave him. He was so sad and so happy at the same time. He didn't know he could feel like this.

His body was already reacting to the blood. His cuts and nicks from the past day vanished. His body became more alive and suddenly he felt Keiko's curved pressed to him. He let his eyes dry and they opened fully as his fangs extended out a bit, the revival of life giving blood making him hungrier. He kissed Keikos' neck and sucked softly, so thankful to her. He broke the contact to look into her eyes. He leaned forward an kissed her, his tongue coming out to run over her lip, so grateful to her he wanted her to feel good to, like he did right now. Suddenly he was alive again, suddenly his mind was clear and not hazy. He was alive right now, truly alive with her right here.

[Keiko Nihara]

Keiko smiled at him as he began to drink down the thick fluid. She kissed his forehead as he did so. It was good blood or so she had been told and she could only hope that was true. She smiled as he finished and she sat the empty glass down there was more if he wanted it later. She cupped his cheek gently before he lay back down groaning and arching a bit in pain.

But soon he came up and hugged her tightly around the waist kissing her gently. She kissed him back feeling his hand stroking her cheek gently and she smiled softly. The kiss broke and she looked down at him. She gasped softly when he told her that he loved her. Such strong words for only having met the day before and she smiled softly her smile growing bigger and bigger as he did that.

"Vladamir Tenroth." she whispered softly as she moved in and kissed him gently again. Her hand stroking his cheek gently as she broke it. "I love you too." she said.

"And stop appologizing or I swear Im going to make you drink that whole bottle as punishment." she giggled softly. "I forgave you long before you did anything wrong." she said softly.

She was getting back to her old Keiko self but he was still getting to see that softer more serious side of Keiko that no one ever really saw that often. She smiled as she pushed him back on the couch gently and moved her body so it didn't lay on him but next to him.

"Don't you have a bed somewhere or are you afraid to take your girlfriend there? You know every time I sleep here it's on the couch. Oh! And I like the new things you bought. Honey.. I love you." she said as she kissed him softly again before breaking it.

[Vlad]

She kissed him.. wait she kissed him? What was.. oh she loved him.. oh god he was a happy vampire. He smiled goofily and listened to her as she explained if he wasn't going to stop apologizing she'd force that bottle down his throat. Then she got that oh so seductive voice out and asked why he hadn't shown her the bed... well that was obvious.. he thought. She said she liked what he had done with the room and he smiled softly, a fang showing. She liked it.. now to answer the first question after a quick kiss.

"Well... because... I dont..."

His head dropped, his bangs hiding his eyes he gritted his teeth and fought back the urge to take her their right now.

".. it's because if I bite you while you're still virgin you'll become a vampire.. if I bite you after... f I slept with you... I'd... i'd never bite you Keiko... I... I wouldn't turn you into a ghoul... a zombie..."

He knew that if he took her to the bed it would lead to that, well not for sure but... eh was so in love with her.. and she was so cute and sexy with the way she looked at him and acted around him... he looked over at her and smiled weakly.

"I won't bite you until you're ready, which means I won't even think about sleeping with you until well after I bite you... I want you.. I want you to trust me Keiko..."

[Keiko Nihara]

She lay there beside him and as he began to speak she ran her hand up and down his massive arm. He was so strong and she was definatly hooked on him. She looked into his eyes as he began to explain why he didn't take her to the bedroom but kept her here in the couch room. He told her that if he took her to the bed he would indeed probably take her virginity and then she would become a zombie when she changed.

She could understand that now and she nodded softly pushing his hair gently out of his face. She lay her head on the small pillow to the side of the couch and looked into his eyes as she smiled.

"Well I appreciate that, I wouldn't want to be a zombie that would suck because zombies suck they don't have they're own minds and that wouldn't be very fun at all would it Mr. Vampire?" she asked with a giggle. "But just because we sleep beside each other in bed doesn't mean we have to make love. But I understand. What if we got a mat for in here. We could sleep side by side in front of the fire covered up with blankets and on top of pillows?" she asked softly but excitedly.

She stroked his cheek gently and then sat her hand on his cheek and let her thumb run gently back and forth over his lower lip as her eyes stared into hers. She didn't mind not sharing a bed but the couch was small so maybe a comfy palet.

"I have a palet in my room. An extra. When I lived at home in japan it's what I slept on. I could go grab it real quick." she said softly.

[Vlad]

So she didn't wanna become a zombie, that always good. I mean, who wanted to wander around at the whims of your vampire master. Vladamir could do ANYTHING to her at that point. Make her sleep with him nightly, kill her, do anything. She would have been his slave, and he couldn't do that to her, even if it meant taking his own life he couldn't do it. He felt her softly running her arm over his arms, the arms that had not a day ago been wrapped around her as he drained her blood. He almost wished she had let him die, instead of making him do that, but now... now he knew it had made them stronger. AS her thumb ran over his lower lip however any thought of anything left his mind and he smiled softly. She was so wonderful, so perfect for him, he had fallen in love in one day. He knew it was love now, not some half committed feeling for a girl who had accepted him, no this was true love... or he hoped it was. Yes their was attraction, as in all relationships, but for him.. ti was acceptance, love, attraction, need, and want. It was a combination of all the tings one needed in a relationship.

She talked of leaving, his arms pulled her tightly to him and he shook his head... he could easily go get the bed and bring it in here, at east the mattress.

"Nope, give me two minutes my dear."

He whispered as he rolled over her and hit the floor on all fours. He got up quickly and ran into the main room. Opening up the bed he looked down at the full sized mattress, it was a futon over an air mattress. The futon acted as a firm support for his back and the air let it sink in just far enough to allow the lid to close. Open the bed looked like any in ground four post bed, closed it looked like a white, rectangular brick on the ground, coming up about three feet. Closed it was dark as the darkest night, but had soft blue lights on a switch over the head. He smiled and grabbed up the futon easily, his arms pumping with fresh blood he easily carried the awkward and heavy object into the back room. he dropped it in front of the fireplace and smiled, perfect. He grabbed Keiko up bridal style before she could even get down and fell with her onto the futon. He let her sit in his lap as eh crawled her, his front facing the fire, his back against the couch. He look down at her and smiled.

"This OK?"

[Keiko Nihara]

Keiko felt him pull her closer upon the talk of leaving and she smiled. He didnt want her to leave and so she wouldn't. He had no reason to leave right now and she smiled softly. He told her that he would be right back and she smiled as he got off the couch by rolling and landing on all fours. She chuckled softly as soon he raced into his room and left her with the fire and laying on the couch.

She looked around the room while he was gone. New TV, a stereo with huge speakers, a coffee table.. all very nice addictions to the room here. It looked more like a living room and a place where they could spend a lot of time together. She smiled as he came back in and giggled as he brought a big matress for them to share. She was going to sit up but before she could he lifted her up and carried her to the matress falling down on it with her she giggled.

He crawled over her and she looked up at him smiling. The fire glinted off his face and she smiled softly. She reached up and put her arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. She knew that they weren't going all the way and that relaxed her quiet a great deal around him.

"Vladamir." she whispered softly as she let her breath run across his neck softly before she began to kiss and nibble on his neck. She knew that he liked it when she did that. Her teeth raked the skin there and her lips kiss it gently. Sucking on the taut and rather tasty skin. "Mmmm so tasty, Mr. Vampire." she chuckled as she continued.

[Vlad]

He was no sooner over her then he found his lips pressed to hers and his eyes widened a moment, well someone was rather feisty today. His hands braced him over her and he smiled a bit through the kiss, he was definitely enjoying this. She broke the contact and moved to his neck, nipping ad raking her teeth over his skin. He moaned softly, his body pumping the blood threw him faster and faster. He let his body slip a bit and he let his body press to hers. He couldn't help it, she made him feel alive, made him feel... like he could die.

"Oh Keiko.. please.. never go away, never."

He whispered as he let his head fall into her neck and kiss softly, sweetly, with all the love he could ever hope to have for her. It was limitless, he knew that. She had melted his heart and had shown him hope to be a person with emotions again. A day ago he would have said this wasn't possible... now... now he would say that life without Keiko was impossible.

He reached over and grabbed the bottle of blood wine. he smiled a bit and broke away from her before turning and taking a very long drink of it. Screw the glass, straight from the bottle, chilled and ready to go. He was almost three fourths done with the bottle before he stopped and set it down. His muscles bulged a bit as the extra blood hit his system, he was at 100% now. He cracked his neck one way and then the other. His arms flexed and she got to see just how powerful he was.

He grinned as he moved back to her and descended on her, his lips pressed to hers and his tongue moved into her mouth. He let them play, he was feeling so alive right now, he was full of blood, fresh and Keiko tinted.

[Keiko Nihara]

He began kissing her neck and she signed softly. She writhed softly beneath him as his cool lips touched her warm skin. She knew for a fact that if she was ever sick with a fever she was coming to him because he would definatly be able to break it. She smiled softly as he didn't bite or even nip like before but kissed with the upmost love and passion unlike anything they had shared before.

He broke the attention and she watched as he turned and began downing the bottle of the blood wine she had brought for him. It was amazing how his body nearly instantly reacted to the influx of blood. She watched as his muscles bulged and his grin had that same look it had before the incident. She smiled softly as he came back to her. He looked stronger than she had ever seen him even in his weakened state. There was something about him right now that made even his eyes seem to shimmer.

He pressed his lips on hers and she moaned softly as she kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her. She ran her hand up and down his side as her tongue came and played with his that entered her mouth. She closed her eyes slowly lost in the passion as she surrendered herself to him. Her hands couldn't stop roaming his body. Over his shoulders and down his back moving back in the same path and then down to his chest feeling every movement and every breath he took. Up to his shoulders and then down his strong muscular arms as she kissed him. They had never shared a kiss this long before. He asked her not to leave and she knew she wouldn't in the least tonight. She didn't know how long she would stay but she wouldn't be leaving tonight.

[Vlad]

Her hands roamed his back and chest and he smiled softly into the kiss as she let it last longer than any they had ever held. For once Vladamir was actually breathing threw his nose, allowing her warm breath and his cool to meet. He loved the feel of her warmth on his face, her entire body was like a giant furnace to him, he loved it. He had finally found someone to warm his heart and his mind and everything on him. She was truly a special girl and he would never forge that, even when he turned her.

He broke the kiss to allow her to breath again, his body was still recovering from his quick hospital stay the other day. He still had a lot of blood in him but he was still week. If he kept up this rate of consumption he might be better in about a week, two at max. However he couldn't keep this up, so it would most likely stay at two weeks, unless something drastic occurred. Right now he may look stronger but he felt weaker. His mind was a bit slower than usual, his body was weaker, and he could barely call sand anymore. It would take time to get all that back, but he knew it would come eventually.

"Keiko.. I'm sorry about yesterday. I swear I didn't fight your friend, I couldn't I wanted to.. but I couldn't do it Keiko..."

He suddenly grew silent and he slid down, laying on her he buried his face in her neck. She was probably still mad about that. Was she mad at him though? He had tried to protect her.. tried to save her from any harm.. had he succeeded? He hoped he had. He knew the last ting he saw was the man staggering back from a wound of his own... had Vlad made that? No he had barely been able to slide up a wall.. and failed at that... what had caused it? Did... did the shot backfire when Keiko tried to protect him? He don't know, h just hoped she wasn't angry with him over that incident.