~Meet again~
Though the heavy fog last night had already gone, still the sky was covering by a think layer of gloomy cloud; even the atmosphere seemed so heavy and lifeless.
---Maybe this lake would have looked much more prettier when the sky was clear ne?
Tetsu thought to himself while walking along the sidewalk alone, shortly afterward, a huge lake appeared in front of him.
Yesterday he hadn't seen the Okano family's castle the evening before because of heavy fog. But now the whole castle came into his view for the first time.
First of all the castle gave people a extraordinary dilapidation. Compared with the background evergreen Piece trees, it seemed that almost every single one of its brink was darken by ages. An aged vine overspread upon the massy walls. The castle was also covered by many of Gothic's style gorgeous carvings entirely. The exceeding density of clouds hung so low that almost pressed upon the several towers of the castle. Looking down to the black and lurid lake, he saw the re-modeled shadow of the faintly outline of the castle, which was actually extremely conformed to the ghostly image of [the castle of Vampire ]
And then he saw the pale white figure appeared not so far away of the sidewalk ahead, is that the "ghost" who appeared yesterday? Or perhaps.?
Slowly Tetsu went closer to the figure in front, tried to give a closer look.still the white dress and dark long hair remain the same. However he also noticed that there was a shadow upon the ground following the walking slim figure, so it seemed to be a human, not ghost.
Although Tetsu had tried his best to follow that person without being noticed, still the person someone was after her instantly.Then she turned around and saw Tetsu, who had no where to hide himself.
"!!!" She ran away from the stranger immediately after she saw him.
"Hey! Wait.!" Tetsu followed her. But the other ran even faster when she found that "suspect stranger" still came after her..Then without warning, the girl fall down and hit the ground. Still she was trying to stand up by the time Tetsu hurried to her side.
"It's hurt." But the voice itself.was a masculine low and deep voice! Therefore, in fact she.no, he, that [female's ghost]'s a man!
"Are you ok?" The boy injury his arm and legs a little, luckily it wasn't serious because of the soft ground. Tetsu got himself closer to the boy, pressed his handkerchief to the latter's injected arm.
"But." The boy refused, and his tone was surprisingly very like a girl's tone.".I can't talk to a stranger." "Don't move please." Ignored the boy's hesitation, Tetsu wrapped his handkerchief tightly around the boy's arm.
"Oosp! I had forgotten to tell you my name! I'm Tetsu." Tetsu grinned at the dark hair. " So I'm not [a stranger] now, right? "
"." Therefore, the younger one didn't argued anymore and let Tetsu fixed his wounds.
"Still you can walk ne?" The younger one nodded. Then carefully Tetsu hold him to walk. "Where do you live?" Without a word the shorter one point to the direction of the.The Castle of Okano? That young man was living in the castle?
"What's your name?"
".Yukihiro."The younger man said shyly, nearly a whisper." ..But everyone call me Yukki."
"Yukki.what a cute name!"
Hearing what Tetsu said. Yukki blushed lightly.
Now Tetsu looking at Yukki more carefully, his blushing lovely face, and the soft dark long hair around this delicate 's face, and a pure white dress.his skin almost against the gloomy sunlight.made him looked like a vulnerable delicate glass doll, meanwhile Yukki seemed to notice Tetsu's gazing. He gave Tetsu a what-you-are-looking-at?-look, but blushed even deeper.almost like lovely as a little girl.
He... Yukki didn't seem to be normal. Actually the metal-age he'd have was obviously not more than 10 .and all his behavior was just the same as a little girl. Maybe some folks in the village had already witnessed that girlish but abnormal boy wandering around the forest for a several time before. And it could explain where the tale of the [female's ghost] among the village came from.
Tetsu wrapped his arm around Yukki's shoulders, the two of them slowly walked toward the castle. But before they could ever came nearly the castle, a nurse hurried toward them.
"Young master! Where had you been?"
Tetsu was amused by the nurse's low and manly voice..then he realized that that nurse was also a male!
He grabbed Yukki by his hand."If only Master figured it out.both of us will be in big trouble!"
The young nurse seemed very nervous. Then she turned to glance at Tetsu."And excuse me..who are you?"
"Don't be like this ne Izam kun! Tetsu wasn't a bad guy.he'd just help me." The dark hair showed his bandaged arm to the nurse.
".Really?" Still the nurse offered the blonde surprising glance once more.
This nurse called Yukki as Young Master. So he was son of Count Okano, the castle of the Vampire's owner actually?
"Father." Yukki gasped out this word though his throat in a difficultly, his voice shuddering. His body shivered slightly. Tetsu turned his head to look and he saw a middle age man in dark suit walking quickly straight to them.
"Master.!" Now Izam's voice was also stoned.
It was obvious that the coming man was his father.Count Okano.but why Yukki seemed to be so scary.of his own father?
The Count walked quickly up to the 3 of them.he said coldly to his son without glancing the other 2 men." Hadn't I told you not to go to the forest without permission?" . "Father.I."
Without even waiting for Yukki to say anything, the Count slapped the boy on his cheek, leaving a red bruise upon his pale cheek. "Enough excuse!"
"I'm sorry, Father." Pressed his hand on his face and his shoulders shivering, Yukki forced his tear back, not dare to cry in front of his father.
After scolding his son, the Count turned to blamed the young nurse.
"Hadn't I reminded you again and again that NEVER let him walk out of your sight? Now you'd better send him back to.." Although the count lowed his voice ot a little when he hissed the last word out his lips, still Tetsu caught what the man'd just ordered the nurse.
"Sorry, your lordship..it.it was all my fault.sorry.." The nurse apologized then grabbed his young master's wrist and leaded him to leave.
--- The dungeon?
.Send him back to the dungeon?
Tetsu found it was hard to believe his own ears.wasn't that meant usually Yukki was locked up inside a dungeon by his own father?
When Yukki and the dark dressed nurse went out of sight, Count Okano turned slowly to face Tetsu again.
"Sorry that my son had disturbed you so much.and would you be nice enough to give me your name first? I don't remember seeing you here before."
"I'm Tetsu, and now I'm living in the villa across the lake."
"You're living in Marquis Oishi's villa? So you're the son of the Marquis?"
"Nonono, I'm only his nephew." Tetsu made his correction quickly.
Then Count asked. "Sorry.and he.didn't do any weird thing to you, right?" There was a clear dislike and malice within his tone when he mentions his own son.
"No.of course not!"
"Count Okano!" At that point a footman ran to the Count's side, then murmured something to his ear.
"Another case again?"
"Yes..this time a young village girl was killed.so would you please." Probably because unwilling to let their conversations to be overheard by a stranger, the footman said in a very low voice.
"I will be there later." The Count frowned and get his order to the footman before the latter left quickly.
"Because some of a incident was happened in the village, I have to leave now. But I'm looking forward to see you later." the Count explained to the blonde calmly."And excuse me.please don't tell other people you had seen my son."
Tetsu was quite sure that the [incident], which the Count was mentioned was that the unknown vampire struck again. But he was in no position to question Count Okano more. Therefore he nodded silently to the Count in reply.
***
The Castle of The Vampire, the tough castle's owner, ghost.Tetsu hardly believed himself meet so many incidents in only a few days after he had arrived.
Especially the boy---Yukki, Tetsu couldn't help his heart furling every time he remembered this pretty, but mysterious boy.
Why Count Okano had to lock Yukki in the dungeon? it wasn't so make sense in Tetsu's opinion. Though he did understand no one would willing to let any outsiders to know that his own son went mad, but still he could send Yukki to some asylum for better treatment!
Beside, why Count Okano seemed to dislike.even hated his own son so badly?
Furthermore.Tetsu could tell that there was something else hid behind the Count's attitude toward his son.
Should the blonde say that it was..fear? Count Okano was fear of his son?
Everything seemed to be more unexplainable than usual.
To be continue.
To the next part