It's the fourth story! YAY! I'm currently listening to the Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto soundtrack on youtube (epic!!), and typing at the same time. Anyways, if you're into Twilight, I'm sorry because I totally had to rag on it! After seeing Edward Cullen's face in our bathroom (in front of the toilet, I might add) I'm sick and tired of the whole Twilight raveness...

"Rui, you dumbass, you got us lost again!"

"I'm sorry! This map is so complicated!"

"No it's not! You just don't know how to read it!"

"That's why it's complicated!"

"RUI, DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!"

The lycan quickly swerved out of the way of oncoming traffic, nearly forcing the car into the wall of the highway. I yelled, bracing myself for collision and closing my eyes tightly. Rui grunted as he managed to get the car back on the road and settled to a stop on the shoulder. We sat in silence for a while, me with my heart still stuck in my throat. Finally, after catching our breaths, I held out my hand, saying through clenched teeth, "Give me the damn map."

"… hai…"

California. I never knew there could be so much… variety in one place. One minute we were driving around the borders of a desert, and next we're on a highway by the ocean. Japan wasn't even like this. "We need to hurry up and get to Los Angeles, or else we'll never show for the job," I stated, pointing to the dot on the map. "Where are we now?"

Rui turned around in his seat, saying, "I think we just left Livermore. That means we're still about five hours out of L.A," he commented.

A vein in my neck twitched. "And why do you think that is?" I asked.

"Why what is?"

"Why we're still five hours out."

"I don't know."

Here's the story: we were supposed to fly in to Los Angeles from Narita Airport, but the Academy Awards put security on high risk at all airports; something about protecting a teenage vampire actor or shit like that. So, Rui thought it would be fun to have a road trip and booked a flight that landed nearly eight hours from our wanted destination.

Eight. Hours.

It was hell. For one, Rui couldn't read a map, and two, I had no experience driving on the right side of the road. Apparently, neither did Rui. Every once in a while, I felt like leaning out the window and hurling. Even worse, Rui had bought energy drinks so he could stay awake for the trip…

Note to self, never give a lycan a can of Rock Star…

There was a sudden tap on my window, and a man wearing a dark suit and glasses stooped to look in the car. He motioned for me to roll down the window. "Yes?" I asked uncertainly.

"Are you Kiryuu Zero?"

"… yes…?"

"I'm Special Agent Jared Blackwatter of the FBI. My boss hired you and your partner," he said in a gruff voice.

"Woah," Rui gasped, "dude, how'd you know where to find us?"

"We tracked your car from the rental service at the airport," came the reply.

Rui was taken aback. "You can do that?!"

"Yes."

I shrugged. "I guess Big Brother really is watching…" I mumbled.

Jared nodded towards a black SUV parked on the shoulder behind us. "I'll give you a ride; someone can take the car back to the airport and drop it off for you."

"Thanks," I said as I climbed out of the car. "Maybe along the way you could tell us about why we've been hired. We know nothing."

The man nodded. "Of course."

We loaded our luggage in the back of the SUV and climbed into the car. Rui bounced lightly on his seat. "Dude, nice seats. Is this leather?" he asked.

"Yes it is, so I wouldn't mind if you stop jumping on it," came the snappy reply.

Rui scowled, leaning over to me and whispering, "I don't like this guy; he's mean."

I shrugged this off, looking to Jared. "So, spill it. Why did we have to fly fourteen hours only to have no one show up at the airport to give us a briefing?"

Jared coughed into his arm. "Eh… there was supposed to be another agent to pick you up, but he got sick; swine flu has been a bitch here in the US," he replied.

"Swine flu?" Rui asked.

"… it's a long story," Jared muttered. "Anyway, there's a touring musical group whose current hit revolves around the vampire realm. It's been a pretty popular show, especially with the underground vampire societies. The lead role, however, has received several threat letters within the start of the tour. Last Thursday, during a performance, someone got passed security and attempted to kill her; her body guard was killed, so she has asked for your protection until the end of the tour. The last performance is in Chicago next month, so you'll receive your pay and be dismissed then."

Rui snickered. "A vampire musical? Please tell me it's not based off that stupid Twilight series."

There was no reply.

"Eh?! So Edward Cullen sings now?!"

I sighed and crossed my arms. "I don't believe this. These amateurs have no idea about real vampires and are in for a rude surprise."

"Yeah, they don't sparkle," Rui growled, staring back at me. "I would laugh if you did, though."

Jared nearly hacked a lung. "What?! Mr. Kiryuu, are you-"

"No, I'm not," I snarled, delivering a punch to Rui's gut. "I'm a vampire hunter, nothing more, nothing less."

In a way, I was telling the truth.

The FBI agent sighed. "The Twilight series was a popular hit in the US and other countries. Naturally, there would be fans raving over a musical," he stated.

Rui smirked. "Well, tell Stefanie Meyer she can suck me! She portrayed that lycan dude totally wrong!"

My eyebrow arched. "Rui, he's a werewolf, not a lycan. There's a difference."

"I of all people should know that," my friend hissed.

That's pretty much how the entire car ride went. The only time Rui was quiet was when he fell asleep leaning against my shoulder and hand fallen in my lap. I was between a rock and a hard place; if I woke up Rui, I'd never hear the end of it, but Jared was probably getting the wrong idea of us. In the end, it didn't matter, because I fell asleep with my head leaning on Rui's.

Damn jet lag…