Merriam-Webster, 2002
vampire:
1. a night-wandering bloodsucking ghost
2. a person who preys on other people; a woman who exploits and ruins her lover
3. vampire bat
A Common-School Dictionary of the English Language... by William G Webster and William A Wheeler, 1881
vampire:
1. a species of bat
2. a fabled demon
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Times hadn't changed much. Jirou hated the thought that what he was -a vampire- was and will likely always be synonymous with bats and daemons. Something children dressed up as, and occasionally, a very demented, very insane person would believe they were one.
Jirou chuckled. The thought of a century-old vampire stuck in eighth grade sucking on tomato juice was hilarious. Oh, the things a human's mind was capable of. Capable, but shortsighted. He sighed, and inevitably turned his eyes to the very capable and very shortsighted Mimiko. Lately he'd taken to calling her Mimi- out of annoyance at first, but it turned into an accidental term of endearment.
Oh, he was in denial. But he loved Mimiko- his Mimi. His mind and body warred against themselves daily- part of him just wanted to cave in, hold her desperately, and whisper sweet everythings in her ear, and make her wholly his. His other half, the one that wouldn't let go of Alice- well, you can guess there. It did not want a repeat; he would be forever broken. And when you are a vampire... forever is a long time.
"Jirou! Are you even listening to me?" Mimiko fumed. Jirou was... intoxicating, to say the least, but lately he'd been absent-minded, and all too mindful lately. One minute he'd be relaxed... be himself with her... the next, a cold machine that forced her out. It was as if some distant war waged in him. That, or he had a twin and they were playing pranks on her.
"JIIIIROOU!" She smiled inwardly. That got his attention. It had to.
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...
Briefly.
Giving up, Mimiko plopped down in the amusement park's paddle boat, half wishing Jirou would lean just a little more and fall in the water.
Meanwhile...
A young blonde boy was running around far too energetically for his capable guard... The boy trolloped to one stand after another in the crowded vendor square, wanting each little trinket or doo-dad he saw. Half of the things he wanted for himself. The rest made him think of Mimi and Jirou. Inwardly, his mind stopped racing with carnival games and prizes to think, a little too seriously, about Mimi's and Jirou's relationship. He saw the way one would look at the other when each though the other wasn't paying attention. Mimi's looks were mostly confused- like she did not want to feel anything towards Jirou- but sometimes, her look would speak volumes of her desire she hid so well from Jirou.
As for Jirou... he prided himself on knowing his big brother... and knowing his big brother, he loved Mimiko with his heart...but-was-scared-of-the-consequences-and-
The thoughts erased from his mind as soon as he thought them, for he saw the absolutely biggest lollipop he'd ever seen before. Being a child, he wanted it, and being a vampire... well, he REALLY wanted it.