I don't own anything, just my OC. Enjoy and review


A single shot echoed through the halls of the elegant manor. Soon, another followed. Painful screams soon died down as the crimson flames began to spread along the halls. The beauty of the paintings that hung on the walls melted away from the heat. Rows of pictures holding a forgotten time are reduced to ashes. Among the carnage, a young girl bravely runs amidst the burning fires, not even caring of the burned ends of the helm of her white dress. The young child had pale blonde hair like the purest vanilla, fair-skin pale as winter's first snow, and eyes snowy blue, like on a clear summer day. Combined all with her delicate face and her small figure to give her an almost unspeakable innocence.

The heat of the flames and the smoke from everything burning around her began to suffocate her. Coughing and wheezing as she hold up the ends of her dress to avoid tripping to the floor. Everything happen so fast. Her whole life was being reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye. But a home is a home. Her parents were somewhere in this inferno, she had to find them.

"Mother! Father! Where are you!?" she cries. But no answer was heard. Only the crackling of the flames filled the silence.

The worse began to cloud her judgment, tears build up in her doll-like eyes. It was a gun that was fired. It was a gun that was heard. What if they were killed? If so, why? They have done no wrong. Many have said it was their very existence that was their wrong. It was unfair. Eyes stinging from the smoke, the young girl covers her face to keep out the smoke from her breathing while using her other hand to hold up the helm of her dress. Despite this now dying place being her home, she felt lost. Nothing she saw she recognized. She only felt her presences, alone in her soon to be fiery tomb.

But it couldn't be...

If they, her parents, were anywhere, they would be in their studies. Scared from the painful burns of the fire, she presses on to find them. Smoke continued to invade her lungs. Every time she breathed, it burned like a lite match against the skin. Her legs were growing weak, her sight was becoming faded. Her mind told her to stop, but her heart told her to move. What felt like hours, she recognized the wooden door that lead to her father's studies. The young girl near collapses as she stumbles along the burning floors. She couldn't use the walls to hold herself up as they were covered by the flames as well.

Nonetheless, she pressed on.

Her ears perked to the incoming sounds from the room as she walked closer. With each step, her insides twisted. As she approached the door, she heard the sound of a woman's sobbing and panicking screams. She knew that voice... It belong to her mother. Feeling the rush of adrenaline flowing through her body, the young girl found the strength to run.

"Mother..!"

Flinging open the door, the relieved smile fell from her face from the horrifying sight in her gaze. There stood a tall man, aiming a pistol at the head of her mother, who was covered in tears and blood, crying over her beloved, lying on the floor dead. The young girl gasps in shock, covering her mouth with her delicate hands. The mother heard the tiny gasp of her child, locking eyes with her young daughter. Though she was in despair, her eyes told of another expression: Pity.

The young child watched her mother's mouth move in a silent speech, but alas, no words came out. But the young girl read her lips. Seeing the words of her mother, the young girl shed silent tears. In a split second, the unknown man pulls the trigger without mercy. Her mother was reduced to ashes. She was no more. Without hesitation, her parents' murderer slowly brings his attention to the elegant girl in the doorway. The child, silently whimpering, sees a sickening smirk on his face. Her legs locked in place, her whole body felt numb. Even as the man slowly rises his gun in her direction to shoot, she couldn't move.

Eyes widened, gasps in shock, she unwilling stands as the last gunshot fired.

~x~

"Lady Takumora!"

Upon hearing the loud voice of the driver, I woke in shock, jolting off of my seat as I was breathing heavily. Though I was still in the daze, I realized the car had come to a complete stop. Hopefully the car ride was over. My entire body was in such discomfort. The nape of my neck was tight and numb from me sleeping, and my body was falling asleep. This was our first stop since my car ride started. Coming to my senses, I draw my attention to the driver, who stared back at me with a concerned expression.

"Lady Takumora, you were moaning in your sleep. Are you all right?" he asks.

Hearing the tenderness in his deep voice, I tried to force a smile on my face so he wouldn't worry. "Yes... I'm fine." I said. But even I heard how uncertain the tone of my voice was. And I think he could, too. Either way, he smiles at me gently.

"We finally arrived, milady." he says with his gentle smile. Lifting myself onto my knees to look out the window, I sighed with relief. Parked in front of lovely mansion, the light of the moon made it evermore beautiful. To be honest, this was the first time I have ever been to Uncle Nagamichi's house. He would come to visit when he had busy with my father, or just to simply visit. Uncle Nagamichi has been friends with my Father since before I was even born. He was a really nice man, always smiling so kindly at me when he came to our home. He always smelled so nice, it was a very comforting scent of lilies and lavender.

I turned back to the driver, giving him a smile as I push open the door.

"Thank you, mister." I said as I groggily pushed myself out of the vehicle, taking hold of my suitcase once I was out. The driver smiles at me. I don't know if he knew, but he also... looked sad.

"Of course, Lady Takumora. Just get well soon." With that, I softly shut the car door. As I was about to turn to walk, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window and I couldn't help but feel ashamed. Over my right eye was a medical eye patch that I was told to wear while my eye heals. But on the outside of the eye patch, disgusting looking wounds that are still in the process of healing coated around it. The doctors were surprised that I survived. They said that I should have died in an instant from the up close bullet wound; I'm just as surprised as them.

I gently run my finger along the base of the eye patch till the car drove off, taking my reflection with it. Before I turn to leave, I continue to watch the car drive off in the distance till it was out of my sight. Standing under the moonlight, I look at the beautiful thing in the cloudless sky, feeling my heart aching terribly. This night... This was like the night my parents were killed.

My full name is Hitomi Takumora. I come from an Aristocratic vampire family of high standing in our community. The Takumora family has been well known as one of the vampire families to have pacifist views. They had friendly ties to many other noble families, and also with the Hunter's Association, an organization of Vampire hunters. But the closest one was a friend to my Father, Nagamichi Aidou.

My parents always told me to look at every person equal, even the Ex-Humans known as Level E's. And they died to uphold that belief. I'm... not 100% sure of it myself anymore. A few weeks ago, some unknown man broke into our home and set it on fire. Not before killing my parents, and I saw it...

I was able to get away with just some serious injuries. The doctors said that the sight in my right eye may never be the same again. But they also said I should be grateful, but I'm not. The weapon the man used, it was an anti-vampire gun. I know it was. No other weapon could have done this much damage. Vampires like myself have rapid healing processes, but my wounds have stayed. Only an anti-vampire weapon could do such a thing.

After my parents died, Uncle Nagamichi came to see me in the hospital. He said that the moment he heard about their deaths, he had made the arrangements to adopt me. I am thankful, I really am, to have someone like Uncle Nagamichi. But at the same time, the memories of what happen that night torment my mind. I can't sleep without replaying that event in my head over and over again, thinking of ways that I could have done to change things. I need to tell myself to stop, for it was all just fantasies.

Approaching the front door of Uncle's manor, I lightly knock on the door a few times. The door opened, enveloping me in light from inside the house.

"Ah, Hitomi. Welcome home."

Hearing a familiar voice, I felt a slight smile on my face as I dropped my suitcase and embraced the figure in front of me.

"Uncle, I'm so happy to see you." I said with quiet excitement. Uncle Nagamichi, dressed in a dark blue formal suit, picks me up into his arms and holds me close to him, smiling tenderly as he grabbed my suitcase.

"Goodness, little lady. You're so light. Have they not been feeding you?" he jokes. I couldn't help but hold back a quiet chuckle from his sarcasm. Setting me back on the ground, Uncle lightly takes my hand and leads into the other room.

"Hitomi, I would like you to meet my children."

Entering the room, a young boy with blonde hair sitting at the dining table, surrounded by three girls with similar features, stare back at me attentively. The little boy looked at me with a raised eyebrow, as if he was confused by my appearance. The three girls just stare at me with wide grins, perhaps surprised. Either way, I sheepishly scoot behind Uncle and cling to the back of his leg, barely poking my head out from behind.

Uncle, sensing my discomfort, pats me on the head as he says to the group, "Everyone, this is Hitomi Takumora. She'll be living with us for now on, so I want you to treat her like one of the family." After he finished, the three girls surrounding the younger boy come over and surrounded me. Naturally, I never had this much attention before. My cheeks begin to burn up as I press myself closer to Uncle's leg. One of Uncle's daughter's kneels down to my height.

"Aw, you're quite the pretty one." she says with a smile.

Another one leans down closer to me with sparkling eyes, "You are absolutely adorable! I could just eat you up." she exclaims. A small smile crept on my face from their compliments, even though I tried not to since I thought they were saying these nice things out of pity. Another girl, a girl about my height, walks closer to me and gently holds a string of my hair.

"Your hair is so beautiful." she says with slight jealousy in her tone.

"...Uh, thank... you." I tried to say, but it just came out as stammering from my embarrassment.

The girls' cheeks turn bright red, clasping their hands to their chins as they let out quiet cooing. "Aw, you have the most cutest voice ever!~" the two older ones coo. This only made me feel more sheepish. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the little boy still sitting at the table, glaring at me as he crossed his arms. I was getting the sense that he was jealous from the attention his sisters were giving me. But it's not like I asked for it.

"Hanabusa, come and say hello." Uncle says to the little boy at the table. Seeing this Hanabusa reluctantly push himself off and sulk over to us, I couldn't help but cling to Uncle's leg more. I could feel some strong vibes from him. Hanabusa, with an annoyed expression, walks up to me. I could see his cheeks slightly turning red as he walked closer.

"Nice... to meet you." he pouts through his teeth.

"Um, nice to meet you, too." I muttered sheepishly.

I don't know if it's just me, but I have the strongest feeling that he didn't like me. And to be honest, though I didn't show it, I had a good feeling that I wouldn't get along with him anyway. He seemed to be the arrogant type. Hanabusa's eyes draw attention to the eye patch on my eye, to which he is taken back a bit by disgust upon seeing it up close.

"What is wrong with your face? It's really disgusting to look at." he exclaims as he points at my eye patch.

"Hanabusa!"

Uncle whaps Hanabusa on the head for his insult. As Hanabusa exclaims and rubs his head, Uncle looks down at me with a sheepish smile.

"I am sorry, Hitomi. My son knows better than that."

"It's okay, Uncle. It doesn't bother me." I replied. I wasn't going to be angry at him. After all, this Hanabusa seems really ignorant to me, strange enough that he is Uncle's son. Relaxing my grip on Uncle's leg, I allow myself to stand with my hands clasped to the front of my waist.

"Hanabusa, could you show Hitomi to her room?" Uncle asks.

"...I guess." Hanabusa huffs.

Even though I didn't want to be by him, I reluctantly took my suitcase from Uncle's hand and let Hanabusa lead me upstairs to my new room. On the way there, he kept staring back at me as I walked behind me. It was obvious he was staring at my patch. And he made no secrets of it either, but I simply pretended he wasn't. Opening the wooden door for me, I gingerly walk in, setting my suitcase on the bed in the room.

"Hanabusa, thank-"

Before I could finish, Hanabusa slams the door behind him as he left. Shuddering upon the loud slam, I shrug my shoulders in confusion. Have I done something to make him mad at me? But I didn't care. He doesn't appear to be very nice. Sitting down of the edge of my bed, I opening my suitcase to unpack my things. I didn't have very much, though. Most of my things burned in the fire. But the only thing that I'm happy that I was able to save, was a picture of my parents. Pulling out the picture frame under the clothes that were given to me by the hospital, I gently hold it in my hands.

The ends of the picture were somewhat burned, but it didn't burn away the faces of my parents. The picture is of when Mother and Father were still young. Mother had her arms around Father's neck while Father carried her on his back. I was happy to have it. I didn't want to forget their smiles.

I quickly stuff the picture frame in my suitcase when I heard my bedroom door slowly creak open. Uncle enters and closes the door behind him, smiling tenderly as he sat next to me on the bed.

"How do you like it, Hitomi? Is it comfortable enough?" Uncle asked as he smoothed my hair.

"I-I... I like it very much, Uncle. Thank you." I stammer.

"Good, that makes me happy."

With my hands still holding the frame, Uncle notices it and leans over to see what's in my hand, letting out a soft chuckle seeing the picture of my parents.

"Ah, I remember that photo. It was taken around the time your parents first met."

I look back at Uncle with a surprised stare. "Really?"

"Yes. I remember when your Father first met your Mother." Uncle softly chuckles as he continues, "The moment your Father met her, it was love at first sight. At the time, he hadn't met her yet. But he would talk non-stop about how beautiful she was. You may not believe it now, but your Father was a very shy man."

"...He was?" I asked with confusion. Father was part of a business firm in the human world. He had to talk in front of a large audience many times. To think he used to be overly shy.

"Yes, he was." he says proudly, "But he finally found the courage to meet your mother. You can say that they were destined to be together." As Uncle finished, my heart began to ache terribly. Looking back down at the picture, I think back to the memories of the time I spent with them. I used to think that nothing could take it away, that I was in Wonderland like that human girl in that book Mother read to me. But this was reality. And sometimes, it's never pretty.

"I... I miss them."

Hearing the tone in my voice, Uncle wraps his arm around my shoulder and gently strokes my shoulder with his thumb as he smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I know this must be hard for you." Feeling the warmth of a tear streaming down my good eye, I gently lean my head into Uncle's side, crying silently. I thought I would be over it. Of course I miss them, but they're coming back. Throwing a fit like a child won't solve anything. So I'll remember them, but I'll let them rest.

Uncle leans over and wipes away the tear running down my cheek.

"There, there now." he says softly, "I know your parents would be so proud to see how strong you are."

Feeling a smile grow on my face, I nod, knowing the truth in his words. "I'm happy that I can still see that beautiful smile of yours." Uncle compliments, causing my cheeks to burn red.

"My son's cousins will be coming by shortly. Your clothes are in the closet. Change and come down later. Okay?" Uncle says, to which I nod. As Uncle leaves, I stand from the bed and walk over to the closet. Slowly opening the door, my eye widened so much I thought it would pop out. On hangers, a number of beautifully colored dresses were lined up, side by side. Reaching out and feeling the helm of one of them, I marvel of how soft and clean it felt.

I didn't know which one to pick. They were all so lovely.

Randomly grabbing a white dress decorated with blue bows, I take off my jacket and my hospital clothes and throw them on the edge of the bed. Putting on the dress, I was starstruck on how wonderful they felt. Before I leave my room, I look into the mirror. Gently running my finger through my long hair, I grabbed a blue ribbon from the table and tie it into the corner of my hair.

Though there was nothing I could do to hid the wound on my face, I just shrug my shoulders as I slip on shoes by the door and leave the room.

"His cousins, huh? I wonder what they are like. I hope they're not as mean as him."

As I was slowly walking down the stairs, I saw Uncle and Hanabusa at the front door. Stopping at the last step, I try to see what it was that they were doing. Uncle did say that Hanabusa's cousins were coming. Maybe they arrived. I was really curious to see who they were and what they looked like. Tip toeing towards them to try to have a better look, I, however, failed to be quiet as Uncle turns and saw me. Smiling at me, he then says as I quickly straighten myself up,

"Ah, Hitomi, there you are. I would like you to meet someone."

Standing beside Uncle, he rests his hand on my shoulder as he says, "Akatsuki. Ruka. I'd like you to meet Hitomi Takumora. Please treat her well." Standing before us was two other vampire children. The one known as Ruka had silk like, short light brown hair. Next to her was a boy, much taller than me and Hanabusa. Akatsuki had fiery orange hair that he had brushed back. But the most notable thing about he was his skin. Compared to all of us, his was rather tan.

As the two stared at me attentively, I sheepishly bow to them.

"P-Pleased to meet you, I'm Hitomi Takmora."

Akatsuki and Ruka both bow to me, too, with a slight smile on Akatsuki's face. Ruka's expression seemed like she was really bored. But they seem polite enough, though. I could see their glances occasionally draw to the patch on my eye. They didn't look disgusted, they seem, more or less, curious. I couldn't blame them. If I saw a girl with a disfigured face, I would want to know too.

"The four of you, have fun. I have some business to take care of." Uncle says as he leaves my side and out of the room, leaving me alone with the three cousins.

"So, uh, what do you want to do?" I asked with my hands clasped behind me.

"We're playing outside, and YOU are not welcomed." Hanabusa growls.

I turn away from him, feeling the boiling of my blood, and stare at the ground. I didn't really understand why he hated me so much, but I wasn't going to argue. After all, I'm just a guest in his home. Hanabusa and Ruka both head out the door, but I notice one person who stayed behind. Seeing the approaching feet, I look up and saw Akatsuki, who says,

"Well, come one. You're not going to stand there all day, are you?"

"B-But, Hanabusa said..."

"Don't listen to him. He's just has a chip on his shoulder. So, come on."

Akatsuki lightly takes hold of right hand, gently pulling me along with him as we head out the door before I could even argue back.