AN: Well, this is my first story on here, I hope you enjoy! I may rate this teen, but that would only
be due to violence, injuries, etc. I will post warnings for any blood/violence that occurs in a chapter if you would like to skim over it. This chapter is kick starting the adventure, so nothing to worry about here but some dead fish. And slight scary themes - I know I'm months too early, but this has a subtle Halloween theme to it. A bit scary, but nothing major yet. Happy reading!
CHAPTER 1: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
"My name is Shirota Mahiru. I'm fifteen. I think life should be simple. I hate complications. I grabbed the cat so I wouldn't feel guilty later. The next day, I found out that cat could cost me my life."
"I'll call you …Kuro!"
\( ' - ' )\
Life had certainly become complex ever since Mahiru had discovered Kuro's secret; the little black cat was a vampire, Sleepy Ash of Sloth, the oldest and most powerful sibling of seven others. Eight, if Tsubaki was to be believed. Meeting new acquaintances, even if they weren't friendly, fighting battles in a supernatural blacklight, and discovering age old secrets about things he had never had time to ponder were only a few things that Mahiru had dealt with recently. There were the secrets. There was the emotional turmoil. There were the family bonds hanging by a fraying thread that needed to be replaced.
Needless to say, he was tired.
Complications made life difficult, and the Servamp siblings were masters of complicating things. Mahiru had been putting up with, or, rather, trying his best to simplify matters, for a long while now. Several months, if he recalled. Almost a year. But now, after so long, things were actually beginning to settle down to a more stable normalcy. And with Halloween approaching, the mischievous vampires had begun playing pranks on their unsuspecting Eves, and while Mahiru didn't even mind the exploding skeleton doll on his doorstep, shoot, the ramen sauce packets it popped out were just so Kuro that Mahiru laughed, but the green slime in his bed oozing out of the covers and the heavy red dye in the water filters were just a tad much. Drinking a glass of water colored like blood after that last horrific fight against Tsubaki unsettled the youth to no end. But the final straw? Kuro was having fun scaring him half to death. It was enough to drive him mad. As in angry.
"Kuro!" Mahiru finally shouted, storming about his apartment in search of his lazy partner. His blazing amber eyes caught a flash of soot colored fur dart under the couch. At least he was listening. "Kuro, for such a slacker of a couch potato, you seem to be putting an awful lot of time and energy into pranking me! What's with you?" Agitated, Mahiru threw the rubber werewolf mask and claw set to the ground. He'd found it conveniently placed over that night's dinner prep, consisting of mostly vegetables, something Kuro had been adamant about not eating. A fluffy head peered out from under the couch, a gleam in his dark eyes that looked much more daring than normal.
"It's not really my fault, you know," cat Kuro offered. "Holidays have various affects on vampires. Halloween makes me …jittery. Can't help it." Mahiru groaned. As if the weird having glowing purple eyes during certain moon phases wasn't enough …
"Look, just knock off the pranks, all right? They're too much of a pain to clean up day after day!" Kuro dragged himself out into the open, shaking off potato chip crumbs that Mahiru immediately bristled at. Kuro had promised him that he'd vacuumed under there!
"Sure, Mahiru, but what do I do instead? I used to prank my previous Eves until November," Kuro whined. Mahiru placed his hands on his hips, glaring down menacingly at Kuro.
"Didn't they ever get mad at you? Annoyed, at least?" Kuro scratched at an ear, avoiding eye contact.
"Well sure. We'd fight, take a trip somewhere relaxing, and come home when it was over. I used to prank other people while we were there, too, but it wasn't as entertaining. But I heard you telling Koyuki that you were planning on buckling down and cramming for a test, so I thought you didn't mind it so much." Mahiru sighed, long and loud.
"Kuro," he said, "I can't concentrate on cramming for a test if I don't know whether I'll end up picking confetti and glitter out of my hair or finding giant spiders in my favorite mugs if I take a break!" He huffed. "Besides, I don't have time or money to just up and take a vacation. Isn't there some other way for you to run off your energy, like actually doing some chores for once?" Kuro rolled along the bottom of the couch, static charging his fur into pinpricks of shadowy spikes.
"No. Just vacation." Mahiru half heartedly swung his now ever present broom at the vampire, having long since given up on actually hitting the surprisingly agile feline.
"No vacation, we can't afford it," he stated firmly.
Poof!
Kuro, now human, shuffled towards the closet, where he dug out a fiberglass spider's web from the corner and dumped a plastic comically grinning skull on the floor beside the rubber werewolf pile.
"Then suck it up," he yawned. "I don't do housework and this only happens once a year. Well, most of the time, anyway." He turned glinting ruby irises his way. "Why not just let me have a little fun? I'm not doing anything dangerous, unless you suffer frequent heart attacks. Which I'm positive by now you don't." The high schooler rolled his eyes and returned to the kitchen to continue making dinner, keeping a wary eye out for any surprises hidden around his favorite work space.
"You seem to have fun all the time when you play those video games," Mahiru shot through the open doorway. "How is this any different?" Kuro wandered in and pirated a tall glass of apple juice, mumbling around swallows.
"It's different because I don't normally have enough energy to put into doing stupid stuff like this." He eyed the vegetable stew with disdain until a good sized package of beef was set next to the pot. "Seriously, Mahiru, aren't you always saying how you like life to be simple? Why are you making such a big deal of this?" Mahiru frowned, stirring the ingredients over the stovetop. Why was he making this such a big deal? Normally he would either forbade Kuro from doing such childish things or give in and play along, but then he would move on. Simple. So then why?
"Maybe you do need a vacation, Mahiru," Kuro hinted, setting his glass on the counter, leaving it sweating to create a ring. Mahiru very nearly snapped at him, insisting that no, he didn't need a trip, a vacation didn't solve everything, and there was too much to do anyway. But he didn't …because when was the last time he'd gone anywhere for fun? As a group, he'd gone to a hot springs recently, but he was too interested - not to mention irritated - in keeping everyone on track with planning and strategies that he hadn't had time to relax or unwind himself. Maybe Kuro was right, despite obviously wanting it more for himself. Perhaps a vacation would be nice, just the two of them, and maybe Uncle Tooru, too, if they could get enough funds together for a nice trip. It didn't sound like that ludicrous of an idea, at that.
"Kuro, if you can promise me that you can stop pranking for just a few days, I'll see about raising some money for a short overnight trip somewhere simple," Mahiru compromised. Kuro tapped the cabinet behind his head, setting off a small burst of firecrackers and red smoke.
"I promise," he conceded. "Just let me spring these before we leave. I might forget they're there." And that was how it all began.
\( ' - ' )\
The evening after Mahiru's tests had finished, the week before Halloween, he, Tooru and Kuro piled into the old fashioned brown family car, loaded with baggage, and headed to a campsite to the north for an entire weekend of camping. Internet free, of course, which bugged Kuro, and shower free to annoy Mahiru. Tooru had been ecstatic to hear that Mahiru wanted to take a family trip for the first time with him and had immediately taken a few days off, booking reservations and calling the neighbors to watch the apartment. The camp was around three hours away from town, but it was a nice day, warm and sunny, and they drove uneventfully as the sun set, windows down to let in the cooling evening air.
Tooru chatted excitedly as they drove, obviously thrilled that stubborn, hard working Mahiru had willing chosen to go somewhere, and had specifically asked him, him, to take time off from work to go with him! Mahiru listened attentively to stories from his uncle's childhood, including a few trips he'd taken with his mother and the trouble he got into whenever he had the chance. Kuro slumbered peacefully in Mahiru's lap the entire way, leaving the chestnut headed teen to fully enjoy the drive without worrying about future pranks or if the servamp would accidentally speak in front of Tooru. The campsite was secluded and quiet, nestled not far from the dirt road they'd driven to get there and tucked away in a pine scented alcove. Mahiru carefully built a fire in the designated fire pit while Tooru lit the bug repelling lanterns strewn in a circle around the clearing to see better to set the tent up. Kuro lazily watched from the spot he'd chosen atop the discarded luggage, content to let the other two do all the work.
Smores, burgers and canned cat food were devoured for dinner, and sleeping bags plus cat bed were laid under the stars while the tent housed food supplies and baggage. Good nights were spoken, and sleep fell upon the tiny group quickly, lulled along by the quiet chirps of frogs and the soothing sound of a breeze rustling the trees ever so gently. It was calming, dark and peaceful. And Mahiru was still lying awake. He tossed and turned to get comfortable, wondering if the strange environment was the cause preventing him from sleeping soundly, and eventually gave up. He felt wired, ready to take a walk or clean up the paper plates left stacked just inside the tent flap to be disposed of later. Bored and no longer tired, Mahiru glanced around for something to do. Tooru was snoring to his right. He'd never had a difficult time sleeping, no matter where he was. To his left, Kuro had his head tilted upwards, gazing at the glistening sky almost wistfully.
Mahiru blinked, surprised to see the vampire not only awake but with such an alien look in his dark slit eyes. He seemed almost like he was remembering something important, staring at the night sky with an air of longing, wistfulness, that Mahiru had never witnessed in him before. Not willing to break the serene moment, the teen resisted the urge to whisper "what are you thinking about?" and instead turned his own brightly colored gaze heavenward. Together, they watched the sky in tranquility, lost in their own separate thoughts as the dark calm of night became the hazy anticipating gray of predawn, then the mixed rose, gold and sapphire of sunrise. Mahiru fell asleep just as the sun rose. Kuro sat and watched it clear the horizon as time marched on from dawn to noon.
Neither stirred until the zealous Tooru gathered them for breakfast, though it was more like lunch at that point. Deli made sandwiches, onigiri and more cat food were consumed before Tooru animatedly suggested a hike to where he claimed there was a good lake for fishing. Mahiru collected the fishing poles and tackle box while Tooru grabbed the map and water bottles. Kuro perched on Mahiru's shoulder, idly swatting at the dangling fishing lines as they walked. A comfortable, amiable thirty four minute walk in, Mahiru felt Kuro twitch, then stiffen from his lethargic slouch into uprightness.
"What's up?" Mahiru whispered, instantly on the alert. Kuro relaxed a hair, tail flicking like a slow metronome.
"Nothing," he murmured. "Just thought I saw something. False alarm." Mahiru shrugged and continued walking. He'd learned that while Kuro was lazy and forgetful, he had spectacular instincts about what was dangerous or not, and if he didn't sense anything off, it was best to trust those instincts and leave well enough alone. It was simpler that way.
"There it is, boys!" Tooru exclaimed proudly, pointing to where the trail widened and the trees thinned to give a good view of a forest lake, sparkling beautifully under the sun that filtered through the leaves overhead. It was a perfect spot for fishing, as the water didn't run quickly through this area, and rock outcroppings were few and far between. The afternoon was spent in friendly competition to see who could catch the most fish before it was time to head back, and even Kuro joined the fun, batting small fish out of the water and onto the shore. Mahiru smiled and laughed and sent Kuro a grateful look. He truly hadn't had such a good time since before his mother's passing. He would have to find some way to repay his partner. Maybe, if he promised to clean up, he would buy up as much leftover Halloween candy he could and let Kuro have it.
They were both too old to care about trick or treating, but if there was one defining thing about Kuro other than the (to Mahiru) painful reminder that he was the servamp of sloth, it was his secretive love of sweets. He tried to deny it, asking instead for more ramen instead, but Mahiru often caught him staring longingly at the candy aisle. Mahiru snuck his hand into the chilly water and flung the handful at Kuro, laughing as he yowled and shook the droplets out of his fur. Tooru fought for the little cat's honor and playfully splashed Mahiru in his stead, to which Mahiru retaliated with a large wave. Tooru dunked him underwater and Mahiru threw a fresh caught fish in his face. The water war lasted all afternoon, and by the time they were packing up, the sun creeping back down to the opposite shore in a grand show of violet, wisteria and burnt gold, the trio were wet, tired and happy, and by a strategic comeback, Kuro had won the battle and was sitting proudly on Mahiru's head in a show of prideful dominance.
Tooru bantered lightly with Mahiru, pouting slightly that the boy had more faith in his own cooking abilities than his uncle, and it soon dissolved into a quiz to see who knew more kitchen facts and food preparation than the other. Around twenty minutes later, approximately halfway back to camp, Kuro stiffened again, claws digging into Mahiru's head. knowing something was definitely off here, Mahiru waved Tooru on, claiming he'd forgotten something and would catch up soon. Once the man was out of sight, Mahiru tugged Kuro out of his hair and leveled a stern glare at him, silently prompting him to speak up or else. Kuro was flicking his tail in that odd pattern again, and he swiftly took on his human form, dull red eyes sliding to their right.
"There's something strange here," he finally admitted. "I'm not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure it's not dangerous. It just feels …weird, somehow. Like there's evil wrapped up under so many layers that you barely know it's there, but it is and it makes your skin crawl because you know it's there, even if you don't know what it is." Mahiru was puzzled, and it showed plainly in his expression. If whatever was bothering Kuro was so close to their camp, then, simply speaking, they just had to get rid of it and everything would fine.
"Then let's go find out what it is," Mahiru stated, turning and diving into the brush. Kuro followed uneasily, and they beat their way through the woods, squinting as the shadows grew and darkness overtook them. A few feet in, Mahiru stopped. Apparently glowing white fur smoothed from a lump into long ears and a twitching nose, curious black eyes watching them from around a bush.
"It's an albino rabbit," Mahiru whispered, fascinated. Albino animals were rare, and seeing one so close was a treat. Kuro crouched down, peering around Mahiru's legs like a young child.
"That's it," he muttered. "It's him, he's the one that feels wrong." The rabbit pivoted and fled, and on the impulse that lead him to take home Kuro, Mahiru gave chase, hearing Kuro bound after on his heels. A mere ten seconds passed before the ball of white vanished in the dark, appearing to have taken refuge in the deep hollow roots of a large maple tree, and in a burst of energy, Mahiru dove in after it, hands outstretched to capture the creature. He never felt the ground. Eyes wide, Mahiru discovered he had just leapt down a hole that had no visible bottom, and Kuro grabbed hold of his arm in a vice grip, both rapidly thinking of ways to land safely. The hole opening disappeared. The partners were plunged into solid blackness. Unseen, the ground was rushing up to meet them, and in an unexpected jolt, they were overtaken by a very different kind of darkness.