This is a story I wrote a while back but I honestly had too much going on in my life to continue. Since it was so very long ago and since I believe my writing skills have greatly increased I've decided to rewrite the entire thing. So if you still love me and love my story I do hope you'll continue to read and review. Now, since I did leave all of you with a cliff hanger and didn't update for about a whole year, I'll give you the two chapters without a single review. Just because I love you all and miss this story dearly. Don't get me wrong, I would appreciate a review or two—so I know you're still out there.

Well here goes.

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I am in no way affiliated with Natsuki Takaya nor do I own any of her characters or her story. I just enjoy her characters enough to write a fan fiction about them. This story is obviously set in an alternate universe and some characters may become slight ooc—but it's only so they fit in my plot.

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A whirl of wind whipped through the trees and whistled through the empty spaces. Tohru Honda a pretty but all too average girl walked the lonely streets. Gravel crunched under the soles of her shoes and she buried her face in the collar of her shirt for warmth. It was a particularly nippy night unlike the warm day she had just enjoyed. Since it was her birthday her superior at work had granted her the night off. With new optimism in her heart and a bounce in her step she worked her way down the vacant streets to her small quant home. Her mother had promised that she would not make a big deal, she was only turning seventeen after all. Even with this in mind she believed that her mother had a surprise waiting for her at home.

Tohru craned her head upward to glance at the magnificent luminous moon. A jubilant smile curved on her pink petal lips. She was almost certain her mother would be watching this marvelous scene from the kitchen window. The thought of watching the moon with her mother comforted her in the same way it always did. There was no doubt that they were close. After Tohru's father's death she and her mother's bond became ironclad and completely unbreakable. There was comfort in that thought and it made her smile peak.

Footfalls sounded in the distance. They weren't dawdling; like her own. They were quick and deliberate. In other words, it was plain to see that the person was meaning to escape from someone—or something. Tohru's bright blue eyes tore themselves away from the peaceful and neutral moon to look at the promising danger ahead. At first it was a tall and slender figure, arms wailing and legs thrashing against the gravel. Her mouth hung open as he got closer and she realized the fear that was etched on his face and the blood that seeped from a gash on his forehead. Every fiber of her being made her feel the need to approach and help the man—but he did not halt for her.

"Turn back!" Was the only thing the man's terrified voice warned. Tohru watched as his figure was swallowed by the Cimmerian shade. Horror and worry fell on her shoulders and she could feel it begin to wear her down. All her instincts told her she should listen to the man and find another route home. A safer route. Another voice told her to trudge on that this was where she needed to be. Tohru's slim shoulders trembled under the weight of the fear and anxiety. A lump formed in her throat and her heart began to pound rapidly against her chest.

"Come on, Tohru. Whatever it is it's probably long gone. No use turning back." She assured herself like she did on many occasions. She plastered a weak smile on her face and she pressed forward, ignoring her protesting instincts. Everything seemed alright. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Soon enough her worries began to fade and she started to lure herself into a sense of security. That is, until she was stopped dead in her tracks by a heartbreaking sight.

There, in front of her lay the crumpled form of a bleeding woman. Tohru raced forward only a few paces until the woman's pale face became recognizable. An appalled gasp left her and her knees buckled. As she hit the rough and uneven ground, gravel began to cut her knees. Though the pain began to sear and throb she managed to remain oblivious to it. A bewildered expression plagued her face for a long while until she finally worked up the courage to crawl closer to the woman whom lay, sprawled in a pool of what appeared to be her own blood. Gravel now clung to her knees, shins and her palms. When she knelt directly in front of the pale and lifeless body, when she could clearly see her beautiful face—that was when she knew her worries were correct. This woman was her mother, Kyoko Honda.

Rough and heart wrenching sobs filled the cool night's air. Tohru's trembling hands reached to stroke her mother's face. It was then that she realized there was still warmth in her cheeks. Her breath fogged out into the cold and Tohru wanted to breath out in relief but she did not allow herself to. Instead she searched for Kyoko's injuries. Who did this to you? Oh mom!

Finally her eyes came to rest upon two small puncture wounds. They were spaced apart only more than inch. She did not think on it for long, instead she pressed her quivering hands against it in an attempt to halt the bleeding. "M-mom… who did this to you?" She asked through sobs. Her small chin began to tremble and new tears fell down her red cheeks. Kyoko remained motionless and her face void of any expression except fear. "Please, I'm frightened—don't leave me! You cannot!" She half shouted, her voice echoing into the abyss-like darkness. There was a steady rise and fall of her chest and that comforted her but only slightly.

"Tohru…" Her mother's hoarse voice whispered weakly. Tohru's attention wavered from the wound to her mother's face again. Her eyes studied her mother's face greedily and she struggled to remember every moment. Just in case this would be the last time she would see her mother breathing and speaking. Her once calm and serene eyes were now wide and brimming with tears. Her mouth agape and it look like she was struggling to form words the way her mouth shook and twisted. "Run! Tohru please run!" She spluttered, finally finding the appropriate words. Tohru was taken aback by her mother's sudden outburst. How could she possibly ask that of her? How could she expect her to run and leave her there… to die?

"N-no, I'm not leaving. You can't make me leave! You're all I have!" She shouted defiantly. Kyoko's eyes grew wild. They were half pained, half frightened and half insanely worried. Tohru never witnessed so many emotions at the same time but she was sure that her mother's emotions mirrored her own. "I won't do it." She said firmly. A hint of surprise read on her mother's face. There was never a situation where she denied her mother something. She was an obedient child and she did everything she was told. Except for now and she would not waver.

"Please Tohru." She beseeched, her glassy eyes pleading and her voice urgent. Before she could deny any further Kyoko lurched forward and wrapped her arms around herself as if to ease the unbearable pain.

"Mom!" Tohru squealed as she moved forward with her mother. She watched helplessly as her mother continued to convulse and writhe in undeniable pain. For a moment she even began to feel it emanate off her. Beads of sweat began to trickle down the afflicted woman and Tohru did the only thing she felt she could do. She threw herself at her mother, wrapping careful and comforting arms around her. It was what Kyoko did for her daughter when she was hurting and it was her first instinct. There was another, more fierce cry of pain and Tohru realized she had caused it. "I'm so sorry." She apologized, her voice shaky and incoherent—she reluctantly released her grasp on her mother.

"Go n-now," she ground out, "if you've ever held any respect or l-love, g-go!" Kyoko stammered, shooting her daughter a desperate look. The look in her eyes Tohru would never ever forget. A perfect combination of despair and amity. The look paralyzed her and complete overwhelmed her—it made her forget her surroundings and made her almost want to consider granting her mother's final wish. She was almost too absorbed to notice her mother's eyes lose hope as they wavered and looked over her shoulder. "I t-told you to run." She whimpered as her body fell limp and shriveled back onto the pavement.

"M-mom—" She started but was cut off. An ice-cold hand settled on her lower back. She was so crippled with sorrow and fear that she did not react. The soft, cool hand ran up her back making the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention. The organ in her chest drummed against her chest as the hand continued to rise until it reached her neck. It was soft like velvet and frigid as snow. Ever so slowly, as to not cause alarm, she turned her head. There hovered a pale face with such feminine appeal. He was attractive and translucent. Bewitching teal irises studied her face with a sort of vulgar appreciation. His plump lips curved into a sick grin.

"Well, my feebleminded friend." His opulent voice dripped with venom and disdain—yet it held some type of enjoyment uttering every word. Tohru gaped at him, quickly becoming entranced. He was so inhumanly beautiful. Thin ebony locks framed his face and contrasted his exquisite skin tone. During her goggling he had turned his attention to the dying woman beyond them. "You should have listened to her you realize." He stated, placing his cool lips against the base of her warm neck. A shiver rippled through her body and her body tensed.

"Who are you?" She croaked. "Did you do this?" She choked out, her throat feeling incredibly constricted. He responded only with a throaty chuckle.

"Her blood was quite delectable. I hope yours will be just as fulfilling." He spoke against her bare flesh in a voice that made her want to run. She could feel him smile against her skin and she felt her stomach churn. Tohru's eyes flicked to her mother as she spoke up once more.

"Please let her go." She breathed, her voice hardly audible. "I'll do anything just let her go in peace." She begged, her body no longer moved or convulsed. She only lay there. The only movement being her eyes. The man's clammy lips left her neck and he rose swiftly. Tohru and her mother's eyes both grew wide in unison and their breath caught in their throat. Tohru didn't dare move nor did her mother—not that she could move even if she wanted to. He was so graceful in his strides even as he crouched beside the limp woman. He cast her a downwards glance, his dark lashes stroking his cheek affectionately.

"What could you possibly do for me? You have no life left in those pathetically weak limbs. What could offer me?" His voice half taunting and half curious. Anger swelled in Tohru's chest and a part of her wanted to spring out and pulverize him for insulting her mother. The monstrous cretin stroked her mother's face with fake compassion as he waited for her to speak. It repulsed her deeply, watching her mother be touched by this foul, evil beautiful man. Was he even a man at all? A part of her doubted that entirely.

"I'll allow you to drain me dry and I will not thrash or object. Finish me and leave her be." She offered, Tohru's eyes went wide with dismay. She would have surely shouted in protest but she would have been unheard and disregarded. The man smiled. A smile that was not at all cheerful. It was one of malice and danger. He removed his hand as if she had just morphed into steaming garbage.

"I'm afraid I've already done that, Kyoko." He sneered. All the hope left Kyoko's eyes as the ominous man turned his unforgiving gaze onto Tohru. In a flash and before she could even blink he had her in a tight and uncomfortable embrace. There was a sickening pop sound of teeth breaking skin. Tohru cried out in pain and she began to claw and swat at her attacker. A mortified cry left the weak mother as she watched her daughter's life slowly leaving her eyes.

Soon everything began to fade and black spots protruded her vision. Pain dulled and turned to pleasure and bliss. She felt at ease to let go and it caused her arms and legs to cease their thrashing. Just as she was about to give in completely her mother's have voice brought her back. She could not move but she listened closely to her words. "Please! Please help my daughter!" She cried to what appeared to be a second party. Oh mom, no one can save us now. We're goners. Her feeble mind began to selfishly cling to the image of her mother's last smile. Just as she was to give up hope for the second time a second voice cried out.

"Akito!" A male voice bellowed. The anger in his voice had been hidden well with false shock. Akito dropped her body to floor, not bothering in gentleness any longer. He stood above them protectively but he would not be saving them.

"Ah, Hatori, what a pleasant surprise. Have you come to dine with me? If so I'm afraid we'll have to find another morsel. I've really made a glutton of myself tonight, but who could deny these two?" He rambled, his voice dripping with menace. Tohru opened her eyes to take a peek at the opposing gentleman. He was tall. So tall that she couldn't quite see his face. From what she could see was the curtain of hair that covered his eye. The eye that remained visible to her was a pretty chocolate brown color—bathed with sympathy.

"Akito, you cannot keep doing this." Hatori said sternly, masking his anger once again. Dwindling hope filled Tohru's heart once again. This man might just be able to help them, maybe they would be alright after all. He looked as if he would go on but Akito's angered voice interrupted him.

"Do what?" He snapped. "Sustain myself? Do you want me to die of thirst? I'm sorry I don't share your strange appreciation for these… things, but I will not change my feeding habits to please you." He finished, a low growl sending vibrations through his pale throat. Tohru skin felt cold and her eyes began to lose all its light. All she wanted now was to be released from the pain. She wanted to die—but she wouldn't allow herself to take her eyes off of the two before her. Akito conveyed the impression of impatience while Hatori looked to be trying to form an acceptable response.

"There are other methods of feeding, Akito. You no longer need to take human life. We don't have to be monsters. If you would only try our ways." Hatori said, his voice strained and his eyes full of pity. Akito made a simple snort in response. "Leave them be, they have suffered enough." He whispered, Tohru had hardly caught that last part. Akito looked conflicted. He looked to the mother then the daughter. After a moment his debating eyes finally landed on Kyoko. Tohru closed her eyes unable to keep them open for much longer.

"This on belongs to me." Akito said and Hatori could not deny him his right. Kyoko's muffled cry filled the air as Akito finished her off. His footfalls crunching the gravel proved that he was taking his leave. Salty tear drops cascaded down Tohru's frigid cheeks and she did not dare open her eyes until he was long gone. When she was sure of his absence she opened her heavy eyes to stare up at the man who had so heroically saved her. She opened her mouth to ask the only question her mind could muster.

"What are you?" He opened his mouth to speak one word. One word that would change her life drastically.

"Vampire."

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There you go. It's all nice and revised. I hope you enjoy it.

It kind of dragged on at the end—forgive me. I was up writing all night. Anyway, as promised I'll give you a free chapter after this. I would, however, like to hear from people who stayed waiting for me to update and new people. I want to see how my writing has changed. Has it become better or worse? xD

3

Yours truly,

Sophie.