Eternity gets lonely after a while. Sure, I was young compared to others like me, but the sadness hits you hard when you lose your only friend in the entire world. After he had given up on life, I had given up as well. Every day dragged on for what felt like forever, when it had usually passed by in the blink of an eye. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I had found myself in that old deteriorated building back in the slums of Mallepa, and I sat there, waiting for the sun to take my life.

That was where that little boy had found me. I knew he thought I was dead, as I was purposely trying to appear, but it almost amused how the first thing he did was emotionlessly reach for my silver watch. Almost. And his face still didn't change much when I reached up and whacked his hand away, telling him to leave me alone.

He hadn't left, not that that surprised me. I simply let my eyes close again and ignored him, waiting as the sun's rays continued to creep down the vine-covered walls and toward my hand that sat atop the small metal container beside me.

The boy's expression finally let on some emotion as he watched me writhe in pain, the sunshine just barely touching the top of my left hand. But that's all it took. Just a single ray of light would send me into a pain that could only personally come from hell itself. I let one of my eyes open just a smidgen to see the boy staring at my smoking hand in shock, but was surprised to find the one emotion I'd expected to see was missing. There was no fear.

I had closed my eyes again, and when I opened them, the boy was gone. Finally, I had thought. Now I can die in peace. But he came back a short while later; though I couldn't see him because the pain was now blinding, I could clearly hear his footsteps, the sound of rickety wheels, and fresh blood pumping through his veins.

The next thing I knew, all the pain had disappeared in a split second. I could tell I was still probably smoking, but I couldn't find the strength to move, or even open my eyes. I felt myself being moved, albeit a little clumsily, but soon I was lifted onto a small flat wagon-type cart. Then came the sounds of footsteps and wheels once again, and my body began cooling down as the boy pulled me away from my death.

I was seriously thinking about killing the boy as soon as I had gotten my strength back, as punishment for not listening to me and for food. I was preparing to lunge and claim my snack as I felt the sheet over me being lifted, but my bloodlust was lost when I met the boy's eyes.

He had a knowing look in those dark spheres, something that a boy his age shouldn't have yet. His eyes were far more mature than he let on, and they had lost childish innocence far too early. My resolve broke down and I just let him do whatever he wished with me.

Shortly after he had brought me to his "hideout", I learned that his name was Sho. I also learned that he had two accomplices: an older brother named Shinji, and a slightly clumsy friend named Toshi. The brother was slightly wary of me, while the friend simply ignored my existence and basked in his "money rain" that they had acquired from their latest steal.

Sho was an amusing child, especially when he attempted to feed me a type of badly prepared porridge. But I never gave myself to his advances. I didn't want to grow attached to a human, because I knew it would only end in heartbreak. Besides, if he knew what I really was, he'd be terrified. I simply sat still, staring off at nothing, no expression on my face.

It was as Shinji and Toshi were counting the money they'd stolen when that man had come, gun in hand as he ordered the boys to put the money back in the case. Sho had put down his bowl and spoon when he heard the new voice, and he watched quietly from beside me.

Shinji began slowly and reluctantly returning the money to the briefcase, and the man watched his every move to be sure that all of the money was there. That was his mistake. Toshi had turned and grabbed a large stone from the floor, then hurled it at the man's stomach. That was Toshi's mistake. Both Toshi and Shinji stood and began to run, and while Toshi escaped, Shinji was too slow. A shot rang out and suddenly Shinji was on the floor, clutching at his bleeding leg as he whined in pain.

Sho cried his brother's name and ran to him, but the man above him raised his gun and ordered the boy to go get Toshi, or Shinji would die. Sho obediently ran off, his calls to Toshi echoing off the walls, and that's when the scent of Shinji's blood hit me. Naturally, I went to feast. But I couldn't bring myself to kill a child, so I went for the next best thing: the man with the gun.

As I sank my fangs into the tender skin of the man's neck, I heard Shinji shout in disgust and attempt to move away. Sho must have heard my victim's screams of agony, because I soon heard Shinji telling his brother that I was a monster, and for him not to go in here.

Once I had drained the man's body of all blood possible, I looked up and found myself gazing at Sho's dark eyes once again. I still couldn't decipher any emotion on his face, even as his gaze trailed from the blood dripping from my lips to the dead body in my arms. As soon as his eyes met mine again, I found myself compelled to speak.

"Aren't you afraid?" I asked him, my voice barely loud enough to carry across the room to him.

He didn't give me a spoken answer, only shook his head slightly. I lowered the body and raised my head further, watching him for any signs of hesitation, but there were none. Finally, I allowed myself to laugh quietly. And my heart might have actually fluttered in a bit of happiness when Sho smiled back at me, a lopsided grin, but a smile nonetheless.

That was the moment I lost my heart to a human.