-insert usual disclaimer here-
Enjoy.
Two Days Ago: Isn't it sad, Sacchin?
I had a normal life.
She remembered running through her childhood fields as the wind blew past her, rustling her hair and caressing her skin.
She remembered waking up in the mornings, refreshed and ready to take on the new day.
She remembered toiling through mundane chores and doing homework like the good girl she was expected to be.
She remembered coming home everyday to a family that loved and cherished her.
She remembered the joy of finally speaking with her crush, of seeing that gentle smile, of the hope of a bright future.
Then, she remembered that night.
I wasn't always this way.
It was the night of the full moon.
A sixteen year old girl was walking aimlessly through Misaki city's business district. Well not exactly aimlessly; the way she scrutinized the pedestrians around her and her worried expression made it seem like she was looking for someone. And whoever it was that she was looking for must've meant a lot to her because Yumizuka Satsuki's current discomfort was quite obvious.
Normally, her presence in the crowd wouldn't be much of an oddity. Sure it's a bit late and there's school the next day, but many considered this part of the appeal of sneaking out at night. As if drawn to a sense of newfound freedom and considering all other responsibilities to be ignorable, teens can often be found wandering the streets of Misaki alone, if only to be swallowed by the city's bustling night life moments later.
But of course, this was before the serial killings began. So far, eight teenage girls have already fallen victim, and their murders were anything but orthodox. They say that each had a set of bite marks positioned near the back of their necks and had lost a substantial amount of blood through this cut. It's really no wonder then, that rumours have been circulating around town about the possibility of a "vampire epidemic".
I don't really believe any of that though. It's probably just the work of some sick attention seeker. After all, vampires don't exist, right?…RIGHT?
Finishing this consoling thought with a pump of her fists, Satsuki resumed her search.
Half an hour passed. Thankfully, by this time, Satsuki's heart has finally calmed down. Her adrenaline rush was also almost over, but her overall mood has improved by quite a bit. After all, in her hours of searching, she didn't come across anything pertaining to that rumour, meaning she can finally set her heart at ease and drag her tired-out body home.
Hm, I guess everything I heard about Tohno-kun was baseless after all. If only I believed in him a bit more, then I wouldn't have had to waste so much time in such a dangerous situation. Well, I guess it serves me right for doubting him.
Her thoughts ending again, Satsuki pivoted on her heels, and turned to leave in the opposite direction she came from. In her carelessness, her hands brushed past those of a stranger's.
But just from that contact, Satsuki could tell that something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. It wasn't just that the stranger's hands were ice cold, but the coldness itself radiated a sense of decay, despair and hunger. And that was NOT good.
Th…this...this is…?
Sharply recoiling her hands at the contact, Satsuki couldn't help but pass a glance at the one towering before her.
He was a man of about five foot nine, wrapped head to toe in a large, olive-green coat; its hood was drawn and cast a dark shadow across his visage, obscuring his features. His gaze was clouded and amnesiac, but somehow, this took nothing away from its power and clarity.
I…I need to get away!
But she couldn't move at all. She was drawn to those eyes, those perfect, crimson orbs that promised to rid her mind of those pesky worries and fears. Those eyes that spoke of the void, those that gave her a tiny glimpse of the Root's swirl.
Her vision died, taking her consciousness with it.
I want that life back.
I can give it back to you.
That's impossible.
"Nothing's impossible when there's a miracle."
A malice-laced voice interrupted Satsuki's recollections, surprising her into opening her now crimson eyes for the first time that night. Ever since she first became a vampire, her actions have become ruled by instincts and emotions rather than her actual thoughts. The stranger's promise didn't even register in her mind because at that instant, her instincts are telling her to extinguish that malice; to kill now and ask questions later.
Slowly standing up and fully prepared to deal with what she perceived to be a threat, her gaze shifted to identify the source of the voice. But despite her hawk-like vision, Satsuki couldn't identify anything that seemed out of place. The back alley where she spends most of her day appeared as desolate as ever. Even the voice itself was untraceable; it seemed to have reverberated from nowhere and everywhere.
"You can't even detect my presence? And to think that we're about to make someone as useless as you into an Ancestor." The voice sounds again, this time taking a mocking tone.
Choosing not to respond to the voice's taunts, Satsuki closed her eye, opting instead to reach out to her surroundings with her conscience; sure enough, her enemies' life force radiated from a location beneath her feet. Opening her eyes once more, she reached out and smashed a hole in the concrete ground. The life force quickly ebbed away. Sighing heavily to herself, Satsuki dashed away from the alley and through the barren city streets. After all, what she killed was most likely only an enemy familiar. The owner of the voice was no doubt unharmed and ready to come after her once more. Even so, a question lingers in her mind.
"What does an Ancestor want with me?"
"Didn't you hear me the first time? I want to help you become human. Is that so hard for your decaying brain to wrap around?" This time the voice definitely had a source, and the source was…dammit, right in front of her.
Stopping in her tracks, Satsuki silently observed the brunette standing idly before her.
Looking like a middle school girl of about twelve, and quite beautiful for her age, the vampire's (for that was obviously what she was) pale skin shone like liquid moonlight, creating a delightful contrast with her gothic style of dress. Her eyes, like those of most Dead Apostles, were crimson and radiated a sense of authority and vanity. As she looked ahead, her expression changed to that of a condescending sneer.
"They say that vampires take after their parent Dead Apostle, but from what I see, you're nowhere near as competent or ambitious as the Serpent. Though I guess it might be better for you that way; after all, look at where the Serpent is now? Completely eradicated by the White Princess. Completely eradicated by someone I defeated. Which means I'm stronger than him. Yeah, that's right. No matter what they say, I did not lose to that slimy old geezer! Yeah, that was just a feint, a tactic to…"
At this point, Satsuki was completely confused. While the killing intent in the air has mostly dissipated, listening to the brunette's off-topic drivels really was wearing down on her patience. Choosing to interrupt her detailed recount of how the great Rouge-tan fought against the heretic Roa (notice the use of fought, since she most certainly did not lose!), Satsuki spoke up for the first time that night.
"You said you can turn me back to what I was before, and that I can have a miracle. What do you mean by that, Rouge-chan?"
Hearing the question, the Dead Apostle apparently named Rouge gave Satsuki a look of utter disdain, as if her question couldn't be stupider. "First of all, call me Rouge-tan! Remember that! Although if you really wanted to worship me, I guess Altrouge-sama, ohime-sama would be okay too. But you know, I really want to highlight my moe-ness, so Rouge-tan is preferred. But sometimes I do get bored of…"
"Umm…Rouge-tan, my question…?"
"Never, ever interrupt the Black Princess of the Dead Apostles! But I guess I do have more pressing matters to attend to, so I'll save time and answer your question, as stupid as it is. The miracle I'm referring to is obviously the Fifth Heaven's Feel that's about to start. Whoever wins that has their wish granted by the omnipotent Grail of Fuyuki. Since its omnipotent, it'll be a piece of cake to undo your half-baked vampirism and make you human again." Altrouge said, all the while pronouncing human the way most people would say "nutritious dog food" (which probably wasn't too far from the truth).
Hearing Altrouge's words, Satsuki almost jumped for joy at the very real prospect of having her old life back. However, her instincts immediately kicked in, and she narrowed her eyes. In a distrustful tone, she asked, "Why are you doing this? It's obvious that you don't care about me at all. You would probably enjoy it more if I died right here. Just what are you after?"
As if completely oblivious to the sudden change in atmosphere, Altrouge's hands brushed aside a loose strand of hair, and went on in her carefree voice, "It annoys me to say this, but I don't have enough power to kill you at this time. My main body is helping out at the Aylesbury ritual, so the most I can spare is a familiar or two to coordinate things here. I also have word that the Church will be actively participating in this War, and whatever they want to have, I want them to not have. After all, a good master gets revenge for their underlings; those white-robed geezers won't get away for sealing my minions. And finally…"
At this, Altrouge's eyes narrowed as well, emanating undiluted killing intent. "Ortenrosse ji-san mentioned this last time, and I think he was being entirely serious. As preposterous as it may be, he plans to induct you into the Twenty Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors. We don't need two moe princesses in a single organization. And you know what; your tragic back-story might earn you even MORE popularity than me! That's…that's why I have to take such drastic measures!" Pumping her hands up in "righteous" fury, Altrouge continued to glare daggers at the thoroughly confused girl before her.
Said thoroughly confused girl could only give a slight mumble in response, "Umm…okay?"
Satisfied, Altrouge regained her composure and nodded in a princely manner. "I'm glad that my flawless logic convinced you. In that case, there's no time to waste. We'll begin traveling to Fuyuki now, and I'll take some of my precious time to fill you in on the details of the War."
With these words, she began walking away, fully expecting Satsuki to follow. Sensing that this wasn't the case, Altrouge turned back and yelled, "Hurry up you popularity-stealing hag! Do you expect me to carry you or something?"
"Umm…Rouge-tan, Fuyuki is that way…"
