I remember the first time I saw Sakiri Shiritou.

We were four and she had accompanied her mother to visit my parents. It wasn't her long curly hair or her sharp blue eyes that had caught my eye. It was her stature that drew my gaze to her. She stood up straight and gave off a noble aura but she wasn't looking down on me or my brother Zero. We were equals to her.

I had realized what my parents and my brother had known from the moment they met Sakiri; she was a pureblood vampire. I began to hate her presence and her very existence. She didn't seem to mind my hostilities. During every visit, Sakiri would stay by her mother's side. At the time, I was confused to why Sakiri call the human she arrived with 'mother' but as years past I learned that the woman really was her mother. .

Miraki Shiritou was a beautiful woman. Her think brown hair was kept in a ponytail that rolled down her back like a river. Her eyes were so dark they appeared to be black. When she smiled, they looked like dark chocolate. She was close friends with Mother and Father so she visited regularly. Mother said that she was a very successful vampire hunter until she was excommunicated from the Hunters' Association. She wouldn't tell us why she was kicked out of the Association. Miraki often brought her daughter with her when she visited our house. She never yelled at Sakiri or pulled away from her. She truly loved her daughter and enjoyed her company.

One day, there was a knock at the door. Zero and I hovered around while Mother answered it. Sakiri and her mother shuffled into the house, completely soaked from the pouring rain. Miraki franticly pulled at Mother's shirt, her black eyes full of tears, leaving her only child standing behind her.

"Please, I'm begging you," she pleaded. "Help me!"

Mother took the woman in her arms and gestured to Sakiri. The young child looked solemn and mature as if there was nothing wrong. She was only four and a half at the time so she could really process what was happening, or so we assumed.

"Ichiru, Zero," she said slowly. "Attend to Sakiri please."

We nodded our heads, dumbfounded. Zero approached Sakiri first and Mother hurried Sakiri's mother into the dining room. I stood a good distance from the pureblood child. Zero tried to persuade me to help but I refused. My twin attempted to lend Sakiri a hand while she pulled her feet out of her rubber boots. She ignored his efforts at first but gingerly accepted his help with her drenched stockings. When she stood barefooted, Zero directed me to take her to the guest room while he got a towel for Sakiri. He ran off before I could object.

Not wanting to physically touch the vampire, I motioned for her to follow. She accepted the invite with a warm stare. I led her to the room then silently watched her hang up her dripping stockings. Zero entered the room and offered a pink towel to Sakiri. She gave him a slight nod and began to unbutton her raincoat. Whether he was overcome with compassion or impatience, Zero swiftly helped her removed her coat. As the brown coat fell away from her slim body, I marveled at Sakiri's red dress. Even though it clung to her small frame, it gave her grace and a sense of loveliness. Zero tenderly put the towel over her dripping hair and then proceeded to dry it. She looked humble as my brother rubbed his hands over her head. A jolt of insecurity ran through me and I quickly pulled my twin away from the dangerous girl. Zero struggled against my hold.

"What are you doing?" he asked, confused.

I tightened my grasp, eyes glued to the pureblood standing in front of us. The pink towel fell back around her neck.

"She's not safe," I whimpered.

The door creaked and Mother walked in. She looked worn out. With a soft smile, she patted our heads.

"Thank you for your help, boys," she sighed. "You may go back to playing."

Mother moved past us and gently dried the ends of Sakiri's hair. She moved slowly and gently, as if trying not to scare the little girl. As we left, mother was starting to undress her. After playing for an hour or so, I decided to look for Mother so I could confess my disturbed feelings about Sakiri. I stumbled upon my parents standing against a wall and Sakiri's mother by the front door. Sakiri stood facing her mother, her face soft and her stature true.

Miraki wore her brown petticoat and appeared ready to leave. Sakiri wore a plain white dress that Mother probably had from one of her previous visits. She took shallow breathes but not a single tear rolled down her cheeks. Miraki kneeled at her daughter's feet, putting her hands on the child's shoulders.

"You'll be good right, Sweetheart?" she asked gently.

Sakiri nodded.

"Yes, Mother," she promised.

"Good girl," her mother praised then stood up, opened the door and left.

From that moment on, Sakiri stayed in our home.

Mother and Father explained that because of her parents working so much she was being neglected. Her mother begged Mother and Father to watch over Sakiri in their place for a while. We had to promise to be nice to her. It wasn't hard.

Sakiri mainly kept to herself and would avoid playing with us. She never bothered us or spoke unless she was asked a question. There were things she did that scared us though. At night, Sakiri would wake up screaming for her mother and it would take almost an hour for her to go back to sleep. Also whenever we got hurt near her, she would cover her mouth and nose tightly for so long she'd pass out.

Mother said it would pass eventually and just like she predicted, it did. Sakiri stopped screaming at night or at least made it muffled. She also stopped making herself pass out when we got hurt. She learned to completely ignore us and play by herself. I was happy that she was leaving me and Zero alone but my dear twin wasn't as enthusiastic about her choice. He would offer Sakiri a spot in a game we'd be playing or try to get her to race him to the other side of the yard. She would smile softly and sweetly but decline his offer and return to whatever she was doing.

We never saw the real side of Sakiri. The only time she seemed actually alive was when her mother came. Her face would light up and she would actually smile from the bottom of her heart. For the rest of the day, she would be gone visiting her mother and father. When she returned, Sakiri appeared to be somewhat happier.