Chapter: Habits

The rays of sunlight struck through the glass window of the room where the 16-year-old petite vampire, Rima Toya, settled in. She was taking a deep slumber in her warm fluffy bed before the light blinded her so she decided to stood up and prepare for the upcoming day. There was a scheduled photo shoot for today. Waking up when the sun is up so high was not very likeable for nocturnal beings like them since it tends them to act grumpy or sometimes they easily get pissed off. The daily habits of her started with a cold shower and some bathing rituals to pamper her skin. She wore a blue dress that suited her features and since it was summer she tried new sandals with roses as its design. Definitely, she looked cute and astounding in her summer clothes. She sighed upon remembering she needed to do something every time there was a modeling job. It was waking a sleepy Shiki in his bed. It was a permanent errand that she took liberty at every morning.

She knocked at his door but there was no slight movement inside. Another thump didn't help either so she chose to get inside personally just to stir him up for good. She was right! He was still covered in his blanket and was sleeping soundly like a cat.

"Oi Shiki…wake up." She muttered but still no response.

It was a routine of him to be like that each morning when there's a planned projects made by their agency. It means that Rima needed to bombard into his room just to wake him up just so their manager wouldn't scold them about punctuality and how to act as professional models. She pulled his blanket away from him.

"RIma." He sat up and yawned. "Ohayou."

She sighed as an answer. Another routine of his yet again, he would act like an uninterested boy who thinks like there's nothing happened after waking him up. She was certain that after this action he would say that he wanted pocky out of nowhere. You can say it was a movement by instincts.

"Pocky?" he asked while rubbing his eyes.

"First, dress up or will get reprimanded by our lateness again just like last time." She explained.

He suddenly remembered that few days ago they were ticked off by their nagging manager about tardiness. He didn't like listening to annoying human adults particularly in the morning. Senri stood up and begun to removed his shirt even in front of his model partner. Rima who was accustomed by his attitude didn't care less and went out of the room for he could change his clothes already.

Shiki quickly washed his face with cold water which helps in removing drowsiness and brushed his perfectly white teeth. He wore a navy blue shirt that complimented his firm chest, a pair of jeans and sneakers. It was obvious that any clothes he tries would really look good on him. He went downstairs and saw her at door waiting patiently for him. She gracefully approached him. In her hands, she was holding two chocolate sticks and offered it to his mouth which the young boy gladly accepted.

"Ohayou…"She greeted him while gazing at his eyes that looked like ice crystals.

"Ah…"

He thought that her gazes were mesmerizing and it can attract any creature to it. The eyes of this girl would always take his breath away as he caught glimpses. It was not just her glassy looks but her features seemed like a small doll made of magnificent porcelain. The way she carries herself in the crowd was truly exquisite and royalty-like. He loved it when she showered with him with concern or the way she has this unusual mood swings. It was sort of funny when she's mad. He thought she was a perfect being unlike him who lacks emotions. He sure hated everything about himself.

They were staring at each other for so long that they didn't realized the noise that was coming from the car pool. They walked together towards the vehicle and rode it until they reach their destination. It was a one hour ride to the agency where they were working at and it was the same place where Shiki's mother formerly retired after many years. Rima's admiration for her was solid. It was her ambition to model at the same company as the actress she loved. Well for the maroon-haired vampire, he was scouted after visiting her mother at the same place. It was the threads of fate that wanted these two vampires to meet up for the sake of the future. Thought, it was still unclear of what their relationship would be in the future. The two of them decided to play cards inside the car for boredom to go away. Toya always loved to play any games with him for the reason that she knew that she always wins against him.

"I got the joker again." He said

"You lose." Rima had a little grin in her tiny face.

The car stopped. "Were here… so please go in while I park the car. Rima, Shiki." Their manafer explained.

They changed their clothes into something stylish that was reserved in their wardrobes. Shiki was wearing a wrecked black and red checkered school slack that had a metallic chain clinging into it left pocket side, a white school polo where it sleeves were pulled to his arms, a set of leather gloves, a trendy hat and black leather shoes. The get up of his was surely cool that it made the girls, who help him wear it, blush a little. "Rocking School" was the theme that was raised by a new magazine that wanted them to model. He walked out of the room so he could see what Rima was doing but when he got out she was already there. She wore a matching checkered skirt, white blouse, long black socks, dark boots, an earring was pierced into her left ear but there was an unsatisfied look into her face.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I feel there something off in my clothes… don't you think so?" she explained warily.

Shiki knew what it was. He pulled the ribbons that was pulled into her two pigtails then tied it up to her left hand. Rima's hair ran down to her shoulders. She didn't prefer when someone was touching her hair but since it was him. It was completely fine. Now, they were ready for the photo shoot. They posed into different angles until the cameraman was satisfied. There were romantic shoots and some cool ones. Everyone was convinced that they had natural talent and they look good together. Senri went to Rima's dressing room after shooting. They were both exhausted after they change into their normal clothes. The petite girl opened a box of strawberry pocky to award herself for the day's work. Obviously, she needed to feed him with sweets too.

"Anou ne Shiki, why are you always eating my pocky?" She asked while putting another set of sweets into his mouth.

"Sweets taste better when I received it by your hands." He said as he continued munching.

"That made no sense." She blushed but tried to make an uninterested look.

There was a light thump in the door. It was their manager.

"It's time to go home… do you want me to drive you both back?" She asked.

A thought suddenly popped into Shiki's head. He refused the offer and said that they would go shopping before going home. The manager nodded and left them.

"Since when did you get the energy to go shopping?" Rima raised an eyebrow at him.

"No, I didn't… it was because I stole Aidou's sweets again and you know he would surely make a fuss about it." He explained while munching pocky again.

"True… so let's pass the time by walking around. It not that hot outside since the sun is going down after an hour."

She went into her cabinet and pulled some fake glasses, a hat and scarf. She went into her friend and put him the fake spectacles and the hat.

"What are you doing?"

"If you went outside, we would be crowded by girls again and it would be troublesome." She said.

"Ah… but Rima…" Shiki was cut off before he could finish.

"I know." She wore the scarf and the same fake glasses. "I'm wearing some too." she sighed.

It was a good change of atmosphere to go outside without being restricted by any regulation of the academy. They own this kind of world. A kind of world that is freed from expectations, pride and royalty roles. They liked their school but sometimes they get a bit upset by the chairman's weird orders and sometimes it would be tiring to follow it. The two of them still avoid being in big crowds but still roam the whole city. There was a time that Shiki went into some sweet shop and got separated from her. She sure got annoyed and he suddenly took her hand. He explained that if they do that then they won't get split apart while looking around. She hesitated at first though agreed into since it was a good idea. While looking into some old shop, Rima noticed an antique bookstore so she insisted that they should look into it. It was quite dusty but it had quite good reading materials. She took one and let her hands touched its spine.

"What are you looking for?" He popped a question.

"Hmm… a book to read."

In the end of the shelf, there was a book that caught her attention. It was a hardbound book and the cover seems a bit plain and old. The title was "The Ice Prince" and it intrigued her very much. The pages were a bit worn out other than that it was still readable. There was a feeling that linger inside of her that she wanted this book. She bought it and went outside of the shop together with Shiki.

A memory suddenly appeared in her head. "Ne, do you remember that whenever it rains, we would just stay inside the house and read books?" She looked at him.

He nodded."Except one time…. When were playing hide-and-seek."

The sun was about to rest. A color of orange and red covered the whole city. It was a pleasant view to the humans and it seems the time stopped for a while. Shiki looked at her partner at the corner of his eye. There was anxiety swirling inside of him. He got a little a scared and stopped at a spot. Rima noticed it and stared back at him.

"Doshita no?" She asked with eyes full of worry.

He just shook his head and continued to work with her.