Chapter 2

When I arrived at home last night.

My body was weary after my long journey from my hometown back to Soul Society, but right now my mind races with anticipation as to what happens now.

These past twelve months have been hard, but I have resisted my newfound craving for blood as I am well tamed from the help of my older siblings. It had always been their wish that I should come into my full power and place in the vampire world on the night of the full moon- the night when all evil in the world is at it's most powerful.

But I had given that night to my lover, Hitsugaya Toushirou who's soundly asleep by my side.

It was later in the morning when my next awareness was of a slow, languorous awakening. I had no notion of whether seconds, minutes, or hours had passed. I opened my eyes to see the moon still high in the sky. Hitsugaya was gazing down at me, his lips ruby red, glistening with my own blood.

"Morning." He breathed and licked my remaining blood of his lips.

I inhaled a deep lungful of the cold night air, feeling a surge of energy that seemed to possess my very being. This time Hitsugaya pulled me to him.

The golden glow flickered between his beautiful turquoise eyes.

"Hi." I whispered into him, tracing a fingernail over his chest.

"Welcome back."

He kissed my forehead.

"How was your training?"

"Very interesting."

"First kill?"

"None."

I felt him smile against my skin; Kurosaki-kun had lost the bet.

"Well then, what did you at least feast on?"

"A very friendly black panther."

He chuckled. "Quite a catch."

"Indeed."

As we walked back to his room to escape the fast approaching dawn, I sighed in the euphoria that Hitsugaya had awoken in my body, the sensation of strength that infused my chest with happiness.

On entering his bedroom, Hitsugaya reached down and lightly kissed my lips.

"You need more rest as it had been a very interesting night for the both of us." He gave a knowing grin.

I was pulled against him and kissed hard on the lips. "You're right," I whispered. "I'll see you in the evening?"

"In the morning." He said, and then disappeared into the night.

I made my way into his bed to count the hours that I am away from Hitsugaya. I am glad to be able to renew the opportunity to be with him again in these momentous events.

How did I even survive a year without him?

I visited Inoue, Orihime and Ishida Uryuu in the human world. They were holding a small party to celebrate their daughter's fourth birthday. Today is December.29th, only yesterday did I arrive home three days after Christmas.

The maid showed me into the parlour bright with morning sun I am only capable of a few outs of 'vitamin D' is all vampire's excuses. Of course Ishida-kun and Inoue-san knew my status. I smiled at the balloons and streamers put up for Uryuu Inoue Kioko, who was running around the room, her face lit up with excitement while her mother and father looked on fondly.

Seeing me enter, they immediately came over.

"Kioko, auntie Hinamori has come to see you!" Ishida called.

The little girl came running and flung her arms around my legs. I swept her up and kissed her, then swung her around. She laughed gleefully and the sound filled me with joy.

I stayed till night fall. I say good-bye to my old friends before wandering the Town of Karakura. The place still filled me with distant memories.

It was snowing heavily during the night. I wrapped myself up well while trudging through the town. Karakura Town felt like a place of purity and light- a world away from the dark, a place I no longer belonged in. In the distance church bells echoed in my ears and in the town.

My muffled footsteps crunched up the churchyard path. I felt suddenly disoriented and out of place- light headed and overwhelmed by memories. The blissful peace that enfolded me grew brittle and seemed to crack like ice in a pond.

My pulse began to quicken. I despise the restless anxiety I feel as the night is empty and silent. My head was spinning with images of my past.

Dead leaves swirled around my feet as I hurried along the trail. In my mind, their noises turned into the steps of a person following me. The wind howled the sound of distance screams of a man in pain.

My mind hammered in my head and I picked up my pace, my eyes darting from left to right, searching the night for the slightest hint of movement. I glanced behind. Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a shadow, hulking and broad.

"Who's there?" I whispered. The figure remained impassive. I gasped; convinced it was another exiled vampire, lurking there ready to pounce.

I couldn't transform to a shinigami while leaving my body lying in a heap in the snow. My senses spiralled into reaction mode as I broke into a run, my coat fluttering behind me. I had to only run, turn and disappear into the darkness to open the Senkaimon.

I awoke from dreaming of creature which I cannot clearly recognize.

He lies in his bed as I first see him, pale and vulnerable, needy of my care and affection. I hold his hand and cool his brow with a cloth, and he opens his brown eyes to gaze at me- as thought I am an angel.

"Hinamori," he breathed. "You've come back to me."

And then gently he tugs me forward and kisses me on the throat. Gradually his hold on me tightens, its strength taking me by surprise. I am trying to draw away to see if anything is wrong, but he does not let me. He begins to laugh- and the sound of it chilled me.

At last, he loosened his grip enough for me to pull back and I see the reddening eyes and fanged mouth. I begin to scream as he's pulling me to him once again till I feel his fangs into my skin…

I awoke as I always do, drench in sweat and panic with a feeling of sorrow as if I recognize him.

Though I am too a vampire, my fear of the darkness is still with me somehow no, it's not fear of darkness but fear of something that lurks in the dark searching for me.

I found Hitsugaya in his headquarters surrounded by paperwork. I knocked at his door but he seems to not have heard me.

"Hitsugaya-kun?" there I am again with his old name. He stops and stares at me through a glare.

"E-Excuse me, Hitsugaya-taichou." I stuttered, annoyed.

He smiles. "Come in."

He looks at me as I sit across from him, organizing his papers. His expression is worried. "Hinamori you seem distracted."

I knocked over a stack of papers and groaned.

Hitsugaya touched my hand but I withdrew from his touch.

"I am fine really, just can't sleep. Not tired."

He frowned at my lie.

"Tell me what's wrong." He pleaded.

I sighed, and grabbed a stack of paper on his desk.

"Did you read about the news in town?"

He shook his head not yet as I pointed to the newspaper then proceeded to recollect his paperwork off the ground.

I cleared his desk and sat in his lap as we both read the article.

Karakura Town News

December.25th, Thursday

Body discovered near grocery store

The body of an unknown woman was discovered in an alley near a grocery store four days ago. The victim had been subjected to a brutal attack. Her body was found by the manager of the store. He told the reporter, "I could see she'd been raped mostly by her torn clothing and all the blood. There's always trouble around here, but nothing like these before."

No clue had been found as the identity either of the victim or her murderer or the motive. Police believe from the victim's apparel and the substantial contents discovered in her purse that she also didn't have any money.

"I don't get it." Hitsugaya said. I sighed.

"She wasn't murdered, she was drained." I stated.

"A vampire did this?"

"What have you've been during the whole time I've been gone?!" I shouted.

"I've been doing my duties!"

"Well hell you aren't doing all you're duties!"

"A hollow maybe?"

"I don't know."

A knock on the door interrupted us as Rangiku stood at the doorway frozen as she saw that I was sitting in her captain's lap.

"I'll come back lat-"

"What is it?" I asked as I slipped of Hitsugaya's lap.

"A letter for you." She was in front of me instantly.

She placed the white envelope in my hand and disappeared out the door. I turned to Hitsugaya.

"May I?"

He shrugged and waved me to the couch.

They hunt me. I know they do. But they will not find me. Lurking in the darkness of the city shall conceal me. For who apart from the rats would dare enter the dank shadows of such a place?

The rats are different from those that inhabited that wrenched cell: less fat and sleek. The only sustenance to be had in the water that drips slowly from the stone ceilings. It is not enough, of course. My soul howls for blood. The creatures are scarce enough to draw from such a tiny creature, but sufficient to sustain me as I bide my time. Soon I shall find what I've been longing for.

Will you come to me or shall I come to you? As I should have never let you slip away…

I closed my eyes as I had stopped breathing. The letter was unsigned.

Authors Note: Well here's the second chapter! It's crappy but I guess I am just trying to get this story on the road plus I won't be updated frequently cause it's not summer so I am much more busy than I was when school was actually on. Anywho hope to see you guys again soon! P.S I don't bother to proof read. XD