"So let me get this straight." Kariya rubbed his temples. "You're saying that he knocked out Bito, pinned you down, then he apologized and left?"

Neku nodded. He was as confused as him.

"Well, neither of you were turned into vampires and neither of you were seriously hurt. That's good at least." He then left the nurse's office, saying. "Take a break from classes for a while."

Neku looked over to Beat who was in the bed with Rhyme talking to him. At least he was strong enough to carry Beat back to the academy.

Neku left, thinking about the vampire while heading towards the gate to go home. He was confused. Are all vampires like that? Are some vampires good? He did say that he didn't plan on killing them.

Once he reached home he collapsed onto the couch. His parents weren't home again and were probably on a trip again. He never knows for they never tell him.

He sighed, thinking about him again. It's been 2 days and he's still unsure about the young vampire. Maybe he was once human? But most kid-vampires are purebloods…

Just when he was drifting to sleep, he heard a loud noise. He panicked. 'It sounded like the front door!'

As he rushed to the door, he thought in his head 'but I locked it after I got in!'

He jiggled the door knob to find it locked. Was he imagining things?

He sighed and rubbed his head. He's been paranoid ever since their encounter. Always feeling as if he's being watched, thinking he heard footsteps, voices. He wondered if this happened to the other hunters after their first encounter. 'I'll ask 1st Lt. Kariya tomorrow.'

He went to grab a glass of water to calm him down but of course, to worsen his luck, he dropped the glass. Picking up the pieces of glass with shivering hands, he accidently sliced his pointer finger.

He hissed in pain and felt anxious. He was far away from the forest and vampires don't come to the village where he is. No vampire can get him.

He got up to go get a band aid. He barely made 3 steps.

"What a nasty cut!"

Neku's eyes widened at the sight of the same vampire from the forest sitting on his kitchen counter top.

He opened his mouth to yell out for help but the vampire covered his mouth with his hand, pushing Neku to the wall. The vampire smiled sweetly, a very sickly sweet smile.

"Nice to see you too." He then picked up Neku's hand and licked the blood from his finger.

Neku pulled his hand away, trying to get away.

The vampire's eyes flickered. "Is there a problem, Neku Sakuraba?"

Neku froze. The vampire knew his name.

The vampire then uncovered Neku's mouth and stood back a step.

Neku was unsure of what to do. He couldn't get help because the boy would kill him or torture him. He was stuck in the kitchen with a vampire!

The vampire smiled. "I was going to leave you alone but you caught my interest…" He then leaned closer to Neku. "I can't get you out of my mind."

Neku shivered. The way he said that…sounded as if he meant it in a romantic way.

"Also, I can tell that you couldn't get me out of your mind either."

Neku grinded his teeth. 'This kid is driving me into a corner and he's loving every second of it! How did I think that he might be nice?!'

After a few seconds of silence, Neku gathered up courage to speak.

"Why did you spare me?"

The vampire blinked slowly. He then chuckled. "Finally, you speak!"

Neku slammed his fist onto the counter. "Just answer the question!"

The boy smiled. "I told you. I can't kill kids."

"But you kill innocent people?!" Neku started getting angrier by the minute.

"They attack me first."

Neku paused.

"Ever since they found out I was a pureblood, I was hunted constantly. It was kill or be killed."

Neku's body relaxed. He could tell that the kid wasn't lying. He gulped.

"I'm sorry."

The vampire stared at Neku, wide eyed. 'Did he just…apologize to me?!' he thought.

Neku stared at the floor. "All my life I was told that vampires were evil and bad. I guess that you lived a tough life as well. I'm sorry."

The vampire smiled. 'He just gets more and more interesting.'

He holds out his hand to Neku. "My name is Joshua. I have to admit, you are a strange human. I hope you can forgive me for that time in the forest."

Neku looked at his hand suspiciously. Hesitedly he reached out and shook his hand. It wasn't as cold as other vampires. "I forgive you. Also, you're a strange vampire so I guess we're both outcasts huh?"

Joshua chuckled. "I guess."

Neku went to pull his arm back but Joshua didn't let go.

"Is something wrong?" Neku asked.

Joshua then suddenly pulled Neku towards him and hugged him tightly.

Neku froze. "Um…what?"

Joshua patted his back. "A friendship hug!"

Neku sighed and hugged back. He's done many crazy things lately he may as well add 'hugging' onto the list.

Once their hug ended, Neku made a declaration.

"I'll quit the academy."

Joshua quirked a brow. "Really?"

Neku nodded. "Well I never really wanted to do it anyway and after hearing your side of the story, I don't want to kill innocent vampires."

Joshua held in a laugh. 'Innocent vampires'. "I could be fooling you though."

Neku shook his head. "I can tell when someone is lying. You didn't lie."

Joshua's mind was filled with thoughts of Neku. 'I…really am interested in this human.'

A knock resonated from the front door. Neku gave Joshua the 'We're in trouble' look and Joshua waved and disappeared. Neku sighed, tired from the day.

He answered the door to find Uzuki.

"2nd Lt.?" Neku raised a brow.

She stared straight into his eyes and he fidgeted.

She then gave him a note. He read it and realized why she was staring at him intently.

It was a note of resignation.

After a hunter's first mission, they can leave if they think they can't handle it.

Neku looked at her with a sad smile and started filling out the note. Handing it to her he apologized.

She just huffed. "Whatever! We don't need weaklings anyway!"

He shut the door after she left. He sighed happily. He was free.

"Well, she was rude."

Neku jumped and fell over in shock.

"You aren't a weakling. You were pretty-oh sorry for scaring you!"

He helped Neku up and tidied up his hair. He then giggled like a child.

"Your hair is so spiky Neku~"

Neku grunted. 'Great, now another person wants to play with my hair.'