Anyway, first off, I would just like to say that if I don't start getting some serious reviews, this fanfic will probably stop. (Because I want to know what you guys all think of my fantic) So Please review! Thanks to all who visited though!

~Crystal Cavern

The Harsh Reality

~Senri Shiki~

Chapter 2: Before our Beginning pt.2

I starred at the hunter, his gun pointed at me. At the time, it felt like forever. But in reality it was only a few moments. I thought. It was odd that he would hesitate. His mask was proof of that, splattered with blood and all. The blood of Momma… and Rirra.

Rirra. The thought of her just made me cry all the harder. I tried to wipe the tears away with the back of my hands, but they just kept coming. This was the first time I had my waterworks on at full blast.

The hunter's cruel gaze was unwavering, but then he seemed to soften. I did not know why. Actually, I didn't even notice. It was only when I heard a voice, that I finally realized that he had probably decided to spare me some time. Just a while, so he could answer my earlier question. But the words that I heard were not that. It wasn't the hunter that was speaking. The voice was feminine.

"Why are you crying…Shiki?" That's when I finally looked up. A little girl, a little bit shorter than me, stepped out form behind the Hunter looked in my direction. She looked so much like Rirra, yet acted so different. Her eyes were a dull blue, her face pale, and her golden hair up in pigtails, tied with ribbons. She looked like the kind that didn't talk much, since her face was expressionless, but the question that she asked made it sound that she cared.

That face… That face… it was not evil and mean as I expected, but it was in a frown. She waited for my reply, and after a few moments, I responded.

"You killed Rirra…" My voice was soft. I couldn't control it.

She sighed. And gestured with her hand. "Explain to him, Kibuki."

"As you wish, Rima-sama."

I winced at the sound of her name. It sounded so much like Rirra. I played with the letters of her name, and I noticed if you stretched the double R's in Rirra, you got Rima.

The Hunter took off his mask. His face was very nice, like Ichijou's. He had black hair, and a happy smile. The tall guy, Kibuki, opened his mouth.

"Senri Shiki. I am Kibuki, a level C vampire. I've served the Touya family for generations. This here," he said as he gestured to the little blond expressionless girl, "is Rima-sama, level B, and my master." I looked at her, my face blank, but inside I was raging with questions. Kibuki continued, "Be grateful to Rima-sama. She has just spared your life."

There's no way I'm going to be grateful to that witch! She killed Rirra!

"Shiki-kun," Kibuki said, "Your sister, Rirra Shiki, has not been killed by either Rima-sama or me. It was a Vampire Hunter." He smiled again. "I think you're confusing me with someone else."

I struggled to say something, but in the end, I couldn't. My legs were shaky, but I stood up anyway. (Yes, I was sitting the entire time. I'm writing in pen. I can't go back and correct it. Rima wouldn't let me use pencil. She said she wanted to keep our history as a record.)

"You're not a vampire." I said. "I can't feel your demonic energy. I would have known if you were. The scent's not right either." I pouted.

Kibuki sighed. "I'll tell you the rest when we get back to our hideout. The medicine is wearing off, isn't it, Rima-sama?"

Rima nodded. She turned her back on me,

"Shiki-kun," Kibuki said looking back, "Please try to keep up."

Then they were gone. Of course I followed them. I didn't have any other options.