Chapter 2
Upon reaching the house Riho unlocks the door. Entering she sets her backpack on the floor inside the door and looks around. "Looks like he went to bed or something so we'll have to go up stairs." She heads upstairs.
Ecko follows carrying the bag of movies. "Why can't we stay down here?"
"Because his room is down here." She laughs lightly. "And there's a bigger TV. up here anyway." She continues up the stairs walking to the end of the hall she opens the door and they enter a large room decorated with various shades of blue and white. The only furniture being a four post bed, a dresser and a desk cluttered with various computer equipment. A big screen TV. sits no more then five feet from the end of the bed.
Ecko chuckles. "It still amazes me how you got all this stuff to fit in here." He moves over to the TV. turning it on and plugging a movie into the VCR. He moves back setting down on the bed.
Riho kicks off her shoes and climbs up on the bed laying down on her stomach. "In a few days I'll have more space. Because that wall is coming down." She indicates the wall behind the TV.
"Your dad's going to let you do that?" He leans back grabbing a pillow getting comfortable.
"Yeah Ecko it was his idea." She shifts a bit shoving him playfully. "We going to watch this movie or talk?"
He laughs, lightly shoving her back. "Watch the movie." He gets comfortable again laying his head on the pillow tilting it so it leans against her arm. "You think your dad would let me crash here tonight?"
She smiles her attention on the movie. "Yeah of course."
Ecko smiles seeing she's more interested in the movie then answering his questions. He shifts around a bit closing his eyes wanting to sleep instead of watch the movie.
After a while the movie ends leaving the room bathed in a soft glow of white light it flickers then fades as the TV. shuts itself off plunging the room into complete darkness. Leaving Riho and Ecko sleeping soundlessly on the bed.
Ecko shifts around slightly his peaceful sleep interrupted by startling images of a tragic loss from his not so distant past. One image not as disturbing as the rest, it being that of a little four year old girl with short jet black hair and jade green eyes.
She giggles lightly. "Ecko." She calls playfully her voice sounding distant though she appears to be standing right in front of him.
"Elly?" He reaches out to touch her, her image fades and once again he stands in the empty living room of a house where he and his biological family had once lived. "Elly?" He calls again looking around frantically. As red-orange flames start to move across the floor and up the walls. "Elly May Hayato where are you?"
"Ecko." The girls voice echoes off the walls slowly fading into Riho's. He slowly opens his eyes, sitting up he leans forward resting his elbows on his knees wiping the sweat off his face with his hands.
Riho wonders around the room in her underwear looking around for a change of clothes. "Ecko you alright man?" She sits next to him on the bed a white tank top in her hand.
"Yeah I'm fine." He rubs his hands over his face and back through his hair standing. "I'm going to catch a shower, you have anything I can wear afterward?
She smiles. "I'm sure I can find something."
"Thanks kiddo." He messes her hair then heads off to the bathroom to take a shower.
Riho wonders around her room a bit more before changing into a black leather skirt and the white tank top. She heads down stairs to the kitchen grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter. She moves to her dad's room and knocks on the door.
"Come in." He calls hearing the knock.
She turns the knob opening the door entering. "Hi Zenith how was your night?" She moves over to the desk running her fingers over the stack off books then turns to look in the direction of the closed bathroom door leaning back against the desk.
"Riho how many times do I have to tell you to call me dad?" He walks out of the bathroom a joining his room pulling an orange T-shirt with a picture of a sliver dragon on it down over his blue jeans. Being twenty- eight with a twelve year old daughter was hard for him. with his short black hair and jade green eyes and her black hair and blue eyes they look almost identical. People who saw them together would swear that he looked like he should be her brother instead of her dad.
She sighs sitting down in the chair in front of the desk. "I'm sorry it's kind of hard to get used to." She looks up at him. "The reason I came is Ecko stayed over last night and he needs to borrow a change of clothes."
He smiles. "Alright." He moves to the closet removing a pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt, he turns to the dresser grabbing a pair of socks and a pair of boxer shorts then closes the drawer. He hands the clothes to Riho.
She smiles, standing she kisses his cheek. "Thanks." She runs off to give the clothes to Ecko.
Zenith chuckles watching her leave. "Welcome." His eyes flash red and he shakes his head. He sits down on the bed pulling on his boots.
Riho wonders down the hallway to the bathroom. She knocks on the door opening it after Ecko tells her it's alright. He stands in front of the mirror in nothing but a towel combing his hair. She clears her throat. "I-I got you some clothes." She sets them on the counter next to him.
He looks up at her and smiles. "Thanks." He picks up the pair of boxers with little red hearts on them and studies them a moment then tosses them into the laundry basket. "Don't need those." He grabs the socks and puts them on. He tugs lightly on his towel and it drops to the floor.
Riho's eyes widen slightly and she turns her back to him. "So uh. . . is there anything special that you had planed to do today?" She smiles slightly. Or anyone for that matter? She mentally kicks herself for the silent comment.
Ecko laughs lightly pulling on his jeans. "Alright you can look now." He buttons them up looking her over once wondering not for the first time sense they met what she'd look like with out her clothes.
She turns to face him her cheeks still a little red from blushing, her ice blue eyes shining brightly. "Well do you have plans?"
He shakes his head. "No, I don't even think I'm going to go home. Because I know what will happen if I do." He pulls on his shirt messing his hair up. He picks up the comb running it through his hair again. "What do you think? I look alright?" He turns to face her.
Mm hot stuff. She smiles. "Yeah you look fine." She nervously stuffs her hands into her pockets.
"Thanks." He smiles turning back to the mirror, he picks up one of the many toothbrushes on the counter and brushes his teeth. "How about you, do you have plans?" He looks up at her reflection in the mirror a few strands of his brown hair falling over his eyes.
She just stands there a moment before speaking mesmerized by his sparkling green eyes. "N-n. . ." She clears her throat again. "No I don't have plans."
"Good." He turns to look at her a mischievous grin on his face. "Then what do you say we go find a real vampire?"
"Do what?" Riho looks at him slightly shocked. "I thought you didn't believe in this stuff?"
Ecko shrugs walking past her. "It will give us something to do and it's not like we're really going to find one." He walks down the hall leaving her standing in the doorway.
She follows quickly catching up. "But what if we do find one?"
He makes his way to the kitchen, with Riho no more then a step behind. "Just hope we don't." He looks around a moment then starts going through the cupboards. "Because if we do, they'll most likely want blood and we'll be on the dinner list. So we may end up in a fight and killing a few or end up with them killing us." He finds a box of cereal and opens it up, taking a hand full stuffing it into his mouth.
Riho hops up sitting on the gray and white marble countertop. "Then what's the point in going?" She swings her legs back and forth her heels making a soft thud sound against the cupboard door.
Ecko hops up next to her setting the cereal box between them. "Just to see if we can." He takes another hand full of cereal and eats it.
"You guys eat yet?" Zenith enters looking over at them. He moves over to the coffee machine and starts a pot of coffee.
"Yeah." Ecko shows him the box of cereal.
Zenith laughs. "How about you Riho you eat?" He moves to the fridge grabbing a couple of eggs. Setting them on the counter he gets a bowl and a fork. Breaking the eggs into the bowl he mixes them up adding some cinnamon.
Riho smiles watching him. "No not yet." She slides down off the counter grabbing a loaf of bread and sits it down on the counter next to him.
"Thanks." Zenith smiles kissing her forehead. He reaches around her grabbing the frying pan he sets it on the stove. "You going to want some of this?"
Riho shakes her head. "No thanks I'll get something later." She moves over grabbing Ecko's arm. "We should really be going."
"Going where?" Zenith asks slightly puzzled.
"No where special." She tugs on Ecko's arm and he slides down off the counter. She moves toward the door and he follows.
"Hey wait a minute aren't you two suppose to be in school?" Zenith finishes up cooking and places the dishes in the sink.
Ecko laughs. "No it's Saturday." He turns to Zenith pulling his arm from Riho's grasp.
She grabs hold of his arm again. "Come on let's go already." She tugs lightly on his arm. "Come on."
Zenith laughs lightly pouring syrup on his frechtoast. "Looks like someone's getting impatient."
"Yeah I guess we better go." Ecko chuckles allowing Riho to pull him toward the door. "Oh hey Zenith you think I could stay here a while?"
"Yeah you can stay as long as you need to." Zenith smiles eating his breakfast.
"Thanks man I owe you." Ecko follows Riho out the door grabbing their jackets on the way.
Upon reaching the house Riho unlocks the door. Entering she sets her backpack on the floor inside the door and looks around. "Looks like he went to bed or something so we'll have to go up stairs." She heads upstairs.
Ecko follows carrying the bag of movies. "Why can't we stay down here?"
"Because his room is down here." She laughs lightly. "And there's a bigger TV. up here anyway." She continues up the stairs walking to the end of the hall she opens the door and they enter a large room decorated with various shades of blue and white. The only furniture being a four post bed, a dresser and a desk cluttered with various computer equipment. A big screen TV. sits no more then five feet from the end of the bed.
Ecko chuckles. "It still amazes me how you got all this stuff to fit in here." He moves over to the TV. turning it on and plugging a movie into the VCR. He moves back setting down on the bed.
Riho kicks off her shoes and climbs up on the bed laying down on her stomach. "In a few days I'll have more space. Because that wall is coming down." She indicates the wall behind the TV.
"Your dad's going to let you do that?" He leans back grabbing a pillow getting comfortable.
"Yeah Ecko it was his idea." She shifts a bit shoving him playfully. "We going to watch this movie or talk?"
He laughs, lightly shoving her back. "Watch the movie." He gets comfortable again laying his head on the pillow tilting it so it leans against her arm. "You think your dad would let me crash here tonight?"
She smiles her attention on the movie. "Yeah of course."
Ecko smiles seeing she's more interested in the movie then answering his questions. He shifts around a bit closing his eyes wanting to sleep instead of watch the movie.
After a while the movie ends leaving the room bathed in a soft glow of white light it flickers then fades as the TV. shuts itself off plunging the room into complete darkness. Leaving Riho and Ecko sleeping soundlessly on the bed.
Ecko shifts around slightly his peaceful sleep interrupted by startling images of a tragic loss from his not so distant past. One image not as disturbing as the rest, it being that of a little four year old girl with short jet black hair and jade green eyes.
She giggles lightly. "Ecko." She calls playfully her voice sounding distant though she appears to be standing right in front of him.
"Elly?" He reaches out to touch her, her image fades and once again he stands in the empty living room of a house where he and his biological family had once lived. "Elly?" He calls again looking around frantically. As red-orange flames start to move across the floor and up the walls. "Elly May Hayato where are you?"
"Ecko." The girls voice echoes off the walls slowly fading into Riho's. He slowly opens his eyes, sitting up he leans forward resting his elbows on his knees wiping the sweat off his face with his hands.
Riho wonders around the room in her underwear looking around for a change of clothes. "Ecko you alright man?" She sits next to him on the bed a white tank top in her hand.
"Yeah I'm fine." He rubs his hands over his face and back through his hair standing. "I'm going to catch a shower, you have anything I can wear afterward?
She smiles. "I'm sure I can find something."
"Thanks kiddo." He messes her hair then heads off to the bathroom to take a shower.
Riho wonders around her room a bit more before changing into a black leather skirt and the white tank top. She heads down stairs to the kitchen grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter. She moves to her dad's room and knocks on the door.
"Come in." He calls hearing the knock.
She turns the knob opening the door entering. "Hi Zenith how was your night?" She moves over to the desk running her fingers over the stack off books then turns to look in the direction of the closed bathroom door leaning back against the desk.
"Riho how many times do I have to tell you to call me dad?" He walks out of the bathroom a joining his room pulling an orange T-shirt with a picture of a sliver dragon on it down over his blue jeans. Being twenty- eight with a twelve year old daughter was hard for him. with his short black hair and jade green eyes and her black hair and blue eyes they look almost identical. People who saw them together would swear that he looked like he should be her brother instead of her dad.
She sighs sitting down in the chair in front of the desk. "I'm sorry it's kind of hard to get used to." She looks up at him. "The reason I came is Ecko stayed over last night and he needs to borrow a change of clothes."
He smiles. "Alright." He moves to the closet removing a pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt, he turns to the dresser grabbing a pair of socks and a pair of boxer shorts then closes the drawer. He hands the clothes to Riho.
She smiles, standing she kisses his cheek. "Thanks." She runs off to give the clothes to Ecko.
Zenith chuckles watching her leave. "Welcome." His eyes flash red and he shakes his head. He sits down on the bed pulling on his boots.
Riho wonders down the hallway to the bathroom. She knocks on the door opening it after Ecko tells her it's alright. He stands in front of the mirror in nothing but a towel combing his hair. She clears her throat. "I-I got you some clothes." She sets them on the counter next to him.
He looks up at her and smiles. "Thanks." He picks up the pair of boxers with little red hearts on them and studies them a moment then tosses them into the laundry basket. "Don't need those." He grabs the socks and puts them on. He tugs lightly on his towel and it drops to the floor.
Riho's eyes widen slightly and she turns her back to him. "So uh. . . is there anything special that you had planed to do today?" She smiles slightly. Or anyone for that matter? She mentally kicks herself for the silent comment.
Ecko laughs lightly pulling on his jeans. "Alright you can look now." He buttons them up looking her over once wondering not for the first time sense they met what she'd look like with out her clothes.
She turns to face him her cheeks still a little red from blushing, her ice blue eyes shining brightly. "Well do you have plans?"
He shakes his head. "No, I don't even think I'm going to go home. Because I know what will happen if I do." He pulls on his shirt messing his hair up. He picks up the comb running it through his hair again. "What do you think? I look alright?" He turns to face her.
Mm hot stuff. She smiles. "Yeah you look fine." She nervously stuffs her hands into her pockets.
"Thanks." He smiles turning back to the mirror, he picks up one of the many toothbrushes on the counter and brushes his teeth. "How about you, do you have plans?" He looks up at her reflection in the mirror a few strands of his brown hair falling over his eyes.
She just stands there a moment before speaking mesmerized by his sparkling green eyes. "N-n. . ." She clears her throat again. "No I don't have plans."
"Good." He turns to look at her a mischievous grin on his face. "Then what do you say we go find a real vampire?"
"Do what?" Riho looks at him slightly shocked. "I thought you didn't believe in this stuff?"
Ecko shrugs walking past her. "It will give us something to do and it's not like we're really going to find one." He walks down the hall leaving her standing in the doorway.
She follows quickly catching up. "But what if we do find one?"
He makes his way to the kitchen, with Riho no more then a step behind. "Just hope we don't." He looks around a moment then starts going through the cupboards. "Because if we do, they'll most likely want blood and we'll be on the dinner list. So we may end up in a fight and killing a few or end up with them killing us." He finds a box of cereal and opens it up, taking a hand full stuffing it into his mouth.
Riho hops up sitting on the gray and white marble countertop. "Then what's the point in going?" She swings her legs back and forth her heels making a soft thud sound against the cupboard door.
Ecko hops up next to her setting the cereal box between them. "Just to see if we can." He takes another hand full of cereal and eats it.
"You guys eat yet?" Zenith enters looking over at them. He moves over to the coffee machine and starts a pot of coffee.
"Yeah." Ecko shows him the box of cereal.
Zenith laughs. "How about you Riho you eat?" He moves to the fridge grabbing a couple of eggs. Setting them on the counter he gets a bowl and a fork. Breaking the eggs into the bowl he mixes them up adding some cinnamon.
Riho smiles watching him. "No not yet." She slides down off the counter grabbing a loaf of bread and sits it down on the counter next to him.
"Thanks." Zenith smiles kissing her forehead. He reaches around her grabbing the frying pan he sets it on the stove. "You going to want some of this?"
Riho shakes her head. "No thanks I'll get something later." She moves over grabbing Ecko's arm. "We should really be going."
"Going where?" Zenith asks slightly puzzled.
"No where special." She tugs on Ecko's arm and he slides down off the counter. She moves toward the door and he follows.
"Hey wait a minute aren't you two suppose to be in school?" Zenith finishes up cooking and places the dishes in the sink.
Ecko laughs. "No it's Saturday." He turns to Zenith pulling his arm from Riho's grasp.
She grabs hold of his arm again. "Come on let's go already." She tugs lightly on his arm. "Come on."
Zenith laughs lightly pouring syrup on his frechtoast. "Looks like someone's getting impatient."
"Yeah I guess we better go." Ecko chuckles allowing Riho to pull him toward the door. "Oh hey Zenith you think I could stay here a while?"
"Yeah you can stay as long as you need to." Zenith smiles eating his breakfast.
"Thanks man I owe you." Ecko follows Riho out the door grabbing their jackets on the way.