|Junko's Home, One Day Later,Around 2.30 Am|

'And what is this supposed to be?' Ren asked in a way that suggested the little piece of paper Junko had handed him had personally offended him by telling a poor 'yo momma' joke. On it was printed out in an orderly fashion a whole time schedule.
Junko stood on her tiptoes, pointing at the neatly colored parts on the paper. 'These are my working hours. I have work from noon to around 11 in the evening, and I usually stay up 'till it's about 3 in the morning. So it would be nice if you could drop in between midnight and when I go to sleep.'
Ren crumpled the piece of paper, growling at the girl. 'And what about my social life?' he snarled, not happy with the current circumstances. 'How am I supposed to feed properly?'

'I'm sure you'll be able to still have a good life, even if you have to spend a few measly hours every day with me.' Junko replied, not getting Ren's problem at all. The vampire let out a dejected sigh, pointing to the night sky in a manner that suggested he was seriously considering storming out of the apartment. 'Listen, I like to have a nice life filled with women who I can feed off. Unless you're suggesting that you don't mind filling in for a few dozen women, you need to change this schedule!'
Junko's face took on an appalled expression. 'What, you mean substituting as your meal and your sex partner? I think not, thank you very much.'
She took a sip of the hot coco she had prepared for herself. 'And you are still perfectly capable of keeping your current lifestyle, it's not like I'm asking you to spend the entire night with me. And you can take Saturdays off, how does that sound?' she asked, in an attempt to get the agitated vampire to relax.

Ren dropped down in a sofa, glaring at the woman sitting there, pretending to be innocent. 'Your parents picked the wrong name for you…' he mumbled. 'Something like Akuma would've much better suited your character.'
The woman rolled her eyes. 'Oh please, don't be like that. As if any parent would go around calling their child 'demon'. Which brings me to an important point, what are vampire parents like?' she asked, eager to obtain some more information for her book. Ren let out a sigh. 'Fine, I'll tell you. But I'm leaving in half an hour. So, vampire parents are…'

|Thursday, 8 PM|

Junko walked around on the streets, once again having been sent out to get some good pictures for the magazine. Her boss, Tanaka, had sent her off in a jovial manner. Coincidence had it that the man also lived in her apartment building, allowing him to even contact her outside of the usual office hours. He was kind enough, even if he didn't actually talk that much. A young girl suddenly bumped into her, her briefcase pressed against her chest.
The girl's dark brown hair had a purplish sheen, and her dark brown eyes looked up tearful at the woman she had bumped into. Blood was softly running from her nose, which was probably the reason for the girl's distress.

Yes, Karin Maaka had once again succeeded in making a fool out of herself. Though this was only a minor blood rush, it still was enough to make her cry out in embarrassment. Life wasn't easy for a blood making vampire, as was once again proven. Looking at the woman in front of her, she couldn't help but cry even more.
Junko bent over, pulling out a white handkerchief to wipe the girl's nose with. Though she was hardly three, perhaps four years older, the girl looked so miserable she couldn't help but take pity.
Karin froze up when the kerchief reached her nose, but she quickly took it, dapping away the small scarlet specks of blood.

'Thanks…' she muttered, blushing fiercely. Junko helped her get up, concerned about the young girl's current state. 'My my, you seem like you've had a rough time just now. Let's get off the streets, and I'll buy you a drink so you can relax a bit, okay?'
Karin hadn't much energy left to protest, following the strange woman. Even if this person wasn't to be trusted – though the thought never passed Karin's mind – Anju's bats were all over the place, keeping an eye on her sister.
One of them was keeping an eye on Karin who entered the café just now, and Anku followed it's movements with great care. Her sister had once again encountered trouble, although it seemed that this time there wouldn't be any need for her to rush out at full speed. Ren passed the living room, and noted the absent-minded way his youngest sister was staring in front of her.
'You're going to exhaust yourself if you keep following Karin like that.' He warned her, not sounding nearly as worried as he actually was. Anju let out a 'hm…' sound, indicating that she had heard Ren. He sighed, and let himself fall down next to Anju in the sofa. He didn't have much time to loiter around if he was to feed and be able to meet that irritating, blackmailing demon girl, but when it came to his little sisters he did manage to spare some time.

'What happened?' he asked Anju, who was holding Bge pressed to her chest. The doll gave him the creeps, being the human spirit of a serial murderer. Now the doll's mouth clappered open, answering instead of its master. 'That dumb cow Karin had a blood nose again, and now she's being treated to a cup of hot chocolate by some human girl.' The doll grunted when Anju pressed its belly hard, sending pain throughout the captured spirit's essence.
'Big sister is safe, for now.' She mumbled. 'Can you stay here, Ren – niisan? Neechan probably won't be able to make it home alone in a safe manner.'
Ren rolled his eyes at the incompetence of the middle child of the family. She was lucky their mother and father were currently out, otherwise they would've thrown a fit again. Not that he minded. A sister who made blood and could run in the sun… getting too attached to such a person would prove no good for a creature of the night. He loathed the sun, and thus all those who walked beneath it without realizing how parching it made the world for a full-fledged vampire. If that meant he was not allowed to love a sister of his… he had resigned himself to that a long time ago, instead turning his brotherly affections to Anju, who was just like him. 'I'll stay.' He said, picking up a book from the table.

'What happened?' Junko asked the girl that was sitting in front of her. The girl wiped away her tears with the now bloodstained handkerchief, leaving red streaks on her face. The girl shook her head, as though she didn't want to think about it. 'My nose bleeds an awful lot… and I can't do anything about it.' The girl explained.
Junko sensed that the girl was probably not telling everything there was to tell, but she decided not to press the matter. 'Well, my name is Junko Akane. I'm happy that there isn't anything serious going on. Although you should do your best to avoid situations where you get a bloody nose.' She advised the girl.
The girl's eyes started to tear up a little bit. 'I'm trying, you know? But it's really hard, and I can't do anything about it and…' the girl started blubbering again, wiping her face with the blood-stained kerchief even more.

'Okay, it's okay…' Junko tried to sound reassuring, but she didn't know what to do with just a waterfall of tears. 'Why don't you tell me your name?' she asked the girl. 'It's Karin… Karin Maaka…' the girl mumbled, starting to calm down a bit again. Junko smiled. 'How funny. It would seem that both of our names have to do with the color red. Our meeting today must have been intended from before.'
Karin let out a smile, before looking at the clock in the bar. 'It's already 9.30! I should be getting home!' Junko smiled also, getting up. 'Well, let me walk you part of the way, okay? You shouldn't be out and about on your own this late in the evening. You could be in danger.'
Karin nodded, thankful for the woman's offer. 'Thank you, Akane – chan.' She said, grabbing her bag. 'They'll probably be wondering where I am at home, so we should hurry though!' Junko nodded, grabbing her camera and winking at the girl. 'Don't worry Maaka –chan! We'll get there on time, you can count on me for that!'

|One hour later… unknown location.|

'Sooooo… we're lost, aren't we?' Junko asked, looking around in a worried fashion. Karin nodded, slumping against a wall. 'I'm sorry… I was worrying so much about my situation that I forgot to pay attention to where we were going.'
'It's okay.' Junko said, trying to console the girl by patting her on the shoulder. 'It's not like anything bad could happen, right?' Karin nodded, relieved that she had another person with her in a time like this. Somebody suddenly put a hand on her shoulder, making her yelp in fear. 'Pervert!' Junko yelled, slapping the stranger in the face.

'Gah! Can you stop hurting me, GODDAMMIT!' Ren snarled, comforting his hurt cheek. 'Ren!' Junko called out, somehow relieved it was the vampire. 'Thank goodness, I was starting to think it was some other pervert.'
'And I'd appreciate it if you would stop calling me a pervert as well.' Ren replied dryly. 'I should've known you were the person that my sister ran into, a misfortune never comes alone.'
'Your little sister?' Junko exclaimed, having seen no family resemblance at all.
'Ren -niichan, you know Akane – chan?' Karin asked, not having tagged the woman as Ren's type. The girl started blushing something fierce when she realized that she was probably one of Ren's feeding partners. 'Akane – chan, are you one of Ren's girlfriends?' she asked the girl.
Junko frowned, seemingly appalled at the idea. 'Dear gods no! We're simply… colleagues, if you need a word for it.'

Ren's mouth twisted as if he had just eaten a lemon. 'Colleagues..' he agreed, trying to seem convincing towards Karin. Even Karin, however slow she was to catch on, did understand that her brother wasn't telling all there was to tell. She kept her mouth shut however, not wishing to get another earful, and especially not in public. Still, the way Ren's eyes seemed to be on the point of turning the blood red that was characteristic of a vampire's rage.
'I will see you later, colleague…' Ren said, keeping his tongue in check, although barely. If anything he wanted to erase that annoying human's memory, and perhaps drink her blood just to make up for lost time. What he did not want was to be forced once again to tell her all the vampire secrets so she could write an idiotic love story that had no way of happening.

Just as he was about to warn her to stay away from Karin, his insolent little sister spoke up. 'Akane – chan… Let's meet up again? It's rare for me to meet someone who' so calm about my… affliction. I'd like to talk again…' the girl mumbled, feeling embarrassed to say something like that out loud.
Junko didn't seem to mind, instead pulling out a business card, handing it to the girl. Ren reached out to grab it, only to get his hand slapped by Junko. 'No! I'll give you my number later on Ren, but don't you dare take that number away from your sister. This is between girls, okay?'
'Don't you start 'okaying' me!' Ren snapped, grabbing Karin by the shoulder without any regard for the girl. She let out a yelp when Ren's nails dug in her shoulder, but knew better than to struggle loose. 'And I do not want to associate you with my family any further!'

Junko ignored him as she turned around and walked away. She waved behind her as she did so, her voice ringing out behind her. 'Maaka – chan, be sure to give me a call if you need someone to help you out! Oh, and Ren, be sure to be on time tonight!'
Karin kept quiet, seeing the girl walk off. Ren's pupils had reverted to narrow slits, not unlike those of a cat. She hid the card in her back pocket, hoping Ren wouldn't ask for it again. Her older brother grabbed her by the shoulder, dragging her along. 'Let's get you home. You'll have school soon.'

|The Maaka Residence|

'I'm leaving.' Ren said, adjusting his shirt in the mirror and stroking his hair so it fell just right. If he was lucky he would be able to get a quick bite before arriving at Junko's. Anju was standing behind him, her long silvery hair unbound by ribbons or other adornments. Bge was resting in her arms as she let her eyes rest upon her older brother in the kind of way that suggested she already suspected something.
'Ren – niisan…' she said, her soft voice sounding from behind him. He watched his youngest sister in the mirror, wondering what she wanted of him. 'Yeah?'
'Junko Akane – san… what is she to you?' she asked, although she already suspected an answer. Regardless of Ren's answer, she would send her bats out to stalk him in the pitch-black night, towards the residence of the person that had shown kindness to her beloved older sister. For a day-walker, it had been an unexpected thing to do, even for another human.

'That demon girl?' Ren asked, half-snorting in frustration. Already the annoying questions came, which he would have to dodge lest anyone figure out he had been the one that had spilled the truth about vampires living in the town. He cast Anju a glance over his shoulder, once again marveling at the maturity that the youngest Maaka child displayed so often. 'She's just some girl I'm toying with. It won't last long, I can assure you that.'
No matter the words, Anju already noticed that her older brother's tone of speech betrayed that it was more a wish than an actual fact. She did not press the matter, instead turning around towards the house, hoping their parents would soon be home. She disliked the feeling of an empty house. Even though her sister was there, Karin would already be sleeping, regaining her strengths for another day underneath the scorching heat of the sun. A day in which she could not follow so easily, no matter how she wished for it.

'Come back soon.' She said softly as the door closed behind her, shutting Ren off from her as he went to see that human woman. Leaving her alone in a house that seemed to be getting emptier and emptier as time went one. With a decisive look she sat down on the stairs, focusing instead on her bats who were following her brother. Even if he had a secret, she had her reasons for wanting to know. Even if it meant making him mad.

|Junko's Home|

'Well, there you are! Do you know how late it is?' Junko asked, a dismayed look on her face as she let Ren enter her apartment. From the corner of her eye she spotted her boss, Tanaka, just coming out of his door. 'Junko – chan, how are you doing?'
'Ah, Mister Tanaka, you're up awfully late as well. Please take care not to become sick.' She said, being pleased that she had such a kind boss. The man showed her a smile, gesturing to her door. 'Do you have a boyfriend now, Junko –chan?' he asked.
Junko shook her head, not being happy as such a personal question was asked. Still, Tanaka had his privileges as her supervisor. 'Ah, he's just an informant sir. Nothing special.'
Tanaka nodded, flashing her another smile. 'I see. Have a good night, Junko. Don't stay up too late.'

Junko closed the door behind her, letting out a sigh. 'Some people just have to know everything, don't they?' she muttered, before turning her eyes on Ren. He was standing near the coffee table, his eyes scanning the papers filled with the information she had gotten from him. Though it was not nearly enough to start her story, already something was taking form. The kind of story that would make young women swoon at the thought of a fair-skinned vampire come to take them from their homes and lead an interesting life.
The thing that would make her story different was that she would have all the facts. Her story would resemble the truth more than any other story out there, enabling her to earn enough money so she could leave Japan once and for all.

Ren looked at her as she neared, seemingly as annoyed as ever. 'Took you long enough too.' He said, hinting at the short exchange of words she had had with her boss. She pouted, not happy with the remark. 'He's my boss. It's not like I could refuse to talk to him either. So, how about you tell me some more about vampires?'
Ren smirked, striking his hair behind his ear as he leant back in the sofa. 'What are you going to write, exactly?'
'A love story. Between a human and a vampire, only this one will be truthful.'
Ren's smirk grew wider as he considered that thought. 'What a poor love story that would make… after all, a love between a human and a vampire is something that can never be.'