Three days later, I hear that Masao passed away. I don't know if he'll rise up or not, but if he does, I hae no desire to see him. A few days pass, and Tatsumi-Kun comes to me, with a sadistic smile on his face. "What did I do this time?" I ask, keeping my eyes cast downward. Lately, he only comes to see me if he wants to berate me for being weak. slow, or stupid. Rarely does he not get physical about it. I've been forced to go out and hunt every night since I bit the girl. I perpously choose older victims, people who don't have very long left to live to begin with. I drain them until they're unconcious, and then leave. If they die of heart failure do to it, I know I caused it, but at least I left them alive, with a chance to recover. Maybe Tatsumi-Kun's figured out what I've been doing, and has come to punish me for it.
"Don't play innocent with me," Tatsumi-Kun growls. I flinch. He sounds mad. I slowly look up at him. Oh, no doubt about it, he knows what I've done. "I've been watching you, Tohru! I've known from the start what you've been doing with your victims! You cowardly little worm, I told you Sunako wants our numbers to grow, yet you keep trying to find the easy way out. Haven't you figured it out that there's no punishment for doing what you need to do in order to survive?"
I shake my head and sink to my knees, resigned for whatever violence he decides to bestow on me tonight. "I don't care! What we are... What I've become... This hunger when it can't be controlled. That's not something I want to be responsible for forcing onto anyone else!" I sob. "Why can't the rest of you understand that?"
"Do you realize how lonely eternity is when there's no one to spend it with you?" Tatsumi-Kun says mindlessly, looking out toward the direction of Kanemasa. We 'Fledglings' aren't allowed up to the mansion unless on official business, we have to take sanctuary in other places where the humans won't find us. Sunako, our self proclaimed queen is hidden away in Kanemasa.
"Huh?" I ask.
"NOTHING!" Tatsumi-Kun growls, regaining his usual demeanor and turning back to me. "I'm disappointed in you, Tohru," he snarls, "I've given you far too many chances. I asked Sunako how to punish you. She refuses to allow me to destroy you just yet." A smile sweeps his face and he gives a laugh. "She has other plans. As you know, Nao-San has been trying to turn her family. Her mother-in-law is the last, but she's been taken to Ozaki-Sensei's clinic. Night after tomorrow, a group of us is going out to raid the hospital and take her back."
"I want no part of it," I say coldly.
"Don't worry about that," Tatsumi-Kun chuckles, "You're not invited." He walks over and towers over me, hands on his hips. He bends at the waist and pushes his face into mine. "I've got another mission for you in the meantime."
"No," I refuse without even hearing him out. "I refuse to target anyone outside my usual target group."
"You don't even know what it is, yet," he laughs, "I thought you'd be happy to see your old friend Yuuki Natsuno again."
My eyes grow wide and I look up at him. "N-Natsuno? What about him?" I ask. Did Megumi-Chan get him without my knowledge. Has he been turned? But I've been keeping an eye on his house. I stop by his and mine every night on my way back from the hunt to make sure there aren't any other Okiagari lurking about. He should have been safe!
"He knows about us. He tipped the Doctor off to our presence a few days ago and is out to digging up Megumi-Chan's grave as we speak," Tatsumi-Kun says.
"I don't believe you," I say. Tatsumi-Kun looks at me with a raised eyebrow. Before he can ask why I would accuse him of lying, I add, "Natsuno doesn't believe in creatures like us. If omeone told him about us, he'd think they were crazy!"
"You're wrong," Tatsumi-Kun says, "He's known everytime Megumi-Chan has been out his window, ever since we started letting her go out. It's why he's had trouble sleeping at home, isn't it?" My eyes grow wide. "He saw the first time she bit you, too. So yes, he knows, and believes, and he's fighting back."
I stagger to my feet. "What are you asking me to do? I won't hurt him, Tatsumi-Kun! I'll try to convince him to stop, but I won't hurt him!"
"Yes you will," Tatsumi-Kun says, slamming me against the wall. "You're under orders to dispose of him. Sunako said that she will overlook everything you've done up to this point if you rid us of him."
"And if I refuse?" I ask.
"Then we'll send someone to your house for your brother and sister," Tasumi-Kun threatens. I don't answer him. I don't want them to target Aoi-Chan and Tamotsu-Chan. But I still don't want to hurt Natsuno. Tatsumi-Kun huffs and slams me against the wall again. "You're hopless," he scolds. "Fine, I'll send Masao after one of your siblings. Maybe Megumi-Chan will go after this Yuuki brat." I freeze in horror at those words. "Or, I suppose I can send someone he doesn't know. I just figured he'd be lest likely to fight back if it were someone he trusts." He starts to walk away.
"NO, wait, please!" I say. He turns and looks back at me. Maybe... Maybe I can work this to my advantage and save him. Tatsumi-Kun will be at the clinic. "Natsuno will fight back if someone he doesn't know comes after him. And he's terrified of Megumi-Chan," I hang my head, "He'd never let her get close enough. He'd hate it if he became one of us. If someone has to do it, it would be better if it were someone he knew."
"Then you'll do it?" Tatsumi-Kun asks.
I look away and nod, trying not to let the tears flow. "I'll do it." Maybe I can convince him to leave, to run now while he can, and never come back, then convince the others he's gone? I can't let on what I'm thinking. Tatsumi-Kun will be at the clinic, I'll have a chance to talk to him. Maybe I won't even have to bite him.
"Good, you and Matsuo Shizuka will be heading to his house tomorrow night." I flinch and look up at him. Tomorrow? "Send Shizuka-Chan to the door to gain entry. She already knows what to say and do." I nod. Great, tonight and chaperoned? "I sent someone to keep an eye on him and his friends tonight. IF he makes it home at all, I want you to bite him immediately after gaining entry. You have until the end of the week to get rid of him, before I send someone else, and that's being generous. If it comes down to it, I will take him out personally, and force you and Megumi both to watch," he threatens.
"That won't be necessary," I assure him.
"Good, now go," he orders.
"Y-yes, Tatsumi-Kun," I answer, turning and leaving. Like it or not, I still have to feed tonight.
"And Tohru," he calls after me. I stop, but don't look back. "If it DOES come to that, you're next, followed by your entire family."
"I understand," I say, leaving the room.
Shizuka-Chan and I leave the next night, heading straight for Natsuno's house. I'm still plotting a way to get out of this. If I convince Shizuka-Chan to wait out in the woods, maybe I can slip inside his room, convince him to leave in the morning, and then claim I bit him. I wait out in the tree line, as Shizuka goes to the front door. Even at this distance, I can hear and see everything that's happening, without being seen.
"Remember," I whisper as she scampers toward the house, "We're here for Natsuno, his parents are off limits!"
"I know," Shizuka-Chan replies. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing! Besides, I fed before we left" She falls silent for a moment, then mumbles under her breath, "I'M NOT the incompetant one, anyway!"
"Wha... What...? Why you little...!" I growl. I don't have it in me to hurt her, even when she sticks her tongue out a me and pulls down one of her eyelids. Disrespectful brat!
"Excuse me?" Shizuka-Chan calls, knocking at the door.
The door opens, and Natsuno's fathe answers. "Yes?"
"Is this where Yuuki-San resides?" Shizuka asks, keeping her eyes hidden by her school cap and using her Geisha puppet to talk through. I heave a sigh and bury my face in my hand. I'm half hopeful Yuuki-San won't let her in. "I am called Shizuka. Where is Natsuno-Dono? Is... Is he home?" DONO? Really? MASTER NATSUNO? Yuuki-San, PLEASE don't agree to let her in.
"Ah, you're one of Natsuno's friends, then?" Yuuki-San asks. I blink in disbelief. You CAN'T be serious...? "He's not home yet." Really? Where would he be at this hour? With who...? Did he finally...? No, he said that guy had a girlfriend... Then, why isn't he home? If he knows about us, doesn't he realize it's safer to be indoors after dark? "Is there something you wanted to see him about?"
She continues to use the doll for a ventriloquist act, and Yuuki-San looks annoyed, almost creeped out. "It's a matter of importance, may I wait for him?"
"What's so important? I can take a message for him," Yuuki-San offers.
"No, I have to speak with him in person!" Shizuka-Chan insists.
"But it's late, and I don't know when he'll be back," Yuuki-San argues, "It's already dinnertime, why don't you go home tonight and try again tomorrow?"
Shizuka pushes her freakly little puppet into Yuuki-San's face, showing it's sharp shark-like teeth, and pulling a string to make it's eyes bulge like a monster's. "NO!"
Yuuki-San staggers back a bit, startled by the puppet's sudden change from an unassuming child's toy to this hideous demon head. I find some sort of bitter, yet delightful irony in the fact that he profusely insist on not believing in monsters, religions, or superstitions, yet this clearly startled him. I guess even grown ups can get scared. I try not to laugh at the look on his face.
"It HAS to be TODAY!" Shizuka-Chan insists, "IF I SAY I WILL WAIT, I WILL WAIT!"
"Like I said, I don't know when he'll be back! What's your family name?" Yuuki-San asks, "Where are you from?"
"I AM MATSUO SHIZUKA!" she shrieks, "I LIVE IN SAKAIMA-TSU ON THE BORDER OF KAMISOTOBA BEFORE THE GATE!"
"SakaiMatsu? Is that a place or a store?" Yuuki-San asks, "I still don't know a lot about this village, especially that far out." He holds up his hand to bar her entrance and I heave a quiet sigh of relief. It doesn't seem like he's planning to let her in. "In any case, it's far away and late. You should go home for today, and I'll let him know you came by."
Shizuka-Chan screams in rage and throws the puppet, mouth wide open, straight at Yuuki-San. My eyes grow wide. She knows we're not supposed to hurt Natsuno's parents, and I can't give myself away. Thankfully, Yuuki-San moves to the side and the puppet whizzes past his head, slamming into the wall behind slumping onto the floor. "Hey!?" he starts to scold her, he stops, breathless as Shizuka-Chan holds up her hand, revealing a face painted on it.
"WHY DO YOU INTERFERE YOU STUPID OLD MAN!" she screams. I can't help but face palm again. She accuses me of being the incompitant one, but then does stuff like this? Yuuki-San isn't the kind of guy who tollerates this sort of behavior. I'm surprised he hasn't slammed the door in her face yet. "HURRY UP AND LET ME IN!"
"What is going on out here?" Koide-Sama asks, coming out of the kitchen to see what the commotion is all about.
Yuuki-San points at Shizkua-Chan. He's clearly disgusted with her behavior and fed up with the vintriloquist act. "Azusa, this girl claims to have business with Natsuno. She's insisting on waiting."
Koide-Sama simply sighs. "My, what an adorable little girl." Oh no...! I seem to recall Koide-Sama once telling me how lucky she thought I must feel being an older sibling. She'd always wanted to give Natsuno a little sister, but it simply never happened, and by the time he was ten, he was still the only child and rather spoiled about it, so she gave up the idea. Here it comes... "Can't we just let her in? She's only a child, after all!"
Yuuki-San huffs. "Fine, you can wait inside for now!" Shizuka-Chan zips past him without so much as a word of thanks. I almost wish Yuuki-San would turn her over his knee and spank her for the way she was acting before Koide-Sama came to the door. "Hey!?"
She picks up her puppet and reattatches the head, then turns and looks at him. "Now, I will wait in Natsuno-Dono's room, which way is it?" Yuuki-San looks like he's about to object, when she stomps her foot. "WHICH WAY!?"
Yuuki-San stares at her in flustered shock and Koide-Sama can't help stifling a giggle at his expense. "Make a right at the end of the hall."
Again, no word of thanks, she simply keeps walking. Did this kid's parents teach her ANY manners when she was still alive, or does she just think they don't apply to her now that she's among the undead? "Oh, yes," she says, "My brothe may join me later. Is that fine?"
Yuuki-San heaves a sigh and starts to close the door. "Yes, yes, go ahead!"
I bite my finger. Damn, if Koide-Sama had only stayed out of it or supported Yuuki-San's decision to turn her away. We wait late into the night. Natsuno doesn't come, and since they made sure Shizuka was fed, but didn't feed me, I'm starting to get really hungry. What am I doing here? I really don't want to do this.
Shizuka gets bored, sitting by herself in the dark in Natsuno's room and starts to snoop. Finally, she gets tired of waiting. We don't have very long left before we have to start back 'home' to the others, and I still need to feed. Shizuka-Chan waits a few more minutes and turns down an offer from Koide-Sama for some home brewed tea. A few moments later, she scrambles out through Natsuno's window and comes running up to me.
I scowl at her, my hands on my hips. "Do you act like that to everybody?" I scold her. "You're lucky they let you in at all acting like that!"
She ignores my scolding. "His room is boring," she says. "I tried to look for something to keep my occupied, but mostly all I found were school books. I did find this, though!" She unzips the school satchel hanging off her shoulder and pulls out a stuffed bear that she had squished down inside it. "I can't believe this guy still plays with stuffed animals?"
My eyes widen at the sight of the stuffed animal. "H-Honey Bear?" I forget my own manners and snatch it from her.
"Hey!?" she exclaims. "I found it, fair and square! Give it back!"
"Why... Why does he have this?" I mumble out loud, hugging the stuffed animal tight.
She freezes, her eyes widening for a moment of realization. "It's not his... It's yours, isn't it?"
I give a quiet nod, hugging the bear closer, tears running down my cheeks. I drop to my knees. "Of all the people my parents could have given her to," I laugh, "I never even wanted him to know I had this."
"It's yours anyway, keep it!" Shizuka-Chan says. "Why should he have it, if it means that much to you?"
They wanted to let him have something to remember me by, didn't they? I'm confused as to why he chose THIS of all things, but I'm sure someone had told him what sort of sentimental value the bear had for me if this was his choice. I'm sorry, Natsuno. I'm keeping her tonight. I'll bring her back when I come talk to you.
"Let's go," Shizuka-Chan says, "It's getting late, and you need to feed."
I nod and we leave. Along the way, we stop and I find someone else to feed from. In spite of Shizuka-Chan's protest, I stick to my usual M.O., someone old and feeble, who's lived a long life, and doesn't have much longer. I knock at the window until they answer, then pull them out and bite their neck, draining them until my hunger is satisfied. Then, I hypnotize them to ensure they don't tell anyone what really happened, and leave. Whatever happens to them beyond that, I have no part in. I'm becoming use to the guilt.
I return to Natsuno's the next night, but can't gain entry. His room is covered in protection scrolls, crosses, and good luck charms. They all seem to be cheap and hand made, but they're still effective. I can't enter it. From the angle in which I'm looking, I can see him lying in his bed. Same as the last time he slept over at my house, flat on his back, hands clasped together over his chest. I smile. He's safe tonight, and looks peaceful and content. If I can't get in, thanks to these protection wards, no one else can, either. I leave, and hunt for food elsewhere. I'll come back to check on him tomorrow night.