Chapter 6

Big Billy can very easily be mistaken for a gorilla from afar, though not one person in the apartment building would voice this similarity. When walking down the hall, you would be extremely unfortunate if he was coming down the same hall and toward you. Billy virtually takes up the whole hallway, widthwise. There is absolutely no room to get by, not like he would let you go if you did manage to slip by. Takuma was instantly reminded of those 'innocent' bullies that are common in public schools when he first encountered the large man. You know the ones who never get caught by the teachers even if photographic evidence was shown to prove that the bully in question was guilty? It was the week before Takuma remembered to sleep at night and stay awake in the daytime. It never occurred to him before that time that even in District 5 sleeping during the day was odd and would be noticed. Takuma was coming out of the building as Billy was going in for the night. Stopping the passive vampire with his bulk, Billy commented on Takuma's unusual sleeping habits. Being the gentleman he was brought up to be, Takuma smiled politely and offered an unconvincing excuse. Since then, if the two encountered each other in the hall, Billy would say 'vampire' or 'freak' under his breath just to see if he could get a reaction out of Takuma.

Billy would always commit small crimes or threaten some of the residents for whatever reason. Everyone is either too scared or just not caring to tell the landlord. But the worst thing that he does is the one you only hear in whispers behind closed and bolted doors. It is what he does to lost or homeless children that he picks up off the street. He lures them in with the promise of food, warmth, or help and a sickly sweet smile upon his chubby face. No one ever sees those children ever again. When a brave or stupid soul does manage to ask they just get another disgusting smile and a response along the lines of: "What child? I don't know what you are talking about." After the 5th or 6th incident people stopped asking for numerous reasons.

It was for that reason and that reason alone that caused the panic to go up in Takuma. Being drawn to the small human girl's helplessness and wanting to protect her, he would do absolutely anything to keep her safe.

"Ah, the 'vampire freak' has some company I see," sneered Billy, "Mind if I borrow her?"

"Yes, I do. She is under my protection. Let her go, Billy," Takuma all but snarled his order while reaching for the stunned girl on the floor.

"Oh really," Billy said in a mock disbelieving tone, "Then why is she running away from you, hmm? It might do her good if I take her in. What do you say sweetie?" The last question was directed toward the wide-eyed girl that had backed up against a wall.

Kohana was utterly confused as the man and boy argued above her as if she wasn't even there. When the man that she had run into directed a question at her, she merely stared still unsure as to what was going on. The only thing that Kohana had managed to pick up from the argument was that both of them wanted to take her with them. So Kohana did what she always did when danger and uncertainty were brought before her; she ran.

In the middle of Takuma's protests to Billy's suggestion, the blue-eyed human dragged her worn body up from the ground and sprinted down the hall. Takuma stopped to stare after the fleeing child, relieved that she had made a move to get away from Billy even if it also meant she was running away from him as well. Takuma let out a small breath before drawing it again sharply in anger. Big Billy had muttered something that would have not been heard by anyone with human hearing. But Takuma does not have human hearing because Takuma is not a human. He is a powerful aristocrat vampire. How dare he say something so foul? I can't take it. He threatened someone I chose to protect and on top of that the blood tablets wore off making me extremely thirsty. Beside it's not like this man doesn't deserve it, if you can even call him a man. Takuma's eyes turned from a dulled emerald to a shining blood red and his fangs descended to their full length as he turned toward Billy with his head bowed.

"Hey…what's your damage? Hey man, back off!" Billy snapped as the furious vampire slowly approached with most of his face obscured by his golden bangs. Takuma shoved the now scared bully into the nearest wall, harshly. Billy groaned as his bulbous head bounced off the wall from the quick movement and sudden impact. He gasped when he regained his sight. His entire vision was filled with the two glowing red orbs of a demon and a pair of extremely knife-sharp canines bearing down on him.

Takuma opened his mouth wide and sunk the saliva-dripped fangs into the thrashing victim's neck. It barely lasted 60 seconds, but the sound of Big Billy's shrieks as his life-blood was being drained echoed for endless hours in the vacant hallways and in the ears of anyone that had been within hearing range of the incident.

Kohana flinched at the faint sounds of screaming far along down the corridors of the building. Unconsciously, she had taken refuge in the room that she had awaked in earlier. Kohana was curled up in a tight ball on the side of the lone bed that was farthest from the entry door. Still only slightly aware of where she was, Kohana was gradually being lulled to sleep from the presence of the warm, soft, and clean linens. Not five minutes later, the small girl was out like a light.