Disclaimer: I don't own Shiki. I just own my Original Characters


8.- Outbreak

September 16th, 4:50 pm.

The jingling sound of the keys hitting the top of the coffee table echoed throughout the house. After discarding my beaten backpack on the couch I managed to drag myself to the kitchen making a beeline straight to the refrigerator. Taking out a bag of mouthwatering A positive before sitting at the table to drink it in peace a sigh left my lips.

Just looking at the state of the house its obvious that lately I haven't spent too much time in here. It's messy and dusty. My room, the kitchen and the living room seem more like war zones than actual rooms of a decent home. I'm tired, not physically at least, but being in constant alert for every freaking little thing is wearing my mind out added to my lack of proper meals since the Megumi incident days ago.

I'll collapse if I continue like this, though I can't give me the luxury of that. Not now at the very least.

I know I need to hurry and go. My mind is perfectly aware that I have to hurry and leave as soon as possible, however every cell in my body is only focused on the delicious red liquid going down my throat and the exhilarating feeling that provokes into my chest. I gave into the pleasure only for a second before going back to business.

What business? Well I've become a bodyguard. The day after Tohru was bitten by that pink-haired vixen he stopped going to school and shut in his room, the one who told that out of worry was Aoi. It's been two days since then. I stopped going to school too and visited him on the 13th which didn't go well.

Getting inside his room I found Tohru sitting still in his usual spot in front of the television with the gaze glued at the screen. I closed and locked the door even when one of the rules of his mom is to have the door open when it's just the two of us before sitting beside him.

I asked him many, many things going from what was his new game about, why he was skipping school to if he remembered anything of the night of the attack. No matter what I said his answer was the same, complete and unnerving silence. Tohru didn't even look at me. At the verge of desperation I asked him why he would ask Ritsuko to a date though with the same result. A one-sided conversation. It was like he didn't even know I was there at all so I stopped making questions and remained sitting beside him in the privacy of his dim-lighted room.

At some point out of curiosity and just wanting to gain a reaction of him I took the controller out of his hands and approached my mouth to his neck in a weak attempt to fed on him. Tohru didn't even flinch.

What I did find much to my disgust and outrage were bite marks on his forearm. Not taking any of that anymore I fled from his house only to return a few hours before dusk to mount guard outside of his window.

On the fourteenth I had dinner with his family and spent the night at his place. Nothing happened and also, nothing changed in Tohru's condition. If not, he seemed more tired and paler. That day I didn't sleep at all, I kept pacing all around the house. Thank goodness my steps were silent so I didn't wake any family members. Early in the morning I left the house, though I stayed outside hidden in the higher branches of the tree in front of Tohru's window. Tohru never left his room and so I came back.

I tossed the empty bag into the trash can, rubbed my eyes, slapped my cheeks twice and headed to the front door hanging my backpack before closing the door and keeping my keys inside it. Once again I headed to his house. People greeted, however I didn't respond. My mind was only focused on one and only thing… keep Tohru alive.

I can't afford to lose him too.

"Hideki-chan?" Natsuno said at my back.

Hearing the name of my brother left me standing frozen in my place. It's been long since someone had confused me with Hideki that it's become foreign to me.

"Wrong twin, wanna try again?" I replied not turning to face him.

"Isn't that Hideki-chan's hoodie? Are you into cross-dressing Takahisa?" I laughed at his comment.

I found my brother's old dark green hoodie laying near the washing machine a few day ago and on impulse I just went and wore it. It gave me a feeling of safeness mixed with a nostalgic warm that I missed so much.

"Wow so funny."

"You skipped school." Natsuno said matter-of-fact approaching me sluggish.

"So what? That's none of your business." I replied peeking at him over the shoulder letting the hood fell from my head. He was wearing his school uniform, mostly on his way home.

"It's my business when I have to act as delivery man." He took out a small stack of papers from his schoolbag and handed them to me.

I looked at them for a moment pondering - Should I take them? Shouldn't I? - before answering quietly. "Don't need them."

He slitted his eyes. "What's up with you now?"

I turned to fully face him. "...I'm going to quit school." We stayed silent for a beat, in which I observed all his reactions. The way his eyes widened, and his eyebrows arched, the hand holding the paper sheets went to his side and his mouth fell the slightest bit. "What's with that face? Don't tell me you're going to miss me?" I asked tauntingly. He didn't laughed nor mocked me.

"Say Takahisa... Have you seen Shimizu lately?" Natsuno looked straight at my eyes scrutinizingly.

His question took me aback. There was no way I could possible say - of course, she became a zombie, didn't you get the memo? -. The real question was if he had seen her? Did Megumi was that stupid to approach Natsuno after death?

Of course she is.

So I replied. "Don't be morbid Natsuno, it doesn't suit you at all. See you around."

Lifting the hood over my head I attempted to leave just when he said. "Where are you going?"

"What's with the sudden interest? Not so like you." His eyes never left mine. It was unnerving, just what was he looking at so intently. I sighed. "I'm just walking Natsuno, if I'm going to spend the rest of my life in this shitty place may as well get used to it."

He snorted. "So you gave up on leaving the town. How little determination you have."

"It's called resignation, haven't you heard of that?"

Besides, what's the point of trying to keep the act. That part of my life is over.

"You can do whatever you want, I'm absolutely leaving this place." Natsuno said sternly which made me smile weakly.

"Really? Good luck on that, I'll be cheering on you." Sarcasm was palpable on my answer and he knew that so he scowled.

"Be careful Takahisa, there is something going on in here."

Too late for the warning.

"No Natsuno, you be careful. You shouldn't be out late at night, just saying." With that I left headed to Tohru's home once again. Natsuno walked on the opposite direction.


September 17th, 10:28 am.

Morning sunlight filtered through the window lightening and warming the room. The chirping sound of birds outside woke me up. I came home around six with a set of pronounced bags under my eyes and without problems. No vampires tonight near the Mutuo residence. I planned to take a quick shower and eat real food, however when my head hit my pillow I went out like a light.

As fast as I could I threw on my brother's hoodie and tied the shoelaces of my tennis not worrying about breakfast or the fact that I really needed a shower and w change of clothes. I had on foot outside the house when the phone rang.

Damnit!

Running to get the call I almost tripled on the stairs. It was a good idea to pass the damn thing to my bedroom, except of occasions like this when I'm in a hurry and I have to run at the other side of the house. Quite troublesome if may I say.

"Takahisa residence." I said running a hand through my messy hair.

"Hey..." Natsuno's voice came from the other side of the line.

"Is something the matter? You almost never call me."

And it was true.

"There is something I must tell you." He replied almost instantly. His voice quieter than normal and totally void of its usual sharpness. It was odd to say the least.

"Couldn't it be later? I'm on my way out."

I was about to hang up when he said. "It's about Tohru-chan."

"You have my attention." I said dead serious, clenching the phone so hard it cracked.

"This morning I went to visit him and..." He stopped swallowing hard.

"And...?"

"Takahisa... Tohru-chan passed away this morning."

All the air in my lungs was suddenly out leaving me gaping desperately, the blood ran ice cold through my veins, the room spun so fast that was almost like being inside a shaker, everything stopped making sense yet everything was perfectly understandable.

I couldn't understand what was he saying. Was he talking in a foreign language? What was going on? Did this mean that all I did was worthless? Did I fail? Is he gone? Like, for real? Forever?

"You still there?" I heard Natsuno's voice, though muffled. Was I hyperventilating?

No way, impossible.

"Shiori!" He exclaimed bringing me back from my panic attack.

I sat on the floor, rubbing my free hand over my face. My cheeks were wet, was I crying? "Huh? Yeah I'm here. What were you saying?"

"Today is the wake at his home. The funeral and burial are tomorrow." He said slowly, like he was explaining something to a five years old kid.

"Okay..." I whispered.

"You don't have to go if it's too much for you to handle." Something really strange for him to say. Was he worried?

"I'll go."

"Sure?"

"Yes."

"Well then."

He was about to hang up when I blurted. "Natsuno..." I could hear his steady breath on the line. I closed my eyes tightly. "Thanks."

"Yeah." After that the line went dead.

The ultimate cosmic joke...

Tohru died.

After all I've done, after all my stupid and naive tries to keep him safe and sound he inevitably died at the hands of the monsters that are my kin. No matter what did I do, or how far I went to protect him they found a way to get near him and suck the life out of him.

What did I do wrong? It's not my fault, is it? Is it?! No, no, no, no, no, its not my fault. I didn't do it. It's not my fault.

Then... Whose fault is it?

It's theirs. Yes, it's theirs. Those monsters. They took him away from me. It's their fault. They have to pay. They must pay. I'll make them pay. They have to die. I'll kill them. Yes I have to kill them. Now? Should go now? Where should I go now?

To the Kirishiki's manor?

To the woods?

Tohru's place?

Home?

I want to go home.

"Mom, I need you. Take me home, please."


A/N: Hey there my lovely readers!It's been a loooong time, isn't it?

Anyway, short chapter, next will be longer.

I hope you had enjoyed it.