Author's note: I'm really sorry for updating very late, but I had a long summer that I practically wasted away :P :sweat drop: Thank you again for your wonderful reviews! I am so glad you're all looking forward to this chapter! ^_^ Ah well, go ahead and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Hell no, I don't own VK. Masturi-Sensai does.

She laughed.

It was poisoned with the mirth of a puppet master.

Silver hair swished and rustled against silk as the lady laughed.

It was like hearing silver crash with blood and bones.

She laughed and laughed.

Until tears had risen up in her eyes.

=========================++00++=========================

She's wanted this day to come. To see that one dream come true.

But she'd feared it as well.

How do you let go of your favorite toy? Of your best play-mate?

Purple eyes became shielded by a painted lid.

She'd waited for this day. A day when she would present a choice.

She stared at the mirror. Looking at herself, she saw so many of the years build on. Sliver hair seemed to have lost their shine, their smoothness, their strength. Her pale skin seemed to be drying away on her bones; her body felt weak and her mind disturbed. She felt old and unloved. Uncared for. Every single moment she'd wanted to be happy, it was only hatred and desolate silence filling it up.

In her mind's eye she had so many moments that had almost turned golden, but winter had come in too soon and innocent happiness that only true love could have brought was distroyed by realizations and cruel wills of others that had torn her apart. She had trusted them too much, she sighed. All was lost at the time.

That was so long ago, she smiled.

I might almost make myself believe it never happened. Water never fell from my eyes and I was never ever lonely in my world of beautiful perfect creatures.

Someone knocked on her door.

"Come in," she said as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror.

The empty space in the room was suddenly filled by the presence of the being that she prized. A vanilla flower bloomed. And her eyes flickered red.

Short silver hair rustled and excited purple eyes met her gaze as a smile kissed a pair of lips she held dear.

"Shizuka-Sama!" He called her name,breathlessly.

It was pure bliss hearing that voice call her name. Like a tinkling of bells on a red string.

She blinked once and then spoke."Yes, Kiriu-kun?"

"I.. I .cant believe," the light eyed man began speaking, but the words died on his lips.

She simply smiled, her pale soft lips had been painted a pink.

"What can you not believe Kiriyu-kun?" she asked again as she lifted her fingers and pushed away a bang of hair from her face.

"That. That.. He's back!" the light eyed man exploded. His eyes had gone wide and his whole expression was filled with pure joy.

Her heart softened. She didn't show it, but she felt herself go weak.

Outside, she simply nodded her head. "And now what are you going to do?" she asked.

He was so incredulous, he didn't know what to think. It took him a moment to sober up.

"Actually I haven't really thought about it," he said, his forehead deep with furrows. But that stayed for only a moment."I'll..I'll think of something!" he brightened.

She smiled and turned around.

She looked at him like she'd never really seen him.

He looked suddenly so much younger. Like a child, Like a child who needs reassuring, need love and needs smiles.

Like a child who just had is wildest dream come true.

Blood. Blood. Blood.

Red, pulsing, gushing blood.

His body was stealthy enough to move. He took the back street and then turned. It was some sort of old hide out and he could smell blood here.

Lots of fresh blood.

He hunted the scent down. As he got closer, he could hear sounds of something like a drum. It was beating steadily.

As he got closer, the sound grew to deafening heights. He had to stop for a few moments and clamp his hands down on his ears to stop them from ringing.

Then is suddenly went silent so he followed the trail of scent again. There was a big box of rusted metal around which he walked and moved closer to his food.

00_00

The men had been working hard that morning. The boxes need to be fixed and all ready by later that night. Kirisawa took his mask and pulled it on as he picked up his soldering gun. Welding was something he had done all his life and his job got him enough to feed his family. Well maybe not luxurious, but they all had jobs. His wife worked at the local cafe and she cooked good,hot meals. The boys worked at different supermarkets and they got along fine.

He took up the gun and welded together two sheets of aluminum. Bright blue light was darkened for his eyes as he stared at it thru his safety goggles. Every morning he put those on as he began his shift, and took them off only for breaks and when he left. This was the same way he dealt with everyone. He didn't smoke, he didn't drink and he couldn't afford a car. Never did anything risky in his middle age.

Perhaps his younger days had made up for his whole life time, he mused as he rested the gun against the floor and looked at the joint. Finding he'd finished his work, he took off the goggles and his gloves and set them aside. Taking a long swig from his water bottle, he told the nearest co-worker he needed to go take a piss.

As he walked away from them to the make shift toilets outside, he wondered what would happen if he suddenly died. He was assured his family would grieve for him, a few relatives and friends would be solemn, but nothing spectacular would happen. He sighed. It wasn't as if he was a man of grand importance.

What the hell am I thinking, dying and all. I'm just middle aged, he thought as he ran a hand thru his short sand colored hair.

I can't let a little dark cloud get me down.

As he reached for the door, he just sighed and went in.

Little did he know that he wouldn't be coming out of there for a long time.