"Shh." Her voice shudders. Her three companions will for themselves to stay quiet behind the car even if they know it is fruitless in the presence of a vampire.
The area is deserted, as always. Maki have never been to Osaka before, but everybody knows that the street must have a few people lingering here and there, yet no, they are the only ones present.
She feels the body of the small figure wraps inside her arms, trembling. Or is she who is trembling? Maki tightens her hug.
Rin whimpers quietly as possible, clinging closer to Maki. Maki clenches her teeth, "Shh!". It comes out harsher than she wants. The girl squirms as her frightened eyes connect with Maki.
Maki looks away.
She knows that the girl does not do that intentionally – who will not if they know that the angel of death is just around the corner.
She hears snarling a few metres from their position. Her adrenaline flares, she hears her thumping heart. She even hears her three companions beating heart, even if she is just a normal human.
We shouldn't have stray away! Her mind barks.
I shouldn't have stray away! Maki regrets her action of wanting to satisfy her curiosity.
They should have gone back to the hotel at once after the A-RISE concert ends. They, no, Maki should have followed Rin's advice, yet they do not – Maki is adamant in satiating her interest since her encounter with (not) Kotori.
Ever since that day, she researches everything that has connection with swirling red eyes and fangs – vampires. Of course, any sane person will not believe they are living amongst the fantasy creatures that only exist in novels and history books.
Maki know better – she experiences first hand of such encounter. She will never forget it.
She keeps her eyes on Kotori the following morning, and the day after, and the day after – her theory that says Kotori is a vampire falters. It does not tally with her knowledge gained from the novels and history books.
First, when Kotori bathes under the sunlight, she does not turn to ash after some pestering from Maki for Kotori to accompany her to the school fountain. Kotori composes her usual smile though, Umi watches Kotori in concern – Why? Then Kotori goes back to Umi's side after Umi not-so-subtly acting uneasy all the while she sees Kotori under the sunlight.
Second, Kotori is not weak against garlic as depicted in some of the movies Maki stumbles upon. Maki tries giving garlic-based food to Kotori – she eats it normally, even commenting that it is delicious, Maki made it a point to thank her chef later.
Following, she asks Honoka once about her knowledge on vampires. Why she does so, she never understands. Honoka, in her sleepy and dazed mind manages to give Maki some valuable information about the creature – a stake driven to their heart renders them dead. She is honestly surprised by Honoka's knowledge about the field , yet Maki is not some serial killer, she crosses out the option of doing so. She is not going to kill one of her fellow Muse members only to prove that Kotori is a vampire.
Trials after trials – Maki stands in front of the mirror with Kotori next to her (Maki receives a puzzled Kotori watching her from the reflection), Maki sprays some holy water to Kotori (Maki receives a wet Kotori and an Umi who is sporting a very unamused expression) and Maki gifts Kotori a silver crucifix (Maki receives a thank you).
In short, Maki is already out of ideas to prove of her own speculation before she notices that Rin is fairly terrified when Nico announces that they are going to Osaka.
She supposedly holds no suspicions against Rin, however one day the interaction between Rin and Kotori is off, before retuning back to normal the morning after – Maki relies on her instinct that the answer to her speculation lies on their unusual one-day interaction.
Their dynamics are not there – it is not natural for Rin to specifically call Kotori every time that particular day during the whole practice and look at her as if she is a monster. It is peculiar for Kotori to subtly nod her head that particular day every time Rin and her meet eyes.
From there, Maki knows her answer is going to be at Osaka.
Now, Osaka have indisputably becomes their graveyard if they are not able to survive until they reach the hotel – a vampire cannot go into someone's house uninvited, are not they?
"I-" The voice comes closer. Maki snaps out from her stupor, unconsciously gripping Rin tighter. "-Found-" Maki hears the shuffling of the predator's feet, she still waits in her position, too unnerving to even move. "-You." Maki hears he grins victoriously, she knows not of his precise position.
"Run!" Even without Maki barking the order, all four of them are already hot in their trails, scampering away, sprinting for safety. She sees Honoka and Rin in front of her, while Nico barely manages to steady her running.
Hysterical laughter follows behind Maki and her companions as they weave their ways of the unknown street of Kita-ku, Osaka. The street lights illuminates only a half of their paths before all of them are running with the help of the moonlight.
"Nico-chan, faster!" She urges Nico to run faster – the girl is already behind track. Dread clutches Maki's consciousness, she whines.
"Rin, Honoka, just run!" Maki turns back to aid Nico, frowning, starting to regret her own action. She harrumphs out loud, furious of her own thought; she forcefully grabs Nico's hand as she starts running again.
Why is this happening again?
"No, no, no." Maki stops in her place, fear clutches her mind instantly, her eyebrows twitches. She extends her hand wide in an act of sacrilege despite her frenzied fright; an ultimately useless shield for Nico.
Maki gulps down her anxiety. The crazed smirk of the man widens as he inches closer. His fangs glint dangerously under the moonlight, his eyes gleam menacingly as he growls.
He roars in delight, "You smell like her." Who? Maki dares not to breathe, her shield of hands for Nico breaks. She clenches her hands tight at her sides. She feels Nico tugging her dress, clutching it firmly as it is her dear life depends on it.
"My prey." Maki take a step backward, her foot slides, Nico follows, tensing significantly.
"That woman of Byzantium hair." Maki is very thankful for her mind to work amidst the intense situation she is in – she is reminded of Nozomi. What?!
"G- Go away!" Maki kicks the tar road in hopes that her fear goes with it. Small tar pieces fly towards his feet. He tenses – he directs his eyes to the sky. Maki automatically follows before returning her gaze back to him, fear that he might pull such action as a way to drop Maki's defences. She quickly raises her hand shield again.
No.
Maki looks again to the sky – a familiar figure that Maki had come to know a few months ago, standing on top of a roof, her face is hidden beneath the shadow yet the eyes gleam, her hair is done in a simple ponytail; the hair shade illuminated by the moonlight gives Maki her required answer. She manages a triumphant grin for her curiosity even in her frantic state, erecting her body posture a tad confident.
"You smell like her too!" He growls towards the figure. Maki hears Nico whines, she remembers Nico is still behind her back. She holds Nico's trembling arm, noticing hers too is trembling.
"What is this?!" He barks, alternating his glare between Maki and the figure on top of the roof.
Maki looks towards the figure on the roof. She opens her mouth to call the figure, but against it as Nico is around.
Smiling, Maki looks towards the man, "HEY!" She shouts, feeling brave from the knowledge she knows about the figure. Her heart thumps in frenzy, the feeling of ecstasy and jumpy washes against her.
"FU- Ouch!" Nico slaps Maki's head hard – the pain numbs within a few seconds, definitely from the adrenaline nulling it. Maki does not stop to wonder why she wants to shout the cursed word.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Nico reprimands, fully knowing of what Maki wants to say. Maki silently respects Nico's ability to retort in the most tense situation.
"I am not!" Maki denies. "She!-" Maki looks towards the figure – their eyes connected. Maki smirks. She looks towards the man, "-Will end your life!" She grips Nico's hand tighter; the receiver winces.
"Now let's run, Nico-chan!"
Maki heartily laughs as she runs towards the opposite side of their encounter in the unfamiliar street of Kita-ku, Osaka, with Nico yelling on top of her lungs for Maki to stop running.
She never feels this nervous and giddy before.
(･･)