Here's chapter 20! I really appreciated the feedback on chapter 19. It's nice to see not everybody who was reading this story vanished. I can't wait to get more content out for you. Tell me what you think of this chapter! I put quite a lot of work into this one. I can't say how long subsequent chapters will take to be released. I've had the plot mapped out for a long time but putting it to text will take time. Also, as always, know that I don't usually do much editing before posting, so ignore any typos. They will be fixed at a later time.

-CHAPTER 20-

Never Alone

Drop-drop.

Drop.

Drop.

I squirmed with discomfort as the sound of dripping water filled my ears, cutting into my restless slumber and providing me with much-needed interference. Instinct told me to open my eyes, but when I did I was met with a blackness more impenetrable than when they had been shut. I tried to sit up, darkness smothering me. It was like someone had tied a piece of material over my eyes to disrupt my sight, but wriggling my wrists I quickly realized I was free of constraints.

How long had I been asleep?

And where were the others?

As soon as I thought of Takuma that familiar void reappeared in my heart. I hoped he was safe. He was an Aristocrat and part of me couldn't imagine a Level D and a human would be capable of physically harming him, but thanks to me they now had leverage over both vampire and Hunter in the form of a weak human teenager. I had gotten myself into this mess, surely enough. I'd had a bad feeling about that woman from the start, and yet here I was, trapped like a rat in the damp confinements of her earthen lair. In any case, I thought belatedly, I have to get out. I have to find Barasa and Takuma, make sure they're alright.

Getting to my feet was no simple ordeal. My whole body felt like a bruise. Every inch of me hurt, but the pain was most severe in the form of a splitting headache. Whatever the woman had used to knock me out had left quite the nasty bump too. It throbbed angrily when I ran a hand through my hair.

I limped to the wall, which I found only through my sense of touch. The dirt was packed deep, and it would not be possible to dig my way out. I walked along the wall, feeling every inch of it. It didn't take me long to locate the source of the water droplets; a patch of wet earth told me there was a leak somewhere, but it wouldn't help me. I continued, patting the walls until finally I found what I was looking for: an exit. The small tunnel led under and out. I squeezed myself inside, crawling along the ground in total blindness, until I emerged into yet another dark chamber. This one was lit by a single oil lamp, which flickered strongly. There had to be small openings to the surface, perhaps not big enough for a human being to fit through, but the fire was getting energy from somewhere.

Out of nowhere a sickly sweet stench floated in on the air, making me gag. Remains, Barasa had said yesterday. I must be close to the place where the corpses are being kept. Not a great sign for me, but from what I could tell I was alone. Why hadn't they sent someone to make sure I didn't escape? It was possible I was walking right into another trap, my caged mind ordering me to find a way out—to get to safety. But the truth was I didn't have time to question myself now, not with Barasa and Takuma unaccounted for.

It wasn't long before I reached the source of the rotten smell. I didn't realize it until my foot caught on something soft, and I nearly fell forward. Only after I had righted myself again did I see them: ragged corpses, piled on top of each other. The chamber was dimly lit with another lamp; the flame flickered, casting a ghostly glow over their white faces. I counted more than ten bodies, even more than the newspaper had warned. Covering my mouth, I couldn't help but wonder how long they had been down here. We would need to return for them so they could be properly dealt with. Leaving them in a place like this wasn't just cruel, it suggested an indifference that I couldn't even begin to comprehend.

Stepping away from the pile of bodies, my eyes fell then on a smaller huddle of corpses. Three of them, laid out with their hands folded on their chests. They were heavily decayed, eyeless and shrunken. But I couldn't help but notice something different about these three. Whoever had put them here had taken the time to place them like this. What did it mean?

Not now... I had to tell myself, turning in the direction of the next chamber. This was not the time for idle speculation.

I'm going to bring you all closure... I put forth before I left the room. And I meant it.

More determined than ever, I followed another narrow tunnel, searching for anything that would hint my location. Having only witnessed a small part of the cave before being struck down, I didn't know what exactly I was expecting to find. I would know it when I saw it. And I did. After maybe five minutes of slow ambling through the passageways light began to flood my vision again.

The exit through the hollow tree... it was in plain sight.

My whole body tensed as indecision crept up on me. I had not been expecting to find the way out before locating the others. This was too difficult a decision for me. Either leave now, probably the more self-preserving of the two options, or go deeper into the caverns in the hope of finding Takuma and Barasa.

Standing on the crossroads, I could practically hear Takuma's advice ringing in the back of my mind.

"I can handle myself, Miss Taura. Please don't worry."

His opinion on this matter would be logical. For all intents and purposes my role here was done. I had no powers, no abilities of any kind. The most I could do in a fight was provide a bit of moral support, but that really wasn't the issue to me. Takuma would surely want me to get out while I could, but there was no way in a million years I could abandon a friend, even if it was for the most logical of reasons.

My mind was already made up. Willing my terrified body forward, I went right past the exit, not even giving it a second glance, and down into the depths of the lair.

Running from cavern to cavern, I almost couldn't believe how big this place really was. It must extend across the entire western face of the mountain, forming hidden springs and rooms farther than anybody could hope to travel in such a short span of time. I maintained a steady pace, however. My perseverance was not going to go unanswered now, not after everything that had happened since we'd first braved to climb Mount Tanzawa.

Most of the chambers were dark, though not quite to the degree of the room where I'd woken up. I could make out entrances and exits with little difficulty, which served to guide me through unknown territory. After what seemed a long time, I took a moment to breath, clutching my knees as I panted. It was as I was in the midst of getting ready to keep going that I heard a short scuffle from nearby. On high-alert, I looked around, terrified the Level D would reappear. I had no chance of fighting her off unarmed.

But I was alone.

It was only when I entered the next chamber that I realized what I'd heard was not the girl at all, but Takuma. I could see him now, lying on his side in the following room. Excitement lit me again, and with a jolt of what I could only describe as happiness I called out to him. "Takuma!" I said his name again with more confidence, my tired legs pushing me forward. "Takuma, thank god! I saw the Level D ambush you and I thought—"

"Don't come any closer, Miss Taura!" Takuma interjected. It was then that I realized he was bound, his hands shackled behind his back. But what manacles could possibly hold him? I ignored his warning, rushing to him and reaching for the shackles. I recoiled almost immediately, unable to stop myself from crying out in concern. The manacles had left his skin severely burned. "They're... made of a special alloy..." he said with difficulty.

"Like your sword..." I let out a whisper. "But what can I do? I need to get you out. Is there a key, or—"

"TAURA, LOOK OUT!"

For the second time that day I found myself the victim of an unseen attacker. But this time I was ready. I jumped up, turning just as a clawed hand swept through the air right where my head had been. Its owner snarled, baring jagged teeth. It was the Level D child, and she looked even angrier than the last time she'd gotten the jump on us.

"The katana! Get it!" Takuma yelled, gesturing toward the opposite wall. Heart thundering in my chest, my eyes fell on Takuma's sword, which must have been tossed there following the initial struggle. Giving the girl another look, I tore across the cavern chamber, arms outstretched to snatch the sword off the ground. My fingers clutched the hilt, and I held it up in front of me, convulsing with terror. The girl was still coming, her movements fast and calculating. She was on top of me before I even had time to consider defending myself with the weapon, her hand clutching me by the throat as she hissed. I choked, trying to push her away, but she was stronger than me.

"Let her go," Takuma said, an air of dignity suddenly taking over his voice. The girl's attention was drawn immediately toward him. Her fangs were still bared, but the Noble vampire's tone seemed to have some strange effect on her because her grip on my throat weakened. "Let go," he said again. "You're not going to hurt her again. You're going to back away."

The girl's hand drew away from me, and I coughed, looking at her with squinted eyes. I really thought she was going to leave, as Takuma had ordered, but we were all interrupted by a sudden battle cry. I knew who it was before he emerged through the opening, desperately brandishing the dagger in his big hands. Barasa was on the girl in seconds, fingers grasping her by her torn snow-jacket and shoving her small body against the wall next to me.

"What happened to you!?" I demanded, my voice still shaky as a result of being nearly strangled.

Holding the vampire down, Barasa said gruffly, "This little brat got the jump on me. When I came to she nearly had her nasty fangs in me, but... there was someone else there. A woman—" He stopped talking as I gestured to the opposite side of the room, from which Takuma was watching us. Barasa looked half amused, half offended. "Chained you up, huh?"

Takuma shrugged his shoulders, making the manacles jangle.

"They didn't chain me up..."

Was he seriously mad that they'd chosen to bind Takuma over him? I groaned, wanting to hit my head against something in irritation. "Sorry guys, we don't have time for testosterone wars right now. Barasa, can you get those things off? I have no idea how that vampire got them, but they're burning him."

"From my bag, I reckon. They're mine. I should still have the key..." Barasa said, and then reaching around his with the had that wasn't holding down the Level D he pulled out the small key necklace I'd noticed in our first meeting. He took it off and handed it to me. Immediately I went to Takuma, fitting the key in the lock and giving it a sharp twist. There was a click as the mechanism opened, relieving Takuma off the poisonous alloy. He slipped them off and massaged his wrists, the charred flesh clearly still hurting him He didn't seem too irked that Barasa's cuffs had done the damage, and recovered quickly. His eyes were alert again and he was staring at the Level D, whose throat was still constricted by Barasa's hand.

"What are you planning on doing with her?" He asked as he picked his sword up off the ground. "If you're going to kill her, I'd like to offer in your stead."

"I don't need your help. It's one Level D."

"That's true, but she was once a human child. That must get to you."

Barasa grimaced, squeezing the vampire's throat again. She kicked back, still trying to get away. "Not as much as it should. This kid's killed over seven people. That's enough to get her to the top of the wanted list. Even if she is still a Level D, I can't imagine her recovering. It's only going to get worse for her from here on out. She needs to be put down."

Takuma didn't disagree, but he still looked upset. It was probably hard for him to watch this, so difficult that he didn't speak again, bowing his head in what looked like a prayer. There was a scraping sound as Barasa drew his dagger again, pointing it at the girl's heart. He was going to make it quick for her at least. He wasn't going to torture her. He readied himself, aimed and was about to put all his strength into the jab when there came the sound of rapid footsteps. We all looked around as a woman appeared from the chamber beyond, desperately clutching at the wall.

"Kira! Kira, where are you, darling!?" Her crazed eyes grew bigger when she saw what was about to happen. She shrieked, running into the room with arms flailing. Meanwhile, the Level D took our momentary lapse to finally get away from Barasa, slipping out of his grasp and crawling between his legs to the center of the room, where the woman was. Her face was lined and wrinkled, her torn clothing hanging limply over her bony frame and giving her the appearance of a corpse. When she saw the little girl she flung herself onto her, tenderly wrapping the child in her arms.

"I thought I told you not to wander off. They've already sent people looking for us. But don't worry, I won't let them get you."

"L-let me go," the girl said, struggling more. She was only swaddled further as the woman picked her up, looking at Takuma and me for the first time. Takuma was as shocked as I felt, but there was anger in his gaze. There was something undeniably perverse about this whole situation, though I didn't quite understand what was happening. Takuma didn't seem to grasp it any better.

The girl was so little, maybe even younger than the Level E, Michio. Still, it wasn't her appearance that frightened me now. It was her proximity to the human, who was staring right at me, her placid gaze twisting everything I had learned from Takuma and the relationship between ex-humans and living humans. What was the connection between this woman and child? And what were we supposed to do now? Kill her too? She was clearly involved in all this. There was a chance she had even played a role in the murders... but she was still human.

"Get behind me," the woman said as she set the girl down. She gave a hiss. "Now! You can eat later."

She responded now, skulking to hide behind the woman. She peered around her waist at the three of us.

"What the hell is going on here!?" I said blurted out, and both Takuma and Barasa jumped with surprise at my sudden temper. I spoke not to the Level D girl. For all intents and purposes, the most dangerous thing on this mountain was not a vampire, it was a human. "Why are you here? It doesn't make any sense. What purpose could you possibly serve that Level D?"

"Level D..." The woman said in a murmur. "Level D!? She has a name, you ungrateful wench! But I suppose there's no use in telling you. None of you will be living long enough as it is."

I clenched my hands into fists. "Don't toy with me."

"She isn't," Takuma announced then, and surveying the woman he too looked like he wanted answers. "I'm sorry, Ma'am, but you won't be hurting Miss Taura or Mr. Barasa again. In fact, you're going to let us out of here in a few minutes completely unscathed, and we're going to bring both you and that child back to town. She needs to be dealt with humanely, but dealt with nonetheless."

The woman clutched at the girl again. "Nobody will be dealing with my daughter."

Daughter...

The word seemed to float to me slowly, and at first what the woman was insinuating didn't register with me. But when it did a searing anger roared to life inside me. This horrible wretch is her daughter? But... how? Something like a flash of memory pervaded me then, and I realized that I had seen this woman before. But where? I was certain we had never met, barring today on the mountain. How could her face be so ingrained in my recollections all of a sudden?

Takuma answered for me.

"You're Mrs. Oita, aren't you? And that girl is Kira Oita.. you're all that remains of the the first family to go missing."

At Takuma's words, my memory of the woman's face suddenly made sense. The newspaper article! There had been a small black-and-white photograph of the Oita family, including this woman, this girl, a man and two boys, the latter three of whom were still unaccounted for. But the bodies... I reminded myself, calling back to my solitary journey through the cave to find Takuma.

"Takuma..." I said, and in a few short sentences told him what I knew. "They were her husband and other children, weren't they?"

Takuma gave a nod. "They were probably this girl's first victims..."

"... Don't speak of my family..." said the woman, her tone going dark again. "You know nothing. You can't imagine what I went through, what she went through! My youngest... my darling, Kira. She was so sick... she would have died. An innocent child. All her life she's had to live with something most adults don't have to burden until they're old and grey. The doctors said she had only a few months, then a few weeks. There was nothing I could do... nothing at all. And then she showed up..."

She?

"She said she had all the answers. She saved Kira! It was a miracle!"

"It was nothing of the sort," Takuma's voice resounded once more. I was still completely befuddled by all this conflicting information, but Takuma didn't seem to be confused at all anymore. Acceptance came through his face in spades, and gripping his sword, he continued. "Your daughter fell victim to a Pureblood vampire. You gave away her humanity for a few extra months of life, and she's miserable because of it. Do you think she wants to hurt people? Do you really think she prefers a life like this over death?"

"How dare you question what I choose for my own daughter—"

Takuma's eyes suddenly flared bright red, and he snapped his teeth, glaring so furiously that I almost couldn't look at him. "Her nature is my nature too, but Kira was human, and part of being human means dying. Of course what happened to her wasn't fair, but it's the natural order of things. You're torturing her for your own gain."

"What would you have done!?" Mrs. Oita wailed, pulling her daughter close to her again. "Would you have let your child suffer? Would you have let her die—?"

"If it meant saving her humanity, yes. Maybe I'm not so knowledgeable where death or illness are concerned. I was born this way. It's who I've always been, and because of that I'll never have to make a decision like this. It was too much for one woman, too much for one family. You were used and because of that I..." Takuma gritted his teeth. "I'm so sorry. It must have been very painful... but Kira is still in pain now, don't you see? You're destroying what remains of her by forcing her to live with you in this world."

Takuma raised his katana in an attacking stance, and Mrs. Oita gave another helpless sob.

"You can't... please don't... I can't be alone—Ugh... ugh..." Suddenly the woman's lined face contorted with pain and perplexity. I held back a response, waiting with baited breath, but when I saw what had transpired I covered my mouth in horror. There was a hand sticking right through Mrs. Oita's chest, blackened with the blood of her life. It dripped down her front and from her mouth, causing her once animated eyes to become clouded. "Kira..." was the last thing she said before the Level D dropped her mother to the ground, her face transfixed on the blood. She dove on the corpse of her mother, sinking her fangs into it and clawing at the flesh. There was blood everywhere. It drenched the girl from head to toe by the time she raised her head again.

Takuma held me back protectively. He was watching the girl, and then I realized why. She was beginning to change right in front of us. All her teeth elongated into snapping jaws, her skin wrinkled and twisted. Her form crouched over, claws extending further as she clutched at the ground. At the center of it all were her eyes, ever-fixed on mine. Her pupils shrunk to tiny red pinpricks, and then I felt like I was looking at Michio once more...

This was no Level D.

It was a Level E.

After that, everything happened so fast I still have trouble putting the pieces together.

Barasa rushed forward from where he had been crouched, brandishing his dagger at the Level E. But with this new appearance came new strength, and the child swiftly side-stepped the Hunter's advances, leaving him to watch as she jumped in my and Takuma's direction. Takuma held out his sword, but as the girl rounded on him a single lucky swing knocked the blade right out of Takuma's hands. It skidded across the floor.

"You idiot!" Barasa screamed, but Takuma was on top of it already. Abandoning the sword, he reached for the girl, clutching her by the shoulder. I knew what he was going to do, but the idea of it made my heart skip a beat. Clearly sensing my trepidation, Takuma offered to shield my eyes, but I declined. I had to see it. Looking right at the girl, I waited for her the moment that would signal the true end of the Level E.

But it never came.

One second Takuma had her, and then next she was free again. Using his arm as leverage she kicked him square in the chest. I could only watch as Takuma was hurled across the room, right toward Barasa. The Hunter's face distorted with distress, but he didn't have time to move before the vampire's limp body struck him. Barasa caught him, and I inhaled sharply. I thought Takuma would be fine, but only a moment later a sudden scream pierced my ears. It was filled with such raw pain that it nearly brought me to my knees.

It was not Barasa's scream, it was Takuma's.

The Hunter's whole body was shaking. He backed away, his mammoth hands glistening with liquid. What was wrong? Was he hurt? But that scream... Barasa's eyes found mine then, and the utter shock in them told me everything I needed to know. I didn't need to see the ornate knife fall from his grasp, clanging against the compact earth at the Hunter's feet. He collapsed along with it.

"I... I didn't mean to..." Barasa murmured nonsensically, eyes fixed on his blood-stained hands. "I-I swear..." Blood trickled from Takuma's mouth, shocked face staring down at the wound at the side of his stomach. It wasn't big, and normally an injury like this wouldn't have given him any trouble, but the blade that had inflicted it was made for one purpose and one purpose only: killing his kind.

"N-no..." my voice trembled. And for the first time I was able to react, for I had seen this before, in a dream. The knife, the blood. This was nothing new to me, but it was real, not some figment of my fears. It seemed he was falling for a hundred years, his legs giving way as the strength left his body. He was on his knees, and then he was flat on his stomach. Just as his body struck there came from my lips the loudest scream I had ever uttered in my life. "TAKUMA!"

At first, Takuma showed no reaction to my emission of despair. His body did not twitch, his form remaining as still as stone. Am I alone? I wondered, heart throbbing. Is this the end? Everything I've accomplished, and I'm going to have to watch my guardian... my friend... fall right in front of me? How can this be it? You were supposed to watch over me, supposed to be there for me.

"Takuma..." I implored again. "Please... I can't do this alone."

To my utter disbelief, Takuma stirred at my words, interrupting my forlorn musings and causing my mouth to fall open. Despite having been struck by the anti-vampire weapon, there was still life in him, and he used it to push himself up enough to look in my eyes. "M-Miss Taura, you need to r-run..." he mouthed. "G-get... out of here."

I should have obeyed him in that moment. I should have locked my emotions away and raced for the exit, dragging the barely-conscious Barasa with me. But I couldn't. No part of me would leave Takuma behind. He needed me now more than ever. Shaking my head, I looked at Takuma once more, instinctively seeking guidance in his gaze. In this condition, however, he could do no more than stare. There would be no encouragement, no kind words. He thought it was over and just wanted me to get out unharmed.

But that's wrong, the voice in the back of his head reminded me. I'm not the running type; not the type who gives in when things get tough. Besides, Takuma was still here to support me, even if he was unaware of it. I needed neither his spoken motivation nor his cautions.

I'm never alone.

I suddenly felt an unfamiliar determination animate my body.

If I had to win my all our lives today then that's just what I would do.

"I'm not leaving you," I said with a smile, and in an instant I had taken up Takuma's discarded katana, which had been lying a few feet from me. The weapon was still heavy and alien in my unpracticed hands, but I steadied it this time, brandishing the blade before me with every bit of voracity I could muster. My gaze was locked on the child, who hissed at me, snapping her teeth like a crazed beast. There's nothing left of her, I told myself. There was no hesitation in my movements.

Screaming as I rushed forward, I stabbed!

I would never forget the sensation of the katana traveling through her tiny body—perforating the space between us and striking her clean in the chest. She felt so weak under the blade, so much more human. Something happened to her as the sword pierced her heart. Her expression, which had been so twisted with hunger and fury, seemed to melt away. Her eyes communicated her agony, but it had nothing to do with the weapon buried in her chest. It wasn't the pain of a mortal wound, or the pain of a lost life; it was the pain of humanity returning to her.

As the light faded from her eyes, I could have sworn I saw a flicker of life illuminate them again. Then they faded, dampening my heart with immense guilt. Despite my insistence that Takuma destroy this girl, the thought that I would be the one to do it in the end had never occurred to me. Yet here I was, shaking hands still clutching the blade that had ended her life.

She wanted this... you only gave her what she couldn't give herself.

Her body disintegrated black dust, showing the cavern. My hands were coated with the substance as I turned shakily in Takuma's direction. Barasa was crouching over him, putting pressure on his wound with his hands. But the Hunter's eyes had not left me through the entire ordeal, and this didn't change as I dropped the sword and rushed toward both he and Takuma. I fell to my knees, giving Barasa a stern look that demanded information.

"I... the blade didn't hit any vital organs. It's just a flesh wound, but your vampire's lucky he's an Aristocrat. He would probably have joined the dust by now if his blood were any weaker." Barasa pursed his lips, and I noticed a new resolve in his voice. "What can I do?"

I tried not to show my amazement, but seeing the Hunter in such a vulnerable state was unexpected on my part. Was he truly offering to help Takuma? It was hard to believe, but somehow I understood it. Barasa had done this to Takuma. It was his blade that had brought the young Noble to this state, and despite the Hunter's ingrained hatred of Takuma's kind, he was guilty.

Warmth spread briefly through me as I was reminded that the fruits of my partner's labor had not gone in vain after all. Takuma wanted nothing more than to see Chairman Cross's dream fulfilled, and this only brought us closer. It had come at quite the cost, but I knew somehow that Takuma would have been willing to feel the sting of a hundred blades to bring about change like this in a Hunter whose instincts had seemed so incapable of fluctuation.

"Hold him with me," I said, slipping an arm around Takuma. Barasa was still a bit hesitant, but he obeyed, and together we hoisted the unconscious vampire off the ground. Adrenaline gave me the strength I needed. Takuma between us, Barasa and I left the body of the woman, coated now in the dust of her fallen child, and meandered through the labyrinthine caverns, seeking out the entrance of the hollow. I followed my intuition through the darkness. When the exit came into view I sighed with relief.

"Look, Takuma! We did it!"

Frigid air and harsh sunlight buffeted us. I immediately shielded Takuma's eyes with with my palm. He was still out cold, but I feared if he woke up the sun would be too much of a shock to him. Wounds aside, Takuma had expended a great deal of energy in this fight. He was not only exhausted, he was probably devastatingly hungry. As though to confirm my suspicion, he let out a cough in his sleep.

"Is he okay?" Barasa questioned me gruffly.

"It's nothing," I lied with ease. Barasa didn't need to know. "Just help me get him to the car."

Our journey back down the snowy mountain was short, perhaps because I had more important concerns. Barasa's physical strength made carrying Takuma relatively easy. We only really had trouble getting back down the icy slope. Last time Takuma had lifted us both, but that was out of the question now. We were careful about slipping down, taking the crag at a slower pace. Once at the bottom, we went faster. We were back in the parking lot a few minutes later, and together Barasa and I heaved Takuma into the back seat of the Hunter's navy Cadillac.

"Where to?"

"The bed-and-breakfast a few miles down," I confirmed. "And step on it."

Barasa's car pulled into the hotel lot following the short drive between the mountain and the lodge. He helped me carry Takuma inside. After nearly dropping the room key twice I managed to wrench the door open. Barasa relinquished his hold on Takuma when he reached the bed, placing the young man in a comfortable position against the pillows. Meanwhile, I went straight for Takuma's suitcase, tearing through the pockets until my fingers closed over the little black box.

"So these are the famous tablets? They don't look like much." Barasa commented, rolling one of the pills between his fingers as I mixed a few more with warm water, stirring with a spoon as the liquid took on the trademark reddish colour. It was just as I was about to carry the glass to Takuma that the sound of coughing filled the room.

"M-Miss Taura..." Said a small voice.

I swiveled around, nearly dropping the glass in my haste. Takuma's eyes were open, and still gleaming a startling shade of crimson. He sat up awkwardly against the pillows, flinching to grasp the place where the blade had pierced him. His tone was bewildered and weak.

"W-what happened? Why... why are we here? Where's the Level E?"

Barasa patted me on the back. "Your little Huntress-in-the-making took care of it. You should have seen it. Most amazing thing—"

"She's dead?" Takuma seemed so dejected to hear this, and bowed his head. "I'm sorry you had to this, Taura... it should have been me."

"It's okay," I said, finally finding my voice. I went to his side, presenting him with the blood-substitute. He took the glass as he pushed himself up more, putting it to his lips and draining it in just a few gulps. Barasa and I watched him through it all, but were dissatisfied to see that his condition barely improved. He was still shivering—looking like he was going to pass out again—as he licked the rim of the glass, staring at the floor with glazed eyes. "I... I can make more," I suggested. Takuma met my gaze with a deceivingly cheerful smile.

"I'm fine, Miss Taura."

He was lying. We all knew it. I looked at my feet, hands tightening into fists. Darkness seemed to overcome me then, and in a cold voice that didn't feel like my own I said to Barasa, "You have to leave. I'll call you tomorrow so we can get the bodies off the mountain."

Barasa let out a sigh. From the corner of my eye I saw him run a finger over the hilt of the dagger with which he'd impaled Takuma. I was sure he would argue, attempt to dissuade me in some way, but he didn't utter so much as another sound. To my intense surprise he turned to leave, ambling heavily to the door. Before he left he called back to me. "You're a good girl, Taura. But you'll regret this."

I flinched when Barasa shut the door, listening to the sound of his fading footsteps. There was so much indecision wracking me. It felt like I was right back in the vampire's lair. The question was essentially the same: run away, or do what I could to help. Again, the choice was not a difficult one. I knew my answer before I even started contemplating.

I returned my attention to Takuma, who appeared not to have heard a word of Barasa's final warning in the midst of fighting off another attack of intense coughing.

"Takuma..." I said softly, careful to choose my words wisely. "I need you to listen to me. No matter what I ask, I need you to do it—"

"N-NO!" Takuma reproached in anger, drawing away from me in less time than it took for me to blink. He wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what I was thinking, and it didn't take a genius to see that he wasn't thrilled about it. His voice gained more confidence as he argued, but he was so weak it was difficult to take what he said seriously. "D-did you completely forget what happened yesterday? I could never..." He averted his gaze, gritting his teeth hard. I couldn't imagine what this was taking out of the little strength he had left. "I just need to rest—"

"You're kidding, right!?" I didn't mean for it to come out so hostile, but witnessing Takuma's terrified reaction made me realize that there was no soft way to handle this situation. "That dagger was an anti-vampire weapon. Your wound isn't normal. It's still poisoning you right now. It isn't just going to magically heal, and you know that. You need this."

"D-don't make me do this, Miss Taura. Please. I'm—"

"I don't care. You've been there for me through this whole transition. Even when I tried to push you away, you kept following. You never abandoned me. You saved my life, Takuma. Thanks to you I'm not living in the shadow of my father's lies. I know who I am now, what I come from." Recollection of his words months ago flashed in my mind.

"This secret will not cage you, Miss Taura. It will set you free."

"You freed me, Takuma. I never could have done this without you, so if this is what you need now then I'll gladly help. This is all I can do for you. It isn't enough, but it's all I have to give..."

"G-give?" Takuma choked on the word. "This is not like rewarding a child when he behaves. I could really hurt you."

"That's not your problem anymore. The only thing stopping you is pride. Guess what? It doesn't impress me. It's not brave. It's stupid."

I struck a nerve this time, because suddenly Takuma gave up all attempts at concealing his hunger. His mouth hung open, revealing his fangs as he slowly panted. His eyes burned hotter than fresh embers. They were no longer sad, but desperate. "I should have better control than this. I should be stronger. I'm sorry, Taura..."

I stood by the foot of the bed. His gaze was fixed on me, and it was surprisingly complex. This was not the same Takuma Ichijo who accompanied me at Cross Academy, who helped me study for tests or laughed with me in the halls. This was not my friend. That wasn't to say he was the creature who had nearly lost himself in the forest last night. This was the Takuma who had risked his life for me again and again, the vampire who played host to more compassion than most human beings. It was this compassion that was willing me to rethink my decision, but there was nothing in me to dissuade. I had to heal him before his injuries worsened.

He slid across the comforter, settling on his knees so we were directly facing each other. Merely an inch of empty space separated us. This was like when he had hugged me before New Year's, but so different at the same time. There was no soft gesture coming from him. His movements seemed almost involuntary as he leaned forward, one arm steadying me by the shoulder. He closed the gap between us, pulling me right up against him before I could protest. There was truly another force controlling him now, the part of him he had rarely let me witness. That part could no longer afford to let his moral compass govern what he so readily needed. I was accepting of this as he rested his chin on my shoulder. I shuddered when I felt his breath on the apex of my throat, imagining the fangs he was no doubt bearing. I had to tell myself to calm down. This was going to happen. It had to. I was prepared for the bite when he pulled away.

"Takuma..." I groaned. "Come on."

"You're afraid." He said matter-of-factly, still close enough that I could feel his heat. "It was my job to make sure you never had to feel this way."

"Bit late for that, huh?" I replied with a small smirk. I doubted he would be able to see any humor in this situation. "I am afraid, but not of you. Seeing you get hurt like that..." I shivered. Admittedly, I could not recall a moment in my life when I had been more afraid than when he had collapsed on that cave floor. "We can talk about it later. Now's not the time."

He nodded in reply, coughing again. He was staring at my throat, but the distance he was maintaining concerned me. If he was trying to refuse again... I was about to give him a hard glare when I felt strong hands wrap around my left wrist. He tugged me forward without restraint, causing me to stumble forward into a sitting position in the bed. He was right beside me, looming slightly over my head in his kneel. He pushed the sleeve of my sweater up, presenting the bare flesh of my wrist. He was weaker than ever, his breathing irregular and ragged, but the control he was managing to keep impressed even me. Still, I didn't like the look of him. I could see that if he didn't take what he needed right away he might no longer have the composure to do it.

"Go for it," I said, hoping I sounded calm. He had to understand that this was no big deal. "Time to quit it with the dramatic act. I trust you. And hello, you're a vampire. I don't think you need instructions. You've got fangs, now use them—h-hey, what are you doing!?"

I squirmed with discomfort when Takuma's tongue suddenly came into contact with my wrist. It felt very strange and I couldn't stop my cheeks from reddening. He licked me again, drawing his tool over the more accented veins of my arm. It disturbed me just how much I was reminded of Michio's brief attack on Yuuki.

"Cut that out. It's weird."

But he didn't stop, and in a few seconds I found myself flicking him in the forehead. He jolted, crimson eyes finding mine once more. They were strangely glazed. He was truly under a spell. I had to break it. "Takuma Ichijo! If you don't bite me on the count of three I'm going to poke you in the eye, and it's going to hurt. One..." I raised one finger. "Two..." I raised a second. "Thr—ughhh...!"

My breath caught in my throat when Takuma suddenly sunk his teeth into me, fangs piercing layers of skin and muscle as easily as needles sliding through cotton. It was impossible not to cry out. The pain was great, just as Takuma had posited not too long ago in this same room. I shuddered, focusing all my willpower on controlling my reaction. Still, a whimper escaped my throat, and as it did Takuma ceased all movement. We stared at each other, me through squinted eyes, him through orbs of burning crimson. His jaw was tightly clenched, his canines embedded deep in the flesh of my wrist. Blood leaked down my arm, but I knew he wouldn't proceed until I gave the signal. His restraint was so much stronger now than it had been last night, and I couldn't help but commend him. Even in this condition, he could not bring himself to take advantage of me.

"It's okay..." I said, forcing a small smile.

He didn't hesitate further, biting down deeply and closing his eyes. My arm throbbed with pain, but I knew it would be fleeting. By the time I felt the tug of him drawing blood, I was beginning to grow accustomed to the sensation. He swallowed, pressing his nose against my skin as though trying to inhale my scent and taste simultaneously. He took another gulp, and another. Instinct brought him to a natural rhythm.

Several long minutes passed, and he continued to take mouthful after mouthful, showing no signs of slowing down. Numbness began to spread from my wrist to the rest of my body. It was unlike anything I had felt before, warm and not altogether unpleasant, but unfamiliar. It frightened me, and I had to force myself to stay still. It was obvious how hard Takuma was working to be gentle. Looking at him through tired eyes, I couldn't imagine how difficult it was not to do what he was built for—drain all I had to offer. He trembled, wringing my arm with both hands.

"Hey..." I said, placing a hand on his head and ruffling his soft hair. "I'm okay."

He responded with a nod, unable to take his focus off the blood he was still so easily guzzling. I was growing weaker, and soon began to sink onto the bed, exhaustion and agony taking their separate tolls on me. I had to admit I had imagined this moment before, particularly after Aidou's accusation so many weeks ago. The pain, and more than anything, the satisfaction at being able to finally help. It was just how the blond Noble had described it, as much as I hated to accept it.

Takuma caught me before I could fall completely, and he held on, gulping down my blood even now. I knew he had taken a lot already. If he didn't stop soon I would undoubtedly lose consciousness. I had not even considered the possibility that he would really be unable to stop, but watching him I felt a bit of concern creep up my spine. I wondered how much he would need before he was full. Just as the thought crossed my mind an even more intense stinging than before wracked me as he unclenched his jaw, pulling his fangs out and panting like he had just run a marathon.

"G-god!" He sputtered loudly. "I'm so sorry. I took too much! And you're a mess!"

And there he was, the exuberant Takuma Ichijo. I smirked as I looked down at my arm. My eyes widened. There was blood everywhere. All over me, my clothes, on the bedspread. We both looked like the victims of some brutal stabbing. His jacket was ruined. I should have expected he would be a bit out of practice, but this was ridiculous. How hard could be really be to suck blood out of a person? Evidently harder than it looked. There was probably more of my blood on the comforter than in him.

"Hey, look on the bright side. You've got leftovers." I joked, blinking dizziness out of my vision. I tried to pull away from Takuma so I could lie down when he suddenly lowered his face to my arm again. "Don't—!" I started to warn him, worried he had let his control slip, but to my relief he only drew his tongue over my arm. He was cleaning the punctures. He smiled as he licked me, wordlessly informing me that there was nothing primal in his actions now.

"Your blood is quite wonderful, Miss Taura."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"I believe so," he remarked, licking me again, cleaning off the excess blood that he had let spill during the initial encounter. "Hmm. I could get used to this."

"Who said you could do that? This was a one-time thing, got that?" I grumbled, but I was smiling too. I couldn't help but giggle softly as I watched him clean my arm. He probably would have sucked on my clothes too, but after a rise-of-the-brows from me he backed off. He ran a hand through his hair, grinning with all the happiness of a child. It was truly a sight to behold. Yesterday this same young man had nearly lost himself to his desire for my blood, but now he seemed more at peace with it. I couldn't say how long that would last. After all, change is not a thing that comes easily to people. It doesn't happen overnight. It is a process that tests us every day, forcing us to reexamine ourselves and all those around us, tempting everything we believe and everyone we know. But looking at Takuma, I was reminded of the old Hunter, Barasa.

People do change...

There was no way Barasa's entire opinion on vampires had been been altered today, but it had most certainly been tested. Who knew what would be in store for him from here on out? And for me?

As exhaustion overtook me, I started to think about the future again. Whether or not things went my way—whether or not my life was easy, one thing was certain to me above all others.

I would never be alone again.