Chapter 17
Silence overshadows everything again after what Rui said. Rinko's expression didn't change. She still held that blank look but her thoughts right now contrasts to it. She never believed that thing. All humans who were bitten are now dead. Those who survived either became a slayer or were brought to a mental hospital because of their condition. Then, she suddenly remembered what Lawrence told her, "Curiousty killed the cat." But she shook her head mentally and parted her lips.
"What turned you into a vampire, then?" she dared to ask.
"My bite." answered Sayako. One suprise after another. Time seemed to have frozen for Rinko. She was as still as a statue or a coprse that died from starvation. "Normally, a vampire have only one ability. Very few have two. But among all of us, our bloodline have more than two. That's why we were called, 'vampire lords'. But alords awaken one at a time. That's why if I die, Vince will be the next lord."
"And turning a human to a vampire is also one of your abilities...is that it?" the two nodded together. "Then...I have to kill Vince first before you." Sayako's eyes widened then she chuckled.
"You're one hell of a slayer..."
"I know." Rinko smiled and paced slowly towards the two making them take their defensive instinct. "But that guy over there," she said as she spun around and fired three times. "Must die first!" Zen dodged and pointed thorny stems darted towards Rinko. Before they reached her, fire dashed like spears and burned them as Sayako simuntaneously grabbed the raven out of the way. "S-sayako-san...!"
"Shut up, aho!" Sayako said, putting her aside. Rinko felt a vein in her temple throbbed faster than usual.
"But that guy has been following me since I was outside!" she said, stepping forward. But Sayako blocked her with her arm and glanced at the blond.
"Zen!" Sayako yelled at the certain guy as he jumped down on the lower floor from the upper, with a mandragora – a free-moving, man-eating, ancient plant – by his side. "How dare you betray me..." she rushed her words as she hissed.
Behind her, Rinko was gritting her teeth. "Quit blocking my way, obaa-san! And also, have you forgotten I'm here to kill you!?"
"No, but if you really want to do it then you have to stay alive, don't you?" she arched a brow at her as she looked back. "That's why I'm telling you not to butt in!" Then, Rui hurried strolled to them and took Rinko in his arms. He did not let go even when she struggled.
"Akishi-dono," he said. "I'll bring the others here. I suppose that guy isn't the only one sent to kill you." Rinko shot a glance at him, wide-eyed.
"T-that guy? Kill her!?" Rinko struggled but Rui carried her over his shoulder, ignoring her protests. "Hanase! Hanase, aniki!"
"Go on." her eyes turned crimson as she unsheathed her sword, running electric currents through it at the same time. "I'll handle him quickly, though, even if you don't." and he left with the raven who yelled her name as they left.
They are already far from where they were, according to her reckoning. The air was tensed around them as he saunters in his inhuman full-speed. She was still arguing with herself whether to ask him more question, to panic or to stay put and wait for the next things to happen – if there are still any. Suddenly, he ceased and put her down. She was first puzzled by the motion he took but fear overcame her when he turned around with eyes as blazing as his fire. She squeezed her eyes shut, thinking he'll take a mouthful of blood from a bite. But when he didn't, she reopened them slowly and looked back to him. By that time, his eyes were already the perfect amethyst she knows so well.
"Sorry for scaring you." came his calm smooth voice. "If you want a fight, I'll give that to you later. But for now, cooperate with me by protecting yourself."
She stared at him for a moment. And she grabbed her hand back. She fixed herself she gripped her pistol as tight as she could.
"Sayako-san is fighting Zen there, right?" he nodded.
"Don't worry." Rui said. "Akishi-dono is pretty tough. She won't be killed that easily."
""I'll really beat the shit of her if she lost!" she shouted, bitting her lip as she trembled in anger. "I'm the only one who'll kill her!"
Rui sweatdropped. Rinko hates it the most when her prey is being stolen by others. He has proved it countless times when he dared to steal her midnight snacks underneath her bed before.
Suddenly, a series of gunfires interrupted starled them. As it took their attention, they hurried to the main gate where it came from. There, Lawrence and several other slayers including Kevin were firing their weapons against a battalion of crazy-looking vampires. Also, in that area, dead bodies of their men lie unminded as they fight.
"They are apparently possessed by that traitor's pet..." Rui whispered as he whipped fire out of the thin air and, as if commanding it, it seperated into two then targeted their quarries and burnt them. Every slayer looked back and found him. They were displeased, as usual, instead of being grateful from the salvation he did.
"Harume-san!" Lawrence called and was about to pace to her location if not for Kevin who blocked him.
"So, you already showed your true self?" he spoke in a rather angered but apologetic tone.
"It's not as if you won't know sooner." he replied.
"You're an abomination. The likes of you, who do not follow any law of nature, should not be kept alive." then he eyed the girl behind him. "Isn't that right, Rinko?" Rui hissed and looked sideways.
"I've got the evidence I need." she said, eyeing Lawrence who got a worried expression on his face. She started pacing towards the slayers, her pistols aimed at him. Rui frowned with anguished look in his eyes. Rinko took something from her pocket that she handed to Kevin.
"A tape recorder?" Kevin arched a brow suspiciously. No matter how doubtful he was, he pressed the play button. Rinko took a few steps away from them as soon as its contents started playing.
The voices in the tape were very recognizable. It caused the slayers to whisper, murmur, and even argue all at once. Lawrence and Kevin were the only ones who stayed still, as if stoned. Even Rui himself was surprised, his cool exterior was taken off as he was completely caught off guard. Things slowly settled down, sinking into their minds which tried and tried to absorb the details from the recorder: Rinko's forceful interogation of the two vampires, Rui and Sayako.
"Rinko...t-that's..." Rui phrased, pacing a little towards them but ceased when Rinko looked back at him.
"I investigated in order to prove your innocence." she explained. "Although, I was disappointed by the truth, I'm thankful to know that you did not betray me at all. Thank-" she wasn't able to finish her sentece when Kevin laid a hand on her. She was sent on the floor by the force, shocked to know that her adoptive father just hurt her. Rui and Lawrence, despite disliking being near the latter, almost automatically burst with anger and hurried to help her stand up. Her cheek was blazing red.
"How would you know that that beast told you only the truth!?" Kevin thundered, ignoring Rui's glare at him. "Don't you dare tell me you believed his words!" he was trembling in fury with mad-eyes.
"I believed...him..." she muttered, clenching her fists. "He...never lied...to me..." then she held out her hand, opened it and handed a brooch. It was a ruby lunette moon chained by a silver, fully-bloomed rose – the crest symbolizing a slayer. The act caused a sudden commotion between them. "If you don't believe him, I don't have any reason to follow you anymore." her calm and strong words were matched with her unwavering voice and gaze – the one holding the azure orbs of her eyes. "And this day is the last one I am a slayer." she said the words deliberately, clearly because she doesn't want to repeat. What she said was the exact impossible opposite of her personality.
"Such stupidity..." the president whispered, and the next thing they knew was that the crest stumbled on the floor after being hastily thrown by Kevin himself.
"Being just isn't being stupid." she answered back, justifying her own pilosophy. "We shouldn't slay any innocent life."
"You speak of Justice?" he took his tone higher. "Have you forgotten our organization's motto? 'If revenge gives justice, justice is revenge'. For us, to shed blood is to bring peace."
"I never understood you." she spoke, shaking her head. "I never seeked for revenge. I only wanted to bring justice." then she fixed him with a stone gaze. "And justice shouldn't take innocent beings, may they be humans or not; otherwise, the justice we set our lives for bets will only become a cycle of hatred." she paused, and her expression changed. It was being filled with remorse. "Are you insentive? Haven't you noticed that we've become the monters ourselves?"
There was a moment of silence that followed for a while.
But before Kevin could give a reply, Rui took Rinko at his back as if guarding her.
"This argument isn't in the right place." he said. "We are in a situation of life or death. And that is depended on the vampire lord's life. We must be protecting her."
"I don't believe you." Kevin replied.
"Whether you believe or not, that is your choice. But I must let you know that Akishi Sayako is the most powerful vampire at this era." Rinko gazed up at him. But he gave her a reassuring look. "If she'll die, the power will be passed to Vince, the chairman of this university. That power if enough to kill the humanity in minimum of three years. You're lucky she's the current lord." Kevin pondered for a while. Three years? Is that a lie?
"I don't believe you."
"Fine. It's your lost." he said. "You can have something as your reward if you'll do what I want you to."
"What do you want us to do?" he took it.
"I want you to take her side." he said. "Protect her and you'll get me as your reward."
"Aniki!?" Rinko exclaimed.
"That's...we'll do experiments on you." Kevin told him straightforwardly. "You're crazy to wish for that."
"As if you'll be able to do that." the ex-human chided.
"That must be a lie..." Kevin whispered to himself.
"What now?" Rui demanded. Kevin and Lawrence both froze for a moment. "Are you just going to watch there?" he turned his back to one corner. "Maria?" Maria jolted from afar as every attention were drawn to her. Khana stepped out of the dark and to her side, acting as her guard.
"What do you think you're doing?" Khana interrogated. She and Maria paced towards them. She was calm but the other was nervous. "Setting yourself as the beacon?"
"I'm not an ordinary bait." he replied. "Aside from you and Akishi-dono, I'm also one of the fastest healing vamp-"
"That's not her point!" Rinko stepped back. Lawrence grabbed her wrist but she ignored him. "Sayako-san won't allow this if she's here. Besides, didn't you say that she's the most powerful? Then she can protect herself! There's no need for a sacrifice!"
"Rinko, you don't-"
"Shut up!" she turned to Kevin. "You'll side with us without any other condition." Kevin parted his lips to speak but she continued, "Even if you don't, we'll all die after three years."
"That girl is also a monster." he said. "It is in her abilities ti kill us at any time."
"Then why am I still alive?"
Another silence.
"She gave me something that I never had in my experience of being a slayer."
"What is it?"
"Satisfaction."
"So," Rui scratched his temple. "Shall you meet her or not?"
"I'll go." Kevin said. "But only with Lawrence and you." the other slayers at his back moaned their protests. "Hush." he turned to them. "You are injured."
"I'll attend to them." Maria paced forward but Rinko held her.
"They might kill you." Khana said, her voice had a slight edge of irritation.
"I'm used to that." the damphyr replied and took her hand from Rinko. "A damphyr like me can heal anyone with only my will. I also can see the future, so there's nothing to worry."
"Such gifts you have." Kevin praised her. "I heard that damphyrs are weaker than the weakest vampire. But you sure are one-of-a-kind, although the common quotient is still there: you also are demonic."
"Thank you. But may you watch your words by the next time." she said, blankly.
Healing the slayers with one brief touch took for ten minutes since they were struggling. The wounds weren't deep but Maria was worried if they were poisoned. It turned out that they were still lucky to be away from death with another step.
"Sir," she stood up and Faced Kevin. "I know you got yourself wounded too." she eyed his left knee where blood designed his clothes.
"This is a small graze." he told her, backing off when she attempted to touch him.
"A wound, no matter what size, is still a wound." she politely told him, impatient.
"It would hurt more if you'll touch me, demon." he hissed.
Exactly the moment he took another step back, a green, fleshy and thorny stem wrapped around Maria and snatched her from the crowd. Surprised as they are, gunfire started.
"Traitor! Zen!" Rui yelled, sending a fire ball at with which he coldly dodged. Maria was in his arms, passed out. Lawrence and Rinko were firing their pistols at him. But they were easily deflected by the ancient plant that served as his dog. "What happened to Akishi-dono!?"
"She's having a peaceful dream." he answered, smirking as he put the damphyr over his shoulder. "You shouldn't worry for this while."
"I can't believe you'll betray us, Zen." Khana growled, losing her cool. Her eyes became red.
"I have my goals. Don't all of us have, too?" he stared at Rinko for a moment. "You," he addressed her who was reloading her gun. "You once wanted to clean this world right? Like in a chess game, a clean board."
"I just wished for a normal life with no wild creatures to worry about." she told him and fired another bullet that just hit the wall at his rear. "I suppose you know what that does mean." Zen's smirk widened.
"Very well then. Let's meet at Vince's manor." he banged his arm on the wall and created a huge hole from the force. "Tonigh is a full moon. There's a lunar eclipse. We'll perform a rite to get this girl's sealed power. Tell that to her." and he got into his escape route and jumped of the wall.
Khana, although not losing her temper, burst in soft anger. She darted out the building and followed Zen's trail. At the same time, Rinko panicked. Though Lawrence tried to calm her, the guilt that rose up when she wasn't able to protect Maria tormented her conscience. Rui told her it's going to be alright so, with the redhead, they backtracked the way to where Sayako was left in a one-on-one fight with Zen while the slayers try to regain their energy.
Rui was already thinking that she'd lose because of her pride. She doesn't want to kill to be able to win the fight. He'd say that'll be her weak point that time because it wasn't an ordinary slayer or vampire she was fighting with. It was a long-time sparing-mate. And also a true, legal cousin because he's Vince adopted son and he grew up with her.
"What happened?" Rui asked when Fuyumi and Akira came running towards them. At their back, a thick, violent cloud blocks the way.
"That traitor let out a gas." Akira answered. "We still don't know if it's poisonous or not but the vampire lord is in there."
"What?" Rinko's mouth gaped in horror. Fuyumi glanced at her. She thought it would take a week for her to understand their situation.
"Agnes caught a quick glimpse of her there inside. She lies unconscious." Akira explained.
"I'll go and get her." Rinko declared surprising them all.
"Are you crazy?" Fuyumi pulled her brows together. "We don't know what that cloud is. That Zen guy isn't only expert with his animalistic plants; he's also skilled in poisons so if you don't-"
"I'm crazy, yes." Rinko walked passed them. Agnes and her company together with Rina and Sylvon who were stading beside the invisible barricade that seperates them from the cloud also tensed as Rinko passed by. "But unlike you, I'm not an idiot. She's the one we're protecting and not ourselves." with that, she held her breath and stepped into the gas. As soon as she did, it darkly enveloped her. The last thing she was able to hear was Rui's voice calling her, commanding her to go back.
"Sayako-san!" she yelled but nothing answered her back aside from the echo. Why is it so dark?
There was nothing visible in her sight that she was as good as blind in that darkness. But soon, the air became a necessity and she let her breathing resume as she pants.
The gas wasn't poison. Nothing dangerous happened the second she sucked the air in. Until she stepped her foot forward. Arms from nowhere arised and grabbed her feet, halting her. She panicked, trying to break free. But the more she struggled, the more their grip tightened. The floor she's on slowly became slimy and began to suck her in. She wanted to scream for help but she can't find her voice as she did. Trying to get away, she struggled more. But the arms were stronger. It was also to their advantage when she felt pain at her toes. Spiky needles seemed to prick her feet. Get away from me! she ordered angrily, kicking the arms. Headache came to her like adrenaline rush. As she became limp and weak, in a moment, she can't sense anything, even her own weight.
Rinko sprung up from her bed. The curtains were flutterring as the windows are opened. She sat up and felt the cool breeze on her sweaty skin. She stood up when her fast breathing normalized. Was that a dream? It felt so real. She left her room after taking a bath and dressed up in her uniform. The corridor is the same as always. She headed towards the dining hall. She wasn't able to prepare Sayako's breakfast as she promised since the time was too short and she'll get late if she still will. Everything went on smoothly until they went to their room. There, she found the student council president.
"Ohaiyo, obaa-san!" she greeted but the other girl scowled and ignored her. Rinko frowned, knowing nothing the cause of the girl's current mood.
Sayako gone missing at their lunch. The raven tried to find her but she wasn't in the places she thought she'd be in. She wasn't in the cafeteria, not in the table they always are. One thing was left: third year music room.
He chuckled in a low tone and opened his eyes. He's seeing what his two victims are experiencing. After bringing Maria at the center hall so that they can prepare her for the ceremonial rite, he busied himself by playing a role in the minds of the two. He smirked, and licked his lower lip. "I'm starting to like this."
"What are you doing?" a voice of a man interrupted him and took his attention. He came out into the light, a frown on his face.
"Vince, don't be a killjoy." Zen said. "I'm playing."
"That vampire lord's dog have just arrived here." he informed him. "I wanted to make you dispatch her but you seem to be doing other things. JUst what is that about?"
"This is a game where everything is an illusion." he answered as his smirk grew bigger. "It will only end if the player either won by grasping the pain of reality or lost by forgetting it completely. If the player lost, his mind will get poisoned and he will eventually die."
"Who is the player then?" his voice expressed the way he was thrilled.
"Your niece and that slayer who said she gave up her title." Vince snarled.
"Don't kill her yet." he ordered. "That task is mine to do."
Her heartbeat was racing with her breath. She tried to calm herself. She breathed deeply and twisted the silver knob of the door. The feeling of anticipation filled her body. The room didn't change even a little. The walls are still the same. The chandeliers still hang beautifully in the ceiling. And the piano is still in the place it has ever been placed on. Her eyes wandered and rested on one familiar person.
But it's not Sayako.
The wind blew the grasses which tickled her hands as she lies her back on the ground. She opened her eyes slowly and saw the big blue sky above her, clear and cloudless. She smiled. The sun above doesn't seem to hate her anymore like when she was still young. Where am I? She sat up and scanned her surroundings. She's in a meadow of assorted flowers. This place...is familiar... She stood up and brushed her fingers through her hair then stared up at the sun. Would I become blind if I continue like this? Galileo Galili became lost his sight after observing that star too much.
"Yako-chan!" a familiar voice called her. With her heart beating frantically, she turned around and saw a girl about her age. She looks like her. With her appeareance, they could pass off as twins. Her hair, though curly, is similar to hers from the length to the color. She also have the same brown eyes as her. Their only difference are her big cheerful grin. "Ara, what are you doing there? Come here! Let's have fun!" Sayako walked towards her with a shocked expression.
"Okaa-sama?" she spoke and looked at Yukio's side. There sat Cross, her father. The two of them have a little similarities and he seems a little older than her, perhaps a year of two older. It seemed that she inherited most of her looks from Yukio since he has a wavy black hair - that's fixed in a nice plait - and his eyes are green. "Why...am I..."
"If you don't come here, we'll eat all the food." said Cross. The two of them are on a picnic blanket with a basket of sandwiches. She sat down besides them and helped herself with a sandwich.
"Otoo-sama, Okaa-sama..." she muttered. "Why...how come...you're both alive?"
"Eh?" Yukio tilted her head to one side. "What are you talking about?"
"...you see...I..." she frowned then just shook her head. "ah...nevermind."
"What's bothering you, my child?" asked Cross. "are you sick?"
"erm...no...it's nothing." she smiled at them. And they smiled back.
It's been so long since she has ssen them. She then suddenly remembered what her mother told her about his father. She said that although, she looks a lot like her than Cross, Sayako got his personality the most. He is normally a stoic and authoritative individual, but is very kind, warm, and gentle to the ones close to him. He is very strict and often imposes discipline in a fierce way.
"Tsuki?" Rinko called the child's name who seemed to be eight. She has the same shiny, deep black hair which is straight and shoulder-length. Her eyes are also the same shade of sky as the raven. "Why are you...?"
"Nee-chan!" Tsuki cheerfully called her name and stood up from the couch then came to her and embraced her. "I've been searching for you, warui oni!"
"O-oni?" Rinko frowned at the name then remembered that it was the name her younger sister often call her before. How could I forget? "S-searching?"
"Yeah. Together with Too-san and Kaa-san." she answered. "Mou! Where have you gone?"
"Err...I...in the dorms..." she answered. "Why are you here?" And what are you saying too-san and kaa-san? Aren't all of you dead already?
"Oh? I feel that you're lying..." Tsuki pouted and she narrowed her eyes, suspicious of her. "Anyway, we're here because it's my birthday. Or have you forgotten?" she glared at her.
"N-no! O-of course not!" she thre her hands in her front, waving them no.
"Then, let's go." Tsuki grabbed her wrist and dragged her out the room.
"Go where?"
"Nee-chan...you aren't trying piss me off are you?" she glared at her. "To our village of course! Did you have an amnesia or something!? We'll have a party there!"
"Village?" her heart skipped a beat. First, her sister. Then her parents. And now their village...? You've got to be kidding me...it's as if that day never came...like my life as a slayer was a dream...a nightmare.
"Okaa-sama," Sayako whispered as she pick a random flower. Yukio just dragged her to a different part of the meadow, saying that she wants to collect somes flowers with her. "...at that time..." she paused, remembering the scene a couple of centuries ago when Yukio blocked a slash by a slayer that was supposed to be Sayako's; remembering how she grabbed his neck and ripped it off; remembering how she faced her and apologized for letting her see such a scene then asking her to escape with Kairo. It was so fresh in her memory despite forgetting how their faces look like. "I'm sorry...I was so weak back then that you needed to protect me...Kairo-niichan said so were strong...but once you're heart have been stabbed, it's over...and there, I just watched you turn to ashes until Otoo-sama arrived..." her orangish brown eyes became molten as tears started to come. "But no one even blamed me for that! No one! I was allowed to live after all of you died...! I don't care if this is a dream or not...I want to hear you say you hate me!"
"Yako-chan," Yukio patted and ruffled her head. "How could I hate you? If it's the past that pains you, then forget it. But be here with me and your father." she wrapped her arms around her and embraced her tightly. "Forget everything..." she said in a soft murmur and laid Sayako on her lap. "Sleep, Yako-chan..." Sayako slowly closed her eyes. Yukio's warmth is the same as before. Deliberately, she fell asleep.
"That's right." Yukio murmured, carressing her. "Sleep forever...and never wake up, my child..."
"Nee-chan!" Tsuki hit her head but the raven didn't mind. "Quit spacing out!" they just sang the happy birthday, cut the cake and ate but Rinko seemed down despite her favorite activity. She kept on staring at the empty playground at the distance ever since they arrived there.
"I...I wanna go there..." she said ignoring the blow she got from the younger girl. She started to pace towards it like there's some kind of invisible force.
"No! Nee-chan! It's dangerous!" Tsuki warned, grasping her wrist but Rink snatched it away and glared at her.
"That place...I have to go there...I have to know what's in there..." she said.
"No." Tsuki insisted. A dark red aura oozing from her. "Forget it. Stay with me." Rinko's eyes widened but she fell on her knees, frozen. "There, there. Obey. just obey. Forget them. Foget every-"
"How could I forget?" Rinko asked with a trembling voice as she forced her body to move away from the girl and finally managed to stand up, though still wobbly. "That place...if I can remember correctly...that's where I first met Sayako-san when I was young."
"So you can still move your body...such a stubborn human..." the girl said. Rinko took her pistol underneath her clothes and aimed it at the toher girl with determined azure orbs. "You're gonna shoot me? Can you really do that? Nee-chan...?"
"Tamare!" she growled at her. Abrutly, a bluish silver aura covered her as the ground trembled. Their surroundings, the sky and everything else, cracked like mirrors. "I won't forget. I'll never forget..."
A gunfire.
"OMAE!" the girl shrieked after being pushed down on the ground, her right shoulder bleeding. "Even though I possess the a\face of your sister...how could you!? And what are you doing!?" panicking, she glanced around her, wide eyed and horrified. "You...you can't be breaking the spell...can you...?"
"I don't know what you're talking about but all I care is Sayako-san. So now, bring her out." her eyes changed color. From the royal blue shade to silver one, glowing fearsomely.
"I don't know but you're under a spell. Once this world shattered it's either you'll break it alone or with yourself." said the shapeshifter.
"Then I have no use for you anymore." she pulled the trigger again. This time blood trickled down from the girl's forehead. "Sayonara."
She snapped her eyes open and sat up, her body barely feeling anything. She stood up, wiping the cold beads of sweat that formed on her forehead and temples. "Sayako-san!" she called again but there was no response. When she took a step forward, heavy chains bind her to the darkness. But they dissolved as she regained struggled hard. She looked around her. She's still in the violet cloud. I knew it. Those were illusions. She scanned the darkness, trying to spot the russet-haired girl. There, in one corner, Sayako lies unconscious. Rinko strolled towards her and patted her cheek.
"Nnnn...Okaa-sama..." Sayako muttered, squeezing her eyes tightly.
"Sayako-san, whoever person that's in there, ignore her!" the raven instructed, her voice echoed as she shook the other girl. Sayako's expression softened and she became calm again. But she didn't wake up. "Damn it! What if she doesn't wake up?" She bit her lip and because of the numbness she still feels, she didn't notice the pain until the blood dropped to the vampire's face.
Seeing it, she smiled. She looked around, and smirked when she found the sword of the vampire, unsheathed. She grabbed it and closing her eyes, she grazed her palm against the blade and endure the pain. Then she positioned it above the vampire's lips and let the blood drop.
A gust of wind came and blew the grasses away. She feels numb. Both in mind and body. There's no pain. Nothing. Like she has already died. Thoughts were swriling inside her mind. What happened? Was that an illusion? A dream? Or was everything she was fighting for the unreal thing? Where are her comapanions? What happened to them? Did she lose? Did she really die? If she did, then are others still alive? If not, is it because of her? Becuase she's weak? She cursed in her mind. She was being protected again like before. The only diffrence now is that her protectors must have failed.
But suddenly, a familiar scent tickled her senses and she slowly opened her eyes just after closing it and being able to sleep for a while. "Rin...ko?" she muttered and sat up. The scent of Rinko's blood! What happened!? She frowned when she saw everything in the plain color of gray. "Okaa-sama!?" she stood up, looking around. "Okaa-sama!"
"I can't believe you still woke up from that." Sayako turned around and saw Yukio. "You should have just surrendered and died."
"You..." Sayako glared at them. "You're not Okaa-sama."
"I do not want to fight you but you drove me to my limit. Begone!" said Yukio and she dashed towards her, sharp nails raised like daggers before their eyes. They attacked but all Sayako did was to dodge.
"Okaa-sama..." she mutterred.
"What's wrong, eh!?" the woman exclaimed, darting towards her. "Can't fight!?"
Blood spluterred on the ground as Yukio pierced her gut. "Pathetic." the woman said, chuckling.
"I'm sorry," Sayako muttered and summoned a high voltage current around her boby. Wide-eyed, the woman tried to pull her hand back but Sayako grabbed her shoulder. And at that instant, she reduced to ashes after being toasted by the current from the otrher girl's body. She smirked. "but you don't resemble my mother that much."
Sayako coughed and sat up as if someone choked her. Then she saw the raven-haired girl sitting beside her, worry carved on her features. She shook her head. It's really painful like someone banged it agaisnt a wall. Then she noticed her lips are wet. And she wiped. Only to be shocked to see that it's blood. Her eyes turned red as she stared at it. No doubt it belongs to only one person.
"Rinko?" she called.
"Yes?" she answered. "Are you alright now? If you are, then let's go. They're waiting for us."
"Baka aho..." she whispered and the raven looked at her. A shiver run down her spine. Red eyes gazed at her in the darkness. "Do you kow what could happen with this?" Sayako wiped her lips clean, as if disgusted by it and stood up. "What if I attcked you?"
"...I k-know that you won't." she stammerred and mimicked her action.
"You don't know how your blood smells like." she said, grabbing her hand.
"S-Sayako-san...!?" Sayako raised Rinko's hand close to her lips. Instinctively, the raven tried to pull away, seeing as though she was about to bite her when she parted her lips. But instead, the vampire lord whispered something and the wound gradually healed.
"There." she said and let her go. Amazed, Rinko examined her hand, wiping the blood off.
"H-how did did you -?"
"It's a healing spell that only a vampire lord can use. It would be a problem if we'll get out of here when you're like that. Agnes and her companion, Rui and I would be able to control ourselves but I doubt Rina and Sylvon. They just reached their hundredth year. I can't guarantee your safety with them around." she looked back at her, glaring. "That's why never do that again." then her eyes retuned to normal. "Anyway, let's get out of here." she mutterred something again and this time, the cloud dispersed, clearing the space. Rui and the others were across. They looked at them and without a second of delay, they dashed to where they're standing and reunited.
[game ~ first moves]