This chapter was inspired by Madam Macabre's song Blood Right. I love her music. I know it's short again. Sorry, I'm just saving the good things for later. Hope you still like it. Tell me if it's too flat for your taste.

Shika:

I sat on the edge of my bed, eyes never leaving the bathroom door. Steam filled the room, and the sound of running water drifted along with it. The reason I was staring was because I didn't want her to suddenly disappear.

Silly, I know, but something inside me felt like she once slipped out of my reach, but pinpointing when was completely impossible. Where did I know her from? Who was she? What part had she played in my life before Shun rescued me from Death's doorstep? If I hadn't been run over by that car, then I would have stayed human and lived a normal life. I lost so many people: family, friends, and teachers.

The water cut off, and I straightened up, having lost my train of thought. My brain was getting foggy like the room. It was as if a brick wall slammed down on my memories, keeping me from putting names to faces. Roxanne opened the door, a towel wrapped around her head.

"Were you waiting to take a shower?"

"No, not really. I wanted to ask you something."

She searched the walls and ceiling. I nodded, knowing what she was looking for.

"There's no reason to worry about L eavesdropping on us. There's no point in putting video cameras in a vampire's room. I won't turn up on it. That's probably why he wanted Watari to fix your room up, so he can place wire taps and stuff."

Slowly, I saw her relax. Taking the towel in hand, she began drying her hair while leaning over to the side so water wouldn't drip on her dry clothes.

"Ask away, then."

"Did your Xucmbij tell you my allies?"

A small smile crept up on Roxy's face.

"You're still sharp, I see. Well, yes. I asked Huin to tell me what they were calling you in this dimension so I wouldn't reveal your real name. Wow, does that mean you're like the L back home?"

. . . .

She had a point. She knows a lot about me, and I have no clue how she got it. I think she might know more about Past Me than I do. After so many years of traveling the way I do, things started fading from my mind, no matter how strongly I fought to reclaim them. Shun had once told me it was a side-effect of having part of the Cupviji inserted inside me he used to save my life. I was more Xucmbij than human, or vampire at that time.

"Did you used to know me?"

"I thought you only had one question."

"I changed my mind."

"Heh heh," she chuckled. "Yeah, I did. You'll never guess what happened after you left. Everyone thought that I had something to do with your disappearance. I agreed to leave to keep myself out of prison… Your family misses you, you know. I was kind of hoping you'd agree to go back. I've been planning this talk for a while, so don't interrupt me, please."

With my brow furrowed, I tried to remember my family. Did I have both parents, or just one? I was pretty sure I hadn't had siblings, but I could have been wrong. Maybe a dog?

"I wanted to give this back to you," she went on, reaching into her pocket.

A thin, silver chain swung around in the air, the charm no more than a half-inch in diameter with the words 'Partners in Crime' carved into the shiny metal. Reaching for her neck, she produced a similar locket, and held it in her palm so I could see it.

"They're part of a matching set. You came back from Hot Topic one day, and handed me this is a small bag. You said we'd always stay together, and I wasn't going to let you explore all alone. I know now how those years must have felt by yourself." Her smile grew brittle. "We've traveled by ourselves, why not retire now that we've found our other half again?"

My eyes flickered from her necklace to the dangling one. Hesitating, I lifted it out of her grasp to examine it closer. There was a memory trying to surface, but it was bogged down by unknown forces. I knew that it was mine back before all the magic junk happened. Who was she? Where did she get this from? Why couldn't I think of any answers?!

Roxanne must have seen the frustration I felt. She set a supporting hand on my shoulder, smiling warmly at me. Her eyes were filling up with unshed tears. Why was she the one crying?

"It's okay," she barely managed to whisper.

She moved away, picking up a spare blanket provided by our anti-social host. As she went into the living room area to sleep on the couch, I watched her go, still fighting to uncover her identity. All night, I heard her quiet sobs as I lay staring at the ceiling.