Shiki New Life chapter 23
Mitsuo held his chin in thought, he was certain that Hotaka and Emi was busy with victims and he knew the only way to gather more information was to check the Sotoba Library. Mitsuo knew where he would find information and knew that the library has a lot of books that may tell him about the Shiki. Opening the doors he saw some people on the computers and a lot venturing the library and reading books in the rest area. "Yeah! Take that! Whoo-hoo! Yeah!" Mitsuo looked at his classmate, Haru Fujiwara playing a video game on the computer only for Yukiko Shizuoka and Arisu Takagi, who are the helpers of the library and from Mitsuo's school, to walk over to him. "Haru, this is a place of learning, not video games." Yukiko said, shaking her head. Arisu glared after finding out Haru was wearing earphones, shutting away any sounds from outside.
Arisu shook her head, her bright red hair shaking side to side in the loose ponytail. "I think I can help." Mitsuo turned to see it was Seishin. "Thanks Seishin, he is always doing this and now he brought earphones to block us out." Mitsuo watched as Seishin tapped Haru's shoulder while the brown haired kid's eyes rolled. "Haru, please listen to me." Seishin said and Haru continued playing, ignoring the silver haired man. "Why should I listen to you, we barely even know you." Hara said, light green eyes gleaming at the screen of the computer.
Mitsuo saw Seishin took the earphones out of Haru's ears and talked to him. "You will soon, but not right now. Please do work if you are going to come over to the library." Seishin said while Haru puffed out his cheeks, gathering his things and leaving. "Thanks for your help, Seishin. Haru has been like this for quite some time." Yukiko said, playing with a piece of her pale blue braided hair. "After this I am going to talk to him, then feed my bird, Puffy." Arisu said, blue eyes stared at the ground with worry over her favorite bird. Mitsuo laughed and soon, Yukiko, Arisu, and Seishin turned to see him.
"Ah, Mitsuo. You came to find books?" Seishin said, Mitsuo smiled. He knew Seishin knew why he really was here, but happily Seishin was keeping him covered. "Yeah. I thought it be best to expand my horizons and read a bit more." Mitsuo said as he smiled. "Well, look away, Mitsuo! Yukiko said as she pointed at all the rows of books and Mitsuo looked at the two. "Arisu, do you know where the mythological creature section is? I want to read stories on vampires if thats fine." Arisu smiled at Mitsuo's question, and Mitsuo smiled, making sure he didn't seem to suspicous.
"Hiya Mitsuo, welcome to the library!" Mitsuo turned to see a twenty-six year old woman who he knew quite well since he was little. It was Chiasa Yomohiro who was a funny woman who was kind hearted and a bit klutzy, but loved to help her friends and family. The most notible thing about Chiasa is how she dresses her green hair in multiple crazy styles which always was a treat depending on which day of the week it was. Her light orchid eyes shined as she smiled at Mitsuo, since she was his baby sitter ever since she was fourteen. Of course he grew out of it but she still comes over to talk to him about important information or help him with school work when he needs it.
Chiasa normally helped tutor or take care of Tsu when her parents are gone. "What kind of things have you been interested in, Mitsuo?" Chiasa said, leaning in to see what Mitsuo was looking at. "Books about vampires and the undead, I want to expand my horizons on my hobbies." He said with a smile at his former baby sitter. "You grew up so fast." Chiasa said with a smile and looked at Yukiko. "I need to get going, groceries to run and I need to tutor Tsu at six because of a meeting her parents have to attend." Chiasa said as she walked out, carrying her bag of library books, all of which were from the study section.
Mitsuo saw Seishin leave the library, carrying some book, possibly something to read to Sunako. Mitsuo examined the section, and found several books so far called Blood's Curse, Dracula, and Knowledge of a Vampire. Mitsuo could see Knowledge of a Vampire was a "non-fiction" towards facts on vampires topd through legends and myths. Blood's Curse was a novel, but Mitsuo wanted to read it just in case, same with Dracula. "Well, I think I got what I came here for." Mitsuo said with a smile while he headed to the check-out desk where Yukiko stood behind the desk.
"So Mitsuo, found everything?" She said with a smile and a gleam of her eyes. "Yes, now let me..." Mitsuo's hand swirled around his pockets, and his eyes went wide, he left his library card at home. "Whats wrong, Mitsuo?" Arisu said, walking by with a stack of books in her hands. "My library card, I forgot it at home..." Mitsuo said, sighing with frustration. There was no way he was going to leave the library now, the sun was setting, at that meant hungry Shiki would be after his neck.
"Mitsuo? You can stay here at the library with me for a while to read, I am taking a night shift." Arisu said with a smile, Mitsuo smiled at her. "Sure, I will." Mitsuo said, he knew it would be dangerous for him to go out at night and he knew Arisu had a fear of being alone. Mitsuo sat down on the bench, reading his books quietly, some people passed by him, some greeting him and some not, Mitsuo pulled out his new notebook to write important information. Information that may prove useful against the evil Shiki. The library was nice and quiet until a text message on Mitsuo's phone went off, playing the Deathnote theme song as the ringtone.
Mom: Where are you at?
Mitsuo: the Library
Mom: Alright, be safe. :)
Mitsuo: Sure, mom!
Mitsuo smiled, his mother has been the only one who gotten through the who Ryota thing, and he was happy she was back. Mitsuo put his phone down as he went reading again, the book he was reading first was Blood's Curse which was about the adventures of Van Helsing after Count Dracula and his minions, which was very cool. "After this, I am gonna possibly start that anime Mikio has been bugging me to watch." Mitsuo said, remembering that Mikio wanted him to watch Helsing: Ultimate. Mitsuo looked around the library to see many people from both Lower and Central Sotoba were here, and some students too. Kokuhaku Shima and Kain Ooue from Lower Sotoba Highschool, Jotaro Saga and Noriaki Kumamoto from class three from his school, and Maiha Fujimaki and Koyuki Mizuno who were from class two.
Time went by, until only Arisu and him were in the library, it was one in the morning. "How's it going on that book, Mitsuo?" Arisu asked him, he smiled at the red haired girl. "Its going great!" Mitsuo smiled happily. "Thats good to he-." Arisu was cut off as the power to the library went out... Mitsuo started to look around and Arisu was laughing nervously.
"Its an old building, I am sure things like this happen a lot." She said with a nervous laugh. Mitsuo searched his bag, finding his LED flashlight he got for his birthday. "Scritch... Scratch..." Sounds echoed throughout the library from outside, Arisu clung to Mitsuo. "What... I... is t-that sound?" She said, her voice starting to shake. "I am not sure..." Mitsuo said, Arisu followed behind him carefully.
Mitsuo's flashlight shined on the doors, which were shut because the library was closed. Mitsuo's heart almost stopped when he saw red pupils glaring at him hungrily. "W... What is... That?" Arisu's voice was no more than a squeak and Mitsuo whispered to her. "Do you have an emergancy exit here, Arisu?" Mitsuo asked her as the scratch sounds increased their speed and Arisu started to panic. "It... It sh... Should... B-be... Be... Hind the desk!" She said as Mitsuo grabbed her hand and ran behind the desk, crashing sounds from the glass windows erupted the room and Mitsuo and Arisu looked up, two Shiki males stared at them.
"Ah! Look at this Shigero, fresh meat!" The younger looking, blonde haired male said with a smirk. "I have never tried red headed meat before, have you, Dai?" Shigero, who was a middle aged Shiki with brown hair and a moustache said with hungry eyes. Arisu and Mitsuo pushed the desk more and more, little by little, and the exit was being uncovered slowly. More Shiki crashed through the windows, and Mitsuo and Arisu struggling to get in the exit. "Mitsuo!" Mitsuo froze, he knew that voice, it was Ryota.
"You would be glad to know I saved a space for your precious little neck you worthless scrap." Ryota said his eyes glaring at Mitsuo who was climbing in the exit. Arisu quickly followed along, the exit was a part of the vents that was unused for a long period of time, now used as an escape route. "Lets go!" Mitsuo said to Arisu as they crawled through, Mitsuo could see the exit. "Ahhhh!" Arisu screamed and Mitsuo looked back to see Dai grabbed Arisu by her leg. "Take this!" She said as she kicked his face with her free leg, Dai blacked out, and Arisu crawled faster, Mitsuo reached the metal gate.
Mitsuo kicked the gate open and crawled out, looking back to help Arisu out. "Lets go to my place!" Mitsuo said as he and Arisu ran as fast as they could, Mitsuo looked back to see Dai, Shigero, Ryota, several Shiki he didn't recognize, and... Hikaru's sister, Chinatsu. She was muttering something as tears dripped down her eyes, she muttered what may have been, "Save me... Please." Mitsuo couldn't help but look at her until she was out of sight. "What are those things, Mitsuo?" Arisu said as she ran with him. Mitsuo stared to say, "Vampires... Or as they are called..."
Shiki.