Banners were decorated high along the walls, the evening light shining through the atrium windows like so. Ornaments which reflected across the colorful customers were dangling from stores, tempting whomever was immature enough to come inside the warm rooms. Tiny, delicate candy cane stickers hung to the potted plants near the entrances, the cool tiles their own crimson blush for the bashful stampede about to take place in a few days. Golden streams of ribbon kept gazing down lovingly at the crowds below, tiny sprinkles falling off the steel railings. Garlands swung from one corner to the next, masking a fairytale ballroom where even the adults seemed to enjoy stranger's company, the pleasurable atmosphere alone enough to take in the stunning views the mall catered to.

Kaori wandered through the stores, the glistening products indulging her eyesight more than once. She swept through the wooden shelves, her fingers aimlessly tracing the patterns of clothes, plates, stickers. Her dark eyes kept searching through the insignificant seams of sales and plastered smiles from the empty employees at hand, who were trying to draw her into yet another meaningless deal. She did catch sight of a couple of her classmates, though a majority of the time they would try and approach her, if only for a bit of smalltalk. However, she would always have to pry herself away from them later on, doing whatever she could to lose them without arousing suspicion.

She bit her lip, and turned toward the grand clock hanging from the middle of the ceiling. The golden needles brimmed through the green fluorescent lights. Victorian needles pointed toward the Roman Numerals, and before long, she spun her heel and went back to her pathetic search. She had over an hour left.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. A brief flash of annoyance came across her face, and quickly, she turned, only to find Yasuhiko-san standing there, that warm smile planted on his face. "Hey," he said kindly. "You shopping too?"

She nodded mutely, before sighing then, revealing her defeated demeanor from her once hopeful trip. "I can't find anything."

"That's not true," he pointed out helpfully. "You've found the clock, at least."

Kaori slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "I'm serious! It's weird…usually, I don't have any trouble with stuff like this."

Yasuhiko-san stared at for a little while, the confused realization etched within his face. "You're probably just adjusting to it is all. It's not every day you see a mall this crowded. What'd you need anyways?"

"Well," she started, as the two began walking down the rows of columns ahead, the bright, tinkering Christmas trees seemingly mocking her so happily, so much so she winced slightly. "I'm actually here for presents." She held out her hand, counting down the names that kept troubling her with their abounding pressure. "There's my little brother, then Mr. Yuuki, then Ken-"

He blinked. "Since when were you two friends?"

She felt her face heat up, and hastily, she turned away. "I…I just feel sorry for him is all. He's going to spend Christmas alone right? So I figured-"

"Still…didn't think you'd go that far." He whistled then, as he leaned toward her. "What? You planning on buying him mistletoe? If you want, there's a stand on the second floor-"

Much to her dismay, he drew closer and closer, his lips in full view. Kaori gripped her back tightly, as she shook her head vigorously, trying to get all the ugly thoughts out from her brain. She pushed his chest away with one hand, while covering her mouth with the other, her purse dangling along her elbows.

He stared at her confusingly. "What? Are you really that embarrassed?" he asked, that same, mocking grin spreading across his face.

When she didn't answer, he grabbed her wrist. "Are you serious? You really like him?" he laughed. "I didn't think you'd go for a guy like that! Nope! Never thought you'd be that type of girl!"

She winced, the blush still very much on her face, as she pried his fingers away from her. "I'm not!" she shouted, firmly planting his squirming hand to his side. "And I'm not in love with Ken. He's just a really good friend is all."

He scoffed. "Yeah, sure."

"Shut it."

"No need to get so defensive either. Anyways, who else was on the list? Mr. Yuuki, Akira, the famed Ken-kun…"

She closed her eyes then. Her mind searched through the contents of her memories, drowning out whatever horrid memories she had of the fashion show. She bit her lip. "And Miyuki-san, of course."

Yasuhiko-san, this time, was a bit taken back by the proposal.

The sudden silence surprised her a bit, but she brushed it aside in favor of their old, happy conversation. It wasn't long before Kaori turned to him, a sheepish expression grazing her features. "Yeah, it is a little embarrassing," she laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. "But I'm visiting her tomorrow, and she's your friend too, isn't she? It's…it's not like I'm asking for any special favors…or anything…"

"Y-yeah," he managed, turning back toward the path before them. "I think she'd appreciate it."

Kaori turned toward Yasuhiko-san, his passive face emotionlessly taking in his surroundings then. She bit her tongue then, and mentally kicked herself for saying such a troublesome thing, though she had no idea what that thing was. She peered toward him, and then tried again. "Well, we're at that stupid store anyways," she chuckled, tugging at his sleeve and pulling him to a halt. Seemingly shocked, he looked back toward her, his lips slightly parted. "Since you invited yourself along, you have to help me pick out a gift for her."

A soft shadow of minutes passed came back, and he looked up then. To her surprise, a tiny blush flashed across his face. "Kaori…are you sure?"

"I mean, you know her, right?"

"Y-yeah…but this is a little…"

"Why? What's the matter?" she asked aimlessly, cocking her head a tiny bit.

"For one thing, we're in front of Studio Five…"

"Huh?" She spun her heel, and found herself staring at a poster of a half-naked model, who was wearing blue bra. Blond hair was splayed all over the white background, with a tiny, yet noticeably naughty smile tugging at her lips.

She stared at it for a moment, before turning back, meeting Yasuhiko-san's, once again, astonished face. He was so close her blush returned once again, so she shifted her gaze elsewhere. Of all the humiliating, embarrassing things she had to do today, why this? She took a deep breath, and attempted to bow, followed by an "I'm so sorry!" that was blubbering up to her lips.

She felt both his hands on her shoulders. He straightened her, to her amazement, and Kaori couldn't help but stare at his unreadable expression. She couldn't help but wonder what hideous insults were racing through his mind right now, what perverted actions he was contemplating on doing.

Finally, he smiled. "Don't worry. I'll support you."

"W-wait…huh?"

"I didn't think you swung that way either, you know?" he asked jubilantly, stroking the crown of her head affectionately. "But I'm still a little confused. Why didn't you say anything before? I wouldn't have made fun of you for it."

She blinked. "W-what are you-?"

He scrutinized her face. "What are you talking about? You're bi, right?"

The confrontation ended with a resounding, "What?"


Megumi shoves through the head shots, wordlessly tossing many of them aside if only for a glimpse of some handsome prince dangling on the edge of obscurity. She rubbed her eyes wearily, then continued on with her burdensome, daunting task, relaying to herself the events for why she was enduring such a gruesome punishment to begin with.

This morning, when Yuuki arrived, he found an incredibly big, cardboard box just sitting by the door. When they opened it, the resulting action was her shifting mindlessly through the many candidates, all of whom too normal or abnormal to fit the outfit. Apparently, the spoiled brat wasn't going to wear the outfit she made until he saw someone else go through the same process. He was trying to make sure the fabric wasn't poisoned or uncomfortable or big or whatever else came into the idiot's mind.

And of course, when she called him later, he relayed to her the exact same excuse mentioned above, along with a, "Your boss said it was okay to use your coworkers. Do it or I'm never calling you again, you damn whore."

By the time she turned around, Yuuki was gone.

Using the company's employees was an odd request however, but all the same, she had no choice to comply if she wanted her outfit to be worn. He was also a prized client, so no matter how much she wanted to strangle him, or maim him with the ax so helplessly sitting near the door, she couldn't do so without drawing negative attention to herself. Mr. Murakami seemed to be okay with it as well, though of course, as long as the strangeness paralleled with his standards, anything was alright with it. Besides which, the Sapporo Snow Festival was already nearing, and aside from that miserable kid, the company could find no other professional model whose schedules weren't already booked to do it.

Her thumb kept passing through the photos, some new designers that are already dreaming of a big shot career in modeling, others executive salespersons, who likewise carried that impossible illusion. She even saw Ms. Osaka's picture here, though the woman was so obviously unwilling to take something as revealing as this, equaling such a disgrace to that of a mug shot for the whole world to see. It may be an overreaction, but a humorous one nonetheless. Who knows? Perhaps Megumi would her to do it and unveil the newest clothing line. Maybe they could boost old people sales?

She laughed to herself, and continued looking. It was strange, how all the executives here bore such an uncanny resemblance to Mr. Murakami. They all had the same, icy blue veins emphasized so clearly along their pale flesh. They all bore an emaciated look that reached down to their collarbones, the same dead eyes for which she couldn't help but find a bit disturbing. No one looked directly at the camera; in fact a few had cross eyed faces, with childish gestures Megumi neither found amusing nor funny.

Their appearances contrasted so very greatly to the adults back in Sotoba, to the partygoers in the nightclubs, and even to the corpselike adults she would see wandering through the streets. Though there was a humanlike quality to them, all the same, she pondered on their business culture, on their absolutist way of thinking in regards to imagination and creativity.

She sighed then, shoving away their photos. They probably sent those creatures in as a joke. It might've been just a little a tiny prank to try and lighten the mood, though her attitude progressively got worse from seeing them. She rubbed her temples, pondering on if she should just find another company to work for, or if she should just start her own brand in the UK. And yet again, another smile stretched on her face, as she kept on searching through the photos. She knew full well what she was going to see when she came to London, to that brat's domain without his permission. Staring out at the same background for so long it was beginning to grow so very tiresome, to add to her list of complaints.

She reached over and pulled the box toward her, grabbing the last of the photos with a single hand, a relieved sigh happily dancing on her lips.

That smile faded when she saw the faces of Amber Fawn, Tsutomu Miyazaki, and Miyuki Ishikawa hidden at the bottom.


The tall, foreboding buildings housed tiny, sheltered lights that kept its silhouettes moving busily, doing whatever they could to finish early, if only for the holidays. Colorful decorations pierced the night skies, giving rise to an early calm that otherwise wouldn't have existed so very late in the year. Lanterns standing outside of those edifices gave off a very lonely, albeit content, light, for which children would come and wait for their parents or friends to come keep them company. A few would play around the professional airs altogether, sliding down the steps with cardboard slays, never minding the winter's harsh force slamming against their tiny bodies. They would carry those icy snowballs in their tiny arms, using their scarfs as slingshots for yet another weapon against the pretend enemy.

Haru walked through the empty park alone, his hands shoved in his pockets, as he observed nature's shadows dancing to the sounds of a moonless night. Bright giggles passed him so, the conversations ranging from lost lovers to precious, deceased family members, to even a reunion with a long lost friend, from which he carried on with his business. A tiny frown adorned his lips, with heavy eyes that marked the turbulence of yet another storm. His footsteps reflected through the still wet streets, the marketplaces filled with last minute bargains for the finality that otherwise would have no particular value in the next year.

He stopped then, narrowly dodging a flying snowball that could very well have decapitated him. Slowly, he turned to the children playing nearby, all of whom stared down apologetically. Still, he smiled then, before continuing his way, never bothering to say a word to them, at least.

"Toma."

"You're a very cruel person, Yasuhiko-sama," the jinrou asked, stretching his arms toward the skies. "How long do you intend on deceiving that girl?"

"That's none of your concern," Haru dismissed, callously walking away from Toma, eyes staring blankly at the emptiness in front of him. He heard the boy then following behind him, a grim, solemn smile upon his face. Silence continued for a while, before Toma sighed then, his eyes boring Haru's back. "Are you really going back there?"

"I am. Kaori said she was coming tomorrow."

Toma stiffened. "You know, the girl has a brother."

"I know. I've seen him."

"He cares for them as well."

"Which is why I'm doing this. But frankly, I'm glad you brought up the subject." He twisted his heel, turning toward the shiki with a piercing glare. "I'd prefer you stay away from the Tanakas, or the school, for that matter. You're not that bastard's pet anymore."

"I was never anyone's pet," Toma shot back calmly. "But I can understand how those two are feeling. Your morality chains, I mean."

Haru turned back, and continued walking. No sooner had the silence persisted did Toma start following him again. He sighed irritatingly. "What of it?" he demanded.

"Vampires are very much like humans, no matter what anyone else says," he explained. "Both have minds of their own. Both have wills of their own. It won't do much good if you keep pretending, both you and your friends."

He stopped then. "It doesn't matter. I know how to behave."

"You aren't Mutou though, are you?"

"That's true; I'm not." He stated. "From what I can tell, he's a lot crueler than how he makes himself out to be. If Megumi and Natsuno are suffering this bad, I can't help but wonder kind of monster he was."

"Takes one to know one, doesn't it?"

He directed his annoyed gazed toward the shiki, who remained emotionless. He stared him down, the cold light returning to his eyes. "On second thought," he began, "I don't think I'll be going back to Sotoba tonight."

"Then what will you be doing, I ask?"