"Kiku…" Hana stared watching her move towards the front door, "are you going somewhere…" She didn't turn around, nor did she look over her shoulder, she took a deep breath stood by the door.
"I'm leaving…"
"Can I go with you…?" She asked not realizing what kiku meant by saying she was leaving.
"No…"
she stared at kiku for a moment then her eyes went wide realizing what she meant. when she said that she was leaving.
"Um… Um…" She nervously looked at the floor, clenching her fist, "can I go with you…" She asked again hesitating a bit then took a few steps forward, then a few more walking quickly across the kitchen floor to the door. She reached out to Kiku's hand, "no…" She answered, standing still her eyes staring as her hand reached for the doorknob wrapping her fingers around it.
"Please…" biting her lip, eyes were glistening, "I want you to stay…" Her hand trembled as she took Kiku's hand slowly closing in around it. She squeezed it tightly, kiku holding her hand still, "please…" She whispered.
Kiku's voice showing no emotion, but inside her it hurt, it felt like a punch to the stomach. She could feel the emotions rolling inside her belly, rising to her chest on its way out to her throat.
Hana continued to beg her to stay. It reminded her of how young vampires approach a potential master. They would beg, slowly reaching out to them touching their hands, their arm then slowly wrapping themselves around them, eyes shut, begging hoping for their approval.
Hana was whimpering reaching with her other hand taking her wrist just above her hand that wrapped around her fingers.
"You are my friend…" She exhaled taken a deep breath. "You and ai have always been there…" She sniffed, "I feel safe with you… please don't leave me…" She cried leaning her head against her. Kiku closed her eyes shaking her head, the torture she experienced gnawed at her, every day. She tried to sleep but couldn't, when she did sleep, she had nightmares reliving the experience. Everyone at school, looking at her with taunting smiles. She knew because of the video that Yuki sent across the bund Internet. Her position in the vampire hierarchy was suspect. Many would think she was weak and would probably try to take her, taking her as a servant or to elevate their position by killing her. When she was touched her skin burst in the pain, she would react suddenly then quickly subduing the violent repercussion. She peeked out of her eye looking at Hana holding her hand, she expected it, hearing hana run from the kitchen she was ready to be touched.
"Please stay…" Hana steps closer, pulling Kiku's arm against her body. she could feel her body trembling her wet lips opening and closing as she begged her to stay. She closed her eyes taken a deep breath, biting her tongue, trying to control the anger that was building up.
"Please… Hana…" She slowly pulled her arm from her body, "let go…" Hana moved her hand up to Kiku's elbow.
"Noooo..." She placed her head against her arm. She could feel her wet tears against her skin, her grasp becoming tighter, and her fingers digging into her skin.
"Hana…" Her voice shook as anger rose, "let me go…" She paused clenching her fist, "now…"
Kiku's tears fell from her eyes, tracing a path to her chin falling to the floor. She sighed, lowering her head. She clenched her fist with her free hand. She stepped forward, opening the door. The night breeze filled the room. The cool salt air surrounding them, the lights from across the bay danced on the black water of Tokyo Bay. She stared, taking a quick deep breath, seeing the dark empty windows of the warehouse. The same warehouse where she had been held, beaten, burned, and raped. she trembled clenching her jaws, the tears rolling. The tension rose in the air, the memories return, enveloping her, the pain the fear and helplessness that she felt.
"Let me go…" She growled, "Now!"
The growling filled the air; she spun around, her fist like stone, rage feeding her body. She saw the fear and the surprise in Hana's eyes before her fist came towards her head but she didn't see Hana's face, it was Sayomi's, too weak and pathetic to help, whining… Begging… Her tears flowing. Then Yuki's smiling like a cat with her head tilted, "I will smash your face… Yuki…" She screamed as she dove into the black, she hit something not sure what it was.
She expected the sound of flesh giving way and bone cracking, the wet sensation and smell of blood and the fine red mist filling the air. The pressure from Hana's hand releasing her grip, listening for the sound of her body falling to the floor.
What she felt was a low rumbling of a growl filling the air. It wasn't hers, she opened her eyes her vision clear, eyes wide in surprise. She saw ryou holding Hana close to her body with eyes narrowed, Hana still grasping her arm. However, she wasn't growling. Kiku's eyes followed the sound past Hana, her eyes wide in surprise and scared, still gripping tight, and the blood seeping from her fingertips.
She stood, eyes narrowed, her lips spread wide her fangs exposed, "ai…" She paused, "you have fangs".
ai's left hand had caught Kiku's fist. Kiku's arm shaking still trying to move forward, Ai's arm never wavering, it felt like hitting the side of a mountain. She glared at kiku then looking below her breasts, ai's hand flat her fingers together like a knife pressing against her flesh. Kiku stared in shock; ai had been upstairs bathing when she had come to the door. She remembered megumi and ryou sitting in the living room. When she silently past them heading to the door. Hana was in the kitchen before she followed her to the door.
"How…" Her lips trembled, eyes brimming with tears again.
Ryou had her hand across Hana's chest and up Kiku's arm.
"Let her go…" She whispered into Hana's ear, "now…"
She stood silent, unable to process the violence against her; she slid her hand down Kiku's arm, eyes brimming with tears her lips trembling, "please…" Hana whispered slowly closing her eyes. Ryou pulled Hana closely, smiling.
"Ai…" She tilted her head smiling still, reaching up stroking her hair. Ai was still growling eyes fixated, her fingertips pressing against her flesh. The blood trickling from her fingertips, kiku could feel the strength in ai's hand as it grasped her fist still in the air.
she closed her eyes, shaking her head. She thought about when she had met them being bullied. How they had hung around the school. The fight…
"The fight…" She whispered, "How…" Seeing this side of ai, kiku could only smile, "really…"
Ryou's hand glide across ai's shoulder to her arm, "it's all right… Bring it down…"
She looked at kiku, nodding her head. "When you are ready…" She paused, "the door will be open"
"I'm sorry…" She sobbed, shaking her head, her body trembling as she ran out into the darkness.
"
