.:Midnight Ending:.

"Oh, this is nice," Ayaka sighed closing her green eyes, as she gently took a sip from an excellent brew of green tea she had prepared. The long red haired woman was in a peaceful frame of mind, she had an hour before she had to head out to work and so was glad to have some moments of relaxation in the realms of her kitchen, before she experienced the chaos that was her work place.

"Boy! This is some good chow!"

Opening her eyes slowly hearing this comment, the vibrant red long haired woman turned to look in the direction this voice had sounded from. There she saw, eating a bowl of her specialty Kitsune Udon at the table with her. It was none other than her daughter, Tadao Miya.

Her child had just come back from her school night, no more than a couple of hours before she was drinking her tea. However, the one thing that was making the atmosphere brighter in the room, was one other presence. Their guest. For looking on, the person who was sat in the room beside her child. It was none other than the dear friend she had made, Komori Yui.

Looking at her, Ayaka had a gentle smile on her face as she saw the blonde haired girl ate the meal too that she had prepared for them both. It had been over a couple of months or so since the horrific accident had occurred which had left both Miya and Yui terribly injured. Both of the girls had recovered spectacularly and they were as healthy as could be now. Also, it was the first night in months since the gentle blonde haired girl had come to visit them, so with these facts combined it was more than enough for the older woman to feel content and happy. As she became so, she then decided to say, "I'm glad to hear your praise Miya honey!" Then on a brighter note she deiced to add, "You should give your praise a little more often to a wonderful chef like me!"

As this was said to her, the heterochromia eyed girl finishing a couple more mouthfuls of her meal then answered back clearly unimpressed, "Don't get cocky here mom! I only give credit when it's really due!" With that tilting her head to the side, she added with a sceptical expression coming across her face, "You've gotta prove yourself to be more reliable and work harder if you wanna get more like that out of me!"

Hearing this sassy little comment, Ayaka couldn't help but laugh as she responded, "Oh you wound me darling!" With that she feigned an act of dramatic fainting with a hand placed across her forehead as she added, "I'm going to die from the piercing hot ferocity of your words!"

Rolling her eyes at this comment, Miya then replied, "Yeah, sure you will!" However deciding to be honest for once, since she was in a good mood she added, "But...seriously the meal mom, it's real good tonight!" Then turning to her left side, the heterochromia eyed girl asked her friend, "Right, Yui-ko?"

As this was put her, Yui looked to Miya and was quiet for a moment before she responded with a small laugh and smile, "Oh, yes... it's very, very nice." With that, the blonde haired girl ate some more of the Udon that was before her. Then as she did so, she added happily, "It's the best I've ever tasted!"

Seeing her do this, Miya smiled happily and replied pleased, "I know right!" with that she slurped more Udon noodles into her mouth as she added, "This stuff rivals nearly all the noodle stalls in the city and..."

Ayaka gazing on as this interaction continued between the two girls was pleased. For this kind of happy scene was a welcoming sight compared to the cold and silent nights that they would usually have in the house.

Then looking to her watch that was on her right wrist, she discovered, "Oh! I better get a move on with the tea here!" With that whisper she went to drink from her cup again. However as she went to do this, she couldn't help but notice something. As Miya continued to talk about a particular subject of conversation, Yui looking to her still had a small smile but in another moment looking away from her daughter, her pink coloured eyes looked down sadly to the side at the table. As they did so, the mother saw that the happy expression she had too had all but faded away as she stilled in her eating, lowering her spoon onto the table...

As this act was done, the mother looking on became confused and then quickly concerned. For there was something clearly troubling their gentle guest...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Okay..." Getting her handbag and purse ready, Ayaka had her keys in her hand. As she did so, she was walking towards the door which was down the hallway. She was now fully dressed in her peanut brown business suit and it was clear she was ready to face the battlefield that was her office.

However before fully leaving, she heard the girls beginning to climb up the stairs. As she heard them passing, she decided to say to them as she began to place her heels on, "Okay you two, I'm gonna probably be out all night." The girls hearing the long red haired woman speaking to them stopped their ascension and looked down the hallway towards her. As they did so, they both heard her go on to say, "I'm going to count on you both to look after yourselves and the house," then with a knowing smile she decided to add, "I don't wanna come back to you guys making a pigsty here."

As this was said to her, Miya couldn't help but scoff as she replied, "Af if! What do you think we are, five years old?"

Hearing this comment, Ayaka chuckled as she replied, "Oh you're close to it mentally darling, don't you worry!" Then looking to Yui as her daughter became annoyed, she decided to gently add, "And I hope you have a fun stay here, Yui-chan." Then extending her hand to the blonde haired girl she decided to add, "Don't push yourself too hard, alright?"

As this was put to her and she saw the gentle warm hand that was reaching out to her, Yui uttered a little surprised, "Oh?"

Looking on at her, as she echoed this. It was clear to Ayaka that their guest looked uncertain for a moment as she wavered in moving. However slowly after a brief moment of silence, she reached out her right hand to the vibrant red haired mother and replied with a small smile of her own appearing on her face, "Yes of course...Ayaka-san, I won't thank you."

Hearing these words, Ayaka nodded herself and replied, "Good." Then she reached her hand to Yui and went on to say, "And don't let my little girl boss you around too much! I know she can-!"

This sudden pause occurring, caused Miya who was looking away with irritation to become puzzled. For though still annoyed by her mother's comments, she didn't understand why'd she'd stopped in mid sentence. Then looking back, she saw that as her parent held onto Yui's hand, she looked shocked with startled eyes and becoming confused by this, she asked, "Mom what are you-?'

"Oh!" With that releasing her hand suddenly from Yui's, she saw the blonde haired girl retract her hand hurriedly. She looked terribly anxious and the red haired woman not understanding entirely what occurred herself, realised she must have upset her and as she did so, she hurriedly apologised, "Sorry sweetheart! I didn't mean to scare you! It's just that you've got one mighty touch there in your hand, I guess that old western saying is true!"

Not understanding her mother's words, Miya then decided to ask puzzled, "Huh? What western saying?"

With that as these words were said to her, the mother laughed and looking to her child she replied, "Oh, you know that old one darling, 'Cold hands warm heart,' y'know!"

Still not understanding entirely this saying, she decided to ask, "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Hearing these words, Ayaka then answered, "Oh you know!" However she didn't give a real answer, for to her then time was of the essence, as she quickly went on to say, "But, I haven't got anymore time to talk darlings! I need to get going!" With that going to the door, she decided to finish saying, "You have a good night now!"

Puzzled still by her behaviour, Miya looking at her beloved parent as she hurriedly went to leave, decided to ask, "Mom wait a minute! What're you-!?"

"I'm sorry darling!" With that looking to her child, she decided to also say, "I've got no time to talk now!" Then looking to Yui, who looked back to her sadly she decided to say feeling slightly guilty for her panicked reaction, "And, Yui-chan... I'm sorry again sweetheart, you have a good night together with my Miya, alright?"

Yui hearing these words looked uncomfortable still. But looking to the parent of her friend, she nodded simply and then cast her pink eyes away from her. This left Miya still entirely confused, for gazing at her parent as she left through the front door. She had no idea what had just transpired between Yui and her mother as she looked in-between them both.

Ayaka looked depressed herself. Walking down the path, to get to her car... she couldn't understand this uneasy feeling she'd suddenly felt touching Yui. She knew that their guest was a really sweet, peaceful and loving kind girl, but that touch...

Dismissing it though she told herself annoyed, "Ayaka get ahold of yourself! This is isn't the time to be jumping to weird conclusions!" With that declared, she got herself in the car and started it up, quickly driving herself away into the distance. The feeling that the mother had inside as she weaved down and around the roads, was one she couldn't understand or explain at all. However it wasn't complicated at all, it was simply one emotion, one that anyone could experience at any time. It's name was fear.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Man!" Sitting herself her bed, Miya felt her body sink slightly as she tiredly sighed asking, scratching the back of her, "That was a weird episode down there wasn't it?"

Yui hearing this question, didn't answer Miya. Instead, she sat beside her friend quietly on the bed as well. As she did so, she cast her eyes down on the floor and kept them focused there as she listened to Miya continue on to speak, "I don't know what got into mom all of a sudden like that..." then as she said those words, the heterochromia eyed girl looked to her friend and decided to ask her, "I hope she didn't offend you back there, Yui-ko."

As this was said to her, Yui after a moment looked to Miya herself. As she did so, she gazed at her quietly with a sad look in her eyes as she continued on to say, "...No, she didn't do that to me Miya-chan, I didn't take any offence."

Hearing these words, Miya replied with a small relieved smile on her face, "That's good." Then as she said those words, the heterochromia eyed girl looked up to the ceiling. As she did so, she then continued on to say, "...It's just so good right now that the two of us have finally met up again!" As Miya said those words, she remembered what had happened in the past as she continued on to say, "I mean... it's been ages since we did anything like this, ever since the accident that damn four eyes hasn't let me come to see you even once at the mansion!" Then with annoyance she couldn't help but also say with bitterness, "We can't even hang out after school's done! He's been such a tight ass towards us!"

Yui hearing Miya say these words, didn't say anything at all. For again, she was looking back down to her friend's floor. As she did this, her friend unaware of her gaze then heard her go on to say, "...But, at least he's finally loosened up and let you visit me tonight!" With that as she said those words, she also added looking finally in her friend's direction, "I guess he and his so-called bro's couldn't take anymore punches from me for drinking your blood all the time!"

To these humorous words, Yui still didn't answer her friend. Finally noticing her silence, Miya stared at the blonde haired girl and as she did so, she saw that her whole demeanour appeared to be uneasy. It was like almost her gentle friend was cowering. Confused by this sight, the heterochromia eyed girl couldn't understand why she would be this way? So concerned she asked, "Yui-ko? Are you okay?"

As this was asked of her, Yui still gazing down to the floor shivered slightly. As she did so, she gripped the edges of her darkened skirt tightly and as she did so, it took her a moment... before finally, she looked in her friend's direction and said gently, "Miya-chan..."

Seeing her friend gaze as at her so sadly, the heterochromia eyed girl was confused further still. Staring at her, Miya could sense Yui wanted to say something and so asked her, "What? What is it, is there something wrong Yui-ko?"

As this was asked of her, the blonde haired girl looked uncertain of how to answer her friend... then after a little bit, she decided to say, "...You know that saying your mother, Ayaka-san said?"

Remembering the brief mentioning of the saying Miya replied, "What? You mean that cold hands kind heart thing," To which, Yui then nodded in reply. As she did this, Miya then replied,"What about it?"

Hearing this question being asked of her, Yui then had to answer her honestly but clearly nervous, "... It doesn't exactly apply to me anymore."

"Huh?" Miya uttered still puzzled and as she did so, she asked again not understanding Yui's cryptic words and behaviour, "What do you mean by that?"

Seeing she wouldn't understand entirely with words, Yui moved her hands and-!

"Huh!?" Suddenly, surprising the heterochromia eyed girl. Her gentle friend had grasped her hands tightly with her own ones, that were just holding onto her dark coloured skirt! Feeling and seeing her do this with no warning, Miya then couldn't help but ask, "Yui-ko what the heck are you-!?"

Quickly though shaking, Yui felt Miya have the same reaction as her mother had. She became quickly still and as she did so, her eyes widened in shock as she uttered looking down, "Your hands..."

For the gentle palms and fingers that were holding onto Miya, they were no longer the same warm temperature of her own, instead, "They're so cold," Yui flinched as she heard these words and as she did so, she heard her friend go on to say, "You feel as cold as ice!"

Yui didn't say anything to these words either. It was clear she was petrified hearing Miya's reaction, while the heterochromia eyed girl herself was still... she couldn't comprehend what was going on exactly. Why did her beloved friend feel this cold? Why did she feel this terrible anxious rising feeling inside? Quickly though, she tried to dismiss it as she said, "Hell you should have said something earlier!" With that, she went to quickly move as she said, "Hang on! I'll go and get some blankets for you! I'll get a hot drink and-!"

"Miya-chan!" Still holding onto her friend's hands tightly, Yui stopped her friend's movements in seconds. As she did so, she then told her sadly shaking still as she held her, "That won't work!" Then tearing up slightly, she had to admit further sorrowfully, "Nothing like that will anymore."

As this was said to her, Miya staring at Yui in shock as she continued to feel her cold touch uttered baffled, "Huh?"

Yui looking to Miya, then trembled emotionally as she admitted shaking moving her friend's hands with her own, "...I'll never be warm inside again." With that, she laid one of Miya's hands onto her chest holding it as closely as she could to herself.

Shocked now at this action, Miya couldn't think of a thing and was completely still. Feeling Yui's frozen touch holding her fast, all she could do was stare on... but after another moment, she realised there was no movement underneath her palm at all. Realising this, she then asked, "There's no movement at all... nothing." Then with horror, she realised what this meant, "You have no pulse anymore! No heartbeat! You've-!"

"Yes," Yui answered simply. Then as she did so, it was clearly painful for her to reveal as she looked to her friend and told her with tears beginning to fall from her eyes, "...I've become a vampire, Miya-chan."

As this answer was given to her, the heterochromia eyed girl staring at her friend felt like she'd been struck by a vicious bolt of lightning through her own heart. It was terrible! Realising what had happened to her beloved friend, she couldn't help but utter with tears quickly coming to her own eyes, "No...oh god! Yui-ko, you've-!"

"I've become a monster," the blonde haired girl answered sorrowfully, then letting go of Miya's hand. She held her shoulders with her own hands and as she did so, her head was hidden away as she continued on to say, "...I'm a horrible creature now that feeds on people's blood."

Staring at Yui as she said those words, Miya was horrified. For though her cold touch had shocked her and the fact that she had no heartbeat now, that didn't mean-!

"I can't be near anyone anymore! I know that, with the way your mother's reacted and some other people too... I don't have a right to be near anyone else!" Crying as her tortured thoughts and feelings fuelled her, Yui then had to admit the most painful fact, "I can't ever be with my father again! I can't even be with-!"

"Don't say that!" With those words cried out, Miya then moved her arms and held Yui. Holding her shivering cold form close to her, she then told her desperately trying to maintain her composure, "Don't say any more terrible things like that about yourself!"

Shocked hearing these words coming from her friend along with feeling her warm touch, the Sacrificial Bride then uttered, "Miya-chan?"

Hearing her say her name again, the heterochromia eyed girl then told her sorrowfully, "Don't call yourself a monster! You're not that Yui-ko! You're not that at all!" With that holding her a little more tightly to herself, Miya then went on to tell her tormented and sorrow filled friend, "Even if your body's changed, even though you don't have a heartbeat anymore...you're still my friend, I love you no matter what you are!"

As this was said to her, Yui quiet for a moment couldn't believe what she was hearing. However trembling from a mixture of relief and disbelief, she couldn't help but ask her, "Miya-chan, you still consider me to be that to you? Even though I'm-?"

"Of course I do!" With that as more tears from her odd coloured eyes, Miya then told her finding it unbearable to think of the pain her friend was now experiencing at losing her mortality, "It doesn't make any difference to me if you're a vampire or a human! You're still yourself Yui-ko! That will never change!"

As this was said to her, Yui was sure that if her heart was still beating like it once was. It would be racing with warmth and awe, even though it wasn't anymore she felt so happy then that she held onto Miya just as closely. As she did so, she told her dear friend, "...Thank you, thank you so much, Miya-chan." Then as her tears overflowed some more, she went on then to say, "You don't know what that means to me, hearing you say that." For it was such a relief that she had someone who wouldn't abandon her, no matter what she was now.

As this was said to her, the heterochromia eyed girl didn't reply. Instead she continued to hold Yui close to herself with her own sad tears continuing to fall...

After a little time passed on, Miya then admitted clearly plagued by guilt, "I'm so sorry about this Yui-ko, if I'd tried harder to get you away from those guys or get them to let me see you more, than maybe this could have-!"

"It's not your fault, Miya-chan," then as she said those words. Yui slowly detached herself from her friend and as she did so, she went on to say looking to her with her sad pink eyes, "...This was something that was inevitable, so-!"

Hearing her stop suddenly with a jolt, Miya immediately becoming concerned as she saw her friend shudder and so asked, "Yui-ko? What's-?!"

It was clear that the blonde haired girl was struggling badly, for she was clasping her chest and was breathing in and out heavily with pain. Looking on, it was terrible to see but still Yui tried to hold herself together as she replied, "I, I'm alright...I'm just terribly thirsty, that's all."

As this was said to her, Miya repeated, "Thirst?" Then quickly she moved and said, "Hang on! I'll go and get you some water or something! That should-!"

Stopping her words in moments, Yui then had to tell her friend honestly but sadly with a shake of her head, "That won't work, water isn't enough anymore." With that looking to Miya she told her with great difficulty, "Since I've become what I am... I need to feed on blood to survive."

Listening to this being said, Miya then repeated shocked, "Blood?"

Yui nodded her answer simply. Then as she did so, she explained, "I've been fighting it badly this whole time, since I was turned... I've made it so I haven't hurt anyone, because I don't want to but-!" Quickly she shuddered in horrible pain and as she did so, she admitted, "But it's so hard now! I can barely breathe properly now, it's-!"

With that uttered, Miya saw her friend shudder in agony. As she did so, the heterochromia eyed girl saw how much her friend was struggling to simply hold herself together, to not harm anyone. But to her, it hurt inside so badly to see her suffer... she couldn't allow it! So she decided to do something about it.

Continuing to gasp and wheeze badly against her pained weakness and wicked thirst. Yui didn't know what to do, she couldn't drink from anyone, she wouldn't allow herself to! But at the same time, the vampire heart she had inside her chest wanted her to drink. For even if she didn't want to live, it itself did! But-!

"Yui-ko!"

Hearing her friend's voice, Yui looked up. As she did so she immediately became startled, for there before her. Her friend was unbuttoning her white school shirt, slowly but surely with both her hands concentrating though fumbling in places with embarrassment.

Staring at her as she did this, Yui momentarily forgot her pain. Confused she asked her friend cautiously, "Miya-chan...what're you-?"

As this was asked of her, Miya then told her friend, "You need to feed right? You need blood in order to keep on living now, don't you?" Then in that moment, Miya had finished with her buttons and quickly, she revealed her shoulder's in the pale light of the moon. Sliding down her white shirt, she held it over her chest hiding away the black bra she was wearing underneath. As she did this, she looked to her friend with her odd coloured eyes and told her finally with a serious air, "If you do, you can feed upon me."

With these words given to her, Yui couldn't believe it! Immediately she started to protest, though it was clearly difficult for her to do so, "I! Miya-chan, I can't... do that to you!" Then swallowing hard and finding it horrible to fight against the vampiric thirst that was growing inside of herself at seeing her friend's revealed skin, the blonde haired girl told her friend, "I, I don't want to cause you pain... I don't want to-!"

TUG!

Quickly though Yui was silenced, for then Miya took a hold of her and pulled her suffering friend close to herself. Holding her in place as she called upon her supernatural strength, she told Yui honestly, "It's okay, Yui-ko... don't hold back." Then as she held her in place, she gently added, "I don't care what little pain I suffer, but just seeing you in agony like this... I can't let it continue."

As this was said to her and feeling Miya's firm hold keeping her in place, Yui knew she couldn't escape her grasp. However she was tormented and saddened greatly to perform this terrible act upon her dear friend and so tried to say breathlessly, "But I-!"

"It's alright... I'm doing this voluntarily, you won't have to feel guilty or hurt anyone else by using me," then as Miya told her this she added, "This is what friend's do, we help each other... even in weird circumstances like this."

"Miya-chan..." saying her beloved friend's name again, Yui was so moved once more that she couldn't help but hold onto her tightly again. She was beyond words of fortunate... she knew she didn't have to feel so badly anymore and so told her, "Thank you." With that, the blonde haired girl moved her head closer to Miya's right shoulder and started nuzzling into it softly. Doing this she told her, "I'll try and be gentle to you."

As this was said, Miya was still clearly and terribly embarrassed but she did say with a small smile upon her face, "Okay, thanks..." then in another moment she shivered as Yui started to lick her skin and started to soften her gently. Feeling her do this, the heterochromia eyed girl tried to break the awkward atmosphere as she said, "Ha, ha! It's good to know that there's one person who's got self control here, cause it hurt like hell when that bug-!"

"Agh!"

Immediately as Miya cried out she winced badly, for Yui had exposed her sharp fangs and gently sunk them into her friend's shoulder. As she did so, she slowly but surely began to drink the mysterious substance that was her blood...

Tensing up as she shivered from the pain, Miya still was unused to this weakening sensation she felt when her blood was taken. It was never something she could prepare for properly... but still, if it was her friend then she-!

"Mmm..." as Yui drew in Miya's essence into herself, she couldn't help but release a soft moan. Then retracting her fangs out of her flesh and looking down to the overflowing holes of red she had now created. She almost felt a little dizzy from this unusual sensation that was now growing inside of herself, looking to the markings she couldn't help but say, "This taste..."

Breathless herself, Miya looking to her friend uttered, "Huh?"

Hearing her murmur, Yui proceeded to speak her thoughts as she said, "I heard, from the others...that your blood wasn't sweet at all." But then as she remembered what she'd heard and thinking of what she had now tasted, the blonde haired girl went on to say, "But this taste, to me it's..."

"It's what?" Miya asked her puzzled, then looking at Yui she almost seemed to be in a haze as she looked to her drowsily with her pink coloured eyes. Seeing her look at her in this way, the heterochromia eyed girl didn't know what to make of it as she asked, "Yui-ko?"

However, the blonde haired girl didn't make a reply. Instead she moved hastily back to Miya's shoulder again and began to gently lap up the blood that was overflowing like a cat. As she did so, she could feel Miya shiver again, however she couldn't stop herself as her vampiric thirst propelled her to go on.

Feeling her do this, Miya tensed up and as she did so, she felt there was something wrong with her beloved friend as she told her, feeling her move again, "Yui-ko! Hang on, slow down I think you-!" In seconds though her words stopped as, "Agh!?"

Immediately Yui had now sunk her fangs into the right side of her neck. As she did so, she drew in Miya's taste more strongly than before. As she did so, she couldn't help herself... this was her first feeding and the blood that was flowing onto her tongue and trickling down her throat, it was so warm and so rich... it almost felt like her still heart was re-igniting back into life!

As Yui continued to go on, Miya could feel herself become weaker and weaker with each bite her friend was making upon her. She could feel it, Yui had lost control of herself... she couldn't blame her entirely she knew. For she had no idea how long her gentle friend had been holding herself back, but at the same time she felt she had to voice herself and so said, "Yui-ko...please! You need to slow down! You have to-! Agh!"

But it was no use, Yui practically couldn't hear Miya's voice anymore and as she continued to drink for a few more moments. She finally retracted her fangs from her skin and in a dizzy trance she admitted, "Miya-chan, your blood... it's so wonderful, you make me feel so warm and alive inside."

As her voice reached her ears, Miya felt her consciousness begin to fade. As it did so, she lay back fully onto her bed and breathlessly uttered, "Yui...ko..." but she didn't say a word more as her mind entered the comforting realms of darkness.

Seeing this happen to her, Yui was still for a moment as she looked over her. As she breathed in and out gently, defenceless and vulnerable in her weakened slumber. The blonde haired girl felt a little of her self control come back as her thirst was eased greatly... as it became so and she realised what she'd done. Placing her hands over her mouth, she released tears of guilt from her pink eyes and shivered sorrowfully... but then lowering herself slowly over her friend, she moved closer to her and told her, "Miya-chan..." with that, she kissed her right cheek and said gently "I love you...thank you."

Then as she said those words, she saw again the blood that was leaking from her friend's neck and as she did so, she felt her vampiric thirst return in full force and as it did so. She shivered from the terrible sensation, but she was helpless to fight against it now and so lowering her head down, she lapped up the blood again and doing so, her tears fell even more as she went on to say, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for doing this to you."

With that said... she revealed her fangs again and bit into her friend deeply, to taste again the invigorating mysterious warm rich substance that was from her beloved friend. During that night, she felt so alive, yet so guilty for the harm and weakness she now had to incur upon the one person who was so precious to her...