The open ride of the trolley brought back memories, the air slipping across her face. The smell of small restaurants, and the voices of people gathering in the streets. Life in Academy City back then seemed so simple. Her days filled with patrolling with Uiharu, walking the streets grabbing something to eat from street side vendors like hot dogs or crepes. Ruiko Saten flipping Uiharu's skirt and announcing her choice of underwear. A blush colored her cheeks of someone from her past. And remembering her. all of this and more brought on by the sight of a group of four girls walking along the sidewalk, eyeing trinkets for sale in front of the shops. They laughed, picking up items and holding them to their ears, shaking their heads yes or no…and walked off to the next stall. Each of them oblivious to what was happen around them. So innocent, she thought.
Without a word, Kuroko jumped off the trolley before their stop. Hey…..Samantha yelled, are you trying to lose me! leaping from the trolley. As if I could…but it doesn't hurt to try. She tapped the street with her toe, vanished and reappeared on the sidewalk. Jerk…Samantha laughed, not even a second behind her. Whata ya looking for? She said coming up close behind her.
Kuroko pulled back her reddish hair revealing her eyes glowing in curiosity. it had been a very long time since she'd shopped small stores like this. she was looking over a few small items. The small store sold trinkets. The type favored by tourist. Something inexpensive and cute. Something to tie the memory to the moment. A display of Omamori charms, Good luck items to attach to their smart phones or bags. Small items much like hello kitty charms and what nots. Local specialties and since this was an island of vampires, wolves, and humans. Little vampires dangling on key chains, looking all too familiar in their movie style caps and painted fangs. Wolves looking cute and cuddly.
Have they seen them in real life? Kuroko asked no-one in particular, picking up a small vampire doll with blond hair. She stared at it, bring it closer to her eyes, is this?
Why buy? when you have the real thing standing next to you…she said softly in kuroko' s ear. And yes…that is me…she giggled. You're kidding…she turned her head slightly and glared at the vampire with her chin on her shoulder. Nope…she said puckering her mouth as if she was expecting a kiss and shook her head. We make them… pointing to the wall across from them. And those.
Anime, manga and merchandised lined the shelves and tables just inside the door. Not just any types but all types dealing with vampires, wolves, and human. but what really caught her eyes were the large posters of vampires in the sexually suggest poses famous in Anime. There was Samantha wearing school uniform with her legs wide as if she were falling. Another vampire with her hair slicked back dressed like a student reaching out to catch her. others holding large swords, shields and other unworldly armor and god help us romance novels to add to the mix. Kodomo, Shonen, Shojo, seinen, yaoi and Yuri all with vampire leads. Vampire on vampire, human on human, vampire on human…male on male, female on female….enough said. they had the market cornered.
Umm…are you forgetting….Kuroko looked around. Oh…yea..Samantha sounding a little put off, we got them… She pointed to the far corner, under puppy love of course…she grinned, wolves have their own too…in every genre.
Kuroko took a breath, shaking her head.
interested?
NO…..not really.
Samantha exhaled. What are you looking for anyway.
Something for Sydney….she said, running her fingers over the dolls. She has a little girl, so I thought
Making a family? Samantha smiled like a serpent. Hmmm…
(One of the three rules for turning someone. They must have a family to carry on…)
Don't get your hopes hope, damn vampire. I will stake you the minute you try something…she said without missing a beat, moving to another doll. This one a cute little wolf. It's for Sarah...looking at the cute wolf….looking more like a sweet and cuddly pup. Nothing like the furiously large wolves she knew.
Sarah? Sounding a little not surprised. Samantha whispered with her head cocked to the side, you mean Sydney's too cute little bunny rabbit…she wiggled her eyebrows. Why am I not surprised that you know…Kuroko absentmindly answered. Because I always keep tabs on what or who is mine. She leaned back, stretched her arms over her head.
Again, I will tell you…Kuroko straightened up, holding a little vampire with black hair dressed in a kimono. Oh look…putting on her best fuck you! expression, this one is perfect and not blonde. She grinned.
Samantha thinned her eyes, her smile curled, I wore a wig for that one….her mouth dropped showing her fangs, SURPRISE!
I'm getting it anyway…bloodsucker.
A few additional items, kuroko paid. And they left the shop, turned in the direction of the garden area.
She groaned, here..she held out her hand. and waited. Samantha blushed and smiled, you don't mean…her eyes glittered, reaching for her hand. Teleportation?!
Psych! Kuroko disappeared as her laughter faded. Samantha eyes opened wide, seeing her empty hand dangling in the air. her hear pounded across her chest. She laughed, the chase is on! She yelled. besides she knew where she was going. And since Kuroko had been there before it would be easy for her to teleport.
A tap of her boot and she vanished, leaving a breath of wind in her wake.
The Cherry tree.