A.N.
After a long, long break with my skills a little rusty a managed to write a new chapter. The story still takes somewhere on December 21th. So Christmas spirits still exist in this story.
So let me know if it was worth it to wait.
Wish you guys all the best~
Bye :D
I was leaning against the wall in the hallway just around the corner, nearby gym, waiting for pissed off vampire.
'Wait a second, why I am waiting for him?' The gym's door opened with a creak and was closed 'Is it finally over?' I started walking towards the corner to peek around it.
"How dare you throwing things at me, Orokana?!" suddenly the red-head appeared all irritated and mad, pointing at me with his index finger. I was looking at it and God knows why I did it but with my fingers I grabbed his pointing one and gently shook it. Ayato blinked not knowing what was happening. "Tch. The hell you're doing?" he shoved my hand away.
"I don't know"
He flicked my nose and folded his arms.
"Ah c'mon, you starting that again?" I rubbed my nose.
"And I'm not done with only that" he grunted. I let out an evil giggle which made vampire to tilt his head "What's so funny?"
"Flexing your arms muscles?" I smirked.
"I'm not!" he instantly unfolded arms.
"You're still doing it- Ouch!" he flicked my forehead "Dude"
"Back home you will get way more then that"
"Shocking" I pretends to be surprised.
The vampire scratched the back of his head, making the 'tch' sound.
"Dude. Really ? Are you trying to impress me by flexing your muscles again" I couldn't refrain myself from mocking him while making the stupidest grin. For a moment he looked at me angrily with a hint of embarrassment, I guess, but it was replaced by devilish smirk.
"Ha? That's interesting, you keep pointing this out " he leaned closer "you are a pervert, aren't ya?" he grinned.
"Hmm...Touche my little talking takoyaki. But the truth is, it's just fun to watch your reaction to that" I giggled.
"You dumb-"
"Sakamaki !" a loud man's voiced cut Ayato off "practice isn't over ! Get back here!"
The boy cursed under his breath " Got it !" he answered and faced me "Wait me after practice" and turned around to walk back.
"Hold on. It isn't over ?"
"No"
"The hell I'm suppost to do in the meantime? And wait a second why should I be waiting ?"
"You ask too many questions. Just do what I say and find something to do to kill some time" he said after leaving me standing alone.
"Pft. Kill some time. Easy for him to say" I sighed.
There's nothing to do here. I could go watch practice but...too much attention would be directed to me, considering what happened before. Maybe a walking around the academy will be a good starter.
I was strolling empty hallways. The only sound that could be heard was my shoes stepping on the floor. All academy now seemed like an abounded building. Only without creepy background story, zombies, serial killers or mutant cannibals. I felt shivers going down mine spine.
"Wrong Turn all over again"
In the end of hallway I found the stairs that I had never used, nor did I knew about their existence. So the logical thing to do would be climb up the stairs which takes God knows where. That's how all horror movies starts and I did the same start. They led to the roof top where a scenery of starry night sky and sleeping city took my breath away. It almost seemed like a picture on a postcard.
"Breezy" I hugged myself and took few steps towards, scanning surrounding. It didn't took long until my eyes caught a greenhouse-like building on the other side of the rooftop near the wall. It was made of matt glass or something like that and I could see the light coming out. So at this point, I felt like a insect attracted by glowing things.
I walked up to the door, opened it and poked my head in. "Hello..." no one answered "...from the other side...?" still nothing. It was warm and the smell of plants, mostly tomatoes was lurking in the air. I closed the door behind me and made my way towards one of the tables on which were placed pots. Some of them were empty while others with growing plants in them. From the ceiling down was hanging string on with like bindweed grew a small grape tomatoes. "Who in the world would grow anything at the time of year like this?" I asked myself and took one tomatoes putting it in to my mouth "Hmm... A horror movie about a gardener serial killer" I said chewing tomatoes.
"Oi! Who let you in here?" A loud, angry voice called for me. I jumped in a spot and turned around finding a familiar face in front of me. The guy looked at me a little bit surprised "Huh ? Dwarf ?"
'Lighthouse? I mean... Yuma?'
"Tch. Stop staring at me and answer the damn question...Wait your mouth seems to be. OY ! Don't tell me you ate something from my garden"
"..." I avoided his look and after a few moments of silence there was a gulp sound. And it was coming out from me. 'Well shit'
The boy's one eye twitched few time before the big burst came out
"WHO GAVE YOU A DAMN PERMISSION TO EAT MY DAMN TOMATOES !"
I covered my ears "Hey don't need to shout that loud. I'm standing next to you. Besides, don't need to freak out over one small tomato! And if you so emotionally attached to them that I'm sorry! Okay !"
"No ! It's not okay!"
"Well if you don't wanna that your vegetables would be eaten that you should put a fucking sing on it !"
He placed one hand on the tabled leaning closer to me while I leaned back with my waist hitting the edged of a table.
"You took something from me" he placed other hand on the table "That means I can take something from you in return, dwarf"
I blinked couple of times "Yo no entiendo. Que esta pasando?" (I don't understand. What's going on ?)
"Huh" The boy stopped " What kind of language is that ?"
"...Ay dios mio"
"Tch. Whatever" he slammed me on the nearby table with him on top of me. Eyes glowing brown and lips curving into a smirk relieving sharp fangs "Stick out your neck and stay still"
"NO!" from panicking my hands searched for anything with what I could hit him. Above my head I grabbed what it felt like a pot "BAD VAMPIRE!" I putted that thing on his head like a hat. But it wasn't gentle and classy way, it was more like harsh and don't-you-even-dear way. That made the boy backed away. I took this as an opportunity to run pass him, crawl under the tabled and popped out on the other side of it so table would be the only thing separating us. The guy took off the pot of his head and threw it on the floor shattering to a piece.
"Look, I don't wanna any fight. So maybe we can talk this through like a-"
"The fuck do ya think you're doing, dwarf?!" he cutted me off slamming the tabled with a wist.
"You were about to bite and I just turned on my defense mechanism! That's what fucking happened !" I slammed my wist too.
"HA?! ARE YOU PICKING UP A FIGHT WITH ME?!"
"I'M NOT SURE!"
"THEN I WILL MAKE IT CLEAR FOR YA!" he yelled at me once more and started chasing with the roar coming out of his mouth. I was running around the table and he was cursing under his breath.
"STOP RUNNING!" he shouted.
"SUCK IT!" I climbed over the tabled before he could grab me.
"THE FUCK YOU SAID?!"
"SUCK ON TOMATOES!" I shouted once more before running towards the exit. But he blocked it with his vampire was gasping for air
"Now there's no escape, dwarf" he grinned.
I gazed at him
"You *gasp* are my Everest"
He frowed eyebrows giving me confused look.
"I can't climb over you…." With that I dropped on the floor and quickly crawled under between his legs. Stood up as fast as I could and took my leave "….BUT I CAN DIG MY WAY UNDER YOU 'CAUSE I'M A DWARF!""GET BACK HERE !"
I ran downstairs almost tripping and falling and made my way towards the gym, all the time cursing in my head and mentally punching myself. Who in the world, no, in the universes tells 'suck it' to a vampire. It's basically a suicide….but it was fun tho. Dangerous but satisfying, a whole vampire community will hate me because of this but YOLO.
Anyway, my legs kept moving, carrying me somewhere and the part of my brain which is responsible for logical decision in life-and-death situation was shutted down. So there's about 98,4 % chances that I'll end up in Dead End.I stopped to catch my breath making a dying hippopotamus's sound
"Someone should put bells on all of the vampires and before entering the room they should shout 'The vampire is coming ! The vampire is coming!' "
I took a few more deep breaths "Oh my God. It's a million dollar idea"
My thought were quickly cutted by the sound of foot steps. Like I mean really loud ones. Every inch of my body panicked. I turned around 360 degree around, eyes scanning surroundings finding a way out or place to hide."A door" I whispered to myself with a voice filled with relief and joy of being saved. At least that's what I was hoping for but nooo, the universe just had to be a bitch to the doors was silently shut down the smell of eau de cologne mixed with sweat reached my nostrils which made me frown. I looked over my shoulder. There were three rows of lockers and in between them benches.
"You gotta be kidding me"
I whispered to myself. On the other side the foot steps could still be heard. From stress I bit my thumb thinking what to do next. I was in despair just followed my instincts. And they led to the empty locker. 'Maybe it's not so bad being short. But still. I think I'm stuck'
About five or more minutes passed. But doubts about coast being safe didn't left my head. I waited just for a few more moments. As I opened locker's door the sound of squeaking sneakers and guys voices reached my ears.
'Damn it!' I cursed quickly closing locker's door
'Universe, what do you think you doing?! Is it Screw-with-Kaya's-life day for ya?'
'Just calm down. Instead of making a big deal of it, let's play. Okey, I spy with my little eye something dark'
'Oh suck on balloons'
Right know, the only thing I could do is to wait till everyone will leave the room and until then don't make any sound.
'Damn it, now I'm hungry'
The guys were babbling about this day's practice and basketball in general until a topic about girls came up. Sarcastic 'Yay' that's what I think. They were talking about girlfriends, what they do and what they don't. What pisses them off about them and what makes them like them. From the looks of it some of these guys has to deal with some demanding girlfriends. But I stopped listening. The only thing I wished for was to this day be over soon just so I could forgot the fact that I'm hiding in the boy's locker room. But then the conversation got my attention when it turned in unexpected way.
"Hey, does anyone know who was that chick in the balcony with water bottle?" I heard one guy asking.
"Oh yeah, isn't she in the same class as you, Ayato-kun ?" the other one replied.
"So what if she is?" I recognized the vampires voice.
"Uhh nothing. Just wondering is she dating someone at the moment?"
My eyes shot wide open.
"Heh~ why are you asking these kind of things? Are you interested in that crazy woman?" one of the guys giggled
"She is taken" I heard Ayato interrupting.
'By who ? Who is with me ? When? Where? Why? Who?'
What surprised me is that he lied. I'm not dating. Well at least not in my knowledge. Or…wait. Am I? What?
"Huh. Who knew ? Well too bad "
"Don't tell me you want to go out with her?" One guys asked the other
"Well for short time, yes"
"What do you mean?"
'What does he mean?' I got curious
"Well in what way I should put it. Crazy chicks signs up for crazy things in all life situations. You know what I mean"
I knew what was he talking about. An urge of getting out of this locker and smacking the shit out of that bastard was at the highest level. My fists were clenched and teeth biting my lower lip. Rich boys are assholes. Sure I do insane, sometimes unpredictable and stupid things but it doesn't mean that I'm some kind of weird women with fetishes.
"WHAT THE HELL DUDE !"
"OI ! CALM DOWN!"
A loud bang and big commotion started
"Dude why the hell you hitted me?"
I didn't see what was going on but from the sound of it someone punched that guy who talked shit about me and know the others tries to separate them. It didn't took long for a coach to barge in and stop the fight.
"What is going on here ?!" with strict, loud voice couch asked the boys. Everyone went silent. After short pause the man spoke again.
"Takagi ! Sakamaki ! Finish changing your clothes and report to my office ! Understood ?!"
'Sakamaki?'
I waited till everyone was gone and slowly opening the door, got out of the locker and just when I was about to enter the hallway, my back was slammed against the wall.
"I knew there was a familiar scent in the air" my blue eyes met with Ayato's green ones. My guesses the reason why he didn't noticed my presence was because of the other smells mixing up and hiding mine "What were you doing here all this time?"
"Killing time…?"
He grinned his teeth and let me go "Tch. You're impossible" the boy was about to leave but I stopped him.
"Ayato, wait" with calm voice I called him. The red-head didn't even glanced at me but he did stopped in his track making a sigh "Did you...Did you broke that guy's nose ?" I stutter a little folding my arms.
"Yeah" he scratched the back of his head.
With the tip of my shoe I touched his ankle "Thanks"
'Weirdest gratitude gesture ever'
"What was that?" Ayato first glanced at his ankle then up to me.
"I-I'm not sure"
"Haven't you learned how to say thanks to a vampire?"
I took one step back but he moved fast, pulling my shirt with blazer down the right shoulder and digging fangs in to my neck's flesh. No matter how many time I was bitten the pain still is sharp and agonizing.
He didn't sucked too much of my blood. After releasing me I leaned against the wall and placed my hand on the sore spot on the neck. Ayato wiped dripping blood from the corners of his mouth with blazer's sleeve.
"Go back to the mansion" with these words he disappeared.
First he says wait for him, now go back on my own. And I thought math is complicated. All the way to academy's cloakroom my steps were quiet and smooth like ninja's. I checked if the coast is clear over every corner. Since I didn't knew if the tall-one Mukami was around. For my luck, I didn't encounter him. In the cloakroom I kept my coat for emergencies, just in case if I have to walk back home in the cold weather. I warped around my neck tartan dark blue scarf, put on a grey coat and walked out of academy. A nipping wind blew outside which made my snuggle in to scarf deeper.
Walking through city's center I still kept thinking what happened in the changing room. It's not like I heard these kind of insults for the first time but when I did it was said right in to my face. At those times I could say something back or in other cases Rin, Mamoru or Isamu backed me up. But this time… People say that words hurt more than actions. And they're not wrong.
I looked up from the ground and in my view appeared a big Christmas tree decorated with white lights, red and golden Christmas balls, ribbons and stuff like that. It's not traditional holiday in Japan but people still likes to mention it in their own way. For example, I heard that fried chicken is often eaten on Christmas day. Also strawberry and whipped cream cake is popular too for this holiday.
At this time of year you souppose to be with your family. I have to prepare myself cause the end of this year will be emotionally hard.
With a sight I continued on walking, keeping in mind that everything will be alright if I control my feelings. Besides, last week I did what I wanted. The package should be on its way to Alaska.
As my lips curved a smile of satisfaction the feeling of uneasiness grew too. But it wasn't from sadness. It feels like somebody is watching me. Or even following me.
I shook my head. I told this to myself a thousand time and I will say a thousand times more: it's all in your head. But just in case I turned around. A late night workers were walking around here and there a few couples too.
"Okay, I need coffee and some sleep" guess I was too tired since my sleep isn't regular and shit is just happening in my life… Ahhh I need vacation from all of those vampires. And I mean from all of those who are living in this town. Seriously like six weren't enough. Well six and a half. Still not sure about that Teddy toy. But no, four more chupacabra had to be like 'Boom! We're here'. If I remember correctly, Ruki-guy said that there's four of them but I only met three. This will be unpleasant surprise.
"Huh ?" I narrowed my eyes trying to see a figure in the distance "Shu?"
The boy noticed me too and stopped next to a not working fountain in front of tall building in which Shu was about to enter if it wasn't for me.
"What are you doing here ?" I walked up to him
"I could ask you the same question" Shu replied "Shouldn't you be in the mansion? Troublesome woman. You know this kind of behavior makes Reijji angry which leads to his nagging and you being hysteric"
"Excuse me sir, you are forgetting who's really hysteric in our household " I placed my hand on hips.
"Ah, similar annoying voices. What's the difference ?"
"You really want me start listing points?"
"No" he cutted me off and headed towards the entrance doors.
"Hey, where are you going ?"
"It shouldn't concern you?"
"Okey, question number two, did you came here by limo?"
Shu looked at me over his shoulder "If you want to come back together then you'll have to wait"
"How long?"
"Maybe an hour"
"An hour?" I sighed
Shu opened the door "Go back by foot or figure out how to kill some time. You choose" after these words he shutted door behind.
I looked around hoping to find something entertaining to do. My eyes caught a boy sitting on a bench tuning a guitar.
"Is it okay if I sit here?" I came closer to him.
"Sure" with a joyful voice he replied and went back to what he was doing before. The boy wore a black coat and finger-less gloves, medium dirty blond hair brushed back revealing his face. It took him a few moments to finish the tuning and start playing with guitar like a virtuoso.
Those chords sounded so familiar, but where did I heard this melody?
"~Her hair is Harlow gold, Her lips sweet surprise~" (Dean Ray's cover) he sang.
"Bette Davis ! Of course!" I almost shouted like this was the answer to a 1 million dollar question. Not only I got boys attention but passers-by too.
"Not a lot people these days know this song" he looked at me surprised but still with a smile on his face.
"It's just my brothers are old-school when it comes to music. And they went through some bands phases. So yeah I have hear a lot…" I lowered my voice "Like Marilyn Manson for straight four weeks"
The guitarist snickered "You sing?"
"Meh" I did 50/50 sing with my hand.
"Come on" he adjusted guitar on his leg and started playing same chords "~Her hair is Harlow gold, Her lips sweet surprise, Her hands are never cold, She's got Bette Davis eyes, ~" he nodded his head as a sign to me jump in. And I did.
"~She'll turn the music on you, You won't have to think twice, She's pure as New York snow, She got Bette Davis eyes~"
At this point I really didn't cared if I'm off the key or what, but it felt nice.
He also played Budapest and Stolen Dance in Dean Ray's style, things right from my playlist. I had fun and relaxed more. Then 80's came to our song list…
*1 hour. 17 minutes. Later*
The blond vampire walked down the stairs from the meeting. A tired sigh left his mouth as he closed both eyes wishing to get back home as soon as possible and lay down on a favorite couch in the living room. His thumb reached for a button on mp3 player to turn up the volume but the boy stopped when he hear a duo singing from the outside. Male and female. He opened the door and as he was expecting that female was that annoying, short, loud woman living with him.
"~Oh, I don't know why she's leaving, Or where she's gonna go, I guess she's got her reasons, But I just don't want to know, Cos for twenty-four years I've been living next door to Alice~ " (Smokie)
The strange guy and her sang while some people stopped for a moment to listen
I noticed Shu standing outside, waiting for me. We ended the song and I said goodbye wishing nice holidays to a guitar-guy. When I walked up to Shu he looked at me with one raised eyebrow asking for an explanation.
"What? You said to kill some time. And those words for me are the magic ones since weird shit happens"
He rolled his eyes and started walking. In my head the sound of guitar still was playing.
"It seems you had fun" Shu stated out of nowhere.
"I did. And it seems that whatever you were doing, bored you to hell. Anyway with who you were meeting"
Shu closed his eyes "…."
"…." I waited for an answer
"I'm still not telling you so forget it"
"Okey" I cleared my throat "~Oh Shu-boy, you got me eatin' my heart away,
You got me countin' my nights and da-~" (Smokie)
Shu covered my mouth with his hand. But he didn't placed it, he slapped it on my mouth and gave a tires-death glare. I nodded my head letting him know I got the message.
We reached the limo and witch took us back to mansion. While we were driving I tried to talk with him but he didn't exact;y listed what were I saying until conversation turned to one specific topic.
"Hey did you know there's an idol in academy. Mukami Kou ? I guess? Today he was in my class for one period"
Shu looked at me but his gaze wasn't nor interested, nor surprised.
"Did he talked to you?" he asked.
"Well a little…but I wouldn't call it a proper conversation"
*Flashback . In the class. Kou sitting next to Kaya*
"So" I whispered "Do you do shows like Beyonce or you're more like Lady GaGa style singer?" Kou looked at me confused by the question "Justin Bieber?"
"..."
"Backstreet Boys"
"..."
"The Beach Boys?"
"..."
"Some other band with the word 'boys' in it that I don't know of?"
"..."
"Oh, One Direction only you go solo and there's a three backup dancers"
"..."
"Six backup dancers?"
"..."
"Or do you do that Usher Trading Places thing?"
"..."
"Okay, I will shut up" and got back to doodling bats again.
*End of flashback*
"Maybe he does in Uta no Prince sama style. You know, the anime"
"I really don't care. Did he said anything to you?"
"Umm… he only said 'hi'. That's all"
Shu closed his eyes again and fall back to sleep.
"But I met his brother today. The big one, brown hair, pumped up. He kinda reminds me of Chris Hemsworth in Thor, only with shaved beard"
"Yuma" Shu mumbled to himself.
"Yeah, him. You guys know each other?"
He paused "Not really"
Somehow I didn't believed those words.
We entered the mansion and Reiji welcomed us with his presence. I was expecting him to yell at me but that didn't happened since Shu asked him to talk privately. In relieved I walked up stairs while singing.
"~Oh Reiji nobody's done it before, Oh baby you've opened the door, Oh Reiji you can do it some more~" (Smokie)
I thought I was singing silent enough.
"Ahem"
I looked back and saw Reiji's displeased face.
"No singing. Got it" I snapped my fingers and headed back to the room
The chill weather of December didn't bothered me that much now. My mind was more concentrated on what was outside. The moonlight glow through the dark clouds. Tonight was half-moon. But despite that the light still was able to expose garden and forest.
I couldn't fell asleep. Someone just kept telling me to go outside and wait. So I did. Outside of mansion I found a comfortable spot on stoned stairs. Also bringing a blanket with me. Like the old days. Only then we had a bonfire, marshmallows, cookies and chocolate.
"I want S'mores"
"Hey, Orokana" I heard Ayato "What are you doin here?" he came closer
"Nothing really"
Now he was standing next to me "If you get cold your blood will go bad. Go back inside"
I turned my gaze away from the vampire
"Go without me, I will come soon"
"Tch." he grabbed my hand pulling me up on my feet "How many times did I said to not disobey me"
"Dude, relax"
"Don't tell me what to do" he sounded like a little child.
"If I get sick, I will get sick. Don't need to make a big drama out..." I stopped when my eyes caught a little white drop of snow slowly making it way on the ground "Look" I smiled "It's finally snowing. The snow started falling with bigger pieces, little by little covering the ground. I looked up at the vampire and from the way how he was looking at this nature event he was amazed too.
"Call me crazy but a little voice inside my head told me to go outside and wait for something. I guess it meant this"
"We all are calling you crazy"
"...I know" I kept looking at the distance "Listen about today"
"Don't bring it. Got it?" he looked dead serious at me.
"Sure" I smiled and lifted my hand which was held by his "So lets talk about this" with a slight high-pitch voice I stated.
"Tch" he turned around and headed back inside so I did the same.
"Okay I won't touch this topic" we stepped inside the mansion "By any chance, do you any bands with the word 'boys' in them?"
"What?" Ayato shook his a little before looking at me.
"Never mind"
All night snow was falling down covering everything with white puffy-like sky cotton. Looking up to sky I was wondering how are thing back there...
*In Alaska*
"Look what we got in the mail from our little sister" Isamu walked in carring a paper box. Rin, Mamoru and Orachi looked at there brother.
"Kaya, sent something from Japan?" Mamoru asked
"Nice going sis" Rin said to himself joyfully
"I wonder what's inside?" Orachi came closer
"No. Sit. Don't touch it" Isamu scolded Orachi "Kaya sent it for Christmas"
"Sounds like her" Rin laughed
"I'm going to give a call to Ichirou, Rink can you take this upstairs"
"No problem" Rin stood up and the box from his hands and carried it to upstairs closet. Before placing it on the top shelf he examined the box trying to figure out what's inside of it. He shook it, lifted it few more time even smelled it. But then his eyes saw an address written on the box.
"Hmm?"