(Note: Riho will be replaced with my own character, Hiromi Takabe, because
I don't really like Riho's totally innocent maiden attitude. Hiro is a
little bit more real. Also I often switch character prospective from Hiromi
to Shido: three stars indicate this)
Disclaimer: Well, for the first time on this story, I've actually done a timely update. Whoever invented laptops is a good kind man (or woman) in my book, right up there with the person that invented solitaire. You guys have know idea how addicted I am to electronic solitaire. It is now 10:09 AM and I'm traveling with my mom and typing. Life is good. Oky-dokes, now the official stuff: Shido does belong to me, seeing as I keep him and any other bishi I like, in my closet. Yayoi and Guni come to visit him sometimes, and I feed all my vampires or half-vampires on a steady stream of blood from my family and friends, whenever I get too dizzy to give up any more. Usually, my friends know when I borrow the blood, and they know it all goes to a good cause; my family... feh, it's not like they need *all* that blood...
"Panic attack," Yayoi repeated, hunched over the wheel of her car. They were headed back to Shido's office, Guni sitting in the cup holder, and staring into the back seat at Shido and Hiromi. The girl was pale in Shido's arms, her faced pinched as she frowned at some mental image, but at least she was breathing regularly.
Shido nodded and dabbed at Hiromi's sweaty brow with a handkerchief, "An extremely sever one at that. Almost too much for a sixteen year old."
Guni sat up and frowned, "When I first saw her, she was muttering something over and over. She didn't even seem aware of me. Anyway, it sounded like, 'I'm so sorry.'" The Urban Fairy nodded at Hiromi, "I know that her life has been anything but normal, but what could she be sorry about that would cause such a giant stress on her body and mind?"
Yayoi turned the corner and sighed, "I could think of quite a few things: her rape, today, feeling like she was evil for attacking Shimizaki... maybe even her parent's death...."
"That's probably it," Guni said. "She acts tough, but it's easy to see that she's still hurting."
Shido shifted his grip on Hiromi, and the girl moaned just a bit, her eyes fluttering before she went fully under again.
"Just as well," Shido thought. Major panic attacks like the one Hiromi had just been through took a serious toll on human's bodies and minds. She needed time to "get her second wind," s o to speak, and right now, sleep would help her the most.
"...hospital, Shido?" Yayoi asked.
Shido blinked and shook his head, "No, I think it would be best if she woke up in familiar surroundings. Keep heading to the office."
Again Shido turned his full attention back to Hiromi, focusing his ears on her heartbeat. As soon as Shido had knocked her out, Hiromi's throat and body had relaxed, allowing her to breath normally again. Her pulse was normal enough now, if a bit strained.
Mentally, Shido whished he knew something more about human aliments. He had been so long without his memories of his humanity... Shido shook his head slightly, dismissing those thoughts. It was no use right now to dwell on things that couldn't be remedied. That's exactly what Cain would want: for him to keep thinking on the past, about his past life, until Shido was weak enough to come crawling back to him. Never again.
Hiromi shifted again, saying something that sounded like, "fuzza...wazza..." to Shido's ears. The vampire looked down at the girl in his arms, watching her come out of her stupor.
Her eyebrows knitted very slightly as she opened her violet eyes, confusion dominating in the iris, "D-daddy?"
Shido blinked. She was dreaming of her father? Hiromi raised her hand and traced Shido's cheek with a trembling hand, "Daddy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stay out so late."
"Hiromi..."
Her hand trailed to Shido's lavender hair, and her she frowned as she felt it, "When did your hair get long, Daddy?"
"Hiromi, I'm not your father, remember? I'm Shido."
Hiromi blinked and shook her head, still in Shido's arms, "Shido? What happened?" She realized that she was being cradled by the vampire and sat up, holding her head. "Sorry."
Shido nodded as Guni flew to Hiromi, looking at her hard in the face, "We're heading back to the office right now. You need someone to watch you."
Hiromi nodded, trying to organize her thoughts. She had been in the park.... And talking to her father... or at least remembering him...
Yayoi stopped in front of the office building and turned in her seat, "What happened, Hiromi?"
The girl shook her head and glared at Guni, "What? Do I have a zit or something?"
"No," the fairy said. "I was checking your pupils."
Hiromi's anger faded. Her mother had been a nurse, and Hiromi knew that seeing if a person's pupils were different sizes after he passed out was a common way to check for brain damage.
"I know one's a bit bigger than the other," Hiromi said. "It's been that way since I can remember.
Guni grinned a little, "By the way, you *do* have a zit. There, on your left cheek."
Hiromi scowled, suddenly wishing that she had a fly swatter.
"Hiromi?" Yayoi asked, "Are you going to argue with that little speck, or are you going tell us what happened?"
Hiromi turned to Yayoi, putting her fantasies of a squashed Guni on the back burner for now, "After I called, I walked a little farther into the park, and I started thinking of my dad. I...I guess my memories of him were so strong, that I actually started to believe he was there in the park too. I felt cold and alone, until Guni snapped me out of it. Then I couldn't breathe. My throat was too tight, and it felt like someone was covering my nose and mouth."
Hiromi shuddered a little, recalling the feeling, "I never want to feel like that again. It was like I would die without ever reconciling for..."
"For what?" Shido prompted, but in his heart he knew the answer.
"Nothing...just...nothing at all."
Shido gave a mental sigh of frustration. She needed to let this go...
Putting on an outwardly calm demeanor, Shido opened his door, "Do you think you can make the stairs on your own?"
Hiromi nodded and got out of the car, a little shaky on her legs, but soon caught her balance, and Shido sighed again mentally. Hiromi was turning out to be just as stubborn as Yayoi could be...
***
Hiromi climbed the last flight of stairs, checking her watch: 2:51 in the freaking morning. So much for getting an early start.
Shido stopped outside the door of his office, a sour look on his face.
"What is it Shido?" Yayoi asked, fatigue riding her every word.
For the first time, Hiromi saw Shido give a sheepish look, "I locked the keys inside..."
"Oh, that was intelligent," Guni said from his shoulder. "I thought detectives were supposed to be meticulous about every little detail."
Yayoi fished in her pockets and pulled out her keys, "Oh, give it a rest Guni. It's too early."
While Yayoi unlocked the door, Hiromi noticed a small Xelloss keychain on her ring. The trickster priest from Slayers grinned his genski face grin and held up a finger in his classic, "Now that is a secret," pose. Yayoi liking Anime? It was just too weird to think about so early in the morning.
The door opened and Yayoi walked in, flopping gracelessly onto her favorite chair near the window, and looked at Hiromi as she came in, heading strait for the small kitchen. Shido closed the door behind him and sat on his desk, then just leaned back spread eagle on it. Yayoi blinked. Shido was tired too?
"Hiromi?" Yayoi called. The girl looked up from the sink through a cloud of steam.
"Would you like to come to my apartment to sleep? You can bunk on the couch."
Hiromi debated for a moment. She had never actually been to or even seen where Yayoi lived. "It's like a teacher..." Hiromi mused. "Does any student really ask themselves where their instructors head after hours? Or do they all just assume that they go into 'standby' mode when the last kid leaves?"
Shaking her head, Hiromi woke herself up. If she was getting philosophical, she really was exhausted. "To tell the truth Yayoi, I'm too tired to really get myself down those stairs again. Thanks anyway."
Yayoi nodded and checked her watch, "Eh, your loss. Just be advised Shido snores."
Shido raised one finger to point at the ceiling, "I resemble that remark, Yayoi."
Guni, who had flown to the bookshelf when they entered, raised her head just a bit, "Exactly."
"Good night, Hiromi, Shido," Yayoi sighed as she forced herself to stand again. Hiromi watched Yayoi take two steps, look down, sigh, and lift first one leg up, then the other, slipping her high heels off.
Hiromi grimaced as Yayoi left, holding her shoes in her hand. Even though she had legs going on for miles, Yayoi liked to accent them with short skirts and those ridiculous heels that were supposed to be the height of fashion. There was no way Hiromi would ever have the graceful balance to walk in shoes like that; she had trouble putting her pants on in the morning and not falling over...
"I'm turning in, Hiromi," Shido said, sitting up. "I'm afraid I don't keep blankets here, but if you get cold, you can turn up the heat."
"I'm fine Shido," Hiromi said, taking a drink of water, and wishing she hadn't dropped her Starbucks latte when she ran out of her apartment. Hiromi rinsed her glass and walked out of the kitchen and sat on the couch, "Good night, Shido."
"Good night," the vampire said walking to a door Hiromi had never opened.
Curious, Hiromi leaned forward, wondering what Shido's bedroom looked like, but there was nothing there. Just a walk-in closet, and a...a white shape on the floor... so he really did sleep in a coffin. Somehow, that seemed redundant...
Hiromi sighed and pulled her boots off, lying down on the couch and shifting around. The old couch was fine for sitting, but sleeping-wise... Hiromi wondered whether she would get more sleep on the floor.
Disclaimer: Well, for the first time on this story, I've actually done a timely update. Whoever invented laptops is a good kind man (or woman) in my book, right up there with the person that invented solitaire. You guys have know idea how addicted I am to electronic solitaire. It is now 10:09 AM and I'm traveling with my mom and typing. Life is good. Oky-dokes, now the official stuff: Shido does belong to me, seeing as I keep him and any other bishi I like, in my closet. Yayoi and Guni come to visit him sometimes, and I feed all my vampires or half-vampires on a steady stream of blood from my family and friends, whenever I get too dizzy to give up any more. Usually, my friends know when I borrow the blood, and they know it all goes to a good cause; my family... feh, it's not like they need *all* that blood...
"Panic attack," Yayoi repeated, hunched over the wheel of her car. They were headed back to Shido's office, Guni sitting in the cup holder, and staring into the back seat at Shido and Hiromi. The girl was pale in Shido's arms, her faced pinched as she frowned at some mental image, but at least she was breathing regularly.
Shido nodded and dabbed at Hiromi's sweaty brow with a handkerchief, "An extremely sever one at that. Almost too much for a sixteen year old."
Guni sat up and frowned, "When I first saw her, she was muttering something over and over. She didn't even seem aware of me. Anyway, it sounded like, 'I'm so sorry.'" The Urban Fairy nodded at Hiromi, "I know that her life has been anything but normal, but what could she be sorry about that would cause such a giant stress on her body and mind?"
Yayoi turned the corner and sighed, "I could think of quite a few things: her rape, today, feeling like she was evil for attacking Shimizaki... maybe even her parent's death...."
"That's probably it," Guni said. "She acts tough, but it's easy to see that she's still hurting."
Shido shifted his grip on Hiromi, and the girl moaned just a bit, her eyes fluttering before she went fully under again.
"Just as well," Shido thought. Major panic attacks like the one Hiromi had just been through took a serious toll on human's bodies and minds. She needed time to "get her second wind," s o to speak, and right now, sleep would help her the most.
"...hospital, Shido?" Yayoi asked.
Shido blinked and shook his head, "No, I think it would be best if she woke up in familiar surroundings. Keep heading to the office."
Again Shido turned his full attention back to Hiromi, focusing his ears on her heartbeat. As soon as Shido had knocked her out, Hiromi's throat and body had relaxed, allowing her to breath normally again. Her pulse was normal enough now, if a bit strained.
Mentally, Shido whished he knew something more about human aliments. He had been so long without his memories of his humanity... Shido shook his head slightly, dismissing those thoughts. It was no use right now to dwell on things that couldn't be remedied. That's exactly what Cain would want: for him to keep thinking on the past, about his past life, until Shido was weak enough to come crawling back to him. Never again.
Hiromi shifted again, saying something that sounded like, "fuzza...wazza..." to Shido's ears. The vampire looked down at the girl in his arms, watching her come out of her stupor.
Her eyebrows knitted very slightly as she opened her violet eyes, confusion dominating in the iris, "D-daddy?"
Shido blinked. She was dreaming of her father? Hiromi raised her hand and traced Shido's cheek with a trembling hand, "Daddy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stay out so late."
"Hiromi..."
Her hand trailed to Shido's lavender hair, and her she frowned as she felt it, "When did your hair get long, Daddy?"
"Hiromi, I'm not your father, remember? I'm Shido."
Hiromi blinked and shook her head, still in Shido's arms, "Shido? What happened?" She realized that she was being cradled by the vampire and sat up, holding her head. "Sorry."
Shido nodded as Guni flew to Hiromi, looking at her hard in the face, "We're heading back to the office right now. You need someone to watch you."
Hiromi nodded, trying to organize her thoughts. She had been in the park.... And talking to her father... or at least remembering him...
Yayoi stopped in front of the office building and turned in her seat, "What happened, Hiromi?"
The girl shook her head and glared at Guni, "What? Do I have a zit or something?"
"No," the fairy said. "I was checking your pupils."
Hiromi's anger faded. Her mother had been a nurse, and Hiromi knew that seeing if a person's pupils were different sizes after he passed out was a common way to check for brain damage.
"I know one's a bit bigger than the other," Hiromi said. "It's been that way since I can remember.
Guni grinned a little, "By the way, you *do* have a zit. There, on your left cheek."
Hiromi scowled, suddenly wishing that she had a fly swatter.
"Hiromi?" Yayoi asked, "Are you going to argue with that little speck, or are you going tell us what happened?"
Hiromi turned to Yayoi, putting her fantasies of a squashed Guni on the back burner for now, "After I called, I walked a little farther into the park, and I started thinking of my dad. I...I guess my memories of him were so strong, that I actually started to believe he was there in the park too. I felt cold and alone, until Guni snapped me out of it. Then I couldn't breathe. My throat was too tight, and it felt like someone was covering my nose and mouth."
Hiromi shuddered a little, recalling the feeling, "I never want to feel like that again. It was like I would die without ever reconciling for..."
"For what?" Shido prompted, but in his heart he knew the answer.
"Nothing...just...nothing at all."
Shido gave a mental sigh of frustration. She needed to let this go...
Putting on an outwardly calm demeanor, Shido opened his door, "Do you think you can make the stairs on your own?"
Hiromi nodded and got out of the car, a little shaky on her legs, but soon caught her balance, and Shido sighed again mentally. Hiromi was turning out to be just as stubborn as Yayoi could be...
***
Hiromi climbed the last flight of stairs, checking her watch: 2:51 in the freaking morning. So much for getting an early start.
Shido stopped outside the door of his office, a sour look on his face.
"What is it Shido?" Yayoi asked, fatigue riding her every word.
For the first time, Hiromi saw Shido give a sheepish look, "I locked the keys inside..."
"Oh, that was intelligent," Guni said from his shoulder. "I thought detectives were supposed to be meticulous about every little detail."
Yayoi fished in her pockets and pulled out her keys, "Oh, give it a rest Guni. It's too early."
While Yayoi unlocked the door, Hiromi noticed a small Xelloss keychain on her ring. The trickster priest from Slayers grinned his genski face grin and held up a finger in his classic, "Now that is a secret," pose. Yayoi liking Anime? It was just too weird to think about so early in the morning.
The door opened and Yayoi walked in, flopping gracelessly onto her favorite chair near the window, and looked at Hiromi as she came in, heading strait for the small kitchen. Shido closed the door behind him and sat on his desk, then just leaned back spread eagle on it. Yayoi blinked. Shido was tired too?
"Hiromi?" Yayoi called. The girl looked up from the sink through a cloud of steam.
"Would you like to come to my apartment to sleep? You can bunk on the couch."
Hiromi debated for a moment. She had never actually been to or even seen where Yayoi lived. "It's like a teacher..." Hiromi mused. "Does any student really ask themselves where their instructors head after hours? Or do they all just assume that they go into 'standby' mode when the last kid leaves?"
Shaking her head, Hiromi woke herself up. If she was getting philosophical, she really was exhausted. "To tell the truth Yayoi, I'm too tired to really get myself down those stairs again. Thanks anyway."
Yayoi nodded and checked her watch, "Eh, your loss. Just be advised Shido snores."
Shido raised one finger to point at the ceiling, "I resemble that remark, Yayoi."
Guni, who had flown to the bookshelf when they entered, raised her head just a bit, "Exactly."
"Good night, Hiromi, Shido," Yayoi sighed as she forced herself to stand again. Hiromi watched Yayoi take two steps, look down, sigh, and lift first one leg up, then the other, slipping her high heels off.
Hiromi grimaced as Yayoi left, holding her shoes in her hand. Even though she had legs going on for miles, Yayoi liked to accent them with short skirts and those ridiculous heels that were supposed to be the height of fashion. There was no way Hiromi would ever have the graceful balance to walk in shoes like that; she had trouble putting her pants on in the morning and not falling over...
"I'm turning in, Hiromi," Shido said, sitting up. "I'm afraid I don't keep blankets here, but if you get cold, you can turn up the heat."
"I'm fine Shido," Hiromi said, taking a drink of water, and wishing she hadn't dropped her Starbucks latte when she ran out of her apartment. Hiromi rinsed her glass and walked out of the kitchen and sat on the couch, "Good night, Shido."
"Good night," the vampire said walking to a door Hiromi had never opened.
Curious, Hiromi leaned forward, wondering what Shido's bedroom looked like, but there was nothing there. Just a walk-in closet, and a...a white shape on the floor... so he really did sleep in a coffin. Somehow, that seemed redundant...
Hiromi sighed and pulled her boots off, lying down on the couch and shifting around. The old couch was fine for sitting, but sleeping-wise... Hiromi wondered whether she would get more sleep on the floor.