Akira was about to ask what Chizuna meant when she called him otoutou, but she cut off any questions he and Kazuna had.
"Enough. Come inside first. We will continue the discussion in the living room."
The two boys reluctantly followed the intimidating girl into the dark, quiet house.
Though still reeling with intense emotions, Sai had managed to rein them back to a controlled level. Composing himself, he followed the three teenagers.
'I can't afford to drown in the past. I need to do what I can to ease the burden for these three. I must. After everything he did for me, I owe his bloodline that much.'
Kazuna and Akira kneeled at the table in the living room. Chizuna placed two cups of tea in front of them before walking to the screen door. Sliding it open, Chizuna looked outside at the garden, the plants swaying about gently in the wind. Unknown to them, Sai was kneeling next to the boys, grimly fanning himself.
"Kazuna, do you remember me?" Chizuna inquired.
"Yes, onee-san. I noticed that the garden is still tended to. Do you come here often?"
"I live here. I've come back to Tokyo."
"Nani?! Then otou-san, is he with you?"
Chizuna hesitated, then turned back to Kazuna, "Otou-san died six months ago."
"Naze?! Why wasn't I told about this? Aren't I our father's child as well? Did he care so little about me?" Kazuna suddenly shouted. Surprised and slightly afraid, Akira shrank back from his brother's outburst.
Nonetheless, Akira tried to mollify Kazuna, "Onegai, please let Chizuna-san finish."
Chizuna continued, "I did tell your Uncle Eda about this, Kazuna. You have not been informed?"
Kazuna searched his memory, "Iie. I was not told. To be honest, even now, I cannot remember otou-san's face well. I can't say that I'm very upset or distressed about his passing. I was so young when I was left behind with the Eda couple."
Chizuna answered, "Please, don't hold it against otou-san. He only wanted you to have a normal life. Same with you, Akira."
Akira was shocked, "Are you saying that I was adopted by the Touya couple? I don't remember any of this."
"Well, that's to be expected. You were only a mere baby, barely a year old then. Shortly after otou-san left Kazuna with the Eda family, he left you with the Touya family. Both of them were good friends of father. He asked them to take care of you."
Chizuna paused and snickered.
"What's so funny?" Kazuna growled.
"Nothing. It's just amusing how you and Akira are so clueless. Then again, I would expect that, since everyone around both of you does their best to keep you clueless about our past."
"Chizuna-san, please clarify," Akira requested.
"…We Takashiro are of a vampiric lineage."
"Nani! And I was seriously listening to you until now!" Kazuna broke in.
Chizuna snickered again, "It is just a comparison, an analogy. The Takashiro clan was one of the most ancient noble families. However, during the time of the Heiyan court, we began to decline. Our once great wealth had been all but spent. We began losing favor. One of our noble women spent a night with a curious, passing stranger. Not long after that, she fell ill. Though she was isolated, the illness spread through the entire clan. Since then, for the most part, we have fled to the wilderness and lived in isolation, away from the humans. We are the result of that legacy. This disease, I suppose you could call it. When we have spasms, it's because of the craving. The thirst manifests, and we feel the urge to bite someone's neck, to break through the skin and drink the blood. This taint is passed through the lineage, flows through our very blood."
Akira and Kazuna were both shocked and did not know what to say. Sai, however, did not seem surprised at all, only grimly resolved.
Chizuna remarked, "The wind has stopped."
Chizuna continued cynically, "But, of course, to you two who live normal lives, as father wished, this does not at all matter. Believe me or don't. It's your choice. This conversation is over. Leave now and do not return. Do you understand why father left with me? I am also a vampire. I do not know what I may do to you two."
With that, the two boys were shown outside, Sai following behind. They were all deep in thought.
Suddenly, Akira turned to Kazuna, "Kazuna-san, should I escort you back home?"
"Arigato, but I'll be fine. Akira-kun, are you all right?"
"This was a lot to take in. I want to deny it, but I can sense the truth in onee-san's words. I will investigate further when I go home. In the mean time, I guess this requires further pondering on my part."
"Here's my address and phone number. We should try to keep in touch…otouou."
Akira's eyes widened slightly, as this was the first time the other boy had acknowledged him as his little brother.
Despite the ominous situation, Akira couldn't help but give a quiet smile, "Hai. Arigato, aniki."
"Ja ne."
With that, the brothers parted ways.
On the train, Akira was wondering how many people were keeping secrets from him. When he returned him, he resolved to wait until his foster parents were asleep. Then he would investigate the old photo album, the one Touya Kouyo had advised him not to look at.
Sai lingered with the boy a moment longer, even patting the boy's head affectionately.
'Akira, even though I am but a dead spirit now, I will do what I can to ease the pain for you, Chizuna, and Kazuna. I swear by my bloodline. Perhaps it is for this purpose that the gods have allowed me to linger in this world.'
With that, Sai disappeared and suddenly returned to Hikaru's room.
"Sai, where have you been!? I was worried sick! Why did you run off like that?"
"I apologize for being so abrupt. However, it was necessary that I not lose sight. Hikaru, I need your help."
"Eh?"
"Tomorrow, after school, please go to the library. I need you to find books focusing upon blood diseases. Bring them back here."
"Why the sudden interest in medicine? I thought it was all about go for you. Don't you want to play go again tomorrow or something like that?"
"Do not argue. Please, just do as I ask."
Hikaru was surprised that Sai seemed so grim and focused, completely different from the way he had acted a few days prior. Perhaps he should play along for now. Then he could find out what was going on by himself, as Sai did not seem very forthcoming with information.