Mia had multiple questions she wanted to ask now, but decided to stay silent.
Ryon turned to her. "Get your stuff. There will be another team to take over in an hour or so, once I call."
The other men sighed, sitting down heavily.
"Why? Why am I not staying with you guys?" She asked quietly.
"Because, we'll be beside Isao in a lab somewhere." Ryusei forced out between clenched teeth.
"I don't understand.." she sighed.
Ryon dropped his eyes, squeezing the empty bag in his hands. "Isao's dead. And we'll be soon."
She was quiet for a minute before asking, "Why will you guys be dead too?"
"One fuck up too many." Yamae's voice was quiet.
"So you screwed up and they'll kill you because of it?!" She asked with surprise.
"Pretty much. We remain alive at the discretion of the Chief and Prime Minister." Ryon shrugged. "Can't let the monsters run loose."
"So is there anything my dad can do to help? There has to be something."
"No. At least Dracula got a better ending." Ryusei snarled before kicking the coffee table angrily.
Ryon flipped his phone open, finger hesitating over one of the buttons. "Sorry we couldn't protect you better."
"You stopped the shifter from getting me. I'd say you're protecting me fine." She took a deep breath, "Where is Isao now?"
"Backyard. Mia, he's beyond help."
"I'd still like to see him.." she said quietly.
Ryon sighed, closing the phone and leading her out the sliding door.
Isao lay on his side, blood pooled around him.
She closed her eyes for a moment before slowly moving closer. She knelt beside him, giving him a sad look.
There were several punctures in his chest, his shirt sodden with blood. His eyes were closed, his features calm.
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. She glanced up at Ryon, "Are you sure there's nothing we can do?"
"He's lost too much blood. Contrary to popular belief, we aren't the living dead. We've merely been infected with a virus that gives us enhanced abilities. We can die from injury just like everyone else." Ryon knelt beside her, resting a hand on Isao's head. "If the damage was less, I'd say he needed fresh blood and surgery. But there's no pulse."
"Can't you try it anyway and try to get his pulse back?" She said quietly.
"You don't understand. It's not a matter of dumping a blood bag or twelve down his throat. He would require live blood. And before you ask, he couldn't bite any of us."
She sighed, "Can we pour fresh blood down his throat and try anyway? I mean, I have blood?"
"We're not allowed."
"Why? If I'm offering it..?"
"The government believes we'll lose our minds and start attacking people. Thus, a strict diet of blood bags. If we need anything more, we're out of luck. If we try, we disappear."
"They don't have to know though.."
"You're saying I shouldn't report this.."
"If it saves him, no one has to know anything, right?" She said quietly.
Ryon stared at her. "Why would you do this?"
She shrugged, "I just like helping people. And he's kind of a friend now, so I want to help him even more."
"We're just the people assigned to protect you. How can we be friends?"
She sighed, "Anyone can be a friend. You might just be protecting me, but you guys seem like you'd be good friends. Even if you don't see me as more than a person to protect."
"Who said we felt that way?" The vampire asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're serious about this?"
She nodded.
"Don't say I didn't warn you." He motioned for her wrist.
She held it out.