Alrighty, here is the next one. I'm introducing another OC here to help the story~
Thanks for the welcome back , reviews, comment, follows, and faves! I love them!
The Christmas day, Ayase's household, afternoon;
A few days has passed since the day of the incident. Media still busy with exposing the tragic story, though Eli didn't make a thought about the victim, instead, she keeps wondering about the Vampire she accidentally kill and ate.
Hmm…. Did I really miss something from that….?
She thought.
It was new moon and yet we experience no attack….?
She thought again.
It made me more paranoid….
She said as she glued her eyes on the oven. She is currently baking a cake that she promised for the Christmas party. She tried to look at the time,
Ten more minutes…. I wonder how Nozomi is doing…
She stood up and turned to Nozomi,
"Nozomi— how is the—AHHH!"
The cake is perfectly baked and placed on top of the table,
Nozomi sitting on the chair with Eli standing next to her.
"Sheesh, I'm glad I caught you doing that…" Eli said.
"But… I just think salty cream will taste good…."
"No! Nozomi, you don't add salt and broth in cream… but anyway, sheesh, you're still experimenting with your food…" Eli smiled slightly,
"It will taste like— you know…"
"God! No! Nozomi! We don't taste that in actual food! Especially when we're going to share that with the other!" Eli cuts in.
"I'm joking… Ericchi, you're taking it too seriously. I was just wondering if it would be a nice unique surprise for everyone…" Nozomi said.
"Still No! It's Christmas! We should be nice, ok? Don't be a bad girl!"
Nozomi pouts,
"You can always have Mayonnaise if you want anything similar to it— you can even add it in your steak… but we will cook that later with everyone, ok?"
"The taste isn't that similar…" Nozomi replied.
"I know— but sheesh! Nozomi!"
Nozomi giggled.
They could hear someone's phone ringing and paused to try to listen to it. But it was all just silence until Arisa came by after a few moments,
"Onee-san! Nozomi-nee-san! You got a video call from Maki-nee-san!" she said as she waved Eli's tablet.
"Ah— give me-give me…" Eli reached her tablet.
She placed it on top of the table, next to the cake,
"Eli…" Maki greeted from the video,
"Eli-chan!" Rin and Hanayo greeted her too.
"We're ready to cook our food, what about you?"
"We're done with the cake, but not yet with the cream….we messed it up…." Eli said.
"Ah, if that so. Take your time, Umi and the others still trying to look for the Christmas tree decoration, they already dropped off a few decorations here though, just like this green hairy ribbon…"
"Maki-chan, that's not called as green hairy ribbon…" Hanayo said.
Rin chuckled,
"Eh? Then what is it called?"
"It's called garland…" Hanayo said.
"Oh! There! Rin! You tricked me again!"
"You bit it-nya!" Rin said playfully.
"That's silly of you anyway, you should've known that kind of name doesn't exist…" Niko said as she showed up further behind Maki.
"Tch! I was just messing around! I knew that!" Maki said.
"Really?" Niko said teasingly, Maki grunted,
They started to argue with each other.
"Hmm… is it just me or Nikochi is somewhat looks pale…?" Nozomi said as she peeks in to the video.
"She might be sick?" Eli said.
"No— don't think she is, she looks fit…" Nozomi said.
"She is often trying to act tough, remember?" Eli replied.
"True, we should check on her later…" Nozomi said.
The Shopping District, afternoon;
Kotori and Umi currently browsing for Christmas decoration,
"Hmm… I wonder how big the Christmas tree Maki-chan has…" Kotori said.
"She said it's huge, so we probably will need a lot of decoration…" Umi said.
"Ah— well, yes, she also gave us plenty of money, we really should use it well…" Kotori said.
"Kotori-chan! Umi-chan!" Honoka called from distance.
"Yes?" Kotori responded,
"Look at this!" Honoka pointed to the rack filled with well-crafted decorations made of light glasses.
"That looks pretty!" Kotori complimented.
"I know, right? They even have—…."
As Honoka tried to pick one of them, she accidentally hit one of the ornaments.
"Aa—Honoka!" Umi yelled.
"Wh-wha-wha-wha!" Honoka tried to grab it, but as she bends down, she accidentally hits the rack and causing more ornaments to shake.
"Whoaaaaaa!" Kotori began to panic— everyone in the shop is!
They held their breath as they watch the rack swinging slightly. Then as the rack stop swinging… they sighed heavily.
"That was scary…" Kotori said.
"Yeah…. Be careful, Honoka…." Umi said.
"Hehe! I suppose this rack is just trying to scare us!" Honoka pat the rack—and in that very second, the rack fell along with all the ornaments on it.
"WHOA!" everyone in the room shouted.
Awkward silences…
Everyone's eyes focused on the broken pieces and the fallen rack.
"Honoka-chan….." Kotori called her weakly.
Umi's face gloomed.
"Uhh….uhm…. so… how much are they all….?" Honoka asked the shopkeeper,
The shopkeeper nervously tried to list everything on the rack and count the prices.
"150.000 yen….." The shopkeeper said nervously.
"K-Kotori-chan…..? How much Maki-chan gave us…?" Honoka asked in fear.
"Uhm….150.000 yen….." Kotori said.
"A—ahaha….."Honoka smirked wryly,
Kotori sighed weakly,
"Honoka….." Umi called her with her gloomed voice, her eyes glowing and a hint of horn starting to grow from her forehead.
"U…Umi-chan…. you are….."
Nishikino's residence, night time;
"So we have Chicken, Turkey, beef, and lambs tonight? That's a lot…" Niko said.
"Not to forget lobsters and fishes, Maki-chan, are you sure we can eat this much-nya?" Rin asked.
"Well, I'm sure we can. We have three Chimeras to feed and four Succubus…" Maki said.
"Four Succubus? Uhm… That would be, Eli-chan…. Lilith-chan, Arisa-chan, then… who?" Hanayo asked.
"Lilith said she want to bring one of her friend here, a succubus…" Maki said.
"Oh…"
"Why are you inviting her?" Niko asked.
"Uh? Well, she is Eli's cousin, I just think it's not fair if we are inviting Arisa and Yukiho but not her… besides, she has been a good worker for me too…"
"I think it's good too to boost our friendship with their kind, I've heard story that they're not actually meant to be friend with human…" Hanayo said.
"To tell the truth, I think that so… besides, Lilith saved Kotori and Umi before, maybe let's just make this as a way to say thanks…" Maki said.
"True-nya!" Rin said.
"Not that I mind or anything, I was just hoping it will be just nine of us…" Niko said.
"So you want it to be just µ's…" Hanayo said.
"We can hold exclusive party later…" Maki said.
"Where are we going later-nya?" Rin asked.
"What about the mountain? I'm sure we can use the hot spring…" Maki said.
"Ah! How Nostalgic! Let's go to the mountain—! Maybe we can set a camp too?" Hanayo said.
"Then split like before too? That would be fun…" Maki said.
"Ahhh! No more hiking!" Rin said.
Hanayo chuckled,
"I don't think Umi-chan and Nozomi-chan will make you do another hiking. We're just there for fun…" Hanayo said.
"Besides, climbing would be something too easy for her now…" Maki said.
"Uhm, I don't know if Satyr skilled on climbing mountain or anything like it, I never see any goat climbing mountain-nya?" Rin asked.
"Don't forget the mountain goat, they climb nearly 90 degrees angles just to lick salt deposits off mountain slides, they crave that mineral…" Maki said.
"Wow…What…." Rin, Niko, and Hanayo said in awe.
"I'm not sure you're joking or not, but anyway, I heard they like liking rock salt…." Niko said.
"You think Umi-chan might like something like that too-nya?" Rin asked.
"Probably…?" Maki said.
"Considering you and red dot does work— I want to see if Umi-chan will crave that mineral too somehow-nya!" Rin said along with her mischievous giggles.
"Rin-chan, you're being a bad girl…" Hanayo giggled softly.
"Hehe-Rin just like to have fun with everyone nya!" Rin said cheerfully.
"Anyway, shouldn't we call Eli again? See if they're done with decorating the cake…?" Niko asked.
"Ah, right, we should…." Hanayo said as she took her tablet and placed it on its chair vertically.
They waited for them to pick up the call. As the call received, they could see two white aprons sticking against each other, rubbing gently as if they're currently
"Errr…. Are we calling in the wrong time?" Hanayo asked.
"It's always be wrong if we call them when they're together— so let's ignore that and get to the point. Hey Eli!" Niko yelled.
They could see someone's hand trying to adjust the tablet, but then the other one trying to prevent it to be done.
"Eli! Nozomi! How is the cake…." Niko asked clearly.
They could see someone's hand trying to shove the other, then one hand finally managed to adjust the camera. Nozomi and Eli embracing each other very closely, Nozomi covered Eli's mouth. Nozomi's lips reddened and somewhat looks slightly swollen and wet,
"We already covered it with cream and added the µ's candies on top!" Nozomi said cheerfully.
"µ's candies! I like them! Eli-chan is so good at making them-nya!" Rin said.
"Ah, right, the mint flavor perfectly fit with the sweetness… it's so nostalgic!" Hanayo said.
"We still have strawberry jam, we're going to write something on top of it!" Nozomi said cheerfully as she released Eli's mouth and pick up the strawberry jam's jar.
"Ah! Ah! Write 'Mary Crazemust'!" Rin said.
"Mary Crazemust?" Eli wondered.
"That's not how you say it, Rin-chan, it's Merry Christmas!" Hanayo said.
"Oh—! He-he, yes, that!" Rin said.
"For a while there, I thought you said Mary's Cashew nuts, I was like, what? Mary has nuts?" Maki said.
"Maki, you're not funny…" Niko said.
"Not like I want to entertain you or anything, I was just saying…" Maki said.
"Sure— you're trying to make joke off it, aren't you?" Niko said.
"No, sheesh… not for you."
"Does Mary's Cashew nuts erect?" Nozomi asked.
"Huh, what?" Niko flustered.
Maki and Eli laughed, Hanayo put her palm on her face, Rin confused,
"It's not called as that if it's not erecting, Nozomi…" Eli said between her laughter.
"True!" Nozomi chuckled,
"What the hell you all talking about…?" Niko asked with her annoyed face.
"I'm lost too-nya!" Rin said.
"A-anyway! We should continue with our preparation as well! It's almost time!" Hanayo said nervously.
"You're right, Hanayo-chan, you all should hurry! We'll be there after Ericchi play with my cashew nut…" Nozomi said as she winked and closed the phone.
"Why does that sounds vulgar?" Niko smirked,
"Not sure if it really is a vulgar thing or it's just Nozomi being herself-nya…" Rin said.
Hanayo sighed weakly,
"At least she is happy now…" she said.
"Yeah…knowing that she was so gloomy last year…" Maki smiled.
"I wonder how the others are going-nya?"
The shopping district, night time;
Umi sighed weakly as she stares into the frozen river along with Kotori next to her. Kotori is busy with texting on her phone while she just doing nothing as she waits for Honoka to return. She sighed heavily which caught Kotori's attention.
"What's wrong, Umi-chan? Are you worried about her?" Kotori asked.
"Yes, she actually screws up on a big day like this…"Umi said before she sighed again,
"I wish she didn't… I really wanted to make a special Christmas for µ's reunion… also a thank you to Eli for giving me this power…." Umi said.
Kotori smiled weakly,
"You like that power?" Kotori asked.
"Eventually… yes… I just think that I could use this for something good… for example, the kid I saved from previous days…. If I wasn't a Chimera, I won't be able to do such thing…" Umi said.
Kotori smiled wryly,
"I'm glad…" she said weakly.
Umi turned her eyes to Kotori,
"You don't sound happy…" Umi said.
"I am?" Kotori faked a smile.
"Yes, is something bothering you?" Umi asked.
Kotori turned her eyes away,
"No…" she said as she hid her hand and crossed her fingers.
Umi noticed it, though she let that go.
"I was just regretting something, but… it's the past… we can't change it…" Kotori said weakly.
"You can tell me if you have a problem, Kotori…" Umi said.
"No, it's fine. It's not your concern too…" Kotori said with a fake smile.
Umi sighed,
"Very well, but just so you know, I'm ready to help if there's anything you need…" Umi said.
"Thanks, Umi-chan, you're always be so reliable…" Kotori smiled faintly.
"Umi-chan! Kotori-chan!" a loud yell heard from distance, Umi rolled her eyes— even though the voice coming from another way, she kept her eyes on the side where she is currently facing.
"Look! Look! I got the chocolate!" Honoka said as she showed a board-looking chocolate warped in red with green lining and a written letter saying "Merry Christmas (' 8 ')".
"Looks good! I'm sure we can share them with everyone, even though it only worth 2000 yen…" Kotori said.
"We could've got another decent thing if you didn't break them… and more importantly, we could've saved our cash for another thing…" Umi grumbled,
"He-he, come on, Umi-chan! Please forgive me! Please don't headbutt me again!" Honoka said playfully.
Umi remained quiet,
Kotori giggled,
"There, Umi-chan…" she embraced her arm,
"It's Christmas, we should forgive everyone and be nice…" Kotori said.
Umi squints her eyes as she glares to Honoka.
"Forgive me Umi-chan! Forgive me!" Honoka said playfully.
Kotori smiled at her before Umi sighed weakly.
"Fine, don't do that again, ok?" Umi said.
"Hehe! Ok!" Honoka replied cheerfully.
Umi sighed again,
"Still, we could've returned with better stuff, now we're stuck with a bag of broken decoration and a few lame and typical Christmas decorations…." Umi said.
"I'm pretty sure Eli-chan can do something about it. She is very crafty, right?" Kotori said.
"Yeah, I hope she really can do something about it…" Umi said weakly.
Nishikino's residence kitchen, night time;
"Elichika!" a cheeky voice,
"Yes, Lilith?" Eli responded as she is currently busy frying some meats.
"I just finished with the fruits, where should I put them?" Lilith asked.
"Ah— well, Nozomi, can you go help her?" Eli asked,
"Of course!" Nozomi replied cheerfully as she left the knife on the table to help Lilith.
A tough looking hand took the knife that Nozomi used, then started to make some cuts on the meat.
"This is for steak, right?" A heavy voice,
"Yes, can you cut them into 20 pieces, Meg?" Eli asked.
"Sure…" a tall and strong looking woman with hawk-like nose replied, she tied her dark brown wavy medium length hair neatly, her deep blue eyes behind thick square glasses focused on every cut, her light skin reflected the light faintly.
"I didn't know you were here, what do you do here?" Eli asked as she placed the vegetables inside the pan.
"I mostly work at a small workshop, fixing vehicle and some other daily machine… but you know that's not what I'm actually doing…. I'm still into my previous research…" she replied.
"Still into the undead, huh?"
"Yes, I got a feeling that we will get plenty around here. Lilith told me about your discovery…"
"It's not quite a discovery, you know, I messed up on that one, could've just let him free so that you can find him…" Eli replied.
"It's no trouble for me to look for them. You only killed one of them anyway— not a big deal…"
Eli smiled,
"You're always be a reliable person… I wonder why Lilith hasn't takes a shine on you yet…" Eli said playfully.
She chuckled in respond,
"Maybe because she just not very interested on long term relationship…" she said.
Eli giggled,
"I never heard you saying anything pessimistic in a while now, Margaret Bathory…" Eli said, a little mockingly.
"Ayase Eli, not everyone can be in a beautiful relationship like you… I'm jealous, you know…" she replied.
"That's my intention… Meg…" Eli said proudly.
"Show off…" Meg replied with a faint smile.
"Come on, pull that smile a bit more, it's not going to be hurt…"
Meg smiled a little wider.
"Now that's better..." Eli giggled.
"Speaking of which, how's Arisa?" she asked.
"You will see her later. She is currently hanging out with her college friends somewhere…" Eli replied as she placed her cooking to the serving plate. Umi who has been standing somewhere behind her noticed it and she quickly pick the tray and get the plate on it before she left to the dining room.
"I see…." Meg replied, somewhat a little gloom.
"If you're going to ask, will I let you get a hand on her, it's still no. You can call me heartless or anything, but she is my sister, I'm not going to let you touch her— knowing your background…" Eli said.
Meg smirked,
"I know… you're stingy bastard…"
"It's not stingy, you ass, it's being protective… but anyway, have you visit her lately?"
"She is still peaceful, I would say, I cleaned her place a while back, had to replace a few part of her home because the stupid insects ate it…" she replied.
"Harasho, you're a good older sister… If I were you, I would just complain to her about it…" Eli said playfully.
She giggled,
"Not that I have a choice, I'm not a cruel bitch like you…" she replied with a big smile as she placed all the neatly sliced meat to the plate.
Eli giggled,
"That's the spirit, you should show more smile as everyone's big sister…" Eli said.
Meg keeps her smile as she washes the knife.
At the dining room,
"Can you reach it, Kotori-chan?" Honoka asked as she is holding Kotori's feet on her shoulder.
"Uhh… close!" Kotori said as she is trying to place the star on the top of the Christmas tree.
The chair where Honoka stand on is shaking a little— but Maki is trying her best to hold it.
"You could've just let me do it, you know. I can reach that easy…" Maki said.
"But I want to do it!" Kotori struggled.
Maki sighed, Umi walks to the table and placed the plate of food she just got from Eli. Then she turns to Kotori who's been trying to reach the top of the Christmas tree. She smiled faintly,
"Uhh… come down for now, let me just turn and carry you— I'm pretty sure my other form is a lot taller than Honoka plus the chair…" Maki said.
"I'm very close though!" Kotori said.
Maki sighed again,
"Got it!" Kotori managed to place the star on top.
"Great!" Honoka cheered— she loosen her grip on Kotori's feet.
"W-wa-wa! Honoka-chan! Don't—Aaa!" Kotori started to lost balance, she is almost falling on the Christmas tree, but then she tried to push herself to the back instead to prevent it happening,
"W-woaa! Kotori-chan!" Honoka strengthen her grip again, but it was too late that Kotori already falling to the back— which also dragging her.
Maki got the wrong reflect as she tighten her grip on the chair instead of moving her arm to catch Honoka— luckily, Umi managed to ran in and catch Kotori and Honoka— Honoka with her left arm and placed Kotori on her right shoulder with her right arm.
"There…." Umi said.
"Eh— Umi-chan…?" Kotori said in surprise, she blushed slightly.
"Ahh! Umi-chan! You always save the day!" Honoka said cheerfully.
"Be careful next time…" Umi said as she released Honoka and placed Kotori back down. Kotori paused for a moment as she stares into Umi. Then she shook her head and make up a smile.
"Thank you!" she said cutely.
Umi blushed slightly and turned away from her. She was about to say something, but before she could do it…
"Choo! Choo! Fruit salads on the way!" Cheeky voice, Lilith came into the dining room running along with a big bowl of well cuts fruits on her hands.
"Wait! Lilith! The mayonnaise!" Nozomi said as she carries a big jar of mayonnaise.
"No! I don't like mayonnaise!" Lilith said as she hugged the bowl on her arm.
"But it's not salad without the mayonnaise!"
"I'm fine with only thousand islands!" Lilith said.
Maki, Kotori, Honoka and Umi watched Nozomi and Lilith on the corner of the room,
"I won't add that before you let me add the mayonnaise!"
"Noooo!" Lilith retorted.
"Lilith doesn't like mayonnaise….huh?" Honoka said.
"I wonder why…" Maki smirked,
"Then, why don't you just place the fruit bowl along with the mayonnaise or the thousand island jar? That way, everyone can decide how much they want to add…" Kotori said.
"Ah— good idea!" Lilith said.
"Yeah— why I haven't think that before…?" Nozomi said.
The two placed the bowl and jar on the dining table immediately before they walk back to the kitchen. They embraced each other like a partner in crime.
Umi sighed,
"What a strange friendship…" Umi said.
"I know…." Maki said.
The storage room of Nishikino's residence,
Hanayo, Rin, and Niko searching through the boxes for some Christmas decoration...
"This place is awfully clean, I suppose they're cleaning up this room everyday too…" Hanayo said— she is carrying a box with only a few decent decorations in it.
"What do you expect from Maki-chan's house-nya! They maintain every single detail-nya!" Rin said.
"True…" Hanayo said.
"Hmpmh! This kind of place don't keep privacy, with a decent amount of money, even the most loyal butler can sell out his master's secret…" Niko said.
"You're just jealous-nya…" Rin said.
"N-No way! I'm fine on my own life!" Niko said.
"Niko-chan, I'm not trying to be cruel or anything, but I don't think you're enjoying your life. You still have a lot of debt with you, right?" Hanayo said.
"I'm going to get that off me… really…" Niko said.
"I know you just don't want to burden your mother, but I think if you really need her financial help… you can always ask her…" Hanayo said.
"Y-yeah… thanks…" Niko replied with a faint smile as she placed a few more decorations in Hanayo's box.
Rin and Hanayo smiled faintly as they turn to look at each other,
"Have you visit your father this Christmas, nya?" Rin asked.
"I did, cleaned up the snows on his house… not to forget to clean the wall of his house too… I think mother has done it a while back before me…" Niko said.
"That's good-nya…" Rin said.
"Yeah…" Niko replied.
"Anyway, I wonder if you should return now, I think the roasted turkey should be done by now…" Hanayo said.
"Oh! Right! Thanks for reminding, I doubt Eli have time to care about that one…" Niko said before she quickly ran out from the storage room.
Hanayo sighed weakly.
"Sometime I wonder which one is sadder, talking about someone like they're still living, or to forget someone completely like they never existed…" she said.
"I'm not sure either-nya… but I guess it depend on how they take it?" Rin said.
"I'm very sure that's the case…" Hanayo said.
Rin smiled wryly,
"Sometime I wish to have a power to prevent death— to support and to heal someone magically…" Hanayo said.
Rin giggled,
"Like the one in game-nya?"
"Pretty much!" Hanayo said cheerfully.
"Hehe, I'm sure it will be fun-nya!" Rin said.
"We should go back too, I think Kotori-chan and Honoka-chan should be done with the tree by now…" Hanayo said.
"Ok-nya! Let's go, Kayo-chin!" Rin said cheerfully.
A few hours later,
The Christmas party gone well, everyone were able to enjoy the food despite some food are just inedible for some— just like the dessert they currently have right now,
"Ahhh! Who puts the caramel syrup in this?!" Nozomi complained.
"Sorry! I didn't know!" Lilith said.
"I should've added the mayonnaise!" Nozomi said.
"Forgive me! I really didn't know you don't like it!" Lilith said,
"There, Nozomi, I'll help you eating that one, is that good?" Eli said.
"Ah! N…Not here! That's embarrassing, Ericchi! What would people say about it…" Nozomi blushed,
"Huh? You don't need to act like you have shame, Nozomi…" Niko said.
"What are you talking about? I always have shame!" Nozomi said shyly as she snuggles on Eli's shoulder,
Niko smirked,
"Totally fake and gay…" Niko said.
"There! Nikocchi! Do you miss my power already?!" Nozomi said.
"What? You don't have shame for stating that one?" Niko complained.
"I sure don't!" Nozomi said proudly.
Everyone started to giggles,
"This is a fun party, Onee-san…" Arisa complimented.
"Say thanks to Maki for inviting you…" Eli said.
"Eh? You should just say thanks to everyone, they let you be here…" Maki said.
"Hehe- yup! I always got left out because µ's feels like an exclusive group or something… I'm jealous, Onee-san!" Arisa said.
"We could've just go with our previous group, Arisa, even though we're not as successful as µ's…" Yukiho said.
"Our group is lame, they just strive to be idols but refuse to work hard for it… they're so not idol-like!" Arisa pouts,
"We still managed to make something before our graduation though…" Yukiho said with a faint smile.
"Speaking of which! Why don't we go somewhere special this new year? Just nine of us?" Honoka asked.
Maki, Hanayo, Rin, and Niko smirked,
"H-Honoka-chan! You're heartless-nya! We do plan that but we were planning to say that privately later-nya!" Rin said.
"H-hey! Rin! You said it here though!" Maki said.
"And you confirmed that!" Niko said.
"W-what are you talking about? Ahaha… w-we don't plan anything!" Hanayo said awkwardly.
"What a terrible acting… your friends are weird…" Lilith said as she lean to Nozomi.
Nozomi only giggled to it.
"It's not like we mind if you all go somewhere, just nine of you… we can always do something else…" Arisa said.
"Yeah, besides, I will have to take care of shop if you're off somewhere, onee-chan…" Yukiho said.
"Ah— Arisa, you'll be alone if Eli gone somewhere, right?" Meg said.
"N-No…. Not really, I'll be staying at friend's house at new year…" Arisa said.
"Oh… that's too bad…" Meg said.
Lilith chuckled,
"Meg, I hope you're not trying to plan anything mischievous…" Eli said.
"Meg? Mischievous plan? That just two things that will never go together… she never have any mischievous side, so boring and dull— too honest to do anything fun!" Lilith said.
Meg remained quiet as she fixed her glasses,
"That's not nice…" Kotori whispered,
"She would rather just do nothing than to do something to get what she can't get. She is that passive…" Lilith said.
"I wonder why are you even inviting me if you're just going to humiliate me in front of everyone…" Meg said.
"Just take that as compliment, Meg… you know human appreciate honesty too…" Eli said. Meg nodded,
"Well, then, thank you…" Meg said politely.
"You should, beside, my reason was because you said you want to meet Arisa, right? So there you go…" Lilith said proudly.
Meg smiled faintly,
"I would appreciate it if you didn't say that…" Meg said.
Arisa smiled awkwardly,
"A-Anyway! Onee-san, what are you going to do with all the broken decorations Honoka-nee-san brought?" Arisa asked.
"Ah? That? Well.. I can simply turn them with magic, but I prefer to actually make it manually. I'm planning to melt them and remake them into something worth 150.000 yen or more…" Eli said.
"That's cool!" Honoka said.
"Onee-chan! Feel bad a little, it is all because of you!" Yukiho said.
"Eh? But… Eli-chan's work probably turns out better than those overpriced decorations…" Honoka said.
"Still, you should listen to your sister— she is right about you should feel bad about it!" Umi said.
"Uh, but I think Honoka-chan is right, it's rare to get something expensive crafted by Eli-chan… Only Nozomi-chan gets something like that…" Kotori said.
"See?" Honoka said.
"Kotori! Don't please her!" Umi said clearly.
"Ehh!?"
"Anyway, are you going to mail them or just manually deliver it?" Maki asked.
"I'll just call you when I'm done, after all, it's going to be for you since you're the one who spends…"
"Ahaha, don't be, I don't mind to share— really…" Maki said.
"Ahh! That's nice of you-nya! Eli-chan! I want a cat made of glass!" Rin said.
"A request already?!" Eli said.
"Ah! Ah! I want a fluffy looking sheep!" Kotori said.
"I want a majestic deer!" Hanayo said.
"C-can you make a cool panther?!" Maki said.
"Hey-hey! Wait there!" Eli protested.
They started to barrage Eli with their request details. Nozomi giggled to her before she turned her sight to Niko. She noticed that Niko looks somewhat a little sleepy— or maybe weakening. She also noticed that Meg has been paying attention to Niko's behavior, Lilith did the same too.
Nozomi knows there's something wrong with her, her skin is getting a lot paler than before, even more pale than Eli's white skin. It feels like she is sick and dying. She started to wonder if it's really fine to let her go with her excuses. Niko said she might just be tired from the past few days of sleeping on the couch of Hanayo's house.
Ever since her apartment ruined, she decided to stay in Hanayo's house— even though Maki offered her a room in her house, she said she prefer to stay in Hanayo's house since it's a lot closer to her work-place and the amount of information Hanayo gathered in her house interest her more than the luxury room that Maki have— which obviously just an excuse to refuse Maki's offer.
Nozomi sighed weakly before she turns back to see Eli who gets overwhelmed by requests.
Ayase's residence, midnight;
Eli, Nozomi, and Arisa just returned to their home. They all placed their shoes on the proper rack. Arisa went off first to place the empty cake tray to the kitchen, then Nozomi waited for Eli to lock the door as she began a conversation,
"I'm still not sure about what happen to Nikocchi, but I think it's not just a simple sickness. I think your other cousin, Margaret, think the same with me…" Nozomi said.
"Is she? I'm surprised you can read her mind, she rarely shows any expression…" Eli said.
"Well, I'm just guessing since she does look very serious when staring at Nikochi before…" Nozomi said.
"Oh? Well… she is always serious… she has got through a lot of things, you know…" Eli replied.
"Tell me more about it…" Nozomi said.
"She was the funniest person back then…" Eli replied.
"Do you always hang out with her before?" Nozomi asked.
"Seven of us, yes, we always did…There is me and Arisa, Lilith and her twin sister named Eve, Meg and her younger sister named Alizee, then also George…" Eli said.
"Seven? Wow… I always thought Ericchi was a lonely little kid..." Nozomi said.
Eli chuckled as they started to walk to the bedroom— carrying the box that filled with broken decorations on her arm.
"I wasn't that awkward with my kind, thank you…" Eli said.
Nozomi giggled,
"The existence of our group was very well respected too back then. Lilith was the one who came out with a name for us. We called ourselves The Seven Sins and using the name of sins as code name. It's silly since by the time I came to this world, I started to feel like our group are just like some kind of kids show superheroes or something. But it was fun so I can't complain…" Eli continued.
"Did you all disbanded or something? Never saw you with them before..." Nozomi asked.
"Meg lost her sister in an accident. It was also caused by our recklessness… and of course, the pride of her little sister…" Eli sighed,
"She was called as The Envy… because that is what she is. She is always jealous of Meg…" Eli continued.
"What about you and the others?" Nozomi asked.
"They called me as The Pride, Arisa was The Greed because she often collects random things back then, Lilith was The Lust while her twin sister is The Gluttony, Meg was The Wrath, even though her angry act was terrible and yet funny, George was The Sloth because he is barely doing anything in the group, just a boaster..." Eli explained as she placed her box on her desk.
"Ah— Ericchi called as The Pride, I like how you're in fact full of pride. Hmmm… I wonder who aren't proud of being someone as perfect as you…" Nozomi said playfully.
Eli giggled,
"Anyway, so we decided to split from each other because of it. Lilith refuses to add another person to replace Meg's little sister, you know how it is… we never want to make another group with each other again in order to respect what Meg lost…"
Eli sighed,
"She just can't be cheered up easily too… never see her actually happy lately… maybe just for a second or so…" Eli said with a wry smile.
"So she is like a tragic clown….?" Nozomi asked as she sat on the bed.
"Tragic clown…. hmm… I wonder how you're coming up with that name, but yes, she is no longer funny… but I think what makes her more miserable isn't the fact that she can't move on from her sister's death, it's the fact that despite her charm, she couldn't have anyone she likes to have a relationship with her. She has been chasing Lilith, but she rejects her because she doesn't want a long term relationship. She used to be after Arisa, but Arisa also refuses, she said she doesn't want to be in any kind of relationship…" Eli said.
"What about Ericchi?" Nozomi asked,
"Uhm… no, she isn't my type… I'm not her type too…"
Nozomi giggled,
"I'm glad… that way, I know Ericchi won't go anywhere from me…" she said cheerfully.
"I'm not going anywhere, silly, you're already perfect for me… I don't need a better one— not that I'll find anyone better too." Eli said playfully as she approached Nozomi and pushed her down to bed.
"Tell me though, Ericchi, what's her occupation here?" Nozomi asked.
"She said she is an engineer. She took interest on human technologies. It's kind of strange for me because she was so into the undead before. She researches a lot about Vampires, Zombies and Ghouls…" Eli said.
"I see. Do you think her appearance around us here related to what we found before?" Nozomi asked.
"Hmm… No, like I said before, she was already here long ago before me. She is a lot older than me— truth to be told, Lilith is already older than me too… maybe the only relation is where Lilith called her to me so that we can talk about us discovered a vampire among the living around us."
"I see… so it may not be related…." Nozomi began to think.
Eli smiled faintly to her,
"Now-now, Nozomi, we should get some rest. I believe we will need a lot of energy to prepare for our trip in a few more days…" Eli said.
"Ah! Yeah! I want to go to Maki-chan's vacation home on the mountain again! How Nostalgic!" Nozomi said cheerfully as she hugged Eli.
"Harasho, maybe we should bring something fun as well. It's a fun trip, right?"
"Yes! We should bring fireworks! Cards! Monopoly! Vibrator!"
"Wh-what!? No! You don't bring Vibrator in that kind of trip!"
"But… what about sex? We're adult, Ericchi, we need sex!"
"No! You don't need to bring that! What would everyone's say if they find that?"
"Hmm… let's leave them alone?"
"Nozomi! Still no! I'll just put you in dream world, ok? Less vulgar!"
"Oh! Right! I totally forgot you have that! Uhh… Hmm…. I need to prepare for script! Oh wait I did wrote one…. I'm going to review it…." Nozomi quickly shoved Eli to the side and went to her new desk to look for it.
Eli sighed,
She still addicted, huh?
Eli said in her mind.
But I have to say it is somewhat still addictive— even for me…
Nishikino's residence, midnight;
The maids are close to be finished with everything around the house, Rin, Hanayo, and Niko sitting on the couch as Maki commanding the maids on their works.
"Maki-chan surely is still a kind person until now-nya..." Rin said as she watches how Gentle Maki is when commanding her maids around.
"Hehe, isn't that nice though?" Hanayo said.
"Yup!"
"Hmpmh! An ex-idol has to keep their charms! It's just something common, really!" Niko said.
"Speaking of something uncommon, getting all paler and weaker for a few days isn't something common…." A heavy voice,
"Waaa!" Hanayo, Rin and Niko surprised. They turned around to see Meg already standing behind them.
"Wh-why are you sneaking up on us?!" Niko yelled.
"I didn't even try to…. You all just never see me here…" Meg replied as she fixed her glasses,
"I thought you left with Lilith-chan, nya…" Rin said.
"No, we're not living together, there's no point of returning together…" Meg replied.
"W-why are you still here though…?" Hanayo asked.
"I'm interested on someone specific…" she replied as she looks into Niko.
"W-wh-whoaa?! That's bold-nya! M-Maki-chaaaan!" Rin shouted.
Maki turned to them,
"What?" she responded,
"Meg-chan is interested on Niko-chan-nya!"
"W-what?! H-hey! Why are you interested on her? There's nothing to look on her… she is poor and in debt…" Maki said.
"The heck? Way to describe me, you jerk!" Niko said.
"I'm not saying romantically…. I'm just interested to examine her…" Meg said.
Maki remained quiet for a moment,
"No, please go home and don't touch any of my friends…" Maki said as she gestured her to the door.
"Very well…" Meg nodded before she walks to the door.
"Thank you for the kind treats. Merry Christmas…" Meg said before she left.
"Merry Christmas…" Maki replied.
The room is awfully quiet. The maids started to leave the room as they finished with moving around the furniture and the cleaning. Hanayo and Rin turned to Niko, they're considering the talk that Meg said. They already noticed the change before, but never really talk about it since Niko always refuse to talk about it.
Maki sighed heavily,
"Niko, I'm going to ask you once again… are you sick?" Maki asked.
"No, I'm not! I'm perfectly fine! Just tired!" Niko said.
"Are you sure?" Maki asked.
"I really am!" Niko stood up,
"Look I still can jump around!" Niko said again as she jump around,
"And look I'm still fit! Niko-Niko-Niii!" Niko danced,
Maki smirked before she sighed weakly,
"Maybe all of you should stay here for tonight…" Maki said.
"Yeah, let's just do that-nya…" Rin said.
"W-what? Can we just stay over later? I still have to—…" and before Niko managed to finish her words, she suddenly fell down.
"Niko!" Maki quickly caught her,
"N-Niko-chan!" Hanayo and Rin began to panic.
Maki noticed a bite marking on Niko's neck— it somewhat looks strange for her as the size was so small and almost looks like mosquito's bite.
"Hurry! Call Eli!" Maki said.
"R-Roger-nya!" Rin quickly grabs her phone and dialed Eli's number.
Outside the Nishikino's residence,
Meg standing in front of the house, sighed heavily as she could hear the panic Rin trying to talk in her phone.
"Everyone's big sister…. Huh?" she mumbled.
"You're just mocking my failure…. Eli…. I bet you must be proud of yourself now…" she continued as she turns around and left the area into the dark shadow.
Somewhere far behind a tree, Lilith watched Meg leaving the area. She also sighed heavily before she said,
"…and you're still angry to yourself about your own failure…"
She smiled faintly.
"…I hope you're not taking your sister's sin into your heart as well…"
she spread her wings.
"It's the deadliest sins... you know, even an angel has fallen because of it..."
She said before she flew away to the dark sky.
There~
So yeah, you know what's happening...
and I hope you don't mind with the thickness of hint here. But you can always imagine things yourself~