Title: A Part of Two Worlds
Author: Phoenix, Shadow
Beta: Shadow
Chapter: Understanding
Rating: K+
Warnings: mentions of blood, vampires
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, we don't own it. Character cameos appear at the bottom.
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Sakura woke the next morning just as the rays of pale dawn light trickled in through her bedroom window. She dressed quickly, and headed down to the kitchen. Mercury was sitting at the kitchen table eating leftover garlic pizza.
"Morning Sakura."
"Morning." Sakura replied making herself a piece of toast topped with St. Mildred's Cherry Jam.
"Anyway, the museum field trip is today, so Artemis and I should be coming home a little late. We won't stop in the park if twilight sets in before we get home Mercury," Sakura said noticing the concern in her brother's eyes. Sakura couldn't blame him for worrying though, especially not after the events of the previous night.
"Just be careful." Mercury called as Sakura finished her toast, grabbed her bag, and left the house to catch the bus to school. An uneventful bus ride later, Sakura was walking into her high school to meet up with her home court, and museum group.
The moment Sakura entered room 202; a teen who could have been her twin if it weren't for the olive green eyes looked up from her sketchbook.
"Morning Artemis," Sakura said plunking down her stuff and sitting on the table.
"Hey," Artemis replied.
At that moment the bell sounded over the intercom, and a few seconds later several straggling students came into the room.
The intercom crackled and a female voice spoke. "Attention students and teachers, we will dismiss to get on the train by floor. At this time I would like to dismiss the first and second floors."
"Finally," Artemis muttered to Sakura as the two gathered their bags. "For once they dismiss us first."
"I know, it feels like they always dismiss the sixth floor first." Sakura replied as the two followed the rest of the first two floors out of the school and down to the subway. Artemis and Sakura continued to talk as the rest of the school joined them on the platform, and then during the train ride and walk to the museum.
"I wonder what exhibit we're going to see this time."
"I don't know, but I hope it's better than what we had to see for theater."
"You mean the live action movie about the traveler and her talking motorcycle?"
"Yes, that movie is the proof of why anime should not be translated to reality unless it is being done by obsessive fans."
"You being one of them."
At this point one of the main chaperones of the group came over.
"Mr. Valentine your group can go in now."
The group of teens entered the exhibit entitled "Creatures of the Night: the Mythos of Vampires." Sakura tensed when she saw the title of the exhibit, but followed her group in anyway.
The first room of the exhibit had a clip from "Nosferatu" playing. Some of the students stopped to watch the classic silent film, but Sakura and Artemis headed on. The next room held a few large dioramas. Each one depicted a different aspect of vampire folklore.
One of the dioramas showed a vampire emerging from its coffin, bedecked in traditional Draculayan garb. Another diagram showed a fight between a vampire slayer (presumably one from the Van Helsing family) and several slavering, blood-coated vampires.
A case along one wall showed several common weapons against vampires. There were strings of garlic cloves, sprigs of garlic flowers, a large silver cross and a cheesy picture of the sun.
The third and final room held a summary of the identifying features of a vampire, including the deathly pallor, red irises and elongated canines. A smaller poster off to the side held something that interested Sakura very much.
Human-Vampire Cross Breeds:
One of the rarest species in the vampire clan, "diurnalunas" have the appearance of a human, except for the eyes and teeth, but grow into their abilities, reaching their full potential at age 21. The name "Diurnaluna" comes from the words "Diurnal" meaning active during the day and "luna" meaning moon.
This species is active during the day as well as the early hours of the evening, but must sleep for a few hours each day. The weakness of this species lies in pure moonlight.
"Sakura, is anything bothering you? You haven't been your normal self since we entered this exhibit." Sakura turned. Artemis had appeared beside her, and was now reading the poster.
"Yeah, I'm fine, it's just instinct"
"I thought so," Artemis said softly.
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Character Cameos:
Sakura- Kino from Kino no Tabi (Keiichi Sigsawa)
Mercury- Hermes from Kino no Tabi (Keiichi Sigsawa)
Artemis- Ryuu (Phoenix)
Mr. Valentine- Vincent Valentine from Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix)
Phoenix: Yay, Artemis has arrived!!
Kino: *glances at most recent chapter* Phoenix, quit complaining about school in writing.
Phoenix: Oh, not like you don't do it Kino, you grumble about it in a later chapter.
Hermes: *walks into room* Nice job adding the Diurnaluna description, except you didn't mention that boys mature earlier than girls, and that they look younger.
Phoenix: Sorry, but I didn't think of that until after I wrote it, besides its not essential information for the story.
Hermes: Anyway R&R everyone...