"Where were you yesterday, Kasumi-chan?" Naoko-chan asks me when I first see her the next morning.

"I felt sick, so I stayed home," I say.

"You look fine to me," Naoko-chan leans side to side as if to get a better view of me.

"It was worse yesterday, trust me," I reply. "One of those day-flu cases."

"Well, if you start to feel sick again, make sure to go home. We can't have the Mori no Otome too weak to act," Naoko-chan smiles.

I nod. I still felt bad about leaving her in the dark about my becoming a vampire. What if I try to attack her like I attacked Sae-chan? Sae-chan knew of the transformation, so she understood. I'm not sure Naoko-chan would see it the same way. Although the pros were higher than the cons, I didn't know how to tell her. She deserved to know, but now was not the time.

"Satoshi-kun wasn't in school yesterday either," Naoko-chan says, mostly to herself. "I wonder if he fell ill too?"

I force a laugh. "I wouldn't know. I was in bed for most of the day."

We meet up with Sae-chan in homeroom and Naoko-chan told her of my flu. Sae-chan looked at me when Naoko-chan's back was turned and winked. After that, she kept on trying to hand me barf bags and cough drops. I knew she was simply playing along, but by lunchtime, all I could taste was artificial cherry and menthol.

Naoko-chan was to make up a test during the lunch hour, so Sae-chan and I went down to our usual Sakura Tree without her. I open my lunch and find my usual chanpon and the unexpected burlap sack with the pills Satoshi had given me. I did not remember putting those in there. Not at all! I open the bag and take one out. I didn't black out this morning. Or did I?

Sae-chan leans over. "Ooh! That looks good. You make the best noodles. What's that thing? A chocolate covered cherry? You don't see those around here often!"

"It's not," I say.

"Can I try one?"

"No!"

Sae-chan eyes me funny.

"I mean, you wouldn't like them. Very bitter."

Sae-chan narrows her eyes mockingly. "Will it kill me?"

"No, but," I stutter.

"Here," Sae-chan says as she grabs the pill out of my hands. "I'll see for myself."

"Wait!"

Sae-chan had already tossed it into her mouth and began to chew. Her face screwed up and she looked rather confused. It took a while for her to swallow, and even then she had to use her tongue to get some of the pill out of the crevasses of her teeth. When she opened her mouth, I could see her tongue was dyed a deep burgundy.

"That has to be the most sour cherry I have ever ate," Sae-chan says, laughing at the end.

I fake a laugh. "Sakuranbo ja nai."

"Eh?" Sae-chan raises an eyebrow.

"Satoshi-kun gave me those," I explain. "To help with my spells. I didn't know I had packed them in my lunch. Talk about weird…"

"Do I want to ask what's in them?"

"I only know of one ingredient. And it's not going to kill you," I say. "It wouldn't have been the first time you tasted it."

"I have a pretty good guess right now," Sae-chan fishes within her mouth with her tongue for any remaining pieces.

"You're probably right too," I reply.

"Well, uh," Sae-chan pauses. "Wow, this is really happening, isn't it?"

I nod.

"I was really hoping that Satoshi-kun was just pulling your leg," Sae-chan says, poking at the baby takoyaki in her lunch.

"I was too," I reply. "You'll…still be my friend, won't you? Once I'm…different?"

Sae-chan looks me straight in the eye and gives me her best smile. "Of course, Kasumi-chan, don't doubt that."

"Arigatou!" I smile back. "However, I'm a little worried about how I should tell Naoko-chan."

Sae-chan's expression drops. "Wasureru."

I sigh. "I'm sort of afraid to let her know, Sae-chan."

"Understandable," Sae-chan nods. "Christmas break is coming up, maybe we can find some time to sit her down and explain it then. You know Naoko-chan and her coffee. We can probably get her attention that way."

We shake on it and go back to our lunches. Of course, I secured the pills safely in my pocket.

Two weeks passed without a single spell. I didn't feel any different now than I did a few months ago. It was as if I weren't supposed to change, like it were one giant menstrual cycle from hell. As odd as that might sound, it's the truth! I've never felt better! Then again, isn't that like all horrible endings? Just before someone dies, they usually have a sudden perk where they look completely fine. I hope that's not the same with me.

It was the rehearsal before Christmas break. The whole cast and crew were crowded into the auditorium running what was completed of the play. I only had a couple of lines, since the beginning was all villagers. Satoshi looked miserable. He read his lines with enough emotion to make you think he wished to die. No pleading tone what-so-ever. Feeling some-what sorry for him, I lean back in my chair and look over the part I had to read later on.

"This is turning out great, isn't it?" Sae-chan whispers from the chair next to me.

"Sure."

"I mean, the cast could have a little more excitement in their voices," Sae-chan suggests. "And the lighting crew could put the spotlight on the right person for once in their career."

"What do you expect from this school?" I ask with a small laugh.

"Too much?" Sae-chan guesses.

"You have decent anticipation, but Noriko-chan is pushing it a bit," I point to Noriko-chan, who was waving her arms over her head rabidly.

Sae-chan giggles. "So, talk to Satoshi-kun recently?"

"He really liked my mother's Melon Barley tea before, so I made him another batch and dropped it off yesterday," I say.

"That's sweet," Sae-chan nods. "No changes yet?"

"None! I want to be prepared for it, but I don't know how I could be if there are no warnings."

"I'm sorry, Kasumi-chan," Sae-chan pats my shoulder. "When you're ready, I'll be there holding out a cat for you." She snickers.

"I somehow resent that."

"Gomen," Sae-chan bows her head. "Damaru koto."

"No, no, no! Cut! Cut!" Noriko-chan shouts at the top of her lungs.

Everyone stops saying their lines and stares at her, bewildered.

"This isn't going very good, wouldn't you agree?" She continues, but doesn't wait for their answer. "I know you guys are trying, but to tell you the truth, your pretending skills suck! I'm getting the feeling that all of you rather be under the wheel than be here. Satoshi-kun, even though this is your first acting experience, could you try a little harder? The character's name isn't Toushi for nothing!"

Satoshi nods his head and pushes his sunglasses higher on his nose.

"Noriko-san," one of the villagers pipes up. "Can we have a break for once?"

"Your part is almost finished," Noriko-chan says. "The next couple of scenes are with Toushi and Mori no Otome. Wait, let's just skip to that right now."

"Korosu," I mutter to myself. The ones sitting near me that could hear chuckle under their breath.

"Kasumi-chan, would you please get on the stage with Satoshi-kun?" Noriko-chan asks.

"Coming," I slowly get up from my chair and walk the steps to the stage.

"Start at scene eighteen, where you two are already introduced and talking," Noriko-chan instructs and takes a seat in her director's chair.

I clear my throat. "You have wasted your time."

"I'm not leaving until I get a better answer than that," Satoshi reads. "My home is in ruins as well as my neighbor's. The fields are either flooding or drying up. The food we have managed to save as a village is slowly dissipating. We have done nothing to deserve this."

"If you wish to have your fields restored, simply stop using my forest for its wood. You take their life, I take yours."

"You compare human life to that of plants?"

"They breath and eat, sleep and work, like any human. Why shouldn't they be treated the same way?"

Satoshi pauses as directed in the script.

I walk over to him and lift one of his hands in mine. "The hands of a worker, indeed. Callused from the plow and smudged from dirt."

"I've been working harder every day to get my home back to normal."

"How good of you. It builds muscle, no doubt. Nice strong shoulders and a sturdy back."

"What do you know of labor?" Satoshi asks.

"I make sure this forest stays alive. I supposed I am its mother. A mother protecting her child."

"By slowly killing an entire village with famine?"

"One does what she can, so her child may live." I reply and pause to check my lines. "What will you do for yours?"

"Cut!" Noriko-chan blows the whistle around her neck. "Great! That'll be all for today. Thank you for your work. You are dismissed."

I sigh deeply and hop off the stage to meet with Sae-chan.

"It's finally Christmas break," She smiles. "I can't wait to go window shopping."

"I'll go with you."

"Your parents are coming home for the holidays, right?" Sae-chan asks.

"They said they would in their last letter, but who knows where they are now. The postcard was from the Virgin Islands and it came a month ago," I reply.

"Are you still going to get them a gift?"

"I should, but I don't want them to get here in February to open it," I sigh.

"If I may suggest something," Sae-chan grins. "get a gift for Satoshi-kun."

"But what?"

"How would I know? You know him better than I do," Sae-chan replies.

"We'll see," I shrug my shoulders.

Sae-chan and I leave the auditorium and start to head home with our shoes crunching the thin layer of snow already covering the pavement. The sky was a murky gray, signaling the promise of a small flurry later in the evening. The clouds swirled and sent a small breeze past us. It was a typical mid-December day with the guarantee that tomorrow would most likely be the same dreary mess.

The days seemed to last forever ever since that fateful night in Yousei Cemetery when Hanako tried to drain me dry. Nothing went right and I was always anxious; looking over my shoulder, as if something were going to strike at any moment. I feel like I can't do anything like a normal person, I have to try and hide something. How long will this drag on until I can say I'm a full vampire instead of straddling the fence for this fake eternity?

"Are you okay, Kasumi-chan?"

I blink a couple of times. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Good," Sae-chan places a hand on her heart. "I was worried you were having another spell. You had a very blank expression."

"I was thinking, that's all," I reply. "Mostly about…that."

"Could it be normal for the spells to stop like this?" Sae-chan asks. "I would go and have a talk with Satoshi-kun if I were you."

"Yeah," I nod. "I might do that."

We part at her house and I head to the cemetery, hoping that Satoshi would be there. Where else would he be? Being the anti-social person he is, why not stay home alone? I enter the gate soon and close it behind me, always looking left and right before walking up the stone path. With the headstones sticking out of the little snow there was, it appeared to be that they covered more than just a patch of ground. It made me realize that each gravestone stood for a head. I felt completely surrounded. Almost hopeless with sorrow and fear.

I walk faster towards the shrine.

Standing by the door, I lean in to hear if he was inside. The shuffle of feet across the wood floor, tiny squeaks, and Satoshi mumbling to himself. I lift an eyebrow in confusion and knock softly.

"Satoshi-kun?"

"Oh, Kasumi-san?" I hear him say from inside.

"Sumimasen, kudasai," I reply. "I should have told you I was coming over, but it was truly a spur of the moment."

A thud issues. "Come on in."

I slide open the door and see Satoshi kneeling on the ground, both his hands pressing something hard to the floor. A tiny tail squirmed itself free from under his grip. A fat rat was trapped under Satoshi's palms. I just look at it strangely. Satoshi had a look on his face as if this were nothing new.

He looks up at me for a moment. "Care to join me?"

"Join you?"

"I was feeling a bit hungry when I noticed this lovely, plump guy in the corner. Would you mind grabbing a couple of glasses from the cupboard over there?" Satoshi jerks his head toward an old cabinet.

Without asking why, I grab the cups and set them down on the little table.

"You put up a good fight," Satoshi says as he lifts the rat up from the floor, never loosening his grip.

Satoshi grins and quickly sinks his teeth into the creature's tiny neck. The rat squeals and kicks its fat legs, tail wriggling. With a bit of oozing and dribbling from Satoshi's lips, the rat goes limp. Satoshi opens his jaw wide and his teeth let go of the his prey. He smiles in a slight satisfaction and licks the tiny bit of blood, that stained his lips, off.

He holds the rat out with both hands, one at the bottom, one at the head. Pulling the head up, the blood dripped freely into one of the glasses. After it was half full, Satoshi moves it over to the second cup, letting the rest of the rat's life-source drain. The rat gets flung across the room after its job was done.

"Don't want any of its flesh to drop in by mistake," Satoshi says.

I could only stare at the cups.

Satoshi lifts his glass. "Better get it down before it gets cold. It's the best when it's warm, trust me."

I take my glass and raise it as well. "I'm really going to drink this?"

"It's up to you," Satoshi says. "I only thought you'd want to get use to the flavor of rat's blood, since it's the easiest to catch. If it'll make it less painful for you, I propose a toast."

"Okay."

"To us, the vampires of the new generation," Satoshi recites.

"I'm not a full vampire yet, though," I mutter.

Satoshi clears his throat. "Okay. To us, and our odd friendship. May it last."

"Cheers."

Our glasses clink together and we hastily put them to our lips and drink.

It was thick and vulgar. Watery, yet substantial. I let the viscous liquid fill the corners of my mouth and dance with the taste buds on my tongue. Making sure my brain would remember this taste. Acquire the taste. The lukewarm consistency irked my stomach and I could feel it squirm in displeasure. Nevertheless, I swallowed each mouthful as it came, even through the miniscule chunks, until the glass was empty.

I hadn't realized that I was squinting. I open my eyes and see the Satoshi was already finished with his as well. He was rubbing his finger on the inside of his cup and licking the excess blood off that he had missed.

"Well?" He asks.

"Reminded me of a malt left out in the sun for too long," I reply.

"Chocolate or Vanilla?"

I lift my eyebrow again, not expecting that question. "Vanilla."

Satoshi shudders a bit. "Tasted that bad, huh?"

"I suppose I could get used to it," I say.

"Anyways," Satoshi puts his hands together and bows his head. "Gokurosama!"

"Gokurosama," I imitate.

"So," Satoshi leans back with his hands behind him for balance. "What brings you here today?"

"Two things."

"One at a time," Satoshi says. "I find it a tad harder to think on a full stomach."

I couldn't help but laugh a bit. Satoshi was finally opening up to me. "First, I'm starting to get worried that I haven't had any fits lately."

"Fits?"

"You know, spells, phases," I clarify. "My transformation appears to have come to a standstill."

"Oh," Satoshi bits his bottom lip. "It's different for every person,…"

"Or, maybe that one fit was the last one and I'm not supposed to change over," I suggest with an air of hope in my voice. "It could be completely out of my system now."

"No," Satoshi bursts out after I finish.

"It's set in stone?"

"Not necessarily, but," Satoshi stumbles, "…you really don't want to be a vampire, do you?"

I understood where he was going with this now. However, I didn't know what to tell him. Becoming a vampire wasn't every girl's dream. It's not that Satoshi isn't important to me. He's part of me now. I couldn't imagine him not being there. If I'm correct, he believes the only way to keep me in his life is to be a vampire, like him. The thought made me happy, on the other hand, the rest consisted of despondency.

I lean a bit over the table a ways. "Second question?"

Satoshi looks away for a moment. "Ask."

"If someone were to get you a Christmas present, what would you want?"

He looks at me for a while, then at the floor, probably thinking. "Anything?"
"Well, within typical high school budget," I chuckle. Satoshi doesn't laugh. "Okay,…I take that back. Wasn't funny. Anything!"

Satoshi sighs. "Stay?"

It took a while for his reply to click in my mind. My cheeks felt flushed and I didn't know what to say back to him. Arms starting to feel slightly numb, I manage to give him a smile.

"Negai o imasu," I say.

I stay at the shrine for a while longer, playing a few games of Shoji with Satoshi. I actually managed to beat him twice. Even though it was out of five games, I was impressed with myself. Right when I was ready to leave, Satoshi asks me a question.

"You haven't bitten into anything yet, have you?"

I had to think for a moment about what he meant. "No."

"You'll need practice," Satoshi says mostly to himself. "I'm not sure how you'll get it, but you need to know where to bite down."

A slight sick feeling arose in my gut. "I hope I'll just figure it out on my own when the time comes."

He simply looks at me. Examining, almost. Made me nervous.

"What does it feel like?" I ask.

Satoshi shrugs. "It's an experience one can't explain. It's like asking a fish what it's like to breath water."

"Do you enjoy doing it, Satoshi-kun?"

He pauses. "Does a bird enjoy flight? It may seem heartless to you right know, but the truth is, one must do what they must to survive."

"Wakaru," I nod and open the door to leave.

"Itarashai," Satoshi waves.
"Oyasumi nasai."

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Japanese Romanji Translations

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Sakuranbo ja nai - That's not a(n) [edible] cherry

Arigatou - Thank you

Wasureru - (I) Forgot

Gomen - Sorry

Damaru koto - literally means 'to become quiet' but I like to think it means 'shutting up'

Toushi - The name literally means 'Fighter'. So Noriko-chan just wanted him to seem more like a fighter

Korosu - literally means 'to kill', but in this situation it means something along the lines of 'kill me now'

Sumimasen kudasai - please excuse me

Gokurosama - typically said after a meal as a thank you. Sort of like 'thanks for the grub!'

Negai o imasu - (I'm actually not 100% positive this is accurate, but it's pretty close if it's not right) As you wish

Wakaru - I understand/ Understood

Itarashai - Take Care/ Be safe (said when someone is leaving, most the time)

Oyasumi nasai - Good Night