A cool morning after a heavy rain, with a slight haze in the air, thicker towards the ground: that was my vision. My body felt cold, yet my chest burned hot. A pleasant sensation. My mouth itched insanely, like an allergen was in the air, a harsh sting in my gums. Such an intense thirst rose from my throat; I wanted water.
People…people were screaming. Some familiar, most not, but none of the words were audible to me. Everything was slurred together, like ancient Sanskrit. A slow drone hummed in my ear, endlessly, humming as if it were working a machine. The pitch waned up and down; minor to major, leading me in some foreign dance. My feet floated to the music until a cold breeze brushed my face. I was outside.
The cold helped to awaken my senses. Sight hesitantly returned, becoming a scope. Everything far away stood out so sharp, but if I concentrated, objects right in front of my face proved sharper. A perfect yet perplexing 20/20 vision.
The humming picked up again in my ears, strengthening my perception. An odd aroma entered my nose, sweet and pungent. My innards suddenly felt hallow, craving this smell and somehow knowing it was all I lived for. My feet responded rapidly, carrying me out the school gates and down the avenue. The brilliant ability of my new eyes picked up on my target a good distance away.
However, he remained still, as if waiting for me. The delicious smell I longed for mixed in with a morbid stench that made my nostrils curl. I slowed my steps as I reached him, weakness beginning to absorb my legs. I needed this fragrance; this special perfume I suddenly realized was life.
"Kasumi? You look horrible," Ryu snarled.
"Shut up."
"What's the matter with you, going all crazy like that? The whole auditorium was evacuated into the gym after you ran out," Ryu says. "That brat Satoshi was the first to try and run you down."
"Sa… Satoshi," A slight calmness came over me. I was gaining control again.
"Yeah. I stopped him though. I wanted to get you while you had your guard down."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked angrily.
"He was always a freak, but I knew something else was wrong. He didn't deserve to be with normal people; he didn't deserve you. Yet you gave him yourself, didn't you? Deranged whore."
The itching suddenly increased within my mouth. It escalated to intense pain. I heard myself scream low and rough.
"Wha--?" Ryu stuttered.
My mouth full of my own blood, I spit into my hand, recovering four slightly stained teeth. Throwing them, confused and quite aware at the same time, on the ground, I continued to spit out blood. I wanted to rip my jaw off. The searing pain came forth once more as I felt new teeth protrude from the empty spaces.
Fangs. My fangs. My vampiric fangs.
Coughing and sputtering, I opened my mouth as wide as possible, showing off my new utensils. Ryu was positively speechless, trapped on the spot, frozen in time.
"Kasumi. My god, he's turned you into a freak, hasn't you?" Ryu said. "Monsters. You're both damned monsters!"
"You're the monster, Ryu," I replied, placing my hands on his shoulders. "You never did quite get it, did you? You couldn't grasp the fact that I didn't care for you, but you kept pushing it. You're the type of man that gives that whole side of the sex a bad name. High and potent might be what you think you are, but that makes it all the sweeter when you're brought to your knees."
Giving Ryu a shove, he falls on his backside. Shuffling his dazed feet, he manages to get up, backing away.
"Kasumi, back down. Don't think I don't know how to get rid of creatures like you," Ryu tried to say bravely.
"There you go with your notion of being so superior. Well, since you're a man, I'm sure you'll be able to put up a strong fight." I said, closing the gap between us.
"I don't want to hurt you, Kasumi."
"Oh, yes you do. You hate creatures like me," I reminded him.
"Get… get away from me."
"I can't now," I said. "I was drawn to you from so far away. There is no way I'm letting you go now."
"Kasumi, I'm warning you," Ryu said.
"Why warn me? You said you knew how to 'get rid of creatures like me'. Go ahead. Try."
He continued to slowly put one foot behind the other.
I raised my head to his neck.
"I hate to admit it, but you smell delicious," I stroked his aching pulse with my finger. "Somewhat like cranberries. Oh so sweet, but very bitter."
Without another second passing, I sank my teeth into him. The hot, velvety liquid poured into my happy mouth while Ryu groaned absurdly. He tried to push me away, but somehow my own grip was able to hold him at bay. I drank and drank; I didn't care how much I was taking for it tasted so good, felt so well against my itchy gums and sore throat.
Once full and content, I released him, licking clean and kissing the spot of penetration. Ryu went limp and fell to the ground, lying oddly peaceful at my feet. He stared up at me, his mouth moving sluggishly open and closed like a fish. He finally resembled the legendary lizard his name stood for except on a much smaller level. I could have purchased him at the local Chinese Street Market. Brought down in his imaginary prime. Kawaisou, ne? Nai.
"What are you looking at?" I tapped him with my foot. "Show me how strong The Man is."
His eyebrows furrowed, obviously furious, yet subtly ashamed. "Ka-su-mi."
"That didn't sound very confident," I replied, his voice was weak and raspy.
Unexpectedly, tears started to swell up in his eyes. They fell sideways with gravity to the ground. "Ka-su-mi," he growled, blood spurting from his mouth to trickle down his cheek.
My face felt wet. Taking a hand, I brushed away my own tears. I was crying but felt no emotion. Why couldn't I feel? Was I some empty vessel? I continued to wipe my face dry, collecting tears and remains of blood from Ryu on my chin.
"Stop it!" I yelled at him.
I wasn't sure what I wanted him to stop doing. Looking at me funny, bleeding, foolishly sucking in all the air he could, trying to grab my ankle; how about him not being a jerk to me from the beginning? I wanted him to give me my high school years back! He had no idea what he did to me. Wouldn't give me a moments peace, started absurd rumors, ruined my reputation, spoiled my friendships, and now he knew about Satoshi. He knew about me. Plus, look what I did to him. He deserved it though. You better agree that he deserved it.
Ryu made a gurgle from deep in his throat.
"Stop it! Leave me alone, damn it! Just stop it!"
My gums throbbed.
"Stop it! Don't look at me like that!"
Ryu blinked slowly and sighed.
"Kasumi!"
Strong arms suddenly grabbed my middle. I flipped around instinctively, resting my head on the person's chest and bawled noisily. Satoshi shushed me comfortingly, swaying back and forth in the tight embrace. All emotion was flooding back into my system too fast to contain. It ripped at my flesh. My eyes were closed as intensely as possible, but the tears kept flowing. I could only imagine what my face looked like, and it wasn't a pretty picture.
"Kasumi," Satoshi said, slowly, "what did you do?"
He must have spotted Ryu behind me. Releasing me, he goes to the body, checking for a pulse.
"He…he," I tried to explain.
"He's dead," Satoshi replied monotone.
"He could have just said he was sorry!" I exclaimed harshly. "Was that so hard? Say he was sorry!"
"Kasumi," Satoshi reached out his hand to me, but I batted it down.
"Don't touch me!" I hugged myself. "It's not like I meant to. This other voice inside me was so loud. All I could think of was how good it smelled. I wanted to taste him. He wasn't supposed to die! True, I hate him. Hated him. That frustration, that voice egging me on."
Satoshi reached for me again.
"I said don't touch me!"
He wrestled me into an embrace anyway, kissing the top of my head. "Don't worry, I'll fix this."
"Satoshi," I cried into his shirt again. "I'm scared."
"It's alright. I'll help you. I'll take care of this."
"Satoshi? I'm worried, though." I said.
"Why? I'm here for you," He replied.
"Why?" I considered. "Because I liked it."
---------------------------------------------
"Let me see her!"
Sae-chan was at the door of my house, bellowing at Satoshi who stood in the way.
"No, Sae-san, she's not well," Satoshi replied.
"Do you think I didn't know that? That's why I'm here!"
"Please, just come back another time. She needs some rest."
I heard Sae-chan grunt. "Okay, Satoshi-kun, get out of my way or I will personally remove you from that door!"
There was a pause.
"No."
"Chikushou! Doke tte ba!" Sae-chan yelled.
Even in my haze, I was surprised to hear that. Sae-chan hardly ever swore.
The next thing I knew, Sae-chan was kneeling on the floor next to my pathetic lump-of-a-body which was lying on the couch. Oddly enough, the late-night snack I had just devoured made me quite sleepy. Either it was tiredness, or a horrible hang-over that kicked in all too soon.
"Kasumi-chan," Sae-chan sighed at me with sad eyes. "Oh, Kasumi-chan."
"Don't look at me like that, Sae-chan," I said. "It makes me feel so guilty."
"You shouldn't feel guilty... well, who am I to decide that for you, but this isn't your fault," she replied.
"Wait, are you saying it's my fault?" Satoshi chimed in angrily.
"Um, let's see, you're the one who got your stupid DNA mixed up with hers! So, yes, I am blaming you," Sae-chan spat bitterly.
Even in his sunglasses, Satoshi looked furious. "How dare you accuse me!"
"Do you see anybody else around who could claim responsibility for making Kasumi-chan transform into a vampire?"
"I didn't make her do anything!" Satoshi tried to correct.
"Sae-chan, he's right. He didn't make me–"
My voice was too feeble; they didn't hear me.
"Oh, believe me, I have my theories of how you managed to pull this off!" Sae-chan said. "You knew how kind Kasumi-chan could be and took advantage of that trait. Plus, you wanted someone to keep you company aside from your barbaric mother!"
"Sae–"
I was too late. Satoshi slapped her across the face, teeth grit.
Sae-chan kept her face where it landed, wavy bangs hiding her eyes with her hand-band coming loose.
To my even greater surprise, apart from Sae-chan cursing, Satoshi had a couple tears running down his face.
"I know I'm different. I'm not human. But does that mean I am also denied friendship? Possibly love? I know damn well my mother isn't the most... collected person in the world. She's done her share of despicable and regrettable things, but she's my mother still the same, and I won't have you insult her like that. On top of that, I won't have you affront Kasumi's judgement. I'd think, as her best friend, you'd respect that and not question it so harshly.
"I, too, regret what has happened to Kasumi. If I had a choice, I'd go back and change these circumstances, but I can't. So, I wish to apologize not only to you, Sae-san, but to Kasumi, and also hope you apologize to your friend as well."
After Satoshi's speech, Sae-chan lifted her head and straightened her hair. She looked resentful, but mostly remorseful. She sniffed.
"Gomen, ne?" she said very softly. "Satoshi-kun? Kasumi-chan?"
Satoshi nodded.
I shook my head. "Please don't say sorry to me."
I reached out weakly and grabbed her hand.
"Sae-chan, you're the only one, besides Satoshi, who backed me up on everything," I said. "I can only hope that you'll still be my friend, after learning what I've become."
"Learning? I already know," Sae-chan said. "What am I missing?"
"Kasumi, she was delirious, it wasn't her fault," Satoshi protected.
"Do you remember that dream I told you about, Sae-chan?" I asked. "The one about me meeting up with Ryu?"
"Yes...," she replied slowly.
"Well, I'm afraid it came true," I choked, not wanting to finish my dreadful story. "I... I took too much from him."
"Oh, my god," Sae-chan scarcely made out. "Ryu-kun...he's dead?"
The emotionless tears began to flow from my already swollen eyes once more.
"You should know that I didn't mean to, and I understand if you're afraid of me. I'm afraid of myself!"
"Kasumi-chan," Sae-chan's stricken face croaked. "I know he never acted very benevolently, but I can't imagine what he could have done to provoke you to–"
"It was an accident!" I cried. "It was an accident, please believe me. Please... believe me."
Strength slowly started to drain from my body; I was going to faint again. Barely catching consciousness, I tried to continue, no words came.
"I don't know how to defend myself," I whispered. "I believe I cannot. If pleading insanity were possible, I'd do that. I simply need a day to recollect myself."
"Let me stay the night," Sae-chan said.
"I don't wish to be a burden," I murmured.
Satoshi squatted down next to me, brushed a couple strains of hair away from my face. "Now, doesn't that sound familiar? Kasumi, it's my turn to take care of you... repay the kindness you showed me."
"I want to help too," Sae-chan echoed. "It's the least I could do."
"Go to sleep now," Satoshi said. "In the morning, or whenever you wake, we'll work on fixing things."
I muscled a smile. "Thank you."
My eyes allowed not a single moment of exposure, hiding immediately as my last syllable dragged out. Oh, sweet sleep.
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The smell of freshly steamed rice woke me up, pickled eggplant sitting in a dish beside it, hot Melon Barley tea in my favorite mug. Even with my eyes still closed, I recognized the smell. It was the meal my mother used to put together for me when I was sick. Only Sae-chan would have remembered that; I smiled in my half-consciousness. I forgot for a moment why this meal would be made for me. My smile slowly slid away.
Opening my eyes, I focus on the food lain upon the table. Nobody else was in the living room, but I could hear plastic chopsticks against bowls in the kitchen. I sat up slowly and stared out the window; the shades were drawn. Glancing at the clock, the digital numbers blinked 6:32 p.m back at me. I almost slept for twenty-four hours. I felt rested, but still hazy, like an overcast, spring day. I took one of the pickles from the dish at placed it on my tongue. The bitter juices invaded my mouth as I chewed and the smile returned. They tasted just as I recalled. Natsukashii to oishii... good combination.
So many things have happened in the past couple months, it was almost painful to think about. I knew I must put the chapters together eventually, but I didn't want to play the role of author yet. I wanted to go back to the Yousei shrine and play a tournament of Shogi with Satoshi, enveloped in the sandalwood scent that has slowly become a stranger to me. I wanted to spend a rainy afternoon in the coffee shop with Sae-chan and Naoko-chan, nibbling on biscotti and chatting like girls are supposed to do. I wanted to go back to being plain Kasumi. Plain, like white bread, rice with no soy sauce, a shadow in the corner.
My stomach rumbles loudly and the rice sitting before me suddenly looked a portion smaller. I took it anyway and slowly lifted the chopsticks to my mouth. Delicious, just like I hoped it would be, just like I remembered it.
"Kasumi."
Satoshi appeared in the living room, a piece of rice stuck to his bottom lip. He probably didn't know. Sae-chan peaked over his shoulder, like gazing on a sleeping baby. I smiled at them, wanting to cry again. Cry, yes, but not because of the turn of events. I was so happy to see them, both by me in my time of need. My chest swelled as Satoshi sat down next to me, as if I hadn't seen him for weeks. I brushed the stray grain of rice away from his face and he grinned.
"How are you feeling?" Sae-chan asked.
"A lot better," I replied. "Thanks to you."
"That's good," Satoshi said, placing a hand on my knee.
I inhaled deeply, catching a hint of sandalwood. The floating sensation returned and I welcomed it. Everything felt so new all of a sudden, like we had returned to the beginning.
As if it could read my thoughts, Sae-chan's Muchuuru waddled into the room. It had grown to almost twice the size it was when I gave it away. Sae-chan beamed at it, scooping it up in her arms sitting on the opposite side of me. The pokemon wiggled its arms up and down and smiled all I could with its fat lips, making little squeaky noises.
"Satoshi-kun trained with me, believe it or not," Sae-chan said.
I turned to Satoshi and lifted my eyebrows. He looked down.
"Of course, he went easy on me, since Muchuuru is still quite inexperienced," Sae-chan continued. "But he helped me a lot."
"That was nice of him."
"Eh," Satoshi moaned.
"I'm glad you found something to pass the time," I said.
"Oh, don't think of it as that," Sae-chan replied. "You do look much better, though. Your face has its color back."
"I'd love to take a shower, though," I said. "I still don't feel clean."
"I would want one too!" Sae-chan smiled brightly. "God, I would want one."
Satoshi removed his hand from my knee, possibly uncomfortable, but I doubted that.
I grab another pickle and pop it in my mouth and felt my energy start to return. I stood from the couch and both Sae-chan and Satoshi leapt up as well. Satoshi supported my back with his hand.
"I'm fine," I nodded to him. "I'll let you two finish your dinners while I go freshen up. I won't be long."
I could still smell Ryu on me, if I inhaled deep enough.
It took longer than usual, but I managed to climb the stairs and reach the bathroom. I undressed and untied the ribbon in my hair, letting it flow down to my shoulders, cover my ears. I ran a couple rust-colored locks through my fingers, feeling the coarseness and slight oiliness. My eyes were fixed in my reflection in the mirror. Pale skin, dusted with occasional patches of freckles, jutting collarbone and wide shoulders; I didn't look any different than I would have a couple months ago. Yet, I was a vampire now.
I suddenly remembered a night in late fall. I had decided to take a walk, purposely toward Yousei, of course. The wind was must cooler that night than usual, with winter waiting in the wings. I let my hair hang down then, too. Satoshi mentioned that it looked sort of funny; it hid my face. That night was my first kiss from Satoshi, if you could call it a kiss. The memory wasn't very clear anymore, unfortunately. I once promised myself when I was much younger that I'd remember my first kiss forever. It's not like the moment has vanished from my mind, but I hardly recall what led up to it. We were eating sweet potatoes... that's about it.
Realizing I was standing in my bathroom, in front of the mirror, naked for quite some time, I felt embarrassed. I turned on the water and let it warm up before I stepped into the shower, closing the glass door behind me.
The water felt incredibly welcome on my dry skin which held the scent of blood and Ryu deep in its pores. I probably scrubbed my body with a soapy loofa four or five times before I was satisfied. I washed my face twice, my hair three times with shampoo and a couple rounds with conditioner. I shaved my legs, under my arms. I wasn't going to leave the shower before I was completely and utterly clean and would smell like rose hips and mango for a week.
Once finished and successfully wrapped in a fluffy towel, mirror steamed up, I was refreshed. I combed the tangles from my hair and didn't bother to dry it but simply rubbed it with my towel for a minute. Not wanted to put my Mori no Otome costume back on, I tiptoed from the bathroom in my towel to my room where I dressed in warm pajamas. I could almost guarantee that Satoshi wouldn't allow me to leave the house tonight, since I was still recovering. What was the point of putting on active clothes when you're just going to sit around the house?
Plus, it was Saturday, a day for relaxation.
I went back downstairs and into the kitchen where Satoshi and Sae-chan were. They had found the rice pudding in the back of the fridge and were treating themselves. I smiled at them; Sae-chan swallowed guiltily before holding out the bowl for me.
"I don't need any, thanks," I replied. "I still have my rice and pickles in the living room."
I sat down at the table with them and Satoshi instantly touches my hair.
"It's wet."
"I know," I giggle. "I didn't dry it."
"Ah."
"That was quite a long shower, Kasumi-chan," Sae-chan said.
"Oh, it didn't feel like it," I said. "It was wonderful, though."
"Well, you can take as many as you want, because you're not going anywhere soon," Satoshi added.
"Saw that coming," I mumbled to myself.
Sae-chan looked a little angry. "What do you mean? You can't confine her to her house."
"She still needs time to recuperate," Satoshi replied. "There's also some stuff I need to go over with her before she's out on her own."
Sae-chan lifted an eyebrow.
I had a feeling Satoshi was becoming a bit annoyed with Sae-chan's company. I knew he wasn't much of a people person, but Sae-chan understands when to stop pushing buttons. Obviously, some were pushed while I was sleeping and taking my shower. Sae-chan appeared pleased with this. Once Satoshi flashed his fangs at her, however, the smug expression was wiped clear off her face.
I shook my head to myself. Ah, doushiyo...kono futari?
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Japanese Romanji Translations! (In order of appearance)
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Kawaishou, ne? Nai - Poor thing, am I right? Not!
Chikushou! Doke tte ba! - Damn it! Move it, I said!
Gomen, ne? - I'm sorry, okay?
Natsukashii to oishii - Reminiscent and delicious (Natsukashii is a word one my say when something brings back memories)
Ah, doushiyou...kono futari? - Ah, what am I going to do with those two?
(This section gets smaller and smaller each chapter... but I'm sure my readers won't really mind --o. Ma, na?)