Alice's POV

(A/N This is concurrent with the battle. Also, I have to violate Alice's Background. Sorry)

I needed a break.

Yes, that's why I got a day off. I need to take a break from him. Behind that good looks and muscular body, is a horrifying monster. Well, I think that I, quite literally, am a monster.

I am a vampire.

However, I discarded drinking human blood since I broke feee from the prison. They taught me that it is not necessary to take human life. I drank water more than blood. However, I only drank blood when I engage battle.

But despite these, he is the only one who doesn't appreciate me.

He is the only one who hates me, loathes me, despises me and discards me.

Among all, it's only Alucard.

For him, I was a monster. A demon.

I took a stroll along the park, trying to clear myself from the trouble, the pain, the stings... it's just too painful to be discarded, shamed and be abused because of your past.

The people are no longer afraid of me, unlike my first time going here from prison. Seriously, they all ran shambles when they saw me. Well, I really expected that.

"Well hello, Alice. It's a surprise to see you here." I looked over to see Natalia on the other side of the table I was sitting in, holding a strawberry milkshake in her hands.

"Hey Natalia..." was all I managed to say. Yesterday was really painful. They treated me like I was trash. Wait... no.

He treated me like I was trash. Like I was a disgrace to the society.

"Still sad about yesterday?" She said and placed a hand on my shoulders. Tears started to stream down my eyes, not wanting to remember the things that transpired yesterday.

Flashback

I was sitting down on my armchair, when I heard Rafaela called me.

"Alice? Come on out! We got new heroes." She said with enthusiasm. I smiled lightly, considering that new heroes means new friends. I opened the door and followed her down the hall, to the main lodge of the dormitory.

"Hello there!" One of the newbies, which appeared to look like a cowboy, approached me. He smiled at me and held out his hand. "Clint."

"Um... Alice." I shook his hand before I was also approached by the ninja, clad in black, with a red scarf.

"I'm Hayabusa." He said and took out his hand too. I shook it, and smiled at such good friends. Suddenly, Alucard arrived, and shook his head at me.

"I won't dare touch her if I were you." He as he placed an arm on Clint. "She's a vampire."

Upon hearing that, the two backed away two steps. I saw Alucard smile triumphantly, rolling his eyes. "Who knows? She might just grab at ya." He said before adding another statement. "Worse, she was their former leader."

Tears started to brim in my eyes. Why does he have to remind me of my past? I can understand that he is a demon hunter, and curses my kind to the edge of the world. But no matter how many times I reminded that I refuse to drink blood, he still thinks of me as a dangerous, bloody and cruel woman.

"I have changed myself over the years... I atoned of haunting the people before! Humans taught me something, and that is something I will never forget." I said before retreating back to the room, burying my face in my hands.

Later on, I heard someone knock on my room. I looked at it through the peephole, and I saw a white haired lady, wearing a kimono and holding some kind of umbrella. I opened the door, and welcomed her in.

"Well... I guess you probably heard about me..." I looked down, but in my peripheral vision, she nodded. I expected her to back, but instead approached me and hugged me.

"You've changed. I can see it." She said as she stood up. "I'm Kagura, your new roommate."

"Alice." I said as she sat down on the bed beside mine. She placed her umbrella delicately on the table, as if it was some kind of a precious article.

"What's with that umbrella?" I asked her and she smiled at me.

"Well, let's just say it's very important." She responded. "Anyways, why don't we talk?"

And there. We talked all night, about our pasts, how I was the leader of the vampires, and how she met a ninja when she was a kid.

"Oho? So you had some kind of crush on him?" I asked her as I poured more of the sake she brought. She actually had a good sake with her. Wonder where she gets it. Anyways, she blushed upon hearing the question.

"Wh-hat? No!" She said and sat down back to the bed. "Besides, I... well..." she started shyly.

"We had a... misunderstanding."

"Oh... I see..." I said as sleep got the best of me.

End of Flashback

"Yeah... good thing I persuaded Kagura to substitute for me." I said and laid back on the bench. "Anyways, why not go back to the dorm? It's almost sundown."

"Good idea." Natalia said as we walked to the dormitory.

"I'm going to my room now! If you need anything, ask me!" She said as we parted ways by the hallway, when an arm pulled me to the empty room by the porch. It pinned me to the wall, only to see a man clad in red clothing, white hair, and a purplish demonic arm.

Instantly, I knew who he is. I tried my best to show anger and hatred towards him, to make him realize that he was a jerk. However, he just looked down and leaned in.

"What do you want. If you don't have a valid excuse, please, I have a lot to do than converse with you."

'No... what?!' I thought as he leaned closer, only to land by my ear.

"I'm sorry." Those were the impossible words I heard from the lips of my worst tormentor.

Kagura's POV

(This is after the battle already)

I sighed again for the second time. Of all the times in my life, I never felt more sad. I felt betrayed. He broke his promise. He forgot about it.

Yes, Hayabusa broke it. Though it may seem childish, I looked up to that promise. And I never even thought that he will break it.

'Promise.'

His voice resounded in my head. I thought than we will help each other. But looks like he did not seek my help with it.

Flashback

It was my 18th Birthday. My parents had a party thrown for me because of my debut. My other friends and relatives in Iga seemed to enjoy it... but I didn't. Why you may ask? Because Hayabusa's not here.

It was already 8 in the evening. I sat at my bed, still sad that Hayabusa didn't even see me. I hate to admit it, but I had a crush on him ever since he saved me from the bullies during our childhood. Well, I started to see him everyday,

And we promised ourselves that no secrets will be kept between us. Our relationship is closer than that of friends. We became each other's bulwark. We defended each other, and no secrets was kept. That's why we knew each other too well. We memorized each other's expressions, how we felt by looking at our faces.

Well, I kept one secret: that I had a crush on him.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my window. I slowly went up to it, afraid it was the ghost roaming around. You can't blame me!

"Hey Kagy!" I heard someone call me. I smiled, knowing that he actually came. There is only one person who calls me Kagy. I opened the window and gave him a slap.

"What was that for?!"

"What do you mean? Where were you?!" I said at him. He froze for a second and cupped my cheeks.

"Sorry. I was working on something all day." He said. I pouted, but my anger subsided when he hugged me from behind. "Well, care to come with me, birthday girl?"

"Uhh... where?" I asked him and he just winked. A tiny blush formed at my cheeks as he suddenly lifted me bridal-style. "You'll see."

"Hey put me down! I can walk!" I protested. Instead, he held me closer as he jumped off the roof. I blushed as I held on his toned chest. Hey, he's wearing his vest, it's just that the first three buttons are unbuttoned, intensifying the red space on my cheeks.

"We're here." He said as he placed me down on a field after we crossed the forest. I gawked at the awesome sight before me. It was a large field of grass, with a lot of fireflies flying around. The moon illuminated the sky, along with dozens of stars. I admired the beautiful view of the sky, the field... everything.

"Wh-here... did you find this?" I asked him as I touched a firefly. He scratched his head and took off his mask, revealing more of his handsome face. I blushed as he went behind me and snaked an arm around my waist. Damn it, he has a hobby of making me blush.

"Remember the job I told you? Well, after I beat up those bandits, one of them ran here." He said as he held a finger next to mine, making the fireflies go to them. "I'd figure out that it would be a good birthday gift for you."

"Thanks, Hay." I said as I hugged him. He returned the hug and placed a hand at my head. "No problem, Kagy."

"So, what do you say let's eat?" He said, pointing to the picnic set up on the side of the field. I nodded and we sat down and ate. But, as we took a bite out of the food (which apparently I can't believe he cooked), there was nothing but silence. Absolute silence. It was getting awkward.

Taking advantage of the silence, I let my train of thoughts stumble down my mind. My feelings for Hayabusa. He is sweet, kind and caring. That's one of the reasons why I liked him. Should I tell him? Should I not?

You know, you can't keep these feelings bottled up inside you.

My subconscious said. I tried my best to conceal these feelings, but sometimes, they just explode. Like now. I know it will risk my friendship with him, but these feelings... are too much. Well, here goes nothing. After all, it was a promise that no secrets will be hidden, right?

"Hey, I got something to tell you." We coincidentally said together.

"Oh you go." He said but I argued.

"No you go."

"You go."

"Ladies First." He smirked. I sighed, knowing that arguing with him is pointless. I trembled as I placed my tamago back on the plate.

"Uhh... remember the promise we made when we were kids? That no secret will be hidden between us? Well, all along, I kept one from you..." I said shyly. But upon hearing it, he perked up.

"I also kept one from you." He said. Oh great, we're on the same boat. My lips were trembling as I said the words.

"I like someone, Hay." I said. But his eyes entered a piercing glare to no one in particular.

"Tell me who! Who do you like?" He asked liked he was going to beat the hell out of the person I like.

"Why do you need to know?" I asked him, trying to calm him down. But it proved useless when he grabbed his katana and unsheathed it. Gee, careful with sharp things, guys.

"So I can beat him up to a pulp." He said. "One more, it's a promise, right?"

"Don't tell me you wanna beat yourself up to a pulp?" I chuckled nervously. His eyes widened and looked at me. "Yes, I like you."

"Kagy..." he stuttered. Desolation washed over me. There. I sacrificed my friend for my feelings. Just great. But he just moved over to my side and... hugged me? He hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead.

"I was about to tell you the same thing." He said. "I like you too, Kagura."

He said as he leaned in and cupped my cheeks. I closed my eyes, expecting something to land on my lips, but then he stopped midway.

"Kagura... I know we feel the same way but..." He started. "Let's give it sometime."

A part of me is disappointed, sad and happy at the same time. But I know it was for our own good. He wants me to be ready.

"I'll wait." I said as I kissed his cheeks. I swore a blush just formed on his cheeks.

"Damn it, don't do that." He said. I frowned at his reaction and pouted.

"Why not?"

"Because it makes you too cute and too irresistible." He said.

I blushed lightly. Then I remembered something.

"Hey. Since we both broke our promises, promise that we would still look up to it, huh?" I said as I raised up my pinky after cleaning up.

"Promise?" I said and he twirled his pinky against mine.

"Promise."

We walked to my house in complete silence. At the door, we stopped. I turned to him, to give him another kiss on the cheeks.

"Thanks for today, Hay."

"No problem, Kagura. And I told you to stop kissing me on the cheek!"

"Pervert!" I said as I playfully punched him.

End of Flashback

But he kept it from me... after he just left me... I felt horrible. He left when I needed him the most. He left when I needed him to console me and protect me.

He left when I needed him to love me.

Sorry for not updating! My connection was botched. Sorry! I hope ya enjoyed this chapter!

Tigreal x Natalia coming up next!