Sunako turned her head when the blinding sun hit her face. Shielding her eyes, she tried to turn to see what had caused the light to enter her sacred space. Standing above her was Noi, hands on her hips. She had lifted the lip to her bed and opened her curtains.

"What are you doing?" Sunako hissed as she rolled over and pulled the blankets up.

"I have to go shopping," Noi said as she yanked the covers away. "I figured you should come with me."

Sunako groaned. "I thought I wasn't allowed to go anywhere," she said, though the idea of shopping for some good food wasn't completely unappealing.

Noi shrugged and heaved a sigh. "Yeah, well Eliza's coming over to spend some time with Ranmaru. Takenaga suggested it would be best to get you out of the house and I thought a trip into town that didn't involve those boys and their feeding habits would be nice."

Sunako lifted her head at the mention of Eliza. Thoughts of the new vampiress had kept her mind active most of the night. Knowing that she would be in the house pulled at something inside of her, making her want to stay and watch.

Sunako was about to protest the trip when something landed on her head. "You're wearing that," Noi said. She pulled the cloth away from her to examine it.

"A hoodie?" She asked.

Noi narrowed her eyes and picked up Sunako's black cloak. "Well, this wouldn't draw attention away from you. At least it's black."

Sunako looked back at the pullover sweatshirt. "It smells good," she commented casually, giving it another sniff, "I didn't think you would own something like this."

"I don't," Noi replied from inside Sunako's closet. "It's Kyohei's."

Sunako stopped sniffing and held it open in front of her. True enough, it was too large to fit Noi. Sunako thought of the vampire and winced. "Why him?"

Noi reemerged from the closet with a few articles of clothing hanging on her arms. "I can't take anything from Takenaga, I didn't think you'd like anything from Yuki's wardrobe, and I don't even want to imagine what I'd find in Ranmaru's closet." She ended with a mock shudder of horror. "That left Kyohei. He'll be annoyed but won't do anything about it. And plus, I figured you wouldn't mind his clothes. You two sort of have the same style."

Sunako wanted to roll her eyes and disagree, but there had been many times she found herself wanting to steal something of his.

"Now get out of bed or whatever that is, and get dressed." Noi motioned to the casket. "We've got to go soon."

Sunako nodded in compulsory agreement, knowing there was no way of getting out of it now. She pulled her legs over the edge and jumped down. Noi handed her a pair of black pants and a shirt. "While we're at it, I should get you new clothes. You're selection is pathetic."

Sunako sent her a fake glare. "Don't mess with my wardrobe. It's fine the way it is." She slipped the black hoodie over her shirt and pulled the hood up to cover her hair.

Noi started laughing. "You are drowning in that thing." Sunako looked down and noticed that the sweatshirt hung down to her mid-thigh and was still baggy enough not to show anything of her frame. Now that the smell was completely engulfing her, she found it ridiculous that she hadn't figured out whose shirt it was at first.

Noi handed her a pair of sunglasses. "Well, now that you're dressed, I'll grab my stuff and we'll go," she said, nodded towards the door. "She's supposed to be here in an hour so it's probably best we get going."

Sunako followed the girl down the stairs. When they reached the foyer, they found Kyohei leaning against the wall.

"Finally," he grumbled lifted himself up.

"What are you doing here?" Noi asked crossing her arms.

"Takenaga said I had to 'accompany' you two. He thinks people will recognize her."

"I provided a disguise," Noi replied, motioning to Sunako.

Kyohei snorted. "A hoodie? You think that's going to work?" He eyed Sunako again. "Wait, is that mine? You stole my jacket? You went into my room?" Kyohei pointed an accusatory finger at the blonde girl. "Thief. I'm telling!"

"What, I left the dirty magazines alone." Noi shrugged. "Anyway, we don't need you. We'll be fine on our own."

Kyohei rolled his eyes. "It's not my choice to follow you; Takenaga's orders."

Noi glared. "I didn't think you were one for taking orders."

"Honestly, girlie, what do you think you're going to do to stop me?" Kyohei smirked and opened the door.

"Fine, but you're carrying the bags. Come on, Sunako."

Sunako allowed herself to be dragged away from the mansion by the sleeve, ignoring Kyohei's complaints of them stretching his cloths. The drive was hardly quiet as the two bickered the entire way with Sunako hardly paid attention. The day was cloudy, she noted with delight looking out the windows, giving the town they were going to a slightly eerie feel to it.

"Where are we going?" Kyohei snapped, frustrated with the girl sitting beside him in the passengers seat.

"I've got to do some light grocery shopping first," Noi answered calmly, apparently done fighting, "then, after seeing Sunako's closet, I decided that it's time to buy her some cloths."

Sunako immediately started coming up with plans to disappear before the shopping commenced. She had become very good at getting away from her aunt, but Noi, Sunako feared, wouldn't be as easily fooled.

"Let the girl wear what she wants," Kyohei sighed, pulling into a shopping center and finding a parking spot.

"I will," Noi said, "but she needs more than she has. She can pick whatever she wants."

In the mirror, Sunako could see Kyohei roll his eyes again. A second later, they found hers and flashed. Sunako, positive she didn't really see anything, opened the door and started to follow Noi to the front door of the store. Before she could get too far, though, something caught her elbow and pulled her back. Turning her head, she saw the blonde head of Kyohei as he dragged her in the opposite direction.

"What are you doing?" she asked while trying to find her balance.

"What does it look like? I'm saving you." He responded, authority clearly flowing through his voice.

Sunako knew it would be natural to say she didn't need him to save her or to ask what from, but she knew. She also knew that it would be easier to follow him than try and find her own way out of shopping. Instead of saying anything, she yanked her arm away from his grasp.

"I can walk on my own," she said when he turned to see what she was doing. His eyes widened when he heard her defiant tone. She lifted an eyebrow at his stare. "So lead the way."

Kyohei smirked. "Fine, then. By the way, you look ridicules in those sunglasses," he said, walking away.

Sunako reached up and fingered the dark shades covering her eyes, wondering why in bothered her.

"But you look worse without them!" He shouted a moment later. "Now, keep up."

Sunako glared. "You look worse without them," she muttered, instantly knowing it wasn't true.

It wasn't hard to catch up to him, despite the sidewalks being crowded. People seemed to move around him, leaving the path clear to follow. Looking ahead, it was as if he were parting a sea, the way pedestrians moved around him, careful not to be in his way or to touch him. Kyohei didn't seem to notice one way or another. He simply kept walking forward, eyes not focused on anything as he made his way to his destination.

"Do they know?" Sunako whispered, unable to help herself.

"You know the answer," Kyohei replied with a slight grin on his face.

Sunako thought about all that she had learned in the week she'd been with the vampires. Nothing came to mind about the town and if they knew or not. In fact, she'd never been into town—

Yuki.

The thought, the memory struck so suddenly that Sunako froze. It wasn't that she had tried to repress the day she spend with Yuki, it had just faded into the background. But the truth was she had been into town. That day, Yuki proved that the people of the town had no idea of what lived in the mansion.

Quickly catch up to Kyohei who had failed to stop, Sunako looked at the people again. It seemed almost natural, but Sunako could now tell that they forced their eyes away from him, purposely keeping them ahead as if Kyohei didn't exist.

"If they don't know about you, then why are they avoiding you?" She asked as she kept glancing around. "They didn't avoid Yuki."

Kyohei stopped walking to face her. "I'm not Yuki." He said, his grin growing into the smirk she found familiar. "We're here." He finished, nodding to the building behind her.

The sign above the doorway read, 'Wednesdays' in spiny lettering with a large spider crawling in the corner. The windows were all painted black, leaving everything behind a surprise. Kyohei pushed past her and opened the shop's door. Sunako trailed in after him, eager to see.

The moment she entered, Sunako flashed back to opening the door to Granny's for the first time. That wave of awe and fulfillment she felt as she gasped with happiness. Remembering Granny caused the sorrow she tried to hide bubble up, but this place was larger, darker, and she felt right at home.

"I figured you liked it." Her sight landed on Kyohei who was leaning against the wall next to her. "I did some back tracking and found that shop you usually visit. I thought this might distract you from missing your family."

Sunako ducked her head. "How'd you know?"

Kyohei blinked in confusion. "Everyone misses their family." He said.

She raised her head again to say something in return, but a glint of light caught her attention. Sidetracked by what caused it, she dropped the conversation and went to explore. One thing lead to another, it seemed. The shop had everything Sunako could ever dream of, and often did. When she finally did see Kyohei again, he was sitting in what looked to be the throne of the devil, his legs thrown over one arm as he leaned against the other. With his eyes closed, his face looked like a perfect painting until a yawn ruined it.

Sunako approached him slowly. Her intention was to say thanks, but then he opened his eyes. Sunako could tell the smugness shining in them as he waited in expectance for her.

"You never answered my question," she said instead.

Kyohei's eyes dimmed. "What question?"

"Why do they avoid you?" She said, "I'm honestly curious."

The vampire sat up. "Of course you are," he growled. "They avoid me because I tend to get into fights."

Sunako waited for him to continue you. "That's it?" She asked when he didn't. "Because you get into fights?"

"Yeah, but it's never my fault."

Sunako found it hard to believe, but didn't care either way. It had nothing to do with vampires and was none of her busy.

"Thanks for bring me here," Sunako finally said, turning away before he could reply. Kyohei, however, wouldn't let her get away that easily.

"You're welcome, oh dark one," he said in a sarcastic tone. "It's this more fun than shopping for clothes."

Sunako nodded. "Yes, it is, but I did want to shop for food," she countered, "so you ruined at least half my day."

Kyohei glared. "Be careful or you'll find yourself without a disguise and a one way trip back to your aunt's."

"Noi and Takenaga would be very upset with you," Sunako laughed. "Probably Yuki, too. He seems to like me."

"He's a wimp," Kyohei shrugged, still going behind her, examining different objects as they went. "He likes most things that don't go bump in the night. He should have never been turned."

Sunako stopped. Facing him, she asked, "Are you saying you were made to be one or that you are deserving of it?"

Kyohei froze. She could see the confusion in his eyes before he realized what he had said. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"No," Sunako argued, "You said that he should have never been changed. There's a meaning behind that."

Kyohei opened his mouth to reply. Before he could, he paused, slowly moving away from her. "Wait here." He said firmly, before turning around and walking away.

Sunako watched as he disappeared around a corner. She shrugged and continued to look at the items. Moving to the next aisle, she picked up a dangerous looking dagger and inspected the design on the handle, when she felt the bitter coldness of the drop. Sunako gripped the dagger in her right hand as her left went to her necklace.

"No need to be defensive, really," a voice whispered next to her. Jumping away, she sent a quick look in the direction of the words.

The women standing there smiled sweetly. "You can put the weapon down," she said, "I have no intentions of hurting you. I have the exact opposite intentions, actually."

Sunako didn't up the dagger away. "What intentions?" For a moment, she wondered why. If this vampiress wanted to bite her, normally she would be baring her neck freely. But she was surprised to find that she wished for Kyohei to return.

"To help you," she replied. Looking around, she sighed. "I shouldn't be here. It's my life if they find out I am, so listen intently. Trust them, and no one else. Don't trust Eliza or anyone else you meet."

Sunako's intuition flickered. "Who are you?"

"My name is Elizabeth, and if you listen to me we will never meet again, which is in your best interest."

"Sunako!" She heard Kyohei shout from the other end of the aisle. He was in front of her a second later, growling.

Sunako tried to look around him but he pushed her back. "Are you hurt? What'd she do?" he asked, almost desperately.

"I'm fine," answered Sunako, still trying to see if Elizabeth was there. The space was empty.

"Are you sure?" She felt his hands searching her arms before finally landing on her neck. Sunako looked up at him, shocked at what she saw.

Anger.

Regret.

Concern.

And a million other emotions she was sure she didn't want to identify.

"What?" she whispered.

"I let my guard down," he returned. His hands gently squeezed her neck as he closed his eyes and bowed his head before her. "You could have been hurt—killed—because I wasn't paying enough attention."

"I'm fine," Sunako urged, pushing his head up. "She just said something to me."

Kyohei's eyes sparked. "What'd she say?"

Sunako thought about what to say to him. She wanted to tell him the truth, but there was a reason Elizabeth waited until he wasn't around. "That she knew I was here."

Kyohei breathed in deeply and dropped his hands. "That's not good."

"Why?"

"I have to talk to Takenaga," he muttered instead. He started walking away, grabbing her hand to drag her along behind him. Sunako eyed their hands, enjoying the coldness his offered and not caring who it came from.

They made their way back to the car, where Noi stood with her food tapping against the ground in annoyance.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting, Kyohei?" She demanded when they were close enough. "Where were you guys?"

"Not now, Noi." Kyohei said while unlocking the car. He tossed Noi the keys. "Put the things in the truck quickly, we've got to get back."

"But she's still there," Noi argued.

"We've got bigger problems." Kyohei snapped, opening the door for Sunako and all but shoving her in and shutting the door.

Noi put the bags in car and got into the back seat without another word. Kyohei pulled out of the spot quickly and made his way back up the hill.

"What's going on?"

"Eliza's not alone." Kyohei growled, still aggravated. "Elizabeth's with her."

"But that means she not just traveling around," Noi stated in an obvious tone. "It means they came here on purpose—OH!"

"Yeah."

Sunako looked between the two from her place in the passenger's seat. "Someone want to explain this to me?"

Noi looked at her. Sighing, she shook her head. "We can't. Not yet."

Sunako knew it was useless to ask why, as she already knew. Takenaga.

They made it back to the mansion in less time than it seemed to make it down. Kyohei didn't bother putting the car away, instead choosing to park in front on the curved driveway

The moment he made it to the doors and slammed one open, he called out for the dark haired master. Takenaga seemed to appear instantly from a room that led to the basement.

"What are you in a fuss about?" He asked disinterestedly.

"Eliza's been lying to us," Kyohei snarled.

Takenaga rolled his blue eyes. "I can't say I'm surprised but again, what's going on?"

"Eliza brought Elizabeth with her," Noi said from beside Sunako.

His eyes went to Sunako. "Well then, we can only prepare for the worst. I'll tell Eliza it would best if she left now."

"And never returned," Kyohei grumbled. Sunako could see the tension in his shoulders as he followed Takenaga up the stairs.

Turning to Noi, Sunako pleaded, "Will you please tell me what's going on?"

Noi flashed a glance toward the direction the other left. "Eliza and Elizabeth are not similar in any way, other than two things. One, they're both vampires. And the other, they both are in Romelia's coven."

Sunako took a step back. "Eliza works with Romelia?"

"Eliza sometimes stops by because of Ranmaru, she tends to travel; it's not unusual to see her. But Elizabeth usually sticks close to Romelia."

"You said Romelia couldn't leave whatever place she was banished to, just like Takenaga."

"She can't," Noi nodded. "So logically the only reason Elizabeth would be here is if Romelia knows you're here and she's trying to get you. Or, more precisely, the blood drop."

Sunako thought back to what Elizabeth said, about not trusting Eliza. The thought that she should tell them what she said crossed her mind.

"I had a lovely time," Sunako heard the familiar purr. Looking up, she saw Eliza and Ranmaru heading down the stairs. "We've got to do this more often."

"I agree," Ranmaru replied. As they passed her and Noi, Sunako saw Eliza eye her drop before looking up at her and winking.

Even without Elizabeth's help, Sunako would have known that Eliza was not to be trusted, but having Elizabeth there seemed to comfort her anyway.

Sorry it's so late! I started a new job and with school, I'm just trying to balance it's all out. Now that I've got more of a handle on it, updates shouldn't be this far apart.

This chapter was not easy to write, I'll tell you! I had the scene I wanted in my mind, but the words would just not come. I'm not entirely happy with what's here, but I couldn't wait to update any longer—that's just mean.

So what do you think of Elizabeth? She seems good, doesn't she, but will she remain that way? Who knows (I do), but it'll be fun for you to find out, huh?

Thank you for waiting so long, for reading, and reviewing. For favorite-ing and adding to your alert lists. It all means so much.

I am also sorry for any mistakes you find. If you want, please point them out and I'll fix them.

Until next time (which will not be so long, I promise),
Konix