The next day during school, my phone went off, the quiet tone of "Control" sounding from my cell.
How r u?
I looked at the name that sent it to see "Keisuke"
Good, I'm in school. Y?
I wanted 2 ask if u wanted 2 c me in town later.
Sure! ^-^ where?
How about the town central, next to the fountain?
K, see u after school!
"Who ya texting?" Hana shouted from behind me, catching me by surprise.
"N-no one!" I blushed, fumbling with my cell phone. Spencer caught it in midair right as it was about to fall. "Hey!"
"Hm, Keisuke? Seems you two hit it off!" Spencer teased.
"Give it back!" I yelled, jumping up for it, but he was much taller than I was.
Zero grabbed the cell phone from Spencer's grip behind him, and passed it back to me before walking away.
"That was…randomly kind." Hana raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't matter…" I thought about what he'd written on the tablet. Then I remembered I still had my own tab from the shrine, which remained unwished.
I passed through my classes bored and impatient. I oddly couldn't wait until the afternoon. During my last class, I stared at the clock for school to end.
"Excited about today, are we?" Hana and Spencer whispered. I sweat dropped.
"Shut up!" I replied.
"Fumiko, pay attention! Your grades are bad enough as it is, slacker!" The teacher barked, and I flinched.
"See what you two do!"
"I said quiet!"
"I'm quietin', I'm quietin'! God!" I hollered, rolling my eyes.
After a long lecture on staying in focus and not being a "Slacker", the bell rang. I rushed out the second it came through my ears.
"Damn, I haven't even seen her run that fast in gym." Hana remarked, sweat dropping.
I took off my jacket uniform, leaving my skirt and shirt to wear. When I arrived at the central, I searched for him at the fountain.
He sat at the edge in a uniform, black pants, white button up shirt, a loose tie, and what I now noticed was two piercings on his left ear.
"Keisuke!" I called, waving over to him. He smiled and met me halfway.
"Hey, Kizuki." He greeted, analyzing my uniform. "So you go to Cross Academy?"
"Yep, what about you?"
"I go to Ageha Academy." He replied. "Anyway, I thought we'd eat together, if your hungry."
"Don't worry, I'm always hungry." I told him. He laughed as we walked.
"Good, then I think we'll get along just fine!" Keisuke agreed. I took occasional glances at him as we passed stores. When I looked away, I could feel his gaze.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke, "Why do you keep looking at me?"
"Oh, its just…" I tried to think of a way to explain. "You remind me of this singer in a band that I like."
"Really? Which one?" He asked.
"Framing Hanley. Stupid of me, right?" I sighed.
He shook his head. "No, its not."
"So, why do you keep staring at me?"
"Because your pretty." He boldly answered. My eyes widened as I blushed completely red. "Was I too blunt?"
"No, I-I'm just a little embarrassed." I admitted.
We both sat outside in a café called "Lafayette Blue". Surprisingly, the latte was chocolaty and good.
"Hm, I think this is the first time I've ever tasted an overpriced café drink that doesn't make me wanna barf." I said in shock.
"I know, I said the same thing when Kyo took me here." He mentioned.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, my ringtone interrupting the silent café atmosphere. I grabbed it and looked at the text.
Havin' fun with Keisuke?(This is Hana)
I sweat dropped and replied.
Let that go, god!
"My friend's an idiot." I sighed, accidently saying this aloud.
"But their your idiots." He pointed out. I nodded.
"Yep, they are."
But its fun teasin u! (Spencer)
U jerk face!
Oh, ur just embarrassed (Hana)
So?
Have fun! (both)
When I put my phone back, I could feel the tab from earlier. I pulled it out and Keisuke noticed.
"Isn't that from the shrine?"
"Yeah, I got it on the day we first met. I couldn't think of a wish." I sighed.
"If you want, we could go up there and you can think of one." He offered.
"No, that'd be too much trouble." I shook my head.
"Its okay, I gotta meet some of my friends up there later anyway. He works at the shrine for his granddad."
"Well, I guess we can then." I accepted.
"So, your friend works here?" I brought up.
"Yeah, his granddad's the shrine caretaker." Keisuke explained, following the path.
"Caretaker?" I asked. He nodded.
"Why?" before I could answer, my name was shouted.
"Kizuki Fumiko?" I turned and noticed an old man in a kimono.
"Caretaker Yue…hi." I waved awkwardly.
"You've grown! Its been so long since I've seen you at the shrine." He smiled.
"Well, I was fourteen when you last saw me." I reminded him.
"How old are you now, 17, 18?"
"I turned 17 a few months ago." I answered.
"But don't you come up for your birthday every year?"
"I was out of town for a while…" I said in a distant, softer voice. Keisuke seemed to notice my unfocused eyes when I said this.
"Caretaker Yue, its great to see your doing well." I beamed before slowly heading toward the shrine wall.
"So, did you write anything?" Keisuke asked.
"I thought of something on the way here." I replied and wrote quietly. I placed the tab down and sighed.
When I turned away, Keisuke caught sight and quickly read the wish.
I wish I won't die at the end of this year
-Kizuki
"Hey Keisuke, come to visit me?" The boy had short light brown hair and green eyes, a very tall figure.
"Hey Kyo, is Daigo here yet?" he greeted.
"Nah, late as usual." Kyo averted his gaze over to me. "Who's this?"
"Kizuki, this is Kyo Yue, the caretaker's grandson. This is Kizuki Fumiko." Keisuke introduced us both.
"Nice to meet you." I waved. Abruptly, I felt an arm go around my shoulders.
"Heh, who may you be?" The unknown person grinned. Without even flinching or looking over to him, I elbowed the guy in the chest and pulled his arm behind his back.
"Might wanna keep your arm where its supposed to be before I break it in seven different places." I threatened.
"That would be Daigo." Keisuke and Kyo sighed.
"A tough girl, hot and kinky, I could get used to that." Said Daigo remarked, wiggling his eyebrows from the ground. I put my foot onto his back.
"Sick, sick, sick..." I repeated, stomping him each time. Keisuke found this quite entertaining. Finally after a few more hits, I helped Daigo up.
"Keisuke's friend? Aw, then what's the point!" Daigo went on. He had red wild hair and brown eyes.
"You shouldn't have tried in the first place!" I exclaimed.
"Ya see, Daigo's a bit perverted, but he's okay. He doesn't mean anything by it, he's got a girlfriend." Keisuke explained.
"That's oddly surprising." I looked up at the sky and noticed it was darkening. "Oh, I have to get going. It's getting dark."
"Okay, I'll walk you back."
"No, you live across from town, don't you? It'll be late by the time you get back." I told him. "Trust me, I'm good by myself."
Keisuke thought for a long amount of time. "…I guess, see ya Kizuki."
"Bye Keisuke!" I ran down the path, smiling. The town was quiet, but I could feel the stares prickle on my back.
"Dammit…" I muttered to myself, regretting not bringing my axes. I still had a few kunai's, and my mind though.
"I want you for myself, Kizuki." I cringed as my head throbbed. I growled at the sound of those words. The empty streets were immediately flooded with vampires.
I took note of the marks branded on their necks. An orchid. Taking no time to waste, I took the Flashstep alternative. I grabbed a single kunai from the holster around my hip and aimed perfectly at one of the vampire's neck.
With no kunai's left and many more vampires left, I let my tattoos glow and thrust my foot up to the vampire's head, using another's back to hoist myself. I landed on one's shoulders. I tightened my legs and snapped his neck with my hands.
They gathered up, grabbing my arms and pulling my hair. "Hey, back off!"
A dashing figure was all I saw before the vampires were dead. I quickly hid my temple mark with my hair and let the glow fade before they could see.
When I looked up, standing before me was Keisuke. I could notice something I hadn't seen before. The tattoo on his bicep. The same mark was on Kyo and Daigo's.
Out of pure instinct, I took a Flashstep and aimed a hard punch at one of them. Keisuke caught my wrist and looked me right in the eyes. "Kizuki, calm down, I'm not gonna hurt you."
"A Teru, she's a Teruling!" Kyo looked amazed with wide eyes.
"W-wait…!" I looked with alarm. Keisuke placed a hand on my chin and pulled my gaze over to him.
"Kizuki, calm down, we're vampire hunters!" He told me, and I was still.