Disclaimer: I own nothing that relates to MH. Everything else originated from my imagination.

I dedicate this particular re-post to Penshil. Not only because I find her pen name cool, she also said that my work is a god send. It makes me extremely proud and glad to be able to send the feeling of joy across the web :)

Enjoy!

Bite Me

"Anh, I need your assistance."

"What do you need now? Not long ago you asked me to leave. Then with so much hesitation before you gave me your number, and now you're calling me to go back? What are you up to? Are you aware that I'm ways away from your mansion? Is this urgent?"

"For me it is."

Anh knew who it is about. "Natsuki then?"

No verification is needed. "So are you able to assist me?"

An exasperated sigh. "You know how I feel for you, Shizuru. I've said and showed you every moment I get, but how could you casually ask for things like these? Things that you know would hurt me so? Do you not take me seriously or is this your way of saying I cannot gain even an ounce of your affection?"

"Anh..."

"Tell me the truth or else I'll drop this conversation."

The threat is not heavy, but not without substance. Shizuru wanted to divert the conversation to another like what she always do every single time Anh's tries to grill some answers from her. In actuality, she likes Anh very much but only to the point of as a friend, a confidant as she mentioned to her lover, Natsuki.

"Anh..."

"Shizuru, as much as I'd like to hear my name coming from your mouth. I don't want it now."

"Is this really necessary?"

"Yes."

"What would you like to hear?"

"The truth."

"Then come by here and I'll tell you."

For a moment Anh had nothing on her mind but to go to Shizuru's mansion. Then when she thought more clearly she realized it was a ploy.

"Is this another scheme of yours? Are you trying to delay the inevitable?"

"Am I really that easy to read?"

"No, but I have been on your side more than anyone else...More than her. More than she could possibly be..."

"Stop that." A warning.

"Then suit yourself. Find someone else to handle your stuck up attitude. Find someone else who could tolerate your endless chatter about your precious puppy."

"Natsuki is not a puppy."

"Puppy. Wolf. Beast. Whatever you want to call her. I'm not going to help you anymore when it comes to her. I've had enough of being your cushion."

"But Anh—"

"Talk to me again once you're ready to tell me the truth or best, when you'd give me what I want. What I've always wanted—your love. Till then go to the others for help."

"But I trust you Anh. You know the others do not understand and I wouldn't like them to know about—"

"Her."

Anh releases a harden sigh. "As much as I like you making praises about me...I really cannot partake anymore on this little game you're playing."

"I'm not playing with you or anyone."

"You don't. Not intentionally but you do."

Shizuru remembers Natsuki telling her: "You're callous even when you don't try to be."

The countess is conflicted. Because of her birth right she didn't thought about her actions and regards to others as much. She does things as she thinks and sees proper. It never occurred to her that maybe she's overstepping a line. She never needed to be cautious with whom she's merely acquianted with, but what bothers her is that she's inflicting harm to those she cares about. Vampires are blood born and bred creatures. Caring is superfluous but after living for blood-knows-how-many-years, she learned sometimes it was necessary to live somehow. Immortality has its perks but it certainly has its downsides and having people around whom you care about and naturally cares back to you make living a lot easier. It was only a little after knowing Natsuki the true blooded noble of a vampire died down and out came the caring and surprisingly insecure, Shizuru Fujino.

"Okay, I'll pipe down my tales regarding her, but can we please not fight?"

Anh was momentarily shocked. Then a, "Did I just hear you say 'please'?"

"No?"

"Yes, you did. You said, 'can we please not fight?'"

"Now, Anh. I know you're my friend, but right now I just think of you as a lunatic."

A disapproving sigh.

"Look at the time. Weren't you the one who told me you're off to somewhere? Off you go! I'll call or message you later. Be sure to check your phone, okay?"

A less than amused Anh ended their phone conversation and Shizuru was left to do her mission on her own.

Again.

As expected, she muled on her own. "So how do I locate Natsuki's house? I forgot to ask if she changed her location."

She thought for a minute.

"This is irritating. Why can't I just call her again and ask for directions?"

The mildly proud Shizuru answered herself, "Why of course she won't tell you. And can you really ask anyone, even her, for a measly direction? Even a dog would know where to go."

The conflicted and irate Shizuru replied, "Do not compare me to dogs!"

The overly proud Shizuru reiterated, "You're actually dismissing your beloved Natsuki's kind."

The conflicted and overly irate Shizuru shouted in words, "Dogs and werewolves are not the same! They're from different species! It's like apple and oranges, only they're both round!"

The proud Shizuru rebutted, "Still comparing me to them is ghastly!"

After throwing heated words with herself, Shizuru finally admitted, "I am mad for talking to myself."

The countess 'tsk' in disapproval and merely headed towards her mansion's door.

...Time to be jolly...Falallaala...Lalalala...

It was the season to be 'jolly' as the carolling boys and girls would belt out outside Natsuki's abode. The werewolf was tempted to eat the little kids, mainly due to her anger towards Nao's action earlier, were it not only for Mai's cheerful visage while preparing cupcakes for their future visitors she would have ravaged them in an 'un-jolly' manner.

Visitors.

Natsuki would like to get ahold of those lithe limbs they have...

"Natsuki, stop whatever I think you're about to do."

"What? I'm not planning evil things towards those children."

Mai simply shook her head with immense disapproval. "See, you already divulged your intentions because of your irritation."

"I'm not irritated and I don't have such intentions!"

"Then why are you pulverizing my home-made sweet treats between your fingers?"

"I-was..." Natsuki eyed the mess she has made and felt terribly guilty for she knew how much effort her friend gave in baking.

"No, need to be sorry or anything. I know you're just frustrated how things turn out."

"But she's coming." A nervous statement.

"And so you keep telling me." Mai settled more comfortably in her seat when she asked, "So, why is this a problem in the first place? She's your wife," A mincing look. "Okay, not exactly wife, but soon-to-be," Another eyeful glare. "What? Do you have anyone whom you've become serious with like you are with her?" No response. "See? That settles it then. She's your future wife and you're her future..." A slight apprehension. "Wait a minute, who's the man in your relationship again?"

"Mai!"

"Of course, of course. No one is. You're both wife and wife then."

An incredulous look was thrown.

"Why are you still worrying, by the way? Shouldn't you be happy that she's going coming over?" Mai looked at the clock and added, "How many minutes have passed since she said she'll be coming?"

"Thirty minutes."

"It's a wonder she's not here yet. As far I know, she's the fastest and most ferocious creature on land and in...bed."

"Mai!"

A series of laughter.

"I'm joking. So why do you think she's not here yet?"

No answer.

"Oh, I get it now. That's why you're terribly antsy there. You're worrying why she's not here yet. Surely, she'll be here any minute now if you've given her the address..." A realization. "Hold on, did you give her your address?"

No answer.

"Natsuki!" Mai immediately fetched her best friend's mobile phone only to find it in an unrecognizable state, same fate her freshly baked cupcakes have received under the wrath of Natsuki.

"I was angry at Nao for being a child, then I got overwhelmed when she said she'll be here soon that I snapped and I unknowingly crushed my phone during the process."

Mai has no response to that. It's rare for her friend to be unconscious of her own strength even when she's emotional turmoil.

'So this means it bothered her...a lot.' was what Mai thought but did not bother saying it out loud. Instead she said, "Don't worry. She's pretty smart, right? She'll find her way here. Why I believe that woman has a radar when it comes to you. Remember that time when we went out in the woods and we got separated because of some storm?" Mai laughed at the memory. "Why, she even sniffed the air like she's one of our kind. Unbelievably, she found you only after a couple of hours. It was a terrible weather and even I can't detect your scent, but apparently she did when she came back, with you in her arms. That bit was very romantic of her..."

The subject of her narration was no longer listening, but Mai didn't notice so she kept on talking. Only when she asked a particular question to her friend, and the latter didn't give a response did she realize she was talking to herself all along.

"Whatever the hell is consuming your mind this time, you idiot?" A reproached remark, but Natsuki merely shrugged it off.

"Come out of it. Tell me."

After a few more persuasions coming from Mai, the other finally relented. "I'm worried what means Shizuru would do just to find this house."

"I bet she'd phone you any moment-" remembering Natsuki's broke mobile phone. "Right. Maybe she'll call one of her servants to play detective, or maybe she'll do that sniffing thing again."

"Shizuru is a true-blooded noble."

"So?"

"She has pride."

"Eh...Your vampire has one? That is uncommon, nowadays, even for noble fangs."

Natsuki didn't reply and continued observing thru her window for any hint that her lover will be coming.

"For someone who doesn't like lover to come, you sure are waiting patiently and anxiously for her to arrive."

"I'm not...I'm just worried how she'll get here."

"Why worry about that? Her kind can fly and transform into those nasty stuff, right?"

"Mai, you still don't get it."

"What?"

"Don't you remember how she found me all those time in the forest?"

"Forest? Yes, the woods. I was telling you about it—"

Mai was interrupted by, "Remember when we got back? Shizuru's clothes were drenched in blood?"

Not knowing where the conversation is going, Mai simply nodded.

"Do you know whose blood was it?"

"No, I never got the chance to ask. Was it your shared meal perhaps when you met?"

"I wish it was that, but no. Shizuru...She had bitten a lot of people without mercy in the process of looking for...me."

Mai was not unaccustomed to savagery when it comes to blood for she, herself, is one of the many who longs for it; more than willing to kill for just a tad sip. But the notion of Natsuki's lover, the regal Shizuru Fujino, to act so brutal was unheard of. She knew of the countess prowess and enormous poise for she had met her in person. So she cannot imagine that very same woman to be that cruel, even if she's a famed vampire.

'But coming from Natsuki...it must be true.' Mai shivered at the thought.

After a seconds of silence, Mai finally asked. "Why did she do it?"

Natsuki bit her lip thoroughly, to the point of cracking her own lips, before answering. "That's the thing I'm worried about. She said she did it out of frustration because..."

"Because...?"

"She did not know…" and a whisper, "…where to look for me."

After saying it, Natsuki returned her gaze towards her window where they can see the street filled with children carolling.

Both of them, albeit creatures of blood and flesh, can't help, but be worried about the lives of those who are currently outside.

One of them voiced out, "Those poor souls..."

While the other, telepathically wished her lover could hear her thoughts, "Please Shizuru. Don't come looking for me." Knowing it was useless to say it now, she released a heavy sigh with an added plea, "Be calm while at it, at least?"

This chapter is not supposed to be funny but if it makes you smile even the slightest then...wow. Anyway, this is some sort of background chapter. Shiznat interaction will happen next chapter (?).

Like it? Tell me.

Hate it? Bite me.

Either way I'm starving, I'm off for brunch.