Chapter 06
"Yes, yes." The raven said, nodding a couple times with her blank face and apathetic voice. "Wakarimashitta." and she hung up then looked at the brunette before her.
"They've set the surveillance cameras already." the brunette said as they paced in stealth mode. "Where was the another squad assigned?"
"No where in particular. Just near this university." an involuntary chill crept down her spine. "We must made sure the students would be safe."
"They'll watch from their assigned place, right?"
"Yeah. That's why aniki set them in the most suspicious places."
"Don't you think it's noticeable by the woods?" she paused and grabbed the others wrist.
"No. We're used to this already. Why worry, Fuyumi?" she raised an inquiring eyebrow.
"I'm not worried." she shook her head in denial. "Let's go back to our room now. Like before, they'll monitor the places twenty-four/seven...so I'm not worrying." Rinko nodded though she wasn't expecting for the brunette to see that in the dark and they continued their pace.
"Isn't it weird that Sa-chan's not here with us?" Rina asked them. Jole has the same thinking face as her as the others shrugged except from Maria. It's Monday again. The slayer's investigation haven't made any more steps yet and the missing students are increasing. Fuyumi's worried of that but as Rui told her they'll work better.
"I think it's for the sports fest." Maria said. Everyone in their usual table. including Fuyumi, looked at her. "She was informed that by the sports club itself."
"I see." Jole said as she tapped her right hand on her left palm. "She'll play badminton, no?"
"Yeah, she will." said Maria.
"So, that's why she was bringing a racquet around." Sylvon confirmed.
"Eh? She was?" Rinko joined their conversation after she finished her lunch, pouting. "I did not notice that! Mou~! That bakemono-baachan is really secretive~!"
"That's because you were sleeping the whole class hours!" they all complained at her as colors from her face drained with guilt.
"O-okay..." she barely uttered.
"Anyway, Sylvon, you'll play badminton too, right?" Rina asked, looking at him. He nodded in reply.
"Well...Maria will play too, you know?" Sylvon told them and the rest of the others directed their attention to the said girl who got uncomfortable.
"Errr...Sylvon-kun and I are in singles while Sa-chan and Khana-san will play doubles."
"Sugoi~!" Rinko said in awe. "I'll see that old monster playing sports! That'll be interesting..." and a mischievous laugh followed her naughty line. 09275655679
"You better not butt yourself in, Ri-chan." Maria warned in a low threatened voice. "She's pretty serious with badminton. You might really get yourself killed this time." but all they heard was the continuation of her laugh...still with malice.
"That alone won't stop her." said Rina and Sylvon with a heavy sigh.
"It just thrilled her more." added Fuyumi, sweatdropping.
"What would you expect?" Jole murmured to them, careful not to be heard by Rinko who's daydreaming of the 'monster'. "It's Rinko Harume, the one whose hobbies are eating, sleeping and teasing, that we're talking about." they nodded in agreement.
"Ne, ne, minna-san," Rinko called them, they looked at her. She's still in daze. "Let's look for Sa-chan~!"
"We don't want don't to get killed." they nonchalantly said with sharp glares.
"MOU~! It's not like what you think!" she pouted. "We'll just watch her practice! If she's practicing..."
"She is." Jole said. "Right, Maria?" the questioned girl nodded.
"She'll concentrate her spare time into practicing. That's how she is."
"Just, oh! Please! Ri-chan!" Rina slammed her palms on the table and looked at Rinko face-to-face and eye-to-eye. "Don't you do anything that will irritate her!"
"You'll be digging your own grave this time if you will." Sylvon threatened. The teasing jerk just nodded in reply. Well, there's no other options for her to take.
They stood up and left after fixing their dishes and taking them to the sink. It weren't that long for Rinko to find her. It has been common to her to be looking for the russet and like a sniffing dog, find her so easily since she kinda memorized the president's often whereabouts such as in some particular parts of the forest where they've been together twice. Her voice chimed in a high pitch when she saw Sayako with Khana and Rui with Akira. Akira's sitting on the bench as Rui stands still with a pair of bottled water drinks and a pair of towels. The raven almost instantly dashed and pounced on him when he glanced at her with open arms.
"Aniki, why are you two here?" she asked when she looked up and met his face.
"We're watching them play. Look." he pointed his index finger to the two who are seriously rallying. They are like in a court with their distance from each other with an invisible dividing line that acts as their net.
"Bakemono-baachan, gambatte~!" she innocently said exactly when her circle of friends got to them. Each one of them shuddered then took a quick glimpse at Sayako who did not even twitched upon hearing Rinko's voice – or if she really heard it. But still, Fuyumi smacked her regardless of Sayako's reaction. "I-itai! Doshita no, Majo-san!?"
"Baka! We told you not to butt in! If you want to die that much, then don't involve us!" she glared at the hurt girl who automatically caressed her head after getting hit.
"F-fine..."
"She's pretty serious, eh?" Maria said as she carefully observed Sayako's smash, which left Khana dumbfounded, giving her the score.
"S-Sayko-k-kaichou..." Khana stammered as she bent down, her palms resting on her knees, sweating and panting. "You're...really good at this..." she looked up at her only to see the girl also sweating and huffing like her.
They walked over to the bench where everyone were waiting for them. Akira quickly gave up his seat and let them sit down.
"You look like you're totally worn out, Sayako-kaichou." Rui said as he gave a bottle of cold water and a clean white towel to each of them. She gave him a faint smile that says thanks as they twisted open the cap and gulped down.
The day went by as normally as the others did. After their dismissal, Akira and Rinko checked the cameras if they're still in place before going to their clubs. Fortunately, it looked like there was no one who noticed them. They placed them in the places where the curtains are closed, in the part of the forest where the pair of students died a year ago, in the faculty, some offices including the chairman's office, which were considered suspicious. They still don't know who are the slayers in the other squad but this night, they'll meet with them. They have discussed that they must meet once or twice a week to have their necessary meetings, and although Rinko was pretty pissed off that another squad had to be sent to aid them since it's the first time for them to take almost a month to complete a mission, she agreed. Currently, they are in the same black cars they used for travel when they arrived, only this time they are paired up differently – Akira with Rinko and Fuyumi with Rui.
"Onii-sama," she pressed down a button from the armrest of the door and at once, the windows slowly slid down, letting the cool autumn night wind to come in and brush on her skin which was covered with a thin film of sweat since the car's air conditioner had a problem. Rui and the driver in her seat's front did the same. The both of them were just trying to get the right timing to do it since they were the ones who said that there's nothing would change without the cooler. And apparently, their actions proved their thoughts was wrong. Anyways, Fuyumi paid a little attention to it. "All of these things that you're doing...wouldn't they make you the spy of the both sides?" she sharply asked with a worried yet frustrated voice.
"Straight forward, eh?" he sighed. "I move on my own accord with my own plans and goal. I'm not a spy."
"But still...! Tell me what you're planning so I'll understand." she frowned as she looked at him. "I know you're capable of taking care of yourself but just because you're a vampire and won't just die easily doesn't mean you won't be in danger! Think of yourse-!"
"Ojou-sama." the driver interrupted. "Please observe your words."
"Gomen, Alshein-san...but Onii-sama is...!" she paused. "I mean..." she locked gazes with him. "Don't be reckless. Neither Rinko nor Sayako-san will approve your methods. They are too risky."
"Fuyumi..." he scartched his temple and rolled his eyes to the passing view outside. "If the driver is not Alshein...my secret is already revealed by now." and sighed
"I know. The reason I did not hesitated is because it's him." she looked at the back mirror as Alshein also did and caught a smile from the driver who averted back his gaze on the road. "You know why I'm telling you this, right?" she looked back at him.
"Yeah, but don't overexert yourself with thinking about me. My plans may have failed a few times but I always have another trick up my sleeves." he looked back at her and held her hand. "You don't have to worry that much." and squeezed it. She nodded as she relaxed and the creases melted away. Her heart still pounds in her chest although she's trying hard to calm down as their car later stopped in front of a hotel.
"I thought they were just near." she said as she thinks about the distance of that hotel from the university.
"This hotel is the nearest building to the university." Rui explained. "It's in here in the rural area and is a bit far from the forest that surrounds the campus but compared to others, it's the nearest."
"I bet the signal won't be high enough." she frowned again.
"They're the latest released devices and with technology nowadays, distance won't be a problem." he got off. After a little pondering, she got off too. The others' car halted right next to theirs and the other pair also got off. The four of them then paced to the hotel's entranced as their Mercedes hurried to the parking lot. Rui showed a badge-like card to the girl by the counter as the other three sat on the couches by the lobby. Their lobby is brightly lit with their chandeliers and is decorated with some jars and vases . Spotting a grand piano by a corner Rinko remember her first confrontation with the very first person she trusted while they are in the middle of a mission: Akishi Sayako.
So ridiculous...am I losing myself? What if she's a...no...that can't be. She's far from being a vampire...but...why is it that sometimes, although I really like the kind of person that she is...there's something in me that wails and instructs me to detest every fiber of her being? Is this really...what I feel about her? That can't just come to the surface out of guilt? NO! That's not it...I hate pretending to like someone so...I'm sure it's not like that...so...why is it like that? I'm grateful that we needed to stay there for almost a month although I know that that's the reason of why we're here...but I'm glad I'm able to make that kind of bond with her...no, not just with her but with everyone else. Sigh. What's happening with me? Why do I suspect that she's a vampire? Why? - "...ko..." Why? - "Rinko." Why? - "Rinko!" she jerked up and turned to face the calling voice.
"Fuyumi?" she blinked at her in surprise that she was being called.
"Let's go." she said and Rinko instantly stood up and paced to the brunette...only to be smacked by her.
"Nanda!?" she glared at her.
"For your information, inoshishi, you left your case which contains your weapon on that couch." she said pointing to the said furniture. She skeptically looked at her after a moment and saw that confused look on her face. "Daijobu ka?" she asked on their way to the elevator after the raven took back her case. When Rinko did not reply, she elbowed her with only enough force to wake up an asleep person. Rinko blinked a few times before turning to her with a
"Huh?" and a look of what-the-hell-is-happening. "W-why?" that question wasn't directed to the other girl but for herself instead. With her tone, Fuyumi felt in an instant that there's something wrong.
"Focus, Rinko. This isn't the time to be daydreaming about pranks and insults that you will soon throw to Sayako."
"T-that...not the problem..." she muttered, halting on her tracks. She heard a sharp 'tsk' from the other slayer that made her flinched upon hearing and after a mere second, she was being dragged by the brunette who held her by her arm. "F-Fuyumi?"
"Will you tell me what is it?" it didn't sound like a question so Rinko did not oblige to answer back with yes or no.
"I have been confused...I like Sa-chan now...but...It wasn't right. There's something telling me... that she's not...human."
Surprise.
Halt.
Hearts' thumpings.
They halted and the three looked at her.
The two cousins frowned as Rui, on the other hand, glares at her with both concern and fear. If she'll find out who Sayako really is at this time, he can't guarantee their safety. If Rinko will try to kill her, Sayako will undoubtedly fight back and without saying a word, the result is already decided. If Rinko won't be just injured, she might die.
Might die...
Might die...
Might die...
Those pair of words resonated in Rui mind for a half minute. If either of them got hurt, that only means he failed. And his failure will most likely result to the death of either one of them...This matter isn't about my safety anymore...but theirs.
"What's with the silence?" confused glances were shot at them by her. Or more specifically...suspecting glances. "I mean...like what Jole always says, she's kinda pretty." she lied. Nevertheless, her accomplices sighed in relief. Why did they react like that? Her eyes narrowed into a glare. Is there anything... they know that I don't?
"I was just confused by you, Rinko." Akira said and turned around then started pacing again. Rui did the same and so, they did.
"Rinko," still not letting go of her arm, she pulled her closer to her and in a very soft voice whispered, "Whatever happens, always think before you act. It doesn't matter if Sayako's a vampire or not...the thing is: she's our friend." she glanced at her. Rinko's expression still hadn't changed but when she met her stone-like gray eyes, she softened her expression and managed to give a smile.
"Yeah," I'll try to think like that..."that's right."although my reaction would be unpredictable. Even for Rui-aniki.
After using the elevator, they arrived at the nineteenth floor of the hotel and turned to right. Rui scanned the corridor and ceased in front of room one hundred ninety five then knocked on the wooden door.
"Open up, this is the first squad." footsteps were heard from the other side and couples of seconds later, the door swung open.
"Pleasure to meet you. Are you Rui Chibara, the slayer of the first rank from the headquarters?" a red haired guy inquired. Rui's purple eyes met his obsidian ones as they made eye contact. He seemed to be as old as Rinko and Fuyumi but as strong as him.
"Yes, pleasure to meet you too." Rui replied as they shook hands. "I assume you are...Lawrence Veildrge of the European branch. Also the first rank there?"
"Yeah." they parted. Lawrence then gestured to the other three at his back and they paced to them. "Introduce yourselves." he ordered.
"Zack Roose, slayer of the seventh rank." a blond guy with blue eyes introduced himself. There's a glint in his eyes that Fuyumi did not like. "By my right is Raziel Clark and by my left is Gureth Saftle." the two that he introduced both did not say a word. Fuyumi were pissed off more by their blank expressions. They seemed like aniti-social to her which was proven when Lawrence explained. Rinko's anxiety was gone and she's now paying attention to the most recently introduced slayer. Raziel is a long haired girl and acts more nautical than Gureth, a raven haired guy with brown eyes. Raziel's haired color is in deeper shade than the other blonde's. It's comparable to a corn and it's curled but not in the same curls as Fuyumi's. Hers doesn't seem like it's natural.
"Harume Rinko." she held out her hand in the air for a hand shake directed to Raziel but the British ignored her. "Drag queen, don't you know what hand shake is?" she teased paying special attention to her clothes which resembles the exact thing she called her as. That caught the blond's attention and she quickly glared at her and gripped her hand tightly.
"Of course I know." Rinko reciprocated the force exerted by her. The cousins shook their heads in a here-she-goes-again way.
"Raziel stop that." Lawrence commanded and at once, Raziel let her go. The two exchanged snubs.
"Um...I'm Chibara Fuyumi, by the way." the brunette took a glimpse of each one of them. Her first impression of them only worsened when Zack smirked at her. "This guy beside me is my cousin, Chibar-"
"Akira Chibara. In case you don't know, here in Japan we say our last names first. Please pardon these two slipshod for their mista- Ack!" Fuyumi stomped on his foot in the most natural way she can, cutting him off and murmured,
"How dare you embarrass us...we only forgot."
"It's getting steamy in here." Rui said, Lawrence and Zack nodded in agreement as they sneaked some glimpse from Akira and Fuyumi to Rinko and Raziel who are having their very own silent arguments.
"Anyway, let's do what we need to do. We captured some screenshots. We'll discuss that here as we monitor the current status of the university." Lawrence led them inside where they've installed the laptop to which the cameras are connected to. Lawrence commanded Gureth to monitor what's going on in the university as the rest of them discusses the screenshots.
"Those are..." Rinko uttered in disbelief as she stares at a pair or vampires biting each other. "Why are they doing that? Are they stupid or what?" Akira and Fuyumi looked at her. Fuyumi, at her first glanced, already realized who they can be.
"They may be lovers or...it's just the way for them to quench their thirst." Rui concluded as he skeptically observes every detail in the other shots.
"Not that I don't believe you but," Zack stared up at him, his eyes still have the same glint as before that Fuyumi's hair on her forearms stood still. "How did you know? Or is it because you really know?" the two cousins jerked up, eyes wide open, both surprised and nervous of what he said.
"Zack!" Lawrence hissed at him and looked back at Rui whose expression remained the same. "Tsk!"
"Zack!" Raziel interfered, glaring at him. "All things about that is supposed to be unknown from them!"
"It's alright." and he gazed back at the slayer whose under suspicion. "We were given a different mission by our own branch itself. And that is to know what you really are, Rui." he coughed, clearing his voice. "Sorry, I mean Chibara-san. Since Kevin-shacho won't listen to the other branches, we were forced to put you under suspicion." both Lawrence and Raziel snarled at him.
"Any proof?" Rinko raised a brow at he and he gazed at her. She can barely control herself from smacking his face that she's already trembling in anger. "For you to say that, you should have at least one proof! Or you're merely insulting aniki!"
"Ten years ago he joined the organization and since then, he never seemed to age." he returned her glare when she gasped and gazed to Rui. "Is that enough?"
"Ten years...ago?"
Silence.
Click, click, click...
...only the clicking from the laptop and,
tick-tock, tick-tock, the tickings of the wall clock are being heard aside from their heart bearts.
Then,with a shudder, Rinko sadistically chuckled.
"B-but he never tried to bite me, did he!?"
"Oh...sorry, we forgot." Zack smirked again. This time Akira shuddered together with Fuyumi and though there's an air conditioner, they broke in sweats. "You're often their target meal. So, would you like to prick your finger and simply tempt him with your blood?"
A flinch from Rinko;
A hiss from Rui.
"This isn't right at all!" Fuyumi exclaimed as she stood up and reached her rod under her skirt but was stopped by Akira's sweaty cold hands as he strongly immobilized her.
"This is nonsense." he said as he wobbly stood up. "With this problem, we can't cooperate with you. If you won't mind, I suggest we'll just continue this next week." Rui nodded as he stood up.
"Sorry for the inconvenience but we have our own mission." Lawrence said and stood up then led the three outside. When Rinko was about to leave he held her hand.
"What is it?" she glowered at him after yanking back her hand.
"The president and I discussed this before. Zack is always like that. So, in case you knew, Kevin-shacho told me to tell you to phone him as soon as possible. He'll explain and then give you another mission."
"I understand...but don't think that I trust you. I do have my own mind and I'll do whatever I think that I must." she left without averting her glare from him at the very last minute.
[The new comers]