Chapter 6: Dream House

Two days later:

The villagers had been gossiping more than usual - the owners of the new mansion just moved in last night...late at night. This all came from Tae Yano, and her daughter, Kanami, who were woken up by the headlights, and honking of the moving truck.
Megumi was in awe—she was actually going to meet the newcomers of the mansion everyone referred to as "Kanemasa". Over the past three days, she had been getting to know Natsuno better—she was at least in the "Friend Zone" with him. She still liked him more than that, but she didn't want to rush.
"Megumi!", Kaori was walking her family dog, Love, when she stumbled across Megumi. "Love, heal!" the dog was practically dragging the girl. "Oh, the new owners just arrived. A couple and their daughter..." She was stopped by Megumi. "They have...a daughter?"
"Just a year younger than us...I just happened to hear the old ladies discussing, of course I wasn't really interested..."
"Aren't you curious?"

Later:
"Stupid, so Stupid!" Megumi said to herself. She and Kaori had an argument earlier, which started off only about the mansion, but soon landed into the subject of Megumi talking to Natsuno. "I hate this village! I hate it! Hate! It!"
She had reached the house, and immediately felt she was attracting someone's attention. Someone's watching me... She thought to herself. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed, excited, or scared. They saw me!

That's right! Now I can show off the fruits of my labor! I've been practicing walking like a model!

She began walking in an awkward fashion—one foot in front of the other. As soon as she reached her third step, her ankle bent inwards too far, causing her to yelp in pain and collapse onto her knees. "Oww! That really hurt!"

"Shimizu?!", a familiar voice said. Megumi turned and saw both Natsuno and Connor were right there. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"The family just moved in!" She responded, before thinking, Oh, crap!, when she looked back to her ankle.

"What happened?" Connor asked, concerned about her, and then saw that she sprained her ankle, "Nothing, nothing at all?" she tried to hide the pain.

The gigantic, golden gate opened up afterwards.

"If anyone asks, we're cousins." Megumi stated to Connor.

"My my! is your girlfriend hurt sir? I could hear her shouts even from inside these walls." said the man who came out. Megumi had stars in her eyes at the sound of that comment—not only was she meeting the man who owned the castle she so adored, but he acknowledged the truth of her affections as well.

"She-she's not my girlfriend, we just decided to look at the mansion when we heard that the owners moved in today, and she fell so we helped her up!" Natsuno was sternly saying, while Connor was sweating solid gold bullets, and Megumi looked dissapointed when he said that.

There was a short pause and the man finally said" I'm terribly sorry for assuming something different, but it is quite amiable of you to help a young girl in need... She lookes a bit scoffed" the man noticed a small cut on Megumi's knee "If you so desire you may come in to my home, I'll have my servant here patch you up. Hahaha" The man had a hearty chuckle...one you would expect someone of wealth to own.

"We didn't catch your name." Natsuno said, he had a cautious look on his face, in the city people would not invite others in so readily. He was slightly taken back but decided to shrug it off against his better nature—it was the same thing for Connor.

"Ah yes, my name is Seishiro Kirishiki. The man next to me is my servant Tatsumi".

"How's it goin'?" Tatsumi asked in an overly friendly way.

"Wow! We would so love to come in and look at such a beautiful mansion!" Megumi was ecstatic! She had always loved that place ever since it was built, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she would get to go inside "Come on Yuuki! You too Connor!"

"But I-I...sure...whatever...hehe?!" Connor laughed nervosly. He and Natsuno were reluctant to go into the home of a man they just met, but Megumi's cheerful presence put them at ease. So Seishiro led them inside.

"Well you three, have a seat. Tatsumi, fetch us some tea and a bandage for the young lady here."

"Right away sir!" Tatsumi answered in the same overly friendly fashion

"So, is it just you and Tatsumi here?" Natsuno asked.

"This seems like an awfully big place for just one man." Connor added, he was still very nervous.

"My, heavens no, I have a wife and a daughter. They have a rare medical condition where they aren't supposed to go out during the day, so they are asleep right now!" Seishiro seemed to look to Tatsumi for approval...at least Natsuno thought so, but it was a fleeting look so he could not be sure. Megumi didn't notice, she was totally oblivious—there were far to many distractions for her(she was sitting next to the object of her affection, in the house of her dreams)—she may as well have been foaming at the mouth and passing out, she was so excited.

"Well it's getting late, Shimizu and I had better get out of here." Natsuno said, the sun was setting in the sky "I'm sure our parents are worried about us! Same with you Connor!"

"Aw I don't care about them Yuuki, I want to stay a bit longer!" Megumi pleaded.

"I came to the village alone." Connor stated.

"Why my family should be able to come out now, You Simply must meet them before you go!" Seshiro seemed to put importance on that. "Ah here they come now!" A tall beautiful woman and a little girl walked into the room. They had pale skin and dark eyes...Natsuno thought something was just a bit off about them—Connor knew something was off, but no one could tell.

"This is my wife, Chizuru, and my daughter Sunako!" Seishiro introduced them excitedly.

"Salutations!

"How do you do?" the little girl asked politely to Connor.

"We do fine, thank you." Connor said back...politely as ever, as he grabbed her hand to kiss it. When doing so, however, he noticed something—her hand...it was...cold...cold as death.

"Oh my gosh! You are simply the most beautiful girl I've ever seen...next to me of course! Hahaha!" Connor snapped out of his concentration. The woman took Megumi's hand and held it close. "What beautiful nails, you just HAVE to tell me who does them for you"

"Oh wow! Do you think so?" Megumi was drowning in pleasure from the Woman's compliments. Sunako moved closer to Connor. The woman was about to kiss Megumi's hand, but Natsuno noticed something strange...

"Are those...Fangs?!" without thinking Natsuno closed the gap and grabbed Megumi's hand away. "Sorry, but we have to go now!"

"I apologize, but my friend is right."

The Longest chapter so far.

Stay tuned for more.