Chapter 25: Betrayal

Natsuno was wondering.

Natsuno:

Megumi bit me the day before yesterday. But she didn't come yesterday.

If she were, I might not be able to move at all.

I never thought that having anemia was so tough.

Why didn't she come? Did she feel guilty? Will she come today? Or will it be Tohru?

He went outside to see—sure enough, it was Tohru.

Natsuno:

So I see, not only is the field of vision great, but you can hide pretty well, too.

Megumi used to stare into my room like this, until I talked to her. That feels like a long time ago.

Incredible! When Tohru died and was placed inside a coffin, he looked nothing like his old self; just an empty shell without a soul.

But, this thing...is just like the Tohru I remember.

Natsuno rose out from behind the bushes, surprising Tohru.

Natsuno, "Were you looking for me?"

Tohru remained silent. Then Natsuno held up his homemade cross, which sparked a reaction from him.

"This thing, does it work? Or were you afraid of this thing when you were alive as well? Before this...when we were digging a grave, your comrade seemed afraid when he saw a charm. I thought that this thing might work, I just didn't know it'd be so effective!"

Now, Tohru spoke. "Natsuno..."

Natsuno's reaction was one of pure annoyance. "I told you to stop calling me that!" At the same time, he threw the cross at Tohru, hitting only the window, but buying Natsuno enough time to make a break. Tohru followed him.

"Can't you coexist with humans!? Why can't you just stop a people!?"

"It's impossible!"

"If you guys were to explain things clearly, there's bound to be someone who'd be willing to give you fresh blood! Won't the amount of blood return to normal after a few days!? Why do you have to attack humans!?"

"You wouldn't understand! Just like humans killing animals is approved in society, we, too approve the killing of humans."

Natsuno stopped.

"At first, everyone is disgusted. Afraid to bear the sin of killing people. Afraid to receive punishment for replenishing themselves with the life of another. But, once you realize that you won't be punished for killing people, you get used to the guilt pretty soon. The guilt of using humans for food. Aren't humans the same?"

A throwing knife hit the tree in front of Tohru, Connor came.

Connor, "That's not the same thing at all! What you do isn't predation, like humans. It's parasitism. You live off of human blood, but don't kill them in one shot, Tohru. Tatsumi just told you that to keep you in line!"

"Then, why do I get so hungry?!"

Natsuno, "Hungry?!"

Tohru, "It's an unbearable hunger, so much that it makes murder look like a small price to pay!"

Connor picked the shiki up by his shirt, and held him against a tree.

"Listen! If you actually do want to feed off of someone until they die, that's your choice, not Tatsumi's!"

He then released him, and walked away.

Natsuno reached into his back pockets, and pulled out a mallet and wooden stake.

"Even an animal struggles before it's death. If a cross works, then this will work, too."

"Wah...Natsuno..."

Natsuno couldn't do it, instead throwing them down.

"Stop being so absurd! Why can't you act more like a vampire, and less like the guy I used to know?!"

After a brief moment of silence—and when Tohru's stomach growled, Natsuno pulled up his right sleeve, and held out his arm.

"If you're hungry, then come have my blood! We'll figure out a plan. Connor's already working on an antidote. Even so, if you still want to kill others, then come suck my blood! We'll figure out a way to escape Tatsumi!"

"It's impossible to run away from Tatsumi..."

"It's worth a try!"

Tohru couldn't take the hunger pains anymore—he pinned Natsuno down on the ground, and bit his neck.

Yamairi:

Megumi was trapped—Tatsumi had blown up the entrance wit dynamite to prevent anyone from aiding or escaping.

"A vampire village in the mountains. I've been chased into an even more remote area."

Tatsumi seemed to come out of nowhere.

"It's shiki. Didn't I tell you to address it this way? The Kirishiki's don't like the term 'vampire.'"

"Tatsumi."

"How 'bout it? Did you let things go about the attack on Natsuno?"

"I don't feel like it right now."

"Hm? Come to think of it, you're quite free now, aren't you?"

"Yes...do you need me to attack anyone?"

"Your friend, Kaori Tanaka!"

This shocked Megumi—Tatsumi was going to have her kill one of the very people she wanted to protect now.

"Kaori!?"

"It's her father. You should know who he is, right? Kaori Tanaka is very close to Natsuno Yuuki nowadays. Exchanging secrets, and teaming up against us."

"He's lying. Kaori isn't that kind of person."

"If you're bothered about attacking your friend's father, we can find someone else..."

That alone made Megumi realize that the only way to protect Kaori was to hypnotize her father; to convince him to take his family and leave.

"No! I'll do it!" She reluctantly said.

Abyss was watching the whole conversation, and reported it to Masao.

Masao, "So I see."

Abyss, "My lord, shall I take care of him on the spot?"

"No."

"But...my lord..."

"I should make them suffer, instead of leave. My hypnosis ability has been enhanced. I am more than capable of overthrowing Shimizu's influence, just by eye contact! That...is...final."

"...Yes, my lord."

What will be the fate of the Tanakas?

What will happen to Natsuno?

Here's where things really start deviating from the original plot of "Shiki."

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