My right eye twitches.
I bombed my test- A 52. Of course, this wasn't the first time.
'I wonder sometimes why I even bother…' I slump forward as other departing students passed by. After a moment, someone grabs my shoulder and pushes down slightly, as if to get a better view.
"Oh wow, Rin. Math doesn't seem to be your strong point." I recognize the voice to be Miku.
"School in general isn't my strong point…" I groan.
"You probably would have done better if you came and studied with us…"
"Miku, please…I don't need the guilt trip…"
"What guilt trip?"
"…Never mind. How did you do on your test?"
"92. Luka really helped me understand the concepts and formulas."
"I'm…so happy for you."
I avert my gaze away from her. A bit of jealously courses through my veins. I really shouldn't feel too bad; I have an excuse for my poor grades. Too bad I couldn't use it. You see, I missed out on going to school for a few years once Master Len took me in. I also didn't go out much; especially right after I found out that he was a vampire. Master kept me chained up for a couple months, actually. It's not as bad as it sounds, though. The chains were light- I just couldn't leave the house.
My face reddens slightly as I recall the chains. 'I wonder if maybe Master has some kind of bondage fetish…'
Miku saves me from my current thoughts…But she does it by slamming her palm into my back. It causes me to jerk forward.
"Hey, cheer up! Since we didn't have to stay after today, you want to come over to my place to study? The test is over, but it couldn't hurt."
"Eh…I guess it wouldn't…" I look up into the sky. There is still a good amount of daylight. "..Yeah, I think I will."
Miku gives me one of her trademark smirks. "Good!"
The excited aqua-haired girl grabs me by the wrist and drags me off the school grounds.
"…This is impossible."
I basically slam my head into Miku's kitchen table. I can hear Miku trying to hold back a chuckle.
"Aha, Rin, this isn't as hard as you think! See, look here. Luka showed me how to do problems like this…"
She continues to talk. I look up at her through my hair, not really focused on what she's saying. Miku is pointing at her textbook- I didn't take mine out, knowing that I'd have to leave quickly once Master called- as she explains the equation. My gaze wanders over to the other side of the kitchen. Miku's older brother Kaito is digging into their freezer. He was probably looking for ice cream. Miku had told me that he was addicted to the stuff. I then look at the clock. It was just a matter of time before-
'Come to me, My Doll.'
I stand up. Miku stops and looks at me.
"Eh? Rin?"
"I've gotta go now, thanks for trying to help me though." I begin gathering my stuff into my arms. She watches me, confused. Kaito looks over as well, a spoon hanging from his lips.
"B-But…why so sudden? Rin, where are you going?"
"Don't worry about it; I'll see you at school tomorrow."
'Rin….'
"I'm coming, Master…" I mutter under my breath.
"…What did you say…?"
"Oh, ah…It's nothing, Miku. I'll see you later, okay?" I quickly bow and rush out, not looking at my friend.
'She's gonna hate me tomorrow, but I don't have a choice…'
I thought about school and Miku the entire run. By the time I reached Master Len's house, I was completely and utterly stressed out.
"Good evening, my sweet little Doll." Master is smiling his cute smile as usual. I manage a half smile.
"Good…evening, Master…"
"…Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah…A bit stressed, I guess." I rub the back of my head before putting my things down. I go and sit down beside him as usual. Master now seems a bit expressionless, his red eyes looking at me.
"So, what are you stressed over?"
"I guess…school mainly. I failed another test." I sigh and lay down on his bed, staring up at the canopy. He lies down as well, still looking at me. "But…I guess it kinda makes sense considering how many years I didn't go to school."
"…I'm sorry."
I turn onto my side to look at Master. "M-Master….you don't need to apologize. I don't regret anything you've done for me the last six years…" My voice loses volume as I speak, slightly embarrassed. It's down to a whisper by the time I ask, "…Are you hungry?"
Master doesn't answer for a second. His eyes look away, and his face seems to turn slightly pink.
"Yeah…"
(Len's POV)
I feel downright horrible. And drinking my Doll's blood makes it even worse.
I knew from the very beginning that when I took Rin in, I shattered her chances of having a truly normal life as a human. But I couldn't help it. When I first found her six years ago in that alley, when she stared up at me with her beautiful sea green eyes through her golden short hair…I had to have her. And because of my stupid greed, she's now having so many problems.
'Stupid. So stupid. I'm so stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid…'
"Ah…Eh…M-Master…!"
My chain of thoughts is broken by my Doll's heavenly voice. I then realize that my little internal 'pep talk' is causing me to dig my fangs in deeper than usual. I quickly remove myself from her neck.
"A-Ah….forgive me…" I look away, her sweet blood spilling over from my mouth slightly. I use my hand to wipe it away. She manages a very weak smile.
"N-no Master….It's….okay…"
Another thing I hated. How every time after I eat, it leaves her extremely weak. I help her to sit up. Holding my Doll by her waist, I lick the bite mark clean- It's still bleeding a little.
It takes longer for her to recover her energy tonight. This makes me hate myself even more. I still let her go, though…But I decide to follow her, just to make sure she is okay. Once she leaves, I wait two minutes or so before going after her. I don't want her to know.
I make sure to stay right on top of her. Jumping from tree to tree, I keep my Doll in my field of vision. She… seems to be walking fairly slow, staring at the ground. She occasionally looks up when the leaves rumbled. But I stay hidden. After a few minutes, I start to relax. We were just a few more blocks away from her apartment.
And that's where she collapses.
I panic. I quickly look around. No one in sight. But before I could swoop down to help, she sits up on her own. Even from a distance, I can see that she's shaking slightly. It takes her a moment to get back up, but then she continues almost as if nothing had happened.
I bury my face into my hands and begin shaking myself. My Doll continues on. I don't follow. Once she is out of sight, I punch a nearby branch without warning. The thick piece of wood and bark snaps like a twig and falls to the ground below. I then sit there, debating whether or not to stay there and let the sun kill me. It takes me a while before I turn and head back home.
For the rest of the night, I lay in bed just thinking. Right before I fall asleep, I make up my mind about two things. First off, I care for my Doll more than a normal vampire would. More than a normal vampire SHOULD.
Secondly, because I care, I wasn't going to call for her tomorrow.
