Chapter 7

-"You're going to hang out with her again aren't you?"- Hikari sat on her bed as she watched Yaya getting dressed.

-"Yeah I am, you should come with us."- Yaya smiled at her.

-"No, I won't do that."-

Yaya sighed, -"Because she's a vampire?"-

Hikari nodded, -"It goes against everything I believe in."-

-"What? She's not a bad person."-

-"Vampires were created by the devil."-

Yaya sighed, -"And where did you hear that? A movie?"-

Hikari shook her head, -"You can go hang out with her, but I won't and neither will Tsubomi."-

-"What? Why not?"

-"Because she's angry that Marinel hurt you."-

Yaya scratched her head, -"She said she was sorry. But whatever it's no big deal, I'm going now. Feel free to join us Hikari." Yaya opened the door and headed down the hall, on her way she looked out the window and noticed all of Miator's students gathering outside.

-"I wonder what's going on."-

Momomi's eyes fluttered as she awoke, she scanned the room till she finally realized she was still holding on to Marinel, her head resting on her shoulder, their bare bodies still pressed together. Momomi closed her eyes and exhaled, the corner of her lips formed into a small smile. She looked up and saw Marinel awake, reading a book with her free hand.

"Mornin love." She said.

-"Have you been awake this whole time?"-

She chuckled, "Aye, but for the most part I did sleep along with you… for an hour."

Momomi snuggled closer, -"I forget that you don't need to sleep."-

"No worries love," She looked at her, "Has anyone eva told you that you make the cutest noises when you're sleeping?"

-"N-nani?"- She bolted up.

She nodded, "Aye, you even called out my name."

-"Oh whatever!"- Momomi stood up, her cheeks red from the thought of that and marched into the bathroom, Marinel's laugh filling the room.

Momomi looked herself over in the mirror, she exhaled happily, no bite marks… maybe being with her is helping Marinel overcome her bloodlust or at least she hoped. However, being with her filled her with a new found happiness she never had with Kaname.

Momomi stepped out, seeing Marinel getting dressed and just in time too as she lifted her leather pants on and her eyes were glued to Marinel's butt.

-"Why you getting dressed?"-

-"There's going to be a small gathering, they want all of Miator to gather outside."-

-"I think we have time for a quickie."- She smirked as she made her way to her.

-"Oh ho ho, I like how you think sugar."- she smirked, -"But knowing Miyuki, she might come to my room to come get me if she doesn't see me."-

Momomi grabbed her hand, this time, a serious look on her face, -"Are you going to be okay outside?"-

-"No."- She said, -"I can only hope it doesn't take too long."-

Momomi feared the worst, -"I should go with you."-

-"Well it shouldn't be that bad though I don't think they'll allow you to be near me."

-"We'll see."-

Momomi began to get dressed, once they were ready they left to the main lobby and outside where they were already gathering.

Marinel looked around, the meeting just had to be out in the sun, and there was no shade anywhere.

She slipped on her hat and got in line with the rest of the girls.

The Head Sister grabbed a microphone, -"Now students, Miator has a problem with the recent drop in grades we are going to have to do things differently,"- She began and looked at Marinel, -"Ms. Reeve, can you take off your hat please."-

The girls looked at her, while Marinel silently cursed her and all her friends began to worry for they knew what could happen the longer she was in the sun.

Marinel took off her hat, the sun's rays shining on her.

-"Now then as I was saying, fifth years and fourth years are doing poorly and it's just not acceptable."- She resumed, -"And after talking with various instructors and school presidents, we have come to a solution."- She paced around the platform.

It had just been five minutes and Marinel was starting to feel a slightly burning sensation.

-"We have agreed that six year students from any school can help you study. We are temporally lifting our same school study groups for now to see if this can help you."- Though despite having such a rule, most girls still paired up with their friends to study regardless of school.

Marinel could feel the sun start to burn, she clenched her hands to power through the stinging pain. Momomi could see this was already affecting her just by the amount of pain etched on her face. She was sure if she approached her they would turn her back just by watching the instructors and vice presidents around keeping a watchful eye.

-"Should this actually help, then we will remove our policy on study groups."-

Marinel felt the ever burning sensation, despite only her head being exposed to the sun it was still an awful experience and her skin felt on fire and if one didn't look closely enough you would be able to see the slight smoke coming off her skin. Marinel was grateful she could resist the sun, but for only so long unlike her vampire brethren. The pain was starting to be unbearable and she was just about ready to run.

As the sister kept talking, she failed to notice someone moving in the crowd.

Marinel couldn't take this anymore; she felt she could burst into flames any given minute! Before she could run away, she felt a shadow being cast on her. She looked up, seeing Shizuma giving her back to the sun and casting a shadow on her.

Marinel felt so grateful to her and was glad she was taller than her, so with her there she hunched over and leaned against Shizuma who blocked the sun for her.

Shizuma could already feel the heat coming off Marinel and was shocked, the sun could've killed her!

Momomi stopped and saw Shizuma, while she hated that Shizuma was there she was at the same time grateful she did show up. Soon enough, Nagisa and Tamao made their way to the back with Marinel to help her survive this meeting.

The meeting lasted another ten minutes and Marinel kept herself within Shizuma's shadow which was enough to at least keep her face protected from the sun but her entire body felt on fire.

Marinel felt relieved once the Head Sister finished her announcement and allowed all the girls to return back to the dorms or roam around but since there was still a strict curfew they wouldn't be out for much longer.

Marinel immediately ran to the forest, to get under the shade. She ran deeper into the forest while her friends followed her.

-"Mari!"- Momomi finally caught up to her as did everyone else, -"Are you okay Mari-chan?"- Nagisa asked.

Marinel didn't respond, she unzipped her leather jacket removed it along with her long sleeved shirt, leaving her in her sleeveless and what everyone saw shocked them. What looked to be either steam or smoke was coming off her, her shoulders were red, her forearms were red and her hands and her cheeks were red like if she had a nasty sunburn… well she did actually. Despite how well layered she was, the sun was still able to harm her.

She immediately threw herself on the cool grassy ground, flipped over onto her back and spread her arms, feeling a cool sensation on her body as she lightly panted.

Momomi knelt down next to her, -"You okay?"- She gripped her hand, and her skin felt extremely hot.

"Not… not really." She said.

Shizuma clenched her fist as she looked at Momomi get closer to Marinel.

-"Is there anything we can get you Mari-chan?"- Tamao asked.

She shook her head, "Just let me lay here." She opened her eyes, "Thanks girls, any longer and I would've fried."

-"Anytime, I felt you needed help."-

As she laid there, the girls could not get their eyes off her burn marks since they were in shock, shock that she could've burst into flames and just the mere realization of it was more than they could handle.

-"Hey girls."-

They all turned their heads to see Chikaru and Yaya walking towards them.

-"Chikaru-chan!"- Nagisa lit up and gave her a hug.

-"Hey Nagisa-chan."-

Tamao looked at her, -"How did you know we were here?"-

-"Well I was going to give something to Mari-chan and I saw you all go here, so we followed you."-

"To give me something?" Marinel tired to sit up, but everyone could see how weak she looked and Tamao wasted no time in helping her much to Momomi's annoyance.

Chikaru knelt down and handed something to her, upon closer look, it looked to be a blood bag.

"What?" The girls were just as confused.

-"The infirmary has a few blood packs around, we don't use them but they have them."-

-"So why have them?"- Tamao asked.

-"in case we do need them."- Chikaru replied.

Marinel grabbed it, tore the corner and began to guzzle it down… disgusting all the girls, some wanted to vomit while others looked away.

After she was done, she licked her lips and relaxed. The girls all saw something spectacular, they began to see her burn marks fade away, her red skin began to get its pale complexion back and was healing her at a fast rate.

-"I've never seen someone heal so fast!"- Tamao exclaimed.

"I can't heal if I'm too weak." Marinel stood up, grabbed her clothes and slipped them back on then grabbed one of the water bottles Tamao was carrying and rinsed her mouth.

-"So uh… random question but how does it taste?"- Yaya asked.

"Nasty." She replied, "If you've eva stuck a penny in your mouth, it tastes kinda like that."

-"eeeeew!"- Nagisa felt disgusted just imagining it.

-"So how long can you actually stay under the sun?"- Shizuma asked.

"It usually depends," She said, "Sometimes I can stay out for five minutes before I need to find shade, sometimes I can even go fifteen minutes under the sun but by then my body feels like it's on fire, kinda like you all saw right now."

-"Can it… kill you?"- Tamao asked.

Marinel nodded, "Aye." She then smiled, "But don't worry love, I've never been out in the sun long enough for that to happen."

-"Are you okay now?"- Tamao asked, getting closer to her and placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Aye, I'm fine now," Marinel smiled but as she took a step, her legs just gave out and Tamao was quick to catch and hold her.

-"Mari-chan!?"-

The girls got closer to her, "I'm fine, I'm fine," Marinel steadied herself, "Just got to rest up, being that long in the sun really kills me." she said as she chuckled.

-"Here, I'll help you."- Shizuma walked up to her only to have Momomi rush to her, almost shoving Shizuma.

-"No, I'll help her Etolie."- Momomi glared at her, -"Wouldn't want you to overwork yourself now."-

Shizuma gave her a glare, -"Excuse me?!"-

Marinel looked at the both of them, all the while Tamao was the one holding her and honestly Tamao liked feeling Marinel's body pressed on her.

Tamao didn't say anything and began to help Marinel away while Momomi and Shizuma argued; the rest of the girls did not want to get caught up in the argument with those two so they followed Tamao.

-"As if you care about her more than me!"- Shizuma shouted.

-"Oh please, you only want to get her in bed and toss her aside!"-

-"You mean doing what you would do Momomi!"-

Momomi was on the verge of hitting her, -"Back off Shizuma! She's mine!"-

The two were standing so close to each other, you could just feel the anger in the air.

-"You back off, I saw her first!"

Before they were out of earshot, Tamao gave off a smirk, -"She's mine."- she said quietly as they left the forest.

The two turned to call to Marinel and it was now in that moment that they realized they were left alone in the forest.

-"Where did everyone go?"-

The door to Marinel's room opened up, -"What was that about?"- Nagisa asked.

Marinel could only sigh, -"Momomi is in love with me."-

-"Nani?!"- the girls were just as shocked hearing that.

-"And I think Shizuma is too,"- Marinel followed up as she sat on her bed, -"And honestly… I don't want them too, I don't want to have a relationship."-

-"What? Really?"- Tamao asked, sitting next to her, -"But why Mari-chan? Don't you believe that you can be happy with someone you love?"-

The girls waited for Marine's answer, -"Yeah exactly, I mean I can only imagine what it's like to find someone you just want to spend all your time with and enjoy everything together, aaah it would be so great."- Yaya smiled at the thought.

Marinel gave a half smile.

-"Did I say something wrong?"-

-"As I said before, I can't handle watching the person I love so much grow old and then leave me…"-

Tamao knelt down in front of her, -"You shouldn't look at it like that Mari-chan."-

Marinel looked up into her eyes, -"Love isn't so one sided, and love shouldn't be measured by how long you live with them, but by how you cherish your life with them and every wonderful moment together."- Tamao held her hand, -"You may live forever, but I'm sure it never mattered to the people in your life because it was worth being with you every waking moment."

Marinel wasn't so sure on what to say so Tamao continued, -"Did you ever ask this to the people you loved?"-

Silence.

Finally after a moment Marinel looked at her, -"No… I guess I never saw it like that, I was always worried about them that I never really took the time to really be with them."- How was she that blind to it, but it made sense because during her life Marinel never fully gave herself to the person she loved and instead wasted most of their life worrying about the end then spending every moment with them, and in instant, a wave of regret began to hit her.

-"I… you're right,"- Marinel ran her hand down her face, -"I'm so stupid!"-

-"No you're not stupid Mari-chan."- Tamao gently ran her hand across Marinel's back.

-"You would think, being as old as I am that I would be this wise person but no! I'm still an idiot! I wasted their lives worrying over them, wondering how their final years were gonna be like and how I would deal with it! Five hundred years I've been here and not once have I ever realized that!"

-"And… knowing that, don't you want to really try to be in love?"- Yaya asked though nervously since she realized she shouldn't have said that considering what she's been through.

-"I don't know."-

-"You should really try it Mari-chan!"- Nagisa chimed in.

Marinel looked at her with a chuckle, -"Well, have you been in love?"-

-"Eh?"- Her cheeks ran red.

-"I thought so, anit that easy is it love."- she exhaled then stretched, -"Well I don't know if I want to have a relationship, casual sex is fine by me."- she giggled.

Yaya giggled, -"I see. If more girls thought like you I'd never be lonely."-

-"But it seems like you've already attracted someone Yaya."- Marinel smirked at her, -"So even if I wanted you all to myself and trust me,"- she got closer to her, -"I do."- she looked her over with a grin, flustering Yaya, -"But I would not want to face her wrath, so much fury in a tiny package."-

-"Eh? What do you mean?"- Yaya asked but Marinel only giggled.

-"You'll see soon…"- But Yaya's clueless face was enough to tell her otherwise, -"Or maybe not, I may have to push it along."-

-"Push what? You lost me."- Yaya replied.

Marinel smirked, -"Don't worry 'bout it love."- She looked at Tamao, -"But I want to thank you Tamao."-

-"For what?"-

-"For making me realize something I never did before,"- She threw her head back and sighed, -"Looks like I am a grandma."- Then laughed.

-"That's not true, there are still many things you can learn."- Tamao said with a caring voice, -"And I'd happy to be here for you Mari-chan."-

-"And I'd be happy to have you by my side."- She inched closer to her, and it was strange, she didn't feel lust towards her like she did with Momomi or Shizuma but a sense of want, she wanted to be with her and the more she thought about it the more she felt confused. While she lusted for Shizuma and Momomi, she did love them, perhaps to the point of actually wanting to be with them and same could now be said about Tamao, but with her it was different.

Nagisa smiled as she looked on Tamao and Marinel talking, she gestured to Chikaru and Yaya then left the room after they understood what she meant and it took Yaya everything she had to not scream for joy.

-"Mari-chan can I ask you something?"-

-"Are you going to ask for my measurements again?"-

Tamao giggled, -"No, but I do want to ask you something."-

-"Well in that case, go ahead love."-

Before Tamao could say anything, the doors swung open, -"Here you are!"- Shizuma rushed into the room, -"You had me worried Mari, you all disappeared."-

Momomi walked inside, and practicicaly shoved Shizuma, -"Why did you leave Mari?"-

Shizuma glared at Momomi, then bumped Momomi away with her hips, -"If Momomi was bothering you, you should've just said something to me Mari."-

-"Me bothering her?! oh please Etolie."- Momomi placed her hands at her hips.

Marinel looked on then at Tamao, her face was sad, and Marinel guessed the reason was because Tamao probably felt like she couldn't compete with Shizuma and Momomi but she was wrong, Tamao was winning Marinel over more then she thought she was.

Before long, Shizuma and Momomi began to argue while Tamao watched in silence and Marinel didn't want them to keep fighting.

-"I have an idea!"- Her voice rang out, making Shizuma and Momomi look at her.

-"What idea do you have Mari,"- Shizuma smiled.

-"I'm okay with anything."-

Marinel however thought this was a horrible idea but decided to go through with it regardless, maybe something good can come out of it, -"We should all go out!"- she said.

Silence.

-"Are you being serious?"- Momomi asked as she looked at Shizuma, -"You want me to go with her?"- She glanced at her.

-"I don't see why not, and you too Tamao."-

-"Tamao!?"- Momomi and Shizuma both were surprised.

-"You want me to go too?"-

Marinel placed her hands on her shoulders, -"Of course I would love, it'll be a blast!"- She looked at all three, -"So tonight! We're going out girls!"-

-"With her, I don't think so, I'd rather be dead then be next to her."- Momomi crossed her arms as she looked away from Shizuma.

-"Same here."- Shizuma turned away.

Marinel frowned, but then smiled again, -"Oh, well that is quite the shame, Don't you agree Tamao?"-

Tamao looked at her but said nothing.

-"Well come on Tamao, let's go together,"- Momomi and Shizuma snapped their gaze to her, -"Let's go ask Nagisa if she wants to come."-

-"Yes, I'm sure she would and with you I'm sure it'll be fun!"-

-"That's more like it sugar,"- she wrapped her arm around Tamao as they left the room.

Momomi and Shizuma gritted their teeth.

-"Damn it!" Momomi stepped outside, -"Mari wait up!"-

Shizuma shook her head, -"Mari just what are you up too."- Shizuma left the room and followed behind Momomi to catch up.