Chapter 15

-"Tamao-chan,"- She continued to knock on the door, -"Tamao-chan, are you okay?"- There was no answer as Nagisa kept her ear pressed agaisnt the door.

-"Has she opened up?"- Chikaru came up to her, concerned to no end after Tamao had locked herself in her room.

-"No, I'm so worried."- Nagisa looked at her, -"It's been a week and she hasn't come out?"-

-"Shizuma should have a key to this door, come on let's go ask Nagisa-chan."-

The two walked through the hallways to find Shizuma and passed by Yaya who asked for Tamao so the girls explained the situation to her.

They searched for a minute or so till they found her in a room, with a scene in front of them they were not expecting.

Momomi was giggling, as she tried to keep Shizuma off her, -"You perv."-

-"You love it."- Shizuma climbed on top of her and began to kiss her neck, determined to leave a mark on her neck.

-"You damn right I do,"- She kept giggling, Shizuma then ran her hand up Momomi's leg and under her skirt, feeling her soft skin on her palm and wanting more.

The rest of the girls however, their faces were flushed bright red and Yaya had blood running down her nose, Chikaru elbowed her gently after she regained her composure.

Though the girls didn't even seem to notice the rest of the gang by the door as Shizuma kept up her playful assault on Momomi's body, till finally Chikaru cleared her throat getting their attention.

Shizuma and Momomi snapped their gaze to them, quickly got up and fixed up their clothes, -"Girls, I didn't see you there."-

Momomi glanced at Shizuma, -"Oh gross… Shizuma, you left some drool on my neck."- She whispered.

-"Gomen,"- She giggled, -"I didn't plan to do that."-

-"You're gross."-

Shizuma smirked, -"And yet, you don't have a problem when we're making out."-

-"That's different!"- Momomi turned her head, mostly to hide her flushed cheeks.

Shizuma only laughed and wrapped her arm around Momomi then turned to the girls, -"So what's going on girls?"-

Chikaru stepped forward, -"Shizuma, we're worried about Tamao. She's been locked up in her room for a week now."-

-"Really? We've seen her come down every now and then to get something to eat."- Shizuma replied, -"I mean I know she's been feeling terrible, I've tried talking to her a couple of times but she never wants to talk to me."-

-"I'm really worried Shizuma-sama,"- Nagisa couldn't shake off the feeling, she needed to be there for her best friend, -"Do you have a key for the door?"-

-"I do."- Shizuma walked up to one of her drawers and began to rummage through it, -"Here it is."- She handed it to Nagisa, -"Should we all go with you?"-

Nagisa shook her head, -"No, I want to talk to her by myself."- the girls nodded understandingly as they watched Nagisa go back upstairs to go to Tamao's room.

As Nagisa walked up the steps, only the soft muffled thuds of her footsteps distracting her from the silence as she walked there. She was worried, would Tamao be angry? Would she be depressed? Was she okay? So many questions running through her head, would she be angry for bothering her?

She stopped by the door, and slowly inserted the key, twisted it and she slowly opened the door. The room was dark, the blinds were completely covering the sun and she could barely make out the figure of Tamao on the bed.

-"Tamao-chan?"- She walked inside and closed the door behind her, she managed to find the lamp on the table and turned it on.

-"Go away…"-

Nagisa perked her head up hearing Tamao's voice, -"Tamao-chan, please, you have to come out of this room."-

-"No."-

-"I can't imagine how much pain your feeling, but you can't let this keep you down."- Nagisa sat by Tamao's side.

-"I don't care, I don't want go out."-

-"You can't let—"-

-"I don't care!"- Tamao cried out, -"Do you have any idea what its like, to have someone leave you! She chose!"-

Nagisa didn't even flinch, she gave a saddened smile, -"I do know what it's like, I've… I've given up on Shizuma."- Tamao slowly turned her head to look at her, -"I never did anything, I never approached her and I lost my chance long ago and I've got no one to blame but me."-

The door opened up, surprising the two girls and Chikaru walked in, ashamed that she was eavesdropping, -"I'm sorry to hear that Nagisa-chan,"- Chikaru sat on the bed and looked at Tamao, -"But Tamao-chan, as wrong as it was and as terrible as it is, I understand why Eve-chan chose what she chose."-

-"She left me! to-to get revenge!"-

Chikaru looked away, -"I know, its awful but she did it to protect us."- Tamao looked at her, she could only hope she was right about Marinel's leaving, -"If they kidnapped you two, I can't imagine what would happen if they knew she survived and what they would do to anyone who was close to her."- Chikaru gently patted Tamao's head to comfort her, -"It's the only thing I can think off."-

Tamao was quiet, she laid her head back down and began to run her words through her head… it actually made sense.

-"I know that deep down Eve-chan still loves you."- Nagisa chimed in with a smile.

-"Can you two please leave, I need to think."-

Chikaru nodded, -"If you need anything let me know."- then walked out.

Nagisa walked out too, -"Please come on down, everyone would love to see you again."-

Tamao sat up, she just didn't know what to do anymore and would need to see Marinel again to get her thoughts straightened out.

A small tune was being whistled as she walked the stone steps and pushed open the heavy doors, she stepped inside and saw the younger vampire hunched over by the platform, panting.

"How's everything going Mari." She asked but got no response, "Hmm, did this happen last time?" She recalled the time she saw Marinel for the first time, using this room and was about to punish her when she noticed that she wasn't even doing anything wrong other than sitting there, and that's how they some what met.

"Urge to kill?" Claudette asked again, Marinel only stood up and rushed Claudette and grabbed her, -"My my, if you wanted a hug all you had to do was ask you sexy thing."

"I..." Marinel couldn't even reply, she was getting to a point where she wanted to snap and her eyes begged for help so Claudette only smirked.

"Hmm," Claudette looked up in thought and in a flash, her fist came down on Marinel's face, knocking her to the ground.

Marinel was dazed for a brief moment, the room was spinning and it felt like she just got knocked out, her vision almost blacked out and as she came too she looked at Claudette finally coming to grips, "What the hell!"

"Well that worked. I'm more surprised than anything." She grabbed Marinel's hand and helped her up.

The young vampire rubbed her jaw, trying to numb the pain and the bruise vanished just as quickly.

"I'm glad it didn't mark your pretty face."

"Did you have to hit me that hard?"

Claudette laughed, "oh believe me, that was me holding back."

"Didn't feel like it."

Claudette dusted Marinel off, "So did the room help?"

She nodded, "Yeah it did, it got my mind off it just as quickly up on till now."

"Again, this room is for decoration," The older vampire giggled, "I'm still so shocked this works for you."

"Trust me, I am too."

"So what are you going to do now?" Claudette asked.

"I have an angry girlfriend to go cheer up." Marinel began to walk out, "Thank you for letting me use this room."

"No problem," Claudette then walked up to her, "Can I ask you something serious?"

"Alright?"

Claudette crossed her arms, "What's it like, dating a human?"

Marinel smiled, "If I had to sum it up in one word… wonderful."

Claudette nodded, "I see, but isn't it awful? I mean you watch them grow old, you watch them die... I still don't see the appeal."

"It's not about that, though I do agree it gets painful over the years but what time I do live with them, is far worth then anything in the world for me love." Marinel smiled at her and placed her hand on her shoulder.

Claudette could only smile back at her, not fully seeing the attractions to humans but smiled none the less, "I understand." She said.

Marinel then walked out, thanked her elders for helping her set things straight then walked outside, then vanished in a blink of an eye to head back to Shizuma's summer home.

Claudette stepped outside, "Cause I gotta admit, you've been the only vampire that's had close relationships with humans and It's very interesting, makes me want to try it too." She giggled as she walked away to her other room.

Marinel arrived quickly, she stood in front of the doors panting, then before she could say anything she gripped her knees, "woo boy, I need to get back in shape."

She straightened herself out and knocked on the doors. It felt like forever as she waited and began to wonder what she should say to Tamao.

Marinel perked her head up as she could hear the locks being undone then finally the door swung open.

She gasped, -"Eve-chan!"- The girl with the red ribbons on her hair rushed her and embraced her.

"Hey love, I missed you too Chikaru." Marinel hugged her.

-"Eve-chan!"- The girls had overheard Chikaru and rushed to the front to see Marinel in front of them, everyone but Tamao.

-"Where have you been!"- Momomi shouted at her, -"Are you okay!?"- Shizuma followed.

"Never better love," Marinel smiled at them and greeted the rest of the girls who were worried for her, but seeing her now a sense of relief washed over them.

"You okay Yaya?"

Yaya nodded happily as she embraced their friend, -"I'm glad you're back!"-

"Hey girls, where's Tamao?"-

The girls went silent for a moment, -"She's in her room, she hasn't come out since you left."- Chikaru explained, -"I've tried to explain to her why you did what you did but I don't know if she understood us."-

Marinel scratched her head, "Um what did you tell her sugar?"

-"That you did this for her, to protect her."- Chikaru was hoping that was the real reason.

"To protect all of us," Marinel added, "If those people knew that I survived I don't even want to imagine what they would do to all of you." Chikaru was relieved that she was right, as was everyone else and could understand the reason she left now and stood behind her decision one hundred percent. They led Marinel to Tamao's room, wondering what they should ask her next but they didn't want to pressure the young vampire into giving them answers.

Marinel was about to enter the room when, -"So, what did you do to them?"- Yaya finally daring to ask.

The vampire only smirked, "Trust me sugar, you're better off not knowing." A chill went down Yaya's spine, glad she was her friend.

She stepped inside the room, the room was dark and she could vaguely see a figure on the bed, "Hey love."

She saw the figure sit up, then a light came on in the room, -"Eve-chan?"-

"Been a while huh."

Outside the girls had their ears pressed on the door to listen in, -"Girls we shouldn't eavesdrop, lets go."- However as Chikaru took a few steps away, she ran back and found room to press her ear against it.

-"What are you doing here."- Tamao said as she looked away from Marinel.

"I came to see you love."

-"Really."- Her voice just carried resentment and Marinel could hear it.

"oh I recognize that tone," she walked over and sat on the bed, "Come on, you really can't be mad at me are you sugar?"

-"Just go away! You chose some petty revenge over me!"

"Wha…" Marinel was surprised, "Would you rather I let them do something to you or me or all our friends?"

-"That's not the point! You left me!"- Tamao stood up, -"You cared more about getting back at them then staying with me! They would've never bothered us, you're so stupid! I don't ever want to see you again!"-

Well they still would have but Marinel wasn't going to say anything, instead she looked at Tamao with wide eyes, then she began to chuckle which slowly turned into full blown laughter and left Tamao confused.

-"What are you laughing at?"- Tamao asked.

Marinel had trouble calming down, but when she did she looked at Tamao, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes, "This whole thing."

-"Nani?"-

"It reminds me of my daughter."

-"NANI!"- The door burst open and the girls all fell into the room, catching them in the act of eavesdropping and surprising Marinel and Tamao.

-"You had a daughter!?"- Tamao was the first to cry out, -"How is that possible?!"- Momomi followed up.

Marinel reached into her pocket and pulled out a circular pendent that had no chain attached to it, she flicked it open and showed the picture to Tamao and the girls rushed to look over her shoulder.

-"She's beautiful,"- Shizuma was the first to say, -"What's her name?"- Yaya asked.

-"Lydia."- Marinel said, -"And I didn't give birth to her if that's what you're wondering, she wasn't really mine."-

-"What?"-

Marinel leaned back, -"I found her by my home, a baby was just abandoned there soooo I took her in and I raised her myself."-

-"Eve that's... wow,"- Shizuma smiled at her and sat by her.

"Ay, hard to believe huh, but she was an amazing girl and she grew up to be a wonderful woman. She led a full life but oh man, when she was a teenager, she was quite the handful," she laughed, "She would always say, 'You're the most terrible mom, I hate you!' followed by her running to her room and locking herself in there."

-"That's actually pretty cute."-

"There was nothing cute about that love," she giggled, "But she was mine, and she would behave just like you when she was angry at me Tamao."

-"That's pretty wonderful Eve-chan,"- Chikaru still couldn't believe that Marinel was a mother in the past, she wondered how long ago that was, -"You didn't want to make her live as long as you?"-

Marinel shook her head, "No, I asked and begged her many times but she always refused. She didn't want to live that long and she always kept telling me she wouldn't be able to handle it, so she wanted to live her life to the fullest and I never once left her side."

Their hearts felt for Marinel and were happy she had a happy life with a daughter.

She stood up, "But thank you Tamao, I'm glad you reminded me of her. It's been so long without her and I really miss her… but we should talk later sugar after you calm down a little." She could only giggle as she left the room, leaving the girls with Tamao.

There was nothing but silence, Tamao just kept staring at the picture of Marinel's daughter and was lost in thought.

-"Are you going to talk to her?"- Nagisa asked her.

-"I don't know…"-

-"I'm not here to say what you should do but you should talk to her, maybe you could work things out,"- Chikaru stood up, -"Let's go girls."- The rest of the girls followed Chikaru out and allowed Tamao some time to herself.

Marinel was looking through some of the cabinets, she turned to see the girls walking in, "Ah, good timing girls," she looked at Shizuma, "Ey love do you have anything to drink, maybe tea or something?"

Shizuma blinked, -"Drink tea?"-

"Yeah, I'm trying to drink something other then blood right now," Marinel kept looking.

-"Here, I'll make you something Eve-chan."- Chikaru opened up one of the pantry doors and found some of the tea packets and began to make it.

Shizuma still could not get her mind around Marinel drinking anything other then blood in the past, and kept staring at the vampire which she quickly took notice, "Ey I am half human love," She giggled, "I can drink the stuff." She sat down.

Everyone quickly sat down, -"hey hey Eve-chan, can you tell us about your daughter?"- Nagisa quickly cried out happily.

-"Yeah I want to hear about her too!"- Yaya followed up as did everyone else.

"I'm shocked, you actually want to know?"

They all nodded, -"Please, we want to know!"- they all cried out excitedly.

"Well, where to begin love," She leaned back, "It was about maybe a hundred or two hundred years ago." She began to tell her tale about her beloved daughter and the girls all listened happily to her story.