Karin & Hikaru's Tears and Kenta's Pride ~Pride~

(Wonderful Life - Torri Webster (Lyrics))

(Hikaru's POV)

Kenta: You're vampires. So that's why . . . That time . . . So that's what's going on.

*Karin dropped the girl she had just bitten & I was so shocked, I couldn't move*

Hikaru:*in his mind* What is he doing here!? He saw Karin biting that girl!

*I immediately thought back to the day we became adult vampires*

(Flashback - 2 Years ago)

*One of our middle school classmates screamed at the sight in front of her. Me & Karin were kneeling on the floor, blood coming out of our noses like waterfalls*

Student #1: Whoa! What is this!?

Student #2: Oh my god! Look at that blood!

Student #3: Karin! Hikaru!

Student #4: Are you okay?

Student #5: How could they be okay!? They're coughing up blood!

Hikaru:*in his mind* Why is this happening!? We're supposed to be vampires! Why are we losing blood!?

*Everything started spinning. I then saw Maki & Daikichi pushing their way through the crowd*

Maki: Karin!

Daikichi: Hikaru!

*Then everything went black*

*When I opened my eyes, I saw I was in my bed. Then I saw Ren sitting next to me*

Ren: You're awake? Finally.

Hikaru: Ren . . . What happened? Where's Karin?

Ren: She's resting in her room. Don't worry, Mom's with her. Anyway, do you remember having a nosebleed?

Hikaru: Yes. But everything after that is a blur.

Ren: Heh. Too bad. You missed quite a show. You and Karin lost consciousness and got taken away by an ambulance. We were told that you two had collapsed from blood loss. Dad panicked, no surprise there, and flew off to rescue you both. Even though the sun was still out. Stupid old man.

(Third-Person POV)

*Bats attacked the ambulance causing it to stop. Henry then tore the door off & rushed inside*

Henry: Karin! Hikaru! *he saw the twins laying on a table, unconscious* They're okay. I'm glad a made it in time. It would have been big trouble if they had analyzed you both at the hospital. *he took one twin in each arm* My dear bats, break all these machines. Just in case.

*He left the ambulance & found Anju (9 years old) waiting outside*

Anju: Daddy.

Henry: Hn?

Anju: You're covered in burns.

*Henry covered himself with his cape*

Henry: It's nothing. I'll be fine after half a day in my coffin. Though a few more minutes in the sun would've made things . . . Critical. Anju, you erase the memories of all the people in this vehicle. I'm counting on you.

*He then flew away. As soon as he got home, he gave Karin to Calera & Hikaru to Ren. He then passed out himself from the burns*

(Hikaru's POV)

Hikaru: Dad . . . Did that for us? But we just had a nosebleed.

Ren: You're not stupid, so don't act like it! Do you really think that was just a regular run-of-the-mill nosebleed? *he handed me a mirror* Here, take a look at your mouth. *I looked & saw something new in my mouth* See the new fangs? You and Karin have become adults. Congratulations. But, for some reason, you two are vampires that release blood instead of drinking it.

Hikaru*off-screen* Neither Karin or I knew what that meant. All we understood was that as vampires, we were failures.

Anju: I had my bats get right on it, but if too much time passes, the memories become carved deep into the brain to erase completely. I couldn't kill the memories of you guys getting nosebleeds. Sorry, sis. Bro.

Karin: N - No way!

Hikaru: I can't believe it . . .

Calera: Well, as long as they still you're both human.

*The next day, at school . . .*

Male Student #1: There's the nosebleeders!

Male Student #2: Freaks!

*Those words really stung*

Maki: Don't pay attention to them! They're just immature kids! *she glared at them. meanwhile, Daikichi ran up to them, ready to punch their lights out* But are you guys really okay?

Karin & Hikaru: Y - Yeah.

(Present Time)

Hikaru:*in his mind* At this rate, the life we've worked so hard to protect since that day will be ruined! This can't be happening! *just then, Usui grabbed Karin by her arm & then by her face***out loud * Hey! What are you -

He ignored me & turned Karin's face towards him. He then lifted her upper lip a little, revealing her fangs. He then grabbed my face & did the same to me*

Kenta: Fangs . . .

*Karin then started panicking*

Karin: D - Don't look!

Kenta: H - Hey!

Karin: Noo! Let go!

Hikaru: Karin! Calm down!

*Then she started screaming*

Karin: ANJU! ANJU! WHERE ARE YOU!? HURRY! WITH YOUR BATS! HURRY AND ERASE USUI'S MEMORY! ERASE IT! ANJU! ANJU!

*I then wrapped my arms around her*

Hikaru: Karin, stop! Panicking isn't helping the situation here.

*She soon calmed down & panted from exhaustion*

Kenta: I don't understand what you're saying, but will you two please stop running away from me? *we looked at him* Karin, Hikaru, you're vampires. Right?

Karin: We're not vampires.

Kenta: But you were just biting that girl's neck.

Karin: We're . . . WE'RE NOT VAMPIRES!

Hikaru: Karin!

*She then fell to her knees & started crying hysterically. I knelt beside her & rubbed her back. She stopped after a few minutes*

Kenta: Are you done crying now?

*She looked up, revealing her face covered with tears & snot*

Karin: Bes.

*He handed her a tissue*

Kenta: Blow your nose.

Karin: B . . . Bokay.

*She blew her nose & wiped away her tears. I looked at Usui*

Hikaru: Please . . . Don't tell anyone. If people find out we'll have to leave this city and never come back. *in his mind * And we won't be able to face our Dad, who nearly burnt himself to a crisp trying to save us, Anju, our tough, but loving Mom, or our annoying big brother who have worked so hard to protect us all these years. We'll both feel so horrible that . . . We won't be able to live anymore.

*Karin looked ready to cry again*

Kenta: Hey, hold on! Don't cry anymore! *we both helped her stand up* Here. Get up. Karin, Hikaru, do I look like the kind of guy who spreads secrets?

Karin: But . . . We're gross, right . . .? Everyone would want to run us out of town or get rid of me. Who wants to be around monsters like us?

*Suddenly, Usui grabbed her by the shoulders*

Kenta: Don't be an idiot! I'd never feel that way! Don't think of me like that! Listen! Even a monster doesn't deserve to be driven from their home! That's gross! That's ugly! That's unforgivable! Don't compare me to someone like that! That's not the reason I wanted to know what was going on with you. *Karin & I were surprised by Usui's outburst* I . . . *suddenly, the girl Karin had bitten began to stir. we both pushed him into the bushes & I covered his mouth* What was that for!?

Hikaru:*whispering* SHH! Be quiet!

*The girl sat up*

Harumi: Why am I sleeping here? Who was that weird girl?

Kenta: Hey. Look over there . . .

*We looked where he was looking & saw a familiar girl laying on the ground, unconscious*

Karin & Hikaru: Anju!?

*We both went to her*

Karin: What's wrong!

Hikaru: Wake up!

Kenta: Hey. You know her?

Karin: Anju is our sister!

Kenta: She is!?

*I felt her forehead*

Hikaru: So you did come! But why are you . . .

Kenta: That girl is the one who brought me here.

Karin & Hikaru: Brought you!?