Mado looked up at Haise from her desk, appearing extremely overworked.

"What is the problem?" Haise asked, trying not to laugh at the mess as he gathered the papers and books.

"B.C." Mado breathed.

"Pardon?"

"Black Crystal." Mado explained. "It's a new drug. Ghoul blood. It makes humans high; they feel powerful and indestructible, and the sexual thrill; I've been told; is indescribable."

Haise stared. 'I see."

"I got this information from Christy Singer." Mado informed. "Apparently she was doing research, and she came across the drug and gave it a try. We are searching for an antidote, but—"

She stopped. Haise was gone.

Xxx

Haise entered his house, finding Christy there.

"W-what are you doing here?" Haise asked, trying not to openly stare.

"Writing haiku." Christy lifted her hand and Haise noticed for the first time that she was holding one of those cool, ultra-expensive leather-bound writer's journals. "I find inspiration being here, alone, right when they open."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'll just leave you alone." Haise waved and started to turn away, but she caught his wrist with her free hand.

"You don't have to go. I find inspiration in more things than being out here alone."

Christy hand was warm against Haise's wrist and he wondered if she could feel his pulse jump.

"Well, I don't want to bother you."

"Don't worry about that. You're not bothering me." Christy squeezed his wrist before letting it go.

"Okay, so. Haiku." Christy's touch had left Haise ridiculously flustered and he tried to regain his facade of good sense. "That's poetry with a set meter count."

"That's right. I prefer the five-seven-five format." Christy paused and her smile changed. Something about it made Haise feel strange. There was something…off about her. Were her eyes…red? And not like a ghoul, either. What was going on. "Speaking of inspiration—you could help me out."

And then Christy's touch made his mind go blank. She slipped her hands up the back of his shirt. "This…its where your kakuho is…."

It didn't sound like a question, but Haise nodded. "Yes."

"I would like to see your kagune. If it wouldn't make you too uncomfortable."

Christy's voice shivered through Haise. Logic was telling him that she was only asking to see his kagune because of how freakishly different he was, and that she was in no way coming on to him. To her he must seem nothing more than a ghoul with unusual powers. That's what logic was telling his. But Christy's eyes, his voice, the way her hand was still caressing his shoulder—those things were telling him something completely different.

"I'll show it to you."

Haise started to shrug out of his jacket.

"Here, let me help you."

Christy was standing very close to Haise, in front and to the side. She reached up with her right hand, caught the collar of his jacket with her fingers, and slid it off. Then she pulled off his shirt, leaving him bare-chested. His breath hitched.

"Go ahead." Christy entreated, her lips at his ear.

Haise breathed in, and released his kagune.

Christy continued to meet his gaze for several more seconds, and Haise could feel the cool breath of the night air and the caress of the nearly full moon on the exposed skin of his kagune. Very deliberately, Christy moved even closer to him, stroking his kagune gently.

"It's incredible." Christy's voice almost a whisper, reverent with longing. Haise felt her fingertip lightly trace the red, sharp, kagune; and he shuddered. "I've never seen anything like this. You truly are quite unique. I'm honored that you would share this with me Haise."

Christy said his name like a prayer. Her voice mixed with her touch made Haise shiver as goose bumps lifted on his skin.

"I'm sorry. You must be uncomfortable." With another gently stroke, Christy helped him withdraw his kagune.

Haise's breathing returned to normal.

"I wasn't uncomfortable." Haise realized the words were true, though he couldn't believe it.

"Cream and silk as one

How I long to taste and touch

The moon watches us."

Christy quoted.

Her eyes never left his as she recited the poem. Her voice, which was usually so practiced, so perfect, had gone all husky, like she was having a hard time speaking. As if her voice had the ability to heat him, Haise was so flushed that he could feel his blood pounding fiery rivers through his body.

"That was…." Haise managed to speak, but the name of the poet was whispered so soft from him that it was almost silent.

Christy heard it anyway. "Yes. It was written centuries ago by an ancient Japanese poet about how his lover looked naked under the full moon."

Haise knew that, but his brain wasn't working. "I…think I know how he felt."

That surprised her, inciting a sharp intake of breath. "As do I." She leaned in, and Haise was expecting, hoping, to feel her lips on his. Instead she brushed her soft lips along the line of his jaw, and the scar on his neck tingled at the contact.

"Tonight you have been my inspiration, Haise. Thank you." Christy whispered.

Then the moon went behind a cloud. The red in Christy's eyes dimmed, and she seemed to come back to herself. She dropped her hand from Haise's face and moved a step back. He felt her withdrawal like an icy wind.

"It was nice to see you, Haise, but I need to go. Thanks again for allowing me to look at your kagune." Christy's smile was polite and proper. She gave him a little nod that was almost a formal bow, and then she walked away.

Haise didn't know whether he should scream in frustration, cry in embarrassment, or growl and be pissed. Frowning and muttering to himself, Haise ignored the fact that his hands were shaking and marched upstairs to his room.

Now that he was clear-headed, he realized a few things.

Christy was behaving strangely. And she smelled like a ghoul. A dead ghoul.

Something was very wrong. And as much as he enjoyed it, Haise had to get to the bottom of this.

Haise wanted his first kiss with Christy to be a real kiss.