[Aftermath]

Naomi slammed the door shut and locked every single lock there was; from the door knob to the latch right above it. She ran to every window as fast as she could and flipped every seal for them to lock.

Naomi felt her heart hammering against her chest. My heart's going to burst, she thought.

She was stilled holding her butterfly knife firmly, she never thought she was going to actually use it against a vampire. It was coated with a thin layer of blood, Naomi could still see the vines that adorned the silver blade; it served as a reminder, what had happened in the attic was real. She didn't imagine it, she wasn't dreaming... No matter how much, Naomi wished it was.

Naomi walked cautiously into her room, I need to wash the blood off.

She headed towards her bathroom and pushed the door open before entering. Once, she saw it was safe to enter, she turned on the sink. Naomi let the water wash over her weapon as it slowly rinsed the blood off. She turned off the faucet but didn't let go of her weapon, she gripped it tightly. Naomi was afraid of letting it go: She was afraid that onece she did... he would come back, but then a thought cane and invaded her mind;

He mocked me after I stabbed him... He doesn't care if I have a weapon or not, and why would he? It's not like I'm hurting his actual body.

Naomi took a look in the mirror. She was pale, she almost looked ghostly as a realization dawned on her: I stabbed an innocent person.

Hardly innocent, it was still a vampire.

She was rationalizing, she knew that and just as she was going to continue arguing with herself, something else came through her mind: He almost bit me.

Naomi quickly moved her black hair to the side and examined her neck, Nothing. It was a weird feeling, she knew he didn't but her but Naomi had the overwhemling feeling of checking... just in case.

She sighed, Relax, there's nothing there.

His voice rang through her head, "Shall I take you now?"

It was chilling, Why does he want to 'take' me? Why can't he just leave me alone?!

Naomi closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, He isn't going to go away. All I can do is prepare for next time. Be preemptive... and that means figuring out who he is.

Naomi let out her breath and opened her eyes.

She dug her hand into her skirt pocket and saw the polaroid she had taken from the attic. Before, she could further inspect it, she heard the home phone ring violently.

Naomi rushed out of her room to answer, "Nakamura household."

A booming voice came from the reciever, "Why the hell aren't you at school?!"

Naomi flinched as she held the phone away from her, "Hello to you too, Tanaka."

"Quit the crap! Your mom just came in here telling me how happy she is to see you before going to work." Tanaka's voice did not waver.

Naomi twirled her butterfly knife, "I was homesick..."

"You don't get homesick." Tanaka said bluntly.

Naomi grumbled, "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because it's true!" Tanaka yelled, "Now, get your ass to school before I- !"

Naomi held the phone away from her as she heard Tanaka yelling from the reciever and waited for him to be done.

"No," and hanged up the phone.

The phone rang again and Naomi pressed the 'end call' button.

It rang again and she merely pressed the button again... and again and again and again, until finally, Naomi pulled the cord.

He'll come here if I don't go back... and then looked at the bowl with a set of spare of keys for the house. Naomi let her eyes wander to the clock hanging in the living room: 11:59 a.m.

Both Yuuto and Veronica are at school, but then thought, when aren't they playing hookie?

Naomi grabbed the keys and put both the picture and (reluctantly) her butterfly knife away, Naomi walked out of her house.

Yuuto and I hung out alot when we were little, he might remember something I don't.

Naomi didn't waste anytime, she didn't take any detours, she only had mind set on her friends house. And just as Naomi had suspected, she saw Yuuto and Veronica talking through the window.

She racked her knuckles against door. Naomi heard them hush each other, Naomi rolled her eyes.

"It's me!" She sang.

Before she knew it, the door was opened wide and she was attacked with hugs and affection.

"Come in! Come in!" Veronica shrieked.

Yuuto closed the door behind her.

Yuuto wrapped his arm around Naomi, "Glad to know we're not the only one's skipping class," he smirked, "or that you turned into a perfect student." Yuuto clasped his hands together in prayer and pouted sillilly.

Naomi smiled, "Never."

"I'll get you some coffee," Veronica chimed, "We'll talk about everything and I expect you to tell me about cute boys!"

How about vampire stalkers instead?

Veronica ran off into the kitchen.

"Hey, Yuuto..." Naomi started, "We hung out alot when we were little right?"

Yuuto nodded, "Since diapers."

Naomi scrunched up her nose, "Do you remember a man with one blue eye and the other red?"

Yuuto frowned, "He's kind of hard to forget... He was creepy as hell." He shivered.

Veronica came back with the mug of coffee, "You didn't start without me, did you?" She whined.

Yuuto shook his head, "Nah, we were talking about her stalker when she was little."

Veronica's mouth flew open, "Why am I just hearing about this?"

Naomi grabbed the mug from Veronica, "Because I just remembered."

"How does one forget a stalker?" Veronica inquired.

Naomi blew on her coffee, "Well, do you remember everything when you were three?"

Veronica gasped, "You were three! Was he like a toddler too or..."

Yuuto shook his head, "Hell no, he was in his late twenties at least."

"Creepy the house." Veronica said.

Both Yuuto and Naomi cocked their head to side. They didn't understand her American slang.

"Don't worry about it." Veronica continued, "So he's in jail, right?"

Naomi crossed her legs, "No, he just stopped one day."

Yuuto reached for his own mug, "Yeah, around when we were four."

Naomi sighed in relief, That checks out with my mother's story.

He took swig of his coffee, "I didn't see him much though."

"What was his name?" Veronica asked.

She took the words straight out of my mouth.

Naomi stared at Yuuto expectantly, Come on, you have to know.

"I'm not sure..." Yuuto scratched his head in thought, "He did say, I think it was... Raido?" He shook his head, "No, that's not it." He shrugged, "All I know for sure is that it started with a 'R'."

"Yuuto can't you try a little harder?" Naomi pressed.

I need to know.

Yuuto raised an eyebrow, "Why? He's gone."

Naomi's eyebrows furrowed, "I just would like to know his name."

Veronica eyes widen, "Nao..." Her eyes now shined with concern, "He's not back, is he?"

Yuuto raised from his seat a little... He was protective of her, he always was.

Lie.

"No, of course not." Naomi laughed to take the edge off.

He totally didn't ambush me in the attic. I didn't stab him and I don't have a vampire hunter weapon in my pocket.

Yuuto grabbed her shoulders, "You can tell us anything." His eyes held burned fiercly, "If he's back you can tell us."

Naomi smiled as she grabbed Yuuto's arms, she said, "He is not back."

I feel so awful.

Yuuto searched Naomi's eyes, he'd usually find a tell but it was gone. There was nothing in Naomi eyes that gave away that she was lying and with that he let it and her go.

"Thank god," Veronica said.

The rest of the day was filled with laughter and Naomi's thoughts going back and forth from her problems that were waiting for her once she returned.

Night descended as her and Veronica bid good bye to Yuuto with smiles. Naomi's fear came rushing back when she saw moon.

"Hey, Ronnie?" Naomi said softly.

Veronica hummed.

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

Veronica gave her a beaming smile, "Of course you can!"

And there it is, Naomi thought, the same twisting feeling in my gut... he's watching me.

Naomi glared the shadows as Veronica talked about superficial things.

It may not be much, psycho, but I know your name starts with an 'R'.

God, this is so stupid. There are a bunch of names that start with 'R'.

Better than knowing nothing...

"Earth to Naomi!" Veronica yelled.

Naomi snapped out her thought, "What is it?"

Veronica was staring straight infront of them. At the end of the street, Naomi saw a sillhoutte of a man.

"You see him too, right?" Veronica whispered.

"Yeah." Naomi whispered back.

For some odd reason, Naomi knew it wasn't her stalker but she knew for certain: it was a vampire.

Naomi gulped, "We should head back to Yuuto's." She reached into her pocket and gripped her weapon.

"If we turn here we can make it back to the dorms quicker." Veronica without taking her eyes off the man.

The man began to stalk his way towards them.

"Hello ladies..." Naomi saw his eyes: they were a deep crimson.

Vampire.

Naomi tugged at Veronica's wrist and pulled her into a sprint. Veronica didn't fight her, she actually ran faster than her.

"Wanna see Cross Academy?" Naomi called out.

"Better than turning back and facing that creep!"

Naomi felt waves of anger and she, somehow, knew the anger wasn't coming from the vampire that was currently chasing them, but from the one who's been terrorising her.

a/n: aww veronica's going to see cross academy*