"Ryuji, please do me a favor," said Makoto. She would normally have phrased it as 'Could you do me a favor?' but after the recent lesson, she was resolved to use polite commands.

Ryuji perked up, seemingly interested in not being a bystander to these events. "Sure, Ms. Niijima, what is it?"

"I need someone to deliver a message to my estate. The butler, Mr. Yoshida, will need advance warning to prepare for our arrival. It would help get things ready for Shiho."

"Sure, I'm in this thing. Anything for Shiho. I can do that, easy."

"Oh, Shiho," said Mrs. Suzui, and she went back into the exam room, presumably to sit next to her sleeping daughter. Mr. Suzui remained in the waiting room, likely to keep tabs on where plans headed.

"Thank you, Ryuji" said Makoto. "Please tell him that Shiho is arriving in the Suzui coach. We will need one of the ground-floor suites. Stock the larder for guests. And have the groundskeepers get the storm shutters out of storage. We will begin putting them on every night."

Ryuji mouth slowly opened wider as the message got longer.

Makoto began to have doubts. "Do you have all that, Ryuji?"

"Uh- what's a larder?"

"You should probably write the message, dear," said Mrs. Sakamoto.

"Mom!"

Makoto suddenly realized she didn't have the authority to order the Sakamoto children around when their own mother was in the room. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Sakamoto. I hope it's alright I impose on your children?"

"Of course. I appreciate it. Both are practically full grown. They need to be put to better use."

"Mom!" This time Ann joined in with the objection.

"I'm a gate guard!" said Ryuji.

"Yes, so you stand around on the gate instead of standing around on our porch."

Ryuji groaned.

"I have paper and ink in my desk over there, Ms. Niijima" said Takemi.

The parents struck up a low conversation while Makoto went to the desk and wrote a note for Yoshida. Though she was trying to maintain an authoritative tone with those around her, she didn't want to convey that in writing to Yoshida. He would willingly do anything she asked, so she could afford to be brief and polite.

Makoto also added a request that she hadn't wanted to say out in public:

'Please contact Okumura Security and increase the number of guards at night. I would actually prefer it if a new team of two could take the day shift, and we request Justine to join Caroline on nights. Plus a few more guards to watch the other areas of the grounds. The danger is at night.'

She rolled up the paper into a scroll and tied it with one of the ribbons Takemi had for just such a purpose. Caroline and Justine were two people who Father himself approved. No sense in wasting one of them on the day shift.

Ryuji had been watching her, so he came over to receive the item. She held out the scroll and some coins. "Here is money for a rickshaw. Pick a runner that looks fast. Do you know where my home is?"

"Azabu somewhere. I'll just ask people. But keep your money, I'm faster than any rickshaw." Ryuji did some high-knee steps as if to prove the point.

"You will run all the way to Azabu?"

"Yeah, what? It's like-? Eight kilometers? That's easy."

"If you say so…" Makoto handed him the rolled scroll.

"See ya!" said Ryuji to the group as he left out the front door.

While Makoto was somewhat dubious of Ryuji's claims to be faster than a rickshaw runner, she didn't think the young man would have trouble finding her estate. He was personable and entirely unafraid of speaking with strangers, and most people around Azabu would know where the Niijima manor was located. So, that would prepare the home and put Yoshida into frantic action.

Yoshida would deny Makoto nothing, and finances were not a concern. Yoshida ran the place in the black, and that was not even considering the ancestral holdings of the Niijima family and Father's personal fortune he earned in his own lifetime. The expense of extra security would be a drop in an ocean, and knowing Yoshida, he would still somehow manage to balance the books even with the extra expense.

The single potential roadblock to Makoto's maneuvers was Sae, but only if Makoto looked to get permission. If Makoto simply acted, Sae would be powerless to stop her. It's not like she would, or could, stand at the threshold of the estate and bar their entry. Such an undignified act was certainly beyond Sae's sense of propriety.

So, the way for Shiho's transfer to the Niijima estate was paved, or at least, in the process of being paved. Yoshida would need some time to receive the message and marshal the few housekeepers still on retainer. He would probably need to recall some of the old hands who retired to their own families after Father's disappearance. The Niijima manor would be bustling with life again, if only for the temporary period of Shiho's convalescence, though- probably not even that long. More like till the death of the vampire that started this mess, then the Suzuis would take their daughter back into their own residence.

How best to use an hour or two this morning? The sun was still fresh, as it was early morning. Ren continued to lean against the wall between the door and the windows, not talking to anyone. He was pointedly avoiding the rays of morning light streaming through the blinds.

Mrs. Sakamoto and Dr. Takemi had sprung up a conversation with Mr. Suzui idly standing in their conversation circle but not actively participating. Ann, too, was there, but she looked somewhat anxious and her eyes were on the exam room door. She probably wanted to be with Shiho, too, but perhaps was allowing Mrs. Suzui some alone time- or maybe she just felt obligated to stay near her mother until dismissed.

Makoto's stomach growled. Ah, that's right. She had not eaten, and it was doubtful anyone else had. Food was in order, and it would be especially important to get Shiho something to eat. Where to get something? Her eyes landed on Ren. He basically lived in a cafe, right?

"Mr. Amamiya, could I speak to you, please?"

Ren glanced at her, then pushed himself from the wall. He walked the long way around the pools of sunlight in the room, drawing a curious look from Mr. Suzui. Ren approached the desk were Makoto was standing.

"Mr. Amamiya, please go get the proprietor of that cafe you are staying at to fix up breakfasts for everyone."

"No."

Makoto was taken aback. That was not the response she'd expected. Her surprise must have shown on her face because Ren's mouth curved downward slightly.

"I'm not your errand boy. But the cafe is a good idea. I will return there and rest." He turned away from her.

"Hey!" hissed Makoto. He paused and looked back at her.

She kept her voice in a low but intense whisper. "You're just going to leave me with all of this?"

Ren's face remained impassive, but he whispered back: "These are humans, aren't they? You're the expert."

He was really going to leave her with all of this! She felt a bit of desperate anger warm up in the back of her mind. What if she needed another rescue like with Mrs. Suzui?!

"Don- don't you want to learn from the expert?"

"No."

Makoto felt the anger bubble into a low simmer. He was leaving her with the mess! What if Ren- no, stop being so familiar with this- this- co-worker! It's Amamiya! And was this Amamiya going to start hunting without her, too?

"What about the vampire, then?!" She heard her own hissing voice take on a soft squeaking quality to it. She blushed despite herself.

Amamiya looked at her quietly for a moment. "Come to the cafe at dusk, and we'll stakeout the school."

Then he turned to the door. Amamiya took out some spectacles from his jacket, put them on, then pulled the brim of his broad hat low over the front of his face, and walked out the front door and into the morning light. Makoto's jaw clenched tightly as she watched him go, her anger just barely simmering back down. At least she'd gotten confirmation that he would wait for her before hunting tonight. But he certainly wasn't interested in being useful to the campaign as a whole!

Short-sighted... self-centered… lazy… bastard!

Ann wandered over. "Where is Mr. Amamiya going?"

"To rest, apparently," said Makoto, trying to keep the irritation out of her own voice. She looked at Ann, realizing she could put the other Sakamoto sibling to work for her, and Ann could probably use a distraction for a bit. "I need you to do something for me, and for Shiho."

Ann's blue eyes opened wider and she nodded. "Of course."

"Take this money and fetch breakfast for everyone. Something you can carry easily, of course. And make sure to ask Dr. Takemi what food is best for Shiho and make sure to get that. She will need to eat to regain her strength."

Ann took the money and her face took on a determined cast. "Right!" she said, accepting Makoto's mission and immediately turning around and injecting herself into the conversation between her mother and Dr. Takemi. Ann's skirt flared slightly as she turned, revealing a bit of shapely thigh.

Men paid attention to that sort of thing, Makoto knew. She too accidentally turned plenty of heads when she used to walk around in a schoolgirl uniform. Amamiya sure noticed that sort of thing. His attention on Ann when they first met had been intense. Makoto's anger towards Amamiya bubbled back into a simmer, though she was not entirely sure why.

Meanwhile, Ann received her instructions from Dr. Takemi and left out the clinic door. Makoto, with nothing left to immediately do, joined Mrs. Sakamoto, Mr. Suzui, and Dr. Takemi in the center of the waiting room. They turned to look at her expectantly. Oh, they still viewed her as the leader of the situation! Quick, think of something to say!

Dr. Takemi's eyes traveled between them as Makoto's mind tried to come up with something. "I'll check on my patient, excuse me." She wandered away to the nods of the others, buying Makoto a little bit of time.

"Thank you both for your assistance," said Makoto. It was a vapid statement, but it was the best she could do.

It seemed to be enough, however, as Mrs. Sakamoto shook her head. "I haven't done anything, dear. I should be thanking you for helping my daughter's friend."

There was a pause. Mrs. Sakamoto turned her head to Mr. Suzui and raised her eyebrows at him. He blinked. Coughed.

"Oh, yes. Ms. Niijima. You saved my daughter's life. I am at your service, as is whatever resources I can bring to bear."

"I appreciate that, Mr. Suzui."

"Though… I am curious as to your next steps. We will place Shiho in your guarded household while you, and your rude friend, do… what?"

Makoto actually wasn't too sure what they were actually going to do. But she obviously could not reveal that. "We will keep a close watch on the school tonight for movement, and if we see nothing, we will investigate the grounds tomorrow morning when the staff and student body have gathered."

Mrs. Sakamoto paled. "So you truly believe this creature is disguised amongst them?"

"Yes."

Mr. Suzui frowned, but not in dread. He seemed to be thinking. He tapped his chin. "The administrator of that school, Principal Kobayakawa, is an extremely incompetent man, or so my wife tells me. But he has powerful political connections, and thus attained his post. However, he also has his vices- a particular weakness for a sweet bean paste which I happen to import from Zen-Dai. He owes me money. And he's scared of my wife. If you will allow us, we can likely attain full access to the school for you."

Makoto's opinion of this uptight merchant soared. "That would be exceedingly helpful, Mr. Suzui. Thank you."

Mr. Suzui nodded and waved his hand in a pretentious way. Think nothing of it, or that's how Makoto interpreted it. Mrs. Sakamoto was also regarding Mr. Suzui with a softer expression.

"That Kobayakawa," said Mrs. Sakamoto, "He's more sweet bean paste than man."

Mr. Suzui let out a sort of high-pitched, teetering laugh.

They- they were making fun of Principal Kobayakawa! For being fat! The thought had never crossed her mind until now. He was pretty fat. She squeezed her lips together and held in a bubble of laughter that threatened to escape. Fat Principal Kobayakawa. He could barely fit through his office door. He was wider than his desk. No. No, this was not a valuable train of thought- she needed to get back to the issue at hand: the vampire at the school.

But if these school parents knew personalities at the school, they might have information on other suspects there. "Have your daughters spoken of anyone else at the school? Anyone strange? Anyone different?"

"You think it might be a teacher?" said Mrs. Sakamoto.

Makoto thought it was likely a teacher but her mind raced through her own assumption. She had never seen a noble vampire. They were a dying population, supposedly. But they could live forever, as far as she knew, which made her wonder why the vampires were dying off. But that was a curiosity for later. So, violence or disease could kill a noble, but not time. That seemed to make it more likely the noble vampire would appear as an adult to human eyes. Then again, Amamiya didn't look very much older than herself, but Makoto was pretty sure he was actually much, much older. And noble vampires were rumored to control magic and do all sorts of things. Perhaps they could make themselves look like anyone they wanted to.

"It could be anyone," said Makoto, "So any information may be helpful."

Mrs. Sakamoto and Mr. Suzui put on thoughtful expressions.

"Well.." said Mrs. Sakamoto, "Ann always talks about Ms. Chouno, the Womanly Skills teacher. Ann says the woman is a witch."

Womanly Skills. Makoto had not been a fan of that class, either. She didn't recognize the teacher's name, but just the mention of the subject brought back memories of learning how to walk in high-heels and donning corsets unaided. Makoto had always thought the subject was a bit silly and demeaning, but she was also pretty bad at it. That was always her lowest grade. And by low, it was the only one that wasn't 100%.

"A witch?"

"Yes. Very strict, I think. But I think Ann is something of a lazy student and Ms. Chouno calls her on it. You know how kids are."

Makoto didn't exactly know how kids were, but she thought she mostly understood what Mrs. Sakamoto was saying. A strict disciplinarian was Ms. Chouno- perhaps. However, she was also a woman, and though that didn't rule out Ms. Chouno as a suspect, it made her seem less likely. And Amamiya had said the vampire would attempt to charm the victim, and it did not sound like Ms. Chouno was successfully charming Ann. But then again, Ann wasn't the target- Shiho was.

Makoto turned to Mr. Suzui. "Has Shiho mentioned this Ms. Chouno, Mr. Suzui?"

"Not that I am aware of. But she talks with her mother more about such things."

And Mrs. Suzui was busy with Shiho at the moment, so Makoto could not barge in and interrogate the woman. So much for that line of logic, for now. But at least Makoto had the name of one suspect.

"Has Shiho mentioned anything at all about school?"

"She likes nature studies," said Mr. Suzui, after a thoughtful pause. "Mr. Hiruta is the teacher, I believe. Shiho is fond of him. Though, I haven't met the man myself."

"I have," said Mrs. Sakamoto, "He's handsome, but he came off as a bit of a pompous poof to me."

"A- a poof?" Makoto was unfamiliar with this term.

"A girly-man, dear," said Mrs. Sakamoto. "But some girls like that sort of thing. And he dresses like some aristocrat going to a gala. Every day. Well, every day I've seen him, anyway."

A charming man with high-class tastes. Noble tastes, one might even say. And he apparently charmed female students. He seemed a more likely suspect than Ms. Chouno.

"Oh, how could I forget!" continued Mrs. Sakamoto, "the athletics instructor: Mr. Kamoshida. Ann raves about him. I'm sure she has a crush on him. To be honest, I do, too. He is one fine specimen of manhood."

Mr. Suzui frowned. "I haven't heard of him."

"Teenage girls don't tell their fathers about their crushes, Mr. Suzui," said Mrs. Sakamoto. "If you haven't heard of him, I bet that's what is happening."

"I see..." Mr. Suzui twiddled with his small mustache, seeming a little uncomfortable.

Makoto agreed with Mrs. Sakamoto. The idea of telling her own father about boys, the few who had captured her girlish interest, had never crossed her mind. She went to Yoshida instead. He was a man, too, but- he wasn't Father. Not that Makoto ever pursued any of those feelings in the end. Boys liked other girls. Girls like Ann. Not girls like herself.

But that was another suspect's name. Kamoshida. Apparently very handsome. And charming enough to have Ann, and supposedly Shiho, interested in him in that way. He would be someone to look closely at, along with Mr. Hiruta. But there were surely plenty of other unknown suspects. Other teachers, groundskeepers, other staff. Even the students themselves. Makoto hoped Amamiya would have some means to narrow the search. Maybe use that nose of his. Or that cat hand.

The door to the clinic opened and Ann re-entered with a wicker basket of something that smelled wonderful. That was quick, but this district was a place of every-day employed folks. Early risers needed food, so there were plenty of eateries and food stalls plying their goods early in the morning. Ann must not have had to go very far.

Further thoughts on the investigation could wait. Everyone could take a moment to eat, and then they could prepare Shiho for the journey to the Niijima Estate.