Suki was charmed by Hino as he insisted on being called. Upon meeting her he had immediately asked to call her first name, which she agreed to, but when she asked for his name, he shook his head. "I hate it, and no one calls me by that name." He then leaned in and whispered it to her, and she grimaced and agreed it wouldn't do. He then said, "Let's settle on Hino."

"Deal," she readily agreed. "It suits you better."

He then gently took her hand off the table at the restaurant and, holding it, ran his thumb over her knuckles. "I love the sound of my name on your beautiful lips."

"Ah, you're a charmer," she half teased, half accused.

He shrugged, "I'm an honest man. If I'm a charmer, it's because I find you charming."

She drew back a bit, "I'm going to be honest since we're too old to beat around the bush. I don't trust charming. My ex-husband was incredibly charming. In fact, he was so charming he charmed a lot of women into bed, which is where I eventually found him with my now former best friend and her identical twin sister."

He made a face and winced dramatically, "Ouch. That had to have been difficult. When was that?"

"I was young then. It was thirty years ago, but a lesson like that sticks with you over the years."

He looked into her eyes, "Okay, I will force myself to stop being so charming. It will be hard," he joked. "But for you, I will try."

"Why?" She asked suddenly. "No offense, but why do you care what my hang-ups are? You just met me."

He shook his head gently and then smiled at her. "Okay. Apparently, I'm going too fast for you. I'll slow down. But I will first agree that I don't know you, and you're right —it shouldn't matter to me based on just having met you. But sorry, it's not about you." He flashed her a cheesy smile. "It's about Saeko. I have solid reasons to trust her." She was part of the whole secret involving his beloved granddaughter, and she had shown she would be there to help the group without being asked. She had demonstrated that several times already. After what his son became, he learned to value those who showed up for his loved ones. "And I've quickly found her to be bright and knowledgeable. She said we would be a good match. I trust her enough to give this more than just a cursory attempt." And so he didn't sound like he was trying to be charming, he left out any mention of her beauty.

Suki took a long, slow breath and said, "You're right. It's just… I historically have had horrible taste in men."

"It's a good thing you didn't pick me then," he replied. "Saeko did."

Two hours later, they were locked in deep conversation. Once she relaxed and stopped overthinking everything, she saw what Saeko saw. He was a genuine man with a kind heart. It was also evident that he found her to be fascinating. She hasn't ever felt as important as she did when he looked at her.

As Mamoru sat in class, he took periodic sips from his metal water bottle with a metal straw. He picked that one so he could drop a blood tablet in it and a vial of Usagi's blood, and it wasn't obvious what he was drinking. Her blood added in kept him focused, and even though he didn't require it as much anymore, it made him happy.

He flipped over his sheet of paper and started answering the next test question. With the advances in AI, many things in his med school had gone back to pen and paper, with computers locked away, which ensured their answers were their own.

And in a week of multiple tests, it really came in handy that he was a vampire. He could spend time with Usagi and study, not having to sleep. Had he not had that, his time spent studying for his tests would have cut into his newfound social life like it had with everyone else.

His test was done three hours later, and so was his drink. He quickly texted Usagi to come and visit him before his next class. Not a necessity anymore, but a desire he had stopped fighting.

Two minutes later, he had her pressed against a wall in an empty classroom that he was sure had a disabled surveillance camera. Luna had kindly taught him how to do just that.

"How was your test?"

He pressed his hard cock against her thigh. "I knew everything on it. I'm sure I aced it." He then licked her neck. "And my reward?"

She bared her neck to him. "Take it."

His teeth were then in her skin as he drank from her neck, feeling her love and desire pouring through his veins. He knew if he weren't at school, he would be making love to her right now. She overwhelmed him.

He sucked again and drew more of her blood into his body and his system. It was then, as he was feeling her running through his veins, that he was pulled out in shock and fear.

"Mamoru?" His half-American classmate Rick asked. "Sorry, I'll leave!"

Mamoru pulled back from biting Usagi and pressed her quickly behind his body out of sight. "It's not what you think!" He groaned over how lame that sounded to his ears.

"You weren't giving a hickey to a very willing woman?" Rick asked.

Thinking Rick was pretty accurate for his limited information, Mamoru shrugged. "Okay, it is what you think." He realized he was okay with Rick's assumption. He had acknowledged she was willing, and it was better than the truth that he was biting her and sucking her blood.

He got distracted thinking about how he loved her blood. He then forced himself to focus. "Did you need something?"

"No. I picked the wrong empty classroom to study in. Sorry, I'll let you get back to… your fun." Mamoru was relieved he couldn't blush anymore, or he knew he would be beet red.

Usagi stepped from behind Mamoru, where he had completely hidden her little frame from view. "Oh, he will," she teased.

Rick blinked several times. He then took a rocking step forward and then froze. "Lady Usagi? Is that… is this possible?"

"I thought I recognized the smell of your bloodline," Usagi responded. "It's me."

He then ran his fingers roughly through his hair. "I have to admit this isn't how I imagined I would meet you."

Mamoru stepped back in front of Usagi, uncomfortable with someone knowing who she was without his understanding of the threat level. "How do you know her!?" He asked harshly.

Rick closed the door and whispered, knowing a vampire could hear. "It really looked like you were sucking her blood. I just didn't want to be overheard. I didn't know who it was that you were with, though. I've known all about vampires my whole life, and I knew when you became one. I was trained to notice when someone wasn't breathing."

"Are you a member of The Order of Van Helsing," Mamoru hissed.

He heard Usagi laughing as Rick shook his head. "I'm not against vampires. My family owes their existence to a vampire protecting them —Usagi. I'm a member of The Order of Usagi."

He turned and looked at his love in shock. "What?"

She had an apologetic look on her face. "I thought it sounded self-aggrandizing to mention that. Also, I didn't know they still existed. I saved his family line from being wiped out by a vampire one hundred and fifty years ago."

"It's not like we knew how to contact you," Rick defended.

"It wasn't a complaint," she replied. "Just a fact."

He then looked between the two of them. "Mamoru is…?"

"My bonded love," she replied. "Do you know about the prophecy?" He nodded. "We are King and Queen of the Vampires and…. Well, the werewolves will be co-opted into that, too."

Rick said, "While this is all a lot to handle, I'm going to admit I didn't think I'd find Mamoru with anyone in a position like that. That aside, I will do anything you command, Usagi."

Mamoru gave him a sour face. "You find Usagi, and yet me being with a woman shocks you the most?!"

"I thought you were kind of like a worm —a-sexual."

Usagi giggled. "No. He was just always meant for me, as laid forth by ancient prophecy. He was being patient for the right woman."

She then changed the subject. "How many of you are there?"

"We're small, about sixteen now."

She nodded, "How far does that extend?"

"I have a fourth cousin in the group. We noticed things going on lately, but we couldn't see who anyone was on TV."

"Witch's spell to protect our identities."

"Brilliant," he praised. "What can we do to help? You have an enemy."

"I have the help I need with them. I wouldn't put humans at that kind of risk. But," she pressed when she watched him frown. "We could use human help taking down The Order of Van Helsing in the Kanto region and, if we get lucky, all of Japan."

His eyes grew large with excitement. "I'm in! We all will be! We hate those guys!"

"We have two on the inside to help us. You would be working in tandem with them."

"Set a time and place, and I can assure you we will be there." They all exchanged numbers, and then Rick went to study, Mamoru went to class, and Usagi went to talk to Satoru.

Suki replied to the family group text that night and agreed to meet with them all the following evening. She was upset that it meant canceling her next date with Hino. She hoped he would forgive her since she had originally picked the time. She worried it would make her look flaky.

She knew he wouldn't be able to understand. But she worried he couldn't since she wasn't able to tell him the truth. Her nephew had found Usagi, and there was a secret family meeting. Apparently, the vampire they all owed their existence to needed their help. And there, at least, she was proud to say she would be able to return the favor, even in the smallest way.

They all revered Usagi.