Prologue: Hungry For Blood

The day was like any other day, servants and maids working. The natural rythm and movements of the workers familiar and routined. Kaito exchanged greetings to his fellow servants and maids, but that was just it, polite greetings. It was just for show.

Kaito didn't know what to expect, he had worked here for four years. He was not the social type, he just wanted to get his job done, and get paid. Social interactions were messy. The same with having friends and trying to maintain said friendships. It was all demanding, with no reward or pay.

"Kaito, come here for a moment," he heard someone call him, he turned to see it was Gakupo, the owner of this estate. Kaito immediately bowed, practiced and smooth before standing straight, facing Gakupo "Yes, Master Gakupo. What do you need of me?" Kaito asked, his voice and tone practiced and polite.

"I need you to deliver something for me," Gakupo said before presenting Kaito with a bag of coins, his expression hinting nothing of his thoughts "my donations to the church for this month, I want you to deliver it to them," Kaito nodded, taking the bag of gold coins, its weight light but heavy enough to remind him of the responsibility he has been given

"consider it done, master Gakupo," he bowed one last time, his back slightly aching from maintaining his straight posture. Gakupo nodded, his expression calm but pleased before leaving him to attend for other matters.

Kaito sighed, when Gakupo was finally out of sight, he groaned, stretching his back, rubbing his spine, hoping to ease the ache a little bit before going on his way to the church "Damn back, I'm still 24 for heaven's sakes," he said before he straightened his posture once more, "Better get this over with,"

The moment he walked out of the manse, he was immediately greeted by the sun's welcoming heat that Kaito did not mention find welcoming at all. He blinked a few times, gritting his teeth as he tried to adjust his eyes to the sudden brightness of the outdoors.

"Damn sun," he muttered before walking out of the estate and into the town, his steps following the stone path that would lead him to the church, his expression calm, but his eyes had a subtle hint of annoyance. It was damn too this season.

On the way, he would exchange greetings with the townsfolk. Some only nodded with recognition, some started small talk, while others merely passed by, but whatever they did, it didn't change his task.

Eventually he arrived at the church. It stood out from the houses of the town, the stone walls, it's size many times bigger than the houses and shops in the town. He stood before the entrance, steeling himself into entering the structure.

He walked inside, finding rows of chairs from the entrance all the way to the elevated space where the altars were and where the priests would lead the mass. He walked straight ahead, noticing some people who were saying their prayers. Eventually he arrives at the altar, but he wonders what to do now. There wasn't anyone here that looked like they were working here.

"Oh, sir Gakupo's servant I see," he heard an old and worn out voice, it was the priest. "Father, Master Gakupo told me to deliver this to you as a donation," he said, doing a polite bow before handing the old priest the bag of coins. The priest smiled, a soft and polite one "The church appreciates the donation, please do tell him we are grateful for his constant support of the Church," Kaito nodded "Consider it done, Father,"

The old priest slowly nodded as well "stay safe on your way back, especially during these times," Kaito tilted his head, "you mean those romours about vampires?" The old priest nodded. Kaito shakes his head politely, a small and polite, but amused smile, "I don't really believe in such things, Father. But I'll keep the concern in mind," The old priest simply sighed before nodding, "Ok, bless you and travel safely,"

He walked out of the Church, when he was finally out, he chuckled. "Vampires? No way those are real. Just something from those scary books,". He was a simple man, and believing in things like that was something he found funny.

He walked the same stone path through the town, passing by more townsfolk with nods and greetings. Eventually he would reach the outskirts of the estate. He sighed in relief, happy to finally be in doors, but before he could walk towards the gate of the estate, he heard a rustle in a nearby bush.

He turned to look and see what it was, it was just some rodent hopping through the bushes. Right, beyond those bushes were the thick forests that would seem to be endless and suffocating. He didn't know why, but he felt curious to see what it would look like behind those bushes.

He could already see the small dark shadows that the thick trees made with their forming and combining shadows. Kaito sighed, only this once, besides, maybe that rustle earlier turned on that little curious spark inside of him.

He walked towards the bush, but before he could get close enough, he noticed a small figure behind the bushes, a small white rabbit seemingly playing with it.

Kaito, tugged more by this, walked closer to see who, or what it was.

..he saw a girl, a small and petite girl. Her eyes close in some sort of serene sleep, her skin slightly pale, her messy and short hair a color of yellow, slightly pale.

"..huh?" Came out of his mouth as he stared at the unconscious girl before him. The bunny who was previously nibbling on the fabric of her dress now had its full attention on him, tilting its head at Kaito, Kaito noticed, but he didn't have the time to play, nor did he actually wanted to play.

Kaito then looked around, what was he supposed to do? You just don't find a random unconscious girl near the outskirts of a forest everyday. But who cares? He did, and now it was his problem..

He sighed, he walked through the thick bushes, standing before the unconscious girl, he knelt down down, startling the rabbit, it hopping back but not leaving, eyeing Kaito with curious wide eyes.

"Hey, wake up," Kaito said, nudging the girl gently on her shoulder.

It didn't work.

He sighed before nudging a bit harder, "Hey, wake up," he said, his voice now louder and more annoyed, the Rabbit had already hopped bedside him, watching with curiosity.

Maybe this time, the third attempt always works, right?

"Hey, wake up!" He said more louder, nudging her with more force, but not enough to shake her like a ragdoll, and it seemed to be enough as he heard a soft groan coming from the girl.

Kaito watches as the girl turned to lie slowly on her back, her breathing now manual, her eyes then opened to reveal a soft blend of blue and green, her eyes soft like her expression, yet, slightly dull and lost...

"Where...am I?" She said softly, tilting her head towards the rabbit and then to the man who was kneeling before her, blue smooth hair which has some stray strands and blue eyes. She noticed the small lines under his eyes.

"On the ground, and the outskirts of a forest," Kaito replied before extending a hand towards her, she stared at it for a moment before taking it. Kaito stood up, and in extension making the girl stand up as well. Yep, she barely reaches his shoulder, so small.

"Anyways, who are you? And what were you doing taking a nap on dirt?" He said, with a crooked and tired smile, the girl blinked... looking up at the man, "I...don't know,".

"Huh? What do you mean you don't know?" Kaito said, crossing his arms, his face showing his visible confusion "You don't know what's your name or you don't know why you we're sleeping on dirt?"

"both...I don't know my name, or why I'm here... I don't," the girl said, tilting her head down, "I don't remember anything,". This caught Kaito by surprise. This has to be some joke, right? He looks at her, her eyes were dull, yes. But also sincere, wide, genuine, and lost. Before he could say something, she spoke again "but I know I'm hungry,"

"Hungry? I don't have anything on me right now," Kaito said, but the look she gave him made him feel uneasy. Her dull eyes scanned him from head to toe, as if he was some sort of snack.

"Um, we could get bread inside. I think no one would mind one piece of bread missing," he said, trying to push down this uneasy feeling.

The girl didn't look pleased, then again, her expression didn't look like anything.

"No, not that," she said, slowly shaking her head, Kaito raised a brow, "than what do you mean? You're not exactly in the position to be picky,"...

She frowned slightly before staring at him, specifically his neck, he noticed did and his eyes widened, his hands extinctively covering his neck. He stepped away from the girl.

"I'm hungry for blood," she said as if it were something normal.

Kaito had two conclusions, either this girl is just weird who wants blood because she isn't normal. Or that she isn't normal because she could be a vampire, both didn't sound good.

He was about to run away and call for help, but..."Sorry, but can I have...some of yours?"

... The voice, she asked like it was normal, but that wasn't the point. The point was that this girl is weird, vampire or not, just her saying she wants blood is enough of a warning for him to say she's dangerous, and frankly she wasn't his problem.

But.

Her eyes, the way she asked for blood, yes, it felt uneasy, but it made her look lost. He was already just standing there, his hands back to his sides staring at the girl who stared back with those eyes...

"I...I can't give you blood, sorry," he said, and that was the moment he expected her to attack, take his blood by force, but, all he got was a frown and a slow nod.

Silence came, that was it, just awkward silence. The girl standing before her, simply down, her face conflicted.

Kaito sighed, no...he can't do that, can't he?

"Hey, you don't know anything? You don't remember anything?" He asked, he knew that he was gonna regret this.

The girl nodded, "I don't remember, anything," she then perked up, eyes slightly widening from a sense of clarity, "wait...I think I remember...Rin,"

Kaito nodded, "Rin? Maybe that could be your name," the girl then went deep in thought, before slowly nodding, "Maybe,"

So, the girl's name is Rin, and besides that, she doesn't remember anything, she doesn't seem to even know what she is.

He sighed, one last step, one last chance to ... but in the end, he just felt the need tl do it "Rin, will you trust me?" He said, crouching down slightly to her eye level.

"Trust?" She said, tilting her head. Kaito nodded, "yeah, I'll help you, ok?" Rin nods and without hesitation, she answers "Ok, I'll trust you,"

Kaito smiled, a tired one, "good, now follow me, and make sure you stay quiet,"

Rin nods, trusting Kaito to guide her, allowing him to take her wrist, his grip was firm, but not harsh.

She noticed something following them, a Rabbit, following just slightly behind her.

...

Kaito sighs as she slowly pulls Rin to follow him, he knows he was gonna regret this, hell, he believes that this was not gonna end well for him, but looking at her...

He knew he couldn't leave that girl alone, someone who seems to be so lost, without memory besides her name. What makes it worse is that she might be a vampire.

He looks at her, following him without resistance or hesitation, knowingly or not, she now trusts him with her life.

Kaito sighed again.

"This is not gonna end well,"