♧Inner Demon♧

I dream of a human size chessboard with chess pieces on their respective places. The only difference was that the king piece on the white side was my brother and I was distinctly on the black side. I looked at my position, noting that I was not the king of the black pieces. I was the queen and this realization made me snapped my gaze to the side, to see who the king was.

A flash of purple caught my vision but the pieces vanished before I could comprehend what happened.

My eyes snapped open, pulling my consciousness back to the real world as I blinked my eyes to keep awake.

I stretched my limbs and got up, my hair lazily sprawled around my body in a messy way, no doubt a few strands were standing on the wrong direction.

Oh look.

There's that ugly looking doll that Nii-sama always carries with him. And then there's Nii-sama, a hair brush on his other hand while gazing at me with intensity.

I didn't know what was creepy, the fact that he was on my room and watching me sleep or the fact that he was acting as if this was all normal.

"Miki-chan~Ohayou, my cute little sister! " He greeted with a wide smile while using his hand to make that annoying doll wave its hand.

Poker face.

I closed my eyes and shifted to my left, pulling the covers over my head as I tried to go back to sleep, not wanting to deal with the annoying specimen which is my older brother.

"Miki-chan! Don't ignore me! It's time for breakfast! You didn't tell me that you're coming home so I hastily prepared some food. I'm sure you wouldn't mind having apple risotto and chicken soup for breakfast. I also made some jasmine tea for--"

I tuned out his ranting. Nii-sama is still annoying and loud, the only normal thing I could grasp.

Seeing as I wasn't responding, he started shaking me so that I would wake up.

"Miki-chan! Wake up! It's already 7! You'll be late for school! "

I bolted upright, frantically looking for the wall clock of my room.

Ah.. It's 6:15...

Idiot.

"You woke up! "He cheered happily while my brows twitched from irritation. "Ah... My cute little sister is so adorable. Don't you think so too, Abel?"

I ignored him as I started rummaging for clothes in my wardrobe.

"Look at that distraught long hair and drool on her lips...! Her bed hair is so cute. If only Miki-chan would wear nightdresses. Right! It is up to me as her onii-chan to educate her properly on the manners and etiquettes of being a fine lady. She's so tomboyish.. Still..! It only proves that she still needs me! Miki-chan! You have something on your face! Better wash up or do you want onii-chan to bathe you--" Thud!

I threw the nearest object that I could pick up. It was a book and he was hit directly on the face.

"You're so loud. Get out of my room. " I ordered with my arms crossed.

The only reason I woke up was due to the fact that I hate being late. Tardiness is unacceptable.

I can't be late. I need to be on time. Always.

"Would you prefer this red one or the blue one? I think both suits you really well! Abel seems to think the same! You should really stop wearing these horrible fashion faux pas..! They're very displeasing to see, Miki-chan. " Onii-sama said, looking at my pants with disgust.

I gazed boredly at him. I did not hide my distastefulness at the two frilly dresses that were presented infront of me.

What I told Sakuya the day before will stay true. I will dye my hair bleach blonde with blue polka dots before I would ever wear something as hideous and monstrous as that thing.

"Nii-sama, you are being creepy. Your sister complex is out of place. I'm already 16. I'm a proper adult so I don't need you to check up on me all the time. Besides, I'm fine with some simple pants and clothes. "

"C-Creepy?" He looked crestfallen at my choice of words and knowing that he was simply being dramatic, I plopped down infront fo him, my back facing him as I handed him the hairbrush.

"I won't allow it! Miki-chan and simple doesn't fit together! You need to show your beauty more, my kawaii imouto! Come! We must get you some proper clothes and not these commoner garbs! " I pinched the bridge of my nose.

Commoner garbs...

I don't really know how to handle Nii-sama when he becomes like this. Of all the people, I could never joke around him. It was a good thing he decided to take up brushing my hair before trying to fit me into those hideous things he calls 'proper clothes'.

"Wearing a dress makes it hard to move..." I reasoned out. "And I'm not trying to impress anyone, Onii-sama... My friends could care less what I wear." A lie. Mahiru and Sakuya always ends up driving me crazy with how insistent they are that I wear girly clothes instead of pants.

My brother's expression suddenly turned serious.

"No way! I saw Miki-chan with a boy yesterday! You need to be aware of the opposite gender! Beware of those perverts and lecherous people! It's dangerous for my cute little sister to live without me and my protection. You must listen to Onii-chan!" His personality suddenly turned a 90° turn.

"And by the way Miki-chan, where the hell did you disappeared to when I was out doing some business these past few days?!" Onii-sama managed to say all of this while brushing my hair, combing the strands very gently and untangling them.

I sighed. Here he goes again.

"I was staying with a friend at school. Don't worry, he's a mother hen and he has a boyfriend. I'm perfectly safe around them. " I explained cooly but it seems that it only made him more horrified to listen to my explanation.

"A boy?! You were staying with a boy who has a boyfriend?! MITSUKI!!! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! " I covered my ears at my brother's high pitched scream.

The rest of my morning was spent listening to my brother chastised me at my scandalous behavior and how I should not even think of going back to live with the 'lecherous fiend'.

It was absurd. Mahiru is practically a mother and a brother in one complete package. He doesn't even look my way and I doubt that he classifies me as a girl. With how much he and Sakuya has been nagging me, I'm not even surprise.

♧Inner Demon♧

"It's been a while, Miki-chan~What brings you here? " I blinked twice at him before my gaze landed on the boiling liquid inside a cylinder. The suspiciously looking violet liquid bubbled. One glance is enough for me to tell what was inside it.

"Nii-sama is going to kill you for that, Glasses-kun. "

"Ahahahahahaha!! Don't worry! Miku-Miku is going to be happy! Instead of getting furious at me for ruining his precious, he'll be really grateful because he can be one with his beloved through this potion! Ahaha! " Glasses-kun was laughing maniacally with his spectacles glinting in the dark.

I turned away. "Let's just say that I didn't heard that. Nor did I see you boiling Violetta's head... Wait.. Was it Veronique..? Or Elise? Eh.. I don't care."

With that, I took off.

After successfully evading my brother, I managed to catch the train as I headed to school as early as I could like always. The meeting with Glasses-kun is really eventful too.

I saw something interesting. I was tempted to join him at ruining dolls but I couldn't be late. I need to be on time.

I darted around the hallways and once I saw a lump of brown figure moving, I screamed at the top of my lungs, not caring if the whole student body heard me.

"MAHIRU-KUN!! "

The brunette turned around but before he could, I had jumped on his back and wrapped my arms and legs around his upper body.

He was obviously startled as he tried to balance himself with the added weight.

"A-Ah..! Mitsuki! Don't just do things like that! "Red dusted his cheeks and it was complimented by his embarassed expression. He looked mildly annoyed and surprised to see him.

"Care to share any news about yesterday?" I asked, taking notice of Ryuusei and Koyuki. Then to the green ball of fluff called Sakuya.

"Mi-chan! Mahiru is saying something about a vampire magician that attacked Ryuu-chan. But it's all just a misunderstanding. Ryuu-chan actually got into a car accident yesterday! Did you received my e-mail? " An arm draped across his shoulder.

"You forgot that Mitsuki doesn't have a cellphone! "

"Oh right! " Koyouki looked ashamed. "Sorry about that. hehe.. "

"No, don't believe him. " I took out my phone, a flash appeared, signaling that I took a picture of them.

"Psych! You almost fell for that. "

"Sakuya, who would fall for such a blatant lie? " I asked flatly.

"He did." Koyouki blushed at Sakuya's words. I feel a little sorry at how this ended.

Then my gaze noticed Sakuya's hand draped across the brunette's shoulder. What the...

How come he can do that so easily with other people ..

My hand automatically went to my phone.

"Mitsuki. Knock it off. " Ryuusei told me but he doesn't do anything to stop me from taking a picture.

Snap!

They already know about my weird antics and is probably used to it by now since they would occasionally sigh or reprimand me from my bad habits. It only works half of the time.

But really. I can't stop.

"Psych! " I cheered, repeating Sakuya's words. "Look what I got? "

I waved the phone like I won the lottery while a picture of the greenette and tall brunette was displayed.

They blinked at me.

"Huh.. No reaction. That's odd, are you guys feeling okay?" I questioned, feeling mildly confused.

"Mitsuki! You should stop taking other people's pictures without consent. It's a violation of rights. It's a good thing that we know you! Other people wouldn't be so lenient." Mahiru said in a serious tone, his nagging side coming out once more.

I shrugged before drawling. "But it's so fun to capture moments like this~"

Sakuya took his time to ignore me.

"Anyway, what's this about vampires. Don't tell me that you actually believed my story yesterday?! " Sakuya said in a really dramatic way. Mahiru grew a tick mark.

"Yesterday really happened!! There was a vampire! There's even a riot in town and there were a lot of police! Ryuusei got bitten and Mitsuki was there to witness it! "He turned to me with desperation."You were there, right?! "

I pondered for a moment and placed my hand on my chin. They waited for my answer which is exactly 5 seconds.

I turned to their expectant gazes with a sickly sweet smile. "I remember that Mahiru picked up a cat."

They nodded as if urging me to go on.

"Mahiru picked up a cat. "I repeated and they waited for me to speak more but after realizing that I wasn't going to say anything more, they slumped in a disappointed manner, especially Mahiru.

After seeing their expressions, I grinned. "Ahaha! Of course I remembered, idiots! Who wouldn't?! Mahiru was acting really weird. Talking about a cat being a vampire. We all know that my brother called me before I could join you guys. I don't really know the rest since I wasn't with you when the accident occurred."

I almost felt bad about lying.

"Well tell us immediately! You're acting suspiciously like Sakuya here! " Ryuusei stated.

"Me?! "

"Boo. How annoying. I'm not as cowardly as him. Sakuya is a pansy, you know? A Tsundere, too? " They all turned to him as if contemplating my words.

"Mi-chan is actually right. " Koyouki is the first to break the silence. "Sakuya acts like a Tsundere at times. "

"I do not! "

"People lie when they deny things."All of their attention turned to me.

"You also said 'I do not'. And in the stage of denial, liars often use formal language. You were also looking directly to Koyouki's eyes which is a sign of lying. Contrary to popular belief, practiced liars often look at someone's eyes to prove that they are telling the truth. Sometimes, those who are innocent, always look away to clarify their thoughts. Other than that, you were fidgeting and perspiring. There's also an increased in blinked rate. " I arched an eyebrow. "That was a lie. "

Their mouths were hanging open after my long explanation. Apparatenly, they haven't seen this side of me again for a very long time.

"Y-You.. I... Ahahaha!! " Sakuya laughed nervously. "You say such weird things, Mitsuki! Stop that. It doesn't suit you at all to be so stiff again! " He pats my back in an awkward manner but my gaze never left him. I raised a brow.

"Hey! Don't tell me you're reverting back to the Mitsuki-sama we all know? "He peered down, leaning to my level, the suffix a very discreet way of saying I used to act like a snobbish prat who thinks that commoners are below me.

In my defense, I hardly socialized.

"Baka. " I poked his nose using my index finger. He was taken aback by this and pouted.

"Disgusting. Don't give me that. " I said cooly.

"What did you say?! "

"Anyway, I need to go to the nurse's office. "

"What? Why? " Ryuusei looked confused while Koyouki was worriedly glancing at me.

"Is there something wrong, Mitsuki?"

I smiled like a Cheshire. "I need some shuteye. My head is pounding and aching like the norm."

Mahiru spoke up just as I expected.

"Then I'll go with you! Yesterday probably tooks its toll on your body. "

I placed a hand on my hip. "I didn't really do anything rigorous. My body is just like this since it's very demanding when it comes to sleep. Get used to it already." I waved my hand off to dismiss the conversation.

The three others looked like they wanted to follow but decided against it. Sakuya was frowning, probably noticing the lie I made.

He's not really a good liar but he could detect one very easily.

Koyuki and the others didn't even noticed me lying when I made up a story about my brother.

Nii-sama never called me. Besides, who could forget such an important event that almost caused my friend's life?

That's no good.

"Mitsuki, do you really not remember anything? About that magician? " Magician? I raised a brow which made Mahiru sigh in disappointment.

"Nevermind. " He seemed to be giving up already.

"I don't know any magician but I remember meeting a psycho with some flashy getup. " My voice was flat and monotone, opposite of what I usually use.

"You mean you remember everything?! "

"Who said I didn't? " He knitted his brows.

"But you said that --" He paused once he saw my deadpanned expression. His eyes finally reached into a conclusion.

"You lied." I nodded.

"Took you long enough to notice. "I received a pinch on my cheek.

"Ouch! " I whined, slapping his hands away and glaring.

"Why?! How come that you and I remember but Koyuki and Ryuusei doesn't. Things are getting weirder and weirder. I don't even know how to react towards this. Even you got involved. "

I waved him off. "It's fine. I already know that you're a magnet for trouble, Mr. I-don't-like-complicated-things. " I said, stating the fact that everyone knows..

"I told you before Mahiru. You don't need to worry. I think everything will be okay. Kuro helped you and I know that he'll do the same thing anytime around. Don't forget that you have me as well. I don't desert my friends, you know this. I know a certain individual who is knowledgeable about vampires but I advise not to approach Glasses-kun. He's a weirdo."

"Glasses...kun..? " Mahiru asked, obviously not knowing who I was talking about.

"He's pretty cool if you make it pass his weirdness. And he's even better than Onii-sama at times. He doesn't meddle with my work. He helps me make my homework albeit a few bribing. And we both love to destroy Onii-sama's dolls! He's amazing!! A genius!! " I cackled like a maniac, uncaring if anyone saw me in such a state.

"Ah.. M-Mitsuki..? "

"Oh I'm sorry~ I must've ranted without knowing. But you should be used to it by now, MahiMahi. If you could handle Sakuya, you can handle me~ That guy and his lying tendencies are a real pain to deal with. I'm thankful that Koyuki and Ryuusei are decent. They're the most human out of our group. Aside from the fact, that we have a rabid doujinshi lover, an idiotic liar that has no balls, and a nagging mother hen, those two practically screams normal. "

"Why do I feel like I was insulted? " Mahiru says out loud and looks pointedly at me. I chuckled nervously.

"Come on! That was a pun! "

"I seriously doubt that." He retorted as I tried to stifle the laugh trying to come out of my mouth.

"But seriously, Mistuki.. About what happened. I don't understand it at all. They can't remember but we could. They even said that I wasn't there. How is that possible? We both saw how that magician bit Ryuusei! " I placed a hand on his shoulder and shook my head.

"Rest assured, Mahiru. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this. For example, brainwashing, amnesia, mind manipulation or temporary memory loss. There are tons of reasons why. And you worry too much, MahiMahi. I'm sure that everything is happening for a specific purpose. "

Mahiru looked at me bewildered. "Wow. I can't believe that Mitsuki of all people would give me advice. Who are you and what did you do to her?! "

He pointed an accusing finger which I bit non too gently.

He shrieked and pulled back as he nursed the poor finger, my bite marks decorating the skin.

"Mitsuki!! " He nagged. "That hurt! "

"Ahaha! Now I'm Mitsuki? And it's rude to point at people! That's common sense! "I snapped a picture before running away.

"GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANCE, MITSUKI."

If everything was really real, then that butterfly from yesterday must be..

♧Inner Demon♧

Going home was my most favorite time of the day. Atleast because I don't have to bother about school anymore and club activities are done.

"How come you aren't going to walk home with me and Mahiru?" I demanded once I've managed to corner Sakuya. My hands were fisted against his clothes while I stared at his face, though I have to tilt my head because of the obvious height difference.

"You're crumpling my uniform!" He said, trying to loosen my grip. I reluctantly released him.

"Whatever, Sakuya~ Your loss. Take care on your way home."I said, shooting him a glare before storming towards Mahiru. Mahiru looked as if he wanted to leave as soon as possible, not liking that he witnessed another one of my peculiar interactions with our resident joker.

Mahiru and I finally went home together, we talked about the incident yesterday using hushed voices. But before we could manage to go into depth of the events that occured, there was rustling sounds coming from his backpack.

Somehow, I feel like someone was inside it and when Mahiru pulled it open, Kuro in his cat form was there, struggling for space against the pink ragged doll.

I cringed at the sight.

"What is that piece of rags doing inside your bag, Mahiru? " I asked, staring at the stupid doll, vampire.. What I would do to have my needles and scissors on hand right now. A knife would be fine and I wouldn't mind being creative.

"When did this guy get in here?! " Mahiru took the doll out, earning some odd looks and whispers from the crowd.

I blinked, always experiencing this whenever Nii-sama would drag me to a cafe. To have tea and eat cakes with your doll. That's downright crazy and ridiculous. And I often wish the Earth would swallow me whole everytime my brother takes me out to eat outside some fancy restaurant or cafe. Not to mention the weird stares we often get...

Anyway~

The doll was whining for some blood. I fought the urge to shiver, my head pounding very loudly again.

I hate that thing.

"☆Someone like you should be murdered by Tsubakyun!!!☆"It complained as he mentioned that flower guy's name. And here I thought, that Tsubaki was just a scentless flower.

The fact that this guy talks about murder as if it was a normal thing is really bizarre and this only tells me that there really is something wrong with his head.

Ahh well.. I really can't speak for myself when it comes to that since I'm a very grey individual and wouldn't mind butchering people if I have to.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

"Kuro, who is this Tsubaki guy? Do you know him? "Mahiru looked to Kuro who replied languidly. Why is it that Mahiru always asks Kuro if he knows people. The servamp looked nothing like a social butterfly and I've noted that he doesn't like to divulge information very much.

"I wouldn't know of any brute that attacks an innocent kitty like me. " .

"Innocent?! I doubt it~ " I must have said that a bit too loudly.

Kuro turned to me and gave me a weirded out look, something on the lines of 'You-have-a-loose-screw'.

"You're a vampire. I doubt you're innocent. With all the blood and killing and stuff. I'm betting all my yen that you've already killed people." Sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble, other times, it saves me. This is one of those times were my opinion is not needed.

Kuro looked away, a shadowed expression crossing his feature and I have a feeling that I was walking on thin ice at the moment so I did my best to remedy the situation.

"Ah but I can't really judge people since every person's circumstances is different and some people can't help the situation they are in." The emotions that I noticed disappeared in a flash but I knew that I didn't hallucinate.

It had stopped. About a few years ago..

Nii-sama was..

I..

Well...

...?

Huh..?

"Mitsuki? "I slowly looked at Mahiru who had a worried look on his face.

"Are you okay? You spaced out. This is the first time I've seen you done that after a while. Is something wro--"

"No!! That's ridiculous!! " I flashed out my million dollar smile. "I was just imagining you and Kuro doing bondage and kinky stuff toge--"He blushed and quickly slapped a hand on my mouth.

He immediately scolded me for my vulgar words and to stop entertaining my weird doujin fantasies.

"Mahiru~ I care for you but please don't kill me through asphyxiation." I half yelled, gasping for air as I swatted his hands off of me.

Mahiru instantly looked apologetic at his actions.

"Agh! Mitsuki, I'm so sorry!"

Before I could tell him to stop, the world changed. The space around us was enveloped with a never ending amount of red as if we were suddenly enclosed inside a different world altogether.

My legs gave. Mahiru caught me, holding my elbows firmly as I stood frozen.

Drops of rain fell from the sky but it didn't made us feel wet like actual rain. Was this an illusion?

The sound of wood clacking on the ground can be hard.

"Hey you. "

There was a stranger in traditional Japanese attire.

"Tell me something interesting. You have something interesting to tell me, right? "

"Besides, the whole sky bleeding red, no." I blurted, red vampire eyes boring holes on me.

A deranged laugh filled the air.

I muttered one thing. Vampire.