♧Inner Demon♧

Dear Mama,

I did say that my bestfriend has a knack for trouble but attracting not one but two vampires after picking up a cat?

I don't get paid enough for this.

Yours,

M. A.

♧Inner Demon♧

Vampire...

I stood on my own shaky legs as I struggled to accept the fact that these red eyed people keep coming to my life nonstop.

I could not stop myself from spacing out and tuning out my whole surrounding despite the obvious danger I was. I dislike red so much and I feel as if I'm surrounded by my worst nightmare.

I didn't want to think too much but my head was pounding again. I couldn't very well tell the stupid organ to stop feeling pain since the world doesn't work that way.

The red always tells a story, seemingly remembered and never forgotten. It tells of loss and gain where I would always end up being a chess player by someone's player while the master amuses himself as his puppets struggle. The puppet of a puppet... I was never given a choice.

I shook my head and closed my eyes firmly, covering my ears. It's all because of that red thing that makes bad memories resurface.

Sometimes I wish I was too blind to see it but would often regret thinking of it since I value my eyesight.

I didn't know how long I was detached from the world around me but a stranger's voice was the one who snapped me back to reality and not the familiar voice of any of my dear ones.

"Hey you. " The male said, causing me to  slightly tilt my head upwards. It wasn't much of an effort. He was small... I reckon that if it weren't his for wooden sandals, I would be towering over him.. "What do you think you're doing? "

His lips curled into a menacing smile, the intent was obviously to intimidate or scare me off but I had gotten so used to seeing such expressions that it only caused me to frown.

Nevertheless, I did not look away.

"I hate red." I find myself saying as I crouched down to my feet, looking at the ground while my hands rested on my knees.

"It reminds me of things that I lost.." I continued. "And it always tells the same boring story. Boring but still a story.."

A sudden laugh pierced the air and I jumped to my feet, looking very much like a deer in headlights as the man..vampire, laughed maniacally as if he heard something really funny.

"Ahaha!" After calming down from his episode, he paused to examine me. "You smell familiar. How boring~"

Smell?

No.

No.

Is he telling me that I stink?

My face turned an angry color of red as my eyes glared menacingly at him. I was about to give him a piece of my mind or two and send him packing to who knows where but Mahiru's shout distracted me.

"Mitsuki! Get away from him!"

A moment was all it took me to understand once more that this person is a vampire.

Tsubaki, his name, grinned at me.

I bolted but he was already lunging after me, left hand outstretched to grab my wrist. Something blue swiped against him but he managed to evade it before it could reach him.

The tail ends of Kuro's jacket...

Pausing to finally get a better look at the male vampire, I noticed his traditional kimono and his overall appearance that practically screams traditional and Japanese, excluding the sunglasses.

Then I noticed his sleeves.

"Hey. You're Tsubakyun, right? "I asked, wanting to confirm it this was really the flower guy that the doll was harping on about.

"Ah? So what if I am? I'm the one--"

"--who attacked you. So what? I'm the one who wants to kill a lot of vampires and humans, so what? " I laughed obnoxiously as I repeated this.

"Eh? M-Mitsuki, you were actually listening! " Mahiru exclaimed which caused me to grin slightly. I wasn't really listening that much but I heard enough to know that this Tsubaki is bad news.

"MahiMahi, in this unfair world filled with injustice and delusion.. Ignorance is a crime~ " Which basically translates to 'You should always be aware of your surroundings no matter the circumstances'. Mahiru stared at me with a deadpanned look and just to tease him more, I spoke more jokingly.

"You know... I have lost my mind and I am making no effort to look for it because madness is genius! "

"Why are you suddenly quoting stuff from novels? "I pointed a finger at the brunette.

"Listen! Those people who act like nothing as if they don't care! Those people who turn their eyes away from the problem as if it doesn't concern them! And those people who simply doesn't know! They are..... " I paused dramatically before raising my chin.

I have always found it interesting... the way people look at me whenever I would try to act as if I'm going to say something completely helpful and productive. And they would stare at me as if I really am going to say something completely helpful and productive.

"....Those people are...! "They were now staring at me, awaiting for my next words but I comically grinned while throwing my hands in the air.

"....absolutely mun~dane....~"I disclosed, stretching the words in a sickly sweet singsong voice that would have made my brother wail and cry a river of tears.

As expected, Mahiru slumped and grew an irk mark on his head. Kuro... Kuro was indifferent and a bit troubled. Who wouldn't when some unknown lunatic grabbed you and harshly chucked your adorable self on the ground.

"Aha...."

I turned around.

"AHAHAHAHA!"

I didn't know whether to look amused that a vampire is laughing at my absurdity but this Tsubaki person was most definitely finding me amusing at the moment.

But I don't get him. He's weird.

Oh look. He finally stopped.

"--Aha. That's right! People who think that they have absolutely nothing to do with me bore me to tears. You're a human yet you actually understand or we're you simply guessing? I wonder why someone like you is with Nii-san..." A creepy grin appeared on his face.

I blinked because I actually felt a chill run down my spine.

He did not just call Kuro, Nii-san..

That's so..

"Because I'm Mahiru's friend of course." I said as a matter of fact. "And I was there when he made a contract. It's basically my job to keep him out of trouble."I paused. "Sometimes."

"Hey!" Mahiru protested. "I'm the one who keeps you out of trouble! Not the other way around!"

"Ehhh."

"Don't 'ehhh' me!"

I turned away, facing the other vampire.

"Sorry, Tsubakyun~ I didn't know that you're a mean one. I didn't even know that Kuro has a younger brother.  But don't mind me, I'm just one of the faceless mob. An extra, you could say! And with that.." I hid behind the brunette, shoving him gently with my hands. . "Deal with him, MahiMahi. "

"Ahh?! What?! Mitsuki?! I thought you said it was your job to keep me out of trouble?!"

I slowly grinned at him.

"Defeat him, Lord Mahiru! He's logic is actually right you know. It doesn't matter how many humans die because we are not God and not everyone deserves a second chance. We don't know how many people died in this town. We don't even know how many people died in Japan today. Or in the entire world in this very day so why bother? All people die someday. "

Mahiru's annoyed expression instantly changed as he heard the words from my mouth. But my mouth carried on as I told the very truth in a nonchalant matter. Fact is fact.

"Mahiru... you don't know, right? You don't know how many people died, right? So forget about it. It's a twisted logic. Sound but completely logical. You can't blame him or anyone for it. "

His hand grabbed the collar of my shirt. Mahiru rarely handled me this way, only when I was pushing the boundary too much.

"But still! Those people were killed by them! Innocent people who's got nothing to do with--"

"You're wrong. " I removed his hand away from me with practice ease.

"I told you didn't I? " I said lowly. '"Ignorance is a crime. You're not stupid, Mahiru so don't be naive. "

His eyes widened at my words.

"Mitsuki... Do you really mean what you said?! "He sounded hopeful and at the same time saddened.

"According from the book I've read, that expression in your face shows that if I don't answer correctly, you'd hate me and probably withhold serving me any desserts for a while. "

"Seriously, Mitsuki! Not everything written in a book is always right! I've got no time for this! " He turned to Tsubaki.

I felt a little disheartened at that. My mouth really gets me in trouble at times but this was who I am.

"Kuro! Hurry up! Drink my blood! " Mahiru shouted . "We can beat him if you do, right? This guy's dead serious! If we don't fight him--"

"No way." Kuro refused. I could've choke but I didn't. I turned to him and gave him a 'Really?' expression. There's an enemy vampire out there and he refuses to fight?

"I'll answer for him~" I presented in an ecstatic voice, ignoring my annoyance. "Yesterday already took it's toll on his body so you really shouldn't abuse him, Mahiru-kun~ He could barely move~" Kuro emphasized it by trembling and nodding along with my words.

"Don't screw with me! "

"Hih! Kuro! Mahiru-sama's pissed~" I whispered.

"Nyaahhhhh!!? " The two of them began to argue as Mahiru shoved his wrist to Kuro's mouth again.

"I said I don't want to. " He spit the blood away.

"What kind of vampire doesn't want to drink blood or maybe I'm just stereotyping? Vampires are actually different from the ones in fantasy novels. I need to take note of this. I guess my brother really has been telling me stupid lies..."

"I honestly have no idea how you could remain so calm in this situation right now! " Mahiru said to me.

"Calm down, Mahiru. You shouldn't force him. " I suggested while patting his back.

Kuro looked down, shadowing his eyes.

"It's such a pain. "

"Agh! Why are the two of you so..! "

"Tch! I said no.." Kuro murmured while I slapped a hand on the brunette's mouth.

"Mahiru.. " I said in a flat tone.

His wamr brown eyes widened at me.

"It's annoying that you have to hear this from me but you can't force someone to do something against their will. "I then turned to Kuro.

"Running away from responsibility and pointing fingers at another person just because you don't want to be blamed for the consequences is the move of a coward. "My words must've hit home because his shadowed expression from before returned.

"Shirota Mahiru, what do you think servamps are? " Tsubaki asked, walking casually our way, also interrupting the lecturing session I was about to launch myself into.

Then I also remembered that Tsubaki is a highly dangerous vampire.

"You don't honestly think that they're little pets that will answer to your beck and call, right?"

No shit. But what are servamps for really? I highly doubt that they really are servant vampires who follow their master's whim.

"You may be useless but don't get in my way! " Tsubaki jumped and slammed his feet on Kuro's back.

So shock at the situation, it was Mahiru who pulled me away when Tsubaki made a sword materialized and pointed it at me.

"Kuro! " Mahiru yelled and I grabbed his wrist back when he tried to go forward, no doubt going to do something very reckless and very Gryffindor-ish at the moment.

"Hey! Why'd you do that?! Let go, Mitsuki!"

I took a deep breath."Mahiru... Geez. You're totally inexperienced with this kind of stuff. You're too young to die. " I said calmly. Mahiru looked a little stunned.

".. Mitsuki.. You are actually capable of giving advices!"

I pinched his cheek rather harshly.

"I have my moments. But now's not the time for that! I can't believe that you doubted me, Mahiru? You're going to cook me food after this! "I said before huffing. "We still need to deal with Tsubaki and hopefully make it out alive."

The amused sound from said person interrupted us."The world and my siblings abandoned me. I want to wage a battle between the servamps. It'll be a battle as marvelous as a parade! "

"Hey... This is really crazy but if it's coming from a villain wannabe like him.. I won't even ask. " I wanted to say that out loud but thought better thna do so.

"In the heat of the vampire war, human blood will be spilled. It is inevitable. My seven siblings will finally come together. I'm sure sensei will be delighted to have so many attendees! "

Sensei? As in teacher? Another individual in play.. hmm..

"I just want the world to repent this way. " He was suddenly infront of them, Tsubaki was grinning while lifting Mahiru with his hand as a hand harshly shoved me to the ground.

That hurt!

"So repent, Shirota Mahiru! Repent for being born! Repent for living unless you kill someone! Repent for picking up that cat! Repent for bringing him and that boy to my parade! " His words and voice were getting darker and darker by the minute while Mahiru tried to struggle from his hold.

"Let go of Mahiru! We're the only one allowed to ridicule him! " I lunged forward, raising my right leg to kick him on the face but he was fast and he merely shovef me out of the way once more as if I didn't even weighed a thing.

This is really difference huh?

"Don't get in the way.. You've got guts but that won't save you. So repent for forgetting progress! Repent FOR FORGETTING ME!! " Tsubaki shouted then he looked up to Mahiru while the brunette stared at the ravenette's eyes underneath his glasses.

"And finally... Repent for killing Sensei."

Sensei. Sensei. Mahiru doesn't even know a Sensei! It could be anyone for all I care!

I gritted my teeth, grasping for some inner strength before tackling the servamp to the side that he finally let Mahiru go.

Tsubaki was shock as he swayed from the unexpected weight to his side but his expression immediately shifted to irritation.

"You might be special but don't get in my way! "

"Hih! " Out of instinct, I immediately ducked down just in time to avoid the blade of his katana from slicing my head clean.

"Mister! That's dangerous! Don't just swing that around! People could seriously get hurt! You really are a meanie, Tsubaki!" I practically screamed.

Tsubaki raised his katana, swinging it down on me once again but Kuro deflected them with the ends of his jacket while he shoved me away.

What the hell is with people and shoving me like a piece of meat?!

"Tsubaki! " Mahiru grabbed the ravenette's attention.

"This is wrong! Killing people won't make things better! This is why nothing is interesting to you because you aren't facing your own feelings! You feel no one understands you because you aren't facing others! " Tsubaki blinked. A dumbfounded look on his face as he laughed.

"Maybe so! That's why I want to start a war! A method of communication! A positive way of killing--"

"And yep, you're borderline insane" I muttered under my breath.

I really did not want to meet another broken person but we don't always get what we want.

"You're wrong, Tsubaki! Because I have a way! " Mahiru said.

"You said that you don't have an Eve right now? Then I'll do something about it! If a servamp is given a name, they'll listen for the most part, right? "

Mahiru... you Gryffindork... I almost wanted to pull hm away and shove him inside a box so he never gets to decide to do something stupid again.

"I'm going to face you head-on and for that, I'm going to give you a name! "

Unfortunately, I couldn't fault Tsubaki for sharing the same look of surprise when he heard Mahiru's declaration.

I was the first to react though. "Kuro, please go. "

The bluenette looked at me. "I'm asking you to go! He's not the type of person who listens. He's going to kill him!" Kuro looked at me strangely before nodding in understanding.

He ran towards Mahiru, hands outstretched when Tsubaki suddenly grinned evilly.

"But you'll die before then~" Tsubaki said, affirming my suspicions.

Kuro shouted. "Mahiru!! "

"You idiot!" I dashed forward, hoping that I would make it in time before the katana falls down. Of all the people to get hurt, Mahiru don't you dare--

Pink and purple.

My eyes widened at the butterfly as a ringing sound interfered and my ears vibrated. My head pounded unconsciously at the sudden stimulation.

"Lily?"