“They think he ran away Aya…” the girl told Ayaka Tokunowa, who frowned immediately at the thought, her face forming naturally to the thoughtful look she normally carried.

“And you Tara? Do you think you’re brother ran away?” Ayaka asked leaning forward curiously in her seat absently brushing a long black curl out of her face. Her long curly hair had a habit of being everywhere she didn’t want to be, and it was very rare that Ayaka was ever able to tame it.

Tara shook her head; she looked remarkably a lot like her older brother, Darren, who had gone missing about five months before. Darren was also Ayaka’s best and closest friend. “What about you Aya, do you think Darren would do such a thing?” Tara asked, her voice was soft, and sad, it was obvious that the girl missed her brother a lot.

It was Ayaka’s turn to shake her head. “Without telling me? No… no, I know he didn’t run away, something’s wrong, that much I do know… I just can’t read what I’m getting, I think… I think it may have something to do with the attacks.” Ayaka said with a sigh. She had an unusual psychic talent, visions came at the most random times for her, and she was able to sense aura’s of those she was close to, and as it were, she hadn’t been able to sense Darren’s for quite a while now. It was killing her, not being able to find her friend. She was certain something happened, and for once, she couldn’t figure out what.

Ayaka sighed and stood. “Well I need to go home, it’s getting late. Let me know if anything changes in the investigation, though I’m sure they just about given up, we cant Tara…” she told the girl as she made for the door, grabbing her black jean jacket from the chair near it. Ayaka usually wore odd clothes, with dark colors and weird styles, so right now she look positively normal. Even with her gray eyes accented with dark makeup. She was simply wearing a red t-shirt that hide the major curves of her body that normally showed, having what seemed like a perfect body was something Ayaka had always been known for, and hated.

Tara followed her to the door, fidgeting with the edge of her red sweater. “Be careful Aya, if Darren’s disappearance had anything to do with the attacks, I don’t want anything happening to you…” she said leaning on the door as Ayaka opened it. Lately there had been attacks on random people, someone was beating strangers to a pulp with some sort of bat or club, and the cops had yet to catch the culprit.

Ayaka smiled in reply and ruffled the younger girl’s blonde hair. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to let anything stop me.” She told her strictly before turning and walking down the sidewalk, back towards town and her apartment, where she lived on her own.

She was lost in thought, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket when she felt a sudden familiar essence, not like a person’s aura, but the essence they left behind. Ayaka immediately recognized it as Darren’s, and then there was this sudden image of him walking absently into an alley. Blinking, she instantly followed, entering the dimly lit alley way cautiously.

Tucking a strand of unruly hair behind her ears, she walked further into the alley, curiously looking around. She didn’t acknowledge the second presence until it was too late. Turning on the balls of her feet, she came face to face with a man, the shadows of the alley covering his face, with a raised club of some sort.

Ayaka didn’t have time to run or scream as he brought the bat making it collide with the side of her head. There was a flash of pain as Ayaka fell, her vision becoming red as blood streamed into her eyes. There was another blinding flash of pain and another dull thud as the club connected with her shoulder, and then again with her stomach. The attack continued as Ayaka yelled out, curling up into a ball the best she could to protect herself.

Then as quick as the attack began, it stopped. She carefully opened her eyes halfway, wiping the blood from them. The man who had attacked her was running from something, or someone behind her. Next thing she knew someone was picking her up. She only got a brief glance at the stranger’s handsome face before being lost in the darkness of her mind.


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It was quiet and dark. Cold. Memories of what happened came rushing back to Ayaka as she wearily opened her eyes. Her head was pounding, and as she brought her hand up, she found there was a bandage around her forehead. Taking a deep breath she looked around as best as she could from the position she was laying in. She was in a large library or den of sorts, lying on a couch, there was a table beside it. There were shelves of books in her sight, and moving her head, she say a doorway, beyond it was a grand entrance hall and the beginnings of a stair way.

Using her hands, Ayaka propped herself up, making the blanket that covered her body fall to her lap, showing her that she was wearing only a overly large t-shirt. “So, you’re finally up.” A friendly voice came from behind her. Ayaka turned to see a tall red headed boy standing up from a nearby large desk, light by a single lamp, leaving the rest of the library in an eerie glow.

Ayaka tried to speak, but found her voice hoarse, and her head made her choke with nausea. The boy walked over and handed her a cup of clear liquid that smelled sweet. “Here, this will help.” He said, sitting down on the table in front of the couch. She took the cup and obediently drank, willing to do anything that would take the reeling nausea away. The pain receded and she was able to think straight, sooner than she expected. Looking over Ayaka studied the boy for a moment. He seemed to be young, about sixteen, wearing a bright green baseball cap to hide the head of curly red hair, and a yellow t-shirt with a pair of faded jeans. His hair and the freckles that were splashed across his cheeks made him look rather young and childish. When she didn’t say anything yet, the boy smiled, making his face light up, with an inquisitive look. “Would you mind if I change your bandages?” he asked leaning forward.

Ayaka looked slightly startled at the thought that he wanted to doctor her, but nodded. When he started unwinding the bandages around her head, she finally spoke up. “Where am I? And who are you?”

He was quiet for a few moments, concentrating at looking at her head. “I’m Kyo Onawa. You’re in the Grande Mansion of the Junapai Estates.” He said at long last, drawing his attention away from her head to look at her fully in the eyes. “You’ve healed remarkably well…”

She didn’t recognize either names. “Are you the one that brought me here? How long have I been unconscious?” she asked inquisitively.

“Heavens no… Miyabi brought you here, you’ll meet him soon enough.” Was the laughing reply. “You’ve been out for about a week, the blow was pretty serious, but with my herbs and you’re amazing ability to heal, you’re just about back to normal. I imagine that you’re probably going to be sore for a little while.” He warned her with a nod of his head.

“So dinner’s awake then?” another voice commented from the entryway before Ayaka was able to give a response. The man looked about to be in his late teens, or early twenties, with long black hair braided away from his face. His eyes were a piercing blue with a strangely cruel look.

“If that chicken I brought home to cook was suddenly brought back to life, then yes… diner’s up. Ashitaka, would you be so kind as to tell Miyabi that his guest is awake, and Aio if he’s around.” Kyo asked, not bothering to turn and look at the black haired man.

Ashitaka rolled his eyes, and turned away. “Whatever….”

Kyo smiled at Ayaka as he walked away. “Don’t let Ashitaka bother you, he has a crude sense of life… by the way, I don’t believe I’ve ever learned you’re name…” He stated with a quirked brow.

Ayaka blinked in response and shrugged, noticing that Kyo didn’t replace the bandages. “Ayaka Tokunowa.” She told him simply.

The name seemed to confirm something in his mind, he obviously recognized the name, but wasn’t voicing it. “Oh… Ayaka is it? I imagine you’re close friends call you Aya?” he asked casually, as if it was just a normal conversation, in a regular situation.

She eyed him cautiously, twirling one of the long black curls of her miraculously clean hair around her finger. “Yes…”

Kyo smiled and nodded. “Thought so… Ayaka is a rare name you know…” he said standing up. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you…”

Ayaka blinked, a look of confusion clearly written across her eyes. “Wha-… How is that? The only person that knows me well enough to talk is…” she trailed off in thought. Darren was really the only person she ever hung out with, and who could possibly be close enough to talk about her, she wasn’t exactly the most sociable person there was, she never had been.

Kyo walked over to the doorway. “Hey Short Stuff! I have someone down here I want you to meet!” he shouted up the stairs.

The voice that answered made Ayaka’s heart leap, it was all too familiar, and when the speaker appeared, Ayaka was it with a mixture of surprise and confusion. Darren looked the same as she had remembered him, a little paler, but the same. He had the same messy dirty blonde hair that looked strangely good on him, and his chocolate brown eyes were as warm as ever, and he was still short. What confused her was that she didn’t feel the strong aura she had always known him to have. “Oh? I just got back, and already people want to meet me? I must be more popular than previously thought.” He stated airily before looking into the library and seeing Ayaka. He paused and then smiled slightly. “You just couldn’t live without me could you?”

Ayaka was still speechless for several moments, before standing cautiously, pulling on the end of the knee-length t-shirt that covered her, the pain reliever still had a strong hold on her. “You’ve had me worried, I can tell you that much…” she stated awkwardly glancing at her hands for a few moments, before throwing her arms around him as he approached her. There was a flash of red in her mind, blood, and she gasped letting go of Darren quickly, backing up with a look of shock. “You… you’re a…” she stuttered.

“Vampire?” Darren laughed, it almost sounded bitter for a split second, which quickly disappeared. “Yes, Aya, I am…”

Ayaka found she wasn’t frightened exactly, but awed. “But… how… why?” she stuttered again.

“Well from the looks of it, the same way you did, only a bit more drastic. If I hadn’t been found by Hatsuto, and turned, Aya, I would have died…” he stated before grinning slightly and shrugging, “Well I would have left this lovely physical realm at least…” he added at a second thought as he approached her again, slowly. Ayaka shied away, hitting the couch, wincing. “Aya… Dong be afraid of me, please… I’m still Darren, I haven’t changed all that much.” He stated placing a cool hand on her shoulder.

She fought back the tears as she winced again, and he drew her into his arms, her forehead was against his shoulder. “But you have changed…” she stated softly, her voice muffled.

“No, not as much as you think, you’ll see, give me a while, you’ll see…” Ayaka looked up, and there was the old sly familiar smile. “Besides, I still only go for guys…” he stated off-handedly.

Ayaka blinked and couldn’t help but laugh, maybe he hadn’t changed all that much, she was probably just being dramatic. “Now if you’re done with my patient, she’s still hurt…” Kyo’s voice came from behind them.

Darren laughed and released Ayaka, backing away from her and gesturing towards the couch. “Very well, Aya, you might as well obey the old man, I don’t want you getting worse…”

“Old man?” Ayaka asked with a blink, she couldn’t really imagine calling Kyo, who looked so childish, an old man, even if it seemed to be just a pun.

“Yeah, Kyo here is at least twenty-five…” Darren stated as if it was a fact of life.

Both boys laughed at Ayaka’s face of disbelief, and Kyo shook his head. “Yeah, I am around there somewhere, it’s natural that I don’t look it, it comes with being a mage.” He stated, before making a move towards Ayaka. “Sit down girl, that pain killer’s going to wear off soon, I need to get you a stronger one, one wrong move and who knows what’ll happen, internal bleeding… anything could happen.”

“We wouldn’t want that to happen.” Said a deep voice from the doorway.

Oh no, not more people, already. Ayaka thought turning towards the speaker, only to lay eyes on one of the most handsome men she had ever seen, it was almost like it was unreal. He looked sophisticated, and obviously had the air of being rich, though dark, and the dark look suited him. His shoulder length brown hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, except for what seemed to be one stubborn strand that hung down into his face. His dark green eyes were deep and seemed like they could go on forever.

“Ah, Miyabi, now don’t you come in here disturbing Aya, you’d be just the accident I’m talking about.” Kyo teased as if strict.

“Aya is it then?” Miyabi asked walking forward, on hand in the pocket of the floor-length trench coat he was wearing over a white shirt and a pair of smooth black slacks.

Ayaka noticed Darren had moved to an almost protective stance beside her as Miyabi approached. “Ayaka actually… are you the one that saved me?” she asked curiously, fidgeting with her hair again.

Miyabi nodded, his face was unreadable, and it bothered her, she was used to being able to read people. He was now standing in front of her, not bothering to hide that he was inspecting her. She blushed slightly when she realized again, that she was only wearing a large t-shirt, that was more like a dress, but still rather embarrassing. She bowed her head. “Think you sire.” She whispered quietly, unsure of what to make of the man that saved her from death.

Her head was brought back up with a touch of his hand at her chin. “You would have died otherwise Little One, and that was not necessary.”

Ayaka stood there, stunned, slightly confused under his steady gaze. “Kyo, I’m going to go out for a bit, I’ll be back, make sure no one is to harm her, it’s under Aio’s and my own orders.” He said strictly, his eyes flashing red for a few moments, surprising Ayaka into taking a slight step back.

Kyo grinned and nodded, making his face look once again incredibly childish. “Right, no one’s going to hurt her under my watch!” he stated with a sarcastic salute.

“Don’t forget me! I’ll be here!” Darren stated placing a hand on the mage’s shoulder.

Kyo blushed faintly, so that only Ayaka really took note of it, as he nodded. “Right, and Darren of course.”

Miyabi kept his gaze on her for a few moments before nodding silently and walking out. Kyo didn’t waste any time in forcing Ayaka back onto the couch with another cup full of the sweet smelling medicine, only this time the concoction was blue. “So, his he… a…”

“Demon? Yes, that’s about all we really know of him, and that he owns this whole estate, he’s a quiet lad, that one is.” Kyo replied with a shrug. “I’ve been here since I was about seventeen, and I still don’t know much about him, so don’t expect much.” He told her with a shrug.

Ayaka shrugged, already feeling the medicine starting to take affect, and laid back, sleepy. “Well, get some sleep Aya, you’ll need it, I’ll be just over there doing some research should you awake and need me.” Kyo said pointing towards the desk where he had been when she first laid eyes on him.

“And I’ll be around, just call for me if anything should happen.” Darren stated with a warm smile as sleep over took Ayaka, she was faintly aware of someone covering her up once more as her dreams came.