How the hell did I end up here?
I sat awkwardly on Sora's bed while he rummaged through his fridge, looking for something to drink.
It wasn't that long ago we were sitting in the park, talking about this and that. He offered me the chance to spend the night at his apartment.
I'd never been invited to anyone's place before, but I didn't exactly have the right to decline. Kana ordered me not to come back until tomorrow, so where else was I supposed to go?
But to my surprise, Sora lived alone in a renovated studio apartment. Honestly, I was kind of jealous. It must have been nice to be a teenager living in his own bachelor pad. But at the same time, it was also kind of lonely. The apartment was small, just big enough for one person.
The space felt so empty, with a simple bed and a kotatsu in the middle of the room. It was clear he had just moved in, the only place which reflected his flamboyant personality were the old picture frames he had lined up on his desk beside his bed. The frames were scratched and buffed but seemed to be handled with care.
I didn't want to be nosey, but I couldn't help but stare. In the photos, he was younger, his hair was black back then and his face was covered in dirt. He adorned a soccer uniform, smiling triumphantly while sitting atop his father's shoulders.
"Sorry, I haven't gone grocery shopping in a while, so I don't have much to offer," Sora said, his head popping out from over the fridge door. "I've got some water though if that's cool."
"Yeah, water's fine. Thank you."
Sora continued to smile as he grabbed two cups from his pantry. He filled them both up and sat beside me.
"Well, this is more awkward than I thought it'd be, haha."
We sat there, drinks in hand while staring in opposite directions.
"So, you live by yourself? That must be nice! I'd be lucky to get even a single second of silence back at my house!" I chuckled, looking over to him.
But the guy who was normally so relaxed became tense, his brows furrowed.
"I'd give anything to live in a rowdy house." Something in his eyes changed, like he'd lost his light. "But I guess I should be used to it by now. I have been living on my own for the past five years, so it's whatever I guess."
His lips curled up ever so slightly, but it was etched with a hidden depth, as if he was recalling a happier time.
"Wow! I must have really killed the mood there! My bad, my mind just went to a dark place for a second!"
He was like Kana in a way, the way he shifted back and forth with his emotions. It was hard to tell which one was his real face.
"Hey, it's okay. I get it, I've been in a dark place for a while now too." I cleared my throat, shifting back and forth in my seat. "So, if there's something you want to talk about, you can if you want."
Sora smirked as he leaned in and carelessly through his arm over my shoulder.
"I knew you were a good guy the minute I saw you! But still, I wouldn't want to dump my lingering trauma on you. That'd be a crappy way to impress someone. Don't want you to think I'm some damaged goods or something."
"I wouldn't think that! Since you're new to town you probably don't know this, but I didn't always have such a stellar reputation. The Rui you heard about at school is brand new. I used to be a real loser."
Thinking back on it, I really had changed so much. I was still timid and shy, but I had grown a backbone. I wasn't afraid anymore to face against those who stood against me, and I could stand up for myself in a confrontation.
If only Sora could see who I used to be, I highly doubted he'd want to be my friend now. A real friend, that is.
"Well, whatever Rui you used to be doesn't affect me whatsoever. I only know this version of you, so, that's all that matters." Sora stood up and then walked over to his desk, picking up one of the old picture frames, smiling at it fondly.
"But if we're gonna be talking about our pasts, I don't mind sharing a little bit of mine. It's only fair." He caressed the glass with his fingertips. The photo he had picked up was different than the one that originally drew my attention.
He sat down beside me, showing me the photo. I noticed just how old the picture frame actually was, you could tell just how well he had taken care of it. The vinal of the wood still shined as if it was recently polished despite the many cracks it had.
It was him with his mother and father. He couldn't have been older than twelve years old when the picture was taken, and sitting in his lap was his little sister. She looked a lot like him, they had the same hazel-colored eyes and the same smile. Just from looking at them, anyone could tell they were as thick as thieves.
"This was the last photo my family and I took together. My parents died in an accident… And I was the only survivor." Sora's lips quivered as he recalled those painful memories. "It was so sudden. Someone had broken into our house and my parents died protecting me. Then, as if to hide his crime, he set my home on fire."
As he told his story, I couldn't help but start to become emotional. He was just like me, an orphan. But I had my grandmother and the others at the inn who took care of me. But he'd been alone for all these years. Yet, his resolve was so much stronger than mine.
"You said you were the only survivor, but I didn't hear your sister in that story. Is she alive?"
"Yeah, she is. Luckily she was out on a field trip that night. But she lives with our uncle back in Tokyo. After the accident, I changed, and my uncle didn't think she was safe to be around me. And I don't disagree with him."
"That's horrible! You had just gone through a tragedy! Rather than push you away, your uncle should have helped you!" I stood up, my blood boiling. I understood what it was like to lose someone.
If it wasn't for my grandmother being there for me, who knows, maybe I'd have ended up like Sora. All alone.
Sora smirked, his laughter sending a chill down my spine.
"No, no. My uncle was right to send me away. I was—I am dangerous. And it's not like he gave up on me completely. He's been taking care of me from a distance. How else do you think I could afford to live by myself?"
"Dangerous?" I scooted closer to him. "I'm sorry, but I disagree. I have a good judge of character when it comes to picking out bad apples. But you, Sora…" I hesitated, but I needed him to know how I felt.
"You're a good person. I don't know you that well, but I can tell that much. Otherwise, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you." I meant every word. Sora came off as many things, but I could tell in my gut, he wasn't a bad person.
Sora's smirked faltered for just a second, his fingers tightening around the picture frame. He let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head.
"You're way too trusting, Rui. That's dangerous, you know?" His voice was light, teasing even, but there was something beneath it, almost hesitant. Like he wanted to believe me but couldn't let himself.
"Maybe. But I've been wrong about people. And I don't think I'm wrong about you." I held his gaze.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us felt heavier, charged with something unspoken but needed to be heard. There was so much shared pain between us, like a kinship I'd never known. I wanted to help him, I just didn't know how.
Then, Sora placed the photo down, closing his eyes and leaned back, a quiet laugh escaping him.
"Man," he uttered, resting his arm behind his head. "You're really something else, huh?"
I felt my chest warm at his words, but I didn't look away.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, though I already had a feeling he was teasing me again.
You're way too kind for your own good, Rui. It's a little annoying, actually." Sora opened one eye, a mischievous glint in it as he glanced at me.
"Annoying, huh? Well, sorry for being… decent." I forced a strained smile; that large vein popping out on my forehead.
He chuckled, shaking his head.
"Nah, I don't mean it like that. It's just, I don't get it. You're not supposed to just trust someone like me so easily. But here you are. You barely know me, yet you're still here." His voice softened; his teasing edge replaced with something more vulnerable.
"You really think I'm worth trusting?"
It was an unexpected question, one that made my chest tighten a little. I wanted to say yes, that I truly believed in him, but I knew words alone couldn't answer the way his eyes were looking at me—searching, uncertain.
"Yeah," I finally said, my voice steady despite the weight of his gaze. "I do."
"Keep talking like that and I might just fall in love with you, you sweet talker!" Sora said as he winked at me, blowing me a kiss.
"Quit playing around! I don't swing that way, just so you know!" A deep blush flushed my face as I swatted at him, Sora laughing the entire time
"Man, you're just too easy to mess with!" He kept laughing, and as frustrating as it might have been, it was good to hear. He was finally starting to feel better.
I grabbed his pillow, smacking him in the face with it. We argued and joked around until the sun started to set. I don't think I've had this much fun with anyone since, well, ever. It was a nice change of pace. It was sad that the day was about to end.
The golden light streaming through the window dimmed as the sky shifted into shades of pink and orange. Sora yawned, stretching his arms out.
"Guess it's getting pretty late, huh?"
"Yeah, we should probably get some sleep. We have school tomorrow," I said, still feeling that comfortable, contented buzz from the evening. "It's been a long day."
"You're right. But hey, tonight was good. Thanks for hanging out, Rui." Sora flashed a lazy grin, the tired clear in his eyes.
I gave him a nod, feeling something warm settle in my chest, there was a flutter in my heart.
"No problem. I'm glad I came."
He threw a glance over his shoulder, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Well, you can always stay longer next time."
"Maybe." I laughed softly, feeling a rush of affection I hadn't expected.
With that, we both settled into bed, the quiet of the room lulling me into a sense of peace. But as the night deepened, the calm that had settled over me began to shift.
***
The sound of the wind through the open window jolted me awake. I sat up, confused at first, then noticed the faint smell—something sharp, metallic, and sweet. A scent that made my heart skip a beat.
Blood.
I blinked; my senses immediately heightened. I looked around, but Sora was nowhere to be seen. The spot where he laid next to me in bed was empty, the blanket tossed aside as though he had gotten up in a hurry. The window that was closed before was now open, letting the moonlight slip in.
"Sora? Where'd you go?" I muttered, my voice shaky. I stood up frantically, covering my nose as I followed the feint scent of lingering blood. I walked to his bathroom and opened the door. Inside, blood dripped from the sink, pooling in small crimson stains on the floor. I froze.
Did Sora get hurt?
I quickly left the bathroom, trying to control my breathing. The smell was stronger now, clearer, and I could trace it to the park—the same park where Sora and I had met earlier. My stomach twisted. Maybe the vampires were back. Or worse, the ones Kana and I had killed didn't get to report back, and reinforcements have come looking for me. And now Sora was in the middle of it.
I breathed in deeply, trying to push down my panic.
Please be alright. I swear, I'll save you!
I dashed out the door, my feet pounding against the pavement. The wind, cool against my skin, carried the scent to me like a trail leading me forward, guiding my steps as I ran.
When I reached the park, my eyes darted around, searching. The familiar trees loomed over the darkened paths, but there was no sign of Sora. Just the soft rustling of leaves in the night. Then I saw it.
A figure stood under the streetlamp, his back to me. The figure was wearing a tattered leather trench coat, the hood pulled up. As I moved closer, I could make out a faint logo—a wolf—emblazoned on the back of his coat.
I froze, instinctively holding my breath. The girl, barely conscious, was cradled in the figure's arms. She looked... fragile. Her blood trickles in a soft stream from where he had bitten her in the neck, the steady rhythm of his motions almost too calm. Not like the frenzy I'd expected.
"S-stop!" I yelled, my voice sharp and desperate.
The figure paused, his shoulders stiffening for a moment. He put the girl down gently, almost tenderly, her body slumping against the cold pavement. Then, before he set her fully on the ground, he reached into his coat and pulled something out—a mask. He put it on.
It was a Japanese ornamented mask, shaped like a dog, the white porcelain surface cold and impassive. When he turned around, his eyes met mine—sharp and knowing—as if he was expecting me.
I took a step forward, my heart hammering.
"What are you—"
"What does it look like? I was hungry." The masked figured looked down at the girl, watching the shallow rise and fall of her chest. "She's not dead. I wouldn't kill. But I take what I need."
I could feel it now, the strange pressure in the air between us. The girl was alive, barely, but alive. Her blood wasn't spilling, nor had he drained her completely. Just like he said, he hadn't killed her.
"Who the hell are you?" I demanded.
I recalled the wolf logo on his jacket and remembered the mission the other two vampires from night before mentioned. I finally connected the two dots together; he was their intended target.
"I'll gladly answer since I have nothing to hide," the figure said, his tone oddly respectful. "I am the leader of the Stray Dogs. You can call me Nero, if that's what you want."
For a vampire, he spoke with a surprising amount of civility. But that didn't mean I was about to let my guard down.
"So, you're a Stray Dog," I said, trying to steady my voice.
"I've heard about your group. It's because of you that I got attacked last night! What the hell are you doing here? Go back where you came from and take your problems with you. Cause we don't need that kind of trouble."
The masked figure approached me, and on instinct, I took an offensive stance.
"Come closer! I dare you! I'm not as weak as you think I am!"
"I never thought you were weak." Suddenly, he was beside me.
I froze; my breath caught in my throat.
"It's clear you don't know anything about the hell that awaits outside your puny village. There's a bigger picture that you're not even aware of."His hand settled on my shoulder, his voice barely a whisper in my ear.
I opened my mouth, trying to speak, but the words escaped me. His presence was suffocating, and the air felt thick with something dangerous. He reminded me of Kana—not in raw power, but in the way he exuded experience and confidence, like someone who had lived through countless battles.
"I've had my eyes on you for a while," he continued, his voice smooth and unsettling. "I came here on a whim, guiding my flock. But to my surprise, I seem to have found an unlikely ally."
I couldn't see his expression beneath the mask, but I could feel it in the air. The anticipation. The amusement. It made my skin crawl.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, the tremor in my hands betraying my calm facade.
"I just want the chance to speak with you... on my terms." His voice was almost a purr now. "Meet me later this week. I'll be here every night, waiting for you. And when you show up, we'll continue the conversation on my turf."
I opened my mouth to speak, but he had disappeared, as if he wasn't there to begin with. I heard the girl cough, and no longer did I have the time to worry about him. I ran to her side, scooping her up in my arms.
"Ma'am! Are you alright? Don't worry, I'll call for help right away!" I pulled my phone out from my pocket and then, I received a call. It was from Sora. I had forgotten we had traded numbers right before bed. I answered, adrenaline rushing through my body.
"Rui! Where the hell did you go? I ran to the convenience store because I got a nosebleed, but when I got back you were already gone!"
So that's what happened.
I sighed with relief, but now wasn't the time to relax.
"That doesn't matter right now! A woman's been injured! If you want you can meet me at the hospital, so hurry up!" Before he could answer, I hung up.
The woman in my arms looked fine enough, but I was still worried.
He drank her blood but didn't kill her? Just who is this guy?
I dialed up the emergency number, but my mind was racing with other thoughts. This bigger picture that the mysterious figure spoke of; it left me wondering.
Just where was my place in all of this? What was I meant to do in the dark and cryptic world of the vampires?