Chapter Text
Shuichi Saihara didn’t know what he expected when he awoke to someone frantically knocking on his door in the middle of the night. Maybe his best friend, Kaede, who had a tendency to randomly decide to crash at his apartment and spend the night, or some drunkard who had the wrong apartment. However, what he hadn’t expected was a frantic, panicking boy who looked as if he had seen the Devil himself. Sweat was forming a sheen around his body and his clothes were torn and ragged-looking.
Before Shuichi could even properly react to the sight in front of him, the small boy practically dove into his apartment. The boy quickly shut the door for him and once again, before Shuichi could even say anything, the boy began pleading, “Please, please! You got to help me!”
Shuichi’s heart began to pound. What in the world had he gotten himself into? Blinking, he asked in a demanding tone, “What is going on? Who are you? Why are you in my apartment?” This town was infamous for breeding some looney characters. Was one of them in his apartment now, planning on harming him?
The other looked impatient, snapping, “There is no time to explain.” His purple eyes were frantically darting around Shuichi’s abode, probably looking for a place to hide. “We can trade formalities when she is gone.”
Shuichi wasn’t going to be satisfied with that. Part of him was considering grabbing the letter opener on the desk next to him just in case. “Once who is gone?”
“The person trying to murder me!” the boy hissed.
Shuichi felt a chill go down his spine, the small hairs on the back of his neck beginning to rise. He… he misheard that, right?
“The… the… what?” Shuichi managed to stammer out despite how dry his throat was.
Raising placating hands, the boy assured, “Listen, don’t panic.” Right when Shuichi was about to demand why he shouldn’t panic, the boy continued, “She won’t harm you. But she will harm me if she knows I am here. So when she knocks on the door, just play dumb. Act like you don’t know what in the world she is talking about. And also give me a place to hide, quick.”
Both boys froze like stone statues when they heard a sudden knock on the door. The boy threw Shuichi another desperate and pleading look. Shuichi could see the fear glistening there. Guilt overriding him, Shuichi finally leaned over and lowly hissed, “Turn the corner and hide in the closet of my bedroom. I’ll give you the signal when the coast is clear.”
The boy nodded and immediately scampered to said location, obviously doing his best to keep his footsteps quiet but quick. Shuichi was a bit taken aback at just how fast the boy was too, but he didn’t have long to think about it. He had a potential murderer to face. He swallowed. Why did this have to happen to him?
He quickly stuffed the letter opener in his coat pocket before walking over to the door, praying that the stranger was telling the truth when he said she wouldn’t kill him. Doing his best to put on a normal face, he opened his door and said a curious, “Hello?”
He tried his best not to be too startled by the sight of the girl in front of him, but he wasn’t sure he did a very good job.
The girl had a very intense aura about her. While she did seem slight, Shuichi could see through her short sleeves that she was well-muscled and he had no doubt she could probably kick him around the room if she so wanted to. She had blood-red eyes that glittered with cold determination, like a predator looking at prey. Her face was calculated and she looked as if she were trying to assess his very soul, trying to figure out if he was an enemy or not. Shuichi felt like an organism being studied under a microscope. He shifted uncomfortably. He tried not to panic when he saw the large, sharp wooden stake she had held tightly in one of her fists. He could easily imagine her plunging that in his chest, and he wondered if he should’ve held the letter opener to his side at the beginning.
Oh well, too late now.
“I apologize, who are you?” Shuichi asked, trying to act as if he didn’t see the very dangerous weapon right there.
The girl gave a polite bow and said, “Apologies for bothering you, sir. I am Maki Harukawa, and I am a vampire hunter.”
Shuichi single-handedly felt his blood turn to ice at the last sentence. Blinking, he said, “Excuse me, I think I misheard you. What did you say you were?”
The girl looked at him seriously and said, “I am a vampire hunter.”
He could hear a faint tinge of annoyance in her tone, as if this was something she was tired of explaining.
Shuichi was now struggling not to pass out now. He had grown up learning about vampires of course, but he had never worried about them. Vampires liked rural or isolated areas. They typically avoided urban areas, where people were always watching. But apparently there was one in his house right now, hiding in his closet.
The girl didn’t seem bothered by the look of horror on his face. She just continued saying, “I am hunting a smaller boy right now who has been bothering the residents of the city for a couple of nights now. I was just wondering if someone strange has come by here or talked to you in a hurry?”
Shuichi thought about selling the boy out, he really did. He was a vampire, for crying out loud! An untrustworthy, blood-sucking creature of the night! For all he knew, if he allowed this vampire hunter to leave, the creature might turn and bite him and soon someone would be investigating his death rather than the other way around. He shuddered at the thought.
But… as tempted as he was, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. All he could think was the terrified look on the boy’s face, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he sold that kid out. If the boy attacked him, well… he looked small. Shuichi might be able to fight back.
Hoping his empathy wouldn’t be his demise, he said, “No, I apologize. I have been reading in my office all night. You are the only person I’ve come across.”
For a moment, it looked like Maki didn’t believe him. She just looked directly in his eyes and he stared back, hoping he looked somewhat convincing. Thankfully, he had an open tome visible from the doorway to sell his story a bit better.
After a few heartbeats of uncomfortable silence, Maki gave him a nod and said, “I am sorry to bother you then, sir. Have a goodnight.”
Shuichi tried not to let out a breath of relief. Nodding back, he said, “It was no problem at all. Good luck on finding your vampire.”
Maki gave a polite bow before she turned and left. Shuichi waited until he was sure she was gone, until he called, “She’s gone. You can come out now?”
He heard the vampire let out a noise of relief from all the way across the apartment. After a few seconds of shuffling around, eventually, the boy slinked out with a big smile, saying, “Phew! Thank you so much for helping me out of that little predicament! She is not one to make angry, let me tell you…”
Shuichi could see the boy’s overy-long canines in his smile. So it was true…
Voice cold and accusatory, he said, “You are a vampire.”
The boy looked at him for a moment before clapping theatrically and said, “You figured it out! Glad to hear it!”
Shuichi frowned at being condescended at, but he didn’t respond to the jibe, instead opting to ask, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
The boy gave him a flat look before sarcastically replying, “Oh, I don’t know. If I had just opened up with the fact that I am a vampire, I highly doubt you would’ve let me in the house. After all, if you believed me, most folks don’t take too nicely to my kind, so I didn’t want to chance that, and if you didn’t believe me, you’d think me as crazy at best.” Then shrugging, he said, “And I don’t know if you noticed, I was a little busy not trying to be skinned alive, so I decided to save such information for later.”
Shuichi supposed he had a point, but he still wasn’t happy at being tricked. He was about to make a comment, when suddenly, it seemed the boy was right up in his face. Grinning wide, the boy said, “Thanks for saving me by the way, can’t thank you enough for that. I have already died once and I am not exactly eager to repeat that sort of experience again.”
Shuichi jerked back at the sudden presence of the boy, not trusting him. He would’ve stumbled completely if the vampire hadn’t grabbed his arm and managed to hold him steady. He wasn’t holding particularly tightly, but Shuichi could feel the power hiding under that grip. The vampire could probably snap his bone as if it were nothing more than a toothpick if he wanted.
Strangely enough, the vampire actually looked offended , of all things. A pout plastered on his boyish face, he said, “Now don’t act all frightened on me. I am not going to bite you!”
Shuichi couldn’t help but look at the boy in disbelief. Yanking his hand free of the grip, he asked, “And why exactly should I believe you?”
The boy said, “I wouldn’t bite someone who saved me! I am not a monster!”
Shuichi thought he could argue against that claim, but he wasn’t going to push it. He was just going to stay close to the letter opener, just in case he needed it. Not seeming to notice his ruse, the vampire continued, “By the way, I don’t think we have traded names.” Thrusting a pale hand in Shuichi’s direction, he said, “My name is Kokichi Ouma, glad to make your acquaintance.”
Shuichi reluctantly took his hand and said, “I am not sure I want to give you my name.”
Kokichi pouted once more and said, “Rather rude of you, Shuichi Saihara.”
Shuichi flinched. “How do you know my name?” Could vampires read minds?
“Because you had a bunch of paperwork listing your name in your closet,” Kokichi said casually.
Shuichi relaxed a bit but glared, saying, “Why did you ask then if you already knew?”
“Because I am following the laws of human social conventions!” Kokichi exclaimed, “Duh.”
Not even caring if it might lead to his death, Shuichi said, “You’re very obnoxious, you know that?”
Kokichi just shrugged and said, “I’ve been told.”
Then with a sigh, Kokichi carded his hand through his hair and said, “Thank you once again for saving me, Shuichi Saihara. You made a very good friend tonight!”
Shuichi blinked. “Friend?”
Kokichi made a noise of affirmation. Bowing almost dramatically, he said, “We vampires are a very polite species, and if someone helps us, naturally, they are our ally until proven otherwise.”
Voice shaky, trying desperately to hide the panic he felt, Shuichi said, “Uh that isn’t necessary. You don’t have to be obligated to me. You can just make your leave. You’re welcome for saving you-”
Kokichi shook his head and said, “No, no, Saihara-kun! You caught my interest now, and now I practically got to stick around, at least, until I get bored.” There was mischievous glint in his purple eyes now that made Shuichi anxious.
Then, before Shuichi could say anything, Kokichi puffed out his chest and said, “It’s official. From here on out, Saihara-kun, I am your vampire friend!”
Then, once again, before Shuichi could protest anymore, Kokichi raised a finger up to silence him and said, “I would love to chat more, Saihara-kun, but unfortunately, the sun will be up soon and I must return to my abode.” Then looking at Shuichi with a devious smile, he said, “I shall see you some other time, Saihara-kun.”
Then, before Shuichi could say anything, Kokichi darted past him and out the door with frightening speed, leaving Shuichi with only the loneliness of his apartment.
Shuichi finally allowed himself to groan. This is what he got for being nice.
He had a feeling his nights were about to get a whole lot more interesting.