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There are many misconceptions about vampires. For example, that they're immortal. That's incorrect; they just have a much longer lifespan than a human, an average of three hundred years. They can be killed in basically every way a human can, too. Two, that vampires burn (or, god help me, sparkle) in sunlight. In actuality, they just have very sensitive skin and sunburn easily. Three, that all vampires are goth, dramatic, and have their own castles.
Like, c'mon. Just because Yuga Aoyama was a vampire, that doesn't mean he was goth or owned a castle. (Although.. He was rather dramatic.)
He also wasn't a creepy two hundred year old guy who hit on twenty year old women. That's just weird. But don't worry, because, at the time of this tale, he was twenty two. (See how easy it is to not make vampires borderline pedophiles?)
But, anyway. Back on track.
The fourth incorrect assumption is that vampires require copious amounts of blood to survive. That, too, is grossly inaccurate. While they do require blood, it is in much smaller amounts than originally assumed. One person's blood will last the average vampire several months if stored properly, as opposed to the assumed one-victim-a-day. (Unfortunately, some guy named Chizome or something was severely messed up, and totally misrepresented vampires.)
It was on these misconceptions that Yuga thrived. He bought groceries on sunny days (while wearing sunscreen of course, because, sunburns.), wore sparkly, white and pastel clothes, and never made any indication that he'd ever drank anyone's blood.
Despite the fact that someone would go missing every two or so months, he'd never heard anyone suspecting that there was a vampire in town. Through his years of school (yes, vampires do go to school), he'd never heard anyone ever whispering about a vampire.
Never, until he was sitting in a smoothie shop, mid-june, and ran into one of his old high school classmates. He'd left for some college Yuga didn't know the name of years ago, and, as it turned out, he was back in town.
The classmate's name was Mashirao Ojiro. It was easy for Yuga to remember, because they used to have lunch together some days- (Yuga always ate alone, to prevent anyone noticing his capri suns were not, in fact, filled with fruit punch.)- Because, despite having good relations with all their classmates, Mashirao wasn't particularly popular and only had a few close friends, who of course had their own friends, and sometimes all his friends would hang out with other friends. And, as such, the two boys would eat lunch together.
Yuga never minded. It wasn't too hard to mask being a vampire, after all he was known for having an odd, closed-mouth smile, so hiding his fangs wasn't difficult.
It was a little exhausting some days, having to try extra hard to hide away his true self, but Mashirao made those days better.
Thus, as Yuga sat in the cafe, drinking his smoothie, he waved his friend over when he entered. Mashirao smiled, and then waved back, before placing his smoothie order and walking over.
“Heya, Yuga.” Mashirao said as he sat down. “Been a while, huh?”
“Indeed, Mon ami.” Yuga took a sip of his mango smoothie, “How have you been?”
“Well, school was really tough. Now I understand why there aren't many in the slaying industry.”
Yuga blinked. Perhaps he'd misheard.
“Slaying?” He murmured, and Mashirao nodded.
“Y'know, vampire slaying. There's quite a few vampires in the world, going around, killing people. So that's why we kill them. To stop them from like, killing off the entire human race.”
Yuga nodded, pretending to agree, though deeply hurt that his friend has kinda trying to kill him. So, logically, he changed the topic.
“How has it been going between you and Toru, Mon ami?”
“We actually broke up a while back. We decided we were better as friends.”
The two spent some time catching up, and were still talking when the cafe closed. So, they decided to return the next day, then the day after that. Days turned to weeks, then to months, and two two became closer.
It was odd, Yuga noticed, how different Mashirao seemed than other humans he'd met. He seemed prettier, and kinder, and more determined. Despite the fact that Mashirao was a vampire hunter, Yuga found himself enjoying his company more and more.
It was late October, leaves were falling in a beautiful pattern, everywhere smelled of pumpkins and cinnamon, and notably, Mashirao was later than normal. He came running up to Yuga with a heavy backpack, and sat down without actually ordering.
“You're never gonna believe this, Yuga.” He said, out of breath from running. “You know the rumors that a vampire lives around here somewhere? I think I've figured out who it is.”
”... Oh?” Yuga whispered. Was he shaking? He hoped not. There was no way Mashirao knew, right?
... Right?
“You know that Shinsou guy?” Mashirao said. “With the purple hair? "
“.. Oui?”
“Well, think about it. He never goes outside when it's sunny, never seems to sleep, lives in that one corner of town where the sun never quite shines through windows- i could go on!”
Yuga wanted to laugh, but he didn't. Shinsou was a very, very stereotypical vampire, which made it highly unlikely he was a vampire at all. Also, Yuga would probably know by now if Shinsou was a vampire.
“Mashirao, I do not think-”
“Trust me! I've finally figured it all out! Can you help me?”
“.. Oui, I suppose.”
And so, they went.
Shinsou's house was, like Mashirao had mentioned on the walk there, exactly what one would expect for a vampire. In fact, with the boarded up windows and broken front steps, it looked more uninhabited than anything.
“Are you sure he lives here?” Yuga asked, eyeing the dusty railing.”
“.. Positive. " Mashirao whispered, a bit pale.
“.. Are you alright, Mashirao? You're shaking.”
“.. I'm fine. Just.. A little nervous. First time killing a vampire, y'know?” Yuga nodded, and the two of them entered the house. The door wasn't locked, though honestly, the wood was warped enough that it probably couldn't lock.
The interior wasn't much better than the exterior. The few pieces of furniture inside were old and covered with dust. Even if Shinsou was a vampire, he definitely didn't live here.
The door slammed shut, something hit Yuga in the head, and he was out cold.
When Yuga woke up, he was tied to a cold metal chair. He blinked, momentarily blinded by the bright white lights in the room before his vision cleared. His head was still spinning a bit, but he could see that he was in what looked like an interrogation room. He shook his head to clear up the fuzz in his brain, before glancing in the mirror across from him, squinting at his reflection (another misconception- not having a reflection is specific to silver-backed mirrors). After a moment, the door behind him opened, and three people entered. Two guards covered in heavy armor, and Mashirao, who seemed to be trying very hard to keep a stone face.
“Mashirao?” Yuga whispered, “What.. Are you doing?”
Yuga knew what he was doing. He pretended he didn't.
“.. I'm here to kill you.” Mashirao said, walking around the table to sit across from Yuga. “But first, i have to ask you some things.”
Yuga felt something. He didn't know what, but it hurt. Being betrayed by his closest friend- who he had to actively try to not think of as more than one- left him with an empty, painful feeling in his chest.
“Number one,” Mashirao started, seeming to force the words out, “Are there any other vampires in town?”
“Non,” Yuga murmured. He didn't see a reason to lie. Trusting a vampire slayer was his own fault. “None, that i know of.” Mashirao nodded.
“How old are you?"
“Twenty two.”
“What's your kill count?”
“Just below a hundred."
Mashirao nodded again, not making eye contact as he wrote each of Yuga's answers on his notepad. He kept asking questions, Yuga kept answering, staring at Mashirao in hope this was some sort of trick, that he was a twin or a clone, that he hadn't been betrayed and he was going to die at the hands of anyone but his friend. Mashirao stood suddenly, setting down his clipboard and moving behind Yuga.
“I suppose it is time?” Yuga asked, looking up at the mirror.
“It is.” Mashirao whispered, slowly pulling out a silver knife. His hands, Yuga noticed, were shaking. The blade went against his throat, and Yuga closed his eyes. He wasn't going to fight.
The pressure on his throat lifted, the restraints on his arms suddenly tore open, and Yuga opened his eyes to see Mashirao turn and charge at one of the armored guards. Yuga had to take a moment to process, before jumping to his feet and just tossing his chair at the guard who wasn't already being attacked. A siren began to blare, and a red light flashed, but Yuga didn't really give a shit. He grabbed the other chair and smashed it through the mirror-window, which was much easier to break than it probably should have been. Then, he and Mashirao both jumped out the window and booked it down the hall. Footsteps rang out behind them, then gunshots, and before they knew it, the two were hiding in a broom closet.
“Than-"
“I'm sorry, Yuga.”
“Mashirao, you just saved me. Why are you sorry?”
“What do you mean, why? I knocked you out, called the authorities, had you brought here-”
“And then saved me.”
“And now we're stuck in a tiny closet! The moment we step out, we're gonna get shot to pieces-
“Do you not have armor?”
“Well, i do, but you don't, you're definitely gonna end up dead- slayers know that vampires aren't actually unkillable immortals, they'll shoot you, you'll die-”
“they cannot shoot me if they cannot see me.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
Yuga leaned over and whispered into Mashirao's ear.
“You're crazy.” Mashirao said.
“We might was well try, non?”
“You're crazy,” Mashirao said again, but slowly nodded. “let's do it.”
As guards swarmed the halls, a blond man in a janitor's uniform walked out of the closet, pushing a big yellow mop bucket cart thing that definitely, 100% didn't have a vampire hiding underneath the pile of damp towels in it. He casually walked down the hall, turning every once in awhile, before he stopped at the start of one hallway, facing a locked wooden door. He casually grabbed the mop from the bucket, removed the thick wooden, handle, and stuck it through a hole in the front. Then, he used paracord to tie a silver knife to the end of the mop handle, took a deep breath, and ran as fast as he could straight at the door with his makeshift battering ram.
The door splintered a bit around the lock, so he backed the cart up and ran at it again. Footsteps echoed behind him, but he ignored them, and hoped for the best, hitting the door again. Gunshots, next, as guards turned the corner just as Mashirao broke through the door. He darted outside, now with pursuers on his heels, and bolted down the street.
He didn't stop running until the sound of gunfire finally fell into the background, and he finally came to a stop, letting go of the bucket. Yuga stood up after a moment, a bit disoriented from the very bumpy ride, but immediately came to his senses when he saw Mashirao collapsed on the ground.
“Mashirao? Are you alright?”
“I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm just exhausted,” Mashirao murmured, “And I'm like 90% sure I got shot in the leg. So, mostly fine.”
“I'll get it,” Yuga murmured, moving to check the wound before suddenly freezing, and instead backing away.
“Yuga? What's the problem?”
“.. Too much blood, Mashirao.” Yuga whispered, shaking his head, “I don't want to get too close to you.”
“I'm sure it'll be fine. Just, like, try not to think about it?”
Yuga shook his head, backing away. The scent of blood lingered in his nose, but he tried to shake it away, before he did anything he'd regret.
“Yuga, watch out!” Mashirao suddenly said, then a hand clamped over Yuga's mouth, and whoever was holding him cuffed his hands together before pressing what felt like the barrel of a gun against his head.
“I have to say, I'm impressed, Ojiro.” The person said, kicking Yuga so he fell to his knees, “You managed to gain the trust of a vampire, and betray him, and even after you- might i say, foolishly- decided to rescue this vampire and commit treason, you escaped without getting either of you killed. Brilliant mop bucket plan.”
“Get your hands off him, Monoma.” Mashirao snapped. The “Monoma" guy just laughed, and continued talking.
“As impressed as i am, I'm also disappointed. Really? Trusting a vampire? Even babies are smarter than that. I always knew i was better than you.”
Mashirao tried to get up, but despite his desperation the pain in his leg was too much and he san back down.
“You don't understand, Monoma-”
“I understand perfectly! ‘This vampire is different', right? Is that it? God, you're even stupider than I thought you were. I guess I'll just thank you, then, for allowing me the honor of ridding the world of this disgusting vampire.”
Yuga tried to say something, but Monoma kicked him again.
“Please, Monoma. Just let him go.”
“You'd best rethink your life choices, Ojiro. At this point, you'll be lucky if you only get a life sentence. Y'know, for treason against the entire human race. Now,” he moved the hand over Yuga's mouth down to his throat, “Any last words, vermin? "
“Mashirao,” Yuga whispered, “I am happy. I am happy tat you.. Are the last person I will see.”
Monoma pulled the trigger.
Not all stories have a happy ending, you see. Monoma was hailed as a hero, for killing the filthy vampire who'd tricked and killed so many. Mashirao, thanks to a very good lawyer, managed to get off with only ten years in prison, a time which he spent mourning his friend. Afterwards, he became a martial artist, reunited with his ex-girlfriend and became a husband, and eventually, a father. When he died, many years later, he had two beautiful children, a son (named Yuga, of course,) and a daughter.
They say that in the clearing where Yuga died, someone placed a statue of Monoma, the vampire killer
They say that statue was defaced, destroyed, and replaced with a statue of a human and a vampire, side by side.
They say Mashirao's children became slayers, and secretly refuged the vampires they claimed to kill.
There are many misconceptions about vampires.
But never again is it said that vampires and humans must be enemies.
Perhaps, for now, that is enough.