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“Nii-san!” Akhika yelled at her brother who was about to leave with that dirty foreign girl.
“Ah… Akhika.” The boy chuckled and sweated “What’s up?”
“Nii-san you promised you would only go out with Arcueid every other day.” The girl pouted
As Shiki tried to open his mouth to make some asinine excuse to get him out of being the target of his little sister's wrath. A big white blur jumped onto Akhika and hugged her.
“Little Sister!” Arcueid exclaimed as she jumped to hug her so-called sister-in-law.
“H-hey get off me.” Akhika says in embarrassment. Her personal space is violated by this bubble headed idiot. “And we promised that it’s every other day. What gives?”
“Oh please dear little sister we just wanted to see the carnival that was scheduled for today.” Arcueid looks up with puppy eyes
Akhika looks back in disgust.
“Um it’s very important to her to see the carnival so it will be very much appreciated if you let us go today.” Shiki whispered to his little sister.
Akihika looked at her brother. He would be so happy if she just let them go.
Ugh, even if they violated their promise with her.
She sighs and then says “Fine but this is a one time thing alright.” She glares at him “If this happens again I have no choice but to put my foot down, and you know exactly what happens when that happens. Do you Nii-san?” With a wicked smile on her face.
“Thank you Akhika, I really appreciated it.” Shiki says while clapping his hands and bowing down.
“Yay.” Arcueid bounced up and down like a child
“Just promise me that you will be back at a reasonable time please.” Akhikia sighed
“I promised” As Shiki looks at Akhikia with a smile as he and Arcueid leave for the event.
Arcueid looked at the two siblings.
Something tugged on her heart that she can’t quite describe.
They are not even blood related.
Their family was built off of lies and tragedy.
Frankly their personalities feel so incompatible sometimes.
Yet such warmth and familiarity between them.
Why?
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“Hey Shiki?” Arcueid says
“Yeah?” The boy replied
“How is it like having siblings?” Arcueid says curiously.
Shiki chuckled “Well Akhika feels more like my mom sometimes, but it’s nice to have one. I look after her and she looks after me. It’s a big benefit to be with someone since childhood even if we are admittedly not blood related. They’ll know stuff about you that most people could never. ”
“And how do you deal with arguments?” Arcueid says curiously “It must be so frustrating to deal with that.”
“Well that's just part of the experience really. Again you are with this person for like most of your life it’d be statistically impossible to not have a difference of opinions. Even though technically I wasn’t around recently but still. “ Shiki chuckled
“I know that, despite everything, we’ll stick together. I mean I’m her big brother after all”. Shiki said with a smile “Anyways, why are you asking? Do you have siblings?”
“Mmmm” Arcueid tilted her head “It’s complicated but yes. Although we are not on the best of terms.”
“If I were you. I would try to contact them if you can.” Shiki said “Family is family, you don’t really get another one of those often, and hey if it doesn’t work out you don’t lose that much.”
Arcueid gasps “I see! Thank you Shiki!” as she threw herself onto him. “You really are the best!”
Shiki laughs, “I just only gave you a little advice.”
As the two couples then walk away into the night. Arcueid came away with the most horrible, no good idea of all.
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The moon shines brightly in the night.
A full moon. The time where vampires peak in power.
The eclipse princesses walk throughout her gothic castle. Although she has numerous Rank VI and Rank VII Dead Apostles under her disposal. The castle remains empty save for two top ranking Ancestors that are currently dealing with other affairs and Primate Murder is off resting for the night. In other words she is completely alone.
It’s a strange feeling. Altrouge specializes in making contracts, something that requires frankly dealing with people 24/7 . Which Altrouge has no problems doing. When she was born she was instantly sociable and charismatic. Her ruby red eyes bend the knees of vampires and man alike with her power. Her voice speaks to all desires. So to be alone in a grand castle that should be filled with people is uncanny to say the least.
Frankly it may not be a bad thing. The silence is comfortable from time to time and the sound of the night life provides a great atmosphere that can’t be matched anywhere else. Altrouge takes a deep breath and exhales. Taking in the scenery she think abo-
A large explosion is heard.
What the hell?
Altrouge looks around. Alert that they may be under attack until–
“Sister!” A familiar sound yet unfamiliar in tone voice yelled.
Oh great.
Arcueid the younger “sister” of Altrouge walks in. Completely destroying all the high tier Bounded fields like nothing but to be fair that’s what Brunestuds do.
Altrouge tenses up. Her so-called sister might be here to take back her hair. One of the signs that will make her the “ONE”. But..
“Oh Altrouge it’s been far too long” as Arcuied uncharacteristically hugs her.
Huh? Usually Arcuied will usually try to claw and rip apart Altrouge piece by piece but now she’s hugging her?
Altrouge doesn’t know how to respond. Arcueid continues. “I would like you to come to hang out with me tomorrow! A carnival is at Souya and I would love it if you can come with me tomorrow!”
Wait, that's right Arcuied was supposed to be in Japan right now. How the hell did she end up back in Europe? Wrong question, hanging out?
Before Altrouge can say anything back. Arucied continues “Anyways I hope you have a great evening! Here’s the meetup place. Bye sis!” As Arcueid leaves as soon as she arrives.
What just happened.
Altrouge looks down at the piece of paper with the meet up place and a meet up time too.. She wasn’t seriously going to entertain this fool. Right? How would she even get to Japan?
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The cafe was surprisingly sparse. At what supposed to be peak hours only a few customers sit and order food. Getting to Japan was more easier than thought of as apparently Arcueid did something with Imaginary Number Space and since she could do it Altrouge could do it also. Ridiculous she did something borderline on True Magic for what? To invite her to hang out.
Wait, why was she here? She doesn’t know why she was here, why she dressed so well for this (a casual lolita style with her hair in twintails she was considering something more extravagant but that would be overkill) or why she was early? She had a billion other things better to do than this. Maybe she wants to be entertained for a bit. See how much of a train wreck this is. Or maybe..
Arcueid rushes into the store out of breath (How can a superpower vampire get tired from running?) and looks at Altrouge with shiny eyes as she realizes that she has accepted the offer. Arcueid then rushes to the table to have a seat “Ah Altrouge you came!”
“Yeah. About 30 minutes earlier than you did. Also how did you come late to your own meetup?” Altrouge scolds.
“Ahh sorry sister! I just overslept. “ Arcueid said, bowing her head down.
“We are night creatures who have different sleep cycles than everybody else. How the hell did you oversleep?” Altrouge said, exasperated.
“Look, getting you the invitation took a lot of me!” Arcueid whined “As soon as I got home I was dead asleep!”
“Fine whatever” Altrogue rolled her eyes. Arcueid than giggles.
“What.” Altrogue replied.
“It’s just that for some reason, arguing like that in this place. It just feels good.” Arcueid smile
Altrouge looks at the window and streets in silence.
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The makeshift carnival spreads its roots all over a section of Souya. A temporary place where for a moment magic and wonders exist in this world without none of those.
Two sisters make their way throughout the crowd. One beaming with daylight and the other walking with the grace of the night.
“So what should we do first?” Arcueid said.
“You don’t have a plan for this day? Altrouge scorn. “Frankly I feel insulted since I got all the way over here and you don’t have a plan for today.”
“Eh.” Arcueid waves off her sister's complaint. “Isn’t it more fun just to explore the area without a plan?”
“Unlike your head forward approach, I like to be prepared and know my stuff before coming into things.” Altrouge replied back.
“Ohh, and how did that help against your battle with Roa?” Arcueid said smugly
“Said the idiot who got her powers stolen in the first place.” Altrouge said
“Hehe.” Arcueid laughed. “Well if you want to prove who’s method is better. Why don’t we play some carnival games!”
“Carnival games?” Altrouge said with a confused tone. “You know most of them are scams right?”
“What too afraid to lose to you younger sister? Guess I’m the better Brunestud after all.” Arcueid said smugly
An enraged vessel appears on Altrouge's forehead “Oh? Your smile won't be so bright after I’m done beating you till you cry for your boyfriend of yours.”
And so the two successors for the title of “ONE” that would shake the world itself decide to compete in… carnival games.
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“What’d I say? Till you cry for your boyfriend.” Altrouge said smugly as she walk with teddy bear that she gain from the games
“NOT FAIR NOT FAIR NOT FAIR!” Arcueid said as she continued her child's tantrum. “I had you beat 9-8 but then somehow you went ahead with those last two games, which felt impossible for me!!”
“I told you, most of these games are a scam, and the way to win these scams are through the people who are running them.” Altrouge said with a money gesture “Your airheaded approach was always destined to fail.”
“THAT’S NOT FAIR!” Arucuied yelled.
The white princess sat down on a park bench. Literally too angry to stand as steam comes out of her ears.
Altrouge smiled seeing her sister like this. An assured victory for her. Altrouge looked around her surroundings. She’s at a park that’s about to go into the twilight. She hadn’t expected the time would go so fast.
To her it felt like seconds passed and yet… those seconds weren’t empty, they were filled with…..
Altrouge looked Arucuied
“Arucuied, what is this?” Altrouge said in a cold tone.
“What’s, what cheater?” Arcueid said bluntly still angry at her sister for the rigged competition
“This” Altrouge waved around her “This whole day. The invitation, the cafe, and the carnival? We’ve been sworn enemies who want to tear each to shred for all our lives and now you just want to hang out? I knew you were broken but I didn’t know you were this broken!”
Arcueid, her eyes closed, stayed silent.
“What you think we can just bury the thing that defines us. The purpose of our very existence. To play sibling? Don’t be so naive, only one of us can exist. “ Altrouge said venomously “This whole experiment was meaningless.”
“Yes, you’re right this was all meaningless” Arcueid said in a quiet tone.
Indeed no matter what these two will fight.
Their very existences cannot coexist
That is what it mean to be called “ONE”
“But you can’t deny there’s a part of you that found today fun, no?” Arcueid smiled
Altrouge stared at Arcueid as the sun set covering her in a brilliant orange shade. A warm image to remember after a long day.
“Welp, I guess that concludes today' s activity.” Arcueid said standing up like nothing happened “I’ll take you home since it was my event.”
Altrouge stared down at her feat
“Next time we meet we'll be enemies.”
“I know.”
“At that place we’ll get to decide who will become the ultimate one and who will die.”
“I know.”
“So I want you to know that I’m grateful for what you have given me today.”
“Of course what kind of sister would I be if I didn’t do that?”