Work Text:
How can someone draw when they’re not even fully awake?
Ena’s eyes drooped. Her head was resting on her hand as she scrolled through inspiration on her phone, getting lost in thought along the way. The screen’s glow felt harsh, almost blinding against her heavy eyelids. Every few seconds, her gaze would linger too long on one image before drifting unfocused, her thumb slowing and stopping entirely.
It was way past her bedtime (if she even had one). Still, she wanted to finish this drawing, even though she wasn’t even 15% done. The sketch sat unfinished in front of her as if even her hand had given up halfway through. Her pen rested loosely between her fingers.
Honestly, drawing wasn’t what was keeping her up.
What was keeping her awake were the unanswered texts from Mizuki.
She’d been trying to get ahold of her since last night. Their last conversation had been when Ena went to bed, which meant it was very late at night… or maybe early morning. Ena could still remember the last message she sent, staring at it now in the chat. At the small “delivered” under it feeling more annoying the longer she looked.
But even so, Mizuki didn’t need sleep. Ena knew that by now. After all, Mizuki was a vampire, so she technically didn’t need to sleep at all. Which only made this situation worse.
Ena shifted slightly in her seat, refreshing the chat for no reason at all. Nothing changed. No new message. So now Ena found herself wondering what could possibly be keeping Mizuki so busy. Surely, she should’ve been up and around by now… Unless something was wrong.
To occupy her thoughts, she turned to her usual social media feeds, skimming through the latest fashion trends. Perhaps, if she looked long enough, something might catch her eye, something that could ignite a spark of inspiration for her current project.
Then one post led to another. A tagged account, a shared story, and then a headline that caught Ena’s attention through her exhaustion.
⸻
“Increase in Nocturnal Incidents Linked to ‘Vampiric Activity,’ Authorities Warn”
Ena frowned, scanning the article as she shifted slightly in her seat.
Authorities have reported a noticeable increase in vampire-related incidents across multiple urban areas, particularly during late-night hours. Officials urge civilians to remain indoors after dark, citing a growing number of encounters believed to involve hostile entities.
Her eyes moved quickly across the lines.
“These individuals are not to be approached,” one statement read. “They are dangerous by nature, especially when deprived of blood. Civilians are advised to avoid unnecessary risks and report any suspicious activity immediately.”
Dangerous by nature?
The article continued.
Precautionary measures include securing windows and doors, avoiding isolated streets at night, and refraining from inviting unknown persons into one’s home. Experts warn that vampires may appear outwardly harmless in order to gain trust before attacking.
That didn’t sit right. Still, she kept reading.
In response to the increase in sightings, specialized units have been deployed to locate and eliminate potential threats. Officials reassure the public that these actions are necessary to maintain safety and prevent further incidents.
Eliminate? The word was mentioned almost casually, tucked between safety measures and official statements but the implication was clear enough. The article didn’t question it or frame it as anything extreme, just… necessary as if there were no other option.
“At the end of the day, these are not people,” one interviewee stated. “They’re predators. You don’t reason with something like that, you deal with it.”
“…That’s a bit much.” Ena muttered under her breath. She should stop getting distracted when drawing, unless she wants to get stuck in an endless rabbit hole. And yet, her confusion remained. Because if this was true… if there were really that many…
Ena’s eyes flicked back to the headline. She had never thought about it before, and honestly, never had a good reason to. Mizuki was the only vampire she had ever met. And even then, she wasn’t anything like what this article described.
Of course, there was still so much Ena didn’t know about Mizuki who remained carefully guarded, her identity veiled in more ways than one. Whether as a vampire or something beyond that, Mizuki never revealed more than she intended. And yet… Ena couldn’t help but believe she had earned at least some of her trust. Right?
And just as quickly as the thoughts came, they slipped away, her attention catching on a faint sound just outside her window. For a moment, she didn’t move at all and just listened. It was probably nothing. A bird wandering too close this late at night, or a tree branch brushing against the glass with the wind.
That’s what she told herself, anyway. But the sound didn’t stop. If anything, the quiet in between only made it worse. It was enough to pull her fully out of her drowsiness.
Her gaze wandered toward the window hesitantly, expecting to see something waiting there. But there was nothing. No movement or a possible silhouette. Only the dark outline of her yard, barely even visible beyond the glass.
Was her mind playing tricks on her? Was she really that tired? Well… wouldn’t be the first time.
Ena exhaled quietly, almost trying to convince herself.
Tap. Tap.
Two light knocks.
Silence followed. Then it came again.
Tap. Tap.
And it didn’t sound accidental. Ena’s brows pulled together, the last traces of sleepiness draining from her completely, replaced by unease. The rhythm was too consistent, not like a branch or the wind.
Should she check?
Her eyes flicked toward the window again. A reasonable explanation still existed. There had to be one. She wasn’t about to jump to conclusions over something this small.
Even so, Ena pushed her chair back and stood but still trying to give herself time to change her mind. She didn’t, in the end, as she slowly made her way over to the window. When she reached it, she didn’t look right away. Instead, she leaned in hesitantly before the faintly foggy glass caused by her breath.
Her yard was swallowed in darkness. She had to get closer than she liked just to make out anything at all through the night.
“Boo!”
That was all Ena heard before she jolted back, her entire body flinching as a scream clawed its way up her throat, only to be swallowed at the last second. She clamped her mouth shut, forcing it down so she wouldn’t wake the rest of the house. Instead, what escaped was a strained squeak, sharp with fear.
Her heart pounded against her ribs as her eyes snapped toward the window.
Pink hair in the night that followed a familiar and way too amused expression pressed too close to the glass.
Ena’s brain lagged behind, caught somewhere between fear and confusion. She exhaled shakily, one hand coming up to press against her chest as if that would calm her heartbeat any faster. It didn’t. But irritation rushed in to replace the panic. Quickly, she stepped forward and shoved the window open, the cool night air slipping into her room.
“Mizuki!” Ena hissed, her voice loud despite her attempt to keep it down. “Don’t ever do that to me—like, ever again!”
“Well, good evening to you too, Enanan!” Mizuki giggled, completely unbothered. “You should’ve seen your face.”
“What went through your head when you thought scaring me half to death would be a good idea!?” Ena shot back, her voice still hushed but laced with frustration.
“Mm… I just thought of the funny outcome. What, was I too scary or are you not happy to see me?” Mizuki smiled back as if she hadn’t just taken five years off Ena’s life.
Irritation and confusion tangled together as Ena’s thoughts finally caught up.
“…Wait.” She leaned a little closer to the window, squinting, trying to suddenly make this make sense. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “This is the second floor. How are you at my window?!”
Her eyes flicked downward, trying to find a ladder, a balcony edge, anything Mizuki could be standing on. But there was nothing. Just the drop into the dark below.
Mizuki only hummed, way too amused for someone currently defying basic logic. “Ahhh, Enanan…”
Before Ena could question it further, Mizuki shifted smoothly, moving along the outside of the wall like it was the most natural thing in the world. Back and forth. No slipping.
“…What.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about us vampires.” Mizuki added with a teasingly cryptic tone, like she was holding onto some big secret she had no intention of fully explaining.
“What? That you can apparently float now?!”
“Huh? No, that’s in the movies.” Mizuki waved a hand dismissively. “I can walk on walls, ya know.”
Ena slowly leaned out the window. And there Mizuki was. Perfectly balanced. Stuck, no, standing against the vertical wall as if gravity had simply decided not to apply to her.
“Get down!” Ena hissed, panic replacing confusion in an instant. “What if someone sees you?!”
“Mmm, I would.” Mizuki hummed. “but, see… I’m kind of hiding right now, and I uh… I might need to stay at your place for a while.”
“…Hiding?”
Mizuki gave a sheepish smile though it still carried the usual unreadable edge. “It’s a veryyy long story.” she dragged the words out. “I can explain maybe half of it if you let me inside.”
Ena narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she leaned against the window frame, returning the same kind of sneaky look. “Yeah, I would, but you didn’t reply to any of my texts while I was worried sick about you, and now you’re just out here pulling pranks on me?” she gestured vaguely toward the wall with an annoyed glance.
“Okay, fair.” she admitted. “But I do have a very plausible explanation.” She leaned in a little closer to the window, dropping her voice to a more serious tone now. “I just… really need to get inside, if that’s okay with you.”
“Fine. If it’s that important.” Ena muttered, stepping aside and making space by the window for Mizuki to climb in.
But after a moment, Mizuki didn’t move.
“…Why are you just standing there?”
“Uh, Ena…”
“Hm? Oh—do you need help?” Ena leaned forward and extended her arm out the window. “Careful, watch your step—”
“No, no.” Mizuki cut in awkwardly. “It’s just… you do know you have to invite me in, right?”
“Huh?”
“Okay, so remember that one time we went over to Kanade’s house, and there was that really long, awkward moment where she had to formally invite me in?”
Ena thought for a good two seconds. “…Oh. Yeah. That was before I knew you were a vampire.”
“Exactly. So….” Mizuki gestured vaguely toward the window frame thinking maybe it explained everything. “I need to be invited into a private home the first time I enter. And since I’ve never been to your house before…”
Ena groaned quietly, dragging a hand down her face. “Ugh, this is so—”
“—Stupid, I know.” Mizuki finished for her with a small shrug. “Unspoken rules and all that.”
“Okay… what do I even have to say?”
“Just, like, verbally welcome me at the threshold.” Mizuki said. “A simple ‘come on in’ should work.”
Ena awkwardly gestured toward her room. “…Alright. Uh, come on in, then.”
The effect was immediate.
One second Mizuki was outside and the next, she stepped in smoothly, whatever invisible barrier had been there simply vanished. She landed lightly on the floor, already reaching back to close the window behind her. Before she did, she cast one quick glance into the dark outside, more alerted.
Then it was gone. She shut the window, brushed invisible dust off her clothes, and straightened up like nothing had happened.
Before Ena could even react, Mizuki closed the distance at an almost unnatural speed. She reached for Ena’s hand and slipped her fingers around it with ease, her touch noticeably cold. Then, with an exaggerated motion, she lowered herself and pressed a soft kiss to the back of Ena’s hand.
“Well, thank you, princess, for letting me in.~” Mizuki teased.
Ena froze. Whether it was the sudden contact, the chill of Mizuki’s skin against hers, or the fact that her sleepiness hadn’t fully worn off yet, making everything feel just a bit slower, she couldn’t tell.
Probably all of it.
Color rushed to her face instantly.
“Ah—” Ena pulled her hand back quickly, like she’d just realized what was happening a second too late. “Stop with this nonsense.” She turned her head away in an attempt to play it off.
Mizuki only smirked. “Aww, I was only trying to be polite and I get repaid with rudeness instead.”
“Whatever.” Ena huffed, still flustered as she crossed her arms. “If you’ve never been to my house before, then how do you even know where I live?”
Mizuki just smiled, like she’d been waiting for that. “Hmm… stalking?” she offered lightly.
Ena’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not funny.”
“Wow, harsh. Would you have preferred ‘mysterious vampire senses,’ instead?”
“That’s not a better answer.”
“It’s cooler, though.”
“It’s creepier.”
Mizuki laughed under her breath, clearly not taking any of this seriously. She leaned back, glancing around Ena’s room like she had all the time in the world, like she hadn’t just shown up uninvited (well, almost uninvited) at her window in the middle of the night.
“Why did you come here, anyway?” Ena’s question edged with annoyance. “Actually—no. First of all, did you drop your phone in a ditch or something? You haven’t replied to me in, like, a day.”
“Mmm, missed me?~”
“I was worried! And you said something about hiding, or… whatever this is.” Ena gestured vaguely toward her, frustration mixing with concern. “What’s going on?”
Mizuki let out a breathy laugh, lifting her hands slightly in mock surrender. “Ah, ah—calm down now. No need to get so worked up at this hour.” She tilted her head with a small smile even if it didn’t quite have the same energy as earlier. “Your family’s still asleep, you know?”
Ena exhaled sharply. “I’m serious, Mizuki.”
“Mmm, I can tell. That’s the problem.”
Ena clicked her tongue. “Hello? I ask a normal question and you—”
“And I give you a fun answer.” Mizuki cut in smoothly. “You’re welcome.”
“I don’t want a fun answer, I want an actual one.”
“Mm… denied.”
Ena groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “You’re actually impossible to talk to.”
“Well, what are you doing up this late anyway?” Mizuki asked as she glanced back toward the window. “You should be sleeping. You’re mortal, after all.” As she spoke, she drifted further into the room, her attention landing on Ena’s desk.
The tablet was still on, illuminating the unfinished drawing on the screen. Papers were scattered around it, sketches layered over one another, some half-done, others abandoned entirely. Pens, erasers, and stray notes filled whatever space was left, the kind of organized chaos Ena always worked in.
“Hm, interesting. You look busy. Maybe I should just get out of your way and let you rest?” Mizuki declared.
“No, you should answer my questions.”
Suddenly, Mizuki flinched back a step like something inside her had spiked. A sharp hiss slipped past her lips as her hand flew up to her head. Her fingers pressed into her temple, trying to steady something that wasn’t visible. The playful ease in her expression cracked, but she forced it back as fast as it had disappeared.
“Ahh, Enanan…” her tone dipped more strained than before. “Your worried voice is giving me a headache.”
Ena opened her mouth ready to argue again, but stopped. Something about that reaction… it didn’t match. Her eyes narrowed as her irritation faltered when she looked at Mizuki more carefully. The teasing smile was still in place. The same posture with the same tone. But it didn’t sit right anymore. It felt like it was being held up rather than coming naturally.
“…Wait.”
Mizuki tilted her head like nothing was wrong. “Hm?”
Ena stepped closer without really thinking about it. “You look pale…er than usual.”
Mizuki didn’t answer.
Ena’s eyes moved over her face, picking up things she hadn’t noticed before. The faint darkness under her eyes with slight tension around them. The way Mizuki’s expression, even when she smiled, seemed just a tad bit… off. If Ena had searched for the right word it would probably be drained. Or weaker.
“…What’s wrong?” she asked.
Mizuki stilled for a brief second under Ena’s gaze then stepped back enough to put a bit of space between them again. Her hand dropped from her temple, brushing it off like it had been nothing, like Ena hadn’t just seen that.
“Mm? What, this?” she forced a laugh as she waved a hand near her face. “Wow, princess, you’re so attentive tonight. I’m fine. Just a bit… tired, I guess.” The excuse came easily to her. “Didn’t really get the chance to rest properly.” she added with a casual shrug.
“Huh? But–“
“You should be more worried about yourself.” Mizuki gestured vaguely toward Ena. “You look like you’re about to pass out any second now. And humans don’t recover as fast as we do, remember?” she added with a faint grin.
Ena frowned, not buying it for a second. “Me? You look like you’re about to pass out!” she shot back. “Can vampires even do that?”
Mizuki opened her mouth, probably to deflect again—
“Mizuki, look at me when I’m speaking to you.” There was something different in Ena’s voice this time. Surely a lot more… insistent. She stepped closer to the vampire, closing the distance Mizuki had just created and scanning her face more carefully now.
Mizuki’s breath hitched in cruel anticipation. Then the same, sudden and violent spike of pain hit again and made her whole body tense. She sucked in a breath through her teeth, her hand snapping back up to her head as her knees nearly gave out beneath her. To Ena it looked like she might actually drop. She didn’t. But it was close.
Mizuki staggered back instead, putting distance between them again more than before this time. Her expression tightened into something more serious before quickly forcing it away.
“I said I’m fine. Perfectly stable.” she muttered dismissively like shutting the whole thing down before Ena could get any closer. She straightened, brushing it off again, even if the motion wasn’t as smooth as usual. “Don’t make it a whole thing, please. You’re overreacting.”
Whatever irritation had been there in Ena before was gone now. “You’re not fine!?”
Mizuki exhaled through her nose, already tired of the conversation. “Enanan—”
“No.” Ena shook her head. “Don’t ‘Enanan’ me. You almost—you almost fell.”
“Oh yeah? Watch me!” Mizuki said, trying to take a few more steps behind. “Incredibly steady, flawlessly–“ she stumbled upon air and almost fell back. Ena caught her by the hand in time.
“Okay. That’s it. Sit down.”
“What? No, I’m not—”
“Sit.” Ena repeated firmer, reaching out again ti guide her to her bed. Her hand hovered for a second before lightly touching Mizuki’s arm, testing if she’d pull away. Mizuki tensed at the contact but she didn’t reject it.
“You’re being dramatic, I have my footing.” Mizuki muttered, but there was less bite to it now.
“Yeah? Then humor me.” Ena said quietly.
There was a pause, then, reluctantly, Mizuki let herself be led until the back of her knees hit the edge of Ena’s bed. She sat too stiffly as if she was holding something in.
Ena stayed close. Too close for Mizuki’s liking. She crouched slightly in front of Mizuki, trying to meet her gaze again. “Is this…like, another mysterious vampire thing?” she asked hesitantly. “Like, are you sick? Do vampires even get sick?”
Mizuki let out a breathy laugh but it sounded wrong to the both of them. “…Something like that.”
“That doesn’t help. Can I do anything? Just tell me what’s going on.”
Mizuki’s fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her clothes. “I don’t… want to scare you.”
Ena leaned in a little more and tried to reach out with her hand. “Scare me? Mizuki—”
“Don’t!”
Ena froze.
Mizuki’s eyes flickered up to hers for a second before shifting away again. “Don’t touch me. You’re too close.”
“What?”
Mizuki swallowed away her guilt. It looked like she might do what she always did—brush it off, twist it into a deflection. Anything but the truth. She let out an unsteady breath, lifting a hand to her face and dragging it down, trying to pull herself back together.
“Please…” Mizuki started. “I know this looks bad—”
“Very. It looks very bad”
Mizuki gave a tired exhale. “Yeah. I figured you’d say that.” The usual confidence in her posture disappeared. She figured she should force the truth out already. “I just… I haven’t… fed in a while.”
The answer sounded reluctant. Ena went completely still.
“…Oh.”
Ena’s reply struck Mizuki with the force of something unspoken yet undeniable. Mizuki despised how unmistakable the realization was in Ena’s voice and how easily it betrayed her understanding.
“Okay…” Ena’s words were measured, as though she were assembling meaning piece by fragile piece. “And that’s—bad?”
“Depends on your definition of bad.”
The answer did nothing to settle her. If anything, it sharpened the unease settling in her chest. “…Then how bad is too bad, right now?” she pressed, no less insistent.
Mizuki did not answer immediately. Her gaze lifted, drawn back to Ena, and stayed there, a fraction longer than it should have. There was a shift in it now. Something more intent.
“You being worried isn’t helping.” Mizuki murmured at last.
Ena’s brows drew together. “What does that mean?”
“…Your heart rate’s elevated.”
Ena’s breath caught.
“And I can—” Mizuki faltered, the admission resisting even as it surfaced. “…hear it.”
The space between them seemed to contract with the air growing heavier.
Ena swallowed. “…That’s… normal, right? For you?”
A faint smile touched Mizuki’s lips, though it lacked warmth. “Yes. But so is this.”
Ena’s eyes flicked downward, catching the minute tension in Mizuki’s hands as though restraining something unseen.
“…And the smell.” Mizuki added, barely above a whisper.
Ena’s stomach tightened. “…The smell?”
Mizuki’s eyes closed for a moment with the effort to steady herself.
“…Blood.”
The word settled between them with quiet finality. Ena’s pulse betrayed her, quickening despite herself.
Mizuki let out a strained laugh. “See? That’s exactly what I meant.”
Ena shook her head, though her voice had lost its earlier sharpness. “I’m already freaked out, Mizuki. You telling me to calm down isn’t helping.”
Mizuki already looked guilty enough, and at that, Ena reconsidered her response.
“Okay, can I help?” The question did not come rushed or frantic. There was no panic in her voice, any instinct to recoil or create distance. She remained exactly where she was since simply existing beside Mizuki was already a decision she had made.
Mizuki did not answer. She sat there in silence, shoulders held in quiet tension and betraying something she was actively holding back.
“You don’t have to.” she said at last, voice worn thin at the edges. “I didn’t come here for that.”
Ena’s brows knit together. “Then why did you come here?”
Mizuki glanced at her. There was no immediate deflection this time. No playful remark waiting to soften the moment.
“I needed somewhere safe.” she admitted.
The tension in Ena’s expression eased into a gentler emotion. “You could’ve just said that.” she murmured.
Mizuki’s lips curved even if smile lacked its usual ease. “But where’s the fun in that?”
“Mizuki!” Ena snapped, the worry flaring back into frustration. “This isn’t funny.”
“Wow, okay, okay…” Mizuki raised her hands again in a half-hearted gesture of surrender. The motion was familiar, but the energy behind it had dulled. “No jokes. I get it.”
Ena did not soften. “Then start talking.” she left no room for avoidance.
Mizuki exhaled slowly. Her eyes stopped somewhere past Ena’s shoulder because direct eye contact would make the words harder to say.
“Are you even familiar with how vampires actually live?” she asked. “Not the romanticized version. The real one.”
Ena frowned slightly. “…Not really.”
A small nod followed, as if Mizuki had expected no different. “We don’t just… exist peacefully.” she continued, her voice more subdued now. “Some of us have to stay hidden or keep moving. Because there are people who hunt us.”
“Hunters?”
Mizuki gave a faint hum. “They don’t exactly knock on your door and ask nicely.”
Ena’s discomfort was visible, but she pushed past it. Or tried to. “Sorry if it sounds invasive, but, then, how were you feeding before?”
Mizuki hesitated. It was a brief but noticeable kind of hesitation. “I had someone.” she eventually said. “A friend.”
Ena said nothing and waited.
“Rui.” Mizuki added. “He… let me feed from him. Whenever I needed to.” There was a subtle shift in her voice when she said his name. Not anything romantic, if Ena had read it right. “But he’s away right now, so that option’s gone.”
Ena’s brows furrowed deeper. “…So what—you’ve just been… not feeding?”
Mizuki gave a dismissive shrug. “I tried.” The answer did nothing to reassure. “The past few nights didn’t go well.” she admitted. “So tonight, I thought I’d just… handle it properly.”
Ena’s stomach tightened slightly at the implication, but she didn’t interrupt.
“It was supposed to be simple.” Mizuki went on. “Find someone, feed, leave.”
Ena felt her chest constrict. “What happened?”
Mizuki’s fingers curled faintly against her sleeve. “Someone caught me, or rather, I was ratted out.” she said. “Midway through my plan.”
“Caught you—like—”
“I got away.” Mizuki cut in quickly. “Before it got worse. But they followed me. I didn’t realize at first. Not until I was already too close to here.”
Ena’s breath faltered. “…Too close to—my house?”
Mizuki nodded. “I didn’t have many options. And yours was the closest place I could think of.” she admitted.
Ena cut in, almost without thinking. “…Those units they send out… to track you down. Are they the ones who found you?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she froze. Mizuki did too. Slowly, Mizuki’s gaze sharpened and lifted back to her.
“…I see. So you have been reading about us.”
Ena shook her head quickly. “It’s not like that—I don’t believe any of it. Not the way they describe you.”
Then, Mizuki looked away from Ena with a kind of unguarded honesty Ena had never seen in her before. “I know I shouldn’t have come here. I know I dragged you into something you had nothing to do with.” Her gaze dropped. “…I’m sorry for intruding. And for putting you in danger.”
At that, one might have expected Ena to recoil in fear. And it would have been a reasonable reaction. Yet, curiously, she did not. If anything, her concern leaned more heavily toward Mizuki than toward her own safety. Huh… interesting.
“…But when you said I can’t help… did you really mean that?” Ena asked.
Mizuki blinked. “Hm?”
“I mean—” Ena tried to choose her words with more intention now. “You’re clearly in pain. There has to be something I can do. Right?”
Mizuki exhaled faintly, her lips curving in a weak attempt at humor. “Well, no—not unless you’re planning to go out and hunt for me.”
“I don’t mean that! I meant… can’t I just offer you some of my blood or someth–?”
“WHAT!?”
Mizuki’s reaction was immediate. The word tore out of her, half shout, half gasp, color rising unexpectedly to her pale face. Ena startled at the sudden outburst and her pulse jumped. So, like a chain of unwanted reactions, Mizuki felt it. She lurched forward, caught between a flare of pain and something too difficult to conceal, her breath hitching as she pressed a hand against herself, trying to steady it.
“W-What do you mean what?” Ena continued, thrown off but pushing through it anyway. “You said it yourself—it was supposed to be simple. So it should be simple, right? You’ve done it before. Rui, wasn’t it?”
She reached out without thinking, settling her hand gently against Mizuki’s back, rubbing slow circles in an attempt to ease whatever was happening.
Mizuki stilled at the contact. And despite everything, her smile surfaced. “You… You don’t actually know what you’re offering, princess.” she murmured.
“My blood, obviously.” Ena frowned, unable to grasp the sudden weight in Mizuki’s tone.
Mizuki’s faint smile faltered as quickly as it appeared. “No. I can’t.”
Ena blinked. “Can’t what?”
“I can’t do that.” Mizuki repeated, shaking her head. “I’m not hurting you.”
Ena frowned, confusion threading into her concern. “Hurting me? Mizuki, I literally just—”
“No, Ena.” Mizuki cut in, firm enough to stop her. “You don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Ena’s brows drew together tighter. “Then tell me??”
Mizuki didn’t answer. It was clear that her silence only stirred up Ena’s confusion.
“But you’ve done this before.” Ena tried to make sense of it. “You said Rui let you feed from him. How is this any different?”
The question hung there. Mizuki seemed almost conflicted “It just is.”
“That’s not an answer. If it helped before, why can’t it help now?”
Mizuki let out a breath, her hand dragging through her hair, agitation slipping through her composure.
“Can you—” Mizuki began, only to catch herself. She rose from the edge of Ena’s bed, but even that small effort demanded more than she could spare. “…Can you worry about yourself for once?”
Ena went still. When Mizuki finally looked at her again, there was nothing left of her usual lightness. “If it gets out that you’re… involved with someone like me… they won’t see it as you helping, they’ll see it as you harboring a threat. And I’m not… safe right now.” she admitted. “Not like this.”
Ena parted her lips to respond, but Mizuki continued before she could speak.
“You don’t understand what happens when a vampire feeds. Not really. It isn’t just—” she gestured faintly, as if dismissing the idea itself, “—a simple solution.” Her fingers curled subtly at her sides. “There are… consequences.”
She stopped there, not giving Ena much to work with. Ena’s expression softened, though the confusion remained, unresolved. “I can take the truth, Mizuki. Whatever you have to say…” she said gently.
For a moment, it seemed as though she might give in and let the truth surface, no matter how complicated it was. But the moment passed. She shook her head. “I’m not dragging you into that.”
Ena did not step back. If anything, she moved closer.
“Mizuki, you’re getting worse…” she insisted, far more resolute. “Stop trying to push me away and just—tell me what to do.”
Mizuki shook her head, her composure beginning to slip in ways she could no longer fully conceal.
“I already told you—”
“No, you didn’t!” Ena cut in, frustration laced with fear, maybe. “You didn’t tell me anything, actually! You keep saying I don’t understand, but you’re not letting me understand.”
Mizuki’s breath faltered, and then her fangs slipped out unintentionally. A sharp inhale followed, as if she hadn’t meant for it to happen at all. Her hand came up instinctively, brushing against her lips, as though she could hide it but it was already too late.
Ena saw and neither of them spoke. The air shifted. Mizuki turned away slightly with her voice strained at the edges. “You shouldn’t have said that.”
“Said what?” Ena asked, though her gaze didn’t leave her.
“…About offering yourself to me.” Mizuki murmured. “Even talking about it right now—” She exhaled unsteady. “It’s not helping.”
Ena swallowed, but she didn’t retreat. “Then explain to me. I want to understand. Please.”
Mizuki stood there in silence for a moment longer, as though calculating the risk of speaking against the risk of saying nothing at all. Eventually, she gave in.
“With Rui, it was different.” Mizuki began
Ena listened carefully.
“I didn’t need much.” Mizuki continued. “I needed enough to keep things stable for me. To keep myself stable. So I used his wrist. It was controlled. There was distance in it. But now…” Mizuki trailed off, her gaze dropping. “Now it’s not like that.”
Ena’s chest tightened. “…What do you mean?”
“If I were to feed right now… it wouldn’t be something small. I wouldn’t be able to… stop as easily. I’d have to go for the neck.” Mizuki added.
The implication settled between them. Ena didn’t interrupt. Mizuki glanced at her again, something conflicted flickering in her expression. “I like you, Ena.” The admission was simple, but it changed everything. “And when a vampire likes someone, it complicates things.” she continued weaker, even explaining it was draining her.
Ena’s heart betrayed her again, though she didn’t look away. Mizuki exhaled slowly, forcing herself to continue.
“There’s… venom.” she said. “It’s used to numb the pain and make feeding easier. But it doesn’t just do that.” Her voice dipped. “It affects you.”
Ena felt her pulse quicken again, though she was aware of it this time.
“It can make you feel good.” Mizuki admitted, the word clearly chosen with reluctance. “Too good. It lowers resistance. Makes you… compliant. And if there’s too much it can become something you crave.”
The room felt heavy with the both of them.
“I don’t want that for you. Not because of me.”
Ena’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
“It didn’t work that way with Rui.” Mizuki added as an afterthought. “There were no complications or any form of attachment. It stayed exactly what it was supposed to be. But this clearly wouldn’t.”
That truth settled between them with the unspoken implications stretching far beyond the words themselves. Mizuki looked away again with an unsteady posture like holding herself back was taking more effort than she could afford.
“So no. You can’t help me like that.”
Ena did not retreat. If anything, her resolve seemed to sharpen.
“You’re asking me to worry about myself.” she said, “But I am. And right now, that includes you.”
Mizuki’s jaw tightened faintly, but she said nothing. Ena took a step closer.
“I have the ability to help you.” she continued firmly. “So what’s your alternative? Go back out there? Wander around and hope you don’t get hunted down again? Or worse, get hurt?” she added softer though no less serious.
Mizuki’s breath shifted a little at first, then not so subtle at all. Ena noticed. There was something changing again, slipping past Mizuki’s control in quiet increments. Her eyes, once dulled by exhaustion, now held an unsettling red beneath the surface, like something trying to emerge. Her fingers trembled barely, though she seemed intent on hiding it.
She was holding it back. Holding herself back.
Mizuki’s composure was thinning. “…You’re bold, I’ll give you that.”
“I promise you won’t hurt me” Ena met her gaze without wavering. “And I am scared, I won’t pretend I’m not. But not of the reason you may think. You’re not the reason, Mizuki.” she admitted. “I’m more worried about you.”
Ena’s kindness landed differently in Mizuki’s head. Her lips parted instinctively rising to protest.
“But—”
“Whatever you become, I don’t mind. Whatever happens, I don’t care.” Ena continued, not letting her finish. “I want to help you. I don’t care about the consequences.”
Mizuki’s restraint faltered.
“Because losing you—” Ena’s voice tightened for the first time, though she held it together, “—would be worse. Especially now that I know I have a choice.” she finished quietly.
Silence met silence.
Mizuki’s restraint was fraying. She could feel it thread by thread, slipping through her grasp no matter how tightly she held on. Ena’s scent alone was enough to unsettle her, to draw her thoughts somewhere dangerous and instinctive. And yet, she held herself together. For Ena.
“Are you sure?” Mizuki asked, her voice stripped of everything but that last, fragile control. It was one final attempt to stop this before it went too far.
Her gaze lingered, searching Ena’s face for hesitation or doubt. Anything that might give her a reason to step back. But there was none. Ena had already made up her mind.
Almost awkwardly, Ena reached for the hem of her shirt, fumbling with it as she pulled it aside, exposing the curve of her neck. The motion wasn’t confident at all, if anything, it betrayed her nerves more than anything she had said. A faint flush crept up her face as she avoided Mizuki’s eyes for a second.
“You said the neck, right?” she murmured.
That was enough. Mizuki’s composure snapped. The distance between them disappeared in an instant. Her presence felt different now.
“Ena… You can still change your mind.” Mizuki warned, but she silently also hoped that Ena wouldn’t pull away right now.
And Ena didn’t move.
That was all the confirmation Mizuki needed. For a fleeting second, she still held herself back. Not out of hesitation, but out of care. She reached for Ena, her hands finding her shoulders first, and pulling her closer into a tight embrace.
“Thank you.” Mizuki murmured against her with a quieter tone than Ena had ever heard it. There was something almost fragile and honest in it that words alone couldn’t carry. Her grip tightened. “It might sting. But I won’t take more than I need, okay?”
Ena nodded even if her breath had already begun to betray her nerves.
“I trust you.”
And she meant it.
Mizuki pulled back to look at her again. That was the last moment of restraint. Then, she leaned in enough that Ena could feel her breath first which sent a shiver down her spine before anything else even happened. Mizuki paused there for the briefest second, as if memorizing the moment… or asking for permission one last time without words.
Ena still didn’t move. So Mizuki didn’t wait any longer. Her fangs sank in. The sting came suddenly and it made Ena flinch as her hands instinctively gripped onto Mizuki’s sleeve. A strained sound escaped her before she could stop it, more from surprise than pain.
But it didn’t last. Not in the way she expected. The initial sharpness dulled quickly, melting in a strange way she couldn’t place. Her body tensed, then slowly eased despite herself, her grip shifted from startled to steadier, holding onto Mizuki more than pushing her away. So is this why vampire victims never fight back?
Mizuki, on the other hand felt everything. The moment the blood touched her tongue, her thoughts snapped fully into place. Relief came first, which was overwhelmingly sweet. The weakness that had weighed down her limbs began to lift. Her senses flooded back all at once, the haze of hunger dissolving into focus.
But beneath that, there was something else she hadn’t anticipated feeling this strongly. Her hold on Ena adjusted unconsciously, one hand settling more firmly at her back to help steady her ‘victim’. She wasn’t trapping her, more like anchoring the both of them.
Ena’s breathing had shifted, uneven at first, her body reacting to unfamiliarity with her heart still racing, though now for reasons she couldn’t entirely explain. Her fingers tightened briefly against Mizuki’s sleeve, then loosened again, her head tilting just slightly, exposing her neck without realizing it.
“M-Mizuki…” Ena murmured her name almost dazed.
Mizuki stilled for half a second at the sound of her name. That was her limit. With visible effort, she pulled back slowly. Her fangs slipped free, leaving behind only the faintest trace of what had just happened. Mizuki exhaled shakily, her forehead lowering for a moment, hovering just near Ena’s shoulder as she steadied herself again, yet this time not from weakness, but from the restraint of stopping.
“I said I wouldn’t take more than I need.” she murmured.
Ena blinked, taking a second to catch up with her body. Her face was flushed, noticeably so, and her breathing hadn’t fully settled yet. “You stopped? Is that enough?” she said almost like she was confirming it to herself.
Mizuki let out a tired huff. “I told you I would.”
But absentmindedly, Ena guided Mizuki back toward her, her hand resting lightly at the back of her head, hesitant for not even a second before committing to the motion.
“You can take more.” Ena murmured. There was a faint flush still lingering across her face. “I don’t mind.”
That wasn’t entirely true. Or maybe… it was, just not for the reasons she thought. Something undeniable had shifted. The effect of Mizuki’s venom had begun to settle into her system, doing a good job at quieting the initial sharpness of fear and replacing it with a warm sensation. It made her want to stay close. To help and to give.
Mizuki went still beneath her touch. Because she also wanted to. That was the problem. Her restraint, already worn thin, faltered again at the feeling of Ena’s hand guiding her back, at the quiet permission in her voice and the way Ena wasn’t pulling away, but leaning into it instead.
“…You shouldn’t—” Mizuki started, but the words lacked conviction this time.
Ena didn’t let her finish. “It’s okay.”
Mizuki’s control slipped in quiet increments, her hand lifting before settling carefully against Ena’s side, as if grounding herself there. “You really don’t know what you’re asking.” she murmured, though her voice was no longer pushing as firmly as before.
“Maybe not.” she admitted. “But I know I want to help you. And I’m not going to change my mind.”
That was it. The last fragile piece of resistance gave way. Mizuki’s eyes darkened faintly, that same subtle red flickering again beneath the surface as she let herself lean in once more slower, as if giving Ena one final chance to stop her. She didn’t, yet again.
So Mizuki didn’t stop either. Her lips brushed lightly against Ena’s neck first before she sank her fangs in again. This time, Ena didn’t flinch the same way. The sensation still registered, but it dulled, softened by what had already begun to settle into her system. Her breath hitched instead, her hand tightened where it rested against Mizuki, holding onto her without realizing it.
Mizuki felt it and it made everything more dangerous. She kept herself controlled, had to, drawing only what she needed, even as the instinct to take more overcame her restraint. Her hold on Ena remained steady, never tightening beyond what was necessary.
But the difference was there since this wasn’t survival anymore. Not entirely. And Ena leaned into it enough for Mizuki to almost lose control again. With visible effort, she pulled back once more, snapping back her restraint into place before it could fully slip.
She couldn’t move far from Ena. Her forehead hovered near Ena’s shoulder again, her hand still resting lightly against her side.
But the moment she felt Ena’s weight falter, she reacted instantly, catching her before she could properly sink to the floor. There was no trace of the earlier weakness, only urgency.
“Okay, off to bed you go.” Mizuki murmured.
She guided Ena toward the bed, one arm steady around her as she eased her down against the mattress. The motion was far gentler than anything that had preceded it.
Ena barely protested. Her body felt light in a way that wasn’t entirely comfortable with a constant haze settling behind her thoughts. The faint trail of blood that had slipped from the bite still traced along her skin, cooling as it reached the collar of her shirt. The sensation and the mess should have bothered her, but it didn’t. Not right now.
“…Is that all you needed really?” Ena’s voice was softened by the lingering aftereffects.
Mizuki didn’t answer. She leaned in, her hand brushed against Ena’s neck as she tilted her head to inspect the mark. Then she softly pressed her lips against the wound, enough to soothe and still the sting that remained.
“It’s more than enough. Thank you.” Mizuki said quietly, pulling back. “…Do you have anything sweet? Juice, maybe. Apple juice or something like that.”
Ena’s thoughts were taking a moment to catch up. “For me…?” she murmured.
Mizuki gave a small nod. “Yeah. You’ll need it.”
Ena exhaled softly, her head sinking further into the pillow. “…Kitchen.” she said after a second. “You’ll find some there.”
After a while, Ena wasn’t sure whether Mizuki was still in the room. There had been no sound of the door or a clear indication of her leaving. Everything felt slightly out of reach, her senses were dulled, delayed by a fraction of a second she could not quite bridge.
She lay there, half-sunken into the mattress with thoughts that were drifting without direction. Her body felt warm, and yet, when her hand brushed against her neck, the side where Mizuki had bitten her felt distant. Not even sore, just very… absent? Numb?
Her fingertips pressed more firmly against her skin, as if that might bring sensation back. It didn’t. The feeling, or lack of it, only made everything else seem sharper by contrast. The warmth in her chest combined with heaviness in her limbs.
Mizuki had been so tense, so careful, so afraid. Ena couldn’t understand it. Because she hadn’t been afraid.
The way Mizuki had held her… A faint heat crept up her face. She obviously hadn’t disliked it. Not even close.
If anything…
The thought formed before she could stop it. She had liked it. The realization was reluctant, as though she were trying to push it away even as it rooted itself deeper. She was caught somewhere between embarrassment and something far less easy to name.
“…This is so stupid.” she murmured under her breath.
And yet, her heart betrayed her once more tonight, beating faster at the memory alone. Worse still, there was neediness beneath it. She wanted more. More of Mizuki.
The admission came shamefully, and it left her feeling unsteady in a way that had nothing to do with her physical state. Ena’s gaze drifted toward the empty doorway. She was met with unexpected disappointment before she remembered.
She went to get something.
Something sweet for her. The thought grounded her, if only slightly.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she exhaled slowly, trying (unsuccessfully) to quiet the way her thoughts kept returning to Mizuki.
How could humans speak so harshly about vampires, when all they seemed to do was survive, no different from them? Ena wasn’t certain of any of it; she lacked a clear understanding of the balance between the two. Still, she would learn. For Mizuki.
And so, Mizuki returned without a sound. The door closed behind her as quietly as it had opened. She held practical things in her hands: a bottle of juice, a few sweets, a folded cloth and bandages she had gathered.
Her gaze found Ena immediately. She hadn’t moved far. Still half-sunken into the bed and caught in that fragile in-between state.
Mizuki approached slowly. “Sorry it took me a while, your house is very big. I had to gather a few things that might help, and make sure I didn’t alert your family in the process. How are you holding up?” she asked gently.
Ena’s eyes adjusted to her return, as if she had been waiting for that exact moment without realizing it.
“…M’fine.” she murmured, though the word was slurred at the edges.
Mizuki didn’t quite believe her, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she set everything down within reach and reached for the cloth, dampening it carefully before turning back to her.
“This might feel a little cold.” she said, though her tone suggested she already intended to be as gentle as possible.
Ena didn’t protest.
Mizuki’s touch was once again precisely careful as she cleaned the faint traces of blood from Ena’s neck. Each movement was steady despite everything that had happened only moments ago. Where there had once been tension, there was now something intentional.
Ena watched her even when she struggled to focus. “…You’re different.” she murmured.
Mizuki glanced at her briefly. “Am I?”
“Mm.” Ena’s lips curved into a smile. “Energised.”
Mizuki laughed softly. “All thanks to you.”
When Mizuki finished, she pressed a bandage gently over the wound, ensuring it would hold and that Ena would be alright. “That should help. Now, who’s ready for some sweet apple juice?~” she lightly joked around.
Ena’s hand caught weakly at Mizuki’s sleeve again. “…Hey.”
“Hm?”
Ena hesitated but one question managed to surface clearly enough. “…Was it good?” she asked.
Mizuki blinked. “What?”
“My blood.” Ena clarified, shy beneath the haze. “…Was it good?”
“Uh, haha… yeah. It was… delicious. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about what it would taste like before.” she admitted, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
Ena let out a pleased sound, relaxing marginally, as though that answer alone had eased her remaining worries. But the quiet in her head didn’t last.
“…Don’t drink from anyone else.” Ena murmured again.
Mizuki’s expression shifted. “What—”
“I mean it.” she added hazily. “You don’t need to. You have me.”
Mizuki exhaled quietly. Venom, she told herself. The after effects, the way it softened fear, blurred judgment and heightened attachment. That had to be it.
“We’ll talk about this another time, alright? Sometime when you’re not half out of it.” she murmured, not pushing her away but not indulging it either.
Ena didn’t argue for once. She only shifted closer, leaning her body toward Mizuki.
“Mizuki?”
“Hm?”
“…Can you stay?” Ena’s hand loosened enough to shift, her fingers brushing uncertainly against Mizuki’s wrist. “Just for tonight. I don’t want you out there just yet.” she added. “…And—” her face was already warming up. “…Can you… hold me?”
The request rang loudly in the air, fragile in its honesty. Mizuki didn’t answer right away. She took in the flushed cheeks, the half-lidded eyes and the quiet trust.
“Of course.” Mizuki said.
There was no hesitation in it this time. She sat onto the bed beside her, careful in her movements, her arm settling gently around Ena as she drew her closer, not tightly.
Ena relaxed almost immediately, her body easing into the contact as though it had been waiting for it all along. Her breathing evened out. Mizuki’s hand rested lightly against her back, her touch slow, grounding, as she stayed there, exactly as asked.