Archive of Our Own

The Human World

The sky was filled with immense pillars of cancerous smog and debilitating smoke that wafted dauntingly through the air. Massive, billowing flames stretched across the cityscape, consuming everything in their path and leaving nothing but ash and pain in their wake. All around them, schools, hospitals, and entire neighborhoods had been reduced to a world of fire and brimstone.

In the center of a vast, craterous pit lay two figures: a silver-haired woman drenched in blood, oddly shaped burns spread across her sculpted body, and a young black-haired boy no older than eleven, kneeling before her as he cradled her head in his lap. The woman’s chest shuddered with every shaky breath, as if staying alive was excruciatingly painful.

“Alek,” she weakly called out to the boy.

“Please forgive me, please forgive me, please forgive me…” Alek whimpered. He was too hysterical; his vision, whether from the smoke or gripping remorse, was flooded with large, bitter tears.

“Alek,” she tried again. His gaze refused to remove itself from the enormous gouges of earth splayed across the wasteland. It was like the sun had come down and unleashed its molten fury. He couldn’t explain why or how; he couldn’t remember anything, but he knew the resulting devastation was his fault.

“I didn't mean—” he blurted out in upheaval.

Exerting too much effort for what should have been a simple task, the woman stretched her well-manicured hand to rest gently on the boy’s face, silencing his intense and incoherent mumblings. She angled his head down to look at her, shimmering crimson pleading into glossy gold. A few of his tears fell and landed on her cheeks, launching him into a frenzy to wipe them off. “Alek,” she called again, her other hand reaching out to grasp his. “I am sorry…”

Alek’s face contorted into a cross between anguish and disbelief, his hands clenching into fists. “But I’m the one who did this!” He frantically waved his free hand toward the surrounding wasteland. “Look at what I’ve done, to everything, to you! How is any of this your fault?!” he cried out in a strained voice, virtually the only part of him, besides his torn and singed clothes, that was harmed. That was another source of his growing bitterness: to remain unblemished while the world around him lay in ruin.

Alek’s shivering breath was abruptly silenced by a gentle thumb resting on his quivering lips. “Please listen to me, Alek,” the woman managed to spit out, the burns on her ivory skin slowly sapping her remaining strength. The brilliance of her eyes slowly dimmed, and her eyelids struggled to stay open.

“I have failed you. I was not strong enough to save you. I could not stop them in time… So please, do not fault yourself; I am to blame...” Her voice faltered; she could feel her body slowly consumed by flame and her soul being erased from existence, yet she pushed forward through sheer willpower alone. “I am sorry. I will not be with you to watch you grow… But I know without a shadow of a doubt, and in my heart of hearts, that you WILL become a great man, a man of renown… even without me.” She whispered as a small smile graced her suffering visage.

Alek fervently shook his head, eyes squeezed shut. “But I don’t want anybody else! I can save you, if I could just—!”

She shook her head remorsefully. “You cannot, Alek. It is too dangerous. Instead… grant me one last selfish request…” She furrowed her eyebrows and gnashed her teeth in agony; the burns had all but consumed her broken form. Her neck, hands, and head were all that remained untainted. “Promise me this: promise me that you will not forsake what is required to lead a fulfilled existence, as I did. Friends, family, community, belonging… love. These desires are not of a baser instinct; they make us human. They give us meaning. So, all I ask… is that when you stand at the crossroads of any decision, big or small, even if it is the harder option, remember my words and choose the path of good… promise me, to always choose life!”

For Alek, the ceaseless roar of the flames quieted all at once; it was as if time itself slowed to a crawl, and his very essence hung onto her every word.

“Will you do this for me?”

Wide-eyed, Alek managed to stammer, “I-I will!”

She sighed heavily, the tension in her body slowly dissipating. “Good.” The burns covered all but her face, creeping inward. She closed her eyes, her beautiful face blooming into a broad smile. “Alek?”

Her eyes fluttered open in one final burst of effort. Taking in his worry-stricken face and exhaling her last breath, she called out, “I love you.”

And just like that… the weak heaving of her chest ceased, her eyes stilled, as did the rest of her form, now hollow from the once pure and vivid spirit that was no more. The roar of the flames, which had been deafening before, had fallen silent.

The world, much like the woman in his arms, she who showed him kindness, compassion, love, lay quiet and still.

Dead.

For untold time, Alek remained there unmoving, eyes wide as he gazed upon his beaten, battered, broken heart.

Then, slowly, his eyes watered, his face scrunched in anguish, and he agonizingly pulled himself close to her corpse, squeezing her tight. A visceral and ancient roar ripped its way from his throat, summoning down the immense pillars of erratic flames once again.

…

The Living World: Rural Japan

The bright flash of lightning startled Alek awake, his onyx-black eyes frantically scanning the treeline, continuously bombarded by heavy rains and snowfall, searching high and low for potential threats. He sat at the entrance of an abandoned bear den, his knees huddled up to his chest, his clothes burnt, tattered, and bloody, barely covering his muscular frame. He stayed there unmoving, his breathing silent and steady, until the booming roar of thunder finally allowed him to relax his tense muscles. Alek sighed deeply as he reclined his head against the carved earth above him, eyes closed in subtle remembrance. It had been nearly a decade since he had dreamt of that event, the day when he lost control and everything he loved burned to oblivion.

Thunder rumbled again across the sky, adding to the chaotic blend of rain and snow swirling above, reducing visibility to near zero. It had been a while since he entered Mount Kumotori, the latest stop on his seemingly unending flight. He would remain here for a couple of weeks, living off the land and trying to lie low, before eventually moving on to another part of the country. He couldn’t remain in one place for too long.

Stretching as best as his hulking figure permitted in such an enclosed space, Alek released a weary sigh of relief, remaining vigilant of the entrance. ‘A wintry mix—thundersnow, what are the odds of that happening?’ he mused to himself. ‘Definitely the work of storm yokai.’

Alek’s idle thoughts were cut short as his instincts flared to life, his jaw clamping shut. His body tensed up again, hairs on end, and his piercing eyes carefully scanned the outside world. For a moment, all Alek heard was the howl of the wind and the steady beating of his heart until shrill, desperate whines pierced the tense silence. Faster than what should have been possible for a creature of its size, a bear cub with wide blue eyes, wholly slathered in blood, scampered into the den. It froze in its tracks as it warily eyed the massive human boy, frantically glancing over its shoulder but refusing to approach further.

A low, guttural growl rang out, drawing Alek’s attention back to the snowy entrance. Slowly lumbering toward the den was a massive Asiatic black bear, approximately six feet at the shoulder. Its small, brown, bloodshot eyes held a wild glint, and viscous blood matted its fur and drooled from its frothing mouth. It looked fresh from a scuffle, with open gashes, missing patches of fur, and even its left ear gone.

The bear cub let out a pitiful whine, its entire body trembling in place, unable to decide whether to advance further or choose another route to safety.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” Alek calmly reassured the cub. His voice carried a strange rippling effect that passed over the bear's ears, startling the little thing and causing a curious head tilt. The cub stood still momentarily, as if weighing its options, until it made up its mind, scampered behind Alek, and sank into the back of the den.

Alek managed a smile and patted the cub’s comparatively little head. “Thank you for trusting me. You can rest now. I will protect you,” he intoned soothingly, lulling the extremely exhausted cub into a long-needed slumber.

The massive bear continued its ambling advance along the crimson indents left behind by the bear cub’s frantic running. It stopped at the end of the treeline, scanned along its path, and settled at the entrance of the bear den.

All at once, it stood on its hind legs and slammed its massive paws into the flattened snow, shattering the ground beneath it. Jagged rocks and loose dirt were sent in all directions, followed by a savage bellow that matched the sound of the raging storm.

With a steadfast pace, Alek stepped out into the cold, inhaling a deep breath of chilled air and relighting the dormant blaze in his soul. Alek leapt out of the den and rose to his full height of 200 cm, broad arms spread out. He returned a roar of his own that emitted the same ripples as before, only this time intending to instill clarity, staggering the bear for a moment. It shook its head mightily, a glimpse of clarity returning to its gaze, only to be snuffed out by its murderous rage. It twisted its snout defiantly and responded with a harsh glare, protruding its lower lip and flattening its ears.

Alek heaved a heavy sigh of remorse; the poor she-bear was too far gone to be reasoned with. Now all that was left was to put her down, for the sake of her cub.

Both of them, man and beast, stood at a stalemate, waiting for the other to make the first move. The only noises were the howling winds that flittered through the chilled air and the labored breathing of the exhausted cub.

Deciding he would give no advantage, Alek’s tensed muscles exploded off the ground as he charged head-first at the crazed animal, a mighty roar escaping his core. The bear responded in kind, letting out a deranged bellow and kicking up snow as it met the human man halfway, clashing and sending frost and soil in all directions. Alek managed to grab the bear below its front limbs and tried to gain control of its hind legs; in turn, the beast slapped its meaty claws into the young man’s two-meter frame, ripping at his already torn clothes.

With the strength of many men, the young man hoisted the bear into the air, slammed it into the ground below, displacing the soil beneath them, and, with the same fervor as before, flung its body into a winter tree, splintering it and causing the beast to tumble further into the treeline. Not letting the opportunity pass him by, Alek charged forward, jumped into the air, and smashed both fists into the bear’s hairy chest. A jolt ran through its massive frame before it opened its bloodied jaw and attempted to clamp down on Alek’s neck. Luckily, he raised an arm in time to intercept its jaws, where it bit down with a force strong enough to bite through steel. It shook its head violently, like a hunting dog that had caught its scampering prey; however, Alek remained calm and navigated the bear’s head to leave an opening for him to lock down its flailing front limbs and rain downward elbow strikes onto its cranial weak point.

Frantically, the bear managed a massive surge of strength that flung Alek off its body, allowing it to charge toward him again, tackling Alek, who immediately reengaged the beast.

Only this time, the bear's charge was much stronger, resulting in both combatants smashing through every tree unfortunate enough to be in their way. All the while, Alek continued hammering blows onto the bear's weak points.

Alek shot his legs out into the ground, cratering the area around them. With a firm grasp of the beast, he thrust them into the air, and they tumbled down a four-story drop along the mountain.

Flailing wildly in the air, Alek grabbed hold of the bear’s legs and, with a mighty pull, slammed the bear’s body into the rocky floor below.

A sonic boom blared through the clearing, momentarily displacing the snow and rain.

The bear, as a last act of defiance, reached out to clamp its jaws down onto Alek. However, he easily evaded the bite and brought his fist down into the beast’s neck, utterly crushing its neck and spinal cord.

Alek stood there for a minute, arm still embedded in the broken bear. A solemn act that lamented ever needing to commit the deed in the first place. Slowly, he made his way back to his full stature, raced up the cliff face, and set about following the increasingly obscured tracks left by the bear cub.

He finally landed upon the brutal sight of two grizzled figures splayed out on the forest floor. A mother and her male cub, torn to shreds. Undoubtedly the work of the crazed bear that he had just killed.

A deep sigh escaped Alek’s mouth, the lament only continuing to grow as he gazed upon the fallen family. “I’m sorry I couldn’t have helped sooner,” he whispered.

He scooped at the base of a nearby tree and gently carried both mother and son into the pit, to rest together. Covering them both in dirt, their deaths, while irreversible, now served to aid the growth and development of the mountain and the life therein.

Alek stood and sent a silent prayer for them, swearing to protect who they left behind. He quickly made his way back to the den and gazed upon the figure of the bear cub, curled in the corner among his makeshift bedding.

The she-cub would obviously become a hindrance to his future movements; he would be limited to rural and wild areas like this one until she was capable of surviving on her own.

It would be so much more difficult, but he understood what it was like to not have anyone, and he remembered the promise he was to uphold.

He stood there in silence and watched the steadying rise and fall of her tiny shoulders, finally able to rest after such a traumatic experience.

“Giving an animal a proper burial? How quaintly human.” A chilling voice called out from the distance, thick with a sinister mirth that made one’s hair stand on end.

Alek turned around in a fight-ready position, carefully examining the hooded figure in the snowy clearing. He stood an imposing seven feet tall, his broad figure cloaked in a long white robe tied at the waist with a black tassel and a bicep-length hooded garb that covered all but two menacingly glowing eyes. The air around him naturally distorted so that not a single snowflake could graze his robes, as if the frost would not dare to sully his mighty form.

‘Why didn’t I sense his presence? How long has he been there?!’ Alek inwardly shouted to himself.

Every hair on Alek's body stood on end; the figure before him was infinitely more intimidating than the bear he had just slain; every instinct told him that his death was imminent. He could feel the barely restrained animosity that radiated off the man's body, a presence that felt like a mix between a divine encounter and demonic oppression. The spark of power reignited to full capacity, ready to surge at the slightest semblance of attack.

Both man and monk locked their appraising gazes on each other’s figures, one tense and the other as casual as a summer’s stroll. Then, all at once, the man’s overbearing presence receded into himself, replaced instead by an academically professional demeanor.

“Ah, pardon my intrusion; I merely wished to have a moment of your time if you would be so kind.” The hooded man placed a gloved hand up to his broad chest.

Alek remained silent, unsure of how to proceed with the sudden shift in demeanor.

The monk accepted his hesitance and held his hand up apologetically. “Oh my, where are my manners? I am known as Tenmei Mikogami.” His sinister smirk slowly returned to his hooded face.

“You, however, shall refer to me as Headmaster…”

…

Borderlands: Realm of the Yokai

Having to get up this early again sucked. I’m not lazy, considering I wake up earlier than most; it’s just that being on my schedule for so long made it a little disorienting to be on someone else’s time.

It’s not all bad. I mean, hey, I have a house again! I like having a home. Sure, I had to dispel some sneakily hidden spying spell, but at least it’s got insulation and a thermostat.

It was 6:00 AM, and orientation didn’t start until 7:30, but I wanted to get to school early to explore the campus. I had devoured a peanut butter and banana sandwich and checked up on Haruka, who was still curled up in my bed, intertwined with my blanket and pillows. I called her softly to let her know I would be heading to class, and only got a parting grunt of a goodbye.

Spoiled brat.

Bag in hand, I slipped on my outside shoes, walked out the front door, quickly locked it with the house keys, and slipped them into my left pocket. The morning sky was rather beautiful, a vast blue canvas stretched across the horizon, dotted by the occasional cloud or winged creature. The occasional shimmer of multicolored light would flash into existence in the corner of my eye, most likely the ambient energy contained by the great barrier.

In the far distance, a vast forest of dead, blackened trees dotted the landscape, a quaint addition to the scenery that encouraged the new attendees of Yokai U.

As I walked, my mind slowly drifted back to my first meeting with the headmaster and the commission I was given.

…

Flashback:

Alek stood there, his stance ready for a fight. Just because this so-called “headmaster” no longer emitted his killing intent didn’t mean that he would take him lightly.

The biting wind howled around them, adding a chilling air to the already tense standoff.

Mikogami merely smiled at his expression, completely amused.

“Ah, as expected of the Igyōgari, not one to let down his guard, no matter the circumstance.”

The hooded man mused.

Alek’s eyes crinkled in displeasure, his gruff voice colder than the blowing storm around them. “Do not call me that.”

As if expecting that response, Tenmei nodded his head. “Oh dear! No offense intended, young Vanguard. However, as I’m sure you know, you have quite the reputation.” In response, Alek remained silent, not deigning to answer, even at the mention of his long-forgotten last name. He opted merely to study the glowing eyes of the too-tall man.

If anything, this merely caused the headmaster to smile even more, creepy chuckles ringing in the winter storm.

“You know, you’re exactly as I hoped you’d be,” Tenmei mirthfully said.

“Yeah? In what exactly?” Alek grounded out, his vision quickly glancing back to the still sleeping cub in the cave.

“That right there: compassion, strength, restraint.

The care you have shown for another is so foreign to this world and yet done without complaint.”

Alek, unable to respond to the sudden bout of praise, remained silent as the robed man continued.

“There are many out there who know what you did and fear you for it, and yet there are many more in high places who see your face. There are many preternaturals around the world who have you to thank for your intervention.”

“That is exactly why you are the best fit. You have seen both sides and chosen unity over strife.”

Tenmei held his gaze as the sheer discomfort of the situation made its way into his readied frame.

Arms stretched out wide, as if in a grand reveal, the monk continued on. “It is for these reasons that I have a proposition for you.”

“I will offer you the opportunity to leave this life of constant fleeing, to no longer have to look over your shoulder every minute of your life. To slow down and rest.”

Silence again, but this time, pensive.

“What do you want?” Alek was undeniably stunned and couldn’t think of much else in this moment; among the many thoughts running through his head, this was what he was able to get out.

Tenmei, feeling his advantage, pressed on with his smile in full bloom. “In truth, young Vanguard? Be you. Integrate yourself into the world of the yokai. Show them that humankind CAN be reasoned with, that the natural and preternatural worlds don’t need to be at war. That we can coexist, in peace, under our Lord.” His hands came up to reveal a rosary clasp within his right hand, intricately threaded like a glove around it.

“So, what say you, young Vanguard… up to the challenge?” Both men stood in mutual study of the other, one to discern certainty, the other awaiting a response he was all but assured to see.

All Alek could do was let out a weary sigh. In truth, this sounded too good to be true and likely was. However, he was admittedly tired, tired of running, tired of fighting.

He sought comfort and connection, and so he made his decision.

Tenmei Mikogami could only smile in glee.

…
Borderlands: Entrance to Yokai U

I shook away the memories from that time, and how utterly defeated I had been in that brief exchange. Not that I had any regrets about it now; I enjoyed these couple of months living a slow life, getting to know the city around me, and making my house my own.

I was having fun.

I continued my trek through the residential zone, which was a pleasant experience, especially since there weren’t many people on the streets or in the roads.

It wasn’t long after I passed the threshold into the black forest that I heard an erratic creaking noise quickly gaining speed in my direction. I turned around and saw a pinkish blur barreling toward me, a girl unsuccessfully steering her out-of-control bicycle.

“Aaah! Look out!” she shouted as her eyes shut tight, bracing for impact.

I stepped to the side at the last possible moment and gently kicked her rear wheel downward, abruptly halting her momentum and launching her backward. I carefully placed my hand on her back, bleeding away the force of her movement and softly setting her to my right, while simultaneously steadying her bike with my other hand.

There was a moment of pause as we stood there, her eyes still closed shut, and I’m glad they were, because if not, she would have seen my dumbfounded expression.

She was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my life, and considering most supernatural beings, at least in their disguised forms, are many times more attractive than the average human, that’s saying something.

She stood about 5’5”, with an hourglass figure, curves in all the right places, resting comfortably atop a pair of long, supple legs. Her hair was long enough to reach her lower back, soft, silky, and pink. Her face was soothing to the eyes, soft and gentle, with curved eyebrows, long lashes, unblemished rosy skin, and full, kissable lips.

She epitomized soft, feminine beauty, a girl you'd want to protect no matter the cost.

I stood there stunned, locked by her otherworldly beauty, but I quickly shook myself out of my stupor and cleared my dry throat.

“Are you alright?” I offered gently.

Her eyes fluttered a bit hesitantly before revealing her doe-eyed pools of emerald, warily staring at me.

I looked into her eyes and couldn’t sense any malicious or evil intentions; she was a clean slate, devoid of hate or wickedness. She was a bona fide, pure-hearted person. I had only ever met a select few, but never as blatant as hers.

I thought I might put her off, I, a total stranger, grabbing her out of nowhere, but I thought wrong. Instead, my heart almost stopped when her face bloomed into a radiant, toothy smile.

“I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t saved me. Thank you so much for your help!” she clasped her hands tightly and bowed deeply to show me her gratitude.

Who is this adorable creature?

I shook off my dumbfoundedness and gave a small smile of my own. “Hope I didn’t overstep my bounds. How did you end up losing control in the first place?”

She stood back up and looked at me, her head slightly tilting to the side, before she glanced away, a ruddy blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Um, yeah, I got a little too carried away. One minute I was pedaling fine and the next, I just lost control… You see, today is my first day at Yokai U!”

She took on an embarrassedly excited expression that once again captivated my senses. “I’ve been looking forward to it all week, and things kinda got out of hand.”

I nodded understandingly. “Oh, what a coincidence. I’m attending Yokai as a freshman. Are you transferring in, or are you a first-year too?” I asked.

Her hands shot out deceptively fast, almost too fast for me to react, but since I didn’t sense any malice in her action, I suppressed my instincts and let her grab my hands.

“Wow, I can’t believe it! I already met someone else attending Yokai in the same year? This is fantastic!” she squealed in delight, swinging our joined hands back and forth.

I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my face; she was just so infectious that I found myself being pulled along by her whims.

It was nice, familiar.

She maintained her dopey smile, which allowed me to get a better look at her teeth; I noticed her canines were rather sharp.

Typically, a monster’s human form will still contain small semblances of its true form; hers seemed to indicate a predatory species.

“I was worried about making friends since I had a pretty rough childhood in the human realm. They made fun of me for being a vampire, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make any friends this year!” she looked up at me with starry eyes, full of contentment.

I raised a quizzical eyebrow at her, smirk still in place. “Vampire?” I asked.

She stopped her swaying abruptly and loosened her grip on my hands, her face and neck flushing heavily. “Oh, um, sorry, I guess I got a little carried away again. Do you… not like vampires?” Her wide eyes pleaded.

I squeezed her hands gently before letting them go, which caused her to ever so slightly slump her shoulders. I gazed into her mesmerizing eyes, drawn to them like a bee to honey, and in them I saw something all too familiar: pain, rejection, loneliness—old friends of mine that, as much as I resented them, remained my closest confidants. So many years wandering the world, jumping from city to city, state to state, country to country. Never staying long enough for roots to grow, always swept by the wind.

But here, in this other world away from the mortal world, I had a chance not to be alone, to make friends, to build something real.

I’ll be damned if I let this opportunity pass me by.

I shook my head solemnly. “What matters to me is who you are, not what. My name is Takayama Tensei, and finding friends is something I struggle with, too, so if you’ll have me, I would be honored to be your friend.” I smiled, giving her the new name Tenmei had given me.

The pinkette took a moment to register, then her eyes widened to the max, her radiant smile returned in full force, and she launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck and squeezing with such tremendous strength that I was forced to drop her bike onto the floor.

I was overwhelmed by an incredible sensation of soft warmth, like being wrapped in a sun-dried blanket freshly taken off the drying line; she smelled of freshly picked roses. My hands slowly found their way on the small of her back, which in turn caused her to press into me tightly.

I couldn’t remember the last time someone touched me out of purely good intention. It threw me for a loop.

“Oh, thank you, thank you! I’m so happy! My name is Akashiya Moka, but please just call me Moka!” she beamed. “I’m so happy we could be friends!” she squirmed giddily in my arms until, suddenly, she flinched and came to a stillness. Then, without warning, she took a deep breath against my collar and shuddered slightly.

She pulled me back until we could see each other’s eyes. Her eyes looked slightly glazed over, and her pupils narrowed into vertical slits, like those of a house cat fixated on a terrified garden mouse.

I was the mouse.

“I-I’m sorry, Tensei, I don’t know why, but you smell… so good!” Her voice trembled with great want.

I ignited my spark, directed its embers, and empowered my body's durability.

“Please forgive me, but I just need to get a little taste from you, I can’t help it!” she grabbed me with renewed strength and opened her mouth, fangs at the ready.

CAPCHU~!

She glomped down onto my neck and began to suck for all she was worth, running her tongue scantily along my neck. Admittedly, her panting breath, impassioned bites, and roaming hands did feel extremely pleasant, but I had already been way too lax about this whole ordeal.

I forcefully pulled her off me and held her in place. Her eyes were wide and full of fear. She frantically looked at my neck to see what she had done; however, her concern immediately turned to confusion. “...I’m so sorry! Y-you’re not hurt?” she apologized.

I nodded my head and gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. “I’m built tougher than most, but I know if you really wanted to, you could have pierced my flesh easily.” I gave her a small smile and let go of her stiff shoulders. “You didn’t do it with evil intent, and you still held yourself back in the end. No harm done.”

She looked at me for a few moments longer, her tension slowly receding as she searched the depths of my soul, scanning for any sign of discomfort or fear. The vampiress took a steadying breath and gave a little nod of her own, her little fangs peering through the meekness of her smile.

“Thank you very much. I’m glad you could be my first friend.” She bowed with an elegant bow, which I returned in kind—weird but nice custom.

I bent down and picked up her bike, handing her the handle, which she accepted gracefully. “Well,” I intoned, “I think it’s time we head to campus. I don’t want to miss that orientation, right?”

Her eyes twinkled with an adorable sheen; her left fist clenched into a little-guts pose. “Yes, let’s!” she cried out with palpable excitement.

…

Moka and I made it with enough time to walk around campus for a bit and take in what it had to offer. Various welcome decorations and advisors were milling about, handing out informational material or providing information to incoming first-year students.

We checked out the food court, the main quad, and the library before we noticed that orientation time was fast approaching. However, since we were seated in different areas of the auditorium, Moka and I decided to meet up after our classes for the day and find our dorms together.

It was honestly a bit unnerving to be with Moka wherever we went; everyone, regardless of gender, gazed upon her, enraptured by her beauty.

Of course, I too was subject to people’s attention; however, most of them were from envious men who cursed my very existence for daring to stand next to Moka.

Discreetly, of course, because I was looking back.

No, what mostly bothered me was the realization that Moka must have gone through this all the time, kept in a cage of awe and admiration; it was no wonder that she felt she couldn’t make friends.

Orientation came and went, just a quick demonstration of what the next two years in general education studies would be like, and how to prepare for the future after that. Yokai U operated in the first two years of the program with four general education courses that everyone was required to take, plus two elective courses that we were free to choose.

I didn’t really put much thought into it; I wasn’t really here to learn anyway. As long as I kept up my side of the bargain, I had a place where I didn’t have to look over my shoulder at every waking moment, constantly.

My journey from the auditorium to the GE building was uneventful, as was finding my lecture hall, Room 1-3. I was one of the first to enter the hall and decided to sit in the back row, next to the window that looked out onto the quaint little garden flowers lining the outside path.

I got wary glances from the few students who were already seated, but I paid no one any mind and sat down, awaiting everyone else as they made their way to the open seats.

Time passed and people filed in until, eventually, a springy-looking young woman in a violet-and-white tiger-striped top and a mid-thigh jean skirt entered the room. Looking much more like a girl half her age, the woman all but bounced her way to the front desk of the class and, with a kind smile, took in the dozens of students present.

“Hello everynyan~! My name is Professor Nekonome Shizuka, and I’m the head of the general education department here at Yokai U!” Her infectious spirit filled the hall as she paced about. “As I’m sure everyone already knows, Yokai U is an institution built by and for monsters, specifically those under the classification of Yokai!”

“Currently, the earth is overrun by human beings, so our only option for survival is to disguise ourselves and live amongst humanity!”

“Here you will learn everything you need to know about how to fit into the human world, and get a degree while you're at it! A win-win!”

In the next row over, a delinquent-looking guy made a noise of disgust. “Hey, Professor, can’t we just eat all the humans? It’d be so much better than having to hide what we are. Plus, it’s not like they—”

Professor Nekonome nodded her head in acknowledgment and sent an almost imperceptible glance in my direction before answering the interjector. “Mr. Saizo, was it? While I understand your position, the reason why we no longer possess our true forms in the human world anymore isn’t simply because they vastly outnumber us, but because of the hunters spread across the globe that make our lives, well, short!”

Many of the monsters squirmed in their seats, a few of them with a far-off look in their eyes.

The spunky professor clapped her hands jovially to draw back attention to herself and dissuade the room from ruminating any further. “That is why we stress the importance of our code of conduct on campus; under no circumstances must you reveal your true form in public, nor tell anyone your true identity. That way, we can simulate what life will be like once you make it to the other world!”

“Now that that is out of the way, let’s move on to—” The loud sliding of the door abruptly stopped the professor mid-sentence, as a familiar figure peered into the hall.
“Oh…! I’m sorry that I’m late! I got lost finding the right building!” There in all her bubblegum glory stood my new, and only, friend, with an embarrassed expression marred across her perfect face.

To her credit, the professor took it in stride and motioned for Moka to find a seat. “It’s all right, dear, just find an empty seat!”

Heaving a small sigh of relief, Moka let the tension in her shoulders fall as she stepped into full view of the room, which of course made all hell break loose.

Every boy and nearly every girl shouted in excitement and not-too-well-hidden lust at the pink-haired vampiress. Shouts of praise and wonder rang out in the hall, everyone dumbfounded at her mere existence.

Again, I couldn’t help but feel bad; you could clearly tell the attention put her off, but she tried her best to ignore it.

Moka quickly scanned the room to look for an empty seat when she made eye contact with me, stunning her still. Then, all at once, her smile wide, she squealed in delight, and no joke, she leapt across the entirety of the hall into my now open and waiting arms.

“Tensei, it’s you! Oh, I’m so glad we got the same homeroom together; that means we can spend the next two years together!” she said from within her firm embrace.

“Hey Moka, I’m glad to see you too; looks like we didn’t have to wait that long after all,” I said, looking down at the beautiful girl in my arms.

However, as expected, all hell broke loose at the apparent indignity of the two of us together.

Real weeping and gnashing of teeth over here.

…

We were given a one-hour break between the three periods of the day to get some lunch and decompress, during which I spent my time being hauled around the food court by the arms of a deceptively strong pinkette.

Of course, the stares and glares were in full effect, but I paid them no mind; I was just glad to be experiencing the simple pleasures of walking arm in arm with my new friend. She pulled me from place to place, eyes wide in wonder at the sheer variety of it all.

Eventually, we settled on an outdoor patio after getting tomato juice and mango juice.

“Wow! I’m having so much fun, I can’t believe how big this place is, it’s all so exciting!~” Moka gushed around her red-stained straw.

“Yeah, me too. It’s better to experience it all with someone you know though, right?” I smiled down at her.

“Oh, you!” Her cheeks dusted pink in embarrassment as she sent a casual slap that would have sent a weaker man flying; to me, it only left a tingling in my arm. This girl was STRONG.

We sat in comfortable silence, making benign observations about our surroundings, simply enjoying each other’s company. Which, of course, couldn’t last long; what did you expect from a place like this?

“Hey, sexy, your name’s Moka, right? What are you doing hanging around this fuck? Come hang out with a real monster.” Saizo Komiya, the same interjecting delinquent from before, now stood a few paces away, handsome eyes boring straight into Moka’s chest and legs.

Murmurings broke out from the peanut gallery, something about this piece of shit making a habit of “eating up” human girls, just the kind of guy I would have had zero issue wiping off the face of the earth.

Moka shouted with a furrowed brow, “N-no, thank you! I don’t like people who are mean to my friends!” Her lip quivered in apprehension and fear.

Saizo stalked closer to our bench and openly leered at Moka, encroaching on her space. “Hey, I get it. You’ve probably never had anyone to compare him to. Why not give me a try instead?” Moka could only fold into herself.

Having seen enough, I rose to my full height and placed myself between them both.

“That’s enough; she said she isn’t interested. Take the loss and move on.”

Saizo sneered and rose to match my eyes. He was tall, about 6’2”, but he still had to angle his head up to look at my face.

“Yeah, what the fuck are you gonna do about it?” he snarled.

“Tensei…” Moka called out in worry.

Faster than any human being was capable of perceiving, Saizo backhanded me to send me flying—or at least he tried. What sounded like a wooden bat smashing against a solid steel wall rang out in the quad. I stood there unmoved, not even needing to reactivate my core to tank the blow.

“—the fuck!?” Saizo cried out in surprise. His hand was now pulled back and slowly starting to swell.

“Just walk away and forget anything happened here; we don’t want any trouble,” I calmly stated, eyes never leaving his own.
We stood there for a moment, unmoving, until finally, with a click of his tongue, he pulled back. “Watch yourself, punk; we’re not done here.” Then he was gone, leaving the two of us alone.

“Holy shit, he made Saizo run away!” “What kind of yokai is he?” “I know, but now he’s brought the Monstrels down on him…”

Ignoring the clamoring of the crowd, I turned to look at a trembling and wide-eyed Moka.

“Are you okayay? Sorry if that scared you,” I asked gently. Moka jumped at my voice as a fake smile looked far too out of place on her face.

“Y-yeah! C’mon, let’s go check out the… the roof!” Moka quickly shot up and linked her arms through mine, pulling me along with an urgent force.

We ended up on the roof of the GE building overlooking the rest of campus, Moka’s eyes filled with worry as she reached up to touch the side of my neck where I was struck.

“Oh, Tensei, I’m sorry that happened. I shouldn’t have said anything. Are you sure you’re not hurt?!” she looked up at me with moistened eyes.

I smiled down at her and patted her back reassuringly. “Yeah, I’m fine; he couldn’t hurt me if he tried. Besides, you shouldn’t ever be ashamed of standing up for yourself.”

She offered me a weak smile in response. “I know, but… okayay. I just don’t want to lose my first-ever friend…” We stayed like that for a bit, until Moka spoke up again. “I’m glad you’re okayay; you must be a really strong monster!” I chuckled at her enthusiasm, which earned me a cute little pout.

“Something like that… although, of course, I’m no match for the legendary vampire.” I teased, which earned me playful little punches on my chest that I actually felt more than Saizo’s strike.

“I am a vampire! I know it may not seem like it, but I’m actually super scary in my true form!” she leaned back a bit to show me the beautiful cross on her chest. She solemnly intoned, “Y’see, this rosary is the only thing that can keep my power in check; without it, my power would run wild. I can’t even remove it myself…”

I filed everything she said away in the part of my mind meant for closer observation, while outwardly keeping a smug expression. Moka’s flawless face scrunched up indignantly. “Oh yeah? If you won’t believe me, then I’ll prove it to you!” she reached out quickly to pull open my collar and expose my neck to the open air. “By sucking your blood!”

I simply stared her down, my eyebrow quirked quizzically. Rapidly losing her gusto, Moka sputtered an apology.

“...Or something like that. S-sorry, I just haven’t been able to get your scent out of my head since this morning. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” she said as she slowly let go of my collar and cast her gaze downward.

She was simply too cute not to tease.

I forgot what it was like to have someone close, a friend. It was nice…

“Hey, it’s all good, I mean I stopped you earlier more out of reflex really. If you truly want some blood, all you have to do is ask.”

Moka’s head shot straight up, eyes wide and in shock. “R-really! Oh, Tensei, thank you, thank you, thank you!” she cried out ecstatically, jumping up to wrap her arm around my neck. Her eyes glistened over, and her breathing was slightly labored, which was certainly affecting me as well. “T-then, if you’ll excuse me…”

CAPCHU~!

Unlike last time, she was able to pierce through my flesh with no problem, and after only a bit of discomfort, we let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.

She for the utter fulfillment that my blood gave to her, and me, well, for pretty obvious reasons.

A cute girl was flush against me, sucking on my neck.

Natural reasons aside, this closeness, the utter affection was… felt really good.

We stayed like that for a bit, her continuing to drink from me and me content to wrap my arms around her lithe waist.

Eventually I decided it was enough; my body had no issue regenerating the lost blood, but I felt that if I didn’t step in, we’d stay here all day.

I gently patted her back and gently shook her shoulders, but to no avail. She seemed completely transfixed, no matter how much I moved her.

Now, I could simply pull her off me by force, but the downside to that was the wrenching open of my flesh, which would then stain my clothes in blood, not the most optimal. So instead I opted for the much more pleasurable option.

I trailed my hand down her back, shaking her one last time for good measure, before I quickly grabbed and pinched her pert, shapely rear.

Her surprised squeak was music to my ears as she slowly detached herself from my neck and looked up at me with the cutest mix of a flustered and scolding expression, her manicured hands still resting on my shoulders.

“H-hey, I don’t like perverts, you know! You couldn’t have let me know normally?!” she impetuously squirmed.

I could only chuckle mirthfully. “I did, many times, but you were too distracted, hence my more ‘drastic’ measures.” Her eyes widened in surprise, and her face flushed with embarrassment. “Oh, s-sorry about that. It’s just, you taste sooo good…”

I nodded understandingly. “Hey, I get it. Let’s just exercise some moderation next time, k?”

The vampiress's smile was all I needed to feel justified in my decision; such levels of adorableness should be made illegal.

“I’m so glad you were my first~” she intoned dreamily; the innuendo, although one that surely went over her head, was not lost on me, evident by the warmth creeping into my ears.

“Y-yeah, me too. Now c’mon let’s head back before the next class starts.”

“Okay!”

We made our way back to Room 103, arm in arm, and of course with envious eyes trailing our every move. But neither of us cared; we were content with one another.

…

As time passed and the rest of our classes wrapped up, we would be allowed to choose the two elective classes by the end of the week, so we were able to leave a bit earlier. I escorted Moka to the dormitories, where she was surprised to find out I lived off campus.

“Aw, I really wanted to spend time together after classes too!” Moka drawled.

I gave her a reassuring pat on the head. “Well, you could always come over and hang out; my door is always open to you. I’ll give you the address in case you ever want to stop by.” Moka, with renewed vigor, gave a little cheer and threw her arms around me in joy.

“Oh, I’m so excited! I’ve never been over to a friend’s house before! I’m so excited!”

Her joy was just so infectious that I couldn’t help but smile too; in fact, I think I’ve smiled today more than I have the entirety of last year.

She gave me a final squeeze before scurrying off to her dorm room, leaving with a lingering warmth as I waved her off.

I ignored the looks of all the people around me and made my way home back through the forest, into the city, and to my house.

When I entered the door, Haruka stood at the ready to greet me with sloppy wet kisses, which smelled of honey, berries, and salmon.

Yum.

“Alright, alright, girl, settle down. Did you miss me?” I spoke soothingly after picking her up and cradling her diminutive form. Haruka seemed to have a near-human intellect; for whatever reason, I could only assume that the soul bonding had transferred some of my intellect to her. It came as a blessing because she was fully capable of opening the fridge and selecting the meal prep I had left for her to eat throughout the day.

She sniffed me curiously and gave a questioning yip, undoubtedly asking about Moka’s smell that I had to have been submerged in. “No need to worry, girl; she’s a new friend I made today. Hopefully you’ll get to meet her soon.” The bear cub, to her credit, nodded in understanding and paid the new smell no mind any longer.

Truly, I was blessed with such a good girl.

We cuddled for a bit longer, then I set her down and went about my nighttime routine: cooking, training, meditating, showering, and finally getting ready for sleep.

In truth, I was a creature of habit, and even though I was no longer on the run, I still made sure to keep the routine that had kept me alive all this time, although admittedly in a much more comfortable way.

Settling in bed, Haruka scampered up onto my chest and dozed off almost immediately, my hand gently caressing her little head.

Today had been something else; it honestly felt too good to be true, like I would wake up at any moment and be back in an abandoned building or a hollowed-out cave. But eventually, thanks to Haruka’s soothing presence, sleep came for me too. As my mind slowly drifted away, I closed my eyes and let out a sigh; tonight, my dreams would be full of long, flowing hair the color of bubblegum pink.