<-- Note 4 -->
“Risa~” Momoko came whining down the staircase as she got to the side of Risa, who was seated alone at the dining hall, breakfast all prepared. Miyabi followed behind the shorter girl down the stairways as well. “Miya has been bullying me!” Momoko continued whining as she linked her arms with Risa and rested her head on the latter’s shoulder, just like how a sweet spoiled baby would do to her mother.
Risa, on the other hand, pushed Momoko away from her, and chided jokingly at Momoko. “Momoko, what are you doing? It’s disgusting!”
Momoko, upon hearing the comment from Risa, gave the latter an overreacted reaction on her face. “That’s so mean!!” Momoko whined in a high tone. “You are all bullying me. . . “Momoko continued with a pout on her face. “I miss Chinami and the rest. . .” Momoko continued pouting as she slumped herself onto one of the free chairs near Risa. “I wonder where they are now. . .” Momoko finished.
“I’d tried to get them by the mobile, but it seems like there’s no any network reception in this area. . . “Risa responded to Momoko. “I wonder where they are too. . . “
“I’m sure they will are alive and living. They have the Mama, the mother, Yuri, the Papa of our group. Mama is strong enough to fight off any threats and Papa is tall enough to scare threats off. . . I’m sure they will be fine. “Miyabi tried to liven up the atmosphere by making a few jokes, and indeed, smiles crept upon the faces of the two. “I have a feeling. . . We will get to see them really soon. . . “Miyabi tried to liven up the sudden dampened atmosphere by making a few jokes about the characteristics of their friends, and indeed, smiles crept upon the faces of the two as they heard Miyabi. “I have a feeling that . . . we will get to see them really soon. . . “Miyabi reassured as she settled down on the seat right opposite where Momoko sat. “Anyway, Risa, have you seen Risako? She was not in our room again when I woke up this morning. . . ”Miyabi continued asking.
“No. . . I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning. . . “Risa responded to Miyabi as she helped food onto the plates of the two girls.
“Ah. . . it smells delicious! I’m so hungry. . . “A fourth familiar voice came echoing into the dining, catching the attentions of all at the table. They turned their head around towards the direction where the voice came from and saw Risako dragging her leg across the hall and towards them, with one of her sleeves ragged off.
“Risako, are you alright?” Miyabi jumped back onto her feed and rushed towards Risako. “Where have you been and what had happened to your clothes?” Miyabi continued with concern as she pulled the younger girl into her embrace.
“I’m alright. . . I got up last night and realised I was sandwiched between you and Momo. So I had decided to get out of the room for some space and air. . . I didn’t thought I would have not been able to get my way back to the room by myself. . . So I spent my night at one of the empty rooms instead. . .” Risako replied partially to Miyabi’s questions. “About my clothes . . .” As she touched the topic about what had happened to her clothes, she began to fidget around with uncertainty, unsure about how to answer the question.
As Risako fidgeted around, Miyabi discovered the ragged sleeve from Risako’s outfit was wrapped around the owner’s palm. “What had happened to your hand?” Miyabi asked in worried.
“That. . . “Risako stuttered. “I – I – I had accidentally cut myself yesterday night. . . I couldn’t find any cloth or bandage around, so I tore my sleeve and had it covered instead.” Risako lied.
“Let me see. . . “Miyabi took Risako’s hand to herself. “We have to get it sanitised. Let’s go. . .”Without waiting for a response from Risako, Miyabi began to lead Risako towards the stairways, only to be stop by a growling stomach.
“Sorry, excuse me. . . “Risako smiled sheepishly. “I’m just too hungry. . . “Risako continued as she looked down onto the ground.
“Of course you are hungry. You have not eaten a single thing since the night before. . .” Risa’s voice came echoing into the hall from the dining hall, interrupting the moments before the two moments ago. “Miyabi let Risako to come over here and have her breakfast first before you do anything to her hand.”Risako shouted over to the two.
Risako tugged onto Miyabi’s arm as she pouted. “Alright, we shall eat first then.” Miyabi gave in. With that, she led Risako over to dining table.
Risako was left awed at the amount and type of food that was placed on the table as the both of them entered in the dining room. “Risa, how did you manage to get so much food?” Risako asked as she settled down on the seat Miyabi sat previously.
“A little of it came from our food supplies. Most of it came from Ai. She brought them back to us last night. . . “Risa responded to Risako’s question as Risako reached out for the food on the table. When she heard that it was Ai who had supplied the food, she froze.
“Ai – ?”Risako stuttered.
“Yupps. She said she had gotten them from the market on the way back from her work last night.” Risa further explained.
“Ah . . .” Risako did not responded much back to Risa. Instead, she took the food onto her plate and started to dig into them, with her face seeming to be buried in the plate. As she did, Momoko got off her seat and sneaked towards where Risako was seated, linking her arm with the latter’s.
“Risako. . . “Momoko hummed before continuing with her baby-like voice. “The two of them have been bullying me since the morning. . .” Momoko complained.
“Well, that’s because you have irritated them, didn’t you, Momo?” Risako answered with looking at Momoko in any way.
“You are so mean as well!” Momoko pouted as she unlinked her arm from Risako’s. Seeing the reaction from Momoko, the other three in the dining room broke into laughter.
“Momo, I thought you have gotten use to it already?” Miyabi teased, leading to more laughter rising.
"A, what's your view about the situation right now ?"Mai stopped her work on her computer, made her way towards Airi and asked.
"There's nothing much we can do now. There's no way we could stop Y from charging her way back into the forest to get her friends. All we could do is just to pray that everything will be fine."Airi replied. "And hopefully, she will be able to get some clues about the two vampires we had on our wanted list for 500 years.
"Do you know why the organisation had held them wanted?”Mai asked curiously as she looked at Airi who had returned her attention back to her computer.
"What do you mean?" Airi asked, not truly understanding the question raised by Mai.
"I meant-"Mai paused for a while before rephrasing her sentence. "I mean, as vampire slayers, aren't our missions are just to kill the vampires? Why would there be even a wanted list for them. I mean, if that's the case, all vampires are supposed to be on that list, not just the two of them. . ."Mai tried her best to explain her point.
Airi remained silent for a moment before responding to Mai. "From what I understood, these two vampires had kidnapped the only heir of the royal slayer bloodline, like you had known all these while, and therefore had earned their spot on the wanted list."
"But why? What's so special about her?"Mai asked.
Airi hesitated for a moment before answering Mai. "The only person, who has the ability to destroy the whole Royal Vampire bloodline, is her. Therefore, we have to get her back."Airi replied briefly.
"But- it has been 500 years. . . She could have been dead."Mai continued, still not understanding the wide picture.
"Alive or dead, we have to get her back. Though I won't be pleased to see her in a alive state."Airi stated bluntly. "Once the Royal Slayer bloodline descendant is bitten by a vampire, she turns into a most invincible vampire on the planet earth. No one can ever stop her. Not even a fellow royal bloodline."Airi continued explaining.
While Mai was still in the state of intriguing the information presented to, Chisato, who had went after the running Yurina previously, had returned back to the base. "How was it?"Airi diverted her attention towards Chisato.
"Couldn't manage to stop her from going back to the forest by herself. She's really a stubborn one."Chisato reported. "But I had managed to give her the tracking device. I had told her to turn on the tracking device when she discover any traces of our target and when they are in trouble. Now, the only thing we can do, is only to wait."Chisato continued.
"I guess so too."
“Yuri?” Maasa called out as she walked out of the room, after realising the tallest girl was not in the room they shared together with Chinami. “Yuri?” Maasa called out again, only to come into the conclusion that Yurina was not in. Her eyes caught attention of the piece of paper lying below the paperweight on the table. “What’s that?” She made her way towards the table and picked the piece of paper up and read it.
’Oh, Yuri is off to her work. . . ‘ Maasa mentally noted in her mind.
Just as she placed the paper back onto the table, the door flunk open, revealing a flustered Yurina rushing into the room, sweat all over her face. “Yuri??”Maasa called out in surprise. “Why are you back so early?”Maasa continued asking.
“I have something important to do . . .”Yurina vaguely replied as she headed towards where their bags were placed. Packing the loose clothing back into her bag, Yurina pulled the straps over her two shoulders and prepared to return to the forest they came from previously.
“Why are you packing your bags, Yuri?” Maasa asked in concern.
“Maa, be sure that you take good care of Chii. I’m going back to the forest.” Yurina hazily explained. With that, Yurina gave Maasa a firm pat on the latter’s shoulder before making her way back to the door, only to be stop by a third figure who was leaning against the bedroom door, eyes closed.
“Maa? Yuri? What’s happening? Why is it so noisy?” Chinami mumbled with her sleepy voice. Taking chance of this opportunity, Maasa grabbed Yurina on her elbow, stopping the taller girl from advancing anymore forward. Chinami, on the other hand, made her way from the support of the door and towards where Maasa and Yurina stood, before slumping her weights now on Maasa’s shoulder. “I’m so sleepy and you all are just so noisy.”Chinami continued complaining in her sleeping voice.
“Yuri, why are you in such a rush? And why back into the forest? Part of your mission? Alone? Or do you have a partner with you?” Maasa continued asking in concern while trying to keep Chinami’s head firm on her shoulder.
“I don’t have much time to explain it to you, Maa. I need to get out of here and back into the forest as soon as I can.” Yurina refused to explain anything to her friends, and insisted to leave right at the moment.
“Why in such a rush?” Maasa asked again.
“The rest are in danger!”Yurina blurted out in desperation. “I’m gonna get them out before anything happens to them.” Yurina continued.
That sentence woke Chinami up completely. “Danger? What danger?” Chinami quickly asked in a complete alert state.
“There no way I can tell you. . . .” Yurina tried to peel away the grip Maasa had on her elbow.
“Yuri?” Chinami got away from Maasa and went over to the other side of Yurina and held the taller girl by her wrist. “Please, tell us.”
Yurina swung her arms, and had successfully swung the hands on her away. “There’re vampires in the forest. I’ve to get them out of the forest right now.” Yurina finally explained, with tears of desperation lingering at the corners of her eyelids.
“Vam-pire?” Chinami and Maasa muttered in unison, in shock, at the same time. They froze right at the spot, loosening their grip they had on Yurina.
“That’s why I’m leaving right at this moment.” Yurina finished quietly. Without saying anything, Yurina began to take a step forward towards the door, only to be quickly stopped by Maasa.
“I’m not going to let you to go back to the forest alone, Yuri.” Maasa uttered out in a rather low voice.
“We are going with you. . .”Chinami had woke up to her senses as well and added on.
“It’s too dangerous. I’m not letting the two of you with me. . . “Yurina insisted stubbornly.
“Neither are we going to let you alone into the forest you have deemed to be dangerous, Yuri.”Maasa retaliated with the same stubbornness. "We came here to this town together as one group. Together we will leave this town as the same group as well. There's no way we are going to let you alone into that forest."
As Maasa talked to Yurina about it, Chinami had went back deeper into the room, swiftly packed Maasa and her own baggage, and brought them to the door. "We are ready to leave."Chinami declared as she threw Maasa's bag to the strongest girl.
Seeing the determination her friends had in them, Yurina had no choice but to give in. "Fine. But promise me, stay behind me at all times."
Maasa looked over at Chinami and conversed to the latter through their eyes, before turning her attention back to Yurina. Without much word, the two girls gave Yurina their thumbs up as their response to her request.
"Risa, what are you doing?" Momoko hopped into the kitchen and hugged the older girl by her waist from her back.
"I'd found some flour in the cabinet, so I thought I could make some cakes for all of us. . ."Risa replied as she worked her fingers through the cake batter.
"Oh. . . But how are you going to bake it? There's no oven in this kitchen."Momoko curiously pointed out.
"Well, Momoko, you don't need to have an oven to bake a cake."Risa educated. "We can make use of the stones and firewood outside to create a heat enclosure, and we can bake the cake within it."Risa continued. “And Momoko, can you please get your arms off me?” Risa finished off as she wriggled around, trying her best to get Momoko off her.
“No.”Momoko stubbornly insisted as she tightened her grip around Risa’s waist. “I’m hungry.” Momoko continued “I’m not letting go unless you give me some food.”
“How am I supposed to give you food if you continue to hug me like this way? I can’t even walk around the kitchen, how am I supposed to prepare the dinner then?” Risa reasoned, hoping that would make Momoko to back away. Though it seems like that was futile.
“Ah-“A third party interrupted the argument between Risa and Momoko, causing Momoko to let go out Risa immediately. They both turned around and saw Ai standing awkwardly at the entrance of the kitchen. “I didn’t mean to interrupt the moment between you. Excuse me please.”Ai cleared her throat as she continued. Focusing her attention on the floor, Ai began to make her way out of the kitchen, only to be stopped by Momoko.
“Ai, don’t misunderstood us.”Momoko tried to explain. “I was just pestering Risa for dinner.” Momoko continued as she made her way to where Ai had stopped. “I will make myself disappear for now.” Momoko continued, winking her eyes and ended off with a mischievous smile. With that, Momoko skipped away from the kitchen, leaving the time to be alone for Ai and Risa.
“Don’t mind her, Ai. She’s always like that, enjoying to tease and embarrass people.”Risa further explained as she subconsciously touched her face, forgetting the fact that her hands were filled with loose traces of flour. And indeed, they were transferred to her face from her previous action. A smile escaped from Ai’s lips for a split second, before Ai began to suppress that smile of hers. “Is there anything wrong with my face?”Risa questioned as she noticed the expression on Ai’s face. She ran her hand on her face yet once again, only to catch a glimpse of flour on her hand. That was when she had realised what she had done. “Ah, my face.”Risa uttered as she tried to dust flour off her face using the back of her hand.
“Do you need some help?”Ai politely asked.
“Ah, it’s alright. . .”Risa could felt her cheeks growing hot as Ai offered her help.
Silence grew within the atmosphere. Risa began to move away from her cake batter to the groceries Ai had gotten her the night before. She cut the piece of meat into smaller pieces as Ai leaned her back against the entrance of the kitchen, watching Risa working the knife on the piece of meat. The moment of peace did not last. The quiet silence was interrupted by a sharp scream.
“What happened?”Ai rushed forward immediately when she heard the scream from Risa. Risa dropped the she was holding and withdrew her hands back close to her chest. Before Ai had reached Risa, she could already tell what had happened. The scent of blood intensified within her nose cavity, causing her to have an urge to let her fangs grow.
“Nothing much. It’s just that I had accidentally cut my finger.” Risa quickly respond as she turned around, wishing to reassure Ai that she was alright. When she turned around, she saw Ai was clenching her fist tight, eyes closed, and lips were pale white. “Are you alright?”Risa, grabbing on her cut finger, took a few small steps forward to be closer to Ai, and concerned.
“I’m alright.”Ai immediately responded to Risa when she felt the latter closing up to her. “I will get you some bandits for your cut.”Ai added on quickly, turning around swiftly and made her way out of the kitchen.
“You don’t have to. I have some in my . . . “Risa chased after Ai, but by the time she reached the door, she realised she had lost sight of Ai. The hallway was deadly empty and there were no sights of Ai at all.
’She’s fast. . . ‘’Risa thought silently in her mind as she returned to the sink to wash her hands and her wound. When she was done with it, she made her way out of the kitchen, down the hallway that led to the dining hall. “Ai?”Risa called out again, only to have her echoes as her response. She allowed her eyes to wander around the dining hall, and found a stack of bandits sitting on the table top. She pouted slightly upon seeing them on the table top.
’Am I thinking a little too much? To think that I had actually thought she would put it on for when she had offered to get me some bandits.’ Risa felt her heart sank as she sank onto one of the seat.
Ai sat alone at the corner of the secret basement compartment, staring into space. She was so out of the world that she had failed to notice Saki’s entry into the basement. “It’s unusual to see you around here at this time, sis.”Saki spoke, waking Ai from her own world. “You are always out in the town looking for food at this time, isn’t that so?”Saki continued as she got to Ai’s side and sat beside her. “What’s wrong? You look like you are out of this world.”Saki asked.
Ai shook her head lightly in response. “I was just remembering the answer you gave me back then, about Mi.”Ai continued with her response. “The reason why you had stopped drinking human blood.”
“Why are you mentioning about that again.”Saki looked away from Ai as she tried to twig the topic away.
“I wasn’t going to force you to take human blood again.”Ai reassured. “I was just going to say, I understood why you felt the need to.”Ai continued.
“Something happened?”Saki noticed the sudden change in her sister attitude.
“Nothing.”Ai shook her head in response. “I’m going out now.”Without giving Saki much other response, Ai stood up from her position and made her way towards the exit. “Like what you had told me to, I will keep my distance with Risa.”Ai spoke emptily before she exited the basement.
“Saki, the will to resist biting her is not going to change the fact that human blood is our food.”Ai stood before Saki as she tried to stop the latter from leaving her bedroom. That was the day Saki had decided to leave the Royal palace to live with Maimi in the town. “You are going bite her once there’s a trigger from a drop of human blood, Saki.” Ai continued.
“I know, Sis. I know.”Saki looked straight into Ai’s eyes as she replied. “That’s why, I had decided to not make human blood as my food. I will take substitute. I know, I won’t drink her blood. I won’t drink the blood of my love.”Saki continued with determination in her eyes.
“Saki.”
“Sis! You won’t understand. You won’t understand. Once you have met and know Maimi, then you understand why I had felt this way, and why I wanna to leave this home.” Saki gave no chance to Ai to refute back as she retaliated. “I’ve grown up. I’m 18 this year. I can choose what and where I wanna to go, Sis.”Saki finished off in a softer tone and the tone she used made Ai softened her heart. “Please, Sis, let me go. . . “Saki pleaded.
Ai broke the eye contact with Saki. She looked around her surroundings before returning her attention back onto Saki. “Fine, I’ll let you go. But in one condition.”Ai finally gave in as she glazed into Saki’s eyes. “I’ll go with you.”
“Yuri, it’s getting really dark. . . Shall we find a place where we can get rested for the night?”Maasa asked as the trio tracked through the forest, all equipped with a torch light that acted as their source of light through the pitched dark pathways.
“I don’t wish to stop now. . . I wanna to find the rest as soon as we can.”Yurina stubbornly replied as she continued her steps forward. “The earlier we can find them, the earlier we can get out of here.”Yurina mumbled inaudibly under her breath.
“But, it feels so eerie. . . “Chinami whined as she hid behind Maasa’s back. “And I’m so sleepy. . . “
“Get Maa to carry you if you are tried, Chii. . .”Yurina jokingly commented, and that had earned her a slap on her back from Maasa.
“There’s no way I’m gonna carry Chii throughout the whole journey. She’s heavy!”Maasa stated bluntly before turning around to Chinami. “You better don’t sleep, Chii. Walk by yourself.” Maasa continued.
Chinami was about to fight back to the other two’s teasing when they heard a loud growling sound, which caused Chinami to hide behind Maasa yet once again. “What was that?”Chinami asked in a trembling voice.
“I don’t know. . .”Maasa answered Chinami as she grabbed onto Yurina’s elbow, pulling the taller girl closer to herself. “Yuri, I think it’s better that we get a place to hide for now than to stay in the wild.”Maasa urged the younger girl.
Yurina herself was too surprised by the sudden growling voice. Though her body languages had not showed her fear, she knew, she was trembling deep within inside. “I –“Before Yurina could say anything, she sensed a foreign being behind them, and thus, halted her sentence and turned around swiftly, giving both Maasa and Chinami a shock.
“What’s wrong?” Maasa and Chinami asked in unison.
“Are you all lost in the forest? Do you need some help?”A fourth voice, sending Chinami to her knees while clinging onto Maasa.
Upon seeing who the stranger was, Yurina slipped her right hand into her right pocket of her sweater and began to search for the tracking device Chisato had gave her earlier this morning.
’It’s her. . . The wanted vampire they showed me this morning. . .’ Yurina thought in revelation. “Ge-“Yurina was about to expose the identity of the stranger but had halted.
’I should not impose any unwanted fear to the rest.’ And she had finally found the tracking device, without taking another moment, she pressed the button down and allowed her hand to remain in her pocket.
“It’s not advisable to stay in the wild at this time. There are a lot of hungry animals in the wild who like to hunt in the night.”The stranger continued in concern.
“Thank you for that. We know about that and will be finding a place for shelter as soon as we can.”Yurina answered as she took a few steps forward, standing in front both Maasa and Chinami.
“I’m glad to hear that. . .”The stranger responded. Without saying much, the stranger walked pasted the trio politely and began to head towards the direction the trio were about to head towards.
Yurina, on the other hand, allowed her vision to track the stranger’s whereabouts. The stranger took a couple steps forward before turning back again, causing Yurina to tense up again.
“Are you all by any chances, are friends of Risa, Momoko, Miyabi, and Risako?”The stranger asked. That sentence made Chinami perked up in attention and got back up onto her feet immediately.
“Do you know that midget?”Chinami asked. She was about to race towards the stranger, through her excitement, only to be stopped by Yurina, who had pulled out her right hand from her pocket and grabbed her by her wrist. That action had caused the tracking device to drop out of Yurina’s pocket.
“They had come over to my place a few nights ago and have been taking shelter over there since then. They did mentioned to me about have lost from the rest of their friends, and I thought they might have been you guys.”The stranger explained. “I supposed that you all have been searching for them, isn’t that so?”The stranger continued asking. “If you don’t mind, I can bring all of you over to meet up with them again.”
“Of course we don’t!”Chinami answered immediately and was ready to follow the stranger. Maasa on the other hand, looked over to Yurina to see the latter’s reaction. “I can’t wait to meet the rest.”Chinami continued as she tried to break free from Yurina’s grip. When she did, she made her way to the stranger’s side. “My name is Chinami. What is your name?”
“Ai.”
“Ah, it’s my turn to need the toilet.” Miyabi declared as she watched Momoko got out of the toilet in attached to their room. With that, she raced into the toilet while Momoko slumped onto the ground.
“My legs are giving me in.”Momoko tiredly mumbled as she buried her face into the carpeted floor.
“Come on, Momo, get up.” Risako got over to Momoko’s side, pulled the shorter girl up, and helped her onto the bed.
“Why is it that Risako you are the only one who is not having diarrhoea?”Momoko grumbled in a low voice, being upset by the fact that she was having diarrhoea.
“I don’t know?” Risako sat down on the bed as she responded to the older girl. “We basically ate the same thing for dinner.”Risako continued suggesting. Then she remembered, “The cake! I didn’t eat the cake!”
“Oh, the cake. Risa ate the most. I wonder if she’s alright. . . “Momoko responded in a quiet voice. “Ah. . . I think it’s coming again. . .”Momoko dejectedly mumbled. “Miya.”Momoko called out in a whiny voice. “Are you done?”
“No~ A little while more. . .”Came the response from the toilet.
“Faster~~”
Risako gently smiled at the short interaction between the two. “I’m going over to check it out on Risa.”Risako informed Momoko. She stood up from the bed and paced over to the toilet door and knocked on it on a couple of times. “Miya, don’t take too long. Momo can’t hold it for long.”Risako teased. Without giving a chance for the latter two to get back on her, she had slipped out of the bedroom.
“Wao!” Risako was surprised by the fact that Saki was sitting on the railing outside her room door, arms crossed, seemingly waiting for Risako. “Is there anything wrong?” Risako asked shakily.
“This.”Saki tossed a bunch of herbs out to Risako. “Can help to stop the diarrhoea.” And thankfully, Risako had managed to catch it perfectly.
“Ah. Thanks. . . “Risako thanked quietly. She peeked at Saki from time to time, and realised the latter was still staring at her. “Are you better already?”Risako tried to concern, hoping that would ease the tense atmosphere.
Saki ignored the question raised by Risako. Instead she shifted her legs on to the other side of the railings and jumped down to the ground floor.
“Wait a minute.” Risako tried to call out, but Saki was already fast gone from her sight. She quietly sighed and hung her arms over the railings, leaning her body weight on the railing until the opening of the front gate caught her attention again. “Yuri?” The tallest girl caught her attention. With the herbs still in her arm, Risako raced down the stairs and ran straight into the tallest girl. “Yuri!”
“Risako!”Yurina hugged the youngest girl back. “I’m glad you are all safe. Where’s the rest?”
“They are in the toilet.”Risako replied as they broke the hug.
“Toilet?”The trio echoed in unison.
“Are they having diarrhoea?”Ai asked after seeing the herbs Risako held in her hands. Risako nodded her head in response. “What did they eat?”Came the next question from Ai.
“Risa bake a cake for desert. . . I’m guessing it’s that, since I hadn’t eaten the cake. Risa ate most of it though. I was about to check her up to see how she is doing. . . “Risako continued explaining.
“She ate the most?”Ai sounded really worried as she reconfirmed the situation. “I’m –“
Before Ai could continue with what she was about to say, Yurina had interrupted her. “I will go take a look at Risa. Risako, you will come with me. Maasa and Chinami can take Miya and Momo for now.”
Ai, sensing Yurina’s hostility towards her, gave in. She swallowed the words down her throat and backed away a few steps. “I will go prepare rooms for the rest of you instead.”
“I will share a room with Momo!” Chinami chided in immediately.
“Ah, Okay. Then I shall prepare the room next to Risako for you two then.” Ai faced Yurina and Maasa as she replied. Without waiting a response from latter two, Ai began to make her way up the stairways and disappeared into the shadows.
“So how do we get to where Momo is?” Chinami asked impatiently. A slight smile escaped from Risako upon witnessing Chinami’s impatience. The two had always acted as if they were the biggest enemy of each other on earth, yet it was only at this kind of situation, where the real concern and emotion for one and other will surface.
“Follow me. I’ll bring you and Maasa to my room first before heading off to Risa’s room.” Risako responded. Without any further words, she made her way towards where Ai had just went, with Yurina following closely behind her and Maasa and Chinami tagging behind Yurina.
The trip up the stairs to the room was in absolute silence. Risako stopped before the door she had came out from earlier on and turned to Chinami. “Mama, Chii, this room belongs to Miya and me.” Risako informed. As the latter two was about to open the door and enter the room, Yurina stopped them.
“Maa, is it possible for you to go over to where Risa is instead? I have something important to settle out with Risako. I’m sure Chii can handle Momo and Miya by herself.” Yurina suggested as she looked into Maasa’s eyes with a serious stare.
“Sure . . . “Maasa took a second of silence before responding to Yurina. She understood that the reason why Yurina and raised such a suggestion.
“I’m getting in first then.” Chinami continued after Maasa’s response. Without waiting for any response from the rest, she twisted the knob of the door and made her way into the bedroom.
“I’ll bring you to Risa’s room then.” Risako heaved as she moved her legs forward, bringing her and the duo down to the deeper ends of the hallway where Risa’s given room was situated. When Maasa had entered into the said room, Yurina began to drag Risako deeper into the hallway, to a quiet corner where she felt no one could have heard or get to them.
“There’s something I need to inform you, Ri.” Yurina did not waste any single moment and dived straight into her point. “I had received the gist of our very first mission, and it has something related to the person whom had allowed our stay here.” Yurina continued.
“Ai?” Risako responded and Yurina nodded her head in response to Risako. “What about her?” Risako asked before continuing “She’s a kind person. . . ”
“She’s a wanted vampire by the organisation.” Yurina hastily responded to Risako’s question. Risako bitted her lower lips as she heard the response from Yurina, seemingly to be in a deep of thoughts. Yurina on the other hand, was surprised to see a rather no reaction from Risako upon her information. “Ri, you don’t seem surprised at all. Did you know that she is a vampire before I had even told you?”
“That – I –“Risako was left speechless by the sudden confrontation from Yurina.
“How did you realise that? Did she bit or harm any of you? What happened to that bandaged hand of yours?”Without giving a chance for Risako to give a proper response, Yurina began to bombard a series of concern questions for the former.
“No th- She did not harm me in anyway.”Risako defended immediately as she gripped onto Yurina’s moving hands. “My palm . . . that. . . I had accidentally cut myself with the broken pieces of glass earlier in the morning. . .” Risako lied.
“Really?”Yurina raised an octave higher as she doubted Risako’s answered.
“That’s the truth.” Risako responded to Yurina’s doubt with strong determination relevant in her eyes.
“And when did you know that she is a vampire. . . “Came the inevitable question.
“I . . . “ Risako felt like as if her brain were spurring around as she search for a perfect lie for Yurina’s question. “I didn’t know that she is one. . . I guessed that she maybe one. . . That’s why I was not surprised when you told me that she is one. . . “
Yurina looked at Risako with doubt again. Deciding to let that slide, Yurina slipped her hand into her pocket for the device the Chisato had gave her earlier in the day. To her dismay, the device was no longer in her pocket. “Where is it?”Yurina panicked as she continued to rummage the contents of her pocket.
“What are you looking for, Yuri?”Risako asked curiously.
“The device C gave me this morning.” Yurina responded briefly. “I was told to switch the device on if I were to meet this wanted vampire. Where is it?” Yurina explained. “Don’t tell me that I had dropped it. . . “Yurina mumbled to herself.
“Yuri, your pocket is just that deep. . . If it’s not in there, it’s not there.” Risako rationed.
“What should I do now then?”Yurina pondered as she furrowed her eyebrows. “I will track back the way we came to see if I had dropped it somewhere. . . “Yurina decided before turning her attention to Risako.
“I will go with you then.”Risako responded, thinking the glance Yurina gave her was a stance to ask her, the partner, to accompany on the journey.
“No.” Yurina quickly responded, catching Risako in surprise. “You will stay back. . . in case anything happens, you are the only person other than myself will know what we will need to do.” Yurina continued. “I will get Maa to go with me instead.”
Risako nodded her head in agreement. Just as she did so, she noticed she was still holding onto the herbs given by Saki to her, as an aid to the girls who were having the diarrhoea right now. “Ah, this.” Risako stuttered as she held the herbs out to Yurina. “Can help to ease diarrhoea.” Risako continued.
“Really?” Yurina was amused by Risako. “How did you get to know it?” Yurina continued questioning.
Risako tilted her head slightly as she made up a lie for the answer. “I read it somewhere on some books.”
“Really?” This time round, Yurina was half amused and half believing. “How do you take it then?”
“Chew it and swallow it?” Risako replied in a questioning tone. “I guess?” And she ended with her embarrass laughter.
“I guess that will work then. There’s no harm trying in that for the sick ones.”Yurina decided. She took a bunch out from what Risako was holding. “I will get to Maa. You will handle Momo and Miya with Chii.”
Ai was seated alone at one fo Saki's favourite hideout place - the rooftop, leg crossed as she allow her mind to wonder off at the thoughts that have been bothering her for the night.
'I wonder if she's alright. . . Hopefully the herbs is gonna help her . . . Wait a minute, Ai. Haven't you told Saki that you are gonna to keep your distance away from her. . .Why are you still thinking about her issues?' Ai scolded herself inwardly.
'But. . . I just can't help it. . .I guess. . . 'With that, she leaned back and rested her heard on her arms, and back on the tiles.
'There's something else that's worries me the most now. . . Their friend. . . Yurina. . . She gives me a really bad vibes . . . could it be that. . . she's a . . . ' Just as Ai was deep in her thoughts, Saki appeared right beside her and sat next to her.
"It's rare to see you here, Sis." Saki started off. "Something's bothering you?" Saki continued.
Ai sat up back and shook her head. "Nope. . . I just wanted to enjoy the scenery of the night. That's all."
@ TTLuver497 : Sorry for the long wait, I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well. . .