“DID you think you were their only successful experiment? I’m another human born out of the research on the Ancient.”
“……” Azusa was rendered speechless from the bombshell he dropped. Tsukiharu smiled with satisfaction at the look on her face.
“They are supposed to treat me a bit differently from you, you see? Contrary to the orders to capture you upon discovery, they are supposed to kill me on sight.”
“…Why?”
“Simple, because I possess the Ancient’s body and human blood, Azusa. You possess the Ancient’s blood. I’m the opposite of you.”
“…You’re lying.”
“It’s the truth. I’m still seventeen, the same as you. Guess you could say I’ve got about three more years to go before I awaken. And just as I’ll awaken as a vampire, I’ll lose my sanity. I’ll fall to F rank. Well, it’s quite the obvious result, really. They mixed human blood to pump through the Ancient’s body. I don’t even get the hope of thin vampiric blood somehow saving me,” Tsukiharu explained nonchalantly, in a tone that sounded no different from someone gossiping about an annoying occurrence in the neighborhood. But no emotion tinged his words.
“At this rate, I’ll become the strongest crazed monster with the Ancient’s body. That’s why they want me dead. I don’t want to be killed either. Nor do I want to lose my sanity. So I’m in need of the Ancient’s blood flowing through you. Do you understand my plight, Azusa? I’ll say it as much as you need—you determine my fate.”
“…There’s no proof what you’ve said is true,” Azusa finally squeezed out. It would be a terrible reality if what he said were true, but she had no guarantee what he told her was the truth.
“If you need proof I’ll give it to you,” Tsukiharu said and raised his right hand. A bluish-white flame popped into existence. The baseball-sized sphere of fire floated over his hand.
“It’s not like I’ve awoken as a vampire yet though. I’m already seventeen. I can do this much. Unlike how humans only become an adult on their twentieth birthday, vampires do not just suddenly awaken. The change comes gradually, with time. I even occasionally feel the thirst tickle at the back of my throat. I hate it.”
Azusa thought back to what Kouya told her. “I was only thirteen and hadn’t awoken as a vampire yet, but my right hand went straight through his heart.”
By age thirteen, Kouya had awoken just enough to his vampiric abilities to shove his bare hand through someone’s chest. Azusa had no idea if everything Tsukiharu said was true, but she was convinced he was a human on the verge of becoming a vampire.
“So? Let’s say what you told me is true—what do you want me to do? You say you want my blood, but what exactly is it you want from me?”
“It’s simple, really. All you have to do is periodically supply me with blood.”
“That’s it?”
“No. I also want you to let me study your body. I doubt my body will be satisfied with just being supplied blood from you externally once I awaken as a vampire. I need to make it so my body can eventually recreate the Ancient’s blood naturally too.”
“……”
In other words, he wanted Azusa as a tool to preserve his sanity. The furrow in Azusa’s brow deepened.
“Don’t like that? But is it any different from the position you are in with the Red Coven? Weren’t you a research specimen confined to that mansion? I will treasure you more than anyone or anything else. I won’t treat you as a guinea pig. I believe that point alone makes me a far better option.” Tsukiharu grinned as he took Azusa’s hand.
“You’re confused from hearing all this stuff out of the blue. Let’s eat, Azusa. I prepared food I thought you might like. We can take our time and talk over dinner, okay?”
“Don’t touch me.”
“You should obey me—that way there won’t be any unnecessary bloodshed.” Tsukiharu tightly squeezed Azusa’s hand when she tried to pull away. He affectionately stroked her cheek as her face twisted with the pain of his grip.
“You should submit to me—you have no choice but to submit. I mean, you can no longer leave my side now. The Red vamps will never come to get you back. I doubt they know where we are, and the Akaoni was left in such a pitiful state. Even if he knows where you are, it’s highly unlikely he will attack us.”
“Do you know how Kouya is right now?! Is he all right?!” Azusa leaned forward and pressed Tsukiharu for an answer.
She wanted to know what happened after she lost consciousness. The last time she saw Kouya he was fighting off a pack of wild animals while trying to protect Ichi. She knew most of the blood coating his body wasn’t his, but the blood gushing from the gouge in his abdomen was. Someone as strong as Kouya wouldn’t die easily, but she was still concerned for his well-being.
Tsukiharu removed his hand from her deathly pale face and covered his left eye with it. “I currently have my familiar flying over there. I still don’t have enough strength to do anything more than share what my familiars see, but I’ve got a grasp of the situation.”
“Tell me!” Azusa desperately pleaded with him.
Tsukiharu gazed at her, the corner of his lips curling up with amusement, “Let’s eat together, Azusa. Do that and I’ll tell you.”
Azusa had no choice but to reluctantly nod.