• Takayuki hung his head, staring at a beetle that was scampering in the street. He was thinking about his life and his family. The thought wasn’t that pleasant. He hated what they do. It brought only blood and death. Takayuki came from a long lineage of vampire slayers, but had never quite gotten the point of killing vampires. He could understand the bad ones, but every once and a while, Takayuki went with his uncle, and they would meet a vampire. Even if the vampire is friendly and means no harm, his uncle, or any other family member besides Takayuki’s sixteen-year-old sister, Midnako and Takayuki, would kill it on the spot. There have been times when he would mourn over a vampire’s death. His cousins said it was foolish to waste tears on them, but when Takayuki saw the stake in their heart and the cross on their forehead, his eyes would tear up, and he would start sniffling quietly.

    Aunt Cathy had just exterminated a young vampire. He was about thirteen. As soon as Aunt Cathy had performed the slaying, the vampire’s eyes had lost all their color. He fell to the ground with a thud. The tears came into Takayuki’s eyes.

    “Oh, cut that out, Takayuki. You know he deserved it!” Aunt Cathy snapped. Takayuki finally lost it. Takayuki’s blood was boiling with anger.
    “NO HE DIDN’T! He was still only thirteen! Only two years younger than me! Do you realize how pointless it is to kill him, or any vampire?! I think that--!” Takayuki caught his words. If Takayuki said what he wanted, to not to a vampire slayer, he would have gotten himself into a whole lot of trouble if he continued.
    “Don’t talk to me like that!” Aunt Cathy shouted sternly “It’s our job and you know it!”
    “You know what?! I’m gonna go on a different path, and decide my own future! I’m going to—“Takayuki bit his tongue to stop myself.
    “What are you going to do?” Aunt Cathy asked suspiciously, with a smug look on her face.
    “B-become a...cashier…” Takayuki said, looking at the ground.
    “Humph. Choose wisely.” Aunt Cathy sniggered.
    The drive home seemed hours long when it was only about twenty-five minutes. The familiar stone steps of the Toshi home appeared. Takayuki solemnly climbed out of the car and walked into the small square of a house. As usual, Midnako was sitting in a chair in the living room, reading a book.
    “Hey Midnako! What’s up?” Takayuki sat down in the chair next to Midnako.
    “The usual.” Midnako responded.
    “Ah. I see. How was school?” Takayuki asked.
    “Miserable.” Midnako said, sinking down deeper into the soft leather chair.
    “Why?” Takayuki sat up.
    “You know why.” Midnako looked at Takayuki.
    “Oh, they called you a witch again?” Takayuki said compassionately.
    “No, that doesn’t bother me. It was Melantha. She and her friends just beat me up again today.” Midnako said.
    “AGAIN?! What do you mean again?” Takayuki jumped up.
    “Mm…They figure since I’m defenseless they can beat me up anytime.” Midnako looked up at the ceiling. Takayuki saw the bruise on her chin and the scrapes on her neck and forehead. She also had blood on her shirt.
    “Why? Why would they do that to you?” Takayuki was filled with rage.
    “I don’t know why either.” Midnako looked down at her legs. “I have to clean up my uniform for tomorrow.”
    “I’ll do it.” Takayuki offered.
    “No, it’s fine. I can do it myself.” Midnako walked into her room. She came out in her usual long black skirt and Victorian long-sleeve shirt. She looked like a vampire, the way she dressed.
    “Takayuki! Come here!” Takayuki’s mother called from the kitchen. Takayuki walked into the kitchen.
    “What?” he asked.
    “I found this picture in you room. Mind telling me who it is?” his mom, Chiyuru, asked, holding a photo of Takayuki’s crush, Katuya.
    “Um, well…that is…um…a girl at my school. Her name is Katuya.” Takayuki stuttered.
    “Hmm….You like her don’t you?” his mother said.
    “A-a little bit, I guess.” Takayuki answered.
    “A ‘little bit’? A ‘little bit’?! Who are you kidding?” Takayuki’s best friend, Yuhina, was standing in the open doorway. “Liar! You’re obsessed!” Yuhina said.
    “Yuhina….You aren’t helping…” Takayuki growled.
    “Ah, who cares, anyway? I mean, everyone likes someone sometime. Right Mrs. Toshi?” Yuhina exclaimed.
    “It’s alright, you’re at that age, if not a little late. And please, call me Chiyuru.” Chiyuru chuckled. “Here, you can have this back now.” she said, holding out the picture. Takayuki took it. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her kill any vampires, she evens talks to them sometimes. That’s good though. Takayuki thought.
    “Midnako!” Yuhina ran up to Midnako and hugged her. “It’s been a long time!”
    “Yes, it has been.” Midnako stood paralyzed in surprise. Yuhina let her go and went over to Takayuki.
    “You’re too open.” Takayuki laughed.
    “Ya think so?” Yuhina asked.
    “Well, yeah, you don’t run up to a girl you like and hug her like there’s no tomorrow!” Takayuki said.
    “I guess that makes sense…I just can’t help it though…I’m sixteen and I’ve only had one crush. All my compassion is just compressed onto one person…” Yuhina explained.
    “That makes so much sense that it’s creepy…” Takayuki joked.
    “Heh. Sometimes you say things that make me laugh.” Yuhina said.
    “Hey, did you know that Midnako has problems at school?” Takayuki looked at Yuhina.
    “Really? She does? I didn’t know that.” Yuhina lifted up his head and his facial expression looked shocked. “She seems really smart.”
    “They aren’t academic or anything, but there are some girls that beat her up a lot. But because Midnako is Midnako, she doesn’t fight back.” Takayuki said solemnly.
    “That’s terrible! Who would do that to someone so nice?!” Yuhina said angrily. Takayuki elbowed him. Midnako was right behind them. She had dropped the books she was holding. Her cheeks were a light pink.
    “Oh, Midnako, you dropped your text books! Let me help you pick them up.” Yuhina said, stooping to pick up the books. He glanced at Midnako and smiled softly. This was the first time anyone besides her mother or Takayuki had complimented her.