Karmanami Series

Blood

It was late, Okuda concluded as she glanced at the digital clock on the wall where it shows 11 in the evening. She cleared up her table and stacking the paperwork nicely on the tray. Next week, she will be presenting her work to board of directors where she will know her fruit of hard work. Although she felt a bit down when her colleagues constantly told her it was a failure experiment, it didn't dampen her hope.

She looked behind her for one last time. After feeling satisfied with the condition of the laboratory, she grabbed her handbag and heading out. However, she didn't get to move too far when a flash mob of red hair blocking her exit while huffing loudly. As if he was running to reach here.

Okuda gasped.

So many thoughts occurred into her mind. What if this person is a rapist or someone from secret agency who was ordered to kill her due to her nature of work? However, the security in her workplace have highest security set up and in order to enter, they need paperwork, working identification card and thumbprint.

How was this man breached the security? Is he one of the employee here? She didn't have any weapon to protect herself but she could throw a few chemical beaker placed align at the rack next to her.

Her right hand was almost touch the beaker when the stranger looked up.

Okuda baffled because she never saw a pair of strong gaze eyes especially his mercury eyes as if he was staring right into her soul. His face looked young and she wondered if he was in the same age as her.

She wasn't expecting a smile but she had to admit he has a charming smile with a hint of mischievous if she focused a bit.

She decided to cut the awkwardness atmosphere between them. "Urm, sir – you..." Okuda wasn't able to finish her words when the man suddenly leaning forward and placing his forehead on her shoulder causing her to be stiff like a board due to sudden contact.

"You're Okuda Manami, right?" He inquired.

"Ye – yes!" She yelped. Her posture was still stiff but she can feel his body vibrating due to his laughter. "Y – You're cold as ice, sir." She commented.

He scoffed weakly. "I am. My close friend told me you're good in creating dangerous stuff and I can trust my life with you. Mind if you can whip something up like artificial blood?" He asked - in between taking a short breath.

Okuda was taken aback with his sudden request. She replied with doubt voice. "Your close friend I guess must be Nagisa-kun. Ho - how do you know I create artificial blood? Never mind that. But sir, I didn't know the effectiveness of the blood because I never test it before. What are you going to do with that sir..." He cuts her word off.

"Stop with the 'sir' calling name. My name is Karma Akabane but you can call me Karma." He glanced at her with weary look. She was about to say something when his next words caught her off guard.

"... You see I'm a vampire but I had never taste human blood before but I dare not to. Before I start to kill innocent human, I need something as strong as blood to quench my thirst and the pill I've had before didn't bring much help. Think you can do that for me, Okuda-san?" His eyelids were starting to close and so does his posture which is getting wobbly against her body.

He was tired and hungry, after all.

Okuda didn't think twice. She was determined to help him. Although she was still skeptical with the fact he claimed himself a vampire, she has had to aid him first.

He trusts her and that's all matter to her. She will make it work.

First, she helped him by leaning his back against the wall. Then, locked the door after making sure the coast is clear and switched on the lamp to brighten up her laboratory. She throws a side glance at Karma who was snoring softly before gathering all apparatus needed to test her experiment whether it was successful or not. "Thank you Karma-kun for trusting me."