The Curse

Chapter TwentyOne- Siblings?

I walk into what is now my castle and sigh, my cheeks hot with anger. I don't have the patience to be a HeadMistress!
I tour the area and look through doors. In one, I witness what must be the HeadMaster's room. I see a photo of Jephudach and him. A pang of sadness clings to my heart as I remember...she was the only real friend I had that was a girl. The only best friend I ever had.
I silently walk back to the throne-room.
I hear a quiet knock at the large doors, and Kuroji walks in.
"Hey, thouest  HeadMistress." he says, bowing and teasing. "I don't know if I can take being a leader." I sigh. He takes my hand. "Hey. I'm by your side, the whole way through." he says.
I look into his eyes and blush.
I quickly look away, embarrassed. That reaction was so...stupid! "Thanks, Kuroji." I reply. "I thought you were helping down there?" I ask. "Well, with my help, almost everybody is cared for, fed, and resting. Katoro volunteered to stay down for five minutes while I check on you." he says. I see anger in his eyes when he mentions her. "She volunteered...?" I ask, unbelievingly. "Well, I kinda made her after our little quarrel..."
he mumbles. "Listen, Kuroji...I've been thinking. Now that I'm HeadMistress, I have this whole castle to myself, and I'll be constantly busy with people to rule. You should stay with Katoro in my house and patch things up." I say. "What...? But I though we'd go back to old times...y'know...when we would always be near and ready to protect each other." he says, under his breath. I can sense his disappointment. "Kuroji, I think it's best. Besides...only royalty is allowed in my room!" I joke, and wink.
He smiles. "We'll see about that!" he laughs, and walks out. I laugh along and wonder exactly what he means...

Three hours later, Kuroji comes in and asks me to follow him. I ask where, and he says to put on a blindfold. I roll my eyes and do so. I am guided by his hand and his voice. "C'mon, just a tad further..." he says. I hear grass and fall leaves crumpling beneath my feet. We're outside.
"I have a village to lead! Come on!" I chuckle. I open my eyes.
Instantly my heart skips a beat and my eyes water. It's my old home...our old home. The one mother raised me in.
"Oh, Kuroji...I really needed this." I whisper. "We both did," he finishes. Pretty soon we are in the room that we last slept in. The time when his blood smelled delicious. Now I don't have to worry about that.
"So...it is a mystical world now, y'know. Vampires, EU-NH..." Kuroji mumbles, cautiously. "Yes, I've already checked...There's no way to heal or bring back Mom!" I cry. I whisper, "I'm sorry..." Then compose myself and sigh. Kuroji wipes the tear trickling down my cheek and places his other hand on my shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. You've got me. And I'll never leave you." he says. I nod and close my eyes.
Then I yawn and lay my head on his shoulder. He rubs my back and sighs. The moon is coming out. I'm a vampire--I shouldn't be tired. But his comfort is so welcoming, I just want to curl up in his arms and fall asleep...

I'm running from Kuroji's wide-open arms. Running away from the warm embrace. My cheeks feel hot and I am in denial. I keep saying, "No, no!"
But then, I collapse to the ground. Kuroji takes me in his arms and we gaze into each others eyes. But then my vision goes dark as a sharp pain overcomes me.

I flit open my eyes and realize it's morning...and that that was just a dream. I shiver and shake it off. I look at my surroundings, wondering what happened last night.
I realize I'm laying down, in Kuroji's arms. He's sleeping. I blush, yet again. I carefully move his arms off of me, and tip-toe to the kitchen. I boil the potatoes that survived and boil some oatmeal. Kuroji walks in.
"I thought I smelled something good." he says. "And to top it off..." I pull out a vile of blood and pour it onto our meals. His eyes sparkle and he licks his lips. "Thanks!" he says, taking his plate. "Let's go somewhere else and eat this," he says. I shrug, and say "Uh, okay."
He leads me to a bench underneath a cherry blossom tree and we eat. There's even a beautiful little lake next to it. But I'm glad were sitting under a tree.
It shades us from the stinging sun.
"So...uh...what am I?" he stammers, scratching the back of his neck.
"What do you mean?" I say. "A vampire."
"No, not like that. What am I to you?" he insists, his cheeks red as ever.
"U-Uh..." I stumble. What is he? I used to say my brother. But now...? Do I call him a petty, dumb crush?
No, we are practically adults now and it goes much deeper than that. But I don't know what to say. So I just sit there with my mouth open. The silence kills me, so I just blurt out "We're like siblings, always have been! What else?" He looks disappointed, and looks down. "Ah. Right..." he mumbles. Oh, I just ruined it!
I made him frown. But...why?
Does he...no...he doesn't.
"What...do you think of me...?" I ask.
He pauses, looking for words.
"It...it doesn't matter, as long as I'm a sibling to you, then we're siblings." he spills out. "It does matter to me.
I want to know what you think, really." I say. He looks at me in the eyes. I almost get hypnotized by how deep and intricate they are. He smiles, blushes, and nervously ruffles his hair.
"To me...?" he whispers. "You...are the love of my life."