The Reflection Of True Love

Appa, Meet The Man

It was a cloudy day but nothing was going to dampen Yumi's spirits. Yesterday her father hadn't been enthused about her time with Jangmi but he told her that since he suspected that it was another battle he was sure he wouldn't win, he would prefer that she told him when and if she ever planned to go and visit the witch again. Rules were now in place, if Yumi said that she would be going to the forest to read or sketch, she wasn't to stray from that without telling him. Tae wanted honesty, even if he wasn't keen on the answer, he simply wanted to know where his daughter was. He wasn't enthused about Yumi visiting the house castle but he was collecting her and meeting the beast himself so he didn't have much of an argument.

The little vampire considered using the front door but decided against it because she'd been entering the property via the fence and rear gate for ages so why change that?

She smiled when she saw that the big upon gate was open and the cloaked man was busy with a flowering bush. She could hear the snipping sound coming from the pruning shears as he clipped each of the tiny branches.

"Hello... I'm back." Yumi chimes as she approaches, knowing that the old vampire could hear her from the distance she was at.

The man side glances her. His white and gold mask hides everything but his eyes and only a small amount of hair is visible under the hood of the cloak. "Hello." He grunts.

"Can you show me more things today? Fluff is doing really well by the way... can I help? Those flowers are pretty. Do you grow them?"

The chatty girl stands nearby and wiggles her fingers, itching to do something. She had her sketchbook with her and hoped that the man would let her try and draw the garden. She wanted a new challenge and there was so much to draw in the garden alone, she could only imagine what inside the house castle was like.

The man huffs, "You ask too many questions."

"That's what my Appa says sometimes but he always told me that you should ask questions in order to learn."

"Does he know where you are?" He doesn't look at Yumi, he continues trimming the bush. He doubts very much if the little vampire's Father is aware of where she is because no one visits him and he knows what they say about him.

"Oh yes. He wasn't happy that I was coming here to start with but he didn't like me talking to the witch either."

"You should stay away from witches."

"That's what Appa says but he also says I shouldn't listen to what other people say because it's important to make your own opinions."

"Why are you here?"

"I like being here and you are nice."

"You don't know me, little girl." The old vampire states.

"Yumi."

"Sorry?" He pauses and looks down at her.

Yumi holds out her hand. She has a huge grin on her face and her eyes sparkle. "Yumi... that's my name... it's nice to meet you... what's your name? I don't want to call you what the villagers say because that isn't kind and you have kind eyes so I don't think you are what they say you are."

The old vampire is awkward as he gingerly moves his hand towards the small hand waiting for him to accept it. He can't recall what human contact felt like, it had been a very long time since he touched anyone that he wasn't going to kill, even with gloved hands. He certainly didn't speak to his prey either, they were usually dead before they realised they were in danger but that was their fault for being out in the thick of the night or for sleeping somewhere accessible. It was better for both parties that the kill was quick and under the cover of darkness, the vampire didn't need history repeating itself when he was seen without his mask. He was well aware of what people said about him, tales that became taller with each passing decade with no one caring what the truth was.