Chrono X Angel, Book 5: Winds of Change

Chapter 2

It was a relatively short trip up the concrete stairwell that led from GARDNA's atrium to the medical wing, and fortunately the place seemed to be rather empty today as the pinkette's footsteps echoed down. This had become a part of her daily routine by now, and so she barely noticed the noise, let alone being even a little winded by the 6 story climb. Soon enough she was surrounded by the sterile, nearly lifeless smell of the medical wing.
It was hardly the most inviting place, like a funeral with less hospitality, but Usoko was here everyday no matter what, to see a certain someone...

"Hey Kuro," she whispered, sat next to the motionless form of her younger sister, Kuroko Tachibana.
Six months ago, Kuroko had been killed by Spriggan, and though she had been miraculously revived by Usoko, the younger pinkette's condition had not changed much at all. She was comatose, alive but unable to awaken. It was for Kuroko's sake that Usoko was learning Chronomancy, to reset Kuroko's body back to how she had been before that day.
Usoko pulled the heavy green tome from her bag, closed the door for privacy, and began practicing some of the spells, to the sounds of Kuroko's faint breathing, and the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor...

Lydio Nekomoto was feeling absolutely miserable, and it was clearly etched onto her face.
She was now well into the final weeks or so of her pregnancy, and even though she had two kids prior to this one, she still was hardly enjoying it. She was now constantly nauseous, her whole body had swollen up, and she had to sleep sitting up in a chair which was something her body absolutely did not agree with. Even when she was awake Lydia was always tired, and she was certainly no longer at the top of her game. This was the reason why she had stepped back to a more desk-work position in the organization for the time being. She had enjoyed the fieldwork, especially working with Nonami again, but now...

"Sarugami," she growled, her ears angled back, "Where're those field reports? And where is Cessily? She was supposed to be here an hour ago!"

"A-apologies Mrs. Nekomoto!" Yelped Aru, who had been promoted from a mere courier to Lydia's personal assistant in the previous month.
"The reports should be on your desk though, perhaps they were buried? As for your sister, well we know she's here but-"

"She got lost again?"

"Yeah..."

Lydia sighed, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. She could feel a headache coming on.

"Sorry Aru," she said, her tone and body language a bit more relaxed now, "I'm just... dealing with some stress here, as I'm sure you can imagine. Would you mind going and finding her? I know it's not your job anymore but..."

"Oh it's quite alright!" Chirped the apeboy pleasantly, "I know how Ms. Nekomoto can be, it's no problem!"

As Aru saw himself out of Lydia's office, another familiar face saw her own way in: Modred, carrying a folder.

"Hey Moddy," smiled Lydia weakly, "Don't suppose that in there says that humans and monsters are now living in perfect harmony and we can all go home?"

Modred chuckled and laid the folder down in front of Lydia.
"Fraid not," she replied, "Quite the opposite I fear. We've had reports of 'Dracula' harassing some of the locals. Oh and Frankenstein too."

"A Promethian?" Asked Lydia, eyes widened in surprise, "Didn't expect that."

Modred just shook her head, motioning to the folder.
"No, as in, literally Frankenstein. Like from the movies. People are saying they've seen him lurking in the park after dark. As for the Dracula sightings, those have more... credence. At least two young women have been reported with neck wounds matching vampire bite marks. Only here's the kicker right, by the time they went to the doctor? The marks were gone. Not healed, but gone. Like they were never there."