Red Like Blood || Aihara Mei x Asexual Reader

Chapter 1

The only thing that could be heard was the heavy summer rain pattering on the tar-lined streets. Weighted drops resonating off the dark tiled roofs, bouncing off mahogany patios, and abandoned market stalls, now closed after a fine day's work. The drumming of the thin liquid was just mesmerizing to your ears. The dark scarlet colour of the sky just added to the mood. You inhaled deeply, and took in the tranquil atmosphere. 

It was just so rare for this place, known for being quite a restless market town in the countryside, to be so desolate on a such a scenic evening. You had a great liking for calm surroundings, much like this. Which was the reason why you moved into a remote suburb on the outskirts of Osaka.  You just wanted to stay in this moment forever, so you decided to close your eyes, and attempted to take a mental image to remember for the future. The warm rain on your face, dripping down your cheeks and nose, trickling past your neck, and onto your collarbone. You finally exhaled, completely forgetting about your need to breathe. The sound of a distant flock of red knots only added to the ambiance.

What a pleasant sound. 

A sudden thump to your right shoulder brought you back from the astral plane. It was such a surprise to you that you almost lost your footing in the wet gravel beneath your feet. 

"Oi, stop fucking day-dreaming and a get a move on."

The hoarse voice belonged to man in his mid-forties at the least. He added a quick deadpan glare over his shoulder, and continued to walk past you. 

He was obviously highly intoxicated, if the rancid stench of vodka, and the need to hold onto a nearby railing for support wasn't enough of an indication.

You didn't think much of his ill-mannered remark, but you did agree with thought of hurrying back home as soon as you could. The idea of catching a fever was definitely something you didn't want. 

You began to quicken your pace, taking note of the unsteady gravel. The bottom of your fringe was stuck to your forehead, as a result of your 'day-dreaming'. Without a second thought you moved it to the side, behind your ear. 

You finally made it to the street where your villa was located, but the village was still quite new, and had a different layout to what you were used to. Strolling along the worn path, searching for some sign of where you were, you heard an ear-splitting clamor adjacent to where you were. Probably a family, or a young couple, you thought to yourself. There was a monetary pause, and you heard it again, but this time you able to understand what was being said.

"Drop it! Put your purse on the ground now!"

You were absolutely certain that it was the middle-aged man from earlier. The voice was slurred and gruff, it had to be him. Part of you didn't want to go and investigate, but you felt obliged to, whoever he was harassing definitely didn't deserve it.

Ambling over quietly, to the back alley where the shouting was originating from, you hid behind a high fence. You peered over the the top of the chipped wood, only to see the old geezer standing in front of someone. You weren't able to get a proper look at what was going on, but you didn't dare to try to push your luck and get noticed.

You then crouched down, and discovered a hole in between two eroded planks. Closing one eye, and squinting through the decaying oak, you got a clear view of the victim. She was a young lady in her late teens, around your age. Her appearance was quite alluring, with long hair as dark as ebony, that brought out her pale skin tone. 

Startlingly, she displayed no signs of emotion, and kept her gaze fixed on the man, her eyes then darting down to what he was holding out in front of him. 

A knife, possibly?

He started to approach her, prompting her to take a few steps back, ultimately finding herself backed up against a brick wall.

"This is the last time I'm gonna say it. Drop your purse on the ground now!"

He was now undoubtedly more enraged than he was an instant ago, and it was starting to appear, as he was now trembling in front of her. Amazingly, she still kept her structure, and currently had a impassive look, as she felt around the wall behind her, attempting to make her escape.

That was when the worst possible outcome occurred. 

Her eyes met yours. 

You were considering about intervening at some point, after witnessing the events from behind your wooden haven. But the answer was now certain, you had to do something. You had been discovered, she was aware that you had seen her persecution. If you didn't act, she would surely blame you for her death, and possibly curse you from beyond the grave.

You had made your decision.

You ran out from behind your cover, just as the man was edging closer towards his target. He heard your sudden disturbance of footsteps, and briskly turned around to face you. 

You now realized that you made a fatal mistake. The object that he was holding out in front of the girl wasn't a knife as you originally thought, it was something much more lethal. You were now face to face with an M1911 pistol.

What were the odds of it being loaded?

At that point in time, you recalled reading about most bank robberies being executed with unloaded firearms. They just used guns for the scare-effect.

But that thought still didn't help your composure.

You found your heart palpitating, your palms and face becoming beaded with droplets of sweat. You couldn't seem to take your gaze off the black void that was the barrel of a pistol being focused at your torso.

"What the hell are y-"

You could have sworn that you perceived him give you a cocky smile as he pulled the trigger.

The pain that surged through your very being was inconceivable. It was as if a scorching metal rod impaled you in the upper abdomen. 

Was this what true pain felt like? 

Did you actually receive a bullet from a deranged gunman?

Was everything that you knew just going to end like this?

Those were the only things that were swimming around in your fading mind, as you attempted to keep your footing on the ground. You looked down to see the crimson ichor flow apace down you shirt and other attire. Now feeling the foul iron-tasting liquid in your mouth, you used what energy you had left in your hands to grasp at your wound trying to lessen the blood flow. But that action had as much use as using a pen with no ink.

It was useless.

Just as your breathing became heavy, and involving more labour, the girl came running towards you. She made an endevour to hold you up, but was having difficulty as you could no longer stand by yourself. You started to latch onto her clothing for support, but to no avail, you found yourself bleeding out on the hard ground in the next few seconds.

She knelt down beside you, and stared into your eyes, with that usual stony expression of hers. Turning your attention the sky above, you looked at it intensely, as if that would take away the pain. And it was then you realized that the colour of the sky looked a lot...

like blood.

=...=

Thank you so much for reading, and making it this far.

So if you would please leave your comments down below of what you thought of this first chapter, I would be most happy to reply.