The Land of Dawn (ML Fanfic)

18. cupcakes

"Hey shorty, my name's not Mr. Swordsman. It's Alucard. ALU-CARD. The enchanting demon slayer, the invincible assassin." He corrected her, tons of arrogance audible on his voice as he slightly pouted his lips.

She chuckled lightly. Her voice was a sweet melody to Alucard's ears, yet he being arrogant as ever, refuses to admit it to himself.

She led the way before him; with her colossal scythe in tow. He was especially awed by her weapon. It looked lethal and frightening. It certainly appeared the same as the grim reaper's.

He wanted to know more of her. He wanted to know what was behind this innocent soul's façade; what ran in her thoughts, what makes her tick and live in the vastness of it all.

"What an unusual name you have, Alucard but I like it!" She complimented, clapping her hands vigoriously in unison.

He was amused of her. How can this little, innocent being emit such rays of giddiness and warmth? Why was she so optimistic? He never knew such a being could hold so much enthusiasm in its core.

"Not necessary for you to like it. I can still be cool and awesome without your approval Hood." He replied, sarcasm evident. He was toying with her and he was getting the hang of it.

"Hood? Why do you call me Hood?" She asked, ever so gently. Her voice gives him goosebumps everytime. Its as if her voice was frost--cold, shrilling yet gentle.

He shrugged his shoulders and inched the distance between them. He touched her red, silky hood and removed it from her head. He touched her shiny blonde hair and felt its softness dwindle through his fingertips.

"You look like little red riding hood, that's why." He responded, aiming to tease her.

She suddenly was reminded of her grandpa. Oh how his grandpa liked to call her little red riding hood. Yet along with her remembering her grandfather's endearment came such gruesome memories of how he was brutally slain by ruthless wolves. Without realizing, a tear ran down her left cheek.

Alucard was in utter shock to see a tear run down her face. She was so vibrant a while ago and now, she seemed defenseless, weak and fragile.

Its as if the mask she was wearing for so long came off with just a single flick of a switch, with just one word being mentioned.

He didn't know what to do so he embraced her instead. It was weird at first. They just met and he was treating her as if they knew each other for long already yet he was more than awed when she too, hugged him back.

They stayed like that for a while, not minding that they were strangers to each other. All they know is that they may know next to nothing about one another but they were just two broken souls, trying to fix and pick up the shards of their hearts that has been damaged by time and fate and everything that came with living.

"Do you want to see me fight?" She suddenly blurted out. He let go of her and raised a brow. What was she thinking? She chanted it in between such a serious momentum. She knew not of timing and it made him laugh internally.

"Okay. Show me how you slay." He replied, excited and a bit intimidated. Could this woman outshine him?

"I guess I'll show you later. For now, I'll be hunting for food. See you later." She retorted, suddenly catching him of guard. Was she leaving him just like that?

He was skin deep into knowing her and she would just leave? He was flabbergasted beyond words.

"You're leaving?" He said, not believing his own words.

"I just said so. See you when I see you." She responded.

Could this woman get any less immature?

He heaved out a long sigh as he watched her retreat from the forest.

But his tenaciousness wouldn't leave him be, so he decided to follow her stealthily.

He followed her to a garden full of pumpkins and at the center of it was a small bungalow. She picked a large pumpkin and went inside the little house.

He took a step closer and peeped through the window. Ruby was slicing the pumpkin to bits. And suddenly, a thought dawned on him.

Since when did he start acting like this? Since when did he follow strangers to their home? But was Ruby really a stranger? She seemed all too familiar to him.

He shook his head and decided to have one last peep on the window but at that exact moment, Ruby disappeared from his sight.

Where has she gone?

Maybe she went to her room and rested a bit, he thought.

He heaved a sigh of defeat as he slowly backed away from the small hut he just found.

He just hoped he'd see her again during one of his expeditions.

He went back on his original course and headed straight to the Land of the Assassins.

"Want a pumpkin cupcake?" A tiny voice said, catching him off guard.

It was Ruby, holding out a tray of cupcakes.

Without him realizing, he mustered a naughty smile and devoured the cupcakes. Ruby can only stand and watch in awe.