A Shadow in the Dark

Chapter 6- New Beggining

AN: I know this is really fast paced, but it'll slow down pretty soon and this was competely and totally necessary to form the plot of the story. Its going to get pretty freaking intense very soon! ^_^

Emma POV

"...Were both vampires." I thought I was scared before, but this newly unveiled secret almost made me scream. I just sat there, the threat of tears close at hand.

"W-what..?" I didn't know what I was supposed to say or what I was supposed to do... Tsukio sat down a little ways away from me as if to give me some space. I was competly and utterly defeseless, and only now I realized that. I was so confused. How could he be..?! I couldn't even think straight... I looked over at Tsukio who looked angry but regretful. Does he think this was his fault..? But it wasn't. It wasn't his fault at all. "Its not your fault, Tsukio..." He looked at me, suprised. "How could you have known, anyway? I mean, that something like this would happen. You can't blame yourself." He stared into my eyes and I knew there was absolutely no reason to be afraid of him. I half-smiled at him, and leaned back against the tree.

"You're not afraid..?" He gave me an incredulous glance. When I shook my head, he looked even more disbeleiving.

"Why would I be scared of you? You never did anything to me." He looked like he had something he wanted to say, but said nothing.

                                                                                ~~~~~

After Tsukio explained everything, it seemed like all had gone back to normal... Except for the fact I know Tsukio's biggest secret... And Megumi's as well, I thought with a frown. Tsukio had walked me home and I got my neck cleaned off. I had promised before I left that I would keep his secret. I couldn't help but wonder, though... How will Tsukio live with Megumi now that they both know the other's secret?

Tsukio POV

When I got back to the house, Megumi was there. I glared at him and cursed at him in Japanese. He snickered at me and Mrs Akai looked extreemly concerned. I don't know how I'm going to live with this bastard all year... I thought, walking out to the porch with a pillow and sleeping bag. "I'll sleep outside tonight." I told Mrs Akai on my way out. She looked even more concerned and asked if I was feeling alright. I told her I was fine but just needed some time alone to think. She reluctantly agreed and said goodnight.

I laid the sleeping bag in a tree in the front yard, climbing up and setting the pillow in a fork in the branch. I curled up in the sleeping bag, thinking only of Emma. I hope she doesn't see me as a monster now. I thought of how scared she looked when I told her the truth. I thought of how she stared at me, terrified. And I thought of how I felt when I went to save her. She looked so defenseless, so confused. As if she had no idea what had happened. And, I thought, she probably didn't. I laid in the tree, hoping, for her sake, that nobody noticed the wounds in her neck. I wondered what Megumi's motives were, and how he knew about that night two years ago.

Megumi POV

Now that my plan had taken effect, there was little time for preperation. With Tsukio doubting himself, his trust in Emma, and also doubting me, it wouldn't take him very long to figure it out. The thought made me smile. Everything was going exactly according to plan now. All I had to do was plan my moves according to theirs, and everything would play out in my favor. I leaned back in the top bunk of my bed, listening to all the sounds in the house, planning. Its either now, or never, I thought, closing my eyes, still smiling. Just a little longer now and the trap would be set.

Emma POV

I laid awake in bed, knowing I wouldn't get any sleep. I was terrified that if I fell asleep somebody, maybe my mom, would come in and I'd be turned over with the bite showing and have to get rabies shots... I shuddered at the thought of twenty, or more, shots. Shots were bed enough alone, but multiple ones?! No way in hell was I sitting through that!

I got up, and slinked down the stairs, slipping out the door, barefoot. This is stupid! I told myself. Hes not going to be awake.. Nonetheless outside... But I couldn't help it. I walked down the street to where Megumi and Tsukio were living and spotted something up in the tree.

"Emma? What are you doing here?" I looked up into the tree to see Tsukio camped in the tree with a sleeping bag and pillow.

"What are you doing up there?" I asked.

"I can't stand to be in the same room as... him..." I knew immediatly that Tsukio was talking about Megumi. There was an acridic hatred that peirced the night air, I could almost feel it. I climbed up next to him in the tree.

"Does that mean you have to sleep in a tree? I mean, I get the room thing, but wouldn't a hammock be more comfortable..?" I had a slight smile on my face, I just couldn't help but smile. He looked at me at shrugged.

"I like trees... The higher the tree the safer I feel. Though I don't know why..." I thought about that for a second.

"Yeah, I guess. Hey, maybe its a vampire thing..?" I asked, joking. I don't think he took it as a joke. He looked down, thinking about it. "Hey. Are you feeling okay?"

"I guess... I mean, I keep thinking that maybe something I did lead up to this... All of it, I mean. Its what happened two years ago is what I'm worried about..." He trailed off, staring up at the stars through the tree branches.

"Tsukio... What happened two years ago? I can't help you if I don't know what the hell you're talking about." He laughed a little, then looked at me, his eyes intense.

"I don't think you can help me, Emma. Theres something I have to find out though... And I can't have you get hurt in the process. I just couldn't." He stared into my eyes, as if he was searching my thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder why I was so important to him.

"Tsukio. Listen to me. I don't care. I want to help you." And so, our story took flight. A new beggining to a new chapter in our lives.