Only Human

The Withering Flower ch.7

      Lily was getting worse. She could no longer stand up and her face was becoming more pained. Misaki hadn't spoken to Roku in days. I need to talk to him. I need to convince him that everything is alright. I can't let him suffer alone. Misaki walked back into the cave and headed for Roku. She paused as she saw Roku's face. His face wasn't one of hopelessness. His face was showing that he was deep in thought. Misaki couldn't think of why. Then a thought struck her. Vampires heal ridiculously fast. If he... She walked up to him. "What're you thinking about?" Roku turned to her, his eyes widened. "You've been avoiding me." Misaki looked down at the ground. "And you've thought of something." He turned to Lily. "I'm going to make her into a vampire." "I thought so. Then why don't you?" "She's always hated vampires. So I'm thinking of doing it when she's a little less conscious." He poked his fangs. His finger bled. "I need them duller." He looked up to find Misaki feet away from him. He frowned. "Misaki." "Biting me does not make them duller!" "I wasn't going to bite you! I need you to dull them for me." "And how do I do that!?" Roku picked up a rock from the ground and handed it to Misaki. "Here. Grind them down." Misaki took hold of the rock as Roku opened his mouth. She grinded the rock against Roku's fang repeatedly. His fang cut into the rock. Misaki sighed. " your fang is dulling the rock." Roku felt his fang again. It wasn't any duller. He looked up at Misaki. "Misaki." "What?" "Let's try." Misaki stood up and walked away without turning back. He's fine. She walked out of the cave and walked around aimlessly. My life does not revolve around Roku. My life is very interesting without him. She paused. I have nothing to do. She screamed out in frustration and walked back to the cave. She looked around and spotted one of the grass demons weaving baskets uncontrollably. Misaki walked over and asked for one. The demon smiled and nodded. Misaki walked out with the basket. I'll collect fish. Yeah. That's what I'll do, my life does not revolve around Roku. She walked to the far end of the lake. She began to try to swipe fish from the water. She tried and tried. But nothing came into her hand. Then she heard rustling behind her. She stood and turned. She found a young boy standing there. He had gleaming white long hair and his eyes were a pitch black. Misaki turned to face him and crouched down. "Hi.... Are you lost?" His black eyes glared at her and turned to the left. His small mouth spread and smiled. It sent a shiver down Misaki's spine. He looked at her and Misaki's body went cold. My...my body won't move. The boy is doing something. His smile grew. "You humans shouldn't exist." The boy ran closer and swerved to Misaki's right. He's leaving -- something cold and sharp sliced into Misaki's side, cutting a thin but deep cut the length of a hand. Misaki groaned and was released from the spell. She held the cut, but blood was already spilling into the lake. Misaki turned but found that the boy had disappeared. Why did he just cut me and leave? Misaki heard loud rustling  approaching rapidly from the direction the boy had glanced at. Misaki froze. He... He... He left me because he sensed a vampire! She stumbled onto her feet and ran. She began to run for the cave. Wait. I'm not the only human. Lily. She turned and ran in the opposite direction. Her heart drummed. I can't let the vampire discover Lily. The rustling became into clear running sounds. She caught a glance at the vampire and shivered. It was a full vampire. Misaki wanted to run to Roku, to fall into his arms and let him take over. But he was already taking over for Lily. Misaki ran as fast as she could in the muddy ground. What am I going to do!? If I keep running, I'll eventually trip and I'll be dead! I need a plan! But before she could come close to making a plan, she found herself cornered against a cliff. The cut still gushed out blood. Her world tipped and she fell to the ground. The vampire ran up to her and lunged. Misaki prepared.

    The vampire screamed out ear piercingly. Misaki froze. The vampire's blood dripped down on the ground next to Misaki as Roku bit into the vampire's neck violently. Roku's large wings flapped around, looking menacing over Misaki and the vampire. Roku's claws dug into the vampire's shoulder and pulled him off Misaki. Roku threw him off the edge of the cliff and the vampire flew off mid way to the ground. Roku turned back to Misaki and she flinched at the expression on his face. "You idiot!!" He towered over her, trapping her between the ground and his body. "Why the fuck would you run from me!?" Misaki shivered at his cold look and only managed to stutter "L-Lily..." He grit his teeth. "You....You ran from Lily!?" Misaki nodded. He sighed angrily and his head fell against the ground next to Misaki's head. "You idiot. You're such an idiot." He sighed again and sat up. Misaki also sat up. Roku sat in front of Misaki and ran his fingers through his hair angrily. "I..I'm not sorry." He glared up at her. She gulped and continued. "If... If I would've ran in there with no warning, I would've put the whole cave in danger, especially Lily." He growled at her. "And by running away, you threw your life away!!" Misaki knew it was true. So she just glared back at him. Roku's hands suddenly grabbed Misaki's waist and pulled her shirt up. She jumped. "W-what are you-" Misaki tried to push her shirt down, but Roku pinned her arms down. Her face burned as she felt a warm wetness on her cut. He was licking her blood off. "R-roku don't!! Get off me!!!" Her struggling was useless. Roku persisted and ignored Misaki's screams. Then he pulled her shirt down and sat up. Misaki layed on the ground. Shocked and puzzled. She slipped her shirt up to look at the cut but didn't find it. Roku had healed it. "You... You!! Since when did you have healing powers!?" Roku stood. "Since the beginning. Let's go." Misaki stood. He...he's not asking for more! Misaki happily followed him back to the cave.

      Roku's fangs were as sharp as ever, so he decided not to use them as he sucked Lily's blood. Cutting into her opposite shoulder gently with a small knife, he sucked the blood out. Lily groaned. After multiple hours of Lily's Cries, her fangs grew in and her nails formed into claws. Lily opened her eyes fully and hugged Roku. He hugged her back and she stood. She skipped away and that was that. She skipped along with the children of the grass demons. Misaki smiled down at them and noticed Roku clawing the ground. He bit his lip. She stood and walked further into the cave. Roku...the image of Roku's furious figure biting violently into the vampire appeared in Misaki's mind. A cold lump formed in her throat and she shut her eyes. I....I'm afraid.