Giving Our All

“Am I running away? Do I look like I want to run for the hills?”

The redhead inquired as she studied Kao’s hands, noting with a churn of her stomach and slight alarm that he’d managed to draw blood from balling up his fists so tightly. Her eyes flicked up to meet his only to be met with glistening hues that refused to look her way, and for a selfish moment she hoped he wouldn’t cry. She was never the best with tears. But just as quickly as the thought came, it drifted away.

He needed to believe her. If not that her words were the total truth, that they were her truth -- she believed them.

Those weren’t the words she expected from him, and while she couldn’t believe him when he called himself a vampire, she believed that it was the truth in his mind. In his own eyes, Kao truly thought he was a monster -- he felt remorse. That was enough for Rei. 

“I don’t see how that can be.”

She took a step forward, watching Kao as she slowly advanced towards him, voice steady and sounding much like it usually did. Fear and apprehension no longer prevailed among her other emotions.

“Obviously you don’t like what you are, which means you don’t like hurting people.”

She came to a stop right in front of him and frowned at his clenched fists, her own hands tentatively and gently taking hold of them as she peered up at his face. Whether his mind was lying to him or he was telling the truth, this wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t his fault for having to do what he needed to in order to survive no matter what the truth was.

She didn’t back away, but she didn’t move towards Kao, either, unsure and confused and frustrated. As much as she wanted to comfort him, Rei wasn’t in any position to trust him in that moment. As much as she wanted to dismiss this whole matter and continue on as before, it just wasn’t an option.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

Thumbs smooth over flushed skin as a quiet titter escapes his lips. How endearing can one person be? Yes, he’s definitely missed her too.

Rei’s missed that laugh. “I wouldn’t be opposed to a few kisses and just some time together,” she mutters bashfully, gaze still avoiding his out of nervousness and a tad bit out of embarrassment -- the young woman hasn’t thought about what they should do so much as simply being with one another.

"Kao?” Her tone was uncertain, wavering slightly as her hands slid against the sides of her shirt and pants before realizing she didn’t have any pockets -- the downside of her warmer sleepwear. The redhead took in a shaky breath. “Is there a... A reason for what you have in your fridge?”

It wasn’t as if Rei could ignore it now. By his expression, he knew that she’d seen what he had hidden away in the cold confines of his refrigerator. Seeing him in such a distraught state squeezed at her heart, made her want to waltz over and embrace him, tell him she didn’t think of him any differently, but her moral compass kept her from doing that.

If that was human blood, it would mean Kao had hurt someone. Not in self defense, not because he didn’t have any other choice, but because he wanted to. She wouldn’t be able to accept that, and she certainly wouldn’t be able to turn a blind eye.

Rei really hoped that wasn’t the case.

Since the feline is a little shit, once Aki grabbed his hands he voiced a rather loud noise- A noise that is… Strangely lewd. It was on purpose; to make the carrot leave him be. 

Heat shot across Aki’s skin like wildfire, and an indignant shout leaped from his lips as his brow furrowed. “H-Hey! That’s playing dirty, Miles!” If he wanted to be that way, fine -- Akihiko wouldn’t play nice anymore, either.

           “…Kurosawa-san~”

    A sing-song tone was used to call the     Rei’s name once more as he waved a     hand in front of her face.

          “Ah, I wasn’t. Sorry,"

   Her eyes blinked down at the phone one     last time before it disappeared into the     pocket of her uniform; it was then she     finally turned to look directly at Setsuna,     expression apologetic.