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lordkaho -> Summer Evening- Memory of " " [FINISHED] (1/23/2012 0:42:57)
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[image]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f239/bloodraze/DF%20Art%20Gallery/Rinkernation/BGv1.jpg[/image]
Inspired by Nasu Kinoko
May 31, 2009
The sewers.
An underground network of pipelines, and drainage systems that convey sewage in and out of Maebashi city.
In other words, a place where garbage and rubbish gets flushed away.
Such is a fitting home for someone like me, I guess.
And like the trash here that surrounds me, I am a waste product of the city, left to rot in this awful state.
But don't get me wrong here, I'm not one of those run-of-the-mill Anarchists who rally on the streets doing nothing but loathe modern society, and the government, pursuing some pseudo-intellectual cause that has much worth as the cardboard signs they prance around with.
No, I'm not like that. Unlike those people above on the streets, who live perfectly normal lives but still find a reason to complain, I am surprisingly content with this curse that I'll be living with the rest of my life.
It's not like I can do anything about it anymore. Like what they all say, "It can't be helped". So I just might as well live this body of mine to the fullest while it lasts.
Well, enough of that lame existentialist sob story. My short little story begins here.
My name is Minoru Streidberg. I'm definitely not your average guy, though I can act like one if the situation demands it. You could say that my dad, a magus as he calls himself, did some tests on me and all didn't go as planned. It resulted on me becoming one of those western blood sucking freaks all the girls seem to be crazy about these days. However, as I begin to understand this body of mine, I realized I was only partially a vampire. If I were truly one, the experiment wouldn't be declared as a failure. It really messed up my body so much that there are many things I have yet to grasp with this puny brain of mine.
You might think that I must really hate my father right? Well, to a degree there is some truth to that. But like I said before, nothing could be done. He himself couldn't reverse the effects on himself, so I think my chances are pretty nil.
But that won't stop to me from at least living a quiet life as a person.
***
It was just another night, same as always. The sewers stank, and the sewage water, even more so. But living here for almost a year made me somehow used to it.
But what's more important is this grumbling friend who I call my stomach.
It's been days since I've had any food, and since I'm not a full vampire like my father, I need to eat normal food like any other person or else I'd die of hunger. That and my belly would rather eat a hamburger than rotten food swimming in sewage water. As if drinking blood wasn't already a huge hassle.
I quickly hurried to a manhole exit and latched on to the handle bars. I gazed above the long cylindrical stretch of wet concrete and bricks. It was about 16-18 feet to the surface from the sewers. For a normal person it would probably take quite some time climbing up, but due to my 'abilities' I hastily soared up in a matter of seconds. Sure I stumbled and lost my footing a couple of times, but I managed to pull through.
Slowly I opened the lid and crept out of the man hole. This exit was a favorite of mine as it was well hidden in a dark, narrow alley and was far from populated areas. It would have been troublesome if I went out in the middle of the street and people would report some weirdo who lives in the sewers. The only thing that greeted me along the way were rats and scavenging cats in nearby dumpsters.
Once again my belly rumbled with great fury. I could feel my stomach acid slowly eating away my insides.
I reached into my pockets to see how much I got, and to no surprise I was broke as hell.
"Two hundred Yen."
Well, I guess that'd be enough to buy two curry bread, I thought.
I quickly covered my head with my hood to hide my 'special' features and walked out of the alley. I melded into the bustling urban folk like a charm. Though that might be more due to the people busy with their cell phones and other gadgets than to pay attention to someone like me.
With so little money, I think I should just consider stealing food from a fancy restaurant but from where I'm heading to, my guilt really kicks in.
"Satori Pharmacy and Convenience Store"
I really have no idea why I keep going to this place.
I mustered my courage up and went inside.
Ting! rang the door sensors as I walked in.
And there she was, sitting at the counter and burying her face on her favorite magazine, T*PE-M**N. A black haired, bespectacled girl in her 2nd Year, who goes by the name Hanamichi Saki.
[image]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f239/bloodraze/DF%20Art%20Gallery/Rinkernation/Sakiv1.jpg[/image]
You could say that she's the object of my fixation or her trivial dealings with me has somehow made me curious on how her brain functions.
"Oh! Minoru-kun!"
She greets me in her usual smooth toned voice, and her perpetually smiling face that would make even the greatest scientists commit suicide on wondering how such a feat exists.
"Oh my, you look white as a sheet today!"
"That hurts you know. And you always say that", though that's probably because it has been 2 weeks since I have had blood. I normally steal packs of it from the nearby blood bank, but it seems recently that management has noticed some of their reserves have gone missing and security was tightened.
"So, what'll be Minoru-kun?" she asked it as if she doesn't know. What a devil.
I walk into the pastry section and reach for two curry buns on the bread shelves, with an extra bun of course hidden in my sleeve.
"I saw that, you know."
Gulp, she she sure is picky today, I thought.
"But...Since it's you, I'll let that pass" she chuckled.
I nervously placed the 'three' buns on the counter, while Saki worked on the cash register.
"You know, if you're so broke why not find a job? If you want, I could ask the manager if she has an extra slot for a shop helper. I could need some help lifting the huge supply boxes in the stock room." she said as she resumed reading on her magazine.
"Nah, I'm good."
Even though it's tempting, and would at least guarantee me some decent meal every day, I can't risk being too close to people or else-
"Say, I have always wondered about your skin. I bet you've been eating grass again"
Saki reached for my face as she attempted to poke me with her finger but I immediately backed off before she could do more trespassing on my private space.
"Uh-no, it's a skin condition. Trust me. It's also highly contagious so you'll get it too if you touch me."
She only stared in wonder, but before things got too awkward I bid her farewell and thanked her for the extra bread. I exited the store with my weeks supply of rations in hand.
I think it got too heated for me back there, so I decided to take a stroll into the city square to catch some air and maybe some relaxation. The streets, as usual, were buzzing with people. Most of them were high schoolers who spend most of the evening shopping in malls, eating at cake shops and just immersing themselves with the city life.
I somehow envy them, as I who spend most of the time in seclusion, could never enjoy any of these things without being called out. But then again, I sometimes think to myself that people probably wouldn't care.
Come to think of it, they'd probably let me off as one of those cosplayers from Akihabara.
However, I still need to be cautious. People might not notice me, but I surely wouldn't want the attention of "others".
I found a nicely placed bench that was vacated and was conveniently facing one of those big LED screens that decorated most of the buildings in the city. I sat and stretched my wearing limbs out then opened the plastic bag and took a bite at the curry bread. Hopefully, my grumpy stomach would be fine with this.
On the screen, a flash report pops up.
"Good evening. This is Fuji News Network, bringing you the latest news for the night."
"Ah good, I wonder what's been going on ever since I've been staying underground."
"May 30, 2009, last night, residents from the Tone district have reported what might be another string to the recent Gunma Cannibal serial murders that has ravaged much of the prefecture. The victim in question, is Maki Satou, 19 year old son of the deceased Maki Takanori and Sayoko. His 11 year old sister, Maki Kuroko, however is still missing."
"Dammit, Gorou!" I cursed myself. "I should've never let that brute get away!"
Gorou was one member of a street gang in Maebashi city that I spotted one night in my alley, trying to hit on a girl- Saki, but I doubt she even remembers that event. I tried to talk them out of it, but they were too aggressive for that. I had no choice but to dispatch them out as I would further endanger Saki and myself. It wasn't easy, they outnumbered me five-to-one and I had to have an excuse for killing them. I took advantage of the Gunma Cannibal story that was already notorious at that time and made it look like 'he' killed them. It just so happened that Gorou survived and somehow got infected by my disease as well. The idiot then began killing people like crazy.
I had a hunch he was responsible for most the killings of late as the real 'murderer' left cryptic clues on every crime scene. One I vaguely remember, was that victims were positioned in a ritualistic manner, but not Gorou. He just ate people for his delight.
"Another body was found at the Maki residence, and is identified to be Hayao Gorou. Upon further inspection, it has been confirmed that this man was responsible for the murder of Maki Satou due to the matching saliva found in the victim's body. However, lab test analysis show that Hayao Gorou's DNA sample do not match that of the Gunma Cannibal. It is now heavily debated whether this case is even related to the GC killings. To implicate matters further, Gorou's body was examined for autopsy and several 3rd degree burns were found on his body. His death was most mysterious also, as he was declared to have died from many gaping lacerations that could have only been done by heated metal with an intensity of over a thousand degrees. This implies that a third party was present at the crime scene..."
I couldn't believe what I just heard.
"What..."
I dropped the bread out of my mouth as I blankly stared unto the LED screen blankly. One specific detail there ricocheted itself inside my head.
"Gorou isn't the killer."
Immediately, I took off from the bench and left the bread that would've served as tomorrow's supper. Food didn't matter to me now. I ran as fast as I could, not thinking of the people around me.
A whirlwind of questions plagued me as I ran.
Suddenly, I remember having seldom lapses of being in a trance-like state if I would go on for too long without blood. Worst thing is I could not remember anything from that. It has been weeks since I've have had any proper nourishment, so who knows what I might have been doing all those times?
"Could I have been killing these people?"
"Did I really do it?"
"Was an accomplice of Gorou?"
"Did I really kill him?"
The barrage of questions didn't stop. Some of them didn't even make sense anymore.
Out of all those facts reported in the news, one detail stuck out like a sore thumb.
"...could have only been done by heated metal with an intensity of over a thousand degrees."
I knew it all too well. It felt awfully familiar.
Ever since that catastrophe with my father's experiment, I had another curse, something vastly different from my partial vampirism.
It was my "Void".
The effects were too uncanny. No one else could have done it but me and my dealings with Gorou only made it even more painfully obvious.
I ran with all my might along the evening streets. I dashed through the thick busy crowds, on speeds they could mistake for a gust of wind. The cold air lashed at me like bitter daggers, my legs felt like concrete and my body was sore, but I didn't care. I had to get home as soon as possible.
However, before I could reach my destination, something halted me in my tracks. It was an image that was so detached from the reality revealing itself around me.
A little, black haired girl. She was wearing blue denim overalls and a skirt. She was walking towards me with one hand raised as if someone was holding her.
"Good evening, Onii-chan." she greeted me warmly with a bright smile as she blissfully passed by me.
This girl, I thought.
She had a similar air about her that reminded me of myself. She had ghostly pale skin, and like me, she possessed bright red eyes the color of blood.
My already battered mind would only be added by a new throng of questions.
But as I looked back to see her off, another surreal sight graced itself before my confused eyes.
It was a fair lady in an elegant white gown, that seemed to be covered with shiny metallic plates that emanated with a heavenly glow. She walked beside the little girl, illuminating the gray path as they went, leaving the pavement they stepped on with golden crystallized flakes.
To my surprise, the lady glanced at me but she just smiled. I rubbed my eyes to properly understand what I was actually seeing but when I looked again, they were gone.
Just like that.
I reached for the lid and slowly descended into my underground 'lair'. But before the darkness beneath had clouded my vision, I couldn't help but ask-
"Is she the-" but I slapped myself in mid-sentence.
Now that would be stupid, even for me. This problem will have to wait for tomorrow, I guess. My mind is just too stressed out for me to think clearly.
Perhaps, living with rats for so long has made me paranoid.
END OF PART 1 OF 3
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