∆ Clock Strikes Thirteen

Reiji frowned nervously. 'You've been going in and out of the Underworld for more than I can remember. This whole business you're doing is real shady. You should tell me what's going on.' He demanded.

'Who are you that I should tell you what I'm doing?' Shuu glared at his brother. He was just raising his hand to open a portal when Reiji barged into the room.

'I've said this before. We're not very welcomed there regardless of our status.' He pressed.

'I know, but I've got things to settle.' And Shuu disappeared like mist when he stepped into the portal he just opened.

'It's really not like him to be up and about like this.' Reiji muttered to himself.

-

Location: Ashiya Household

Shuu arrived exactly by the front gate. The mansion looked old but was very well maintained. There was no one guarding the gate so he pushed it open and entered like it's his property. The walkway was long; he passed a big water fountain that ran out of water but not dusty at all, a series of well-cared flowers on either sides and healthy grass before reaching the large door, which assumed to be the main entrance of the house.

He knocked thrice and waited. Surprisingly, the door was opened from the inside rather immediately. It was an old woman, probably around 70 years old by appearance, with a walking stick on her left hand. A white scarf with red flowers embroidered on it hung loosely on her left arm around her back to her right arm. She was wearing a red dress that looked like it existed back in the Victorian era. Though old, she looked elegant.

'What's a vampire doing in a demon's area?' she spoke softly but sternly.

Shuu had a quick look on the insides of the house then met the woman's green eyes. 'Ashiya Hanae, I assume?' Shuu said.

She didn't reply and let him in. It was dark inside and upon entering there was a large staircase leading to more rooms upstairs but Hanae led him to the right side of the house where the living room was located. Shuu settled himself on a comfy Chesterfield sofa while Hanae sat on a single sofa adjacent to him.

'Whom are you here for?' Hanae began and gestured at the wall with her head. Shuu turned his head. He didn't realize there were hundreds of framed portraits hung on the wall until she pointed at it. There were a lot of women; some men and most of them look identical. A few looked like Koyuki.

'Haku.' Shuu answered.

At the name, Hanae was taken aback. Her eyes wandered to the wall then back to the lad. 'Are you with the de Crest?' she asked.

Shuu shook his head as a reply.

Hanae looked confused. 'Then why do you need to know about her?'

The blonde locked eyes with Hanae's. 'I need to know.' He didn't retort properly but Hanae wouldn't give in.

'Which family are you from?' she queried.

'Sakamaki.'

Hanae frowned. 'Sakamaki? You're Karl Heinz's son then?'

Shuu nodded.

'As far as everybody knows, you guys don't usually come down here, so why now? And why Haku?'

Shuu was ready to get up; the lady was asking too many questions to his liking. 'I can ask somebody else if you don't want to tell me.' he said.

Hanae went silent then, 'Everybody knows Leonardo killed Haku,' sighed the old lady. 'They were engaged but Haku insisted they had a duel to prove that he was worthy. But Leonardo... he got absorbed into the fight that he accidentally killed her. She had lived a short life and her grandmother Naomi was devastated, as they were very close to each other.

'Without anybody knowing it, she had actually casted a spell on Haku when she was born due to a prophecy she strongly believed in. She managed to tell me, before she passed away, that Haku did not die.' Hanae choked back a tear.

Somehow Shuu got the gist of it. 'She was reborn...' he said.

'Yes, into a human.' Hanae added.

-

Location: The Mundane World

Shuu stood by the door of the ward where Koyuki was admitted. He was hesitating whether to slide the door open. He thought back to the time when Koyuki was "marked" by a Phantom from the Underworld, which was a very rare case since Phantom is usually not capable of seeing human beings, and when she asked about the forest by the hospital, which was supposedly be able to be seen only by non-humans, and to the time when she didn't rot to death after being brought to the Underworld.

There were a lot of incidents that indicate she wasn't human but why is she suffering from a human disease? He had asked that to Hanae before going back to the human world.

'As non-human, we were gifted the Absolute Defense, a defense mechanism specializing in combatting worldly viruses and bacteria. When Haku was reborn into a human, the special mechanism disappeared along with his demonic capabilities and is very vulnerable to human diseases. Naomi might have let her be reborn but she had never considered her dying again.' Hanae had said.

Shuu gripped the door handle. He was understood that the Reborn technique can only have two outcomes: either she transforms back to her true form, or live as a human for the rest of her life. The outcome depends on the individual's feelings and desires. If Koyuki is able to accept herself, she will be able to transform back to a demon but if she can't, she will stay human.

Shuu was aware that Koyuki has a strong desire to live, and he hoped that she'd be transformed back to demon since she doesn't have much time to live if she's human. He slid the door open.

Inside, Koyuki was lying on the bed, unconscious for days. As Shuu made his way to her, a million questions ran through his mind. Why does he care? Since when does he do things for other people? He had a duel with Leonardo to bring her back to the human world and he even visited a demon's household to satisfy his curiosity.

He sat by the bed and held her hand. 'Koyuki, you're not a human.' He spoke softly.

Another question came across his mind. Why did he agree to become her boyfriend? Was he too bored? He couldn't remember why he did what he did but the damage has been done.

'Die,' said Shuu. 'And come back as a healthy being.'

He sent bits of his energy to her through their physical touch, hoping it'd help her wake up.

-

It was like an electrocution. My eyes were opened almost immediately due to the warmness that felt so familiar. I saw Shuu by the bed.

'Shuu...' I whispered but he didn't seem to hear me. He was staring at the wall blankly, probably thinking, which would be rare. I moved my hand that he was holding and he quickly looked down.

'... You woke up.' He said.

I felt a little energized with his energy help earlier. I removed the oxygen mask so I could talk. 'It feels like it's been a year since I saw you.' I commented and sat up.

'Are you feeling okay?' he asked.

'Thanks to you.' I replied and looked around.

'What are you thinking?'

I smiled. 'That I'm still alive.'

'You are. Why do you have to think about that?'

'I'm just thinking that this whole thing is tiring and it's best if it ends.' I said.

'You want to die?'

'Kind of,' I hummed. 'But then I won't be able to see you.'

Shuu fell silent. Then, 'You will, though.'

'What? Are we going to double suicide and go to hell together?' I chuckled at the thought.

He didn't reply and stood from his seat. 'I've got something to settle.' He said and disappeared before I could inquire anything further. Clueless, I shrugged and went to the bathroom.

-

Location: Achira no Sekai [The Underworld]

Guided by Cyril, Shuu waited for Leonardo in a dining room. He was informed that Leonardo and Arthur had gone to meet Kino, the current vampire prince, probably to discuss some issues.

'He's here.' Cyril suddenly said and left the room. Moments later, Leonardo entered.

'Fancy seeing you here.' He greeted.

'Haku,' spoke Shuu. 'Have you found her?'

Leonardo was taken aback by the question. 'Haku? No, of course not,' he hesitated. 'She's dead.'

'Then why were you searching for her?'

Leonardo frowned. 'Why do you need to know?' he questioned but Shuu didn't give him a reply.

'I felt guilty,' Leonardo confessed. 'I dispatch my Phantom everyday to find her and I always get the same result. But I'm still holding on to my instinct, that she might be alive.'

'Well she is.' Shuu said bluntly.

Leonardo snorted. 'You say it so straightly that I believed you for a second.' He laughed then shook his head. 'Seriously, what's the matter, Sakamaki heir? Are you depressed or something? I'm always ready to listen you know.'

'Koyuki,' Shuu said. 'She's Haku.'

Leonardo went silent then sat on one of the chairs. 'Look, I know my Phantom marked wrongly but this joke is getting out of hand. What are you trying to deliver?'

'Haku was reborn as a human, it's as simple as that, are you an idiot? Or do I need to say it again?' Shuu sighed.

'I'm not following this—' Leonardo stood from his seat, trying to leave the room.

'Leonardo, listen,' Shuu said it so firmly that the said vampire halted his steps. 'If Koyuki reverts to her true form, the First Bloods would be the first to know. The scent would be too strong to contain.'

'And you want me to what? Hold them back?' Leonardo turned to look at Shuu.

They met each other's eyes. 'Yes.' Shuu answered. 'Hold them back while I return her to her manor.'

'You're fucking kidding me.'

-

Location: The Mundane World

Shuu came back long after they served dinner, which I barely touched. Apparently, nobody from class knows I got hospitalized and Shuu was the only one to visit me from time to time. He appeared to be very busy though. The doctor was surprised with my increased health performance but wasn't convinced that I should be discharged. Thus, the extended stay.

It was near midnight when he teleported into my room. I was almost sleeping by then. He sat silently by my side. After a mental argument with myself, I braved myself to speak.

'Shall we go to the rooftop?' I asked.

'No,' he answered almost immediately. 'That's too troublesome.' Then he proceeded to climb unto my bed. I was shocked by his bold move.

'W-what are you doing?' I stuttered, embarrassed.

'What do you think I'm doing?' he replied. 'Move aside, I want to sleep.'

Albeit at a loss for words, I moved to the side just enough for both of us to fit on the bed. Wow, perhaps I'm going to die real soon. The fact that the Sakamaki Shuu is sleeping beside me... I must be dreaming.

I slapped myself gently on one cheek, shook my head and lay down on my left side. My company was back-facing me. 'Shuu.' I spoke.

'... What?'

'Oh—you're awake,' I panicked. 'I thought you were asleep, sorry, I just wanted to call your name.'

Shuu turned to my side and we were looking at each other. It was so close. Our faces... only inches...

'Do you want to live?' he suddenly asked.

I didn't hesitate. 'Just so I can relive this moment again and again.' I smiled then realized I might have sounded like a pervert. 'I-I-I mean—yes, yes, of course, go to school, sit for tests and cry from exams, sure, yes.'

'Even as a butterfly?' he added.

I blinked and looked into his mesmerizing blue orbs. If that means I can see you, yes.

'Even as a butterfly.' I answered, eyes not leaving his.

I must be hallucinating but he flashed a sad smile, which disappeared very soon after.

'Why are you asking such?' I queried.

'Just go to sleep.' He evaded the question, placed his hand behind my head and pulled me closer to his chest.

I didn't resist, as I was too stunned. Scientists would probably be wondering how the hell my heart could beat so fast.

-

A/N: So, the promised CS13! Thank you for waiting patiently. I also realise that Shuu is hell out of his character and I'm so sorry for it :( 

But the blondie really is a sweetheart. 

I don't know if I've told you guys but I imagine Alfred from Shall We Date? Blood in Roses+ as Leonardo de Crest. Their personality is totally different though. Alfred is a total tsundere while Leo is a loudass idiot.

I originally plan Riei from Midnight Jiang Shis as Arthur Daze but I had pictured Arthur in white hair instead of purple sooooo you guys can imagine that yourself.

I'm also sorry that this story has so many new original characters :( it might be hard to remember. 

This story might be slow or boring to some of you :o but thank you for keeping up. If you decide to drop now, I thank you for reading so far! 

Lastly, to my faithful readers, THANK YOU so much for reading, I appreciate it with all of my heart. Love y'all!

By my leave, mortals...