"Failure!"

"Unworthy!"

"Matricide!"

The voices call out to him. They sound familiar to him but he couldn't distinguish them. Takumi doesn't want to know who's saying it, but if possible he wants to wake from this dream.

"You shouldn't do that," a velvety voice ensnares him, whispering in his ear like an angel, "Accept it all."

"Stop," Takumi shakes his head and tries to push away the person beside him. He cries out, "I don't want to hear anymore!"

However the sweet voice doesn't stop, the shadows snaking their hands around his head, "Takumi, you had already embraced the you who is so filthy, so disgusting, so unwanted."

Takumi doesn't respond. The cold strips of darkness cocoons the weak boy. Someone softly strokes his hair, the sensation is revolting and Takumi whispers, "Stop."

"Admit it, you want to lose yourself," the voice accuses him.

"Stop it," he begs. The shadows keep stroking his hair as the air becomes more suffocating. He begs again, "Stop it."

"Do you really want that?" The voice asks and before Takumi could answer it continues, "Then why did you trust him?"

"I did-" the sentence starts but doesn't meet its proper end. The voice shouts, "You did! And you always had! Accept it, you didn't forget."

Takumi opens his eyes and stares into the abyss, playing the scattered memories, then he tiredly says, "I want to forget."

"Then lose yourself, let yourself be succumb to emptiness," the voice seductively whispers, "Destroy yourself, and never wake again."

"... Y-" Takumi begins to voice his acceptance but is suddenly falling. He looks down to find the very definition of hell waiting for him. He can see everyone that he killed, everyone that is dead, and everyone who were affected by his actions. The closer he comes, the more rotten the skin and flesh becomes on them as they yell, "SUFFER! CRIMINAL!!"

Before he reach the violent hands ready to tear him apart he wakes up. Sweat is beading down his skin as his breathing is heavy. He doesn't remember the nightmare but he knows he had one. What else could explain the state he is in?

Takumi scans his surrounding area and sees that he is still in his room. He pushes himself up to a sitting position with his long hair unbind and curtaining his frame. The sticky feeling of sweat layers on his wet body and he moves to grab a prepared towel to wipe himself. Then he clicks his phone on to check the time. Just a casual 2:06 AM lights up from the screen. Takumi sighs since there is school today.

Taking a hairbrush with him to bed and he sits on the soft mattress. He stares at his phone still powered on and resting on his pillow. Its gentle light glows in the darkness since the nearly eaten moon barely illuminates the room with a new window. In silence he keeps his eyes on a certain phone number labeled with a certain name typed in the English alphabet, Leo de Nohr. Obviously he couldn't call the other at this time but the thought of pressing it always comes up. Quickly he tries to clear his mind with brushing the tangles out of his hair, a good way to spend some time.

Perhaps, Takumi slows his combing motions and shamefully admits, he wanted to hear his voice. Ever since their encounter in the nurse's office, Leo and his words had always pop into his head every time he had a nightmare. Basically, every night. The memory will always bring a slight rosiness to Takumi's cheeks and will forever more. 

Still, Takumi refuses to call since they only exchanged phone numbers to contact the other if something happened to Kamui. With that reasoning, he just helplessly stare at the number since he learned it helps calm him down. Something he discovered when he was waiting for a call from a different timezone.

After relieving his silver hair from knots he brushes his bangs once more before stopping. Leaning forward to put the hairbrush on the nightstand, he position his weight towards the pillow. Causing him to move his hand and pressing it on the powered on phone. Letting the program begin calling the number labeled as, Leo de Nohr.

Takumi notice this when he sets his brush down. The ringback tone buzzes loudly as the silver haired boy is fumbling around in panic with phone in hand. Then amidst of the confusion, after five rings, he manages to press the end call button. A sigh of relief comes out of those parted pink lips.

A short moment of relief, his phone starts ringing the default ringtone. Takumi looks at the screen and sees that Leo is calling him. Not knowing what to do he lets the call to drag out. Patiently waiting for the buzzing phone to stop as he sits on his knees in apology. Then the ringing ends and Takumi sighs in relief again.

His phone lights up and starts buzzing once more, it's Leo. Before Takumi can debate to answer, the call ends. Leaving the silver haired boy to sigh.

Takumi remains in position, slightly antsy from the exchange of rings. He keeps his amber eyes on the phone that is now in sleep mode. After half an hour or so he starts feeling a tingling sensation, Hawkeyes has activated and is telling him a vampire draws near. However Takumi waves it off for a drunk or someone who needs to be somewhere since the vampire is carelessly traveling at an incredible speed produced by their superhuman powers.

Indeed, Takumi finds it is the latter because he sense the vampire growing close to his location. Suddenly there's a tap on his window and Takumi already has a silver knife in his hand, ready for battle. Though he soon lowers it when he realize that it is a very grumpy Leo on the other side of the glass.

"Leo?" Takumi couldn't help but ask in a whisper. He sets the knife on his nightstand and moves to open the window. Leo immediately place a foot on the sill for footing since he was originally hanging. Takumi seeing this gingerly offers, "Will you like to come inside?"

Leo's face scrunch at the thought and covers his nose as he refuse, "Nope, the scent of holy water is insufferable. I rather we go on the roof."

"Sure, I'll meet you up there," the human agrees and the vampire swiftly moves up at his words. Takumi looks over at the jars of premature holy water basking in the moonlight to 'fertilize'. He has been careful of the smells coming from his room since Kamui is a vampire but her room is actually the furthest from his. It's just that Leo just chose to visit on a night when he's making holy water, the non-lethal type.

Takumi grabs a sweater and pulls it over his head before slipping out of his window. He looks at the surrounding area, mapping his route, then starts climbing to meet the waiting blond. Leo is already sitting on the roof and Takumi walks over and joins him. The weather is nice but chilly.

Takumi turns to Leo and asks, no longer a whisper, "Why are you here?"

Leo glares at him but softens it before answering, "You called me."

"That was an accident," Takumi hastily says.

Leo could only pinch the bridge of his nose and sighs, "Then pick up the phone and explain that. I thought something happened."

Takumi is about to apologizes but Leo shoots out, "I dislike getting out of bed for trivia things... You made me worry when you didn't answer my calls."

A frustrated look express by Leo makes Takumi study the vampire. He sees how disheveled the taller male is in front of him. Hastily put on clothes that are slightly wrinkled, hair a little out of place but still decorated with a black headband, and sleepiness still lingering in his figure. The disguised shortness of breaths must mean he had ran the whole time between his place and here. Leo not noticing his observation asks, "What's wrong?"

Takumi remains silent and he looks up at the moon unclouded, giving little light with its disappearing form. Leo inquires, "Another nightmare?"

"Sorry," the first word that slips out of Takumi to confirm Leo's. Takumi brings his knees up to his chest. The blond remains silent before out of the blue comments, "I've never realized how long your hair was. You always had it up."

Long pale fingers extends and reach to touch the hair of sliver, Takumi allows it. Leo marvels at like its a specimen, letting the locks wrap around his fingers, "It's like they say, silky and soft without flaws... A silver I like."

Takumi could only redden at the comment despite hearing it so many times from other people. More in embarrassment then in disgust he shifts his head away, slipping his hair from Leo's grasp. He shyly asks, "You don't think it's too girly or anything?"

Leo openly let his face display confusion at the question and he replies, "Why would I think that? What I'm more curious is how you manage to keep it long and beautiful despite being a Hunter?"

Takumi looks into his memories and explains, "My teacher was always brewing concoctions or silversmithing. Eventually he realized how important my hair was to me so he taught me a good recipe for maintaining it." Then Takumi explains as he smiles at a memory, "Sometime he'll make hair accessories out of the leftover silver for me to use."

Takumi pushes strands of his hair behind his ear and notice Leo staring at him. An unfamiliar heat grows in him from the sight of those calculating umber eyes. Ignoring it to the best he can, he keeps eye contact with the other and accidentally stutters out, "A-as I thought you do think of me as girly."

Leo keeps his calm gaze on him and says with a smile, "Not at all. I just admire people who work hard with diligence. Just like you."

Unable to say anything to that, Takumi stampers himself up to a standing position and look away from Leo to observe the scenery, commenting, "It's kinda cold out here."

Leo doesn't reply which Takumi turns to see why and finds Leo still staring at him. Takumi quickly questions, "What?"

Leo keeps his gaze steady and asks, "If I may, can I ask why your hair is so important to you?"

Takumi makes an 'o' with his mouth and ask sheepishly, "You won't laugh if I tell you right?"

Leo nods his head and Takumi answers, "Before I came to know of vampires I was simply a child who loved his father and brother. In my admiration I started to grow my hair out just like them... After I became an apprentice I kept my hair long to help me remember my home, my family, and my memories with everyone here. It was like a connection, my personal string that'll lead me back."

Takumi chuckles and apologize that he got carried away. A strong wind blows and tosses Takumi's hair. He lifts a hand to stop it from hitting his face. Leo can see how the silver shines as it reflects what little moonlight to full brilliance. Leo gives a smile and whispers, "I am glad you came back."

"Did you say something?" The standing male asks in curiosity, wanting to reaffirm what Leo said. He had heard Leo mumble something about him being glad that he came back, but he couldn't trust his ears. Leo easily shakes his head and Takumi could only chuckle at himself for thinking that the other will say that. The growing warmth in him could only twist his insides before cooling instantly at his foolish imagination.

After a few more words they parted with a 'good night' before returning to their respective homes. A result from this meeting was a nightly rendezvous on the roof and eventually in Takumi's room after he cleared out the smell of silver and holy water.

A pleasant meeting between the two despite how late it is. It was always after Takumi's nightmare when he'll call Leo to come. Some nights Leo would play a game of chess with him, others will have them in heated debates about historical events and strategies, but there was always a good chat between the two. However, when Leo couldn't come, Takumi would be understanding and accept it. The idea of the kyudo club member visiting the class president was never brought up since they both knew that wasn't possible.

Even so, Takumi will still dishearten at the fact that he couldn't meet Leo. Thankfully, Leo had satisfy the lonely boy with speaking over the phone. Though there are times when even that wasn't possible and Takumi is left occupying his nights with reading a book Leo had recommended.

Author's notes:
I'll leave this here.