"Masashi!" Akiya broke free from vampires' arms, knocking them off.

Why they didn't kill him? Did they want to let him see his best friend's death?

Akiya pushed Megumi away. She didn't resist, so she probably wasn't hungry.

"You can't do anything now, Mooney" she said before leaving. "You can do only one thing, nothing more."

She smiled maliciously and left, taking her followers with her.

"Masashi" whispered Akiya, brushing his hair off his face.

He realised that Masashi died. He didn't have his aura. Aura disappears, when humans die and when vampires turn into the ashes.

"I can bring you back, painting your aura with blue... Megumi probably meant exactly that. Well, there are only two options: you'll forgive me or not. But I can't let you go" he said to himself and grabbed Masashi's hand.

He bit through the soft skin and drank some blood. He took a penknife from his pocket and cut the skin on his hand. The blood flowing from the wound dripped into Masashi's open mouth. Moments later, Masashi's wounds disappeared and he awoke abruptly.

"What happened?" he asked, looking around. "Where are Saito and Mitsuru? Where's Megumi? Where are the rest of the vampires? Why..."

He froze for a moment.

"Why can I see your aura?"

"I had to save you somehow" said Akiya quietly.

"You... you turned me into a vampire?" Masashi was shocked.

Akiya just nodded.

Masashi stood up and grabbed Akiya's hand before throwing him off the building.

"Ouch. It hurts a little" said Kawakami, laying on the ground.

After a while Masashi jumped from the building and walked to him.

"I am mad at you" he announced.

"I know it" said Akiya, sitting up. "And what do you want to do now?"

"I'll return to Shelter. And then I'll see" replied Masashi. "I have to think about it."

"There are windows in the Shelter. It's pointless" said Akiya. "You should go with me to >>Yoru<<. Even if you're mad at me."

"I'm not sure..." Masashi leaned against the wall. "I can ask Saito and Mitsuru... Just after scolding them that they ran away... To get me shutters for my room. And somehow survive it all."

"Oh, don't exaggerate" Akiya got up, grabbed Masashi's hand and pulled him along. "Just don't tell anyone that I turned you."

"Why?"

"Because Sakamo will surely go to Kazuma soon and tell him everything and he will pass it on to the conquerors. Saito and Mitsuru will ask lots of questions and some of you will kill me for sure. And this is probably how the spy for vampires without conscience, I mean Takama, will find out about everything. He knows everyone and will sniff out any new topic for a gossip. He has a blue aura, but he does it for the money. I just want to avoid questions and all the fuss. And they'll be questioning you too. Do you understand?"

"You know, you need to stop worrying about everything so much" said Masashi.

"It's impossible for Mooney" they heard a woman's voice.

They turned around. Megumi was there.

"Awesome" said Akiya. "So you didn't leave me alone?"

"I had to be sure that you'll turn him into a vampire" replied Megumi.

"Go away" growled Akiya. "Do you want something else? What are you waiting for?"

"You know, you're acting like a little, innocent girl" Megumi laughed maliciously. "I've tried so hard to make you realise that you're an adult man. First I've turned you into a vampire. Nothing. I killed your brother and sister-in-law. Nothing. I turned your father into vampire, forced him to kill your mother and then you to kill him. Nothing. You stayed home and took care of the brats. Then I led your friend on the wrong side. Absolutely nothing. You killed him, yes, but do you get anything out of it? Nothing. Your name should be Nothing, not Akiya. You don't do anything. You're just wandering around like some ghost and you're afraid of committing suicide. It's easy. You're out in the sun and you're on fire. Or you pierce yourself with a stake. Of course you don't have to. You can come to my side like Kaoru. Come with me, Mooney."

"No!" screamed Akiya and stood by Megumi.

She felt something pierced her body and couldn't escape.

"I know about the freezing point. And, it may not be too modest, but I'm pretty good with a sword. I learned it especially for you."

"Akiya..." Megumi's eyes widened as he took a stake from his pocket.

"Goodbye, Megumi" Akiya smiled as sneering as she always did.

Feeling that smile on her, Megumi turned to ashes.

Akiya pulled out a sword from himself and dropped it. Then he turned to shocked Masashi.

"You... Megumi... she... doesn't exist" pronounced Masashi. "How did you come up with it?"

"No vampire without conscience will call me a little girl" replied Akiya.

"If I lose my conscience, should I be afraid of you?" asked Masashi.

"You should" Akiya smiled a bit mischievously. "Now go to >>Yoru<<. We have to tell them about it."