They heard a ringbell. Akiya picked up the phone.

"Have you found Kousuke or not?" asked Mitsuru.

"We could say that we have" replied Akiya. "I'll explain you when we return."

"So if I understand, we're going to the Shelter, right?" asked Shino, getting up.

He grabbed Kousuke's arm and put him on the ground.

"Are you okay, Kousuke?"

"I'm okay" Kousuke nodded.

When they came to the Shelter, Akiya explained everything to conquerors' leaders. They just looked at each other and sighed almost teatherly.

"And you turned our conqueror into vampire again?" asked Saito.

"Yes" confirmed Akiya.

"And you agreed for this?" Mitsuru looked at Shino.

"I asked him for this" replied Shino.

"You asked?" Saito was surprised.

"And you wanted to be a vampire?" Mitsuru wanted to know, if Kousuke at least agreed for what Akiya had done to him.

Ueta hadn't said anything until now. He looked at him and smiled.

"Let's say that I needed it" explained Kousuke. "I don't like leaving unfished business and I didn't want to do it just because Taniguchi or some other vampire would kill me. That's why I asked Akiya, if he could turn me into a vampire, when I die."

"Why Akiya and not someone else?" asked Saito.

"I don't trust other vampires" replied Kousuke. "And I didn't want to ask Masashi and Sakamo. Masashi would just laugh and send me to Akiya and Sakamo would tell me that there is only one person on this world he can turn."

"Let me guess, Kazuma?" asked Shino.

"Probably" replied Kousuke and looked at his watch. "Well, Akiya, we should go, because the sun will rise soon and we're going to have a problem."

"Wait, you won't stay here?" Shino blinked.

Kousuke smiled to him fondly.

"It's not my place anymore" he replied. "I will visit you often, I promise."

"Hurry up, Kousuke" Akiya urged him.

"Sure, I'm coming" Kousuke smiled slightly and ran with him.

"What's happening?" Murai asked as he entered the room. "And why does Kousuke have a piercing >>vampire cold<<?"

"Because he's a vampire now" explained Saito.

"Who do you think turned him?" asked Mitsuru.

"Akiya?" guessed Murai.

Leaders nodded.

"So I'm the only Black Cloud again? Less and less time to rest. Eh."

"Don't worry, Murai. Everything will be fine" Saito and Mitsuru consoled him.

"This isn't my place anymore" Shino heard this in his head again.

And how was he supposed to trust vampires when even his best friend acted like... someone completely incompetent, because of his newfound "otherness"? So what if he comes here as often as possible? He won't be here all the time.

Shino sighed, said goodbye to the leaders and Murai, then went to his room. He closed the door behind him and laid down on the bed. He closed his eyes.

"Something happened, Shino?" he heard a warm voice.

He opened his eyes. He saw Yama, who was smiling, but he was a little worried too.

"Are you okay?"

"Kousuke is dead" replied Shino. "He exists at least. Kawakami turned him into a vampire."

"I heard about it" Yama nodded, sitting on the edge of Shino's bed. "Are you worried that your friendship with him will change?"

Shino nodded.

"Don't worry" Yama ruffled his hair like he was some unruly child. "Kousuke is your friend. He won't kill your friendship just because he changed his daily menu and aura's colour."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes" Yama got up and sat down on his bed. "But you know what, Shino?"

"Hmm?"

"He's a little greedy. I'm afraid that he can lose his conscience someday. And then we might have a big problem."

Shino had to admit that Yama was right. One change of aura's colour won't kill his friendship with Kousuke. Two changes - unfortunately yes.