I was standing at a lake.  The bright sunny sky turned dark. The water became oily and black. Sloshing over my boots.  All the slaves were in the water from the market. They grabbed my ankles, some trying to reach higher up my legs. 

“You could’ve stayed and slaughtered all of them. “ one said

“You could’ve saved us all.” Another said

“I didn’t hide the body. So  I didn’t have time.” I responded 

“Don’t lie to yourself Hayate. You choose not to save us you know you could’ve.”

“It was supposed to be a stealth mission,” I said.

“Stop making excuses.”  Their hands reached up pulling me into the water. The thick black liquid dripped off their coated arms. 

“That kitsune resents you. “ the first said.

“That’s the reason he’s acting so friendly to let your guard down and harm you. After all, you deserve it.”

“You refused to help fellow slaves. You don’t deserve your freedom!”

With that, I pulled deeper and deeper till I was under. The thick liquid forced its way into my lungs. I coughed desperately but it kept coming in.

I bolted up and coughing overtook me. The intensity forced me to my hands and knees.  I could hardly think let alone force air through,  my vision rapidly blacking.  

I came to see Ritsu’s mouth on mine as he blew air into my mouth.  He pulled back, leaning back in to kiss me. I shoved him off. 

“Maybe try kissing someone who wants it,” I said harshly. 

“I had ‘kissed’ you for a while before you came to. You needed my kisses.” 

I bristled at that. Resuscitation and kissing are two different things. It’s like it’s his mission to piss me off.  “Change of plans we’re going back. “

“Alright.”  We made the track back easily enough. Several times he tried to hold my hand or brush my arms. I always greeted him with a slap.  I wish he’d behave properly… we made it back into town as we hit the alleyway going deeper. I was hit with the stark stench of blood. Shit. Something isn’t right. If only I had bought a sword or a cane sword… I took out my dagger, making the wind pick up needles to hover overhead. 

“You stay here hide I’ll be right back,”

“It reeks of death.  You shouldn’t go alone.”

“I’m an assassin. I regularly conduct jobs solo.”  

Not a single soul was alive. Blood and corpses were everywhere. Some missing limbs.  An ordinary person wouldn’t be capable of this carnage.  As I walked among the bodies one stirred. When the woman opened her eyes they were the same color as the blood she was covered in.  The newly turned vampire pounced on me.  Her teeth snapped desperately trying to drink my blood. My arms trembled as I held her back. I forced the dagger in between her teeth narrowly avoiding getting bit.  The blade cracked pieces breaking off.  A strong gust of wind forced her off.  I jumped up to my feet. She disappeared. 

I glanced around trying to guess where she was coming from with my feeble human vision.  A harsh blow gif my back. I cried out as I heard a loud crack. The force of the blow knocked me into a cage far across the room. A loud ding! Resounded as the metal vibrated.  I didn’t have time to blink before she bit my shoulder, not even bothering to remove my clothes. I felt the bones in my shoulder breaking. I screamed in agony. She kept drinking my blood. She dropped me after sucking so much that I was on the brink of passing out. Blood lust dropped from her eyes, shame overtaking them. Her eyes filled with recognition of the shame.

“I’m-I’m sorry sir. I’m sorry!” 

She took off and disappeared. Ritsu rushed in, I didn’t even resist as he picked me up.  I wavered in and out of consciousness. Each step he took sent waves of pain. As he laid me down on my mat. A jolt of agony rushed through me. “Gah!” 

“Now I’ll be the one taking care of you!” He had a smug look on his face. “You can’t even slap me with your good hand!”  He pulled off my coat frowning when seeing my shoulder. It was completely discolored black and purple engulfed the entire thing.  He lightly poked it causing me to cry out. He gently flipped me over. I winced. I put on my lip to keep from screaming.  He set me back after rolling up the shirt and then rolled it down. Setting me on my back.

“You’re kinda hot being all bedridden.” He had a borderline seductive look on his face. 

I pinched my nose and sighed.  “And you’re a pain in the ass.” 

“I could be  a lot  more than a pain in your ass.”

“I’d rather die than have you in me.”