Anthy shook her head in wonder, drinking cautiously from the jar of animal blood she cradled in her hands. 'Breakfast of champions,' she thought ruefully. It was ridiculously easy to get here in Tokyo, making her wonder if other vampires in this city abstained from the drinking of human blood, too. 'It's not unlikely,' she had to admit. Utena stepped out of the bedroom, and the other girl groupies rushed in to see how Hitomi was. Her pale skin had a bit of flush after her feeding, her short pink hair brushing along her shoulders. Her piercing robin blue eyes swept the large room, and a smile teased her lips when she saw Anthy sitting there. "Good evening," she said quietly. "You look good," Anthy smiled back. Wakaba walked in from the bathroom, her hair damp from washing and dressed in a long cotton bathrobe. "This apartment is incredible," she said, looking around happily. "You said it belongs to your aunt?" Wakaba asked. "Aunt Yurika, yes," Utena said softly. Her expression was troubled, "She helped raise me after my parents died. But she's in Holland on her job." "What does she do?" Wakaba asked curiously. "She's a decorator," Utena shrugged. "Have you told her about...?" Anthy asked tentatively. Utena shook her head, "No, not yet." She smiled sadly, "This isn't the sort of thing you can explain to someone over the phone, I want to see her in front of me when I try to tell her." She closed her eyes, remembering... They had driven into town yesterday's evening, and Utena had lead them through town to her Aunt's apartment building. She called her Aunt long distance, and tentatively explained that she and some friends were in Tokyo. Her Aunt had sounded a bit startled, wondering why Utena had left the academy so quickly. Utena sketched in some of the killings at the school while leaving out the bits about vampires, and her Aunt's surprise was evident. She gave them permission to stay there, and then called up the front desk. The young man gave Utena her keys, and the group had trooped their way up to the suite. "What's it like, being home?" Wakaba asked cheerfully. Utena sighed, "I haven't quite decided." She walked over to the living room window, gazing out into the night at the glittering lights of the city. She stood there silently for a few moments, then softly, "I'm going out." "Where are you going?" Anthy asked as Utena strode by her, quickly pressing the apartment keys into her hands. "Just to look around," Utena smiled slightly. "I won't be long," she added, smoothly closing the door behind her. "Shouldn't you go with her?" Wakaba asked Anthy worriedly. "we don't know what things are out there at night," she fretted. Anthy shook her head. "Utena can take care of herself," she said firmly, adding quietly, "At least, I hope so." Utena leaned against the wall of the elevator, watching the lights count down as it descended to the ground floor. She strode into the lobby, smiling carefully at the security guard. 'Can't let him see the teeth,' she thought. It was a bit cooler, outside, and she sighed softly in relief. 'That feels good,' Utena thought. She remembered walking this way to school, and let her feet walk the route they had memorized long ago. She ducked down alleys and jumped over walls, the dangerous route her best friend had always scolded her about using. A few times she caught the eye of men lingering on the street, boldly assessing her as a possible target. She met their eyes cooly, and they would pull back, giving her plenty of room. 'They can see the beast inside of me,' she thought with a bit of grim satisfaction. 'Or they've run into others like me,' she thought. She walked along the water, remembering falling in there, nearly drowning. She still didn't entirely remember who had saved her, just gentle hands, and... the scent of roses. 'Roses,' she frowned, trying to recall, then she shook her head. Utena reached the chain link fence and leaned up against it as she gazed in at the school buildings. They all looked smaller, somehow, less imposing than what she remembered. The faces of friends flashed across her mind's eye, teachers that she had called out greetings to every day, and she was struck by a deep, aching pain. 'I'm not part of this life anymore,' Utena thought sadly, 'I can't be.' The sunlight, school friends, all of that was so far beyond her reach, it might as well have been another world. "Checking out the hunting grounds?" a woman's voice challenged her. Utena jerked in surprise, silently cursing that she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she had never even heard her coming. Her nose told her that the lady was human, but there was something... odd about her. "No," Utena quietly answered her while watching her warily, "I was just remembering where I used to live." Her eyes narrowed, "And I don't hunt." The redhead walked into the light, dressed in white blouse and tight red pants. She was beautiful, as well as generously proportioned. Strangely, it looked like she was carrying a tube of lipstick in her hand. Her gaze was piercing, meeting Utena's own gaze fearlessly. "I think..." she said to her thoughtfully, "I believe you." She put the lipstick away, then offered her hand, "Ayeka Kisaragi." "Utena Tenjou," and she gently took the redhead's hand in her own. Utena looked her over, and realized, "You're a miko, aren't you?" "A professional, yes," Ayeka said, handing over a business card. "Phantom Quest Corporation," Utena read it thoughtfully. Ayeka turned to walk away, saying over her shoulder, "I think we'll meet again." "Well, that was interesting," Utena muttered. She walked home slowly, enjoying the relative quiet, trying to collect her thoughts. 'That lady wasn't too surprised to see someone like me,' Utena felt a bit relieved, 'maybe vampires aren't that rare in this town.' "Help!" a woman's voice cried out. Without even thinking about it, Utena was on the move. She raced down the Alley, coming across a ragged figure, pressing someone against the wall. She grabbed him by the back of his coat, tearing him away from his prey. "Oh, god," the girl gasped out softly, shaking visibly. The man barred his teeth, fangs gleaming in the darkness. It was obvious that he didn't realize that Utena was a vampire, relying on his vampire nature to try and frighten her away. "Go, now," Utena said to the girl softly, "run, and don't turn back." "No," the vampire bit out, lunging forward. Utena gave him a grin, letting her fangs gleam in the light of the streetlights. He froze for a moment, then charged at her. Utena blocked his blows, feeling mildly surprised. He was so weak, even compared to Touga and the others, stopping him was almost effortless. "Leave this city now," Utena told him, "and I'll let you live." She didn't have high hopes, but she had to try. She wasn't disappointed, as the vampire hissed and lunged at her again. Utena smoothly drew the stake she now carried with her always, and drove it into his heart. He stiffened, looking down at his chest in shock, then promptly fell over. "Just like home," Utena grumbled softly.
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