The noon sun drifted through clouds over the school rooftop where Haru and Keiko were sitting.
“Alright,” he said, “Let’s get started.”
“What are you testing for?” Keiko asked.
Haru answered, “I’m testing for two things: vampire blood and sidhe blood.”
“Sidhe?”
“Fairy. I would test for demon blood, but my grandmother said she’d castrate me with a rusty spoon if I brought anything with a blessing into our house,” he spoke, “And I need something with a blessing to test for demon blood.”
“She said that?” Keiko blinked, “Was she serious?”
“It’s hard to tell with her, best not to think about it much.”
“Ooookay…” she got back to the main subject, “Can you test for anything else?”
“No. I only know how to test for those three things.”
Haru grabbed a vial of ash and scattered it in front of Keiko. He poked his finger with a needle and uttered some words as he dropped the blood onto the ash, and then he looked down. Nothing happened.
“That proves you’re not part vampire,” he said.
Haru placed bits of iron on the ground.
“Give me your hand. I need some of your blood for this.”
Keiko held out her palm. Haru pricked it with the needle and chanted some words. A drop of blood trickled out and landed on the iron. No results.
“Your blood would have disintegrated if you were part sidhe,” Haru told her.
“What am I? I need to know now,” Keiko asked, “What will happen to me? Will I be a target?”
Haru answered, “You might or you might not. Most supernatural beings leave each other alone unless they have a reason to bother each other.”
“Do you think I’m descended from yokai instead of a western monster?”
“That’s more likely, but I can’t test for those. My magic tradition is based in the west. I don’t have any spells that specifically affect yokai. I have to use more general spells for them.”
Keiko said, “Then we’ll just have to wait for you to find a spell?”
“Either that or until your powers start appearing, assuming they do. So, we should take our time and not stress out over this. It’ll just give us wrinkles,” Haru replied.
She nodded.
“Hey, Haru-kun?” Keiko asked, “Are you free tonight?”
“I am, Keiko-chan,” he answered, “Why do you ask?”
She spoke, “I’d like to do something fun with you. Maybe we could eat together?”
“I don’t mind that, but you’d have to pay for the food and bring it outside. If I did, they’d spit in it,” Haru stated.
“That’s fine. I’m the one who invited you out, so it’s only right that I pay for the food,” she said.
Early evening fell over the empty streets of the city. Haru leaned on a wall as he looked at a restaurant named Underwater Ship. Keiko strolled out of it with two sandwiches in her hands. She walked over to Haru and handed him a long one.
“Thanks, Keiko-chan.”
“Mayonnaise, onion, salmon, peanut butter, and grilled cheese,” she said, “I can’t believe you eat something like that.”
He shrugged, “I only asked for that since they have a discount on those ingredients. You shouldn’t pay too much for my food.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I like being around you, and I want to eat with you,” Keiko stated.
They walked through the streets. The few people that were there avoided Haru like the plague. Some of them gave him cold looks as well. Keiko shot one of them a glare before turning to Haru.
She said, “People shouldn’t look at you like that. You haven’t done anything to them.”
Haru replied, “You’re right, but that’s the way it is. I can’t do anything about it.”
As they walked into a park, a chill wind flowed across their backs. They had the place to themselves. Haru sat down on a bench and patted it. Keiko sat down next to him. He took a bite of his sandwich as Keiko’s eyes widened.
“How can you eat that like it’s normal?” she asked.
He answered, “I’m used to eating strange things.”
Haru was about to take another bite when he stopped, “Hey, Keiko-chan, do you like me? And I mean romantically, not as a friend.”
“What?” she blinked, “That came out of nowhere?”
“Do you or do you not? It’s a simple question,” he spoke.
“Well…I do,” Keiko admitted, “I have feelings for you.”
“I like you too. Let’s get together,” Haru gave her a smile.
She almost fell off the bench, “This sudden? Shouldn’t we wait a few seasons first?”
“What’s wrong with two people who know they like each other being together?” Haru asked, “Why should we waste time?”
Keiko considered things before nodding, “You’re right. We’d probably end up spending years thinking of whether or not we should be together only to end up together anyway.”
“Then we’re together now?” he said.
“We are,” she gave him a smile, “So, what should we do now?”
Haru admitted, “I don’t know. I’ve never been in a relationship before. I never even thought that I’d be in one. I mean, this was much more calm and logical than anything I’ve seen in romance movies.”
“Let’s go on a movie date,” Keiko suggested, “I don’t normally watch films, but I looked under my dad’s bed once as a kid and saw the movies he watched. So, I know what movies men like.”
“What films are those?”
“Maddie’s Mud Madam Mayhem 13, Cheerleader Wet Party, The Plumber’s Little Helper, Kill la Cock, Naked Nude…”
“Those are dirty movies!” Haru covered her mouth, “How naïve are you?”
Keiko brought his hands down and chuckled, “I know what those movies are. I was just messing with you. And a theatre’s out of the question with the curse on you, so going to one isn’t an option.”
“And watching a movie at my house is out of the question. You’re not ready to meet grandmother yet. Let’s just hold hands,” Haru asked.
She said, “Ohhhh…yeah, that sounds fine.”
He reached out with his hand and she took it with hers. They both blushed.
Ved'ma Story 