Author's Notes: So I gave in and published a story for this fandom. I never thought I will be coming back here in FFN, but I found that this is still the best place to post fanfiction by any stretch of the imagination. It kind of feels like going back to my roots. Anyway, this particular story is peculiar as I have never written anything with vampires in it, but I suppose that everyone must have some sort of vampire story one way or another. Hopefully readers would enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is loosely-based on the Printemps song "NO EXIT ORION", one of the best singles I've ever heard from these girls. Do listen to that single first before reading if you can. Thanks to Athyra for beta-ing this chapter and all my other works. She's wonderfully diligent in a lazy kind of way.

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Exitus: Chapter 1

The Night Gathers

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A full moon shined over the city, bathing the labyrinth of asphalt and concrete with its ominous glow. The metropolis was akin to an abstract painting, formless and chaotic, with its winding roads and uneven textures. The crooked asymmetry of its skyscrapers added to the effect, rendering the whole panorama of straight edges and mute curves, as well as the contrasting blacks and whites, more pronounced. Down below, the citizens went about their night lives, honking in traffic or walking past each other with their eyes glued upon their cell phone screens, utterly oblivious of the darkness that lurked in the shadows.

A figure watched over the people from the edge of a tall building, dressed in a pristine white tail-coat and perfectly pressed trousers similarly void of color. Upon her breast was an emerald brooch gleaming mysteriously under the moonlight, swirling with life and power, while in her pale hands were a violin and its bow, ancient and already humming a tune inaudible to mortal ears.

"Such a beautiful night," breathed the Spectre to no one in particular. She was a faceless creature, masked from mortal eyes by an operatic half-mask devoid of expression. The moon was so perfect and powerful tonight that she thought to give the celestial body homage with her music. She smiled a fanged grin, her rouged lips such a stark contrast to her snow white skin. Yes, tonight was indeed so wonderful.

The Spectre breathed deeply and tucked her instrument under her chin, ready to perform a sonata of darkness with the moon as her spotlight. She closed her demonic green eyes and let the bow lick at the violin's strings, making the instrument wail in triumph and torment. Her notes were poisoned and her vibratos were hypnotizing, and both thrummed vivaciously into the atmosphere. It was a serenade from hell. The Witch's Waltz called upon the shadows to dance under the streetlights and summoned an even darker entity.

Come! Come my little queen and dance for me.

The gem upon her chest glowed like her viridian eyes did, pulsing and winking, while down below, as the street light bulbs fried due to the sudden explosion of magic, her magnum opus walked in upon the mortal stage.

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The Progenitor's power was overwhelming and its sheer pressure brought Umi down to her knees. Was there any way at all, for the creation to surpass the creator? For centuries, she had tried, but even with age and experience behind her, she still could not contest the fiery-haired mother of their race.

"This is pointless, Umi-chan," the First Vampire said as she pressed down her tremendous power upon her old friend. "I'm invincible under the full moon. You, of all people, should know ne?"

"That will not stop me from trying." The dark-haired immortal cursed. She tried to stand but Honoka's telekinetic powers far outclassed her own. She could not even combat it, for the latter's will was infallible, undefeatable, and thus she remained on her knees on the ground. What surprised her instead was the fact that Honoka had yet to sever her head from her shoulders. "You should have stayed asleep," Umi spat, her threat desperate.

The ancient vampire smiled mockingly, amused to no end. "I do love to sleep. I'm glad you still remember that, Umi-chan, but even I get tired of sleeping." For a moment, Umi thought she saw her childhood friend, but that Honoka died thousands of years ago. She could no longer discern who this monster was in spite of the same ginger mane and bright blue eyes. "Besides, this world is so amazing! So many things change in such a short time, that it beats slumbering for one or two hundred years. I'm completely enjoying myself, aren't you?"

"You are mad. You do not know this world anymore, Honoka. Murdering humans is no longer an option for us."

"Humans reproduce at such a fast rate that one or two wouldn't be missed."

"They will know. They will find out. They will find you. Do you not see? This is a different time, a different place."

The most powerful vampire's bored expression suddenly morphed into a dark warning, "No, I don't. What I see is confusion, and that's so very unlike you, Umi-chan. There was a time when you were even fiercer than me and far more famished, don't you remember? Humans are prey and we are their predators. Just when did you start fearing your food? They can't do anything to us."

"Stop it, Honoka. You were not supposed to wake."

"Hehe~ Don't you hear the music, Umi-chan?" Honoka ignored all her warnings and spread out her black-and-red leathern wings, swaying slightly to a faraway tune like a deadly child. "Instead of aggravating ourselves further, we should just have some fun ne? The night is so young~" Her loafers' steps echoed in the empty street, hidden away from mortal eyes by a magical barrier. She then lifted the raven-haired vampire from the asphalt like refuse, and pulled her close, close enough to peer into her creation's resolute yet fearful eyes. "I don't want to kill you."

The statement, though seemingly caring and tender, was a frightening threat. Umi had lived for a long time, and for a good chunk of that, she believed herself to be invincible. No human could hope to slay her. She was ancient and her powers stemmed from the Progenitor herself, but when threatened by the very same being who made her, it became a completely different story.

If there was one person on this planet who could kill her and rip her to shreds, it was Honoka.

"Aww, I didn't mean to scare you." Umi grimaced in shame for letting her guard down. Without her utmost concentration, the mind block she had erected for her own thoughts could not hold, and Honoka would be free to read her mind. "Let me be, ne, Umi-chan? There's no reason for us to fight each other, right? You're my best friend."

No, that girl is gone. She's been gone for a very long time. I… don't even remember her anymore.

"So she's truly awake then?" Maki, who now went by the name Nishikino, agitatedly tapped a pen on her clipboard. "I thought I was only having a nightmare."

"Well this is indeed a nightmare," Umi retorted and grimaced. She massaged her neck, where Honoka's powerful grip had been. She still found it miraculous that the Progenitor had let her escape. "She considers humans like they're livestock—"

"Well, they sort of are, in a way."

"No, Maki. Honoka is dangerous. She will feed without holding back, killing any human who is at the wrong place at the wrong time. The last time she had awoken dozens of people lied dead in a single night. Her hunger is insatiable." She glared at the physician's white coat, feeling irritated about Maki's apathy towards human life. "And the more she feeds, the more powerful she becomes."

"Then we should put her back to sleep."

"How?"

Violet eyes narrowed, "Why ask me? I was only turned the last time she was awake. Shouldn't you know by now?"

Umi bit her lower lip and clenched her fists, "There is no precedent. Honoka only returns to sleep when she feels like it, when she grows uninterested in the world she lived in. Back then, the world turned so slowly that she grew bored of it quickly enough, but now…"

Maki sighed and massaged her temples, clearly preferring not to be involved with this calamity. However, Umi knew that the redhead was more interested in this problem that she let on. After all, it was also because of Honoka that the physician lived a life in darkness. "I'll look into it. Do you know anyone else who… she…"

"She had created?" Umi looked away, "I used to."

"This is why you shouldn't kill everyone. We're so few as it is, and we can't even put the Progenitor back to sleep. That zombie apocalypse humans are so fond of nowadays may just be around the corner, though they might be disappointed that it's going to be made up of vampires instead."

"It is disturbing how calm you are about this."

Maki curled her finger around the end of her low ponytail, "It doesn't matter to me whichever path history takes at this point. Humanity has done a lot of brutal things in theirs, having a mentally-unstable and all-powerful vampire on the loose isn't quite so scary as a nuclear bomb."

"She will come for you, you know."

The doctor snorted and tucked her pen in her coat's pocket, incensed.

"If she even remembers me…" Maki sighed, her eyes distant, "But excuse me, I must do my rounds now. I've enclosed the blood bags in the briefcase as always. Take it and best of luck, Umi."

The heels of the doctor's leather shoes tapped on the hospital's linoleum floor like a bored piece of clockwork. The sound lulled Maki into a shallow trance that consisted of images from a life past. She recalled the cobblestones of old Europe and its dim oil lamps, stinking of whale. The Fat King also came to mind, as well as his rebellion against God because of love. Her memories came in fragmented images, choppy and, at times, inconsistent. She had lived long enough to begin forgetting how the world was like when she was still human.

She had begun to forget for a long time now.

Maki's musing returned to the woman with whom she conversed earlier and wondered if Umi still remembered her origins at all. It was the older vampire who warned her about this symptom a few centuries ago, so perhaps it was safe to assume that the former had no real recollection anymore. Such a pity, the doctor frowned, for memories were what remained of their humanity. After that life was forgotten, what would they have left?

A never-ending present.

Maki sighed and pushed away her sentiments when she saw a room still lit down the hallway. At this time of night, most of the hospital's patients were asleep and thus the halls' fluorescents were dimmed to save energy. Saving energy was all the rage nowadays as the human population expanded at an alarming rate. Without a predator, the prey would always take advantage and reproduce, would it not? Perhaps the Progenitor's activity in this century was well-timed after all.

She tucked the clipboard she carried under her arm and quietly knocked on the white door.

"C-Come in!"

"Good evening," Maki greeted her patient as per usual decorum. She was never the most approachable of physicians but she set aside some of her affections for this particular one, who had been under her care for over a year now. The young woman was the typical case of a determined fighter, who battled her illness at every turn and occasionally triumphing. Though sadly, her disease won more often than she did. Her courage and determination to live had gradually endeared her to Maki, so much so that the latter would even consider their relationship as one of a friendlier sort.

"Ah, Maki-chan," Koizumi Hanayo squeaked happily, politely folding her sketchbook on her lap to give her visitor her full attention. "Did you start your shift late tonight?"

"I suppose so." The doctor surveyed the machinery that monitored her patient's health, as well as the chart that hung by her bedside. "I was held up in a meeting. Why are you still awake, Hanayo? You should rest if you want to leave this room sooner."

The brunette smiled sadly, "I know, I know. But Rin-chan is so cute curled up in my blankets that I just have to sketch her, plus I watched a show on TV that showed me this new technique. I was just trying it out, but before I knew it… hehe, it's already late."

Sighing, Maki sat on the bedside chair and stared at the orange ball curled up by her patient's feet. "You know that cats aren't allowed in here, Hanayo."

"I'm sorry, Maki-chan, but Rin-chan keeps me company, and she doesn't do anything troublesome! She mostly just plays with me or sleeps and I think she's potty-trained or something because she climbs and goes outside to do her business. She's very smart!" Hanayo set aside her sketchpad to gather the snoozing kitten beside her feet. She tenderly cradled it on her lap and gently stroked its fur until the tiny animal purred.

"Wait… 'Rin-chan'? You named it?" Maki did not even know when the orange-and-white stray began spending time in the room. Initially, she thought that some street cat gave birth in the garden outside of Hanayo's window and one of the kittens had somehow climbed up and got trapped in the room. But now it seemed like the kitten was comfortable in Hanayo's care, and Maki was not quite sure if she approved of it. If any of the hospital staff caught the kitten inside the premises, they would surely take it away.

"Um… I don't know." Hanayo chuckled bashfully, stroking the kitten's ear between her fingers. "The name just sort of came to me one day and I started calling her that ever since." She giggled when the little one mewed cutely and licked her hand.

The doctor stared at the kitten with curiosity. She never had much experience with animals before because of her nature and therefore never had any pets, so watching Hanayo interact with the little cat was novel to her. That was until the kitten stared at her directly in the eyes. Uncomfortable, Maki cleared her throat and looked away, "Well, you should sleep soon, Hanayo. Likewise, I should continue with my work. There might be a breakthrough with the experimental drugs I have been administering to you, depending on the results."

"O-oh…" The brunette's voice dropped a little bit due to disappointment. "Okay, Maki-chan. I'll show you the picture when I'm finished sketching it, ne?"

"Of course," the doctor nodded and gave her patient one of her rare smiles. "I look forward to it."

A black cat watched the walking dead leave the room with suspicion. Did that slant-eyed vampire figure it out? She hoped not for the redhead's sake. If that vampire so much as laid a finger on her precious kitten, her head would roll.

"Ah, Rin-chan, I think your mom is here to pick you up." The human female named Hanayo nudged the round form on her blanket as soon as she landed silently on the windowsill. As expected though, the kitten did not even budge and only curled up tighter to preserve warmth. The black cat rolled her red eyes and jumped onto the bed, meowing complacently to Hanayo to prevent the human from causing a ruckus. Slowly, she padded towards her stubborn kitten and sniffed.

"Rin, wake up."

The kitten's eyes opened to reveal a pair of bright chartreuse irises, though they were unfocused and obviously still sleepy. The black cat glanced at Hanayo warily, before walking around and picking up her drowsy and yawning young by the scruff.

"Nya~" Rin mewed as she tucked her paws in and went limp in her mother's jaws.

The brown-haired woman chuckled fondly, "Thank you, Mother Cat, for letting this little one be my companion for yet another day. I really appreciate it."

The black cat looked at the human in the eyes, wondering what Rin had seen in her to be this attached. Their kind almost never bonded with people without any magical capacities, and as far as she could sense, Hanayo was about as ordinary as they came. Nevertheless, she turned away and never looked back, jumping from the bed and out the window in one graceful leap.

The nights had become more and more dangerous for a juvenile werecat to wander around on her own, and she would be damned if she let her one and only legacy fall prey to that bloodsucking queen.

Nico climbed up the cat tower and deposited her precious cargo on the fluffy pillow she had prepared earlier. By the time they got home, Rin was fast asleep and oblivious to the dense magic that permeated the city's polluted air. Just as well, she thought, for her kitten was young and did not know any better. She gave the orange tabby a few grooming licks before jumping down and turning her attention to searching for the owner of this establishment.

Witches were an odd bunch. It was a fact that she had learned over her many lifetimes. They came in a variety of flavors; some were cackling nuts, celebrating dud spells and falling victim to their own magic, others were a lot more reserved and were hermits in every description, and there were the crazy ones who she could not understand at all. Unfortunately, her current mistress was a member of that final category.

"Nozomi, where are you?" The black cat meowed, irritated at the shop that this crazy woman had set up was empty. This was supposed to be a means of income, but what good was it for when the fortuneteller was nowhere to be found? Flicking her tail in exasperation, Nico quietly padded down the polished wooden hallway of the abode. Her paws soon changed into confident footfalls with her boots pitter-pattering on the floor. She sniffed the distinctive scent of incense and varnish, as well as the faint odor of mildew from the old house's ceiling. The reason why Nozomi liked this place escaped her reason, but when the Ebon Witch says that her spiritual power was the strongest here, Nico could not really argue.

She glanced at the living room with ruby red eyes, scanning the deep purple draperies and exotic décor. Nozomi possessed the weird tastes of a gypsy, littering the house with miles of cloth and tapestries from Eastern Europe and foreboding black wooden statues from Africa. She insisted that those items had magical powers, even though Nico found it hard to believe that they did. As a werecat, she could smell magic, and most of the time, the relics only stunk of mold. Unlike the werewolves so many people believed in, a feline like her possessed the ability not only to shapeshift, but also to use some form of magic, which was a nifty adaptation considering she had to deal with vampires all the time.

Unable to find the witch on the first floor, Nico ascended to the second one via a creaky old staircase. The noise annoyed her and made her question her companion's preference for living quarters one more time. If there was one thing that she disliked the most, it was the feeling that she was not stealthy enough, even if the fault lied with the infrastructure. It was the ultimate insult for a cat. Growling, she stomped up the steps and finally caught the smell of Nozomi's magic, which eventually led her up into the attic. There, Nico found the famed witch sitting cross-legged upon a throne made of ancient ebony with an array of blue-backed cards floating around her glowing form like loyal thralls. Nozomi's eyes were closed, her arms outstretched as if waiting for an embrace, but her countenance was that of a master spellcaster, poised and focused. Upon her head was her iconic magi's hat, embezzled with golden stars and embroidered with old runes that shone purple as she poured magic into it.

Nico bided her time. No one should disturb a witch in the middle of an incantation.

"Welcome home, Nicocchi," greeted Nozomi, who smiled devilishly once she was done with her ritual. Nico had always liked the way her lips curved up mischievously and how her eyes twinkled with mystery. She had long accepted the fact that the Ebon Witch would forever be enigmatic, but that did not mean she approved of Nozomi's other hobbies, like smoking. As she expected, the buxom woman immediately reached for her kiseru, a long, thinly shafted smoking pipe with a small bowl, and brought it to her lips. She inhaled deeply and blew a steady stream of smoke into the air, filling Nico's nose with the smell of tobacco and other unusual scents. Nozomi tended to mix her own herbal grounds with her smoke.

"Well?"

"Well… the queen is indeed awake, that much I have confirmed." The Ebon Witch took another drag and blew the smoke to the side. She shifted in her seat, uncrossing and then re-crossing her legs the opposite way. Nico had a difficult time preventing her eyes from straying down towards the other woman's silky thighs, for Nozomi was wearing such a short lavender skirt, and her golden thigh ring was remarkably eye-catching.

"What exactly are we dealing with here?" Nico had killed her fair share of vampires, but she never had the privilege to contend with their legendary Progenitor. As old as she was, she was not yet alive when the Queen of Vampires last roamed this earth.

"She goes by the name Honoka," said Nozomi, holding up a finger upon which a tarot card, the Fool, spun in a sinister way. "According to texts, she became a nightwalker over three thousand years ago, making her the oldest and therefore the most powerful vampire in existence." The Emperor card began doing cartwheels around its mistress as the Ebon Witch continued, "She has been known by many names and legends throughout history; Lilith, Ishtar, Isis, Camilia, and others, all fearsome, all powerful. Her might came from demons and hell itself. Unlike the infantile vampires that you have fought, young ones that have yet to reach their fifth century, she is in her own league. Even though I was merely prodding at her presence, I couldn't get past her natural barrier, let alone anything she musters up on purpose."

Nico harrumphed, unimpressed. She was a werecat, the natural nemesis of the vampires. Furthermore, she was an Elder as well, a werecat living her ninth and final life. She was at her full power and in her prime, and with the Ebon Witch as her human Anchor, she was confident they could thwart the Vampire Queen just as they did the others. She had triumphed over these bloodsuckers before, even against old ones over millennia old. This would be no different.

"I'm serious, Nicocchi. This one is a fish we won't want to try and catch. Rin-chan will be greatly compromised."

"Tch, I know that." The black-haired woman with pointed ears and feline canines grimaced at the thought of her one and only kitten. As far as she knew, Nico was the last of her kind, and the birth of her offspring had been a miracle in itself. Long ago, she had heard stories about the Vampire Queen preying upon werecats, exterminating them to the last clan before returning to her slumber. Her race never recovered and continued to dwindle until she was the last one left. If this Honoka was out to finish what she had started, well, Nico was prepared to fight tooth and claw to protect her family. "But how do we deal with her? Should we just pack up and leave?"

Nozomi thoughtfully stared at the wisps emitted from her pipe, her eyes unreadable. "Even if we do that, if she is determined to find werecats, she will find us. Her powers are beyond any of us mortal witches. Vampires can move objects at will, possess great physical strength, and even read minds. Honoka is at the top of their hierarchy so one can only imagine what she is truly capable of. Even other vampires fear her and they would obey her as well if she were to command them. After all, she is their maker."

Nico gritted her teeth and swished her white-tipped tail agitatedly, "Just who is the asshole who woke her up?"

"That is truly a good question, ne? Lore implied that it was the other vampires who casted her tomb into the sea, where it would not be disturbed. Vampires typically wake when they're given blood but even I'm unsure how the Progenitor can be awakened. I imagine it would involve more than a few drops. An unholy ritual involving human sacrifice, perhaps?" The Ebon Witch frowned and tapped her kiseru at the edge of a wooden bowl to discard the ashes. "She is a mere half-step above a demon from the underworld itself after all."

The black-haired woman clenched her fists until she could feel her claws digging into her skin. Everything Nozomi had said was foul news, though the witch did not seem too ill at ease about the situation. In fact, the Ebon Witch childishly hopped up from her seat, stretched, and came to her in a few easy steps when the doorbell downstairs rang. As she made her way towards the stairs, she told her, "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? The Scourge is upon us, all we can do is live through it." Nozomi ducked down and pecked her lips before stepping lightly towards the attic door. "Remember, Nicocchi, everything we do, we do for Rin-chan."

Nico inhaled deeply as she gathered her thoughts. Her universe had revolved around her tiny orange kitten the moment she came into this world and that would never change. Nozomi was right. Their priority remained the same; protect Rin and make sure she reached adulthood.

That was what parents do.

But that did not mean that she should not learn more about the lurking danger. She might not be able to tail the Progenitor herself, but there was one vampire in her immediate reach. The werecat would stalk that red-haired bloodsucker from the hospital and see where that would lead her.

A blonde-haired young woman inhaled deeply to ease her fears. She never liked the darkness of the night. Well, she never liked darkness period, but working a full-time job and studying for her graduate degree forced Ayase Eli to have very long days. She had just gotten out of her night classes, clutching a shoulder bag under one arm and lugging a briefcase on the other. The effort had her sweating under her thick wool coat, though she was in such a hurry home that she did not bother herself removing it. The sooner she could dive inside her apartment doors and turn on the lights, the better.

She was thankful for the moon's fullness though, for it lit her way brightly enough that she did not need to use her handy-dandy chocolate bar flashlight. Eli had been very embarrassed when her younger sister gave it to her for Christmas but the device had saved her from a couple of anxiety attacks in the past year, so now it was her constant companion.

"What time is it anyway?" Grumbling, she juggled her belongings to pull out her cell phone from her purse only to find it spazzing as if it was short-circuiting. Eli panicked, thinking that she might have broken her phone, but after a few taps, the screen returned to normal and showed her that it was almost eleven o'clock. She sighed in relief though a few whispered curses also came out of her mouth. She picked up her pace and continued on in a limping jog, her gait awkward due to her bags. She was only a few blocks away from her apartment, and she was eager to take a shower and just pass out on her bed.

This is definitely the last time I'm going out with them for dinner after a late night class.

Her colleagues talked all night and their casual dinner had lasted for two hours, making her miss her transit and then the train that took her to her neighborhood. It had been a series of unfortunate events, but the rain clouds have their silver lining, as the saying went. Once home, she could finally rest and perhaps attempt to sleep in because it was her day off from work tomorrow.

Eli took a breather from her run and looked up at the moon, finding herself entranced by its perfect shape. She rarely went out at night, especially not this late, so it had been a long time since she had seen the full moon in all of its brilliance. It was indeed a wonderful sight so she etched it in her mind. However, with her eyes focused so high in the sky, she was unaware of where she was going that she crashed into another passer-by.

"Ah, sorry!" She immediately apologized though she could have sworn that there was no one else walking on this side of the road earlier. She had dropped her briefcase in the collision so she quickly bent down to retrieve her work documents, sheepishly avoiding looking at the person she had bumped into. "I didn't see you… there…"

When she did look up, however, Eli was flabbergasted. She had collided with a woman who had long dark hair that seemed to shimmer under the moonlight, and pale white skin that she could only compare to sculpted marble. She had read a lot of novels in her college career and she could probably compare this person to so many fictitious characters, but the first one that came to mind was Snow White, who had similarly elegant features.

"P-pardon me," the stranger groaned. She then swayed slightly until she steadied herself against a property's brick wall. "I was not… paying attention."

"Well, neither was I. Um, are you okay?" Eli tilted her head to get a better look at the woman. Clearly, she was unwell, but the blonde did not want to unnecessarily pry. She looked at the surroundings and found only the tall beams of light from the streetlamps and shades of grey. Her instincts told her to flee, as it was dangerous to interact with strangers so late at night, but her conscience and sense of responsibility also commanded her to make sure that this stranger was in no dire need of help.

The dark-haired woman enclosed her face with a white-gloved hand, though the gloves looked stained by something Eli did not want to know. She took a few deep breaths to right herself and said, "I am fine. I merely had too much to drink. I apologize for being in your way."

The blonde wanted to respond with equally generic pleasantries as well if not for the fact that she found the stranger's eyes to be utterly fascinating. She did not know a person's eyes could reflect moonlight so well, for they looked like facetted yellow gems. Perhaps the other woman was simply at the perfect angle? Nonetheless, Eli shook her head and chuckled sheepishly to be caught staring, "No, no it's quite alright. Do you want me to call a cab? It'll be dangerous to try to go home inebriated."

The stranger averted her eyes, a very subtle way to decline. "There is no need. I thank you."

Eli watched on helplessly as the other woman began stumbling past her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes… You should retire as well, miss."

"O-okay…" Certain that the stranger no longer needed her assistance, Eli started to gather her belongings. "Um, wait!" Inwardly, she cursed her worrying nature, for the raven-haired woman paused at her request. Unable to find an excuse as to why she stopped her—the stranger already made it clear that she was only being nosy—she quickly jabbed a hand inside her purse and rummaged for one. "Here, uh, eat it when you have the chance. I've found that eating a bit of chocolate helps my hangover or dizziness. Who knows, maybe it'll work for you too."

The amber-eyed woman stared at the brown bar deposited in her hand and blinked in confusion. The reaction made Eli blush a bit because what she had said was utter nonsense, though admittedly, she firmly believed that chocolate made everything better. How else could she have survived college?

"Thank you…"

"So uh… yeah. Have a good night, and drink lots of water tomorrow morning!" Eli turned around, picked up her things and hurried home after that, mortified beyond belief. She must really be tired for she was not normally so awkward with people. But, really, what were you supposed to do or say to a drunk woman out on the streets at almost midnight? She did the nicest thing she could, so she should be satisfied with that.

It was only much later that she realized that what she had given the stranger was not a chocolate bar, but her chocolate bar flashlight.

Days later…

The whole restaurant was glittering gold and silver, the colors of the affluent. Tuxedoed waiters strode about in practiced gaits with huge serving trays upon their shoulders that held dishes of salmon, lobster, and filet mignon. Others carried with them fine vintages, red, white or champagne, to be served to distinct gentlemen and their ladies. The plates, flutes and glasses were rimmed with gold, the utensils made with real silver, and above the guests' heads was the largest chandelier in the city.

Minami Kotori felt completely out of place in such grandeur. She was only a junior fashion designer, an apprentice really, and she was still in school to finish her education. She would rather be occupying a seat in the local Thai restaurant or having some American fast food, but here she was, sitting in a fine French bistro downtown. Looking around, she was definitely underdressed in her teal skirt and beige cardigan, and her shoes were nowhere near like the towering high-heels of some of the ladies here. Had she known that her boyfriend meant this particular restaurant, she would have dressed more appropriately. Unfortunately, she was already here, and her simplicity was truly the least of her worries.

He was late, two hours late to be exact. She had been glancing at her wristwatch every few minutes since the receptionist had seated her at the table. Sighing, Kotori fiddled the minutes away by playing with the tablecloth and trying not to look unseemly in high-class society. Why was he late? Thinking back, her relationship with her boyfriend had been strained for a while, so she had hoped that this dinner would give them a chance to talk things through. Why could he not understand that she was still unprepared to take their relationship to the next level? Kotori certainly enjoyed his company and his humor and she liked to be around him but she was not sure if she was ready to share his bed. However, saying so would mean that she did not love him enough, wouldn't it? How, then, could she explain her feelings?

Kotori looked at her cell phone and scrolled through the many text messages she had sent to him in the past few hours. The wall of text to the right side of the screen was depressing and the repetition of her plea to know his location almost brought tears upon her eyes.

He was not coming. She knew that already. After the first thirty minutes, she already knew, but she still hoped that he would show up. She told herself, "Five more minutes" until five became ten, and ten became twenty and so on. Two and a half hours later, she was still seated at the table, nursing her iced water, hungry, lonely, and heartbroken.

"Miss, would you like to place your order now?" A handsome waiter asked kindly. He had been checking in on her periodically, making sure she knew that the restaurant was expecting some sort of income from her occupying one of their tables.

Kotori took a deep breath, to mend the tears in her throat so that she could speak evenly. "S-sure. I apologize for taking so long." It would be rude not to order anything. "I've decided to skip dinner and would prefer to have dessert instead. I'd like to order a slice of your raspberry cheesecake, please."

The waiter quickly jotted on his notepad and smiled. "Very good."

"Ah, and a glass of merlot for me, please, with a side of cheese and crusty bread. Sorry, I don't have much of an appetite tonight, so I'm opting for something light."

Both Kotori and waiter whipped gazes towards the sudden newcomer who seated herself across the table. The woman had fiery ginger hair tied to a low ponytail draped across her right shoulder. Dressed in a well-pressed button-up shirt with a blood-red tie, the stranger was a picture of propriety and sharpness, though her green accents certainly added personality to her attire. The emeralds on her tie clip and earrings were eye-catching, and Kotori certainly approved of the contrast of colors, especially when paired with the woman's bright blue eyes.

"Oh, um, certainly, ma'am." The waiter glanced towards Kotori, who was too stunned to deny that the woman was not the person she was expecting. "Your food would be served shortly." He was gone before she could say anything.

"Um…"

The ginger chuckled amiably. "Sorry for barging in like this, but I've been watching you from my table." She gestured to a table by the window with a black-gloved hand. "You looked rather lonely so I decided to introduce myself. My name is Honoka."

Kotori could only stare. Honoka was the epitome of confidence; from the way she held herself to how she smiled. In comparison, she was still tongue-tied trying to let the abrupt meeting sink in. "I-I'm Kotori. Um… nice to meet you."

"Hehe, such a cute name. What are you doing in a place like this alone? I was expecting some handsome prince to waltz right in and sweep you off your feet. In fact, I waited for an hour, though I think I fell asleep halfway through." The blue-eyed woman leaned forward and crossed her fingers together. She rested her chin on them like a curious child.

Embarrassed and suddenly reminded of her current predicament, Kotori lowered her gaze. "I was waiting for my boyfriend but…"

"He didn't show?"

She nodded in response.

"Tch, whatever could he be thinking, ne? Ah, thanks." Honoka straightened herself when the waiter returned with their respective orders and immediately tore into the warm loaf of baguette. "Mmm! French bread is the best! Do you want to try some, Kotori-chan?"

Kotori-chan?

"N-no, thank you. I have my cake." She prodded at her creamy dessert but she could not make herself eat for she was too fascinated with this sunny stranger. Honoka just invited herself at her table only a few minutes ago, yet now she was eating as if she was at a family banquet. She devoured the bread and then sipped at the wine, though for some reason, she did not touch the cheese.

"You know... you might as well enjoy your time here, Kotori-chan. Life is short, and you're in such a fine place. Forget your boyfriend for now and live for yourself. Bask a little bit in the atmosphere, ne?"

"B-but…"

"The world around you is shining, don't you see?" Honoka gestured animatedly around them akin to a childlike Mad Hatter. "You're surrounded with beautiful people, serenaded by beautiful music, and eating delicious food. What's not to love? If someone decides that they would rather not be part of your world, don't be sad for yourself. Be sad for them, because they're forsaking your love, exiting your heart without knowing what they're going to miss."

Kotori did not wish to admit it, but what Honoka was saying made so much sense to her despite the dark clouds in her mind. She really should live in the moment, doing what she wanted to do and not be swayed by another person's whims. That sounded too surreal though. Only the strongest people could live like that, only those brave enough to follow their own paths and forge the world into their own specifications.

Her heart was too soft for that.

She felt Honoka's eyes on her, seemingly perusing her thoughts, though her gaze was good-natured and patient. "You're right," Kotori said, "I really should just enjoy what I have and go on with life at my own pace. Um, thank you for trying to cheer me up, Honoka-san. I must really have looked sorry for you to come all the way here and converse with me."

"Not at all," the ginger sipped her dark red wine and smiled charmingly at her. "I'm familiar with girls who have the same problems as you. And that's what I always tell them. It's a practiced line, you see."

Instead of being offended by the sheepish admission, Kotori found herself laughing lightly. "And here I thought you were really suave. So you say the same line over and over again to romantic tragedies like me?"

Honoka bobbed her head and aristocratically raised her glass, "Every single one. None of them laughed like you though."

They continued to talk until most of the other guests have left. Kotori found it very easy to talk to the ginger for the latter was so outgoing and worldly. Honoka had such an optimistic view on the world, though she also did not lack dark humor when the conversation called for it, showing that she was not some whimsical fool living in a daydream. They spoke of food—sweets and pastries in particular—and of love. Honoka confessed that, despite all her flowery sentences, she had never experienced the kind of love in romance novels, one that the hero or heroine would sacrifice their lives for. And the more they talked about it, the more confidence Kotori gained about her current dilemma. Perhaps her boyfriend might have really left her, but she could not honestly say that she truly loved him enough to grieve his departure from her life. If he could easily set her aside simply because she could not consent to his advances then maybe what they had was not what Kotori wanted.

And thinking about it that way made her feel a whole lot better.

"Hey," Honoka drank the last mouthful of her wine and abruptly stood from her seat, "Do you want to dance?"

"Eh?" Kotori did not know whether to be mortified at the fact that she squeaked or because her companion invited her so loudly that the remaining patrons looked at them. "A-are we even allowed to?"

Blue eyes darted towards the small band playing at the opposite end of the restaurant that had been playing classical music for the guests' enjoyment. Kotori was so concerned about her missing date and then preoccupied with her new friend to even take notice of them. She thought that the music was a recorded one. "The ensemble seems to be bored. And, yes, I'm pretty sure we can."

"But I d-don't know how to-"

Honoka grinned at her like a playful little girl. "Don't worry. Just follow my lead."

Kotori stared at her companion's black glove, unsure whether to place her hand in it or not. Dancing would be rather embarrassing, especially since there was no one else dancing on the floor at all. Besides, to dance in a parlor like that in her outfit was simply a horrid thought. However, Honoka had done a lot for her already that she could not find it herself to refuse. Maybe it would not be so bad.

She glanced around her and saw blank, apathetic stares. No one would care, and that anonymity could be liberating.

"Okay."

She gave her hand to Honoka.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The Spectre's violin cried its last note as the moon began to caress the horizon. The sun would rise soon and it would end her nightly theatre, but she did not lament. Instead, the Spectre's lips curved up into a small, enigmatic smile. All the actors have gathered upon this modern stage, ready to play out a drama written in blood and magic. All she needed to do now was watch and provide the music.

Her poison green eyes shone eerily behind the opera mask.

What should I play tonight, I wonder?