Author Notes
Weird…I was so sure I wrote this chapter already…
!?
What do you mean it was all in my head? XD
May you enjoy~ XD
Replies to comments:
Yuri-chan – Yuri-chaaaann~~! The stuff has gotten real indeed! Hehe~ (And yeahhh, that's totally my fault for being unable to update soon enough v ) But yes! A-RISE are Cold Vampires! Which we hope Honoka will help ;D
Ah…I won't say more on that~ XD
*O* I'm glad to know that! That this chapter put you on the edge of your seat! That's my aim after all! XD hehe~
Have a nice day too, Yuri-chan!
P.S. Yay for more HonoKoto! ^w^/ I loved the story you wrote!
Magiclapras – XD That's a nice show!
And yup~ vampires have personalities though :P hahas~
ShadowIdol – Ah, you're not too late. XD I'm glad to know you're reading and I was so worried for Honoka too!
Even if I knew she would make things okay v Honokaaa!
Dobromir – Woah, woah, woah! Honkers wouldn't do that…right? XD And that's what Kotori wants too XD
MKR-chi – Honoka is okay! XD Or is she? :P hehe~
I didn't want to! But Honoka wanted it! She wants to save her friends~~
Aaahhh I'm glad all the POV change was well done to you! And and, here's the next chapter! ^w^
Ch30 – Am I enough?
"You think you can run?!" The anger in the Cold Vampire's voice shook the ground and she bends her back to run.
Honoka stood strong and desperate as she powered a strong enough kick off the ground to intercept the redhead's strike. "Ugh! Please!"
Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. STOP!
The redhead pulled her hand back roughly. Letting out a growl as she saw that her prey has been taken away. "You…"
"Please stop killing. We can all live in peace-"
"HA! Ha! Hahahahaha!"
…
Honoka bites her bottom lip as she watched the woman in front of her laugh manically.
"Peace? Live in peace?" Magenta eyes narrowed sharply, glaring Honoka down with disgust.
"Yes-"
Annoyed. Irked. Enraged. The redhead takes a deep breath, eyes closed, before she opened them; magenta eyes equivalent to a thousand daggers. "Life doesn't work that way, you pet!"
Honoka flinches from the Cold Vampire's emotion-charged scream. And although the gingerhead opens her mouth, no words came out.
I…
"Be good and not kill? Not take the blood we naturally need!? Then what's left for you is death, you ignorant brat." The redhead spits, her hands shaking seemingly uncontrollably.
Why..?
Honoka was at a loss for words. She's quite sure it's not the adrenaline of danger running low that made her not keep her defensive stance as strongly. It was the Cold Vampire showing a different side…a different emotion that made Honoka freeze up and think.
Did something happen-
The Cold Vampire clicks her tongue. Honoka locks eyes with her. "Remember this well. I am Yuuki Anju. And if you keep being naïve and choose to play hero. I assure you that we will cross paths again."
Anju turns to leave.
"Wait!"
Anju doesn't.
"Can't we…can't we all be friends..?" Honoka stares helplessly at the back of the Cold Vampire, Yuuki Anju walking off into the night.
Why am I so powerless..?
Honoka falls to her knees, eyes watery.
Why won't they hear me out..?
Honoka hits the floor with her unbroken hand, the crack sound making her look and remembering that she was injured.
"Eli-chan! Arisa-chan and Nozomi-chan too. Ugh." Honoka holds her injured left arm as she pushes off the ground to walk, wincing when she tries to move her fingers; her muscles and bones probably got crushed badly by Yuuki Anju when she intercepted the first attack on Eli.
This pain can't even compare to what they must be feeling…
Honoka grimaces, shakes the helpless negativity off as she focused on one thing – getting to her friends to make sure they are alright.
Honoka dashes in the direction of Eli and Arisa's house, the path more or less familiarized from all the visits to hang out with Arisa.
Please be okay GYAH-
Honoka collides into something or someone she did not manage to see coming. Instead of her butt meeting the floor however, she is held up by the person she collided with.
"H-Honoka-chan!? Are you okay!? The Cold Vampire. She- You-"
"Nozomi-chan!" Honoka throws her good arm around the purplenette, hugging her friend tight to make sure this was real.
Nozomi was surprised by the hug but returns it. "Honoka-chan…It's okay now…Or not."
"Eh?" Honoka pulled away, worry in her blue hues. "Eli-chan? Arisa-chan?"
Nozomi shakes her head and before Honoka could think that was a sign of bad news for her friends, the purplenette directs her attention to her arm. "Honoka-chan isn't."
"Ah…I…I'll heal." Honoka holds back a painful moan when she attempted to move her left arm again.
Nozomi shakes her head. "We need to get you to a hospital."
"I…I'll go to a hospital. But…can I get to see Eli-chan and Arisa-chan first?" Honoka's eyes pleaded.
I need to make sure they are okay…
Nozomi shakes her head. "They are okay. I made sure to. Else I wouldn't dare face you, Honoka-chan."
Nozomi grins and Honoka pouts thoughtfully. "True…"
"So please take care of yourself too." Nozomi wants to know; what happened after she left, and what does Honoka think of her now…but priorities are to get Honoka fixed first.
If Nozomi-chan says so…I'm sure they are okay.
Honoka nods. "I'll go to the hospital…or well…" Honoka squints as she thinks.
Can I tell Nozomi-chan? I mean, she already knows. And she's vampire too!
Nozomi observes the little expression changes and giggles. "What's with the faces?"
Honoka relaxes at Nozomi's laugh. "I'm going to look for Maki-chan. She's a future doctor and knows what to do for…" Honoka looks at her left arm. "This."
Nozomi smiles at the enthusiasm in Honoka's voice when describing Maki as a sre to be doctor before she starts walking. "I'll escort you."
"Eh? You're not going to ask about Maki-chan?" Honoka follows with a surprised look.
Nozomi giggles again, pace slow. "Let's just say…I already knew."
"Ehhhh?" Honoka sounds her puzzlement. "Nozomi-chan is this your fortune telling at work!"
Nozomi laughs at Honoka's exclamation. "You could say that~"
"Wow…" Honoka nods, amazed.
Nozomi-chan is so cool… But heh…Maki-chan is probably going to nag me lots…
Honoka looks to the night sky, noticing that everywhere was quiet again. As though the earlier close call was a dream…
Except my hand is injured. Nozomi-chan is a vampire too and…
Honoka lowers her head, frowning at the ground.
I wonder if I can really make all vampires live in harmony with humans…
"Maki-chan…Maki-chan… Maki-chan!"
I'm sorry to wake you at this time but…
Honoka pokes Maki's sides and jumps backwards when Maki thrusts a hand out to retaliate but missing, she wakes up groggily.
Ah…Maki-chan…please don't be too mad?
Maki was not pleased to be awoken at an hour pass midnight to both Honoka and her eccentric classmate Toujou Nozomi in her room.
"Honoka?" Maki hisses low, not wanting to wake her parents up. "Why are you here with Toujou-san?"
"Nozomi will do." The purplenette smiles but says it quietly since it's her first visit to the redhead's house.
"Yeah, Nozomi-chan will do, Maki-chan." Honoka smiles too; an apologetic one, however, which worries Maki even more.
How do I break the news…
"What's the situation?" Maki cuts to the chase.
Ah, Maki-chan is sharp…
"Well…" Honoka begins with raising her right hand which violet eyes follows and then pointing to her left arm, limp and not moving. "Injured left hand..?"
"What!?" Maki exclaims, kicks off the covers and was going to switch on the lights but it was already turned on. She stares incredulously at the purplenette who smiles back before disappearing and appearing beside Honoka.
"You…" Maki's jaw was agape.
Honoka looks between Nozomi and Maki before chuckling softly. "I was surprised too… That Nozomi-chan is one of us!"
I'm glad to get one more vampire friend! And Nozomi-chan is so reliable too...
Maki stares a bit longer before she sighs. "Honoka, sit. Toujou..." She knows they want her to change the way of addressing. "Nozomi, grab a seat wherever too. I'm going to check on Honoka's arm…"
The two vampires were at their respective seats already as instructed and Maki shook her head. She should be used to this already. "Unless…You're injured too?"
Surprised emerald eyes stares back at concerned violet eyes. Nozomi could not help but feel warmth fill her from the care she was given. "Thank you, Maki-chan…But I'm not hurt. Please take care of Honoka-chan."
Maki nods and grimaced at the way Honoka couldn't even fling her arms around in a fake attempt of saying she was okay as she checks on Honoka. "… … …"
Should I make small talk..? hmmm
Honoka moves her mouth about as she ponder, looking to Nozomi who stared back passively, and then back to her childhood friend for another few moments.
"I'm going to get the things I need." Maki stands, turns back. "Don't move. Especially that." Maki eyes Honoka's broken left arm sternly.
Honoka chuckles guiltily. "I won't!"
"Mm." The doctor for tonight exits the room.
Barely a second passes and Honoka sighs. Nozomi raises a brow; waiting.
What should I do now..? Continue my patrols? I know my hand will heal soon enough… But Maki-chan is going to give me an earful…and if Umi-chan finds out… Ahh…But if I don't do anything the Cold vampires might hurt my friends again!
The door opens again and Maki too raises a brow at Nozomi who watched Honoka with concern and curiosity. The redhead gets to putting boards and casts on the gingerhead's injury.
"…Maki-chan." Honoka begins and licks her lips upon realizing how dry they were.
"Yeah?" Maki focused on making sure the bones were aligned to a big extent with her mini x-ray scanner.
"I want to ask you something…" Honoka furrowed her eyebrows, tone serious. "And Nozomi-chan too."
Nozomi makes eye contact with Honoka and she returns a soft smile and nod.
Haah…Here goes.
"Do you think it's possible for me to change Cold Vampires?" Honoka bites her bottom lip, blue eyes bright and solemn.
The more I try…
"I knew it." Maki mutters under her breath.
"Eh?" Honoka blinks, not catching that as she was in thought.
Nozomi stands up and walks closer. "I knew it. Is what Maki-chan said." Maki turns to look at Nozomi smiling back at her. "And I'd like to say I thought so too."
"You thought so..?" Honoka looked between her two friends; confused.
"It's a very Honoka-like thing, is what I mean. To want to change Cold Vampires…to want to stop the killing…" Emerald eyes looks to the ground for a brief moment at the mention of murder.
"So..?" Honoka still wanted to hear their opinions.
They are probably going to tell me not to…
"Have you ever let anyone stop you from doing what you've decided?" Maki wore a crooked smile as she finished putting Honoka's arm in a cast, aiding the natural regrowth of the vampire's bones.
"I…" The gingerhead leaves her mouth agape.
I guess I usually do whatever I want to..?
"Yukiho and Umi has told me countless of times." Maki closes one eye as she smirks at Honoka's shoulder tensing; knowing exactly what she means. "Of how you never listen to them. And…" Maki shakes her head fondly. "I feel the same way."
Honoka's shoulder droops as she pouts. "You're saying I don't listen…"
"I would love to see a world where vampires and humans live together in peace…Without the fear…" Nozomi takes Honoka's right hand into both of hers, rubbing her thumb over the gingerhead's palm and fingers. "I believe these hands will make a big difference."
Honoka could see the trust in Nozomi's emerald eyes…and when Maki put her own hand over theirs – she just knew how much she desired this.
Thank you…
"Thank you…Thank you, Maki-chan. Nozomi-chan! Thank you! I'll keep doing what I can—ARgh!" Honoka falls back to the bed when she tried to pump both hands in the air; her entire left arm protesting.
"Honoka!"
"Honoka-chan!"
Maki and Nozomi was shocked and worried, eyes widened and thinking what they can do but Honoka starts laughing.
"Hahaha, I'm sorry…I…haha…I'll try to not move my left arm again by accident." Honoka laughs tills she had tears to wipe off.
They are right. All I gotta do is keep at it! Once the Cold Vampires listen to me, I'm yet another step closer to reaching my dreams!
Honoka smiles widely at Maki and Nozomi who exchanged gazes before smiling back at their silly friend.
And I get to keep protecting everyone doing what I do!
"Mmph. I don't have to be "hospitalized" right?" Honoka asks as she stands up.
"How did you even get in?" Maki asks incredulously. "Your wing..?"
Honoka beams at that. "Ah, Nozomi-chan flew me in! That was a whole new experience!"
Nozomi chuckles at the gingerhead's enthusiasm; sparkle in those blue hues. "It was a new experience for me too… Trespassing."
"Ah-" Honoka can't believe Nozomi called her out on that.
Maki shakes her head again. "It's a common occurrence."
"Ooh~" Nozomi sounds and Honoka flails both of her arms in protest – a mistake.
"Maki-ch- aaah!"
"Honoka!" Maki chides.
"Owwie…I'll…stop doing that…" Honoka presses her lips together and gives her left arm a look like stop hurting already!
Oh, right…
"Maki-chan… Could you not tell Umi-chan about this?" Honoka ruffles her hair as she considered if this was the right decision.
"About your arm?"
"And that I'm out at timings I shouldn't be and fighting Cold Vampires when she told me not to…" Honoka subconsciously moves her right arm over her left.
I don't want to worry Umi-chan…And…if she opposes me…I don't want that.
"I won't tell her."
Honoka blinks; actually thinking Maki might persuade her otherwise. "R-Really..?"
"Yes, really. Work hard, okay?" Maki gives Honoka her kind of reassuring smile; small but genuine.
Honoka returns the smile with a big nod. "Help me home..?"
Nozomi who was patiently listening in heads to the window. "Or are we exiting from main door?"
Maki rolls her eyes. "The window will do."
"Let's hang out another time, Maki-chan~" Nozomi waves good night and Maki returns a wave shyly.
"Y-Yeah…"
Honoka lets Nozomi transform into a bat, and carry her back home. A long night lived and good night's rest much desired.
Author Notes
I'm back! XD and I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter!
Any encounter with Cold Vampires makes me go "ahhhhh nooooo Honokaaaa" =w=
And as much as I want to jump back into the fluff…Honoka's doubts on herself had to be addressed :P
Leave me a comment if you like~ (they always put a smile on my face and help~)
See you next chapter! ^w^7