The air between Noah and Rachel is thick with tension, a tension neither of them seems eager to break. Rachel can sense how different Noah is now—hardened, distant—clearly scarred by Ouran's betrayal and everything that has happened since.
"So, Joy, is it?" Noah finally speaks, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's the name you've chosen to go by here? It's kind of lame, isn't it?"
Rachel is taken aback by his sudden words but quickly responds. "Yes, I thought it would be best to take on a whole new identity as a human for the likely chance that I'd run into you. Initially, Judas tasked me with turning you to the dark side, as he put it—or really just getting you to go rogue and embrace your demon side. I was supposed to entice you with my body, make you trust me so that you'd do what he'd have me suggest. But…I couldn't do it. I didn't want to cause you more pain. That's when Ouran took over, and, well, you know what happened next."
"Ah, I see," Noah replies, his tone devoid of emotion. "So, Judas basically pimped you out to me, hoping to push me into doing what he wanted by playing on my residual feelings for you from our childhood. Smart, very smart, actually. It probably would've worked well, too. You should've just done it. At least I would've gotten some pleasure out of the deal. But I guess I can respect your sense of morality, skewed as it is."
Noah rises from the chair he'd been sitting in and glances around the room. "Hey, do you have any of that 'cranberry juice' handy? I'm feeling super thirsty after giving out so much of my blood. I think I need to replenish myself, and I don't want to go all the way to Tourer Kenai."
Rachel is relieved by the change in subject, grateful for any distraction from the uncomfortable conversation. "Oh, of course. Let me see." She quickly moves toward the clinic, hoping to find the juice. But Noah follows behind her, and she hears the door click shut as he locks it.
Rachel turns around to see Noah moving closer, his eyes slowly trailing up her body, lingering on her neck. The gaze makes her shiver, but there's also a strange arousal stirring within her—something she never feels when Judas looks at her that way. "Noah, what is it?" she asks nervously.
Noah leans in, placing his mouth on her neck, and kisses it gently before whispering, "Perhaps I can have some of yours then? I know you've fed recently; I can smell it. Perhaps those dead soldiers served as your lunch?"
"How…how could you tell that?" Rachel stammers, her heart racing. It's true—she had fed on the soldiers earlier, not wanting their blood to go to waste. "I just didn't want them to go to waste! I just…."
"It's okay," Noah murmurs, his voice soothing yet predatory. "I won't tell anyone. Honestly, if you hadn't, I probably would've, so you just saved me some trouble. So, it's fine if I just take a few sips, isn't it?" His fangs extend slightly, grazing her neck, sending a thrill through her.
Rachel feels her body ignite with desire. "Yes…please…I don't mind if it's you, Noah. You can do whatever you want, just be gentle, please. It's my first time doing this."
"Is that so? I'm surprised Judas hasn't already soiled you. Or were you referring to the bite?"
"Both," Rachel admits, blushing. "I've never been bitten, and I've never done…that either. I always thought Judas would be the one to steal it from me, and it made me sick. But for some reason, he never went beyond superficial touching. Perhaps he thought I'd be more desirable to you if I was pure?"
"Perhaps," Noah says, a dark smile forming on his lips, "or it's just another part of his sick game. Either way, I'll bite. I'll take the bait. I have done 'it' before, though this will be my first time with another Junsui. I suppose the mechanics are the same, though, so just leave it to me. But make sure you tell Judas when you see him again that, although I appreciate the sentiment, I don't share my toys. With this bite and all that follows, I'm claiming you as mine forevermore. So if he dares lay a hand on you after this, I will personally pay him a visit and kill him, even if it means ruining the grand finale of our tragic play. There will be no mercy."
"Yes…I…will tell him," Rachel whispers, almost in shock at how intense Noah has become. This isn't the kind, compassionate boy she once knew. He's changed—become aggressive, ruthless, and cold. And yet, she finds herself drawn to this new Noah. Her heart has hardened as well, and the twisted nature of their relationship feels oddly fitting in this corrupted world.
Noah's fangs finally sink into Rachel's neck, and she gasps as pleasure surges through her entire being. She quickly succumbs to his embrace, staring into his red eyes with a smile as he ravishes her in a way only a Junsui demon can.
~
Rachel clasps her hands, her eyes downcast, as she finishes recounting her encounter with Noah. She awaits Judas's response, feeling a mix of fear and anticipation.
Judas is silent for a moment, absorbing everything she's said. Then, to her surprise, he begins to laugh—long and loud, the sound echoing through the dark throne room. "Yes! That's the Noah I want to see. I knew leaving you pure would be beneficial, though I have to say, with that glow you've got on, I almost want to take him up on that challenge just to prove I'm better."
Rachel's expression shifts to disgust, but Judas only smirks. "Don't worry, I won't test him. I'd rather not ruin our finale. I'm very pleased with your progress, Rachel, and Ouran's as well. You both made Noah into just the heartless man I hoped he'd become, though it's a shame I can't find Ouran to reward them. I suppose they're still mourning the loss of their friend. Well, whatever—that's just the way the game rolls. And the others? They're awake?"
Rachel nods. "Yes they're awake. They're doing quite well now in fact. Their power's amazing."
"Excellent! At last, the overture is over, and our wretched play has now begun!" Judas's sinister laugh echoes through the throne room as the curtain of fate rises, beginning a new, twisted act in the drama that is their lives. "Now, I wonder…what's going to happen next?"
~Vol 2 End