VAMPLOVE

Maya Hayashi walked through the crowded halls of Seiyo High School with her usual practiced grace, her eyes downcast, avoiding the curious gazes of her classmates. She had grown accustomed to the whispers that followed her wherever she went, the hushed tones that spoke of tragedy and secrets. At sixteen, she had learned to carry her burdens quietly, not letting anyone see the cracks beneath her carefully constructed exterior.It had been ten years since her father's death, but the wound was still fresh. Maya was only five when it happened, too young to fully understand, yet old enough for the trauma to etch itself into her soul. The details were hazy—a car crash, her father's voice telling her it would be okay, and then nothing but darkness. Her mother had never recovered from the loss, retreating into a shell of grief that left Maya to fend for herself.Despite the pain, Maya had built a semblance of a normal life. She was an average student, kept a small circle of friends, and avoided trouble whenever possible. But beneath the surface, she was haunted by nightmares and a profound sense of emptiness. Her father's death had left a void in her heart that nothing seemed to fill.As she reached her locker, Maya noticed a commotion near the entrance of the school. Curious, she peered over the heads of her classmates and saw a boy standing there, surrounded by a group of students. He was tall, with dark hair that fell into his eyes and a calm demeanor that contrasted with the excitement around him."Who's that?" Maya asked, turning to her friend Yuki, who was standing next to her."Oh, him? He's the new transfer student. Just arrived this morning," Yuki replied, her eyes sparkling with interest. "His name's Kazuki Tachibana. Apparently, he's from some elite school in Tokyo. Everyone's talking about him."Maya glanced back at Kazuki. There was something about him that made her uneasy, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He seemed… different, in a way that made her heart race with a mixture of curiosity and fear. Shaking off the feeling, she closed her locker and headed to class, trying to push the thoughts of the new student out of her mind.---Later that day, during lunch, Maya found herself sitting alone in the school's courtyard. Her friends had gone off to do some last-minute studying, and she was grateful for the solitude. The warm breeze brushed against her face, and she closed her eyes, savoring the moment of peace.But her tranquility was short-lived. A shadow fell over her, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Kazuki standing in front of her, his expression unreadable."Mind if I sit here?" he asked, his voice smooth and polite.Maya hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure."He sat down across from her, his eyes studying her intently. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling as if he could see right through her. "You're Maya, right?" he asked, breaking the silence."Yeah," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "How did you know?""I heard some of the other students talking about you," he said, his tone casual. "They say you're quiet, keep to yourself."Maya frowned. "Is that supposed to be a bad thing?"Kazuki shook his head. "Not at all. I just think there's more to you than what people see."Something about his words struck a chord within her, and she found herself opening up in a way she hadn't in years."And what about you?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You're the new kid, right? How's that going for you?"He shrugged. "It's… different. This place isn't like my old school. People are more open, but there's also a lot of tension beneath the surface."Maya nodded, understanding what he meant. "It's a small town. People talk, and they don't like things they can't explain."Kazuki smiled, but there was something in his eyes that made Maya's breath catch in her throat. A coldness, or perhaps something deeper—a hint of danger."Do you like things you can't explain?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.Maya's heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a strange pull towards him, as if he were drawing her in. "I… I don't know," she stammered, confused by her own reaction.Before she could say anything more, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Kazuki stood up, giving her one last, lingering look before walking away.As she watched him go, Maya couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine.---That night, Maya's sleep was restless. She dreamed of a dark forest, where shadows danced and whispered her name. In the distance, she saw a figure standing beneath the moonlight—a man with eyes that gleamed like polished silver. He called to her, his voice a soft, seductive murmur that promised both pleasure and pain.She woke with a start, her heart racing. The dream had felt so real, so vivid that she could still hear his voice in her ears. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table—it was just past midnight. Unable to shake the lingering fear, she got out of bed and went to the window, pulling the curtains aside to look out into the night. The moon was full, casting an eerie glow over the quiet neighborhood. As she stared out into the darkness, she saw a figure standing on the street below, looking up at her window. She gasped, her heart leaping into her throat. It was Kazuki.For a moment, their eyes locked, and she felt a jolt of something electric pass between them. But before she could react, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows as if he had never been there.Maya stepped back from the window, her mind racing. What was he doing here? And how had he known where she lived?She didn't have time to dwell on these questions, though, because as soon as she closed her eyes, she felt a sharp pain in her neck, as if something had bitten her. She reached up to touch the spot, but there was nothing there—no blood, no wound, nothing but the lingering sensation of cold lips against her skin.Terrified and confused, she crawled back into bed, pulling the covers over her head. But sleep eluded her, and she spent the rest of the night trembling in fear, haunted by visions of silver eyes and whispered promises.---The next day at school, Maya couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept drifting back to the events of the night before—the dream, Kazuki's appearance outside her window, the strange sensation in her neck. She felt like she was losing her grip on reality.She caught sight of Kazuki several times throughout the day, but he didn't approach her, and she was too afraid to confront him. It wasn't until after school, when she was walking home alone, that she finally got the answers she was looking for.Maya was halfway home when she felt a presence behind her. She turned around, expecting to see Kazuki, but instead, she found herself face-to-face with a man she had never seen before. He was tall and pale, with a menacing grin that sent shivers down her spine."You're Maya Hayashi," the man said, his voice low and cold.Maya's heart pounded in her chest, and she took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run. But before she could move, the man lunged at her, his hands reaching for her throat.She screamed, but the sound was cut off as the man's grip tightened around her neck. Her vision blurred, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.Just when she thought it was over, she heard a voice—Kazuki's voice, sharp and commanding."Let her go."The man released her, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Through her blurry vision, she saw Kazuki standing over her, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light."This one is mine," Kazuki said, his voice cold and deadly. "You have no right to touch her."The man snarled but backed away, his eyes filled with fear. "I didn't know she was claimed," he hissed. "I won't make the same mistake again."With that, he turned and fled into the shadows, leaving Maya trembling on the ground.Kazuki knelt beside her, his expression softening as he looked at her. "Are you alright?"Maya nodded, too shaken to speak. She could barely comprehend what had just happened—who was that man? And what did Kazuki mean when he said she was "his"?Kazuki helped her to her feet, his touch gentle and reassuring. "You're safe now," he said, his voice soothing. "But you need to come with me. There's something I need to show you."Maya hesitated, her mind racing with questions. But there was something in Kazuki's eyes that made her trust him, despite the fear that still lingered in her heart."Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.Kazuki took her hand, and together they disappeared into the night, leaving behind the safety of the familiar world Maya had always known.She had no idea that her life was about to change forever—and that she was about to step into a world darker and more dangerous than she had ever imagined.