• Chapter Six: UNWANTED COMPANY

    ~Dream in Ayu's Perspective~

    I sat on the ground, exhausted and pained. I looked around for Eichi, hoping he was in the fields with me. I stood up and walked to a treetrunk stump and sat on it. Eichi slowly came into view... with another girl. My heart started aching as Eichi kissed the girl's cheek. I was jealous.

    Eichi and the girl were standing in front of me. I noticed the girl was... me. She looked at Eichi, then back at me. I tried to smile at her, but I couldn't move. It was like I was frozen. Eichi was staring lovingly into the other me's eyes. She couldn't get her eyes off me, though.

    "Eichi... is that her?"

    "Yes, Ayu. That's Meroko."

    Huh? Meroko? Who's... Meroko? I could finally move. I stared into Eichi's eyes and saw my reflection.

    This "Meroko" was really cute. Apparently, I had long black hair, crimson eyes, extremely pale skin, and really sharp teeth. Wait... crimson eyes, pale skin, sharp teeth... Meroko was a Vampire!

    My other me was staring at me in fear. Eichi looked at her in a reassuring way, gazing at me occasionally with deep hatred. I stood up and tried to kiss Eichi, but he backed away and grabbed the other me...

    "No!" I cried out. I had woken myself up from my horrendous nightmare. Eichi looked at me with wide eyes as he inched towards me, still sitting up. "What's wrong?" He asked, carressing my back.

    "Nightmare," I choked out. Eichi chuckled and said, "Tell me about it." I hesitated to ask, but I spat out, "Eichi... in my dream, you were standing with me and I was this so called 'Meroko'. Who... who's Meroko?" Eichi's face went grim.

    "Meroko Shichana, a Vampire. Long black hair, permanately crimson eyes, skin pale as mine, and sharper teeth than my own. I had dated her before I was infected. When she found out I had become a Vampire shortly after I did, she wanted to break up with me.

    "I infected her as well. I couldn't stand to see my lover in that pain, but she was calling me a... monster. I was pushed to bite her. She kept showing her neck around me, so I was tempted. Of course, she broke up with me once she recovered from her pain.

    "I wanted to commit suicide once she left me. I had loved her so much... or so I thought. After many years, I noticed my love towards her wasn't true. It felt as if I loathed her. Especially once she found another man to love. She threw it in my face every possible time she could. I was devistated. But, I was devistated... until I met you. You, Ayu, are the shining sun, the glowing moon. You are the stars in the sky I look up and see every night. You, my beautiful Ayu, are my Juliet. I'll be your Romeo."

    My eyes welled up with tears. But I toughened up and giggled, "Romeo, Romeo, where fore art thou, Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or, of thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

    "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"

    "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor other part. Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for thy name, which is no part of thee, take all myself."

    "I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo." Eichi and I were beaming at how much Shakespeare we recited.

    Takuto walked in, coyly grinning. "Was that Shakespeare-talk I heard? Romeo and Juliet, Act Two, Scene Two. Correct?" Eichi and I faked a smile and nodded. "Well," Takuto slapped his own butt, "I'll be on my way." Once Takuto left, Eichi and I boomed with laughter.

    "Eichi, he - he slapped his butt!"

    "Indeed he did, Ayuuuu!"

    "What a nerd!"

    "Bwa-ha-haaaaa!!!" Eichi burst that out and we were both silent, holding our breath with our eyes watering. After many long seconds past, we burst out in sudden laughter, finding it difficult to talk. But then we stopped, looking at the door. Wakoji had walked in.

    "What the Hell just happened, you two?"

    Eichi shrugged and muttered, "We laughed."

    "Well your laughs sounded like the solar system exploded!"

    I rubbed my eye and said, "Thanks..." Then adding, "...I think." That sent Wakoji and Eichi laughing their heads off. I gave them both the death stare and they instantly stopped. Wakoji left and Eichi and I heard a loud THUD!

    "Ayu... we're both in grave danger."

    "Eichi... I - I - I'm... scared." My voice cracked. Eichi pressed his icey lips on my forehead.

    "Don't be," he whispered, "it's not that bad. Sorry if I scared you."

    Half of me trusted his words, but the other half knew he was lying.