Bokutachi wa Akuma: Chapter Sixteen

Final practice was over, video shooting has come and gone, recording was well over and jacket shooting was over, all of the group can remember the excitement of the flashes like it was yesterday. Today the count of mysterious murder victims had reached a total of 34. It had only been a half a year and those monsters were only just starting their sick game.

Kazuki, Mizuki's younger brother had finally gotten Ruka's permission for his brother’s friends to meet him. Ruka was still quiet and very much cold towards others, but he was getting sick of being asked everyday if he could meet with those friends.

It was a common meeting, arranged in a quiet restaurant to get to now one another. First ones at the reserved table was not the guest of honor, but Maruki and Aiya. Aiya had always had a pet peeve of never wanting to be late, causing him to always be the first one in the meeting area. They ordered iced tea and waited patiently for the others to arrive. Next to come through the doors were Daichi, Rin, and Ryuu. Ryuu had convinced his older roommate to drive and pick up Daichi on their way to the restaurant. For a while, all of them were chatting quietly, laughing in all the right places. It was not long before the main guest was to arrive, Mizuki had left and met up with his brother, all three came in together.

As soon as the young Ruka came into the chatty groups proximity, they all fell silent. The aura the boy held was dark and lonesome, it seemed the five of them felt that all together. Exactly at two in the afternoon, as soon as the world clock had struck the zero again, the door to the restaurant had opened, and in came Mikiya and Maika.

“Sorry everyone. We would have been here earlier, but Mr. Right-on-time here decided to sit in the car until now.” Maika always knew how to lighten up a crowd, even if it was unintentional.

Mikiya shot him a look, it was not a habit, and it was common courtesy to arrive exactly on time.

“Mai, I set the time, so I intend to arrive directly on that time.” He stepped up to the only one he did not recognize, politely. He gave the stranger a charming smile and a shallow bow. “You must be Ruka.” His mature, almost motherly tone was soft and calming. He held out a hand to the darkly dressed boy politely.

“I am Hirota Mikiya.” 

Standing at the far end of the line, Ruka had looked down to Mikiya's long slender hand, expressionless. It took a few moments, but hesitantly he reached for the other’s hand, shaking it gently.
“Akuma Ruka.” Though silent, the room grew eerily silent with the information of his last name.

One blinked, speaking slowly.
“Akuma? Like the de…” He was cut off quickly.

Ruka had looked over his shoulder to the young man that spoke. His hollow, hypnotic eyes fixed strongly on the cute young man.

“Yes like the demon.” He had already known what the young boy was to say, he just beat him to it. “And who might you be?” He directed a socially acceptable question back at the cute, young male. Ruka's light brown eyes pierced out from under his black hoody sternly.

The young male stared into his brown eyes for what seemed like forever. He blinked a few times; think that he had spoken already, yet no words have left his lips yet. Someone tapped him and brought him back to reality.

“My name is Sasaki Daichi.” The young cute boy finally spoke his voice seemed distant. “Nice to meet you Ruka.” Daichi finally pried his eyes from the male, blushing for a reason he did not know. The male’s eyes were sharp and hypnotic, making it hard to look away from them.

Now that introductions were at hand, everyone else continued.

“Hajimemashite Ruka kun. I am Maika. Fukinoto Maika.” His sweet, cheerful tone was energetic as usual. “Mr. Right-on-time’s friend.” Directing his gaze in Mikiya’s direction.

“Yoroshiku Ruka. I am Kurosaki Ryuu.” He bowed his head. “Hajimemashite.”

“Hi, I'm Kitamei Rin. Yoroshiku.”

“I, I am Hitomi Aiya.” His voice was soft and shy; he still didn't like meeting new people. “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.”

He waved cutely. “Kaore Maruki.” He had a soft, yet energetic voice. “Yoroshiku Ruka.”

The other two had obviously known Ruka for they came in with him.

Daichi spoke up again; he wanted to talk to the new boy again.

“Daichi, Sasaki.” He paused in between names.

Ryuu, who sat on one side of him looked to him slowly with one brow raised. Maruki, who sat on the other side of him, looked at him with almost the same expression. In less then a blink of an eye, Daichi was slapped upside the back of the head.

“Daichi you are being creepy.” Maruki narrowed his wide, almond shaped eyes at Daichi, who had now returned to his normal self. “Gomen ne Ruka kun.” He apologized cutely with a wide, bright smile. Everyone now took their seats around the long, clean table. Once everyone was introduced and got their minor chitchat out of the way, they all became silent. Mikiya is the one that called this meeting, for the millionth time, for he was the only one who was really curious in meeting the Ruka person. They had asked the cold, quiet boy about who this man was and whom he was with. When he had given a description of the man, none of them were able to identify him. There had been many different types of men all over, but none who appeared to wear sparkles over their chest and neck.

Ruka had not mentioned how these men had been killing their victims, nor had he mentioned that he was just like them. Those men were dangerous, more so for members of the younger community. Though Ruka was one of them, he knew of a so-called, side effect of being attractive. It was the main reason for the majority of their victims were young females. To Ruka on the other hand, he never thought of it as a side effect, he merely saw it as a victim preference. Most vampires appeared attractive because of those who fed on them; fed on them for their good looks. It was much like having intercourse. It was much like finding a good match to be a parent for a child; searching for those who had good genes.

It had only been an hour or so of chatting at this meeting about the man, or men killing around Tokyo, but it was over on a good note.

Last to arrive, first to leave, Mikiya and Maika had to leave first before the scatter brained Mikiya would forget, again, to put gas in their car. Rin normally got bored easily because he was easily distracted. That being the case, Rin, Ryuu and Daichi were the next to leave, right behind the other two. Mizuki had to take his brother home before he could return to his temporary residence at Mikiya's home. Having known his mother, she would want to talk to him, and he wanted to be able to get home on time, for once. They left soon after, going south to meet Kazuki's mother at his home.

This left Maruki and Aiya alone with Ruka, there was a low, quiet silence between them all. Aiya hated awkward silences most of all, he leaned in close to Maruki's ear, whispering softly.

“Maa, I'm going to go get a slush. Did you want one?” His low, sweet voice was something that was still reserved for his best friend, and brother Maruki.

Maruki looked over his shoulder, his face breaths from Aiya's. He nodded gently, his bright, almond shaped eyes gleaming beautifully.

“Yes please, Ai chan.” He whispered just as softly back to him. Aiya walked around Maruki, a hand pressing on his stomach as he did.

With Aiya now gone to a drink shop only a few doors away, this left Maruki alone with Ruka. He patted his thighs nervously with his palms. His bright, almond shaped eyes could not remain focused on the tall, young boy in front of him. The boy made him nervous, and these days, he did not get nervous easily.

“So,” he started. His coffee coloured eyes strained to focus on the boy. There was something about his aura that made Maruki nervous and fidgety. “Where are you going after?” The moment was growing more and more awkward by the second. He forced his eyes on Ruka, and it was very obvious that it were being forced upon him.

Ruka was silent; he really did not want to answer. He was not looking forward to another one-on-one conversation.

“Out. Maybe farther.” A true statement, yet a rather confusing one.

Maruki's narrow brows knit together in confusion, almost cutely. His full, pink lips pursed out in a pouting manner, in attempts to question the young man.

“Oh well, sounds like fun.” He smiled brightly, yet it was a small smile. He had hoped the boy would not shoot him a glare. “I would ask if I could join you. But, Aiya.” His thumb pointed over his shoulder to the door behind him, he just couldn't leave Aiya alone tonight, or any night for that matter.

Ruka was confused by the boy’s strange offer; he took a step back, looking up to him through his thick, black bangs.

“Yes, I understand.” His voice was distant, as if those words were programmed into his brain like a robot. “It is all right.” He denied Maruki in a polite, human like manner.

Maruki shrugged off the mysterious boy, waving his hand slightly.

“I was kidding anyways.” He laughed quietly, trying his hardest to get out of this awkward situation.  “Well you must be eager to go out, and I don't want to hold you back anymore.” Maruki stepped aside, offering Ruka the opportunity to leave first.

“Well, see you around Ruka kun.” Ruka looked to the cheerful, enlightened boy through his thick bangs still. He had not responded to him, he had only walked around him silently.

From this short meeting, Maruki had seen that this Ruka person did not like to speak all that much, so he did not question his silence on the way out. The metal and glass door had slid closed behind Ruka slowly, leaving Maruki in the restaurant.

Maruki left, standing out in the blinding sunlight. Only minutes had past, and Aiya should have been done by now and heading back towards where Maruki was standing. His light brown, over-layering hair seemed to twinkle in the bright light of the sun. He stood blankly for a moment when a black blur caught his eye. He looked to the colour that caught his eye, a small smile forming in the corner of his full, lush lips.

The black blur was unmistakably Aiya's pure black hair. He headed off to meet him half way. Aiya held two, already thawing slush drinks, one in each hand. Gently and sweetly, Maruki took one drink from him, smiling his award-winning smile.

“Thank you Ai.” He took the straw between his lips and took a small sip. He made a small, pleasant sound; it was obvious that the flavor was good.

“My favourite, thanks Ai.” He thanked him again, stepping forward to him. Maruki went to kiss Aiya's forehead, yet stopped when an older family came out of the restaurant they were in. both chuckled lightly and distanced themselves from each other for the sake of the public eye.

The two had strolled off, going for a walk before they went home. With no release yet of their single or PV, all the members were still able to wander without being approached by strangers. It was only like this for now, all of them knew that could change at any moment and it would never be the same again. It was only for a few moments, but the two could see Ruka up ahead of them until he had turned a corner.

The air was fresh, the sky was clear, and the temperature was perfect, it was a perfect afternoon for a walk. Although perfect, this perfect day would lead into a perfect night for another hunting of another victim. For Ruka and Mikiya, they would be keeping an eye out for the murders. For Mikiya, he would be watching the television for any pattern of locations; Ruka would be looking for them in person.