Vampire Heart 6

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Scroll 07: Heart to Heart
Naoko kept glancing over at Vicente who kept his eyes forward. "I know you're not staring at my eyes," Vicente remarked.
Naoko blushed, "What makes you say that?"
"Because I know better," Vicente replied simply.
Naoko didn't know how to reply so she simply shrugged, "I can't help it. I have so many things I need to know before I can accept the reality of this."
"Well, shoot," Vicente said calmly.
"Did you know this would happen?"
Vicente shook his head, "Not at first...I just didn't want you to be the next meal of such a careless vampire. And I realized that I could in fact save you when I saw the necklace...and now, here we are."
"You already care about me and we just met a few days ago?"
Vicente was instantly scarlet, There is no way she knows I'm infatuated with her...is there?
"Some books and legends say that vampires have super powers or inhuman abilities. So, do you have a special ability besides a lifetime of servitude?" Naoko asked.
"I haven't discovered one yet. Most vampires can jump as high as I do, or are as strong as me, so those really don't count. How did you know that vampires have unique abilities?"
"My grandmother told me of a handsome vampire with the ability to read minds, and told me of other vampires with such abilities. As a child they were just fantastic stories, but as an eighteen-year-old adult they might prove as a point of reference since she wasn't lying about the necklace or the existence of vampires."
"She gave you the necklace?" Vicente asked.
Naoko smiled, "Yes, she told me that they exist, solely to serve a mistress within our family. She always seemed sad when it came to what happened to the mind reading vampire, though."
"Do you think he died?" Vicente thought aloud.
"I've considered it, but the talk of him lights her eyes more than even grandfather did," Naoko muttered. "It's like she l-"
"Loved a vampire as a human?" Vicente finished her sentence.
Naoko glanced up at him, "That's what I have always thought. But wouldn't that be cause for a lynching?"
Vicente frowned, "Only if they know he's a vampire..." He glanced over at Naoko who was still staring at him. "Any more questions, mistress?"
"Yeah, why did you really want to protect me? That goes against your nature," Naoko said quickly.
Vicente couldn't break away from staring at her, "You're my friend and I saw it as an opportunity to come clean early."
Naoko smiled, "I'm glad you did."
"Are you glad that I came clean or protected you?"
"Both," Naoko replied.
"Even if it wasn't my job, I'd still do it anytime," Vicente said confidently.
Naoko glanced away from him: Grandmother is definitely getting a thank you card for this necklace…
"Shall we?" Vicente asked, motioning toward a donut shop.
"Let's," Naoko said simply.
They emerged with three dozen donuts and a cup of coffee and continued on their way. "How do you have so much money?"
"All of the people who died while I was feeding on them get robbed since they no longer have a need for money," Vicente said coldly.
"And how thirsty are you now?"
"A drink of your coffee will satisfy me," Vicente shrugged. "I just fed last night, remember?"
"I thought you couldn't feed off of vampires?"
"He wasn't fully developed. He was more or less a demented human," Vicente explained.
"But you were thirsty when you climbed through my window?"
"I figured that saving you was worth the risk of wanting to drink your blood since I would force myself out of your house instantly." Vicente's tone seemed like he was biting something back.
"What are you hiding?" Naoko asked.
"N-nothing. I just..." Vicente turned into an alley and Naoko followed him. "Here," he said, handing a dozen of donuts and a coffee to a homeless man.
"Thank you, young man, your things are behind me," the homeless man replied.
"I'm old enough to be your grandfather with ten greats in front of it," Vicente said. "Thank you and you're welcome." Vicente emerged with a suit case and was back at Naoko's side.
"That's sweet," Naoko whispered.
"Thanks," Vicente blushed as he took the two dozen donuts from Naoko and stacked them on his suit case.
"You paid him with food and coffee, though," Naoko quirked her eyebrow.
"He's an alcoholic. It's better to give him food and a drink then to watch him get drunk again. That's why I always buy the homeless food and beverage or clothing and blankets."
Naoko nodded, "You amaze me. I figured the homeless would be a good target for vamping."
"I told you I take their money if I accidentally kill them," Vicente said simply.
"My life is to be filled with crime..." Naoko sighed. "At least once a week we're committing a break and enter, possibly robbery, and most likely murder..."
"No, you'd just be an accessory," Vicente corrected her. "Guilty by association, that's all."
"On a lighter topic..." Naoko quibbled, "What were you going to say by the alley way?"
Vicente was red again, "It's nothing."
"I'll order you to tell me," Naoko threatened. "Yeah, see...if I have drawbacks to this situation, then so do you..."
"You just tend to..." Vicente gritted his teeth.
"Tend to what?"
How am I supposed to tell her that she puts me in a manic...instantly...I'm always hyped up around her? How do I tell her that? How do I tell her she tends to arouse me?
"Vicente? You don't have to tell me," Naoko assured him.
"I'm trying to figure out how to describe it..." Vicente said simply. "It's like you awaken the vampire side of me. I tend to suppress it...but you invigorate that side to me..."
"Why is that blush worthy? Being around me is just a rush of adrenaline for you," Naoko said simply.
"Because my word choice doesn't even cover it..." Vicente replied coyly.
"What do you mean?"
Vicente glanced away from her, "Dropping the subject, now."
"Alright," Naoko smirked. "You know you're cute when you blush, right?"
Vicente's cheeks were red again, "Thanks. I think..." He stared down at his feet trying to adjust to the new feelings that overtook him when he was in her presence.
Naoko pressed her lips to his cheek, "It's a compliment. Don't worry."
Don't over-react. She's just kissing you to reassure you, Vicente thought to keep himself to remain calm. "Why did you kiss me?"
"Because I adore you," Naoko replied.
Vicente smiled and pecked her cheek quickly, "Then, ditto." Naoko stared up at him as they continued walking. "What?" he asked.
"I still get the feeling that you're hiding something," Naoko whispered.
"Why would you get that feeling?"
"Because you are," Naoko said as they reached her house. "If somebody's home, we're just hanging out and you're the new kid."
"That's not really far off, is it?" Vicente asked.
"Well, you're moving in and only I'm going to know about it," Naoko replied. "Unless somebody finds out or we have to tell them."
"Okay," Vicente agreed as they stepped back into the empty house.

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Vampire Heart 8