Innocence
Many say that the heavens and spirits were unfair. Well, you couldn’t say that to the queen of the spirits, Yoisaki Kanade. The most powerful of them, wanting to save everybody from their cruel fates.
Even so, the humans couldn’t comprehend her love for their race and they began to hate her. Everybody made up false stories with Kanade as a villain, making her seem more and more terrible. Even so, she was forced to come down to Earth from time to time: those vampires were really a problem. Other spirits could easily die just for a little bite, so it was their queen’s datory to make sure that no one will be harmed.
Now, she was walking among humans, but not for long. Wanting to make it as short as possible, Kanade quickly spotted the house that was rumored to be the residence of one of the vampires. Even so, Kanade wasn’t to trustfull of this fact. Vampires weren’t that stupid to reveal their home so easily.
She was here just because of a rumor that began to circulate in the realm. Spirits talked about how this land seemed to be even more populated by vampires than any other lands. They began to terrorize that, maybe, here are all of the highest-ranking vampires. When Kanade heard of this rumor, she went to investigate, as it could be a path.
When she was preparing to leave the castle, one of her subordinates came to her and handed her what seemed to be the address of “one of the most powerful vampires”. Kanade thanked him and said she’ll take a look, but she really didn’t think that a vampire would be there. After all, it was just a small village.
Returning to the present, Kanade thought a little before ringing the bell. She could remember a time where she was human and helped people. She liked to do that. She liked to save people. And Kanade could save even more if she eliminates this vampire. Maybe she could even return them to their original form. Kanade knew that this was impossible, but she could give it a try in the future, could she?
Kanade took a deep breath and rang the bell. Slowly, a girl with long purple hair opened the door. She seemed to be dressed normally, even a bit poorly. It didn’t compare to the complicated clothes vampires usually wore, noted Kanade.
”Hello. I’m a traveler who got lost. I’m nearly starving. Can you…help me?”
Kanade tried to do her best impression, but she was still sounding off as a human.
”Ah, you’re starving?! Come here, come here!”
The girl gestured for Kanade to enter. The spirit took a quick look at her. She couldn’t possibly be a vampire. She was too kind and considerate. But she could be an easy target for some female vampires. Maybe, Kanade should say something about this.
"Take a seat! Let me prepare something, traveler.”
Kanade took her seat, just like the girl said. Suddenly, she realised something. She didn’t even ask for the other girl’s name!
”Hm…I’m sorry, but…what’s your name?”
”My…name? Oh, I’m Mafuyu Asashina, but you can call me Mafuyu! And what’s your name, traveler?”
The name Mafuyu made Kanade remember a pair of cold, yet caring hands. A calm voice, gently whispering in her ear…
Kanade shook her head. What was that? She didn’t remember almost anything before the time she became a spirit, only that she liked to protect humans. Then who was this girl, Mafuyu?
Kanade realised that Mafuyu asked for her name, so she tried to forget about that. “I’m Kanade. Kanade Yoisaki.”
The girl didn’t have any kind of strange reaction, so Kanade just assumed that she imagined those memories. It would make sense, as she was almost obsessively searching for her past, in a try to remember what caused her death.
The girl finished her meal and returned to Kanade, smiling. The spirit couldn’t tell if that was really a sincere smile, but maybe she was just overthinking. Strangely, the memory of a similar smile popped in her head, a smile that…
"Yoisaki-san? Are you good?”
Kanade remembered where she was. Mafuyu was standing in front of her, looking concerned. She should comfort that girl until she assumed the worst of it.
"Hm? Ah, yes. I was just thinking, Asashina-san.”
Mafuyu gave her a gentle look and sat down across from her. Kanade looked at the food that was in front of her. She smiled and took a bite, tasting every bit of it. In the realm of the spirits, they didn’t have any human food. They only ate special fruits that were known for being very good and tasty. Even so, Kanade wanted to taste human food again and this occasion was perfect.
”You can just call me Mafuyu. No need to refer to me so politely.”
Kanade smilled. Mafuyu was really calm and polite. No wonder why she let Kanade stay in her house.
”Good then. Just call me Kanade as well.”
It was good not to be called “The queen of the realm” anymore. It was good just to play this game of pretend, to be finally perceived as a human once again.
”Oh, I understand. Do you like my food?”
It seemed that Mafuyu wanted to talk with someone. It was very fortunate that Kanade wanted to listen to her words. Mafuyu had a calm and gentle voice that Kanade really liked.
”Yes. It’s…good.”
It was that type of food that Kanade dreamt of in her dreams. It was a simple one, she wouldn’t lie, but it was good. After centuries and centuries of eating those fruits, she finally could eat human food.
”I’m happy, then! You’re welcome to stay here how much you want!”
Kanade didn’t want to trouble the young girl anymore, but at the same time she had many questions that needed answers.
”I…I will try not to trouble you too much, Mafuyu. I’m sure that your parents would be a little…confused.”
The girl’s name rolled almost familiarly, like she knew it for a lifetime. Like she called it on numerous nights, again, again and again.
”No need to worry. They’re…dead.”
This meant that the girl was all by herself. Kanade couldn’t just lert such a pitiful creature in their own misery. Quickly, she decided that she’ll stay by Mafuyu’s side until she eliminated the vampires. Yes, this was the better plan. Then, when Mafuyu will be safe, she’ll leave.
”Oh…I’m sorry for your loss.”
”It happened so much time ago! No need to apologise!”
Kanade took a sip of water from the little glass Mafuyu gave her. “Then, it would be good if I ask you some things? About this land?”
”No problem! Ask me anything and I will try to respond.”
”Good then. By any means, this land is populated by a few more powerful vampires?”
Mafuyu sighed. “I’ll say that it is. They seem to be almost everywhere, if you ask me.”
It wasn’t really a problem. Maybe they were here, but weren't high-ranking. Even so, she would fight with them either way.
”What can they do?”
This was an important question, as the power of a vampire seemed to lay in their abilities. If the vampire is capable of transforming other humans into puppet-like minions, then is considered to be of a higher rank. But if they are only feeding with blood and nothing more, not even killing the humans in the process, they are considered weaker. Of course, there were many ranks between these two, but Kanade was almost sure that she could understand how powerful were the vampires that Mafuyu wanted to talk about.
”Ah, I…I don’t really know, but I’ve heard many stories every now and then about people dying because of a massive loss of blood. All of the blood seemed to have dried out of them.”
”This seemed to be the work of an average vampire,” said Kanade. “The vampire is still among us?”
”It seems that…yes. Sometimes, it attacks every week, without any misses, one time at night. Sometimes, it doesn’t attack for months.”
So this meant that Kanade had some days off. It was good. She was already tired.
”Kanade?”
The spirit raised her head. Mafuyu’s voice was full of kindness.
”Yes?”
”You should sleep here.”
Kanade thought a little. Yes, it was a good idea. She could have her eyes on Mafuyu all of the time, so she wasn’t gonna be killed.
”You…you’re too kind, Mafuyu.”
”Ha ha, this is how humans are! Ah, let me show you your room!”
Mafuyu smiled, full of kindness. Then, she took Kanade’s hand and took her to her new room. It was strange for the spirit. Kanade was used to being hated by the humans, not being taken care of. But Mafuyu's tight grip showed real care and support.
”Do you like it?”asked Mafuyu, opening the door to a small bedroom.
”Yes. I…I like it. And…thank you once again.”
”Ha ha, no need to! I should let you rest, then.”
Mafuyu left the room, leaving Kanade with her own thoughts. She sat on her bed, a little confused.
Maybe Mafuyu was so kind because she didn’t know her identity. Yes, that was it. No one will be so kind to the queen of the realm. Mafuyu just thought that Kanade was just an ordinary girl, she was sure of it.
Kanade closed her eyes, laying on her bed. The spirits didn’t need to sleep, but they could. And so, to stop those thoughts, Kanade tried to fall asleep. Maybe Mafuyu will throw her out tomorrow. Maybe all of this was just an illusion. Maybe…maybe…
But when Kanade opened her eyes again the next morning, Mafuyu was there. And the other morning. And the other one. After three days in a row, Kanade was almost sure that Mafuyu wanted her to be there. It was strange to think like that.
On the third day, when Kanade and Mafuyu had dinner, the spirit’s head was full of thoughts. Should she go after the vampire? Or should she wait for an attack?
But her questions were interrupted by a loud bang on Mafuyu’s door. The purple haired girl stood up, confused. She made her way to the door and opened it, just to see her neighbor.
”Asashina! There was a new attack!”
Mafuyu knew what that meant too well. “I…thank you. I’ll protect myself.”
The door closed again. Mafuyu looked at the window just to see how everything was almost black. This was winter, after all.
”It seems that…it will attack tomorrow.” Mafuyu’s tone was sad, like she was already tired of all of these attacks.
Kanade knew that she needed to do something. The vampire should still be around the village. But she was never that close to a human. Mafuyu made her feel…good. Even if she didn’t know her identity, she was…gentle. What if the vampire broke in and decided to attack Mafuyu when Kanade was away? The spirit couldn’t accept this. Maybe it was just her want to protect humans, after all.
So, Kanade took Mafuyu’s hands in hers, gently squeezing them. They were cold, but this didn’t matter to Kanade.
”Do not worry. I…I…”
"Kanade. You’re just a traveler. A tired one. And a human. You can’t tell me that you want to stop that vampire.”
Kanade raised her head and looked directly into Mafuyu’s purple eyes. Those seemed insanely familiar as well. Without her notice, she squeezed Mafuyu’s hands even tighter.
”This is my job.”
”I don’t care. If you’re tired, you’re tired.”
Kanade knew that she needed to protect those humans. To save them from this fate. But Mufuyu seemed like she already decided that Kanade needed to sleep a long time ago. She wasn’t wrong, either. Kanade was always tired. This trait seems to remain even when she was in her spirit form. She wasn’t sure if she could win against that vampire, but…
”You need to rest first, Kanade. I promise that I will let you go tomorrow!”
Mafuyu’s tone was somewhat desperate and panicked. Kanade sighed, as she knew that she couldn’t escape from this. The spirit knew that she’ll be tired the next day. And the next. And the next.
”Let’s say that…I’m a little tired.”
It was a little weird to say it out aloud. Always, she was the one protecting and saving other people. Almost no one cared for her as she was. No one seemed to notice that she was tired almost every time. But Mafuyu seemed to be different.
”Even you said it.”
”Yes, you’re…you’re right. I’ll…rest a little today.”
Mafuyu smiled. But this smile was different from the first one. It looked more gentle and kind, as she took Kanade to her room.
Mafuyu was really kind. If that vampire killed her, Kanade will blame herself for the rest of her life. Suddenly, an idea came to her.
”Mafuyu?”she called for the girl that almost left the room. The purple haired girl turned again to the spirit.
”What is it, Kanade?”
”You know about the vampire. I should keep my eyes on you.”
”Hm? What do you mean by this? I’ve already said that you don’t need to worry.”
”I want to be sure.”
Mafuyu was surprised. Completely surprised. Kanade began to think that she said something wrong and began to feel ashamed. After all, she didn't even ask Mafuyu before!
”No, I’m sorry, I-”
”If this will help you sleep, then I don’t have any problem,” said Mafuyu, smiling brightly at Kanade. “I understand.”
Mafuyu layed down on Kanade’s bed, still having that smile on her lips. She looked happy, so Kanade didn’t say anything too wrong. After all, she only wanted to protect Mafuyu. This girl was too kind for this world.
When Kanade layed down, she felt warmer. She took a look at the almost-sleeping Mafuyu, then she herself closed her eyes. Now, she was really protecting the girl.
Kanade liked to protect people, but it seemed like today was not the day. But maybe it was.