Blood

(A/N: so I now have three more pill bottles to make a total of 5, so that happened. Oh yeah I'm also going to shoot for releasing a second chapter sometime in the afternoon so look forward to it. We're getting close to a special surprise I have in mind :0)

The pain in my neck faded as soon as the she-ghoul jumped away, but a dull pinching sensation pulsed around my neck and annoyed the hell out of me. I rubbed my neck as I stared at the little vampire like Ghoul. Even though she seemed completely relaxed, her stance left no opening and it would be impossible to land a surprise attack on her, so I instead tried conversation. "So, why the hell am I here again? And who the hell are you, it's impolite to suck someone's blood without giving your name you know..." She laughed and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before replying "My name is Naomi Veranth, and I am the first 'Noble' as the Ghouls call them nowadays. You should be happy that I decided that I like you, because I'm like super strong!" She stuck her tongue out at me and gave me a wink that sent shivers down my spine. To be honest, I am not a fan of having what looks like a child, give me a predatory look. The situation was turning rather awkward as silence permeated the space, so I backed up a few steps to counter the steps she took before saying "Well, looks like my time is up so I'll be seeing myself out! I'll, uh, catch you on the flip side...yeah!"

Naomi laughed in a very seducing manner before biting her bottom lip and continuing her advance toward me. I felt my shoulders sag as I rapidly thought of ways to get the hell away from this little demon, but nothing came to mind. Before I knew it I had a small girl latched onto my neck, sucking my blood furiously. I struggled to stay conscious out fo fear of what would actually happen if I lost too much blood in this space, but she left just enough to keep me alive and conscious. I fell to my knees and felt my body give out as blood pumped through my veins in the futile effort to stabilize itself, but I fell down to my back and the girl made my chest into her own personal chair as she leaned in toward my ear and whispered "Come back anytime...I'll be waiting, Master...!"

The last thing I remember seeing where her devilish green eyes illuminating the dark as I faded away. I opened my heavy eyelids and stared at my ceiling while slowly rubbing my neck. Even now I still felt that damned pinching sensation. I popped my joints and stretched before throwing on a pair of trousers and a form fitting white t-shirt and walking out into the hall. I almost ran into Touka and she snarled as she said "Hey, watch where you're...going...? Hey, the hell happened to you?" Her voice trailed off at the latter part of her sentence when she stared into my lifeless eyes. I couldn't tell her that I was violated by a demonic loli or else I'd just get laughed at or called weird, so I played it off as not enough sleep.

I ambled down the hallway and then down the staircase that led to the training room underground. I thought maybe I could release some of this stress by hitting a few things. However, what I had found instead was Mr. Yomo patiently waiting for me while leaning on the wall next to the door with his arms crossed. "So, your kakuja is finally taking form huh? Let me guess, you lost the first battle, yet you're still in control...you are one confusing kid you know that Ryu?" I stopped and adopted a confused expression as I asked "Wait, so the things I've been experiencing has something to do with my kakuja...?"

Yomo nodded his head and went on to explain that a kakuja can take form into many different things, but usually it somewhat resembles the kagune of the Ghoul that you had cannibalized and then the 'spirit', for lack of a better term, would then inhabit your body and pit you against a series of trials in order to determine your actual strength, be it mental or psychical, and if you successfully completed the trials you'd come out with a fully formed kakuja, but if you failed you'd be driven mad and controlled by your incomplete kakuja. I never heard about this before so it was quite an experience when I put 2 and 2 together.

I told Yomo what had happened recently and my first time coming into contact with Naomi and he said that I most likely had an incomplete kakuja, yet I obviously had full control over it. He was just as confused as I am. Yomo asked me to activate my kakuja and I did so with a mere thought, causing black smoke to dance around me and cover my before forming into the usual frayed robe with a hood and white skull mask. I felt that I had full control and I felt normal, yet something still felt off, like a small piece of the puzzle was missing. I felt my blood boil and my heart began to race the longer I was in my kakuja form, so I deactivated it and endured a massive headache that assaulted me afterwards. Maybe I don't have the control that I think I do...

I heard a familiar, eerie giggle from behind me. My face twisted into fear and rage. I was afraid of that little demon because she was the one who really taught me what it feels like to be helpless and what it feels like to know defeat, and I felt rage because I hated that she was stronger than me. If she wanted she could probably kill everyone that I've grown so fond of over the past month. I spun around and my hand drew an arc in the air only to hit nothing, another giggle sounding out from behind me. I felt like I was just going crazy because Yomo couldn't hear it and was looking at me with a worried look. I felt a small hand grip my shoulder from behind, but no one was there when I turned my head.

My fear was beginning to overtake my rage, but I caught myself and tried to calm down. A small hand traces its way down my neck and upper back while I felt that painful sensation of teeth biting into my neck and sucking my blood, but I ignored it and steadied my breathing before calmly turning around to see Naomi's small figure staring up at me. She stuck her tongue out and winked before fading away like dust in the wind, leaving me absolutely exhausted and feeling incredibly sick. Yomo caught me as I was about to fall face first into the ground and helped me back to my room. He said that what happened may have been the results of the Ghoul spirit trying to take control of my body, or trying to make me fail a mental trial. It seems like I barely passed then, ahahah...

I sat on my bed with my face in my hands as I tried to calm my furious heart, but it felt like even if I had slowed my heart rate to 1 beat a minute I'd still be able to hear it beating clear as day. My mouth felt dry so I picked up a bottle of water I had on my nightstand from last night, but even after gulping the water down I had an uncomfortable feeling in my mouth, like I needed something more. A knock at my door brought me back to reality as I wiped the sweat from my brow and called out for them to enter. It was Emily and Touka, who both had quite the expressions on their faces. If I felt better I'd make fun of them despite the consequences but I'll let them have a free day today.

They walked in and pulled up chairs from a desk I had in the far corner of my room and sat at the side of the bed with Touka having the first word "Whats wrong, Ryu, I'm sure we could help if you just asked for it..." Damn, I really want to tease her for saying something like that but oh well, I settled for saying "Nah, it's nothing, really. You don't have to worry about me, just keep on being youse-" Touka slammed her fist on the nightstand and yelled "Damnit Ryu, why do you have to keep doing everything on your own!? You can't take on everything by yourself so let us help you for once! You're just going to break down sooner or later and then we'll lose you...!" I saw her hand shaking and Emily's brow furrowed as she cast her gaze downward and mumbled "Please...let us help you..." Damn, they look cute and they're begging me, how the hell can I say no...? I doubt they can actually help me out but, maybe I can try to lean on them for once...

A small pillar of smoke took shape behind Touka and Naomi appeared with her kagune against the formers head as she said "Aw, my Master is cheating on me..." her face formed a pout as she continued "It would be a shame if I killed her, don't you think, Master?" My thought were in turmoil but my face was a stone mask as I stared at the little Ghoul with an icy glare. I noticed that the time around us had seemed to stop because neither Emily nor Touka were moving or making a sound. I narrowed my eyes and said "Get the hell out of here, I don't need you right now. I'll call on you when I do need you..." if she recognized me as he master than she should listen to my commands.

Her pout intensified as she slowly faded away into a dark mist and her voice echoed out the words "I won't forget this, Master. Make sure to spoil me plenty, kay?"

Time had resumed and so did my conversation with the two beauties in front of me. I sighed and rubbed my throbbing temples before acquiescing to their demand. I told them everything, including my time as a test subject and now with the Ghoul who's trying to take over my body. They stayed quiet the whole time I was speaking and were attentive, their faces displaying their emotions like a screen. I could tell that they felt pity for me and they actually wanted to help me out, but for some reason I wasn't actually traumatized by the numerous years I spent as a lab rat, it was just another part of my life. I mean sure, my way of thinking was pretty fucked up and I was definitely not like any other ordinary 15 year old, but I felt as if I could learn how to be with all of these people that surround me. Maybe I should trust these people and let them carry some of the burdens I carried.

As I was thinking these things I was also surprised when both Emily and Touka embraced me and gently rubbed my hair, giving me a warm feeling that eliminated the usual coldness in my body. I felt a singular tear drop down my cheek as I smiled and returned their embrace. I had found a place to call my own with people who cared for me. I think I can finally say that I've fulfilled my parents final wish.

I had found a group of people that I cared for, and could confidently call my family...