Slivers of weak sunlight fled in through the red silk curtains of the window. On the other side of the room, still blanketed in darkness, a door crept open. Takuma walked into his room and shut the door, leaning heavily on the knob for uncountable minutes, heaving in more air.

As morning wore on, light shed color on his drained features and dried blood in his hair and on his shirt. Dust stirred in the streams of light around him. Still, he held onto the door, motionless but for his long breaths.

Finally, Takuma removed his sweaty hands from the door. Only a few vampires were still awake, all those he knew well, and one he thought would have been much better off not knowing him. He pulled away, stumbling deeper into his room. A draft washed through his moist face and neck.

"Gomen..." the young noble murmured, collapsing on his bed and passing into a deep sleep for the first time in weeks.