I felt someone's lips crash into mine. I couldn't move, I couldn't think, I couldn't feel. I wanted to open my eyes, but I had hardly any energy. The only thing I could do was suck the essence out of the human, whoever it was. I just prayed it wasn't Shunsuke. He couldn't afford to loose any essence right now. Not in his current state.
I took a lot of essence, even though I hadn't really wanted to. After I started taking his essence, I knew it wasn't Shunsuke's; this one wasn't nearly as appealing. I could feel the wound in my stomach healing. When the lips were removed from mine, I had to wait several minutes before I could do anything. I was hardly aware of anything, only the ringing in my ears.
Sitting up, I grabbed my head. A part of me wanted to throw up. I groaned to myself, not meaning to have made any noise.
"You're awake; are you ok?" Shunsuke asked, coming over to my side, he placed a hand on my shoulder. My whole body was still oddly sensitive. I had never had so much essence drained from me before, and my body was still trying to recover. I nodded, not having the energy to speak. "We need to get home."
"Don't you think she is still weak," hideki said. It was the first time I noticed him here with me. So it was his essence I had taken. I'd have to remember to thank him later.
"No, she recovers fast," Shunsuke told him. "We are heading off, and hideki, keep what I told you a secret for kaydens sake."
He smiled "Don't worry,my lips are sealed" he said. Hideki was such a good friend. I know I'd be freaked out a whole lot more than he was if I had been in his shoes.
With that, we left. Shunsuke put his arm around me after I stumbled on the sidewalk, still unable to get my feet moving the way they were supposed to. This might require a day of resting. I might not be able to go to school tomorrow. It would depend on how well I made it through the night.
"My Lady," Dia came out of the necklace. "How are you feeling? You don't need Mandrake root, do you?" she asked me.
I shook my head, "No," I told her, letting the subject drop. To get what I needed would require me to go into the Shadow World, and with the source of all evil after me, I was certainly not going to be doing that in my current state.
"I am sorry about earlier; I let my anger get the best of me," Shunsuke said looking ahead of him trying to avoid eye contact. "I knew you were just trying to help."
The apology surprised me; I had completely forgotten about our little argument. I looked up at him. "No, you had every right to yell at me. Even back home, I'm known for telling it like it is. I just need to learn to consider others' feelings." I looked down. "I'm sorry I'm always causing you trouble. I don't mean to. I feel like I'm helping, but it's always just more work for you."
We had arrived at the house now, so we waited until we were safely inside before we continued. I plopped down on the couch, Shunsuke sat next to me.
"I went too far. Sure, you're a little overwhelming sometimes, but you make my day interesting. And besides, without you, I'd be dead, so I should be grateful," he admitted.
I smiled, knowing this was very difficult for him. I leaned in closer to him. "Can we promise not to fight like that again?" I asked. He nodded. "And thank you for saving my life. Any moment later and I would have faded." I kissed him on the cheek. An actual kiss this time, not sucking out his essence.
I got up and moved to the kitchen, needing some water. Dia came back out of the necklace and stood on the counter. "What are you going to do now?" she whispered so that Shunsuke wouldn't overhear what we were talking about. "Lanzar being dead is going to get back to Him."
I turned the faucet on and filled the glass, downing it in one gulp. I stared at the wall, leaning on the sink. "I don't know. I need to go back to the Shadow World and make sure there aren't any other demons that know about my being here. There might have been other demons in the shadows or something that I hadn't been able to get."
"But in your current state, you'd be ripped apart," Dia insisted. "You must wait several days before you even think of going back."
"If I don't go now, it'll be too late. I can't afford to wait. If they know where I am, they are going to send more. I can't keep putting Shunsuke in danger. I won't have his death on my hands. Not this time." I moved to the window in the kitchen and stared at the sky.
"But what if one comes while you're gone?" Dia asked.
"I'll be leaving you with him. And, the whistle will be here. I'll hear it, even in the Shadow World. I'm not worried about them getting him while I'm gone," I said.
"Gone?" Shunsuke's voice startled me. "You're leaving?" he asked.
I turned around. Unsure of how much he had overheard. "Only for a little bit. I'll be back before school in the morning. You should be fine over night. I'm leaving Dia here, and you have the whistle. Nothing should happen. Besides, I'm sure you'd enjoy having the place to yourself for a night."
He shook his head. "But, why are you leaving?" he persisted.
"It's better for you not to know," I told him, turning back around. "The less you know the better."
Dia spoke up from her perch on the counter. "I think he has a right to know. This is his life we are talking about as well. My Lady, tell him."
"Ya, I think I deserve to know," Shunsuke said. "Wait, that demon from earlier. He wasn't after me. He was after you, wasn't he?"
I closed my eyes tightly, and brushed passed him, walking into the bedroom. I needed to change clothes. Shunsuke followed me into the room. "I need to change!" I told him impatiently.
"You can't leave until you tell me what's going on!" he insisted. "My life is on the line here, too. I need to know."
I didn't care. I changed my clothes right in front of Shunsuke. He just blushed and turned around. "Yes, that demon was after me. And he works for a very big demon that is after me as well. So, I need to go to the Shadow World and make sure there weren't any other demons who know about my whereabouts here in the human world or we are both dead."
I moved back to the living room, taking off Dia's necklace. I handed it over to Shunsuke. "Here. Dia will protect you with her life if need be. But, before that has to happen, use the whistle. Now, I need to go now or it'll be too late."
"But, in your current state, aren't you dead either way?" he asked finally.
I stopped and turned back to him. "Better me than you." With that, I disappeared out the door, running at full speed.
