Night Resonance
By: Jenna Johnson

Night One: Victim

It's hard to start this. I barely remember anything. Then again it was the others who saved me and did bring back portions of my memory. My name is Katsuya. I'm not sure of my last name or even if that really is my first. Miroko and the others, like I said, helped to bring back my memory a little. I sort of remember who I am but not really. This is confusing. First off, I'd like to mention I'm not human. I'm actually a vampire thanks to a strange man named Pisces and his strange reincarnation that follows him, Alice. I really should start from the beginning even though that's a stretch within itself. I believe I was brought up in a rich family that lived, actually, quite a while ago and while they lived out their lives I'm stuck eternally as a 17-year-old. I'm not alone though, I accidentally made my band into vampires as well but few seem to notice. Miroko, on the other hand, is strange for a human. He claims he's immune to being bitten. I wonder how he knows. Was he bitten before? If so by who? It's too puzzling to think about right now.
Anyway, I'm just typical. I had normal skin color at one time compared to this sickly pale and my eyes were a little darker. I still have bright red hair, not the normal orange red either, more like, well, blood red, actually more of a ketchup color but never mind. I don't remember my height or my weight or even my birthday so that's left out altogether. I guess this is getting too informative but then again Miroko told me telling people about myself was important as compared to just leaving them in the dark. It's been really one strange adventure after I did turn seventeen. I guess starting at the beginning would be helpful. Here goes...

? ? ?

It had been two years since Katsuya left home. He was only thirteen at the time but felt inspired by his older sister Kaede. Then again she was going to another country or possibly going to study abroad in America. Katsuya really wasn't sure. Either way he'd left home with only a few different articles of clothing, some money which could last him a lifetime the way he spent it, and a birthday present his sister had given him before she left, a guitar. He'd been wandering around Tokyo for only a few days before an old man let him rent a room above his store. It was there that Katsuya practiced his guitar playing and was more than spared from the harsh weather outside. It had only started to rain hard after he'd found his temporary home.
Katsuya actually admired this city. So many people and so many places that were actually jammed into one small location. He really wished his father had lived here over way out in the middle of nowhere. But he'd always told Katsuya that there were a lot of evil people in the world that could deceive even a child like him. But Katsuya had a naive faith in the world. He wanted to prove his father wrong. He didn't mind the challenge in the least. But for some reason that would all change...

"Really, you're letting a child rent out a room for nothing?!" A woman yowled.
"He's not harming anyone and he is helpful around here when we ask. But usually we don't have to." An old woman replied.
"A child is still a child. It's bad enough you can't afford anything good with this miserable bakery." The first woman rasped again.
The old woman sighed and walked back toward the oven now checking something. unknown to either of them Katsuya was seated on the stairs behind an ajar door with his guitar. He knew the younger woman. It was the old lady's greedy daughter-in-law who usually would step on anyone she felt was beneath her in the slightest. She once made her dog chase Katsuya back into the shop because she despised children of any sort. But this was really too much. The woman wanted the old couple to sell the shop so she could take over and make it into a successful apartment building. The shop really was doing badly lately.
"But if we leave where will he go? You don't seem to want him to stay." The old woman said.
"Throw him in an orphanage for all I care. He's still a kid." The woman rasped.
"But he has a family. He's told us about them so much. He's the son of Mr. Takeda." The old woman now set out a basket on the counter.
"The Takeda Co. Takeda?" The woman looked at her.
"I believe so."
"It still doesn't matter. Why is he alone?"
Katsuya sighed and got up from the steps. He turned and walked up to his room now ignoring the conversation.
"He really is a nice boy. He helps out around here a lot and doesn't ask for much except that room. He's also been playing an instrument up there and he offers to play for us sometimes when he's up to it." The old woman noted.
"Still...I want him gone by tomorrow." The woman growled then stalked out.
"Oh dear...What shall we do? He's not old enough to be out there alone. He's only just turned sixteen hasn't he?" The old woman looked back to her husband who was seated by the oven.
"He has. Maybe it's just best he goes back home." The old man replied before getting up from his chair.
"Poor thing." The old woman watched him walk past.
The old man stopped at the steps and opened the door. He then cleared his throat before turning back to his wife.
"He was listening too I believe. I heard him come down over an hour ago but he didn't make any noise. Is Atsuko really that mean?" He said quietly.
"She did make her dog go after him that one day. He didn't even come down to get his supper that night." The old woman said matter-of-factly.
The old man started up the steps before hearing his wife begin to say something making him look back.
"Be careful in how you say it. Katsuya seems to be so attached to us and this place." She said softly.

Katsuya dug under his mattress and pulled out a small bundle. He picked through it and pocketed it shortly after. It was all the money he owned that had rarely, if ever, had been spent. He got up and walked back toward his suitcase now checking through all his clothing. He'd already placed his guitar in its case and felt rather sad it was so abrupt to leave without a word to the old couple he'd known for the past two years.
Katsuya looked up as he heard a knock and let out a sigh without a word before the door creaked open. The old man appeared and looked down.
"Katsuya..." He began.
"I know. I heard Atsuko talking. I'll leave today." Katsuya got up from the floor.
"We really wish it wasn't like this but we're too old and our son is a businessman. He's left Atsuko in charge." The old man said.
"It's not so bad. I'll just find a new place. I have more than enough to pay for somewhere." Katsuya insisted confidently.
"You make it sound so easy Katsuya." The old man noted sadly as Katsuya picked up his belongings.
He began to walk toward the door before looking up.
"Mother will prepare some food for you before you go. This way you'll still eat if it takes away all your savings." The old man said.
"Thanks." Katsuya smiled and walked after the old man.

Katsuya walked along the street with his baggage and sighed. It was beginning to rain again and he hadn't seen a rent sign anywhere yet. He looked at the small bundle pinned to his suitcase and sighed. This was sadder than when he left his home to pursue his own dreams. He shook his head and ducked under a doorway of a closed shop as it began to downpour.
"Him? He's a child." A girl's voice dully said.
"He's perfect." A male voice replied.
Katsuya sat down and pulled apart the package now eating a small loaf of bread. A darkly clad figure now appeared out of nowhere and seemed to be slowly walking toward him with a little dark-haired girl in a white dress walking after him holding a headless doll tightly. Katsuya wanted to laugh at this sight but was a little more curious than humored. The man looked up showing he had long gold hair and rather pale skin. His eyes were the same bright red as Katsuya's hair and he had noticeable fangs where as the girl was just as white as her dress nearly and her eyes were a jet black. The man and girl stopped in front of Katsuya, slightly scaring him as he sat there on the ground defenselessly.
"Are you alone?" The man asked.
Katsuya was a little shocked about how deep his voice was too. Kinda like his creepy uncle that came to the house on holidays or whenever he had free time away from his job.
"Y-Yes." Katsuya squeaked out.
"Hmm. For now how about you follow us? We have more than enough room for you to stay for a while." The man said now looking ahead down the street.
"Umm..." Katsuya blinked.
"We don't mean any harm. We just figured you would rather be out of the rain." The girl said quietly as she held onto the doll tighter.
"Forgive me. I am Pisces and this is Alice. Who are you?" The man asked politely.
"K-Katsuya. Katsuya Takeda." The boy gulped nervously.
"Please follow us Katsuya." The girl said in her quiet voice.
Katsuya felt like he was obediently listening and got up, not rewrapping his food, and picking up his belongings. Pisces began to lead the other two with Alice following rather closely like she was afraid to leave his side for a second. What a pair of nuts. Katsuya tilted his head a little as he followed them.

? ? ?

Katsuya was in slight amazement. This place resembled his room back at his home except it was without mirrors. He set his belongings down and looked around the room.
"Supper will be prepared for you shortly." Alice said.
"We have other matters to attend to so we will not be joining you Master Takeda." Pisces bowed.
"Just call me 'Katsuya'." The boy said as he looked back over his shoulder.
"Call us if you need anything then Katsuya." Pisces replied before he and Alice went into the hall closing the door after them.
"He's a naive child. He was too easy to catch." Alice said as she looked up at the darkly dressed man.
"Fine then, we shall wait. We have to be careful though. He may run if he learns what we are." Pisces replied as he looked down at her.
Alice only sighed and held her doll over her heart protectively.

Katsuya sat on his bed and looked around the room rather excitedly. It felt like being home almost. At least he hoped he wouldn't be a burden on them whoever they were. If Pisces was Alice's father then why didn't he see her mother? Or even, why didn't Alice look like her father? Katsuya laid back and shrugged away his questions for now. It wasn't going to be so bad so long as he didn't get too nosey.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

A year had passed almost like it was a breath being drawn in and it was nearing Katsuya's seventeenth birthday. He'd still wondered about Alice and Pisces but the stranger thing was the fact at night he heard screaming and could sometimes smell blood heavily in the hallways of this place in the heart of the city nearly. A gaping mansion that people seemed to dismiss as they went to work or to school.
Another odd thing Katsuya felt was the fact that everytime he felt remotely like leaving he couldn't. He felt like something was possessively holding him there. Or maybe it was just the fact of the creepy little girl sometimes walking after him when he left his room holding that damn headless doll of hers. He just decided to stay here even though his mind and insides were screaming for him to leave sometimes.

Katsuya walked along the hallway that night to the dining room now seeing Alice and Pisces seated at the table with the usual elaborate meal he'd never seen anyone put out or cook. He walked in and sat at his usual spot looking at the two rather questionably.
"Today is your birthday right Katsuya?" The eerie girl looked up and smiled.
Katsuya nodded but felt everything within his body bunch and shudder at that sight. She looked even more sinister smiling like that. It was actually scaring Katsuya. He then noticed Pisces look to Alice as she nodded.
"Today I have decided to give a special present." Pisces said after clearing his throat.
"What?" Katsuya shivered.
"You'll find out later." Alice said meekly and looked at that stupid doll.
Katsuya didn't really like the sound of that very well.

Pisces quietly walked along the hallway with Alice behind him as usual. Strangely Katsuya hadn't received anything from anyone and had gone to bed. Pisces was beginning to realize Katsuya was possibly catching on and now was a better time than any.
"What if he runs?" Alice asked.
"Let him. There would be no way to reverse this anyway. He'd be trapped like we are." Pisces answered.
Alice looked a little concerned but forgot it as soon as they reached Katsuya's room. Pisces entered first with Alice walking after him. Pisces looked down at the sleeping boy as Alice held out her doll. She began to murmur something silently as the doll now began to glow with Katsuya following after shortly.
"He won't wake up until I end the spell. By then we'll be done with him right?" Alice asked as the doll was now suspended in midair.
"As long as you control the spell." Pisces replied.
Alice looked at Katsuya then narrowed her eyes slightly as Pisces opened his mouth showing long fangs.
"Midnight. It ends his old life and gives him a new one." Alice murmured as she closed her eyes.
She slowly reopened them hearing the boy gag as Pisces bit him.

? ? ?

"Please report to the OR Dr. Urameshi, Dr. Urameshi report to the OR."
Katsuya groaned and slowly opened his eyes before letting out a pained hiss at the bright lights. He shielded his eyes with one hand and opened one eye now looking around silently. Monitors? IVs? A white room? Where was this? In fact, who was he? Katsuya looked at his hospital bracelet and saw just that. "Katsuya". Nothing else. Katsuya sat up and hissed as a sharp pain hit the right side of his neck. He held onto it and looked around tiredly. It felt like ages since he woke up last.
He stopped as he saw a black haired boy in a dark green, long coat at the foot of the next bed. The boy had red eyes and was slightly pale but not as pale as Katsuya looked. The red haired boy looked down at his lap and sighed before hearing footsteps and seeing the other boy walk away from the other bed.
"Where am I?" Katsuya weakly asked.
The other boy stopped and looked at him expressionlessly.
"You're in a hospital." He answered.
"A hospital? How in the hell did I get here?" Katsuya groaned.
"Beats me. I've been coming to see my friend for a while and you've been here for a while now. The doctors thought you were in a coma or something." The other boy said.
"I remember...Pisces...and...a girl...Alice?" Katsuya held one side of his head and muttered.
"You should rest more. You look like milk." The other boy laughed a little.
"What's your name?" Katsuya asked.
"Miroko. Miroko Watanabe. And you?" The other leaned against the wall.
"I guess I'm just called 'Katsuya'. That's what this thing says anyways." He held up his wrist.
"You're really strange." Miroko noted quietly.
Miroko pushed off of the wall and walked to Katsuya's side gently grabbing his chin. He forced one eye wide open then stepped back.
"Your eyes look almost clear. They were blue right?" Miroko asked.
"I don't know...I don't remember anything." Katsuya said.
"Amnesia?"
"I don't think so."
Miroko tilted his head then sighed and closed his eyes before reopening them at the sound of a loud growling noise. He looked blankly at Katsuya and laughed a little.
"I feel hungry..." Katsuya groaned.
"Really?" Miroko smirked.
"Never would've guessed."
Katsuya held his stomach and doubled over. He felt a wave of nausea also come with the hunger now. Miroko walked away from Katsuya's side and looked out in the hallway.
"Maybe I should tell someone you're awake?" He asked.
Katsuya didn't answer. Miroko shrugged as Katsuya looked at him rather awkwardly.
"I'll just find someone. They're bound to give you food." Miroko said before walking into the hallway.
Katsuya whined as another growl and crash of nausea hit him. He didn't feel like he wanted food. But what else was there? He laid back and sighed before hissed through his teeth. He glanced at his left side and saw hit guitar case and suitcase nearby. Maybe he could leave too once this was over.