Alright here. This is unlike anything I've ever written before. It's an original, not imitating after any other manga and or anime. At first, this may seem a little strange. But hang in there; things'll clear up. Okay, so this story takes place in the past of Japan, a.k.a., the Feudal Era. The times of Lords and Ladies, Knights and peasants. Village Headmans are faced with the standard problems, like bandits, rebels, and even the occassional demon. But then what are the monks and priests for? However, there's another wide-spread issue on the rise. More frequent occurances of demons, most specifically, vampires. At first, it was just an irritation only to farmers, when the vampires drank the blood of their livestock. But recently, the reanimated corpeses turned on people of nearby villages. Women, in particular, would turn up missing after leaving thier homes after nightfall. Their bodies would be discovered after a week or so, pale, cold, and completely drained of blood. Some never turned up at all, but witnesses claimed to have seen the victim walk the streets at night, turn into bats and fly off, attack wandering preists or monks, or even go as far as killing another human. The rumor was soon spread that these "beasts", once attacked by a vampire, became one themselves, if blood was left in the body. If not, then well... you get the picture. Naturally, villagers and lords alike began to question the origin of these blood-suckers. The most common philosophy was that the demons came from Oni, or, a creature in folklore.

Rumor began that the vampires were terrified of garlic and religious symbolics, such as purified crosses and holy water. This theory proved to work extremely well. Farmers who were once afraid of living isolated out in the country were not targeted, and neither were the cattle or other animals with garlic strung across the doorway. A certain farmer, to verify the cure, barricaded one of his livestock sheds with the plant. The other he left vulerable. The next morning, all of the animals of the unprotected shed were dead, drained of every drop of their precious blood. The other shed's animals appeared shaken, but otherwise had not been touched.

Soon, it was considered normal for villagers to walk around with garlic, crosses, and ever once in a little while, a small vial of holy water around thier neck, like a necklace. But, like every other plague, the disease usually finds its way to resist its suppressor...

Before we begin, allow me to clarify some things:

"This, of course, is regular dialouge. For humans, demons, and vampires alike."

"This can be vampiric or human thoughts."

This bold print here is Vampiric Telepathy. Yes, the vampires are telepathic.

And any specific word that happens underlined is a word that can be found at the end of the chapter. These are words that you may or may not understand. If you do, nevermind them. If you don't however, that is why I underlined them. The word, along with its definition, can be found at the end of a chapter.

Enjoy! ;)

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"Many, many thanks to you for exorcizing the vampire, good monk! Now, the wife and I can live in peace... for now."

The farmer dropped down to his knees, bowing down to the monk, who smiled half-heartedly. He tilted his sugegasa over his eyes.

"Yes, indeed, for now. However... keep in mind, the demon, maybe not the same one in particular, will always be subject to return to you home. For this reason, I suggest that you excersize with extreme caution."

"Yes, yes, of course, noble monk."

The farmer keep his head down respectfully. The monk frowned. He felt strange as he turned to leave.

"Seeing as my work here is done, I wish you and your wife a good rest of the night."

"Thank you again, monk!"

The priest left without another word. He clutched his shakujo, despite his sweaty handle on it.

"I sense an evil aura around here... Could that vampire still be alive?!... No, of course not. I know I sent him to the next life, I saw it! I am just being paranoid..."

As much as the monk told himself that, he still couldn't seem to shake the feeling that he was being watched. And he could not help but still sense an aura of evil intentions. A bloodthirsty aura.

"The village is still at least another seven hours' journey," The monk murmured to himself.

"I will just make camp around here, and finish the rest of the way in the morning."

The monk sat down against a tree, sighing as he did so. He gazed out across the lake in front of him. He then closed his eyes.

"My back aches, as do my feet... When I reach the village, I will indulge myself in a well-deserved hot spring, and- "

His thoughts on luxury were intercepted when he heard a branch snap. His eyes shot open, and his heart raced. He hadn't noticed until now how strong, or close, the blood-lustful aura was. Footsteps could be heard in the distance, dragging through the crisp autumn leaves. He scrambled to his feet, jerking the beads from his wrist and holding them out in front of him.

"I warn you, demon!" He shouted into the night, deperately trying to suppress the fear from his voice that he felt in his heart.

"Come no closer, lest you wish to die!"

The footsteps stopped. The priest waited, listening intently as he struggled, trying to calm his racing heart.

"Damn... I am getting much too old for this..."

The monk slowly began wrapping the beads back around his wrist.

"Uneasy night, monk?"

The monastic jumped, crying aloud as he did. He snatched the beads from his wrist once more, swinging them as he did, catching the male in front of him across the face. The boy tutted angrily, a red mark across his face from the mark of the beads. He glared at the man. The priest examined the male before him. He looked normal enough. It was said that vampires usually had either a silvery white or jet black hair, usually long, and a pasty white skin complextion. But this boy had shoulder length dirty blonde hair and a fair tan. He appeared not to be a day over eighteen. The holy man noticed that the lust for blood had vanished completely from the air. The monk's face radiated, embarrased, as the boy glared with steely green eyes. He couldn't help but think to himself that he'd seen this boy before.

"Pardon me, boy," He muttered, ashamed.

"I have been unnerved all night. You startled me."

"All is well, monk," The boy tried to reply kindly, but bitterness spilled from every word as he spoke.

The priest flinched as the boy's tone. He decided to drop the subject before the peasant boy became even more irrate. He took his seat at the base of the tree, waving a hand at the ground before him.

"Start a fire, boy, and I'll share my meal with you."

The monastic patted the bag on his back, setting it on his lap to extract its contents. He noticed the peasant's expression soften as he nodded and bent down to began gathering stray sticks together.

"Umm... would you happen to have any tinder, good monk?"

The religious man smiled, noticing the absence of hostility finally gone from the boy's tone. He nodded, reaching into his bag.

"Indeed, I do, young one. Here, catch."

He tossed the box to the boy, who caught the tinder and brought forth a flame.

"So, tell me, boy, do you follow Buddha? Are you a religious man?"

The boy nearly choked on the sardine he was eating. He gazed up at the priest, sheepish.

"Ummm... uhhh..."

The monk chuckled.

"Don't be ashamed, boy. I was not yet a religious man either when I was your age. No, I was too distracted by other things."

The monk decided to elaborate, taking a bite out of his fish.

"Distracted by my studies, my household chores, farming... women."

He chortled, gazing with laminated brown eyes at the young man.

"Yes... I may not look it anymore, but I had quite the luck with the women back in my day. Just don't remind my wife! I think she remembers too often as it is!"

The monk laughed again.

"What is your name, boy? Or shall I continue to call you just that?"

"..." The boy remained silent.

"Well?"

"... It's..." He began reluctantly.

"...Abel."

An uninvitied thought wormed its way into the boy's head, forcing him to suddenly lose his appeteite.

"Well, young Abel! I am Inari, from the village of Tsuchii. Glad to meet you. I hope you find your way."

"I don't want to do this... that woman's a bitch, anyways..."

He glared up into the tree behind the priest. The boy caught ahold of a pair of vibrant golden orbs, which he quickly averted his gaze from.

"I hate this..."

Quit stalling, brat. I'm fucking starving.

Tch. Shut it. I'm the one getting your meal here, Sachiel, so you could at least have some courtesy.

Hn. I lost courtesy for you as soon as getting that meal took longer than an hour.

Abel's eyes trailed across the priest's throat.

"Blood, pulsating to the area... freshly splilled... warm, wet, delicious against my lips..."

His mouth watered just thinking about it. But it pissed him off.

"Of all people... She could have picked the farmer, his wife, even his steed... but no, she picks the priest?!"

It was getting harder to restrain himself.

"God... how long it has been since I last drank such tempting blood..."

Abel saw the Inari's lips move, but he heard no sound.

"Blood... I must have his blood... I... I MUST!!"

"... Abel? Young Abel, are you alright? You don't look so... so..."

The monk froze as he watched the young boy's eyes glaze over lustfully. The breath was taken from Inari's lungs.

"My god! The aura! I should've seen it! Demon! Vampire!!"

He shuttered, watching Abel's eyes go from deep green to blood red. A long, low growl erupted from his throat, long, leathal canines trailing down to his jaw bone. Inari's eyes widened.

"You... you're... It cannot be! Y-you are the vampire I exorcized back at the farm! How did you survive?!"

Abel, his compassionate personality now eaten away by his demonic side, smirked, unvieling his inner sadist. His voice turned more husky and demonic.

"Let's just say that my species has... evolved, so to speak... heh heh heh..."

"Wh-what?! N-no! No! Nooooo!!"

"Abel, you big baby," Sachiel snapped, turning her head over to face her partner.

"You act as if you feel guilty."

Abel glared at her out of the corner of his eye. He was back in control.

"Shut up, you stupid witch. I'll kill you, too."

"You wouldn't dare- !"

Abel snatched up Inari's bottle, attatched to his waist. He splashed the holy water at the female. She hissed, jumping back out of the way, just as the water hit the earth.

"Bastard," She hissed.

Sachiel seized the bottle, splashing the man. Abel closed his eyes and turned his head to the side, bracing himself. The water splattered across his face, followed by a searing pain.

"You're ruthless," The female vampire snapped, turning her attention to Inari's lifeless body.

"You deserved every drop of that."

Abel sneered, gingerly prodding the scold mark.

"Yes, well, maybe, but you deserve to be staked. But personally, I'd like to watch you burn. That should've been you to get exorcized, not me."

"I'll bet that exorcism hurt," Sachiel commented with mock concern.

"Yeah, it did," Abel retorted.

"As did that damn water!!"

"Well, better you than me," She scoffed, bending down over the priest's body, peering at his neck, still bleeding.

"I would've been killed."

"Exactly why you deserved it more than me."

Sachiel jerked her head up.

"I loathe you, Abel," She hissed.

"I loathe everything you are."

"Who doesn't?!" Abel snapped hotly, offended.

Sachiel's eyes softened.

"There's nothing wrong with being a half-breed," She muttered, lapping up the monastic's fluids.

"It used to be a shameful thing, but because of people like you, because you half vampire half humans, our race isn't extinct. It's because of you halflings that you can take the fall for the rest of us, be exposed to that dreadful plant, staked, even exorcized... and still survive."

Abel didn't respond. He picked you his sardine, nibbling it. Sachiel tutted.

"Why don't you join me? This monk's blood is better than last week's peasant woman..."

"I am feasting," Abel snapped.

Sachiel shrugged, continuing her own feast.

"Fine. Suit yourself. That only means more for me. Keep that stale fish, see if I care."

Abel glared down at his fish.

"This is stale now."

He glanced at Inari, blood drizzling down his neck. Sachiel looked so content as she greedily lapped up her fair share.

"That blood looks so, very fullfilling... satisfying..."

He threw the fish into the lake beside him. His eyes lingered on his reflection rippling in the water.

"Sachiel and Daitetsu says that I'm an important asset..."

His eyes hardened.

"...But in this respect, I am only needed, not wanted, not loved..."

Oni- A demon in Japanese mythology. Depictions of oni vary widely but usually portray them as hideous, gigantic creatures with sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. They also tend to weild a tetsubo, or, a iron/steel club as a weapon.

Sugegasa- A type of amigasa, or, braided hat. They were common among Japanese monks. I have yet to see a person wear a hat like this not made of straw.

Shakujo- A monk's staff. If you've ever seen pictures of Buddha, or Miroku from InuYasha, then you should know what I'm talking about.

I hope that was in the least bit enjoyable. Tell me what you think.