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I liked the running. It was one of my favourite parts.

The knee-high leaves rustled brilliantly as I raced through them, past the tall trees and through the thick fog... The thrill of being pursued and having adrenaline coursing through my veins! Glancing back for a second when the trees thinned slightly, I saw that Kaoru was still chasing after me avidly. His golden-yellow catlike eyes glowed with excitement as he pushed on after me. At normal speed of course. Because if he went as fast as he really could there would be no chase. Because he's a vampire.

Whatever. At normal human-not-vampire speed, I kick butt.

We'd been running for a while though. My stamina was draining fast now, I thought as the trees' whizzing forms rushing past me were gradually slowing down. I bet he was pooped, only burning off that extra energy he gets from being a vampire. Nature had to pick favourites. Why didn't I get special powers?

"Gotcha!"

He rammed into my back and we fell over each others' legs into the dull coloured expanse of dead leaves. The air in my lungs was pushed out when he landed on top of me. It was dark. The sky and trees were gone. All I could see was leaves, all over the dang place. And in my mouth. Overall it made a very nice pillow. I was stretched out in starfish position, with Kaoru panting on top of me in the same pose. I waited for a minute as he caught his breath.

"Please," I mumbled, voice covered by the crackling all around me. "I'm drowning in leaves."

"Just... just a minute..." He continued panting, just laying there. The heat from his body emitted itself all over me. The scent wasn't really that bad. But it is so hot. I could feel his limbs stretched on top of me. His arm rested heavily on the back of my head and his legs were stuck in mine. When his lungs heaved in air, they forced out the air in mine. I tried to move out from under him, but his whole body being lax prevented me from doing so. Boy is he heavy. Scrambling some more, I flipped over onto my back and tried to push his body off of mine. But it was as though I were a corpse, dead weight that wouldn't be moved. His neon red-orange hair was in my face. "Kaoru... having trouble breathing..."

He moaned with concentration as he rolled off me to the side, the voices of the leaves intensifying in the silent forest. Oh, how beautiful the grey sky was now. Lovely... I had to see more. The trees were blocking some of it out, even though their limbs were thin and leafless. Struggling up off the ground, I shuffled over to a large oak-like tree and began climbing. The nooks and knots were plentiful in this one. Most of the time it takes forever to get to the top. But this one is perfect.

"Where... you goin'?" he called out. From the shuffling I heard as I continued climbing, he had stood to walk under the tree. "What are you going up there for?"

"The sky is clearer up here," I called back. Probably the air too. It's always better up a tree. After a few more knots here and there, a branch to sit on, and I could see it perfectly. An everlasting expanse of grey-white. Nothingness.

I glanced down to see Kaoru had managed to pant his way to a branch just underneath mine. "What's so special?" he asked, his luminescent yellow eyes searching for the pot of gold. They always do that. It's right there. Something beautifully simple.

I sighed. Everyone has to have me give an explanation. "The sky."

Silence. Slight wind. Just enjoy it... So empty and just full of empty.

"I really like how you can find beauty in anything," I heard him say into the eerie quiet. Most people think it's annoying. "I don't. I think it's amazing. It's a difficult thing to do. I wish..." I could barely hear him. His voice dropped down to a whisper. "I wish you would see beauty in..."

In what?

"...nevermind," he sighed heavily.

And suddenly he was sitting right beside me. I tried not to panic, but whenever he does that super fast stuff I just tense up. "Sorry," he whispered to me. His breath flew by my ear. How close is he? No one ever comes with me in my trees. I'm always alone to admire things like this. "I like it. It really is beautiful. Thank you for showing it to me."

You're welcome.

"How about we go to your place?" The curiosity in his voice could not be disguised. No. We can't go. Just look at the sky. "...ok." I'm sorry. "It's ok. I understand. Maybe tonight you can come to my house and meet my family."

I glanced over to him, somewhat apprehensive. He was close, I was right. His golden eyes were level with mine, orange hair touching my forehead. Our legs were only inches apart. "How big is your family?" I asked, curiosity flowing through my body. They're all vampires. Maybe I'll get bitten and turn into a vampire and have to live forever. Maybe they'll suck my blood and leave me dry in their backyard to fertilize their garden. Well. That would be the coolest way to die.

He grinned and chuckled at me, poking my shoulder. "You won't die. There's my twin brother Hikaru, whom you've seen at school," he counted on his fingers. That pale skin almost matched the sky. "I'm pretty sure you can tell what he looks like. Then my mom and dad, but my dad will be away tonight. Then my three cousins, one female named Lucretia and two males, Aiden and Kurt. Just gonna warn you, my family may be a little stiff and in-your-face, and then curious and excited about you all at the same time." Great. They sound just great. "I think I detect sarcasm in that thought, do I not?"

Um... no. Pft. Sarcasm? No way.

He giggled, and I smiled and looked away. Geez. They sound better than my family though. "Also I have a pet cat who's name is Travis. He sometimes doesn't like strangers. There are a bunch of cats, really, but I'll show you which one he is. Our house is really old, like it's been around for centuries..."

I zoned out and just watched him smile as he spoke. His orange hair against that white sky. He seems happy. Is being a vampire happiness, I wonder? Staying alive forever, stuck at whatever age you get, hiding in coffins from garlic and holy water and stakes all your life? For what? What's the purpose?

"...and that's why you could stay if you wanted to."

What?

He fiddled with his the bright purple uniform sleeve as he rushed to get it out. "My house has plenty of room, and there's a lot of food and a library and a workroom and a TV room and the living room and the kitchen and anything you could want... and I'll get you a cat of your own. Then you'll be part of the family."

I certainly didn't want to go back home. But staying at his house after having known him for only a week... and he's a vampire. His whole family is composed of vampires. I'd feel so out of place, growing and aging while they don't. And what about my mom? She would be mad I left, and if she ever found me...

"No," I whispered. "Maybe later, but not now. I can't now."

"Oh..." His face held utter disappointment all over it.

"But..." I'm so going to regret this one. "But I'll come meet your family tonight. So long as-"

"REALLY?!?" The sadness was immediately replaced by complete joy as he squeezed me hard in an enormous hug.

"Hey! So long as they don't eat me or bite me or anything!"

"Thank you thank you thank you so much! They definitely won't eat or bite you, I know they'll love you! They like company every few years! You're just perfect! This will. Be. AWESOME!"

I hope so, I thought, sighing as I hugged him back. This will come back to hit me later. I can feel it.