A young maiden, around sixteen, exhaustively sighed and wiped her hands dry on a coarse dish towel. After a whole hour and some odd minutes, the dishes were finally done. Absentmindedly, she ran the towel over her left hand and winced as the cloth came in contact with her thumb. She looked down and saw the blood seeping out of the aggravated wound.

“Itaii… Another broken dish. I don’t know if Mrs. Syan will be more mad that I broke a dish or I got blood on yet another towel.”

“You, the girl with no name! Come clean this table!” came a harsh voice.

She looked up, startled, and tried to hide her bleeding finger. “Hai! Right away!”

Mrs. Syan caught site of the wound and gave a disgusted look. “You cut your thumb again. Well hurry up. Go disinfect it and then clean the table.”

The girl nodded and scurried out the door. It wasn’t that Mrs. Syan was a horrible woman, she just sounded harsh. But deep down, she was probably a warm-hearted person. After all, she had taken her in and let her work at the restaurant, hadn’t she?

Mrs. Syan closed the restaurant at three, and sent the girl to gather some herbs in the nearby mountain. As the restaurant would reopen for dinner at six, she was obligated to make efficient use of time, and that meant trying to run to the mountain and back. Gathering the basket and her shawl, she scampered out the door, almost tripping on the long hem of her tattered dress.

She saw the usual group of high school drop-outs standing by the corner, always waiting for her to come out so they could taunt her. Today was no different; they lewdly taunted her and threw jagged stones. But today, to her luck, Junpei happened to see and came out to defend her.

“Hey, you three, stop that! It’s not polite to insult a lady!” yelled the black hair scholar.

The group’s leader, a red head named Kyle, sneered. “Lady? Her? She’s just some orphan that that witch Mrs. Syan took in. Forget it Junpei. There’s no need to be nice to her.”

“Kyle, I am older than you; you should do as I say. If not, your grandfather will know about this. You probably do this everyday to the poor girl, don’t you? If your martial art lessons mean anything, I advise you to stop today.”

The victim looked up at him, eyes wide in wonder. He was actually sticking up for her? Junpei… His long bangs fell into his eyes, which blazed with anger. The effect made him look so cute. She shook her head. ‘I can’t think about him like that. He’s on a different level in the social pyramid. Anyway, Mr. Liang’s daughter Myrra likes him. She barely tolerates me enough so that the rest of the boys don’t tease me.’

Kyle and his group ran off shouting insults fit for the mouth of a sailor at Junpei. He ignored them while reaching down to help the fallen girl up. She stood up uncertainly and brushed her dress off.

“Are you ok? What’s your name?”

“Arigato gozaimasu Junpei san, I’m fine. Um…I don’t have a name...Mrs. Syan didn’t give me one.” she replied softly, not daring to look into his eyes.

“You can call me Jun kun. You don’t have a name, huh... Well I’ll call you Yosei because you’re as delicate as a fairy. Is that ok with you?”

“I don’t mind....Jun kun.” she gave a pretty smile, a rare sight from the often depressed orphan.

“I suppose Mrs. Syan sent you to get something? Then I won’t take up your time any longer. Ja ne, Yosei chan. I hope we’ll be friends?”

“Hai, that would be nice. Goodbye.”

Yosei resumed her walk in the direction of the nearby mountain, Mt. Warui. Rumor had it that evil creatures resided there, but she didn’t believe it. Everyone, no matter how awful in appearance, had to have a good heart inside. So she thought.

An hour into the hike up the towering mountain, Yosei stopped to rest by a small, clear brook. She drank the water, savoring its pure taste. Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder boomed in the distance. She snapped her head up. It was going to rain; better hurry up and gather the herbs. The rain started drizzling lightly as the girl frantically tried to retrieve what Mrs. Syan had asked for. It wasn’t long before the sky turned a midnight blue mixed with slate gray and the rain started pouring like there was no tomorrow. She had to find her way by the occasional flashes in the sky, though the tall trees didn’t let much light through.

A howl came from the right. Her heart beat fast and she ran, not caring that she might trip. A hunch-backed shape suddenly appeared in front of her. Yosei whimpered in fear, not being able to scream as much as she wanted to. She ran in another direction but slipped in a puddle of water. Four more creatures closed in on her. A jagged burst of blinding light showed her the hideous look on their faces. Needle like claws on their paws.

“No, please no. Kami help me!” she whispered.

They were the Children of the Night in the legends the elders like to tell. Yosei thought they were only legends, stories to scare the little ones into behaving. But now she knew they were all true. She scrambled up, her waist-long, indigo blue hair whipping around. There was no doubt about it. If she didn’t get down the mountain soon, she wouldn’t be alive the next day.

Then, to her luck, she stumbled upon a wrecked castle. Fire from a single candle shone bleakly in one of the windows, flickering in the wind as if fighting for survival. She knocked once, twice, on the wet, brass door. It creaked open. Timidly, she stepped inside, shivering from the dampness and freezing atmosphere. Unknown to her was another figure in the dusty shadows, wearing a black cloak. He gave a chilling smile, showing his white fangs.

‘Perfect,’ the figure thought and confidently walked toward her.

The maiden swung around after hearing the echoing footsteps. She gasped and apologized.

“I-I’m sorry! The door opened, and I’m being pursued. Please help me sir!”

The man did not speak, but his golden eyes flashed with lust. She stumbled backwards, tripping over a table leg which sent her sprawling onto the marble ground. Her indigo tresses floated around her as did her soaked peasant dress. The gold globes mesmerized her. She stood up. The man motioned for her to come to him, and she walked over slowly, in a trance. Stopped, with only a few centimeters between the two bodies. He caressed her face, then in a second sank his fangs into her delicate neck. The moan of pain turned into one of pleasure. Yosei closed her eyes as she felt a white, hot feeling pass over her entire body.

“Junpei...” She whispered the name before fainting.

The dark figure frowned as he drank her blood like wine. This would not do. He must eliminate the opponent. But for the time being, he would make her forget all memories on this “Junpei”.

An hour later, Yosei woke up to find her torn dress gone and replaced with a black, skin-tight one with sleeves that flared at the end. She stood up, then her legs gave away, too dizzy to support herself. The cloaked figure came over.

My angel, vampiress, princess. What is thy name. The words rang silently in the darkness.

Her eyes blank, she mentally replied, Nanashi. I have no name.

He smiled again. Very well. To the society out there, thou shalt be known as the Angel of Death. But my pet name for thee will be Suiren, water lily. I am Shinigami, the God of Death. The ruler of all Children of the Dark. Thou may call me Duo. I will have thee rule by my side at the throne of Hades.

Suiren licked her crimson lips sensuously. She had a craving for warm, running blood. She looked up at Shinigami. He understood, and knelt by her side on the massive bed, exposing his neck to her. The storm had stopped, but a single lightning pierced the dark sky, letting the outside world know a new Reign of Darkness had come, and the King has chosen his Queen...