Chapter Twelve: Day Off:

I was happy to wake up alone the next morning. I breathed out as I lied in bed staring at my ceiling. I don�t want to have to explain to my family about reluctantly having an affair with a killer vampire. I know I share things with them, but I can�t tell them about this. The blue light in my room didn�t help my mood either. �What am I going to do?� I thought.

A loud Jpop song in the background made me jump. I breathed when I realized that it was my phone. I felt myself relax for a second, but then I tensed up. �What if that�s him calling me?� I thought. No, it couldn�t be, could it? I don�t want to look. But, my phone keeps ringing. I wish I had the strength to throw it out the window. In the end, I just reach over to my dresser and answer it.

�Hello?� I whispered quickly.

�Setsuna, what�s the matter?� a girl�s voice asked. My heart slowed down to normal beating.

�Oh, Kiku, it�s you!� I said with a chuckle.

�Of course, silly!� she said. �Who else do you think it would be?� I gave off another nervous laugh.

�No one,� I lied.

�You sound down.�

My face dropped. �You can tell?�

�Still torn up about Aki�s death?�

�You can tell?�

�When was the last time you got out of your house and had fun?�

I thought about that for a moment. �Why?�

�Come out with me today!�

I sat up with big eyes. �What?�

�Come on, girl! You need to get out more.�

�Are you sure?�

�Yeah!�

I felt myself smiling. She did have a point there. It would be nice Help me unwind some. It wouldn�t hurt, I guess.

�What time?� I asked.

�At ten,� Kiku replied.

�Okay,� I replied. �See you then.�

�I�ll pick you up, okay?� Kiku asked.

�Alright,� I said. �See ya.�

�Bye,� she said back. We both hung. My mood perked up as I leapt out of bed. Maybe, this could be just what I needed. Oh, I need to get ready. I hurried over to my closet. In thirty minutes, I was showered, dressed, and ready to go. I made it down to the kitchen for breakfast. Only my parents were at the table this morning.

�Good morning!� I greeted them.

�Morning honey!� my father said. I sat down at the table with my parents. My father looked me up and down.

�You seem happy today,� he said.

�Uh-hm,� I said. �Kiku is taking me out today.�

�Oh, that�s good,� mama said. �Where will you be going?�

�Don�t know,� I replied. �I think she�s going to surprise me.� Papa nodded at me with a smile. I�m guessing that he�s happy to see me feeling better for a change. I finished up my rice as I found it easy to relax for one whole day.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. We all looked up.

�I think that�s her,� I said.

�Have a great time,� Papa said.

�I will,� I replied with a bow. Then, I got up from the table and headed to the door. Kiku greeted with a smile as I opened the door.

�Hey girl!� she cheered.

�Hi,� I said back.

�Ready to go?�

�Yes, take me with you!�

Kiku giggled her as she held up her hand. �Easy there girl.� She turned to my parents. �Good morning, Hirata-san and Hirata-san.� My parents gave her a little wave.

�Good morning, Niwa-chan,� my mother said. Kiku grinned as she put her arm around me.

�Don�t worry, Hirata-san!� she cheered. �I�ll take good care of your daughter for the day!� *Sweat drop on my head* She always does this to me when it�s just her and me. My mother smiled at us.

�I know you will,� she said. Kiku smiled in pride.

�See you around,� my friend boomed.

�Bye momma, papa,� I said.

�Have fun dear,� momma told me. Papa just waved at us. Then, Kiku and headed out the door.