The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the well-furnished room, giving it an eerie yet comfortable ambiance. Masaru sat on the edge of the bed, breathing deeply as he stared into the tall, ornate mirror before him.
The reflection that gazed back was no longer one he fully recognized.
His once brown hair had faded into a striking shade of ashen gray, verging on silver. His pupils, formerly a dull black, now shimmered with a faint crimson glow—not as intense as Akane's, but still noticeably inhuman. His height had increased slightly, and his frame, once slender, now bore the signs of enhanced musculature.
A week of sleep had transformed him.
But the most profound change wasn't what he could see—it was what he could feel.
Power coursed through his veins like liquid fire, filling him with an almost intoxicating strength. He clenched his fists, flexing his fingers, marveling at how natural yet foreign his body felt. His muscles tensed, the sheer density of his strength making him wonder—just how powerful had he become? Could he lift a car? A truck?
More than that, he could now sense things he hadn't before.
Blood energy.
It flowed within him, weak but undeniably present. He could feel the energy shifting, stirring deep in his new heart, different from the human heart he once had. His instincts whispered that he was no longer bound by his old limits.
He was something else entirely.
Masaru exhaled, running a hand through his longer hair.
"I look… completely different. Almost unrecognizable."
A mix of emotions swirled within him—excitement, apprehension, curiosity. This was a new reality he had to face. A new existence he had to embrace.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Akane stepped inside, leaning against the frame with an amused smirk. The dim lighting accentuated her delicate yet sharp features, her crimson eyes gleaming with intrigue as she folded her arms.
"You seem to be enjoying that new body of yours," she teased.
Masaru glanced at her before looking back at his reflection. "Enjoying? I feel like I've been reborn. The change is… overwhelming." He ran his fingers over his face, then down to his arms. "It's too drastic. I barely look like myself anymore."
Akane's smirk deepened. "That's only natural. Becoming a vampire is like shedding your old self and stepping into a higher existence. You should feel honored." She stepped closer, stopping just a foot away from him. "After all, you've become part of a noble race—my underling."
Masaru turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "Underling? That's a bit much. I'd prefer 'subordinate'—or better yet, 'comrade.'" He met her gaze, serious. "That way, when I grow stronger, I can stand beside you, not beneath you."
For a moment, Akane's eyes widened slightly. Then, to Masaru's utter surprise, she quickly turned away, a faint redness dusting her cheeks.
...Did she just blush?
An awkward silence hung between them.
Masaru had never seen Akane flustered before. She was always composed, always one step ahead. Seeing her react like this… It was almost amusing.
"What's with that reaction?" he asked with a playful grin.
Akane cleared her throat and snapped her gaze back to him, her expression returning to its usual sharpness. "Don't say something stupid with a face like that," she muttered, but there was an odd softness to her tone.
Masaru chuckled under his breath. Interesting.
Then, without warning, Akane placed a hand on his forehead.
"Do you believe in fate or prophecy?"
Her voice was quiet, but there was a strange weight to her words.
Masaru blinked. "Fate?" He hesitated, sensing the shift in atmosphere. "I don't know. Should I?"
A shadow passed over Akane's face.
"There have been… many mysteries surrounding my birth," she murmured, almost to herself. "It's all the work of fate. And right now, that fate is aligning with you."
She withdrew her hand and looked away, her voice barely above a whisper.
"My life hasn't been easy, Masaru. I've carried many burdens alone. But…" She glanced back at him, crimson eyes holding something he couldn't quite place. "I hope you'll let me share some of those burdens with you."
Masaru felt something stir in his chest.
She wasn't just talking about power.
He didn't know why, but his instincts screamed that this moment—this choice—was important.
Slowly, Masaru raised his hand and placed it on Akane's head, gently running his fingers through her silky black hair.
Her body tensed slightly, as if she wasn't used to such gestures.
"I don't know much about fate," he said, voice steady, "but I do know this—you're not alone. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you smile more. If you ever need someone to rely on, I'll be that person. If you ever feel like breaking, I'll be the one to catch you."
Akane's lips parted slightly. Her crimson eyes searched his, as if trying to decipher whether his words were genuine.
Then, ever so subtly, her expression softened.
"…I see."
She stepped back, regaining her composure.
"I want you to grow stronger, Masaru," she said firmly. "Strong enough to walk the harsh path of life. Strong enough to stand by my side as my knight."
Masaru straightened.
"I'll play my part and groom you to be my shield and sword," she continued, stretching her hand toward him. "So I'll ask you—will you take my offer to become my Vampire Knight?"
Masaru stared at her outstretched hand, then at her face.
He didn't fully understand what it meant to be a Vampire Knight.
But he understood this—Akane needed someone she could trust. Someone who wouldn't abandon her, someone who would fight by her side.
He reached out, taking her hand.
"If it means I can stand beside you and protect you," he said firmly, "then I'll gladly accept."
In that instant, a brilliant golden light erupted from their clasped hands, engulfing the room.
Masaru felt a surge of energy flood his body as an intricate symbol appeared on the back of Akane's hand, its twin searing itself onto his chest.
The mark of a Knight.
Their fates were now intertwined.
And with it, Masaru's path as a Vampire Knight had truly begun.