I let Walter take over the rest of the meeting. He mainly told the guys what iron they'd pack in this job. Hopefully, none of us had to fire a single shot. Honestly, I now had something different in mind. As Walter spoke, I began tuning him out, finding my eyes glancing over Francis's direction every once in a while. My thoughts would return to the news about the Barnes family. They were things I wasn't supposed to know before, yet now I could afford to know them. That was family business, however, something I knew I wasn't supposed to know.

But Francis seemed to know something about me that even I didn't. Since she was keeping it to herself, it's what she thinks she's protecting me from. It wasn't like I hated her keeping secrets. After all, we agreed not to talk about our pasts as much, but we never knew anything about each other. This only went to show how much I knew about Francis.

I'd feel someone shaking me, and when I looked up, I saw Yayoi. "Alexander? Are you okay?" I took a quick scan of the room. The guys were getting up to leave, Walter shaking each man's hands as he went. The meeting was over, and I'd been running around in my head. Looking around for Francis, I noticed she wasn't even there anymore. "I-I'm fine," I said, quickly getting to my feet. I'd try and head for the door before Yayoi started asking me more questions, but I ended up being stopped as she tugged at my jacket.

"You were staring a little hard at Francis," she whispered. "Everything okay between you two?"

"As my fiancee, are you sure you should be asking me that? I didn't picture you the type to be okay with such an arrangement." Yayoi wrapped her arms around mine and started pulling me toward the door. "It's not my style to break up such a happy couple. Besides, I don't want any tension between the three of us. Francis is fine about it. What more could you want from her?"

"I think she may be keeping secrets from me." That answer made Yayoi go quiet. As we headed out the door, she appeared to ponder my statement, almost fighting something inside herself to say anything. From what I knew of Yayoi, she was pretty honest. Only a few of her types are left in this thing of ours. It was even more shocking that she went from nearly interrogating me about my origins.

"My brother would do the same when we were little," Yayoi said, "Any time he'd want to keep me calm, he'd hide it from me. I do admit some of what he hid was for my good, but there were times that I needed to know." '

"So you agree with me then?" I only asked, thinking I'd have some hope that I'd have help with this, but as Yayoi shook her head, my hope fluttered away. "Then what do you think I should do about it?"

"Let her come to you about it. Even if she doesn't tell you immediately, you said it yourself. Francis doesn't keep secrets from you. This means it's important enough to risk the trust between you two." I didn't want to admit that Yayoi was right in a sense. Though looking back, Francis never liked this line of work. This had been the first time she'd ever been involved, and it was because she heard that Yayoi was a sin factor. I could understand more if I got more insight into what made her do this.

"So... What's it like being... You know... One of them?" Before the question escaped my lips, I hadn't fully considered what could happen if Yayoi was to get annoyed. Yet before I could muster a quick apology, I noticed her mouth set in a hard line and her brows furrowed. Sure, she was annoyed, but I didn't think it was mainly directed at me. "If I weren't an Isoarashi, I'd be called a blood psycho. Can't go a night without having any blood." As we walked together, she held out her hand, and a small red flame lit up in her palm. "I usually don't have anything to take the edge off. If I hadn't had blood already, I'd probably have taken more offense to your question."

"Is that so? Here then," reaching into my pocket, I pulled out two cigarettes, one for her and one for me. As she put the flame out, Yayoi took the cigarette out of my hand. The way she'd been staring at it was like a child eyeing an item they'd find strange. Her eyes were wide with curiosity. "You know I've never smoked before, right?" I didn't know, but it'd be an issue unless... "Would your brother mind?"

Yayoi put the cigarette between her lips and snapped fingers over the tip. As the dark red flame lit the cigarette, she began to inhale, though she immediately coughed up a ton. "Woah there, casanova, you can't just dive right into it."

When she got done, I lit my cigarette and placed it between my lips. "You suck the smoke in and hold it for a sec." I took in a large puff, then let go of it seconds later. "Like that."

Yayoi tried it herself. I'm taking it slower than she did before. Sucking the smoke in, she let it settle for a second, then blew it back out.

"Feels better, right? Like all your troubles just fluttered away." We'd reach the lounge, where we'd find a small booth to sit in. I took another hit of my cigarette as the nicotine began settling in my system. "Why do you smoke?" Yayoi asked as she took another hit herself. "I never pegged you the type."

"A little gift from the war. In comparison, many soldiers got shell shock or were sociopaths. I ended up with Sanguine Psychosis. Smoking is how I curb the bloodlust, at least for a while."

"Damn. Don't tell me I'm marrying a blood psycho." Yayoi let out a cute giggle, and I could tell she meant no harm. "How much blood do you drink? Or at least, how long can you go without it."

"My longest has been about two nights. Then the bloodlust comes in," I finished the last of my cigarettes, putting it out in an ashtray. "I only smoke when I'm stressed or after a job. It usually beats alcohol."

"Don't you have any... other ways of destressing," Yayoi began drawing circles around the table with her finger. Usually, when people ask that question, they ask about suggestive encounters with others. "I've only done that once with Francis... if there's at least one thing you'll get out of me, it is that I can be pretty committed to one person. Well. Except for our special arrangement."

Although I believe I made a joke, Yayoi wasn't laughing. Instead, she put out her cigarette and began scooting out from the booth. Her eyes were peering into mine with the same fierceness from yesterday. "I like Francis. She's a nice girl, but I have a duty to you as my future husband. I'll convince her to visit you."

"You will? Are you sure that's appropriate given our circumstances?"

"We of the Isoarashi wish for harmony. A house that has the slightest tinge of discord within it will fall. Besides..." Her voice trailed off. Her fierce gaze began to fall, and she fidgeted a little.

"Something wrong?" I asked, nearly getting out of my seat. But Yayoi held her hand up and shook her head. "I want to know... does Francis smoke with you?"

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

It was an odd question, but it didn't hurt to answer. "No, Franny doesn't. She doesn't even like it when I smoke." I could've sworn for a moment I could see Yayoi's mouth curve a bit like she was going to smile.

"Well... you'd best be grateful that I shall allow such things. Now, to make good on my word." Yayoi took off, not leaving me any opportunity to wonder what she was on about.

For a moment, I sat there alone, taking out another cigarette. I realized I had run out when I searched my pocket for another match. I could find a shadow element user somewhere or buy some more matches. As I looked around the dining area, I noticed fewer people like last night. A happy human couple was sitting together on a date. They were talking about planning a trip to Paris one day. That just made me think of Francis some more.

Another occupant that stood out to me was a single man sitting at a table near the corner. He was rather significant, more on the athletic side. He wore a collared shirt that seemed too small and some brown slacks with brown loafers. I couldn't see his face from where he was sitting, but I could see he was bald with a thick black beard. I didn't know what it was, but something felt familiar about him. As I tried to think about it, I was hit with a sudden hazy pain in my head. So, instead, I decided to go back to my room.

When I got there, I found that Walter hadn't been inside. He must've been with Yasuo or some of our guys. I didn't know which, but I didn't mind. I did, however, find Bethany, my new gun, and a bag on my bed. So it might be a good time for some cleaning.

Putting Bethany on the table, I checked the gun to ensure it wasn't loaded. A shell was still in the chamber, so I pulled it out. Then I fished some tools out of the bag, knowing Walter probably had all this brought here. I disassembled the shotgun when I found them and cleaned whatever pieces I could. There needed to be more to clean as Bethany had not seen much use since the war. I typically didn't want to turn someone into a mess of blood and gore when I got into trouble. I saw enough of that back in 1918.

When I'd finished cleaning and started to put the gun back together, I heard a knock at my door. Walter had a key so he could get in whenever he wanted. Meaning it was someone else. Putting the parts down, I headed for the door, listening to the wood. "Who is it?" I asked.

"It's me," I could hear. It was Francis. I reached for the doorknob but felt a slight tug at my arm. It wasn't anything physical but more like I couldn't.

"Can we talk?" Francis asked beyond the door. I didn't know why I was hesitating now. Yayoi had been good on her word. Francis was here and was probably ready to tell me everything. Yet I hesitate. So, I opened the door without giving my brain more time to think about it.

There she was, just as beautiful as the day I met her. She'd been wearing a robe similar to what Yayoi wore. Only it was colored white like snow. "Can I come in?" She asked, her voice sounding a bit silvery yet overshadowing its softness.

"S-Sure," I said, "come in, sit..." Letting her through the door, I closed it before anyone else could come by. Throwing the chain lock on, I turned, finding Francis seated on my bed. I would've sat with her, but it only distracted me from why she came here. So I pulled the chair I was sitting in while taking Bethany apart.

"I wanted to check on you. See how you were doing." I wanted to meet Francis's eyes, but she kept her gaze low, almost avoiding me. "I smelled your cigarettes on Yayoi, and she told me to come see you."

"Yeah, I was just trying to take the edge off. This job is just getting to me a little, that's all." I didn't know why I lied like that, but I'd have to roll with it now.

"Look... I suddenly agreed to come along with you on this, Lexi. But you have to know it's for a good reason."

"Can you tell me the reason?" I leaned back in my chair, trying to relax. The chance she was going to say nothing was coming. I just knew it.

"There's a lot I want to tell you, and I will eventually, but..." Her voice trailed off, and it almost came off as wobbly.

"Look, Franny. You don't have to tell me if it's too much. I'm sorry, I just... you never keep secrets from me. Not one's like that anyway." I honestly felt terrible for distrusting her like this. If it were something else, I'd let it go. Francis shook her head, and then she took my hands. "No... you had every right to think the way you did. But I have to face the facts. You're going to find out anyway. I just. Need a little more time."

If she understood this, then why wouldn't now be the time to tell me? Something was off with Francis the moment she heard Yayoi was a sin factor. Then there was the Queen who gave me that strange coin. Francis had looked at it as if she knew something. I wanted to keep how I felt down in my stomach, but it felt like I couldn't contain it.

"Francis, you should know better than anyone that I don't know anything about myself." The anger inside me kept boiling over, as much as I wanted to keep the lid down. It was going to explode. I snatched my hands away, balling them into fists but keeping them at my sides. "My Old Man never told me a single thing about my Mother. I don't even know her face or her name. The only thing I have left of her is this jacket! Don't hide things from me like he did."

Francis held her hands close to her face, her body trembling as her eyes reddened. "Please, you have to understand…"

"What is it that I have to understand?" I asked, my voice booming throughout the room. "Why can't you tell me?"

"Because I don't want to lose you!" Francis bellowed as she came to her feet. Her eyes flooded her face with tears. "I love our life together. I hate it when you have to go on these dangerous jobs. I never want one of your father's bumbling fools to come to Dogland's doorstep to tell me you didn't make it."

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I was stunned. This was more of what I was expecting a few nights ago when I told her of Yayoi. Realizing this was becoming an argument, I shut my mouth briefly and took a few deep breaths. "If you liked our life? Then why agree to this arrangement? Where was this anger before?"

Francis sat back down, tears continued to stream down her face, but she wasn't as angry. "It's because we could still be together. If you knew everything, you'd be in more danger and go so far that I couldn't catch up to you. Or even worse, I could be the one thing used against you."

From the pain in Francis's voice to how her lips quivered, I finally realized the gravity of this secret. I wanted to reach for her, hold her tightly, and let her know that I understood. But my throat became dry as if I'd walked out into the desert. My vision reddened, and all I could see of Francis was the blood coursing through her body. I grabbed my wrist and backed away, holding myself back from lunging toward her. Smoke, I needed a smoke now. But I'd run out of matches.

"Francis, I think you should go..." Looking at me, she went from a confused shock to a frightening understanding. She stood up and started backing toward the door, being extremely cautious not to turn her back to me.

"It's alright, Lexi... you're hungry... I understand..."

It was Francis's voice, I was sure. But I didn't see her lips move. She was still backing toward the door and had almost made it. "Go..." I managed to strain, "now."

Francis unlocked the door and quickly hurried out, almost slamming it shut. When she was finally gone, I dropped to my knees. I could feel the pain quaking throughout my body. Blood... I needed blood. I had to have some blood.

I was so stupid that I let the blood run away. I need to chase after her now. I have to find her. Struggling to my feet, I reached inside my jacket and pulled my gun out. As I headed for the door, I noticed the know was jingling, so I stopped. Aiming my weapon at the door, I waited to see who'd try and stop me.

Seconds passed by as the door began to open. Mere moments started to turn into minutes. Then suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around my neck.

"Oh, dear child... you must be patient... You will have your opportunity soon... the Pithos will open once again."

As the minutes began to speed up again, I lowered my gun slowly. My thoughts finally slowed down. Before my strength began to fade, the door opened. Walter and Yayoi pushed through the door. Walter caught me before I hit the ground. I could see Francis standing outside the door, her hands still shaking from fear. I was sure Walter and Yayoi were yelling something, but I could barely hear. By then, I could even want to wrap my head around what just happened. I couldn't see anymore.