Re-introduction. 11-12's return

[villageson]

A young man appeared on the horizon. He looked a little lost, frowning as he peered around. This place looked familiar but for the moment he can't place it

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[cute_shinigami]

The night of the red moon, Tsuzuki had started to worry that 11-12 had become Muraki's first victim, since he hadn't seen the young man in some time; even when he learned that Shilo Wallace was the target of his nemesis, he still worried about the shy young man he had met that first day of his arrival. Thus, when 11-12 enters the kitchen, he'll find a very relieved Tsuzuki there, eating a bowl of soup as he waits for the tea kettle to boil.

"Hey there, 11-12, where've you been? I was starting to worry about you, buddy."

[villageson]

After finding his room and talking to some people, 11-12 found that he was hungry so he indeed headed for the kitchen. Seeing Tsuzuki he gave the man a smile, looking definately more relaxed than the last time they'd spoken.

"I was... I went away. I didn't mean to but I've been to some other places. Learned a lot about... myself and other people. But then I found myself back here," he looked pleased about that. "How have you been?"

[cute_shinigami]

"Well, if you found what you needed to find while you were wandering, then it was all for the best," he says. "But I kept busy while you were gone: I've been digging a pond in the front lawn and planting some flowers around it, too. So if the place looked a little different, I had something to do with it.

"Hey, are you hungry? I'm just having lunch now, but I could make some more for you."

[villageson]

"You did that? It's lovely."

He nodded. "Thanks. Do you mind? I haven't eaten since I got back."

[cute_shinigami]

"Yep, I did all that by myself with my own two hands: it sure was a lot of work, but it came out pretty good," he says, setting aside his bowl and going to one of the cupboards to find another before he goes in search of anothe can of soup.

[villageson]

"Do you need any help?" He offered, though he'd never been very good at cooking, not having much experience.

[cute_shinigami]

"Heh, thanks, but I'm good," he says, finding a can opener. "You must be tired after a long journey, so don't hesitate to get a load off your feet."

[villageson]

11-12 did sit down, watching Tsuzuki. "It was a journey, all right. But I did have good times too. So what else has been happening around here?"

[cute_shinigami]

"Well, when I haven't been digging that pond, I've been making friends among the Elves here: they were a little spooked by me at first, since there's some bad blood between then and the group I work for, but I've managed to make friends with the ones who are a lot more open-hearted," he says, stirring the soup, then finding a bottle of dried parsley and shaking some into it. "And I think I'd better warn you: there's this really dangerous guy who showed up here: he's a little too fond of nice-looking young fellows like you and I, so I suggest you stay out of his way if you can help it."

[villageson]

"Dangerous in what way?" 11-12 frowned a little.

[cute_shinigami]

"I don't want to scare you, but let's say that human life and other people's boundaries are really cheap to this guy," Tsuzuki says, finding a container of garlic powder and taking a sniff before deciding to add that to the soup. "He's like a vampire, taking advantage of people however he can."

[villageson]

11-12 stiffened at that word. "A vampire?" He looked away, some blurry memories suddenly coming into sharper focus for an instant and he shut his eyes, grimacing and rubbing the side of his neck.

[cute_shinigami]

"Well, he doesn't exactly drink blood unless he wants to, but he sustains himself on the lifeforce of others by feeding on their emotions," he says, contemplating a shaker of paprika and deciding to put it back. "He's hard to miss: he's a little taller than me, but his hair and skin are as pale as moonlight. But don't let him see you if you can help it: I care about you too much to let him get to you."

Truth be told, there's something about 11-12 that makes Tsuzuki think of another young man about the same age whom he cares about deeply...

[villageson]

"I've had experience with vampires," 11-12 says a little grimly. "I'll... try to be careful."

He looked at Tsuzuki with curiosity at his last words. "You care about me?"

[cute_shinigami]

"Well, you're a nice young man and you were one of the first people I met when I got here," he says, stirring the soup. "It's hard to describe it, but when I met you, I had a good feeling about this place, as if the fact that there was someone like you here told me that this was a good place to be. And then when you told me your life story that time, my heart just went out to you. I'm no stranger to suffering and having questions too big to find the answer to, so I guess I just... felt for you."

[villageson]

11-12 smiled a little. "Thanks... I'm glad that you understand. Not that I'm glad you went through so many bad things yourself but.. you know what I mean, right?"