Anyone with eyes could tell that something wasn't quite right with Sakura. Even from the first day they met, she had been out getting drunk to stupor, and while a number of people did it for fun, Kyle was sure it was not the case for her.
She was always wearing clothes that were nearing the end of their lifespan, and sometimes he would catch her staring into space.
She had even come limping today…
Her emotional breakdown only went to cement what he had already suspected.
'If she can do this well in her current state, imagine how much money she will make me if she's a hundred percent?'
The question he had asked earlier had not been answered yet, but he was in no hurry. He gave her time to compose herself before speaking, only for her to burst into tears again.
When she had finally cried out all the tears she possibly could, Kyle handed her his handkerchief.
She took it from his hand, sniffling as she blew her nose and then began to tell him everything that had happened right from the start.
Sakura was the only child from a poor family and in order to break out of that poverty, her parents sold everything they had to send her to college in hopes that she would get a good job after.
But college was not the way she expected it to be, never would she have expected it to be so expensive.
Rent, lecture notes, practical dues, course registrations… it was a labyrinth that pulled students in and drained their vitality, drying their pockets and tossing out the chaff that was left.
At the end of the day, she ended up drowning in debt so deep that she could hardly breathe, even to the point of borrowing from rather questionable individuals…
"I see…"
Kyle tapped on the table while watching her.
"Please, don't concern yourself with me…" She adjusted her tear-stained glasses and stood up.
She picked up the envelope, cradling it in her hands like a baby and bowed. "This will be a great help, thank you."
'Will it be though?' Kyle mused.
She was so deep in debt that this was merely a drop in the ocean. And considering how she had been flying windows and hiding in dumpsters to avoid the people she owed…
'She might not last the week.'
If she was caught then she would either be smuggled out of the country and sold or locked up behind bars for fraud.
'I'll lose my money maker!'
But even that paled in comparison to what he would lose if she was gone…
'I won't find blood like hers anywhere else.'
Sakura turned to leave when—
Thwack!
"Ahhh!"
A pen suddenly flew past her ear, embedding itself in the wall in front of her.
"Wait…"
Kyle stared at his table, trying to think of any possible solution, then he smiled and looked at her.
"Sakura… have you ever thought of doing a good deed?"
"Heh? I'm sorry, I don't think I follow."
Kyle leaned back in his chair and began fiddling with the mug on his desk. "You know… people say that if you do good, the universe would find a way to pay you back somehow."
Sakura gave him a blank stare. "Okay?"
"You happen to be in luck today, Sakura. I will give you enough money to not only cover your pressing debt but for you to live well enough, then I'll promote you to manager and raise your salary as well."
He paused.
"That way, you will be free of debt in merely six months."
Sakura would have cried, but Kyle was sure her eyes were all but dried of tears.
Instead, she bowed far too many times to count while repeatedly saying thank you.
Kyle pushed his chair back and walked up to her, stopping her from bowing.
"No need to thank me, I'm just doing what any decent human would do…"
"I'll make sure I work ten times as hard as I normally d—"
"It's not free."
Sakura blinked, eyes wide as she stared at Kyle. "B-but… I can't afford to take on another loan…"
Kyle's eyebrows creased slightly as he walked back to his desk and leaned on it. "Well, you won't have to pay with money, I accept other types of payment as well…"
He said the last part in a voice that promised trouble then smiled innocently.
Sakura gave it some thought for a moment then stared at the fat envelope in her hands before looking back at him.
Kyle's smile deepened.
"W-what type of payment?"
"Your body of course…"
Sakura shrieked back, but the door barred her path and her back bumped against the wooden frame.
"W-w-w-w-w-what are you t-t-t-talking about?" Sweat was rushing down her face which had turned several shades red.
Kyle did not answer. Instead, he took slow steps forward, like a cat cornering a mouse.
He had held back for so long, the intoxicating smell of her blood had saturated his office to the point that it was nearly driving him mad.
'Vampires and their lust for blood…'
This was an opportunity he couldn't let slip by.
When he got to Sakura she looked down, her eyes locked on the floor, but he placed a finger underneath her chin and raised her head to meet his gaze.
"Sakura, can I trust you to keep a secret?"
The girl nodded, her eyes as wide as saucers.
"Good, good… you see I have a rather unique quirk, and unlike others, my quirk causes me to develop certain… proclivities."
Sakura leaned back so hard that Kyle heard the door creak at its hinges.
"I will make sure you live a comfortable life from now on Saku-chan, all I need… is your blood."
Immediately the words left his lips, Sakura's eyes narrowed and she stepped away from the door, then took in a large breath.
"Ahh, really? Thank goodness, I thought you were going to ask for something else…"
Kyle raised a brow and licked his lips. "Really? What else did you think I was going to ask—"
"Never mind!" She screamed, and breathed out.
"Hmmmm…." Kyle smiled. "Why are you acting like this is so normal? I thought you would be creeped out."
Sakura shrugged. "I already sell my blood every other month, I figured it would be better to sell to the highest bidder."
"…."
Kyle laughed then placed a hand on his temple as he looked her over.
'This girl is something…'
Before Sakura could blink, Kyle was behind her, leaning closer to her neck.
"This is going to sting a little…"
Then he sunk his fangs into her neck, drawing the warm blood into his mouth.
It was… euphoric.
It was as though electricity coursed through his body the moment he got a taste of her blood. The metallic aftertaste was like liquor, the blood itself sweeter than honey, and the aroma caused the hunger inside him to stir.
But although he wanted to drink to his heart's content, Kyle pulled away his lips only a few seconds after and took a step back.
If what she said was true, then her blood volume was probably already low and her blood cells were working overtime.
'I wonder… how would she taste if she was a little healthier… a little fatter?'
Then he paused and slapped his forehead.
'Damn, I'm really turning into the vampires I see in movies aren't I?'
Sakura seemed stunned at first, but when she placed her hand on the wound, she realized that it had already closed.
She took in a shaky breath. "This will take some getting used to…"
Kyle nodded and stepped past her to unlock his door.
"Saku-chan… when was the last time you had steak?"
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A/N-> 2/3