Two Worlds Colliding

Akira showed up to work fifteen minutes late, coffee in hand, tie slightly crooked.

The office was the same as always. Fluorescent lights. Beige cubicles. The eternal hum of computers and printers. Government bureaucracy at its finest.

Tanaka looked up from his desk when Akira passed. Did a double-take.

"Rough weekend?" he asked.

"Something like that."

Akira made it to his cubicle. Set down his coffee. Opened his laptop.

Lasted maybe ten minutes before Sato appeared, leaning against the cubicle wall.

"New bandage," she observed.

Akira touched his neck reflexively. He'd gotten careless about hiding them. This one had tiny bats holding hands: Mio's subtle relationship announcement, apparently.

"Yeah."

"That's the third one in two weeks."

"I donate blood regularly. It's fine."

"To the same vampire? Every time?"

He didn't answer.

Sato sighed. "We need to talk. Conference room. Now."

The conference room was small, windowless, depressing. Standard government issue.

Tanaka was already there. So was Yamada from records, looking grim.

This was an intervention.

"Sit," Tanaka said.

Akira sat.

"You're seeing her," Sato started. Not a question. "The vampire. The coven lord. Seriously seeing her."

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"A few weeks. Officially."

"'Officially,'" Yamada repeated. "Meaning you were unofficially involved before that?"

"The relationship developed over time, yeah."

Tanaka leaned forward. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Probably."

"This isn't a joke, Akira."

"I know."

Sato pulled out a folder: thick, official, depressing. Spread files across the table. Akira recognized some of them. Cases he'd worked on himself. Cases he'd filed reports on.

"You know the statistics," Sato said quietly. "You FILE these reports."

He did. Forty-three documented vampire-human romantic relationships in their jurisdiction over the last twenty years. Four still ongoing, barely. The rest...

He didn't want to think about the rest.

"So you know," Tanaka said, "that most of them probably started like you. Thinking their vampire was different. Special."

Akira stared at the files. Recognized names. Faces. People who'd made the same choice he was making.

"Look," Sato said, "we're not trying to be dramatic. We're just…"

"Concerned," Tanaka finished.

"Terrified," Yamada corrected.

"That too."

Akira almost smiled despite everything. "Appreciated. Really."

"Good. Because someone has to worry since you've apparently lost your mind." Sato pulled out a specific file. Opened it.

A young woman's photo smiled up at them.

"Kimiko Hayashi," Sato said. "Twenty-six. Graphic designer. Started dating a progressive vampire: ran an art gallery, very public about consent and ethical feeding."

Akira remembered this case. He'd been the one to file the final report.

"What happened?" Tanaka asked, even though he knew. They all knew.

"Six months in, she was found dead in her apartment. Drained completely." Sato's jaw clenched. "The vampire was there, covered in her blood, sobbing. Didn't mean to. Lost control during feeding. Turned himself in immediately, accepted full punishment."

"He loved her," Sato continued. "Genuinely. There was no doubt. But it didn't matter. One moment. One slip. And she was dead."

The photo stared up at Akira. Kimiko. Twenty-six. Someone's daughter. Someone's friend.

Gone.

"That's the risk," Tanaka said quietly. "Every single time you let her feed. Every time you're alone together. One moment of lost control and you're dead. And she'd probably be devastated. Might even turn herself in. But you'd still be DEAD."

Akira's coffee had gone cold. He wrapped his hands around the cup anyway.

"I know the risks," he said.

"Do you?" Yamada pulled out her own folder. Thinner, but somehow more ominous. "Because there's another pattern you should be aware of."

She spread out news clippings.

"Progressive Vampire Found Dead - Human Partner Missing"

"Reformist Coven Attacked - Three Dead, Five Injured"

"Traditional Vampires Clash With 'New Age' Movement"

"Every progressive coven, every vampire operation that works like hers, faces resistance," Yamada said. "Harassment. Sabotage. Violence. Traditional vampires see it as betrayal. They make examples."

"Mio knows…"

"Good. Because you should too." Yamada looked at him seriously. "You're not just dating a vampire. You're dating a vampire who's threatening the status quo. That makes you a target. Both of you."

"Knowing and UNDERSTANDING are different," Tanaka said. "The moment her revolution fails, or succeeds too much; someone's going to come for her. And you'll be collateral damage." He met Akira's eyes. "Is that really what you want?"

Akira thought about Mio in the basement. Her fear. Her dream. The weight she carried every day.

"She's worth the risk," he said.

Sato made a frustrated sound. "You're not listening…"

"I am. I hear you. All of you." He looked at each of them. "You're right. It's dangerous. She could kill me. Someone else could kill us both. This might end horribly."

"Then WHY…"

"Because she's trying." He met their eyes. "She's trying to change things. To make a world where vampires and humans don't have to fear each other. And yeah, it might fail. Probably will fail. But someone has to try."

"That's not your responsibility," Tanaka said.

"Maybe not. But it's my choice."

Silence fell over the room.

Yamada gathered her files. Then pulled out one more document. "This is a consent form. States that you've been advised of the risks. That you understand the danger. That you're choosing this with full knowledge."

"You want me to sign…"

"I want you to be protected. If something happens…when something happens, this shows you weren't coerced. Weren't manipulated. Made your choice freely." She slid it across. "Sign it. For your own sake."

Akira read it. Standard legal language. Acknowledgment of risk. Assumption of responsibility.

He signed.

Sato pulled out a small device. "Panic button. Direct line to supernatural emergency services. You press it, help comes immediately."

"I don't need…"

"Take it." Her voice was firm. "If you need it, those seconds matter. Between life and death."

He took it. Small enough to fit in a pocket. Red button under a protective cover.

Sato gathered the files. "We can't approve of this. You understand that, right?"

"I know."

"As your colleagues, as people who care about you, we think this is a mistake."

Tanaka leaned back in his chair. "We're just asking you to think with your brain, not your dick."

Akira choked on air. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. We know she's attractive. We know you're... involved. But make sure you're choosing this for the right reasons."

"I am."

"Good. Because dying for good sex is still dying."

"TANAKA."

Yamada covered her face. "Oh my god."

"What? I'm being practical!"

Despite everything, the files, the statistics, the very real fear; Akira laughed. Actually laughed.

"Noted," he said. "Brain. Not dick. Got it."

"Just making sure." Tanaka stood. "Now get back to work. You've got reports to file."

The intervention broke up. Sato and Yamada left.

Tanaka lingered at the door.

"My sister dated a vampire," he said quietly. "Twenty years ago."

Akira looked up.

"She was convinced he was different. That their love was special." Tanaka's jaw worked. "She was wrong."

"What happened?"

"She's alive. Married to a human now. Two kids. Happy." He looked at Akira. "But there's a scar on her throat that never faded. A reminder of the night he lost control. The night she almost died."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Be CAREFUL." He headed for the door. "And Akira? If she ever…even once…makes you feel unsafe? You run. Immediately. Promise me."

"I promise."

Tanaka nodded and left.

Akira sat alone in the conference room for a moment. The files were gone, but Kimiko's face lingered in his mind.

Twenty-six. Dead at twenty-six.

He thought about Mio. Her constant battle. Her choice, every second, not to hurt him.

His phone buzzed.

Mio: How's work?

He stared at the message. At the panic button on the table. At the signed consent form.

Interesting. Tell you about it later.

Mio: Everything okay?

Yeah. Just missing you.

Mio: I miss you too. Can't wait to see you tonight.

Mio: I love you.

He pocketed the panic button. Gathered the consent form.

I love you too. See you at 6.

Back at his desk, Akira tried to work.

Couldn't focus.

His mind kept replaying the intervention. The files. Kimiko's photo. Tanaka's sister's scar.

The statistics he'd been filing for years, now suddenly personal.

Sato walked by. Dropped something on his desk.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Survival kit. For dating a vampire."

She walked away before he could respond.

Akira opened it.

Inside: A bulb of garlic (crossed out with marker - "doesn't work"), a sample-size bottle of holy water (also crossed out - "also doesn't work"), a wooden stake (crossed out with three lines - "DEFINITELY don't use this"), and a card.

The card said: "We support your terrible decisions. - Your Concerned Coworkers"

Despite everything: the warnings, the statistics, the very real danger; he smiled.

Pulled out his phone.

My coworkers gave me garlic.

Mio's response came immediately: Does it come with a recipe? I can't eat it but you could make a nice pasta.

They also gave me a wooden stake.

…Please don't use that one.

Wasn't planning on it.

Good. I'm fond of not being staked.

Noted.

He set down his phone, still smiling.

The care package sat on his desk. Ridiculous. Thoughtful. Very them.

Then his phone buzzed again.

A news alert. He'd set up notifications for vampire-related incidents.

"Progressive Vampire Coven Attacked in Osaka - Two Dead, Leader Critical"

His stomach dropped.

He opened the article.

Different coven. Different city. But the same model as Mio's. Ethical feeding. Social media presence. Consent-based practices.

Attacked by traditional vampires. A message: Return to the old ways or face consequences.

The leader was in critical condition. Their human partner was dead.

Akira closed the article.

His hand went to his phone. Started typing to Mio.

Stopped.

She'd see the news herself. Was probably already panicking.

He called instead.

She answered on the first ring. "Akira?"

"I saw the news."

"I know. I just…" Her voice was shaking. "It's starting. What I was afraid of. They're making examples."

"Are you safe?"

"For now. Reina increased security. Ren's doing sweeps. But..." She trailed off.

"But you're next."

"Eventually. Maybe." She was trying to sound calm. Failing. "We haven't done anything to provoke them. We're quiet. Legal…"

"Except you're dating me. Openly. No blood pact."

Silence.

"That's the wave, isn't it?" Akira said quietly. "That's what makes you a target."

"You don't know that…"

"Mio. I work in supernatural investigation. I can read the pattern." He kept his voice steady. "You're visible. Successful. And now you're in a public relationship with a human. You're the perfect example to make."

He heard her breath hitch.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault. If I hadn't…if we weren't…"

"Don't. Don't apologize for this."

"But you're in danger because of me…"

"I was always in danger. From the first session. First bite." He softened his voice. "I chose this. I'm still choosing this."

"Even now? Even knowing someone might come for us?"

"Especially now."

She was crying. He could hear it.

"I'm scared," she admitted. "Not for me. For you. If something happens to you because of me…"

"Nothing's going to happen."

"You can't promise that."

"No. But I can promise I'm not going anywhere." He looked at the panic button on his desk. The garlic. The ridiculous care package. "I have people watching out for me. You have your coven. We'll be careful."

"Careful might not be enough."

"Then we'll be lucky too."

She laughed, watery and broken. "You're an idiot."

"So I've been told. Multiple times today, actually."

"Your coworkers talked to you."

"Intervention-style. Files, statistics, warnings. The full treatment."

"And?"

"And I'm still coming over at six."

He heard her smile through the phone. "Okay."

"We'll figure this out. Together."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

They were quiet for a moment. Just breathing together across the distance.

"I should let you work," Mio said finally.

"Yeah. And you should rest."

"Can't. Too anxious."

"Try anyway. For me."

"Okay. For you."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Be careful."

"You too."

She hung up.

Akira set down his phone. Looked at his computer screen. At the work he couldn't focus on.

At the panic button sitting on his desk like a small red promise.

At the garlic and holy water and wooden stake, useless, but given with love.

At the news article still open in another tab. Two dead. Leader critical.

He thought about Mio in her basement. Her dream. Her impossible, beautiful dream of a world where they could be together without fear.

Thought about the statistics. The files. Kimiko's face.

Thought about Mio's smile. Her awkwardness. The way she talked to his penis and researched arousal like a science project. The way she fought her nature every second just to be with him.

Made his choice.

Again.

And again.

And every day after.

Because she was worth it.

Because what they were trying to prove was worth it.

Even if it killed him.

Especially if it might.

He closed the news article. Opened his work queue.

Started filing reports about vampire incidents, vampire statistics, vampire dangers.

All while planning to drive to a vampire mansion at six.

To have dinner with vampires.

To kiss a vampire who could kill him with one bite.

To love her anyway.

His coworkers were right. He was making a mistake.

But it was his mistake to make.

And he'd make it every single day.

At 5:45, he packed up his desk.

Tanaka stopped him at the door.

"You're still going."

"Yeah."

"Of course you are." Tanaka sighed. "Just... text me when you get there. And when you leave. Every time."

"You don't have to…"

"I do. Because if something happens and we don't know where you are, we can't help." He met Akira's eyes. "Let us help. Even if it's just knowing you're alive."

Akira nodded. "Okay. I'll text."

"Good. Now go. Be careful. And for god's sake, stop getting bitten in visible places. The bandages are depressing."

Akira smiled despite everything. "I'll try."

He left the office. Got in his car. Sat there for a moment.

The care package was in his bag. The panic button in his pocket. The consent form filed away.

Evidence of people who cared. Who worried. Who'd support his terrible decisions anyway.

He pulled out his phone.

Texted Tanaka: Heading to mansion. Will update when I arrive.

Then texted Mio: On my way. Love you.

Her response was immediate: Love you too. Drive safe. Can't wait to see you.

He started the car.

Drove toward danger.

Toward love.

Toward a dream that might get them both killed.

And he was okay with that.