Epilogue: Do You Still Love Vampires?

Life found rhythm.

Mio streamed regularly. Her audience had tripled, now a mix of gamers and people following the progressive vampire movement. She talked openly about the relationship, the blood pact, the Council oversight. Transparency as protection.

Akira taught his first course: Vampire-Human Relations 101. Fifteen students. Government liaisons learning how to navigate supernatural relationships. He was good at it.

Reina started her policy consultant position. Boring meetings. Endless paperwork. Making sure the Council didn't backslide on progressive recognition.

Momo hit three million followers. Teaching other vampires how to be visible online. Building community through TikTok.

Ren continued being Ren: neutralizing threats, sending invoices, phasing through walls at inconvenient moments.

Found family. Comfortable chaos.

But today was different.

Today, Mio was going on her first real outdoor date.

Restaurant. Daytime. Public.

All her fears at once.

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"You'll be fine," Reina said, adjusting Mio's collar. "You've been outside dozens of times now."

"Short walks. Twenty minutes maximum. This is a RESTAURANT. With PEOPLE."

"You survived a Council trial. You can survive brunch."

"The Council trial was easier." But Mio took a breath. "Okay. I can do this."

Through the bond: Akira waiting outside. His calm. His faith in her.

Ready? he sent.

No. But doing it anyway.

That's my favorite version of you.

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Walking to the restaurant was an exercise in controlled panic.

Daytime. Busy street. People everywhere.

Mio had her umbrella—sun protection spell woven in, but the umbrella was psychological comfort. Sunglasses. Long sleeves.

Everything was too BRIGHT. Too LOUD. Too MUCH.

She wanted to run.

But Akira held her hand. Through the bond: steady presence. Grounding.

"You're doing great," he said quietly.

"I'm dying."

"You're walking. In public. That's incredible."

One step at a time. Breathing. Persisting.

They reached the restaurant.

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The hostess seated them without fanfare. Nice place, not too fancy, not too casual.

Other diners glanced at them. Some stared (vampire in public). Most just went about their meals.

Normal.

At Mio's place: a selection of drinks. The waiter had quietly brought them when they sat down.

"How does it feel?" Akira asked.

"Terrifying. Like I'm going to spontaneously combust." Mio gripped her juice glass. "Everything is too much."

"Want to leave?"

"No. I want this. Even if it's scary." She looked around. "Normal people doing normal things. Like we're allowed to be here."

"We are allowed."

"Provisionally," she said wryly.

"Still counts."

They talked. About work, about the movement, about nothing important. Normal couple conversation.

A young woman approached their table. Nervous. "I'm sorry to interrupt…Are you Mio? The vampire streamer?"

Public recognition. Mio's stomach flipped.

"Yes," she said carefully.

"I just wanted to say thank you." The woman's voice shook. "My girlfriend is a vampire. We've been hiding for two years. But after your trial, we came out to our families. And they're trying. Actually trying." Tears in her eyes. "We're allowed to exist now. Because of you."

She left before Mio could respond.

Through the bond: Akira's quiet pride.

"You changed her life," he said.

"I just wanted to be left alone."

"And instead you started a revolution." He squeezed her hand. "By being yourself. By choosing me. By letting people see it was possible."

"This is why it matters," she said quietly. "Not just us. Everyone."

"Yeah."

They finished their meal. Normal couple. Having a date.

Revolutionary in its normalcy.

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The park was nearby. They walked.

Sunlight filtered through trees. Couples on benches. Children playing. Life happening.

Three hundred years she'd missed this.

They found a bench, sat, and watched the world pass by.

Silence. Comfortable. The bond humming between them.

Mio looked at him. Really looked at him. Sunlight warming both their faces. A year ago she couldn't have imagined this, sitting in a park, in daylight, with someone she loved.

She smiled. Genuine. Free. Her eyes caught the light—that faint red gleam that marked her as vampire. Not hidden. Not ashamed.

Just existing.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.

"Always."

She remembered this moment. A year ago. In her basement. When everything was terrifying and new and impossible.

When he'd asked the question that changed everything.

"Do you still love vampires?" she asked quietly.

Akira blinked. Recognition flooding his expression. The callback. The full circle.

"Even knowing what we are?" she continued. "Even knowing that every moment there's a part of me that sees you as…" She struggled with the word. "...as prey. Even knowing the danger. The complications. The centuries of difference between us."

She wasn't asking out of fear this time. Not doubt. Not the desperate need for reassurance that had driven her six months ago.

Just... clarification. Completion. The thesis statement of their entire story, spoken in sunlight instead of shadows.

"Even knowing all of that," she said, still smiling, "do you still love me?"

Akira's face broke into a huge grin. The kind that made her heart do impossible things.

"Yes," he said simply. "I love vampires very much. I love YOU very much. Even knowing that. Especially knowing that."

"Why?" She wasn't challenging. Just curious. Wanting to hear it. Needing to hear it.

"Because you're YOU. Anxious disaster gremlin who transforms into an adorable angry bat. Revolutionary who just wanted to be left alone. Three-hundred-year-old vampire who still gets nervous meeting my mother." He squeezed her hand. "Because you chose to be different. To try something impossible. To love me back even when it was terrifying."

"It's still terrifying," she admitted.

"I know. But you're doing it anyway." His grin widened. "That's why I love you. Not despite the danger. Not despite the complications. Just... you. All of it. Every part."

Through the bond: his absolute certainty, his love, uncomplicated by fear or doubt.

She kissed him. In the sunlight. In the park. In public.

Not hiding. Not afraid. Just loving him.

When they pulled apart, she was crying. Happy tears. Relief tears. The weight of three hundred years finally lifting.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For loving vampires. For loving me. For being stubborn enough to ask that question a year ago even when I was terrifying."

"You're still terrifying," he said. "But in a good way now."

She laughed. Through tears. Through joy. Through absolute certainty that this—THIS—was worth every scary moment.

"Even knowing that?" she asked one more time. Their refrain. Their promise.

"Even knowing that," he confirmed. "Always."

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Ren materialized from a nearby tree shadow.

They both jumped.

"STOP DOING THAT!" Mio yelled.

"Delivery." He held out a small box. The wedding rings from months ago.

"We're still not engaged," Mio said.

"Statistical projection indicates engagement within twelve months. Probability: 91%." He placed the box in her hands. "Advance preparation is prudent."

He paused. Almost awkward. "You're good together. This is the optimal outcome."

The closest thing to sentiment Ren had ever expressed.

"Thank you," Mio said quietly.

He nodded. Phased out.

Mio opened the box. Silver rings with ruby insets. Beautiful.

"Someday?" Akira asked.

"Yeah," Mio said. "Someday."

They pocketed the rings. Continued their walk.

Together.

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Evening. The mansion.

Found family dinner around the table. Everyone present.

"First real date successful?" Reina asked.

"She didn't run screaming," Akira reported. "I'm calling it a win."

"I only wanted to run screaming internally," Mio corrected.

"Someone recognized her and cried," Akira added. "It was very touching."

"You're a celebrity now," Momo said. "Four million followers across platforms! Also that couple's coming-out video went viral. They credited you directly."

"I didn't ask for fame."

"Fame is the price of revolution," Reina said. "But it's working. Five more progressive covens came forward this month."

Ren phased in. Everyone jumped but didn't yell.

"Security update: seven extremists convicted. Sentenced to imprisonment. Council protection protocols functioning effectively. Threat level: low." He pulled out his tablet. "Also: wedding venue options prepared. Three locations were scouted. Pricing attached."

"We're not engaged!" Mio protested.

"Yet. Probability increasing. Advanced planning reduces costs."

"You're planning our wedding before we're engaged?"

"Efficiency is professional."

He phased out.

"He's gotten almost sweet," Akira observed.

"He's charging us for wedding planning," Mio countered.

"Almost sweet."

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Later. After dinner. After everyone scattered.

Mio streamed. Late evening session. Cozy farming game. Chat asking about the date, about progress, about hope.

"Yeah, it went well," she told her audience. "Scary but well. Most days are like that now. Scary but good. And that's okay. Progress isn't about not being scared. It's about doing it anyway."

Akira worked nearby. Laptop open. Grading assignments from his students.

Through the bond: contentment. Easy companionship. Love.

"Chat's asking if you regret the blood pact," Mio said. "The one that ties you to me for centuries."

"Centuries, right?" Akira asked without looking up.

"Yes. A long time. You'll age slower but you'll still age. You'll watch your friends grow old. Most people you know."

"Sounds lonely."

"It is." She looked at him. "Is it worth it?"

He finally looked up. Smiled. That smile that made her heart do impossible things.

"I'd hate to miss your character development arc. You've got centuries of growth ahead. I want to see all of it."

She laughed. Genuine. Free. Joyful.

"You're ridiculous."

"You love it."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Through the bond: everything they couldn't say. Everything they didn't need to say.

Chosen. Every day. For centuries to come.

"Together?" she asked one final time.

"Together," he agreed. "Always."

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The stream continued. Life continued. The revolution continued.

Reina passed by with tea. Set a cup beside Mio's keyboard. Maternal gesture without words.

Momo popped in. "Streaming cute domestic content!" Filmed for three seconds. Left.

Ren phased through briefly. "Perimeter secure. Good night." Disappeared.

Found family. Comfortable chaos. Home.

Mio saved her game. Ended the stream. "Good night, everyone. See you tomorrow."

Chat flooded with love. Support. Gratitude.

She closed her laptop. Turned to Akira.

He looked up. Smiled.

Through the bond: love. Simple. Real. Uncomplicated.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges. More compliance reports. More public scrutiny. More progress and setbacks.

But tonight: just them. Together. Chosen.

And that was enough.

More than enough.