Isolation.

It was Rin's way of finding relaxation. The cool breeze rarely found in the summer months floated over the cement and gravel, gently blowing the auburn strands of her hair back behind her shoulders and against her back. She sat there in a beach chair, the one that you can lay on and recline, with a paperback book in her lap and a cup of coffee beside her. Knowing very well she couldn't drink it, she kept it for the aroma.

The building that lay beneathe her feet was the lofts, hers was second floor out of six ... but the roof was public access, lucky for her it was rather quiet at midnight. Rin lifted her gaze to the sky as the moon peeked out from behind a few clouds, the sliver of silver light luminated her pale skin. It seemed almost translucent with the web of veins beneathe barely visible. She hadn't fed in awhile, obvious as it was, finding a donor would mean going somewhere were the people were willing. And she was quite content sitting in her pajamas reading.

She swallowed, knowing she would need someone soon if not now.

"Foolish girl, I listen to my brother for once and try to help her and she goes about starving herself."

With a sigh Mitchifer calmly and silently made the leap from the window of a building nearby to the roof where Rin was sitting. He landed without a sound and moved out openly towards the female vampire. "Hey there Rin." He sounded calm but there was a slight edge to his voice just on the rim of it to tell her he wasn't in the best of moods.

"It's been quite a bit since I have seen you, but with both of us having things to do finding you when I have free time is becoming quite bothersome. However that is not the point, get up so we can get you some food before I'm forced to feed you myself." He crossed his arms impaitently and waited for her to listen to him.

He looked over her again and grinned. "By the way, nice pajamas. Shall we get you into some actual clothes or do you just want to borrow my coat until we get you some blood?" He was already in the process of taking off his long white trenchcoat. "I would think it's gonna be a little big on you, but I think you'll survive. Now up before I come over there and drag you to your feet." Even with the slight edge in his voice at the end he was still grinning and shaking his head slowly.

It's him again.

Rin hesitated before lowering her gaze to him, she could feel his impatience against her skin, but at least he was amused with the pajamas.

'I don't think it was Gabriel's intentions to make you my babysitter Mitch ... I am perfectly capable of feeding myself.' She paused. 'and ... thanks.'

Her pajamas were Paul Frank, light blue with monkeys printed on the cotton fabric. It came in the form of a tank top and pajama pants, which if she wanted to be stubborn she would have worn out into public, but he already had his coat off. Setting her book to the side she got up and reluctantly took it, punching her small hands in the sleeves before pulling it around her. He was right, it was huge, the feeling of being a mere twig in a huge blanket was rather demeaning.

Rin looked over herself before glancing up to him, 'Good to see I amuse someone.' At this she couldn't help the slight curve in her lips as she watched him shake his head.

'So what do you have in mind?'

He seemed to be straining not to laugh at exactly how much larger the coat was on her so speaking seemed almost out of the question. After a moment he recovered and collected himself. "Gabriel wanted me to take care of you, so yes if it requires babysitting you and feeding you then I think he would agree."

Without the coat the sword that was usually hidden was now quite obvious so with a clear sign of wishing he didn't have to he unstrapped it and set it on the rooftop. "I should have left it at home but I had things to take care of." He wouldn't tell her what because that would be admitting that Gabriel had been framed and then she would end up trying to kill someone she wasn't strong enough to kill.

"Okay, now that you covered up and don't look like I just yanked you out of bed we're off to find you someone that can give you some blood. Any preferances? Age, sex, build, or anything along those lines? If not then we can just snatch anyone off the street for you to feed from."

He glanced over her and realized exactly how long it had been since she had fed. "And if you start to feel weak tell me and I'll get you some blood. I'm being serious though, being to thristy to do much isn't a sign of weakness. It happens to the best of us, I know from personal experance that it happens." He smiled slightly though, 'and that's how I came to live where I now do.'

Rin quirked a brow as she watched him struggling to hold back the laughter. It wasn't too late to go downstairs and change.

She paused listening to him as he spoke, the word baby-sitting and feeding made her feel like a child. Unforntunately no matter now much she disliked the idea she knew it had some truth to it. Techincally she was a child, being bitten only a couple years ago.

Rin swallowed as she watched him set the sword on the roof, 'I guess no preference when it comes to people ... places however ...' She fidgeted with her hands as she looked to the door that led down stairs. 'I don't want to feed anywhere around here. The last time I wasn't careful about my location I was found out by my neighbors.'

Rin didn't want to think about how she looked at the time, there was no excuse for her not feeding herself, and she wasn't about to amuse herself by trying to conjure one. Her lips curved slightly as he spoke, at least he wasn't making her feel worse about it.

'Uhm ... while I'm thinking about it ... where do you live?'

It would be easier to find him that way ...

'I live on the second floor.' She pointed to the only door that led to the stairwell.

"Okay then I'll take you to a area I tend to feed at. Your strong enough to walk? Or do I need to call for one of my drivers?" He wasn't looking at her judgingly more in a almost close to concerned look.

He couldn't even remenber when he was that young, it had been ages ago. Gabriel why her? Why did you fall in love with a vampire who doesn't even know her own powers to well? Is this your way of getting revenge on me? He felt like he could hear his brother's response telling him that he tended to fall for mortals.

"Yes, well just be more careful when your feeding from now on then. You getting a riot started by people around here would not make my job easier." He walked away from his sword and looked around in all directions trying to decide where to take her.

"Oh, I live with a woman name Tiffany. She has a apartment over that way." He pointed east from the roof before realizing how vague that was. "I geuss I could take you over there to feed that way you could see where I live if you ever need me. Oh by the way, if the need ever comes that you need a place to stay she said she would be fine with you staying there as well. Just so you know."

"Now then, are you strong enough or do you need help? Don't try and push yourself if your not strong enough. In the end that could just cause more problems and wind us up in a worse situation." He was looking at her again just calmly waiting for her to decide.

Did he always make people feel incompetent?

Rin knew she was young, she knew she didn't have alot of skills as a vampire, but damn it. She learned from her mistakes, that couldn't have made her completely helpless, that couldn't have made her such an idiot. Swallowing hard she fought back a few choice words. Liking it or not she needed a teacher, she wasn't about to go and tick one off.

Her hand clenched the loosened slowly, 'I'm fine ...' her voice came in a hoarse whisper. The world started to swim around her and she closed her eyes struggling against it. Great. 'I'm ...' Shit. There had been a reason for not feeding, one she didn't plan on giving anytime soon. But thinking on it now ...

She blinked. 'I need to sit.' The beach chair was close and she plopped down on it, resting her head in her hands, her face covered up by her palms. Rin didn't care what he was saying she wanted to push herself, she felt weak and incredibly stupid for letting her feelings interfere with her survival.

A inhale of night air brought a tremble through her as she looked up at him. 'I might need a little help.' Admitting to it was a step, a painful one but it was true.

Mitchifer walked to the chair and dropped to a knee. "Okay, I'm just here to help you Rin." Without asking he put an arm around her back and picked her up. "Just relax okay? If you get any worse tell me right away and I'll let you have some of my blood. It won't give you strength long but it will give you a large boost for a bit."

He stood the rest of the way up and pulled her up with him so he was supporting her. "Just because I think this is urgent I'm going to carry you, okay? Good, don't question me I am your teacher after all." He put his other arm under her knees and lifted he so she was resting in his arms.

He looked down at her kindly now seemly like a completely different person with actually simpathy in his voice and eyes. "Rin why didn't you feed? I have a hard time believing you simply forgot with how long you must have gone without feeding. So why did you decide not to eat?" He was walking towards the edge of the building tensing his legs up getting ready to jump to the next rooftop.

He let his legs spring and felt himself get pushing up and forward towards the building next to Rin's home. The second he landed he began to run, not sprinting but moving quickly over this roof.

Rin looked at him between her fingers and long strands of auburn. Her eyes seemed dark and drowning as they watched him, there even seemed to be a hint of something behind the blue, but she hid it well. He went to pick her up and with hesitation she let him, she didn't care to try and resist ... and it sounded as if no wouldn't have been the right answer anyways. Even if she did say please. Her pale lips curved slightly, it seemed like a long time since she had been around anyone.

Asking a question she was hoping to avoid, the thought of handing him an answer didn't seem like a bad idea. It was just a matter of putting the right words together and hoping he would make some sense of it. Rin swallowed, an excuse for hesitation before she looked up to him.

'I'll tell you later ... not now.'

He was acting rather kindly this visit, a gold star on his record. She wanted to give him an answer and offer something in return for this ... the thought however made her feel like the mouse offering help to the lion.

'Thanks Mitch.'

It was all she could think to say. Her gaze lowered a second later to see the alley six floors beneathe them, she swallowed turning abruptly to him. Heights had never been her thing, it was one of those little traits she kept. She would have clung to him if the thought of awkwardness didn't stop her.

Mitch continued to move from building to building before stopping at a apartment building's roof. "This is wear I live here with a woman named Tiffany, she's a nice girl who helped me stay alive awhile ago. She is prolly asleep right now otherwise I would have her see you. She was quite worried about you awhile ago." He didn't want to bring up the fact that she had met her on that rooftop awhile ago.

He dropped back to a knee and set Rin gently on the rooftop so she could lay down. "How do you feel? Do I need to get you a mortal? Or maybe you need some of my blood so you can go and get your own? Don't push yourself it only makes things worse." He stayed on his knee looking at her trying to guess how much strength she had left before she would pass out. He hadn't thought she had gone this long without feeding but clearly she had waited to feed til the last second.

He put a hand on her neck to try and feel the blood flow and if he could even tell it was there, as he had guessed it was barely noticable. "Rin when did you last feed? How much blood are you going to need? Are you alright Rin?" He had clearly decided to stop hiding the fact that he was a little worried as it was rather clear on his face now. He had apperantly decided to drop the subject of why she hadn't fed until she was ready to tell him without him being too nosey or rude.

Too many questions. Family resemblance really shined through. Rin stared at him calmly, a fine brow quirked. If he wasn't acting like a real person she would have told him to shush in mid-sentence, but she let him finish the bombardment of questions without saying anything to interupt. Tiffany. She thought about the name for a minute, thought about where they were ...

'Lightheaded ...' She gave his first question an answer, one down. She didn't want him to bring a mortal, that of course would leave her with the option of his blood and there was no desire for that either. His blood would be quicker, if he went to get a mortal it would probably be too long, there were so few out at this time. Taking blood from him though, would be getting a whole lot closer to him than she prefered. Decisions, Decisions.

Next question. 'I guess it's been a month ... I really don't know.' Rin shook her head as she added the last bit, it brought the world around her to ripples. Closing her eyes abruptly she stopped. 'I only want enough blood to get me through atleast until tomorrow, I don't want to kill anyone by taking it all.' Softy. Once you saw so many massacred you started having sympathy for the little buggers. She opened her eyes, slowly, carefully. The world was darkening, the black curtain was falling.

Shit. She didn't want to do this ... she really didn't. Rin swallowed hard, finding her throat dry. 'Mitch, getting a human will take to long.' If there had been another option in between the two she would have taken it, she did not want to do this. Mitch was already doing way to much for her.

Mitchifer was frowning slightly, "From now on I'll check up on you more often so I can be sure you're feeding. " A month?! How could she go so long without blood? Maybe because she was young she could last longer without it because she had less power to fuel? He had a hard time going a week and tended to pass out after a week without blood and she somehow had any strength at all.

"Here, this will help." He was somewhat reluctant about doing this has he had heard that some vampires can see your memories when they drink your blood. He didn't know if she was part of that some but he had little choice on what to do. 'Just your wrist, don't let her in your neck she could get caught up by her hunger.' Mitchifer held out his wrist palm up and right under her mouth so even if she didn't want to drink with how weak and hungry she was instinct would take over.

As he did this he tried his best to make sure all his memories of Gabriel were hidden. Better to let her think he hated Gabriel then realize how much Mitchifer had loved Gabriel as a brother. He knew though that if she actually could it see the memories it wouldn't matter how hidden he tried to make them, blood had been everywhere and knew everything. He tensed up and waited for her to bite him.

Rin saw his reluctance and understood. When Drake had shared his blood with her, memories came like bullets. Just a little ... enough to get by long enough to find someone ... maybe only a few memories at the most would come with it. She swallowed audibly, if anything, she didn't want to do this.

His wrist was there, she could see it in the darkness, the sound of his voice was fading. Rin grasped it gently, feeling the blood in his viens beneathe her fingertips. Goosebumps laced her skin at the mere feel of it, she felt her canines unsheathe, and the reluctance slowly slip away.

Just a little. It was a quiet whisper in the back of her mind. Just a little. Her lips were cold as they pressed against the flesh of his wrist, finding a pulse, then slowly her lips parted letting the canines sink into his skin. The blood was like water in a drought, it trickled down her throat sending a sudden shock through her body. God. Hunger rose up so suddenly, and before she knew it her grasp had tightened as she drew more blood from the wound.

Stop. The word came silent at first then louder as sense started to leak through the hunger. Rin gasped into the wound before she pulled herself away. 'I ... I didn't realize ...' she was panting slightly, her eyes behind closed lids had become bright, a cold blue that almost blended with the white. If there were any memories to be had they hadn't come yet, the blood was still making it's way through her. Rin could feel a slight bit of color returning, she still needed more, but what he had given was helpful.

Mitchifer hadn't realized how strange and painful it was before now. He felt her bite in and at that same moment he felt as if timed stopped, like it was only him and pain for a instant. He felt his strength leave him and a sudden sadness leap over him. Then just as fast as it had started, it was done and Rin was looking much better though that wasn't saying much when compared to how she was in the beginning. With her mouth away from his wrist he could already feel it healing.

He stood up from his kneeled position and couldn't help but wish he had fed before finding her. He led his hand out to help her up but it was just a reflex. His mind was still reeling from thoughts that he had sealed away long ago, ones he was hoping not to remenber himself. Seems like being drank from weakened everything though he could feel his strength coming back now that it was over. "Okay, you should be strong enough to get someone to feed from now. I think it's good that you fed from me first otherwise you'd have been likely to end up killing the mortal. However in your condition and with you not wanting to kill well I don't know if one person will be enough to satisfy you."

His skin was noticably paler now and he wasn't looking to be his usual perky self but he didn't mind, giving the blood was worth it. She needed it and he had it, it was only right for him to give her some. Besides he felt that it would show her that he wasn't doing this just for his brother and that he actually did want her to be better.

Rin didn't take his hand for help, it wasn't a rude gesture she just didn't notice it. She stood slowly, a sensation she hadn't felt in a long while returned, it was amazing how just alittle blood helped.

Opening her eyes she looked to him, they were still pale, fading now into the drowning blue they had been before. As he spoke she removed the trench coat, not only did it seem rather large on her, but it was becoming heavy as well.

'All I wanted was enough to get me by until tomorrow night, if one isn't enough then ...' She didn't want to spend the night "feasting", it sounded really barbaric ... and it would probably take up his time. Which she didn't want to be reminded of later on. 'Then whatever you think is best.' Whatever would happen, Rin had no desire to be caught again in the situation she was in moments ago.

The night air felt cool against her skin, wether or not she was wearing her pajamas she didn't care really anymore, the coat had been heavy, huge and hot. She wasn't about to go hunting in it. Rin watched him carefully as she handed it back, he was weaker now since he had given blood. A smile curved her lips, 'Maybe we can find someone for you, Mitch.' it would be a good chance to help the lion, if not alot then alittle.

Mitchifer shrugged when she didn't take his help and put his coat back on. The coat was just for looks now a days. It had stopped providing heat to his body years ago. Shaking his head slightly he looked over at her wondering if she had gotten any memories or not but he didn't dare ask her. Instead he walked towards the edge of the rooftop motioning her to come.

"We'll just see how you look after drinking some from one alright? Okay, alot of people work the night shift in this part of town so finding someone to feed from isn't that hard really. You usually only have to wait for a few minutes at most if your not picky." He could already see a mortal here and there scattered apart from eachother.

"You're strong enough to feed yourself I assume so shall we drop in so you can snatch on of them or whatever you do. Just don't feed on them in the street. Every now and then a police cruiser goes by and them seeing a young girl sucking on someones neck well I don't know how they will react." He smiled at her before looking back at the street below.

He didn't mention getting a person for himself rather he seemed fine with the idea of ignoring that part of what she said. The wind blew his hair around some and he took a deep breath and simply stood there waiting for her to come. He didn't remenber saying it but he didn't try and cover his mistake. "Why didn't you feed? You said there was a reason? It wasn't because of him was it?"

She stepped to the edge as he motioned for her to come. Rin watched a couple of humans pass, their heart beat thundered in her head, she closed her eyes focusing on his words as it slowly began to fade away.

He made her sound like she had never fed before, at least he wasn't giving her a biting 101 speech. Rin opened her eyes soon enough to catch his smile, it was a nice smile, it made it hard not to smile back. However the questions he asked next ruined any chance of one.

Looking down to the pavement below she inhaled night air. He wasn't playing idiot as she hoped he would, he knew something. 'Gabriel, Tsuki, Tynaix, Leo ... they all left.' Her throat hurt as she swallowed. 'When Gabriel died I-'

She didn't want to talk about it anymore, if he wanted something in detail he was going to have to wait. The truth right now was like salt on raw wounds. Taking a breath Rin stepped into the open air, falling through the shadows and landing silent on the pavement.

(it might be because it's morning and I feel/look awful ... but this post is crapola)

Mitchifer sighed to himself. He hadn't expected anything better and he knew he should just let sleeping dogs lie, but he knew if she just kept holding it in she might continue starving hersself. 'Gabriel, had I known I would have to do more work with you dead I would have just said screw responsablity and let you live with your girlfriend down there.'

Mitchifer stepped off the rooftop and felt the air rush by his head and felt a rush of life pass through him seconds before his fit silently hit the ground. Rather then say anything to his student Mitchifer just walked by her towards a mortal couple who were chatting. He wouldn't kill the one he fed from as he rarely killed anymore out of respect for Gabriel.

He turned back to look at Rin with a neutral expression on his face. He was all business now, you couldn't call the expression angry or anything but it wasn't happy either more like a shell hidden away deep inside. He decided to make the first move and shot forward so quickly he was nothing more then a blur before his hands overed both mortals mouths from behind and he pulled them into an alley before sending a mental message to his pupil. ~Rin come here and drink, if you don't want to kill them then don't kill yours and I won't kill mine but hurry before we attract attention.~ He closed his eyes and sunk his fangs into the female's neck and began to drink all the while saying a silent prayer for him to be forgiven for this sin.

At that moment Rin prefered him as an emotionless shell, content he seemed almost mortal, and enraged he was a monster. In this state she didn't have to fight, and wouldn't convince herself he was anything other than what he was. She followed as he had wanted and took ahold of the man, his eyes were wide and fearful, Rin didn't look into them as she went to bite. Clouding his mind, she was barely able to see his eyes close as he was emersed in the mist that filled his mind.

Her canines sank into his skin, the blood was hot as she drew it in, color came slowly as it corsed through her viens and filled her. The hunger that had struck her before wasn't as strong as it had been, she could feel it, pushing her to take in more but she fought against it. The man moaned into her long hair, if she didn't hurry soon he would realize his situation.

More, just alittle more. No! She pulled back suddenly letting the man slump against the wall, his chest moved slowly as he breathed, she hadn't killed him. A sigh escaped her half parted lips as she wiped away the blood that trickled from them then slowly turned to Michifer. Rin let the man sink to the pavement as she waited, there was something she wanted to say.

Mitchifer drank slowly and then pulled his mouth away. The woman's eyes were closed but she was breathing. He gently set her against the wall and focused on her mind. It only took a moment for him to get into her mind and modify this and that so all she remenbered was a man coming at her and then blacking out. He then turned to the man and did the same. Something Gabriel had learned from Tristan and then taught him how to do.

He turned to Rin still pulled away from the surface. "You look fine, just feed nightly for the next week atleast and you'll be stronger then ever in no time." He turned towards the mouth of the alley and inhaled deeply. He felt more alive now and even could feel a slight chill in his mouth as the air went down. He wasn't in a mood to fight and as long as he kept himself pulled back he knew that wouldn't happen.

He took a few steps towards the mouth of the alley before looking back at Rin. "Are you coming or are you just going to head home? It's up to you really, your healthy enough to move and you'll be fine as long as you feed nightly. I'm sure you don't feel full but if you over feed tonight you will be sluggish tomorrow and you never know when your gonna need to be light on your feet now do you? Oh and one last thing, I noticed your fear when I was carrying you and I jumped from the roof. Hieghts are nothing to be afraid of for our kind. You might wanna work on that but it's up to you." He turned back towards the mouth of the alley waiting to see if she would follow or not.

Rin paused watching him, ‘Where would you be going?’ with this question she remembered the Paul Frank pajamas she was wearing. She hesitated before following him, she wanted still to talk to him, wether or not she was in them.

Ignoring the rest of what he said she stepped up to him. 'Mitch, theres something I want to say.' He was facing what was outside the alley, his back turned from her. Perhaps if he hadn't she wouldn't be able to continue.

'What you did tonight was far more than what you should have done.' She swallowed hard. 'I am capable of surviving without help, don't worry about me. I know theres other things you rather be doing, and theres things you have to do. I just ask that you would let me take care of what I am capable of and just teach me what you have to offer.'

There she had said it, she didn't want him that close, and he had far more important things to take care of other than her. Rin took a few more steps and looked up at him, waiting.

Mitchifer turned and faced Rin, there wasn't even a trace of anger in his voice but there wasn't even a hint of a smile. "Rin, I know you wouldn't know this but the man you loved. The man who cared for you, I loved that same man. Not in the same way but I did love him. He was my brother and my only true friend. He was a great man and he was the only person I will ever trust completely. When he died part of me died to. He told me to protect you and thats what I'll do. Tonight you needed protecting and if you keep doing things like that I will start checking up on you nightly. I know you have a life and having me interupting it wouldn't help it. So as long as you take care of yourself then I won't have to do stuff like this." He turned away from her and began walking again.

He didn't need her to like him by any means, it wasn't required for his job. "What you do need to realize is that I won't always be around and I am quite confident that had I not come by tonight you would have had a high chance of passing out and having the sun burn you. Your a vampire and you're old enough to take care of yourself. I know this and so do you, there is little doubt in my mind that after you stop moarning the loss of so many you'll be fine but my brother doesn't what that to happen. He wanted you to have someone around to keep you alive somone around just in case. That is why he told me to protect you. I don't doubt that one day you'll meet someone else and fall in love and I could care less honestly. Now before I leave I thought I should tell you, Gabriel left all his money, property, and shares to me atleast until I think you're strong enough to go on your own."

He turned to face her and put his hand in his coat's pocket pulling out a long knife in a silver sheath. "He always told me to give you this. It was his and well it's one of our family crest items. It will fetch quite a bit because it's about three thousand years old so I wouldn't get into any knife fights with it, but if you meet anyone in my family and show them that they will treat you like kin. Which isn't anything big but well he wanted you to have it. In our family having one of these is as good as being married into the family." He tossed the sheathed knife to her and turned back around walking towards his home, or atleast the alley that his home was next to.