resurrection sunday of the undying - ( regeneration 4 )

[mandytl]

 

 

 

Location: Light Music Club Clubroom

 

Kaoru: Resurrection Sunday... ?

 

Ah, you mean ''Easter''.¹ That's a holiday most Japanese probably aren't too familiar with.

 

Adonis: Really? That's a surprise. Japan has such a unique cultural history.

 

Koga: You sure sound like you know a lot about it, playboy. 

 

Kaoru: Naturally~. Girls won't be into you if you don't care about national holidays.

 

... anyway, what's that got to do with your controversial statements from earlier? 

 

Rei: Ah, yes. You see... my family performs a ritual that goes along with the holiday in spite of various complications. 

 

As the next head I must partake of the blood of a youth, much like one would during the Spring Harvest²... essentially.

 

They insist on it being carried out rather regularly, actually. 

 

It's far too foolish and old-fashioned. I was able to neglect it by saying I was busy, but...

 

Now that the matter of the DDD live has been settled my family's grown impatient.

 

They've become rather uneasy over whether I'll perform the ritual properly or not. There's no knowing what they'll do next.

 

I thought it'd be best to have it over with as quickly as possible since they'll never relent. 

 

With someone close at hand, that is.

 

Kaoru: Nngh. I don't get it entirely, but it sounds needlessly humiliating... !

 

Rei: Kukuku. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings. I sought you out merely for being you, Kaoru-kun.

 

I was half-asleep and in a hurry just a moment ago, but the more I reflected the more I grew convinced that you were the most suitable.

 

Please. Won't you let me suck your blood if you wish to help... ?

 

Kaoru: Not even if you make those cute puppy dog eyes at me! It makes me sick!

 

Rei: Sniff, sniff. Flat-out rejected...

 

There's no need to worry; I wouldn't be biting you on the neck like in a horror movie. The blood is collected well in advance and is mixed with grape juice to make a beverage. 

 

Kaoru: Oh, really? Kind of like a sacred wine?³

 

Rei: Indeed. And I believe we're using the grape juice since I'm a minor. It'll also cover up the taste; I'm not too keen on the idea of drinking the blood of someone I don't know.

 

Hence why I decided to ask you, Kaoru-kun. Won't you have mercy on me and try to help... ?

 

Kaoru: Uuu... sorry. I just honestly don't want to! I'll do anything a girl asks me to, but even if you paid me there's no way I could do it for you, Sakuma-san!

 

Rei: ......

 

Kaoru: Eh? Why do you look so miserable? Did I say something bad, or... ?

 

I've got it. What about Doggi... Koga-kun?

 

Since Koga-kun loves you he'll gladly offer up that blood you need! Right? Right? ♪ (wink)

 

Koga: There's nothin' to like about someone who's just a shadow of his former self... 

 

He can't use me, anyway. Pretty sure ya can only be the one gettin' your blood sucked in that ritual once. 

 

I did it already, so I'm out as a candidate. 

 

Rei: True. The one having their blood sucked dry will be known as the sacrifice that I shall gratefully receive. 

 

And in terms of the ritual, after the ceremony concludes... you die. 

 

The dead can't be offered up, hence why I couldn't just select Puppy.

 

Koga: .....

 

Adonis: Sakuma-senpai. I have a suggestion. Would it be possible to use me instead?

 

I want to pay you back for always looking out for me. Unlike Oogami, I don't recall having participated in this ritual, so there shouldn't be any issue.

 

I'm fit to donate blood since I have a big and healthy body. Drink all you want, if you'd like.

 

Forcing someone to do what they hate... is immoral. I don't think it's good to be violent.

 

Koga: Hah. Immoral and violent? Ain't being totally immoral our selling point?

 

Kaoru: That's just an image we created~... I thought Sakuma-san's whole vampire thing was just part of our setting too.

 

Rei: Be it setting or lie, it'll become real if you continue telling it for a hundred years or more.

 

Or in this case, hand it down for generation after generation like my ancestors did with this long-established ritual. 

 

I can't very well put an end to the continuous tradition that I've inherited. I want to do something for my family since I understand how they feel.

 

Rei: But if Kaoru-kun absolutely refuses to aid me then I suppose I've no choice... should I take up Adonis-kun on his kind offer instead? 

 

Adonis: You should. Use my blood, Sakuma-senpai. Though we don't share the same blood type, there shouldn't be any issues; this isn't a transfusion. 
____
¹ Kaoru is using the English word for 'Easter' here, so I opted for another name in the previous instance that resonates more with the event and the meaning of the holiday itself ( aka. the resurrection of Jesus Christ ).
² Rei's most likely making a comparison between his family's ritual and the observance of Passover. During the Spring Harvest  Festival the first sheaf of newly cut barley is offered up as a sacrifice. There are also other rituals reminiscent of ancient pagan practices in which male lambs are kept and then sacrificed on the eve.
³ Kaoru's using the term 御神酒, aka. omiki, a sake that's used in Shinto purification rituals. It's a bit similar to sacramental wine ( or grape juice ) used during the Christian Eucharist.