Prologue

I was plunged into the abyss, a hostile environment that ate away at my very

humanity. In there, I had to reforge myself in order to survive. The only way I

could live was by utterly destroying any obstacles on the path to my goal. I

convinced myself that it would be okay to turn into a monster if that was what it

took to survive, to make it home. And honestly, that was the only way I could

keep my sanity in that hell. I was sure that if I didn't go that far, I'd stumble

along the way and be consumed by the horrors of the abyss.

When I found you, Yue, I was on the brink of going past the point of no

return. It was thanks to you that I was able to cling to my humanity. It was

thanks to you that I was able to remain someone my family wouldn't be ashamed

to see come home.

Without you, I wouldn't have gotten this strong or found so many people I

genuinely care about. So how can I possibly repay you for everything you've

done for me? I'm sure you'd say all you need is for me to be by your side, but

that's not nearly enough.

I don't know what else I can do for you, but at the very least, I'll fulfill my

promise. We're going back home, together. I still remember how sad you looked

that day when you told me you had no home to return to, so I'll give you one.

Don't worry. I know you're afraid my parents won't like you, but I promise

mom and dad will be overjoyed to meet you.

Wait for me Yue, my beloved vampire princess. I'm coming to rescue you.

When I was trapped in the abyss, I tried my hardest to become a cold,

unfeeling doll. I killed my emotions and surrendered myself to the darkness. If I

was doomed to be trapped there for all eternity, I thought I would be better off

dead. For a time, I gave up on living. But even as I tried to surrender to my fate,

I couldn't help but hold on to one last sliver of hope.

When you opened that door, Hajime, I thought for the first time in so very

long that I wanted to live. One look at you got my blood pumping again, and I

could hear my heartbeat again, a sound I thought I had all but forgotten. It was

then that I realized I'd been lying to myself all along.

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You didn't just set me free. You pulled me out of the swamp of despair and

brought me into the light. You healed my soul, which had been scarred by

betrayal, and restored my humanity.

Without you, I wouldn't have become this strong or found so many people I

genuinely care about. So how can I possibly repay you for everything you've

done for me? I'm sure you'd say all you need is for me to be by your side, but

that's not nearly enough.

That's why I'm not going to let Ehit beat me. Even if my consciousness is

trapped in darkness and I can't even sense my own body anymore, I won't give

up.

I still need to see what the home you long so deeply for is like. I need to

know what your parents—the reason you're trying so hard to get back—are like.

You told me there aren't any other races in your world, so will they be

accepting of a vampire like me? Even if they aren't, just thinking about spending

the rest of my life with you and your family fills my heart with excitement. It

reminds me that I'm still here, still alive.

Hajime, I love you more than anything else in the world. I'll wait as long as it

takes because I know you'll come and sweep away this darkness for me.