The Light of my Life

Managing Time

Illyana lived in a penthouse apartment. She worked hard for her money so she was going to get a nice place, far away from her parents, but still close enough to her work. She lived in Twin Parks in Tokyo and was only a bus ride away from the agency. Though she had access to a car and a personal driver, she forewent all that for the experience of being out in public. Of course being a celebrity she had to disguise herself. The paparazzi shadowed her every minute of every day. It had reached a point where her family had to assign her two personal bodyguards and a manager so she could get through the day in one piece. Though it wasn't as if she was an invalid! She could do things on her own and with a stubborn streak to boot: she would sometimes slip away from her attendants to be on her own and ride across Tokyo like she used to when she was young.

She grew up in Tokyo so never saw herself leaving the city. It was full of life and far too many amenities she couldn't give up. Maybe if she had, the country could be a nice place to retire, but she also never saw herself retiring. She swore she would die on the runway, which immediately concerned her father and kept her manager on her 24/7. It was suggested she transfer to a subsidiary of the company in a calmer area, but she refused. She was a Tokyo girl!

First off, in Tokyo, you could get anywhere on public transport. If she wanted to go to the theater then visit a shrine across town: she could get there in a snap on the bus or train. Not that she had time for either save on the New Years. Everything was so cute! Everywhere you went there were bright mascot characters and adorable shops! It filled the city with happiness and it often helped her forget the stress of the day...

Though despite the kilometers of shopping, entertainment and streets lined with vending machines there was also -- nature. Tokyo was a place that even nature could dominate. Places like Yoyogi park had endless fields of green and if one had the constitution they could take a hike in Mount Takao! Then there were the twenty-four hour convenience stores. Though the busride was a short one she often came home late with next to no energy to cook for herself. As a Vampir she couldn't let her health deteriorate because she would become anemic. If she did become anemic she risked falling into a bloodlust and hurting those around her. A bloodlust was a mental state Vampir fell into when their bodies became too sick to function. For a Vampir this was triggered by an anemic body. Sometimes it could be caught with blood testers when a Vampir was becoming low, but it was better to catch it before it occurred. The result of the bloodlust was violent. The Vampir went into a frenzied state and fed from whatever, whomever was nearest until they were sate.

If that happened she could ruin her image and everything she worked for up until now. No she could be a little paranoid about her meals, but she was a paradoxical creature. Though she had to eat to ensure her health, her work kept her busy, so much so that she sometimes forgot to look out for her health.

That's where her manager came in. 

Tamotsu Mori, or Mori Tamotsu if one preferred the Japanese way of saying his name. He was a young man and was Illyana's age. Tamotsu originally went to University for Interior Design. A Kanagawa native Tamotsu had gone to one of the better Interior Design Universities in Japan: Chiba University, in Chiba, Japan seeing as it was a hop, skip, and a jump away from Kanagawa. He struggled through University, but was able to come out of University fair to middling. He was average. In every way Tamotsu was ordinary.

His father was a salaryman and his mother a housewife. He went to public school all his life and eventually went to a cram school to get into University. He had black hair and brown eyes. He wore his hair to his shoulder, usually in a ponytail for comfort. He never played in any sports, nor was he an academic. He never fancied himself a busybody and kept to himself. He was reserved, polite, and worked hard. He was your average Japanese man. Except -- for the rumors. 

Tamotsu was an orphan, but not in the sense of some drama or isekai. He was living with his family. His father the salaryman and his mother the housewife. It wasn't until they were attacked by a Demon that they left his side and the mortal coil altogether. He was taken in by a family friend, the Xie family. They were a Chinese family who had a presence in Japan because of their connection to media outlets. They ran a few television stations and owned some shops in Akihabara. They did well for themselves. What was different about them was that they were all Demons. Nian Demons to be exact. Quite a feared and powerful monster that had lived in China since ancient times. Their kind took advantage of the open relations with Humans and spread out. Nian were often mistook for Dragons but they were more of a reptilian or avian Demon.

Tamotsu was adopted by the head of the family: Bingwen Xie. The elder Demon owed a lot to Tamotsu's family so  took him in after the tragedy. They were a powerful family so rumors began to crop up, fears that they were actually Triad or working with foreign evils. Nothing could ever be placed on them so they went on as usual. Bingwen Xie had two grandchildren and the youngest: Liu Xie was to be next in line, after his father, to succeed the family business. Liu and Tamotsu were close, inseparable. So more rumors cropped up. There were beliefs that Liu and Tamotsu were in a relationship. It was strange to hear that you blood brother was considered your lover so Tamotsu ignored it. He had grown used to the rumors, but also they never lasted long.

He had an upperclassman, a senior. His senpai was extremely protective of Tamotsu to the point that some people disappeared when they talked a little too much about his private life. Tamotsu was aware of his aniki's tendencies and also ignored them. It was best he kept his head down and worked. It was a lot of work to do, to be sure. 

Illyana wasn't the most agreeable woman. Some would say she was stubborn, but Tamotsu knew she was just willful and knew what she wanted. Others could view her as authoritarian. Tamotsu knew she was just a little particular about the things around her. She was anxious and controlling her environment was a comfort and he wouldn't deny her such solace. There were some that even accused Illyana of being violent. Tamotsu -- didn't disagree but he buffered the accusations by assuring them she was just a trained martial artist who had passion for the sport. 

"Tamo-kun! Tamo-kun!" A loud, boisterous voice called out to the man.

It was half past eleven and Tamotsu had just finished packing up his work. The man didn't have an office and lived mobily on his phone and tablet. He had settled on a bench outside of the studio while Illyana worked. He was engrossed in his task so had not noticed Illyana sneak out. Neither did her bodyguards. She was quite good at concealing her presence so it was a chore to keep track of her. Tamotsu had tucked his tablet into its case, which had an easy to tote handle, and tucked his phone away in his vest's inner pocket.

Tamotsu was a simple man like his father. He dressed neatly. A simple pair of trousers, a collared shirt and sometimes a vest or suit jacket. Given it was the middle of summer he had opted  for the vest and his sleeves were rolled up. He had a strange pair of tattoos that ran down his left and right forearm from his wrist down to his elbow pit. If observed, the inkwork were Chinese wards for luck or keeping evil spirits away. The Hanzi was rather old so it was difficult to understand in most cases. They only encouraged the rumors of his being part of some criminal organization so he often kept them covered. 

"Mori Tamotsu-baka, look up, kuso!" The foul-mouthed miscreant Tamotsu deliberately ignored was Illyana's photographer Watari Shunso, from Tamotsu's Japanese perspective anyway. 

Tamotsu reached into his front vest pocket to retrieve his pocket watch. Checking the time he would bristle. When had it gotten so late?! Turning to face Shunso as he ran up, Tamotsu turned to engage with him.

"Where's Lily?" Tamotsu was close enough with Illyana to be allowed such a privilege and call her by her nickname, though no one else dared.