[Back at the Isuto Dojo. A sign can be seen in the courtyard lit by lantern light; it reads, in official looking letters, Isuto Dojo
for the Art of Kendo and, scrawled underneath this, is No Vampires Allowed. Hibichi is walking back, looking very contemplative.]

Hibichi: (thinking) So there really ARE vampires. But why would one attack another? And for that matter, how did I know she was one of them?

[Hibichi walks back in -- only to be met by a very irate looking Kinotsu.]

Kinotsu: And just where have YOU been?

Hibichi: Out walking. Look, I wanna apologize --

Kinotsu: For neglecting your training?! As well you ought --

Hibichi: No, not for that, for not believing you. There really ARE vampires -- I fought one tonight.

[Kinotsu's face softens, then looks almost on the verge of tears. He suddenly hold Hibichi to him in a ferocious bear hug. Fireworks and general celebratory scenes appear in the background.]

Kinotsu: Oh! At last, the day has finally arrived where my son realizes the importance of our family's quest! It is a time of
rejoicing!

Hibichi: Gurk --!

Kinotsu: (releasing Hibichi) But tell me, my son, how did you vanquish the foul fiend?

Hibichi: Well, actually, I got lucky. Some girl came and helped me.

[Hibichi is oblivious to the fact that Kinotsu's happy face has completely collapsed and an increasingly nasty look is developing.]

Hibichi: In fact, if she hadn't shown up I might not have made it. But thanks to her, I managed to kill it. I just wish I got to
know her name.

Kinotsu: You… needed… help… to… defeat… the… vampire?

Hibichi: (suddenly realizing he's committed a major faux pas) I… well… that is to say… oh hell.

[Cut to outside of dojo.]

Kinotsu: YOU NEED MORE TRAINING!! TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN…

Hibichi: WAAAAGH!

FX: Thokathokathokathokathoka!

[Cut to Hibichi's room. Hibichi lies on his bed. Little radiating wavy lines indicate that he is VERY sore.]

Hibichi: Ooooh...

[He hears a tapping sound coming from the window. It turns out to be the girl from the night before. Hibichi (stiffly) walks to the window and opens it. She comes inside.]

Girl: Thanks.

Hibichi: No prob, but couldn't you have just used the door?

Girl: I felt that considering the message scrawled under the sign, it wouldn't be a good idea to approach your father. [notices
Hibichi's stiffness] What happened to you?

Hibichi: It's a training thing. By the way, I never got your name.

Girl: I'm sorry. It was kinda rude of me to run off like that… I'm Ashumi Tomiko*.

Hibichi: Isuto Hibichi. So… isn't it a bit strange for a vampire to fight another one?

Tomiko: (raises eyebrows) You... detected my aura?

Hibichi: Well, yeah, but not before I helped you up. What happened back there?

Tomiko: I... I don't know. It hasn't happened before.

Hibichi: That's comforting.

Tomiko: (shrugs) Actually, that's why I came. Something tells me you could help us.

Hibichi: "Help?" "Us?" You mean there's more of you?

Tomiko: (nods) I thought there was something unusual about you when I saw you, but I didn't know for sure until that… that event happened.

Hibichi: Um, getting back to the "Us" bit…

Tomiko: Oh! I'm sorry! I'm going to have to introduce you to the group. Follow me! (Takes Hibichi's hand and dashes out window.)

Hibichi: Hey wait a se--

[They both land feet first on the ground. Tomiko begins to dash, pulling Hibichi along with her.]

Hibichi: (thinking) Man, she's strong…

[Cut to an old run down shop in the middle of the city. The windows are all boarded up. We can just see Hibichi and Tomiko
entering.
Inside. The main shop area has been converted into a living area of sorts, with a door in the back leading, presumably, to living
quarters. A television is set up in the far right corner of the room, with a sofa positioned in front of it. Two people are sitting on it watching some Japanese game show. One of them, a lanky man with long black hair, seems to be generally uninterested and slightly uncomfortable. The other, a woman wearing an elaborate Chinese-style dress, watches with her head resting on one hand, also rather bored. They both turn at the sound of the door opening.]

Tomiko: Hi Asato, Rosiko, I'm back.

Asato: (brightening) Tomiko-chan! You are safe, then!

Tomiko: Of course! And I've brought a friend!

[Hibichi walks in and gives a small wave. Asato suddenly leaps to his feet and grabs a nearby pole.]

Asato: A Vampire Hunter! Fear not, Tomiko-chan, I shall protect you!

[He begins to walk purposefully towards Hibichi. Hibichi backs up, saying, "Now now, let's not be too hasty or anything…" Tomiko gets between Asato and Hibichi.]

Asato: Tomiko-chan, please step aside. You know not how dangerous a man this is.

Tomiko: He's not! He's not like the other hunters -- I can feel it.

Asato: Bah! He is a hunter, and therefore one of our greatest enemies. I must smite him for your sake.

Hibichi: Er, hello to you too...

Rosiko: Ah, don't hurt the guy, Asato, he's pretty cute.

Asato: (raising staff) Stand aside, Tomiko-chan!

Voice: Getting overprotective again, are we Asato?

[A woman stands in the doorway leading behind the shop. She has messy hair and slightly pointed ears. Her eyes bear a gleam of good humor. She wears a short leather jacket, a slightly ragged tank-top, and a pair of tight trousers.]

Asato: Bah, and I suppose you intend to interfere as well, Nekita?

Nekita: I ain't interferin', just keeping you from jumpin' the gun again.

[Nekita pushes Asato back. He growls.]

Nekita: Cool your jets, boy! Let me handle this.

[Nekita sizes Hibichi up, nodding as she does so. Hibichi looks decidedly uncomfortable.]

Hibichi: Um, er…

Nekita: Hmm… good muscles, handsome face, hair a bit on the messy side… not bad!

[Nekita steps back and looks at Hibichi for a moment. She suddenly whips out a knife and lunges at Hibichi, who steps to the side with a cry and dodges the attack.]

Nekita: Good reflexes too… guess I'd better test them.

Tomiko: Nekita! What are you doing?!

Nekita: There's no room for weakness in what we do, Tomiko. So come on, kid, show me what you got -- and if you don't got enough, I'm gonna have to kill you!
 

* Yes, I decided to use the Japanese style of addressing people. But I won't use any Japanese words for two reasons: 1.) I don't know that many, and 2.) It's a bit silly, considering that the whole conversation in general is meant to be translated Japanese. Frankly, I feel doing that is more an excuse to show off Japanese skills than for authenticity, and it drives me nuts.