Smoker shifts on the branch looking across the valley. A sigh escapes him a smoke cloud leaving his lips. He regretted leaving before graduation, he had been curious to see what you had been looking forward to. "I hope it went well ___... Sorry I missed it..." He murmurs around the cigars. He had to admit you were the reason he stayed that long. He rubs his neck looking down.

**Flashback**

He shifts looking over the list of students again. He starts to call the names getting a 'here' or some firm if acknowledgement. "___." He calls. No answer, he moves to mark you absent when he hears-

"___! Stop staring at him, he just called your name!" Someone whispers.

"Oh! I'm hot!- You're hot--" Smoker looks up finding your face bright red. Your eyes meet his and you swiftly cover your face. "I'm here... I'm here." You manage as the other students snicker at your blunder.

"Alright everyone, I want five laps, get moving." Smoker orders. The students take off running at that, except you. He raises an eyebrow at you as you rub your arm. "What's wrong?" He asks.

"I'm... Not a very good runner... At all..." You blush looking down. Smoker shifts, usually he'd leave it there, but for some reason, he didn't.

"Give me one lap, and I'll coach you how to improve." He decides. You blink and look up at him in surprise. "Get going." He says. You smile a bit and nod doing so. He watches your movements, easily concluding the problem. You reach him again panting lightly. "You don't run often do you?" He guesses. You look away with a frown.

"No not really...." You admit. He blinks and shifts frowning briefly.

"Keep your head up, with your eyes looking straight ahead. Avoid looking down at your shoes or tilting your chin up, as this will put your neck and back out of line. Keep your arms at a 90 degree angle and swing them back and forwards slightly, to propel your body forwards. Don't clench your fists, hunch your shoulders or hold your arms tightly against your body. If you feel yourself doing any of these things, shake your arms out to relieve any tension and resume the correct posture." He tells you a matter of factly. You blink and nod trying to remember everything he said.

"Okay... I think I get it." You smile cheerfully. Smoker pauses, feeling odd.

"Want to try that again?" He inquires. You nod becoming thoughtful and running ahead. You were a fast learner and within a month you were the fastest runner in the class. Anytime Smoker purposed a new challenge, you gladly exceeded his expectations.

The way you lit up everytime you saw him. The vampire was happy to stay in one place if he could see you smile. Though of course there were days he had to do something different to see it.

You frown looking down as he patched up your knee after you tripped. "I'm so damn clumsy today..." You sigh. He glances at your face and hums thoughtfully.

"We all have off days ___... I know what'll help," He straightens up, pulling on his hoodie. "Come on." He adds heading out. You follow after him carefully, watching his back quietly. He leads you out the back door, putting a finger to his lips as he starts for a dumpster. You tilt your head looking around curiously. He stops, gently moving the dumpster to show a litter of kittens with their mother. Your jaw drops and you kneel down as the mother cat meows at you.

"They're so cute." You breathe smiling happily. He smiles a bit with a chuckle.

"Unfortunately they can't stay, so I'll have to move them soon." He muses thoughtfully.

"Where will you take them?" You ask.

"I don't know yet, I was hoping you could help me with that." He shrugs.

"I think I can figure something out, leave it to me." You give him a big smile. Smoker pauses and smiles.

"I know you will." He breathes.

****

Smoker sighs quietly closing eyes. He was starting to miss you. Maybe he didn't have to leave that night, maybe you did think it was a dream. Then again it was time for him to move on anyway, you'd be fine, you would forget him soon. "I hope you're still smiling ___..."

"This... This doesn't look right..." You frown looking back and forth on the road as you both walk along it.

"It's probably one the old trade roads from back then... But I think this leads to Rose too." Doffy tells you.

"Alright I suppose..." You glance back behind you at the leaf covered road.

"So.... Who's the man in the sketch?" He asks curiously.

"The guy I'm going to confess to." You answer looking ahead again. "He's also a vampire." You add.

"So... You're looking for the man you want to confess to which happens to be a vampire and you're a hunter..." He comments.

"I'm not a hunter, I'm looking for Smoker. Vampires just keep getting in my way and... Staking themselves..." You huff.

"Fufufu, sounds like you've been having fun." He chuckles. "But wouldn't this be easier if you had a car?"

"I had a car when I started, but a vampire scrapped it and now he's planning on coming for my blood on the full moon.... This is bullshit, complete bullshit." You shake your head.

"Then why not go home?" Doflamingo inquires. You turn to him agitated.

"Because I'm in love with the man- vampire- person! I've been planning to confess to him for two years now and I'm going to do it! Even if I have kill every single vampire, werewolf... Whatever! To do that. I will."

"Wow... You have drive. I admire that." He smiles. You look away with a blush.

"Don't admire me, I'm just bull headed..." You sigh moving ahead. He chuckles following after you. "Why are you still here anyway?" You ask.

"Curious... Lost... And I have the oddest feeling that vampires are now hunting me... So I'll stick with you." He offers a smile.

"Suite yourself but uh I'm very new at this so don't expect me to be good at protecting you." You warn. He chuckles at that.

"Okay ___..." He rumbles watching you. Something catches your ear and you look over, freezing as black wolf looking creature comes over a hill charging toward you and Doffy.

"Doffy get back!" You gasp pushing behind you. The wolf snarls and lunges at you. You instinctively punch it in the nose making it fall back suddenly human.

"You knocked the wolf out of him." Doflamingo huffs in surprise. The guy sits up, tattooed hand over his nose.

"You punched me!?" He scoffs, glaring up at you with gold eyes.

"You were the one charging at me! What were you expecting!?" You retort annoyed.

"Run away like a normal human!" He snaps back getting up.

"No! I'm so tired of running away from you... Things! You guys keep getting my way!" You growl getting close. His brow twitches.

"Listen lady I only came here to scare you off before those vampires caught up to-" He freezes and looks over as Kid lands, licking his lips as he straightens up.

"Hello my sweet snack, I was worried for a moment. We lost track of you." He rumbles, red eyes dim as he walks up. "I gotta admit, I don't like these guys hanging around you." He breathes. The werewolf moves to shield you but you're suddenly being carried off.

"Wha- Doflamingo!" You call trying to free yourself from Kid's grasp. Kid squeezes your rear and you squeak hitting him upside the head. "Hands off dammit!" You snap.

"You're so damn cute..." He purrs, licking over your shirt slowly. The werewolf changes form and charges Kid's back as Doflamingo struggles with the crossbow. The wolf collides into Kid's back making his grip loosen enough to flip over his shoulder. You run to get the crossbow from Doflamingo, dropping to the ground swiftly as he accidentally fires the crossbow. You look back as it pierces Kid's shoulder.

The vampire hisses, pulling out the stake and throwing it at Doflamingo. You jump back up letting it meet your shoulder. You stagger glaring at Kid. He blinks in surprise, tossing the werewolf into a tree. "That's how it's gonna be?" He asks, eyes starting to glow.

"Whatever that means." You huff.

"... Come to me." He says something in his voice sounds musical. You feel something tug at your insides. You step forward toward him but Doflamingo grabs your arm.

"Hey, snap out of it! Isn't the vampire you want, someone else?" He reminds you. You blink back. An image of Smoker appears in your mind and you step back.

"Get lost. I got someone to find." You tell Kid, surprising the vamp again.

"You... I'm going to have so much fun with you come the full moon.." He breathes suddenly in front of you. "I'm going to enjoy every moment of it." He licks your lips lightly, you shiver pushing him away. He smirks before disappearing. You relax before running over to the unconscious werewolf.

"H-Hey! Are you okay?" You gasp shaking him. He gasps, eyes flicking open. He looks at you then around swiftly.

"Damn him... He's stronger than before..." He grunts sitting up. He looks at you, eyes going over your shoulder. "You got a stake in your shoulder..."

"Wha- Ow fuck! Why did you have to remind me!?"