The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air before Kimberly opened her eyes. The ceiling was the same as before — cracked, dirty, but somehow… familiar. She sat up, still drowsy, and saw Roshi leaning against the counter, fiddling with a frying pan.
"Up early, girl," — he said without turning his head. — "I thought you'd sleep all day."
Kim rubbed her eyes.
"What time is it?"
"Almost nine." — He placed a plate on the table: two eggs, toast, and black coffee.
"Eat something."
She eyed it suspiciously for a few seconds, but hunger won. The first sip of coffee burned her tongue slightly, but the strong flavor brought comfort. She stayed quiet as Roshi watched silently, the extinguished cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.
"So…" — he began, resting his elbows on the table.
"You're going to tell me what a girl your age was doing sleeping in an alley, surrounded by vampires?"
Kim shrugged.
"None of your business."
He chuckled quietly, not pressing further.
"Fair enough."
The sound of the door opening broke the silence. A tall man with an unkempt beard and an old cap entered — the bar owner, Preston.
"Roshi, old man, you disappeared again?"
Roshi tossed the keys onto the counter.
"Just handling some things."
Preston then noticed Kimberly sitting there. His expression changed instantly — a mix of suspicion and annoyance.
"And who's this? Bringing a street girl into the bar now?"
Kim rolled her eyes.
"Relax, old man. I'm not stealing your precious beer."
Roshi gave a faint smile.
"Come on, girl. This isn't a place to sleep."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're kicking me out?"
"No." — He pointed to the door. — "Just changing your address."
Kim hesitated, looked at Preston, then Roshi, and sighed.
"Fine. But if you try anything…"
"I'm old, not blind," — he replied with a small smile. — "But I'm not stupid either."
Roshi's apartment was in an old building, on the third floor. The place was simple, smelling of incense and old books. In the living room, a dusty bookshelf shared space with some empty bottles and a worn armchair.
"You can take a shower if you want," — he said, pointing down the hall.
"The shower still works."
Kim glanced sideways, suspicious.
"You're not going to…"
"Do anything to you?" — he finished. — "No. Not my style."
She paused for a moment, evaluating him. Then, silently, she entered the bathroom.
The hot water running over her skin washed away more than dirt — it carried off the weight of days on the streets, the smell of blood and smoke, and some of that feeling of being less than human. For a few minutes, she allowed herself to breathe. When she emerged, wrapped in an old towel, she felt… light. Almost clean inside as well.
Roshi was in the kitchen, opening the empty fridge.
"I guess we'll have to go out to eat."
The diner sat on a corner, its blue neon sign flickering. The place was small but cozy. The smell of fried food was so strong that Kim almost salivated before even sitting down.
Roshi placed the order: a double burger with fries and a soda. When it arrived, Kimberly attacked the plate with a hunger he had only seen in people who had truly gone without food.
"Haven't eaten like that in a while, huh?" — he asked.
She nodded, mouth full.
"So then," — Roshi continued — "will you tell me your name now?"
Kim paused. The fork trembled slightly in her hand. For a moment, her mother's gentle voice echoed in her mind: "If we don't come back… change your name, try a new life."
She looked up.
"Sasha."
Roshi smiled faintly.
"Sasha, huh? Nice name."
She looked away.
"My mother chose it… before… —" she swallowed hard — "before she died."
The old man was silent for a few seconds, respectful.
"My parents… and my sister too. They were killed by monsters." — Her voice was cold, but her eyes burned with determination. — "And I will find who did this. I'll make them pay."
Roshi watched her for a while. There was something in her eyes — a dangerous mix of pain and purpose.
"So that's what keeps you alive."
"Yes."
She hesitated a moment before continuing:
"And there's another thing. I… am not normal." — Her eyes glimmered faintly, red for a moment. — "I'm a vampire. But the sun doesn't kill me."
Roshi showed no surprise. He just crossed his arms.
"I figured. Last night, your eyes didn't lie."
Kim looked at him with curiosity.
"And you… don't seem scared."
"I've seen worse," — he replied, finishing his coffee.
She leaned forward.
"Teach me to fight. Like you did with those vampires."
"No." — The answer came firm, without hesitation. — "This kind of life isn't for everyone."
Kim clenched her fists.
"I can learn!"
Roshi sighed and stood up.
"Let's go home, Sasha. We'll talk tomorrow."
Back at the apartment, he showed her a small guest room.
"You can stay here for now."
"For now?" — she raised an eyebrow.
"Until you decide what to do." — He stubbed out his cigarette.
"Or until I regret letting you stay."
She forced a smile.
"Hm. I bet you'll regret it soon enough."
Before settling in, Kimberly walked through the living room, curious. On the wall, a dusty photograph caught her eye: a younger Roshi, smiling, standing next to a woman with black hair and a gentle expression.
"Who's she?" — she asked.
Roshi paused at the door, distant.
"She was my wife."
Kim stayed silent.
"What happened to her?"
"A monster killed her." — His voice was low, hoarse. — "Since then, I decided to give it all up."
She frowned.
"So you were a hunter."
He nodded, his gaze meeting hers, heavy with old pain.
"And that's why I'm helping you. Because I've seen what happens to those who lose everything."
Kim felt something tighten in her chest — maybe empathy, maybe gratitude.
"I… don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything," — Roshi replied, turning away. — "Just try to rest. Tomorrow will be another day. You can lock the door if you want."
She stayed there, watching the old man disappear down the hallway. For a moment, the girl who had spent days fleeing through alleys and shadows finally felt safe.
Before closing her eyes, she whispered softly:
"Sasha, huh…?" — a tired smile escaped. — "Maybe this name will work, for now."
Outside, the moon shone behind the clouds. Inside the apartment, the spark of two lives shattered — one by loss, the other by rage — began to rekindle.
And unknowingly, it was the beginning of something that would change both of their fates.